Burn It All Down

Burn It All Down

The feminist sports podcast you need. Shireen Ahmed, Lindsay Gibbs, Brenda Elsey, Amira Rose Davis, and Jessica Luther break down the week in sports and culture.

  • 1 hour 12 minutes
    Ep 270: FIFA's Tomfoolery at the 2026 Men's World Cup Draw

    Burn It All Down has returned to torch everything that is FIFA, including whatever that draw ceremony was for the upcoming men’s World Cup, Infantino deciding to award Trump a “peace prize,” and fears about what this World Cup will be like with much of it taking place in the United States. Shireen, Lindsay, Amira, Brenda, and Jessica then throw things on the burn pile and wrap everything up with some deserving torchbearers. And we have an update (sort of) on the future of the show.


    Please fill out our BIAD listener survey and let us know what you'd like from a BIAD re-launch: ⁠https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeEOygQdtNVkYgGcBIi-LFs7o-y4Q0TIMBInYD84KOgqTBg6w/viewform⁠ 


    Join our newsletter to get all the exciting upcoming news as we look to relaunch BIAD: ⁠https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/NhFlZYv⁠

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    BIAD website: ⁠https://www.burnitalldownpod.com/⁠ 

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    10 December 2025, 1:16 pm
  • 22 minutes 36 seconds
    Q+A from NASSH Conference

    This episode of Burn It All Down was recorded in front of a live audience on May 26, 2025, at the North American Society for Sports History’s annual conference, which took place at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau.

    We’re back, one more time, for another one-off live show. We are not resuming weekly shows at this point. 

    If you are interested to bringing BIAD to your location for a live show, please contact us through our website: ⁠https://www.burnitalldownpod.com/⁠


    EPISODE NOTES: 

    We want to thank Dr. Russell Field and everyone at NASSH for bringing us together for this live show. 

    This episode was produced by Martin Kessler. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. 

    For show notes, transcripts, and more info about BIAD, check out our website: ⁠http://www.burnitalldownpod.com⁠

    NOTE: We will have a transcript for this episode available on our site as soon as we can, though not as quickly as we used to. We are not the well-oiled machine we used to be; things take more time these days.

    For BIAD merchandise: ⁠https://teespring.com/stores/burn-it-all-down⁠

    Find us on Blueskey: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/burnitalldownpod.com⁠; Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/BurnItAllDownPod/⁠; and Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/burnitalldownpod/⁠.

    1 July 2025, 10:00 am
  • 1 hour 49 seconds
    Ep 269: Live from the North American Society for Sports History Conference (NASSH)

    This episode of Burn It All Down was recorded in front of a live audience on May 26, 2025, at the North American Society for Sports History’s annual conference, which took place at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau.

    We’re back, one more time, for another one-off live show. We are not resuming weekly shows at this point. 

    If you are interested to bringing BIAD to your location for a live show, please contact us through our website: https://www.burnitalldownpod.com/


    EPISODE SUMMARY:

    This week, Shireen, Lindsay, Amira, Brenda, and Jessica talk about sports in this moment of upheaval.  They discuss athlete activism (or the lack thereof), what we can learn about right now from what has come before, what all of these means on an international level, and how sports intersects and affects the so-called “culture wars” directly.

    And, as always, you’ll hear the Burn Pile and Torchbearers, starring Nikola Čorbová, the first woman to finish the brutal 138-mile Himalaya XTRI triathlon.


    EPISODE NOTES: 

    We want to thank Dr. Russell Field and everyone at NASSH for bringing us together for this live show. 

    This episode was produced by Martin Kessler. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. 

    For show notes, transcripts, and more info about BIAD, check out our website: http://www.burnitalldownpod.com

    NOTE: We will have a transcript for this episode available on our site as soon as we can, though not as quickly as we used to. We are not the well-oiled machine we used to be; things take more time these days.

    For BIAD merchandise: https://teespring.com/stores/burn-it-all-down

    Find us on Blueskey: https://bsky.app/profile/burnitalldownpod.com; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BurnItAllDownPod/; and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burnitalldownpod/.

    24 June 2025, 11:05 am
  • 20 minutes 30 seconds
    Q+A from Bowling Green

    This episode of Burn It All Down was recorded in front of a live audience at Bowling Green State University on March 27, 2025.

    We’re back...for a single live show. If you have not heard the show itself, you can find it on your feed now. This is the Q+A with the live audience that followed.

    We are not resuming weekly shows at this point, but we do have another live show scheduled at the end of May in Gatineau, Canada (more on that to come). 

    If you are interested in bringing BIAD to your location for a live show, please contact us through our website: ⁠https://www.burnitalldownpod.com/⁠


    EPISODE NOTES: 

    We want to thank Dr. Vikki Krane, the Social Justice through Sport and Exercise Psychology Symposium, Amy J. Kolk, and everyone else at BGSU for bringing us back together for a live show. A special shout out to Phil Beskid for recording all of our audio. 

    This episode was produced by Martin Kessler. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. 

