How did Navy Baker become the Gilbert High tiger mascot, according to This American Life?

Navy Baker, cousin of producer Elna Baker, was obsessed with mascots from second grade and practiced routines from YouTube in a tiger Halloween costume. In eighth grade she wore it to her brother's Gilbert High football game in Arizona, ran onto the field and led the crowd. The athletic director told her to try out once she reached high school, and she became the Gilbert High Tiger from her freshman year, known for dance-offs and drawing fans to games.

• Her father Carl first worried she would be branded the odd girl in the tiger suit, then told her she had a gift.
• The Phoenix Suns gorilla mascot tweeted at her that she was inspiring.
• Navy later appeared on a short-lived TV show about mascots called Behind the Mask and became an occupational therapist.

▸In their words

“I felt a lot better doing it in the costume than I did outside the costume.” Navy Baker · at 43:23 — open in the transcript →

Source: our own transcription of the episode. The full conversation is on This American Life (2026-10-25). Read the whole episode summary →

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