
Loading summary
SoFi Home Equity Loan Announcer
What if you could use your home to build more home? It's possible with a SOFI Home Equity Loan. A home equity loan allows you to leverage your home's equity at a typically lower rate than a personal loan with low fixed monthly payments and all without increasing your mortgage rate. Whether it's a new bathroom, updated kitchen deck, or more, your home could help grow itself. View Your rate@sofi.com HomeUpgrade Today Mortgages originated by SoFi bank and a member FDIC, NMLS 696891. Terms and conditions apply. Equal Housing Lender
Ollie Sleep Solutions Announcer
Good sleep is everything. That's why Ollie's science back support is made with a blend of melatonin and L theanine for both kiddos and grownups. So when your mind won't switch off, you've got something that can help your racing thoughts and restless nights won't stand a chance. Find Ollie Sleep Solutions for the whole family@ollie.com that's o l l y.com
HBO Halfman Series Announcer
half man the new HBO original limited series from Baby Reindeer creator Rich examines the tumultuous relationship between two estranged brothers, tracking the highs and lows of the pair over the course of 40 years. Starring Emmy award winner Richard Gad and BAFTA award winner Jamie Bell. Halfman premieres April 23rd on HBO. Max,
Michaela Shiffrin
she brought this over. She wants me to tell you the story about how the fact that I just broke.
Adriana
It's broken.
Ilona
You didn't. Mikayla, you did not.
Adriana
Did she just crawl that over to you? I'm crying.
Michaela Shiffrin
Yes, it tipped out of the car.
Adriana
Did you put it on the roof like a cup of coffee? What? What are we talking about fell?
Ilona
No, no.
Michaela Shiffrin
It's really heavy, so the stem broke.
Ilona
Oh.
Michaela Shiffrin
It can be a little bit challenging to get them replaced as you're good to go.
Adriana
Good thing you have more than one.
Ilona
Welcome or welcome back to House of Mar? A. Wave off the chairlift and help yourself to whatever is in the fridge. The WI fi password is boots. Boots. All caps.
Michaela Shiffrin
Boots, Boots.
Ilona
You should know that we have a few Oz rules here.
Adriana
Girls are magic.
Ilona
Reading is hot and so are you. Check us out on YouTube. Watch us subscribe, do all the things. Because today we are chatting with the number one alpine skier in the world. Also just a beautiful, gorgeous, gorgeous woman. Beautiful Michaela Shiffrin. But first, let's get into the group chat. Let's chat about what's happening with us. What's girl newsing with us?
Michaela Shiffrin
Us Girl news.
Adriana
Girl newsing. We are about to head to Hong Kong to watch some Rugby, Hong Kong. I'm so excited.
Michaela Shiffrin
I'm so excited.
Adriana
This will be Adrian and I's second year back there. And you will be attending with us this year, Ilona.
Ilona
I will.
Olivia
Ilona.
Ilona
Yes.
Olivia
How many times have you been.
Ilona
This will be my second time.
Adriana
Second time. So just like us. You're not special.
Olivia
No, I know.
Ilona
So keep me humble.
Adriana
Thanks, guys. Keeping you humble. What can we say?
Olivia
Can't keep me away.
Adriana
Actually, what are we excited to see? I'm obviously excited to watch the USA Girlies.
Olivia
Excited to watch the USA Girls. I'm excited to have, like a wider variety of food. Last time, obnoxious. We went to a lot of, like higher end places. Like, we were like brought around.
Adriana
Obnoxious of you. Not of what we were brought to.
Michaela Shiffrin
To be like.
Olivia
I only had luxury food last time.
Adriana
Yeah.
Olivia
Like, I want more authentic food. Like, I would love to go to, like, just a local dim sum place. They love things like that.
Michaela Shiffrin
They do.
Adriana
Or is it duck?
Ilona
Is it goose?
Michaela Shiffrin
Goose, actually. Goose.
Ilona
Maybe I'm wrong.
Adriana
When we were there though, I think.
Michaela Shiffrin
Yeah.
Ilona
You had Peking duck, huh?
Adriana
Yeah. Delicious. Banging.
Ilona
I have a friend that lives there, Charlie Jacoby. So I get to go see her. It's a really cool place.
Olivia
Well, I'm excited to travel with you.
Adriana
Yeah.
Olivia
To a place like this.
Ilona
I have to see the schedule. I haven't seen any schedule.
Michaela Shiffrin
Right.
Ilona
What's happening? What are we doing? Where am I going?
Michaela Shiffrin
Surprise. It's for a surprise.
Adriana
And get mad at us about. Okay. In other girl news, our friend Ali Riley recently called out that AI is incorrectly reporting history. Specifically, it is incorrectly reporting women's, like, statistics and achievements. So when you look up who has scored the most international goals, some AI reports Cristiano Ronaldo when the correct answer is Christine Sinclair. And I've heard this too before, that because AI, AI is pulling from what is most reported on. So it's obviously like most people are talking about that Cristiano has the X men X amount of goals that he is the most, you know, the highest scoring men's player that's talked about. Apparently more so AI pulls from that, totally disregarding women. So it just like immediately has a learned prejudice because of what we as a society talk about, comment on.
Ilona
Yeah, checks out that they would be
Olivia
inaccurate for this, you know, because oftentimes people aren't even considering women's achievements. I think of the. I think there's like a viral tennis clip where they're interviewing like a. This male tennis player and be like, how does it feel to have been like, to have won the most matches. And even the player was like, that's not true.
Adriana
That's not me.
Olivia
I think it was Serena Williams.
Adriana
Yeah.
Olivia
You know, it's just like it always happens, you know, and so it's just not surprising that is doing it. I think it shows an importance of use AI, like with a grain of salt, you know, like, always do your own research.
Adriana
Yeah, absolutely.
Ilona
Have you seen that one study where it's like, most men think they get a point on Serena Williams?
Michaela Shiffrin
Yeah.
Olivia
And I'm actually surprised because I'm like, what are you talking about?
Ilona
Yeah.
Olivia
I'm like, you work a desk job.
Michaela Shiffrin
You're 30 years old.
Olivia
Do you think you can score a point on Serena?
Ilona
Yeah.
Adriana
Right. Spooky.
Ilona
Spooky.
Adriana
What gives them this sense of.
Olivia
And how do I get it almost, you know, how do I get some of that? Just a hint. Like, I don't ever want to be that delusional. Right. But just a hint of just the confidence.
Ilona
Yeah, I hear you.
Olivia
I crave it.
Adriana
What's something you don't think someone could get a point on you in alone? Obviously it's like rugby.
Olivia
Unless you're Porsche Woodman or.
Michaela Shiffrin
Unless it's.
Adriana
What?
Michaela Shiffrin
What'd you say?
Ilona
What'd you say? You should say it.
Olivia
Unless you're Portia Woodman.
Adriana
It's true. Oh, period. Was it seven?
Ilona
Seven points?
Adriana
That was. Ana was actually covering me.
Ilona
I was the only one kind of trying to stop me.
Adriana
It wasn't on Alona, though.
