Corvallis Knights Baseball President & GM Bre Miller joins #OTP to discuss becoming the first female General Manager in the West Coast League, the success of the team, and why she’s so passionate about mentoring others.    Bre’s career in baseball started 15 years ago when she joined the team as an intern. From there she worked her way up, eventually earning the title of GM and President. She’s been apart of the franchise’s storied success, where they have won five straight titles and made the divisional playoffs every years except for one.    Bre is now one of four female GMs in the league, and today shares why she thinks women have been able to find so much success. She also talks about balancing her career with being a mom of two, and why mentoring is so important to her.    Episode topics:  Being named the first female GM in the West Coast League (baseball) Being a trailblazer in the league and how far women have come in the WCL Her role in the success of the Corvallis Knights Managing her career and being a mom of two Her passion for mentoring others   Quote:   “When I was named gm, I was the first female gm in the west coast league, and even still to this day when I share that with people they are like, “what? Omg, that’s amazing!” And it’s crazy that that is such a big deal when it doesn’t seem like it should be.” -Bre Miller   Resources:    Guest Info – Bre Miller  Twitter: @BreUnfiltered   Corvallis Knights Instagram: @corvallisknights Facebook: Corvallis Knights Baseball Twitter: @ CorvKnights   Host Info – Christina Heydanus Instagram: @tinaheydanus Twitter: @tinaheydanus   Show Info – Opening the Playbook Instagram: @openingtheplaybook Facebook: Opening the Playbook

Today, 2X Olympic medallist Laurence Vincent Lapointe joins #OTP to discuss her recently experience at the Tokyo Games, how far women have come in her sport, and gets raw and real about her suspension.   Laurence is fresh off a silver medal in the C-1 200M event and a bronze in the C-2 500M event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. It’s the first time women have been able to compete in the event at the Games, and Laurence shares why she thinks that is and what the future holds for women in the sport.   She also discussed some tough times in her career. As a 13X World Champ, there was a time when she struggled with not winning.  Today she explains how she overcame that. She also dives deep into when she was suspended due to testing positive for a banned substance, which she fought and won. But before it was overturned, she wasn’t allowed to practice or compete, which played a huge role in how she got to the games. Today, she explains it all, and talks about what helped her get through it all.   Laurence also shares her ambitions, what it’s like to be a role model, and what she’s most proud of.     Episode topics:  Her silver and bronze medal wins at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics How far sprint canoeing has come for women in the sport Strengthening her mental game  Overcoming and winning being suspended after testing positive for a banned substance   Quote:   “That’s why I’m so proud of women in the game and my discipline, because I’ve been told so many times all those ridiculous things…but I’ve also been told “you opened my eyes, I actually didn’t think women could paddle like that.” -Laurence Vincent Lapointe   Resources:    Guest Info – Laurence Vincent Lapointe Instagram: @laurencevincentlapointe Facebook: @laurencevincentlapointe   Host Info – Christina Heydanus Instagram: @tinaheydanus Twitter: @tinaheydanus   Show Info – Opening the Playbook Instagram: @openingtheplaybook Facebook: Opening the Playbook

Paralympic silver medallist Kat O’Brien joins #OTP to discuss the wild journey that has led her to where she is today. Kate originally started in bobsled before suffering a hamstring injury, which led her to track cycling. From there, she competed for Canada at the 2016 Rio Olympics. But the following year, she was involved in a horrific crash while training that changed her life forever.    Kate was told she would never ride a bike again and spent a month in the hospital and many more recovering. In true Kate style, she didn’t let that stop her and hopped on a trainer as soon as she could. In today’s episode, Kate explains how getting back on the bike helped her recover both mentally and physically.    Just last month, Kate competed at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games in Track Cycling, where she won a silver. Today she shares how hard it really was to come to terms with her new life. She also talks about the divide between able-body and para athletes and how she’d like to see that change.    Episode topics:  Her journey to the 2016 Rio Olympics The crash that changed her life Being a Paralympic silver medallist Becoming ‘okay’ with where she’s at in life What she’d like to see change for Paralympic athletes   Quote:   “There was a time, again to be totally honest, that I wished I hadn’t been saved. Because the thought of going through life as this, human that I don’t want to be, but then I felt too guilty to be ungrateful because all of these drs and family members had put so much time and effort into saving me. It was a hard hard pill to swallow.” -Kate O’Brien   Resources:    Guest Info – Kate O’Brien Instagram: @emptykate Facebook: @empty_kate   Host Info – Christina Heydanus Instagram: @tinaheydanus Twitter: @tinaheydanus   Show Info – Opening the Playbook Instagram: @openingtheplaybook Facebook: Opening the Playbook

