As Halloween fades, Norwegian alpine star Aleksander Aamodt Kilde marked the end of “spooky season” by confronting one of the most terrifying chapters of his career—on his fiancée Mikaela Shiffrin’s new podcast.
In the debut episode of What’s the Point with Mikaela Shiffrin, Kilde candidly revisited the life-threatening aftermath of his January 2024 crash in Wengen, describing the fear of post-surgical infection as far more haunting than the 120 km/h impact itself. “The crash was part of the game,” he told Shiffrin. “But the infection—that was uncontrollable. That’s the stuff that still wakes me up in panic.”
The 90-minute conversation, released October 29 across YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts, captures the couple’s unfiltered exchange about physical trauma, mental health, and the long road back to the World Cup circuit. Kilde detailed how routine rehab swelling now triggers nighttime anxiety attacks, a lingering shadow of the sepsis scare that nearly derailed his recovery last summer.
Shiffrin, who has faced her own injury setbacks, guided the discussion with empathy, praising Kilde’s resilience while acknowledging the permanent limitations he may carry. “It’s the scariest topic because it’s real,” she said in the episode teaser. “And sharing it helps more than just us.”
Fans have embraced the vulnerability, with the episode trending on sports podcast charts within 48 hours. Listeners called it “essential listening for anyone who thinks elite athletes are invincible.”
With Kilde eyeing a December return at Beaver Creek and the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics on the horizon, the podcast serves as both catharsis and rallying cry. As he put it: “If I can face this fear out loud, maybe the mountain feels a little less haunted.”
