This week Emma is joined by Charlie Guest, a 5x British Slalom Champion, 2x Olympian, and the first British woman to win an Alpine European Cup. Since retiring, Charlie is now a familiar voice in the commentary box and is on the TNT Sports team for the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics.

We dive into what she’s most excited about heading into herOlympic commentary debut, the evolution of women’s alpine skiing and the growing impact of climate change on snow sports.

Expect to hear:

• Reflections on her alpine skiing career
• Developing resilience through injury and pressure
• Reality of retirement from elite sport
• Finding purpose beyond competition
• What “squeaky bum time” means
• The impact of the climate crisis

An honest, insightful conversation about performance, identity, and finding your voice, on and off the mountain.

Follow Charlie Guest on socials

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More about the visuals? Watch the episode on ⁠YouTube⁠.

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✨🎙️Make sure you subscribe and follow the podcast now to know when the next episode with a wonderfully passionate person drops in a fortnight.

Keep up to date on all things Passion Stories podcast on ⁠Instagram⁠ and sign up to the monthly newsletter ⁠here⁠ for some epic exclusive content.

Follow your host Emma Cole on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and check out her ⁠website⁠.

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Thanks to Protect our Winters UK for supporting the podcast. ⁠Sign the Clean Miles Campaign now ⁠

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Check out the London Lockdown ride here

Purchase a pair of Shokz headphones hereand use the discount code EMMACOLE for £10 off

Thanks to Tune Tank for the tunes.

This week Emma is joined by Matt Smith who this year will be at his first Winter Olympics competing in cross-country skiing.

Matt is not your typical Olympian. From South Africa, he only took up the sport three years ago and is South Africa’s sole cross-country skier in the Winter Olympics earning himself the nickname 'The Snowbok'.

Also an entrepreneur and a new dad, Matt shares his journey from looking for a way to enjoy a Norwegian winter, to a chance encounter which led him to where he is now - preparing for the biggest stage in sport.

We also dive into the realities of being an athlete from a non-traditional winter sports nation: limited funding, creative problem-solving, and the importance of community.

Expect to hear:

• What inspired Matt's Olympic dream
• His two years of dedication
• His highs and lows of the journey
• The ‘small nation’ community
• Finding balance and the sacrifices no-one sees

Matt’s story and determination is incredibly inspiring - prepare to be bamboozled by his resilience and ambition, and he could very well inspire your own Olympic dream.

Here’s to chasing big dreams. ❄️🎿

Follow Matt Smith on Instagram

More about the visuals? Watch the episode on ⁠YouTube⁠.

-

✨🎙️Make sure you subscribe and follow the podcast now to know when the nextepisode with a wonderfully passionate person drops in a fortnight.

Keep up to date on all things Passion Stories podcast on ⁠Instagram⁠ and sign up to the monthly newsletter ⁠here⁠ for some epic exclusive content.

Follow your host Emma Cole on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and check out her ⁠website⁠.

-

Thanks to Protect our Winters UK for supporting the podcast. ⁠Sign the Clean Miles Campaign now ⁠

-

Purchase a pair of Shokz headphones here and use the discount code EMMACOLE for £10 off

Thanks to Tune Tank for the tunes.

This week Emma is joined by British Ski Cross athlete OllieDavies who is making ski cross history.

In 2021, he became the first British skier to reach the Big Final at the Ski Cross World Championships, in 2022 he competed at his first Olympic Games, and made history once again in 2023 with his first World Cup podium, finishing 2nd in Reiteralm, further cementing his place among the world’s top ski cross athletes.

Ollie shares his ski cross journey – from moving to Francewith his family without speaking a word of French, to the moment he received his first ever Olympic kit in an abandoned house during Covid and now preparing to compete at his second Olympics Games.

He also talks candidly about how he copes with the pressuresof being an athlete, putting the Olympics on the pedestal and how he manages pre-race nerves.

Expect to hear:

• How ski cross works
• Why you shouldn’t bet on ski cross
• Why ski cross is better than alpine (in Ollie’s opinion 👀)
• How Ollie stays composed under pressure
• Ollie’s tips and advice for aspiring pros

Ollie’s passion for ski cross is glorious and incredibly inspiring. You’ll be reaching for the skis after listening this episode.

🎿 Get ready to watch Ollie flying down the track at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Follow Ollie on Instagram and keep up to date with Team GB snow sport on Instagram too.

More about the visuals? Watch the full episode on ⁠YouTube⁠.

-

✨🎙️ Make sure you subscribe and follow the podcast now to know when the next episode with a wonderfully passionate person drops in a fortnight.

Keep up to date on all things Passion Stories podcast on ⁠Instagram⁠ and sign up to the monthly newsletter ⁠here⁠ for some epic exclusive content.

Follow your host Emma Cole on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and check out her ⁠website⁠.

-

Thanks to Protect our Winters UK for supporting the podcast. ⁠Sign the Clean Miles Campaign now ⁠

-

Purchase a pair of Shokz headphones here and use the discount code EMMACOLE for £10 off

Thanks to Tune Tank for the tunes.