The Sport Nova Scotia Podcast: Recent Episodes
Sport Nova Scotia
The importance of listening to the athlete’s voice cannot be understated. The Sport Nova Scotia Podcast will host athletes and subject matter experts who will cover everything from body image and over exercising to eating disorders, athlete-coach relationships, psychological maltreatment, training-life balance, and transitioning out of sport. This six-episode mental health series was created by athletes, for athletes.
This podcast hears our host Sophie and guest Abby Blauer delve into her journey of transitioning out of competitive sport while still maintaining a deep connection to that part of herself. Abby shares her emotions and decisions of walking away from competitive play while embracing sport beyond the game.
Abby Blauer is a retired hockey and soccer player who maintains a strong connection to athletics. Currently studying at Dalhousie University, Abby is actively involved sport and contributes to the community as an Athletic Trainer, which allows her to stay engaged while advancing her education. Abby serves on the Athletic Advisory Committee, using her voice to advocate for athlete inclusion, safe sport practices and other important initiatives.
Resources:
Personal Values Assessment
Athlete365 Learning
This podcast hears our host Sophie and guest Dr. Simon Taylor discuss the process that's involved in athlete's transitioning out of competitive sport, whether that's by retirement by choice or due to unforeseen circumstances. Simon highlights some of the common struggles that athletes experience, how to proactively navigate them, and where to find accessible resources.
Dr. Simon Taylor is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant with the Canadian Sport Psychology Association and works at the Canadian Sport Institute Atlantic. His approach is to provide individuals with skills and strategies that enhance athlete performance, team-functioning, and overall well-being.
Resources:
Canadian Sport Psychology Association
Taylored Mindset
Personal Values Assessment
Athlete365 Learning
This podcast hears our host Sophie and guest Carolyn Dawson discuss her abrupt transition out of competitive play and the move to coaching high level sport in Nova Scotia. Carolyn discusses the challenges and emotional hurdles with sudden transition out of competing and how to grow and learn from experience by building a network of support.
Carolyn Dawson is a retired rugby player turned coach and a student at Dalhousie University pursuing her Masters in Physiotherapy. During her rugby career she played for Saint Mary's University and the U19 provincial Keltic’s team. Carolyn's transition to coaching comes from her passion for building inclusive, safe, and supportive environments where athletes can learn and grow. Carolyn uses her voice on the Athlete advisory committee to advocate for athletes and coaches.
Resources:
Personal Values Assessment
Athlete365 Learning
This podcast hears host Sophie and guest Luke Berryman discuss the athletic journey, from grassroots to varsity sport. Listen to Luke discuss experiences of seeing friends exit sport, athletic identity, and ways to engage with sport after the competitive 'athlete' experience ends.
Luke Berryman is currently a soccer athlete and coach who captains the Dalhousie University Tigers and works as the Grassroots Coordinator for Halifax City Soccer Club. Luke is passionate about making soccer accessible to all and created an initiative to support newcomers to participate. Luke uses his voice in the Athlete Advisory Committee to advocate for the inclusion and celebration of all within sport.
Resources:
Referee Soccer in NS
Coach Soccer in NS
Personal Values Assessment
Athlete365 Learning
In this two-part episode Sophie, Tina, Cherokee and Jeremy discuss the mental and physical ramifications of leaving sport. They chat about the necessity to redefine yourself once “athlete” is no longer part of your identity, and what staying active looks like without coaches, tournaments or trainers.
Guests:
Tina DeRoo is a mental performance consultant with the Canadian Sport Institute Atlantic focusing on provincial-level athletes. She also works at the YMCA as a personal trainer.
Cherokee Robinson was a multisport athlete who represented Nova Scotia in both basketball and football. Robinson transitioned to USport, and played for Acadia before taking some away from university this year.
Jeremy Bartholomeusz is a national team gymnast and the chair of the Sport Nova Scotia Safe Sport Athlete Advisory Committee.
Resources for Athletes:
- Personal Values Assessment
- Athlete365 Learning
Resources for Coaches:
- Safe Sport Coaching Training
In this two-part episode Sophie, Tina, Cherokee and Jeremy discuss the mental and physical ramifications of leaving sport. They chat about the necessity to redefine yourself once “athlete” is no longer part of your identity, and what staying active looks like without coaches, tournaments or trainers.
Guests:
Tina DeRoo is a mental performance consultant with the Canadian Sport Institute Atlantic focusing on provincial-level athletes. She also works at the YMCA as a personal trainer.
Cherokee Robinson was a multisport athlete who represented Nova Scotia in both basketball and football. Robinson transitioned to USport, and played for Acadia before taking some away from university this year.
Jeremy Bartholomeusz is a national team gymnast and the chair of the Sport Nova Scotia Safe Sport Athlete Advisory Committee.
Resources for Athletes:
- Personal Values Assessment
- Athlete365 Learning
Resources for Coaches:
- Safe Sport Coaching Training
Sophie Nicholson hosts Natalie, Mikayla and Sophie to talk management and the importance of balancing sport and every-day life. The group chats about the value of prioritization, and shares tips for identifying (and preventing) mental and physical burn-out. This episode offers a unique range of prospective that athletes at any stage of their competitive career will relate to.
