The Future of Figure Skating

Jae Youl Kim was reelected as president of the International Skating Union at the federation's Congress which wrapped up Friday in Tenerife, Spain. In this exclusive interview, he talks about athlete compensation and the comments by IOC President Kirsty Coventry, as well as how the ISU leadership will try to communicate better and avoid misunderstandings with athletes and coaches when changes are introduced. Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Uvlq38wP3jrIpULakm7XjQRoF-e_4m0f1BZJZbjXV00/edit?tab=t.0 YouTube: You can follow more about the ISU Congress in the daily reports and live-tweeting at AnythingGOEs You can reach me at fsfuturepodcast @ gmail.com or on Instagram @ futurefspodcast. You can support my work at ko-fi.com /futureoffigureskating. Thanks for liking and subscribing!

Tatsuro Matsumura is a current member of the ISU Council, having served in that role since 2018. He was a competitive ice dancer and coach, before working with the Japanese Skating Federation and Japanese Olympic Committee. The International Skating Union's Congress is being held from June 10th through 12th, and at this meeting, member federations of the ISU will vote on office holders, including the President, the Vice Presidents, the Council, and members of the various committees that help to govern the sport. The ISU president, Jae Youl Kim, is running for re-election unopposed. However, the Vice President for Figure Skating is a contested position, with four candidates running, including the incumbent Benoit Lavoie. Eleven candidates are running for the ISU council positions for figure skating. Five positions will be elected at Congress. The Future Figure Skating podcast is featuring interviews with as many candidates for the VP and Council positions as possible in the lead up to the ISU Congress. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/SB_ZPFqd4aQ Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yzFwfZCMT3e6VglLGzjSs6mdYIDZCxusqukeyI60YyA/edit?tab=t.0 My writing about the ISU's rule change proposals: https://anythinggoe.com/bigchangesfromisu/ Make sure you check out the other candidate interviews on YouTube. You can reach me at fsfuturepodcast at http://gmail.com or on Instagram @ futurefspodcast. You can support my work at http://ko-fi.com/futureoffigureskating . Thanks for liking and subscribing.

Jimmy Stryhn Meyer is a candidate for the ISU Council. He is the president of the Luxembourg Figure Skating Federation, and is also president of the Staff Committee at the European Court of Justice. The International Skating Union's Congress is being held from June 10th through 12th, and at this meeting, member federations of the ISU will vote on office holders, including the President, the Vice Presidents, the Council, and members of the various committees that help to govern the sport. The ISU president, Jae Youl Kim, is running for re-election unopposed. However, the Vice President for Figure Skating is a contested position, with four candidates running, including the incumbent Benoit Lavoie. Eleven candidates are running for the ISU council positions for figure skating. Five positions will be elected at Congress. The Future Figure Skating podcast is featuring interviews with as many candidates for the VP and Council positions as possible in the lead up to the ISU Congress. Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RTEYFK_X0tOun-KPf7v4977OJF7MK_VkX89tRAiqlwc YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/9qvTVP1F9VI My writing about the ISU's rule change proposals: https://anythinggoe.com/bigchangesfromisu/ Make sure you check out the other candidate interviews on YouTube. You can reach me at fsfuturepodcast at http://gmail.com or on Instagram @ futurefspodcast. You can support my work at http://ko-fi.com/futureoffigureskating . Thanks for liking and subscribing.

Oleksandr Volkov is a board member of the Ukrainian Figure Skating Federation, and a lawyer specializing in cross-border litigation, international arbitration and sports and esports law. He spoke to me from his office in Kiev, and had to relocate to the basement mid-interview when Russian bombing began. The International Skating Union's Congress is being held from June 10th through 12th, and at this meeting, member federations of the ISU will vote on office holders, including the President, the Vice Presidents, the Council, and members of the various committees that help to govern the sport. The ISU president, Jae Youl Kim, is running for re-election unopposed. However, the Vice President for Figure Skating is a contested position, with four candidates running, including the incumbent Benoit Lavoie. Eleven candidates are running for the ISU council positions for figure skating. Five positions will be elected at Congress. The Future Figure Skating podcast is featuring interviews with as many candidates for the VP and Council positions as possible in the lead up to the ISU Congress. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/l5HrkLHP2cw Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-nVU-KMVLmqRdpE56PZAuxgqOh8SPS72-147XG6sGUs/edit?tab=t.0 My writing about the ISU's rule change proposals: https://anythinggoe.com/bigchangesfromisu/ Make sure you check out the other candidate interviews on YouTube. You can reach me at fsfuturepodcast at http://gmail.com or on Instagram @ futurefspodcast. You can support my work at http://ko-fi.com/futureoffigureskating . Thanks for liking and subscribing.

