GymCastic: The Gymnastics Podcast

Olympic bronze medalist Sam Oldham joins Jessica for a conversation about his personal Japanese Gymnastics Spy, mental health, ADHD, grace and letting coaches learn rather than be cancelled, sports science failures, NCAA gymnastics, and life after the 2012 Summer Olympics. From injury prevention and athlete autonomy to judging politics and storytelling in gymnastics media, this episode dives deep into how the sport is changing — and where it still falls short.
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GymCastic Live: Featuring Chae CampbellReplay tickets available → Get tickets here
SAM OLDHAM INTERVIEW
British gymnastics legend Sam Oldham is here, and yes, we're going to talk about everything from winning Great Britain's historic (first in 100 years) bronze medal at the London Olympics that changed everything for British Gymnastics, to the chaos, comedy, and emotional whiplash of elite gymnastics life. Sam brings the rare combination of competition accolades, deep gym nerd-student credentials, and the kind of honesty about athlete culture that makes you gasp-laugh and then immediately need a therapy session. We discuss the pressure cooker of British Gymnastics, his friendship and love for his coach, surviving weight-obsessed culture he swore he would never succumb to, and being followed by a Japanese gymnastics spy!
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CHAPTERS
00:00 – Intro & Why Sam Oldham's Story Matters  
02:15 – The Reality of Funding Men's Gymnastics  
06:40 – Building Relationships That Save Careers  
10:12 –  Live Show Replay & Club Gym Nerd Perks  
16:11 – Sam Oldham on Coaching Wisdom & Sergei's Influence  
22:45 – Why Gymnastics Breaks So Many Athletes  
28:33 – Neurodiversity, Burnout & Life After Elite Sports  
36:20 – The Pressure of Being "Perfect" as an Athlete  
44:08 – Mental Health, Identity & Retirement from Gymnastics  
52:14 – British Gymnastics Culture vs NCAA Energy  
01:01:32 – Training Through Pain & Learning to Fuel Properly  
01:08:45 – Eating Disorders, Fasting & Dangerous Training Culture  
01:15:24 – Has Gymnastics Culture Actually Changed?  
01:22:50 – Why Athletes Need Control of Their Own Narrative  
01:30:57 – Speaking Out Against Harmful Coaching  
01:33:44 – Cancel Culture, Grace & Learning in Coaching  
01:40:10 – Why Storytelling Changes Gymnastics Culture  
01:44:59 – The Japanese Gymnastics "Spy Network" Story  
01:48:18 – FIG Studying NCAA Gymnastics & the Future of Pro Leagues  

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Ana Bărbosu has been provisionally suspended for whereabouts violations, the IOC has cleared Belarus restrictions, and USA Gymnastics is disputing claims from fired men's program manager Lisa Mendel. Plus: could NCAA stars like Selena Harris-Miranda, Avery Neff, Anna Roberts, and Nikki Smith make the leap to elite? We draft our dream NCAA-to-elite teams and answer a mini-commission on acro's Olympic future.
GymCastic Live: Featuring Chae Campbell  - Replay tickets available → Get tickets here
HEADLINES
Ana Barbosu has been provisionally suspended after an alleged "whereabouts failure" tied to missed out-of-competition testing
The IOC no longer recommends restrictions on athletes from Belarus
Lisa Mendel, the USAG Men's Program Manager, was fired from her position See USAG's response to Mendel's statement

