Sporting Change

Welcome to another episode of The Sporting Change Podcast !  In this episode, we're tackling a topic that's been at the forefront of many conversations: the participation of trans athletes in sports. With debates surrounding fairness and inclusion heating up, it’s essential to hear from those directly impacted—trans athletes themselves. Today, we’re honored to welcome Schuylar Bailar (he/h...

Welcome to another episode of The Sporting Change Podcast !  Today’s episode is a special one—our very first TED talk-style podcast, where we’ll be sharing “10 Tips to Modern Coaching.” Coaching is both an art and a science that’s constantly evolving. As the safe sport movement advances, so too must our approaches to coaching. In this episode, we’ll dive into redefining success, person-first coach...

Welcome to another episode of The Sporting Change Podcast !  If you joined us for Part 1, you know we dove deep into defining burnout in sports. If you haven’t listened to that episode yet, we highly recommend you go back and check it out, as it sets the foundation for today’s discussion. Today, we’ll be sharing essential tools and strategies to help you prevent burnout before it takes hold, and a...

Welcome to another episode of The Sporting Change Podcast !  In today’s episode, we’re tackling a topic that affects not just coaches, but everyone involved in sports—from athletes to referees, volunteers, administrators, and more: Burnout. In this Part 1 episode, we’ll explore what burnout truly is and how it manifests. We’ll talk about protecting your “yes” at all costs, the real impact of sayin...

Welcome to another episode of The Sporting Change Podcast !  Today, we're diving into a crucial topic for every sports parent out there: "Becoming an All-Star Parent." Whether you're navigating the ups and downs of youth sports or simply want to better support your athlete, this episode is for you! We'll explore how to better regulate your emotions in hard situations, how to...

Welcome back to The Sporting Change Podcast !  Hosts Mat and Raine are here to kick off an exciting Season 3, now fully hosted by Dare to Care. This season is packed with incredible guests and will touch on some very important topics, including how to become an all-star parent and a champion teammate, coping with stress and anxiety, defining and overcoming burnout in sport, the experiences of tran...

In this episode of the Sporting Change Podcast, hosts Mat and Raine introduce a unique twist: instead of asking the questions, they hand over the reins to Lynn Kachmarik for an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) workshop. Returning from season 1, Lynn (she/her) is a renowned figure in sports, and has an impressive background. She captained the United States Women’s National Team for a decade,...

In this episode of the Sporting Change Podcast, hosts Mat and Raine introduce a unique twist: instead of asking the questions, they hand over the reins to Lynn Kachmarik for an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) workshop. Returning from season 1, Lynn (she/her) is a renowned figure in sports, and has an impressive background. She captained the United States Women’s National Team for a decade,...

In Canada, there's a hidden history, a narrative often omitted from our textbooks and classrooms. The reality is stark and the roots of systemic injustices run deep. Our educational curriculum shockingly overlooks the similarities between apartheid laws in South Africa and laws Canada enacted ten years earlier. The seeds of colonization, the residential school system, and the oppressive tactic...

In Canada, there's a hidden history, a narrative often omitted from our textbooks and classrooms. The reality is stark and the roots of systemic injustices run deep. Our educational curriculum shockingly overlooks the similarities between apartheid laws in South Africa and laws Canada enacted ten years earlier. The seeds of colonization, the residential school system, and the oppressive tactic...

If you've enjoyed our conversation with Katrina in her episode "Masculinity & Culture", you won't want to miss this extra 10 minutes of conversation with her!

Recent research surrounding workplace misconduct, bullying, and harassment at large companies point to a pervasive issue that has recently been coined as "masculinity contest culture” (MCC). This culture fosters an environment where employees are encouraged to showcase stereotypically masculine traits like emotional toughness, physical stamina, and ruthlessness to succeed. The competitive nat...

In our society, traditional notions of masculinity, reinforced by phrases like "be a man" and "boys will be boys," carry significant consequences. Men, bound by these unwritten rules, face heightened risks to their mental health, with suicide rates three times higher than those of women. These norms dictate that seeking help is a sign of weakness, emotions signify inadequacy, a...

