# @mikaelashiffrin on YouTube

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://youtube.com/watch?v=PZGAzlJgGBs
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/65845864-mikaelashiffrin-youtube
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/0dc1fc7c4a.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-05-20T17:00:06.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Mikaela Shiffrin ⛷💨 (@mikaelashiffrin) — https://gondola.cc/mikaelashiffrin

## Caption

What does it take to become the most decorated U.S. Cross-Country ski racer of all time? For four-time Olympic medalist, 33-time World Cup winner, four-time Overall World Cup Champion, and seven-time World Championship medalist Jessie Diggins, it’s about more than medals—it’s about resilience, vulnerability, and the unbreakable bonds of team. Fresh off her retirement, four-time Olympic medalist Jessie sits down with Mikaela to share the real stories behind the sparkle, the pain cave, and what's next. 

Jessie and Mikaela dive into Jessie’s Minnesota roots, the team-first culture that shaped her, and the mental strategies she’s developed to thrive in the infamous dance with the “pain cave” (as Jessie says, a "pain cave waltz"). Jessie shares candid stories about setbacks, resilience, and the importance of defining success by your own values—not just results. The conversation also explores Jessie’s advocacy for mental health, climate action, and youth access to snow sports, including her work with Share Winter Foundation, Protect Our Winters, and the Emily Program. Jessie opens up about her documentary “Threshold"—Executive produced by Patrick Dempsey—why vulnerability matters, and how she found peace in retirement by focusing on purpose beyond medals. 

Whether you’re an athlete or just looking for inspiration, this episode is packed with wisdom, honesty, and a whole lot of sparkle.

Presented by STIFEL
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Follow What's the Point with Mikaela Shiffrin on social media for all the best moments from the show: https://www.instagram.com/wtpwithmikaela

Download the Full Podcast:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1lLIUgEsf1lhxChN8BLyt0?si=lLvmqup0Rr2vx9GfH-7Gqg
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jessie-diggins-comfortable-in-discomfort-wtp-with/id1848869696?i=1000768786240 

More about Jessie: 
https://www.instagram.com/jessiediggins/

Show Notes: 
Watch Threshold: https://www.peacocktv.com/watch-online/movies/threshold/31cf93da-d433-384b-8463-a9db2b578012
Learn More/Donate to Share Winter Foundation: https://sharewinterfoundation.org/mikgives/
Learn about the Emily Program at https://emilyprogram.com/
Learn about Protect Our Winters at https://protectourwinters.org/
Check out Jessie's Collab with Larissa Loden: https://larissaloden.com/collections/jessie-diggins
The Crest Club: Official luxury travel experience of U.S. Ski and Snowboard at https://thecrestclub.com/
US Ski and Snowboard Insider: Official Fan Club of U.S. Ski & Snowboard at https://insider.usskiandsnowboard.org/

Chapters:
0:00 Introduction & Opening Remarks
0:33 STIFEL U.S. Ski Team Season Recap & Jessie Diggins Intro
2:52  "Faster.Always” Rapid Fire, Presented by ATOMIC
7:13 Jessie’s Minnesota Origin Story in Cross-Country Skiing 
11:14 Early Role  Models and Team Culture 
12:13 The "Pain Cave" Philosophy 
18:20 Experience, Confidence, and Suffering
23:07 Racing Different Distances & Mental Strategies
27:17 Advice for Young Athletes: Values Over Results
29:31 Olympic 50K Classic Race Story
33:38 "Inside Scoop" Segment, Presented by U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Insider
39:26 Race day Mindset, Rituals, and Positive Self-Talk 
49:20 Deciding to Retire: A Shift in Priorities
55:24 Advocacy Work & Legacy: Share Winter Foundation, Emily Program, and Protect Our Winters
58:42 "Threshold" Documentary + Mental Health Discussion 
1:04:56 What's the Point? What Kept Jessie Going: Love of Sport and Purpose
1:09:37 Closing Remarks

#MikaelaShiffrin #JessieDiggins #skiing #crosscountryskiing #xcskiing #ski #whatsthepoint #podcast

## Stats

- **Views:** 10,198
- **Likes:** 321
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 28

## Tags

podcast, ski, mikaelashiffrin, xcskiing, skiing, crosscountryskiing, whatsthepoint, jessie

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