Strong Girl Talk

Welcome to Why Can’t They Play?, a Strong Girl Talk podcast presented by RE.sport. Today, Sasha interviews Dr. Sarah Teetzel, an associate professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management. Her research focuses on applied ethics and human rights in sport, including the eligibility constraints that transgender athletes face to compete in sport. This is a big one, folks.

Before we get into this week’s episode, Lizzie Learns to Ride by Girls in Gear founder Dr. Gabrielle Rossi is out now! Pick up this adorable picture book for the reluctant rider in your life and help them grow the confidence they need to pedal with pride.

In this episode we chat about:

* Sarah’s Olympic Studies Work, how she sees the Olympic Values of Excellence, Friendship, and Respect, and challenges us to think about Excellence as Moral Excellence

* A book she co-authored, The Olympic Winter Games at 110: Challenges, Complexities, and Legacies

* We also talk about the barrier that gender diverse and non-binary athletes face, and how when we look at those barriers, kids of all gender identities, especially girls can find their place of belonging in sport.

It’s the last day to apply for the RE.sport microgrants; applications close this Friday, October 30th is the deadline to apply. You can find more information here and if you missed the information sessions you can find recordings at the bottom of the page.

Remember you can follow Molly and Sasha on Social Media including:

Molly - @mollyjhurford @stronggirlpublishingSasha - @SGollishRuns @Yellow_Running_ShoesRE.sport - @project_resport

Listen, Subscribe, Rate + Review on Substack | Spotify | iTunes | YouTube

Get the book!

We worked with the RE.sport team to create a graphic novel that’s research-based and evidence-informed to help kids understand the barriers that their peers may face in sport. It’s available for preorder now, and bulk options (with PDF lesson plan downloads and a tryout assessment) are available for classes and teams. Check it out here.

You walk past the tryout poster in the hallway.Some kids can’t wait.Some feel nervous.Some don’t even stop to look.

What is stopping some kids from trying out for the team while others don’t think twice? What makes some kids excited, while other kids don’t even consider signing up?

Asking “Why Can’t They Play?” seems like a simple question, but it has an incredibly complex answer. All kids should be able to play, but for some, a tryout poster hanging in the hall is just another reminder of why they can’t play.

In this graphic novel, a team of researchers breaks down some of the main ways that a soccer tryout can exclude many kids—and why that’s wrong, and what kids, coaches and educators can do about it.

When we work together, we can find a way that we can all play.

Welcome to Why Can’t They Play?, a Strong Girl Talk podcast presented by RE.sport. Today Sasha interviews Dr. Chelsi Ricketts, a University of Toronto recipient of a Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship carrying out her research at the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education’s Mental Health and Physical Activity Research Centre. Chelsi’s research is focused on girls and gender-diverse youth to understand body diversity based on their experiences as current or former sport participants, with the goal to help inform strategies that promote more body-inclusive sport environments. 

Do us a huge favour and make sure you give the podcast 5 stars and click follow:

In this episode we chat about:

* Why so many kids, especially girls, are dropping out of sport

* Her presentation at the RE.sport May 20th event, including this incredible graphic recording

* We talk about inclusive sports policies through youth voices, including The Undropped Kit, a project lead by Tess Howard, founder of Inclusive Sportswear and supported by ASICS

Remember we have one week until the RE.sport microgrants close; Friday, October 30th is the deadline to apply. You can find more information here and if you missed the information sessions you can find recordings at the bottom of the page.

Remember you can follow Molly and Sasha on Social Media including:

Molly - @mollyjhurford @stronggirlpublishingSasha - @SGollishRuns @Yellow_Running_ShoesRE.sport - @project_resport

Listen, Subscribe, Rate + Review on Substack | Spotify | iTunes | YouTube

Get the book!

We worked with the RE.sport team to create a graphic novel that’s research-based and evidence-informed to help kids understand the barriers that their peers may face in sport. It’s available for preorder now, and bulk options (with PDF lesson plan downloads and a tryout assessment) are available for classes and teams. Check it out here.

You walk past the tryout poster in the hallway.Some kids can’t wait.Some feel nervous.Some don’t even stop to look.

