In our second annual Q&A episode, we answer listener submitted questions about the upcoming Olympic season, our all-time favorite programs, the origin story of the podcast, and lots more.

The off-season can feel LONG… especially the off-season before the Olympic season! This is why it was especially fun to dive into some “what if” scenarios, skating nostalgia, and even a few messy predictions for the coming year.

We also dig into a few more serious topics, including the pros and cons of getting into the figure skating creator space, why big success for the U.S. in women’s figure skating always seems to be the barometer for its popularity, and even a little bit more discussion on “comebacks”.

Without getting into spoilers, the links below are all relevant to our discussion — so either consider them teasers or listen first and come back to enjoy them!

Lastly, thank you to everyone who took the time to send us questions. We appreciate it immensely, and appreciate you all for listening!

• Mai Mihara’s “Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence” https://youtu.be/YhJYbUwJxCI?si=469oxBFYHdOtF5m5
• — alt link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/ClZHvu2JmTI/
• Jason Brown’s “Melancholy” https://youtu.be/Qf2EX0TGugk?si=IzO7uHTfWFMaxbia 
• Brandi Carlile’s “The Joke” at the Grammy’s https://youtu.be/KJqL1yIm9e0?si=dJoZMFt0wRcISe97 
• Dee-Lite “Groove is in the Heart” https://youtu.be/etviGf1uWlg?si=iVec8zvt0goHQWeZ 
• Sneaker Pimps “Six Underground” https://youtu.be/Wuwfe3DRJzE?si=YYbREsQmYkZcVU1y 
• Duran Duran “Out of my Mind” https://youtu.be/daZCDGYKi74?si=JdH69p68ERtlMAMB 
• U2 “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me” https://youtu.be/eIdTNyJp38A?si=nlOrbCiowFXmzFlI 
• Seal “Kiss From a Rose” https://youtu.be/hDd2G_V1rzc?si=5f8yKkXzA5-1EFHI 
• Yelim Kim’s “A Thousand Years” https://youtu.be/8htyCI7JSiQ?si=5btBBXYbFsrGZOLv 
• Papadakis and Cizeron 2022 Rhythm Dance https://youtu.be/Tbv1a5vYI24?si=PKMqA9i7CUFCpZjD 
• Shoma Uno 2023 Worlds https://youtu.be/FsaGAYkNEwA?si=Okl8nAg_bgePlKRa 
• Nathan Chen’s 2022 Olympic Short https://youtu.be/EY5EsGlKHmk?si=ZyBAEUMrzNMNbxVH 
• Kurt Browning 1993 Worlds “Casablanca” https://youtu.be/1BXXk5r_5sA?si=SolQyTbnK4CLb8tp 

0:00 — Intro and previous episode reactions 2:21 — Thoughts on Figure Skating Critique 7:44 — Q: Who would you choose for Olympic teams? 16:13 — Q: One program to watch on a moonlight lake? 17:46 — Q: Programs/music you’d like to see this next season? 20:50 — Q: 90s theme for the Rhythm Dance, and AI music? 25:48 — Q: Should any piece of music be banned? 27:14 — Q: What do we think about Adelia Petrosian? 31:33 — Q: 5 performances you rewatch all the time? 35:34 — Q: Why is the Free Skate order random sometimes? 39:27 — Q: Why did we start a FS podcast? 43:50 — Q: Have you ever taken skating lessons? 45:36 — Q: Have you watched roller skating competitions? 46:58 — Q: Why don’t we appear on video? 51:50 — Q: Advice for FS content creators? 56:20 — Q: What has changed the most about FS? 1:02:07 — Q: Skaters that revolutionized the sport? 1:07:40 — Q: Waning US popularity and focus on the Women’s discipline 1:25:36 — Wrap-Up

After SEVEN years away from competitive figure skating, ice dance Hall of Famers the Shib Sibs — Maia and Alex Shibutani — are returning. Just in time for the Olympic season. We have complicated feelings about it (especially Adron). We ruminate on the sport’s inextricable tie to the Olympic quadrennial, how that both helps and hinders skating fandom, and the role of nostalgia in promoting the sport.

The Nicecapades — Ice Wars: Revenge of the Shib

Biography — Ice Queens: The Untold Stories of America’s Figure Skating Legends

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• Website — https://scoreography.show
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We’re joined by Haley from FS.SkatingStan, one of our favorite figure skating Instagram accounts, to talk about her experience at Worlds 2025, the efforts from the ISU to modernize the sport, and the role content creators play in the skating’s future.

