When you hear the word “meditation” what is your first thought? I bet it isn’t that it can help you reach higher levels of success… or lead your company to greater execution with more compassion… or that it can help you WIN in every sense of the word. Well, performance coach Ashley Wray believes that it can, and she’s seen it work in using the foundations of mindfulness to help people reach their full potential. She works with companies, executives, world class athletes and teams, coaches and leaders of all kinds. Her work has been proven to positively impact culture and brand – inside and out – and if you want to find out how? Listen to this episode of “Heroes in our Midst”!
Ashley shares with us all HOW she does what she does and what she has witnessed from her experience working with some of the world’s elite to become even better at what they do and stay WELL while doing it.
Enjoy the listen and thanks.
“You’re not filling anyone’s shoes – bring your own.”
Michael Bartlett, brought his own shoes to Canada Basketball as CEO back in 2021 and what he has done for basketball in Canada in just 3 short years is nothing short of impressive. 3 of our teams competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics for the first time ever. And while none medalled, which was a huge disappointment to Michael, it cannot be denied that under his leadership, some serious progress was made. So, now, with some time having passed, even he can see the progress and he will continue to work toward the winning, but not in the way we used to know it, in EVERY way. Yes, on the podium but also in being well while achieving amazing results.
If you want to know how he does it… what drives him… and his approach not only to his work but to his work-life balance too… listen to this podcast.
"I believe for us as parents, coaches, teachers and workplace leaders we have a responsibility to role model what it looks like, sounds like and feels like to be a great human being. And that we can actually allow and give hope to the next generation to say, hey, I want to show up and be kind and curious and competitive and achieve and fulfill my personal mission and goals." - Judy Riege.
If you are a leader of any kind – THIS is the conversation you want to hear. Judy is a leader amongst leaders. Her core principle is that leadership is a mindset, not a position and she fleshes that out for us in this episode of "Heroes in our Midst".
I am better for having had this conversation and can hardly wait to share it with you. Take a listen and check out judyriege.com when you have a chance.
“I knew that every single day I had to earn my way there and do everything possible to become the best version of myself every single day to get to where I am now.”
From the 2nd Grade, Kristen Campbell had a dream to play in goal for the Canadian Women’s hockey team at the Olympic Games. She has realized the dream of going to the Olympics as part of Team Canada and even more including now being the starting goal tender for Toronto in the Professional Women’s Hockey League, but she has more to do.
What a time this has been for her and for all of women’s hockey and what a chance for us to chat with her and find out what it looks like from the inside.
This is a first for us in that we recorded this podcast LIVE in front an audience of 40 young goaltenders attending her KC Elite Goaltending Camp in Winnipeg on July 8th… listen and be inspired by an incredible story that is still being written.
“My life has just become my new norm – it’s just going to take a lot more effort.”
Lisa Franks was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. An athletic kid with dreams of playing basketball in the Olympic Games. Never did she think that it would be in a wheelchair. But incredibly, after becoming paralyzed from the neck down at the age of 14… Lisa DID make it - to not 1, not 2 but THREE Paralympic Games!! The first 2 as a wheelchair track athlete and the last as part of Team Canada’s Wheelchair Basketball team. She is a world record holder in multiple distances and a Paralympic gold medallist 6 times over and the list goes on.
Never mind that she now lives in a camper van, surfs, mountain bikes and has a passion for making the world, including the outdoors, accessible for all.
But for as many mountaintops as Lisa has reached, she also lived in some pretty deep, dark valleys and she joins us today as a “hero in our midst” because she was willing to share it all with us. We couldn’t be more grateful for that.
Listen and be inspired.
“I don’t think any of us are in the business of removing challenge. I think we’re in the business of increasing challenge to the most we can tolerate as a human being. But then, if that human being is being asked to tolerate all of this challenge – how can we build up the human being, how can we give them the resources they need, the space they need, the rest they need, the understanding of the “why” behind what they’re doing, and the decision-making power.”
