PODCAST · sports
Building the Team
by You Can Play Project
"Building the Team" is the official podcast of You Can Play, dedicated to fostering an inclusive and welcoming sports culture for LGBTQ+ athletes, coaches, and fans. Each episode dives into conversations with sports leaders, advocates, and athletes who are breaking barriers and building a more equitable playing field. Through insightful discussions, personal stories, and expert perspectives, "Building the Team" highlights the importance of diversity, allyship, and the power of inclusion in sports.
Episodes
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FRNY: Hurdling Non-Binary Exclusion in Running
J is the Race Director of the FRNY LGBTQ+ Pride Run, the largest pride charity run in the world, and is a 9-time marathon runner based in New York. J has championed the inclusion of LGBTQ+ athletes in road running, working with marathons, road races, and at the United Nations General Assembly, to...
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SHOOTOUT: A Groundbreaking Film About Queer Life After The Ice
We got to speak with Allison Majka (writer + director) and Kyanne Hodgson (producer) about a new short film in production: SHOOTOUT. Nicole Blackwell is the captain of the Atlanta Ice Dragons and a fierce competitor on and off the ice. With a championship within reach, she hides a worsening knee...
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Cutting Edge, Hockey History, and Queer Culture with Dan Gawthrop
Dan Gawthrop has been inside hockey culture for five decades as a kid on the ice, a journalist covering the game, and a gay man who started his own queer hockey club. His new book Cutting Edge: Hockey as Queer Culture traces the sport's slow, messy evolution from macho fortress to something that...
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WNBA, Gene Testing, and YCP Updates with Kurt + Ren
Kurt and Ren are together for the monthly recap concerning WNBA's trans athlete controversy, Ren's excitement about Professional Women's Baseball, and to discuss upcoming ballot measures that affect trans athletes.
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PUHL Tournament and Creating Opportunities for All with Jess Duggan
This week on the You Can Play Podcast, we're joined by founder and President Jess Duggan of the Portland United Hockey League to talk about the power of inclusive sport, finding community on and off the ice, and Portland's upcoming Dirty Bird's Tournament! You can learn more about the Portland...
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World Cup, Gay Games, and YCP Updates with Kurt + Ren
Executive Director Kurt Weaver and Education Director Ren Dawe sit down and discuss the upcoming World Cup, the Gay Games, and some team updates before Pride 2026!
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Para Sport + Policies That Work with Alex Mangione-Smith
In this episode, Ren sits down with Alex Mangione-Smith, founder of CP Soccer Arizona, NIRCA’s DEI & Title IX Officer, and a coordinator with one•n•ten, to talk about what it really takes to build inclusive spaces in sports. From adaptive soccer to college policy to LGBTQ+ youth work, Alex shares...
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All Caps All Her + Playing With All Your Heart with Zoey Pellowitz
In this episode, we sit down with Zoey Pellowitz (she/her), Youth Hockey Coordinator for the Washington Capitals, to talk about what it really means to coach with care. From growing up in hockey and playing Division III, to shifting from college coaching to working with five-year-olds, Zoey…
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Collaborative Questions + Reviving Values with Erin Kennedy
This week on the You Can Play Podcast, we’re joined by Erin Kennedy, CEO and founder of Girls Rugby. We talk about building confidence through sport, expanding access for girls and gender-diverse athletes, and why rugby has become a powerful vehicle for leadership, belonging, and change....
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Flow State and Belonging in Sport Psych with Lauren Bonzell
In this episode of the You Can Play Podcast, Lauren Bonzell (she/her) — a graduate student in Sport, Exercise & Performance Psychology at Long Beach State — shares insights from her ongoing thesis on LGBTQ+ athletes’ experiences in recreational and competitive sport. Lauren discusses two key...
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Ripple Effects + Building Respect in Solo Sports with David Thibodeau
In this episode of the You Can Play Podcast, David Thibodeau — a longtime swim coach, Canada Games board member, and policy professional for the Government of Canada — reflects on what it means to bring your full self to sport. David shares his journey from coming out as an athlete to later…
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Shin Taps, Trust, and Humanity in Hockey with Brock Robinson
In this episode of the You Can Play Podcast, Brock Robinson Barclay — lifelong athlete, hockey and baseball coach, and sport management professional — joins us to talk about how culture is built, one small moment at a time. Drawing on experiences across locker rooms, teams, and community events,...
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Grand Entrances + Big Finishes with David Smith
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...
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Resilient, Not Invincible with Jonas Worth
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...
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This Tournament Really Does Have Everything with Kao Lawrie
This week on the You Can Play Podcast, we’re joined by Kao Lawrie, the organizer behind This Tournament Has Everything? We talk queer joy in sport, building inclusive competition from the ground up, and what it actually takes to create spaces where everyone can show up fully....
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From Punishment to Empowerment with Juliana Jack
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...
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Cultivating Care in Rec Leagues with the Denver Lipstick Lovers
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…
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Building the Team - Sammi Silber + Ren Dawe
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...
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Building the Team - Nico Onore + Ren Dawe
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.
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Building the Team - Kao Lawrie + Ren Dawe
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...
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Building the Team - Kurt Weaver + Ren Dawe
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.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
"Building the Team" is the official podcast of You Can Play, dedicated to fostering an inclusive and welcoming sports culture for LGBTQ+ athletes, coaches, and fans. Each episode dives into conversations with sports leaders, advocates, and athletes who are breaking barriers and building a more equitable playing field. Through insightful discussions, personal stories, and expert perspectives, "Building the Team" highlights the importance of diversity, allyship, and the power of inclusion in sports.
HOSTED BY
You Can Play Project
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Building the Team have?
Building the Team currently has 21 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Building the Team about?
"Building the Team" is the official podcast of You Can Play, dedicated to fostering an inclusive and welcoming sports culture for LGBTQ+ athletes, coaches, and fans. Each episode dives into conversations with sports leaders, advocates, and athletes who are breaking barriers and building a more...
How often does Building the Team release new episodes?
Building the Team has 21 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Building the Team?
You can listen to Building the Team on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Building the Team?
Building the Team is created and hosted by You Can Play Project.
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