We’re back from Phoenix with stories! This week’s Behind the Scenes goes from Simone Biles back-in-the-gym speculation and tales from the 2026 U.S. Championships to Jessica’s unexpectedly epic family history. After meeting listeners from Albuquerque at the live show, Jessica finally tells the story of her family’s journey from India to New Mexico: great-grandparents working in India, a family connection to Mahatma Gandhi via septic systems, her grandfather growing up in India, and Grandma Jo of Isleta Pueblo, the Indian School and retaliation for interracial marriage. Plus, Spencer has a ghost, Beacon the therapy dog adventures, updates to the Elite Score Explorer and LA28 Roster Lab, and your questions about Alicia Sacramone-Quinn, MAG, Worlds tickets, judging, leos and more.
This is our weekly, live Q&A show, where we answer your questions and even talk about non-gymnastics life sometimes. Here’s how to ask questions live.
GYMCASTIC LIVE AT U.S. CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH SURPRISE GUEST SHANNON MILLER: REPLAY TICKETS HERE
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CHAPTERS
00:00 – Back From Phoenix With Stories
00:57 – Simone Biles Back in the Gym NOT
02:05 – 1996 Olympic Team Reunion
06:02 – Phoenix Stories & Gymnast Encounters
07:48 – The Great Handshake Debate
12:41 – The Hotel Switch Story
17:09 – Dogs in Hotels
18:38 – Spencer vs. the Group Photo
20:13 – Beacon the Therapy Dog
21:40 – Taishan’s Mini Beam
22:54 – Albuquerque & Grandma Jo
23:18 – Jessica’s Family History: India to New Mexico
23:38 – Gandhi & Jessica’s Great-Grandparents
26:57 – Grandma Jo of Isleta Pueblo Indians
28:59 – Jessica’s Family History Books
29:59 – British Boarding School in India
30:41 – Almost Utopia & Jessica’s Mom
31:36 – Spencer Has a Ghost
35:00 – More Phoenix Stories
40:12 – Vault Rules & the Ideal National Team Training Center
45:53 – Elite Score Explorer & LA28 Roster Lab Updates
46:36 – Where Is Alicia Sacramone-Quinn?
48:29 – Dutch Starry Night Leos
51:48 – MAG: Floor Scales
52:31 – Training at NCAA Gyms After College
56:24 – MAG Triple Backs
57:27 – Rotterdam Worlds Tickets
1:01:57 – Sam Peszek’s Driving Metaphors
1:04:57 – The Artistry Checklist & Championships Judging
1:09:33 – How Jessica Made a Listener Look Like a Perv
1:11:32 – Show Close
1:12:08 – Surprise! Menopause
Jessica’s Family History — A Reading List
Gandhi’s American Ally: How an Educational Missionary Joined the Mahatma’s Struggle Against Untouchability — Norm Williams
Written by Jessica’s grandfather about his father’s experiences as in India and his connection with Gandhi.
Gandhi: His Life and Message for the World — Louis Fischer
Living on the Edge: Tales of the Woodstock School
British boarding school in India, where Jessica’s grandfather and his brothers were sent to school.
Almost Utopia: The Residents and Radicals of Pikes Falls, Vermont, 1950 — Rebecca and Greg Joly
The history of the anti-war/anti-industrialist community where Jessica’s grandparents raised her mother.
2026 U.S. GYMNASTICS CHAMPIONSHIPS COVERAGE
All GymCastic 2026 U.S. National Championships Coverage — Find all of our podcasts, meet reports, Behind The Scenes episodes and coverage from Phoenix in one place.
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GYMCASTIC TOOLS, GAMES AND RESOURCES
- GymCastic tools:
- LA 2028 Roster Lab — Now with auto-fill highest-scoring team, team comparisons and updated roster briefs.
- Elite Score Explorer — U.S. Championships scores are in, plus new charting options and the vault bonus toggle.
- International Gymnastics Calendar
- GymCastic Games
- GymCastic Newsletters
- The Balance Beam Situation: Spencer Barnes’ GIF Code of Points
- Gymnastics History: Gymnastics history and Code of Points archive from Uncle Tim
- Resistance Resources
