Love What You Play

In this episode, we talk about Duff's book The Tao of Sport: Reflecting on Purpose, Passion, and Growth and the observations of the athletic world that ultimately inspired him to write it. He discusses the various stages of his career, from participating in multiple sports during his youth to working as a firefighter, competing in the Olympics, and the insight he gained from being a coach. Find out more here: https://www.darkhorseathletic.ca/general-6 Duff is a speaker, coach, advocate, and father, who aims to develop athleticism and foster an intrinsic love for sport. He spent the better part of three decades in the world of Olympic sport, and was also a provincial champion speed skater and a national champion in bobsleigh. He competed from 1999 to 2006 when he won gold in the Men’s Skeleton Race, making him the oldest Canadian Winter Games Gold Medalist and the oldest Individual Winter Gold Medalist in the world. Table of Contents 0:00 - Intro 2:40 - Growing up playing sports 7:45 - Origin of th

In this episode, we talk about the origin of Athlete Intelligence and how they have adapted to recent circumstances, as well as their goals and plans moving forward. Chris goes into detail about the study of concussions and the services that his organization provides - specifically, discussing how the mindset around head injuries and prevention methods in the sport world has changed over the years. Find out more here: https://www.athleteintelligence.com/ As a former LAX player and current LAX coach, Chris is involved with a number of efforts to help kids stay healthy and safe while having fun in their sports. Currently living in Washington State, he is passionate about lacrosse, volunteering, and his work with young people. Table of Contents 0:00 - Intro 2:05 - Growing up playing sports 6:10 - Benefits of multi-sport participation 8:35 - Concussion data 14:40 - Rowan’s Law and safety products 19:30 - Priorities for Athlete Intelligence 23:25 - Research timeline and business model 28:1

In this episode, we talk about Allison's journey from her commitment as a student athlete to her experiences in the Olympics, and what led her to the field of Safe Sport. She discusses how the perspective on abuse is shifting and what still needs improvement, as well as offering suggestions for organizations that want to implement a new system. Find out more here: https://www.itpsport.ca/ Allison is a business leader focusing on the prevention and case management of maltreatment, who has worked with the federal government and the public sector to create a safer, high-performance system. With 12+ years of business development, operations, marketing, communications, and leadership experience, she is now a consultant and advisor to sports brands and organizations at all levels. Table of Contents 0:00 - Intro 1:20 - Growing up playing sports 3:45 - "Over-specialization" vs. long-term development 6:10 - Allison's skiing career and the Olympics 10:00 - Her path to working in Safe Sport 18:25 - Changes in t

In this episode, we talk about how sports were a part of Jacques's life growing up and his journey to going pro. He shares his advice for young athletes, coaches and parents alike, focusing on the issues of multisport participation, respect, nutrition, and supporting players' health. Find out more and purchase Jacques's books here: https://www.amazon.com/Jacques-Ladouceur/e/B08VDMRMGY?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2&qid=1637260688&sr=1-2 Jacques was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and immigrated to New York City with his family in December of 1969. After playing for the US National Soccer Team for two years, he went on to play professionally for 11 years and was a member of six championship teams before he went into coaching and the business world. He has worked as an entrepreneur and has also consulted executives and managers of various companies; he is currently a business coach with Buffini & Company. Table of Contents 00:00 - Intro 2:03 - How old were you when you moved to NYC? 5:49 - When did yo

Dr. Julie Stamm is a neuroscientist, anatomist, athletic trainer, researcher, and sports lover. She is also the author of The Brain on Youth Sports: The Science, the Myths, and the Future. In this episode, we talk about Dr. Stamm's recently published book The Brain on Youth Sports, which tackles the issue of repetitive brain trauma in youth sports and their health consequences. By reading the book, Dr. Stamm hopes that consumers will be equipped to make well-informed decisions. Find out more and purchase Dr. Stamm's book here: https://www.juliestamm.com/book Dr. Stamm has done extensive research and published many works in the areas of concussions, sub-concussive impacts, CTE, and the consequences of repetitive brain trauma in youth. Through her many publications and online presence, her mission is to debunk the myths around repetitive brain trauma and concussions in sports and explain the science so that it is easy for everyone to understand. Table of Contents 00:00 - Intro 01:14 - How Dr. Stamm came

