The SPORTi Podcast

EPISODE 40 Building Global Pathways with Joe Parolini & @TorontoBlizzard In this episode of The SPORTi Podcast, host Laura sits down with Joe Parolini , owner of the historic Toronto Blizzard soccer academy , as he joins us from his hometown of Napoli, Italy , to share updates on his international soccer ventures and athlete development programs in Toronto. Joe reflects on the club’s deep root...

In this episode of The SPORTi Podcast, host  Laura  interviews athletes  Hailey  (@hailey.soccer_3) and  Vanessa  (@vwl0122), two Canadian soccer players from the Toronto area who now play collegiate D1 soccer in the United States at  Wagner College  @wag_wsoccer.   The conversation explores their journey from playing youth soccer with the  Toronto Blizzard  @torontoblizzard to earning opportuniti...

In this episode of The SPORTi Podcast, host Laura sits with Coach Kevin and his 2016 DNLP boys’ soccer team. @dnlp_futcol The discussion highlights the academy’s philosophy of developing a passion for soccer while emphasizing enjoyment, teamwork, and personal growth. Coach Kevin, originally from Chile, explains that DNLP focuses on nurturing players’ love for the game rather than just winning, wit...

In this episode of The SPORTi Podcast, host Pam is joined by Tamara Giaquinto — standout Canadian hockey player from Boston University, who captained the team in 2024–25, earned the 2024 Hockey East Defender of the Year title, and was recently drafted by PWHL Montreal — along with her longtime mentor, Rob Nixon of SCORE Hockey School Tamara traces her path from boys' Timbits to Brampton Canade...

In this episode of  The SPORTi Podcast , host  Laura  sits down with  Coach Lexi —pro player turned performance coach and founder of  Female Soccer Fitness (FSF) . From tearing her ACL three times to earning a scholarship at TMU, playing League1 Ontario, and signing a pro deal in Portugal, Lexi shares how she rebuilt confidence, why “ be where your feet are ” is her mantra, and the work she uses t...

In this episode of The SPORTi Podcast, Pam sits down with Mike Fuoco, head coach of the Etobicoke Dolphins U15 AA team, to dive deep into the world of girls’ hockey in Ontario. Mike shares his personal journey from playing and coaching in Brampton to becoming a leader in the female game, inspired by his sister’s hockey career. He explains how the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association (OWHA) structure...

In this episode of The SPORTi Podcast, host Pam sits with multi-sport athlete  Maliya Holder  who shares her journey from growing up in a hockey family to discovering her true passion for Lacrosse. She opens up about tough decisions—like leaving hockey behind—her time with Oakville, The Toronto Rock, and now a U.S. club, and the sacrifices it takes to chase NCAA D1 dreams. Maliya gives valuable ad...

In this episode of The SPORTi Podcast, Laura sits down with Rachel Bugera, a former figure skater and competitive soccer player who has turned her athletic journey into a mission of service and empowerment through @youth.initiatives.cd Rachel shares her experiences growing up in sport—the tough decision to leave figure skating for soccer, the highs of team camaraderie, and the lows of toxic coachi...

In this episode, host Laura speaks with Sijad (Coach S) and Farshad (Coach F), twin brothers and founders of  Game Awareness , a Toronto-based soccer development program that has made waves both locally and internationally. The program began with one-on-one sessions focusing on a critical skill:  game awareness -  including scanning, quick decision-making, and spatial awareness. After a coaching t...

In this deeply reflective conversation, Martin from NorthToronto Soccer Club (@nt_soccerclub) shares his personal journey through semi to pro soccer, playing overseas , and eventually coaching—highlighting the transformative power ofmentorship and personal accountability. He credits much of his growth to mentors who didn't hand-hold but rather pointed him in the right direction, leaving the re...

In this episode of  The SPORTi Podcast , Laura sits down with Juan Patarroyo, co-founder and coach at AthElite Lab in Milton, Ontario. Juan shares how his personal soccer journey—shaped by university-level play and a major ACL injury—ultimately led him to discover a passion for coaching and youth development. AthElite Lab was born out of a desire to offer elite-level, small group training focused...

In this inspiring episode, Coach Maria Procopio shares her journey from playing youth soccer in Vaughan, Ontario to coaching at Sheridan College and building a wide-reaching private training and travel soccer program for girls. A former professional player in Italy and a certified coach with international experience, Maria speaks passionately about creating access and exposure for young female ath...

