The Inner Olympian

Jessica Myers-Adams is a marriage/relationship expert with eight years of experience working with couples to recreate joy and connection in their relationship. With Extreme Relationship Fitness, which launched in 2020, Jessica hones in on athletes to equip them with the tools to better communicate with their partners for mutual understanding, foster “mental toughness,” and create a safe environment for the guilt-free pursuit of their athletic passions. Outside of working individually with athletes and running Relationship Boot Camps for couples, Jessica can be found training for endurance events or cooking up her next big adventure with her wife of 10 years. She is based in Harrisburg, PA and accepts clients both virtually and in person.

In this episode, we chat about being not being afraid to ask for help, some of the things that trips us up in relationships, how to take ownership of ourselves in our relationships and of course, much much more.

To connect with Jessica, you can check out her website www.extremerelationshipfitness.com or send her an email at jessica@extremerelationshipfitness.com.

Shannon is a current skeleton athlete and former softball athlete, with an extremely diverse background in sport, education, research, and marketing. She holds a M.A. in Olympic Studies from the German Sport University in Cologne, an undergraduate degree from McMaster University, a B.Ed from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), and a diploma in Sport Business Management from Durham College. She is proud to be giving back to her sport by continuously working closely with developing junior elite athletes across Ontario through pitching clinics and player development camps.

As a dual-citizen to Malta, she managed to become a builder of sport through development strategies for local sport organizations within Malta and took part in the European Commission’s “Be Active” campaign to promote healthy active living across European communities. With the role of Game Plan Specialist, Shannon is proud to be supporting a world-class program that aims to help athletes find their passions beyond the field of play as well-rounded individuals while maintaining a healthy balance in their high-performance career.

In this episode, we chat about being relentlessly persistent, taking risks, not settling for less, going after what you want, and so much more. 

In this episode sit down with 2x Canadian Olympian, and 4x All American Richard Adu-Bobie. Richard Adu-Bobie is a former Canadian 100m sprinter and was a member of Canada’s 4x100m relay team at the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics. In 2004 he was the youngest member of the Canadian track and field team at the age of 19 when he finished 4th at the Canadian Olympic trials setting a then new Canadian Junior record of 10.28s

In 2005, Richard went on to start his NCAA collegiate career at the University of Florida, where he finished third in the 60m dash as a Freshmen at the 2005 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. In the Fall of 2006, Richard transferred to Texas A&M University where his NCAA career really took off earning multiple All-American, ALL SEC, and all Big athlete honours.

Internationally Richard has represented Canada at the 2005 and 2007 IAAF World Championships and is a silver medalist from the 2007 Pan American Games where he ran the lead-off leg. In 2008, he was selected to represent Canada at his second Olympic Games at the 2008 Beijing, Olympics as an alternate for the 4x100m relay.

After eight years running for the National team, he made the decision to retire after missing out on his third Olympic Games in 2012. Soon after retirement, Richard began working for Employment and Social Development Canada where he is currently a Senior Business Consultant providing grant and contributions guidance on various government of Canada funding programs.

In this episode, we chat about Richard's journey to his first Olympic team taking care of the little things not being afraid to take on challenges how to identify if your feeling stuck And the biggest thing he’s learned since retiring from the sport.

In this episode I chat with visual artist and photographer Toni Lovejoy. Toni is a full-time visual artist based in Charlotte, NC. Raised by a renowned American Western Artist and educated at the Colorado Institute of Art, she’s been creating images for over 30 years. She began her career as a photojournalist in Iowa photographing sports, moving on to fashion and editorial work in Australia in the 80's. After moving back to the States to continue her fashion work, she spent a year interning in a fashion studio before beginning to work in the film and commercial world in Phoenix and LA. In 2008 Lovejoy made the switch from film to digital and began exploring fine art photography full-time.

In this episode we chat about defining success for yourself, navigating self-sabotage, dealing with fear and insecurity, learning from mistakes, determining your true vs magnetic North, things she'd like to do again, and so much more. This conversation is DEEP. You won't want to miss it. 

In this episode, I chat with Canadian sports executive and one of the visionaries behind Toronto FC and the Canadian Premier League, Paul Beirne.

In this episode, I chat with Canadian Olympian, 2008 Bronze medalist, and current Director, Communications and Media Relations for the COC (Canadian Olympic Committee) Tom Hall. Tom is a Canadian Olympian from Pointe-Claire, Québec, and represented Team Canada as a national sprint canoe paddler for almost 20 years. During his career As a sprint canoe athlete, he medalled at every international event that featured sprint canoeing. His career culminated with a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics games in Beijing before retiring from the sport in 2012.

Post sporting career he holds a Masters of Journalism from Carleton University and has a diverse background in marketing and communications with work that has been featured in many reputed media outlets such as Canadian Geographic, the Toronto Star, the Ottawa Citizen, and the National Post. Tom is also a respected leader in the Canadian sport system and has worked for a decade to make the Canadian athlete journey as safe, fair, and healthy as possible. First as a volunteer, and more recently as a leader within athlete-focused organizations. He has held previous roles as the Executive Director of AthletesCAN, National Manager of Game Plan, and is currently the Director, Communications and Media Relations for the Canadian Olympic Committee. He currently sits on the Board of Directors of Canoe Kayak Canada, the Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC), as well as the IOC Athlete365 Career+ Steering Committee.

