The Hidden Labor of Ethiopian Runners with Hannah Borenstein

In this episode, anthropologist and scholar Hannah Borenstein shares an insider’s view of the social, political, and labor dynamics that shape Ethiopian long-distance runners. We explore how community, environment, and systemic inequalities influence athletic success, challenging stereotypes rooted in genetics and race. This conversation shines a light on the intertwined worlds of sport, politics, and labor in Ethiopia.Chapters00:00 Introduction & Hannah Borenstein's Background 07:03 Political and Social Dynamics in Ethiopia 17:42 Gender, Surveillance, and Athlete Activism 28:34 Ethiopian Running: Labor and Exploitation 49:16 Challenges and Narratives in Sports 65:46 Building Trust and Ethnographic Insights 82:52 Final Reflections and StorytellingKeywords: Running, Anthropology, Hannah Borenstein, Long-Distance Running, Ethiopian Athletes, Sports Politics, Gender Dynamics, Ethnographic Research, Athletic Success, EthiopiaHosts in this episode: Anna Posbergh, Priyansh, Nathan Kalman-Lamb________________________________________Support & Follow The End of SportPatreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/Theendofsport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Support the show!)Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@endofsportpod.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@endofsportpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter/X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@EndofSportPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The End of Sport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen, share, and support The End of Sport, a proud member of the Harbinger Media Network, a community of over sixty leftist podcasts at ⁠⁠harbingermedianetwork.com⁠⁠.