The Future of Figure Skating

Colin Smith is the Director-General of the International Skating Union. He joined me to talk about the ISU’s approach to safeguarding and athlete welfare. As I’ve talked about on this podcast many times, the physical, sexual and emotional abuse of athletes has been a recurring problem in figure skating. According to survivors I’ve spoken to, the response from institutions has been flawed and fragmented, allowing abusers to continue in the sport while victims are forced out. In the last two years, the ISU has reorganized its investigative and safeguarding processes into a new independent integrity unit, and is committing more resources to protecting athletes. In this interview, Colin Smith goes into detail on these initiatives, what is coming next, and his hope that athletes will come to trust the Integrity Unit to support them when abuse happens.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/bBjnRzp3PrU

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1csgV7z0oFS6HyP8638LqoAgHxjbGRlxY66CvLmMjuck/edit?tab=t.0

The Integrity Unit’s reporting form is available at: https://skating.integrityline.com/

I have a playlist of prior episodes dealing with abuse and safeguarding on the Future of Figure Skating YouTube channel, including interviews with safeguarding officer Jatta Muhonen, and skating survivors Soléne Mazingue and Olivia Oliver. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe2pdWMwNXt4pm8L2zW34K3seT4t0RXt0&si=SP1iQF4_FD5IWvz4

Other resources for survivors and advocates:

https://www.athletesempowered.ca/

https://theathletesurvivorsassist.org/

https://justicenoabuse.org/

You can reach me at fsfuturepodcast at gmail.com or on Instagram at FutureFSPodcast. You can also support my work by making a contribution at ko-fi.com/futureoffigureskating. Remember to subscribe to the future of figure skating on YouTube and your podcast platform of choice and share it with your friends.

Magdalena Tascher is the president of the Polish Figure Skating federation, and also commentates for Eurosport. You might have seen her in Team Poland’s box during the Olympics waving a pierogi plushie! In this conversation, we got into the challenges of growing figure skating’s popularity in Poland, which of the ISU’s proposals might help that goal, and the importance of maintaining joy as a part of the sport.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/pb1JX8447yM

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cvbtk293C96qV8OKBxW9H4gaCZVvdayxNSYI00xa7E4/edit?tab=t.0

You can reach me at fsfuturepodcast at http://gmail.com/ or on Instagram at FutureFSPodcast. You can also support my work by making a contribution at https://ko-fi.com/futureoffigureskating. Remember to subscribe to the Future of Figure Skating on YouTube and your podcast platform of choice and share it with your friends.

Links:

Article on ISU’s proposed changes and athlete reactions: https://anythinggoe.com/bigchangesfromisu/

Interview with Ioulia Chtchetinina and Michal Wozniak:https://anythinggoe.com/ioulia-chtchetinina-and-michal-wozniak-if-you-dont-enjoy-it-dont-do-it/

Interview with Dasa Grm: https://anythinggoe.com/dasa-grm-2023/

Philip Hersh spent 28 years as Olympic sports writer for the Chicago Tribune and has gone on to write about the Olympics and figure skating for Ice Network and NBC Olympics. He has covered 21 Olympics, 13 winter and 8 summer, as well as 38 US figure skating championships, 21 world championships, and many other competitions in Olympic sports. Recently, Phil has been writing about the changes that the ISU has been proposing for the coming seasons, and the opposition from federations and many athletes to those changes.

In this episode, we get into how this is, and is not, the same as past times that the ISU has made a lot of changes. And we also talked a little bit about what we're both looking forward to with the coming 26-27 season.

YouTube:

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1i14A8fcqcufgnzNQh5-t8IX7B6RJxFc-APFC_sul9Q0/edit?tab=t.0

You can read Phil's reporting at http://www.globetrottingbyphiliphersh.com.

You can reach me at fsfuturepodcast at http://gmail.com or on Instagram at FutureFS Podcast. You can also support my work by making a contribution at http://ko-fi.com/future of figure skating. Remember to subscribe to the future of figure skating on YouTube and your podcast platform of choice and share it with your friends.