Ilona
At every point I was there, but
Adriana
she was there helping out.
Michaela Shiffrin
Wait, cuz you were 12?
Olivia
She was 13 or something.
Ilona
I was 13. She's a wing.
Olivia
Yeah.
Ilona
So she's just slicing through, man. I tried. That's really a good one, actually. Very true.
Olivia
There's a question I've been meaning to ask you, actually.
Michaela Shiffrin
Oh.
Olivia
Who's your favorite male athlete?
Ilona
Oh, my God. Thank you for asking. I would have to say Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth, Doug Flutie.
Michaela Shiffrin
Maybe
Adriana
George Foreman.
Ilona
George Foreman. Love his grills.
Adriana
Big fan of his grills.
Ilona
I just think it's so funny when they do those clips where they're like, who's your favorite athlete? To these players? And a lot of them say Serena Williams. Men. Where you ask men and they say, you know, who's your favorite female athlete? And they go, serena Williams. Serena Williams.
Adriana
My mom, my sister Williams.
Ilona
I think Serena Williams was a. I mean, the best athlete in the day. I think it'd be cool now to say some more because there's so many other Cool athletes who are up there. But I just think it's so funny that that's like the one they go for.
Olivia
For a dollar. Name a woman for a dollar.
Adriana
Oh, Michelle Obama.
Ilona
Serena Williams. So that's why my joke is like, if I'm ever get asked that, I'm gonna ask and say some guy who's just not even. I'm gonna say like, Peyton Manning. That guy really did something back then. Because I just think there's so many more we could be saying. Like, I'm gonna say, you know what? My dad, when he started playing RUGBY in like 19, the 1980s, I think is probably, you know, like, that's just.
Olivia
Female athletes do not start and stop at Serena Williams.
Ilona
Yeah, that could be a good thing to ask a male.
Adriana
Ooh, On a date.
Ilona
Who's your favorite female athlete?
Adriana
A good what'? Like a Bechdel test or a litmus test? A good litmus test for asking my favorite.
Olivia
And there's a wrong answer.
Adriana
The wrong answer is Serena.
Ilona
That can be one of them. But I would be like, I'd say, who's your favorite athlete? And then if they say Serena, be like, okay, somebody else besides Serena. And if. Then they're like, Simone Biles. I don't know what you say.
Olivia
Simone Biles.
Adriana
And another one I've actually ever heard
Ilona
Simone Biles as often.
Michaela Shiffrin
Which.
Ilona
That should be up there.
Adriana
I hear that one a lot.
Olivia
I think, okay, I'll even take Venus Williams.
Adriana
Yeah, yeah, right. Honestly, could I name a male athlete right now?
Ilona
Yes, you could.
Michaela Shiffrin
No.
Olivia
Yes, you could. I don't know.
Ilona
Name one.
Adriana
I only support women.
Ilona
When I was at the Super Bowl, I went to this party and there's a lot of like, football, football players from. I think the Giants were there. And there's this one guy, he's like blonde, he's attractive guy, young looking. And I'm like, hey, what's up, man? He's like, hey. I'm like, so you play football? He's like, and it's a Giant. It's at a Giants party. I was like, you play football? He's like, yeah. I was like, that's awesome, man. What team you play for? Mind you, it's a Giants scatter booth party. He's like, what team you play for? He's like, the Giants. I was like, sweet, man. Sweet.
Michaela Shiffrin
That's awesome.
Ilona
That's really cool, man. What position are you? He's like, really cool.
Adriana
What they're letting blonde men do these days.
Olivia
I know.
Ilona
I was like, what position are you? He's like, I'm the quarterback. I'm like, oh, it was Jackson dart. No idea. But he knew who I was. Good on you, though.
Michaela Shiffrin
Keep him.
Ilona
No, we're keeping humble. And then Casey did it as well. She had a football in hand. She was holding a football.
Adriana
Casey, her friend.
Ilona
Casey, my friend. And this guy, one of the football players, goes to, like, take it from her, you know, like, goes like this to. To get the ball. And she's just funny. She's funny person. She goes, you know ball? And he just. Winston said this. Do you know ball? And he looked at her, like, and walked away. And I was like, casey, that's hilarious.
Adriana
You guys are doing more for women's equality.
Ilona
That was so funny. She told me that story. I'm like, that's the best story I've heard all weekend. We were really humped. This is a party for the Giants, and we're humbling these guys left and right. Like, okay, very cool.
Michaela Shiffrin
Very cool.
Ilona
Oh, we're like, you're on. You just no idea what you're up to.
Adriana
You know, ball is the craziest.
Ilona
I thought she literally, to the guy who, like, everybody is. He's a big player. And I was like, casey, that's that first off, that's hilarious.
Olivia
Yeah.
Ilona
If you were to do that to me with the rugby ball, I'd be like, that's so good, because obviously I know ball, and even you didn't it hilarious.
Adriana
And also, like, if that guy actually had a sense of humor, like, he would have probably laughed. Right? Like, that's funny. Or do men not like that?
Ilona
I don't know. I think it was just the environment we were in. This was their space.
Adriana
This was the TV just terrorizing party.
Ilona
And we had, like, no idea what was going on.
Adriana
Just there for vibes.
Ilona
Oh, really cool, man. I did get to meet Fernando Mendoza. Oh, a lovely guy. Really. I guess I'd say my favorite athlete is Fernando Mendoza in that sort of area. So lovely. So excited to meet me, because sometimes male athletes will meet me, and they know me, but try to keep an air of, like, kind of cool and chill. I'm an athlete, too.
Michaela Shiffrin
Cool.
Ilona
That's awesome. But he was like, oh, really cool to meet you. I love what you're doing. And, you know, was talking to me, so it was really nice to meet him. And I've had other great interactions with, you know, male athletes, but that was just. He was a great guy.
Olivia
I love that he gives me hope for the future.
Michaela Shiffrin
Yeah.
Olivia
You know, like, they're still being raised Right, right, right.
Ilona
And his beautiful mom and his aunt. Beautiful.
Adriana
The female entourage. Love.
Ilona
Yeah. Well, no, I didn't get to meet them, but I love how beautiful they are.
Adriana
I see that.
Ilona
And you just know that those sisters are taking care of each other and
Adriana
telling each other, keeping him.
Ilona
This is how good you're gonna look. Oh, wow. Yeah. So if anybody needs.
Adriana
If anyone needs some alone to come humble somebody, you let her know.
Ilona
Party. I won't. I don't. Couldn't tell you.
Adriana
Couldn't freaking tell you. My favorite Casey story. I just saw her in Austin. She said she was like, we can't. She's like, I'd recommend the margaritas at this place, but they only allow you to have two. They're so strong. I was like, okay. She was like, last time I had them, I was supposed to go to my then girlfriend's like, slow pitch softball game in the afternoon. I blacked out during the second one. Came to coaching the third base without my shoes on. I was sending people home.
Ilona
I just thought Casey would do. Hilarious. Oh my God, hilarious.
Adriana
What a gem. What a gem.
Olivia
How do I pick up coach in softball? Yeah, right.