In this episode we chat about his Olympics experiences, dealing with uncertainty, career transitions, not taking things for granted, the Canadian sports system, athlete mental health, asking yourself the tough questions, overcoming insecurity, and of course much more!

In this episode, I chat with 3x Canadian Olympian, and 100m hurdler/ heptathlete, Angela Whyte. Angela is a 3x Canadian Olympian (2004, 2008, 2016), 5x International Medalist, 2x World Championship finalist, 4x All-American, 5x Big West Champion, and is one of the top Canadian hurdlers of all-time.

Angela was raised in Edmonton, Alberta, and had dreams of playing professional basketball before switching to track and field in high school. She left Alberta after accepting an offer to New Mexico the States, but It wasn't until she transferred to the University of Idaho that her career really started to take off. Her two years at Idaho saw her become a 4x All-American, 5x Big west champion, and 13x school record holder. She made her major Canadian Senior team debut at the IAAF World Championships in Edmonton and has since been to 3 Olympic Games, multiple world championships, commonwealth, and Pan-American games. Currently, she holds a Master's degree from the University of Idaho and is training to represent Canada at what would be her 4th Olympics at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo. 

In this episode, we chat about, Taking risks, having confidence in yourself, finding value in what you do, her Olympic experiences, getting through doubt, the gift and curse of experience, overcoming struggles, and the one big lesson she’s learned over her career so far!

In this episode, I chat with 2x Canadian Olympian (2008, 2012), 3x International Medalist, and 3x World Championship finalist in the 4x100 Jared Connaughton. Jared Connaughton was raised in Prince Edward Island and played hockey and soccer competitively for nearly a decade before he embarked on his mission to pursue the sport of track and field. After only a few months of training, he became the nation's premier (u-19) 200m athlete garnering attention from a multitude of NCAA Division-1 universities before ultimately deciding on the University of Texas-Arlington. During his time there he went on to become one of the most decorated athletes in the history of the southland conference... even being named as one of the top 50 greatest Southland Conference track and field athletes. He is the Maritime record holder 100m,200m, 4 x 100m (38.08), and 4 x 200m; and the only Islander in history to win 2 gold medals at the Canada Games. He is also a Three-time P.E.I. Lieutenant-Governor’s Award winner, Halfpenny Award winner, Queen’s Silver Jubilee medal recipient, and Multiple P.E.I. sports award winner. Jared currently lives in Texas with his wife and two kids, and is the Head Track & Field and Cross-Country coach at Fort Worth Country Day. 

In this episode, we chat about, 

• How he got involved in track and field
• His journey from P.E.I (Prince Edward Island) to the NCAA
• Pivotal moments in his career 
• The build-up to the 2012 Olympic games 
• The one thing he wants his kids to know
• And more!

In this episode, I chat with 2016 Candian Olympian, Jessica O’Connell. Jessica is 2019 NACAC cross country silver medalist, 2019 Pan Am Silver Medalist, 2017 FISU Games silver medalist, 17 times National championship medalist, 18x National team member, the Canadian indoor record holder in the 3,000m, Athlete Ambassador for Fast and Female, and as I mentioned a 2016 Olympian in the 5,000m. She holds an undergraduate degree from West Virginia University and a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of Calgary, and is an accredited exercise physiologist, holding the CSEP-CEP certification. Outside of sport, she is the co-founder of Grit coaching. A coaching business that specializes in custom cross-training programs for runners and athletes.

In this episode we chat about her journey to the 2016 Olympic games, dealing with injuries, mindset, identity, appreciating the struggle, and much more!

In this episode, I chat with freelance communications specialist and racial equity advocate Debbie King. Debbie is a freelance communications specialist, Fast and Female R.E.A.L Role Model, group fitness leader, OptiMYz 2020 Top 100 Health and Fitness Influencer, Blacks 2019 People's Choice Athlete of the Year, Chair of the Queen Victoria Black Student Success Committee, and Chair of the Fast & Female Anti-Racism and Respect Advisory Committee. She is a mom to her lovely daughter an active advocate for racial equity in female fitness, sport, and public education spaces. As well as a strong supporter of fostering professional and consumer connections to Black and BIPOC- centered leaders in wellness spaces. 

In this episode, I chat with Mental Performance Consultant, Dr. Chantale Lussier, Ph.D. Dr. Lussier, Ph.D. is the Founder & CEO of Elysian Insight, mental performance solutions, and a highly sought-after specialist in her field. She is a member of the Canadian Sport Psychology Association (CSPA) & the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Dr. Lussier, Ph.D. has worked with hundreds of nationally and internationally ranked competitive, elite, and pro athletes (NHL, CFL), as well as military and emergency service professionals (police, fire, first responders, etc). A graduate of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, she enjoyed a 12-year career as a professional dance artist, choreographer, teacher, and artistic director before transitioning into what she does today. She holds a B.A. (honours) in psychology, an M.A. in human kinetics (sport psychology), and a PhD in education (psycho-pedagogy). If you are a fan of deep conversation this is an episode that you don't want to miss! 

