Katya Zamolodchikova

It's the interview you've been waiting for! This week we welcome Katya Zamolodchikova to the show. We discuss Katya's gymnastics origin story, ponder the legacy of Svetlana Khorkina's existence as a human being, thoughts on elite vs. NCAA gymnastics, and whether Nellie Kim or Nadia Comaneci would win in a bar fight.

GYMCASTIC LIVE with MORGAN HURD

Satuday, August 9th. Keep checking link for tickets.

Get Tickets

KATYA ZAMOLODCHIKOVA INTERVIEW

Login for bonus content here

Ladies and gentlemen, girls, gays, and theys, it's the episode you've all been waiting for; this week we welcome drag queen, actor, host of one of the funniest YouTube channels on the internet, and certified Gym Nerd, Katya Zamolodchikova to the show! In this episode we discuss everyyttthinggg you have ever wanted to know about Katya's gymnastics background including:

• Why Katya got into gymnastics
• Who is in Katya's gymnastics "trifecta of fucking doom"
• Svetlana Khorkina, Svetlana Khorkina, and Svetlana Khorkina. Did we mention Svetlana Khorkina?
• Which Russian gymnasts inspired her drag name
• Why gymnastics is "fucking weird" but also amazing
• Katya's SPICY take on why we should eliminate music from women's floor
• The skill Katya thinks was created by a "satanic demon" (Hint: it starts with "wolf" and ends with "turn")
• Katya's thoughts on raising the age limit so minors can't compete in the Olympic Games
• Designated Gym Nerd-out time to gush over all of Katya's favorite gymnasts and skills

RELATED:

• McKayla Maroney Interview episode
• Pelvic Floor Therapist episode on preventing peeing while doing gymnastics
• Spencer's Greatest Related Hits on The Balance Beam Situation:
  • • The Only Gymnast Who Ever Mattered: The Khorkina Story
    • Flatten The Curve with Svetlana Khorkina
    • When Wolf Turn Attack: a journey in GIFs
•  
• Live Reaction Podcast from Chicago
•  Videos and interviews from 2025 U.S. Classic
•  Photo Galleries from 2025 U.S. Classic

UP NEXT:

Behind The Scenes: Live Q&A podcast every Friday at noon Pacific/7 GMT

BONUS PODCASTS 

• Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind the Scenes Q&A show.
• Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and get access to all of our exclusive extended interviews, early bird discounts on live shows, two extra podcasts: Behind The Scenes and College & Cocktails.
• Not sure about joining the club? Here are some samples from College and Cocktails

MERCH

• GymCastic Store: clothing and gifts to let your gym nerd flag fly and even “tapestries” (banners, the perfect to display in an arena) to support your favorite gymnast!
  • Baseball hats available now in the GymCastic store

NEWSLETTERS

• Sign up for all three GymCastic newsletters 

RESOURCES

• Spencer’s essential website The Balance Beam Situation 
• Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim
• The Gymternet Nations Database
• Just added Group Commission: Pantheon of Gymnastics

RESISTANCE  Submitted by our listeners.

• • Action
    • ResistBot
      • Turns your texts into faxes, postal mail, or emails to your representatives in minutes
    • 5Calls App will call your Congresspeople by issue with a script to guide you
      • •  
    • Indivisible
      • Practical ideas about what you can actually do in this moment, check it out: indivisi.org/muskorus
  • LITIGATION: Donate or volunteer for organizations suing the administration for illegal actions
    • Lawsuit tracker by subject
    • ACLU
    • Southern Poverty Law Center
    • Northwest Immigration Law Project
  • Stay Informed:
    • 6 Tools for Tracking the Trump Administration’s Attacks on Civil Liberties
    • Podcasts:
      • Amicus
      • Daily Beans
      • Pod Save America
      • Strict Scrutiny
  • Immigrant Rights
    • Know Your Rights Red Cards
    • We Have Rights Video
    • ACLU: Your Rights