PODCAST · sports
Keep the Flame Alive
by Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown
Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz, for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes, coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tune in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympics Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.
Episodes
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Where will the LA28 Olympic torch relay travel?
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...
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Cortina 1956 Winter Olympics: Ice Hockey's Mind-Boggling Tournament
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…
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The Winter Olympics and Climate Change with Lisa Riley Roche
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...
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Preserving Olympic and Paralympic History with Lindsay Huban
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…
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Budget Advisor Jason Sisney on How the California State Government Works with LA 2028
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...
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Amy Van Dyken: 6x Olympic Gold Medalist and Disability Advocate
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...
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How USA Fencing Builds Growth in Non-Olympic Years with CEO Phil Andrews
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...
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Cortina 1956 Winter Olympics: Speed Skating's Magical Lake Misurina
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…
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Book Club Claire on Heroes, Villains & Velodrome's: Chris Hoy and Britain's Track Cycling Revolution
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...
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Cortina 1956 Winter Olympics: Important Evolutions in Nordic Combined and Ski Jumping
In our ongoing series about the Cortina 1956 Winter Olympics, we look at the sports of Nordic combined and ski jumping, both of which underwent their own evolutions at these Games. For Nordic combined, a format change and uncoupling from other competitions allowed this event to finally stand on…
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"The Games in Black & White": George Hirthler on Atlanta's Unlikely Olympics
Remember when Atlanta won the right to host the 1996 Olympics? The Centennial Olympics, the ones that Athens desperately wanted to host and everyone thought Athens would win because the Olympics were born in Greece? And then Atlanta won, and everyone was surprised? Well, we've got the story of…
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The Moscow 1980 Olympics with Author Tommy Phillips
Thanks to a US-led boycott, the first Olympics hosted by a communist country has long been a big black hole in our knowledge of the Olympics -- until now. On this episode, we're joined by author Tommy Phillips, who wrote The 1980 Moscow Olympics: A Day-by-Day History. His book captures all of the...
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Two Years to LA28 with Superfan Sarah
In two years, the LA 2028 Olympics will get underway, and we're looking ahead to those Games and what they'll have to offer. Superfan Sarah, officially recognized as Team USA's #1 fan, joins us to talk about how to prepare for the Olympics and Paralympics and what sports we're looking forward to...
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Shocks in the Olympic World!
We're back from a recording hiatus, and boy, do we have a lot of Olympics news to catch up on! First, Milano Cortina 2026 released its final report, and we go between the lines to suss out its venue delivery expectations, celebrity initiative, and a major issue they should have figured out...
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Cortina 1956 Winter Olympics: Cross-Country Skiing's New Era
In our year-long look back at the Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956 Winter Olympics, we head to the cross-country skiing stadium (built with filming in mind) where we're in the early years of the Hakulinen-Jernberg Era. Finland's Veikko Hakulinen and Sweden's Sixten Jergberg were the dominant forces in...
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Javelin with 4x Olympian Kara Winger
It's another installment of our People Who Throw Things series! This time we're talking javelin with 4x Olympian Kara Winger. Kara spent 15 years as a professional athlete, and in that time she competed at Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 (where she was also elected for Closing...
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Cortina 1956 Winter Olympics: Bobsled
We're traveling back in time to the Cortina 1956 Winter Olympics to hear all about the bobsled (or bobsleigh) competition. These Games saw some big changes: New rules about weight and new types of sleds. Cortina 1956 was the first Olympics for Italian Eugenio Monti, whose results put him on the...
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Coxswain: The Hardest Position in Rowing
Paralympic silver medalist Jenny Sichel joins us to talk all things coxswain: What the position does, how vital they are to the success of the boat, and what they carry in their coxswain bag. Jenny has competed as a coxswain in both able-bodied and para rowing. We talk with her about how she got...
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Paralympian Jenny Sichel on Training at the Elite Level While Managing OCD
For Mental Health Awareness Month, we welcome back Jenny Sichel to talk about her experiences with being an elite athlete while managing Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Jenny is a coxswain who competed with both able-bodied and para rowing crews. We talked with her about being misdiagnosed for...
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Cortina 1956 Winter Olympics: Alpine Skiing's New Hero
In our year-long look back at the Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956 Winter Olympics, we take to the slopes of the Tofane in the Dolomites to explore the Alpine skiing competition. With three events for men and women alike, athletes thrilled spectators on the slopes. The clear hero of Alpine skiing--and of...
