Podcast Summary: Wait Wait... Don’t Tell Me!

Episode: HTDE: Torches and Ski Jumps

Date: February 4, 2026
Hosts: Mike, Ian (How to Do Everything), Peter Sagal (Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!)
Guests: Ted Ligety (Olympic Skiing Gold Medalist), Sir Patrick Stewart (Actor/Olympic Torchbearer), Kevin Bickner (Olympic Ski Jumper)

Main Theme/Purpose

This crossover edition of NPR’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! and How to Do Everything celebrates the start of the Winter Olympics in Milan with a playful yet insightful look at the high-stakes world of winter sports. Through interviews with Olympic legends and a dive into the rituals of the Olympic torch relay, the hosts and guests explore both the technical and personal sides of competing—and carrying symbols—on the world’s biggest stage.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Downhill Skiing with Ted Ligety

[00:48–09:08]

• On arriving at the Olympics:

  • Ted describes flying into Milan, heavy snowfall, and the unusual opportunity to enjoy the downhill course without the pressure of racing.

    “It snowed a good 6, 8 inches, so it was more of a powder day than real training.” – Ted Ligety [00:58]

• The thrill and terror of elite downhill:

  • The fine line between victory and disaster—racing is “pushing as close to the limit of failure as possible.”

  • Winners take calculated risks; “risking it too much” leads to injury or short careers.

    “It’s a fine line…five degrees of difference over a roll can be the difference between being on the perfect line and winning and, burritoing yourself up in the fence.” – Ted Ligety [02:48]

• Coping with cold at the 2018 Games:

  • Tricks to keep boots warm (propane heaters), experiments with battery-powered pants (ultimately rejected due to fussiness).

    “Just walking around in, like, copper wired pants is not super comfortable.” – Ted Ligety [04:11]

• Jet lag and athletic performance:

  • The hosts inquire if jet lag helps ski jumpers, referencing athlete lore. Ted claims it never worked for him, but a story about nearly sleeping through a post-Olympic World Cup race after too much rest demonstrates how unpredictable jet lag can be.

    “I got woken up by my physio and a security guard…then the next day won my first World Cup. So maybe I needed that extra bit of rest.” – Ted Ligety [05:07]

• Transporting Olympic medals:

  • Always carry-on, never checked; the phrase “It looks pretty funny in an X-ray machine” leads to airport security always asking to see it.

    “100% of the time when I travel with my medals, they take it out at security.” – Ted Ligety [07:10]

• Sounds, grunting, and ‘backslap’ moments:

  • “Grunting” signals things aren’t going well; some racers are famous for making noises.
  • “Backslap” occurs when a skier lands poorly, inspiring a few choice words.

2. The Olympic Torch with Sir Patrick Stewart

[09:43–16:06]

• Emotional experience as a torchbearer:

  • Sir Patrick Stewart reminisces about crowds, excitement, and the profound privilege of carrying the Olympic flame.

    “It was a thrilling and really very emotional experience. The enthusiasm and excitement…to see the torch and to touch it…was quite extraordinary.” – Sir Patrick Stewart [09:47]

• Torch logistics and physical challenge:

  • Stewart trained for the run, but his 400 meters ended up “entirely uphill,” despite his celebrity status and seniority.

    “Given that I knew I only had 400 meters to go…I got off a bus at the bottom of a hill, and my 400 meters were entirely uphill. Very unfair.” – Sir Patrick Stewart [10:32]

• What happens to the torch?

  • Runners purchase their own torches, which come with scorch marks. Patrick jokes about charging visitors to carry his around the garden.

    “Every runner gets his own torch…They give you an opportunity, if you wish, to purchase your own personal torch when your run is over.” – Sir Patrick Stewart [12:27]

• How to carry the torch:

  • Torch should be above your head, with a slight bend in the arm. He switched hands due to the weight (about six pounds). Above all: “try really hard not to fall over.” [13:35]

• Special rules and symbolism:

  • Torchbearers sign strict conduct agreements. No using the torch for practical jokes (e.g., lighting cigarettes). The flame's continuity is preserved during breaks using a miner’s oil lamp.

    “We all signed four pages of restrictions…It’s there as a symbol of the Olympic flame carried from Athens…and kept burning…through lunch.” – Sir Patrick Stewart [14:50, 15:11]

3. Ski Jumper Kevin Bickner on Jet Lag and the Mind of an Olympian

[19:25–23:01]

• Jet lag for performance?

  • Not actively used as a strategy—Kevin stayed on his home time zone due to late event schedules.

    “I wouldn’t necessarily say…the tactic is using [jet lag] to an advantage…but our events were so late at night, I thought, why adjust all the way?” – Kevin Bickner [19:35]

• Mindset before the jump:

  • Focused on technical cues: “You’re just going over in your head…do it.” Sometimes, with longer jumps (“ski flying”), one’s mind might wander.

    “I remember…10 seconds of air time…this is enough time to read a book. At least like go through, like, half a page.” – Kevin Bickner [22:11]

• Qualifying for the team:

  • Kevin didn’t know he’d be on the Olympic team until four days before; the organizers handled his travel—but family bought tickets in advance.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the razor's edge of Olympic risk:

  • “People who risk it too much have very short careers or short seasons…You’re always trying to find that right line.” – Ted Ligety [02:48]

• On missing a race due to oversleeping:

  • “I slept through the race…Then the next day…I won my first World Cup.” – Ted Ligety [05:07]

• Olympic medal in the airport:

  • “100% of the time…the X-ray, they take it out at security.” – Ted Ligety [07:10]

• On the Olympic torch and symbolism:

  • “I may charge visitors, I may let them run around my garden carrying this….there’ll be a small payment…” – Sir Patrick Stewart [12:27]
  • “We all of us signed four pages of restrictions.” – Sir Patrick Stewart [14:50]
  • “The flame stays alight all the time…even through lunch.” – Sir Patrick Stewart [15:11]

• On the singular absurdity of s’more:

  • “If there’s ever a performance enhancing s’, more, it’s the Olympic s’. More.” – Mike/Ian [24:26]

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------|-------------------| | Ted Ligety interview (skiing) | 00:48–09:08 | | Sir Patrick Stewart interview (torch) | 09:43–16:06 | | Kevin Bickner (ski jumping/jet lag) | 19:25–23:01 | | Reflections & Olympic trivia ramble | 23:07–25:24 |

Additional Fun Takeaways

• Grunting in skiing: When things go wrong, skiers grunt more—it’s not always as composed as it looks on TV.
• Torch relay reality: The torch is passed via oil lamp during lunch, “bursting the bubble” of eternal flame mystique.
• Olympic s’mores: A comedy riff on what Olympians might (not) do with the torch.
• Wordplay: Tangent on s’more being the food “you least want more of.”

Conclusion

This episode delivers behind-the-scenes Olympic realities with warmth and humor, featuring candid stories from athletes and a torchbearer who bring the grandeur—and relatable humanity—of the Games to life. Whether you’re curious about what it’s like to “burrito yourself in the fence,” the logistics of Olympic medals at airport security, or the real story behind the eternal flame, there’s something here for sports fans and casual listeners alike.