What is stopping some kids from trying out for the team while others don’t think twice? What makes some kids excited, while other kids don’t even consider signing up?

Asking “Why Can’t They Play?” seems like a simple question, but it has an incredibly complex answer. All kids should be able to play, but for some, a tryout poster hanging in the hall is just another reminder of why they can’t play.

In this graphic novel, a team of researchers breaks down some of the main ways that a soccer tryout can exclude many kids—and why that’s wrong, and what kids, coaches and educators can do about it.

When we work together, we can find a way that we can all play.

Welcome to Why Can’t They Play?, a Strong Girl Talk podcast presented by RE.sport. Today, Sasha interviews Dr. Janelle Joseph who leads the research on racialized youth in sport and physical activity as part of RE.sport. Dr. Joseph is an internationally recognized and award-winning storyteller and scholar committed to disseminating knowledge about racial justice, health, and sport.

Do us a huge favour and make sure you give the podcast 5 stars and click follow:

In this episode we hear about all the great work Dr. Joseph is doing to help more kids stay in sport. You’ll hear about:

* Dr. Joseph’s OUA (Ontario University Athletics) Anti-Racism Reports

* The Re-Creation Collective

* The IDEAS (Indigeneity, Diaspora, Anti-Racism, and Equity) Research Lab

We talk about how we can use cultural dance in schools as a way to get kids moving in Physical Health and Education class. We also challenge the design considerations of sporting equipment - just whose head fits in a hockey helmet? Do they ever consider different types of hair when designing a helmet?!

And a whole lot more with Dr. Joseph.

Don’t forget about the RE.sport microgrants, which are open through October 30th; you can find more information here and if you missed the information sessions you can find recordings at the bottom of the page.

Remember you can follow Molly and Sasha on Social Media including:

Molly - @mollyjhurford @stronggirlpublishingSasha - @SGollishRuns @Yellow_Running_ShoesRE.sport - @project_resport

Listen, Subscribe, Rate + Review on Substack | Spotify | iTunes | YouTube

Get the book!

We worked with the RE.sport team to create a graphic novel that’s research-based and evidence-informed to help kids understand the barriers that their peers may face in sport. It’s available for preorder now, and bulk options (with PDF lesson plan downloads and a tryout assessment) are available for classes and teams. Check it out here.

You walk past the tryout poster in the hallway.Some kids can’t wait.Some feel nervous.Some don’t even stop to look.

What is stopping some kids from trying out for the team while others don’t think twice? What makes some kids excited, while other kids don’t even consider signing up?

Asking “Why Can’t They Play?” seems like a simple question, but it has an incredibly complex answer. All kids should be able to play, but for some, a tryout poster hanging in the hall is just another reminder of why they can’t play.

In this graphic novel, a team of researchers breaks down some of the main ways that a soccer tryout can exclude many kids—and why that’s wrong, and what kids, coaches and educators can do about it.

When we work together, we can find a way that we can all play.

Welcome to Why Can’t They Play?, a Strong Girl Talk podcast presented by RE.sport. Today Sasha interviews Molly as co-author of Why Can’t They Play, why it matters to have books published for youth by women, and what messages the media is sending our kids these days.

Do us a huge favour and make sure you give the podcast 5 stars and click follow:

We talk about Molly and her mission and vision behind Strong Girl Publishing and why her work aligns so well with the goals at RE.sport. We don’t dive into Molly’s history, but in this Strong Girl Talk episode, we covered Molly’s sport and writing journey. We talk about why graphic novels are a huge part of our reading future, and talk about a few of the other Strong Girl Publishing Authors. We also talk about how you can use a RE.sport microgrant to write a book or that next graphic novel about kids in sport.

Don’t forget about the RE.sport microgrants, which are open through October 30th; you can find more information here.

Remember you can follow Molly and Sasha on Social Media including:

Molly - @mollyjhurford @stronggirlpublishingSasha - @SGollishRuns @Yellow_Running_ShoesRE.sport - @project_resport

Listen, Subscribe, Rate + Review on Substack | Spotify | iTunes | YouTube

Get the book!

We worked with the RE.sport team to create a graphic novel that’s research-based and evidence-informed to help kids understand the barriers that their peers may face in sport. It’s available for preorder now, and bulk options (with PDF lesson plan downloads and a tryout assessment) are available for classes and teams. Check it out here.