The Inner Olympian is celebrating it's one year anniversary! Join me as I share some thoughts on looking back to see how far you've come. 

In this episode, I chat with the 2019 NCAA Woman of the Year, and current Harvard Medical School student, Angela Mercurio.

Angela is a former triple jumper out of the University of Nebraska Lincoln and the 2019 NCAA woman of the year. She graduated from the University of Nebraska Lincoln with a  major in biochemistry and women's gender studies and has represented Canada twice at the international level. First at the Pan American Junior Championships in 2015, and then again at the World University Games in 2017. During her time at Nebraska Lincoln, she was a 3x second-team All-American, 2x Academic All American, 3x Arthur Ash Award winner,  winner of the  2017 Sam Foltz Award, the 2019 BIG Ten indoor Champion in the triple jump, the inaugural recipient of the Rose Bowl Keith Jackson Postgraduate Scholarship, recipient of the NCAA postgraduate scholarship, and the Big Ten postgraduate scholarship. She is also a certified doula and currently studying to become a doctor at Harvard Medical School. In this episode, we talk about,

• Identity
• Timing
• Tough decisions
• Sacrifices
• Being open to new paths
• Who you are vs. What you do
• Trusting your journey
  

I chat with freelance photographer, entrepreneur, and author, Lyndsay Doyle. Lyndsay is a freelance photographer with over 15 years' experience creating authentic images for individuals, brands, and organizations. She is also the author of her self-published book, "Strong and Free" - a collection of photographs and stories about Canadian women in sport based on the popular #superROLEmodels project humans with the people and things they love.  Lyndsay has been involved in sports her whole life—first as an athlete and now also as a parent to two competitive athletes.  In her spare time, she lifts weights, runs races, and plays soccer, and is a mom to her two boys and a cat named Uncle Leo.

In this episode we discuss,

• Confidence
• Removing safety nets
• Making it happen
• Going all in
• Rejection
• and more!
  

This episode was inspired by an article I read online about inventor James Dyson. He is the inventor and founder behind the popular Dyson brand and of the famous Dyson bagless vacuum. His story is a story of incredible patience, perseverance, dedication, and a lot of self-belief, as it took him 15 years and over 5,000 prototypes before getting the first bagless vacuum right. It's amazing to see the results when you know what you want to do, stick with it, and don't give up because it's worth it to you.  In this episode, I share some perspectives on,

• Reframing the negative 
• Persevering until you get it right
• Making sure it's worth it
• Not giving up
• and more
  

In this episode, I share a thought around the topic of action and the importance of taking action from one of my short "Inspirational Talks" that I used to do on social media (Instagram to be exact ). These talks were usually inspired by moments or events in my life that caused me to look at something with a different perspective, think differently about something, or just flat-out inspired/ motivated me in any sort of way. In this short episode, I talk about,

• Action being louder than words
• The importance of backing up what you say with action
• Discerning fake action from real action
  

In this episode, I chat with  2016 Grey Cup Champion Alex Mateas. Alex is a CFL offensive lineman for the Ottawa Redblacks, a 2x Tom pate award nominee, 2x East All-star, first overall pick in the 2015 CFL draft, and of course part of Ottawa's 2016 Grey Cup Championship winning team. Alex was Born and raised in Ottawa, with 2 sisters and was able to play high level: Basketball, Soccer, Football and even participated in the Junior Canadian Weightlifting Championship. Football ended up taking priority as he went on to play college football at the University of Connecticut before playing in the CFL.

While he still has a few more years on his contract, Alex is now also part of the sales team at Cushman & Wakefield and credits the local community as an instrumental part of his growth and success and takes advantage of every opportunity to give back to his community and the City of Ottawa. In this episode we discuss,

• His journey to the CFL
• The importance of little things
• Body language
• Speaking up for your dreams
• Planning ahead
• How he learns new things
• And much more
  

In this episode I chat with American 100m hurdler, former Nike athlete, LSU Alumni, and entrepreneur, Jasmine Stowers. Jasmine is a seven-time All-American, five-time SEC Champion, seven-time All-SEC athlete, SEC Women's Freshman Runner of the Year, two-time NCAA Indoor bronze medalist (60mH), NCAA outdoor silver medalist (100mh), and the seventh-fastest 100m hurdler in history. She also runs a fitness and well business and helps people get healthy with meal plans and fitness programs. In this episode we discuss,

• Having confidence
• Believing that hard work will pay off
• Having a strong vision for what you want
• Keeping a positive mindset
• The power of our subconscious 
• Her thoughts on her career
• The importance of being who you are
  

In this episode, I chat with UWindsor alumni, Adidas athlete, and Beer mile world record holder Corey Bellemore. Corey is a UWindsor alumni, Adidas athlete, National 1500m Medalist, 2014 CIS National Gold Medalist 4x800m (CIS Record), 2013 CIS National Silver Medalist 4x800m, Beer mile world record holder. Has been featured in Canadian Running, Fortune magazine, Draft magazine, bleacher report, CBC, and appeared on TMZ twice.

