Infamous Podcast – ENCORE: Gwyneth Paltrow’s Ski Trial | Part 1
Campside Media / Sony Music Entertainment
Released: January 1, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of Infamous dives deep into the bizarre, high-profile ski collision legal saga that pitted wellness mogul and Hollywood star Gwyneth Paltrow against retired optometrist Terry Sanderson. Hosts Natalie Robehmed and Vanessa Grigoriadis guide listeners through the details of the infamous Deer Valley ski accident, Gwyneth’s enigmatic public persona, and the extraordinary court trial that played out under the scrutinizing gaze of the public and media. Beyond the melodrama, the episode examines how celebrity, privilege, media, and America’s obsession with scandal come together in one surreal courtroom showdown.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Incident on the Slope (From 00:40)

• The episode opens with a cinematic retelling of the fateful day at Deer Valley Resort, a luxury ski destination in Utah.
  • “Her skis slice through the snow, carving neat parallel turns…when all of a sudden, out of nowhere…” (00:40)
• Gwyneth Paltrow, on a family ski trip, collides with Terry Sanderson, a septuagenarian retired optometrist.
  • Sanderson is badly injured, stretchered off the mountain with four broken ribs and a concussion.
  • Gwyneth, relatively unscathed, gets a massage afterwards.
• Immediate aftermath and dispute:
  • Gwyneth insists she was struck from behind.
  • Sanderson claims she slammed into him and left the scene.
  • “She yells at him, something along the lines of what the—you skied directly into my back.” (02:23)

2. Who Is Gwyneth? (04:21–11:50)

• Vanessa offers a crash course on Gwyneth Paltrow’s upbringing as Hollywood royalty and her evolution from actress to wellness entrepreneur.
  • Parents: Actress Blythe Danner & TV producer Bruce Paltrow.
  • Godfather: Steven Spielberg.
  • “To me, her name is shorthand for class, for elitism. She’s like the human embodiment of the 1%.” (05:24)
• Highlights from her acting career (Hook, Emma, Shakespeare in Love, The Royal Tenenbaums), including the infamous Shallow Hal, whose premise and Gwyneth’s role foreshadow her later focus on beauty and wellness.
  • “This distasteful role in Shallow Hal is also a kind of bizarre foreshadowing because Gwyneth is about to pivot from actress to health guru…” (09:15)
• Introduction to Goop, the now-infamous lifestyle brand rooted in luxury, “optimization,” questionable health advice, and constant controversy.
  • Gwyneth Paltrow (clip): “We’re here one time, one life. Like, how can we really, like, milk the shit out of this?” (11:29)

3. Enter the Lawsuit: From Accident to Courtroom (14:23–19:50)

• Reintroduction of Terry Sanderson, the plaintiff:
  • Described as an everyman whose life, including his relationship, was upended by the crash.
  • Sanderson: “I had to tell her (girlfriend) to leave… I’m not sure I’m gonna get back to normal again… it was a sad time for both of us.” (15:15)
• In 2019, Sanderson sues Gwyneth for over $3 million, alleging serious physical and emotional damages.
• Gwyneth countersues, calling the claims an attempt to exploit her fame.
  • “She knows that controversy can be good for business. And she knows this because… Goop became big business for Gwyneth.” (16:33)
• Summary of Goop’s bizarre products, controversies, and lawsuits (e.g., $15,000 dildo, vaginal eggs, dubious wellness advice), and how Gwyneth leans into public spectacle and viral moments.
  • “GOOP is perfectly positioned to capitalize on a climate in which willful ignorance to facts is becoming a political stance…” (19:57)

