In this episode of the You Can Play Podcast, David Smith — a strength and conditioning coach, mental performance coach, and sport & exercise science lecturer — joins us to explore the intersection of performance, psychology, and inclusion in sport.

David shares lessons from years coaching across disciplines — from cheerleading to football to basketball — and how every great team starts with trust, not hierarchy. He talks about psychological safety as the foundation of performance, and why coaches must balance challenge with care: creating spaces where athletes can be uncomfortable enough to grow, but safe enough to stay.

From redefining “banter,” to responding to exclusion, to supporting LGBTQ+ athletes with confidence and compassion, David offers a coach’s perspective grounded in science and empathy. His advice? Build relationships. Check in often. Be curious. And always — as he says — “make a grand entrance and a big finish.”

In this episode of the You Can Play Podcast, Jonas Worth — Canada West Commissioner, soccer coach, and lifelong educator — joins us to talk about what it really means to model the values we teach. From coaching through injury to addressing harmful language on the field, Jonas shares how small choices — a word, a tone, a question — can shift a team’s entire culture.

He reflects on the difference between punishment and teaching, the courage it takes to say “I don’t know”, and the importance of vulnerability and boundaries in leadership. Whether he’s helping athletes return from injury or guiding teams through tough conversations, Jonas reminds us that great coaches aren’t invincible — they’re resilient, curious, and willing to grow right alongside their players.

This episode of the You Can Play Podcast features Juliana Jack (she/her) — a student advocate, assistant volleyball coach, and founder of McMaster University’s LGBTQ2SA+ Athletic Advocacy Group (LAAG). Juliana joins us to talk about accountability in coaching, and how reframing discipline as an opportunity to teach, not punish, can help young athletes grow in confidence and character. Drawing from her experience coaching girls aged 15–17, Juliana shares insights on creating team cultures rooted in empathy, empowerment, and respect, where every athlete feels seen and supported — on and off the court.

In this episode, Ren sits down with members of Denver Lipstick Lovers, a queer recreational soccer league, to talk about how community, care, and sport intersect. Together with the You Can Play Project, they explore what it means to build teams rooted in trust, belonging, and laughter — on and off the field.

https://www.instagram.com/denverlipsticklovers/?hl=en

We sat down with Sammi Silber -- the Capitals beat reporter for The Hockey News. She has been covering the team since 2017-18. Sammi is also the captain of the HNA's Ghost Pirates and a You Can Play ambassador!

Learn more about Sammi:

thehockeynews.com/nhl/washington-capitals

dcbackcheck.com

Twitter/Bluesky: @sammisilber

Insta: @Samshockey79

Listen to Nico Onore's journey as a gender non-conforming sailor and skipper, as they prepare for the upcoming Mini TransAt: a race across the Atlantic.

This Tournament Has Everything⁠ (TTHE) hockey tournament is a women’s/trans/two-spirit/non-binary inclusive draft style hockey tournament being held on the Sunshine Coast, in ch'atlich (Sechelt).

You Can Play's Program Director Ren sat down with organizer and hockey player Kao to discuss the upcoming third annual TTHE tournament.

February 28th - March 2nd, 2025

Sunshine Coast Arena located at 5982 Shoal Way in ch'atlich (Sechelt) BC

We introduce our new podcast and two of our team members, Ren Dawe and Kurt Weaver.

We cover the origin of You Can Play and our backgrounds that brought us all to this amazing work.