This episode of Scoreography features our very first guest on the show. Haley from FS.SkatingStan — one of our favorite figure skating fan accounts on Instagram — drops in for a wide-ranging conversation about the season, her experience at Worlds 2025, and the sport’s future.

We talk with Haley about the ISU’s apparent efforts at modernizing the World Championships through updated tech and presentation, as well as what’s in store for future seasons. We also discuss the sport’s current relationship with the content creator community, and how they could be better promoting skating through access, partnerships, and outreach to new fans.

Haley is a former competitive skater who now works in media and marketing. She uses the FS.SkatingStan instagram account, substack, and more to educate and entertain, with smart design and insightful commentary. You can find here at:

• Instagram: @fs.skatingstan
• YouTube: @fs.skatingstan
• Threads: fs.skatingstan
• SubStack: fsskatingstan.substack.com

Follow Scoreography:

• Website — https://scoreography.show
• Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/scoreography
• BlueSky — https://bsky.app/profile/scoreography.show

We look back at all the fun shenanigans and terrific performances from the 2025 World Team Trophy competition in Japan, including a dominant win from Team USA and first WTT medal for Team Italy.

Chapters

0:00 — Intro 1:51 — Predictions and Results 3:09 — Women's Competition 15:49 — Pairs Competition 23:27 — Men's Competition 33:00 — Ice Dance Competition 40:05 — Mao Shimada in the Gala 41:50 — Gold in our Hearts 46:16 — Wrap-Up

Recap of 2025 Figure Skating World Team Trophy

The 2024/2025 figure skating season finally came to its official end in Tokyo, Japan, at the World Team Trophy — and, WOW, did it go out with its sense of humor fully on display!

From team wigs to furry onesies to Kevin Aymoz’s schoolgirl-clad antics, the kiss-and-cry was almost as entertaining as the skating itself! However, as we are a figure skating show, we should probably talk about the skating.

This competition was really a battle for 1st between Team USA vs. Team Japan… And Team USA was once again victorious, with the highest point total ever achieved at World Team Trophy.

Team USA was bolstered by having three of the four reigning World Champs — Ilia Malinin, Alysa Liu, and Chock & Bates — show up like the champions they are, winning the short and long in each of their disciplines.

However, the biggest “winners” may have been Jason Brown and Amber Glenn, who each had incredible moments here. Jason landed in the top 3 in both the short and long. Amber scored a personal best for her near-flawless free skate!

Team Japan did put on quite a show, though. Team captain, Kaori Sakamoto, gave two of her best performances of the season as she worked hard to support everyone else throughout the competition. World Champions Riku Miura & Ryuichi Kihara also brought their best again here, with their short program being especially spectacular, taking top spot in both pairs events.

Team Italy took their first medal at World Team Trophy, led by strong performances from Conti & Macii, Lara Naki Gutmann, and Daniel Grassl. 

Off the ice, the Team Spirit award went to Team USA, which was wonderfully accepted by Team Captain Jason Brown. However, if we’re being honest, Team France had our hearts with their pure wackiness.

RESULTS

GOLD — Team United States (126 points) SILVER — Team Japan (110 points) BRONZE — Team Italy (86 points) 4th — Team France (78 points) 5th — Team Canada (72 points) 6th — Team Georgia (68 points)

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• Website — https://scoreography.show
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We look ahead to one of our favorite and most fun figure skating events, the bi-annual World Team Trophy. The competition features teams from the USA, Japan, Canada, Italy, Georgia, and France.

Chapters

0:00 — World Team Trophy Overview 9:57 — Team Rosters 29:50 — World Team Podium Predictions 32:22 — Wrap-Up

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• Website — https://scoreography.show
• Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/scoreography
• BlueSky — https://bsky.app/profile/scoreography.show

We reflect on the post-Worlds ISU Awards, dig through the official Olympic Qualifications, and then hand out our own 2025 Scoreography Awards across 10 different categories.

Chapters

0:00 — Intro 0:54 — Olympic Spot Qualifications 19:43 — ISU Awards 28:38 — The Scoreography Awards 29:10 — Favorite Program: Men 31:09 — Favorite Program: Women 32:27 — Favorite Program: Pairs 34:03 — Favorite Program: Ice Dance 35:15 — Breakout Skater or Team 38:44 — Best Costume 41:16 — Best Gala Performance 44:03 — Future Star 45:48 — Skater or Team of the Year 48:34 — Moment of the Year 50:11 — Wrap-Up

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• Website — https://scoreography.show
• Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/scoreography
• BlueSky — https://bsky.app/profile/scoreography.show

We take an in-depth retrospective of the World Figure Skating Championships 2025, including the extraordinary wins of Alysa Liu, Chock and Bates, Ilia Malinin, and Miura and Kihara.

