On this episode we're talking with one of Canada's most famous Olympians, Clara Hughes. A 6x Olympian, Clara has earned medals in both cycling and speed skating, making her one of the rare Olympians to medal at both a Summer and a Winter Olympics.

Post-Olympics, Clara has worked in broadcasting, public speaking and wrote a memoir about her life. She's also an avid hiker and artist.

However, life took a turn when Clara hit menopause, and to deal with her debilitating–and life-threatening–symptoms, she turned to psychedelics for healing. Her new memoir Learning to Breathe details that experience. We talk with her about what led her down this path and how it was the right choice for her.

You can get a copy of Clara's book at our bookshop.org storefront (affiliate link). We've got a copy to give away to one of our Patreon members. Sign up at patreon.com/flamealivepod--at a free or paid level by November 30 to be entered in a random drawing.

Also on today's show, we discuss LA 2028's newly announced slogan "Stars Align." Plus, we wonder how that could play into the mascot for these Games. And we've found more cities that have agreed to host the torch relay. Is yours on the list?

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

Note: Links to products are affiliate links. We earn commissions through purchases made through them, which helps to fund the show.

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

***

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

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With the International Olympic Committee's new Fit for the Future program, every sport has to prove their relevance to ensure it stays on the Olympic program, shooting sports included. Elena Allen, Olympian and Sport Director of the European Shooting Confederation joins us to talk about how the sport is trying to modernize and grow its membership in order to remain an Olympic sport. From financial grants to new shooting formats, the European Shooting Confederation is seeing new growth that's boosting the sport throughout Europe.

Find out more about the European Shooting Confederation at esc-shooting.org.

Also on the show, we have more potential stops for the LA 2028 Olympic torch relay. See what cities could be in the mix! Plus, Alison addresses the Facebook Group controversy over how far is too far when it comes to watching an event like the torch relay in person.

LA 2028 also annouced a local licensee program called Made for Two-Eight. We discuss what that could mean for small creators and manufacturers trying to be part of the Olympics and Paralympics.

The IOC published a list of broadcasters showing the 2026 Youth Olympic Games. We break down some of the big names and wonder just what of these Games we'll be able to see.

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

***

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod

Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348

A lot has been happening in the Olympic world, so on this episode of the podcast, we're bringing you all the latest news.

LA 2028 made a big splashy announcement about its torch relay, saying that it would start in Atlanta and travel to all 50 states. This would be the first time a U.S. host city would have a torch relay that did visit every state in the country. While the actual torch relay route is still under wraps, we've discovered several cities that could be stops along the route. We'll tell you what we've uncovered.

We also have more hospitality house news for LA28, including where Caribbean House will be located and other houses that are in the works. Plus, the City of LA announced where its fan viewing sites will be located.

Alpes 2030 released a shocking new budget for hosting the Games. Also, skating athlete quotas have been adjusted to account for Synchro9's addition. Plus, a new event and some updates on Nordic combined.

Brisbane 2032's emblem release was spoiled, but we now have a logo for these Games. We take a look at the cockatoo-inspired emblem and see how it stands up to other logos. Plus, archery and rowing are vying to add events. What could be on the Brisbane 2032 sports program?

The International Olympic Committee announced the timeline for selecting the host city for the 2036 Games. They also unveiled the National Olympic Committees that are curently in the running to host, and it's an interesting mix of old and new.

Jill will be speaking on the next edition of Torched Talks, Alissa Walker's virtual series about megaevents in Los Angeles. It takes place on Monday, October 19 at noon PT on Zoom and is free. Please join us!

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

***

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

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Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

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The ice hockey tournament at the Cortina 1956 Winter Olympics had been Canada's playground. The country had won six out of seven Olympic ice hockey tournaments and were ready to capture another gold medal, but they had two things playing against them in these Games: A team that lost several members due to professionalism, and the formidable Soviet Union.

This tournament consisted of a round robin group stage, followed by a round robin final tournament with the top six teams. The round robin format and the way the games played out meant a myriad of possibilities for the podium. The potential to have to go to Plan C to break a tie.

