Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers
Episode: Ilona Maher Went To Greece When It Was Snowing
Release Date: March 3, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Seth and Josh Meyers are joined by Team USA rugby star Ilona Maher. The conversation dives into childhood and family trips, Ilona’s Dutch heritage, the quirks and dynamics of growing up with two sisters, the ups and downs of traveling as both a family and an athlete, and how travel has shaped their lives. Along the way, Ilona shares heartwarming and hilarious stories—from unexpected snow in Greece to post-Olympic celebrations that never came to be.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ilona’s Dutch Roots & Early Family Travel

• Dutch Heritage

  • Ilona’s mother, Wilhelmina (“Mina”), is from the Netherlands. The family often visited Dutch relatives, especially in Haarlem, which Ilona calls her “favorite city.”
    • “It’s kind of Amsterdam, but a little bit less touristy… We have uncles there. And it’s just, I think, a better place.” — Ilona (04:40)
  • Each sister got a solo trip to the Netherlands with their mom, prioritizing individual experiences.
    • “My mom took each of us on our own separate trips to the Netherlands.” — Ilona (05:13)

• Siblings & Family Dynamics

  • Ilona is the middle of three sisters. Her oldest sister, Olivia, also serves as her manager and was present off-camera during the interview.
  • Younger sister Adriana “marches to her own beat” and often resisted the sports-focused family routine.

2. Signature Childhood & Family Trips

• Domestic Adventures

  • Their mom prioritized experiences in overcoming tight budgets. Frequent trips with just the girls—Washington, D.C., New York, San Diego—while their dad joined for some adventures.

    • “Instead of saving up, she was like, ‘I want to take my kids on trips and get them to explore.’” — Ilona (09:12)

  • Fond memories of tackling D.C. museums and the unique “rainbow popsicles” by the National Mall in the summer.

    • “You go outside of the Nationalist Museum and you get a popsicle… and it’s so hot in D.C., but at least you’re eating that.” — Ilona (10:08)
    • “A summer trip to D.C., which I feel like is essential for any American, can be so hot.” — Sufi (10:19)

• Travel Mishaps

  • Ireland hostel story: What mom thought was a private room turned out to be shared; a stranger entered at night, prompting them to leave and instead stay in a converted old jail, which became a cherished memory.

    • “All five of us in twin beds… and in the middle of the night, some guy comes walking in. My dad in his boxers is like, ‘Hey, hey, get out of here.’” — Ilona (45:53)

  • Greece in Winter: Family vacationed in Greece over Christmas, only to find snow and closed attractions; nonetheless, the experience was unique and memorable.

    • “We went to Greece in winter… we rented a car and drove around… it was snowing in Greece.” — Ilona (49:07)

• Unexpected Tourist Attractions

  • Their mom once brought them to see the “biggest escalator in North America” in D.C., a quirky highlight that is now a running family joke.
    • “She brought all of us to this escalator. There’s pictures of us looking down at her like… you know, that’s just something.” — Ilona (48:35)

3. Sports, Travel, and International Adventures

• From Vermont to the World

  • Grew up in Burlington, Vermont, then attended Quinnipiac University.
  • Summers dominated by AAU basketball and softball tournaments; vacation time often structured around sports.
  • Mom was averse to camping, so trips always leaned urban or cultural.

• Rugby as a Passport

  • Since joining the U.S. National Team, Ilona has traveled extensively for tournaments: Dubai (6x), South Africa (4x), Australia (4x), Hong Kong, and more.

    • “Once I joined the Sevens team, I’ve been able to travel the world five times over and see so many things… it’s a really interesting life.” — Ilona (16:20)
    • On team culture: Coffee is a bonding activity; finding the best flat white in every city is a quest.

  • Recommendations for Non-Rugby Travelers:

    • Australia (“Beautiful beaches, cool coffee culture, really nice people.”)
    • South Africa (“A beautiful country… a lot of strife and racism and other problems there, but it is a beautiful country. The people are very nice…rugby has in some ways united the country.”) — Ilona (18:05, 19:01)

  • Balancing Training & Exploring:

    • Most sightseeing happens before tournaments begin, during the acclimatization period.
    • Off-days are for adventure: four-wheelers in Dubai, penguin beach in South Africa, coffee runs everywhere.

