Episode 24: Unlaced with Jason Brown

[Music] Hello and welcome to Unlaced with Trock and Bates. I'm Madison Trock. And I'm Evan Bates and we're Olympic Ice Dancers for Team USA. If you're into sports betting, bet online is the fastest and easiest way to bet all your favorite sports. Head to their new updated desktop or mobile website to sign up today and receive your 50% welcome bonus on your first deposit. Just use our promo code, Believe50, to receive your bonus. Today we are joined by a very special guest. He is one of the most beloved skaters in our sport for the joy he brings to everyone on and off the ice. He is a two-time Olympian and an Olympic bronze medalist, a two-time national champion and still actively competing. Please welcome Jason Brown. Oh my god. Hi, Jason. You guys, hi, guys. How's it going? So good to have you on our podcast. Thank you. Oh my gosh. Anytime anything for you guys so excited to be here, can't wait to talk. Jason, you've gotta be one of the nicest people I've ever met in my life. In fact, this summer, we spent a lot of time together touring with Starrza Nice and our tour manager Dave Brown said to me, nobody's that nice. Is Jason really that nice? Nobody's that nice. But he is. Oh my god. Honestly, you guys are the best. I just am very fortunate to surround myself with the best people. And so yeah, they just what reason to not be, I guess, the way I look at it, it's very, what are you to do for a living, what you love to do and constantly be around such great people. So no, I feel like you, you know, you've been obviously raised really well. And I know that family is so important to you. So I want to just start off by saying congrats to the Brown family. One of yours got married recently, right? Yeah. So it's got married. It was incredible. It was so much fun. It was amazing to be surrounded by people. You just love and people you know. I mean, I can't even, you know, you guys will experience it very soon with your own wedding. But I think just the fact of like everyone that we, I mean, I was the, I was laughing because everyone kept congratulating me. And I was like, this is the first time I'm in a situation where like people are congratulating me and I did absolutely nothing. Like I'm like, it was show up and I'm like, congratulations, Jason, Jason, that I'm like, you know, for me, I was like, I didn't compete. I didn't, I didn't do anything. Like I don't, you know, the my only duty was like making a speech. Which you're very, very good at. Let me just say we've heard you make speeches in English and Japanese. Whatever language it is, you give a fantastic speech. Well, that reads a lot. But yeah, it was just, it was really fun. And as you know, as you mentioned, family is so important. So to get to be surrounded by them, all extended family and friends included was beyond special. That's so nice. It looked like so much fun too. I was watching your TikToks and you just, you have such a way with your dancing and your creativity on and off the ice. It's incredible. You really are so dedicated to everything you do and it's incredibly impressive, which brings me to when we were on tour together and we could really see your dedication fully to your craft, to the sport. And it was amazing to me because we had crazy schedules in Japan and the US up at odd hours, skating long hours. And every morning, you would wake up and do a Zoom workout with your trainer, no matter where in the world we are. And that was so impressive. Your dedication is just on another level. And it just, it amazes me. You were just amazing. And so I was just wondering who in your life instilled that work ethic in you or where did it come from? What inspired you? Was it Rohean yelling at you all when you were young? That's not a counter. Yeah, exactly. You know what I think it's a mix of a lot of things. I think for me, I was like when I was a young kid growing up, my parents were just very big on, we will support you 100% but you have to drive the bus. Like you have to wake us up in the morning if you want to go skating and then we're there for you. But I think by having the accessibility to that much support, it was for me, it was like a very internal motivator because I was like, okay, if I'm going to get up in the morning, it's on me. If I'm going to do this workout, it's on me. And for whatever reason, that really drove me to want to keep pushing myself. It was almost like having that freedom and having that support was such a driving factor for me. I know so many other people like me, that external factor to push them forward. And for me, it was almost having that ability to be so internally motivated, kept me going. And so it just was something that was always pushing me forward, and then obviously it doesn't, it doesn't not help when you have also coaches that are very, you know, very, what's the way of pushing that? Vocal about your progress? Yeah, vocal. Vocal is great. Very, no. And I'm a kid that I do, I grew up really wanting to please and really wanting to do right by people and wanting to, you know, they saw something in me, whether that was talent, whether that was, you know, athletic ability that, or an artistic ability that I didn't see in myself that they were like, we know it's in you, we believe in you. And that it was just another way of like, okay, I really want to figure out how to untap this, how to get better and give it my all. Well, I think it's just your star quality. You've got so much natural charisma. And maybe you don't see it yourself, but we certainly see it and everyone you meet sees it. Yeah, I think that you spoke a little bit about that artistry