It all came down to the final day of play, and what we would think would be the gold medal game turned out to be anything but.

Listen on to hear how it all played out, and who were the surprise medalists at these Games.

For a transcript and complete list of sources used in this episode, visit: https://flamealivepod.com. You can watch the Cortina Canadians documentary trailer here.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

Photo: Wikimedia Commons via Picryl

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Games History Moment with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown is released monthly. In 2026, these episodes explore the 7th Winter Olympic Games at Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy in 1956. Look for our regular episodes every week, with daily editions during the Olympics and Paralympics.

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Merch: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

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We're nearing the start of the winter sports season, but as we've learned from past years, just because we're getting into winter, that doesn't mean we'll have enough snow for winter sports.

To discuss climate change and future Winter Olympics, we talked with Lisa Riley Roche, reporter at the Deseret News in Salt Lake City. The Olympics is one of Lisa's regular news beats. She covered the SLC 2002 Games and has been covering everything going on with the Utah 2034 Games.

We talked with Lisa about climate, what IOC president Kirsty Coventry may change about the Winter Olympics, and some venue changes for Utah 2034.

Plus, Germany has officially selected a city to put forth as a Summer Games host for 2036, 2040 or 2044. Find out which city could host a future Games.

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

Photo credit: Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

***

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

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Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348

With every Olympics and Paralympics comes thousands of athlete stories. How do you preserve them all? Lindsay Huban, Chief Content and Integration Officer at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum gives us some insight on how the museum tells the stories of Team USA athletes and the Games.

Part of that strategy is through special exhibits, and the museum has two new exhibits on tap. The first, A Legacy of Victory: U.S. Olympic Decathletes, shares the stories of America's incredible performances throughout history in the decathlon. The second is The Genuis of Sport, on International Olympic Committee founder Pierre de Coubertin. Team Keep the Flame Alive member George Hirthler curated this exhibit , which he updated after it was at the Paris 2024 Cultural Olympiad.

We talked with Lindsay about some of the amazing ways athletes send in artifacts and what you can experience when you see the USOPM's new exhibits. Learn more at usopm.org.

Plus, LA 2028 has unveiled the triathlon and para triathlon courses, and we have follow-ups on LA28 news from recent episodes. Also, Alpes 2030 has finalized its venue plan, and it looks more manageable than Milano Cortina 2026.

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

Photo courtesy of Lindsay Huban.

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

***

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod

Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348

When a host city signs the contract to put on the Olympic and Paralympic Games, they don't just have to deal with local government to make them happen. LA 2028 has to work with municipal, county and state governments, as well as commissions and the federal government for funding, as well as regulatory needs.

Jason Sisney, Budget Advisor for the Speaker's Office at the California State Assembly, joins us to talk about the state's involvement in the LA28 Games. From temporary venues to environmental issues - and even gun control laws, the state has been working with the LA Organizing Committee for over a decade to help the Games happen. Jason sheds light on the importance of the Games not building any new venues and what they're doing differently than in 1984.

Jason shows us the amazing effort it takes from all levels of government to make an Olympics and Paralympics happen in California. As an Olympic historian, he also talks about the financial debacle that was the 1960 Winter Olympics and why the state doesn't want a repeat of that in 2028.

Jason is a great follow on Instagram and LinkedIn, so add him there! Also, if you're into infrastructure talk around LA-area mega-events like the Olympics and Paralympics, check out Alissa Walker's Torched LA. She gets into the nitty gritty of all of the good stuff regarding civic funding and policy around mega-events in the Los Angeles area.

Also on this episode, the Institute for Applied Economics of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation published an economic analysis of the potential impact of the Games on the local economy. We take a look at the numbers.

Plus, LA28 is implementing a food truck program, which has Alison very excited!

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

Photo courtesy of Jason Sisney.

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

***

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod

Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348

At Atlanta 1996 swimmer Amy Van Dyken became one of the heroes of the U.S. team, bringing home a whopping four gold medals in five events. She followed that up at Sydney 2000 with another two gold medals.

