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Episode 267: Holly Koskinen
PodcastAnalysis updated yesterday37 min listen
The reigning WIPT Champion tells about the year that it has been for her. Hear Holly talk about Columbus pinball, health, social justice and more.
Highlights
- Holly Koskinen won the Whipped Championship (128 women competitors) at an event, defeating players including Rachel, Priyanka, and Carrie in the finals
- Holly was diagnosed with Lyme disease after approximately 6 years of undiagnosed symptoms, following what should have been an optimistic start to her 30s
- Lyme disease is difficult to diagnose because it mimics other conditions (MS, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer's) and hides in areas of existing inflammation
- Holly tested positive for Rocky Mountain spotted fever, West Nile virus, and other tick-borne illnesses in addition to Lyme
- Pinball testing at the Whipped Championship required her to play machines she had never played before, including Solar Ride, Wonka, Spanish Eyes, and an EM machine
- Columbus, Ohio has a vibrant pinball community with large leagues including Level One (70+ players on Mondays) and multiple women's pinball organizations
- Holly experienced homophobic harassment including being called a pedophile while trying to help raise two boys as part of a same-sex relationship
- Columbus has city-level LGBTQ+ employment protections, but nearby areas like Westerville have no protections
Notable quotes
“I won. And that could have all shaken out so many different ways, obviously. You know, Priyanka and Carrie are both phenomenal players, too. So to be up there with that kind of caliber of people for my kind of first Pinberg go, it was very humbling.”
“Lyme is what is known as the great imitator. So Lyme can present neurological problems. It can present arthritic problems. It can present like MS... you can have memory loss, you can have cognitive function problems like I've had speech problems. It's just everything.”
“I do not understand hate. It takes a lot. It's wasted energy. I don't get it.”
“This is the game of life and we have to play better.”
“Tish is like my pinball fairy godmother. She started our women's league a long time ago... we've got, like, this super awesome girl gang... cool chicks with good beer and good times, good conversations... and killer pinball playing.”
“You're a survivor... there are others in your situation and there are others that struggle with Lyme disease... you offer a solution and a light at the end of the tunnel that things will get better.”
Entities
- Pinburgh· event
- Whipped Championship· event
- Columbus, Ohio· location
- Bells and Chimes· organization
- Level One League· organization
- Pinball Profile· organization
- Carrie· person
- Dr. Richard Horowitz· person
- Holly Koskinen· person
- Jeff Teolis· person
- Jen Rupert· person
- Priyanka· person
- Rachel· person
- Rhonda Wamsley· person
- Tish Edwards· person
- Lyme disease· product
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