Opening the Playbook

Climber Sasha DiGiulian joins Opening the Playbook to discuss where her love of the sport comes from, how she handled being bullied, and the pressures that come with being one of the most famous faces in the sport.

Sasha has been climbing since she was six years old and received her first sponsorship when she was 12. Since then, she's become a World Champ, 5x PanAm Games Champ, 3x US National Champ, and has broken more records than you can count. She's also proudly been a first for many climbs, which she says comes from wanting to push herself and show others what she can do.

Sasha also dives into being bullied by a fellow climber in the sport and how she stood up to it. She says it led her to becoming a strong advocate for women in sports, especially in the climbing world.

But that's not all. In today's episode, Sasha discusses how losing her dad at a young age helped shape her into the person she is today, and how it also changed how she climbs. And finally, she touches on undergoing hip surgery seven months ago, which is the longest she's had to step away from the sport.

Episode topics:

• Being one of the most recognizable faces in the climbing world
• How she learned to get over her FOMO while recovering from her injury
• Dealing with her father's death at a young age
• How she handled being bullied by a fellow climber
• The difficulties of fitting in in the sport

Quote: 

"Climbing definitely has a bro's club in the sport…and I think if you don't fit in and you're not trying to be like a "cool girl" and roll with the punches when the punches hurt a lot, then you can be demonized and seen as someone who doesn't belong. And I definitely experienced a side of that."

Resources:

Guest Info – Sasha DiGiulian

Instagram: @sashadigiulian

Twitter: @ sashadigiulian

Facebook: Sasha DiGiulian

Website: http://sashadigiulian.com

Outsidetv – 10AM on a Tuesday

http://www.outsidetv.com/show/detail/10AM+on+a+Tuesday/play/94RGdNYE/1/100/cfg4grUN/1

Host Info – Christina Heydanus

Instagram: @tinaheydanus

Twitter: @tinaheydanus

Show Info – Opening the Playbook

Website: https://www.openingtheplaybook.com

Instagram: @openingtheplaybook

Facebook: Opening the Playbook

Today, ESPN Sunday Night Baseball analyst and retired softball star Jessica Mendoza joins Opening the Playbook to discuss breaking barriers, diversity, and why she is so vocal about supporting those who speak up against sexual harassment in sports.

Sports are in Jessica's blood as she spent much of her childhood in the dugout watching her dad coach at the college level. She says she's always played ball and got serious about it as a teen when she made the decision to dedicate herself to the game. It's something she advocates for young girls, telling them to find their differences and hone in on their skills.

Jessica's passion for softball led to an impressive college career with Stanford, where she was a four-time First Team All American. That success continued with the US Women's National Team, where she won an Olympic Gold and Silver.

She's now an analyst on Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN where she's hoping to impact people in different ways through story. She's also passionate about showing support for women who have voiced their stories of sexual harassment, which she hopes will help put a bigger spotlight on the impact of the issue in sport.

Today, Jessica also shares what her journey with ESPN has been like and gives us her pick for who to watch this upcoming MLB season.

Episode topics:

• Being the first woman to call a national World Series broadcast & her career at ESPN
• Standing up against sexual harassment in sports
• Being an advocate for diversity & women in sports
• Her prediction for the upcoming MLB season

Quote: 

"I think if we can have more women voices telling the story, reporting the story, but doing it from a sense of, thank you for speaking out, thank you for coming forward, because I know that this must have been so hard and so painful….and it takes these brave, brave people to come out and say, hey this is what happened, and it wasn't okay and we need it to stop."

-Jessica Mendoza

Resources:

Guest Info – Jessica Mendoza

Instagram: @jessmendoza2

Twitter: @jessmendoza

Facebook: Jessica Mendoza

Host Info – Christina Heydanus

Instagram: @tinaheydanus

Twitter: @tinaheydanus

Show Info – Opening the Playbook

Website: https://www.openingtheplaybook.com

Instagram: @openingtheplaybook

Facebook: Opening the Playbook

Today, Artistic Gymnast Ellie Black joins Opening the Playbook to discuss the pressures of being the face of Gymnastics Canada, injuries and what she's learned from them, and the importance of being body positive.

