Michael Johnson and ‘Armless Archer’ Matt Stutzman launch new podcast
A brand-new podcast, Rising Phoenix: What Does It Take? is being launched ahead of this year’s Paralympics.
Made by Harder Than You Think and Persephonica, the podcast is hosted by the US Paralympian Matt ‘the Armless Archer’ Stutzman, who holds a world record for the longest accurate shot taken in archery and Michael Johnson, the track and field legend with four Olympic Gold medals under his belt.
There will be in-depth stories from star Paralympians whose voices are often unheard. The interviews will document their stories, their journeys to the Games and shine a light on each sport.
Matt and Michael will speak to a range of athletes from across the world who reveal the sheer sacrifice and effort that goes into being a Paralympian.
Guests across the eight-part series include US para track star Hunter Woodhall, British sprinter and cyclist Kadeena Cox, Norwegian rowing champion Birgit Skarstein, Argentinian wheelchair tennis star Gustavo Fernández and French Blind Footballer Gaël Rivière.
All episodes were recorded in the adidas arena, to reflect the excitement and spirit of the Games this year.
Rising Phoenix: What Does It Take? is the latest in a series of award-winning films, TV shows and podcasts that Harder Than You Think have produced to help tell the story of the Paralympics.
This includes the 2020 Emmy award-winning Netflix documentary Rising Phoenix, a film that chronicles the history of the Paralympic Games and sets out to change people’s perceptions of those with disabilities.
This new series is supported by Procter & Gamble and adidas, global partners of Rising Phoenix. The series will be available on all podcast providers.
Matt Stutzman says: “I was proud to be part of the Rising Phoenix movie and proud of its impact on the Paralympic movement. This podcast series is going to take this to a whole new level.
“As a Paralympian, I know the power of the Games, but through these athletes’ incredible stories in the series I hope we will change how people think about disability forever.”
Michael Johnson adds: “I love storytelling. As an elite athlete I am always looking for great stories from sport that demonstrate high performance and the pursuit of excellence.
“We’ve spoken to some extraordinary Paralympic athletes for this podcast, and I am excited to have worked with the team behind Rising Phoenix to share their stories with the world this summer.”
Greg Nugent, founder and president of Harder Than You Think says: “These amazing in-depth discussions about what it really takes to be a Paralympian are remarkable portraits of remarkable athletes. They provide a rare insight into exactly what it takes to perform at the level needed to compete in the Paralympics.”
Persephonica CEO and founder Dino Sofos comments: “We’re very proud to be partnering with Harder Than You Think to produce this ambitious new podcast series.
“Persephonica specialises in storytelling that takes listeners behind the scenes of major events in politics, history and entertainment.
“Persephonica works with some of the biggest names in the world, including Dua Lipa and Lily Allen. This show is no exception – Michael Johnson and Matt Stutzman are two of the most recognisable and experienced athletes in the Olympics and Paralympics. They are the perfect guides to introduce our audience to explore what it really takes to become a Paralympian.”