Jill Jaracz shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Jill, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Right now, I am in full prep mode for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. My podcast is one of the accredited media outlets, so my podcast partner Alison and I will be there covering them and doing at least 32 daily podcasts from Italy.
As a two-person outlet, we have to do everything ourselves, so a normal day will often involve travel planning, research, fundraising, and marketing. Plus, we’re conducting interviews, putting out weekly podcast episodes and patron content, and interacting with our listeners right up until we go to Italy.
Beyond the desk work, I’m also doing physical training to prepare for this work adventure. At the Games, I’ll be working at least 14-hour days, and there will be a lot of walking and stairs while hauling around a good 15-20 pounds of gear on my back. And some events will be at higher altitudes than I’m used to. So I’m doing a lot of weight training and rucking to get into better shape.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a writer and podcaster. I write about a lot of different topics, mainly for the web. My podcast is called Keep the Flame Alive, and it’s about the Olympics and Paralympics. It was one of the first continually-running podcasts about the Games, and I’m proud that my podcast partner Alison and I have created a media outlet that has earned media accreditations to cover the Olympics and Paralympics in person. There’s a lot of competition for these accreditations, so for two middle-aged, female, non-journalists to build a sports media brand that’s this respected is a great achievement.
Our podcast is different because we’re like your favorite aunties you sit on the couch with and binge the Olympics on multiple screens. We’re fans of the Games, and we want to be smarter about sports that we may see once every few years. When we interview athletes, we don’t ask them about being inspirational. We ask skaters if they wear socks with their ice skates, how artistic swimmers get the gelatin out of their hair, and how horses get to the Olympics. We love the Games and want you to love them too! We also really want you to watch the Paralympics. Para sport is amazingly cool. Go find some wheelchair rugby, blind football or para snowboard and prepare to be amazed at what the human body can do!
I’m currently preparing to cover the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics from Italy. It will be the third Olympics and Paralympics I’ve covered in person, and I’m really looking forward to it! I’m also working on some side writing projects—nothing to report yet, but I’ll keep you posted!
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I was really fortunate to have parents who made sure I was well-rounded and exposed to a lot of different activities and cultures. Unfortunately, that also meant that I grew up to be a person who’s interested in a lot of things–and sadly, I’ve learned that there’s just not enough time to explore and do absolutely everything I’d love to do in life.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
Fear of criticism and worrying about what other people think, which sometimes makes me afraid of putting myself out there. We interviewed sprinter and Olympic medalist Kenny Bednarek for our show, and he said, He said, “I’ve always known what I was capable of doing. It’s just a matter of just putting it together.” That stuck with me so much that I wrote down that quote and taped it to my monitor so I have the reminder that I’m capable, so just put it together!
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
That people don’t want to watch women’s sports or para sport. Both are amazing and draw big audiences once people see how awesome they are!
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
Usually I work from from home, but every couple of years, I get out to cover Olympic trials, go to different media events, and then cover the Olympics and Paralympics themselves. I love being able to go to work at a sports venue. There’s just an energy there that’s hard to replicate anywhere else. It is amazing to be able to go to the Olympics and Paralympics and witness some amazing, iconic moments in sports history. And at the Games, you never know what will happen—at Paris 2024, I even got to meet French president Emmanuel Macron!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://flamealivepod.com
- Instagram: @flamealivepod
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jilljaracz/
- Twitter: @flamealivepod.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@flamealivepod
- Other: http://jilljaracz.com
