Good Stuff Sports

If you need inspiration to get outdoors and see the world then you have got to check out Hiker Steve.  He's all about helping people cultivate their passion for being outside.  In many cases it's a family affair for him too.  He loves to hike with his son.  Be sure to check out his website to stay updated on everything that he's up to.  He shares many beautiful photos and is a very good social media-er.

Lisa and Mike like to go on vacation.  Don't you?  The main difference is  that Lisa and Mike like to go on bicycle vacations.  They ride their bikes everywhere!  They've even started bringing their kids along.  They document their trips of their Youtube Channel.  You'll learn a lot from hearing how they prepare and be super jealous of some of the places that they've been!

Here's a special treat - Mike also has a career as a musician for kids!  He's the guy behind 7 kids albums, Howdy Toons and Rainbow Songs (a kids music program) You won't want to miss that part of the conversation. Stick around for his gargantuan song 'Gigantosaurus'.

Have you ever done any long distance backpacking or hiking?  I've tried a little, with no success.  Joel Salvino on the other hand loves it!  So much so that he's trying to create a new connected trail system called the Wild West Trail in the Idaho area that would be the HUGE!  I learned a ton during this talk about supplies and gear and what it takes to plan for a long hike.

The Canadian National Pond Hockey Championships!  What are the Canadian Pond Hockey Championships?  You'll need to listen to the source, John Teljeur, teach us about what makes Pond Hockey different.  It sounds like a complete blast.  In fact, it sounds like "Pondemonium"  (that's not my joke.  I wish I were that clever).

Courtney Miller is an award-winning women's lacrosse player. She taught me a lot about women's lacrosse throughout the course of this conversation. She has played at the D1 college level, and has been playing for the Israeli National Women's Team for the last several seasons. Courtney has recovered from a torn ACL to return to the sport that she loves. Her story is guaranteed to inspire you.

Jodi Norgaard and Kara Thom from Go! Go! Sports Girls have created some unique and creative sports themed dolls and accompanying stories for girls (or anyone) who love sports.  They encourage young athletes to "be fierce and sparkle" as well as the ingenious hashtag #athleteisthenewprincess.  It was great to hear how the idea came to be as well as where the dolls have taken Jodi and Kara (ie. The White House!).  These dolls make great holiday gifts... if you know what I'm saying.

Nora Ballard is (amongst other things) a film director and her movie 'Waterbabies' is all about synchronized swimming.  I was so excited to talk to Nora about what she learned about those who compete in synchronized swimming.  It's a sport that I don't know much about at all.  As you'll hear, Nora learned quite a bit about how they practice, and how synchronized swimming is a metaphor for life.  You can watch Nora's movie right here:

https://vimeo.com/122649495

Hockey is a great sport.  It's fast paced and so fun to watch live.  I had never thought about what it would be like to be a parent to a young hockey player.  Luckily, I had a resource to fill me in.  Neil Wattier, who is the host of The Hockey Parent Podcast, shared his experiences living the life of a hockey family.  I learned a ton about the game and about the dedication that it takes to help a young athlete realize their dreams.  Be sure to subscribe to Neil's show, and tell a friend about Good Stuff Sports as well!

Toby Pechner joins me on Episode 6 of Good Stuff Sports to talk about his love of the San Francisco Giants as well as his time as a "Ball Dude" with the team.  Ever wondered about what ball boys/bat boys do?  What's the game like for them?  Toby has answers!  He also makes a bet with Zachy about who will win the Superbowl (we recorded a while ago).  You need to hear that.  Additionally, Assistant Producer Zachy joins me to give his prediction for the upcoming Baseball season.  Spring is here!  Let's play ball!

Mini Golf!  You love it, I love it, everyone loves it!  Mr. Tee (Tom) and The Pink Putter (Robin) take their love of Mini Golf to an amazing level.  They have a website called a A Couple of Putts where they review various mini golf courses around the country.  They've also designed several mini golf holes, and they shared some awesome advice on how young mini golf enthusiasts can build their own holes at home!