Dying To Ask

Sagen Maddalena has a literal shot at gold this summer at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. Maddalena is a two-time Olympic shooter and will compete in two air rifle events at the summer games. She grew up in Groveland, California. She was homeschooled in the small mountain town and was introduced to her sport through a 4-H gun safety class. She got hooked and went on to become an eight-time All-American collegiate shooter at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. That led to a career as a sharpshooter in the U.S. Army and these days, Sgt. Sagen Maddalena is a member of the elite World Class Athlete Program, which allows members to train and compete in sports on an international level while representing their country. You might think shooting is a sport of perfectionists. Maddalena says perfectionism actually works against her as an athlete. "I think that's one of the things that makes me so good at it is is that I've put in a lot of hours of work and discipline. I've been stubborn to make sure I follow that disci

The American dream and the Olympic dream collide in Johanna Garton's new book, "All in Stride." All in Stride: A Journey in Running, Courage and the Search for the American Dream is about Olympian Shadrack Kipchirchir and his wife, Sgt. Elvin Kibet, two American professional runners. Both competed in February's U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. Shadrack competed for Team USA in the 10,000m at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics. Johanna Garton is a longtime Colorado-based endurance sports writer who met the married couple in Denver. All in Stride tells the story of how the runners independently made their way from Kenyan villages to American colleges, the military and professional running. Their American dream turns into an Olympic dream as each pushes to represent their new country. Their adjustment to American culture isn't easy and includes brushes with bigotry and intolerance. "I heard about this program that was part of the U.S. Army based in Colorado Springs. It was soldiers in the U.S. Army who also we

Kali Wilding and Shelley Oates-Wilding are on the ultimate Olympic mother-daughter road trip that hopefully ends in Paris. Kali is one of Team USA's top sprint kayakers. Shelley is a two-time Olympian for Team Australia and the current U.S. National Coach in canoe-kayak. Kali grew up in Hawaii surrounded by water and her mother's Olympic legacy. But Shelley says she was careful to not push her sport on her kids. Kali started out as a gymnast but couldn't resist the water. She recently won the K-2 sprint kayak event at the U.S. Olympic Canoe Kayak Team Trials at the CSUS Aquatic Center at Lake Natoma, California. The next and final step in becoming an Olympian is competing in the Continental Olympic qualifier in Sarasota, Florida, in April. An Olympian being coached by a parent who is also an Olympian is rare. And, Kali and Shelley hope to make that dream happen this summer at the Paris Games. "We get to travel so much together. It's crazy fun having a mother as a coach, best friend, travel buddy. It's a dream

Get to know Olympic hopeful gymnast Riley Loos as he tumbles with Fitz through a round of FIVE WITH FITZ. Five rapid fire questions with a bonus question.

Stanford alum Riley Loos hopes to put some Cardinal red into the red, white and blue for Team USA at the Paris Olympics this summer. Loos graduated from Stanford in 2023 and has stayed on in Palo Alto to train with his former college team and Stanford head men's gymnastics coach Thom Glielmi. Nearly half the U.S. Men's National Gymnastics Team has a Stanford connection. The school is known as an unofficial feeder to the National Team.  The school has won the last four NCAA Championships. And Coach Glielmi served as the 2020/1 U.S. Men's Gymnastics coach at the delayed Tokyo Olympics. Riley was ranked number three on the team after the recent Winter Cup competition. He grew up in El Dorado Hills, California, and has dreamed of being an Olympian since he was a kid. He credits Stanford for supporting his quest. "Stanford is basically the feeder system to Team USA Men's Gymnastics . We've created this team atmosphere and culture. It's intense but super friendly and brotherly. So we basically have created a cultur

Jason Newton may be a newbie to Olympic coverage. But his hometown already knows how to support someone at the Olympics. Jason is an evening news anchor at WBAL-TV in Baltimore, hometown of Olympic swimming legend Michael Phelps. Jason is also a native of Baltimore. And while his wingspan isn't as broad as Phelps, his knowledge of all things Olympic will be by this summer's games. This is the third in our MEET THE TEAM episodes as we get to know members of the Hearst Olympics Team ahead of this summer's coverage at the Paris Olympics. On this Dying to Ask: What Jason thought he wanted to be when he went to college (spoiler: it wasn't working as an Olympic reporter) The new Olympic sport Jason is especially excited to cover How Jason's hobby is likely to benefit Fitz' Instagram feed during the Olympics