4. The Courtroom Drama Unfolds (21:47–31:47)

• March 2023, Park City: Paltrow makes her entrance, emphasizing “stealth wealth” with understated, expensive clothing—except for a pair of odd glasses reminiscent of Jeffrey Dahmer.
  • “She cuts a slight figure… This courtroom may as well be a red carpet because what you wear to court sends a message. One that’s going to be analyzed to death.” (22:51)
• Gwyneth is called to testify. The plaintiff’s lawyer exhibits a mix of nervousness, awe, and starstruck behavior.
  • Lawyer: “I have a feeling that everybody in the courtroom knows who you are… so we’re not going to go through all the background. We’re just going to kind of cut to the chase. Is that fair?” Gwyneth: “Sounds fine.” (26:15)
  • Vanessa: “Listening to Gwyneth here makes me think of that Great Gatsby line about Daisy Buchanan. Her voice is full of money. That’s Gwyneth.” (26:16)
• Key testimony moments:
  • Gwyneth confirms details of the trip, the expensive ski lessons, and the family members present—and answers personal questions with poise and flashes of dry humor.
    • Lawyer: “May I ask how tall you are?” Gwyneth: “I’m just under 5'10." Lawyer: “I am so jealous.” (27:34)
  • She is asked about the crash itself:
    • Lawyer: “You skied directly into my effing back at the top of your lungs.” Gwyneth: “Yes, I did.” (28:16)
    • She apologizes for her language, drawing laughter from the room.
    • Gwyneth: “I was yelling at him pretty loud, pretty forceful. I was pretty upset.” (28:37)
  • On leaving the aftermath to her ski instructor:
    • Gwyneth: “In the acting world, that’s a world of representatives. So you have an agent who represents you… So when Eric, as an accredited Deer Valley ski instructor, said to me, I’ll fill out the paperwork, he knew also that my daughter was at the bottom waiting for me to come for lunch…” (29:03)
  • On whether she inquired about Sanderson’s injuries:
    • Gwyneth: “I think you have to keep in mind, when you’re the victim of a crash. Right. Your psychology is not necessarily thinking about the person who perpetrated it.” (30:25)
  • Details on her afternoon post-accident:
    • Gwyneth (reading her text): “That guy sort of hurt me. I’m gonna get a massage at 3.” (31:19)
  • On damages:
    • Lawyer: “He has deterred you from enjoying the rest of what was a very expensive vacation?” Gwyneth: “Well, I lost half a day of skiing, so.” (31:43)
• Vanessa concludes:
  • “Terry Sanderson claimed he had four broken ribs, a concussion, and lasting brain damage. Gwyneth lost half a day of skiing. She was definitely gonna lose this case.” (31:47)

5. Teasers for Part 2 (32:05)

• The next episode promises further drama and testimony, more surreal moments, and deeper looks into the celebrity-legal circus surrounding the trial.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On privilege and persona:

  • “To me, her name is a shorthand for class, for elitism. She’s like the human embodiment of the 1%.” —Vanessa Grigoriadis, (05:24)

• On Goop’s brand of controversy:

  • “GOOP is perfectly positioned to capitalize on a climate in which willful ignorance to facts is becoming a political stance…” —Vanessa Grigoriadis, (19:57)

• On the melodrama of the court:

  • “Listening to Gwyneth here makes me think of that Great Gatsby line about Daisy Buchanan. Her voice is full of money. That’s Gwyneth.” —Vanessa Grigoriadis, (26:16)
  • “This courtroom may as well be a red carpet because what you wear to court sends a message. One that’s going to be analyzed to death.” —Vanessa Grigoriadis, (22:51)

• Gwyneth’s testifying style:

  • “You skied directly into my effing back at the top of your lungs.” —Plaintiff’s lawyer quoting Gwyneth, (28:08)
  • Gwyneth: “Yes, I did…I apologize for my bad language.” (28:16–28:18)
  • Gwyneth: “In the acting world, that’s a world of representatives… so when Eric, as an accredited Deer Valley ski instructor, said to me, I’ll fill out the paperwork… you allow somebody to represent you.” (29:03)
  • Gwyneth: “Well, I lost half a day of skiing, so.” (31:43)

• On Sanderson’s loss:

  • “I’m not asking, I’m telling you. You gotta leave…I know you would (stay), but don’t do it. You need your life. You run right now. And it was a sad time for both of us.” —Terry Sanderson, describing the aftermath of the accident (15:15)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:40 – 02:23: Cinematic retelling of the accident and immediate aftermath
• 04:21 – 11:50: Deep dive into Gwyneth’s Hollywood background and Goop’s origins
• 14:23 – 19:50: Terry Sanderson’s lawsuit and Goop’s business of controversy
• 21:47 – 31:47: Courtroom scenes, Gwyneth’s testimony, legal and media spectacle
• 32:05: Teaser for next episode

Tone & Takeaways

The hosts combine careful investigative journalism with dry, sometimes biting wit, echoing the tone of pop culture commentary on celebrity excess and legal theater. Gwyneth is simultaneously portrayed as both emblematic of elite privilege and a savvy media operator, unafraid to weaponize controversy for personal and business gain. Sanderson is cast as the unglamorous “everyman” felled by an accident with Hollywood royalty; his claims are taken seriously but explored through a lens of public fascination—what does justice look like when wealth, fame, and viral moments collide?

Listen to Part 2 for the explosive continuation of the trial, more from the witness stand, and a closer look at what happens when luxury wellness meets legal drama.