In this episode, Julia Kern (cross-country skiing) shares what it takes to stay steady through five-month winters on the road, from finding joy in the routine to rolling with the punches when things go sideways. Co-host Dani Aravich connects the Olympic and Paralympic paths, reflecting on pressure, performance, and what it means to race on the same Italian courses two weeks apart. Doro Kern, Julia Kern’s mother, adds the long-view perspective on competition, resilience, and learning how to lose, then come back stronger. Together, they show how preparation is physical and mental, and how support systems, tradition, and perspective turn uncertainty into confidence.