Elizabeth Ramsey is the Executive Director of the Team USA Athletes Commission. Team USA is working toward a fully independent athletes' commission, as recommended by the Congressional Commission on the State of US Olympics and Paralympics. She has an important viewpoint to add to the conversations on athlete representation and how increase the power of the athletes voice in figure skating. This is also a great episode to dig into as we watch the Paris Games!

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-IXRwYopUtIpXG4YucUjJRUIMLlo-0PWLaiK8wDRLTc/ ]kS Athletes Commission Independence Website w/ sign-on letter for US Athletes https://www.usopc.org/teamUSAAC-independence Team USA instagram @ TeamUSAAC and Twitter @ TeamUSA_AC Youtube https://youtu.be/49DTRnkLXSE?si=Z3Cl54naWLkj-PLw

Commission on the State of US Olympics and Paralympics https://www.csusop.org/ You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the Tip Jar at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

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Ashley Cain is a two-time U.S. champion in pairs and 2022 Olympian. In the last two years, she has been coaching, and touring with Disney on Ice. We talked about life on tour, the advantages of being a tall pair girl, concussion protocol and recovery, and being part of a generation of young coaches who want to support healthier and happier skaters.

Transcript available: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G9kWS5c946dHfGNWVdl0INo5WStXQyJXYrMFRhvb_lo/Instagram

You can follow Ashley on instagram at @ icegirlash

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast 

If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the Tip Jar at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

Remember to subscribe and review The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

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This episode features Bruno Massot, the 2018 Olympic and World Champion in pairs. Bruno is now coaching full-time, and we spoke at the European Championships where he was accompanying the Swedish team of Greta and John Crafoord. This was a shorter-than-usual conversation but it was still a very interesting one. We got into the future of pairs and what makes for a great coach.

You can follow Bruno on Instagram at @bruno_massot and reach me with comments or suggestions by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast.

Episode transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1N...

Make sure you're subscribing on your podcast platforms and on YouTube to ensure you get all of the future episodes. Special thanks to Ivan Danyliuk for editing and technical assistance.

If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the tip jar at https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/futureoffigureskating

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Johanna Allik is a former Estonian national team member in singles and ice dance and the co-founder of JIV Sport apparel company. She has recently published The Book of Figure Skating, a beautiful coffee table book full of information and original interviews. We spoke at the 2024 European Championships about the growth of skating in Estonia and Belgium (where she now lives), her experience speaking out about her eating disorder and the importance of keeping athletes in the sport post-puberty.

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zbD-_g2wahzKCTf8Kc55S49dponx21bXjFujHGl1p5c/edit?usp=sharing

You can follow Johanna on Instagram @johannaallik and check out her YouTube channel @johannaallik7

You can order The Book of Figure Skating at jivsport.com

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast .

Special thanks to Ivan Daniluk for editing and technical assistance. If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the Tip Jar at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co Remember to subscribe and review The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

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Joining me in conversation were Isabelle Ragnarsson of Ice Theatre of Stockholm, Kate McSwain of American Ice Theatre, Katja Grohmann of Ice Lab Leipzig, Maja Luther of Maja Luther Studio, and returning guest Phillip Tischendorf. In October, they spent a few days together in France with other contemporary skaters at the second annual Performing Arts Project. I was eager to learn more about their companies, their collaborations, and the different approaches each brings to contemporary skating.

00:00:00 – Introduction and Welcoming 00:02:43 – Skating Journeys 00:18:30 – Collaborative Projects 00:24:22 – Pandemic Learnings 00:36:15 – Contemporary and traditional skating 00:46:12 – Connecting skating and dancers 01:04:45 – Future of contemporary skating

You can learn more about the Contemporary Skating Alliance and its member companies at https://contemporaryskatingalliance.org/

The next CSA Performing Arts Project event will be November 1-3, 2024.

Thumbnail photo credits: Johannes Hjorth (@johanneshjorth)

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the Tip Jar at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

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Episode Notes

Today's guest is Jamal Othman, the managing director for the Ice Academy of Montreal and Markey International Arts. Jamal was the 2009 Swiss national champion. In his post-competitive career, he has combined his interest in international business with his love of skating. In this episode, we talk about marketing and branding, the Olympic cycle, and how ice dance can fit between sports, art, and entertainment.

This is also the first video episode for the Future of Figure Skating, so make sure to check out and subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch this conversation and future episodes.

Thank you again to Jamal for sharing his thoughts and experiences with us. As always, the episode transcript is available: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bTCEZLBswkXeYA9fyBiWu_7Cgil6m8UYQSLgCV36-wY/edit

You can follow Jamal’s work at @iceacademyofmontreal and @markeyintlarts on Instagram.

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast . We are also now on YouTube, so make sure to subscribe there too for video episodes! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHbYK7VLpHJSCbfQwEcqGhg

Special thanks to Ivan Danilyuk for editing and technical assistance.

If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the Tip Jar at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

Remember to subscribe and review The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

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Philipp Tischendorf is a former competitive figure skater for Germany, a member of the Contemporary Skating Alliance, and an osteopath and physical therapist. He has turned his experience with injury, pain, and rehabilitation during his athletic career into a practice supporting both skaters and the general public. This episode challenges our misconceptions about injury and invites us to ask, how can we approach injury and pain with curiosity and even appreciation?

Transcript

You can follow Phil on Instagram @phil_care.

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast 

If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the Tip Jar at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

Remember to subscribe and review The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

Resources: Philipp Tischendorf - European Championships Short Program 2007

Social Determinants of Health and Pain Management

Congenital Insensitivity to Pain (CIS)

The Cortical Homunculus

Phantom Limb Pain

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Artificial intelligence is impacting many industries, and sports is no exception. How can AI help figure skating judging be more accurate? What other benefits could it have for skaters, coaches and viewers? My guest today is Craig Buntin, a Canadian Olympic pairs skater and the founder of Sportlogiq. Sportlogiq is a company at the cutting edge of this technology and has been working with the ISU to explore the feasibility of AI in figure skating. While Craig wasn’t able to discuss the details of his work with the ISU, I’m very glad to have him help us understand the intersection of technology and skating.

According to the May 2023 ISU financial report, the objectives under consideration were: “helping Figure Skating Officials to apply the rules correctly and giving them the technical support to evaluate the performed elements in the fairest and most impartial way possible, offering Skaters and Coaches measurement and analysis tools to evaluate and improve their performance, as well as keep track of the work done and goals achieved, and expanding the multi-media audience, allowing the sport to be enjoyed on different platforms and connecting the key players and their teams with the public and fans by presenting instantaneous statistics/graphics.” The initial proof-of-concept phase concluded these objectives were achievable. However, the conclusions also revealed that “ such projects would require a substantial budget, not only for implementation for ISU Figure Skating Events but also use by the ISU Members. The ISU Council is therefore currently exploring whether more cost-effective solutions could be available.” Even if the implementation of AI isn’t imminent, it’s worth understanding what it is, and how it could impact the sport in the future.

Transcript

You can learn more at sportlogiq.com and can follow Craig on Twitter @craigbuntin.

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast

If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the Tip Jar at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

Remember to subscribe and review The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

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This is a special episode, rebroadcasting the live discussion held on August 2nd with Anything GOE. We discussed the classic book Little Girls in Pretty Boxes: The Making and Breaking of Elite Gymnasts and Figure Skaters. Lois and I talked with the author Joan Ryan, and Olympian Kaitlyn Weaver. It also goes full circle for me as the one-year anniversary of this podcast - which also began with an interview with Kaitlyn Weaver!

