Talk Today podcast
By Talk Today podcast
Talk Today is one of the most comprehensive mental health programs for amateur sports in Canada. Launched by Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario in partnership with the Ontario Hockey League in 2014, Talk Today promotes the mental health of young athletes and spreads awareness of mental health throughout communities nationwide. Learn more at www.talktoday.ca.
Talk Today podcastOct 20, 2023
Interview with author/former lacrosse pro Delby Powless
In this episode of the Talk Today podcast, hosts Alex Salomie
and Justin Dickie chat with former professional lacrosse player and author, Delby Powless.
Delby was recently inducted into the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame, was the 2003 Tom Longboat Award winner as Canada's top Indigenous athlete, and spent six seasons in the National Lacrosse League with the Buffalo Bandits, winning the championship in 2008.
Delby is also the author of Medicine Game, a fictional story about lacrosse, growing up as an Indigenous person, and experiencing mental health challenges.
In the interview, Delby discusses the impact lacrosse has had on his life, growing up in Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation, why he wrote Medicine Game, and more.
This podcast is brought to you by Talk Today, one of the most comprehensive mental health programs for amateur sports in Canada. To learn more, visit www.talktoday.ca.
Interview with OHL commissioner David Branch
In this episode of the Talk Today podcast, hosts Alex Salomie and Justin Dickie chat with Ontario Hockey League (OHL) commissioner David Branch.
OHL commissioner since 1979, David was instrumental in the inception of the Talk Today program in the OHL in 2014, and as the president of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) from 1996-2016, stewarded the expansion of Talk Today across the CHL into the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Western Hockey League. In recognition of his leadership in junior hockey, Branch was a recipient of the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2016.
In the interview, Alex and Justin ask David about his 44 years as commissioner of the OHL, the supports in place for players in the league, and the importance of the Talk Today program.
This podcast is brought to you by Talk Today, one of the most comprehensive mental health programs for amateur sports in Canada. To learn more, visit www.talktoday.ca.
Interview with NHL prospect Danny Zhilkin
In the second episode of the Talk Today podcast, hosts Alex Salomie and Justin Dickie chat with Winnipeg Jets prospect Danny Zhilkin. Danny participated in the Talk Today program in the Ontario Hockey League, where he played with the Kitchener Rangers and Guelph Storm, and launched his own non-profit mental health initiative, Zhilkin's Vision, which focuses on de-stigmatization and prioritization of mental health in sport. Danny discusses how and why he started a mental health initiative, what he does to support his own mental health, and how he prepared over the summer for the potential start of his pro hockey career.
This podcast is brought to you by Talk Today, one of the most comprehensive mental health programs for amateur sports in Canada. To learn more, visit www.talktoday.ca.
Interview with NHL prospect Jake Chiasson
In the inaugural episode of the Talk Today podcast, hosts Alex Salomie and Justin Dickie chat with Edmonton Oilers prospect Jake Chiasson. Jake was one of four Brandon Wheat Kings players who intervened with a person struggling with thoughts of suicide in Brandon, Man. in December 2022. Jake shares his perspective on how the situation transpired, the impact to his team and the local community that followed, and shares messages about the importance of empathy toward others.
This podcast is brought to you by Talk Today, one of the most comprehensive mental health programs for amateur sports in Canada. To learn more, visit www.talktoday.ca.
Music for social media clips courtesy of pixabay.com.