Milano Cortina 2026: Olympic Figure Skating Preview with Sarah Hughes
Keep the Flame Alive
(Not Olympic Champion) Sarah Hughes of The Runthrough podcast joins us to preview the figure skating competition for Milano Cortina 2026. Who's likely to be on the podium for the pairs, ice dance, men's and women's events? Listen to The Runthrough, which also features Olympians Ashley Wagner and Adam Rippon, on YouTube @TheRunthrough or your podcast app. They're @therunthroughpodcast on Insta. ***KEEP OUR FLAME ALIVE:*** Support our fundraiser to bring you the most fun coverage of the Olympics and Paralympics from Milano Cortina 2026. Learn more and give here: For a...
info_outline
Anything But Footy Olympics Crossover Spectacular
Keep the Flame Alive
John Cushing and Michael Weadock from Anything But Footy join us for a rousing look ahead at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics. ***Are you a Milano or a Cortina?*** Let us know by helping us raise funds to cover the production costs of our Milano Cortina 2026 coverage, which includes at least 32 daily episodes (and probably 100+ escapades that only your favorite Olympic and Paralympic aunties can get into). We need your support to make this coverage happen. Please make a contribution here: For a transcript of this episode, please visit . Thanks so much for listening, and...
info_outline
Olympic Bobsled with Elana Meyers Taylor, Frank Del Duca and Chris Fogt
Keep the Flame Alive
Alison interviews 4x Olympic bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor on her long career in the sport and being an athlete/parent. Then Jill and Alison interview U.S. Army World Class Athletes LTC Chris Fogt and SGT Frank Del Duca. Fogt is a former bobsledder turned coach for USA Bobsled. Del Duca is an Olympic bobsled driver looking to qualify for his second Games. Follow our TKFLASTANIs on Insta: Elana Meyers Taylor: @elanameyerstaylor SGT Frank Del Duca: @frankiedelduca LTC Chris Fogt: @chris.fogt Plus, we get into the hockey stadium drama at Milano Cortina 2026 and the surprise announcement of...
info_outline
Sydney 2000: Paralympic Closing Ceremony and Games Legacy
Keep the Flame Alive
In our final episode on the Sydney 2000 Olympics and Paralympics, Alison is thrilled that the demon chicken has returned to the Paralympic Closing Ceremony. Then Jill looks at the legacy (both good and questionable) of these Games. Were they the greatest Games of all time (at least in 2000)? Listen to find out! Plus, we look forward to the Winter Olympics we'll cover during our 2026 history-themed shows. ***KEEP OUR FLAME ALIVE:*** Support our fundraiser to bring you the most fun coverage of the Olympics and Paralympics from Milano Cortina 2026. Learn more and give here: For a...
info_outline
Team USA Olympic Speed Skaters Erin Jackson and Corinne Stoddard
Keep the Flame Alive
On this episode of Keep the Flame Alive, we have conversations with Olympic speed skater Erin Jackson and Olympic short track skater Corinne Stoddard that we had at the Team USA Media Summit. Follow Erin and Corinne on social: Erin: https://www.tiktok.com/@ErinJacksonSkates Corinne: Alison reports back from a Milano Cortina 2026 talk on branding, where she learned about the thinking that went into the look of these Winter Olympics. We have plenty of news about Milano Cortina, including the , the victory ceremony uniforms, woes about the...
info_outline
Book Club Claire on A Team of Their Own
Keep the Flame Alive
Book Club Claire joins us for a discussion of Seth Berkman's 2019 book , about the 2018 Winter Olympic Korean women's unified ice hockey team. This story happened during the podcast's lifetime. What did we remember? What was new news? Did we fall for the IOC's unification propaganda? Plus, our Milano Cortina 2026 sliding novela comes to a close and the torch is lit! In other Games news: LA 2028 opened an intent form for those interested in volunteering. Learn more here: ***KEEP OUR FLAME ALIVE:*** Support our fundraiser to bring you the most fun coverage of...
info_outline
Olympic and Paralympic Ice Hockey Slaps!
