Sporting Change

Join us in exploring the dynamic culture of high-performance sports with guest Alayne Hing. In this episode, we peel back the layers of individual values, collective beliefs, and traditions that define this captivating landscape. Athletes navigate not only physical demands but also the pressures, expectations, and unspoken codes of conduct within their sport. Central to our conversation is the cru...

In this episode, we delve into the often overlooked aspect of coaching—managing human behavior and diversity. John Laing, an expert in ADHD and neurodivergence, joins us to shed light on the complexities coaches face in handling the psychological well-being of a diverse range of athletes. As a registered psychologist with extensive experience, John brings a wealth of knowledge, particularly in coa...

"Correction: In the episode our host references the prevalence of Cyberbullying according to StatsCanada. The correct information is 1/4 Canadian youth are targeted (not 1/3) based on the most recent 2019 report here ." The Safe Sport movement, dedicated to fostering inclusive environments for athletes, faces challenges when it comes to monitoring online spaces outside the controlled env...

Get ready for the exciting return of the Sporting Change Podcast: the ultimate sport EDI podcast. Season two has twice as many episodes as season one which means more guests, more content, and more opportunities to make a positive impact in your communities. Our guests this season include university professors, Olympians, professional athletes, sports psychologists, and more. Subscribe to the Spor...

In today’s episode we're tackling a pressing issue that can have profound repercussions  on both physical and mental well-being: Bullying in sports. We're shining a light on behaviors that often carry significant implications for athletes, coaches, and the sport community as a whole. Bullying not only affects the targeted individuals as athletes, but can have a ripple effect in all areas o...

Simon will discuss the challenges newcomers to Canada face in feeling like they belong and highlight the potential of sports and physical activities to help integrate them. Simon will dive deeper into the power of sports in fostering a sense of community, the barriers newcomers encounter when trying to engage in sports, and the crucial role that sports clubs play in creating an inclusive and welco...

In today’s episode, we explores the significant underrepresentation and lack of engagement of Canadians with disabilities in sports, addressing the critical question of how to rectify this stark disparity. to shed light on various facets of this issue, including how to approach athletes with disabilities, the language to use, accommodations for visible and invisible disabilities, and supporting at...

For young gay men, being a part of sports can be a traumatic experience. A study conducted in 2015 by “Out on the Fields'' claimed that 81% of Canadian participants witnessed or experienced homophobia in sports. Additionally, 70% believed that youth sports are not welcoming or safe for LGBTQ+ people. Regardless of the barriers, LGBTQ+ athletes continue to work their way up the ranks in their respe...

Prior to Title IX in 1972, over 90% of female collegiate teams were coached by women. Title IX was a landmark gender equity law which prohibited gender-based discrimination in sport programs. It created equal opportunity to both male and female athletes in areas such as scholarship opportunities, access to training facilities, trainers, equipment and more. 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of Title...

“Black people can’t swim”... This is a common stereotype that is so widespread in our culture that many people actually believe that it is true. While it is a myth…sadly, there is some degree of truth behind it. Due to the repeated history of segregation, Black communities still struggle to access basic swimming lessons around the world and the reality is, knowing how to swim could be the differen...

Conversations surrounding trans-athlete inclusion are more important than ever. Transphobia is a systemic issue and sport is still not a safe, welcoming or inclusive space for trans and non-gender conforming individuals. Unfortunately, sport has a long way to go in this space….however, we are starting to see organizations update their policies and regulations to become more inclusive to the trans...

In the first of a special two-part episode, Mat joins the podcast as a guest to share his story of being a gay coach and athlete in sport. For gay members of the sports community, homophobia and microaggressions are a reality of their sports experience. In this revealing episode, Mat shares his struggle coming out in the sports community, the impact that “being in the closet” had on his performanc...

In the second half of this special two-part episode, Mat Constantin dives deeper into his mental health journey and the challenges he faced growing up gay in a heteronormative society. Lyle Brooks, founder of Men4More, guides us through Mat’s never before told story through the lens of mental health. With great courage, Mat shares his extreme highs and devastating lows to help listeners gain persp...

By the age of 13, 7 out of 10 athletes in North America have quit organized sports. Many of these athletes say that the continuous yelling and criticism from coaches and parents is the number one reason why they quit the sports they once loved. The ‘fun’ in sport has been replaced by a ‘win at all cost’ attitude. Sadly, this shift in approach has led to increased dropout rates, childhood obesity,...

Have you ever stopped to think about your own beliefs? Where do they come from? Should you explore different points of view? Have you ever stayed quiet in a conversation because you were afraid of saying the wrong thing? Ever been unsure how to talk about an issue; worried you might accidentally offend someone? In this episode Dr. Daroux-Cole provides insight on these difficult questions as we wil...

Leadership is defined as the ability for an individual, group or organization to "lead", influence or guide others. At Sporting Change we see coaches, board members, officials, teammates, captains, parents, and even fans as community leaders. Many of our listeners take on leadership roles and have the power to influence the people around them. For that reason the first Sporting Change episode focu...

Sporting Change is the ultimate sports podcast to stay relevant and educated when it comes to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Tune in with Olympic champions, professional athletes, university professors, coaches, officials and influencers as we explore many important topics. During the episodes, some guests will share their lived experiences to help humanize issues, while others will be asked th...