Get Your Head in the Game

The Season 2 finale features a phenomenal guest, as Savanna Hamilton joins the show to talk mental health and sport. An on-air talent and producer with MLSE, Savanna started her career in sports as a varsity basketball player with the Ryerson Rams. After injury cut her career on the court short, she began exploring new opportunities off of it, joining CBC as an associate director before landing her role with MLSE. In one of the more raw conversations this podcast has featured, Savanna joins the show to retell her inspiring journey as a student athlete and sport media professional, how she found her passion for both hosting and producing, the way basketball has established a new precedent in sport, and some authentic work stories including Norman Powell's bartending skills and Kawhi Leonard's favourite drink.

Outro courtesy of: Toronto Raptors

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Episode 19 shifts the spotlight towards student athletes as Ethan Avalos joins the show. A dear friend and colleague from Josh's high school days, Ethan has played Academy level soccer with Sigma FC ever since he was a kid, and joined the Western Mustangs Varsity Soccer team last year, all while majoring in business and specializing in accounting. Finding success both on and off the field while in high school, Ethan had always had his sights set on the NCAA. However, after some injury trouble shifted his focus, he began searching for other opportunities and learned that sports isn't the only thing that defines him. Now looking forward to getting back on the field during his sophomore year, Ethan joins the podcast to talk about his journey as a student athlete, the challenges that come with sports and school, and finding the silver linings when hardship arises.

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In episode 18, I'm pleased to be joined by Angus MacDonell, a seven year GTHL (Greater Toronto Hockey League) veteran and the 13th overall pick from this year's Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Draft. Being the captain of the U16 AAA Toronto Marlboros team for the past 3 seasons and capturing a pair of GTHL Championships in the process, Angus was selected by the Sarnia Sting earlier this summer, marking another exciting chapter in his young career. Following in the footsteps of fellow Toronto Marlboros alumni, including Connor McDavid, John Tavares, and Jason Spezza, Angus is well on his way to carving out a career in the upper tiers of the hockey landscape. With a new hockey season on the horizon, Angus joins the podcast to chat about how the pandemic has changed his mentality as an athlete, his experiences playing with one of North America's most prestigious minor hockey organizations, and his keys to success, both now and moving forward.

Outro courtesy of: Ontario Hockey League

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In episode 17, I'm honoured to be joined by another iconic female hockey player, as Toronto Six starting goalie Elaine Chuli joins the show. Entering the prime of her career, Elaine has seen it all in women's hockey, representing Canada at the U18 World Championships, playing at UConn in the NCAA, and playing with the CWHL and PWHPA before joining Toronto in the NWHL. Having experience with countless leagues and teams in 3+ countries, Elaine knows better than most what life is currently like for many women's hockey players, with the majority of them having to work other jobs in order to make ends meet on the ice. An accountant herself, Elaine spent one of her few off days on the show to discuss what life is like as both a professional hockey player and an accountant, her career and the stories within it, as well as how her love for the game has brought her both resiliency and optimism towards the future.

Outro courtesy of: Toronto Six

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Episode 16 brings with it my conversation with Toronto Six forward Mikyla Grant-Mentis. Currently the reigning Newcomer of the Year and Most Valuable Player of the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL), Mikyla enjoyed a phenomenal season with the Toronto Six, leading the league in points while also becoming the most decorated player in a single NWHL season at just 22 years old. With the Toronto Six being the newest expansion franchise to join the league, they didn't even get the chance to play in front of their home fans in Canada during their inaugural season, as the NWHL established a bubble-like tournament in Lake Placid, New York. Regardless, after a successful, albeit shortened, campaign, Mikyla is back in Canada enjoying the offseason and joins the podcast to chat about the challenges her and her teammates faced while playing in Lake Placid, how her own mentality has evolved with the growth of women's hockey, and her hopes of the future as the league marches on towards sustainability.