Ilona
Y' all know ball also it's funnier
Michaela Shiffrin
that you are like Olympic athletes.
Adriana
Olympic rugby players, you know, everyone.
Olivia
Obviously they don't know that, but like,
Ilona
still, these guys knew who I was. I think I would have known who it was if I just thought about it like more. I just was like, I just remember him, the quarterback. I was like, he probably had a couple drinks. He's like known cuz he's very. He's attractive. He's quaff with his blonde hair. I was like, oh, yeah, I have seen you before. Sorry about that, Jackson.
Adriana
Sorry.
Ilona
Yikes. Love your work.
Olivia
We're Giants fans.
Adriana
My dad's a Giants fan, but a Giants fan. So we brought him to an NFL game out here and they gave him free beer. And he was like, the Giants have never given me free beer. I love the Rams.
Olivia
Giants are given a lot of heartbreak.
Ilona
We had a glory days back in the favorite male athlete, Eli Manning, back in the day, because my dad would be happy when they won.
Olivia
Thank you, Eli.
Ilona
Thank you, Eli.
Adriana
Thanks, Eli.
Depop Announcer
You tell yourself no one wants your college era band tees, but on Depop, people are searching for exactly what you've got. You once paid a small fortune for them at merch stands. Now a teenager who calls them vintage will offer that same small fortune back. Sell them easily on Depop, just snap a few photos and we'll take care of the rest. Who knew your questionable music taste would be a money making machine. Your style can make you cash. Start selling on Depop, where taste recognizes taste.
Ross
Spring just slid into your DMs. Grab that boho. Look for that rooftop dinner, those sandals that can keep up with you. And hang some string lights to give your patio a glow up. Spring's calling. Ross, Work your magic.
Olivia
Is that the doorbell? I think our guest is here.
Ilona
Our fourth march today is quite literally the greatest of all time. With 110 World cup victories, she has more wins than any alpine skier, male or female, in history. She's a three time Olympic gold medalist, the only skier to ever win in all seven disciplines. And she just casually tied the record for the most World cup overall titles ever. Welcome to the family. The queen of the mountain, Michaela Shiffrin. Thanks.
Olivia
Welcome.
Adriana
Thank you. How you doing?
Michaela Shiffrin
Oh, we're doing great, but just. Yeah, just. Just living life. Just got back to the US From Europe after seven, like seven months on the road. So I'm happy to be back stateside.
Adriana
Back stateside. But have you been home yet?
Michaela Shiffrin
I was comfort. I have a. I have a home. I do have a home in Colorado. And I was there for about 24 hours. Dropped off my bags. At one point this season, I had 15 bags, like when we got to the Olympics. And we got all the. All the bags and the gear.
Ilona
Yeah.
Michaela Shiffrin
And sent some home after Cortina. But yeah, I traveled home with 12 bags this time around after. After our season finished. Just like literally just the last four days. So is in here. And she's just like creepily crawling around the floor so you can't see her, but I think you might be able to see her any. So that's just fun. She. She brought me. She brought this over. She wants me to tell you the story about how the fact that I just broke.
Adriana
It's broken.
Ilona
You didn't. Mikayla, you did not.
Adriana
Did she just crawl that over to you? I'm crying. Wait, what happened? Tell us.
Michaela Shiffrin
It fell. It fell. It tipped out of the car. We're on our way to watch what happens live. It fell. You put in the taxi.
Adriana
Did you put it on the roof like a cup of coffee? What are we talking about?
Michaela Shiffrin
Okay, we try. It's like traveling in this big bag, this like bowling ball, like a bowling trough duffel thing. I don't know. And we had it packed in with the Saran Wrap and everything. Not Saran Wrap. What am I saying? I can't speak either. But you know, like bubble wrap. Bubble.
Adriana
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Michaela Shiffrin
With bubble wrap. Yeah. And it fell out, and it. It, like, it's really heavy. So the stem. Oh, my God.
Adriana
And for people watching who might not know, can you explain what exactly that is that broke in your taxi?
Michaela Shiffrin
This ball is. This is the overall globe, and that is the. That's like the super bowl of skiing. This is the most. Probably the most coveted, like, thing that you can win in alpine ski racing, but this is a trophy. Well, this and obviously that. Right, right. And broke. It's not the first time that I've broken one.
Olivia
Right.
Michaela Shiffrin
But it does. It does. It can be a little bit challenging to get them replaced. So, anyway, we've got this.
Adriana
You're good to go. Good thing you have more than one.
Olivia
Honestly. Pour drink into that. Get a long straw. Yeah, you're good to go.
Ilona
A couple glass shards.
Adriana
Nothing like it.
Michaela Shiffrin
Shards of glass? Yeah, no, totally.
Adriana
Better yet, give it to the city of New York. Let it be their next ball. Dr. You're good to go.
Ilona
Oh, my God.
Olivia
It's basically just, like, shattering.
Michaela Shiffrin
Have you guys seen the videos of, like, the ASMR videos of, like, smashing glass and stuff like that?
Adriana
Where they fill it with different colored liquids?
Michaela Shiffrin
Yeah, this would be a real yes.
Olivia
Or where people, like, send glass bottles downstairs? Yeah, you send the globe down the stairs. See how many stairs it goes until it breaks.
Michaela Shiffrin
Until it just.
Ilona
Mikayla, is it true you have reindeer, too?
Michaela Shiffrin
I do have reindeer. I have nine reindeer.
Adriana
We heard nine.
Michaela Shiffrin
They live in Finland.
Olivia
Can you name them all, or is it just. They just kind of exist over there?
Michaela Shiffrin
They. Okay. It's Rudolph.
Olivia
Strong start.
Ilona
Wow, that is. That's a unique. How'd you get.
Michaela Shiffrin
Rudolph was number one at the time. I was like, 17 or 18, and I was like, I'm. I'm, like, making kids dreams come true. Like, Rudolph the Reindeer is real, right? Not that any.
Adriana
I mean, now kind of benevolent reindeer owner.
Michaela Shiffrin
Yep, absolutely. Rudolph, we have Sven, we have ingamar, we have Mr. Gru, we have the Lorax, Sunny Grogu. Okay, there's two more, but I can't. Winky. Winky was this year.
Olivia
Okay.
Michaela Shiffrin
That's nickname for my mom. Her childhood nickname. And then there's. There's. There's one more.
Ilona
Tell the people all you have these reindeers.
Adriana
Yeah.
Michaela Shiffrin
Oh, yeah. Sorry. I. I guess I probably should have just gone right when you asked about the reindeer. It's, like, obvious. That's the question. So the reindeer are gift. You're like, oh, yeah, I have reindeer. Obviously. Like, period, duh.
Adriana
Duh. She's here.
Michaela Shiffrin
No. Yeah. No, the. This is a prize. This is basically the trophy for winning the race. The first solemn race of the season in Finland every year. And it's one of these, like, iconic classic races that we do every year since well before my career. And the. The prize is you win a reindeer. Yeah. So that's been a bunch of times that I've been back to Levy. At the very minimum, nine. Very nine times. Oh, my gosh.
