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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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected], 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected], 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!

Episode Notes Czech sibling ice dance team Natalie Taschlerova and Filip Taschler have been skating together since 2017, and have placed as high as 8th in the World. They have made many fans because of their unique style, and the strength and speed they bring to the ice. In the last year, Natalie and Filip have spoken out about the pressures that social media and judging put on the mental and physical health of athletes, and the need for more acceptance of diverse body types. At the 2025 World Championships, they helped qualify two Olympic spots for Czechia. Since we talked, Natalie and Filip have shared that they have switched coaches, and will be working with Maurizio Margaglio in Finland. YouTube: https://youtu.be/pW-BS2_gj7I Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10Ssnuu87HzFwqprt0e0JHpIrde-3QUVC4Xano5vr7tU/edit?usp=sharing You can follow the team on Instagram at the_taschlers , and individually at nat_taschlerova and filip_taschler01 You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at [email protected], 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

Episode Notes In this episode, I spoke with two ice dancers who have become strong advocates for survivors of sexual assault. Soléne Mazingue is a two-time Estonian national champion and three-time competitor at the World Championships. She made headlines for returning to competition after recovering from life-threatening brain injuries. Olivia Oliver is a Polish national champion and represented her country at the 2024 Worlds. Last fall, both women chose to go public about the sexual assault they each experienced within the sport, and the difficulties they have faced in pursuing justice. Solène has since founded the Instagram account #metooskating and is helping others to share their stories and find mutual support. I am humbled by the bravery and compassion that Solène and Olivia are showing as they work to make figure skating a safer place for others. This is a difficult topic to discuss, and please take care of your own well-being, but I really encourage my audience to listen to what Solène and Olivia have to say. Youtube: https://youtu.be/grACfoFD0Sk Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G6xLzbjvLKPiQ_9xlacyi8Ffapo6uxNCowfLmsuGFQg/edit?tab=t.0 You can follow Solène on Instagram @ solenemazingue_ and Olivia @ livoliverr_ You can also follow the account @ metooskating ! If you’d like to learn more about the support that is available for survivors, I encourage you to check out the organizations Athletes Empowered and Army of Survivors. I spoke with Athletes Empowered, under their former name Gymnasts for Change Canada, on Episode 30. You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at [email protected], 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

Episode Notes Tarah Kayne is a retired competitive pair skater and a coach and choreographer. With her former partner Danny O’Shea, Tarah is the 2018 Four Continents champion, and 2016 US national champion. In our conversation, Tarah reflected on the challenges she had to overcome in her career, including financial barriers and several severe injuries. She also shared the importance of mental health and having a support network outside of skating. Tarah is now bringing these lessons to her role as a coach! Youtube: https://youtu.be/0hFapwdGAPU Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12MCq8AJiNxgUbMpAC6bX2ZZ3bq-yX1Yv1xMHzV8Bg9g/edit?usp=sharing You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at [email protected], 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