You can also watch the video archive of the conversation on the Anything GOE youtube page, and read the transcript here.

Joan Ryan is on Twitter @JoanRyan and her website is https://www.joanryanink.com

You can follow AnythingGOE on social media and find our latest interviews on Youtube and AnythingGOE.com

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast 

If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the Tip Jar at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

Remember to subscribe and review The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

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What would it take to increase the power of figure skaters so they can influence the decisions that govern their sport? Where else in the Olympic movement is progress being made? What can we learn from sports where players’ unions and collective bargaining are common? To answer some of these questions, I turned to Rob Koehler, the Director General of Global Athlete, an organization that helps athletes to organize and speak out on the issues they care about. Rob was previously the Deputy Director General of the World Anti-Doping Agency, the most senior of many positions he held at WADA between 2002 and 2018. He was also vice-chair of the WADA Independent Observer team at the Sochi Olympics. Rob is based in Montreal, Canada.

I hope this episode gives you a taste of what is possible when athletes organize and use their voices to push for fairer sport!

Transcript is available here.

You can follow Rob on Twitter at @RobKoehler2 and Global Athlete @GlobalAthlete.

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast   If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the Tip Jar at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

Remember to subscribe and review The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

Resources Olympic Commercialization and Player Compensation: A Review of Olympic Financial Reports. Report by The Ted Rogers School of Management in partnership with Global Athlete - April 2020 https://www.globalathlete.org/research-and-surveys/olympic-commericalization

Athletes Germany https://athleten-deutschland.org/en/english/ Rule 40: Do athletes control their image during the Olympics https://athelogroup.com/blog/rule-40-and-the-olympics/ Rule 50: Athlete expression and protest https://olympics.com/athlete365/athlete-expression-rule-50/ Open Letter to the IOC:  https://www.globalathlete.org/our-word/open-letter-ioc-russia-belarus-june-2023 Open Letter Call for Skate Canada and the Government of Canada to Address Abuse in Figure Skating https://www.globalathlete.org/our-word/open-letter-call-for-skate-canada-and-the-government-of-canada-to-address-abuse-in-figure-skating Canadian Parliament Standing Committee on the Status of Women report, Time to Listen to Survivors: Taking Action Towards Creating a Safe Sport Environment for All Athletes in Canada, Recommends the “Government of Canada establish an independent national public inquiry into maltreatment in sports in Canada”. Athletics Association https://athleticsassociation.org/ THE ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION WELCOMES RETURN TO 32 EVENTS IN NEW DIAMOND LEAGUE FORMAT https://athleticsassociation.org/updates/the-athletics-association-welcomes-greater-inclusivity-in-new-diamond-league-format International Swimmers Alliance https://www.internationalswimmersalliance.org/ Aspen Institute, Project Play “Children’s Rights in Sport”  https://projectplay.org/childrens-rights-and-sports Sharon Stoll, “What Kind of Character do Athletes Possess” https://thesportjournal.org/article/what-type-of-character-do-athletes-possess/ Evan Bates speaks out https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2023/06/23/olympic-skaters-still-missing-medals-500-days-later/70349368007/ ISU Athletes Commission https://www.isu.org/inside-isu/about/athletes-commission ISU Statement on support for Ukrainian skaters and Russian/Belarussian Participation, June 2023 https://www.isu.org/isu-news/news/145-news/14614-isu-statement-ioc-recommendations-of-march-28-2023?templateParam=15

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Today's guest is Cathy Reed. Cathy and her late brother Chris were seven-time Japanese national champions in ice dance and two-time Olympians. Since her retirement in 2015, Cathy has become a coach and choreographer and has worked with many top Japanese singles, pairs, and ice dance teams. I was so excited to talk with her about her career and about the development of dance and pairs disciplines in Japan! I hope this will be the first of many episodes looking at skating from a perspective outside of North America and Western Europe. As always, if you have ideas for people I should talk to, please reach out! 

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast 

You can follow Cathy on Instagram @cmr2070 and the Kinoshita Academy at @kinoshita_skate_academy

The Future of Figure Skating is also co-hosting a summer book club in collaboration with Anything GOE. We are reading Little Girls in Pretty Boxes by Joan Ryan, and you can join the discussion on the Anything GOE Discord by signing up at http://patreon.com/anythinggoe

If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the Tip Jar at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

Resources: Episode Transcript

Cathy Reed/Chris Reed, Japanese Folk Dance Original Dance (WC 2010) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8BxfUvcPrE

Murakami/Moriguchi Beatles Medley choreo Cathy Reed (Junior Worlds 2023) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc28G1pTHGI

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Talia Barrington is a former competitive ice dancer and ballroom dancer and is currently a master's student at the NYU School of Journalism. She recently wrote an article for Slate entitled “The Once Unthinkable Revolution Coming to Figure Skating” about the changes to allow teams of any gender in ice dance and pairs. Talia broke the news that the ice dance technical committee of the ISU is considering putting forward a rule change at the next Congress. In this episode, we talk about why this change would be revolutionary, and what figure skating can learn from the world of ballroom dance. 

Transcript

You can follow Talia on Twitter @TaliaBarrington  You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast  You can join the FOFS & Anything GOEs joint book club by signing up at patreon.com/anythinggoe If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the Tip Jar at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

Resources: “The Once Unthinkable Revolution Coming to Figure Skating” https://slate.com/culture/2023/04/figure-skating-2023-same-sex-gender-pairs-rules.html Madison Hubbell & Gabriela Papadakis skating together, On Ice Perspectives https://www.instagram.com/p/Crp0G1RO0jX/ Tara Prasad 2022 FS Padmaavat Soundtrack by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Hasit Nanda (choreo. by Tara Prasad) https://youtu.be/S2TPXEvRIE0

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In 2010, Dr. Mary Louise Adams wrote one of the best books about figure skating that I’ve encountered, called "Artistic Impressions: Figure Skating, Masculinity and the Limits of Sport". I highly recommend the whole thing, and was grateful for the opportunity to discuss one of my favorite topics - queerness in skating! - with her!

Mary Louise Adams is a Professor in the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies and the Department of Sociology at Queen's University in Ontario, Canada, where she teaches courses on sport and culture, the sociology of fitness and the body, and contemporary issues in sexuality. Dr. Mary Louise Adams' research investigates everyday movement and recreation cultures as sites where relations of domination are both produced and resisted. Drawing on literatures and theories from feminist studies, cultural studies, and sport studies, and using a range of qualitative, interpretive, and historical methods, she explores embodiment, the meanings of movement, and the relationship between active bodies and their historical and cultural contexts. Her current projects are concerned with: the political, environmental and cultural history of a municipal park; expressions of feminist and utopian ideals in recreational sports; and sexual harassment in sport coaching.

Artistic Impressions on Google Books https://books.google.com/books/about/Artistic_Impressions.html?id=qvWcmTbdgCwC

More about Mary Louise’s research https://skhs.queensu.ca/people/faculty/mary-louise-adams-phd/

Research on Adult Hockey and Figure Skating: https://hockeyinsociety.com/2021/06/14/growing-the-game-report-on-adult-hockey-and-figure-skating-programs-in-canada/

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the Tip Jar at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

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Today’s guest is Ryan Stevens. Ryan is the author of three reference books about figure skating history and the fantastic resource that is the Skate Guard blog. A former figure skater and judge from Halifax, Nova Scotia, he also writes for “Skating” magazine and US Figure Skating. I’ve appreciated Ryan’s interest in all corners of skating history, especially the figures who have been forgotten by mainstream history. This conversation gave us a chance to talk about why things are the way they are, the processes of change, and our hopes for the future of the sport!