Adriana
Well, the good thing about a reindeer prize is it can't roll out of a New York City taxi and break. But do they live all together in one pen? They're like, these are Mikayla's reindeer.
Michaela Shiffrin
They live on a farm. They all come from the same farm, and they're with a bunch of other reindeer. There's like hundreds or maybe even thousands on this farm alone. And they, like, they'll like, venture out during the summert. Just venture out into the wild of Finland and then, like, return back in the winter, basically. And they just live there. And I. I've seen them.
Olivia
I have.
Michaela Shiffrin
I mean, I've visited them, but I don't.
Adriana
I don't, like.
Michaela Shiffrin
I'm not like, caring for their pelts.
Adriana
Yeah, yeah, right. You're not combing them.
Michaela Shiffrin
I'm not. I'm not overbearing. You know, I like to let my children run free with the rest of
Olivia
your awards that are not living. Do you display them all in one room? Like, where do you have them around your house?
Michaela Shiffrin
They're kind of just scattered everywhere. And honestly, a lot of awards I will give to my coaches or my ski technicians or different people on the team or sometimes there's been a couple times where you have a really young fan that for whatever reason, you'll meet cross paths in the hotel lobby or something. And that can actually be. That's been a pretty fun connection over the years. Like, if you see whoever it is, it's just like, oh, we just met. And this kid is like, oh, my gosh, we just watched you race. And it's like, here, do you want this trophy? And they just go crazy, girl.
Adriana
What? That's amazing.
Michaela Shiffrin
For, like, for these guys, not specifically the broken one, but for the ones that are not like, crystal is a big
Ilona
medium.
Michaela Shiffrin
I don't know, like a. That's. Yeah, that's a material that's used a lot for trophies. And those are be. They're just always beautiful. So I do like to display those because they're just. They're like, stunning as a home decor item. As well.
Olivia
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
Michaela Shiffrin
So they're just scattered. Yeah. Catches the light. Absolutely. And you can do a lot of thought. You know, you can just. I don't know, it just, like, dresses up the house. I like to display the ones that I feel if I was at a. Like, a home goods store, if I saw something, I'd be like, oh, I really like that. It's pretty. I want to buy it. Like, some trophies are sort of that vibe, and those are the ones I like to display.
Adriana
I like the idea of giving it to a young fan, because then that is one less thing you have to travel with with all your bags. We heard you fly. You bring, like, 40 skis with you for a competition. Is that true?
Michaela Shiffrin
It. That is true. But thankfully, I'm not traveling with all of the skis myself. That's my. So my ski technicians from Atomic, which is the ski company, they will carry all the gear. All the ski gear. And. Yeah, we do. We do often, like, travel and fly kind of together, but they live in Austria, the Atomic factories in Austria. So I'm not really tasked with traveling. It's like, it ends up being probably two ski bags per. Two skis per ski bag. So it's anywhere from 20 to 30 ski bags that we're traveling with any place. It's just those baggage charges are pretty big.
Adriana
Yeah. And for people that don't know the sport, is it because you need a different ski for each type of condition or, like, why having. So why. Why such a variety?
Michaela Shiffrin
Couple reasons. Throughout the season, every single time we ski, the. Our ski technicians and our being like, all the athletes, this will be the same for everybody. Our ski technicians will tune the skis, and they take a file to the edges, and they shave off the side of the edges, and so the edges get thinner over the course of a year. So first of all, you can, like, run through a ski if you ski on it enough. So that's number one. So you'll have multiple pairs of basically the same exact. Like a replica of the same ski with the different material construction inside and the side cut. And there's all these regulations around what the turn radius of the ski can be and all of these different, like, technical details. And then within those regulations, you can play around with, like, if you guys can imagine, you know, bending a ski, what does the. Does the ski bend more in the tip of the ski or the tail of the ski, or is it directly underfoot? And so they can, like, change where the radius of the ski comes into play and how that impacts the ski turn. Or maybe they'll use like an extra layer of some material within the construction of the ski or a different kind of glue or a different kind of wood. So all of those things they can play with in order to change the character of a ski, which ideally makes it faster on certain conditions. So it's this whole like tinkering process of what, what's faster and what's more powerful. And we're doing the ski testing all the time, so that's why we have so many. They're. There are different varieties of construction and materials and all these things.
Ilona
Do you have like a need for speed? Like do you when you get in a car, do you have to go fast?
Michaela Shiffrin
Oh, I do drive pretty fast actually. But I mean, I don't. But no, I actually don't. I'm not really like a fast pace. I don't really like to go that fast unless I feel very secure with it, to be honest. If I feel.
Olivia
Unless she's flying down a mountain, yeah.
Michaela Shiffrin
Well, if I've practiced it, like if I was to just jump into a downhill course this afternoon, I would be so slow. But if I got some practice at it and build up then, then it's very enjoyable to ski fast or be going high speed. But like there are some sections driving from Denver to my house that I am probably going faster than I should.
Adriana
Interesting. A bit of a need for speed alone with the hard hitting journal.
Michaela Shiffrin
I love that.
Ilona
I just wonder. I always am. So by these winter Olympians and the sports you guys do. I know we were talking to a snowboarder, but I know my sport is crazy as well, but I just feel like you guys are also another level of. I'm not sure what it is if it's cuckoo, if it's just living life
Michaela Shiffrin
on little Rich, a little bit of a screw loose in a lot of cases. But I mean, I would say that rugby, as far as like summer sports go, it's probably the most out of us.
Adriana
Yeah.
Ilona
Yes, 100%. Yes.
Michaela Shiffrin
It's highly demanding.
Olivia
Yeah, I mean you can pull down.
Ilona
I don't know.
Michaela Shiffrin
All sports are demanding, but there's a little bit of a level of you need to. Yeah, we need to replace some hardware in the brain sometimes.
Adriana
Right. Well, you're literally just coming off of your six World cup and Milan Cortina. How are you feeling?
Michaela Shiffrin
The Olympics were. I don't even. It's like an indescribable journey. And I know that you've like, you have this experience with it. Alana but it's, like, hard to explain after four Olympics now how different every single one has been and, like, great experiences. My first one, I was so naive. I didn't really even know what to expect. And I only. I only got a sense of the magnitude of it afterwards, after I was, like, paraded around with the gold medal, I was like, I don't even know what my own name is anymore. That was the first time that I really experienced that. And then the next one, it was, like, a little bit bittersweet because I won where I maybe wasn't necessarily expected to win, but then I didn't win where I was expected to win. And that sort of took. That sort of took a precedence over the success. And that was this, like, first time that I saw sort the dark side of how. What the magnitude is and what people do expect. But you can't possibly. People who are watching can't possibly see everything all the time. So it all led into Beijing, and then Beijing was a challenging experience. And then that all led to Cortina, where I was like, oh, my gosh, we finally figured out that the Olympics are a vortex. And I don't know if that's good or bad, but it's like just. You're just in it, and you're so thoroughly in it. And now that I'm on this side of it, I can't even really remember what happened. Happened. Like, yeah, there's, like, a couple moments that stand out, but otherwise, it almost feels like it didn't happen.