Outro courtesy of: Toronto Six

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Episode 15 features my conversation with Caroline Cameron, a host and reporter with Sportsnet who’s experience on the air extends into a wide range of leagues worldwide. Originally an anchor on regular episodes of Sportsnet Central, Caroline has since transitioned to hockey and tennis, hosting Hockey Central on a weekly basis, being a rinkside reporter on Hockey Night in Canada, hosting Sportsnet's coverage of the Olympics and continuing to report from some of the biggest tennis tournaments around the globe. As she continues to make routine trips to the studio, Caroline joins the podcast to discuss her mindset behind her work, the contrasting narratives throughout the sports she covers, Billie Jean King's impact on women's sports, and the emergence of women within the sports industry, both on and off the field.

Outro courtesy of: Sportsnet

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In episode 14, I'm pleased to be joined by TSN's Matthew Scianitti, a prominent sports journalist who's reported from some of the biggest sports stages in North America, including the Daytona 500, the NBA Draft, and various March Madness tournaments. With a primary focus on the Canadian Football League (CFL), Matthew has been on the sidelines at multiple Grey Cups and his work within the sport led to his most recent project in the form of a TSN Original documentary. As he continues reporting from home amid the pandemic, Matthew joins the podcast to chat about the process behind his first TSN Original, his experience collaborating with athletes like Patrick Chan, Demar DeRozan, and Christine Sinclair, and his own keys to telling a captivating and authentic story. 

Outro courtesy of: TSN Sports

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WATCH: TSN Original: The Quilt

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Episode 13 brings with it my conversation with Dan Gladman, an award-winning producer currently working on CBC's hit show Road to the Olympic Games. Dan has held a variety of production roles with a number of organizations throughout his career, working on the NBA's Summer League in Las Vegas, producing the 2015 Pan Am Games with CBC, and most notably, producing every Toronto Raptors game for the past 10 seasons with MLSE for both the Sportsnet and TSN broadcasts. Following the culmination of his tenure with MLSE as the Raptors hoisted their NBA championship, Dan is back at CBC, taking some time away from basketball and pursuing other forms of sport production. With the Olympics right around the corner, Dan joins the podcast to talk about his mentality behind producing, the evolution of the sports landscape in Toronto, and some of the most notable stories from his career.

Outro courtesy of: Toronto Raptors

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In episode 12, I sit down with Tara Slone, the host of Rogers Hometown Hockey and Sportsnet's new docuseries, Top of Her Game. Beginning her career in the music industry, Tara transitioned to broadcasting in 2014, joining Ron MacLean as the second host on the then brand new show Hometown Hockey which broadcasts games from local communities across Canada. After the show was put on hold due to the pandemic, Tara pursued another unique project, starting a new docuseries Top of Her Game which focuses on the stories, careers, and experiences of some of the most notable female athletes and executives. Still commuting to the studio while also producing her new show from home, Tara joins the podcast to chat about her mentality as a woman in sports, her ever-changing outlook on the industry itself, and the impact that her groundbreaking projects continue to make on the sports industry. 

Outro courtesy of: Sportsnet

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In episode 11, I'm joined by Kishan Mistry, a digital content producer with the MLB and Uninterrupted as well as a freelance photographer and graphic designer. A graduate from Ryerson University's Sport Media program, Kishan began his career in the sports industry with Field Hockey Canada, working the 2015 Pan Am Games. From there, he made stops with TSN/BarDown and Yahoo Sports Canada before joining the MLB in their content department. Documenting the Raptors Championship run during his time with Yahoo Sports, Kishan's work has been idolized across the city and beyond, as he's captured some of the most iconic photos in Toronto sports history. During our conversation, Kishan talks about the mentality behind his work, how he navigates the ups and downs of the sports industry, and reflects on some of the most memorable moments from his career. As season 2 officially commences, it was an honour to have one of my inspirations kickstart the next slate of episodes. 

Outro courtesy of: Kishan Mistry

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