This Is Woman's Work with Nicole Kalil
Episode: Women In Sports with Jamie Mittelman | 320
Release Date: June 23, 2025
In the "Women In Sports" episode of This Is Woman's Work, host Nicole Kalil engages in a profound conversation with Jamie Mittelman, a passionate advocate for women's sports and the force behind Flame Bearers, a global media platform dedicated to elevating women Olympians and Paralympians. This detailed summary encapsulates their insightful dialogue, highlighting the progress, challenges, and transformative power of storytelling in women's sports.
1. Nicole's Reflection on Supporting Women’s Sports
Nicole begins the episode with a heartfelt confession about her late journey into supporting women's sports. She candidly shares her initial disinterest and lack of engagement, lamenting missed opportunities to champion female athletes earlier.
"My biggest regret is that I didn't start sooner."
[01:31] Nicole Kalil
2. Introducing Jamie Mittelman: Championing Women's Sports
Nicole introduces Jamie Mittelman, emphasizing her extensive background in media, international nonprofit work, and her pivotal role in managing a significant portfolio at Yahoo. Jamie is the host of Flame Bearers, which serves as the first global media production company and podcast dedicated to women Olympians and Paralympians.
3. Assessing the Current Landscape of Women’s Sports
Jamie highlights notable progress in women's sports, particularly referencing the Paris Olympics, where gender parity was achieved in athlete participation.
"This was the first year that we reached gender parity in terms of equal numbers of men and women athletes competing. Huge win."
[05:06] Jamie Mittelman
However, she also points out ongoing disparities, such as the Paralympics not achieving the same level of gender equality.
4. The Crucial Role of Storytelling and Media Representation
Jamie delves into the significant imbalance in media coverage, noting that 85% of sports media focuses on men, leaving only 15% dedicated to women. She stresses that even within the limited coverage, the spotlight predominantly shines on white, able-bodied women from the global north, thereby marginalizing diverse female athletes.
"Sports media is a misnomer. I think that it's male sports media coverage if 85% goes to men."
[05:58] Jamie Mittelman
She argues for the necessity of broadening both the quantity and quality of stories told about women athletes to ensure diverse representations.
5. Empowering Consumers to Shape Narratives
The conversation shifts to the role of media consumers in influencing how women’s sports are portrayed. Jamie encourages listeners to actively challenge inequities by voicing concerns when they witness biased coverage or misrepresentation.
"If you're watching, if you're consuming this content and you say, hey, this doesn't sit right with me, you can actually do something about it."
[10:02] Jamie Mittelman
She highlights initiatives like Flame Bearers as platforms where consumers can contribute to positive change by reporting and supporting equitable storytelling.
6. Spotlighting Lesser-Known Women Athletes
Jamie emphasizes the importance of featuring a diverse array of women athletes beyond the well-known names. By highlighting stories of athletes like Rita Assemwe from Uganda, who overcame personal and societal challenges to excel in parabadminton, Jamie illustrates how diverse narratives inspire different communities and generations.
"There are thousands of other individuals who we can all learn from and their stories are vastly different."
[14:21] Jamie Mittelman
This approach ensures that role models resonate with a broader audience, fostering inclusivity and representation.
7. Global Perspectives: Understanding Cultural Differences in Women’s Sports
Exploring beyond the U.S., Jamie shares compelling stories of women athletes from around the world, showcasing the varied challenges they face due to cultural and societal norms. She recounts the story of Massimo Alizada, who had to disguise herself as a man to participate in cycling in Kabul, Afghanistan.
"Women's experiences around the world are so totally different... how they manifest in cultures around the world and religions around the world are different."
[20:00] Jamie Mittelman
This global lens underscores the universal yet unique struggles and triumphs of women in sports, highlighting the importance of diverse storytelling.
8. Encouraging Youth Participation and Building Supportive Communities
Nicole and Jamie discuss strategies to foster sustained engagement in sports among young girls. Jamie advises parents to encourage their children to try various sports and to create supportive communities that help girls remain active, especially during challenging transitions like puberty.
"Encourage your child to be active... build that sense of community."
[23:38] Jamie Mittelman
By fostering a nurturing environment, the likelihood of girls continuing in sports increases, mitigating common drop-off points.
9. Expanding the Focus: Emerging Women’s Sports to Watch
Jamie identifies burgeoning women's sports that are gaining traction but remain underrepresented in mainstream media. She highlights women's hockey, pickleball, and wrestling as areas experiencing significant growth and increased visibility.
"Women's hockey is coming up fast and furious... pickleball... wrestling."
[25:49] Jamie Mittelman
These emerging sports offer fresh opportunities for women athletes to shine and for audiences to discover new talents.
10. Redefining Language and Perceptions in Women’s Sports
The discussion turns to the language used in sports commentary and its impact on perceptions of women athletes. Jamie argues that the traditional male-centric terminology fails to capture the unique strengths and leadership styles of women in sports.
"We don't talk... about the mother of the team... there are multiple different models here that can be celebrated."
[31:18] Jamie Mittelman
She advocates for developing a distinct lexicon that celebrates the diverse ways women lead and compete, thereby enriching the narrative around women's sports.
11. Conclusion: The Transformative Power of Stories and Collective Responsibility
As the episode concludes, Nicole reflects on the profound impact that sharing and supporting women’s sports stories can have. She emphasizes that these narratives not only inspire but also challenge societal norms, enhance representation, and pave the way for future generations.
"Every time we celebrate a woman athlete, every time we share her name, her triumph, and her journey, we challenge outdated norms, elevate representation, and open doors for our next generation."
[34:04] Nicole Kalil
Jamie echoes this sentiment, emphasizing that while athletes perform the hard work, platforms like Flame Bearers are essential in ensuring their stories receive the recognition they deserve.
"The athletes are doing the hard work. We're just trying to give them the credit that they deserve."
[33:42] Jamie Mittelman
Final Thoughts
This episode of This Is Woman's Work serves as a compelling reminder of the vital role media plays in shaping the narrative around women’s sports. By highlighting the strides made and the hurdles that remain, Nicole Kalil and Jamie Mittelman inspire listeners to actively participate in supporting and celebrating women athletes. Their dialogue underscores a collective responsibility to ensure that the stories of these remarkable women are told, heard, and valued.