Ilona
How old were you at your first Olympics? Because I know for me, Michaela Shiffrin is, like, a name I've known for years, it feels like, since I was 10 years old. But I. I think you've just had such a career in it. You've been doing this for so long. Also, I think one of those who potted, I. So many who's pioneered, like, femininity in sport, beauty in sport as well.
Michaela Shiffrin
Thank you. How.
Ilona
How old were you? I. I feel like you're. You must be 45.
Michaela Shiffrin
I was. I was 18 in Sochi, so I'm 31 now. I just turned 31. It. Yeah. It's crazy to think back on
Adriana
so.
Michaela Shiffrin
So many years of competing actually now, because I still feel. I still feel very young in some ways, but my body feels pretty ancient at times. Yeah. Yeah, No, I know. But thank you for saying that, because obviously, coming from you, that means so much, and it's been so cool to see, like, to see so many women and so many athletes and like athletics, being really put up on a pedestal to be strong and to be, like, powerful, and to have all of these different individual pieces of your life and your personality and to have it all be. To all be important and to all be celebrated. And I just. Yeah, it's been. It's been fun to be a part of that. It's certainly been fun to watch what you are all doing for women in sport and beyond.
Ilona
Speaking of strength, we saw your back abs. What's happening with that? How are you doing this? Send me the workout routine.
Adriana
Yeah.
Michaela Shiffrin
It's so boring. This is so funny. My physical therapist, we were, like, diving into why that actually exists because she's the one who took the video. She was like, okay, we're doing pt, and she's like, okay, I have to take a video of this because your back is just going off. It's going crazy. And so she takes a video, and I'm like, send that to me. It's going to go viral. And then eventually it went viral. I was like, I don't even know what that is. I don't know know if I could do it right now. Like, I think I have to be laying flat on the ground, face down, or on a table, and, like, laugh in a specific way. And then these crazy muscles start popping.
Ilona
It's very cool.
Michaela Shiffrin
Something.
Ilona
I'm trying it later.
Adriana
We're gonna have Alona lay down.
Ilona
We're gonna.
Adriana
We're gonna have her laugh in a circle.
Michaela Shiffrin
So that's the position. So you have to, like, lay down flat, face down. And then, like, lift your head a little bit and see if that does anything. And then also just like, face down and la. See what that does? Like a hot. Like a belly laugh. You have to engage your deep core, and then it's like they're a sign that your deep core is working.
Ilona
I don't have that. Another unattainable beauty standard for women. Back out.
Adriana
Nice.
Ilona
Michaela.
Michaela Shiffrin
Don't. Trust me. They're already gone.
Adriana
Right?
Ilona
Right.
Michaela Shiffrin
Oh, yeah.
Adriana
Yeah. You've been competing for so long. How have you changed as an athlete in this time?
Michaela Shiffrin
I have gone through quite a few phases over the years. Like, when I first we mentioned. I mentioned Sochi, and kind of going into Sochi a little bit naive to, you know, to what's possible as an athlete and as a female, that really. That really was a springboard for my career and to really be able to do this, like, as a profession and to sort of see that, like, I could create financial stability through this sport as well, because I think all, especially with women's sports, and that's like still a very big question in a lot of ways. And that happened. That started in my career pretty early. So that was, that was all really exciting. But after Sochi, this started this period of time where I guess expectations really climbed, like extra outside expectations. And I did not know really how to deal with that because up until that point I was always like, oh, I just, I ski because I love it, I'm passionate, I just want to feel better turned, et cetera. Um, and that was the first time. I remember one specific race where I did win, but I didn't win by as large of a margin as I had previously. Um, and the, the whole press conference, the only question that I got, it wasn't, the only question that I got was whether I felt like my level was dropping. Like it was. I, what did I do wrong in the off season to not be prepared to win by, by two seconds instead of six tenths of a second? And that just threw me off. And it was like a three year period where I had a lot of, really a lot of performance anxiety, you know, like nausea at the start gate and a lot of things that were challenging to handle and navigate. But it's like, I guess there have been phases where I've grown through, like accepting expectation, highlight, like really prior, I guess thinking a lot about those expectations and then realizing that that's not what provides joy at all. And so like working to push that aside and refocus on the simple act of skiing. Not maybe not simple, but just simply focusing on my skiing. And it always, it always gets back to what I'm doing in my preparation, how hard I'm working, how much I'm focusing on. So that's always like my guiding light. But there's this different phase of, of my career that's been like sort of the performance anxiety phase. And there's been like the, I literally don't give an F phase. And then, then there's, you know, like, there's just been so much this lately. It's like last year, okay, so last year I won my hundredth World cup race. And that was like fought to never, that was never going to happen. That, you know, this was just an impossibility in the sport. And that felt like it was a big highlight of the season, aside from my injury. It was like, will 100 happen? And so that happened. And then all of a sudden, like this was just built up so much and then now all of a sudden it's like oh, you have 110, like no big whatever. We don't even care. It's just crazy how sport works and how that you go through these phases. So I think, I think yeah, I, I mean I've changed a lot and I guess at this point in my life I'm just sort of going with the flow like see how long we can ride it. Maybe that story about like as a
Adriana
woman you can never be enough, you won, but you didn't win by enough. It's like that, huh?
Michaela Shiffrin
Yeah.
Adriana
That's the craziest thing to me. Do you work with a sports psych?
Michaela Shiffrin
I work with a clinical psychologist. I have done work with a sports psychologist just over the years. But sport was sort of where I felt the most secure in myself. Not like the maybe the most outgoing or the most like high self esteem person outside of when I'm like in my skis and doing this thing that just feels like even, even if I'm not doing it well. It's just the thing that I know how to do, you know, on good days and bad. This is what I know know outside of that it's, you know, I've definitely grown into myself. But the sports psychologist always felt like they were more obviously more focused on the sports side and the performance side. And that was not really something that specifically needed to be fixed. I feel like it's more, it's more how I exist in life, how I want to be happy with myself and my family and the things that I'm doing outside of, of sport and how I communicate with the people around me and boundary setting and those things and grief. So I started talking with this clinical psychologist 4 years ago actually it was after Beijing and it was inspired by sort of two parts, but a little bit by Beijing and also really mainly because I hadn't even started to talk to anybody about my grief from my dad passing and just to try to start unpacking things and understand what that even, what that even brought up. And now it's been four years and I'm like, you must be with me forever and I want you to stay with me and hold my hand. Never leave.
Ilona
Right.
Adriana
First them, then your fiance. It's all good, yeah? Yes, absolutely.
Michaela Shiffrin
Do you do psychology or any sports psychology or like, like how does that impact?
Ilona
I use a lot of sports psychology. I don't know how you've been after any Olympics, but after Tokyo I had very bad like post Olympic blues and yeah, really was not okay. So then leading up to the Paris games, I was with my sports psych constantly. And was just preparing for myself for the next Olympics, which is so crazy. And not like in our sports both, but in the world, the Olympics, that you have to train all for four years for this one moment moment, and then you have to train another free years for the next moment. So it was training for that. So I have a sports psycho I really like. Austrian guy. Knows a lot. He just is quiet. And then he says something. You're like, shit, Peter, that was good.