– Katrina Monton
In this episode, Katrina Monton is our very special guest. Katrina played Water Polo at the National team level for many years. She was already a carded athlete at the age of 15! She’s an NCAA Division 1 silver medallist, played in 4 or 5 World championships and 2 Pan Am Games. These days, she is passionate about taking all that she has learned along the way and pouring it into her research and her work as an Organizational Psychologist. What a great conversation we had. So, listen and learn how important culture, team dynamics, psychological safety, well-being and belonging are in high performance environments. Enjoy.
“I know what it’s like to not have food in the fridge”
One of the things that Asun Ducharme carries with him from his childhood. It wasn’t an easy one but somehow, somewhere, he finds positives in all of it and he is finding his way to greatness. The passion and the drive in this young man will blow you away.
Prepare to be inspired when you listen to Asun and his story. He is a linebacker, was the captain of his high school football team and at only 17 years old, what he’s already seen and learned in his short life is more than most of us can imagine. He plays linebacker and he is one of the most passionate individuals I have ever met. He is set on greatness and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get there.
Listen to Asun’s story and don’t forget his name… someday you’ll be wanting to say “you knew him when”.
When you open Ray Zahab’s website you will find these three words.
CHALLENGE. DISTANCE. DISCOVERY.
Exactly what he takes on, on a very regular basis. He takes on new challenges that usually include running long distances and discovering not only the cultures and geography of the places he goes but also, what it takes to truly conquer the challenge in any given location for any distance, in any amount of time. And we’re talking 17,000 km’s PLUS in some of the world’s hottest and driest deserts to some of the coldest places on earth.
How does he accomplish this? He never underestimates his ability to complete the task.
Anything’s possible is an understatement for Ray and he thinks anyone can do anything as long as they put their minds to it and truly find a passion for it.
Listen as Ray shares his “why”, his story and his outlook on life … in the NOW.
“My life changed when I stopped defining success by a certain limited framework.”
That’s what Juno award winning singer/songwriter Steve Bell said, when he decided, along with his manager/producer/sound design partner Dave Zeglinski, that they would leave Nashville and come back home to Manitoba to do locally what they did best… make music on their own terms and share it with others. And it’s worked for them… big time. Steve has shared his music with over half a million people in 15 countries worldwide. He’s played over 30 sold out Symphony concerts across Canada and into the U.S. He’s been awarded 3 JUNOS with another 3 nominations, he’s won 4 Western Canadian Music awards, numerous Gospel Music Awards and Prairie Music awards too. He was the recipient of the 2012 Queen Elizabeth 2nd’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, was appointed to the Order of Manitoba in 2021 and the Order of Canada in 2022. All of this has led to Steve being one of the best-known Christian musicians in Canada and if you haven’t heard his music, you will want to once you hear his story and our conversation with him.
You see, his story is NOT what you think… and to say he’s made an impact on the world around him is an understatement…so listen and find out who Steve Bell and what truly makes him a “Hero in our Midst”.
If you were ever wanting to hear the story of someone who has worked for absolutely everything she’s ever gotten in life, then, you’ve found the right story. Our guest today is Claire Hanna. Most recently, you may have seen Claire on the sidelines of the 2023 Grey Cup championship game as part of the TSN broadcast. Or, you may know her name from the volleyball world, in which, she is a 3-time National champion with the UBC Thunderbirds, she went on to play pro AND was a member of the Senior National women’s volleyball team for 4 years too. She is a 2-time Canada West libero of the year and even nabbed the CIS Libero of the Year title in 2010.
Claire’s dreams didn’t stop when volleyball ended though. Her dream of becoming a TV broadcaster for TSN was also on her list… and much like she pursued her volleyball dreams, she went after the TV dream too. The best part is she feels the best stories in her life are yet to come… but stop for a bit and listen to this one. But be careful, you may be inspired to put in a whole lot of work after you do.
Enjoy!