In this episode we discuss,

• Being yourself no matter what
• Putting in the work
• Getting around the right environment
• Handling pressure
• Making tough choices
• Taking advantage of opportunities
• Believing in your dreams
• Pushing yourself to the next level
• Handling negativity
• Finding joy in things outside of your main focus
• Being multidimensional in your thinking and experience
• and more!
  

In this episode, I chat with former Fast and Female Executive Director, and former Canadian National Team Sprint Kayaker, Una Lounder. 

Una represented Canada as a National Team athlete in sprint kayak for over 10 years. She is a 5x World Championship Team member, a World Cup medalist, Pan American Games Champion, and multiple National Champion. During her time on the National Team, she also completed an undergraduate degree at Mount Saint Vincent University where she majored in English and Minored in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. Una has pursued a career in the sport and nonprofit sector, working as a motivational speaker with the RBC Olympians program, and as the Communications Lead for the Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic. Una is a big believer in the transformative power of sport and most recently, she held the Executive Director position at Fast and Female, a Canadian charity with a mission to keep girls healthy and active in sports. Fast and Female delivers fun-filled, non-competitive, empowering programming that gives all girls the skills and role models they need to succeed in sports and in life.

Una is a recent graduate of the MMIE (Master’s of Management Innovation and Entrepreneurship) Program at the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University where she also earned certificates in Disruptive Technologies and Social Impact. She has a keen interest in the intersection of mentorship, community, empowerment, gender equity, and education.

Outside of her athletic and professional life, Una loves to hike, paddleboard, read, and volunteer. In this episode we discuss,

• The transformative power of sport
• The value of mentors and mentorship
• The power of building solid relationships
• How to build confidence in your ability
• How to separate your identity from your performance
• The power of showing up for yourself
• And more!

In this episode, I chat with two-time Canadian Olympian and CBC Sports analyst and content creator, Anson Henry. Anson is a 2x Canadian Olympian (Athens 2004 & Beijing 2008), 2003 Pan American Bronze Medalist, 2007 Pan American Silver Medalist (4x100m), 2006 Commonwealth Bronze Medalist, NCAA Indoor Bronze/ Silver medalist in the 60m, and Washington State program record holder in the, 100m, and 200m. Anson is one of the "OG's" of the Canadian sprint scene and has successfully navigated the transition from professional sport into professional life. Really exciting to sit down and pick his brain a bit. In this episode we discuss,

• Navigating the athlete transition
• Not being afraid to start at the bottom
• Living a lifestyle of excellence
• Staying humble
• Not giving up
• The benefits of doing things for yourself first
• and more!

In this episode, I chat with two-time Canadian Olympian and one of the only two Canadians to run sub 10 and sub 20,  Aaron Brown. Aaron is a Toronto Native and started track and field at the age of 16 thanks to his high school coach Bill Stephens and the rest as they say is history. Aaron is a 2x Olympian (2012, 2016), 2016 Olympic Bronze (4x100m), 2018 Commonwealth Games Silver (200m), 2018 NACAC Gold (4x100), 2018 NACAC Silver (200m), 2017 World Relay Gold Medal (4x200m), 2015 IAAF Bronze Medal (4x100m), 2013 IAAF Bronze Medal (4x100m), 3x National Champion (100m & 200m), 2018 Athletics Canada Track Athlete of the Year, 2019 Summer Male Athlete of the Year, 8x All American. In this episode we discuss,

• Not being afraid to be terrible at the  beginning
• How to build confidence
• Facing adversity
• Learning from your mistakes to get better
• Staying resilient
• The mental side of Track and Field
• The importance of controlling your narrative

In this episode, I chat with professional Nike track and field and current World Champion in the 4x400m relay and Mixed relay, Michael Cherry. Mike is a former LSU Tiger, six-time international medalist, 2-time NCAA Champion, 10-time All-American, SEC Champion, and 2-time All-SEC athlete. In this episode we discuss

• Having confidence
• The importance of being prepared
• Being disciplined and taking what you do seriously
• Facing your fears
• Dealing with losses/ setbacks
• How to handle negativity
• Some of the side effects of being great

In this episode, I chat with motivational speaker, multiple award winner, 2x published author, podcast host, 2x Olympian (2012, 2016), Olympic Bronze Medalist (2016), as well as Canadian Record Holder in the 4x100m relay Akeem Haynes. In this episode we discuss

• His journey from football to track to motivational speaking
• Working on your craft
• The power of your words and thoughts
• Knowing your value and worth
• How to identify and spark desire
• How to recognize your purpose and your gift
• and more