Olivia
Write that down.
Ilona
Oh, I know.
Michaela Shiffrin
Peter.
Ilona
Peter. Yeah, yeah, Peter Habra.
Olivia
That's my dog.
Michaela Shiffrin
I have worked with Peter. I know. Sorry. Absolutely.
Ilona
So great.
Michaela Shiffrin
Yes. That's so funny.
Ilona
He's great.
Olivia
Great.
Michaela Shiffrin
Small world, but yes, absolutely.
Ilona
The whole team, kind of. He does the whole team, but he does individual. And even recently, I was having trouble as well, like, figuring out. Because I'm taking some time off sports, like, figuring out what my identity is, what actually makes me happy. And so I was going to him for that as well. And he's super great. And now I actually see another therapist as well to just hit. Hit every point. And then I go to my sisters. I'm like, I don't need to talk to them. I'm fine this week.
Adriana
Right, Right. Get on Zoom.
Michaela Shiffrin
Yeah, you should probably talk to them. My psychologist came to Cortina, and this was something we had planned from the summertime, because I had been. I had talked to Simone, and she's like, you have to, like, yes, you absolutely have to have her there. And I was like, that seems kind of, like, extravagant. Is it necessary? And then, even as we were leading up to it, I was like, it would be really great for you to sort of clear your schedule and be on the same time zone. And, like, I'm willing to do what's necessary to make this work, work, but I don't know that I'm gonna really need to talk to you and just like, be sort of waiting in the wings on standby just in case, you guys. She was, like, full time every day, all day, while we were in Cortina. It was not what I expected. It was like, the little things and, like, obviously checking in, in the psychology side. But it was, like, continuing to keep the team communicating with each other as the pressure got higher and all of these things. But it was like she was helping with the broader team as well. So, you know, I wasn't like, floodlight in a room, but probably exciting for her.
Adriana
They don't get a lot of work
Michaela Shiffrin
trips, you know, especially not in Cortina. Italy, she.
Olivia
Exactly.
Michaela Shiffrin
I honestly, I think she probably experienced this like post Olympic blues even more than I did because we had races right after. But was. Was that better for you after Paris then? Like, do you feel that you had some tactics?
Ilona
I mean, I had a lot of tactics. I think that probably the same as you when before we play a game, we're in a tunnel and the tunnel is where you know all your emotions are going and you have to hone in again for your race. I have to hone in to get on the field. So I had, I developed so many more tactics going into it, and my tactics kind of more became. I did my breathing, I did like conscious words. And then also I had to continue to repeat to myself that, that I wasn't alone out there, that I was a team sport, that I had other people who could help me. That was something I think that stuck with me from Tokyo is like, oh, this is my fault. I missed this tackle. It's all messed up. But it was like, no, I'm out there with my team. And I just had to kept saying that mantra and it worked. It was I. But I also won a medal in Paris, so that also can really help with that. But I know teammates of mine who was their first Olympics. Paris was their first Olympics and they had post Olympic blues because of how grand it was, how amazing it was. And then you go back to normal life.
Michaela Shiffrin
There's a letdown. Yeah, absolutely. Can I ask you another question? You mentioned, like, you remind yourself you're not alone out there and you are part of the team. And I was just. That was really interesting because team sports and individual sports are so drastically different in that way, but we do have the team. You're just like not on the field of play with your team. But do you feel sometimes like added pressure or any kind of difference now after Paris and how much you have grown and like brought eyes to the sport and brought eyes to yourself and your family, do you feel like an added level of isolation in that?
Ilona
I think in some ways, like I played 15's rugby, which is different than Sevens, but when I played in these fifteens games, so many people were coming out, out just to see me. And so you're out there on the field with so many people, but you know that when, whatever you do, they're especially watching your moves. So I do feel that added pressure. But then I also felt, oh, there's even more people on my team with me. But I do get embarrassed. I think I usually, I try to, I feel Like, I have to be perfect for people watching. I have to give them a good show now because I'm the reason they bought a ticket and come out to this game. And if I don't give them a good show, then are they going to come back to the next game? So there's definitely pressure. I'm figuring it out. I think it'll be interesting going back into Olympic prep and the pressure I'm gonna feel in that because I haven't done the Olympic form rugby yet. So then people are gonna be especially eyes on me. I haven't been in that setting, so we'll see how I hold up. Actually, I might need to know your clinical psychologist. She sounds great.
Adriana
Yeah, send that along.
Ilona
Send that along.
Adriana
Adriana and I witnessed it happen. And what's happening to her is not normal. It's very cool and she handles it so beautifully, but it's not a normal thing. So that's why her and I are here. Like, girl on board. Let's talk to our therapist.
Olivia
God, am I just.
Michaela Shiffrin
Oh, I don't know.
Adriana
Let's just call our therapist maybe.
Michaela Shiffrin
Absolutely. I know. I'm like, still. I'm like, do you have time? Could you talk? Can I text you? I'm so sorry. Do you have time for me?
Adriana
She's like, that's alone texting her gyno.
Ilona
That's me and my gyno. I love texting my gyno.
Adriana
She loves her gyno.
Olivia
Just what, you call them up, you
Ilona
know, I gotta call her up.
Adriana
We want to hear your love story. Real cool. If that's it. We're all romantics. We read a lot of romance books, watch a lot of rom coms. How did you meet your fiance? He is a Norwegian alpine skier.
Ross
He is.
Michaela Shiffrin
I met him at a ski camp. Training camp in Chile. Gosh, it was probably like 10 years ago now or maybe even more. And we sort of flirted a little bit, but. But at the time, like, I don't think we either of us had partners, but it was like, I don't know, whatever. We were sort of messaging on Facebook, and then this was just like a. It was like a six year process. Yeah. Because we've been together four years, really slow burn, where we, like, weren't talking and then we would try to talk, and I. I kind of rejected him. Which now in hindsight is pretty clear. But at the time, I thought I was being flir. Cretaceous. So he. We went to, like, a media day together for Atomic. For a ski company. He skis on the Same brand. And we were kind of the only two athletes at the media day. The night before. Everybody else was living in Europe and they were all driving in on the day of. So we were eating dinner. It was Alex, me, my mom and my agent. And. And we just had dinner together and we had a really nice time and whatnot. And then we all like, you know, went to our rooms and whatever, did the media day. And then the next day I left to go do another commitment and he was texting me and he was like, so when, when do we get to have dinner? And I was like, we had dinner last night. And I really thought that that was like sort of, you know, just like a little bit play hard to get kind of. But he was like, like, copy that.
Adriana
See you.