Dr Susanna Rahkamo has been a member of the ISU Council since 2022. With her partner Petri Kokko she was the 1995 European Champion in Ice Dance, and was the originator of the Finnstep pattern dance. She has served as the President of Skate Finland, and in leadership roles with the Finnish and European Olympic Committees, and was previously the leader of the ISU Development Commission. Dr Rahkamo is running for a second term on the Council. International Skating Union's Congress is being held from June 10th through 12th, and at this meeting, member federations of the ISU will vote on office holders, including the President, the Vice Presidents, the Council, and members of the various committees that help to govern the sport. The ISU president, Jae Youl Kim, is running for re-election unopposed. However, the Vice President for Figure Skating is a contested position, with four candidates running, including the incumbent Benoit Lavoie. Eleven candidates are running for the ISU council positions for figure skating. Five positions will be elected at Congress. The Future Figure Skating podcast is featuring interviews with as many candidates for the VP and Council positions as possible in the lead up to the ISU Congress. And we hope that these interviews will help to clarify the issues facing the ISU as well as the visions of the individuals who form part of that leadership. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/L-_rsrqZvCg Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OdqScJ_Yuw2GdBT9z_gw87beVm8k4gPdCUVhEQZwf3I/edit?tab=t.0 ISU Council Interviews - Susanna Rahkamo My writing about the ISU’s rule change proposals , in the episode description. Make sure you check out the other candidate interviews on YouTube! You can reach me at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram at Future FS Podcast. You can support my work at ko-fi.com/futureoffigureskating Thanks for liking and subscribing!

Robin Cousins is one of the candidates running for the ISU Council. The 1980 Olympic champion, he has served in many roles within figure skating as a choreographer, a professional skater, a also most recently has been the president of British ice skating. I also spoke with Robin for a full podcast episode at 2025 Europeans, which you can find in our playlists as Episode 54. https://youtu.be/jHgI5n_wdDw?si=KYIuGxV7q7b-dh9D The International Skating Union's Congress is being held from June 10th through 12th. At this meeting, member federations of the ISU will vote on office holders, including the President, the Vice Presidents, the Council, and members of the various committees that help to govern the sport. The ISU president, Jae Youl Kim, is running for re-election unopposed. The Future of Figure Skating podcast is featuring interviews with candidates for the VP and Council positions in the lead up to the ISU Congress. I hope that these interviews will help to clarify the issues that are facing the ISU and the visions of the individuals who form part of the leadership! YouTube: https://youtu.be/YausJpUZOxw Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BoNTOeu0larHbfVv7N06Gx_pPkOqh6vCQtRMbLbfcRM/edit?tab=t.0

Jatta Muhonen is a doctoral researcher in psychology at the University of Helsinki, and a former top synchronized skater from Finland. Having personally navigated emotional abuse within the sport, she now dedicates her career to athlete welfare. Her PhD examines the factors shaping athletes’ experiences of emotional abuse and their readiness to recognize and disclose it, with a particular focus on the role of athletic identity. Her multifaceted career also includes roles as a safeguarding officer, performance (sport) psychology practitioner, and athlete performance lifestyle advisor (focus on athlete retirement), bridging the gap between research and practice. YouTube: https://youtu.be/0rEgBHaCjIM Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kW-xBoKPqhTdUUvgwTWacmQ6m7MPqH0-nkO7yCs2fxY/edit?tab=t.0 You can follow Jatta on Instagram at @ jatta_safesport You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or Instagram @futurefspodcast You can also support the podcast by making a one-time or recurring contribution at Ko-Fi.com/futureoffigureskating . Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with your friends!

