Lara Hamilton is Australia’s number one ski mountaineer and could make history at Milano Cortina next year as the nation’s first-ever Olympian in the sport. But how does a former Nordic skier — and current champion trail runner — switch dreams and rise to the top of a completely different sport, all while managing a rare condition that sometimes makes it hard just to get out of bed? In this episode, Lara opens up about her remarkable journey, the drive pushing her toward the Olympics, and what it would mean to become Australia’s first female Olympic SkiMo athlete. We also dive into the challenges of competing on the world stage, why SkiMo deserves more attention in Australia, and how her DJ and music skills might even give her an edge on the slopes. It’s a fascinating chat that will inspire you and get you even more excited for the Olympics and SkiMo — don’t miss it!
Today marks 100 days to go until the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, and what better way to celebrate than by being joined by our two favourite Olympic podcasters, Jill and Alison from Keep The Flame Alive! We chat all about our excitement levels for the upcoming Games, discover which events and athletes we’re most looking forward to, and even find out that our shows share a surprising love for a few of the same stars. We also dive into the behind-the-scenes logistics of covering the Olympics next year and why we’re going to have an absolute blast doing it. Throw in some unexpected Pitbull and Steve Urkel mentions you didn’t know you needed, and you’ve got one unmissable episode. It’s the perfect way to celebrate our 500th episode in style!
A massive chat coming your way today as we sit down with one of the faces of the Australian Paralympic team, Ben Tudhope, to talk about his extraordinary career in para snowboarding and his hopes ahead of the 2026 Milano-Cortina Paralympics next year! Ben takes us through his remarkable rise in the sport, from making history as the youngest-ever Winter Paralympian at just 14 years old in 2014, to becoming one of Australia’s most inspiring athletes. We hear how that journey shaped him not just as a competitor, but as a person, and why chasing medals isn’t the only thing that drives him to be his best. Plus, Ben shares some hilarious stories about post-race haircuts, the good luck charm that never leaves his side, and his possible viral idea of driving fast cars with Ian Thorpe in the backseat. It’s one hell of an interview you simply can’t miss!
Get into the Newscast zone again as we welcome the amazing Alex Loveless to discuss all the latest Olympic news and preview another epic sport ahead of the 2026 Winter Games! We dive into the shock retirement of Ariarne Titmus and compare it to a similar high-profile exit, share updates from Milano Cortina including a fancy stage and an unfinished venue, explore why Donald Trump is in the Olympic conversation this month, and reveal exciting news on the groundbreaking of a major project. Plus, we bring you up to speed with Ski Mountaineering ahead of its Olympic debut in February with our latest sports preview. It's another epic episode you won’t want to miss!
A special episode today as we chat with Australian cross-country skier and ski mountaineer Anna Trnka, who has had an extraordinary journey across both sports. Anna opens up about the early drive that took her to the brink of the Olympics in cross-country skiing, and the sudden, dramatic moment when it all came to a halt. She shares how she made the transition into ski mountaineering, and the resilience it took to overcome some major personal struggles on her way to new goals. We also dive into how her profession outside of sport actually gives her an edge in competition, why she might just have the best nickname going around, and the story behind some very random caterpillar-related messages. It’s an inspiring, entertaining and revealing chat you won’t want to miss!
It’s time to return to the slopes in today’s episode, as we dive into one of Australia’s most thrilling winter disciplines: aerial skiing. We’re joined by the country’s top male aerialist, Reilly Flanagan, who takes us through his incredible journey in the sport and his ambitions for the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics. From discovering aerials as a young Aussie to climbing the ranks on the world stage, Reilly shares what drew him to the sport, the challenges faced by male skiers in a female-dominated discipline in Australia, and what it will take to inspire more men to take flight. We also explore the influence of Olympic silver medallist David Morris on Reilly’s career, his recent international breakthroughs, and just what an Olympic appearance next year would mean to him. You’ll be flipping with excitement in this high-flying, inspiring chat with one of Australia’s brightest winter sport stars, don’t miss it!
