logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2016
43m 5s

On the Edge

Wnyc Studios
About this episode
At the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan, one athlete pulled a move that, so far as we know, no one else had ever done in all of human history. Surya Bonaly was not your typical figure skater.  She was black. She was athletic. And she didn’t seem to care about artistry.  Her performances – punctuated by triple-triple jumps and other power moves – thrilled audie ... Show More
Up next
Sep 11
23 Weeks 6 Days
When Kelley Benham and her husband Tom French finally got pregnant, after many attempts and a good deal of technological help, everything was perfect. Until it wasn't. Their story raises questions that, until recently, no parent had to face… and that are still nearly impossible t ... Show More
1h 3m
Sep 4
60 Words
We’re coming up on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, and it had us thinking about an episode we produced in 2014. It’s the story of one sentence, written in the hours after September 11th, 2001, that has led to the longest war in U.S. history. We examine how just 60 words ... Show More
58m 25s
Aug 28
Dolly Parton's America: Sad Ass Songs
The world lost a legend recently, and we wanted in some small way to pay tribute to the great Dolly Parton. So we’re playing you an episode from a series we had a small part in back in 2017, Dolly Parton’s America. The series kicked off with a simple question: How did the queen o ... Show More
1h 4m
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2016
Gymnastics Gold
<p>American Simone Biles is possibly the most talented gymnast in history. Cristen and Caroline somersault across the history of the OIympic event from its iconic hair and leotards to gendered and ethnic coding as well as the women like Simone Biles who have vaulted to worldwide ... Show More
1h 9m
Dec 2020
What’s It Like To Make Triple Axel History? with Mirai Nagasu
This holiday break, we’re re-releasing two of our favorite episodes, with three of our favorite experts, about one of our favorite topics: figure skating. First up is an episode from April 2018 with Olympic figure skater Mirai Nagasu, who was the first American female figure ska ... Show More
56m 56s
Dec 2018
Chloe Kim
Chloe Kim is a snowboarding legend. Fresh off a 2018 Olympic Gold medal, she’s at the top of her sport. What gives Chloe her notorious edge is not just her physical ability, it’s her unstoppable drive to advance the sport. A drive that helps her rise above obstacles and find the ... Show More
27m 18s
Oct 2025
Out of the box
We like to think of ourselves as a bit maverick here on Not by the Playbook. Nothing too outrageous, but we like to think outside of the box... and so we present to you a show dedicated to those athletes whose decision to think out side of the box has served them well. People who ... Show More
51m 14s
Sep 2020
Lizzie Armanto
Skateboarding unicorn Lizzie Armanto joins Kelley to talk about her uncharted path through the world of professional skating. Lizzie discusses the importance of skate park culture to her early education in the sport, why an injury of all things was what convinced her to go pro, t ... Show More
45m 40s
Jul 2019
Tonya Harding Part 1
Sarah tells Mike the story of a world-class figure skater who worked at a mall potato restaurant. Digressions include “Sleepless in Seattle,” mall walkers, synchronized diving and the difficulty of skating a perfect pentagram. This episode unfortunately contains descriptions of p ... Show More
1h 12m
Oct 2019
Adam Rippon | Olympic Figure Skater & Media Phenom
<p>Olympic figure skater, Adam Rippon, won the world over not only with a medal-winning performance at the 2018 games, but also with his disarmingly honest, unfiltered and funny on-camera presence. Rippon is an artist, athlete, and activist who's known for his passionate support ... Show More
1h 17m
Jul 2024
The Greatest: Simone Biles
<p>She is arguably the best gymnast the world has ever seen. But history shows us that she’s human too. Will Simone Biles fly at the Paris Olympics or will she fall?</p><br><p>– Clips of Simone Biles from Versus on Watch web series and the Call Her Daddy podcast.</p><br><p>To fin ... Show More
37m 15s