A full transcript is available here

You can follow Ryan on Twitter and Instagram @SkateGuardBlog and at https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/ where you can also pre-order his upcoming biography of Jackson Haines.

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast 

If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the Tip Jar at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

Resources: https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/ Ryan’s books are Technical Merit: A History of Figure Skating Jumps, The Almanac of Canadian Figure Skating, and Figure Skating: A Bibliography You can buy them on Amazon! Madge Syers: The Mother of Figure Skating https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/2013/06/spotlight-on-madge-syers-mother-of.html Fancy Dan’s and Figure Eights  https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/2016/06/fancy-dans-and-figure-eights-skatings.html Example of a “well-balanced program” from the 1970s including intentional single, double and triple jumps - Toller Cranston 1972 World Championship FS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQnf6kOtbFQ Atoy Wilson (Ice Theatre of NY profile) https://www.icetheatre.org/atoy-wilson-blm.html Axels at the Apollo: The Joseph Vanterpool Story https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/2021/03/axels-at-apollo-theater-joseph.html The Almanac of Professional Figure Skating Competitions https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-almanac-of-professional-figure.html One Night Only: Professional And Pro-Am Competitions That Didn't Stick Around https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/2020/06/one-night-only-professional-and-pro-am.html Isabela Butler: Figure Skating’s Best-Kept Secret https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/2016/03/isabella-butler-figure-skatings-best.html Jackson Haines: The Skating King (Ryan’s new book) https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/2015/08/jackson-haines-definitive-biography.html A History of Doping in Figure Skating https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/2022/02/a-history-of-doping-in-figure-skating.html

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Today's guest today is Megan Williams-Stewart. Megan is a board member of the Diversify Ice Foundation, and is a strong advocate for inclusion and support for other skaters of color.  Since its founding in 2017 Diversify Ice has provided sponsorship award packages worth over $30,000 to competitive minority skaters, worked with underrepresented schools to introduce the sport to more Black and Brown kids, provided performance opportunities to minority skaters, and supported skaters of color all across America with financial support, mentorship, networks, and opportunities.

As a board member and volunteer, Megan is a part of all that work and a fascinating person in her own right. A former competitor for Team USA, she was the 2006 Ondrej Nepela champion, and 2007 Nebelhorn silver medalist. Since retiring in 2009, Megan has worked as a coach and recently announced she’ll join the new Johnny Weir Skating Academy in the fall. We talk about all of that and more in today’s episode!

Transcript

I hope you enjoyed that conversation with Megan Williams-Stewart. You can look at the show notes for links to a transcript and to many of the things we discussed. You can follow Megan on Instagram @meganaws and Diversify Ice @diversify_ice 

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast 

If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the Tip Jar at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

Resources: https://diversifyice.org/ US Figure Skating Mabel Fairbanks Skatingly Yours Award (2023 Announcement)  Article about Megan at US Figure Skating: Johnny Weir Skating Academy announcement

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This episode dives into the world of contemporary figure skating outside of the competitive realm. My guest is Garrett Kling, a professional figure skater, choreographer, yoga instructor, and multimedia artist based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. With Kate McSwain, he is the Co-Executive Director of American Ice Theatre. In 2017, Garrett received the Ground Breaker Award at the U.S. Open Professional Figure Skating Championships. He has performed and toured around the world, and is currently performing with Le Patin Libre in their new production “Murmuration”. 

You can follow Garrett on Instagram @garrettkling and American Ice Theatre @americanicetheatre You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast  Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

Resources: American Ice Theatre website American Ice Theatre - American Contemporary Skating Festival Trailer Garrett’s 2017 US Open performance, co-choreographed with Marciano Silvo dos Santos Satoko Miyahara talks working with dancer Kenta Kojiri Stabat Matar program YouTube Playlist for 2023 Young Artists Showcase Contemporary Skating Alliance  Blind Landing Podcast, Season 2 Figure Skating Diversity and Inclusion Alliance  Garrett Kling website 

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Meagan Duhamel is the 2018 Olympic Bronze medalist in pairs, and gold medalist in the team event. She and partner Eric Radford also won two world titles and were known for pushing the envelope technically, being the first pair to land a throw quad at the Olympics. Since her retirement, Meagan has focused on coaching and commentary and is known for being an outspoken advocate for other athletes, including being critical of the ISU and IOC’s handling of Russian doping. In this episode, we dive into her thoughts on the state of pairs skating and the need for athlete-centered policies in sports. 

Transcript

You can follow Meagan on Twitter @mhjd_85 and on Instagram @Meaganduhamel . You can also learn more about her nutrition work through her blog and instagram @lutzofgreens

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast 

Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

Resources

Lutz of Greens (Meagan’s Wellness Blog) “Creating Long-Lasting Healthy Habits for Figure Skaters”  https://www.lutzofgreens.com/2022/11/23/creating-long-lasting-healthy-habits-for-figure-skaters/ ISU “Keep Training” series “Pair Specific Drills https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_ZJzXvfEtM

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My guest today is Christopher Trevisan. Chris is the Director of the Skating School of Switzerland, where he works alongside head coach Stéphane Lambiel and his students, aka Team Champéry.  In 2019, the Skating School of Switzerland became one of the ISU’s pilot Centers of Excellence. Chris also is the manager and agent for Stéphane and Deniss Vasiljevs. I’m a huge admirer of Team Champéry’s approach to skating (if you didn’t already know that about me, this conversation will definitely out me as a fan)! I hope you will enjoy Chris’ unique perspective and some really intriguing ideas about how the competition rules could reward creativity and the strengths of a wider range of skaters. 

Episode Transcript

You can follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisTrevisan and the Skating School of Switzerland on Instagram at @skatingschool 

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast 

Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

Resources: Programs we talked about: Stéphane Lambiel Free Skate at the 2004 World Championships in Dortmund Deniss Vasiljev’s Free Skate at the 2022 European Championships Deniss Vasiljev’s Free Skate at the 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy in Sheffield ISU Communication 2550: Calculation of world standings ELO system for chess rankings Microsoft ranking system TrueSkill. Details are on the Microsoft Research page here and on Wikipedia. ISU Center of Excellence More on Champéry’s role as an ISU Center of Excellence and their approach to coaching in Anna’s interviews with:

• Stéphane Lambiel (October 2022) interview for Anything GOEs
• Angelo Dolfini (December 2022) interview for Absolute Skating 

2022 Champéry Christmas Show with Learn to Skate students (and Stéphane and Deniss) Anna’s Interview with Deanna Stellato-Dudek/Maxime Deschamps, Absolute Skating  FOFS Episode 4 w/ Jeroen Prins Transcript The history of art in the Olympics Hiphop, aka Breaking, in the Olympics Stéphane interview in Absolute Skating, discussing the idea of breakdance battles on ice “This Bitter Earth”, Stéphane show program 2022 with choreographic fall (watch two to see the difference in the improvisation!) Golden Skate Awards, December 2022 Music on Ice, January 2023 Deniss Vasiljevs show program (Superman medley) from 2012  Queen Medley w/ Gjon’s Tears, Art on Ice 2023 “It’s A Sin” Europeans Gala 2022 “Dos Oroquitos” Music on Ice 2023 Deniss Vasiljevs fan meeting from Europeans (with the conversation about what animal Chris is)

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TW: Eating Disorders. Today's guest is Rachael Flatt. Rachael was the 2008 World Junior Champion, and the 2010 US National Champion and placed 7th in the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. After retiring from competitive skating in 2014, she completed her degree from Stanford University and has gone on to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, with a focus on eating disorders and mental health in athletes. As an athlete member of the US Figure Skating board of directors, and as part of the US Olympic and Paralympic Task Force on Mental Health, Rachael has brought both her personal and professional expertise to making elite sport a healthier environment. This was a great conversation drawing connections between health and inclusion!