Leadership in sports extends beyond victories on the field; it encompasses navigating difficult discussions and communicating effectively, positively, and constructively. Today, we delve into the importance of effective communication, recognizing it as a two-way street. Our focus isn't just on delivering inclusive messages but also on honing active listening skills to better understand and emp...

Our guest today, Dr. Cari Din, brings a unique perspective to the table. Not only is she an Olympic silver medalist from the 1996 Atlanta Games, but she's also a trailblazer in education and coaching. From her beginnings in artistic swimming to her extensive academic achievements, including a PhD in "Olympic Medal Winning Leadership Behavior," Cari's journey exemplifies dedicatio...

In this episode, we dive into the profound journey of an athlete, from the initial spark of passion as a young dreamer to the pinnacle of Olympic glory. Our guest, Olympic Champion Erica Wiebe (she/her) epitomizes the embodiment of resilience and dedication in Canadian sports. With an distinguished career spanning 15 years, Erica has not only clinched an Olympic Gold Medal in Freestyle Wrestling b...

In this episode, we dive into the hidden struggles of high-performance athletes, exploring the personal battles behind the victories and defeats. Our guest, Kyra Christmas, an Olympian and advocate for mental health in sports, shares her journey from a small town south of Calgary to becoming a Tokyo 2020 Olympian and a decorated water polo player around the world. As a top scorer and champion of m...

In this episode, we dive into the often overlooked challenges that athletes encounter as they transition from the intense world of sports to life beyond the field. Melinda Harrison, a distinguished athlete and coach from London, Ontario, shares insights into this profound journey. Having earned a full athletic scholarship to the University of Michigan and represented Canada in the 1984 Olympic Gam...

In today's episode, we confront the stark reality that sport, often seen as a catalyst for community, can also be a hostile environment for many. Justin Connelly, a passionate advocate for inclusivity in sports and former member of the Calgary Inclusive Hockey Association Board of Directors, joins Sporting Change to shed light on this issue. Despite his love for hockey, Justin's journey ha...

In this episode, we confront the pressing issue of mental health in collegiate athletics, prompted by alarming dropout and suicide rates among NCAA student-athletes. Despite lavish investments in physical facilities, mental health resources for athletes remain sorely neglected. Colton Underwood, former professional football player turned TV personality and advocate, sheds light on this issue, draw...

Join us for an eye-opening episode as we confront the troubling normalization of interpersonal violence within sports culture. Dr. Sandra Kirby, an educator, activist, and former Olympic rower, leads the discussion, drawing from her extensive career combating harassment, abuse, and homophobia in sports. Throughout her four-decade-long activism, Dr. Kirby's research and advocacy have reshaped e...

Malgré les progrès réalisés en matière d'égalité, des inégalités persistent, en particulier pour les entraîneures et les officielles féminines. Les Jeux olympiques de Tokyo de 2021 ont marqué une étape importante, puisque près de la moitié des participant.e.s étaient des femmes, mais des défis subsistent. Sporting Change est fier de présenter Marie-Claude Deslières, une pionnière du water-polo...

Despite strides towards equality, inequities persist, especially for female coaches and officials. The Tokyo Olympics of 2021 marked a milestone with nearly half of the participants being women, yet challenges remain. Sporting Change proudly presents Marie-Claude Deslieres, a trailblazer in Canadian and global water polo. A 4-time Olympian and now retired referee, her track record is like no other...

Today, we are talking about periods! In fact, a recent global survey reveals concerning trends: half of teenage girls avoid sports due to menstruation-related concerns like embarrassment and fear of leaks. This stigma, coupled with inadequate menstrual education for coaches, creates barriers to women's sports participation. Despite this, 75% of women advocate for open discussions about menstru...

In a world where the media dictates unrealistic body standards, we discuss social norms surrounding body diversity and performance with crossfit games athlete and coach Michele Letendre. Transitioning from a stellar CrossFit career to coaching and entrepreneurship, Letendre will discuss the damaging effects of body image on athletes' physical and mental well-being. Through her own experiences...