Imagine having a stunt double at work. Fletcher Mackel basically does in his role as a sports anchor at WDSU-TV. That's because the guy often sitting next to him on the anchoring desk doing the news is his identical twin brother Travers. The Brothers Mackel have share a lot of experiences together. They grew up playing baseball in New Orleans. Both attended college and played baseball at Loyola University. And they both signed on at WDSU more than 20 years ago where Fletcher jokes "we're now a package deal and you're stuck with both of us."  Soon, the guys will have something else in common as both will have worked on the Hearst Olympic Team. Fletcher is looking forward to adding Olympic experience to a resume that already includes Super Bowls and college championships.  Fletcher's family has been in New Orleans for generations and civic pride fuels both his work ethic and passion. His energy is off the charts and if you like an inspirational quote, grab a pen because he drops them like crazy!  On this Dying

Team USA will rely on an Olympic Trials process to pick most of its 2024 Summer Olympic Team. But for how much longer? Some worry it's not sustainable to stage "mini-Olympics" in host cities to select athletes due to rising costs and expectations. Freelance writer Erin Strout raises the issue in her most recent article for Outside Online where she investigated whether the popular US Olympic Marathon Trials needs a reboot. You can read the article here. Americans love Olympic Trials. They're exciting and showcase the depth of underdog talent like marathon record breaker Fiona O'Keeffe. It's like a mini-Olympics with only Americans taking part to determine who will represent Team USA at an Olympics. But the downside of the Trials process is that they're money losers for a lot of cities. Most countries rely on selection committees to pick Olympic teams. Would a selection committee have picked Fiona O'Keeffe to represent her country in marathon? Probably not. On this Dying to Ask: Arguments for and against the Ol

Check out FIVE WITH FITZ with Olympic marathoner Fiona O'Keeffe.   Five rapid fire questions with Team USA's speediest female marathoner. 

If the Olympics gave out a medal for fan geekdom, Mike "Domi" Domalaog would get gold every time. Domi, as he's known around KCRA 3 and the Hearst Olympic Team, is an encyclopedia of all things Citius, Altius, Fortius, Communiter. (That's the Olympic motto: Faster, Higher, Stronger-Together if you were not blessed with FOUR YEARS of high school Latin as I was.) In our first MEET THE TEAM episode, I'll explain how the Hearst Olympic Team works and the long history Domi and I have of traipsing the world chasing athletes, telling stories, and testing the limits of sleep deprivation. Paris will be Domi's 11th Olympic trip. His work history goes back to the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games. But, his love of the Olympics started decades ago as a kid growing up in Salinas, CA. Domi is one of the smartest people I know and his recall for athletes and their achievements is equal parts impressive and frightening. He's a member of the prestigious Emmy Awards "Silver Circle," awarded for 25+ years in television news. And, he's

Season 11 of the Dying to Ask podcast is here and it's giving us Emily in Paris vibes. We're heading to the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics! In our Season 11 trailer, Deirdre Fitzpatrick has a look at what to expect over the next few months as we highlight athletes, coaches and all those behind the scenes who support Team USA.

From touchdowns to acquisitions — NFL legend Steve Young's second act may be more exhausting than his former career. Young was a quarterback for 15 seasons, primarily with the San Francisco 49ers. He's a two-time MVP (1992/1994), and he's a three-time Super Bowl winner. But Young says he started working on his post-retirement plans long before he left the game. He earned his law degree from BYU while playing for the 49ers and now runs HGGC, a successful private equity firm in the Bay Area. Young spent years downplaying his football past in his new career. But he has fully embraced the magic and nuance of his two worlds. In 2016, Young published his memoir, "QB: My Life Behind the Spiral." Young is married and the father of four children, two boys and two girls. His daughters have shown the greatest interest in playing football. On this Dying to Ask: Advice on crafting a second act How the future Olympic sport of flag football created an incredible bond between father and daughters And Taylor Swift and Travis

Feeling blah? Head outside. Mother Nature may be the ultimate mood booster. Science has long backed the health benefits of the great outdoors. Spending time outdoors impacts your physical and emotional health. Going outside can fight depression and lower blood pressure. Feel cranky after a long day indoors at school or work? A 10 minutes walk outside soaking in some sun can radically change how you feel and ultimately perform. Can't think? Go outside. Feeling down? Go outside. Can't sleep? Go outside. You get the idea. On this Dying to Ask: The viral video from Finland prompting more interest in the health benefits of spending time outside. The vitamin you'll increase naturally by soaking up some sun. And the link between your eyes, age, sun and sleep.