The transcript is available here.

You can follow Rachael on Twitter @RachaelFlatt and on Instagram @reflatt 

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast 

Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

Resources: Changing the culture of mental health in sports | Rachael Flatt | TEDxUNC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7lumbNhZeM

USOPC Task Force on Mental Health

Recovery Record App

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Today I’m joined by figure skater and author Andrew J Sass. Andrew’s first middle-grade novel, “Ana on the Edge” features a 12-year-old non-binary figure skater coming to terms with her identity and what it means for her ambitions in the sport. It’s a sweet and compelling story that I think figure skating fans of any age will enjoy. Andrew is himself a non-binary adult skater and a judge, as well as the author of three novels for middle-school-age readers. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his husband and “two cats who act like dogs”. 

Episode Transcript and Links

You can follow Andrew @matokah on Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. You can also find more information about his books at https://sassinsf.com  

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast 

Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

Find out more at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

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I’m joined by Kiira Korpi for a conversation about positive coaching and mental health in figure skating. Kiira Korpi is a two-time Olympian, a three-time European medalist, and a five-time Finnish champion. She is the author of a memoir, “Kiira Korpi: Surviving the Ruthless World of Championship Figure Skating” which was published last year in an English translation. Kiira currently works as a coach and as a figure skating commentator for Finnish TV.

You can follow Kiira on instagram @ Kiira_Korpi and twitter @ kiirakorpi_fi . You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast

Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

Episode Transcripts

Kiira Korpi Academy https://kiirakorpi.com/  “Kiira Korpi: Surviving the Ruthless World of Championship Figure Skating” https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/kiira-korpi/ Open Ice Visionaries: a documentary by Kaitlyn Weaver, featuring Kiira Korpi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqa1cqQHE7Y&t=2608s “GOEing into Detail w/ Amber Glenn” Anna’s Interview w/ Amber, discussing body image https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaThbywF2W0

Episode Notes

Welcome back to the Future of Figure Skating. My guest today is Asher Hill, who is a choreographer, commentator, and one of the founders of the Figure Skating Diversity and Inclusion Alliance. With his previous partner ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kharis_Ralph)[Kharis Ralph, Asher was the 2008 Canadian national junior champion in ice dance, and went to the 2010 World Championships.  Asher is a vocal advocate for racial justice. In 2020, he called out Skate Canada for making an essentially empty statement in response to the murder of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter Movement. The statement was hypocritical to Asher, who had filed an official misconduct complaint with Skate Canada more than a year before, highlighting a number of instances spanning five years where a co-worker at his figure skating club was abusive with racist, homophobic, and misogynistic language. Asher’s comments sparked much of the progress that’s been made around diversity and inclusion in Canadian skating. Asher is smart, warm, and funny, and I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did! 

Episode Transcript: FoFS Google Drive

You can follow Asher on Instagram @asherkwacie and Twitter @AsherHill

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast 

Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!    Resources: Asher Hill interviewed on the Burn It All Down podcast  https://www.burnitalldownpod.com/episodes/interview-asher-hill-figure-skater-coach-choreographer-and-activist Anna’s interview with Maddie Schizas for Anything GOEs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXpRkYpX0yQ “Figure Skater Asher Hill Sees Hypocrisy in Racial Equality Statements” (June 3, 2020) https://www.cbc.ca/sports/floyd-george-sports-organizations-hypocrisy-asher-hill-1.5597217 “Moir, Weaver advocates of gender-expansive ice dance and pairs figure skating teams” (cites Anna & Erica as an example) https://www.tsn.ca/figure-skating/scott-moir-kaitlyn-weaver-advocates-of-gender-expansive-ice-dance-and-pairs-figure-skating-teams-1.1904779 Figure Skating Diversity and Inclusion Alliance https://www.fsdia.org/ FSDIA Conversations in Color on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4d9O3hbO8-4-Us3RNx9xrA “Kamila Valieva does viral 'Wednesday' Dance, but U.S.A. and Japan still without Olympic medals” Kirsten Moore-Towers and Dylan Moscovitch join Asher Hill on That Figure Skating Show  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LZDbUgLqtE&list=PLDsQU3UFA4hXMPS-ZioeBFuuxHMm98S0H&index=6 “The Cultural Importance of Papadakis and Cizeron’s waacking rhythm dance at the Olympics” Asher Hill and Dylan Moscovitch interview choreographer Axelle Munezero https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njA_s7DZDzI&list=PLDsQU3UFA4hXMPS-ZioeBFuuxHMm98S0H&index=40 “Russian Ice Dance Sparks Indigineous Anger” Al Jazeera English - Domnina/Shabalin OD 2010 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtXWE1CfbcM Piper Gilles / Paul Poirier RD 2015 “Sargeant Pepper”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zce2niUl870 Kharis RALPH / Asher HILL CAN Original Dance 2010 Four Continents Championships “African Folk” Somlandela/Hlohonolofatsa by Soweto Gospel Choir https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNqW1zxNJdM

Jackie Wong of Rocker Skating has become a household name among figure skating fans as the go-to source for competition reports, live-tweeting, and analysis of the sport. I talked to Jackie about his pathways into skating, the media landscape in the US, and how Asian American representation matters. We also nerded out about rule changes this season, and how different federations determine their national team selections. I have to apologize a little to Jackie and to the listeners that this episode didn’t come out when I intended, before US Nationals. That means you’ll get to hear us be hopeful about Jason Brown in the knowledge it worked out for him!

You can follow Jackie at @rockerskating on Twitter and rockerskating.com

You reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast  Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use and share it with your friends!

Maja Luther is a creative working in performative arts creating interdisciplinary work with ice, and working in figure skating, focusing on movement skills and efficiency. Maja has an MA in Creative Practice and a diploma in dance studies from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of music and dance inLondon, UK. She performed over a decade in professional shows as soloist, and in that time managed and led ice shows and choreographed professional performances.

Maja was previously a guest on episode 26, as part of the Contemporary Skating Alliance, and I wanted to have her back on the podcast to discuss the article she recently published in the journal of Dance and Somatic Practice, called “Body Melts: A Somatic Approach to Figure Skating”.

Episode transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cP6djxpGE4XY-Xc_2OyA7WJHXUynvSrVvGeadKiC5g0/edit?usp=sharing

You can follow Maja's work on YouTube and Instagram at Studio Maja Luther. Her article, called “Body Melts: A Somatic Approach to Figure Skating” is in the most recent issue of the Journal of Dance and Somatic Practices. https://intellectdiscover.com/content/journals/10.1386/jdsp_00108_1

You can watch a video of the Body Melts installation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ5yTEO7XOw

We also referenced Sonja Hilmer's Matrix program (filmed here by On Ice Perspectives: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLNJLyJqAPU) and Deniss Vasiljevs' In the Air Tonight program, which is partially improvised in each performance.

