What Does It Take?

Simone Barlaam on the mindset required to be your best, winning big at Paris 2024, and using art to promote Milano Cortina 2026

Today’s guest is unique for the series. Simone Barlaam joins as an official ambassador for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games and the only guest who is not a current or former Winter Paralympian. The Italian star Para swimmer is an 8x Paralympic medallist. Simone is up there with the greatest Para swimmers of his generation. But for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, he is dedicating his time to promoting the Games on home soil with the hope of inspiring a new generation of disabled kids to take up sports.Simone tells us about his journey to the Paralympic Games, talks through his major successes at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, describes the resilience it takes to become one of the greatest Paralympians in the world, and how he uses his love of art and comics to promote Milano Cortina 2026.Produced by the creators of the Emmy Award-winning Rising Phoenix, in official partnership with Milano Cortina 2026 and supported by Procter & Gamble, a worldwide Paralympic partner.This is a Harder Than You Think production.Host: Matt StutzmanProducers: Calum Campbell and Vanessa WheelerVideo Editor: Nic WoinilowiczAudio Post Production: String and TinsSound Editor: Culum SimpsonRemote Recording Engineer: George HinsonAudio Producer: Esi JonuziExecutive Producers: Greg Nugent and Barnaby SpurrierThe podcast’s soundtrack is titled “Rising Phoenix” - Written by Daniel Pemberton, Keith Jones, Toni Hickman and George Doman. Performed by Daniel Pemberton, Toni Hickman, georgetragic, and Keith Jones. Published by Alika’s Publishing, Doman Development, Moncur Street Music Limited, administered by peermusic (UK) Ltd.For more from Rising Phoenix, follow on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok or visit risingphoenix.global Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ollie Hill and James Barnes-Miller on pushing each other as teammates, riding at the limit and following up on making history at Beijing 2022

This episode features not one, but two Paralympian athletes and teammates.Ollie Hill and James Barnes-Miller aren’t just Para snowboard teammates — they’re close friends who train together, travel together, and push each other in different ways. Ollie rides with instinct and pace, often right on the limit. James brings a more measured approach, focused on control and consistency. That contrast has helped shape one of British Para snowboarding’s leading partnerships.Both have made history in their careers. James was the first British Para snowboarder to qualify for the Paralympic Winter Games in Para snowboarding. Ollie followed by becoming the first British Para snowboarder to win a medal for Great Britain at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games.They speak to Matt about the need for consistency, the realities of crashing as part of the sport, and what it takes to prepare as a Para snowboarder from a country not renowned for its mountains. James opens up about why Milano Cortina will be his final Paralympic Winter Games. Ollie reflects on the pressure of following up on his medal success from Beijing.We catch up with them in Edinburgh during the ParalympicsGB team kitting out, as they begin their final preparations for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.Produced by the creators of the Emmy Award-winning Rising Phoenix, in official partnership with Milano Cortina 2026 and supported by Procter & Gamble, a worldwide Paralympic partner.This is a Harder Than You Think production.Host: Matt StutzmanProducers: Calum Campbell and Vanessa WheelerVideo Editor: Nic WoinilowiczAudio Post Production: String and TinsSound Editor: Culum SimpsonRemote Recording Engineer: George HinsonAudio Producer: Esi JonuziExecutive Producers: Greg Nugent and Barnaby SpurrierThe podcast’s soundtrack is titled “Rising Phoenix” - Written by Daniel Pemberton, Keith Jones, Toni Hickman and George Doman. Performed by Daniel Pemberton, Toni Hickman, georgetragic, and Keith Jones. Published by Alika’s Publishing, Doman Development, Moncur Street Music Limited, administered by peermusic (UK) Ltd.For more from Rising Phoenix, follow on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok or visit risingphoenix.global Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Menna Fitzpatrick on the importance of her guide, why she values her kit and her aims for her third Paralympic Games at Milano Cortina 2026