    For show notes, transcripts, and more info about BIAD, check out our website: ⁠http://www.burnitalldownpod.com⁠

    NOTE: We will have a transcript for this episode available on our site as soon as we can, though not as quickly as we used to. We are not the well-oiled machine we used to be; things take more time these days.

    For BIAD merchandise: ⁠https://teespring.com/stores/burn-it-all-down⁠

    Find us on Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/burnitalldownpod.com⁠; Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/BurnItAllDownPod/⁠; and Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/burnitalldownpod/

    21 April 2025, 2:17 pm
  • 1 hour 28 minutes
    Ep 268: Live from Bowling Green State University

    This episode of Burn It All Down was recorded in front of a live audience at Bowling Green State University on March 27, 2025.

    We’re back...for a single live show. We are not resuming weekly shows at this point, but we do have another live show scheduled at the end of May in Gatineau, Canada (more on that to come). 

    If you are interested in bringing BIAD to your location for a live show, please contact us through our website: https://www.burnitalldownpod.com/


    EPISODE SUMMARY:

    This week, Shireen, Lindsay, Amira, Brenda, and Jessica talk about sports at, what feels like, the end of the world. They discuss the dissonance and relationship between all the good that is happening within sports and the brutal societal attack on trans people’s civil rights, especially on trans girls and women in sports, the rollback of diversity/equity/inclusion on college campuses as athletes begin to secure more labor rights, and the United States’ horrific isolationist and nationalist movements as the US, Mexico, and Canada get ready to host some of the world’s biggest international sporting events.

    And, as always, you’ll hear the Burn Pile and Torchbearers, starring, well, us.


    EPISODE NOTES: 

    We want to thank Dr. Vikki Krane, the Social Justice through Sport and Exercise Psychology Symposium, Amy J. Kolk, and everyone else at BGSU for bringing us back together for a live show. A special shout out to Phil Beskid for recording all of our audio. 

    This episode was produced by Martin Kessler. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. 

    For show notes, transcripts, and more info about BIAD, check out our website: http://www.burnitalldownpod.com

    NOTE: We will have a transcript for this episode available on our site as soon as we can, though not as quickly as we used to. We are not the well-oiled machine we used to be; things take more time these days.

    For BIAD merchandise: https://teespring.com/stores/burn-it-all-down

    Find us on Blueskey: https://bsky.app/profile/burnitalldownpod.com; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BurnItAllDownPod/; and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burnitalldownpod/

    15 April 2025, 6:45 pm
  • 1 hour 16 minutes
    Ep. 267: Burn On, Not Out

    In this episode, the whole team -- Lindsay Gibbs, Amira Rose Davis, Shireen Ahmed, Brenda Elsey and Jessica Luther -- is together. First they discuss upcoming Halloween costumes. Then, they share a very important announcement.

    Following this discussion, they preview a special Patreon segment about bold predictions for sports outcomes in 2022. Then, you'll here a preview of Amira's interview with Sam Coffey of the Portland Thorns and Ellie Jean of Gotham FC, on their first NWSL season.

    Next, they burn some of the worst in sports on the Burn Pile. Then, they celebrate those shining light, including Torchbearer of the Week, Crystal Dunn, who's banger goal three minutes into stoppage time pushed the Portland Thorns past the San Diego Wave and into the NWSL finals, where they’ll face the Kansas City Current on October 29 in DC. They wrap up the show with What's Good and What We're Watching In Sports this week.

    This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. 

    For show notes, transcripts, and more info about BIAD, check out our website: www.burnitalldownpod.com

    To get exclusive content and support the Burn It All Down podcast, become a patron: www.patreon.com/burnitalldown

    For BIAD merchandise: https://www.bonfire.com/store/burn-it-all-down/

    Find us on Twitter: twitter.com/BurnItDownPod; Facebook: www.facebook.com/BurnItAllDownPod/; and Instagram: www.instagram.com/burnitalldownpod/

    27 October 2022, 2:02 pm
  • 55 minutes 33 seconds
    Interview: Sam Coffey and Ellie Jean on their first NWSL Season

    In this episode, Amira Rose Davis interviews her former students, Ellie Jean of Gotham FC and Sam Coffey of the Portland Thorns, about their first season in the NWSL. They also talk about how their college journey impacted who they are now and their goals for the future.

    This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media wizard.

    For show notes, transcripts, and more info about BIAD, check out our website: www.burnitalldownpod.com

    For BIAD merchandise: https://www.bonfire.com/store/burn-it-all-down/

    Find us on Twitter: twitter.com/BurnItDownPod; Facebook: www.facebook.com/BurnItAllDownPod/; and Instagram: www.instagram.com/burnitalldownpod/