As he finishes his second term on the ISU Athletes Commission, Eric Radford joined me to talk about how skaters can use their voices to impact decision-making. Eric Radford is the 2018 Olympic Bronze medalist in Pairs and the gold medalist in the team event, as well as a two-time World Champion. In 2019, he was elected as the singles and pairs representative for the ISU Athlete Commission. In 2022 he was elected chair of the commission, and served on the ISU Council until May 2025. YouTube: https://youtu.be/qY0jK1254pc Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AJk0YWXs6OBlMd8RkBCmDV-nLNkZDN_e9YlOJAh0xtA/edit?tab=t.0 You can follow Eric on Instagram at @ ericradford85 You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or Instagram @futurefspodcast You can also support the podcast by making a one-time or recurring contribution at Ko-Fi.com/futureoffigureskating . Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with your friends! ISU Athlete Commission https://isu.org/athletes-commission/ Communication 2427: 2021 Election Procedures Communication 2763: 2026 Election Procedures Recommended listening: Episode Rob Koehler, Global Athlete: https://youtu.be/j4pGmeyfMqk Episode 38: Elizabeth Ramsey, Team USA Athlete Commission: https://youtu.be/7MZRvvdw7Gg Episode 53: Evan Bates, ISU AC Rep for Ice Dance: https://youtu.be/W_0pfpjkHh0 Article on music rights: “Making Music in Skating Legal”

Erica Rand has just published a new book called ‘Skating Away from the Binary’, which looks at our skating and our struggle to be allowed to compete as a gender-nonconforming pair team, and examines issues around gender binaries, sports, and politics in a very accessible way. As well as being my pairs partner and friend, Erica is a professor of Art and Visual Culture and of Gender and Sexuality Studies at Bates College. Many of her courses concern the intersections of gender, race, and sexuality—including a course called Queer and Trans Sports Studies. A longtime activist and cultural critic, Erica has written on topics ranging from Barbie to Ellis Island, and has used her experience as an adult figure skater and group-lessons coach to help her think and write about opening up sport and movement for all. Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZJtaqOxw0iczfAoyGiiY94Z-fqo8yh3ZX0GvLPTzxm0/edit?tab=t.0 You can order “Skating Away from the Binary” through the University of Minnesota Press: https://www.upress.umn.edu/9781517920555/skating-away-from-the-binary/ Links: More about Erica: https://www.bates.edu/faculty/profile ... Erica’s first book skating book, “Red Nails, Black Skates” https://www.dukeupress.edu/red-nails- ... Riki Wilchins, When Texas Came for Our Kids / when-texas-came-for-our-kids You can reach me with comments or suggestions for people I should talk to by email at fsfuturepodcast @ gmail.com or instagram at futurefspodcast. You can also support the podcast by making a one-time or recurring contribution at Ko-Fi.com/futureoffigureskating .

Dr Ami Parekh made history as the first skater to represent India at the World Championships. She now works as a physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor. She is passionate about helping skaters be healthy at all stages of their career, and frequently works as the medical director at competitions. Ami is also the Executive Director of the Chicago Youth Foundation, an organization which brings figure skating and hockey to underserved communities. https://youtu.be/MOouEgSLzfA Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_4p7mYDm2plc2yYwI5Wfy3eZ34-LYqxgrmfcpRyqMe4/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 or Instagram @futurefspodcast If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with a one-time or monthly contribution at ko-fi.com/futureoffigureskating https://www.chicagoyouthfoundation.org/ Ami Parekh India Worlds 2007 Short program Ami Parekh INDIA "Raga Jazz" 2014 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships Taipei, Tawain Ami Parekh - 2013 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships,Osaka LP Chicago Youth Foundation on local news https://youtu.be/gxh4fainK48?si=Nh4SUqgRtq2S-ZrQ Bharatnatyam on Ice: https://www.facebook.com/thebetterindia/videos/2879877888944953/?rdid=TZ6lsbLjUvDlB3Fn Meryl and Charlie Bollywood OD 2010 https://youtu.be/Pn37SMb_5NM?si=4VaNIB2TsuvT4baW Tara Prasad https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2cQ4QjTNEAw Kat Arbour, Ice Dynamics off-ice training https://icedynamics.app/ Helmet Safety https://youtube.com/shorts/DFwCupGDqtQ?si=SQUNu4LUFmu4cpUz Early specialization and talent development in figure skating: Elite coaches’ perspectives https://ciss-journal.org/article/view/8744/13311 Health Consequences of Youth Sport Specialization https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6805065/