In this episode, I chat with professional basketball instructor and trainer, media production business owner, and social media figurehead Jamil Abiad. Jamil is a four-time city all-star, RSEQ silver medalist, RSEQ Champion, 6th place national finisher, and former professional basketball player. Currently, he is the Head Coach of Team Believe U17 & U19 basketball teams as well as the Louis Jr. Boys basketball team, the Technical Director & Trainer at Sahel Basketball, Owner of Next Level Media and JANLFitness, Mentor as part of the National Basketball Youth Mentorship Program, Under Armour Rising Stars Lead Instructor, and Under Armour Canada Ambassador. In this episode we discuss,

• Taking ownership
• Sacrifice
• Doing what it takes
• Going all in
• Not rushing your process and so much more
  

You don't need to go to the Olympics to be an Olympian! The Inner Olympian podcast is the brainchild of 2x Canadian olympian Segun Makinde who believes that you don't need to go to the Olympics to BE an olympian. To him BEING an olympian boils down to the way you think, act, and live, and that everyone has the potential to tap into their "Inner Olympian" by changing their mindset. The Inner Olympian Podcast is committed to helping individuals tap into their, "Inner Olympian" through thought-provoking mindset & motivational content to challenge you, help you step outside of your comfort zone, and do what you think is impossible.

In this episode, I chat with Registered Psychotherapist, Motivational Speaker, Event Host, Auricular Acupuncture Acudetox specialist/trainer, as well as a Certified Personal Trainer, Julie-Anne Nayler. We discuss,

• Overcoming self-doubt/
• Changing your beliefs
• The advantages of being vulnerable
• Eliminating old patterns of thinking 
• Changing your mindset to embrace new opportunities
• Acceptance as a key element to going to the next level in your life
• Stepping out of your comfort
• And more!
  

About Julie-Anne Nayler

Julie-Anne Nayler is a Registered Psychotherapist, Motivational Speaker, Event Host, Auricular Acupuncture Acudetox specialist/trainer, as well as a Certified Personal Trainer.

Her diverse background working with women in mental health, abuse, addictions, and physical health has developed her passion for seeing women whole- mind, body, and spirit. Her heart's desire is for every woman to see how beYOUtiful, valYOUable, and YOUnique they are no matter what their past or current circumstance is. This inspired her to create her company called Her inner Heart. Her inner Heart events allow a safe space for women to connect while exploring, discovering, and empowering their hearts. If you don’t catch Julie-Anne hosting an event, you can catch her sippin’ fine wine with her friends and family, laughing, dancing, taking selfies, and living her best life.

Welcome to the Inner Olympian Podcast!

You don't need to go to the Olympics to be an Olympian! The Inner Olympian podcast is the brainchild of 2x Canadian olympian Segun Makinde who believes that you don't need to go to the Olympics to BE an olympian. To him, BEING an olympian boils down to the way you think, act, and live and everyone has the potential to tap into their "Inner Olympian" by changing their mindset. The Inner Olympian Podcast is committed to helping individuals shift their thinking through thought-provoking mindset & motivational content that will challenge, motivate, and inspire you to do what you think is impossible.

In this episode, I chat with 2016 Canadian Olympian, motivational speaker, model and producer, Micha Powell.  In this episode we discuss ,

• Her journey from tennis player to track athlete
• Being real with yourself
• Overcoming tough moments
• Redefining your weaknesses as strengths
• Focusing on what you can control
• Challenging your thinking
• And more!

About Micha

Micha Powell is a 25-year-old Canadian Olympian, motivational speaker, model, and producer. Micha earned her degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Maryland and has been admitted into Ryerson's 2020-2021 Master of Digital Media Program. Daughter of two Olympians, Rosey Edeh and Michael Powell, Micha has always been an active child. However, she only started competitively doing track and field at age 17 after watching and being inspired by the 2012 Olympics. Four years later, after breaking 4 school records, she was named to the 2016 Canadian Olympic Team. Despite not getting the opportunity to race at the Rio Olympics, she is even more determined to make her Olympic return in 2021 as an even faster and stronger competitor.

In this episode, I chat with the 2016 Canadian Olympian, professional sprinter, and model Khamica Bingham. Khamica Bingham is a Professional Canadian sprinter who specializes in the 100m and 4x100m relay. She is also a 2016 Olympic Finalist, 2-time World Championship finalist, 2-time National record holder, 2-time Pan Am medalist, and is one of the fastest women in Canadian history. This episode is jam-packed from start to finish. Khamica and I discuss her journey to becoming an Olympian, how she got started (she's originally a gymnast), separating the athlete from the person, dealing with the feeling of failure, how she handles anxiety and pressure, being ok with not being in control, her experience with representation as a dark-skin female in the model industry, and lots more.

About Khamica

Khamica Bingham is a professional Canadian sprinter who specializes in the 100m and 4x100m relay. She is also a 2016 Olympic finalist, 2-time World Championship finalist, 2-time National record holder, 2-time Pan Am medalist, and known as one of the fastest women in Canada. Before Bingham discovered sprinting, she was a national gymnast with an Olympic pursuit in a different sport. Unfortunately, she had to quit gymnastics due to financial burdens but deep down her true joy and passion came from running, so she sprinted forward and never looked back. Knowing how sport changed her life, Bingham loves to give back through motivational speaking and athlete mentorship, to uplift others to reach their true potential by sharing her story.