Sports production specialist and Tony Fay PR Chief Operating Officer Amanda Larder joins #OTP to discuss working national mega sports events, balancing work and her personal life, and why she thinks it’s important to mentor the next generation of women.   Amanda’s love for sports came as a teen when she was fascinated by a half-time Super Bowl performance. Once she got a sneak peak of the behind the scenes, she was hooked. Fast forward a decade or two, and Amanda has been a part of Super Bowls, the NCAA Men’s Final Four, the US Open, and the College Football Playoff National Championship.   Tune in to hear what goes into producing a sports mega event, including some of her craziest stories, and why she thinks the sky’s the limit for women in the industry. If you’re looking to be inspired, it’s an episode you don’t want to miss!   Episode topics: The excitement of working mega sporting events like the Superbowl Balancing being a COO, and mother of two while also taking part in sports production Why she thinks the sky’s the limit for women in sports How the world of sports has changed due to COVID-19 The importance of mentoring other women   Quote:   “I think that smart men surround themselves with really smart women. There’s still a lot of work to be done and opportunity for women to do more but I think right now what I’m seeing is so many really incredibly powerful women who are also welcomed in by powerful wonderful men.” -Amanda Larder   Resources: Guest Info – Amanda Larder Instagram: @amanda.larder, @tonyfaypr Twitter: @amandawhitelaw, @TonyFayPR Website: www.tonyfaypr.com LinkedIn: Amanda Larder   Host Info – Christina Heydanus Instagram: @tinaheydanus Twitter: @tinaheydanus   Show Info – Opening the Playbook Instagram: @openingtheplaybook Facebook: Opening the Playbook  

Mountaineers Eva Capozzola and Pascal Marceau join #OTP to discuss their love of climbing and what it’s like to be part of an all-women’s first.   The duo recently made history as the first all-women team to successfully reach the peak of Canada’s Mt. Lucania, an impressive 5,226 metres. In today’s episode, they discuss what the journey was like, and the empowerment they gained from the trek.   Due to COVID-19, Pascale and Eva only had one chance to climb together before their trip, having to use video chats and quarantine to prep. While that seems challenging enough, their biggest challenge was having limited information on Mt. Lucania, something that was part of the allure of climbing the mountain.   The women also share how they got into climbing, their why, and the reason they work so well together.   Episode topics: Being the first all-women’s team to reach Canada’s third highest peak The empowerment they gained from their latest expedition Their ‘why’ The reason their partnership worked Why they chose Mt. Lucania   Quote:   “I carry and hold with me now, just this incredible calm and this confidence and it’s worth gold and I just hope to carry that with me going forward. And I think I will. When we get into these settings, suddenly I have this trust in myself and my abilities to be able to take that lead and do it.” -Pascale Marceau Resources: Guest Info – Eva Capozzola & Pascale Marceau Instagram: @evazolaphoto, @pascale.marceau Facebook: Pascale Marceau Website: http://www.evazolaphoto.com, https://www.pascalemarceau.com   Host Info – Christina Heydanus Instagram: @tinaheydanus Twitter: @tinaheydanus   Show Info – Opening the Playbook Instagram: @openingtheplaybook Facebook: Opening the Playbook

Long distance runner Rachel Cliff joins #OTP to talk career highs and lows, including how she overcame missing out on the Olympics not once, but twice.   Rachel grew up running but only got serious about it in grade 10. Her strength was the 3, 5 & 10km races, where she won a bronze in the 10,000m at the 2018 NACAC Championship. Prior to that win, she had her heart set on the 2016 Rio Olympics, but failed to qualify. That’s when she decided to switch specialities and move to the marathon. It was a natural fit as she set the Canadian record in the half-marathon, then later that year, had the fastest ever debut time by a Canadian woman when she finished 11th at the 2018 Berlin Marathon.   Gunning for a spot on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics roster, Rachel ran the Olympic standard was wasn’t selected to represent Canada in the field. In this week’s episode, she shares the heartbreak of it all, explains the fear of it happening again, and how she has worked to overcome it.   Episode topics: Career highs and lows Not qualifying for the 2016 Olympics Switching from the 3, 5, & 10 km to marathon Qualifying for but not being named to the 2020 Olympic team What her future in the sport holds   Quote:   “There are athletes who missed these Olympics like I did in 2016 and for some of them, this will motivate them and they’ll be at the next ones. And there are others who missed these Olympics and it won’t work out in three years either. And I think it’s just important that people know that both sides of the story can be happy.” -Rachel Cliff   Resources:   Guest Info – Rachel Cliff Instagram: @raecliff Twitter: @dangerous_cliff   Host Info – Christina Heydanus Instagram: @tinaheydanus Twitter: @tinaheydanus   Show Info – Opening the Playbook Instagram: @openingtheplaybook Facebook: Opening the Playbook

BMX racer Drew Mechielsen joins #OTP to talk Olympics, career highs and lows, and the pressures of being the best female rider in the country.   Drew has been riding since she was just three years old as she liked to do everything her brother did. After taking a step back from the sport, she got back into it when she was 13 and that was when she set her sights on the Olympics.   Drew is the best female rider in Canada and just the second female to compete in the Olympics in the event since its debut in 2008. But getting to the games wasn’t easy, and today she shares the toll the pandemic took on racing, wanting to quit before she qualified, and why she’s switched her focus from winning to having a strong race.   Episode topics: Making her Olympic debut in Tokyo Being just the 2nd Canadian woman to compete in the BMX event at the Games Wanting to quit the sport The mental struggles she’s faced including self-belief Being Canada’s best female racer   Quote:   “We’re kind of just climbing. We’re pushing the boundaries and showing what we’re capable of. So yes there are more boys but we’re still a force to be reckon with.” -Drew Mechielsen   Resources:   Guest Info – Drew Mechielsen Instagram: @drewmechielsen   Host Info – Christina Heydanus Instagram: @tinaheydanus Twitter: @tinaheydanus   Show Info – Opening the Playbook Instagram: @openingtheplaybook Facebook: Opening the Playbook

