Pablo Torre Finds Out

Episode: Share & Free Skate & Tell with Katie Nolan and Michael Cruz Kayne

Date: February 24, 2026
Host: Pablo Torre
Guests: Katie Nolan, Michael Cruz Kayne
Network: The Athletic Podcast Network

Episode Overview

This lively episode brings together Pablo Torre with comedians and sports commentators Katie Nolan and Michael Cruz Kayne for a “Share & Free Skate & Tell” discussion. The trio deliver an energetic, freewheeling dive into the joys and absurdities of the 2026 Winter Olympics—especially the breakthrough story of skater Alysa Liu, the weird realities of artificial intelligence and modern technology, and the fusion of sports, national identity, and personal resilience. Expect a whirlwind mix of sports storytelling, comedic riffs, and frank reflection on what authenticity means in an AI-informed era.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Banter: Wikifeet, Privacy, and Free Skate Format

[05:10–07:11]

• Wikifeet Scores:
  Katie Nolan reveals she has a 4.97 rating on WikiFeet, with 655 ratings, kicking off humor about internet notoriety and privacy.
  • “Is that true? Do you have a 4.9?” (Michael, 05:15)
  • “I’d be fine with rounding it up to five.” (Katie, 05:43)
• Adventures in Algorithm:
  The trio riff on the odd recommended/ad content on sites like WikiFeet—ranging from forgotten ALF gifs to war-torn Ukrainian malls and mind-controlled objects—touching on the randomness of modern web browsing.
• Privacy Measures:
  Pablo mentions using a privacy screen due to strange public encounters and “pissing off powerful people.” (06:48–07:00)

2. AI, Waymo, and the Reality Behind "Smart" Tech

[07:38–17:01]

• Self-Driving Cars & Outsourced Intelligence:
  Discussion of Waymo cars and the revelation that remote human operators (in the Philippines) are actually guiding supposedly autonomous vehicles:
  • “What you think is artificial intelligence and robot drivers is a bunch of Filipino guys. And I love that.” (Pablo, 10:34)
  • “I’d rather just eliminate the artifice… instead of you having to ring out, just so you know, 60 Filipino guys are watching you shop right now.” (Michael, 16:05)
• Amazon Go "Just Walk Out" Stores:
  The “frictionless” future of retail is similarly propped up by remote human labor (in India), not just AI, sparking a debate about the realities beneath Silicon Valley’s marketing.
• Tech Humor:
  Katie quips: “You know what else has a just walk out policy? The ocean. You can just walk out into it and this will all be over and you don't have to worry about any of this anymore.” (16:31)

3. AI Hacking, Fake Superlatives, and Manufactured Legitimacy

[13:01–15:07]

• Fooling ChatGPT and Google:
  Pablo shares a story about a journalist becoming “the best tech journalist at eating hot dogs” by manipulating AI and SEO, exposing the ease of manufacturing notoriety online.
  • “Everything he wrote was fake... but he successfully became, according to... search engines and ChatGPT... this superlative.” (Pablo, 13:23)
  • Michael points out how press releases and online self-mythologizing can fool both AI and people into adding unwarranted legitimacy.
• Dark Side of AI:
  Katie recounts a personal anecdote about a friend falling for a scam based on fraudulent (AI-fueled) media appearances and passive income promises, highlighting growing dangers in the digital era. (14:02)

4. Olympics Deep Dive: Triumphs, Underdogs, and Joy

[19:15–47:27]

a. The Story of Alysa Liu and US Figure Skating

[20:01–27:03]

• Breakdown of Alysa Liu’s Journey:
  • Youngest US champion at 13, broke new barriers by returning “on her own terms,” choosing her own music, attire, and approach.
  • Pablo: “The reason why sports are awesome is because sports are hard… the idea that you could surpass that while being legitimately joyful and self-directed is so rare in any aspect of sports anymore.” (27:22)
  • Katie: “She wins gold in, like, the most pure way. Even if none of that's speaking to you, the mental fortitude to not let the competition or the stage or the pressure touch you in any way…” (26:44)
• Notable Quote:
  “I think a lot of women are bringing up Alysa Liu to their therapists this week... After the Larry Nassar of it all…to see her and that performance...” (Katie, 26:28)

b. Olympics as an Antidote to Cynicism & American Identity

[31:06–33:16]

• Nationalism at the Olympics:
  The group discusses moments of conflicted American pride, feeling like underdogs in winter sports, and the weird thrill of rooting for the US against countries with greater winter sport heritage.
  • “I need these two weeks of joy. I need to believe in this country and I need to root for these athletes who don’t have anything really to do with what’s going on.” (Katie, 31:13)
  • Michael confesses to “becoming a rabid jingoist” during the Olympics, despite daily skepticism about America.