In this episode, I chat with World and Canadian record holder as well as Canadian Paralympic hopeful, Nathan "Graywolf" Riech. Nate is the defending World and Para Pan-Am Champion in the mens T-38 1500m. He is also the current world and Canadian record holder in the mens 800m and 1500m in the T-38 classification. We chat about his mindset when it comes to training and competition, how he manages to push himself continuously, dealing with adversity from a young age, the "Graywolf" nickname, what it means to be more than just an athlete, and more. This was a very inspiring and eye-opening conversation you don't want to miss.

About Nate Riech.

Nate grew up surrounded by several world-class athletes & he wanted to follow in their footsteps, but with his own twist. Little did he know, that twist was going to be done for him. In July 2005, Nate was struck by an errant golf ball which resulted in paralysis on the right side of his body.

When given the news by his doctor that there wasn’t much chance of walking without a limp, competitive sports seemed in his past. However, Nate made up his mind to prove this doctor wrong and eventually earned himself a D1 scholarship to Furman University (2013), where he’d spend the next two years before transferring to South Alabama where he’d finish out his athletic & scholastic careers.

In 2018, Nate received his Paralympic international classification which allowed him to compete in international & global championships as a para-athlete. Later on that year at the Berlin Open, Nate established two world records in the T-38 classification (800m/1500m). Establishing himself as someone to look out for. In 2019, Nate had his best season yet capturing both the Para Pan-Am & Para-Athletics world titles in the 1500m, in addition to lowering his existing World Records.

Nate passionately believes he’s more than an athlete. Off the track, Nate aligns himself with the children’s miracle network & Canadian Paralympic Committee. His underlying goal is to help push the Paralympic movement in conjunction with motivating & inspiring the next generation of para-athletes.

In this episode, I chat with Canadian long lumper and professional model Divya Biswal. Divya is the older twin sister of one of my previous guests Devyani Biswal. Divya Represented Canada at the Francophone Games where she finished fourth in the triple jump. She is a graduate of St. Lawrence University where she majored biology and minored in mathematics and where she became a two-time NCAA DIII Champion, two-time NCAA DIII Field Athlete of the year, nine-time All-American, six-time Liberty Field Athlete of the year, NCAA woman of the year nominee, as well as the program record holder in the 60m, 60mh, long jump, and triple jump. On top of that, she is a model as I said earlier, and has worked with brands such as Nike, Samsung, Athleta, and more. In this episode, we chat about being willing to take risks and try new things, stepping outside of your comfort zone, how she has managed so many different careers, letting go of outcomes, navigating through life, and more.

About Divya Biswal.

Divya Biswal is a model and athlete training and living in La Verne, CA. She is originally from Ottawa and attended college in New York at St. Lawrence University. In college, she was a nine-time DIII All-American in the long jump and triple jump which included being a National Champion twice. Upon graduating from college she moved to NYC to work at a hedge fund. After working and training full time for 3 years she made the leap to pursue her Olympic dreams and moved to California. She now models full time for brands like Samsung, Toyota, T-mobile, etc while training at the University of La Verne. She is married to Justin Wood and a dog mom to a golden doodle named Oscar.

In this episode, I chat with professional New Balance Athlete and 400m sprinter Vernon Norwood. Vernon is a decorated NCAA and track and field athlete 4x NCAA Champion, 8x All-American, 9x All-SEC, 2x IAAF outdoor gold medalist (4x400), and IAAF indoor gold & Silver medalist (4x400). We talk about his mindset when it comes to training, how he overcame some tough career moments, not letting your past define you, hard work vs talent, staying focused, the importance of family, and more.

About Vernon Norwood

Vernon Norwood is an American track and field athlete who specializes in the 400 meters. Raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, he started running track in his junior year at Morgan City High School and quickly became one of the fastest 400m runners in the state. He ended up attending South Plains College where he was a multiple-time NJCAA national champion before transferring to Louisiana State University (LSU). It was at LSU where he really started to make a name for himself. At the end of his college career, Vernon was a four-time NCAA champion (becoming one of the few sprinters in collegiate history to sweep NCAA Indoor and NCAA Outdoor titles in the 400-meter dash), an eight-time All-American, and a nine-time All-SEC sprinter. He later went on to sign a contract with New Balance as a professional track athlete and has since won two gold medals at the IAAF Outdoor World Championships as part of the 4x400m relay (2015, 2019), a gold medal at the World Indoor Championships in the 4x400m (2016), and one silver at the World Indoor Championships in the 4x400m (2018). He currently trains in Baton Rouge, Louisiana under coach Dennis Shaver with the hopes of qualifying for his first Olympic team in 2021.

I chat with professional Canadian Football League player and current free agent Nate Behar. Nate has been active in the CFL since 2017 where he was drafted in the first round by The Edmonton Football Team as a wide receiver. Recently, Nate published a powerful essay titled, "To Pimp a Movement", discussing racial tension and understanding that garnered a lot of attention from national outlets such as the CBC, CTV, and others. In this episode we discuss his journey to the CFL, stepping out of his comfort zone as a writer, what inspired him to write the essay, the BLM movement, and what it takes to be fearless and unapologetic. 