Guests:
Natalie Randall Price is an osteopath and athletic therapist at Cove Sport Therapy where she specializes in injury assessment and management, prevention, rehabilitation and re-training.
Mikayla Boucher is a medical science student and varsity track athlete at Dalhousie University.
Sophie Carmichael is a varsity basketball and volleyball, and cross-country athlete at Auburn High School.
Resources for Athletes:
- Personal Values Assessment
- Athlete365 Learning
Resources for Coaches:
- Safe Sport Coaching Training
In this episode Sophie sits down with Dr. Kerr to discuss and define the most common form of harm that occurs in sport- psychological maltreatment. The duo talks about the impact that psychological maltreatment can have on athletes, how to identify when something’s not right, and avenues to seek help.
Guests:
Dr. Gretchen Kerr is a kinesiology and physical education professor at The University of Toronto. Kerr specializes in maltreatment in sport and works closely with sport organizations to advance their safe sport practices.
Resources for Athletes:
- Abuse Free Sport Helpline
- Good2Talk Nova Scotia
- Kids Help Phone
- Mental Health Indicators
- Respect Group
- Universal Code of Conduct-Maltreatment in Sport
- Wellness Together Canada
Resources for Coaches:
- Safe Sport Coaching Training
- Universal Code of Conduct-Maltreatment in Sport
- Wellness Together Canada
Today Sophie meets Lori, Caelan and Maddie to talk about the power-dynamics that exist in sport, and the importance of mutually respectful relationships between athletes and coaches. The group reflects on personal experiences when conversations with coaches didn’t go as planned, and Lori provides tips to foster more effective two-way dialogue.
Guests:
Dr. Lori Dithurbide is a sport psychology professor at Dalhousie University whofocuses on the psychosocial aspects of sport and physical activity. Dr. Dithurbide is also a mental performance consultant at the Canadian Sport Institute Atlantic.
Maddie MacDonald is a rugby player and coach who also works for the Government of Nova Scotia in the community sport and recreation sector. MacDonald is currently working in an interim position with the North American Indigenous Games.
Caelan Shaw is a former freestyle skier with Team Nova Scotia. She recently transitioned from athlete to coach, and now works as an instructor with the Wentworth All Mountain Ski Program.
Resources for Athletes:
- Abuse Free Sport Helpline
- Universal Code of Conduct-Maltreatment in Sport
Resources for Coaches
- Safe Sport Coaching Training
In this episode Sophie hosts clinical therapist Rania and former national team judo athlete Alex Gagnon to chat about the correlation between competitive sport and body image. The trio discusses how unhealthy relationships with food and body image manifest, and what healthcare professionals and coaches can do to support their athletes.
Guests:
Alex Gagnon is a former national team judo athlete who competed internationally until 2020 when she retired due to injury. Gagnon is currently in her final year of an honors degree in sociology where she researches the normalization of weight cutting in combat sports.
Rania is a clinical therapist with Eating Disorders Nova Scotia. With a Masters in Counselling Psychology and over eight years of experience as a clinical therapist, ElSouri supports folks dealing with trauma, depression, anxiety, and disordered eating/eating disorders.
Resources for Athletes:
- Abuse Free Sport Helpline
- Eating Disorders Nova Scotia
- Good2Talk Nova Scotia
- Kids Help Phone
- National Eating Disorder Hotline
- Safe Sport Training Modules for Athletes
- Wellness Together Canada
Resources for Parents and Coaches:
- Eating Disorders Nova Scotia
- IWK Health Centre Referrals
- National Eating Disorder Information Centre
- Safe Sport Coaching Training
In this inaugural episode, Sophie sits down with Senator Kutcher and Jeremy Bartholomeusz to discuss mental disorders and how they relate to athletes. Jeremy will provide an overview of the Safe Sport Athlete Advisory Committee, and give listeners a teaser of what to expect in future episodes. They’ll chat about the stigma attached to seeking help and the differences between mental health, mental wellness and mental disorders.
Guests
Jeremy Bartholomeusz is a national team gymnast and the chair of the Sport Nova Scotia Safe Sport Athlete Advisory Committee.
Senator Stan Kutcher is a leading psychiatrist and professor who has helped young people successfully manage major mental illnesses. His appointment to the Senate allows him to put his decades of medical, academic and policy expertise at the service of all Canadians.
Episode Resources
The list of resources below was sourced by the Safe Sport Athlete Advisory Committee and the subject matter expert from this episode.
For Athletes
- Abuse Free Sport Helpline
- Mental Health Indicators
- Mental Health Literacy
- Safe Sport Training Modules for Athletes
- Universal Code of Conduct-Maltreatment in Sport
For Parents and Coaches
- Safe Sport Coaching Training
- Safe Sport Training Modules
- Universal Code of Conduct-Maltreatment in Sport