It’s time for another Games review episode as we travel all the way back to the 1904 St. Louis Olympics! If you thought the Paris 1900 Games were wild, strap yourself in — St. Louis is here to claim the crown as the craziest Olympics ever. From another controversial marathon, to one-legged gymnasts you might just recognise from this show, to “Australians” who weren’t quite Australian at the time but have since become Australian and a Canadian team that finally climbed off the bottom of the medal table, this edition has it all. These Games were so outrageous it feels like they might still be going! Don’t believe us? Tune in to be educated, entertained and amazed all at once!
Ski mountaineering is set to get everyone excited during the Milano Cortina Olympics next year, and one athlete hoping to be among the 18 making history as the sport debuts at the Games is American Arthur Whitehead. Arthur has had a rapid rise through the ranks, discovering the sport during college and using his strong running background to help propel his progress as he pushes toward his Olympic debut. In this great chat with Arthur, we learn more about his journey, why people should be even more pumped about SkiMo, and how his unique career path outside of the sport is actually helping him progress even further. It’s an epic conversation you simply can’t miss!
As we continue to celebrate 25 years since the unforgettable Sydney 2000 Olympics, we’re thrilled to welcome another gold medallist from those incredible Games, Aussie sailor Tom King. Join us as we dive into his remarkable career and relive memories from those glorious two weeks a quarter of a century ago. We explore why sailing was always the journey he was destined to take and how his Olympic dreams intertwined with that path to reach the very peak of his sport. Tom also shares what it was like to be swept up in the magic of Sydney 2000 and why he feels the achievements of the sailors in those Games deserves more attention. On top of that, we uncover his thoughts on being featured on a postage stamp, whether Brisbane 2032 can match Sydney’s legendary Games, and why Australia remains so good in sailing. It’s an epic chat full of epic memories in an interview you won’t want to miss!
It’s that time of the month again to get into all the latest Olympic news with our newest Newscast, as Connor joins Ben to go over everything that has happened in the past month of Olympic action! We dive into the celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of the Sydney Olympics and explore why a certain singer returning to the place that made her famous is so incredible. We also catch up on Norwegian ski jumpers, LA 2028 tickets, and some fantastic results from our Team OTP members over the last month. Added to this, we preview our latest sport ahead of the Milano Cortina Olympics, diving head-first into Alpine Skiing to bring you up to speed on one of the Winter Olympics’ main sports. It’s one hell of an episode that you simply can’t miss!
As we continue celebrating 25 years since the Sydney 2000 Olympics, we’re honoured to chat with the incredible Natalie Cook about her memories from that golden time and her remarkable Olympic career. She reflects on those unforgettable 16 days in September 2000, shares why it still brings her joy a quarter of a century later, and reveals how a Sydney nunnery played a vital role in her gold medal win. We also hear which international superstar she believes should be part of Brisbane 2032 and how she’s using her extraordinary career to carry forward Australia’s Olympic legacy. It's an amazing conversation you won’t want to miss!
On this day, 25 years ago, the Opening Ceremony for the Sydney 2000 Olympics took place. What better way to celebrate than with our latest OPENING CEREMONY REVIEW episode, looking back at that magical September night a quarter of a century ago! We cover all the highlights: horses, Nikki Webster (yes, Nikki Webster!), stomping, Vanessa Amorosi, giant fish, faulty cauldrons, and, did we mention Nikki Webster? Does it still hold up after all these years? Can Colin match Ben and Jarrod’s nostalgia? And seriously, should we be talking about Nikki Webster more? Get ready for a big dose of nostalgia and celebration as you lock in for one hell of an episode!
We’re just days away from the 25th anniversary of the Sydney 2000 Olympics, an event forever etched as one of the most unforgettable moments in modern Australian history. Today, we look back on those glorious 16 days with someone who was front and centre, bringing the Games to over 20 million Australians: the incredible Johanna Griggs! Hear Johanna’s memories of that time, what it was like being the face of the Games in living rooms across the country, and whether the magic will be recaptured for the Brisbane Olympics in seven years. Plus, she shares her favourite, least favourite, and other special moments that made Sydney 2000 so extraordinary. It’s one hell of a chat and a truly special episode you simply can’t miss!
