In episode #289, we're joined Cognitive Behavioural Sports Specialist Larissa Mills for a very important conversation.

Whether it’s social media, sports betting, pornography or any number of other apps designed to highjack the focus of your players, smart phones have become an opponent we’re all grappling with.

Mills holds a BA in Sociology, Psychology, and a Masters of Science in Education, specializing in brain functionality and learning mechanisms. She is the Founder of the Mental Game Academy, an organization committed to empowering athletes, specifically by helping them overcome addiction to their phones.

She also gave a talk last year's at TCS Live on How Phones and Social Media Impact Athlete's Brains and Hockey IQ.

Listen as she shares why confidence is directly linked to phone usage, why gambling and porn have become a major issue for today's youth, and solutions for coaches on handling these many issues.

In episode #288, we welcome former NHL Head Coach Don Granato.

He is of course a member of possibly the most accomplished hockey family to come out of United States.

He got his start coaching in 1993 with the Wisconsin Capitals of the USHL, and since then has been getting his reps in across a multiple of leagues and levels, most recently as the Head Coach of the Buffalo Sabres.

And as you'll hear, there may not be a better person to have a conversation about player development with. His story of how he positioned himself to enhance world class talent is fascinating. We cover a lot of ground in this episode, and I sense you’re going to leave with pages of notes.

Listen as he shares why experimenting in practice is key for team growth, why coaching less should be the objective, and the incredible story of switching from goalie to player.

In episode #287, Head Coach of the Coachella Valley Firebirds Derek Laxdal stops by.

His coaching career has seen him climb from the now defunct Western Professional Hockey League, to the Central Hockey League, the East Coast Hockey League, to the Western Hockey League, the American League and finally, to the show.

During that time, he's successfully navigated the ebbs and flows of his coaching journey with his trademark optimism and enthusiam.

Today, Laxdal is the Head Coach of the AHL affiliate to the Seattle Kraken. No different than any other team he’s coached, he has the ‘Birds in contention as they make their way towards another playoff run.

Listen as he shares why the skill of defending is lacking in today's young player, how to change the narritive after a tough loss, and how to stay optimistic through the challenges of a coaching career.