The Future of Figure Skating

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/qY0jK1254pcTranscript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AJk0YWXs6OBlMd8RkBCmDV-nLNkZDN_e9YlOJAh0xtA/edit?tab=t.0You can follow Eric on Instagram at @ ericradford85You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at [email protected] or Instagram @futurefspodcast You can also support the podcast by making a one-time or recurring contribution at Ko-Fi.com/futureoffigureskating.Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with your friends!ISU Athlete Commission https://isu.org/athletes-commission/Communication 2427: 2021 Election ProceduresCommunication 2763: 2026 Election Procedures Recommended listening:Episode Rob Koehler, Global Athlete: https://youtu.be/j4pGmeyfMqkEpisode 38: Elizabeth Ramsey, Team USA Athlete Commission: https://youtu.be/7MZRvvdw7GgEpisode 53: Evan Bates, ISU AC Rep for Ice Dance: https://youtu.be/W_0pfpjkHh0Article on music rights: “Making Music in Skating Legal”

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

Dr Ami Parekh made history as the first skater to represent India at the World Championships. She now works as a physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor. She is passionate about helping skaters be healthy at all stages of their career, and frequently works as the medical director at competitions. Ami is also the Executive Director of the Chicago Youth Foundation, an organization which brings figure skating and hockey to underserved communities.https://youtu.be/MOouEgSLzfATranscript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_4p7mYDm2plc2yYwI5Wfy3eZ34-LYqxgrmfcpRyqMe4/edit?usp=sharingYou 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/futureoffigureskatinghttps://www.chicagoyouthfoundation.org/Ami Parekh India Worlds 2007 Short programAmi Parekh INDIA "Raga Jazz" 2014 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships Taipei, TawainAmi Parekh - 2013 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships,Osaka LPChicago Youth Foundation on local newshttps://youtu.be/gxh4fainK48?si=Nh4SUqgRtq2S-ZrQBharatnatyam on Ice:https://www.facebook.com/thebetterindia/videos/2879877888944953/?rdid=TZ6lsbLjUvDlB3FnMeryl and Charlie Bollywood OD 2010https://youtu.be/Pn37SMb_5NM?si=4VaNIB2TsuvT4baWTara Prasadhttps://www.youtube.com/shorts/2cQ4QjTNEAwKat Arbour, Ice Dynamics off-ice traininghttps://icedynamics.app/Helmet Safetyhttps://youtube.com/shorts/DFwCupGDqtQ?si=SQUNu4LUFmu4cpUzEarly specialization and talent development in figure skating: Elite coaches’ perspectives https://ciss-journal.org/article/view/8744/13311Health 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/futureoffigureskatingYou 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/lgtcGR0bd6UTranscript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H_ky1ylon2lSY15Yn71MNgvCV-ln_gVErIEwmYsT1LM/edit?tab=t.0You 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.comYou 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/futureoffigureskatingLinks: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!