The Rocker Skating Podcast

The Rocker Skating Podcast brings you real-time, bite-sized, quality figure skating analysis from three unapologetic skating nerds who live and breathe the sport. Hosted by insiders Jackie Wong, Michelle Ellis, and Tara Nichols we serve up sharp, smart commentary the moment the blades leave the ice. No fluff. No wait. Just the insight you crave—whether you're a superfan or just skate-curious. Tune in for fast takes, fierce opinions, and the kind of deep knowledge only true skating geeks can bring.

Subscribe Listen in podnod RSS feed Show website

101 episodes
Updated July 22

Episodes101

Newest first

July 22 · 25 min
We're at the Bakerie: Interview with Marjorie Lajoie / Jean-Luc Baker - The Rocker Skating Podcast
The newly-formed ice dance partnership of Marjorie Lajoie / Jean-Luc Baker has been buzzing in figure skating community for weeks now. Jackie had a chat with them about their origin story as a team and what they hope to accomplish with this new reset on their respective skating careers
July 11 · 30 min
What is Synchro9? US Synchro champion Cindy Kim gives us her 101
A huge piece of news this week was that the 2030 Winter Olympics will have one more figure skating discipline, and that will be Synchro9. So what is Synchro9? How is that different from traditional synchronized skating? What does FIFA and the World Cup have to do with all of this? Cindy Kim, who won three US titles with the Haydenettes and is the coach of Team Image Junior, joins me to break down the fundamentals of Synchro9.
June 30 · 4 min
ISU reinstates Russia and Belarus skaters as neutral athletes
The day before the 2026-27 season officially begins, the ISU released its decision to partially lift the ban on Russia and Belarus on ISU and international competitions. A quick look at what that means for skaters and competitions this season.
June 16 · 18 min
Emergency episode: Grand Prix assignments announced! First impressions
The 2026-27 Grand Prix assignments were revealed today, and of course, we've got all kinds of feelings about them! The selection procedures were amended just a bit for this season, so there was a bit of confusion, especially about the seeded skaters. But Jackie brings you all of his first impressions about who's in, who's out, and which events have the most interesting fields!
June 15 · 1 hr 6 min
ISU Congress 2026 and more off-season news!
Jackie is fresh off his trip to the 2026 ISU Congress, the first time that media has been invited to cover it in person. He has a lot to bring back from Congress, including clarifications on a lot of questions that skating fans had (what do you mean two free skates?!), changes coming to the Grand Prix and "Big Worlds," and rule changes in singles and pairs for the upcoming season. Also, Jackie and Michelle cover the latest off-season news, including the formation of Marjorie Lajoie / Jean-Luc Baker as the newest Canadian ice dance team.
June 11 · 19 min
ISU President Jae Youl Kim: Rocker Skating Podcast interview
"Athletes are the heart and soul of the sport, and we need to recognize the amount of work that the athletes put in." On this episode of The Rocker Skating Podcast, Jackie sits down with International Skating Union President Jae Youl Kim at the 2026 ISU Congress to talk about the changes to prize money and future competitions, how proposed changes are being done and where athlete representation comes in, what he's looking forward to in the next Olympic cycle, and the ISU's current stance on athletes from Russia and Belarus.
May 25 · 52 min
Emergency off-season news: Marin Honda / Shoma Uno return + other off-season news
This episode was recorded on May 24, 2026. Things may have changed since then. Michelle and Jackie are back for an emergency off-season news episode. This has been one of the biggest rollercoaster off-seasons we've seen. Kaori Sakamoto got married? Marin Honda and Shoma Uno are coming back as ice dancers? Majorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha split up? WHAT IS HAPPENING!?
April 1 · 1 hr 4 min
Recap: 2026 World Championships Part 2 (Women, Pairs, Men)
Part 2 of our final event recap of the season wraps up Worlds with Women, Pairs, and Men — and there was a lot to close out the year. Jackie and Michelle break down Kaori’s fourth world title and what it meant to see her finish the season with that skate after everything this Olympic year asked of her. In the Men’s event, they get into Ilia’s bounce-back Worlds after Milan and Yuma delivering the kind of redemption performance fans were hoping to see. They also talk through the Pairs event and what it meant to see Germany back on top. Plus, don't forget to nominate your picks for Performance of the Season!
March 31 · 50 min
Recap: 2026 World Championships Part 1 (Ice Dance)
The final recap of the season is here, and Part 1 dives straight into Ice Dance. Jackie and Michelle break down the podium — what it means for Zingas & Kolesnik, the U.S. breakout team, and why Fournier Beaudry & Cizeron continue to dominate. They unpack the Lewis & Gibson scoring drama, including that “straight arm” deduction that cost them big, and highlight other standouts — including the viral moment of the night: Smart & Dieck skating their Dune Pt. 2 free dance for the last time, and more. Don't forget to nominate your Performance of the Season, NOW!