on the ice. That's definitely what the skating world is kind of recognized in you is this very, very unique style on the ice that literally nobody else has. And it welcomes people in and that makes people feel like they know you. And I think even people, you're very like open and people, you wear your heart on your sleeve, but you were like one of the first viral sensations ever with your river dance and the YouTube thing. And I that was, that was many years ago, but I feel like, you know, when people see you skate, they see the attention to detail, they see the lifetime pursuit, the all the hours that you've poured into it. And my question, our question is for you is like, who from past generations inspired you? I know Scott has been a big influence and a mentor for you, but who's skating did you look to and study and watch? You know what I was growing up? It's so funny. And I guess you guys know this as well. Like we didn't really, there were a few YouTube, you know, like, what you talked about, like as much as I want to be like, yes, for almost like one of the first YouTube sensations with river dance. It's like YouTube came out like maybe like four years prior. That's a good point. It was very new as well, but I think that it was, you know, so it's people that I would see on TV. And then it became people that I saw in person. And then I got to train alongside whether that before summer, you know, summer camps and got to watch or just on TV when I turned it on, you know, Scott Hamilton was like you mentioned such a big influence to me, but it wasn't even his skating because I had it. I didn't really watch his skating growing up. It was like, it was his voice and it was his command when he was on television, talking about other skaters that drew you in. And he, to me, was the voice of skating. And watching it as a kid growing up, like I love Denskate Takahashi. I mean, I just thought like, I felt like every time I saw him, he was this chameleon, like he never looked the same, never dressed the same. Every program was so different. And that was something that really, really, really inspired me. And then I was very fortunate to grow up with Rokeying Ward as a choreographer since I was 10 years old, which is I look back now and realize how lucky I was, but just having that influence of someone that brought so many different styles to my skating. I just am so grateful for it. He was always like, okay, we're gonna do this this year. We're gonna try this next year. And always pushing me to, you know, to go into different limits. And he always kind of showed me different dance styles that he wanted me to learn about and study and brought into my life. So I just feel so lucky for that. And then when I was just a younger like, like a junior and not a junior, I always, that nationals are really gravitated towards Ryan Bradley, just because of his performance quality and the way that like you could feel the audience get excited when he took the ice because you're just like, this is gonna be a performance. You know, it wasn't like you're waiting for him to see, even though he was great technically, it wasn't like you're waiting to see what technical thing he was gonna do or like, you're just gonna look at his spins. Or you weren't like, you watched him or at least me as a kid, you're like, I'm gonna be entertained. But the next period, like this is just pure entertainment. And I, that was a big influence growing up as well. That's such a great point. I think with all of those skaters, they really also have that charisma that I see in you and I know every time you take. the ice, we're in for performance regardless of the technical aspect or any other factors that may be happening in the arena, just like with those skaters, like you're treated to something very special when you take the ice or when your inspirations have taken the ice in the past, spot on, and that's just really inspiring for us to hear as still active athletes as well. That performance aspect is so important to the audience. So you've made an announcement recently and it really was such a highlight for so many people in this skating world wondering what your future uncompetitive ice would look like. So you've decided that you're not quite done competing and what was the driving force in that in that decision. And congratulations on your offer. Oh, I appreciate that. Um, honestly, it was after the Olympics, I think I finally gave myself the breath to be like, I don't know what's gonna be next. And I kind of like sat with that and they just said, what a weird two years. As you guys know, it was just a weird couple of years training, competing events, being canceled. You're like, how do we train, but not get sick and we put ourselves out there, but not put ourselves out there and, you know, as a performance-based sport, trying to deal and navigate what that's like without an audience was strange to kind of get used to. And for me, that's something that I just love so much about the sport. So, you know, when the Olympics ended, and you know, in my head mentally, I was like, okay, this is, you know, probably it. And at the same time, I was like, this feels for me a weird way to end my career. I felt like my parents were such a huge part of my career and are always at the events and they weren't there. And I just remember calling them after my free skate at the Olympics and even looking at Tracy, and I was like, is this my coach? And I was like, is this how does it? Am I done? And it was like this weird, like out of body experience where it was like, I always felt like I would know and have the sense of like the chapters closed