“A 30-year reunion… do your ex-teammates want to come sit at a table with you because you scored a bunch of goals or was it because you were a good person and a good teammate? That’s always kind of stuck with me.”
That’s just one of the things recently retired NHL hockey player, Mark Borowiecki said when we chatted about his life story. You see, he was drafted by the Ottawa Senators and played there for a decade before being traded to Nashville, where, only recently, his playing career came to an end.
But Mark doesn’t only have a hockey story… he’s been on a mental health journey of his own as well. When he played he was a fighter. A tough guy. But on the inside there were some dark times. He talks about that, his motivation to carry on and how he now wants to use every experience he’s had to help others and with his current job in Professional Player Development for the Nashville Predators, he is poised to do just that!
Take a listen and hear the story for yourself!
“I think the biggest thing is just finding the motivation within yourself. If this is something you want to do and if this is your passion, I think you’ll have no problem having that motivation to succeed.”
Well, 19-year-old hockey player Danny Zhilkin is certainly motivated, and he has been since he was a 9-year-old boy in Russia, when his entire family moved to Canada so that he could pursue his dream of not only making it into the NHL but winning the Stanley Cup. He’s not there yet but with his focus and confidence, truly the sky’s the limit.
Never mind he’s already started “Zhilkin’s Vision”, a foundation committed to creating safe spaces for athletes to speak out and find resources to help with their mental health journeys too.
He is currently playing for the Manitoba Moose in the Winnipeg Jets organization and if you ask him what he needs to do to make it all the way, he’ll tell you this: “Just stay focussed. I know what my goals are and what I need to work on. Putting in the work every single day. Dreaming beyond your beliefs. Dreaming of that Stanley Cup every single day. Keep being motivated and passionate about what I do. Just – keep -- going.”
Listen to Danny’s story and you’ll be cheering him on to do just that.
Enjoy!
“It’s not just about, ‘How can I get a million people to buy my stuff?’ it’s ‘How can I get one person to be affected by the stuff that we are saying and that we are sharing’ – and that for me is this.”
“Heroes in our Midst” host Michelle Sawatzky-Koop said that in conversation with creator Dr. Adrienne Leslie-Toogood, when asked about what “Heroes in our Midst” means to her. That’s it. Being the vehicle for some incredible humans to share their stories and then, for us to learn from it all. Sport is an incredible vehicle for stories of challenge, 100% commitment, dedication, hard work, perseverance, pure joy and devastation… potentially all in the same season. We live life in seasons too, so why should we not learn from each other.
In this episode, Michelle and Adrienne look back at their most recent season of guests and find that as they unpack some of the things they’ve heard, the lessons just keep coming.
“It’s more about getting to know yourself deeply and understanding how you work, so that you can show up authentically as yourself and you know how to manage it, so you can get consistency out of your performance when it matters the most.”
Dr. Adrienne Leslie-Toogood
Take a listen and be inspired to listen even more!
“Hard work pays off and we all fall down at some point, the important thing is to get back up.”
Those are the words Sara Orlesky ended our conversation with, in this episode of “Heroes in our Midst”, and the stories she has to tell along the way lead us to that.
Sara is now the Senior Host and Producer of the Jets content team and it’s been a lifetime of stories that has gotten her there. Sara has been “all in” since the day she decided on her chosen career and when you hear her share her life story, you will be amazed at her work ethic and her willingness to do whatever it took to reach her dreams.
“Winning Amazing Race Canada has made my platform much bigger and I’m able to reach out more to people and be a bigger advocate for brain cancer and every kind of cancer and people with disabilities and people who don’t think they can do something – I’ve proven them WRONG!”
She most certainly has.
Catherine has danced with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, she’s performed on Broadway and yes, won “Amazing Race Canada” all while living with a cancer diagnosis that will, as she will tell you, end her life. But she has NO plans on stopping anytime soon. She is a best friend, a wife, a mother of 2, a champion and an inspiration and advocate for so many!
So, really… who is this incredible human? Listen to find out.
