Breaking the Ice

Sarita Francis, engaged to Jordan Scarlett, who plays professional football in the NFL, joined me for an episode of Breaking the Ice. One thing I have learned from this lifestyle is that regardless of which sport you are in, our lifestyles are so similar. We experience very unique life experiences, struggles, highs, lows and everything in between!   In this episode, we chat about:    -The NFL and...

Brittany Wedgewood, wife of Scott Wedgewood who plays in the NHL for the Dallas Stars, and Emma Winnitoy, girlfriend of Mitchell Stephens, who plays in the NHL for the Montreal Canadiens, join me for a friendship therapy sesh today!   We had so much fun catching up and updating each other about the summer and upcoming plans for the year and season ahead. We chat about new teams, post wedding blues...

Annessa Smith, wife of Jeff Smith, who plays for EHC Neuwied in the Del 4, joins me on Breaking the Ice today. Annessa has been living the hockey life for 13 years and in this episode we chat about:   Her mom passing away during the hockey season Embracing the culture that you’re in and leaning into it How to find things going on in the city that you live in Her birth experience in Germany  How it...

Madison Marshall, wife of Ben Marshall, who plays in Ingolstadt, Germany in the DEL, joins me on Breaking the Ice today and I could have talked to her for five more hours. Madison has been doing all of my brand management and has been such an asset, turned friend! If you want to listen to a relatable AF episode….this one is for you.   We chat about: Madison having an identical twin and anything yo...

Kaitlin Yakura, wife of Dean Yakura, who finished last season in the ECHL for the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, joins me on Breaking the Ice and shares with me her journey of finding out she has Stage 3 Melanoma at age 25.   In this Episode we discuss:   Getting Diagnosed with cancer and what this emotional process looked like for her What she had going on in her life and how it had to be put on hold...

Camilla Emilie Jacobsen, engaged to Emil Bejmo, who plays for the Manglerud Star in Oslo, Norway, joins me on the pod today. Camilla and I met when she flew from Norway to Nashville for the retreat and I was so excited to see her face via zoom and chat with her.   In this episode we talk about:   -How Camilla works as a customs officer in the largest airport in Norway -Her and her husband are from...

Kecia Sheahan, wife of Riley Sheahan, who finished last season in the NHL playing for the Seattle Kraken, comes on Breaking the Ice today and we chat about all everything within our lifestyle. Kecia was an absolute pleasure to have on the podcast and I had the best time talking with her!   In this episode we talk about: What it was like planning a wedding during a pandemic and how everything turne...

Kayla Alber, wife of Patch Alber, who plays for the Fischtown Penguins (Germany) in the DEL, joins me for the first episode of Season 3. Kayla has been going to Europe for 5 hockey seasons and knows the ropes of packing and preparation for moving overseas!   In this episode we talk about: How you can find the essentials in other countries and packing things from home is all about preference The cu...

What an incredible season two it has been with you all. For the last episode of season two, I wanted to jump on and share some life updates, recap season two, talk about what's to come with season three and take you along for the ride. Even though the pod is taking a minor summer break, I will still be super active on the Instagram page and chatting with you all! Thank you for being a part of this...

Abby Grimaldi, wife of Rocco Grimaldi, who plays for the Nashville Predators in the NHL, is a hockey wife and Christian based musician from Grand Forks, North Dakota. Abby is an amazing human and this episode will inspire you all.   In this episode, we chat about:   Moving and starting over and Abby’s outlook on fresh starts Growing up in a traditional home and never moving around to transitioning...

Amanda Wick, wife of Jeremy Wick, who plays in Switzerland for the Rapperswil-Jona Lakers in the National League, and I sit down and have a conversation on all things traveling with kids. In this episode, we each share all the tips and advice to hopefully help you prepare as best as possible.   In this episode we cover: Ages 0-5 years old. We break down what you need to bring with you and what you...

Erinn Hakstol, wife of Dave Hakstol, who is the head coach for the Seattle Kraken in the NHL, joins me on Breaking the Ice today!   In this episode, we chat about:  How her and her husband met being 8 years apart! What covid looked like for them as a family and how her and her kids were apart from Dave for over six months  Home schooling older kids during a pandemic  Long distance Growing through...

Taylor Cook is a women’s professional hockey player and a mindset coach! Taylor’s boyfriend, Eeli Parviainen, is the strength and conditioning + assistant coach in Bremerhaven, Germany in the DEL. In this episode we chat about: The pay equity between mens and women's hockey The U18 World Championships getting canceled for women but mens continuing on  How she got started in her career Men’s mental...