Links:

Phil’s articles on rule changes:

August: https://www.globetrottingbyphiliphersh.com/home/2026/8/27/save-the-dates-skating-fans-but-which-dates-will-they-be

January 2026: https://www.globetrottingbyphiliphersh.com/home/2026/1/16/figure-skating-officials-weigh-major-changes-in-rules-schedule

My article on proposed changes and athlete reactions:

https://anythinggoe.com/bigchangesfromisu/

Coverage of Summer Sizzler:

https://anythinggoe.com/sizzler26/

K Eri Lee is a Ph.D. student in Feminist Studies with a focus on elite, national-team sport and the Asian diaspora. They are also a figure skating coach and former US national team synchronized skater with the Haydenettes. You might also know Eri through their fabulously informative instagram account, @LiberatingSkating.

Eri works to build sporting worlds where everyone, regardless of where they come from or who they are, can experience the joy of movement and community. We had a wide-ranging conversation about nationalism, belonging, synchro, coaching, putting research into practice, and how to communicate on the internet!

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1k-SggOGDZYtB6QJD6lGZEZlL105UyK6PK8RkzyYkXcg/edit?tab=t.0

YouTube: https://youtu.be/APBoaHqyLfE

Learn more about Eri, and read their blog, at their website, http://www.eri-lee.com

Their instagram is @liberatingskating

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 http://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!

Links:

I reference the post “Is Synchro a Feminist Sport?”

https://www.instagram.com/liberatingskating/reel/DcG2bfiRLov/

Eri on “The End of Sport” podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sports-as-a-weapon-podcast/id1527375756

The International Workers’ Olympiads

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Workers%27_Olympiads

The Tucker Center for Research on Women and Girls in Sport

https://tuckercenter.umn.edu/

It’s an exciting time for synchronized skating, with the news in July that the sport - or at least the Synchro 9 variation - will be added to the 2030 Olympics. To talk about all things synchro, my guest today is Sabrina Snoad, co-host of the Synchro Skaters Club podcast. She joined me for an episode that is one part “Synchro 101” (for this figure skating fan), and one part a discussion of the future of the sport, and the changes, good and bad, that being in the Olympics could bring.

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cMJUIPuoEC7IyB5pXc1q4dZKUUkKQ-ozDvr6bTmlZqE/edit?usp=sharing

Links:

Synchro Skaters Club:

https://open.spotify.com/show/3lvq8IvjB9us1vz83p1kVw

Episode with Synchro 9 pioneers:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Q0TILPhgJYbETmPwqzrDl?si=bba31e37dee34dbe

Episode on Body Image:

“Love thy Body, Part 1”

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0DAxmJthOCRucNKgVjdx7h?si=mr4aSSV0QlOktm8oVQQCgw

“Love thy Body, Part 2 with Marta Pietrasik”

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Hxk6dv81A6pjRjA8GVLl5

ISU Synchro Coverage: Blades in Harmony - Ep 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HM_W1eNL74&list=PLuiPiC1Hk8eIbRWrx0V-hec6Llr5iVLjA

Programs:

Synchro 9 Finland

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmO3Hx-2B0Y

Synchro 9 USA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub51UhI_yv0

Nexxice

Short 2022 “Man I Feel Like a Woman”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QB1lw_-SAWY

Team Unique

Short 2019/2020 “Bad Guy”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX5-7Lr1qiY

Demonstrating Intersection and Death Spirals

Helsinki Rockettes

2024-2025 FS at Worlds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eISCw4iP4ac

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 http://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!

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 @http://gmail.com or on Instagram @ futurefspodcast. You can support my work at http://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 http://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 http://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 http://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 @ http://gmail.com or instagram at futurefspodcast.

You can also support the podcast by making a one-time or recurring contribution at http://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 http://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: http://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 @ http://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 throughRugby for All an organization that she helped co-found, and as an Advisory Council member of theSport & 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 http://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, http://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 http://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