Podcast Summary: Intrusive Thoughts by Adam Rippon

Episode: "Jet Lag, Popeyes, and Life After the Olympics"
Date: February 26, 2026
Host: Adam Rippon (PodcastOne)

Overview

In this candid and chaotic solo episode, Adam Rippon checks in with listeners after returning from Milan and the 2026 Winter Olympics. While he promises no structure, Adam shares jet-lagged reflections on life after the Olympics, projects outside skating (including opening a medical spa), memorable Olympic moments, travel mishaps, and the oddities on his desk—including a live Labubu unboxing. Throughout, Adam’s trademark humor and self-mockery shine as he assures listeners he’s alive, well, and, if not fully back to normal, at least back in the US (and back on the pod).

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Reentry After the Olympics & Jet Lag

• Adam discusses his chaotic post-Olympic state
  • Feels disoriented, compares his brain to a "smooth marble" from the intensity of travel and work.
  • Struggles to acclimate to "normal" life and acknowledges fatigue and scattered thoughts.
  • Expresses relief and joy about Olympic memories, especially in relation to Alyssa Liu:

    “It’s Alyssa Liu’s world and we’re just spinning in it. It’s the world I want to live in, though.” (03:15)

Life Updates: Medical Spa & New Listeners

• Adam is actively working to open a medical spa, a project colleagues once thought was a joke due to his social media tone:

  “Only until recently did they deduce that it wasn’t a joke. Which promotionally, I don’t know if that’s good.” (06:40)

• Welcomes new listeners, jokes about being embarrassed to sneeze in front of them.
• Acknowledges this episode will be “a mess” and asks listeners to buckle up for a classic Adam-style ramble.

Olympic Memories: Celebrating Elena Myers Taylor

• Praises bobsledder Elena Myers Taylor for winning her first Olympic gold and balancing sport with motherhood and sign language for her deaf children:

  “If you could choose who gets gold medals...I would have chosen her. But she did it on her own... She won’t be needing to get one of those Olympic medals that I choose for people.” (13:36)

• Reminisces about athletes’ abrupt return to everyday life post-Olympics.

Life After Competing: Whoopi Goldberg Moment

• Shares a story about being on The View with Whoopi Goldberg, who encouraged him to keep training for gold:

  “I didn’t know how to tell her that I wasn’t gonna do that because it wasn’t gonna happen.” (16:50) “She thought I was just not believing in myself. And I was like, 'No, you’re just not believing what I’m telling you is the facts.'” (18:10)

• Reflects humorously on declining to pursue another Olympics after 2018.

Tangents: Desk Unboxings & Brand Mentions

• Labubu Unboxing (Unique Moment):

  • Adam unboxes a Labubu figure, discovering unexpected quality:

    “Wait, I love these. Oh, I get it. I didn’t get it before, but they’re like, nice to touch.” (22:45)

  • Playfully declares himself a Labubu convert, plans to attach it to his skate bag.

• Shout-Outs and Gift Packages:

  • Stumble TV show (auditioned for a part, didn’t get it but got the press gift instead—says he’s happy with that).
  • Waterloo Sparkling Water (especially Lemon Italian Ice flavor):

    “This one is the best one. Lemon Italian Ice. It just is, by far, so good.” (29:58)

  • Eye patches from Waterloo get applied live as well.

Travel Stories: Jet Lag Snacks & Atlanta Layover

• Details NBC’s charter flight to JFK being diverted to Atlanta due to weather, resulting in a long journey home:

  “Of course, I’m sitting in a middle seat… But that’s okay, ‘cause I just downloaded this new game on my phone that is truly, like, terrible. And it’s a waste of time.” (37:09)

• Shares his return-to-America airport meal:

  “I had an Auntie Anne’s original pretzel and five tenders from Popeye’s Louisiana Fresh Chicken. And a Dr. Pepper. I haven’t had a Dr. Pepper in at least a decade.” (39:15)

Personal “Reset” Rituals & Everyday Life

• Plans for a “fresh start”—haircut, manicure, and pedicure after Olympic travel:

  “I just, like, it makes me feel, like, so refreshed.” (42:14)

• Admits to craving classic comfort foods (Jersey Mike’s soggy sub), and eating “about 55 pieces of saltwater taffy.”
• Announces the ongoing process of opening the medical spa, doing daily self-care catch-up.

Self-Awareness & Audience Connection

• Freely apologizes for the disorganization, invites listeners to share their own thoughts via voicemail and text for upcoming episodes:

  “Please, please, please. This is the best I can do today, and that’s really all I can do.” (44:10)

• Encourages more “normal,” non-Olympic intrusive thoughts, reminds fans how to leave messages for the show.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On mental fog post-Olympics:

  “At the moment, my brain is as smooth as a glass marble. It is just... polished over.” (04:55)

• On refusing to stop recording:

  “Both sides of my brain are holding hands going, ‘No, we agree, stop recording this podcast today. It’s bad.’... I’m not listening to my heart or my head, and I’m just pushing through.” (09:06)

• On the chaos of this episode:

  “This episode will be a disaster. Please, if you’re driving a car, buckle your seatbelt tightly.” (11:01)

• On Labubu:

  “Wait, I love Labubu. How cute. Wait, I love these. Oh, I get it... To every Labubu hater out there, you just need one.” (24:04)

• On not going for 2022 Olympic gold:

  “If you thought my chances were bad for gold in ’18, imagine how much worse they’d be in ‘22.” (18:40)

• On eating Popeyes and Auntie Anne’s at the airport:

  “It was amazing. And I had it because I just copied the guy in front of me.” (39:21)

• On listener expectations:

  “Even the episodes that have a lot of substance and guidance… they’re messy too. But this is just like I said, this is a check-in. This is not a full-blown ass episode.” (49:45)

• Sign-off:

  “I literally love you to death, I do… I apologize for this being a mess, but also, you kind of knew that going in.” (50:05)

Important Timestamps by Segment

• [00:00-04:55] - Opening, Olympic whirlwind, mental state post-travel
• [06:40-11:00] - Medical spa update, new listeners, setting up episode chaos
• [13:36-15:45] - Olympic memories: Elena Myers Taylor’s gold, post-Olympic reality
• [16:50-18:40] - The View/Whoopi Goldberg anecdote, decision to retire
• [22:45-25:35] - Live Labubu unboxing, tactile delights
• [29:58-32:50] - Waterloo Sparkling Water (product review), self-care tangent
• [37:09-41:00] - Flight re-route to Atlanta, airport food confessional
• [42:14-44:10] - Haircut/pedicure/refresh rituals, comfort food cravings
• [44:10-49:45] - Thoughts on podcast quality, listener shout-outs, plans for future “non-Olympic” content

Final Notes

Adam’s humor, self-deprecating honesty, and stream-of-consciousness style make for an unfiltered check-in reflecting the realities of post-Olympic burnout and reintegration. Listeners are reassured that, chaotic as life gets, Adam is still with them—and more everyday stories and listener interactions are on the way.

Contact for Listener Thoughts: 310-909-7717 (Also found on Adam’s Instagram via Linktree)