Talk Today podcast

In this episode of the Talk Today podcast, hosts Alex Salomie and Justin Dickie chat with professional hockey player, rapper and entrepreneur, Josh Ho-Sang. A first-round draft pick of the National Hockey League’s New York Islanders in 2014, Ho-Sang offers thoughtful commentary on his mental health, hockey career, resilience and recovery, mindset, his new ventures into music and app development, and much more. While Ho-Sang has been open about his mental health in the past, he delves deeper into the ups and downs of his time as a pro, describing his feelings through times he faced public criticism, his lowest moments, how he overcame his darkest times, and what he does today to stay mentally grounded and balanced. Find Ho-Sang’s debut album SAME wherever you stream music, and his pick-up sports matchmaking mobile app, PUP sports, on the Apple App Store or Google Play. This podcast is brought to you by Talk Today, one of the most comprehensive sports mental health programs in Canada. To learn more, visit ⁠www.talktoday.ca⁠.

In this episode of the Talk Today podcast, hosts Alex Salomie and Justin Dickie chat with Canadian Hockey League (CHL) president Dan MacKenzie. As CHL president since 2019, Dan has been an influential partner and supporter of the Talk Today program. Prior to his time leading the CHL, Dan had 20 years of experience as a sports executive with the National Basketball Association (NBA) Canada and The Sports Network (TSN). In the interview, Justin and Alex ask Dan about a new fundraising partnership between the CHL and Talk Today, how mental health conversations in sports have shifted during his career, the importance he places on having mental health supports in place for CHL athletes, and much more. This podcast is brought to you by Talk Today, one of the most comprehensive sports mental health programs in Canada. To learn more, visit ⁠www.talktoday.ca⁠.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Coming soon!

Episode 1