At 25 years old, Ellie has earned the title of Canada's most successful female artistic gymnast after finishing fifth in the women's all-around event at the 2016 Rio Olympics (the highest finish ever by a Canadian) and winning silver at the 2017 World Championships. The podium finish made her the first Canadian to ever win a world all-around medal. Today, Ellie explains the feeling of having the weight of the sport on her shoulders and why she thinks this is just the beginning of Canada's success in the sport.

Ellie is coming off a major injury and shares how she battled back and why the postponement of the 2020 Olympics was a good thing for her. She also talks about coming from a small province (and being the first gymnast to go to the Olympics from Nova Scotia), pushing boundaries, and being confident, especially when it comes to body image.

Episode topics:

• Being the face of Gymnastics Canada and the pressures that come along with it
• Injures and what's she's learned from them
• Body image and how she's proud of how far it has come in the sport
• Why she considers 2020 one of her most difficult years
• What she has in common with Sidney Crosby

Quote: 

"I think it's important to keep younger girls and athletes in sport longer. Just for having a healthy lifestyle and creating a healthy body image and knowing that having muscles and being strong, that is beautiful, that is something that is so great."

-Ellie Black

Resources:

Guest Info – Ellie Black

Instagram: @ElllieBlack_

Twitter: @EllieBlack_

Website: https://www.ellie-black.com

Host Info – Christina Heydanus

Instagram: @tinaheydanus

Twitter: @tinaheydanus

Show Info – Opening the Playbook

Website: https://www.openingtheplaybook.com

Instagram: @openingtheplaybook

Facebook: Opening the Playbook

Today, tennis player Leylah Annie Fernandez joins Opening the Playbook to discuss the interesting way she got into the sport, her rapid accent up the rankings and what it was like to meet her idol, Roger Federer.

Leylah is just 18 years old, but has already made dent in the tennis world, being crowned the French Open Girls Singles champ in 2019 and winning Tennis Canada's 2020 Female Player of the Year after a breakout year which saw her go from NO. 209th to 88th. Today, she talks about how tough it is to move up the rankings, what it likes to be a teen in the sport and the special bond between her and her dad (who's also her coach).

Leylah also discusses meeting her idol, Roger Federer, the inspiration she gets from Andre Agassi and her love for 80s music.

Episode topics:

• The pressures that come with her rise in the tennis world
• Managing being a teen and a pro athlete
• The struggles she faced when being separated from her family due to training
• What she hopes to accomplish in the sport
• How she works on her mental game (hint, it involves Andre Agassi)

Quote:  

"I want to win as many grand-slams as I can and be number one in the world for years to come…I'm happy with the results I have but I want to achieve great things, I want to become a legend in the tennis world and hopefully inspire kids to play tennis and continue with their dreams."

-Leylah Fernandez

Resources:

Guest Info – Leylah Fernandez

Instagram: @leylahannietennis

Twitter: @leylahfernandez

Facebook: Leylah Fernandez

Host Info – Christina Heydanus

Instagram: @tinaheydanus

Twitter: @tinaheydanus

Show Info – Opening the Playbook

Website: https://www.openingtheplaybook.com

Instagram: @openingtheplaybook

Facebook: Opening the Playbook

Today, bobsled Pilot Kaillie Humphries joins #OTP to discuss her harassment claim against Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton, competing with and against the men and being so dominant on the track.

Kaillie is a three-time Olympic medallist, two of which are Gold, and has landed on the podium 10 times over her 18-year career at the World Championships. In today's episode, Kaillie talks about the unique way she got into the sport, and why she almost quit after the 2006 Games. She also discusses the differences between sliding with men and women, and why competing in mixed team made her a better pilot.