You walk past the tryout poster in the hallway.Some kids can’t wait.Some feel nervous.Some don’t even stop to look.

What is stopping some kids from trying out for the team while others don’t think twice? What makes some kids excited, while other kids don’t even consider signing up?

Asking “Why Can’t They Play?” seems like a simple question, but it has an incredibly complex answer. All kids should be able to play, but for some, a tryout poster hanging in the hall is just another reminder of why they can’t play.

In this graphic novel, a team of researchers breaks down some of the main ways that a soccer tryout can exclude many kids—and why that’s wrong, and what kids, coaches and educators can do about it.

When we work together, we can find a way that we can all play.

Welcome to Why Can’t They Play?, a Strong Girl Talk podcast presented by RE.sport. Today Molly interviews Sasha as Co-Lead of RE.sport, why this book matters so much to her, and other ways Sasha’s working to help more kids have more chances to move, play, and belong.

Do us a huge favour and make sure you give the podcast 5 stars and click follow:

In this episode Sasha spoke to the identity factors shaping the research at RE.sport, including Indigeneity, Race, Gender, Social Class, Disability, and Body Diversity. Those resources (the graphic recordings and the presentations) she mentioned from the May 20th event, named for this book Why Can’t They Play can be found here.

And if you want to learn more about the RE.sport microgrants, which Sasha mentions at the end, you can find more information here.

Remember you can follow Molly and Sasha on Social Media including:

Molly - @mollyjhurford @stronggirlpublishingSasha - @SGollishRuns @Yellow_Running_ShoesRE.sport - @project_resport

Listen, Subscribe, Rate + Review on Substack | Spotify | iTunes | YouTube

Get the book!

We worked with the RE.sport team to create a graphic novel that’s research-based and evidence-informed to help kids understand the barriers that their peers may face in sport. It’s available for preorder now, and bulk options (with PDF lesson plan downloads and a tryout assessment) are available for classes and teams. Check it out here.

You walk past the tryout poster in the hallway.Some kids can’t wait.Some feel nervous.Some don’t even stop to look.

What is stopping some kids from trying out for the team while others don’t think twice? What makes some kids excited, while other kids don’t even consider signing up?

Asking “Why Can’t They Play?” seems like a simple question, but it has an incredibly complex answer. All kids should be able to play, but for some, a tryout poster hanging in the hall is just another reminder of why they can’t play.

In this graphic novel, a team of researchers breaks down some of the main ways that a soccer tryout can exclude many kids—and why that’s wrong, and what kids, coaches and educators can do about it.

When we work together, we can find a way that we can all play.

Welcome to Why Can’t They Play?, a Strong Girl Talk podcast presented by RE.sport. Today we’re joined by RE.sport’s Principal Investigator, Dr. Catherine Sabiston, a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity and Mental Health and the Director, Mental Health and Physical Activity Research Centre, in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Toronto. Cathi’s research has been extensively featured in the media, has been used to inform evidence-based practice, and has advanced theory and methods in sport and exercise psychology.

Cathi’s also one of the main co-authors of the graphic novel, Why Can’t They Play from the RE.sport team here, and listen to our episode with Cathi here.

Do us a huge favour and make sure you give the podcast 5 stars and click follow:

In this episode Strong Girl Talk host, Sasha, talks with Cathi about her career in research and what led her down this path during her undergraduate degree. Cathi was first inspired by a series of Nike advertisements (Sasha’s got a few favourite’s including Lauren Fleshman’s Objectify Me and You Were Born to be a Daughter) and initially studied sports marketing in her masters.

And in that masters, Cathi really fell in love with research. Cathi is incredibly humble in this episode, but we’re celebrating what a leader she is in reimagining the space for girls in sport. Cathi’s work continues to challenge the space so more kids can play.

We wrap up with the motivation to write this first of its kind grant in Canada.

And if you want to learn more about the RE.sport microgrants, which Sasha mentions at the end, you can find more information here.