• Family Cheering Section

  • Her rugby stardom enabled her homebody dad (also a rugby coach) to travel overseas for her games—experiencing France, Spain, South Africa’s wonders together.

  • The family’s different spectator habits:

    • “Mother has to pace. She’s off somewhere, she’s walking.” — Ilona (29:17)
    • “Dad…loves rugby for rugby. So he’s watching the game.” — Ilona (30:23)

4. Olympic Bronze Medal Stories

• Paris Olympics, Bronze Medal Game

  • The family was filmed during the epic final moments; mom missed parts due to nerves, pacing outside.

    • “They put a camera on my family at the last moments…my mom’s nowhere in sight… she’s been pacing this whole time.” — Ilona (30:30)

  • Winning bronze felt like bringing home gold:

    • “Our medal was bronze, but most people treat it as almost gold… It was so unexpected and what we did was so amazing.” — Ilona (39:22)

  • Post-medal reality: No chance for proper celebration—the short window was consumed by endless media obligations.

    • “We never really fully got to celebrate our win all together…The next day was literally from 11 a.m. to midnight of just doing interviews.” — Ilona (38:41)

  • Reflection on medals:

    • “When you get bronze, you’re like, ‘Fuck yeah, these guys didn’t get anything.’” — Ilona (41:26)
    • “We call it rose gold, too. If you squint at it, it’s like rose gold.” — Ilona (41:56)

5. Rugby Culture and Injuries

• Party Culture

  • Rugby culture is deeply social—post-match celebrations with teammates and competitors from all countries.
    • “It’s a very special sport…we drink and we hang out all together. Even though we just tried to absolutely murder each other on the field… afterwards you have a drink, you party.” — Ilona (43:00)

• Physical Risks

  • Ilona candidly discusses her worst injury: breaking her ankle, followed by a bout of C Diff post-surgery.
    • “Don’t get C Diff…oh, you shit yourself after surgery.” — Ilona (43:56)

Memorable Quotes & Standouts

• On Family Travel Fails:

  • “Never is a family trip perfect…It’s always a little bit—you get the great memories, and you also get the ones you learn from and you talk about more.” — Ilona (46:55)

• On Sibling Dynamics:

  • “She just—the amount she ran from your family…” — Sufi, about Adriana (24:44)

• On Travel Leadership:

  • “Olivia’s kind of become our captain…she’s herding cats.” — Ilona (50:41)

Notable Segments & Timestamps

• [05:13] – Solo trips with mom to the Netherlands, discovering Dutch food and family customs
• [09:12] – The value of “travel education” and prioritizing city navigation skills for kids
• [16:20] – Traveling globally for rugby, visiting Dubai, South Africa, Australia, and more
• [29:17] – The anxiety of watching a child play rugby; mom as a pacer, dad as a focused fan
• [31:00] – Recounting the epic bronze medal game and its impact on U.S. rugby
• [38:41] – The downside of Olympic media circuits: celebrations missed for interviews
• [45:53] – Ireland hostel story debacle, and finding joy in post-mishap memories
• [49:07] – Greek winter adventure: “It was snowing in Greece!”
• [50:41] – Olivia takes over family travel planning
• [43:56] – “Don’t get C Diff”—the unglamorous side of athletic injuries

Speed Round Highlights (52:43 - 54:51)

• Ideal vacation: “Relaxing.”
• Favorite transportation: “Private car.”
• Dream travel family: “The family from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
• Stranded-on-an-island pick: Olivia (her manager/sister)
• Dream destination: A big villa in Italy or a coastal European town with relaxing vibes
• Sales pitch for Burlington, VT: Go in summer for lake life, farm-to-table food, walking trails, Ben & Jerry’s, and natural beauty.

Closing Moments

• Olivia pops in on camera, highlighting their close bond and how well she knows Ilona:
  • “She [Olivia] can literally do interviews for me and she knows exactly what I would say at this point.” (55:26)

Tone & Style

The episode is lighthearted, warm, and full of sibling banter—Ilona leans into vulnerability and humor, while the Meyers brothers keep the atmosphere fun and relatable. The stories are a mix of charming, chaotic, and deeply honest family reflections.

A must-listen for anyone who loves family stories, the messiness of travel, and the unique journey of an elite athlete whose path has been shaped by her roots, her sisters, and some remarkably unpredictable adventures.