“The harder I work, the luckier I get.”
Dayna Spiring might attribute that quote to her husband, but she certainly lives it.
Every single day she wakes up with purpose and the realization that to be your very best, you can’t escape the work. Dayna is currently the President and CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg which includes YES! Winnipeg and Tourism Winnipeg. As the former chief strategy officer and general counsel of the Canadian Wheat Board she did incredible things… she’s a lawyer, a passionate Winnipegger, a tireless volunteer, a Queens’ Platinum Jubilee medal recipient, the first woman to ever have her name engraved on the Grey Cup and so much more!
So, who is she and what’s the story behind all she’s done? You’ll know when you listen to this episode of “Heroes in our Midst” brought to you by Elite Sports Injury in Winnipeg.
Take a listen and be inspired.
“That was my goal since daycare that I was going to play in the Olympics.”
Who sets goals like that in daycare? Venla Hovi, that’s who.
Venla is one of the best female hockey players to ever come out of Finland – she is a 2-time Olympic medalist, a multiple World championship medal winner, a Canadian University National Champion with the Manitoba Bisons, and now, is coaching female professional hockey in the United States. She has an incredible story of big dreams, hard work, and great personal loss but through it all a clear vision of where she wanted to be and what it would take to get there.
Venla always believed in training and hard work. She knew that having the drive to do both would push her onto great things. She was right! But that’s just me trying to tell you what she’s already said – so, if you really want to learn from Venla about reaching excellence, listen to her story and you’ll hear it all.
“My plan to go to Germany was to get a PHD in sport science, to get the highest coaching license in the world and I wanted to play pro soccer in Germany. Those were my three goals and many people told me I was crazy.” – Dr. Vanessa Martinez Lagunas
Some pretty big dreams and she realized them all. Every Single One!
In this episode, you will get to know Dr. Vanessa Martinez Lagunas. Vanessa has been the head coach of the University of Manitoba Bison women’s soccer program since 2013. She holds a PhD in sports science and her playing résumé includes representing her native Mexico from 1999 to 2004 and playing with the Bundesliga Giants Bayern in Munich in the 2007-08 season.
From a young age – she was intrigued with coaching and early on KNEW that that’s what she wanted to be. She combined her pursuit of her coaching levels with her studies, her sport, her passion, her grit, and her belief that anything is possible and today she will tell you how she did it.
Enjoy!
“NOW, go do something with it!”
If there’s anyone who believes that everyone has huge potential and it just takes hard work to realize your dreams, it’s Adam Bighill. He grew up in the States where “Friday Night Lights” was actually a “thing” and he went on to play on the biggest stage in his world of football. He’s been named the CFL’s Most Outstanding defensive player three times, won multiple Grey Cup championships and is proud to call himself a Winnipeg Blue Bomber… still.
No question, hard work is his mantra, but he doesn’t just say it – he backs it up in a big way and his performance on the field proves that every single day. He’d love nothing more than to have us ALL live that way – so, listen and be inspired. According to “Biggie” – anything’s possible.
Thanks SO much to Elite Sports Injury for getting this episode to so many!! Elite Sports Injury, with 5 locations in Winnipeg they are here when we need physiotherapy or massage therapy. Your body's worth it. Make the time for yourself.
“I think this idea, the open hand, sharing what you’ve been given openly… that’s very important to me.” – Dr. Neil Craton
Well, good thing we asked him to join us to share his story! Dr. Neil Craton doesn’t only have his own life’s story to tell. He has countless experiences and examples of what he’s learned along the way from hearing other people’s stories. He is one of the longest standing sports medicine doctors in Manitoba. He has worked with the Bombers and the Jets for years, multiple Olympic and Paralympic athletes, he’s an author, he volunteers at a homeless shelter and he is grounded in a faith that drives him forward in his service to others.
Just one of these things might make him a hero. Combine them all and it leaves no doubt, Neil Craton is most certainly a “Hero in Our Midst”.
Listen and be inspired!