Jimmy Morgan is a coach and choreographer and the co-Vice President of American Ice Theatre. Previously, he competed at the national level in pairs with his partner Alex Shaughnessy. Jimmy is an advocate for LGBTQ + inclusion in sports, and through both his work on the ice and his social media presence, he encourages people to engage with figure skating and art in general as a way to learn more about yourself and engage with new ideas. Jimmy is also one of my pairs coaches! We a really fun conversation about queerness in skating, the growing field of showcase competitions and philosophical topics like how to judge art, the inherent unfairness of sport, and why skating appeals to the casual viewer. Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C ... Support on Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/futureoffigureskating You can follow Jimmy on Instagram @ hashtagjimmy. You can reach me with comments or suggestions for people I should talk to by email at fsfuturepodcast @ gmail.com or instagram @ futurefspodcast. Jimmy Morgan, Ryan Dunk “Modern Dreams” “ • "Modern Dream" - Figure Skating Choreograp... Jimmy Morgan “I Hate Figure Skating” • "I HATE SKATING" - Figure Skating Choreogr... • Ballet sur glace Villard-de-lans élite 202... • "Mother Nature" Koko Hirano practices her ... • Trans People Don't Make Sports Unfair - Sp... • How I'd Make Figure Skating Popular Again ...

With transgender inclusion in sports being the target of intense political attacks, I was grateful to speak with an athlete who has been a leading voice for inclusive sport. Grace McKenzie (she/her) is a transgender woman and lifelong athlete who found an inclusive and welcoming support network within the U.S, women's rugby community, which she describes as the most transformative experience of her transition journey. She was recruited to her first team in 2019, and played for 7 years across the United States for highly competitive clubs including the Berkeley All Blues and the New York Rugby Club. When World Rugby announced its plans to ban trans women internationally from the sport in 2020, Grace took action by organizing a global movement in opposition. She started a petition that accumulated over 25,000 signatures, and has engaged hundreds of clubs and dozens of professional athletes around the world through Rugby for All an organization that she helped co-found, and as an Advisory Council member of the Sport & Rights Alliance Since then, Grace has shared her story and advocacy at numerous forums around the world including the United Nations, prior to her retirement from the sport in early 2025. YouTube: https://youtu.be/lgtcGR0bd6U Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H_ky1ylon2lSY15Yn71MNgvCV-ln_gVErIEwmYsT1LM/edit?tab=t.0 You can follow Grace on Instagram @withgracetoo Rugby for All https://www.instagram.com/rugbyforall.co/ Sports & Rights Alliance https://www.instagram.com/sportandrightsalliance/ You can learn more about resources for transgender figure skaters and their allies at skatingpartner.com You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or Instagram @futurefspodcast If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with a one-time or ongoing donation on Ko-Fi, www.ko-fi.com/futureoffigureskating Links: Grace powerfully represented trans women in the debate at the Play the Game conference, which you can watch here: https://www.playthegame.org/conferences/play-the-game-2025/live-streaming/ New USFS “Category Policy” (October 2025) https://usfigureskating.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a74f8ee4ba91875df45aa1592&id=cca7538f2a&e=412852edf6

