Jennifer Sey: Were School Closures Harmful to Kids?

Jennifer Sey is an American author, filmmaker, business executive and retired artistic gymnast. She was the 1986 USA Gymnastics National Champion, and a 7-time member of the U.S. Women’s National Team. Sey’s first memoir, "Chalked Up," was released in 2008 and detailed the coaching cruelty inflicted on children in the sport of gymnastics. She also produced the 2020 Emmy award-winning documentary film, "Athlete A," which connected the crimes of Larry Nassar to broader abuses in the Olympic movement. Sey began working at Levi Strauss & Co. in 1999, rising to Chief Marketing Officer and then Global Brand President. In January 2022, she was asked to resign because of her public opposition to the extended closure of San Francisco’s public schools. Her most recent memoir, “Levi’s Unbuttoned,” tells the inspirational story of her corporate career, search for authenticity, and ultimate refusal to bow to the woke mob. In this episode, we talk about Jennifer’s history of speaking out against injustices even when the world wasn't ready to hear it; from the toxic environment of the gymnastics community to the effect of the Covid lockdown on kids. We explore the value of speaking your truth and standing by your values despite what the "consequences" might be. We also talk about Jennifer’s views on public education, how she is raising her children to be independent thinkers, and an exciting film she is currently working on. Chapters 0:00 - Jennifer Sey 3:00 - How Jennifer became involved in education 8:30 - The negative effects that Covid had on public education 19:00 - Why it’s important to stand with your values 32:30 - Why Jennifer decided to stand by her word despite risks of losing her job 36:30 - Jennifer’s history as a gymnast and speaking out against the toxic culture of youth gymnastics 57:30 - Why Jennifer chose to send her kids to public school and her opinion on public schooling in general 1:04:30 - How have Jennifer’s experiences over the last few years changed the way she talks to and prepares her children for the future 1:11:00 - Encouraging your kids to be brave and think independently 1:13:30 - The genesis of Jennifer’s new documentary, Generation Covid If You Enjoy This Show Please Subscribe and Give Us a 5-Star Rating ★★★★★ and Review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify Resources Zero Dropouts Films | Generation Covid & Athlete A Connect with Jennifer Sey Twitter | @jennifersey Website | seyeverything.com Substack | www.seyeverything.com/jennifer-sey#substack Connect with Hannah Frankman: Twitter | @hannahfrankman Website | http://hannahfrankman.com Follow along for conversations on education, lifestyle, personal development, and freedom. All in ardent pursuit of a life well lived.