Stacey Kasdorf, wife of Jason Kasdorf, joins me on the podcast today. Stacey is a mom to three little girls, a business owner, influencer, blogger and wife. With this being a busy time of year, I thought this would be a great time to dive into the topics of motherhood, marriage + me time and how they all are intertwined.   In this episode we chat about: One of Stacey's hardest times as a mom How o...

Julie Johnson, engaged to Tim Branham, who is the assistant coach of the Colorado Eagles in the AHL,  joins me on Breaking the Ice today! Tim was the head coach of the Utah Grizzles in the ECHL for 8 years and this is their first season making the big move to the AHL. In this episode, we discuss how it seems “against the rules” to co-mingle with coaches wives and players wives and how we can chang...

Victoria Arlen is a ESPN + MBC Host, Gold Medalist, Dancing with the Stars Contestant and Author, to name a few, joins me on the podcast today!   When Victoria was 11 years old, she developed two very rare conditions and lost the ability to walk, talk, communicate but she heard everything that people were saying for FOUR years. She was completely locked in her body.   In this episode we talk about...

Today is a solo episode with me, your host! I started to feel that roadtrip, middle of the season burn out creep in a couple of weeks ago and once I processed my emotions, I wanted to share this episode with you all.   In this episode I talk about:   The Mental Load of Responsibilities  Stepping into the role as the primary caretaker of kids, pets, household responsibilities but also feeling the o...

Gretchen Geraghty, girlfriend of Max Willman, who plays for the Philadelphia Flyers in the NHL, joins me today on Breaking the Ice. Gretchen currently resides in Allentown, PA and her boyfriend is 1.5 hours away in Philadelphia living the hotel life!   In this episode we talk about:   The uncertainties of the hockey life When they decided to move in together Long Distance Covid and how that affect...

Danielle Fraser, wife of Jamie Fraser, who plays in Villach, Austria in the ICEHL, joins me today for a late night happy hour! Danielle and I had an absolute blast chatting virtually. We have had so many mutual connections and she has also spent six hockey seasons in Vienna herself! (where my husband plays now). Her and Jamie have been together for 15 years and they now travel the globe with their...

Jenn Army, wife of Derek Army, who is the Head Coach of the Wheeling Nailers in the ECHL, joins me on Breaking the Ice today! Even though she is a coach's wife now, she started off as a player's girlfriend/wife and they went through long distance for 9 years! Jenn is a teacher and she shares about how difficult it was to get time off to go visit and really having to plan her time off around what w...

Brittany Wedgewood, wife of Scott Wedgewood, who plays for the Arizona Coyotes in the NHL, joins me on the podcast today for the seventh time?! Brit and I really needed a good catch up episode and I know you all love hearing her on the podcast so we had to make it happen! Some of the things we chit chat in this episode are: Brittany and Scott's new home in Arizona The January Lull and why it seems...

Jamie Machacek, wife of Spencer Machacek, who plays for Wolfsburg in the DEL, joins me over a virtual glass of wine on the podcast today. Jamie + I have been chatting for so long after we discover the same love for the show Nashville. (Naming her son and my dog after it!)  We’ve talked about all the mom things over the past year and I was so excited to finally meet her virtually IRL on the podcast...

Dr. Sarah Sweetnam, wife of Erik Gudbranson, who plays for the Calgary Flames in the NHL, joins me on the podcast today. Before we talked about dentistry, we talked a bit about Sarah's hockey journey, thus far. She shares how her husband got traded six days after Sarah gave birth. She had to wait five weeks before finally joining him in Nashville (They are Canadian!) We also chat about what COVID...

Ilyssa has lived her entire life in Florida and adventured to the other side of the pond for her first season overseas. In this episode we dive into: How you can lose yourself when you begin to date someone new or lose yourself in this lifestyle and how to identify this within yourself  Darkness and how challenging it is when it becomes dark so early Finding what you love to do and learning about...

Jeanie Prapavessis, wife of Matt Prapavessis, who plays in Vienna Austria for the Vienna Capitals, sat down with me over wine and we had a great conversation about all of the things.   We dive into:   Lockdowns- What it has been like as Americans living in Austria during yet another lockdown. We chat about the frustration, confusion on rules and of course, what we’re watching during lockdown.   We...