Episode Notes Stéphane Lambiel is a two-time World Champion and the 2006 Olympic silver medalist. He continues to perform in shows around the world, as well as working as a choreographer and the head coach of the Skating School of Switzerland. Chris Trevisan is the Director of the Skating School and was previously a guest on the Future of Figure Skating (episode 14). In this conversation, recorded in Champéry in August 2025, Stéphane and Chris discuss the values that underpin their work and their hopes for beauty and simplicity in figure skating. YouTube: https://youtu.be/kyDGxyhIcww Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1upw6esoodFCFasc67AcarBKzai4wWOm34oVuQXVp0GE/edit?tab=t.0 You can follow Stéphane on Instagram @slambiel and the Skating School @ skatingschool Y ou can also see videos from the Skating School, including their Step of the Month series, on their YouTube channel @theskatingschool You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or Instagram @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

Episode Notes My guest today is ice dancer and choreographer Jean-Luc Baker. With his partner Kaitlin Hawayak, Jean-Luc is the 2018 Four Continents Champion, a 4-time US Bronze Medalist, and a 2022 Olympian. Since stepping away from competition a few seasons ago, Jean-Luc has embraced his role as a coach and choreographer. He continues to teach seminars through his organization Your True Step, which he runs with friends Nathan Chen and Sam Chouinard, and he has even tried out commentating during the practice streams at US Nationals and Worlds. Jean-Luc works with teams at the Ice Academy of Montreal and the Michigan Ice Dance Academy, and has also branched out into choreographing for pairs and singles skaters. As you’ll hear, Jean-Luc is a believer in the power of authenticity, and he isn’t scared to have an opinion - which I love! Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vwYtH4oPbBzQw-QYwuQHxW-EeXsdzXotEUcHLZak5ZY/edit?tab=t.0 YouTube: https://youtu.be/WjV4Hn7415c You can learn more about Your True Step on Instagram at @ yourtruestep and follow Jean-Luc at @jeanlucbaker Kaitlin Hawayak and Jean-Luc Baker, 2024 Rhythm Dance, filmed by On Ice Perspectives: https://youtu.be/Wru_Mz8UbCM?si=WdDHGtGCyBdmA_pV Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud 24/25 Short Program, choreo by Jean-Luc Baker and Olivia Smart: https://youtu.be/tmNH4uVoM90?si=DVeM6kfqYZGrHHq2 Caroline Green and Michael Parsons 24/25 Free Dance, choreo by Jean-Luc Baker: https://youtu.be/h-yquwGqLG0?si=Qcaon2qkGTuTvMGF You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or Instagram @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

Episode Notes In this episode, Louise Walden-Edwards shares her journey of writing her first children's book, 'Ice Dream Sundays,' which aims to inspire young skaters and promote inclusivity in sports. Louise Walden was the 2011 British national champion in ice dance, and now works as a coach, choreographer, and TV commentator for Eurosport. We talk about Louise’s journey to becoming an author, her work with Inclusive Skating, and the importance of making space for everyone to be welcome on the ice. YouTube: https://youtu.be/VLR8fUG8hW0 Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/18tyXOcxgCGhUp950-a7BsDKQQdZ6SaajrKtK96PN93o/edit?tab=t.0 You can learn more about her book at icedreamsundays.com and her coaching at https://vo-ice.co.uk/ Find more about Inclusive Skating at https://inclusiveskating.org/ Follow Louise on Instagram at @ louisewaldenedwards You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at fsfuturepodcast@gmail.com or Instagram @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

Episode Notes My guest today is the 1980 Olympic Champion Robin Cousins. In his amateur competitive career, Robin won three world medals, a European title, and four British national championships. He has also had a prolific professional career, appearing in and producing numerous ice shows and competitions, judging Dancing on Ice, commentating for the BBC, and even appearing on stage in West End productions. He remains deeply connected to the sport today as the President of British Ice Skating. I spoke to Robin at the 2025 European Championships, where he shared his ideas for reforms that could increase figure skating’s appeal to the general public. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jHgI5n_wdDw Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OGVvApYSnA4DyvhryWzTCVYIwK60AdoHdKIGNU8GIyg/edit?tab=t.0 You can follow Robin on Instagram @robincousinsofficial 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 @futurefspodcast and Bluesky @futureoffs 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

