Para Sport Nation

In this episode, Alex and Nathan sit down with Ryan Straz to dive into ‘We Were Broncos’ — the powerful documentary series that gives a personal look into Ryan’s life and journey through para sports. They explore the behind-the-scenes of filming and reflect on what the experience has meant to him. Plus, PSN Producer Jeff Ryman joins the crew for a roundtable discussion covering all things para sports — from football to para ice hockey and everything in between.

Follow Para Sport Nation on YouTube!

About AMI

AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.

Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+

Learn more at AMI.ca

Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:

• X /Twitter @AccessibleMedia
• Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio
• Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
• TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc
• Email [email protected]

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode, Greg Westlake, Assistant Coach for the Canadian National Para Ice Hockey team joins Alex and Nathan to discuss the upcoming 2025 World Para Ice Hockey Championship. They discuss how the team prepped for this event, the importance of having a veteran squad, and the extra motivation of trying to repeat as champs. Greg also talks about his transition from being a player to being part of the coaching staff, and how he’s helping the team prep for this tournament and for the 2026 Paralympic Games.

Follow Para Sport Nation on YouTube!

About AMI

AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.

Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+

Learn more at AMI.ca

Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:

• X /Twitter @AccessibleMedia
• Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio
• Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
• TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc
• Email [email protected]

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of PSN, Alex and Nathan welcome in AMI’s Ramya Amuthan. Ramya is an avid 5-a-side soccer player (also known as blind soccer) and member of the Canadian National Women’s team. She helps break down the sport, how it works, how it differs from traditional soccer, and how it will be showcased with 10 other sports at the Ontario Parasport Games later this month.

Follow Para Sport Nation on YouTube!

About AMI

AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.

Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+

Learn more at AMI.ca

Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:

• X /Twitter @AccessibleMedia
• Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio
• Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
• TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc
• Email [email protected]

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The 2025 Senior Goalball National Championship went down last weekend in Saskatoon, and Alex and Nathan break it all down. In this episode, they dive into highlights from the tournament and bring you exclusive interviews with Peter Parsons of Team Nova Scotia, Paralympian Priscilla Gagné, and friend of the show Jennie Bovard. But it's not all goalball—stick around as the guys discuss their unexpected culinary discovery: Saskatchewan-style pizza, and how it stacks up against the rest.

Follow Para Sport Nation on YouTube!

About AMI

AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.

Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+

Learn more at AMI.ca

Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:

• X /Twitter @AccessibleMedia
• Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio
• Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
• TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc
• Email [email protected]

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Join Alex Smyth for more interviews from Défi Sportif, Canada’s largest multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities. In this episode of Para Sport Nation, Alex sits down with 4-time Paralympian, and legendary wheelchair curler, Ina Forrest. They discuss her recent play at the Mixed Double, her involvement with Défi Sportif, and look ahead to the 2026 Paralympics. Alex also catches up with former Para Ice Hockey star turned wheelchair curler, Billy Bridges. They dive into his transition from the rink to the curling sheet, his passion for the sport, and his love for metal music.

Follow Para Sport Nation on YouTube!

About AMI

AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.

Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+

Learn more at AMI.ca

Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:

• X /Twitter @AccessibleMedia
• Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio
• Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
• TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc
• Email [email protected]

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The countdown is on for the 2025 Senior Goalball National Championship, happening May 9–11 in Saskatoon! On this episode, Canadian Blind Sports President, and lead event organizer Launel Scott joins the show to preview the tournament. A former elite goalball referee, Launel also shares insights into the unique challenges and demands of officiating the sport. Plus, Alex and Nathan mark a major milestone—50 episodes of PSN—with some favorite memories and reflections!

Follow Para Sport Nation on YouTube!

About AMI

AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.

Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+

Learn more at AMI.ca

Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:

• X /Twitter @AccessibleMedia
• Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio
• Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
• TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc
• Email [email protected]

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Join us on the ground in Montreal for exclusive coverage of Défi Sportif, Canada’s largest multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities. In this episode of Para Sport Nation, host Alex Smyth takes you inside the action—from elite competitions to first-time youth athletes experiencing the thrill of sport and inclusion. We sit down with Maxime Gagnon, President and CEO of Défi Sportif AlterGo, to talk about the event’s evolution, its grassroots to high-performance reach, and his personal journey leading the charge. Paralympian and event ambassador Jonathan Vermette shares his story of inspiration, competition, and why this event holds a lifelong place in his heart. We also hear from high school athletes experiencing Défi Sportif for the first time. Whether you’re an athlete, parent, fan, or advocate, this episode celebrates the power of para sport to unite and inspire. Défi Sportif is more than a sporting event—it’s a movement of inclusion and celebration. In this episode: • Maxime Gagnon reflects on 31 years of growth at Défi Sportif, now the biggest inclusive multi-sport event in Canada, welcoming athletes of all levels and abilities. • He shares how universal accessibility and dedicated volunteers make the event successful, and how other provinces are looking to replicate the model. • Paralympian Jonathan Vermette, now an ambassador, shares his 21-year connection to Défi Sportif, from discovering wheelchair basketball at age 12 to competing in Paris 2024. • We meet Brienne and Brianna, two high school students playing soccer for the first time at Défi Sportif, showing the joy and impact of inclusive youth sports. 

Follow Para Sport Nation on YouTube!

About AMI

AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.

Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+

Learn more at AMI.ca

Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:

• X /Twitter @AccessibleMedia
• Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio
• Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
• TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc
• Email [email protected]

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Paris Paralympics shattered every broadcast and digital engagement record. Alex and Nathan dive into the record-breaking global impact of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games — a historic moment not just for sport, but for global media. We explore how 225 Media Rights Holders brought the Games to all corners of the world, how all 22 Para sports received live coverage for the first time, and what these milestones mean for the future of inclusive sport and media accessibility.

Follow Para Sport Nation on YouTube!

About AMI

AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.

Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+

Learn more at AMI.ca

Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:

• X /Twitter @AccessibleMedia
• Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio
• Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
• TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc
• Email [email protected]

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The classification process for para-athletes isn't just a formality—it's a physically and mentally demanding experience that can shape an athlete’s entire career. In this episode, Nathan gets real about the challenges of getting classified, sharing his personal journey through a system that’s often misunderstood. From the emotional toll to the physical demands, he breaks it all down. Plus, Nathan opens up about how he preps for competition, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how he rests, trains, and gears up.

Follow Para Sport Nation on YouTube!

About AMI

AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.

Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+

Learn more at AMI.ca

Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:

• X /Twitter @AccessibleMedia
• Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio
• Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
• TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc
• Email [email protected]

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Alex and Nathan sit down with Matt Fliss—Strength and Conditioning Coach at UBC, SnC specialist with Cycling Canada, and current PhD candidate. Matt, who also trains Nathan, shares his journey into the world of strength and conditioning, and how he found his path into para sport. He offers a behind-the-scenes look at the unique challenges, adaptations, and innovations involved in training para-athletes, giving us a deeper understanding of what it takes to support elite performance in adaptive sport.

Follow Para Sport Nation on YouTube!

About AMI

AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.

Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+

Learn more at AMI.ca

Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:

• X /Twitter @AccessibleMedia
• Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio
• Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
• TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc
• Email [email protected]

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.