You loved our debut GAMES REVIEW episode last month, and we’re excited to be back with our latest edition diving into the wild world of the Paris 1900 Olympics! What exactly made these Games so crazy? Were they even technically Olympics? Did they feature the most unique and bizarre sports ever seen at the Games? Why did the event stretch on for so long? Did Canada finally decide to show up? Was America still dominating? And how did Australia fare without Edwin Flack? There’s so much to unpack — you won’t want to miss it. Tune in and get entertained!
Australia is no stranger to producing champion moguls skiers, and in Charlotte Wilson, we might just have found the next superstar. Fresh off her debut World Cup season, Charlotte turned heads with a stunning performance that not only earned her a breakthrough gold at the Olympic test event in Italy but also saw her crowned FIS Rookie of the Year. In this inspiring chat, Charlotte opens up about her journey so far, the secrets behind her remarkable first season, what we can expect from her as the 2026 Winter Olympics draw closer and, of course, her thoughts on Dale Begg-Smith. It’s an episode you won’t want to miss!
For the first time on the show, we’re chatting with an Aussie male bobsledder, and what a story he has to tell! Cameron Scott joins us to share his incredible journey into the sport, how he found himself in the world of bobsleigh, and his dream of representing Australia at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina. We dive into his unique path to the ice, the current state of men’s bobsleigh in Australia, and what it will take to make it to the Games. Plus, he reveals how he accidentally became a pilot instead of a brakeman and tells the wild true story of how Cool Runnings was almost about Australia, not Jamaica. It’s a fascinating, fun, and inspiring conversation you won’t want to miss!
We’re back with all the latest Olympic news in our newest NEWSCAST, featuring the amazing Jamie Lyko! This month, we dive into the biggest sporting stories from the past few weeks and explore how key Team OTP members have played a direct role in these events. We also highlight a special Australian event honoring past Olympians and explain why it was such a significant occasion. Plus, get ready for our in-depth speed skating preview ahead of the Milano Cortina Olympics. It’s another epic NEWSCAST you won’t want to miss!
We’re back, sliding into another epic interview as we return to the world of bobsleigh, this time with our very first guest from the Czech Republic, David Bures! In this fascinating chat, we learn how David made the switch from rugby to the bobsleigh track, and what skills he’s been able to carry over from the field to the ice. He explains his position in the sled and just how crucial his role is in making a 4-man sled fly down the track. We also chat about a certain Czech athlete we might love a little too much, and find out just how revered she is back home. Add to that some great insight into David’s connection with a former guest of ours, and a dive into some unique Czech culture, and you’ve got one incredibly fun episode with an equally fun guest that we know you’ll love!
It’s the sport the entire winter world is buzzing about ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics and yet, it’s one we’ve never featured on the show. That changes today as we dive into the adrenaline-pumping world of Ski Mountaineering, or "SkiMo", making its Olympic debut next year. Joining us is one of the sport’s biggest stars, Belgium’s Maximilien Drion, to give us the ultimate introduction to this thrilling discipline. Maximilien takes us inside the world of SkiMo — what it involves, what to expect in 2026, and how he’s climbed the ranks to become one of the best in the world. We also explore the unique equipment that sets the sport apart, why some of its best disciplines aren’t in the Olympics, and hear the surprising story of how Maximilien was once asked to be a birthday present. It’s an incredible chat with an incredible athlete about an incredible sport and one you won’t want to miss!
It’s time for another classic OPENING CEREMONY REVIEW, and this week we’re heading back to the last time the USA hosted a Summer Olympics, the 1996 Atlanta Games. Why does the ceremony feel more dated than it should? Why are we all-in on James Bond-style singers at these events? Does Celine Dion just live at the Olympics? Why is the star of this Opening Ceremony not actually Muhammad Ali? What do we think of ramps? And did this feel more like a 1990s Super Bowl halftime show than an Olympic opener? Plus, we break down one of the most emotional and iconic torch lightings in Olympic history. It’s another epic review you won’t want to miss!