After retiring and getting into broadcasting, Amy's life took a turn in 2014, when an ATV accident left her paralyzed. While she's continued to broadcast (you may have heard her as an analyst on NBC's coverage of the Paris 2024 Olympics), she's also become an advocate for people with disabilities, helping able-bodied people understand the world from the eyes of someone in a wheelchair.

Alison talked with Amy about some of the specifics of her swimming training (including shave parties) and the approach to her second Olympics at Sydney. Amy shares the specifics of her injuries, the many complications she's had, and her secret for approaching recovery. They also get frank about the lack of understanding around accessibility and just how inaccessible America can be, even though there are disability laws in place.

Follow Amy online:

https://www.amyvandyken.com/

https://www.instagram.com/amyvandyken/?hl=en

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-van-dyken-rouen-oly-ab017323/

Also on this episode, it's torch relay time for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, and Jill and Alison get into the newly announced sports program for the Karlsruhe 2029 World Games. We're excited to see what sports stayed on the program, what came back, and what's new for this edition. Who's ready for some minigolf?

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

Photo courtesy of Amy Van Dyken.

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

***

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

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Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

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Seemingly every time we open our Inbox, we have an email from the folks at USA Fencing with another amazing announcement: They're doing a panel at Comic-Con, have a champagne sponsor, creating a theme song, getting colleges to create NCAA competitive programs in an era where college sports are declining, signing on celebs like actor Mandy Patinkin to be fencing ambassadors, and the list goes on!

Team Keep the Flame Alive member and USA Fencing CEO is leading that charge, and we talked with him about what a national governing body for a small Olympic sport does in non-Olympic years to boost interest and growth in the sport. Phil shows how it's possible to think differently, try new ideas, and get great results. No idea is too out there, and Phil tells us why.

Also, the second ticket lottery for the LA 2028 Olympics is over, but that doesn't mean all the tickets are sold! Listen to hear why you may not have been able to score any tickets in this lottery and what the Organizing Committee's plans are for future ticket sales.

Plus, it's two years until the LA28 Paralympics! LA celebrated by unveiling Wheelchair Basketball Square. In attendance at that event? TKFLASTANI David Davis, who wrote the history of wheelchair basketball in America.

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

Photo courtesy of Phil Andrews.

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

***

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

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Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

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We're going back to the Cortina 1956 Winter Olympics and the last Olympic speed skating competition on natural ice. Lake Misurina proved to be a fantastic venue as records fell by the dozens over the four races of the speed skating competition. We've got all the details, including the debut of the Soviet Union's fast skaters, a Norwegian comeback, and some Scandinavians who managed to make it onto the podium.

As mentioned on the show, you can find the documentary My Name Is McNamara here: https://vimeo.com/31206599

For a transcript and complete list of sources used in this episode, visit: https://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons via Picryl

Keep the Flame Alive: Games History Moment with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown is released monthly. In 2026, these episodes explore the 7th Winter Olympic Games at Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy in 1956. Look for our regular episodes every week, with daily editions during the Olympics and Paralympics.

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Merch: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod

X: http://www.twitter.com/flamealivepod

Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://mailchi.mp/ee507102fbf7/flamealivepod

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Book Club Claire returns for our first book club episode of 2026, featuring Heroes, Villains & Velodrome's: Chris Hoy and Britain's Track Cycling Revolution by Richard Moore. This book covers Hoy's early cycling career and the development of Great Britain as a cycling powerhouse until around Beijing 2008.

Claire joins us for a rousing discussion of Chris Hoy's early success, the 1000m race, keirin racing in Japan, and the Wild West days of track cycling. Plus, we make a surprising discovery about this title.

Also on this episode, we discuss the second ticket drop for the LA28 Olympics. Plus, the tennis schedule seems to be brutal. And we learn about more hospitality houses that plan to be at the Games.

Get your own copy of Richard Moore's book--and any other books--through our bookshop.org storefront. Commissions we earn from purchases through this link support the show's operating budget.

Want in on our Summer of Nostalgia? Find out more at our Patreon site.

For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.

Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

***

Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

***

Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

Hang out with us online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod

Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348