Lindsay Goulet is an advocate for Buddy Check For Jesse and Director of Exercise Programming and Education for Habit Lifestyle Medicine. Rob Pallante is a former NCAA Div 1 hockey player and the founder of Mindset Body Bank. In this episode, we talk with with Lindsay Goulet about how Buddy Check For Jesse came to be, and how the organization has helped Lindsay's son Owen with his anxiety and talking about mental health with his hockey teammates. Buddy Check For Jesse is a charity founded by Stu Gershman - a dad, sports medicine physician, and a volunteer youth coach - with the goal of de-stigmatizing, educating, and supporting our youth with mental health, through the power of coaches and sport. We also discuss Rob's journey as a hockey player, his near-death motorcycle experience, and his professional business career, and how they all motivated him to become a mindset coach for high performance, conscious-minded athletes and individuals who are looking to develop an invincible mindset. Table of Contents

Ryan Phillips is a former pro hockey player, published author, and TEDx speaker. Rob Pallante is a former NCAA Div 1 hockey player and the founder of Mindset Body Bank! In this episode, we talk about Ryan's experience in professional hockey and his struggle with mental health, as well as the dramatic events that motivated him to spread the power of positivity and focused thought around the globe. From being barred from the United States and his daughter, and then traveling the world to find happiness, Ryan's incredible life experiences have been recorded in a published book and in a documentary. We also discuss Rob's journey as a hockey player, his near-death motorcycle experience, and his professional business career, and how they all motivated him to become a mindset coach for high performance, conscious-minded athletes and individuals who are looking to develop an invincible mindset. Table of Contents 00:00 - Intro 01:04 - Ryan’s early beginnings in hockey and sports 03:10 - Ryan’s misdiagnosis

Kevin Rempel is a Canadian sledge hockey 2013 world champion with a 2014 Paralympic bronze medal, and the founder of The Sledge Hockey Experience. Rob Pallante is a former NCAA Div 1 hockey player and the founder of Mindset Body Bank! In this episode, we talk about Kevin's life experiences and how they led him to play for Team Canada. After being paralyzed in a motor cross accident in 2006, having to learn to walk again, and then losing his dad, Kevin has shown extreme resilience in overcoming adversity. The discussion reveals why he ended up becoming a mindset resilience coach and how he ultimately created Kevin Rempel & Associates Inc. Kevin is now focusing on building the game of sledge hockey with The Sledge Hockey Experience, inspiring others as a keynote speaker, and coaching leaders using the Resilience Toolbox. We also discuss Rob's journey as a hockey player, his near-death motorcycle experience, and his professional business career, and how they all motivated him to become a mindset coach for

Jason Podollan is a NHL Alumnus and the founder of Up My Hockey. Rob Pallante is a former NCAA Div 1 hockey player and the founder of Mindset Body Bank! In this episode, we talk about Jason's story as an NHL player and how he has now harnessed his experiences to teach the modalities of mindset, nutrition, fitness, and high performance. Up My Hockey shows clients how to empower and rebrand themselves to directly impact those they care about most.  We also discuss Rob's journey as a hockey player, his near-death motorcycle experience, and his professional business career, and how they all motivated him to become a mindset coach for high performance, conscious-minded athletes and individuals who are looking to develop an invincible mindset. Table of Contents 00:00 - Intro 01:00 - Rob’s origins as a Toronto hockey player and his draft pick experience  03:00 - Rob’s motorcycle accident and how that drove him to found Mindset Body Bank 05:30 - Jason’s story of being in the NHL and the mental toll

Dan Blackburn is a coach and the founder of National Training Centres Hockey, as well as the creator of the Pillars of Greatness curriculum. In this episode, we talk about Dan's journey to success as a coach, author, and father, despite his hardships. Dan has trained thousands of athletes, including PK Subban of the NJ Devils, two-time Stanley Cup champion David Bolland, and Stanley Cup champion Tyler Sequin of the Dallas Stars. We also go over NTC Hockey's mission of teaching athletes how to see and experience their greatness both on and off the ice, and to produce the most dominant hockey players in the game. Table of Contents 00:00 - Introduction 01:25 - Where Dan grew up, his family challenges, and what sports he played as a kid 04:42 - How he got involved in hockey coaching and his tryouts anecdote 09:20 - His motivation to coach hockey at a young age and what age groups he coached 12:13 - How he started with off-ice training and set out to prove its benefits for athletes 16:37 - Bein

