Caty Szeto is a woman with a dream: to become a K-Pop superstar. The 23-year-old Asian American is traveling from her home in LA to South Korea’s capital Seoul to attend a K-Pop academy. There she’ll do hardcore training in singing, dancing and styling. All this is to prepare for make-or-break auditions for K-Pop entertainment agencies. If she makes it, Caty could be like all those chart-topping idols who travel the world, perform to legions of fans and make millions. But this quest has its challenges. Caty finds out about ageism in the industry, where many new idols are in their teens. Then she comes face-to-face with incredibly specific K-beauty standards while navigating being a foreigner in K-Pop. Over just three months, our host journalist Haeryun Kang follows Caty to see if she can overcome these obstacles and reach K-Pop stardom.   Listen to Mission K-Pop on all platforms or wherever you get your podcasts.   Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After learning from Olympians past and present about how they made it, it’s Kareem’s turn in the hot seat. In an intimate conversation with former Olympian and NBC sports commentator Ato Boldon, Kareem reflects on what the Olympic pursuit of the games has taught him about himself.  Credits: Josh Bloch- For USG Audio Jessica Grimshaw- For USG Audio Jennifer Sears- For USG Audio Gretta Cohn- Executive Producer Kareem Maddox- Executive Producer, Host Alex Sujong Laughlin - Senior Producer Mitchell Johnson - Producer Jess Shane - Producer Greta Weber - Producer Sara Nics- Executive Editor Alex Overington - Sound Design AJ Hanneld- Key Art Design  This is a USG Audio Podcast in collaboration with Transmitter Media NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 2016, the first ever Refugee team competed in the Rio Olympics. But what happens when the stakes of competition are so much higher than a gold medal? Credits: Josh Bloch- For USG Audio Jessica Grimshaw- For USG Audio Jennifer Sears- For USG Audio Gretta Cohn- Executive Producer Kareem Maddox- Executive Producer, Host Alex Sujong Laughlin - Senior Producer Mitchell Johnson - Producer Jess Shane - Producer Greta Weber - Producer Sara Nics- Executive Editor Alex Overington - Sound Design AJ Hanneld- Key Art Design  This is a USG Audio Podcast in collaboration with Transmitter Media See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

East German Sylvia Gerasch was a swimming prodigy who shattered world records early in her career. But competing without compromising her political freedom meant making it to the Olympics would be many more years in the making.  Credits: Josh Bloch- For USG Audio Jessica Grimshaw- For USG Audio Jennifer Sears- For USG Audio Gretta Cohn- Executive Producer Kareem Maddox- Executive Producer, Host Alex Sujong Laughlin - Senior Producer Mitchell Johnson - Producer Jess Shane - Producer Greta Weber - Producer Sara Nics- Executive Editor Alex Overington - Sound Design AJ Hanneld- Key Art Design  NOVA Audio provided by GBH Archives This is a USG Audio Podcast in collaboration with Transmitter Media See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What has a fuzzy blue body, huge red sneakers, and lightning bolt eyebrows? In Atlanta in the 90s, an unusual Olympian came to town and brought a storm of controversy.  Credits: Josh Bloch- For USG Audio Jessica Grimshaw- For USG Audio Jennifer Sears- For USG Audio Gretta Cohn- Executive Producer Kareem Maddox- Executive Producer, Host Alex Sujong Laughlin - Senior Producer Mitchell Johnson - Producer Jess Shane - Producer Greta Weber - Producer Sara Nics- Executive Editor Alex Overington - Sound Design AJ Hanneld- Key Art Design  This is a USG Audio Podcast in collaboration with Transmitter Media See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Khalil Thompson had all the potential of a great Olympic fencer. To get there, he just had to conquer one last opponent: himself. Content warning: This episode features some discussion of suicidal ideation.  Credits: Josh Bloch- For USG Audio Jessica Grimshaw- For USG Audio Jennifer Sears- For USG Audio Gretta Cohn- Executive Producer Kareem Maddox- Executive Producer, Host Alex Sujong Laughlin - Senior Producer Mitchell Johnson - Producer Jess Shane - Producer Sara Nics- Executive Editor Alex Overington - Sound Design AJ Hanneld- Key Art Design  This is a USG Audio Podcast in collaboration with Transmitter Media See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sharon Jewell’s father taught her to “be the first, be the best, do it better, or do it longer than anybody else.” And that’s what she did. But what does it mean to be the best in a world that sees you as less? Credits: Josh Bloch- For USG Audio Jessica Grimshaw- For USG Audio Jennifer Sears- For USG Audio Gretta Cohn- Executive Producer Kareem Maddox- Executive Producer, Host Alex Sujong Laughlin - Senior Producer Mitchell Johnson - Producer Jess Shane - Producer Sara Nics- Executive Editor Alex Overington - Sound Design AJ Hanneld- Key Art Design  This is a USG Audio Podcast in collaboration with Transmitter Media See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Randi Griffin thought her hockey career was over — until the South Korean national team invited her to join their ice hockey team for the 2018 Winter Olympics.  Credits: Josh Bloch- For USG Audio Jessica Grimshaw- For USG Audio Jennifer Sears- For USG Audio Gretta Cohn- Executive Producer Kareem Maddox- Executive Producer, Host Alex Sujong Laughlin - Senior Producer Mitchell Johnson - Producer Jess Shane - Producer Sara Nics- Executive Editor Alex Overington - Sound Design AJ Hanneld- Key Art Design  This is a USG Audio Podcast in collaboration with Transmitter Media See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Since he was a kid, Billy Mills dreamed of going to the Olympics. But to make it there, he’d have to fight back against centuries of oppression. Content warning: This episode features some discussion of suicidal ideation.  Credits: Josh Bloch- For USG Audio Jessica Grimshaw- For USG Audio Jennifer Sears- For USG Audio Gretta Cohn- Executive Producer Kareem Maddox- Executive Producer, Host Alex Sujong Laughlin - Senior Producer Mitchell Johnson - Producer Jess Shane - Producer Greta Weber - Producer Sara Nics- Executive Editor Alex Overington - Sound Design AJ Hanneld- Key Art Design  This is a USG Audio Podcast in collaboration with Transmitter Media See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kareem Maddox is a professional 3x3 basketball player and a lifelong fan of the Olympics, and he’s spent the last year exploring one question: What does it mean to be an Olympian?  The Greatness with Kareem Maddox features athletes from different countries, different sports, and different decades. They share their Olympic dreams, what happens off the field, and what the Olympics mean to all of us.  Credits: Josh Bloch- For USG Audio Jessica Grimshaw- For USG Audio Jennifer Sears- For USG Audio Gretta Cohn- Executive Producer Kareem Maddox- Executive Producer, Host Alex Sujong Laughlin - Senior Producer Mitchell Johnson - Producer Jess Shane - Producer Greta Weber - Producer Sara Nics- Executive Editor Alex Overington - Sound Design AJ Hanneld- Key Art Design  This is a USG Audio Podcast in collaboration with Transmitter Media See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.