Megan Herrod has lived many lives, from being born in a trailer home in Montana to spending nearly a decade as the Alpine press officer for the US Ski Team, traveling the World Cup circuit and managing media for some of the world's best athletes. Now a brand strategist, publicist, and podcast producer working closely with Mikaela Shiffrin, Megan shares her remarkable journey from racing on Midwest man-made hills to the finish lines of Olympic venues. She opens up about the financial barriers in ski racing, the importance of accessibility programs like Share Winter, and how her experience managing intense athlete dynamics has made her a better mom to her two children, Pierce and Stetson, who are just 13 months apart. Megan discusses producing Mikaela's podcast "What's the Point," the powerful Mik 100 campaign that raised nearly $500,000 for ski access, and how she's learned to balance remote work with traveling to World Cup races with babies in tow. Her authentic approach to storytelling and her commitment to making the sport more accessible shine through as she reflects on memorable moments like Beijing 2022 and the importance of mental health in athletics.

Notable Quotes:

"I wouldn't have it any other way. It was such a cool family experience... it was such a strong community and I still have friends from that team growing up."

"In many ways, that was the best thing that could have happened because people really saw who she is at the core. And as hard as it was for everyone, I think that was a really beautiful gift that she shared with the world."

Resources:

• Podcast: What's the Point
• Instagram: @MeganHarrod
• Share Winter Foundation: Supporting ski access for underserved communities

YouTube Series: "

Ski Haus makes it easy with custom boot fitting that actually changes how you ski and how you feel at the end of the day. Located in Woburn & Framingham, MA and Tax-Free Salem, NH. Head to skihaus.com for store hours and directions.

SPECIAL IN-STORE OFFERS

*Purchase a boot with a custom boot fit > get a free Smartwool sock *Come in for a boot fit on your boots > get Smartwool sock for ½ price

It's time to upgrade how you travel to the mountains with Ski Butlers. Ski moms can save 20% off their reservations here https://www.skibutlers.com/portal/momtrends

Find your perfect family-friendly mountain stay—or list your own!
👉 Browse or list at Ski Mom Family Rentals

Support the show

Keep up with the Latest from the Ski Moms!
Website: www.theskimoms.co
Ski Moms Discount Page: https://www.theskimoms.co/discounts
Ski Moms Ski Rental Homes
Join the 13,000+ Ski Moms Facebook Group
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theskimoms/

Send us an email and let us know what guests and topics you’d like to hear next!
Sarah@skimomsfun.com
Nicole@skimomsfun.com

We’re revisiting one of our most meaningful conversations — with Olympic gold medalist, ski mom, and mental performance coach Barbara Cochran.

Why now? On February 11, 1972, Barbara won Olympic gold in slalom in Sapporo by just .02 seconds. And 54 years to the day later, her son, Ryan Cochran-Siegle, won Olympic silver in Super-G in Cortina.

An Olympic legacy — built on a Vermont rope tow.

Barbara grew up skiing at her family’s backyard hill, now known as Cochran’s Ski Area — a nonprofit, community-driven mountain where lift tickets are still affordable, race training happens under the lights, and hot chocolate costs $1.50.

We talk about:

• Growing up in a ski racing family
• Training on the legendary rope tow
• The “Cochran Way” philosophy of excellence without pressure
• Raising an Olympian as a single mom
• And the mindset that wins medals

Barbara’s father believed skiing should be joyful — but that striving for excellence builds character. Before sports psychology was mainstream, Barbara was practicing it. Heading into her Olympic race, she repeated:

That mindset carried her to gold — and now informs her work helping athletes who “train better than they race” learn to compete with confidence.

We also talk about the financial realities of ski racing, how Ryan nearly declined his U.S. Ski Team nomination due to cost, and

Ski Haus makes it easy with custom boot fitting that actually changes how you ski and how you feel at the end of the day. Located in Woburn & Framingham, MA and Tax-Free Salem, NH. Head to skihaus.com for store hours and directions.