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the Tip Jar at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with your friends!

Support The Future of Figure Skating by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/futureoffigureskating

Find out more at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

Today’s guest is the first Olympic champion I’ve had on the podcast - Charlie White!  Charlie and his ice dance partner Meryl Davis are the 2014 Olympic Gold Medalists as well as 2010 Olympic silver medalists. They are also two-time World champions and six-time national champions. In 2022, Charlie launched the Michigan Ice Dance Academy with his wife Tanith (herself an Olympic medalist in ice dance), and their friend, junior world champion Greg Zeurlin.  They are already off to a strong start with elite dance teams such as Caroline Green/Michael Parsons, and Katarina Wolfkostin/Jeffrey Chen working with them. When announcing MIDA, Charlie talked about the importance of supporting athletes as whole people, and I am eager to learn more about their coaching approach!

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Cpn9eDvW9KHQpOlDB115l7l7Vdwzd1lCDG0zbxnsLKc/edit

You can follow Charlie at @CharlieAWhite on Instagram and Twitter, and MIDA @michiganicedanceacademy on Instagram and https://www.michiganicedanceacademy.com/

“Michigan Ice Dance Academy to Open in 2022” https://www.usfigureskating.org/news/article/michigan-ice-dance-academy-open-2022

Charlie’s tweets about having his students write essays on ice dance https://twitter.com/charlieawhite/status/1493058958617108483?s=46&t=_IVdmlHKhXmCA8l-mxBecw

The Roeper School philosophy https://www.roeper.org/about/mission--philosophy

You reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast  Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use and share it with your friends!

On this episode, I'm joined by author and professional skater Karina Manta. With her ice dance partner Joe Johnson, Karina competed internationally for the US. Karina and Joe made history as the first team where both partners were out as LGBTQ, and Karina was also the first woman skater to come out while competing - it took until 2018 to break that barrier, which is just mindblowing!

Karina’s memoir is called "On Top of Glass, My Stories as a Queer Girl in Figure Skating." She’s a beautiful writer and I highly recommend the book! Since retiring from competition in 2019, Karina has also toured with Cirque de Soleil and won the British reality show Dancing on Ice.

You can see a transcript for this episode here

You can follow Karina @karinamanta on Instagram. Her website is karinamanta.com. You reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast

Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

Resources and Links:

“Karina Manta is Team USA’s First Out Female Figure Skater” The Advocate, 2018

“On Top of Glass: My Stories as a Queer Girl in Figure Skating” 2021 (linked to Amazon for reference but please support your local bookstore)

Manta/Johnson FD 2019 US Nationals - their rendition of "Sweet Dreams" received a standing ovation in Detroit.

Regan Gascoigne and Karina Manta skating in Dancing on Ice (Final) (27/3/22)

Ice Dance International performance of “Revival” including Karina and Joe

The Skating Body is on Instagram @theskatingbody

I referenced “Little Girls in Pretty Boxes: The Making and Breaking of Elite Gymnasts and Figure Skaters” by Joan Ryan. Originally published in 1995, it also has an updated edition from 2018

In this episode, a conversation with Dr. Tina Chen, member of Skate Canada's Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Committee. We talk cultural and systemic change, gender inclusion, combatting anti-Asian and anti-Bthe lack racism, and ethical choreography.

Tina Chen has been named one of Canada’s 100 most powerful women. She is a distinguished professor of History at the University of Manitoba. Her teaching and research interests are in the areas of modern Chinese history, anti-colonial solidarity movements, feminist and socialist projects for social justice, and histories of race and anti-racism. She has long advocated for equity and diversity within academic settings, including the University of Manitoba. In February 2022, she was named the inaugural Executive Lead- Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the University of Manitoba. In the skating world, Tina is currently a coach with Skate Winnipeg. As a skater, she was a 3-time competitor at Canadian Championships in pairs (Novice) and dance (Junior), and was Ontario Intercollegiate Champion (with the University of Toronto Varsity Skating Team). She is also the mom of two skaters, so she has really seen the skating world from every angle! Recently, she has been combining her experience advocating for equity with her figure skating experience. She is active in the Figure Skating Diversity and Inclusion Alliance and is also a member of the Skate Canada Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Committee.

Transcripts are available for each episode here

Dr Tina Chen profile at University of Manitoba

Skate Canada EDI Committee and Process:

• Skate Canada Statement on Anti-Racism (June 3, 2020)
• “Figure Skater Asher Hill Sees Hypocrisy in Racial Equality Statements” CBC (June 3, 2020)
• Public Statement on EDI working Group (October 2020)
• Skate Canada 2022-2026 Strategic Plan (October 2022) : Three “Strategic Imperatives” are Skating for Everyone, Skating for Life, Skating to Win
• Skate Canada Trans Inclusion Policy, Adopted 2018
• For Comparison, ISU Transgender Policy, Communication 2422, Aug 2021

Anti-Racism and Ethical Choreography:

• Skate Ukraine “Why Skate Canada has Renamed the Mohawk and Chocktaw” Ivan Danyliuk
• Also useful: Skate Guard Blog: “How the Mohawk Got its Name”
• Conversations in Color: No, I’m Not Michelle Kwan: Being East Asian in Figure Skating (part 1 of 4) Asher and Acacia Hill host conversation w/ Mirai Nigasu, Patrick Chan, Michelle Hong & Tina Chen
• NexxIce performs their 2021/22 program “Mehcinut” music by Jeremy Dutcher; choreography by B Solomon
• The Creative Process: Narrated by B Solomon
• “The Cultural Importance of Papadakis and Cizeron’s waacking rhythm dance at the Olympics” Asher Hill and Dylan Moscovitch interview choreographer Axelle Munezero on That Figure Skating Show
• “Red Nails, Black Skates: Gender, Cash, and Pleasure on and off the Ice” 2012 book by Erica Rand (Professor at Bates College and my skating partner!)

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast

Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

There’s been increasing discussion of stress fractures, as skaters like Rika Kihira, Wakaba Higuchi, and Yuma Kagiama have struggled with that injury this season. In today’s episode, I’ll be focusing on the biomechanical research can help prevent these kinds of overuse injuries. My guest Dr, Deborah King, is Professor and Grad Chair in Exercise Science and Athletic Training at Ithaca College in New York State. Dr. King has three decades of experience working with figure skaters, including in partnership with the US Olympic Training Center. Her research focuses on measuring the forces involved in jump landings, in order to better understand the impact on bones and joints. 

You can learn more about Dr. King's work on her page here.

Transcripts are available for each episode here,

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast

Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

Three-time Olympian Kirsten Moore-Towers is one of the most highly-decorated Canadian skaters of her generation. Kirsten has also been an outspoken advocate for athlete mental health and eating disorder awareness, including participating in the TSN documentary Disorder where she spoke openly about her own struggles with body image and bulimia.

Kirsten and Mike retired from competitive skating at the end of the last season, and have since toured with Stars on Ice and begun coaching. My pairs partner Erica and I were lucky enough to work with them this past August!

Kirsten's new consulting venture is KMT Performance and she's on Instagram and Twitter @Kirsten_MT.

We discussed the Skate Canada Body Positive guidelines, and comments by Gabi Papadakis about gender presentation in the documentary Le Couple de Feu.

Transcripts are available for each episode here,

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast

Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

This episode is for the skating nerds - and for anyone who is curious about how judging works and how change is made at the ISU. My guest this week, Jeroen Prins, is a judge, technical controller, and referee and serves as the Acting Discipline Manager for figure skating for the Netherlands. Notably, he judged the pairs competition at the Beijing Olympics and the World Championships last year.

