Roll On: What Happened to the Olympics?

Feb 17, 2022

Explore the scandalous decline of the Olympics, from rampant corruption to dwindling global interest. Celebrate the inspiring journeys of athletes like Erin Jackson, the first Black woman to win Winter Olympic gold, and Kelly Slater's epic win at 50. Delve into the implications of Eileen Gu's representation and the ethics surrounding young athletes in doping controversies. Plus, discover the benefits of 'dumb phones' that counteract digital addiction, alongside listener questions and some quirky product recommendations.

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INSIGHT

Olympics in Decline

The Olympics' declining viewership may be due to a dissonance between its values and reality.
Corruption and a fractured media landscape contribute to this decline.

INSIGHT

Olympic Corruption

The co-mingling of promotional and policing forces within the Olympics is problematic.
John Coates' multiple roles exemplify this conflict of interest.

ANECDOTE

Valieva's Doping Scandal

15-year-old Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva tested positive for a banned substance.
This highlights the exploitation of young athletes.

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Marked by endless scandal and rampant corruption, the Olympics are in free fall.

Today we explore how the world's most highly acclaimed brand has become corrosive, and what can be done to repair it. But fear not, we also celebrate a selection of inspiring athletic highlights from Beijing to Oahu, answer listener questions, share a few products that have caught our fancy, and more.

As always, my co-host for today's rendition of 'Roll On' is ‘His Semi Deepness’ Mr. Adam Skolnick, an activist and veteran journalist known as David Goggins’ Can’t Hurt Me co-author. Adam writes about adventure sports, environmental issues, and civil rights for outlets such as The New York Times, Outside, ESPN, BBC, and Men’s Health. He is the author of One Breath and still uses the ‘new dad’ excuse to avoid working on his novel.

Topics discussed in today's episode include:

the politics behind the declining global interest in the Olympics;
bribery & corruption within the International Olympic Committee;
how a Florida town with no ice rink produced three Olympic speedskaters;
the backlash levied upon teenage freeskier Eileen Gu;
speedskater Nils van der Poel's manifesto on Z2 aerobic base training;
how Erin Jackson became the first Black woman to win individual Winter Olympic gold;
Kelly Slater's Pipe Masters win days before turning 50; and
the benefits of using "dumb phones" in limiting screen time & phone addiction; and more

As always, we close things out by taking a few listener questions. Today we answer:

How do you cultivate optimism and gratitude as a natural cynic?
How do you stay true to your goals?
What advice do you have for young people navigating their twenties?

Thank you to Brett from NYC, Bill from Crested Butte, and Evan from Iowa for your questions. If you want your query discussed, drop it on our Facebook Page or, better yet, leave a voicemail at (424) 235-4626.

The visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube. And as always, the podcast streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Enjoy the show!

Peace + Plants,

Rich