Alpine skiing superstars Mikaela Shiffrin and Aleksander Aamodt Kilde have delivered a raw and inspiring conversation on mental health, fear, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the premiere episode of Shiffrin’s new podcast, What’s the Point with Mikaela Shiffrin. Titled “Love, Resilience & Laughter as Medicine,” the hour-and-a-half discussion marks Shiffrin’s first foray into hosting and features her fiancé, Norwegian speed specialist Kilde, as the inaugural guest.
Released on October 29 across YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts, the episode arrives just days after the 2025-26 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup opener in Sölden and underscores a pivotal year for the couple, both of whom have battled severe injuries and their psychological aftermath. Shiffrin, the most decorated skier in World Cup history with over 100 victories, and Kilde, a two-time Olympic medalist and former overall champion, candidly shared how their “scary crashes” plunged them into periods of doubt, isolation, and survival mode.
“It’s OK to not be OK,” Shiffrin emphasized during the episode, a mantra that resonated throughout their dialogue. The American star recounted her harrowing November 2024 crash at Killington, Vermont, where she suffered a deep puncture wound to her oblique muscle after colliding with a gate. What began as physical agony evolved into diagnosed PTSD, compounded by the 2020 death of her father and Kilde’s near-fatal accident earlier that year.
“I felt no real fear in the moment—only pain,” Shiffrin described, recalling the fetal position she curled into on the snow. “But later, it was like a perfect storm for PTSD. There were low moments where I second-guessed myself: ‘People have had worse crashes. What’s wrong with me?'”
Kilde, whose January 2024 downhill crash in Wengen left him with dislocated shoulders, deep lacerations, and a lengthy rehabilitation, echoed the sentiment. The 33-year-old Norwegian revealed hitting his “deepest, darkest place,” where purpose felt lost amid relentless pain and uncertainty.402931 “We were both in survival mode,” he said, crediting laughter, mutual support, and professional therapy as lifelines. The couple highlighted how their shared experiences strengthened their relationship, turning vulnerability into a source of resilience.
Mental health has emerged as a recurring theme in elite winter sports, with athletes increasingly vocal about the toll of high-stakes competition. Shiffrin, who returned triumphantly to claim her 101st World Cup win in April 2025, has championed awareness since her PTSD diagnosis, even penning a personal essay for The Players’ Tribune. Kilde, mentoring under Norwegian legend Aksel Lund Svindal during recovery, praised Shiffrin’s openness as a model for addressing fear head-on.
The podcast launch coincides with Shiffrin’s refreshed personal brand, including a new logo unveiled last month, and comes 100 days before the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. Future episodes promise conversations with athletes, experts, and influencers on life’s bigger questions beyond the finish line.
“It’s about releasing control and being human,” Shiffrin said of the project. For fans and fellow competitors, the episode serves as a powerful reminder that even champions grapple with inner battles—and emerging stronger is part of the journey.