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U.S. Center for SafeSport Explainer with CEO Benita Fitzgerald Mosley
The U.S. Center for SafeSport was created in 2017 by the U.S. Congress in the wake of the Larry Nasser scandal to address abuse and misconduct in American Olympic and Paralympic sports. On this episode, we talk with Benita Fitzgerald Mosley, who became the organization's new chief executive…
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LA28 Olympic Hospitality with On Location's Paul Caine
To be a spectator at the LA28 Olympics, you can buy tickets directly from the Organizing Committee, or you can book a hospitality package through On Location, the Games' official hospitality provider. Paul Caine, president of On Location joins us to talk all things Olympic hospitality, from how…
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Utah 2034 Update with Catherine Raney-Norman
While we still have Winter Olympics and Paralympics on the brain, we take a look at what's going on with Utah 2034 with Catherine Raney-Norman, Utah 2034's vice president development and athlete relations. Catherine is a 4x Olympic speed skater who transitioned into development work after…
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Female Athlete Protection and LA28 Updates
The International Olympic Committee has released a new policy on the protection of the female (women's) category in Olympic sport, which calls for gene screening for all female athletes. We talk about what this entails, what it could mean for sports, and whether or not we, as two women, feel...
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Cortina 1956 Winter Olympics: Torch Relay and Opening Ceremony
Step back in time to Cortina 1956! We're back with another Olympics history episode, looking at the torch relay and Opening Ceremony for the Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956 Winter Olympics. These two events were vastly different than what we saw at Milano Cortina 2026, and we compare 1956's short torch...
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Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics: The Listeners Speak!
The Milano Cortina 2026 cauldron might be out, but our community still has a lot to say about these Games! Hear what the listeners thought about a spread out Paralympics and the amazing sports that we watched. And there might be a feed beef or two. Plus, Alison gives an update on her friend Eric...
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Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics: Day 9
The Paralympic flame has been extinguished, and sadly, the Games of Milano Cortina 2026 are over. However, there was still plenty of action on the final day of competition! Thanks to your support of our Grande Finale 150 campaign, we went to Milano to watch the para ice hockey medal games, both…
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Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics: Day 8
We're at the penultimate day of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics, and it was our last day in Cortina. Time to say good-bye to many friends we've met and fit in one last cultural moment. In terms of sports, we some some exciting competitions. In para Alpine skiing, the women battled rain...
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Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics: Day 7
Coming to you from Piazza Roma in Cortina d'Ampezzo, it's Day 7 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics. Alison went to para snowboard to see TKFLASTAN crush it in the banked slalom. Jill had a cultural moment (and a blood pressure check) and saw some wheelchair curling before going up to...
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Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics: Day 6
It's Day 6 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics, and the snow is holding up for a few more competitions. Jill went to para Alpine skiing for the women's giant slalom, while Alison went to wheelchair curling for mixed team play. Luckily, their time in Cortina allowed for a little cultural...
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Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics: Day 5
It's Day 5 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics, and the running theme of the Games seems to be, "It's getting hot," as the snow gets slushier in the heat. Athletes are using coded language (and sometimes not-so-coded) to express just how tough the snow conditions are, and how hard it is...
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Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics: Day 4
It's Day 4 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics! Alison survives another Giacomo in the Morning experience to get to para Alpine skiing for (part of) the combined event. She also watched TKFLASTAN's Steve Emt and Laura Dwyer battle Korea in the semifinals of the mixed doubles wheelchair...
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Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics: Day 3
Day 3 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics was a struggle in transportation. Jill scored a massive win by getting to the para Alpine competition, but thanks to the not-well-thought-out transportation schedule, saw 1.5 of 6 classes. Still, it was a massive achievement for Keep the Flame Alive…
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Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics: Day 2
It's Day 2 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics, and we head back up to the mountains for the finals of para snowboard, then into Cortina for some wheelchair curling. Plus we got an up-close look at several medal ceremonies, which meant we got an up-close look at the podium people outfits, and…
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MIlano Cortina 2026 Paralympics: Day 1
Day 1 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics starts off with a wild (and nauseating ride) that does not end well for Alison, but she does get to an exciting day of wheelchair curling. Meanwhile, Jill made a questionable choice going up into the mountains, but got some interesting intel and took a...