Climber Alannah Yip is this week’s guest on #OTP where she shares what it was like to realize her Olympic dream. Alannah has been climbing since she was young and won her first national championship when she was just 12 years old. In just a few week’s time she’ll compete at the Tokyo Olympics in the Sport Climbing event (new this year), and is Canada’s only female athlete doing so.   Alannah has dreamed of going to the Olympics since she watched the Vancouver 2010 Games take place right in her own backyard. In 2016 it was announced sport climbing would be an Olympic event and Alannah, an avid cliff climber, switched her training to indoor. She even picked up speed climbing, which was new to her.   In this week’s episode, Alannah talks about what it means to her to be an Asian-Canadian athlete, and what’s she’s doing to help evolve the sport from the old-school “bro” culture.     Episode topics: Sport climbing at the Olympics Being the only female representing Canada at the event in Tokyo The fear of saying your goals out loud What being an Asian-Canadian means to her What she’s doing to make the climbing culture more inclusive   Quote: “It’s hard to make big goals so public. My thought was that if you fail at it, that’s a lot, emotionally, mentally, to have to talk about that to everyone you know. I think that’s part of it – part of my nerves – to talk about wanting to go to the Olympics was because I would have to learn – it’s almost an entirely different sport and start from scratch – which I did – and I sucked for a long time.” -Alannah Yip   Resources:   Guest Info – Alannah Yip Instagram: @alannah_yip Facebook: Alannah Yip   Host Info – Christina Heydanus Instagram: @tinaheydanus Twitter: @tinaheydanus   Show Info – Opening the Playbook Instagram: @openingtheplaybook Facebook: Opening the Playbook

Wheelchair basketball player Erica Gavel is this week’s guest on #OTP and shares how she went from being a successful stand-up player to an even better wheelchair one. Erica played for the University of Saskatchewan, but after three straight injuries to the same knee, doctors told her she’s never play again. She took the news hard, and turned to partying and let her grades slip. But when a mentor introduced her to wheelchair basketball and told her she had a shot at making Team Canada, everything changed. Fast forward a few years and she not only made that team, but won a silver medal at the ParaPan Am Games and went to Rio for the 2016 Paralympics. She’s now hoping to represent Canada once again at the Toyko Games. Tune in to hear Erica’s story of perseverance and determination, and the advice she has to offer others facing adversity.     Episode topics: Suffering three injuries on the same knee during her stand-up basketball career Being told by doctors she’ll never play basketball again and the toll it took Discovering wheelchair basketball and how it changed her life Representing Team Canada at the 2016 Rio Paralympics Her piece of advice for others facing adversity   Quote: “What I like to do is show people how cool, how exciting and how sexy Paralympic sport science and training actually is, and I think the media is doing a really great job of improving the quality of content but also the quantity of Paralympic sport content too.” -Erica Gavel   Resources:   Guest Info – Erica Gavel Instagram: @ericagavel Twitter: @gavelerica     Host Info – Christina Heydanus Instagram: @tinaheydanus Twitter: @tinaheydanus   Show Info – Opening the Playbook Instagram: @openingtheplaybook Facebook: Opening the Playbook

Today, long distance runner Malindi Elmore joins #OTP to discuss her love of running, heading to her second games at the age of 41, and what more needs to be done to support pregnancy and post-partum training for elite athletes.   Malindi has always wanted to go to the Olympics – it was a goal she set back in high school. Fast forward a few years, after running for Stanford University (where she still holds records to this day), and her dream became a reality at the 2004 Athens Games. Her speciality was the 1500m event, but while she worked hard to make it to Beijing and London, Malindi fell just short, heartache she details in the episode.   In 2012, after narrowly missing the cut, Malindi hung up her runners to pursue her other passions, coaching and motherhood. She dabbled in triathlon and ended up competing in a marathon for fun. That’s when she realized she was still fast – just two minutes off the Olympic standard. From that point on Malindi’s heart was set on Tokyo 2020, where she’s earned one of three spots Canada has for the Olympic team.   Today, she explains the challenges of training while also taking care of her two boys, how her training has changed from being a 20-year-old to a 40-year-old, and why she wants to see more support for pregnancy and post-partum training for elite level athletes.   Resources:   Guest Info – Malindi Elmore Instagram: @malindielmore Twitter: @malindielmore Website: malinielmore.com   Host Info – Christina Heydanus Instagram: @tinaheydanus Twitter: @tinaheydanus   Show Info – Opening the Playbook Website: https://www.openingtheplaybook.com Instagram: @openingtheplaybook Facebook: Opening the Playbook