While almost all of Kaillie's accomplishments have come while competing for Team Canada, she now slides for Team USA. The switch comes after she filed a harassment claim against Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton after falling into a deep depression following the 2018 Olympics. In today's episode, Kaillie opens up and explains her decision, talks about the fears that came along with it, and the fallout that happened afterwards. She says the backlash she suffered wasn't something she was prepared for, which included horrible name calling. But – although she didn't want her career in Canada to end --  filing the claims was something she says she felt she needed to do in order for change to happen in her future.

It took about seven to eight months for Kaillie to start to feel like herself again, and in this episode, explains her timeless on getting back to her normal and how she did it. Now, her focus is on Team USA and the pressures of starting over and having to prove herself again – and shares why her second chance has allowed her to see things in a new way.

Episode topics:

• Why she almost quit the sport in 2006
• Making a harassment claim against Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton and the hurt and devastation that followed
• Starting over with Team USA
• The pressures of being a role model

Quote: 

"I was scared of what the repercussions were going to be, and unfortunately for me, every single fear came true, as is the reason why most athletes don't make those claims…it can be career ending"

-Kaillie Humphries

Resources:

Guest Info – Kaillie Humphries

Instagram: @kailliehumphries

Twitter: @bobsledkaillie

Facebook: Kaillie Humphries

Host Info – Christina Heydanus

Instagram: @tinaheydanus

Twitter: @tinaheydanus

Show Info – Opening the Playbook

Website: https://www.openingtheplaybook.com

Instagram: @openingtheplaybook

Facebook: Opening the Playbook

Today, USWNT defender and Portland Thorns midfielder Crystal Dunn joins OTP to discuss her World Cup highs and lows, her recent trade to Portland and her fight for equal rights.

Crystal is heading into her 7th professional season, which she's split between the NWSL and the FA Women's Super League in Europe. This year will present a new challenge, as she's joining the Portland Thorns following an off-season trade. It's a move Crystal is excited about as it reunites her with her husband, who's an athletic trainer for the Thorns. She's also made it clear she's looking to take on more of an attacking role, something Thorn's owner, Merritt Paulson, acknowledged on Twitter, saying she will get one.

Crystal's career also includes a World Cup Championship and Olympic experience with the US Women's National Team, but it hasn't been all roses. Today, Crystal shares the toughest moment of her career: being the final cut from the 2015 World Cup squad. She explains how she felt in that moment and what she did to help move on (hint – it involved playing her game rather than trying to emulate others).

As involved as Crystal is on the field, she's just as much off, using her voice and platform in the fight for equal rights and equal pay. She says while she's always been an advocate for black women and minorities, speaking up is not something she's always done, but is now more confident to do so. Case in point: at a recent friendly in the Netherland, the team wore Black Lives Matter (BLM) shirts and knelt during the national anthem. She says the USWNT has one of the biggest platforms out there and that it would be foolish not to take advantage of it.

In today's episode, Crystal also talks about her struggles with her height (she's 5'2), what she's ambitious for, the Tokyo Olympics and why she's decided to become a mom to five chickens. Join us, won't you?

Episode topics:

• Career struggles – being the final cut on the 2015 World Cup roster
• Fight for equal rights and equal pay
• Joining the Portland Thorns in the offseason and looking to take on an attacking role
• Winning 2019 World Cup
• Owning chickens

Quote: 

"I think, before we're athletes, we're human beings and I think there are so many issues that affect human rights that people are like, oh you know nothing about this and I'm like actually, I do. I know how to treat people with respect and stand up for what I think is right. And I feel like being on a big platform, representing the USWNT, it's important that we use our platform to really promote change and really demand it in our society."

-Crystal Dunn

Resources:

Guest Info – Crystal Dunn

Instagram: @cdunn19

Twitter: @cdunn19

Black Women's Player Collective

Instagram: @blackwplayercollective

Twitter: @BWP_Collective

Host Info – Christina Heydanus

Instagram: @tinaheydanus

Twitter: @tinaheydanus

Show Info – Opening the Playbook

Website: https://www.openingtheplaybook.com

Instagram: @openingtheplaybook

Facebook: Opening the Playbook

Today Holistic Physician and Mindfulness Coach Dr. Amy Saltzman joins the podcast to discuss the growing popularity of meditation among athletes and its benefits.

