Keep the Flame Alive

Latest Episodes:

Episode 35: Emily Cook on Overcoming Adversity May 31, 2018

Show notes

Contributor Ben Jackson is back with another part of last fall's interview with 3x Olympic Aerialist Emily Cook. Emily talks about overcoming adversity and returning from injury--and she had a doozy of an injury. Emily also talks about how to stay motivated and how to be OK if things don't go according to plan.

Follow Emily on Facebook, Twitter, and Insta!

Plus, we debut our Book Club with contributor Claire Natsis. Claire's first choice is the New York Times bestseller, The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

We'll be discussing the book during the first week of August, so put it at the top of your reading list!

DISCLAIMER: OLYMPIC® is a trademark of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee ("USOPC"). Any use of OLYMPIC® in the Olympic Fever podcast is strictly for informational and commentary purposes. The Olympic Fever podcast is not an official podcast of the USOPC. The Olympic Fever podcast is not a sponsor of the USOPC, nor is Olympic Fever associated with or endorsed by USOPC in any way. The content of Olympic Fever podcast does not reflect the opinions, standards, views, or policies of the USOPC, and the USOPC in no way warrants that content featured in Olympic Fever is accurate.

Episode 34: "Scouting Camp - The Next Olympic Hopeful" Returns! May 25, 2018

Show notes

Scott Riewald, the U.S. Olympic Committee's Director of High Performance, talks to us about bringing back its reality/documentary show "Scouting Camp: The Next Olympic Hopeful" and what's new for season 2.

If you want to try out for the show, check out their website. Show partner 24 Hour Fitness is hosting tryouts all over the country on June 2 -- you still have time to get in on this opportunity! The test includes a 30-meter sprint, pull ups and a vertical jump.

Also on this episode, we realize we're getting close to Olympic Day, so we start preparing for our first Olympic Day celebration. You too can get in on the fun --learn something about the Olympics or try a new sport, post the results on social media with #OFOD! Olympic Day takes place on June 20, but we're celebrating through June 24. We look forward to seeing what you do!

Episode 33: Cross-Country Skiing Olympic Gold Medalist Kikkan Randall May 17, 2018

Show notes

She's a five-time Olympian, winner of the first US Olympic gold medal in cross-country skiing, first American to win a cross-country world championship--and now she's a member of the International Olympic Committee's Athletes' Commission. Kikkan Randall joins us on this week's show!

Kikkan made history in PyeongChang with Jessie Diggins in the cross-country team sprint and captivated viewers with their face glitter and pink hair. Olympic moments don't get any better than this victory, which you can see here (grab a Kleenex--you might need one) and the race recap here.

We talked with her about about perseverance, debunking pregnancy myths and her new gig on the IOC Athletes' Commission. She also does a lot of work with a great organization called Fast and Female, which encourages girls to get in and stay involved with sports.

Follow Kikkan on Insta and Twitter--and at her website!

Also on the show, we recap the Team USA Awards Show and talk royal trivia.

Episode 32: Video Journalist Sean Colahan's PyeongChang May 11, 2018

Show notes

Wouldn't it be amazing if your job took you to the Olympics? NBC Boston Video Journalist Sean Colahan lived the dream this winter by covering the Olympics for the local news station. Sean tells us what it was like to be a local news cameraman at PyeongChang 2018, the gold medal game he saw, the pins he traded, and just how cold it was.

Here are some of the stories Sean put together while he was in South Korea:

Plus, Alison has updates on the Russian doping scandal and a major coaching change for a figure skating medalist. Finally, we put a dream out into the universe--will it come true?

Episode 31: Rome 1960's Legacy May 04, 2018

Show notes

Jill's just back from Rome, Italy, and naturally did a little Olympic tourism while she was there, so she and Alison talk about the game-changing Olympics of Rome 1960 and Jill talks about some venues that still remain. Plus, the Team USA awards and trivia.

Episode 30: Moving Rio's Swimming Pools Apr 26, 2018

Show notes

Jill and Alison talk with Trevor Tiffany of A&T Europe and Chairman of Myrtha Pools USA to learn where Rio 2016's swimming pools went. That's right. They moved. Swimming pools can move! Plus, Trevor tells us about swimming pool plans (or non-plans) for Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024 and LA 2028.

Episode 29: Meagan Duhamel's Olympic Experience Apr 19, 2018

Show notes

Remember when we talked with figure skating mental coach Rebekah Dixon? The mental coach who was working with the great Meagan Duhamel? Well, now we talked with Meagan herself! Canadian pairs figure skater and 3x Olympic medalist Meagan Duhamel joins us to talk about her Olympic experiences at Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018.

Follow Meagan on Twitter and Insta -- and check out her healthy living blog!

Episode 28: The 122nd Anniversary of Athens 1896 Apr 12, 2018

Show notes

Did you know that the very first modern Olympics was held in April? We decided to celebrate by watching the 1984 TV miniseries "The First Olympics: Athens 1896."

You can watch Part 1 and Part 2 on YouTube.

This, of course, means we need to set the record straight on some a lot of facts, so Jill goes to Colby College to talk with Pat Burdick about the James Connolly collection and geek out about seeing the first modern Olympic medal ever awarded. Then University of Michigan associate professor Mark Clague explains the situation with the U.S. national anthem in 1896.

The Connolly Collection is pretty cool, and Colby has some of it digitized. Check it out here--and note that pic! David Caruso looks like him!

If you've got any info on historical collections or want to look at a particular Games in history, drop us a line!

Episode 27: Performance Wear with Susan Sokolowski Apr 05, 2018

Show notes

We answer questions we had during PyeongChang, namely, why do different sports have such different uniforms? Alison chats with Susan Sokolowski, Associate Professor and Director of the Sports Product Design Program at the University of Oregon, to learn more.

Plus, seven interested cities have decided to hang out with the IOC's New Norm and have officially stated that they intend to bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Who's bidding, and who doesn't stand a chance? We take a look!

Episode 26: Figure Skating Dresses with Pat Pearsall Mar 30, 2018

Show notes

Unless someone has a wardrobe malfunction on the ice, it's rare to hear an announcer talk about a figure skating costume. Yet they're a vital part of a skater's competition.

We wanted to know more about the clothes, so Alison spoke with figure skating dress designer Pat Pearsall, who gives us the scoop on the dresses she designed for two-time Olympian and PyeongChang 2018 bronze medalist Mirai Nagasu, what she thinks of mesh matching, and how to avoid wardrobe malfunctions. Plus, Jill reports about her amazing time at U.S. Speedskating's Tour of Olympians!

Check out Pat's designs at her website, and follow her on Insta and Twitter.

If you're in the Eastern or Midwestern part of the U.S., look here to see if U.S. Speedskating's tour is coming to your neck of the woods!

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected