The Future of Figure Skating

Anna Kellar
  • 5.0 (14)
  • Performing Arts
  • Monthly

The Future of Figure Skating breaks down the issues facing the sport and interviews the change-makers and visionaries who are making the skating world a healthier and more inclusive place.

  1. Oct 12

    ISU Director General Colin Smith on Safeguarding and Athlete Welfare

    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.

    ISU Director General Colin Smith on Safeguarding and Athlete Welfare

  2. Sep 28

    Magdalena Tascher: Growing Skating in Poland

    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 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. 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/

    Magdalena Tascher: Growing Skating in Poland

  3. Sep 14

    Philip Hersh: Can rule changes make skating popular again?

    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 www.globetrottingbyphiliphersh.com. You can reach me at fsfuturepodcast at gmail.com or on Instagram at FutureFS Podcast. You can also support my work by making a contribution at 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/

    Philip Hersh: Can rule changes make skating popular again?

  4. Sep 7

    Eri Lee: Scholarship, Coaching and "Liberating Skating"

    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, 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 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/

    Eri Lee: Scholarship, Coaching and "Liberating Skating"

  5. Aug 17

    Sabrina Snoad & The Future of Synchro

    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 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!

    Sabrina Snoad & The Future of Synchro

  6. Jun 15

    ISU President Jae Youl Kim

    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 @gmail.com or on Instagram @ futurefspodcast. You can support my work at ko-fi.com/futureoffigureskating. Thanks for liking and subscribing!

    ISU President Jae Youl Kim

  7. Jun 8

    ISU Candidates 2026 - Tatsuro Matsumura

    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.

    ISU Candidates 2026 - Tatsuro Matsumura

  8. Jun 3

    ISU Candidates 2026 - Jimmy Stryhn Meyer

    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.

    ISU Candidates 2026 - Jimmy Stryhn Meyer
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The Future of Figure Skating breaks down the issues facing the sport and interviews the change-makers and visionaries who are making the skating world a healthier and more inclusive place.

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