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Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics: Day 0
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics is officially underway! We've got the scoop from the Opening Ceremony from our inadvertent live show, complete with guests! We'd like to give a big shout out to our donors who got us to Milano Cortina, as well as our patrons who keep our flame alive...
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Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics: Day -1
It's Day -1 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics, and we've made it up to the mountains! We've got the details of our trek to Cortina d'Ampezzo and our first foray to the Cortina Curling Stadium (which also involves a case of "Accesso Denied" and a surprise blood pressure check) to see…
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Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics: Day -2
We're back in Italy and ready for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics to start! Between the Games, Alison went back to the States for some much-needed rest. Jill went to Lausanne, Olympic city, where she spent some time at the Olympic Museum and explains why it's a must-visit. After a long and...
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Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics: The Listeners Speak!
The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic cauldron might be out, but we're still keeping the flame alive! We talk with listeners about their favorite moments from these Winter Olympics. Don't forget that the Paralympics are coming up soon! Daily coverage starts Wednesday, March 4. Keep our Flame Alive! We...
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Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics: Day 16
Sadly, it's time to say good-bye to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. We had a few more competitions to start the day, with Alison seeing the nail biter that was the men's ice hockey gold medal final, which went to overtime. Meanwhile, Jill went to Verona for the afternoon, with some...
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Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics: Day 15
It's the penultimate day of competition at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, and there's mayhem and beauty on the ice and snow. Can anyone stop Johannes Klaebo? Plus, Alison has opinions on finish line marriage proposals. Sports on today's program: Biathlon Bobsled Cross-country skiing...
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Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics: Day 14
We're getting close to the end of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, which, for those of us based in Milano, means there are some slim pickings for events to see. That doesn't matter though. Jill went to IOC president Kirsty Coventry's end-of-Games press conference, and walked away with...
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Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics: Day 13
It's Day 13 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, and we're introduced to ski mountaineering today. What we thought, plus Alison went to women's figure skating finals and Jill went to men's speed skating to see the 1500, followed by an extremely fast hoofing it to the women's ice hockey…
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Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics: Day 12
It's Day 12 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, and while we're coming down to the home stretch, there's still a lot of Olympics to enjoy, in particular a dog who decided it wanted to cross-country ski! Mikaela Shiffren dominated the Alpine slalom slope, and Johannes Klaebo added yet...
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Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics: Day 11
What do you do on Day 11 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics? If you're Jill, you spend hours doing logistics. Then you go to speed skating and life gets a little better. If you're Alison, you get to figure skating early to see the women's short program in action and try not to leave your...
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Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics: Day 10
Curious about those On Location Olympic hospitality packages? We experience one of the suites at the figure skating pairs final competition and have the details! Plus, Jill has a spa experience and discovers that much like our Friends of Eric Heiden Club, there's a FAB club for friends of Alison...
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Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics: Day 9
Day 9 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics turned into a wild day on ice and snow - we've got all of the results for you! Jill gets feisty (and delirious) at speed skating for team pursuit quarterfinals and the women's 500m, while Alison tries to understand what exactly happened at the…
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Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics: Day 8
Invariably at an Olympics, we're packing so much in that at some point we break. At Milano Cortina 2026, it's Day 8, when Alison tells Jill about a very special friendship. In other Olympic fun, Jill went out to Bormio to catch the men's Alpine giant slalom--and Brazil's first-ever Winter…
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Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics: Day 7
Day 7 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics brought many surprises, particularly at the ice skating arena, where the men's figure skating finals took place with results that surprised Jill and most of the fans. Meanwhile, Alison had a full day of culture at the Duomo and Casa Airbnb, one of...
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Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics: Day 6
It's Day 6 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, and we're having new adventures! Jill learned some scary new Italian words trying to get out to the Tesero Cross-Country Stadium to see TKFLASTANI Bruna Moura compete in the 10K freestyle race. She made it to the stadium, but more…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz, for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes, coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tune in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympics Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.
HOSTED BY
Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Keep the Flame Alive have?
Keep the Flame Alive currently has 597 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Keep the Flame Alive about?
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...
How often does Keep the Flame Alive release new episodes?
Keep the Flame Alive releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 597 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.
Where can I listen to Keep the Flame Alive?
You can listen to Keep the Flame Alive on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Keep the Flame Alive?
Keep the Flame Alive is created and hosted by Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown.
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