About Nate Behar

Born in London, Ontario Nate played for the Carleton University Ravens where he became a 3x All Canadian and Carlton University's All-Time leading receiver. He was drafted 5th overall in the first round by the Edmonton Football Team in 2017 where he played for two years before signing with the Ottawa Redblacks in 2019. He is currently a free agent.

In this episode, I chat with 2016 Olympian and Bronze Medalist Bolade Ajomale. Bolade is 9x National Team Member, High school OFSAA champion, 17x Pac-West Conference Champion, 20x All-American, 10x NCAA Champion, NACAC Gold Medalist, 2016 Olympic Bronze Medalist and graduate from the University of Art. In this episode we chat about his Olympic and NCAA experiences, transitioning from junior to the senior level in track and field, the mindset he uses to approach competition, and the insights and wisdom he's picked up along his journey.

About Bolade

Born in London, England. Bolade grew up in Lagos, Nigeria until he moved to Canada at age 11. Some of his hobbies include listening to music, creating video/ audio content, reading and watching comics (DC to be exact), and traveling. Now 25, he's been competing internationally for Canada since he was 16. Which included 2012 & 2014 World Junior Championships, 2015 World University Games, 2016 World Indoor Championships, 2016 Olympic Games, 2017 World Relay Championships, 2017 World Outdoor Championships, 2018 NACAC, and 2019 Pan-Am Games.

He went to school and graduated with a BA in Multi-media Communications and Technologies, from The Academy of Art University. While there he competed in the Pac-West Conference within the NCAA Division II. As far as accomplishments go he is a High school OFSAA champion, 17x Pac-West Conference Champion, 20x All-American, 10x NCAA Champion, NACAC Gold Medalist, and 2016 Olympic Bronze Medalist.

Bolade currently trains Toronto, while also coaching part-time for Flying Angels Track club. He recently started a broadcasting company with his dad after the loss of his grandfather called Gemini 8 Inc.

In this episode, I chat with former 100m hurdler now aspiring law student, Tia Thevenin. Tia is a former 100m hurdler and has represented Canada at the World Youth, World Juniors, and World University Games. She is also a 2x All American, 3x Canadian National Champion, 6x Provincial Champion and is the 60mh/ 100mh record holder for Syracuse University. In this episode, we chat about her decision to step away from the track, how she makes tough choices, advocating for yourself, letting go of the outcome,  and what she looks forward to now that she has stepped into the world of law.

About Tia

Tia is a former Canadian 100mH from Montreal, Quebec. She started track and field at the age of 15 competing in the 100mH and used that skill to earned herself a scholarship to attend Syracuse University. During this time she became a 2x All American, set the school records in the 60mH at 8.21 and 100mh at 13.13, and represented Canada at the World University Games. Tia has also represented Canada at the World Youth and World Junior Championships, in addition to being a 3x National Champion, and 6x Provincial Champion. Earlier this year she made the tough decision to leave the sport of track and field to pursue her dream of becoming a criminal justice lawyer.

In this episode, I chat with Canadian music artist Lance Lorenzo. Lance is a Canadian artist from Ottawa, Ontario, who has been making music since 2017 and released his first project in March 2020. We chat about the process behind creating new music, the effect going all-in on music has had on his life, where he draws some his inspiration from, and the importance that passion plays in what you decide to do.

About Lance

Lance Lorenzo is an artist from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, who has been making music since 2017. He has been passionate about all things music, from the background facts surrounding the "making-of”, to the rigorous analysis of the beat, lyrics, and potential music video that would come with it since a young age. Being an immense Kanye West fan, the creative process of things always fascinated him and would push him to seek the fulfilling feeling of coming up with a creative idea, and executing it. He spent the year of 2017 and early 2019, working on his craft, releasing his debut project, “ChanksLorenzo” and EP entitled, “Boundless”. After releasing numerous singles throughout the summer, he released “müde” in March 2020, believing it to be the first project to truly mark his progression since his debut. Wait and see what more Lance has in store as he kicks it into high gear from here on out!

In this episode, I chat with Strategy Consultant and lifestyle finance expert Tembeka Pratt. Tembeka has been in the banking industry for 10 years with two of Canada's big 5 banks and is the founder and creator of the personal-finance platform "Rich Her". We talk about what it took to move to a brand new city, the "fake it till you make it" concept, networking strategy, stepping out of your comfort zone, the importance of soft skills, and going after what you want.

About Tembeka Pratt

Tembeka, born and raised in Ottawa, has been in the banking industry for 10 years with two of Canada’s big 5 banks. After moving to Toronto in 2016, she transitioned from providing advice to clients in a branch to a role in enterprise process management, and now strategy consulting within the Mobile Advice channel.