Dr. Amy says she's practiced being mindful before it was even a thing, as she's a former gymnast. She says mindfulness training supports you being in the moment, paying attention to the here and now, with kindness and curiosity, which allows you to choose your behavior. It's a way to recognize your emotions without letting them be in charge of you.

For athletes, being in the moment is key, as it prevents them from dwelling on a mistake or being worried about the future. Mindfulness and meditation is something that a few past podcast guests have talked about implementing into their training, as it helps calm their brains. It's also something that has gained traction since the start of COVID-19 and the release of the Michael Jordan documentary, The Last Dance.

Dr. Amy is also the author of a number of books including A Still Quiet Place for Athletes: Mindfulness Skills for Achieving Performance and Finding Flow in Sports and Life and in today's episode, she gives her tips on how to become more present in the moment, which she says will help you in all aspects of your life.

We also talk about:

• Mindfulness and meditation
• Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson & Lance Armstrong
• Being in the moment
• Mindfulness and COVID-19
• How to start meditation

Quote:

"Athletes train their bodies all the time, but we also know that a lot of outcome of sport isn't due to a difference in physical or tactical ability, so it comes down to how we can respond mentally and emotionally to a given circumstance."

• Amy Saltzman, Holistic Physician & Mindfulness Coach

Resources:

Book: A Still Quiet Place for Athletes: Mindfulness Skills for Achieving Performance and Finding Flow in Sports and Life

 https://www.amazon.com/Still-Quiet-Place-Athletes-Mindfulness/dp/1684030218/ref=sr_1_1?crid=10MI12VDWU2XK&dchild=1&keywords=a+still+quiet+place+for+athletes&qid=1595009245&sprefix=a+still%2Caps%2C222&sr=8-1

Guest Info – Dr. Amy Saltzman

Twitter: @stillquietplace

Website: www.stillquietplace.com

LinkedIn: Amy Saltzman

Host Info – Christina Heydanus

Instagram: @tinaheydanus

Twitter: @tinaheydanus

Show Info – Opening the Playbook

Website: openingtheplaybook.com

Instagram: @openingtheplaybook

Facebook: Opening the Playbook

The Future of Women's Hockey with Cassie Campbell-Pascall 

In this day and age, there is no more room for discrimination. Women of today now enjoy equality with men. It's about time, of course. Our future has no space for any hate or prejudice. That's why it's no surprise that women's sports are now more visible than ever. If we're talking about Canada, hockey can't be out of the discussion.

In today's episode, HNIC broadcaster and retired hockey star Cassie Campbell-Pascall joins us to discuss her successful career, retirement struggles, transition into TV, and when she thinks a sustainable women's league can get started (hint: soon!). She will talk about her involvement with the WNT, bringing back "that gold medal feeling," working amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and women's situation in the field of broadcasting.

If you're a fan of women's hockey or want to become a part of it, this episode is for you. 

Three reasons why you should listen to the full episode: 

1. Discover Cassie's incredible journey on captaining Canada's Women's National Team to 21 medals.

1. Learn how she dealt with retirement as an athlete and how she transitioned into being a sports broadcaster. 

1. Cassie will share her thoughts on when a women's league will happen and why she believes the future is bright for women in sports.      

Resources:

• Cassie's Twitter 
• Cassie's Instagram
• Cassie's website
• If you love hockey, be sure to check out The Voice & The Coach hosted by Vancouver Giants broadcaster Dan O'Connor and former WHL coach of the year Mark Holick. It will provide you with a peek behind the curtain of sports and interviews with notable guests such as Scott Niedermayer, Andy Moog, and Dan Shulman. 

Episode Highlights:

Cassie's Start in Hockey

• Cassie's brother played hockey. Although she started as a figure skater, she convinced her parents to allow her to try hockey. 
• She considered herself fortunate to have supportive parents in her journey of becoming a hockey player. 
• Cassie eventually got into the Brampton Canadettes Girls Hockey Association, which is the most prominent hockey organization for women at the time.

