We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve been nominated for the 2025 Sports Podcast Awards in the “Best Olympics and Paralympics” category. This marks the second time the show has been honored with a nomination for this award, the first being in 2022. This nomination recognizes our passion, dedication, and impact within the global sports community and to the Olympic and Paralympic Movements.
This year, Keep the Flame Alive stands out in its category because we were an accredited media outlet for the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics. Our production team—co-hosts Jill Jaracz and Alison Brown, along with contributors Book Club Claire and Ben Jackson—went above and beyond by producing daily podcasts directly from Paris for both the Olympics and Paralympics, delivering firsthand insights, interviews, and behind-the-scenes coverage.
“It is such an honor to be recognized once again for our work in celebrating the incredible stories of Olympians and Paralympians,” said Jill Jaracz, co-host and executive producer of Keep the Flame Alive. “It is not easy to produce 30 daily episodes with a small production team and shoestring budget. This nomination reflects our commitment to bringing the magic of the Games to life for our global audience. Also, it’s recognition that our Paris Olympics ‘Toilet Talk’ segment may have actually been entertaining.”
With our Paris 2024 coverage, Keep the Flame Alive aimed to be the media outlet that told you like it was. If you weren’t able to come to Paris, we brought Paris to you. We shared the extreme heat and rain, the incredible sports competitions, some hidden gems of the city, how the Phryge mascots were made, and the infamous chocolate muffins at the Athletes’ Village. We took you in through the media entrance, wandered through areas we probably weren’t supposed to be in, and gave you the view from the press tribune.
As Listener Patrick from Chicagoland put it in our Facebook Group, “It felt like you brought all of us there in Paris and represented us fans there too! Your coverage made following the Olympics and Paralympics that much more enjoyable, as you gave an alternative voice compared to the regular coverage we’ve been used to from the bigger media outlets!”
A different Listener Patrick also noted, “Jill and Alison’s ‘casual observations’ style of coverage is the closest you can get to feeling like you’re at the Olympics/Paralympics without actually being there (and I *was* there for the first 2 weeks so I would know 😉)”
How to Support Keep the Flame Alive: Vote Today!
Winners are determined by popular vote, which means we need your help! Vote for us—and tell your friends to vote too—to help us bring home the award. If you’ve enjoyed our Olympic and Paralympic coverage, now is the time to show your appreciation. Voting is simple and takes just a few minutes:
- Visit the Sports Podcast Awards website: https://www.sportspodcastgroup.com/shortlist-category/.
- Select the “Best Olympics and Paralympics” category.
- Cast your vote for Keep the Flame Alive by January 13, 2025.
- Share the link with friends, family, and fellow sports enthusiasts to spread the word!
Every vote counts in helping Keep the Flame Alive bring home this award. Your support of the support of the show is not just a vote to get us an award—it’s a vote for independent media, women in sports reporting, and the athletes and Gamesmakers who’ve taken the time to share their stories with us.
The Impact of Keep the Flame Alive
Since its inception, Keep the Flame Alive has carved out a niche as a go-to resource for fans of the Olympics and Paralympics. Plenty of podcasts have inspirational stories from athletes, but we stand out by telling you how it is.
We know you love the Games, and we want you have inside knowledge that lets you be the smartest in the room. We keep the history of the Games alive, make lesser-known sports exciting, and amplify unique voices within the Olympic and Paralympic movements. Additionally, our fantastic community of multi-sport event fans have built a safe space to geek out about the Games. No matter what element of the Olympics or Paralympics you love, you have a show that helps you celebrate it.
And now you can celebrate the fact that we’re one of the best Olympics and Paralympics podcasts in the pod universe! Help us be #1, and vote for us by January 13, 2025.
The Sports Podcast Awards is produced by The Sports Podcast Group, which aims to unite and celebrate excellence in the global sports podcasting industry.