As she began to expand her network in Toronto, she noticed there was a lack of basic financial literacy knowledge among her peers - mainly young Black female professionals. With everything becoming digital, and going into the branch becoming a thing of the past among millennials, she was inspired to create ‘Rich Her’ – a personal finance platform providing young, Black professional women with simple financial tips, tricks and advice, and branding herself as a lifestyle finance expert.

In this episode, I chat with Canadian Olympian Christabel Nettey. Christabel is a 2016 Canadian Olympian, 2018 Commonwealth Champion, 2015 Pan American Games Champion, 7x National Champion, and 2021 Olympic hopeful. She is also the Canadian record holder in the long jump both indoors and outdoors. We talk about handling disappointment, losing her friend in the lead up to the 2016 Olympics, injury, taking the pressure off yourself, mindset & emotion management, giving yourself an opportunity, and much more.

About Christabel Nettey

Christabel grew up in British Columbia, Canada and is the youngest of two sisters. She made her first Canadian team at age 14 when she competed at the 2007 IAAF World Youth Championships in the long jump and the 100m hurdles. This motivated her to work hard so that she would be able to compete on the world's biggest stages one day. In 2013 she finished second at the NCAA Championships while attending Arizona State University followed that success with a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Her break-out season came in 2015 where she set the Canadian indoor and outdoor record in the long jump at 6.99m, won gold at the 2015 Pan Am Game,  and finished fourth at the 2015 IAAF World Championships with a leap of 6.95m - 6cm shy of the podium. In 2016 she qualified for her first Olympic games despite facing a challenging season, but unfortunately did not make the final. Her hard work was rewarded shortly after in 2018 when she won gold at the Commonwealth Games in Australia. Currently, she trains in Louisiana with the goal of making her second Olympic team.

In this episode, I chat with Canadian 100m sprinter and 4x100m relay member Bismark Boateng. Bismark is a double Canadian National Championship medalist in the 100m (2018, 2019), 2019 NACAC Gold Medalist in the 4x100m, Francophone Games Bronze Medalist in the 100m, and RBC Olympian. We talk about what lead him to leave soccer for track and field, where he gets his confidence from, picking yourself back up after experiencing tough times, the importance of working hard for what you want, and one of my favorite books, 'The Alchemist' by Paulo Coelho.

About Bismark Boateng

Bismark has been a staple on the Canadian Sprint scene since 2015. As a kid, he was a touted soccer star in Ghana and always held a strong passion for sports. Upon coming to Canada he enrolled in university and played two seasons for the Ryerson Rams before transferring to York University where he found his true calling - Athletics.

In his first international competition - The World University Games, Bismark turned heads with his 10th place finish in the 100m. This huge feat for a first global competition combined with the electric atmosphere made Bismark hungry for more

Impressed by his stats and professionalism on the track, Bismark was recruited and signed as an RBC Olympian - Canada's longest-serving corporate sponsor of the Canadian Olympic Team. He represents the brand as both an athlete and speaker inspiring youth of all ages

In this episode, I chat with Canadian hurdler and Ph.D. candidate Devyani Biswal. Devyani is the 2016 University of Ottawa Athlete of the year, 2016 CIS (now USport) Gold medalist, University of Ottawa record holder in the 60m hurdles, 2016 valedictorian, and is completing her Ph.D. in Financial Math. Yes - Financial Math. We talk about how she discovered her passion for the hurdles and math, some of the obstacles she's faced along her journey to where she is now, overcoming fear and self-doubt, and the mindset shifts that have allowed her to step out of her comfort zone.

About Devyani Biswal

Devyani is a Canadian 100m hurdler and Ph.D. candidate in Financial Math. She grew up in Ottawa, Canada with her twin sister and was a figure skater in high school before turning her focus over to track full time in university. It was during this time that she discovered her passion for math as well as her love for the hurdles. In 2016 Devyani had a break out year which saw her win gold at the CIS Indoor Championships, set a school record in the 60mH, win athlete of the year, and be named valedictorian of her graduating class. Devyani is now halfway through her Ph.D and is training to potentially represent Canada at the next Olympic Games. Recently she moved out to California to train with Coach Kevin Reid who also coached 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist Bryan Clay.

I chat with Sekou Kaba, 2016 Canadian Olympian, Keynote Speaker, Coach and Mentor, and former training partner! He has presented in front of organizations such as the CMHC (Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation), Creative Mornings Ottawa, TedxOttawa, Innovation Gatineau, Toyota Canada Inc., and more. We talk about his journey to becoming an Olympian and the impact it's had on his life, taking on new challenges, believing in yourself, and not limiting yourself to be one thing.  

About Sekou Kaba

Sekou is the third oldest of seven kids and moved to Canada from the United States in 2007 after spending his teenage years in the United States where his family had immigrated in 2001. He started running track at age 11 after being drawn to athletes training at his school in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The rest, as they say, is history. Sekou went on to become one of the fastest hurdlers in Canada, winning multiple awards, international medals and qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Sekou is full of inspiration as uses his experiences to inspire others as a keynote speaker, mentor, and coach. His favourite quote: “It’s never wrong to do the right thing.” – Mark Twain