The Culture Behind Puerto Rican Women’s Basketball | Arella Guirantes

In this episode of Flame Bearers, host Toccara Renee speaks with Paralympic silver medalist and Team USA wheelchair basketball powerhouse Emily Oberst on transitioning into adaptive sports following a life-altering cancer diagnosis, dismantling systemic barriers for young girls, and pushing global sports media to change the narrative on para athletes. As we look ahead to the IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships and the long runway to the LA Paralympics, Emily breaks down the intense tactical chess match of wheelchair classifications, channels the fire of Team USA’s legendary rivalry with the Netherlands, and reminds us that true success comes from falling in love with the sport.

In this episode of Flame Bearers, host Toccara Renee speaks with WNBA talent, overseas standout, and Puerto Rican national team star Arella Guirantes on honoring her family's Puerto Rican roots on the global stage, pushing for stronger media coverage and equity for international athletes, and finding ultimate peace in the game by focusing on character over accolades. As we look to this week’s FIBA World Cup where Arella will be representing PR, she shows what world-class, purpose-driven basketball looks like, advocates for greater synergy between U.S. and overseas sports markets, and reminds us all that true success comes from how deeply you touch people's lives along the journey.

In this episode of Flame Bearers, guest host Dana Mathewson speaks with Japanese wheelchair tennis superstar, world number one, and newly minted Career Golden Slam winner Yui Kamiji on capturing her elusive first Wimbledon singles title, adapting to an increasingly powerful era of tennis, and finding mental clarity under intense pressure. Fun fact: To get pumped up before a big match, Yui listens to Eminem's "Not Afraid," and considers staying in high-grade tour hotels one of her favorite parts of traveling. She shows us that true championship performance stems from deep gratitude for your team and holding onto the simple joy of the game.

In this episode of Flame Bearers, guest host Dana Mathewson chats with Dutch wheelchair tennis player Aniek Van Koot, former world No. 1 in both singles and doubles. The two friends and former competitors reminisce about past tournaments, break down the differences between the U.S. Open, Wimbledon and more. Aniek reveals what helps her keep a positive, healthy mindset, and why she hopes more people will not only learn about wheelchair tennis, but also fall in love with it the way she she did.--------Flame Bearers is a women's sports storytelling studio, championing extraordinary athletes and driving conversations around equality, leadership, and high performance. We’ve collaborated with 450+  Olympians and Paralympians from 55 countries—including Hilary Knight, Sue Bird, Caster Semenya, and Amber Glenn— and have earned 28 international awards for capturing raw human journeys of resilience, confidence, and mental health. Through video, podcasting, events, and social media, we spotlight the athlete’s story behind the scoreboards, in her own words.

In this episode of Flame Bearers, guest host Dana Mathewson speaks with Italian pro cycling superstar, former road world champion, and multi-stage Giro d'Italia Women winner Elisa Balsamo on navigating the Tour de France Femmes, and what it's like to keep your mind steady when your bike is going full speed. Fun fact: Elisa studied literature in college, and finds both solace and motivation in her favorite books. She shows us that true endurance comes from mental resilience, trusting your team, and cultivating a full life beyond the bike.--------Flame Bearers is a women's sports storytelling studio, championing extraordinary athletes and driving conversations around equality, leadership, and high performance. We’ve collaborated with 450+  Olympians and Paralympians from 55 countries—including Hilary Knight, Sue Bird, Caster Semenya, and Amber Glenn— and have earned 28 international awards for capturing raw human journeys of resilience, confidence, and mental health. Through video, podcasting, events, and social media, we spotlight the athlete’s story behind the scoreboards, in her own words.

In this episode of Flame Bearers, guest host Dana Mathewson speaks with British wheelchair tennis legend and multi-time Paralympic medalist Lucy Shuker on the US Open, rebuilding her life after a severe spinal cord injury at age 21, learning to maximize her game to compete at the highest level, and shifting away from chasing ranking points to rediscover pure joy after 24 years in the sport. Lucy directly dismantles the misconception that wheelchair tennis is anything less than full-on, hardcore athletic competition, pushes for stronger coverage of women’s wheelchair tennis, and shows us all that true longevity comes from stepping back to appreciate the journey.

In this episode of Flame Bearers, host Manasi Joshi speaks with Canadian world record holder Danielle Dorris on making her Paralympic debut at just 13 years old, navigating the relentless fatigue of elite training, and learning the vital lesson that it’s okay if you can’t balance every area of life all at once. Danielle reminds us that Paralympians are world-class competitors who work just as hard as any Olympic athlete, and shows us all that long-term excellence comes from competing against your own standards, separating your craft from your personal identity, and learning to listen to what the water tells you.--------Flame Bearers is a women's sports storytelling studio, championing extraordinary athletes and driving conversations around equality, leadership, and high performance. We’ve collaborated with 450+  Olympians and Paralympians from 55 countries—including Hilary Knight, Sue Bird, Caster Semenya, and Amber Glenn— and have earned 28 international awards for capturing raw human journeys of resilience, confidence, and mental health. Through video, podcasting, events, and social media, we spotlight the athlete’s story behind the scoreboards, in her own words.

In this episode of Flame Bearers, host Manasi Joshi speaks with Canadian paraswimming icon Katie Cosgriffe on reclaiming her purpose after a life-altering 2021 diagnosis, leaning into the philosophy of turning life's hardest trials into its greatest triumphs, and navigating the relentless mental and physical fatigue of elite training. Katie directly challenges the public's limited understanding and societal misconceptions surrounding invisible disabilities, calling for a narrative shift that recognizes the daily, unseen battles of S10 athletes. Katie reminds us that Paralympians are world-class elite competitors who have earned their place on the global stage, and shows us all that breaking timelines and taking ownership of your own lane begins with the courage to advocate for exactly what you need.--Flame Bearers is a women's sports storytelling studio, championing extraordinary athletes and driving conversations around equality, leadership, and high performance. We’ve collaborated with 450+  Olympians and Paralympians from 55 countries—including Hilary Knight, Sue Bird, Caster Semenya, and Amber Glenn— and have earned 28 international awards for capturing raw human journeys of resilience, confidence, and mental health. Through video, podcasting, events, and social media, we spotlight the athlete’s story behind the scoreboards, in her own words. 

In this episode of Flame Bearers, host and Paralympian Manasi Joshi speaks with Canadian paratriathlon powerhouse Leanne Taylor on balancing elite athletic training with the demands of motherhood, leaning into the philosophy of "embracing the chaos" and finding peace in the fact that things do not have to be perfect to be good.  Leanne directly challenges the media’s limited, one-dimensional lens, calling for a narrative shift that celebrates women with disabilities as multifaceted individuals—honoring them not just for their athletic capabilities, but as mothers, employees, and icons. She shows us all that self-care isn't another task in itself, but about finding joy in every moment with her sport, her loved ones, and her adorable son. 

In this episode of Flame Bearers, host Manasi Joshi sits down with paratriathlete and emergency medicine doctor Danielle Cummings to talk about navigating demanding hospital training while simultaneously adjusting to life as an elite competitor. She shares the vulnerability of pushing through six and a half years of horrific chronic pain after a rock climbing accident, discovering the vital lesson of taking things "a day at a time," and using paratriathlon as the ultimate space to reclaim her active life. They explore the powerful parallels between managing unpredictable shifts in the emergency room and adapting to the fast-paced disciplines of a multi-sport race, alongside the critical role of financial aid from the Scout Bassett Foundation. Danielle challenges the medical community to listen to adaptive patients rather than viewing amputation as a failure, and pushes the media to focus on athletic achievements rather than purely inspirational disability backstories.