and there was something that didn't feel quite right with it all. But that being said, I was so proud of my performances. I was so proud of the journey that took me there. And I was also not really ready to go back to the grind. I needed a break. I wanted to take some time off. I wanted to figure out what I wanted to do. And I wasn't really able to wrap my head around going back to just such a singular focused, gold driven next step. I was like, I want to explore so many other things. So I kind of took a break from even thinking about competition. And like with you guys, when I'm tour, had so much fun this summer and just getting to perform in front of people again. And I was really shocked with after the spring and summer of performing that I was more energized than before. And you guys know, like the Olympics season and just like the end of that Olympics cycle, it's draining. You're like white. And so I just assumed after doing all these shows as well, I would also be white. And I was like, I loved this. And so I had the opportunity to do Japan open and be asked to do it. And I kind of was like, okay, I'm going to train for three weeks. Let's see how that goes. Not even how Japan open goes as much as it's like, let's see if I actually like getting back into it. And and fortunately, unfortunately, however you want to look at I was like, Tracy, I love this. I would say very fortunately. Which was yeah. So and I just yeah. And so I'm just excited to take on this year and kind of see what how it goes and keep putting myself out there and keep exploring. But that's kind of how it unfolded in a bit. Well, you've already started taking on new roles. We saw you at Skate America working with TNUSA. And honestly, you were phenomenal. And they couldn't have picked a better person. You were energetic, you're enthusiasm, you're patriotism. It's just incredible. You're the best cheerleader that the US could ever ask for. And your social media. Again, you're just stepping up the level for US Figure Skating for TNUSA. It's wonderful. I'm going to take notes. But where do you see yourself in five years? Do you think maybe still skating in shows, maybe putting on your own show or working more with TNUSA or working in the media? Oh, you know what? It's been really, really fun this year exploring so many different options. Like I kind of like have been putting on different hats. Each week or sometimes like it sometimes feels like each week. I'm just keep rotating hats, which I absolutely love. It was a lot of fun. I started doing some choreography this year for other skaters. Doing shows, which I've absolutely loved. But yeah, I think I do really see if I can stay healthy, I would love to continue doing shows and have that creative outlet to keep just like performing. I'm not ready, even if I were to hang up the Competitive 8, not ready to give up that performance show skating part of my life. And so that I would love to keep going down. I would love to put on a show as well. Like you mentioned, love to do more in the media. I had so much fun with TNUSA at Skate America and I would love love love to continue doing that. If there's any way I could bring out other athletes' personalities and get in kind of help them showcase that through different platforms, gain 100%. I think there's so many, if there's one thing that I learned from this year and just getting to really bond with the skaters that I've gotten to tour with, it's that everyone has such an incredible story that I don't want to say needs to be told if they want to tell it to tell it. But like everyone has such an incredible, they have such incredible experiences and such interesting lives. And we have this commonality of skating, but like everything else is so different and the ways in which they got to where they are is so fascinating and engaging. And I just love for the audience to know more about us than just you see us on the ice for four minutes. And like, you know, you don't get I just want to bring out that personality because it is, we're filled with a lot of great, let's sports build with so many great people. That's amazing. I mean, I was so impressed when we were in Japan and you were speaking to a full arena full of Japanese fans in Japanese, the bravado, the confidence you must have studied for so long to be able to have confidence in your Japanese to go out and speak in front of 10,000 people. I mean, where did your interest in learning Japanese come from and how long did it take you to study to be so good at it? Yes, so for me, actually, it was one of those things where it was my first junior grand prix season and I was sent to Japan. And so I hadn't really traveled much internationally, but it was like the first time that I went out of the country and every and it was in a small, small town outside of Nagano. And I think for me, it was just an opportunity where I really wanted to communicate with the fans, but no one spoke English. And everyone, as you guys know, everyone is so nice and so engaged in the sport of fingers skating. And I was like, all I wanted was like, thank you, thank you. But I just kept like bowing and trying to gesture my things, but there was that piece of communication that, it was my first time really hitting a barrier with that. And so I was like, okay, the next time I go to Japan and my head, I was like, oh, we'll be like within the year, I'll know a couple phrases. Well, it wasn't until five years later that I had my next opportunity to go back to Japan. But by that time, I was like, I had started off where I was just teaching myself a few phrases, and then I really enjoyed that. So then I