This week, joining me is Jason Maglantay. Jason joins us this week to discuss his impact as a youth sports coach along with over 2 decades of experience in the sports & entertainment industry!

About Jason
Jason Maglantay, born and raised in Toronto.  A husband, father to 2 young boys (aspiring athletes).  With 20+ years in the Canadian Sports and Entertainment industry, working in business development roles at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, Tennis Canada and the Canadian Football League.  Currently, Director of Strategic Partnerships at the T1 Agency. I have a passion for being a volunteer youth sports coach and more importantly, working to be a positive role model for his boys and community.

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This week, joining me is Alanna Hernandez. Alanna joins us this week to discuss her work with Wasserman in fostering an inclusive workspace for her colleagues and clients!

About Alanna
Alanna Frisby Hernandez is the Executive Vice President, Business Affairs and Operations of Wasserman’s Team Sports division where she manages the legal and day-to-day operations of the group. In this role, Alanna has negotiated and finalized playing, endorsement, sponsorship and appearance contracts for Wasserman baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer, coaches and executives, and Olympic clients, and she is also charged with educating and informing the entire talent practice on important legal issues and industry trends, including the application of various Olympic rules, NIL, NFTs and inclusion riders in talent agreements. Alanna was a founding member of Wasserman’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council, and is a co-leader of the DE&I subcommittee which is dedicated to promoting and supporting women at Wasserman and within the industry as a whole.

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This week, joining me is Samir Bhatla. Samir joins us this week to discuss his experience growing up playing basketball and how that has shaped his career in sports and entertainment!

About Samir
Samir is a second-year MBA student in the Sport Business focus at the Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University. He completed his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology at the University of Toronto and has played basketball at the provincial level. After specializing in areas such as injury prevention and assessment, sport psychology, and human anatomy, Samir has established himself in the sports and entertainment industry through roles with the Toronto Raptors, GXSLab, Wasserman, and Canada Basketball. Within the MBA program, Samir has taken on a prominent leadership role as President of the newly-formed Sport Leadership Association, MBA representative on the Graduate Programs Council, and as a Delegate for the Ryerson University MBA Games team, where he also competed on one of the case competition teams. Samir prides himself on his ability to lead individuals in pursuit of a common goal, efficiently solve complex problems with a strategic mindset, and build meaningful relationships with others. 

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This week, joining me is my brother Justin Lambie. Justin joins us this week to discuss his experience as a avid sports fan given his background as a former athlete!

About Justin
My brother, Justin Lambie, joins us today in our newest episode of Interrupting Sports. He grew up playing a variety of sports from hockey to basketball to running track and field. He is now a hardcore sports fan and in his third year at McMaster University, majoring in Economics.

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This week, joining me is my professor Nouman Ashraf current faculty member of the Rotman School of Management. Nouman joins us this week to discuss his experience following sports, his perspective in the d&i space, and the overlap with current world events!

About Nouman
Nouman Ashraf is an Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream within the Organizational Behavior area at the Rotman School of Management. He possesses a broad range of interests, with a specialized focus on enabling inclusive and innovative practices within teams, organizations and boards. For the last decade and a half, he has held progressively senior roles at the University of Toronto, including most recently as the Director of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion the Rotman School of Management. I’ve also attached a picture you can use.

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To start off this season, joining me is Natalie Thompson currently a goalie for the Ryerson Rams Women's hockey team. Nat joins us this week to discuss her experience as a varsity athlete and her journey as a female  hockey player, and proud LGBTQ+ member!

About Nat
She grew up her whole life as a hockey player and laced up her skates for the first time at 3 years old.  She has since played a high competitive level of hockey and finished off her minor career with the Toronto Junior Aeros where she was awarded goaltender of the year. Now, she is in her 4th year with the Rams, pursuing a degree in Criminology and minoring in French and Law. Natalie is hoping to continue her education next year with a Master's degree in Criminology.

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I have done enough talking for the moment and it is time for me to listen to those who haven’t said enough yet.  

For Season 2, I’m planning to host an interview-style podcast to uncover the realities of the unique individuals that make up the sports industry. 

We will hear the career journeys and life experiences of people from all walks of Earth. They may be industry professionals, athletes, parents, students, or avid sports fans – the possibilities are endless.

Stay tuned!

When it comes to progressing EDI in sports it is important for us to ask questions. We must question information we receive, our personal experiences, and the action’s of those around us to bring about positive change. Take a listen to find out more about how to ask the right questions. 

Key Points: 

• Check the sources of all information you receive. 
• Reflect on your personal experiences. 
• Question the actions of others.

Key Takeaways:

1. A newsworthy story does not necessarily mean a credible one
2. Personal growth is achieved through personal reflection.
3. Be an active bystander and to differential treatment. 

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Are intercollegiate sports worth it? What are my realistic chances of going pro? How do the opportunities compare in Canada to the U.S.? All these questions and more will be answered this week as we dive into all things university athletics. 

Key Points: 

Women are systemically discouraged from going pro with only a 6.9% likelihood compared to 21% for men in basketball.

The landscape of intercollegiate sports is vastly different when comparing NCAA to USports.

Athletic scholarships are not one size fits all. 

Key Takeaways:

1. If you are trying to go pro, consider your sport choice
2. Consider the cost of education versus your athletic scholarship wherever you study. 
3. Your involvement in sports is not limited to a D1 NCAA scholarship - the opportunities to play are endless. 

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For decades, female sports have been overlooked. This week, we shed light on how they’ve impacted the sports industry, the communities surrounding them; and how they have inspired emerging athletes. 

Key Points: 

WNBA players have led the racial justice movement in professional sports.

NWHL increases their viewership in unprecedented times by capitalizing on video streaming trends using Twitch.

The discrepancy that exists between the salary of male and female athletes is at the forefront of wage inequality.

Key Takeaways:

1. Professional female athletes are paving the way for racial justice and still, they are unseen 
2. They are creating opportunity, following and fandom without the resources needed
3. Women do the most with half the money, praise and respect they deserve

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