Stay Tranquilo Podcast

Episode: 2x Gold Medalist Laneah Bryan on USA Flag Football’s Olympic Debut in LA Olympics 2028
Date: February 23, 2026
Host: Stay Tranquilo Network
Guest: Laneah Bryan

Episode Overview

This episode features a vibrant conversation with Laneah Bryan, a two-time gold medalist and defensive back (DB) for Team USA Women’s Flag Football. With the sport’s upcoming Olympic debut in the 2028 LA Games, Bryan shares her journey from basketball to flag football, the rapid growth and rising visibility of women’s flag football, and her excitement about representing on home soil. The episode radiates positivity and is packed with insights into competing at the highest level while celebrating the expanding opportunities for female athletes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Laneah’s Athletic Journey & Transition to Flag Football

• Basketball Roots: Laneah grew up loving football, but with limited opportunities for girls, she pursued basketball, playing at the collegiate level for the University of New Mexico.
  • “I loved football…there wasn’t space and opportunity for girls to play flag football. So I played basketball…then after that is when I transitioned to flag football.” (01:47)
• How Basketball Helped: Her basketball background supported her development as a flag football player through transferable skills like lateral movement and hand-eye coordination.
  • “A lot of it does translate...I do think that background for sure helped me.” (01:47)

The Rise of Women’s Flag Football

• Sport’s Explosive Growth: Over four years with Team USA, Laneah has seen the sport skyrocket in popularity, visibility, and opportunity.
  • “It’s insane. Like, it’s skyrocketed. I don’t know if you guys know, but me and a couple of my teammates are signed with Under Armour and we actually just had a commercial come out today.” (02:45)
  • Marked growth: representation deals (with Under Armour), media opportunities (Super Bowl Media Row), and new avenues for female athletes.

Olympic Debut & Representation

• Historic 2028 LA Olympics: Laneah expresses immense excitement about competing when women’s flag football debuts at the Summer Games — especially since it will be on U.S. soil.
  • “A million and one [on the excitement scale]...flag football making its debut in LA. It’s poetic.” (03:31–03:39)
• Facing International Competition: Team USA regularly competes against strong international teams including Mexico, Canada, Austria, Spain, and China.
  • “Mexico’s a really good team. Canada is really good. They have an amazing quarterback. Austria is really good...China, they’ve gotten to where they’re training, like, full year.” (04:05)
• Sport’s Global Expansion: Almost every country now has a women’s flag football team, and more are joining rapidly.
  • “It’s just growing at an insane rate right now.” (04:29)

Advice to Young Girls & Her Younger Self

• Inspiration & Representation: Laneah reflects on what her younger self would think of her achievements and encourages young girls to pursue their dreams, even if opportunities aren’t immediately available.
  • “Younger me, I think if she could see where I’m at now, oh, my gosh, she would be over the moon...it’s a dream come true that I didn’t know was possible...Now, the sky’s the limit.” (06:24)
  • “I just hope that they see that and they embrace that and they know that they belong in this space.” (07:01)

DB Life: Defense, Strategy, and Mindset

• Defensive Back Tactics:
  • QB: “What’s the strategy in flag football? Locking down? Is it more zone man?”
  • Laneah: “You can do some zones, but you man a lot of the time or it’s a zone to a man very quickly...You got to have fast feet...Defense is a challenge for flag football.” (07:14–07:34)
• Celebrations: Plans to celebrate with a gritty if she gets a pick-six in the Olympics.
  • “Pick six in the Olympics?...I gritty a lot, so that’s usually my [celebration].” (07:47)
• Competitive Edge & ‘Chirping’: The DB mindset includes some good-natured trash talk.
  • “You gotta have an edge too...You gotta have a little bit of a dog in you...Yes, I do chirp. Practice, I’ll chirp with my teammates...On the field, we’re gonna talk a little bit. I will. Not too much.” (08:48–09:09)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dreams Realized:
  “It’s a dream come true that I didn’t know was possible...just keep that dream in your heart. And now, the sky’s the limit.” — Laneah Bryan (06:24)
• On Girls’ Representation:
  “I just hope...they know that they belong in this space.” — Laneah Bryan (07:01)
• Olympic Anticipation:
  “A million and one.” [On excitement level for the Olympics] — Laneah Bryan (03:34)
• Strategy Talk:
  “You got to have fast feet...Defense is a challenge for flag football.” — Laneah Bryan (07:34)
• Chirping:
  “You gotta have an edge too...You gotta have a little bit of a dog in you.” — Laneah Bryan (08:49)

Key Timestamps

• 01:28 – Laneah introduces herself and discusses her background in basketball and transition to flag football
• 02:45 – Conversation about the growth of women’s flag football and Under Armour commercial
• 03:34 – Laneah rates her Olympic excitement “a million and one”
• 04:05 – Discussing international competition and standout teams
• 06:24 – Reflections and advice for her younger self and aspiring young girls
• 07:14 – Breakdown of DB strategy in flag football
• 07:47 – Celebrations after a pick-six: “I gritty a lot”
• 08:48 – The art of ‘chirping’ and maintaining a competitive edge

Tone & Takeaway

The conversation is upbeat, affirming, and laced with Laneah’s humility and passion for her sport. The hosts foster a laid-back yet motivating atmosphere perfectly in line with the Stay Tranquilo philosophy. Listeners come away inspired by Laneah’s journey, the explosion of opportunity in women’s flag football, and the promise of historic moments to come at the Olympics.