Intrusive Thoughts by Adam Rippon
Episode: Mariah, Gold Medals, and Watching It All This Time
Date: February 12, 2026
Host: Adam Rippon
Location: Live from Milan, 2026 Winter Olympics
Overview
Adam Rippon gives a candid, humorous, and deeply personal behind-the-scenes look at his experiences at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. He shares observations from the Opening Ceremony, reflects on both the spectacle and the realities of competing as an athlete, discusses standout Olympic moments (including Mariah Carey's iconic performance), and offers commentary on the political discourse surrounding American athletes. The episode balances entertaining Olympic anecdotes with insightful social commentary, all filtered through Adam's distinctively vibrant style.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Adam’s Life at the Milan Olympics
- Adam opens by acknowledging the chaos and constant stimulus of the Olympics, humorously describing himself as possibly on the verge of cracking under the whirlwind schedule.
- “Today is potentially the day I crack. It just. It is. I’ve gotta be upfront, I’ve gotta be honest. And it’s just been a whirlwind.” [01:10]
- He updates listeners about arriving in Milan, dealing with logistics, and his commitment to sharing an authentic Olympic experience—scattered hotel room and all.
2. Opening Ceremony – Spectacle and Perspective
- Adam discusses the Opening Ceremony, humorously correcting his past use of "Opening Ceremonies" instead of the correct singular form.
- He notes the rare occurrence of there being three ceremonies at once in Milan but emphasizes, “It's the Opening Ceremony. Singular. Okay.” [03:13]
- Shares perspective as both a former athlete and now as a spectator:
- As an athlete: You don’t see most of the show, as you're backstage prepping to walk in the Parade of Nations and must leave as soon as possible for rest and competition focus.
- “You walk in…you make your whole lap and then instead of sitting down, you basically just walk out and there's a bus to take you right back to the village.” [05:51]
- Didn’t get to witness Yuna Kim light the Olympic flame in 2018, regretting missing such moments due to athlete constraints.
- As a spectator: For the first time, Adam experiences the entire Opening Ceremony from the audience, reigniting his Olympic spirit.
- As an athlete: You don’t see most of the show, as you're backstage prepping to walk in the Parade of Nations and must leave as soon as possible for rest and competition focus.
3. Mariah Carey’s Olympic Performance
- A highlight and a mystery: Adam both celebrates and jokes about the randomness and the complete diva-ness of Mariah being the Opening Ceremony showpiece.
- “Mariah Carey, it makes sense because she's a diva. And being a diva is, in and of its essence, Italian, right? It's your vibe, which is the slogan of this Olympics.” [09:43]
- Paints a hilarious image of the amount of staff needed to escort her on stage and her quick, efficient appearance:
- “When Mariah Carey came out…there were about 15, 20, 30 people—in reality, five—stay with me—that were helping her to the stage. Very diva like behavior…when I, if you asked me to bet on it and say, where’s Mariah? I'd go, there is a 100% chance that she is, at this point, horizontal makeup off on a plane. She’s going to be in LaGuardia at this point. In two hours.” [10:27]
4. Other Opening Ceremony Magic: Andrea Bocelli
- Adam is moved by Andrea Bocelli singing Nessun Dorma, a song closely associated with figure skating:
- “The highlight for me was Andre Bocelli singing Nessun Dorma…Was I crying in my seat? Of course I was. I am, if anything, only human. If you weren't crying, call a doctor. Something’s off.” [13:22]
- Admits the Olympic workload is exhausting, giving an honest take on the draining but exhilarating work behind the scenes. [14:00]
5. Olympic Figure Skating Highlights
- Adam recalls personal history training with Italian coach Valter Rizzo and seeing his son Matteo Rizzo rise from childhood skater to Olympic bronze medalist at these Games.
- “For me, one of the most iconic Olympic performances that we've seen so far…was from the Italian team, Matteo Rizzo. He skated better than he's ever skated in his entire life. It was pure magic.” [16:21]
- Praises Team USA for winning gold in the team event; admires Team Japan’s exceptional performances.
- Shares feelings about the vibrant, “bigger and more grand” post-pandemic Olympics, especially compared to the “strange” empty stands of Beijing 2022.
6. Adam’s Olympic Life: Eating, Scheduling, and Water Bottles
- Describes the unique experience of McDonald’s abroad, especially the delight of a pistachio McFlurry in Italy, and the importance of trying fast food menus overseas.
