In a bold pivot from the slopes to the studio, alpine skiing icon Mikaela Shiffrin unveiled her first podcast episode today, titled What’s the Point with Mikaela Shiffrin. The bi-weekly series, presented by Stifel, promises candid conversations with athletes, business leaders, and cultural figures, delving into the raw motivations that fuel high-stakes lives. Launching just 100 days before the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics, the podcast arrives as Shiffrin, the most decorated skier in World Cup history, grapples publicly with questions of legacy, loss, and what drives her to keep racing.
Shiffrin, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and holder of 98 World Cup victories, has long been synonymous with dominance on the mountain. But behind the medals lies a more introspective narrative. The podcast’s name stems from a profound personal reckoning following the 2020 death of her father, Jeff Shiffrin, from a cycling accident. “Since my dad passed, I’ve talked about struggling,” Shiffrin shared in a recent interview with Sports Business Journal. “I spent a long time in this phase of apathy and not understanding what the point of doing any of this—life, living, skiing, caring about winning, any of those things.” That vulnerability, she explained, has evolved into curiosity: “I’m really interested to learn from other people about various perspectives of why they do what they do, why they love what they love, and what values you can have in the scope of all the different passions you might be able to have.”
The debut episode, available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, features Shiffrin in conversation with a yet-unrevealed guest, setting the tone for explorations of resilience and reinvention. Future installments could include high-profile names like late-night host Stephen Colbert, whom Shiffrin named as her dream interviewee during the announcement. “The top question I get from others is, ‘Why are you still doing this? You’ve won everything. Why do you care?'” she told reporters, underscoring the podcast’s aim to unpack such existential queries.
This multimedia venture coincides with Shiffrin’s brand relaunch, including a sleek new logo designed by Denver-based Wunder Werkz in collaboration with Skylark. The emblem—a stylized fusion of her initials and ski motifs—symbolizes “resilience, clarity, and passion,” according to the athlete, who grew up just two hours from the design studio in her hometown of Edwards, Colorado. The branding unifies her athletic pursuits, sponsorships, and off-slope endeavors, signaling a broader vision as she eyes her fourth Olympics.
At 30, Shiffrin enters the 2025-26 World Cup season with renewed focus, having clinched her fifth overall title last winter. Yet, the road hasn’t been without hurdles; a recent injury sidelined her from early races, prompting reflections on balance. “It makes me a little uncomfortable,” she admitted of life beyond the familiar rhythm of training and competition. “For a really long time, I’ve just known, ‘Well, I’m going to the gym and I’m going to be on snow soon and I’m going to train and I’m going to race and that’s that.’ When that becomes a little bit less decided, it’s really uncomfortable.” The podcast, she hopes, will bridge that gap, blending her love for “the creative side of videomaking” with meaningful dialogue.
Fans and peers have already embraced the project. On X (formerly Twitter), Shiffrin teased the trailer over the weekend, garnering thousands of views and enthusiastic responses from the skiing community. Local outlets like FOX21 News and 9NEWS hailed it as a “new challenge” for the Colorado native, drawing parallels to popular athlete-led shows like the Kelce brothers’ New Heights. Sports Business Journal noted its timeliness, positioning Shiffrin as a voice not just in sports, but in broader conversations about purpose.
As the podcast gains traction—Shiffrin even aspires to feature it on United Airlines’ in-flight entertainment—the athlete remains grounded. “I’m intrigued to see how it’s all going to go, how I’m going to be able to balance the time of training and also having these really meaningful conversations, which I want to put all of my effort into,” she said. For Shiffrin, What’s the Point isn’t just entertainment; it’s a mirror to her own evolving story, inviting listeners to question, reflect, and perhaps find their own answers on the piste or off it.
The series is produced independently, with episodes dropping every other week through the Olympic cycle. For more, visit mikaelashiffrin.com or subscribe via major podcast platforms.