March 24 · 36 min
Preview: 2026 World Championships Part 2 (Men + Dance)
Jackie and Michele are back to preview the Men’s and Ice Dance events as we head into this very unpredictable post-Olympic Worlds. The fields are set (mostly…), but history says anything can still happen—and honestly, that’s part of the fun. Who are YOUR podium picks?
March 23 · 33 min
Preview: 2026 World Championships Part 1 (Pairs + Women)
Jackie and Michelle are back to break down the Pairs and Women at this year’s post-Olympic Worlds. Who’s skating? Who’s out? And what wild moments are in store? One thing’s for sure—whatever unfolds, it’ll be unforgettable, as Jackie’s… very unique memories of past post-Olympic Worlds prove. Pairs and women up first—let’s dive in!
March 21 · 27 min
Lia Pereira / Trennt Michaud: Rocker Skating Interview
Canadian pair champions Lia Pereira / Trennt Michaud round out our week of interviews before we head to the 2026 World Figure Skating Championships. They join Jackie Wong to reflect on their past four seasons, from coming in sixth at Worlds in their very first season together to having some dream Olympic performances in Milan.
March 19 · 27 min
Caroline Green / Michael Parsons: Rocker Skating Interview
Next up on our pre-World Championships interview extravaganza are 2022 Four Continents champions Caroline Green and Michael Parsons, who join Jackie Wong ahead of their third appearance at Worlds in Prague. We learn so much about their approach to skating and choreography, including the narrative of their free dance this season and how their programs and elements have evolved as the season has gone on. And it turns out, Caroline is quite adept at the puns.
March 18 · 9 min
News of the Week - 3.9.26-3.15.26
It's the week before the 2026 World Figure Skating Championships, and not surprisingly, the withdrawals are still rolling in. Jackie is here to talk about who has opted out of Worlds and what the implications are, especially for qualifying Worlds spots for next season.
March 17 · 32 min
Piper Gilles / Paul Poirier: Rocker Skating Interview
On the heels of their Olympic bronze and on their way to 13th World Figure Skating Championships together, Canadian ice dancers Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier join Jackie Wong to reflect on their season. They talk about their third Olympics experience, having a camera crew document their past year for Netflix's Glitter and Gold, and why they wanted to finish their season at Worlds.
March 12 · 36 min
Olivia Smart / Tim Dieck: Rocker Skating Interview
Fresh off their top 10 finish at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Spanish ice dancers Olivia Smart and Tim Dieck join Jackie Wong on The Rocker Skating Podcast to reflect on their Olympic experience, how they teamed up even though Olivia Smart was about to go on a British reality skating show, and how early disappointments as a team fueled them to become stronger and more innovative than ever.
March 11 · 39 min
VIDEO: Olympics x Pins with James Hernandez, Anthony Ponomarenko, and Madeline Schizas
“People think this was a game. This is serious.” - James Hernandez“This is life” - Anthony PonomarenkoDid you know that pin trading is its own alternative sport within the Olympics? We have three of figure skating's premiere pin connoisseurs - Madeline Schizas (Canada), James Hernandez (Great Britain), and Anthony Ponomarenko (United States). They may be from different countries, but they all had pin trading on their agendas in Milano Cortina
March 10 · 11 min
News of the Week - 3.2.26-3.8.26
It's been a while, but Jackie and Michelle are back with a short News of the Week podcast to fill you in on, specifically, who's IN for the upcoming World Championships and who is OUT (...so far).
March 9 · 50 min
Recap: 2026 Junior World Championships
Jackie and Michelle recap all the action from the 2026 World Junior Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, breaking down the standout skates and biggest storylines from the next generation of stars. They dive into Rio Nakata’s powerful, dominant performance to win the junior men’s title, Mao Shimada’s historic fourth straight Junior World title — her final junior appearance before moving to the senior circuit — Ava Kemp & Yohnatan Elizarov bringing their senior-level experience to capture the pairs crown, and Hana Maria Aboian & Daniil Veselukhin impressing in ice dance as they cap off an incredible season with the junior world title.
March 2 · 45 min
Preview: Junior World Championships
Whether you just fell in love with skating at the Olympics or you’ve been following the junior ranks for years, Jackie and Michelle are here to get you ready for the World Junior Figure Skating Championships. In this episode of The Rocker Skating Podcast, they break down what makes Junior Worlds so special, why it’s the perfect next stop for new fans fresh off the Olympic high, and which skaters longtime viewers have been watching rise through the ranks.