Layshia Clarendon: I'm Not a Talking Point
from Flame Bearers Hosted by Founded by Jamie Mittelman
In this episode of Flame Bearers, host Janelly Farías sits down with WNBA All-Star, USA gold medalist, and trailblazer Layshia Clarendon for a conversation on Layshia’s complex intersectional journey—navigating life as the first out trans and non-binary player in WNBA history while balancing public advocacy with personal safety and mental health. They share the vulnerability of moving through the "second death" that comes with athlete retirement, the grueling process of learning how to be a human again outside of a rigid sports schedule, and finding the courage to take risks to live authentically. Together, they explore the necessity of collective bargaining where "all boats rise together," the transition into sports media to keep the performance adrenaline alive, and Layshia's mission to eliminate barriers to trans healthcare through their foundation. Layshia challenges the sporting world to look past the statistics and recognize the human before the athlete, leaving us with an important reminder to rest when exhausted, keep up the fight, and know that we are inherently perfect and lovable exactly as we are.
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