6: Diplomat in a Bathing Suit

Introducing Mission K-Pop

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 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mission-k-pop/id1841902131] Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3LdOkJWvoq11Oeh2eSeVfO?si=c82850b551284c7f&nd=1&dlsi=8dd7e655bdfe46e1] Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3aca7383-c044-4243-8cab-b651c27a7417/mission-k-pop] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

8: The Practical and the Possible

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 [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

7: The Starting Line

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 [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

6: Diplomat in a Bathing Suit

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 [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

5: It Iz What It Iz

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 [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].