Menna Fitzpatrick MBE is one of Great Britain’s most decorated Para Alpine skiers, racing at close to 90km/h with around five percent vision.Menna explains what she can actually see on the slope — often little more than a white “playing field” and the bright pink jacket of her guide, Katie. She breaks down how their communication works at speed, why tone matters as much as the words, and how trust is built not just on snow but through everyday moments — from navigating a restaurant to adventures like canyoning, go-karting and hiking to Everest Base Camp.She talks about her breakthrough seasons — including Crystal Globe success — and the reality of coming back from major injuries, where the hardest part is often the mental recovery. Looking ahead to Milano Cortina 2026 after a serious injury setback in December, Menna shares a clear focus: trust the process, get back to the start gate, and leave the Games with no regrets.We catch up with Menna from a gym in Edinburgh during the ParalympicsGB team kitting out ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.Produced by the creators of the Emmy Award-winning Rising Phoenix, in official partnership with Milano Cortina 2026 and supported by Procter & Gamble, a worldwide Paralympic partner.This is a Harder Than You Think production.Host: Matt StutzmanProducers: Calum Campbell and Vanessa WheelerVideo Editor: Nic WoinilowiczAudio Post Production: String and TinsSound Editor: Culum SimpsonRemote Recording Engineer: George HinsonAudio Producer: Esi JonuziExecutive Producers: Greg Nugent and Barnaby SpurrierThe podcast’s soundtrack is titled “Rising Phoenix” - Written by Daniel Pemberton, Keith Jones, Toni Hickman and George Doman. Performed by Daniel Pemberton, Toni Hickman, georgetragic, and Keith Jones. Published by Alika’s Publishing, Doman Development, Moncur Street Music Limited, administered by peermusic (UK) Ltd.For more from Rising Phoenix, follow on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok or visit risingphoenix.global Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Giacamo Bertagnolli on skiing with 5% vision, dreaming of 5 gold medals, and competing with the expectations of his country on his shoulders

Giacomo Bertagnolli is undoubtedly one of the greatest Para alpine skiers of all time, skiings down the mountain at rapid speed with just 5% vision.After winning 4 medals at PyeongChang 2018 and another 4 medals at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games, he arrives for the Milano Cortina 2026 with a new bold ambition: 5 gold medals across 5 core events. As one of the faces of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, the spotlight is on — and Giacomo knows it…But Giacomo isn't just chasing medals. He is hoping to see his country change through hosting the Paralympic Winter Games for the second time. To see a new generation of disabled kids taking up Para sport, to see attitudes change, to see a meaningful legacy for disabled people across Italy.Giacomo joins Matt from his home in northern Italy, just hours from Milano Cortina, in the final stages of his preparations. He talks to Matt the importance of his guide, what it takes to perform under pressure, his hopes for the Games, his dreams beyond Milano Cortina 2026 and much more.Produced by the creators of the Emmy Award-winning Rising Phoenix, in official partnership with Milano Cortina 2026 and supported by Procter & Gamble, a worldwide Paralympic partner.This is a Harder Than You Think production.Host: Matt StutzmanProducers: Calum Campbell and Vanessa WheelerVideo Editor: Nic WoinilowiczAudio Post Production: String and TinsSound Editor: Culum SimpsonRemote Recording Engineer: George HinsonAudio Producer: Esi JonuziExecutive Producers: Greg Nugent and Barnaby SpurrierThe podcast’s soundtrack is titled “Rising Phoenix” - Written by Daniel Pemberton, Keith Jones, Toni Hickman and George Doman. Performed by Daniel Pemberton, Toni Hickman, georgetragic, and Keith Jones. Published by Alika’s Publishing, Doman Development, Moncur Street Music Limited, administered by peermusic (UK) Ltd.For more from Rising Phoenix, follow on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok or visit risingphoenix.global Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sydney Peterson on her shock success at Beijing 2022, a successful career in neuroscience and her final preparation for Milano Cortina 2026

Sydney Peterson spent 6 years knowing something didn’t feel quite right, but without a full understanding of why. At the age of 19 she was diagnosed with dystonia, which changed her life.Incredibly, soon after, Sydney shocked the world at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games by winning multiple medals, marking a breakout moment early in her Paralympic career.But Sydney is not just a great athlete. While training and preparing for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, Sydney is also working in a neuroscience lab in Utah, studying for a PhD. Balancing her training with life in the lab has been no easy feat.Joining us from Soldier Hollow — one of the venues set to host the Utah 2034 Paralympic Winter Games — she talks to Matt about how she balances elite sport with her work and studies, what it takes to compete at the highest level, and what she’s most looking forward to as she enters the final weeks leading up to the Games.Produced by the creators of the Emmy Award-winning Rising Phoenix, in official partnership with Milano Cortina 2026 and supported by Procter & Gamble, a worldwide Paralympic partner.This is a Harder Than You Think production.Host: Matt StutzmanProducers: Calum Campbell and Vanessa WheelerVideo Editor: Nic WoinilowiczAudio Post Production: String and TinsSound Editor: Culum SimpsonRemote Recording Engineer: George HinsonAudio Producer: Esi JonuziExecutive Producers: Greg Nugent and Barnaby SpurrierThe podcast’s soundtrack is titled “Rising Phoenix” - Written by Daniel Pemberton, Keith Jones, Toni Hickman and George Doman. Performed by Daniel Pemberton, Toni Hickman, georgetragic, and Keith Jones. Published by Alika’s Publishing, Doman Development, Moncur Street Music Limited, administered by peermusic (UK) Ltd.For more from Rising Phoenix, follow on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok or visit risingphoenix.global Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.