“Most only play 3 to 5 years in Pro. What are you going to do for the rest of your life?”

Hugh Lawson understood something early in his football career: he didn’t want being an athlete to become his entire identity.

A Vanier Cup champion and former Toronto Argonaut, Hugh went on to build a career across business, entrepreneurship, leadership and mentorship but his story raises a bigger question for the sport system:

Should successful transition depend on athletes figuring it out for themselves?

In Episode 4, Hugh and Ken discuss preparing for life beyond sport before the final whistle, translating athlete skills into the workplace, the role of mentorship and networks, and why athletes need more than encouragement — they need a support system AND a framework.

They also explore a bigger idea: what if better preparing athletes for what comes next isn’t only a sport issue, but a talent and innovation opportunity for Canada?

The Game Ends. The Next Chapter Begins.

TAKE A SEAT! Welcome To The Bench.

For Tychon Carter-Newman, the end of his university basketball career didn't feel like the beginning of something new. It felt like heartbreak due to the circumstances it happened. 

After years of competing at the elite level, the structure, identity and sense of belonging that came with being an athlete suddenly disappeared. And figuring out what came next proved harder than expected.

In Episode 3 of The Bench, Tychon opens up about the identity loss that can follow sport, why the silence after competition can be so difficult, and the difference between chasing goals and finding purpose.

Long before becoming the first Black winner of Big Brother Canada, and before building a career as an entrepreneur, creator and community leader, there was a period of uncertainty, reinvention and learning how to separate what he did from who he was.

We talk about mental health, failure, transferable skills, community, leadership, and why not everything athletes learn in sport automatically translates to life and business.

Because sometimes the hardest transition isn't figuring out what to do next. It's figuring out who you are when the game is over.

The Bench: Sport Performance → Career Leadership → Collective Legacy

🌐 www.thebenchcollective.ca

What happens when the dream ends before you’re ready?

Savanna Hamilton planned to play professional basketball and represent Canada before eventually transitioning into sports media. Then, almost overnight, the basketball chapter ended.

Fortunately, another chapter was already taking shape.

In Episode 2 of The Bench, Savanna opens up about the tough decisions she made as a student-athlete, breaking into sports media as a Black woman, creating opportunities on her own terms, and the sacrifices behind continuing to bet on herself.

Her story raises a question at the heart of The Bench:

What if preparing for life beyond sport isn’t about giving up on your dream — but making sure it isn’t your only one?

Ball can be life. But it doesn’t have to be your whole life.

Take a seat.

What does life after sport really look like? In Episode 1 of The Bench Podcast, Donnovan “DJ” Bennett shares his transition from University Football player to one of Canada’s leading voices in sports media.A former Ontario Canada Games rugby player and Western University football player, Donnovan knows what it means to leave competition behind and build a new identity, career and sense of purpose beyond the game.In this conversation, we explore the realities of athlete transition and life after sport — from translating the skills developed through competition into the professional world, to navigating access, getting ready for when the opportunities come, finding the right mentors or sponsors and ensuring diverse representation in traditional businesses. We talk about:• Moving from university sport into a professional career• Translating an athlete mindset beyond competition• Identity and purpose after sport• Why talent and hard work aren't always enough• The role of access, relationships and mentorship• Creating opportunities when there isn't a clear roadmap and unexpected challenges• Making better use of the resources available to student-athletes before graduationDJ’s story raises a bigger question at the heart of The Bench:How do we better prepare athletes not just to perform — but for everything that comes next?The Bench Podcast brings together former U SPORTS athletes, Olympians and high-performance athletes to explore the experiences, challenges and support systems that shaped their transition beyond competition — and what the next generation can learn from them.Different stories. Different paths. One shared experience.Take a seat.Welcome to The Bench.→ Join The Collective: [email protected]→ Follow us on Instagram & TikTok: @TheBench.Collective#TheBenchPodcast #LifeAfterSport #AthleteTransition #StudentAthlete #USPORTS

The game ends. A new chapter begins.

For athletes, what comes next isn't always clear — and too often, we're expected to figure it out on our own.

THE BENCH was created to explore that space: the transition from performance to what comes next, the opportunities athletes can build beyond competition, and how the experience of one generation can help prepare the next.

In this introduction, host and former national team athlete Ken Saint-Eloy shares why he created The Bench, what we're setting out to learn, and why the podcast is only the beginning.

This isn't about having all the answers. It's about asking better questions, listening to athletes and building what comes next together.

Take a seat. Join The Collective - [email protected]