Editor's Note: Mikaela Shiffrin covered a range of topics -- from Olympic prep to her thoughts on speed events and sidelined rival Petra Vlhova -- in an interview through her partnership with Lilly to advocate for early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease (ESAD) awareness. Shiffrin, whose paternal grandmother had Alzheimer's disease and died in 2014, hopes to help others recognize the importance of acting early and understand the treatment options that exist today for early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

NBCOlympics.com: You've already said you have been prioritizing giant slalom, and that you won't race downhill and will see about super-Gs this season. Is there anything else coach Karin Harjo has stressed with you -- either a mindset, or even a hard truth as you go into the Olympic season, that really stands out and is unique as opposed to previous seasons?

Shiffrin: Something new and fresh for this season, and what I would say, at 30 (years old), something that I'm learning, and it's been a long time coming, it's a work in progress, but something that we've implemented into our team, even more than the past -- it's not that it wasn't there, but just to say that this is becoming more of a priority, is really, really open, honest communication about all the facets of what we do. 

It includes all the different pieces that go beyond just the physical on-snow training. A realization for me is how difficult it can be to say, for instance, on the hill, if a training day is not feeling entirely productive, to be able to say in real time, "I don't feel that this is productive." Or for my coaches, it's probably even harder for them to come to me, because I have this resume in the sport that honestly makes it challenging for people to tell me what needs to happen with my skiing or what needs to happen in order to be productive. I think there's maybe some level of hesitation, because I've done all this in the past, and I've had all this success. So it's almost like, maybe don't stir the pot. 

With this team, with Karin, with (coach) Jamo (Haarala), with my mom (also a coach) and beyond, it's been an incredible moment, almost like a flower blossoming, to see how much great feedback I get when I kind of open the door and say, "You don't need to be scared to tell me what you're thinking." The worst-case scenario, it'll spark a discussion. The best-case scenario is you're going to remind me of something that I might have forgotten with my technique, with tactics, with planning and logistics. I feel like it's opened a world of creativity that we were just on the cusp of, and now we have access to.

NBCOlympics.com: I listened to your first podcast episode with your fiancé, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde. Really well done. I'm wondering if there's anything you can tell me about future podcast episodes, guests, topics. Is there anything that you can share?

Shiffrin: I can probably share whatever I want, but I want you to listen to it (laughs). In the past few weeks, I've had a couple of really, really cool, fun conversations. This has also been a work in progress, because I'm not used to being a host of an interview. I've got to say, Nick, I have a lot of respect for you for finding new and fresh questions. It's not easy. A lot of things have been talked about a lot. It's hard to find a way to speak to someone in a way that they open up. My natural sort of introverted tendencies is to not ask questions. 

So one of the most beautiful things -- maybe unexpected things -- about this podcast is that I'm learning how to sort of spark those conversations. I've had a couple of conversations with teammates, and I'm looking forward to a few more. Also with a staff member, which I think is going to be really, really cool for people to listen to. My goal right now is just to sort of start diving into these conversations, but over the coming years, to branch out into other sports, other avenues. I would love to be able to interview talk-show hosts or podcast hosts, because I think those are really cool conversations to have.

NBCOlympics.com: You mentioned that your talk with Petra Vlhova a year or so ago was really sort of a catalyst for the podcast. Have you spoken with her at all recently? I know she's been posting about getting back on snow, and hoping to be back racing soon.

Shiffrin: We sort of text back and forth. Over the course of last winter, we both check in here and there. She texts me after races and after (my) return (from injury last season). Just kind of checking in on where she was at, too. My best understanding, and I know that this probably seems obvious, but it can't really be emphasized enough. Because with injuries, for an athlete, it's so hard to explain just how challenging it is because people just don't know what's happening in the body and why it's so, so hard to return to your top form. 

Even with my injury last year, which was a shorter term thing, in the grand scheme of knee injuries and bones and all the things that can happen -- I could return the same season, right? Petra has now been out for an entire season and a half. So I am really excited to see any post that she's done in ski boots, on the mountain. It sounds like she's feeling a lot more stable and structurally strong than when she was trying to get back on snow last fall and last winter, which is huge, because that's the foundation. She can build from there and start to build strength on snow, which means she needs to work into full capacity, which takes time. 

Editor's note: Vlhova, out from competition since January 2024, returned to skiing in early October and needs at least 50 quality days of on-snow training before racing again, her manager reportedly said last month.

Shiffrin: So when you wrap your mind around that, this is a huge step, and it takes time. So I really hope that she's able to make a return this season. Mostly what I hope is it's a strong return, and that she feels whole -- physically, as a human and as a racer. Then it's just going to be such a pleasure to compete with her again.

NBCOlympics.com: Did it feel different last season, when you were racing and she wasn't there?

Shiffrin: It certainly feels different, even in Soelden (at this season's opening giant slalom on Oct. 25). It felt weird without Federica (Brignone) at the start (due to injury). At the same time, it's a sport where we're very, very focused on ourselves and our own progress and improvement. So when you're standing in the start gate, that doesn't feel different. When you're racing on the course, it doesn't feel different. But, yes, there's an atmosphere. When athletes retire, when there's injuries, it definitely takes some time to sort of get used to that. But at the end of the day, you've got to point it down the hill and focus on your own turns.

NBCOlympics.com: You've mentioned that you'll see how your first super-G this season goes in St. Moritz (Dec. 14), but that you also adore super-G. If, for some reason, things don't work out, are you satisfied with the speed career that you've had if you never do a major speed race again, or if it's not a focus again?

Shiffrin: I don't know that I could ever say I'm satisfied with anything, but I'm happy and proud. Speed (downhill and super-G races) from the start for me was this beautiful passion project. I mean, it all has been, but it was just like, gosh, this is so exciting. Who knows what I can do? It was only possible because I had done so much work on my technique, and I had made a solid foundation in the technical events (slalom and giant slalom) that I could then sort of transfer some of those skills into speed. I think speed made me a better athlete and a better skier. I just had a couple days of super-G (training) just this past week, and it continues to make me a more well-rounded, whole skier. 

So I love it, and even if I don't race it at the Olympics, it's not out of the cards for me as a whole. Maybe it's just one of those things that the timing doesn't line up. One thing about the Games that I'm always really aware of, and especially this year, because we have an incredible (U.S.) team of athletes, multiple metal contenders. I don't want to be taking a spot that I don't earn and deserve to be there. So I'm fully OK letting go of that -- when the time comes -- if that is how it rolls.

NBCOlympics.com: Going back to last season and the Share Winter initiative that you had with your 100th World Cup win. I remember you saying afterwards that at least $400,000 had been raised for learn to ski and snowboard programs. Have you gotten any updates recently on any specifics that any of that money has gone to, or even anything more you're planning in that realm, in this season or for the rest of your career?

Shiffrin: Working with Share Winter was an incredible step towards working to help youth gain access to sport and activities and being outdoor and sort of the lifestyle choices and education that comes along with sport. Of course, my particular passion is winter sport and skiing, ski racing, but snowboarding, anything on the mountains and snow, it's so, so special. It's been such a gift in my life. So being able to sort of start the first steps to truly share that with people beyond talking about it. 

We raised nearly half a million dollars. All of that money goes towards learn to ski and snowboard programs that help target youth who would otherwise not have access. This is nationwide. This is different learn to ski and snowboard programs across the entire nation. That's where all of the money is going. Our goal was $100,000, and that would have supported, I think it was 800 days on snow. So we got quite a few kids out there, or will be. That money will be going towards getting a lot of kids out there and accessing their first time on skis, first time on a snowboard, which is pretty cool.