- “If you are in Europe, McDonald's is a completely different experience…there is something here I need to try…Pistachio McFlurry. What?” [19:35]
- Amusing take on water bottles in Europe—caps stay attached because of EU recycling laws, which bewilders Americans:
- “To my fellow Americans, you just fold that back, right?…I really see it as sort of like, the files are in the computer. Zoolander.” [26:22]
- Offers “keys to survival” for working the Olympics: avoid alcohol, hydrate relentlessly, and accept sleep deprivation as a given.
7. Juggling Roles & Nighttime Recaps
- Adam details NBC’s division of labor, with some talent in Milan and others in the US.
- Explains the intricacies of his job as a “roaming reporter” and “personality piece” producer, doing everything from skating lessons with journalists to fashion segments on the streets of Milan.
- Balancing multiple time zones, his event recap podcast with Sarah Hughes and Ashley Wagner happens at 1:00 AM Milan time:
- “After the recording…if I was a little tired before, I’m wired the hell out of my mind after. So I probably go to bed around three o’clock in the morning.” [24:32]
8. Political Discourse at the Olympics
- Adam reflects on the bravery of US athletes who criticize the political situation at home and those who use their platforms to speak out:
- “I just have a lot of respect and admiration for those athletes because it does feel really kind of scary to be doing that. It takes a lot of effort and energy…that is what being American is all about.” [30:26]
- Shoots down criticism of these athletes as “unpatriotic,” explaining that most Olympic athletes are not government-funded, and that real patriotism is wanting a better America.
- "I would argue that they love their country so much that they feel a duty to speak up and to say something…Inherently existing [for many] is an act of politics." [36:10]
- Recounts his own experiences being targeted during his competitive days, commending the continued courage of outspoken athletes.
9. Audience Questions & Olympic Curiosities
- Answers why skaters put on jackets immediately after competing:
- “When the athletes go into the kiss and cry…they are required to put on their team jackets so the sponsors can be on television. It doesn’t matter if you’re overheating…that’s the name of the game.” [44:37]
- Encourages listeners to call or text the podcast hotline for more Olympic questions: 310-90-9717.
- Teases the next episode with an upcoming interview with Rebecca Lowe.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- "Mariah Carey, it makes sense because she's a diva. And being a diva is, in and of its essence, Italian, right? It's your vibe, which is the slogan of this Olympics." [09:43]
- "I would argue that they [outspoken athletes] love their country so much that they see better for it, that they ideally want to see a better version of America." [32:15]
- “If you are in Europe, McDonald's is a completely different experience. It's something that cannot be missed... Pistachio McFlurry. What?” [19:35]
- “Was I crying in my seat? Of course I was. I am, if anything, only human. If you weren't crying, call a doctor. Like, something's off.” [13:50]
- “If you really want to do all of that, do exactly what you did with the Super Bowl and make your own, okay? These are the best athletes…in the world. Do the same thing you did with the Super Bowl, right? Make your own. Your own bad one, right?” [33:50]
Key Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:00–04:00: Opening remarks, Milan Olympic context, Opening Ceremony etiquette
- 05:50: Parade of Nations—an athlete’s backstage view
- 09:43: Mariah Carey performance—diva analysis
- 13:22: Andrea Bocelli's Nessun Dorma & emotional Olympic moments
- 16:21–18:40: Figure skating highlights; Matteo Rizzo's performance
- 19:35: European McDonald’s (pistachio McFlurry discovery)
- 23:20: Recap of multicountry Olympic workload/nighttime recaps
- 26:22: European water bottle legislation
- 30:26–38:40: Commentary on American athletes, politics, and global perceptions
- 44:37: Audience Q&A: Why skaters put on jackets
- 48:00: Hotline info & episode wrap-up
Tone and Style
Adam maintains his trademark energetic, unfiltered, and witty persona throughout. The episode expertly blends humor, nostalgia, and authentic Olympic reporting, with frequent asides, self-aware tangents, and candid confessions about exhaustion and the “realness” behind the glamour of the Games.
For Listeners New and Old
Whether you’re a diehard skating fan, Olympics junkie, or just here for Adam’s “hot and funny” storytelling, this episode gives a lively, all-access pass to Milan 2026—from the VIP seats with Mariah Carey, to the late-night hotel recaps and heartfelt defenses of athlete activism.
For figure skating breakdowns and competition recaps, Adam reminds listeners to check out his other podcast, “The Runthrough,” co-hosted with Sarah Hughes and Ashley Wagner.