Longshot: Payback

Part 9 Bonus: Dr. Leeja Carter

As listeners heard in Part 9 of Payback, the role of athletes acting as advocates has never been more prevalent—or more polarizing. That’s particularly true for women athletes of color. In this extended interview, Alex Andrejev speaks with Dr. Leeja Carter, an associate professor of exercise psychology at Temple University, about the intersection of racism, sexism and classism in sport; historical and contemporary representations of Black women’s “strength;” and culturally sensitive health and physical activity approaches for women of color. New episodes coming each Tuesday, through May 17. To continue supporting journalism like this, visit charlotteobserver.com/payback or newsobserver.com/payback . Payback is hosted by Alex Andrejev. It's produced by Kata Stevens, Casey Toth, Julia Wall, and executive producer Davin Coburn. The executive producer for iHeartRadio is Sean Titone.See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

In 2019, U.S. women’s national soccer team striker Jessica McDonald capped a World Cup journey few could have imagined. A teen runaway who became a single mom, McDonald tells The Charlotte Observer and Raleigh News &amp; Observer for the first time how she rose from a broken home in Phoenix to the pinnacle of sports in Lyon, France — and how today, she’s using her voice to battle systemic inequalities in soccer, including as part of the U.S. women’s national team’s recent settlement in their landmark fight for equal pay. Hosted by Alex Andrejev.