c. Absurdities & Scandals: Penis-Parachute Ski Suits

[33:16–39:03]

• Norwegian “Penisgate” Scandal:
  • Norway’s ski jumpers reportedly injected hyaluronic acid into their penises to temporarily increase girth, allowing for suits with more fabric, thus greater “parachute” effect and competitive advantage (suit is measured for fit at maximum size).
  • Pablo: “What they did was…injecting hyaluronic acid to make your penis bigger so that when their penis went back to regular size... you have extra fabric.” (35:34)
  • The group riffs on the wildness, with Katie imploring: “Please, can we move on?” (36:48)
• Olympics as a Stage for Weirdness:
  • Discussion of new events like "ski mountaineering" and "dual moguls," and the enduring drama and comedy of Olympic fails and heartbreaks.

d. Moments of Triumph and Defeat: Hockey, Slalom, Redemption

[29:25–44:05]

• US Women's Ice Hockey & Hillary Knight:
  Celebrating record-setting goals, redemption stories, and the emotional impact on fans.
• Slalom Skier’s Agony:
  A Norwegian favorite loses his shot at gold after a small mistake, walks into the woods, and collapses—a visceral example of sports’ heartbreak.
• Mikaela Shiffrin's Redemption:
  Overcame psychological turmoil and personal loss (her father’s death) to reclaim gold with a historic margin: “Some part of me was resisting this because I don’t want to win a gold medal without my dad…today, I sort of just accepted that this is what it is, and I let myself win this.” (Katie, 42:07)
• Value of Unfiltered Human Achievement:
  • Katie reads: “I'm not a sports guy. But it seems to me that this kind of genuine, unbridled emotional joy generated by actual human achievement and not data centers is something we really need to see these days.” (43:25)

5. Broader Themes & Closing Reflections

[44:31–47:54]

• Sports as Authentic Human Experience:
  • Pablo and Michael reflect on sports as an “antidote to the AI of it all,” a realm where humanity asserts itself against a flood of artificiality.
  • Michael: “There are vanishingly few things we can assert our humanity in—and sports is one of them.” (43:46)
• Nostalgia & Self-Discovery:
  • Banter about sports fandom, Instagram pick-up basketball videos, and the “ephemeral” joy of life outside permanent documentation.

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• “Unlike the number 28, the three of us, we're greater than the sum of our factors.” (Pablo, 04:58)
• “What you think is artificial intelligence and robot drivers is a bunch of Filipino guys. And I love that.” (Pablo, 10:34)
• “Please, can we move on.” (Katie, 36:48) – after the prolonged penis-injection discussion
• “I need these two weeks of joy. I need to believe in this country and I need to root for these athletes who don't have anything really to do with what's going on.” (Katie, 31:13)
• “The reason why sports are awesome is because sports are hard… the idea that you could surpass that while being legitimately joyful and happy and like self directed is so rare in any aspect of sports anymore.” (Pablo, 27:22)
• “I like to end by looking directly into the camera.” (Katie, 47:57)

Important Segment Timestamps

• [05:10] – WikiFeet rating, internet privacy
• [07:38–17:01] – AI, Waymo, Amazon Go, and the illusion of automation
• [19:15–27:03] – Alysa Liu’s Olympic story, female athlete empowerment, and US figure skating triumph
• [31:06–33:16] – Olympics, nationalism, America as underdog
• [33:16–39:03] – “Penis-parachute” ski jumping scandal
• [39:03–42:54] – Norwegian slalom heartbreak, Shiffrin’s victory, redemptive stories
• [43:23–44:05] – Sports as humanity’s bastion in an AI world
• [44:31] – Reflections on Instagram pick-up basketball clips and ephemeral experiences
• [47:54] – Episode wind-down and signature closing quips

Tone & Language

The episode is marked by its signature mix of playful irreverence, sharp sport analysis, and genuinely heartfelt moments. Katie Nolan’s passionate, sometimes emotional storytelling stands out against Pablo Torre’s measured yet witty moderation and Michael’s comic timing. Together, they blend humor, awe, and a healthy skepticism about the promises and pitfalls of both sport and technology.

Takeaway for New Listeners

Whether you’re a sports fan or not, this episode offers a vibrant, often hilarious tour through Olympic highs, technological lows, and the resonance of real human achievement. It’s equal parts comedy, cultural commentary, and deeply compelling sports journalism—always inviting listeners to wonder what’s really beneath the surface, both online and on the ice.