At the ISU Congress in June, Jeroen presented several proposals on behalf of the Netherlands, including the idea of a split judging panel, with half the judges marking Grade of Execution and the other half doing program components.

You can follow Jeroen on Twitter at @JeroenPrinsNL and see detailed judging reports at Skating Scores. The deliberations of the ISU are available to rewatch on YouTube.

Transcripts are available for each episode here.

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast

Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

Today's episode features six-time French champion Maé Bérénice Méité in a conversation about her new programs, race in skating, injury recovery, body image, and social media marketing.

Maé is making her comeback this year, after having to withdraw from the 2021 World Championships with an injured achilles tendon and then missing the 2021-22 season while she recovered. In addition to her competitive career, Maé is already making an impressive impact on the sport, whether by working with the Figure Skating Diversity and Inclusion Alliance, educating skaters about nutrition, athlete development, and body image, or launching her own businesses.

You can follow Maé @mae_meite and @businesswithmae on Instagram. You can also follow her journey on her Youtube channel Simply Mae . Watch her Olympic Channel feature Anatomy of a Figure Skater here. Find the Figure Skating Diversity and Inclusion Alliance atfsdia.org

Transcripts are available for each episode here

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast

Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

Today's episode features two-time Olympian, Kaitlyn Weaver in a conversation about queer representation, building inclusive community, systemic change - and the future of the rhythm dance.

With her ice dance partner Andrew Poje, Kaitlyn is a three-time World medalist, a two-time Four Continents champion, a two-time Grand Prix Final champion, and a three-time Canadian national champion. Since retiring in 2019, Kaitlyn and Andrew have continued to skate in shows around the world. In addition to her impressive accomplishments on the ice, Kaitlyn is also a coach and choreographer, a commentator for the CBC, the founder of the non-profit Open Ice Collective, and is working with Skate Canada and the ISU on improving the rules and systems of the sport. Kaitlyn also made history last year when she became only the second female Olympic figure skater to come out as queer!

You can follow Kaitlyn @ka2sh on Twitter and Instagram. Find the Open Ice Collective at https://www.openicecollective.com/ and watch Open Ice Visionaries on YouTube. Learn more about Skate & Sculpt at https://skateandsculpt.com/

Transcripts are available for each episode here

Thanks also to Erica Rand and Evan Murray for their help with this episode. 

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast 

Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

This episode introduces the big question: How can figure skating be an inclusive, healthy, and joyful experience for all participants? 

Transcript available at: https://bit.ly/3Jmyrwk

I’m so excited to bring you this conversation with Gabriella Papadakis. With her ice dance partner Guillaume Cizeron, Gabi is the 2022 Olympic champion, the 2018 Olympic Silver Medalist, and a five time World Champion. She’s been taking a break from competition the last two seasons, skating in shows with Guillaume and exploring life away from the rink. Gabi has been vocal about support for opening up dance to teams of any gender, and in 2023, she and Madison Hubbell shared a video of them building a program together. We talked about partnering and improv, the process of coming out as queer, and the pressure put on women skaters to conform to rigid standards of femininity. This was such a delightful conversation and I really hope you enjoy it!

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/

You can see clips of her recent show skating on her Instagram @gabriellapapadakis and via On Ice Perspectives.

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast

If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the Tip Jar at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

Support The Future of Figure Skating by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/futureoffigureskating

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Part 2 of my conversation with choreographer, director, and producer Sandra Bezic! We talked about the World Championships in Montreal and the moments that made Sandra more optimistic about pairs skating and the future of the sport. We also got into the proposals from the ISU Technical Committee for Singles and Pairs to add a choreographic lift and spin to the pairs free skate.

Transcript of our conversation at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vylQQ1GQQrbSsXatPIKzVA0_V6YcksIfUHt0E1HDY_E/edit#heading=h.eweywq5frae5

My article on the proposed changes to pairs and interview with Fabio Bianchetti of the ISU Technical Committee: https://anythinggoe.com/isu-congress-to-decide-big-changes-for-pairs/

You can follow Sandra on Twitter and Instagram @SandraBezic . Her website is smbcreative.ca

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast 

Thanks to Ivan Danilyuk for editing this episode.

If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the Tip Jar at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with your friends!

Support The Future of Figure Skating by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/futureoffigureskating

Find out more at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

Part 1 of my conversation with choreographer, director, and producer Sandra Bezic! With her brother Val, Sandra was a four-time Canadian pairs champion and competed in the 1972 Olympics. She is most well known, however, as a choreographer and the creative force behind many skating shows and TV programs. She has choreographed for champions like Brian Boitano, Kurt Browning, Katarina Witt, Lu Chen, and Tara Lipinksi. Most recently, she made Lindsay Thorngren’s short program for the 23/24 season. She was the director of Stars on Ice for many years and collaborated with David Wilson on Yuna Kim’s All That Skate and Javier Fernandez’s Revolution on Ice. Sandra also produced the Canadian TV program Battle of the Blades and in 2023 made the series  “I Have Nothing” alongside comedian Carolyn Taylor.

Sandra has a unique understanding of how to make skating appeal to general audiences, and we had a great conversation about choreography, entertainment, and the changes she’d like to see in the sport. 

Transcript of our conversation at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16tp4AuF159XJuNPMNxgpq82pGFxA9GOUTNMFLfJESvE/edit#heading=h.tje8hivsf0d

I’ve made a playlist of a few of Sandra's choreographies that is accessible on our YouTube page. 

You can follow Sandra on Twitter and Instagram @SandraBezic . Her website is smbcreative.ca

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast 

If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the Tip Jar at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with your friends!

Support The Future of Figure Skating by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/futureoffigureskating

Find out more at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

My guest today is journalist and author Christine Brennan. Christine is a USA Today columnist and frequently appears on ABC, CNN, and PBS. She has covered figure skating since the Calgary Olympics, and her books Inside Edge and Edge of Glory are classics. Christine is also actively reporting on the sexual abuse scandals in figure skating, and we talked about covering these difficult topics and holding institutions accountable.

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RLvetYplX8JsLwfD6OwkoGEUbWLsPLN5d--xdrCZ68o/edit#heading=h.am5hlkrye8qq

You can follow Christine on X/Twitter @cbrennansports . Her website is www.christinebrennan.com

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the Tip Jar at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

Support The Future of Figure Skating by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/futureoffigureskating

Find out more at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

What will it take to end the crisis of abuse in sports? This issue has been reverberating in the skating world, as more survivors have come forward with their stories, and the institutions charged with protecting athletes have largely failed to make the needed changes. Gymnasts for Change Canada advocates for eradicating maltreatment and misconduct in sport and is at the forefront of the campaign for a national inquiry into sport in Canada. Their sister organization, Figure Skaters for Change Canada, which is anonymous, has also published an open letter pushing Skate Canada to address specific cases of abuse, as well as making systemic changes.

My guests, Amelia Cline and Abby Spadafora, are board members of Gymnasts for Change Canada, and are themselves survivors of abuse during their careers in elite gymnastics. We discussed the pathways to making change in this seemingly intractable problem, and what fans of skating can do to support survivors.