Owen McBride is an accomplished athlete who recently founded Private Coaching Co. alongside his team to create positive sport experiences for youth athletes of all skill levels and ages. In this episode, we talk about Owen's journey as a decorated soccer player as well as playing other sports, receiving 2 silver medals in the AAA Provincial Championships, a bronze medal in the Sportcheck Canadian National Championship, and a silver medal in the BC Summer Games. We also discuss how his story motivated him to change the sport experience for millions of kids worldwide with Private Coaching Co., which aims to provide one-on-one and small group sports training sessions. Table of Contents 00:00 - Introduction 01:15 - Where Owen grew up and his opinion on playing multiple sports 03:21 - What makes sports fun 05:56 - Being forced to specialize in a sport at a young age and why Owen chose soccer over baseball 09:11 - Why Owen began the journey of Private Coaching Co., single-sport burnout, and the physical and

Kris Beech is a former NHL alumni, mindfulness facilitator, and the founder and CEO of Aimability. In this episode, we talk about his journey in hockey from being drafted 7th overall, to playing in the NHL (including playing on the same line with Mario Lemieux), to his pro experience in Europe and transition to completing a masters in Sports Management - and how his thesis is now coming to fruition through the Aimability platform. Table of Contents 00:00 - Introduction 01:30 - Where Kris grew up and what sports he played as a kid 07:10 - His path in hockey, getting drafted 7th overall in the NHL, and concerns with drafting kids very early 17:14 - How to manage expectations and mental health challenges when entering pro hockey 19:46 - His best NHL hockey career anecdotes with Michel Therrien, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Nashville 22:26 - His backstory with Shea Weber 23:10 - The back and forth of getting traded within the NHL 28:47 - His experience dealing with Major Depressive Disor

Dana has received many accolades for her amazing work growing the game for girls. She was named by the Toronto Star as one of the top 12 Canadian Change Makers, made it into the Canadian Baseball Network's top 100 list of most influential Canadians in the sport, and was also named an RBC Woman of Influence and awarded a 2021 Meritorious Service Medal by the Governor General of Canada. Table of Contents 00:13 - Intro and Dana’s background 02:52 - The rise of Canadian Girls Baseball 04:22 - Effects of the pandemic on growth of sports programs 07:00 - Outcomes and adaption to COVID restrictions for sports programs 09:25 - Demand for youth sports camps resulting from COVID online fatigue 13:36 - Keeping girls motivated about sports as they grow older 14:47 - Catering sports camps toward 3-4 year old kids to keep them engaged 17:33 - Certifying coaches for girls' baseball 19:14 - Differences between coaching boys and girls 23:46 - Expanding Canadian Girls Baseball into British Columbia

Steve Boyle is widely recognized as the national leader in sport sampling and physical literacy in the United States. He is a former Division 1 athlete and has nearly 30 years of experience in counseling, teaching, working with children with cancer, athletic and life coaching, as well as multiple entrepreneurial successes. Steve’s mission is to leave a sustainable legacy that will allow every citizen to gain the ability, balance, confidence, desire and explorative nature to be physically active for life. Recognized by the Aspen Institute’s Sport and Society Program in the original Project Play report for his sport-sampling approach, Steve works tirelessly to combat specialization in youth sports and wants physical literacy to be as commonplace and as expected as reading literacy and numeracy. Table of Contents 0:00 - Introduction 1:30 - Steve's story and 2-4-1 Sports 13:30 - Overexertion and injury from specializing in one sport 22:35 - Balancing school and sport 31:35 - Change in sport relationships as

Dr. Tommy Gerschman received his MD from the University of British Columbia and is a practicing Pediatric Rheumatologist (FRCPC). He is the Chair of the Doctors of BC Athletics and Recreation Committee and is the former Medical Director at Fortius Sport & Health. He works with a wide range of children, including recreational and elite athletes (and dancers). He also enjoys promoting physical activity and sport involvement for children with chronic diseases, such as Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. Table of Contents 0:00 - Introduction 6:38 - Arthritis symptoms 8:00 - COVID and rheumatology 14:40 - Youth sport injuries 18:17 - Burnout 26:53 - Growth spurts and injuries 35:07 - Bio-banding 45:30 - Returning after COVID 52:58 - Concussions 1:01:14 - Outro The interview featured on this episode of the Love What You Play podcast originally debuted on the For the Love of the Game Summer Virtual Summit 2020. To learn more about our upcoming summits and events with featured speakers, head to forthelove