Olympic Success and Recognition for Women's Hockey

• Cassie won 21 medals for Canada's National Women's Team, including two gold medals and a silver in the Olympics. 
• At first, she was very hesitant to be put into a prominent role in the Olympic movement. 
• PWHPA (Professional Women's Hockey Players Association) strives to establish a professional sports league for women's hockey.  
• For Cassie, WNHL (Women's National Hockey League) is going to happen soon. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has set them behind, the excitement around women's hockey is undeniable.  

Being a Mentor for Team Canada and Paving the Way for Women in the Sport

• Cassie continues to be involved with the sport by mentoring Team Canada for international competitions. 
• She wants to bring back that "gold medal feeling to the team," which she thinks has been missing for quite some time.  
• Cassie credits her teammates and the women that played before her in paving the way for the further recognition of women's hockey. 

Cassie's Struggles and Proudest Moment in her Career

• Cassie struggled to balance the game and people's expectations for her as a leader of the team. 
• To find the balance between her career and happiness, she moved away from Toronto --- a place she considered the mecca of marketing and events. It helped her to train and focus on hockey. 
• Cassie felt the proudest in her post-career, transitioning from being an athlete to a broadcaster. 
• Retiring from the sport wasn't easy for her, but being a broadcaster allows Cassie to be involved in hockey and continue to contribute to the women's game behind the scenes. 
• Cassie advised athletes to take a break before transitioning into a new career when they retire. 

Cassie's Broadcasting Career, Women in Sports Broadcasting, and Working Amid a Global Pandemic

• Behind the scenes, women are more involved in sports broadcasting than many would assume. 
• Cassie feels her male colleagues are not exempt from the same criticisms women broadcasters face. 
• She particularly commends her station for bringing in diversity in the workplace. For her, it made the broadcast better because it entertains different perspectives. 
• Cassie continues to be optimistic about the future of women in hockey and sports broadcasting. 
• The pandemic allowed Cassie to work from home and spend time with her family. 

The Future for Women in Hockey

• Cassie feels satisfied with her broadcasting career now and doesn't want to pursue a scouting career yet. 
• She wants to see more equality and diversity in sports organizations as it helps seeing things from different perspectives, thus creating better decisions. 
• Listen to the full episode to hear Cassie's answers to rapid-fire questions such as the favorite person she met through sports, what she would be doing if she wasn't an athlete or broadcaster, and the one thing people might not know about her. 

5 Powerful Quotes

"The old feminist way was 'I am woman hear me roar,' and I think the new feminist way is 'I am woman and I'm going to get the job done.' And it's not that the old generation didn't get it done, that's not what I'm saying at all… I'm just saying it's a different attitude."

"I wanted to have an impact and to make a difference, and so that's kind of my mentality. Don't sit back and watch things slide, just step up and see what you can do to help."

"That was one thing that I thought was really special about my generation in particular, is that we all push for things together. And that's the way we always handle it."

"What people don't understand about equality is that it's not about having the token man, or the token woman, or the token race, or whatever. It's about having different ideas within your organization, and people who come from different perspectives."

"The more equality you have in your organization, the better decisions your organization is going to make. That's because you're bringing people with different perspectives, based on gender, based on race—all those types of things. And so I think we're going to start to see big changes here. I really, really believe that."

About Cassie

Cassie is one of Canada's most accomplished players, having won 21 medals with Canada's National Women's Hockey Team, 17 of which are gold. She's also the only captain—male or female—to lead her team to two Olympic Golds. 

Since hanging up her skates, Cassie has become one of Canada's most famous female sports broadcasters. Most recently, she is a regular panelist on Hockey Night in Canada throughout the 2020 season and playoffs. 

If you want to connect to Cassie, you can visit her website, Twitter, or Instagram page. 

Enjoy the Podcast?

