A Pane in the Glass Podcast

In this episode of "A Pane In The Glass Podcast" we take a look at the hottest of hot  brushing topics, the density of the foam under the compliant fabric on a curling brush. To do that I have taken excerpts from an article on "Curling Zone" (an excellent website) followed by a chat with Eugene Hritzuk. Eugene has been my guest on previous occasions when I needed someone close...

The title of today's episode of "A Pane In The Glass Podcast" says it all. I reprise an article from my blog site (truenorthbill.blogspot.com) for an article based upon an interview with Dr. John Dunn with a journalist from the Edmonton Journal. That's followed by a sound bite by sport psychologist Eli Straw on "Mental Skills For Young Athletes" (including some hands-...

This episode of "A Pane In The Glass Podcast" is an interview with Nick Saturnino of Inuvik, Northwest Territories which is located 200 km. north of The  Arctic Circle. He's a "northern light" in that far north community as he creates youth curling programmes with challenges that most youth co-ordinators may never have to face. Many of those challenges are a result of geog...

The title of today's episode of "A Pane In The Glass Podcast" says it all. Does your team play to win or does it play not to lose?  My friend Leslie Gerard sent another email I felt worthy of sharing. It's about playing a team that you know is more skilled and experienced. I respond to Leslie offering up a way to give your team at least a chance to still win the game.  There&ap...

In this episode of "A Pane In The Glass Podcast" I use an episode from CNN's excellent podcast series with Dr. Sanjay Gupta ("Chasing Life"). This one was about alcohol and a project with Dr. Jason Kilmer at the University of Washington but it wasn't just another lecture about the negative effects of alcohol. This one is very different and for some, as you will hear m...

My Guest for this episode of "A Pane In The Glass Podcast" is Graham Prouse, who for many years, until he recently termed out, was a Vice President of "World Curling". He explains how an international sport organization meets the needs of a group of member countries that now numbers in excess of seventy and its still growing. The Restless Ranter also pays a visit with his view...

In this episode of "A Pane In The Glass Podcast" you will hear excellent questions originally posed by Coach Andrea Ronnebeck of Northern Ontario. Andrea is currently the Education Manager for the Ontario Curling Council. Her questions deal with team roles and responsibilities. That's followed by a sound bite by a sport psychologist (name unknown) who shares seven tips about why som...

In this episode of "A Pane In The Glass Podcast" I revisit performance, specifically a  performance formula and that's not to say that there IS a scientific way to ensure performance but rather some of the components required to promote a great performance.  Before the episode concludes I touch on some other topics you many find interesting and hopefully helpful so check out the &qu...

In this episode of "A Pane In The Glass Podcast" I rummage around in the compressor room for my pebble can to touch on a number of topics. They include ice reading, brushing (again), episode transcripts, a team dynamics activity for your team, statistics v. competitive data, systems and bullet proofing one's curling delivery. Hopefully there's something in this episode that wil...

This episode of "A Pane In The Glass Podcast" is not a grammar lesson. It IS about two pairs of synonyms we use regularly in curling and many times we use them incorrectly and the differences in their meanings can have relevance to your team's performance. You will then hear the audio of a promotional video from The Chester Curling Club in Chester NS. Enjoy its creativity and the me...

In this episode of "A Pane In The Glass Podcast" we are joined by Scott Arnold, Head of Development for World Curling.  Scott and I have known one another for a long time, back to his playing days at Western University and my first coaching position at the University of Waterloo. Much pebble water has been applied to curling ice for us both since those days. We talk about the game over t...

The topic for this episode of "A Pane In The Glass Podcast" is execution tolerance. Don't leave home without it.  In the second portion of the podcast you'll hear a "Ted Talk" by Janne Mortensen, Mental Performance Psychologist. This will be a companion to the very recent episode with Emily Riley ("Emily Has Something To Share With Parents") as the subject o...