Michaela Shiffrin
See you when I see you. And then wildly, he. He totally ghosted me after that. And yeah, and I was like that that guy is not to be trusted. So it took a little while to build that back. It was just a, just a, just your standard mix up, like little, little misunderstanding that lasted like six years. And so when we finally did start actually officially communicating, it was during COVID We weren't really allowed to see each other during that time, but I did over this period of time. I did tell him this was also after my dad passed away. So I was like, I'm not interested in love. I'm not interested in finding someone. I want to be with my family if we're gonna go travel on the skiing tour. I just don't really wanna be in. I just, yeah, not interested. But he had sent me a really kind, thoughtful message about basically like, if you for some reason need somebody to just listen, I like, I'm a good listener and you don't need. I don't need to like be anything. You don't need to feel pressure. If it's like outside of family, if that's helpful, I don't know, just whatever. And I thought it was just the way he worded it was like for whatever reason, it could have been a thousand different messages. But the way that you said this makes me, me feel like, let's just see what you might say if we chatted. So that's sort of how it actually started was during that Covid, that Covid year when we were traveling racing and I had to straight up tell him because he kind of ghosted me again. Like he was sort of in and out and I was just like, I need you to know that I'm interested. Stop messing around. He's like, no, no, I'm not.
Ilona
I love that, Michaela.
Adriana
That's literally alone as a pro messing around.
Michaela Shiffrin
So good. No, it worked because he doesn't mess around. Like, we have talked every single day since then.
Adriana
Oh, can we see your ring?
Michaela Shiffrin
Yeah, I think I. Oh, my God. Sorry. It's a little bit scrub thick, so it looks it actually, it's like, all one piece. And he designed it. He had a really bad crash. Ski crash a couple years ago in Switzerland in one of the World cup races. And he was in the hospital for eight weeks recovering. But during this time in the hospital, he was actually designing the ring.
Adriana
Men just aren't designing rings from hospital beds anymore. They're just not doing that.
Michaela Shiffrin
They just don't do it enough. And it. And it shows. But he did it. Yeah, he did it. He was like, I wanted it to match your other rings. You like thick rings. I know you like gold. He was really thoughtful with it, which was. Was just adorable.
Ilona
I don't know.
Olivia
It's amazing.
Adriana
I love that.
Michaela Shiffrin
That's my love story. Yeah.
Adriana
Thank you for that. We needed that. That's going to keep us going for the next while.
Ilona
We've learned a lot from this, actually, because we were just talking about ghosting and men not being great communicators, and I am under the impression we should give them grace. So now, look, Olivia, give some men more grace, and then if you express interest, who knows what could happen?
Adriana
The ones I'm talking to are not Norwegian skiers, though.
Ilona
I will say that. So. No.
Michaela Shiffrin
Okay. So what's your.
Ilona
What's our dating lives?
Adriana
Single, single, single, single, single, single. Crickets around here, babe.
Michaela Shiffrin
Looking.
Adriana
If you got anybody for us at all, put it in our DMS right now.
Ilona
Let us know. Okay.
Michaela Shiffrin
Huh?
Adriana
Okay.
Michaela Shiffrin
All right. All right. Good to know.
Ilona
Alone.
Michaela Shiffrin
Can. Can.
Ilona
Yes. Michaela asked me.
Michaela Shiffrin
Can I ask about your Sports Illustrated swimsuit experiences? You seem to have so much fun. Like, how easy was it to get into that zone, to truly show your body in this way?
Ilona
You haven't done it yet?
Michaela Shiffrin
No, I haven't done it yet. And I'm like, I don't know. I'm.
Ilona
You don't know if you can do it?
Michaela Shiffrin
Girl, I would be so interested, but only because I've seen athletes like you doing this in a way that's like. Like, wow, that's real. That's like that sport. I mean, it's not just sport. It's just like women's bodies is in a different way.
Ilona
I will say the team's all great. Like, truly Amazing. I don't think you'll ever feel sexier than when you're on a Sports Illustrated set or when you're at swim week with them. I think for me, it was like, I feel like it's my duty to show this body in all lights in a swimsuit for the girls. So, yeah, I had no problem with it. I also come from a family of of, you know, girls, and I have a mom who I always saw. So it was never, like, a crazy thing to see my body in that light.
Michaela Shiffrin
Yeah.
Ilona
But, yeah, girl, you need to do that.
Olivia
Clock in and I can there for Alona's first shoot with them, and I was like, she's gonna be nervous.
Ilona
Like, we'll see.
Olivia
The way I could just see her drop into it and just start. And I was like, where the did that come from?
Ilona
Yeah, it was crazy.
Michaela Shiffrin
That's so awesome. Oh, crazy.
Ilona
No hesitation.
Adriana
She's another animal on set.
Ilona
Michaela, let's get into a game we like to call try hard. In rugby, a goal is called try. So in this, you have to try to answer these questions as quickly as possible.
Michaela Shiffrin
Oh, gosh.
Ilona
Okay, let's see. You celebrated Olympic gold with an espresso martini. Is it your go to cocktail now or what is it?
Michaela Shiffrin
Is not. Does not. Does not help sleep. I am. I will have it at some time, but doesn't help me sleep at all. So if it needs to be like, a 3pm drop drink, go to is probably gin and tonic.
Adriana
Okay.
Michaela Shiffrin
With monkey 47 specifically.
Adriana
Hey.
Ilona
Okay. Very cool.
Adriana
Okay.
Olivia
What's your favorite Vermont mountain to ski?
Michaela Shiffrin
I mean, I'm partial to Burke because I've spent so much time there, but Killington is also. Yeah, actually, maybe I'm partial to Killington. I've spent more time. Time. Yeah. Killington is pretty special. Yeah.
Adriana
Hell, yeah.
Michaela Shiffrin
We've had really good races there. It's fun.
Adriana
I think when we met you in Germany for the first time, Adriana was talking about how Vermont just likes to claim you because you happened to ski there a couple times. Vermont's like, oh, she's from here.
Michaela Shiffrin
Absolutely. Oh, she's ours. Yeah. I. I claim both sides of the country. I claim everywhere. Now I claim Norway, too, so. Right. You know. Absolutely.
Adriana
What is something in your house that's really special to you?
Michaela Shiffrin
My bed. Bed. Yeah. It just is. And this year, like, as I do get older, I mentioned that my body feels a little bit ancient. It's like, if I do not sleep on. If I sleep on a mat. A bad mattress. I'm like, done for, like, absolutely kaput. And I have had several experiences with really tough mattresses this winter. And this is, like, a significant change from previously in my life life. Like, mattresses are always important, but my dad used to be like, make sure you get a good mattress because your body will thank you. And now I realize that every single time I do go home, immediately after I sleep in my own bed, I feel like a million times better. And my physical therapist notices too. She'll be like, what is going on with your. With your back right now? And I'm like, I. The mattress is. I don't. I think it's bad. And she's like, all right, yep, we gotta. Okay, we're gonna have a little work cut out for us for the next week as we're staying in at this.
Adriana
Damn.
Michaela Shiffrin
Anyway, so mattress.
Ilona
Good thing you're a Winter Olympian, because those cardboard beds, man. Your therapist would feel that. She'd feel that I.
Michaela Shiffrin
Yes, I actually purchased a mattress for Cortina. Did you?