Opening The Playbook is a podcast about women in sports, where we share stories about overcoming the odds, finding success in a male-dominated world, and persevering through adversity. It will surely provide a healthy dose of inspiration. If you enjoyed today's episode, then hit subscribe and share it with your friends!

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Reach out to me through my Instagram and Twitter. Thanks for listening!

For more updates and episodes, visit my website. You may also tune in on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Today, curler and 2x Olympic Gold Medallist Kaitlyn Lawes joins #OTP to discuss her early success, the hardship that followed her father's death, and the state of the game due to COVID-19.

Kaitlyn grew up in Winnipeg, MB on the ice, following her dad (who was an avid curler) around the rink. She says she wouldn't be the athlete she is today if it wasn't for his guidance and inspiration. He passed away from a brain tumor when Kaitlyn was just 18-years-old, and the loss shook her hard. In today's episode, she explains how she contemplated quitting the game the loved, and what made her change her mind.

It's a good thing she stuck with it, as Kaitlyn has become one of the best players Canada has ever had, winning 15 medals, from the World Championships to the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Two of those are Olympic Gold, one at the 2014 Sochi Games with Jennifer Jones' rink (which she joined when she was just 21), and the other in mixed doubles at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games with John Morris. In this episode, Kaitlyn explains the differences between playing with women and men, and why she decided to try her hand at both.

But her career hasn't been all smooth sailing, as she's dealt with her fair share of heartbreak. Today, Kaitlyn details the highs and lows of her career, and even shares her thoughts on skipping her own team one day.  She also dives deep into the current status of the game because of COVID-19, and explains how she keeps her game up when she's not able to play. Finally, she gets candid about equal pay and explains why it's so hard to reflect on her career so far.

Episode topics:

• The uncertainty of sports because of COVID-19
• The impact her dad had on her career
• Almost quitting curling during time of difficulty
• Joining Jennifer Jones' rink when she was just 21-years-old
• Playing with both women and men

Quote: 

"I used to get really frustrated when I was younger in juniors and I'd lose games, and I'd be really hard on myself…and I'd feel like I let my teammates down. But after my dad passed away, my perspective changed, and I was more accepting of our loses and learned from them instead of just being so down on myself because of it. So, having that switch in perspective really helped my career take off."

-Kaitlyn Lawes

Resources:

Guest Info – Kaitlyn Lawes

Instagram: @lklawes

Twitter: @lklawes

Website: http://teamjenniferjones.com

Host Info – Christina Heydanus

Instagram: @tinaheydanus

Twitter: @tinaheydanus

Show Info – Opening the Playbook

Website: https://www.openingtheplaybook.com

Instagram: @openingtheplaybook

Facebook: Opening the Playbook

Today, #OTP presents its first ever media roundtable! Laura Armstrong (Blue Jays beat writer for The Toronto Star), Gemma Karstens-Smith (sports reporter for The Canadian Press) and Harjeet Johal (freelance sports reporter) join Christina to talk the latest wave of success for women in sports. They also discuss Cris Collinsworth's latest comments, their feelings on pink jerseys and why athletes tracking their cycles is a long time coming.

Episode topics:

• Kendall Coyne Schofield joining the Chicago Blackhawks as a Player Development Coach
• Kim Ng becoming the first female GM in the MLB (Miami Marlins)
• Sarah Fuller being the first woman to play in a NCAA Power 5 game
• Cris Collinsworth's comments about women's interest in football
• Pink jerseys marketing towards females
• The Lionesses tracking their cycles to minimize symptoms

Resources:

Guest Info:

Laura Armstrong

Twitter: @lauraarmy

Gemma Karstens-Smith

Twitter: @gkasrtenssmith

Harjeet Johal

Twitter: @harjournalist

Host Info – Christina Heydanus

Instagram: @tinaheydanus

Twitter: @tinaheydanus

Show Info – Opening the Playbook

Website: https://www.openingtheplaybook.com

Instagram: @openingtheplaybook

Facebook: Opening the Playbook