You can follow their work at their website, https://www.gymnasts4changecanada.com/ and @Gym4ChangeCan

Amelia Cline is on Twitter at @ameliagrace1989  Abby Spadafora is at @abbyspadafora 

You can also learn more about the sibling organization Figure Skaters for Change Canada at @FSforchangeCan

Report by Global Athlete and Gym4ChangeCanada: Canadian Safe Sport Think Tank Report

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast 

If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the Tip Jar at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

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Find out more at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

A special conversation about the anti-doping system and how it is working (or not working) to support athletes. I'm joined by Meagan Duhamel, a 2018 team gold medalist and individual bronze medalist in pairs from the PyeongChang Olympics, by Rob Kohler, director of Global Athlete and formerly deputy Director-General at WADA, and by Paul Greene, who is the founder of Global Sports Advocacy and a leading lawyer representing athletes. We talk about the CAS decision in the Kamila Valieva case, tackling state-sponsored doping, and what a fair system would look like for athletes.

My explainer of the CAS decision for AnythingGOE: https://anythinggoe.com/making-sense-of-the-valieva-decision/

Thanks again to Meagan Duhamel, Rob Koehler, and Paul Greene. You can follow Meagan on Twitter @mhjd_85 and on Instagram @Meaganduhamel You can follow Rob on Twitter at @RobKoehler2 and Global Athlete @GlobalAthlete and globalathlete.org Paul Greene is at @greenesportslaw and his website https://www.globalsportsadvocates.com has more information about his work.

Video Podcast: https://youtu.be/FuToObR1T6E

Episode transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DqBjmYnhtEiQZMDdTKPjvNas-mNNeXJjPrKWuJRcG_o/edit

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the Tip Jar at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

Support The Future of Figure Skating by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/futureoffigureskating

Find out more at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

Daniel Aggiano is a coach and choreographer who is passionate about mental health and eating disorder awareness. He competed nationally and internationally for Great Britain and Italy from 2004-2012 in singles, pairs, and synchro. He won national titles in pairs for both countries and competed in the Junior World Championships in 2009. After a career in show skating, Daniel began coaching and now works at the IceLab in Bergamo, Italy, where he works with many top skaters, including European medalists Rebecca Ghilardi and Filippo Ambrosini. Daniel is also a choreographer and recently collaborated with Carolina Kostner on programs for Rebecca and Filippo.

We discussed Daniel’s experience dealing with mental health and eating disorders, and the need to raise awareness for these issues for men and boys - a topic that we also go into in more detail in part II of our interview. I really appreciated Daniel’s honesty and vulnerability on these difficult topics, and his willingness to share his own struggles to help others!

You can follow Daniel on Instagram @ danielaggiano777

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast

Special thanks to Ivan Danilyuk for editing.

If you or someone you know is struggling with eating and healthy body image, one good source for help and more information is the National Eating Disorder Association. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/

If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the Tip Jar at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

Support The Future of Figure Skating by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/futureoffigureskating

Find out more at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

This is part two of my conversation with coach and choreographer Daniel Aggiano. Daniel is passionate about expanding awareness of eating disorders and how they impact male skaters. In this part of the conversation, he shared his struggles with bulimia as a competitive and professional skater, and his ongoing work to find a healthy approach to food and weight. If you think hearing details about disordered eating will be unhealthy or triggering for you, you can skip ahead to the 30 minute mark. Please take care of yourself! It’s also worth noting that we recorded this conversation before the 2024 ISU Congress. While many of the rule changes Daniel and I discussed have since been delayed until after the Olympics, the questions he raised will continue to matter.

Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1N4v_woSdwYT4dIhjtnEoBo93iHaPnm8Ji7EKIMJXorU/edit#heading=h.triz0qvkh0w3

If you or someone you know is struggling with eating and healthy body image, one good source for help and more information is the national eating disorder association. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
You can follow Daniel on Instagram at @ danielaggiano777

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast . We are also now on YouTube, so make sure to subscribe there too for video episodes. https://youtu.be/Gl8lo5pA-SQ

Special thanks to Ivan Danilyuk for editing and technical assistance.

If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the Tip Jar at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

Niko Cohen has combined a background in theatrical costume design, and their passion for skating as an adult competer, to found Lavender Threads, a figure skating costume business. They have made costumes for team USA skaters like Max Naumov and Jimmy Ma. Niko is the 2024 national silver medalist in the US Adult Silver Women’s category - and they are determined to take the title next year!  As a trans and agender person, Niko has advocated for inclusion and policy change within their figure skating club and national federation. We had a great conversation about navigating the skating world as someone who doesn’t fit into binary gender categories, what makes for a sucessful figure skating costume, the inspirational power of Yuri on Ice and Satomi Ito, and lots more…

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/u/2/d/1xjp3DDJ8U_-cVrnGMpN8eucFfvjz18bSow-vNEYQzEs/edit?usp=drive_web&ouid=104904088829705355096

Follow Lavender Thread on Instagram @lavenderthreadco and Niko's skating @ Nikonikoforov

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast 

Thanks to Ivan Danilyuk for editing and video production

If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the Tip Jar at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

Remember to subscribe and review The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

Episode 42 features an interview with 3-time European medalist Matteo Rizzo. We recorded in late July in Madesimo, Italy, where Matteo trains at altitude for part of each summer. Matteo is one of the most seasoned and consistent competitors in the men’s discipline, with two Olympics and six world championships under his belt. He has won four bronze medals on the Grand Prix circuit and has finished first or second at the Italian national championships every year from 2014 to 2023. After winning bronze at Europeans in 2024, Matteo had to miss the end of the season to get surgery on his hip. In this interview, Matteo shared his recovery process, approach to training, and the importance of emotional connection with an audience.

Thank you to Matteo and his team for making this interview possible, and to Ivan Danilyuk for editing and video production.

You can see clips from Matteo’s return to performance at Ghiaccio Spettaccolo on On-Ice Perspectives https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vuxvI26hHk

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast

If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the Tip Jar at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

Remember to subscribe and review The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

Drew Meekins is a coach and choreographer based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Together with Natalia Mishkuntenok he runs M&M pairs, and coaches US Champions Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea, Junior Champions Olivia Flores and Luke Wang, and teams from eight nations. He is also involved in coaching and choreography for singles skaters at the World Arena, most notably Elyce Lin-Gracey. Drew was the 2006 junior world champion with pairs partner Julia Vlassov. We talked about the role of artistry in the sport and the challenges of growing the pairs discipline.

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10Cc_GcU9mkuzUaV8fp3GLWfAGtURsiZc0_7mi6oopsc/edit?tab=t.0

Episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/5r17SFFtuRU?feature=shared

You can follow Drew on Instagram @Drew_Meekins and on Bluesky at drew-meekins.blsky.social M&M Pairs is on Instagram @mmpairs

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast

If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the Tip Jar at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with your friends!

