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. Tune in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We’re your cure for your Olympics Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

Sydney 2000: Rowing and Olympic Closing Ceremonies 11/13/2025

Keep the Flame Alive-2025 trailer 11/11/2025

Olympic Luge with Ashley Farquharson, Chevonne Forgan and Sophia Kirkby 11/06/2025

Olympic Luge with Ashley Farquharson, Chevonne Forgan and Sophia Kirkby 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 rides and what we can look for when we watch it. Follow these athletes on social! On Insta, Ashley is , Chevonne is and Sophia is . Sophia is also on Tiktok: . We also have the latest news from Milano Cortina 2026, including a pause on ticket sales and Omega's hospitality house. and have unveiled their kit, and, in a first, Team USA's medical staff also has its own ! Also, if you're in the Salt Lake City area during the Games, the city is hosting a massive watch party. And the CBC has announced its for the Olympics. In LA 2028 news, the Ceremonies' creative team has been announced. What does this mean for the viewing experience? And Team Keep the Flame Alive has been busy! Hear what's new with: Our and fencers Speed skater Pole vaulter and Para sprinter - vote for them for USATF's Athlete of the Year! until November 10, 2025. Former hurdler ***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 transcript of this episode, please visit . 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! *** 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: Bookshop.org store: Become a patron and get bonus content: Buy merch here: Hang out with us online: Facebook: Insta: Facebook Group: Newsletter: Sign up at VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348 /episode/index/show/flamealivepod/id/38940125

100 Days until the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics 10/30/2025

Olympian Dame Lisa Carrington on Kayaking and Kiwis 10/23/2025

Olympian Dame Lisa Carrington on Kayaking and Kiwis Paddler Dame Lisa Carrington, New Zealand’s most decorated Olympian, joins us to talk about kayaking and how the sport varies from solo races to doubles and fours. We also discuss her children's book "Lisa Carrington Chases a Champion" and her new partnership with Zespri kiwifruit. What's Dame Carrington's favorite kiwi? Kiwi vs. feijoa? Where are her silver ferns? We've got answers! Follow Dame Carrrington on and : @liscarrington and check out her ! Milano Cortina 2026 has announced its Olympic Opening Cermony theme and details around the event, which might be more complicated than Paris 2024's spectacle along the Seine. With four locations, a lot could happen, but it means more athletes will be able to take part in the Parade of Nations. Also, NBC adds to its primetime commentator lineup, Ester Ledecka makes a decision, and the International Ski & Snowboard federation makes a decision about whether Russian and Belarussian skiers can compete as neutrals. Plus, we thought that all of the construction for Milano Cortina 2026 was under control, but there's one project that is way behind schedule. We have a new novela--and the dramatic details! For a transcript of this episode, please visit . Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive! *** 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: Bookshop.org store: Become a patron and get bonus content: Buy merch here: Hang out with us online: Facebook: Insta: Facebook Group: Newsletter: Sign up at VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348 /episode/index/show/flamealivepod/id/38748155

Author Doug Levy on Unknown Olympic Heroes 10/16/2025

Sydney 2000: Paralympic Football 7-a-Side and Olympic Television Advertising 10/09/2025

Olympic Figure Skater Nicole Bobek's Wild Life 10/02/2025

Olympic Figure Skater Nicole Bobek's Wild Life Olympic 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: Follow Nicole on ! @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 about what author David Davis' book inspired. For a transcript of this episode, please visit . 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: Bookshop.org store: Become a patron and get bonus content: Buy merch here: Hang out with us online: Facebook: Insta: Facebook Group: Newsletter: Sign up at VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348 /episode/index/show/flamealivepod/id/38448325

The Science Behind Classification in Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby 09/26/2025

The Science Behind Classification in Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby Wheelchair rugby is a mixed-gender sport, but not many females play. One way to increase their numbers and playing time is to see if they're classified fairly. We talk to Dr. Thomas Rietveld, research associate in wheeled sports and technology at the , who worked with on a project for World Wheelchair Rugby to reassess the classification system for female players. We also talked to Dr. Rietveld about his research on wheelchair tennis, which was part of our episode featuring . Learn more about the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport at Also on this episode, Milan-Cortina 2026 stores have opened (but not the mega store), NBC announced its Opening Ceremonies team, and the neutral athlete program will be back in place. Team Keep the Flame Alive has had another busy week, so we take a trip to TKFLASTAN to see what's going on (and in Alison's case, have fun with pronunciation). For a transcript of this episode, please visit . 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! Photo courtesy of Dr. Thomas Rietveld. *** *** 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: Bookshop.org store: Become a patron and get bonus content: Buy merch here: Hang out with us online: Facebook: Insta: Facebook Group: Newsletter: Sign up at VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348 /episode/index/show/flamealivepod/id/38363170