New year, new you? Why not? The calendar change is a great time for a habit refresh. This week I'm sharing three things I'm doing this year to capture the spirit of a fresh start while also reflecting on the people who enriched my 2023. Ready to kick your year into gear? Mentioned during this episode: Get motivated with entrepreneur Jesse Itzler. Plan your 24 in 24 with happiness expert Gretchen Rubin. Clear the digital clutter with tech expert Jennifer Jolly. On this Dying to Ask: Why you need to sit down and write some good old-fashioned letters in January How to craft a 24 in 24 list And the easiest way to clear digital clutter     Other places to listen CLICK HERE to listen on iTunes CLICK HERE to listen on Stitcher    

Overwhelmed this holiday season? Try a brain break. It's my secret to doing all the things and trying to be in the moment while I'm doing them. A brain break is the act of giving yourself a mental time out. That mental rest can boost your mood, increase productivity and make life more enjoyable. In this episode, we'll identify how to spot your noggin needs a break. (It's not as obvious as you think.) And, we'll go through a 4 step plan to perfect a brain break. It's a great practice to work on over the holidays. Also in this episode, we'll review this year's top 10 Dying to Ask episodes. Mentioned in this episode: Stolen Focus: Why you can't Focus and How Think Deeply Again Eat Pray Love and get creative with Elizabeth Gilbert Should you get in on the giant water bottle trend? The power of the happily ever after with Brenda Novak The big benefits of little luxuries

What do Terry Crews, Dwyane Wade and MMA star Cat Zingano have in common? They're giving away money on bold.org. The site is a go-to for college students to win scholarship money to pay for school. Dror Liebenthal is bold.org's founder and CEO. The site's goal is to match people and organizations who want to give away scholarship money with students who need cash for college. It's often difficult for students to find opportunities. But, Dror found it can be just as difficult to give money away! Dror says, "Often you were spending as much or more to manage the scholarship as you were awarding in the scholarship itself, and what we allow on our platform is allow anybody in any company to easily create a scholarship in minutes with the confidence that 100% of your tax deductible donations going to go towards deserving scholarship winners." The site has drawn attention (and cash) from companies, individuals and celebrities. Worried about paying for college? Listen to this one and make sure to tell us if you or an

Sick of being sick? A "Hamilton" musical star won't miss his shot when it comes to boosting immunity. Darnell Abraham is starring in the international touring show as George Washington. Abraham may play a founding father but he also doubles as a wellness guru when it comes to health. He's sharing the health hacks that keep him on stage night after night. It starts with the basics. Eat well, exercise and get sleep. But there are immunity boosters he swears by including a near-daily drink he doesn't really like but feels has made him healthier. "Immune health begins in the gut and kombucha, it's packed with probiotics, prebiotics depending on what type of kombucha that you get, and I have actually found it to be really helpful. I drink it like every other day," Abraham said.  He travels with a medicine bag of herbs, teas, and vitamins and he's basically spilling it out so we can make it through the cold and flu season too. He even has a photo tip to minimize exposure to germs without missing those Instagram mom

Sick of work drama? You can diffuse most conflicts with three simple steps. Richard Birke is the senior vice president of JAMS Institute, a conflict resolution company. He's a master mediator. Things have to be really bad before he heads into a workplace and usually the goal is to avoid litigation. But we all deal with conflict in our lives. Maybe it's someone who gets under your skin at work? Maybe it's someone who lets everyone else do all the work. Or, it's someone who knows exactly the wrong thing to say. Unsettled conflict hurts your mood and impacts both creativity and productivity. The person who suffers the most when you don't deal with drama is you. Richard has a three-step plan to diffuse conflict. You'll change your mindset and actually get a script of what to say (or not say) to someone annoying you. Think of this as your playbook to reduce drama in your life! On this Dying to Ask: How to shift your mindset when you're in the middle of a conflict What you need to know about your communication styl

Gratitude is an attitude. And, it might be the easiest way to boost your happiness. This week, we're revisiting the role gratitude plays in our physical and mental health. The holidays are a great time to hit a "reset" and reflect on what's really important in your life. My colleague Edie Lambert just produced an incredible story on the science of happiness and a new way it's being taught through gratitude at Sacramento State University. Dr. Meliksah Demir is Sac State's very first "endowed professor in happiness." He teaches a class called The Psychology of Happiness. "When you practice gratitude, it has the potential to give you the sense of peace, comfort, which is likely to help you say before bedtime, to breathe easily and then comfortably sleep. Perhaps this could be one reason as to why we are observing those benefits in the sleep domain," says Dr. Demir. And his students are impressed by what they're learning. "If you practice gratitude, happiness, you make more money, sleep better, better health. I'v

Here's a genius move. Immerse yourself in a few more interests and watch yourself grow intellectually. That's the advice from biographer Walter Isaacson. And he should know as he's often considered the genius biographer. Isaacson is a bestselling author. He's written biographies about people including Leonardo da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs and Jennifer Doudna. He's a former editor of Time Magazine and served as the CEO of the Aspen Institute in addition to teaching at Tulane University. His latest book may be his most controversial due to his subject, Elon Musk. Isaacson spent two years with Musk with what he describes as unfiltered total access. He thought the book would primarily focus on electric cars and space travel. Then came the Twitter sale in the middle of his writing project. Now, Isaacson's Elon Musk is out and he's facing criticism from some in the tech world for taking hit too easy on a controversial leader. Isaacson says his job is to be a storyteller and it's a reader