GYMTERNET NEWS
Jessa Hansen Parker received a five-year contract extension at Washington
The French Ministry of Sports has dismissed the disciplinary proceedings against the former WAG high-performance director, Véronique Legras-Snoeck
Former Oklahoma gymnast Jordan Bowers has been added to Nebraska's coaching staff
Lynx Gymnastics Centre, the former gym of the Jessica and Jennifer Gadirova, has burned down
Faith Torrez is the Honda Sport Award winner for gymnastics! CHAPTERS
00:00 – Cold Open: Judges, Eat Your Pencils
00:33 – Headlines: Mendel, Bărbosu, Belarus & Mini-Commissions
01:23 – Corrections: Kara Eaker & Tabea Alt
04:08 – Ana Bărbosu Provisionally Suspended for Whereabouts Violations
09:05 – IOC Clears Belarus Restrictions, Russia Still Suspended
12:45 – Lisa Mendel Firing & USAG's SafeSport Statement
18:32 – Chae Campbell Live Show Replay Trailer
21:52 – Club Gym Nerd, BTS & Merch Updates
24:18 – Meet News: Michele Pineda, Oceania & Worlds Qualification
27:01 – Georgia Godwin's World-Medal-Pace Scores
29:47 – Courtney McGregor's Worlds Qualification Path
31:33 – Liechtenstein Makes World Cup History
33:08 – Gymnastics Greatest Stars of the Week
38:22 – Floor Slooff's Beam Sorcery
41:51 – Brazil Trophy Feelings, Tears & Dance Cam
44:22 – Level 10 Nationals, Raeya Linton & Broken Floors
53:08 – Gymternet News: Washington, France, Nebraska & Lynx Fire
58:18 – Gymdle, Gym Bee & Referral Program
59:40 – Mini-Commission: Could NCAA Stars Go Elite?
01:12:57 – Drafting the NCAA-to-Elite Dream Team
01:24:14 – Mini-Commission: What Happened to Acro?
01:32:04 – Olympic Program Cuts & Acro's Olympic Chances
01:38:43 – What's Coming Next: Chinese Championships, NHK & Sam Oldham
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GymCastic Live: Featuring Chae Campbell -  Watch the Trailer HERE Replay tickets available → Get tickets here
Olympic champion Jade Carey is officially BACK, Jordyn Wieber steps away from coaching, and the NCAA transfer portal is chaos. Meanwhile, Algeria makes history, Japan's team selection system is already causing stress, and the road to World Championships just got way more complicated.
We break down:
Jade Carey's return and what it means for LA 2028
Major NCAA transfers and NIL strategy shifts
Coaching carousel chaos across top programs
The new Worlds qualification system (and why no one is safe)
Russian and Japanese storylines you need to watch
Plus: a behind-the-scenes teaser from our Chae Campbell live show
👀 Stay to the end for a BTS preview you won't hear anywhere else.
CHAPTERS
00:00 – Cold Open: Postseason Chaos, Jade Carey Returns & Wieber Leaves
00:59 – Jade Carey Comeback & Elite Impact
02:56 – Joscelyn Roberson Transfer Portal & NIL Strategy
05:07 – Cecile Takes Over Georgia + Coaching Power Shifts
06:18 – Jordyn Wieber Steps Down at Arkansas
10:40 – Algeria Makes History: First Women's Worlds Team
13:16 – Coaching Carousel: Auburn, Nebraska, Georgia Shakeups
16:55 – Transfer Portal With Strong Bite Me Vibes: Cal → Stanford Fallout
20:03 – Ana Bărbosu Whereabouts Violation Update
24:06 – Live Show Promo + Chae Campbell 
27:34 – African Championships Deep Dive & Nemour Dominance
31:26 – Bars Arms Race: Nemour vs. Yang Fanyuwei
33:18 – Worlds Qualification System Explained (No Auto Spots!)
36:17 – Oceanic Champs Preview & "Sponsor Courtney McGregor" Campaign
39:32 – StoryWorth Ad
42:21 – New Uneven Bars Skills (Finally Named!)
50:12 – Russian Cup Results + Neutral Athlete Controversy
52:17 – Russian Broadcast Goes Full Video Game Mode
57:04 – Japan Rising Star Nishiyama Misa + Beam Artistry Masterclass
59:05 – Japan Team Selection Heartbreak Incoming
01:01:21 – Upcoming Meets to Watch (NHK, Pan Ams, Euros, Worlds Path)
01:03:26 – Gymternet News: Surveillance Cameras in Gyms
01:05:48 – Dumpster Fire News: Criminal Case & Coaching Abuse
01:07:47 – Hall of Fame + Olympic Trials 2028 Announcement
01:10:51 – Nadia, Simone & Laureus Awards Moment
01:12:33 – Fantasy League Winner + What's Next
01:13:26 – Outro + Weekly BTS Reminder
01:13:41 – BTS Teaser: How the Chae Campbell Interview Really Happened
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The weekly Q&A episode where we answer your questions and talk about what's it's like to do this for a living. 
This Behind the Scenes episode dives into everything we couldn't fully unpack on the main feed — from major NCAA coaching shakeups and transfer portal chaos, ranking debates, and the questions everyone's asking but no one is answering clearly.
We're breaking down:
The latest coaching moves across NCAA gymnastics