Episode Notes Evan Bates is an American ice dancer, and with his partner Madison Chock, is the three-time and reigning World Champion in ice dance. He is also a four-time Olympian and a gold medalist in the team event from Beijing. In 2022, Evan was elected by his peers to be the first ice dance representative to the ISU Athletes Commission. I spoke to Evan last winter about his experience as a representative so far and his goals for the Athletes Commission in the future. Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YTw_u9n8IciqUsfwfXRHlSCAv05w_loDN09YIhMqejE/edit?tab=t.0 YouTube: https://youtu.be/W_0pfpjkHh0 You can follow Evan at evan_bates 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 @ futurefspodcast and Bluesky @futureoffs 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

Episode Notes Zabato Bebe is the skating choreographer for the ice shows at Phantasialand in Germany, where he also contributes to casting and finding new talent for their shows. He previously skated with Cirque du Soleil and has developed a unique style that blends elements of hip hop, African dance, and breaking on the ice. I first encountered Zabato after he had a video go viral last year featuring pair tricks with Alejandro Soler Castro, forming one of the few male/male adagio pairs currently performing professionally. Zabato is also interested in technology and is researching the integration of AI into skating and the creative process at large, drawing on his degree from Johannes Kepler Universität Linz (JKU) in Austria. We had a wide-ranging conversation about creativity, entertainment, and pushing the boundaries of what figure skating can be. Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11C8rngXWhvze503F0-O2dK1y6y1WKUxEP-EfGXoT4zw/edit?tab=t.0 YouTube: https://youtu.be/1LPV6kYwnko You can follow Zabato on Instagram at @ zabatobebe 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

Episode Notes Pooja Kalyan is a former Team USA skater and current Brown University student. Pooja competed in the Junior Grand Prix in 2018 , and at Skate America in 2020, before injuries forced her to pause her elite career. At Brown, she co-captains the collegiate team and is passionate about expanding opportunities for skaters at all levels and building a supportive team culture. Pooja also served as an athlete representative on the US Figure Skating board of directors. She serves on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion taskforce for US Figure Figure Skating, and is an ambassador for Diversify Ice. I learned a lot from Pooja about the challenges of skating at a high level, including managing injuries and the pressure of training and competition. I hope you also enjoy this look into her career so far! Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cdFj3jwm_4YQNGRdbxk5uGo-0CBp9I4owriqzJPQevk/edit?usp=drive_link YouTube: https://youtu.be/yf-h-fo9K3s You can follow Pooja on instagram @ poojakalyanskates US Figure Skating DEI taskforce https://www.usfigureskating.org/about/who-we-are/diversity-equity-and-inclusion Pooja Kalyan 2018 nationals https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RadTGfgM2OM&pp=ygUMcG9vamEga2FseWFu Pooja Kalyan On Ice Perspectives “All Human Beings” program by Lori Nichols https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8miWMIO9qQ&pp=ygUMcG9vamEga2FseWFu Pooja as a juvenile skater in 2013 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77C37ZmLoCk&pp=ygUMcG9vamEga2FseWFu 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 Bluesky @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!

Episode Notes Gary Beacom is a 1984 Canadian Olympian who has continued to perform and compete for more than half a century to develop mastery through theoretical and experimental research. Gary teaches seminars around the world, and with his YouTube channel, he shares exercises, challenges, and pieces of choreography, encouraging skaters at all levels to learn good technique and explore the blade. He is also interested in equipment and is part of the company SK8INSOLL, building high-tech insoles for figure skating. He spoke to me from Japan last fall, as he was preparing to compete in the ISU Adult championship in Calgary! We had some technical issues with video on the recording, but the conversation was so rich I wanted to share it anyway. YouTube: https://youtu.be/1pUho2J5z80 Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fAUX-coSXRYAmkctTS9QgYwsEncsLippdrDKVcJ9m8I/edit?tab=t.0 You can learn more about Gary at garybeacom.com or at his YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@GaryBeacom-FigureSkater “Difficult Entry” video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WC1KCKNMxjc Adult Competition https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=OqF5AxyQDyY&pp=ygUcZ2FyeSBiZWFjb20gaXN1IGNoYW1waW9uc2hpcA%3D%3D https://www.garybeacom.com/sk8insoll 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 Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with your friends!