Remember you can follow Molly and Sasha on Social Media including:

Molly - @mollyjhurford @stronggirlpublishingSasha - @SGollishRuns @Yellow_Running_ShoesRE.sport - @project_resport

Listen, Subscribe, Rate + Review on Substack | Spotify | iTunes | YouTube

Get the book!

We worked with the RE.sport team to create a graphic novel that’s research-based and evidence-informed to help kids understand the barriers that their peers may face in sport. It’s available for preorder now, and bulk options (with PDF lesson plan downloads and a tryout assessment) are available for classes and teams. Check it out here.

You walk past the tryout poster in the hallway.Some kids can’t wait.Some feel nervous.Some don’t even stop to look.

What is stopping some kids from trying out for the team while others don’t think twice? What makes some kids excited, while other kids don’t even consider signing up?

Asking “Why Can’t They Play?” seems like a simple question, but it has an incredibly complex answer. All kids should be able to play, but for some, a tryout poster hanging in the hall is just another reminder of why they can’t play.

In this graphic novel, a team of researchers breaks down some of the main ways that a soccer tryout can exclude many kids—and why that’s wrong, and what kids, coaches and educators can do about it.

When we work together, we can find a way that we can all play.

Welcome to Why Can’t They Play?, a Strong Girl Talk podcast presented by RE.sport. Today we’re joined by RE.sport’s Vanessa Coulbeck, a researcher in the field of self-compassion, specifically how it relates to young athletes. We break down what self-compassion is (and isn’t) and how teachers, coaches and caregivers can help young athletes harness it for tryout day and beyond.

To learn more, check out Vanessa’s Mirror Diaries series here, get our graphic novel, Why Can’t They Play from the RE.sport team here, and listen to our last episode with Vanessa here.

Do us a huge favour and make sure you give the podcast 5 stars and click follow:

Remember you can follow Molly and Sasha on Social Media including:

Molly - @mollyjhurford @stronggirlpublishingSasha - @SGollishRuns @Yellow_Running_ShoesRE.sport - @project_resport

Listen, Subscribe, Rate + Review on Substack | Spotify | iTunes | YouTube

Get the book!

We worked with the RE.sport team to create a graphic novel that’s research-based and evidence-informed to help kids understand the barriers that their peers may face in sport. It’s available for preorder now, and bulk options (with PDF lesson plan downloads and a tryout assessment) are available for classes and teams. Check it out here.

You walk past the tryout poster in the hallway.Some kids can’t wait.Some feel nervous.Some don’t even stop to look.

What is stopping some kids from trying out for the team while others don’t think twice? What makes some kids excited, while other kids don’t even consider signing up?

Asking “Why Can’t They Play?” seems like a simple question, but it has an incredibly complex answer. All kids should be able to play, but for some, a tryout poster hanging in the hall is just another reminder of why they can’t play.

In this graphic novel, a team of researchers breaks down some of the main ways that a soccer tryout can exclude many kids—and why that’s wrong, and what kids, coaches and educators can do about it.

When we work together, we can find a way that we can all play.

We’re back with a new book AND a new season of Strong Girl Talk! First, our graphic novel, Why Can’t They Play, from the RE.sport team is available now. And because this topic is so important, we wanted to break it down for coaches, parents and athletes with a special podcast series.

Why can’t they play?

It sounds like a simple question.

There are kids who want to play sports. Parents who want to help them play. Teachers and coaches who want to create great experiences for them.

And yet, somewhere along the way, a lot of kids get left out.

Welcome to Why Can’t They Play?, a Strong Girl Talk podcast presented by RE.sport.

For the next couple months, every week we want to ask a pretty big question: What would it take to help more kids play?

This season, every episode will be 15 minutes or less. We’ll take something happening in youth sport—something we’re seeing in the research, hearing about in the media, or experiencing in our schools and communities—and unpack it.

We’ll talk about barriers. But more importantly, we’ll talk about opportunities.

And every episode, we’ll leave you with something practical you can think about or do to help the kids in your life have more opportunities to play.

So why call this podcast Why Can’t They Play?

It started with a graphic novel by the same name.

Why Can’t They Play? uses something familiar to almost anyone who grew up around school sport: the tryout.

A kid wants to play.

They show up.

They try out.

And then someone makes the team—and someone doesn’t.

We tend to accept that as simply how sport works.