SPECIAL IN-STORE OFFERS

*Purchase a boot with a custom boot fit > get a free Smartwool sock *Come in for a boot fit on your boots > get Smartwool sock for ½ price

It's time to upgrade how you travel to the mountains with Ski Butlers. Ski moms can save 20% off their reservations here https://www.skibutlers.com/portal/momtrends

If your child lives for trail time and is constantly pushing limits on two wheels, we’ve found the summer experience that checks every box. Woodward PA’s Mountain Bike Camp is redefining what an action sports camp can be — blending epic adventure with professional coaching and a whole lot of fresh air.

Ski Moms can save $150 off summer camp. Use code skimoms www.woodwardpa.com/summer-camps/moun

Find your perfect family-friendly mountain stay—or list your own!
👉 Browse or list at Ski Mom Family Rentals

Support the show

Keep up with the Latest from the Ski Moms!
Website: www.theskimoms.co
Ski Moms Discount Page: https://www.theskimoms.co/discounts
Ski Moms Ski Rental Homes
Join the 13,000+ Ski Moms Facebook Group
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theskimoms/

Send us an email and let us know what guests and topics you’d like to hear next!
Sarah@skimomsfun.com
Nicole@skimomsfun.com

In this episode Nicole talks with Jill Brabec, President of Nordic Combined USA, about one of the Olympics' oldest sports that still excludes women. Nordic Combined blends ski jumping and cross country skiing, requiring athletes to launch themselves down steep terrain at maximum speed, fly the length of a football field, then immediately race 5K on skinny skis. Despite being in the Olympics since 1924, women were denied entry to the 2026 Games. Jill, a Steamboat Springs ski mom turned advocate, formed a nonprofit with other parents to save the US team when funding collapsed. Her daughter Alexa trains in Norway but can't compete in the Olympics due to gender restrictions.

The IOC will decide about 2030 inclusion this spring after reviewing 2026 data. Jill draws parallels to women's ski jumping, which faced identical arguments 15 years ago and is now successful. She encourages fans to watch men's Nordic Combined February 11, 17, and 19 to show viewership demand, sign the petition at nordiccombineusa.org, and follow athletes on social media. The sport features 17 World Cups for women who jump the same hills as men and train at Lake Placid, Park City, and Steamboat Springs. Families with adventurous kids can find programs starting at age 5-6 through the website.

Website: nordiccombineusa.org

Instagram: @NordicCombinedUSA

"It's really hard to see one sibling able to go to the Olympics and the other sibling not able t

Ski Haus makes it easy with custom boot fitting that actually changes how you ski and how you feel at the end of the day. Located in Woburn & Framingham, MA and Tax-Free Salem, NH. Head to skihaus.com for store hours and directions.

SPECIAL IN-STORE OFFERS

*Purchase a boot with a custom boot fit > get a free Smartwool sock *Come in for a boot fit on your boots > get Smartwool sock for ½ price

It's time to upgrade how you travel to the mountains with Ski Butlers. Ski moms can save 20% off their reservations here https://www.skibutlers.com/portal/momtrends

If your child lives for trail time and is constantly pushing limits on two wheels, we’ve found the summer experience that checks every box. Woodward PA’s Mountain Bike Camp is redefining what an action sports camp can be — blending epic adventure with professional coaching and a whole lot of fresh air.

Ski Moms can save $150 off summer camp. Use code skimoms www.woodwardpa.com/summer-camps/moun

Find your perfect family-friendly mountain stay—or list your own!
👉 Browse or list at Ski Mom Family Rentals

Support the show

Keep up with the Latest from the Ski Moms!
Website: www.theskimoms.co
Ski Moms Discount Page: https://www.theskimoms.co/discounts
Ski Moms Ski Rental Homes
Join the 13,000+ Ski Moms Facebook Group
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theskimoms/

Send us an email and let us know what guests and topics you’d like to hear next!
Sarah@skimomsfun.com
Nicole@skimomsfun.com