Kam/O’Shea 2024 SP https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=cEJjyKpo40w&pp=ygUfZWxsaWUga2FtIGFuZCBkYW5ueSBvJ3NoZWEgMjAyNA%3D%3D

Flores/Wang 2023-24 SP https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=jIT0vpwNMms&pp=ygUQZmxvcmVzIHdhbmcgMjAyNA%3D%3D

Elyce Lin Gracey 2024-25 SP https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8yAbFlPpFA&pp=ygUYZWx5Y2UgbGluIGdyYWNleSBzcCAyMDI0

Peter Grütter competed representing Switzerland throughout the 1950s and 60s, including at the 1964 Winter Olympic Games in Innsbruck. He's now been a coach for more than 60 years and is acknowledged as an expert when it comes to steps and turns and control of the blade. His most famous student is Stéphane Lambiel, who he coached to two world championship titles and the Olympic silver medal in 2006. After the end of compulsory figures, Peter took what he had learned from his coach, the legendary Jack Gershwiler, and created a series of warm-up steps and turns that could be used for his students to maintain their mastery of the blade. These steps and turns are now available as an e-learning course through the ISU's eRink program. Peter still teaches, including coming every Wednesday to the Skating School in Champery to work with young skaters. We were very lucky to be able to watch his master class during the 2024 summer camp in Champery and to get to sit down with this great coach to learn about his ideas for the future of the sport.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/EGiyQDfaDiY?feature=shared Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1avXr_BnHlap96sVQrMz0_Mh8Cxq5q4kqdR4QMgkSE3U/edit?tab=t.0

Steps & Turns eRink course: https://elearning.isu.org/course/view.php?id=440

More about Jack Gerschwiler https://www.skateguardblog.com/2020/07/getting-to-know-gersch-jacques.html “The Technique of Skating” 1977 book by Otto Hugin and Jack Gerschwiler

2003 Interview w/ Peter : https://web.archive.org/web/20070928143716/http://www.stephanelambiel.ch/int%26art/interviews/e-gr%C3%BCtter201203.html 2009 Interview: http://www.absoluteskating.com/index.php?cat=interviews&id=2009grutter 2013 Interview: http://www.absoluteskating.com/index.php?cat=interviews&id=2013gruetter

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram at futurefspodcast and Bluesky at futureoffs. If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with a tip jar at futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co. Remember to subscribe to the Future of Figure Skating on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts and share it with your friends!

Support The Future of Figure Skating by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/futureoffigureskating

Khoudia Touré is a street dancer, choreographer, and performer from Senegal. In 2018, Khoudia was selected for the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative and worked with renowned Canadian choreographer Crystal Pité. Since 2020, she has been a frequent collaborator with Stéphane Lambiel’s Skating School in Champéry, Switzerland. She teaches hip-hop dance and improvisation techniques to the students during the summer camps and has collaborated with Stéphane, Guillaume Cizeron, and Satoko Miyahara on innovative show programs. I was lucky enough to get to speak with Khoudia during the summer camp in Champery, and I hope that you enjoy this conversation and some clips of her work with her students. 

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rKs22nDngaw

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Tnj6ZErCx4anE4Uah5SO6Gz9jcGjp4AVWp69OxWGTBE/edit?tab=t.0

You can follow Khoudia's work through https://www.khoudiacreates.com/ and her instagram @ khoudia.roodia

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast 

If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the Tip Jar at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with your friends!

https://olympics.com/en/news/through-dance-khoudia-toure-advances-social-causes-senegal

Stéphane Lambiel - This Bitter Earth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2fWwVHtEYU&pp=ygUic3RlcGhhbmUgbGFtYmllbCB0aGlzIGJpdHRlciBlYXJ0aA%3D%3D Stéphane Lambiel & Guillaume Cizeron  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2Xq1AjHg4Y Satoko Miyahara - Minor Blue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-VcP5sbkhY Khoudia Touré, Choreographer of “Óró”  https://vimeo.com/922090769/f7db132ed5

Madison Hubbell and Gabriella Papadakis debuted their new professional partnership at Art on Ice 2025. I spoke to them backstage in Zurich about providing an example of what open-gender ice dance can look like, and their advocacy for change in the sport. Gabriella Papadakis is the 2022 Olympic Gold Medalist in Ice Dance and a five-time world champion. She was also a guest on the Future of Figure Skating episode 33. Madison Hubbell is the 2022 Olympic Bronze Medalist in Ice Dance and is now a coach at the Ice Academy of Montreal's London, Ontario branch. Gabi and Maddie are long-time friends and former training mates who always dreamed about skating together in shows.

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10ZDDaryNEvErb6DSn499IDNomPS87X4jfugQ5S1nErM/edit?tab=t.0

Video interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Qxa0ERLdR4o

Gabi's article on substack "The Case for Same-Sex Figure Skating" makes great reading as well! https://substack.com/home/post/p-154177649

The two are skating at Art on Ice to the live performance of Marius Bear's song "Not Loud Enough" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uyMdINdqvI

Thank you to the Art on Ice team for facilitating this interview, and to Ivan Daniluk for filming and editing.

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com, Instagram at @futurefspodcast, or at futureoffs.bsky.com

If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the Tip Jar at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

Support The Future of Figure Skating by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/futureoffigureskating

Tarah Kayne is a retired competitive pair skater and a coach and choreographer. With her former partner Danny O’Shea, Tarah is the 2018 Four Continents champion, and 2016 US national champion. In our conversation, Tarah reflected on the challenges she had to overcome in her career, including financial barriers and several severe injuries. She also shared the importance of mental health and having a support network outside of skating. Tarah is now bringing these lessons to her role as a coach!

Youtube: https://youtu.be/0hFapwdGAPU

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12MCq8AJiNxgUbMpAC6bX2ZZ3bq-yX1Yv1xMHzV8Bg9g/edit?usp=sharing

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com, Instagram at @futurefspodcast, or at futureoffs.bsky.com

If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the Tip Jar at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

In this episode, I spoke with two ice dancers who have become strong advocates for survivors of sexual assault. Soléne Mazingue is a two-time Estonian national champion and three-time competitor at the World Championships. She made headlines for returning to competition after recovering from life-threatening brain injuries. Olivia Oliver is a Polish national champion and represented her country at the 2024 Worlds. Last fall, both women chose to go public about the sexual assault they each experienced within the sport, and the difficulties they have faced in pursuing justice. Solène has since founded the Instagram account #metooskating and is helping others to share their stories and find mutual support. I am humbled by the bravery and compassion that Solène and Olivia are showing as they work to make figure skating a safer place for others. This is a difficult topic to discuss, and please take care of your own well-being, but I really encourage my audience to listen to what Solène and Olivia have to say.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/grACfoFD0Sk

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G6xLzbjvLKPiQ_9xlacyi8Ffapo6uxNCowfLmsuGFQg/edit?tab=t.0

You can follow Solène on Instagram @ solenemazingue_ and Olivia @ livoliverr_ You can also follow the account @ metooskating !

If you’d like to learn more about the support that is available for survivors, I encourage you to check out the organizations Athletes Empowered and Army of Survivors. I spoke with Athletes Empowered, under their former name Gymnasts for Change Canada, on Episode 30.

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com, Instagram at @futurefspodcast, or at futureoffs.bsky.com

If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the Tip Jar at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co

Czech sibling ice dance team Natalie Taschlerova and Filip Taschler have been skating together since 2017, and have placed as high as 8th in the World. They have made many fans because of their unique style, and the strength and speed they bring to the ice.

In the last year, Natalie and Filip have spoken out about the pressures that social media and judging put on the mental and physical health of athletes, and the need for more acceptance of diverse body types. At the 2025 World Championships, they helped qualify two Olympic spots for Czechia. Since we talked, Natalie and Filip have shared that they have switched coaches, and will be working with Maurizio Margaglio in Finland.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/pW-BS2_gj7I

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10Ssnuu87HzFwqprt0e0JHpIrde-3QUVC4Xano5vr7tU/edit?usp=sharing

You can follow the team on Instagram at the_taschlers , and individually at nat_taschlerova and filip_taschler01

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com, Instagram at @futurefspodcast, or at futureoffs.bsky.com

If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with the Tip Jar at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co