MEET THE CONTRIBUTORS
In the lead-up to the Paris 2024 Olympics, we opened the door for a variety of contributors to join the show and bring their own unique Olympic fandom, experiences and perspectives to the podcast.
Spanning multiple countries and continents, as well as people from all walks of life, our contributors each bring something different to Off The Podium. From adding new voices to our episodes to helping create extra content beyond the podcast itself, they have all helped expand the show in their own unique way.
But who are the people who have helped shape Off The Podium beyond the main hosting team? Find out more about them below.
ALEX LOVELESS
Our resident Brit’s Olympic love affair began in 1992, when Albertville and Barcelona first opened his eyes to the magic of the Games. Already obsessed with sport — and, perhaps just as importantly, flags — the Olympics proved to be the perfect combination of both.
Over the next three decades, that passion only grew stronger, turning from childhood fascination into full-blown Olympic fandom. That love eventually led him to launch his own podcast, Fantasy Five Rings, where he was able to share his passion for the Games while connecting with fellow Olympic tragics from around the world.
Through that journey, he crossed paths with the Off The Podium crew in 2024, bringing with him a lifelong love of sport, a deep appreciation for the Olympic movement and a very British perspective on all the chaos, drama and glory that comes with the Games.
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CONNOR BUNNELL
Connor’s Olympic obsession first sparked during Athens 2004, when the Games opened his eyes to the scale, drama and sheer weirdness of the Olympic world. That passion only grew when Vancouver 2010 introduced him to the winter side of the movement, sending him further down the Olympic rabbit hole from California.
While his regular sportswriting world has often centred around soccer and motorsport, the Olympics remained the glorious sporting obsession he rarely had enough excuses to talk about. That changed in 2024 when he crossed paths with Ben and became a recurring guest on Off The Podium.
Since then, Connor has brought his passion, knowledge and West Coast perspective to the show, helping preview favourite Olympic sports and joining the chaos of daily recaps while adding another passionate Olympic voice to the team.
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HALLIE CARMEN
The Olympics have been part of Hallie’s life since she first laced up a pair of figure skates at four years old. Growing up in New York City, she spent countless summers competing in Lake Placid, a town steeped in Olympic history.
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In 2022, she served as NBC’s Chinese language and culture researcher for its coverage of the 2022 Beijing Olympics, making her part of the Emmy Award-winning broadcast team, an experience that remains one of the highlights of her career.
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Having joined Off The Podium in 2024, Hallie is excited to be part of the team and continuing to share her passion for and knowledge of all things Olympics. Ask her about Yuna Kim’s 2010 programs, and she’ll happily perform every step, jump, and arm movement from memory.​​​​​
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PATRICK RILEY
Patrick is a true-believing Pierre de Coubertin obsessive whose Olympic passion is matched only by his questionable financial priorties, with most of his disposable incombe seemingly reserved for the next Olympic trip.
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After attending his first Olympics at Paris 2024, Patrick quickly backed it up with Milano Cortina 2026, further fuelling an enthusiasm for the Games that has frown into a serious pin collection and a long-standing ambition to visit every Olympic host city and stadium. He has already ticked off several in recent years, proving that when it comes to Olympic travel, commitment is not an issue.
Born in Alaska and based in Texas, Patrick brings a wide range of views, experiences and opinions to Off The Podium. Since joining the team in 2024, he has become a valued contributor to the show, and is, somehow, still tolerated by all of his colleagues.
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RAPHAEL SPAETH
Raphael brings a journalist’s eye and a lifelong sports fan’s passion to Off The Podium, having covered the Olympic Games for several years as a German sports journalist. His Olympic journey has taken him to both Rio 2016 and Paris 2024, giving him a front-row view of the stories, emotions and moments that make the Games so special.
Those experiences only deepened his love for Olympic storytelling, particularly when it comes to shining a light on athletes who do not always receive the attention they deserve. It is that passion for the wider Olympic movement, and the people behind it, that made him a natural fit for the OTP team.
Joining Off The Podium in 2024, Raphael quickly became part of the show’s unique way of looking at the Games, bringing his own perspective, knowledge and appreciation for the incredible stories that sit at the heart of the Olympic world.
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