What's actually happening in the transfer portal (and why it's so confusing)

Misconceptions about our live show process
GYMCASTIC LIVE Featuring: CHAE CAMPBELL – Get replay tickets here

Ranking inconsistencies that still make no sense

Big-picture issues like access, money, and who gets to do gymnastics

Plus: your questions, hot takes, and the conversations that don't make it into the main version of the show.
Want the FULL episode (1 hour 15 minutes) + the members-only BTS conversation?
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Join here: https://gymcastic.com/join-the-club/ 
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Welcome to The Original College Gymnastics Post-Meet Show!
We recored this episode live immediatly following Team Finals between Oklahoma, LSU, Florida and Minnesota at the NCAA Championships in Fort Worth.  Scores and watch links. Members watched the recording live and asked questions live. Can't make it live? Add Club bonus episodes to your favorite podcast player (instructions here). 

GymCastic Live: Featuring Chae Campbell
 Replay Tickets HERE
CHAPTERS
00:00 – Intro: Oklahoma Wins Again (8th NCAA Title)
00:40 – Did the Right Team Win? LSU vs Oklahoma Debate
01:04 – LSU vs Oklahoma: Beam Falls, Margins & What Decided It
02:02 – Scoring Controversies: Overscoring on Bars & Floor
03:23 – Skye Blakely & Routine Credit Questions
04:03 – Beam Camera Angles & Judging Visibility Issues
05:05 – Live recording moment when the arena turned our power off
05:12 – NCAA Not Following Credential Rules
06:10 – Security Failures
07:16 – Konnor McClain MVP Case: Competing Injured & Delivering
08:09 – Beam Dismounts: The Real Difference Between LSU & Oklahoma
08:39 – Florida Breakdown: Why They Underperformed Again
10:15 – Bars Equipment Issues & Athlete Feedback
11:05 – Coaching Carousel: Florida, Auburn, Nebraska Speculation
12:29 – Minnesota's Historic Finish & Program Rise
14:07 – Emotional Reactions & What This Finish Means for Minnesota
15:39 – Facilities Impact: New Gym vs Old Training Conditions
16:39 – Behind the Scenes: Arena & Chalk Spewing Vaccumes
17:37 – LSU Highlights: Freshmen, Vault Power & Floor Struggles
18:10 – The "Sliding Mat" Problem & Safety Concerns
19:04 – Coaching Decision Debate: What To Do When A Coach Fails To Do Their Job?
20:05 – Event Winners & Individual Standouts
21:54 – Vault 10 Controversy: Was It Actually Perfect?
23:00 – Bars, Beam & Floor Champions Breakdown
24:03 – Equipment Fix Ideas & Gym Nerd Solutions
25:09 – LIVE SHOW RECAP 
25:45 – Favorite Moments from the Live Show
26:32 – STORYWORTH AD
29:24 – Exclusive Live Show Content: UCLA, Culture & Coaching Discussion
31:03 – Coaching Experience vs Hiring Decisions Debate
32:03 – Oklahoma Lineup Strategy: Should They Have Changed Beam?
33:19 – Mental Toughness: Handling Delays & Pressure
36:21 – LSU Perspective: Why This Still Counts as a Huge Success
38:47 – LSU Coach Reaction & Athlete Resilience Stories
41:34 – Alternate Scoring Scenario: What If All Scores Counted?
43:27 – Should NCAA Format Change? 5 Up 5 Count Debate
44:00 – Oklahoma Difficulty Strategy: Smart or Boring?
47:06 – OSHA & Safety Issues: Blood, Trainers & Protocol
47:54 – Wild Story: Team Drives Into Tornado
49:01 – MVP Picks: Ella Murphy Clutch Beam Routine
50:17 – Judging Analysis: Mary Jo's Role & Broadcast Improvements
52:53 – Diversity in Judging: Who's Missing?
54:15 – Coaching Rumors & Job Movement Speculation
55:35 – Who's on the Hot Seat? Coaching Pressure Debate
56:42 – Final Thoughts & Thank You to Fans
57:09 – Post-Show Plans: Vacation & Celebration
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