Keep the Flame Alive
We're exploring the worlds of Olympic and Paralympic ice hockey this week! First, the women's Rivalry Series between Team USA and Team Canada came through Cleveland. Jill got to attend a practice and the game. Along the way, she interviewed goalie Ava Mc Naughton and defensive player Rory Guilday. Next we have para ice hockey interviews from the Team USA Media Summit, where Alison talked with two-time Paralympic defenseman Jack Wallace, and then we both chatted with three-time Paralympian Declan Farmer and one-time Paralympian Malik Jones. Plus so much news from Milano Cortina 2026 (kits!...
info_outline
Sydney 2000: Rowing and Olympic Closing Ceremonies
Keep the Flame Alive
In our penultimate episode of our Sydney 2000 Games history series, Jill takes a look at the Olympic rowing competition, specifically the women's coxless pairs race, which featured Missy Schwen-Ryan and Karen Kraft from the USA racing for the gold that eluded them at Atlanta 1996, even though Schwen-Ryan was missing something. Watch that race here: Then Alison tries to decipher the fever dream that was the Olympics Closing Ceremony, which you can watch in its full glory here: ***Much like the American coxless pairs team, we're also bootstrapping our way to the 2026 Winter Olympics and...
info_outline
Keep the Flame Alive-2025 trailer
Keep the Flame Alive
Introducing your favorite Olympic Aunties Jill Jaracz and Alison Brown! If you're obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics or just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work, you've found your people. Join us each week--and daily during the Games--for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes, coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. This is why you watch the Games!
info_outline
Olympic Luge with Ashley Farquharson, Chevonne Forgan and Sophia Kirkby
Keep the Flame Alive
We are sliding down the luge track in this episode, interviewing three women from Team USA's luge team, who are vying to compete at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics. First up, singles luger and 2022 Olympian Ashley Farquharson returns to the podcast to explain some of the technical details--and physics--of the sport. Then we talk with women's doubles lugers Sophia Kirkby and Chevonne Forgan. Women's doubles is a new Olympic event, so the pair discuss how this event works. They were also part of the athlete testing group for the new sliding track in Cortina, so they share some insight on how it...
info_outlineOlympic figure skater Nicole Bobek has long been on our list of athletes to interview, and we're thrilled she's able to come on the show! In 1995, Nicole dazzled at the US Championships, winning gold and then taking bronze at the Figure Skating World Championships later that year.
Her career on and off the ice has had a lot of highs and lows, from her beautiful performances to dealing with injuries and the sudden death of her coach Carlo Fassi at the 1997 World Championships where she was still competing. Nicole also represented the US at the Nagano 1998 Winter Olympics.
Nicole has a new memoir out called The Wild One, in which she talks candidly about her skating career and her life afterward, which involved an arrest for being part of an alleged drug ring, for which she served five years of probation.
Since then, Nicole has found her way back, and she embraces her role as a mother....and you can still find her free skating!
Find out more about Nicole and her book The Wild One at her website: http://nicolebobek.com
Follow Nicole on Insta! @nicolebobek77
In news from Milano Cortina 2026, we now know who will be the first torchbearers for the torch relay. One is a very inspired choice! Also, construction on the Milano Athletes Village has been completed, and Snoop Dogg is back.
In news from LA 2028, organizers plan to use electric school buses for some shuttles, and the LA Convention Center is embarking on a massive renovation plan--will it be done in time for the Games? Also, Team New Zealand's planning an epic New Zealand House in Culver City.
The International Paralympic Committee had its General Assembly, and we've got the results of some key votes (that not everyone is happy about).
Plus, Team Keep the Flame Alive is busy representing TKFLASTAN at multiple competitions. And Listener Erica shared a great article about what author David Davis' book inspired.
For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.
Like this episode? Have thoughts on the show? Comment/write us a review, and you may be our review of the week!
Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!
Photos courtesy of Nicole Bobek.
***
Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.
***
Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support
Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod
Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod
Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com
Hang out with us online:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod
Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod
Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod
Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe
VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348