But what if we asked a different question - Does it have to work that way?

School sport matters because, for many young people, school may be their first—and sometimes their only—opportunity to experience organized sport.

But having sport at school doesn’t automatically mean every student has an opportunity to play.

We know that girls are more likely to leave sport during adolescence, and many young people face additional barriers connected to things like income, race, disability, body size, geography, transportation, equipment, previous experience, and simply whether the right opportunity exists for them.

And sometimes, the systems we’ve built unintentionally make those barriers even bigger.

Tryouts are just one example.

So this podcast isn’t really about getting rid of competition or pretending every kid wants the same sport experience.

It’s about getting curious.

Why do we do things this way?

Who does this system work really well for?

Who might it be leaving out?

And most importantly: What could we do differently?

Because maybe the question isn’t whether every kid can make the team.

Maybe the bigger question is: How do we make sure every kid has somewhere to play?

That’s what we’re going to explore this season.

Welcome to Why Can’t They Play? Reimaging Tryouts so All Kids Have the Chance to Play.

Do us a huge favour and make sure you give the podcast 5 stars and click follow:

Remember you can follow Molly and Sasha on Social Media including:

Molly - @mollyjhurford @stronggirlpublishingSasha - @SGollishRuns @Yellow_Running_ShoesRE.sport - @project_resport

Listen, Subscribe, Rate + Review on Substack | Spotify | iTunes | YouTube

Why Can’t They Play? A Graphic Novel Reimagining Tryouts So All Kids Have the Chance to Play

We worked with the RE.sport team to create a graphic novel that’s research-based and evidence-informed to help kids understand the barriers that their peers may face in sport. It’s available for preorder now, and bulk options (with PDF lesson plan downloads and a tryout assessment) are available for classes and teams. Check it out here.

You walk past the tryout poster in the hallway.Some kids can’t wait.Some feel nervous.Some don’t even stop to look.

What is stopping some kids from trying out for the team while others don’t think twice? What makes some kids excited, while other kids don’t even consider signing up?

Asking “Why Can’t They Play?” seems like a simple question, but it has an incredibly complex answer. All kids should be able to play, but for some, a tryout poster hanging in the hall is just another reminder of why they can’t play.

In this graphic novel, a team of researchers breaks down some of the main ways that a soccer tryout can exclude many kids—and why that’s wrong, and what kids, coaches and educators can do about it.

When we work together, we can find a way that we can all play.

Welcome to Strong Girl Talk, where we dive into the latest in sports science, performance, and well-being—all with a focus on women and girls in sport. This week we’ve got a one off episode - Sasha and Molly were guests for a webinar hosted by Ontario Cycling Women’s Month this May.

Before we dive in, do us a huge favor and make sure you give the podcast 5 stars and click follow:

Based on the research-backed Unstoppable journal Sasha put out with Strong Girl Publishing, Sasha and Molly shared simple strategies and easy tweaks to maximize your training gains, and more importantly, your love of the sport. When girls and women believe they can be unstoppable, there’s no end to what they can accomplish in and outside of sport.

They framed the conversation around Sasha’s Pillars of Perfrmance, which include:

* Sleep Soundly - Have you thought about the quantity and quality of your sleep? Do you have a sleep routine? Drawing on the research from Amy Bender and Mathew Walker, they also shared Micha Powell’s recovery Strategies from her book Sprinting Through Setbacks. Check out Micha’s Strong Girl Talk episode too!

* Feed the Machine - Don’t worry, we won’t go on a chocolate milk rant in this episode? But we do talk about fuelling strategies on and off the bike. We highlight, Stevie Smith’s Book Power Up, and of course we had Steve on Strong Girl Talk! Also check out Stevie’s podcast, Real Fuel.

* Moving your body - Sasha is immersed in this daily with her work at RE.sport. She spoke again about the great work that ASICS did and continues to do with the Move Her Mind work. We also highlighted Marley Blonsky’s new book, The Ragtag Best Friends Bicycle Club, and all of Molly’s Shred Girls Books!

* Be Present - Do you ever find your thoughts wondering? Especially when they shouldn’t - like maybe when you’re mountain biking, you’re thinking about school or work and all of a sudden a tree jumps out of nowhere!? Molly and Sasha talk about the strategies in Unstoppable to help you stay focused, so you can be and grow your confidence.