Chapters

0:00 — Intro 2:00 — Women's Championship 33:26 — Women's Predictions in Review 34:15 — Pairs Championship 51:17 — Pairs Predictions in Review 52:10 — Men's Championship 1:16:42 — Men's Predictions in Review 1:17:40 — Ice Dance Championship 1:48:05 — Dance Predictions in Review 1:48:48 — Gold in our Hearts 1:56:24—  Wrap-Up

Follow Scoreography:

• Website — https://scoreography.show
• Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/scoreography
• BlueSky — https://bsky.app/profile/scoreography.show

In the second part of our World Figure Skating Championships 2025 preview, we look at the Men’s and Ice Dance competitions — both with clear leaders, but primed for potential upsets on the podiums and down the rankings.

0:00 — Intro 3:32 — Men’s Competition 30:21 — Men’s Podium Predictions 32:30 — Ice Dance Competition 58:25 — Ice Dance Podium Predictions 1:00:25 — Wrap-Up

Follow Scoreography:

• Website — https://scoreography.show
• Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/scoreography
• BlueSky — https://bsky.app/profile/scoreography.show

Our first preview episode for the 2025 World Figure Skating Championships focuses on the Women and Pairs events. We compare the season’s best scores and most consistent performers to pick the likely podium threats, as well as who might round out each top ten.

Chapters

0:00 — Intro 3:06 — Worlds Preview Part One 3:53 — Women's Top Competitors 20:28 — Women's Dark Horse Candidates 31:21 — Women's Podium Predictions 33:32 — Pairs Top Competitors 43:40 — Pairs Dark Horse Candidates 51:00 — Pairs Podium Predictions 54:00 — Wrap-Up

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• Website — https://scoreography.show
• Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/scoreography
• BlueSky — https://bsky.app/profile/scoreography.show

We give our impressions of the Legacy on Ice event, performed in honor of the skating community lives lost on Flight 5342, and fundraising for their families and communities. We also discuss the Skating Lesson controversy attached to the event, plus other competition news.

Chapters

0:00 — Intro 1:10 — Legacy on Ice Impressions 22:13 — Skating Lesson Controversy 31:30 — Sonja Henie Trophy 34:03 — Maria Olszewska Memorial 37:59 — Gold in our Hearts 39:08 — Wrap-Up

This week, we take a close look at the emotional benefit event for the victims of Flight 5342, Legacy on Ice. With a lineup of US skaters past and present like no other, this sold out show in Washington, D.C., brought together the skating community to process its grief, help those who need it, and hopefully find a bit of comfort and peace. We also take a quick look at a few small skating competitions that are leading towards Worlds in a few short weeks that saw both Adam Siao Him Fa and Bradie Tennell grab titles.

From Amber Glenn to Nancy Kerrigan. Paul Wylie to Ilia Malinin. The list of skaters who came together to support the families and communities of the victims of American Airlines Flight 5342, as well as first responders who were on the ground at the tragedy was genuinely astounding.

Hosted by Olympic Champions Brian Boitano and Kristi Yamaguchi, this event had some of the most emotional skates we have ever seen. In particular, the tribute to his parents, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, performed by Maxim Naumov was a moment of true strength like we’ve never seen in this sport. A gorgeous, powerful program followed by a group performance with fellow Skating Club of Boston members, Jimmy Ma, Alisa Efimova, and Misha Mitrofanov, this was just one of many moments honoring those who were so tragically lost that we will never forget.

A list of where you can still donate to help those most impacted by the crash can be found below. Legacy on Ice will be rebroadcasted at 1pm ET on March 30th on NBC in the United States.

We are only a few weeks away from the World Championships in Boston, but there were a couple of smaller events leading up to this past week.

The Sonja Henie Trophy saw a strong warm up outing for last year’s World bronze medalist, Adam Siao Him Fa from France. With strong short program and a few mistakes in his free skate, he earned a total score of 281.99 — which keeps him very much in the conversation for the World podium. On the Women’s side, Lara Naki Gutmann took the title after being second in the short.

At another smaller competition, the Maria Olszewska Memorial, Bradie Tennell delivered excellent skates to take the title with a whopping score of 220.29. Another American competing, Alexa Gasparatto, made history here by becoming the first black woman ever internationally to land a triple axel. Congratulations, Alexa!

• Legacy on Ice Donation link
• Legacy on Ice Online auction open through April 3
• U.S. Figure Skating Family Support Fund
• Kendra Scott Skate Necklace – Proceeds benefit U.S. Figure Skating Family Support Fund