If you watched the 2026 Winter Olympics and found yourself completely unable to look away from a certain 21-year-old American figure skater, hi, same. This week we're diving into Part 1 of a two-part deep dive on Ilia Malinin, also known to the world as the Quad God, and I have a lot of feelings and opinions.

We start at the beginning: how he grabbed my attention at the Olympics and wouldn't let go. Then we get into something I apparently feel very strongly about — the completely unhinged take that Ilia Malinin isn't artistic. I will die on this hill. If you've seen I'm Not a Vampire you know exactly what I'm talking about, and if you haven't, please go watch it immediately and then come back and apologize to him.

We also get into who he actually is off the ice; his background, his lineage, how Russian is his first language and what that tells you about where he comes from. His style, both on and off the ice, because this young man is a bold dresser and I respect it deeply. How emotionally vulnerable and expressive he is, and why that makes him such a genuinely great example for young men right now. The artistic risks he takes. The unapologetic way he just is exactly who he is at all times.

And obviously. The cats. The quad cats. The gift that keeps on giving. We could not skip the cats.

Then we get into the accomplishments, because the hype is real and earned. What he's actually attempting technically, how hard he's pushing the sport of figure skating, and just how insane the Olympic media spotlight was on this kid going in. He's talked about it himself recently and honestly it puts a lot in perspective.

This one ends on a high note, but next week, Part 2, we talk about what happened when the inevitable didn't happen. And why that ended up meaning even more to me than the gold medal story ever could have.

It all started with an Xfinity upgrade. Truly the most unglamorous beginning to an origin story ever told, but the rest is good I promise.

In the first episode of My Emotional Support Figure Skating, I take you back to where it all began — the 2026 Olympics, a free Peacock subscription I had no idea what to do with, and a childhood memory of watching pairs figure skating at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics that apparently never fully left me. Turns out figure skating was always in there somewhere. It just took 20 years and a cable bill to wake it back up.

I break down my first impressions going in completely blind, no context, no prior knowledge, just vibes. Shoutout to Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir for being the only reason I understood anything that was happening. Genuinely could not have done this without them.

We get into the skaters who caught my eye immediately, and yes, I do acknowledge that Olympic athletes are objectively hot, and then we move on like adults (well, sort of I'll probably bring it up more). Kevin Aymoz, JunWhan Cha, and then Ilia Malinin, who I initially heard called the Quad God and thought okay chill dude, but then I watched his short program and immediately understood why he earned that title. The song choice, the tongue, the tricks, the "It" factor. Plus, those blue eyes, that thick blonde hair and great complexion (see I told you I'd bring it up again). It was game over for me.

Then the women's free skate, and the moment I became an Amber Glenn fan, which started with a camera catching her hyperventilating against a wall before her skate and me going oh. I know that feeling. Her artistry, her triple axel, and what it meant to see someone be so real in that moment.

We close on the men's free skate. The gut punch. Watching Ilia's face as everything unraveled in real time, recognizing something in him that felt deeply familiar, and then watching what he did after...

Which is where this whole podcast really begins.

This is the origin story. Of the obsession that was fueled by the inspiration these amazing human beings give me. This is not just for skating fans, but for anyone who just needs a little joy and inspiration in their lives.

If that's you, welcome. You're in good hands.

A figure skating podcast that tells the story of how I went from casual Olympics viewer to die-hard fan in less than a week. If you had told me at the start of 2026 that I'd be making a podcast because a 21 year old who calls himself the Quad God and a roster of equally incredible humans changed my outlook on life, I would have called you insane. And yet, here we are. Expect hot takes, completely unqualified opinions, a lot of "I've watched this 20 times and I'm still not over it", and of course our emotional support figure skaters. This is for anyone who needs a little joy in their lives.Welcome to the official trailer for My Emotional Support Figure Skating! Brand new to this and figuring it out as I go... subscribe to stay tuned for season 1 coming sooooooon!You can also watch episodes on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@my_emosupport_figureskating#figureskating #alysaliu #iliamalinin #amberglenn #olympics #newpodcast #wintersports