In this episode of "A Pane In The Glass Podcast" I take a look at the way the curling stone is released and weight control, in my opinion the most important skill in a sea skills in the sport of curling. I conclude this episode with an email from someone who has listened to all the episodes published to date. Wow, talk about loyal! I have received many messages from Leslie but this one w...

In this episode of "A Pane In The Glass Podcast" Emily Riley returns with wise words for parents of young athletes but what a parent will learn from this episode applies to what children do in all walks of life not just sports.  For those who have been a listener of the podcast back in season #1 you heard Emily in two episodes ("Emily Has Something She Wants To Tell You" [S1E12...

In this episode of "A Pane In The Glass Podcast" I take a look at sports injuries involving young athletes. These athletes are not small sized adults but much too often, an injury arises because an uninformed individual including the athlete's parents or grand parents treat the young athlete as if they were. This is one of those episodes that needs to be forwarded to anyone who has...

In this episode of "A Pane In The Glass Podcast" you'll hear from Dustin Mikush & Bobby Ray of Curling Canada as they pass along diamonds of ideas for your youth programmes. Bobby & Dustin have been guests on the podcast on previous occasions. This time they bring a manifesto of ideas to make your youth programmes tick!  This is another one of the episodes that I encourage y...

In this episode of "A Pane In The Glass Podcast" I touch on a few topics, thus the title Pebble Water and in this case, the 12th version.  First up is a quick revisit to "eye dominance" as it applies to the delivery of a curling stone. Friend and coaching colleague Gerry Richard weighs in with a thought regarding the "trail leg" (go to S3E4 to hear an entire episode w...

The title of this episode of "A Pane In The Glass Podcast" tells it all so no give away here. Suffice to say that this seemingly innocent aspect of a curling delivery, if not given the right care and feeding can lead to big problems!  This episode concludes with another sound bite by the late NC State basketball coach, Jimmy V that I call "Ordinary People"! It’s your turn! Send...

In this episode of "A Pane In The Glass Podcast" we're going back to S2E1 for an update. Now that the curling season is beginning (for those in the northern hemisphere [so apologies to those in the southern hemisphere]), there will be a number of episodes following this one relating to the technical aspects of learning to curl or learning how to be a better curler .   This episode (...

In this episode of "A Pane In The Glass Podcast", Olympian Hans Frauenlob once again shares the microphone this time to recount his role in the 2024 Paralymic Games from his perspective on the media bench.  It’s your turn! Send me your thoughts by texting here!

This episode of "A Pane In The Glass Podcast" takes a look at one of the most important tools in one's tool box, for both coaches and athletes, attitude! If you can never leave your skills at home (something in which I truly believe) leaving the right attitude at home can have a debilitating effect on one's performance regardless of one's skills and experience, but the rig...

In this episode of "A Pane In The Glass Podcast" I reach into the mailbag to respond to some questions sent my way (coachbill@hay.net). Some deal with curling but others revolve around sports in general. I end this episode with another sound bite. Enjoy! It’s your turn! Send me your thoughts by texting here!

In this episode of "A Pane In The Glass Podcast" I talk in more detail about how your team can be the most dangerous team in the competition. You'll hear that at the 02:10 mark. That's followed by three sound bites. The first at 10:05 is with the great tennis player,  Roger Federer. In the second sound bite at 13:45 you will hear the words of PGA golfer Jorden Spieth as he talk...

This episode of "A Pane In The Glass Podcast" pulls the curtain back on the Olympic Games from the perspective of the media. Our guide for this episode is Hans Frauenlob, Olympian (2006 Torino, Italy [curling]) and now a member of the international broadcast consortium that brings the sights and sounds of the Games to various platforms around the globe.  Hans has been the guest of "...

In this episode of "A Pane In The Glass Podcast" you will hear a recording of an episode from another podcast, "Chasing Life", hosted by Dr. Sanjay Gupta, the Chief Medical Correspondent for CNN.  In his episode you will hear from a former Olympic Gold Medalist (Dominique Dawes) and a cognitive scientist and President of Dartmouth College and a former elite athlete in the perso...