Beneath Sports Podcast

This is a special episode in honour of Truth and Reconciliation Day. We sat down with Taylor McPherson, a Can West and U Sports wrestling champion from the University of Alberta. We discussed her background in wrestling and how she climbed the ranks in the wrestling world. But we also took an in-depth look at her indigenous culture and her fight to reclaim her heritage.

This week, we sat down with Andrew Paris, the founder of the Black Rock Initiative. He is an advocate for bringing the sport of curling to a younger, more diverse generation and creating more representation in the curling coaching ranks. We discussed his upbringing in Summerside, PEI, his experiences coaching the youth and showing that the sport of curling is for everyone whether you are the age of 9 or 99.

This week, we sat down with Sarah Gates, the 2023 Usports Player Of The Year. She has been one of the best hoopers in U sports the past few years, and arguably the best basketball player to step on the campus at McMaster University. We discussed her upbringing in the York region, her commitment to the sport of basketball during the pandemic, and her final season as a McMaster Marauder.

This week, we sat down with Donnovan Bennett, a host, producer, writer, and podcaster for Sportsnet. We discuss his football playing days at the University of Western to breaking through the Canadian sports journalism scene as a part of "The Score".  Donnovan is a phenomenal storyteller that crosses the intersection between sports, race, gender, and equality. 

This week, we sat down with Jeff Gamache, the athletic director at Trinity Western University, a faith-based institution in Langley, BC. We discuss topics from how Jeff started at TWU to the Complete Champion Approach that Trinity Western implements with their student-athletes. We determine balance between faith-based learning and athletics in a post-Christian culture.  

This week we sat down with Joanna Alphonso, A 3-time U SPORTS women's rugby national champion and 3-time Atlantic University Sport MVP. This Ajax, Ontario native helped continue the rugby dominance at St. Francis Xavier University as a part of the X-women. Now, post rugby career she is aiding the young minds of tomorrow to be dominant in the classroom.

On this week's episode of the Beneath Sports Podcast, we sat with Alena Luciani the owner of Training 2xL. She was a former athlete at Wilfrid Laurier University and is a certified strength and conditioning specialist, that has worked with many university programs in Canada. However, she now puts her focus on her business and teaching others to be "Athletes In Life".

This week, we sat down with Rose-Anne Joly. She is a former Hooper, the founder of Basket Plus, and the current Head Coach of the University of Ottawa Women's Basketball Team. We discuss her journey through the coaching ranks, her infectious love for travel, and what inspires her day to day.

This week we got to sit down with Mike Daly. A former defensive back with the Hamilton Ticats of the Canadian Football League. We discussed Daly being a part of the 2011 Vanier Cup Champion McMaster Marauders Football Team playing in the BEST GAME EVER! His love for the city of Hamilton, being a part of Laurier Golden Hawk coaching staff, and joining the broadcast team on the Ticats Audio Network.

This week we sat down with Olivia Ghosh-Swaby to talk about her childhood in the Peel region and her passion for sports led her to become the founder of the Ontario Women's Intercollegiate Football Association. She is the quarterback of the University of Western women's football team as well as a Phd candidate at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. We chatted about her aspiration to see women thrive in football, her love for academia, and her integral role in Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion at the University of Western.

Hey Everyone! it's been a long time but life has been busy. I just thought I'd hop on and give you guys a little life and podcast update.

This week we sat down with Marika Guerin to discuss her Quebec roots growing up in Ste Victor De Sorel. Her passion for basketball led her to become a national champion with the Mcgill University Women's basketball team. After her athletic career, she moved on to her professional career as the senior manager of communication and community for the Ottawa Blackjacks for the Canadian Elite Basketball League mixing her passion for arts and marketing.

This week we had the opportunity to converse with Josh Sacobie. He is the current Offensive Coordinator for the Carleton University Ravens football team. We discuss his road to the nation's capital and becoming the 2007 OUA MVP quarterback for the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees football team. As well as dive into his indigenous roots being a Maliseet from the St. Mary's First nations in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and the great work he has done in the indigenous community throughout the years. 

This week, we sat down with Darren Dupont to discuss his roots in Wynyard, Saskatchewan, how he stumbled upon sports broadcasting as a university student and turned his passion for sports broadcasting into a brand with the creation of Dupont Media. Darren along with Rod Pedersen has created one of the best sports talk shows in the country dubbed "The Rod Pedersen Show". The Rod Pedersen Show Segment Darren referenced in the episode: Paul ''BizNasty'' Bissonnette on World Junior Gold Medal, Coyotes Rebuild, Auston Matthews | RPShow

Stephen Hart is a former national team footballer hailing from a place that is near and dear to my heart. The country of Trinidad and Tobago. Currently, Stephen Hart is the Head Coach of The Halifax Wanderers of the Canadian Premier League. We sat down to converse about Trinidad, his transition to Halifax, and the growth of soccer in the Maritimes.

Natey Adjei is a broadcaster, Girl Dad, and was a professional football player with the Edmonton Elks F.K.A. the Edmonton Eskimos, and Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. We sat down to chop it up about his upbringing in Mississauga, his football journey, and his new career as the colour commentator for the Toronto Argonauts and Raptors.

On Jan 3rd, the Ontario government decided to halt all sports until Jan 27th with the exception of professional sports and sports deemed to be “elite amateur”. The Ont govt put out a list of what is considered elite amateur. CHL, PWHL, League 1, Junior A Lax, Women's Lax, OBSA (High school prep basketball) but NOT the OUA. So, We are going to take a look at the current state of U Sports and why doesn't the OUA and the rest of U Sports get enough respect.

Coach Chris Cheng has extensive experience coaching basketball on both the national level and Ontario provincial level and is currently the head coach of the men's basketball team at the University of Windsor. Today, we sit down and talk about his coaching journey, his love for basketball, and the racial challenges of university sport in Canada.

This week, I have the great pleasure of introducing a very good friend of mine. He is a registered dietitian in Toronto, combat athlete, and successful entrepreneur of CS Nutrition. Today, we sit down and chat about his journey to being a dietitian and how his upbringing impacts his field, and how he interacts with his professional athlete clients.

The Canadian Elite Basketball League has drastically changed the Canadian basketball landscape. This week I sit down and address the successes of the league such as Fans in stands, CEBL+ and fantasy. A huge 2022 coming up with the BCLAs and expansion into Montreal, Scarborugh and Newfoundland. As well as a new structure to better the basketball system in Canada.

From La belle province - She is an alumnus of the University of Utah and was a member of the Utah Utes Women's basketball team. Now, currently the manager of communications and community relations for the Montreal Alliance of Canadian Elite basketball league. We sit down and discuss the introduction of the Montreal Alliance into the CEBL and bringing basketball back to Montreal.

Welcome back! Took a bit of a hiatus to create more content that should be dropping in early 2022. But, this week I had the opportunity to hop onto Hussey Huddle with Jason Hussey for a little bit of a Grey Cup Preview.

Carl Nassib

We are taking an in-depth look at my favourite sports podcasts.

J. Cole's Hoop Dream

It takes a village off the field to build a team on the field.

Is there room for more diversity in sports?

Breaking down two new Canadian professional leagues that not many have heard of.

What should the Raptors do? Reload or Rebuild?