In this episode of  The SPORTi Podcast , host Pam speaks with Greg Evans - a hockey dad, coach, and former player about his lifelong journey through the sport. Greg reflects on his early days playing in the NYHL and GTHL, his time at Metro Prep during the early academy era, and his brief experience with the University of Guelph team. Greg shares how finding the right school environment helped him...

In this inspiring episode of  The SPORTi Podcast , host Laura sits down with three key figures from  Genesis Football Academy  —  founder Steve Jackman ,  head coach Les Smith , and b usiness consultant Alicia Lashley . Together, they explore the academy’s mission to elevate girls’ soccer in the Greater Toronto Area by focusing not just on skill development, but on shaping confident, well-rounded...

In this powerful episode, Pam and Laura sit down with Rob Pallante, founder of Mindset Body Bank, to unpack his incredible journey from OHL draft pick to mindset coach. Rob shares how early success in hockey masked his lack of mental preparation for adversity, leading to challenges throughout his NCAA career at Michigan Tech and beyond. He reflects on how identity, ego, and the absence of mental c...

In this episode of The SPORTi Podcast, Laura sits down with Sam, the Marketing Director and Head of Community Relations at Burlington Soccer Club. Sam shares her inspiring journey from coaching in York Region to leading through a pandemic and eventually landing at Burlington. She reflects on the challenges of keeping a non-profit sports club afloat during COVID-19, the shift to virtual training, a...

In this episode of the The SPORTi Podcast host Laura sits down with Evan Bombino, owner and head coach of Rebel Soccer Academy, to explore his powerful journey from being a multi-sport athlete to a passionate coach and program builder. Evan shares how his father's legacy in Canadian soccer shaped his early sports experiences, and how a career-ending knee injury led him to discover his true cal...

In this inspiring episode, The SPORTi Podcast host Laura sits down with Chelsea Spencer, founder of Empower Futbol and former D1 athlete, to discuss the evolution of youth soccer, the gaps girls face in the sport today, and what needs to change. Chelsea shares her personal journey — from growing up in Burlington’s club system to playing NCAA Division 1 soccer, transitioning into coaching, and even...

In this episode of the The SPORTi Podcast, Hosts Pam and Laura sit down with Brandon from Shield Athletics, a high-performance development center based in Burlington, Ontario.  Brandon  shares his powerful journey from a pro-hockey career to building a full-circle athlete development facility. Drawing from his own experiences with pressure, failure, and adversity in sport, he emphasizes the import...

In this episode, Sly Walters returns to discuss the importance of understanding child development stages and how parents can support their children in sports and life. The conversation covers the impact of coaching styles on self-esteem, the role of social media in shaping self-perception, and the significance of communication between parents and children. Sly emphasizes the need for self-love and...

In this episode of The SPORTi Podcast Host Pam sits down with Jacquelynn—a lifelong athlete, coach, and lacrosse advocate—to dive into the often-overlooked world of youth lacrosse in Canada. From discovering her passion in high school to working with the Ontario Lacrosse Association and Toronto Rock, Jacquelynn shares her journey in both field and box lacrosse. Now a mother of two boys, she talks...

In this heartfelt and insightful episode of The  SPORTi Podcast  hosts Laura and Pam sit down with Asia Mape, founder of @theilovetowatchyouplay and a veteran sports journalist turned youth sports advocate. Asia shares her personal journey into sports parenting, reflecting on how her experiences with her three daughters transformed her approach to youth athletics. She candidly discusses the emotio...

In this episode of The SPORTi  Podcast , hosts Laura and Pam sit down with Dave, General Manager at Top Sports Oakville, to dive into the value of multi-sport development for young athletes. Dave shares his personal journey from growing up in Oakville playing soccer, hockey, and football, to coaching in the GTHL, and ultimately leaving the corporate world to follow his passion in youth sport devel...

In this episode of The  SPORTi Podcast , hosts Pam and Vanesa sit down with Issy Wunder, a standout NCAA women's hockey player at Princeton University. Issy shares her inspiring story, from being the only girl on a boys’ house league team to captaining her U22 team to a provincial championship. She reflects on how she fell in love with the game after watching her cousin play, her early struggl...

In this inspiring episode of The SPORTi Podcast host Laura sits down with Zak Drake — a professional soccer player, world class athlete, and founder of CanXL Soccer — to unpack his incredible journey from Ottawa's backyard fields to professional stadiums across Brazil, Germany, Australia, and the U.S. Zak shares how growing up in a soccer-centered family, playing two years up with his brother,...