Athletes for Hope with Jason Belinkie and Jenny Sichel 09/18/2025

Athletes for Hope with Jason Belinkie and Jenny Sichel You know how Olympic and Paralympic athletes go around and speak at schools and do other types of education-related events? How do they get those gigs? Well, there are organizations who help with that. is one of those connecting organizations who work with athletes on causes that are near and dear to them and connect them to schools and non-profits so they can do speaking and other types of advocacy work. Today we’re talking with Jason Belinkie, chief executive officer of Athletes for Hope and Jenny Sichel, a Rio 2016 silver medalist in para mixed fours rowing to learn how Athletes for Hope came about, how athletes participate, and the positive impacts they can have on youth. Athletes for Hope is having its annual Play for Good Gala on Saturday, December 6, 2025 in Washington D.C. Find out more . Follow Ahtletes for Hope on , , and In other Olympics and Paralympics news: Milano-Cortina 2026 has released more tickets for the Opening Ceremonies, and the Ice House is coming! LA 2028 announced ticket sales information and some new sponsors. Salt Lake City 2034 announced an innovative Games funding drive. New International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry announced some interesting working groups that could bring some changes to the IOC and the Olympics themselves. For a transcript of this episode, please visit . 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 Athletes for Hope. *** 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. Tune 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: Bookshop.org store: Become a patron and get bonus content: Buy merch here: Hang out with us online: Facebook: Insta: Facebook Group: Newsletter: Sign up at VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348 /episode/index/show/flamealivepod/id/38269015

Sydney 2000: Better Than New: Triathlon, Women's Pole Vault and Modern Pentathlon 09/11/2025

Back to School with Olympic Luger Ashley Farquharson 09/04/2025

Brooke Nunemaker and Brad Roethlisberger on Officiating Women’s Para Ice Hockey 08/28/2025

World Games: Chengdu 2025 - Week 2 08/21/2025

World Games: Chengdu 2025 - Week 1 08/14/2025

Sydney 2000: Eventing, Para Sailing, and Wheelchair Rugby - Oh, My! 08/07/2025

Book Club Claire on "Above & Beyond: Tim Mack, the Pole Vault and the Quest for Olympic Gold" 07/31/2025

2x Paralympian Noelle Lambert Talks Running Blades, Paralympics 07/24/2025

Keep the Flame Alive Celebrates the Big 400! 07/17/2025

Sydney 2000: The Cover-Up and the Comebacks 07/10/2025

The Surprising Early Legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics 07/03/2025

The Surprising Early Legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics It's been nearly a year since we said, "Bonjour!" to the , so what's been happening in Paris since the cauldron went out? Let's take a look at the initial legacy of these Games! We look at the money, initial economic impact, audience figures, building legacies, and elements of the Games that are still impacting Paris. If you're interested in training in the sport climbing warm-up gym, check out .. If you want to swim like an Olympian, the newly-built (and very gorgeous) is now open for swimming and so much more. has opened in Bobigny to provide another workout facility that includes accessible training--and para sport research. Paris also leveraged the Games to rejuvenate some areas of the city. If you're in Paris on July 20 and want to see how that process is coming along, check out the Olympic Heritage Grand Walk, which goes from Parc de la Villette to the Bassin de la Maltournee in Saint-Denis. It's a free day-long adventure with plenty of surprises planned. Register . Cleaning up the Seine was another major project, and on July 26, the first anniversary of the Olympics, the city will host a big , including a free open-air karaoke session on the Place du Chatelet. Plus, we revisit moments that really stick out to us as the legacy of Paris 2024 starts to take shape in our memories. What moments from Paris 2024 stick out in your heads a year later? How do you think the legacy of these Games is shaping up? Will they be among the greatest Games of all time? Will they be an economic boon to the city and country? Let us ! Don't forget! Our 400th episode party is coming up on Monday, July 14 from 8 to 10pm Eastern. Hope to see you ! For a transcript of this episode, please visit . Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive! *** with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown. New episodes released every week and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. Support the show: Bookshop.org store: Become a patron and get bonus content: Buy merch here: Hang out with us online: Facebook: Insta: Facebook Group: Newsletter: Sign up at VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348 /episode/index/show/flamealivepod/id/37213735