Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud Why so many people are obsessed with the Heated Rivalry fleece, and podcasts arrive on Netflix
Feb 4, 2026
Hanna Puley, costume and production designer behind Heated Rivalry, explains the Team Canada fleece and other iconic looks. Jay Smooth, veteran hip-hop broadcaster and culture critic, discusses what Netflix carrying video podcasts means for media. Michelle Santosuosso, music industry insider and professor, analyzes audience habits and platform strategy. They focus on viral wardrobe choices, video podcast distribution, and how podcasts are evolving on big platforms.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Designing The Viral Team Canada Fleece
- Hanna Puley describes designing the white Sherpa Team Canada fleece as a simple, wearable uniform enhanced with maple leaves and red detailing.
- She says the jacket was meant to feel cozy, unobtrusive, and tied to Shane's subtle character.
Why The Fleece Struck A Cultural Chord
- The fleece resonated because the show feels joyful, inclusive, and distinctly Canadian, offering fans a sense of belonging.
- Timing with the Olympics amplified its cultural and emotional appeal, turning clothing into a symbol for fandom and comfort.
A Vintage Shirt Became Ilya's Signature
- Hanna recounts finding a vintage Jean‑Paul Gaultier shirt that felt like an immediate, perfect Ilya look discovered at Archive Threads in Toronto.
- She ties the shirt's feline, overtly sexual energy to the character's Slavic, queer sensibility and emotional vulnerability.