Ilona
Good for you.
Michaela Shiffrin
It was earlier in the season that I was really struggling, and I. I like Purch. Not a full mattress, but like a topper. But this thing is. Yeah, this thing is plush. And I now. Yeah. Well, good for you. Specifically, like, tension headaches in the morning. Nobody wants to be around me when I have that, so. Right.
Ilona
I have one more for you before we close out. Do you have a quote or something that you live by?
Adriana
A mantra?
Michaela Shiffrin
Be nice, think first, have fun. That's also something my parents sort of instilled in my brother and myself when we were growing up. And, yeah, I guess it kind of speaks for itself, but, like, try to think about what you're doing, be thoughtful, be nice, be kind to people and have fun with what you're doing in that. Like, learn to be passionate about the process of improvement.
Ilona
Yeah, I love that.
Adriana
Well, thank you so much for coming over, Mikaela. Make sure you are following Mikayla on IG and TikTok. Akayla Shifrin. Give your reindeer a kiss from us.
Ilona
Thank you so much for being.
Michaela Shiffrin
Thank you, guys.
Adriana
Thank you, Mikayla.
Ilona
Thank you, Michaela.
Adriana
Hope to see you soon.
Michaela Shiffrin
Enjoy New York. Okay.
Olivia
Thank you so much for coming over to the House of Mar A Wave original.
Ilona
Be sure to watch, subscribe on YouTube and listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Adriana
Plus, follow the show on social media HouseOfMar for clips and behind the scenes content where you can find out if we know ball. So do you. See you there.
Ilona
Cause do you.
Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. I don't know if you knew this, but anyone can get the same Premium Wireless for $15 a month plan that I've been enjoying. It's not just for celebrities. So do like I did and have one of your assistant's assistants switch you to Mint Mobile to today. I'm told it's super easy to do at mintmobile. Com.
Ollie Sleep Solutions Announcer
Switch upfront payment of $45 for 3
SoFi Home Equity Loan Announcer
month plan equivalent to $15 per month required intro rate first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes
Michaela Shiffrin
and fees, extra feeful terms at mintmobile.
Ilona
Com.
Date: April 14, 2026
Host: Wave (Ilona Maher, with sisters Olivia and Adriana “Dre Baby” Maher)
Featured Guest: Mikaela Shiffrin (World Champion Alpine Skier)
This episode of House of Maher balances sharp humor and heartfelt insights as the Maher sisters welcome alpine ski legend Mikaela Shiffrin to discuss the reality behind Olympic glory, the quirks of post-career identity, relationships in and out of sport, and why trophies (and sometimes reindeer) occasionally break. Along the way, Ilona recounts her run-ins with NFL players at the Super Bowl, and the group takes on viral internet moments, equality in sports coverage, and the confidence gap between men and women. The conversation is peppered with relatable sibling banter, thoughtful discussions about mental health, and plenty of memorable quotes.
Hong Kong Rugby Sevens Anticipation: The sisters discuss their upcoming group trip, excitement about more authentic food (dim sum/goose), and plans to see friends.
AI Misreporting & Gender Gaps: Conversation turns to friend Ali Riley’s criticism of AI for incorrectly crediting men over women in sports statistics.
Viral Cluelessness About Women’s Achievements: Multiple anecdotes on men (and even AI) assuming male athletes’ supremacy, i.e., tennis clips where men are miscredited over Serena Williams.
Super Bowl Shenanigans: Ilona attends a Giants party, realizes she can’t recognize the team’s quarterback (“Jackson Dart”), and her friend Casey brilliantly responds to a football player trying to grab her ball:
Celebrating Positive Male Athlete Interactions: Standout meeting with Fernando Mendoza, who was friendly and genuine.
Audience Q: Female Athlete Litmus Test:
Back From Europe: Mikaela explains her travel whirlwind—months abroad and wrangling dozens of bags.
Trophy Mishap: Mikaela drops and breaks the overall World Cup globe trophy in a taxi, riffing on how heavy and fragile they are.
Nine Reindeer?! Mikaela elaborates on winning a reindeer at the Finland race each year—now owning nine.
What to Do with Trophies: Many trophies are given to coaches and young fans, with crystal ones as decor.
Skis Logistics: Explains why World Cup teams travel with 20-30 bags for different conditions and ski builds.
Do You Like To Go Fast?: Mikaela describes her need for speed—in moderation, always grounded in feeling secure and practiced.
Mentality of Risk Sports: Comparing the wildness of winter Olympians and rugby players, acknowledging both require a “screw loose” level of daring.
Post-Olympic Blues: Mikaela intimately describes the alien experience of multiple Olympics; the expectations, the post-Games void, and still not quite being able to process what happened.
From Naiveté to Owning Her Power: Starting at 18, growing into her identity as both an athlete and woman—now, at 31, appreciating strength and individualism:
Going Viral for “Back Abs”: How a simple physical therapy moment went viral for her unique muscle definition—“another unattainable beauty standard” joked Ilona.
Sports Psychology Journey: Both Mikaela and Ilona talk about seeking help post-Olympics—for Ilona, this eased her transition after Tokyo.
Grief and Therapy: Mikaela shares her deep work with a clinical psychologist, especially after losing her father and the pressures of expectation and isolation.
Comparing Individual vs. Team Sport Pressures: Ilona reflects on the pressure of people coming just to watch her—and thus needing “to give them a good show”—and the support systems/burden of team sports visibility. [41:53–42:48]
How Mikaela Met Her Fiance: A love story stretching ten years, thwarted by miscommunication and “ghosting,” finally blossoming during COVID after a heartfelt message.
Advice for Dating: The panel riffs on mixed signals in dating, giving guys “more grace,” and the modern world of athlete relationships.
| Timestamp | Topic | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:02 | Kicking off with group chat, Hong Kong trip | | 03:55 | AI/Media misreporting and women’s sports coverage | | 08:38 | Ilona’s Super Bowl party NFL story | | 14:23 | Mikaela Shiffrin introduction, world record recap | | 15:01 | Mikaela’s “15 bags” travel story and trophy mishap | | 18:01 | Reindeer explanation & naming | | 22:41 | Ski logistics: why so many bags/skis | | 27:06 | Mikaela on the Olympic “vortex” and post-Olympic emotions | | 35:17 | Mental health, sports psychology, and coping with expectation | | 43:38 | How Mikaela met her fiancé | | 49:09 | Posing for Sports Illustrated and body positivity | | 50:33 | “Try Hard” lightning round | | 53:47 | Personal mantra and final thoughts |
The episode maintains Maher’s signature blend of irreverent wit, real-life vulnerability, and a “sisters at the dinner table” vibe, even when tackling the high stakes of pro sport and mental health. Whether discussing elite-level pressure or calling out AI’s gendered blind spots, the language is playful, rapid-fire, and inviting, making world-class athletes accessible and relatable.
For listeners who missed it, this episode stands out for its mix of sports-world tea, unfiltered truths about mental health and womanhood, and genuinely hilarious storytelling—from reindeer to glass-shattering trophies to the mysteries of “back abs.”