Podcast Summary: Intrusive Thoughts by Adam Rippon

Episode: Adam’s Med Spa Is Opening… but Pasadena Has Some Explaining to Do
Release Date: March 5, 2026
Host: Adam Rippon

Episode Overview

In this candid and free-wheeling solo episode, Adam Rippon reflects on life post-Olympics, the highs and lows of media work, and the wild ride of opening a brick-and-mortar med spa in Pasadena. The episode is packed with humor, vulnerable admission, and the occasional rant, as Adam dishes out behind-the-scenes details on commercial real estate, the struggles of dealing with bureaucracy in Pasadena, and his honest opinions about the “medical-grade skincare” industry.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Olympic Aftermath & Emotional Release

[00:10–09:00]

• Adam shares an unfiltered look at the emotional toll and adjustment post-Olympics, both as an athlete and as someone working on the media side.
• He distinguishes the intense adrenaline rush athletes feel, which lasts weeks during the Olympics, versus the less physically demanding but still exhausting work of media coverage—often working 20-hour days.
• Notable Insight: There’s a “letdown” or emotional crash after the relentless intensity of the Games, but Adam reframes it as an “emotional release,” not depression.
• Quote:

  “You can feel depress-on, but you shouldn't feel like you are depressed. Duh.” (A, 05:12)

2. Navigating the Transition from Athlete to Media

[03:00–09:00]

• Adam dives into what sets a great interview apart: the importance of preparation and truly knowing an athlete’s journey, not just the headline facts.
• The tone of a journalist’s question reveals their depth of understanding and, in turn, impacts the quality of Adam’s (or any athlete’s) answers.
• Quote:

  “It's not about asking the question. It's about … why these are the right questions.” (A, 07:42)

• Shares anecdotes about crazy work hours: sometimes starting at 6AM and ending around 4AM, centered around NBC’s primetime needs.

3. Med Spa Journey: Finding the Right Space

[09:01–28:00]

• Adam shares, often with self-deprecating humor, the adventure of opening a medical spa and the steep learning curve of commercial real estate.
• He explains “brick and mortar” and why convenient parking trumped all when picking a location.
• Describes differences between commercial and residential leases, and key terms like “tenant allowances” and “shell space.”
• Shares how he was ghosted by a commercial real estate agent, leading him to just call numbers on buildings himself.
• Quote:

  “If you’re into it, you’re into it. If you’re not, log out. Don’t keep listening … actually, please keep listening.” (A, 14:15)

4. The Pasadena (Paseo) Rant

[21:20–30:00]

• Adam launches into a hilarious and scathing rant about his failed attempts to lease space at the Paseo, Pasadena’s “business graveyard.”
• Describes “shell space” and why vague “tenant allowances” can be a trap—$30,000 in “basic improvements” doesn’t mean what you think it does.
• Rails against slow, unresponsive property managers and the endless permit delays in Pasadena.
• Vows to write (and read on-air) an “angry email” to the Paseo for their incompetence and the emotional distress caused.
• Quote:

  “Go fuck yourself, the Paseo. Fuck you and your dead old fucking businesses.” (A, 27:15)

• Plans to count all the vacant businesses and email the management for their failures.
• Memorable Bit: Adam physically writes down and highlights his reminder to send the angry email—“Read angry email to the Paseo for emotional distress, failed rental.” (A, 30:43)

5. Med Spa Reality: Settling for the Right Space

[30:00–35:00]

• Adam explains how the location he eventually leased didn’t require renovations (just cleaning and painting), which was a huge plus.
• Shares the behind-the-scenes nitty-gritty: furniture, cabinetry, art, and the relief of two months’ free rent.
• Announces the plan to do a “soft launch” with close friends as “beta clients” before an official grand opening—“It’s a marketing strategy.”
• Quote:

  “What, you’re gonna wait and not open because you’re waiting to get sweatshirts? No… you’re paying rent!” (A, 36:44)

6. The Real Cost and Perks of Med Spa Ownership

[36:00–40:00]

• Adam candidly discusses product costs, noting how “Botox costs about a million dollars, and you sell it for about a million dollars.” (A, 39:10)
• Shares the truth about “medical grade” skincare products—they’re often overpriced and sometimes no more effective than drugstore brands.
• Explains how “medical grade” is more about in-house marketing and clinical studies, and cheekily compares luxury brands (like La Mer at $500) to regular mineral oil.
• Quote:

  “It’s not magic oil. It’s oil.” (A, 43:27)

• Admits he’s still on the fence about what skincare lines to stock and will crowdsource opinions via Instagram stories.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On emotional recovery post-Olympics:

  “There is really nothing like it... your emotions are heightened in these high pressure moments.” (A, 02:43)

• On commercial real estate:

  “When you get a location, it’s called brick and mortar. It is what it is. I didn’t make it up. It sounds beautiful, though, right?” (A, 13:05)

• On the Paseo management:

  “There are a bunch of crooks over there, con artists. They’re doing something to, like, avoid taxes. I’m a hundred percent sure, allegedly.” (A, 28:10)

• On luxury vs. drugstore skincare:

  “La Mer... it’s basically mineral oil... you could just use Marula oil from Trader Joe’s that’s $8. It’s oil. It’s not magic oil, it’s oil.” (A, 42:24)

• On podcasting style:

  “That’s what happens when the thoughts are intrusive.” (A, 01:25)

Timeline & Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment Title | Key Content | |-----------|----------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00-02:30 | Welcome & Emotional State | Adam’s current mood, how he plans his podcast, initial thoughts on the Olympics | | 02:31-08:30 | Olympic Emotional Crash | Athlete vs. media experience, adrenaline, adjusting to normal life | | 08:31-12:25 | Interviewing & Journalism | What makes a good interviewer, working for NBC, crazy work hours | | 12:26-21:19 | Small Business 101 | Brick and mortar basics, lease negotiation, parking priorities | | 21:20-30:50 | The Paseo Rant | Real estate agent ghosting, business graveyard, failed negotiations | | 30:51-36:25 | Soft Launch Strategy | Finding the right space, soft launch plans, juggling financial realities | | 36:26-44:00 | Med Spa Products & Margins| Product perks, cost of Botox, skepticism about “medical-grade” skincare | | 44:01-End | Closing & Cliffhangers | Intrusive thoughts, name reveal (“Atami Aesthetics Club”), running to-do-list |

Episode Cliffhangers & What’s Next

• Adam teases a bigger deep dive into the new med spa’s name: Atami Aesthetics Club (“A T A M I I”), promising to explain the name next week.
• Plans to revisit the epic “angry email” to the Paseo on a future episode.
• More med spa stories and mishaps expected as the opening progresses.

Tone and Style

Adam’s signature style is all over this episode—self-deprecating, stream-of-consciousness, irreverently honest, and full of asides. There’s a relatable mix of workaday detail, pop-culture commentary, and personal vulnerability.

For Listeners:
This solo episode gives both an entertaining primer on small business headaches and Adam’s personal process, with comedic, sometimes cathartic rants. Even if you couldn’t care less about medical spas or real estate, Adam’s storytelling keeps the episode engaging and laugh-out-loud funny.

(Ad: Skipped. Outro: Skipped. For intrusive thoughts or messages, Adam can be reached at the show’s hotline, number shared at episode’s close.)