started taking some classes in school, some Japanese classes, and then I started getting tutored a little bit. So the love of kind of learning a different language kind of started to grow. And then when the next time I got to go back, it was just the opportunity to be able to break that barrier a little bit and communicate with them with such thrilling feeling that I was like, it just kept this goal of mind to keep working towards becoming, becoming fluent. I laughed my goal is fluent by 50. But it's like, I gave myself like a good chunk of time to hopefully be successful in that, but to work my way up. And then in terms of the public speaking, I've just really like, I've actually just taken a lot of public speaking classes in school, like because I really want to get better at it. So that helps when it's time to get in front of the crowd. Well, I feel super confident being in Japan with you because anywhere we go, I feel like I'm in good hands because Jason speaks Japanese very well. And I don't speak any Japanese at all, but you've inspired me to learn, at least learn enough to get by mainly because as you know, I love going out in Japan and exploring and hanging out with friends and taking in the shops and I was just wondering if you remember our experience together at UNICLO when we went shopping and do I remember I live in those clothes I live in those clothes I love those clothes and everyone's like what people okay people continue I know you probably have a question that you're gonna ask but like I'm just gonna ask you like what how was that experience for you was it a lot was it too much like how was it um I hope you had and I hope I was I hope to I don't know overly excited because I was so excited like you had asked me to help you shop a little bit and I took that little bit and I ran with it and brought just brought you baskets of clothes it was like by the end of it like the employees of UNICLO had gathered in the back to like witness this there was like a gaggle of like 15 people around the fitting room and Jason was trying out all these different looks and Maddie was like this with that that with that it was it was complete total like fashion makeover honestly sitting there right which which is the best I you know oh my gosh no it was so much fun I hope everyone I know it's obviously not possible but I hope everyone gets an experience of getting to shop with Maddie um but no it's the best the fact that like you have your own it to me I felt like this VIP I had my own personal stylist who was literally just running around UNICLO pulling things off and was like put this in the thing put this in your cart put this and this and then we tried it on you like she was like yes yes wait change the stuff do that and it was so much fun um and I was like okay anything you say yes to I'm gonna buy like I was just like in that mode of like let's do it let's go for it um and so I am obsessed the I wear like those pants where the she got me these like these pants well I got my to talk about these pants the best for the summer and fall when the weather's like warm and it's like this and I can theory ones right the theory collapse yeah and everyone kept me like the thing it looks like it looks so and I was like man it's a job what like it was like the best thing and then not only I just want to like do another shameless plug but like not only did Maddie shop she also told me how to fold my clothes like a specific way and I want to I need to send a picture of my closet to you you would last specifically every single shirt is perfectly folded into like a cube can I like yes and it's so satisfying it's so satisfying when all your clothes can just stand up on their own and you just pack them and they fold and then they stay folded it's I'm it I'm addicted to folding I'm so happy that I could share that joy with you and that you have shared it with your closet it is the greatest and so I cannot thank you enough and I look forward to the next shopping spree oh I'm so happy I look forward to it as well I have a new shopping buddy and I'm so happy we're so open and receptive to all of my suggestions and that it wasn't overwhelming because I had so much fun with you oh my gosh it was a blast an absolute blast and to someone else make decision like that's one thing that always I'm a really hard time for it so the fact that you were picking things out and then like I just got all I had to do was try them on and say what do you think about that what do you think about that and then you just like you the most decisive person it was like when it's for you or for someone else I think I'm decisive when it's for myself I'm incredibly indecisive so I think it's nice to just for anyone have that taken off your plate I greatly appreciated that I greatly appreciate you and just thank you so much Jason for taking the time to talk with us today and we and the rest of the skating world cannot wait to see you on competitive ice again in this January in San Jose so good luck with your training and hey we're both in Canada so we might see you soon hopefully you know I hope so I hope so come to Toronto come to Toronto or I can obviously might have to yeah we definitely should meet up in the great north thank you so much Jason we love you and we'll talk to you soon thank you bus to luck with the rest of the Grand Prix series I'm cheering you guys on all the way thank you we love you we'll talk to you soon this has been another episode of Unlaced with Chalkin Bates presented by Bet Online make sure you subscribe for future episodes and you can follow us on social media at chalkbates we'll talk to you soon bye [Music]