* Engineer your own life - And finally, since Sasha is an engineer, she brought it back to how you need to think about the priorities in your life, working with your strengths, and the power of habits to make real and lasting change.

And just before the conversation wrapped up, Sasha shared a personal story about her first time competing for Team Canada. She talked about how her uniform made her feel confident, strong, and unstoppable, but how a teammate did not have the same experience. It’s why she’s co-leading a study about uniforms. See more below!

Does Your Uniform Make You Feel Unstoppable? Or not at all?

Researchers at the University of Toronto are conducting a Sport Uniform Study to better understand how uniforms influence athletes’ experiences, including comfort, performance, confidence, belonging, and identity. While uniforms are a central part of sport, there has been limited research examining how they shape athlete experiences across different levels of competition.

There are two surveys, one for youth and for those who are 18+, to share their experiences about sport uniforms whether they are positive, challenging, or somewhere in between. By sharing their perspectives, participants will help inform future conversations around athlete-centred uniform design and policies that support performance, inclusion, and athlete well-being. Each survey takes about 20 minutes to complete.

Survey Links:

Youth Survey: https://redcap.utoronto.ca/surveys/?s=YTH3YJAR3KDC8NXN18+ Survey: https://redcap.utoronto.ca/surveys/?s=8F4JR49M8DCECC4F

(Note: while the youth survey is for all sport participants, the 18+ survey is for national team athletes, university and college athletes, and professional athletes).

Findings from this will be shared on RE.sport’s website following data collection, likely in Fall 2026. You can also learn more about the study here and RE.sport’s work.

If you have any questions about the study, please email the research team at [email protected].

Remember you can follow Molly and Sasha on Social Media including:Molly - @mollyjhurford @stronggirlpublishingSasha - @SGollishRuns @Yellow_Running_Shoes

Listen, Subscribe, Rate + Review on Substack | Spotify | iTunes | YouTube

Quick Strong Girl Publishing announcement, we just made some major updates to our website over at StrongGirlPublishing.com! We also have a new newsletter over there where we’ll be sharing book updates, discount codes and giveaways, so do us a huge favor and bop over, check out the site and subscribe to the shop newsletter! We’ll still do podcasts and articles over here, but we’ll have the best Strong Girl Publishing goodies there.

Welcome to Strong Girl Talk, where we dive into the latest in sports science, performance, and well-being—all with a focus on women and girls in sport. This week Sasha and Molly go down memory lane with the Winter Olympics, talk about the Winter Paralympic Games (which start today), the Arctic Winter Games in the Northwest Territories, all with the emotion and energy you expect in our gender equity conversations.

Before we dive in, do us a huge favor and make sure you give the podcast 5 stars and click follow:

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This is also the wrap up to Season 1 of Strong Girl Talk. Molly and Sasha are pressing paws (see what we did there with our dog-love) as we think about the future direction of our pod.

In today’s episode, we start with a celebration of International Women’s Day, this Sunday, March 8th, and this year’s theme of Give to Gain. We highlight the challenges many women face in the tension of where to give our time.

As we wrap up our conversations about the Winter Olympics we shifted our focus to the Winter Paralympics. The Winter Paralympic Games get underway today. Tune in to watch the 655 athletes, across 6 Sports in 79 events including, men’s and women’s para alpine skiing, men’s and women’s para biathlon, men’s and women’s para cross-country, open para ice-hocky, men’s and women’s para snowboard, and mixed wheelchair curling.

On Sunday March 8th, the Arctic Winter Games get started in Whitehorse, Northwest Territory. The Arctic Winter games are comprised of 20 sports, in four categories: Traditional Sports, Nordic Sports, Indoor Sports, and Ice Sports.

In the mean time, connect with on social media and follow along the Strong Girl Society newsletter for updates.

Remember you can follow Molly and Sasha on Social Media including:

Molly - @mollyjhurford @stronggirlpublishing

Sasha - @SGollishRuns @Yellow_Running_Shoes

Listen, Subscribe, Rate + Review on Substack | Spotify | iTunes | YouTube