Lewall's introduction to gymnastics happened by chance: she started her career as a physical education teacher, and part of her degree at UBC involved learning about that sport. Upon completion of her degree, her first teaching posting was at Steveston Senior Secondary, and at the start of the school year some students approached her about starting a gymnastics club. Table of Contents 0:00 - Introduction 8:22 - What is physical literacy? 13:25 - The importance of free play 17:07 - Parenting with free play 21:04 - Interactions 25:18 - Easing up on the challenges 35:48 - Kids’ opinions 39:30 - Post-COVID free play 49:52 - Conclusions The interview featured on this episode of the Love What You Play podcast originally debuted on the For the Love of the Game Summer Virtual Summit 2020. To learn more about our upcoming summits and events with featured speakers, head to fortheloveofthegame.ca/events

Nathan Baldwin has spent over 17 years engaged in developing quality sport programs for all ages - advocating for inclusion, progressive skill development, quality coaching, and lifelong enjoyment of the game. His ability to develop and facilitate a cohesive program culture has led to the delivery of nationally renowned, high-engagement, growth-oriented recreational sports programs. Table of Contents 0:00 - Intro 3:07 - Free play 9:17 - A fast-paced life 13:08 - Reluctance about a return to play 30:41 - Community 44:32 - What feels right 53:55 - What’s next? 58:24 - Outro The interview featured on this episode of the Love What You Play podcast originally debuted on the For the Love of the Game Summer Virtual Summit 2020. To learn more about our upcoming summits and events with featured speakers, head to fortheloveofthegame.ca/events

Janis is a mother of three children who are very active in the sports community and is the founder of Raising Champion Families, which uses coaching, mentoring and blogging to support sports families. As a certified life coach, she wants to help families reestablish their connectivity and navigate through their children's changes. Table of Contents 0:00 - Intro 7:20 - Communicating with parents in COVID 11:29 - Predictions for the future 24:13 - New equipment needed 31:03 - Shifting online 34:15 - Addressing pain points 40:30 - Youth sports 47:50 - Outro The interview featured on this episode of the Love What You Play podcast originally debuted on the For the Love of the Game Summer Virtual Summit 2020. To learn more about our upcoming summits and events with featured speakers, head to fortheloveofthegame.ca/events

As the Executive Director of Semiahmoo Minor Hockey Association and a Sledge Hockey Technical Delegate in the Paralympic International Committee, David Newson provides strong insights on how COVID has impacted the sports world. In this episode we discuss the short-term and long-term implications of the pandemic. Table of Contents 0:00 - Introduction 8:40 - Changes in the Olympics 12:34 - Impacts of COVID 32:21 - Restrictions on sports in COVID 35:49 - Taking the time to plan 42:36 - Training during COVID 49:13 - Conclusion The interview featured on this episode of the Love What You Play podcast originally debuted on the For the Love of the Game Summer Virtual Summit 2020. To learn more about our upcoming summits and events with featured speakers, head to fortheloveofthegame.ca/events

Rosemary has been involved at the elite level of basketball for more than 30 years – specifically as a referee at WNBL and SEABL level for 19 years. The first female to referee men’s games at the elite level, she has been coaching juniors in VJBL for 20 years, and is the assistant coach at SEABL Level and development coach for Melbourne Tigers NBL. Table of Contents 0:00 - Introduction 7:34 - Acceptance in the men’s game 13:50 - Parents’ “ambition” 19:42 - Post-COVID changes 24:04 - Upcoming changes 33:53 - Lack of funding 43:13 - Positive interactions 54:18 - Undervalued referees 58:22 - Mentorship 1:08:06 - Conclusion The interview featured on this episode of the Love What You Play podcast originally debuted on the For the Love of the Game Summer Virtual Summit 2020. To learn more about our upcoming summits and events with featured speakers, head to fortheloveofthegame.ca/events