    25 October 2022, 6:35 pm
  • 57 minutes 48 seconds
    Ep. 266: Buckle Up! It's the Fall Sports Mayhem Mash-Up Whip-Around
    In this episode, Amira Rose Davis, Jessica Luther and Lindsay Gibbs recap the current madness of fall sports. But first, they share memorable moments from their live show at the University of Notre Dame. Then, they discuss all things fall and sports, including updates on rookie quarterbacks and the start to the NFL; the MLB post-season; soccer, including English Premier League football standings and both the NWSL and MLS playoffs; F1 racing drama; college sports like football, soccer, volleyball and basketball; and excitement around the newest NBA season. Following this discussion, they preview a special Patreon segment about the rise of pickleball's popularity. Then, you'll here a preview of this week's interview with Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick. Next, they burn some of the worst in sports on the Burn Pile. Then, they celebrate those shining light, including Torchbearer of the Week, Elnaz Rebaki, the Iranian climber who recently competed in the IFSC Asian Championship without a hijab, breaking Iran's legal dress code. Though Rebaki has stated climbing without a head covering was an accident, many see it as an act of solidarity with protests in Iran over the murder of Mahsa Amini. They wrap up the show with What's Good and What We're Watching In Sports this week. This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. Burn It All Down is part of the Blue Wire podcast network. For show notes, transcripts, and more info about BIAD, check out our website: www.burnitalldownpod.com To get exclusive content and support the Burn It All Down podcast, become a patron: www.patreon.com/burnitalldown For BIAD merchandise: https://www.bonfire.com/store/burn-it-all-down/ Find us on Twitter: twitter.com/BurnItDownPod; Facebook: www.facebook.com/BurnItAllDownPod/; and Instagram: www.instagram.com/burnitalldownpod/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    20 October 2022, 2:57 pm
  • 40 minutes 10 seconds
    Interview: Jack Swarbrick, Athletic Director at the University of Notre Dame, on the Challenges and Opportunities of Collegiate Athletics' Programs
    In this episode, Amira Rose Davis and Brenda Elsey interview Jack Swarbrick, Athletic Director at the University of Notre Dame. They discuss the modern challenges and opportunities of running an athletic program in the NCAA. This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. Burn It All Down is part of the Blue Wire podcast network. For show notes, transcripts, and more info about BIAD, check out our website: www.burnitalldownpod.com To get exclusive content and support the Burn It All Down podcast, become a patron: www.patreon.com/burnitalldown For BIAD merchandise: https://www.bonfire.com/store/burn-it-all-down/ Find us on Twitter: twitter.com/BurnItDownPod; Facebook: www.facebook.com/BurnItAllDownPod/; and Instagram: www.instagram.com/burnitalldownpod/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    18 October 2022, 8:00 am
  • 1 hour 9 minutes
    Ep. 265: Live from Notre Dame on Protecting Labor in Sport
    In this episode, Jessica Luther, Amira Rose Davis, Shireen Ahmed, Lindsay Gibbs, and Brenda Elsey are live at the University of Notre Dame. First they share their favorite Notre Dame trivia. Then, they discuss protecting -- or not -- the labor of athletes, starting off with the the recent Sally Yates report about sexual and racial abuse in the NWSL by former coaches Paul Riley, Christie Holly, and Rory Dames, and the lack of accountability by US soccer federation and Safe Sport, and CONCACAF. They also talk about how the myth women's sports being in peril is used as shield to defend actions of abuse and mistreatment; lack of physical and mental health protection for athletes, gendered violence, the importance of labor unions in sport. Following this discussion, they preview of Shireen's interview with endurance athlete and activist Alison Mariella Désir on her new book Running While Black. Next, they burn some of the worst in sports on the Burn Pile. Then, they celebrate those shining light, including Torchbearer of the Week, handball player Lucas Krzikalla, who became the first out gay man actively playing in a professional German sport. They wrap up the show with What's Good and What We're Watching In Sports this week. Following this discussion, they have a Q&A with the audience, which is available on Patreon. This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. Burn It All Down is part of the Blue Wire podcast network. For show notes, transcripts, and more info about BIAD, check out our website: www.burnitalldownpod.com To get exclusive content and support the Burn It All Down podcast, become a patron: www.patreon.com/burnitalldown For BIAD merchandise: https://www.bonfire.com/store/burn-it-all-down/ Find us on Twitter: twitter.com/BurnItDownPod; Facebook: www.facebook.com/BurnItAllDownPod/; and Instagram: www.instagram.com/burnitalldownpod/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    13 October 2022, 1:06 pm
  • 39 minutes 59 seconds
    Interview: Alison Mariella Désir, author of Running While Black
    In this episode, Shireen Ahmed interviews Alison Mariella Désir, endurance athlete, activist, mental health advocate and author of the book Running While Black. They talk about Alison's writing process, relationship with endurance running in as Black woman in a white sport. To pre-order Running While Black, which publishes October 18, 2022, visit: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/675749/running-while-black-by-alison-mariella-desir/ This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. Burn It All Down is part of the Blue Wire podcast network. For show notes, transcripts, and more info about BIAD, check out our website: www.burnitalldownpod.com To get exclusive content and support the Burn It All Down podcast, become a patron: www.patreon.com/burnitalldown For BIAD merchandise: https://www.bonfire.com/store/burn-it-all-down/ Find us on Twitter: twitter.com/BurnItDownPod; Facebook: www.facebook.com/BurnItAllDownPod/; and Instagram: www.instagram.com/burnitalldownpod/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    11 October 2022, 1:08 pm
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