CBC’s veteran sports broadcaster John Hancock combs through four decades of contacts and dials up top Canadian athletes and people in the sports world to chat about how sports have shaped their lives
Episodes feature casual conversations with Canadian athletes about their journey through sports
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(CBC) Tune in to the podcast series, Sports Talk with John Hancock.
CBC's veteran sports broadcaster combs through four decades of contacts and dials up top Canadian athletes and people in the sports world to chat about how sports have shaped their lives.
You can hear the podcasts on the CBC Listen website and app or wherever you get your podcasts.
Participants in the Girls in Sailing Camp. (Submitted by Kelly Lyon)
Hear John's interview about sailing with Clara Gravely and Marjolyn van der Hart:
Sports Talk20:54Episode 42: Clara Gravely and Marjolyn van der Hart
Canadian sailor Clara Gravely and Marjolyn van der Hart, vice-commodore of community programs at Ashbridge's Bay Yacht Club, on what they're doing to bring more girls into the sport of sailing.
(Hockey Hall of Fame)
Hear John's interview with former NHLer Paul Henderson:
Sports Talk23:10Episode 41: Paul Henderson
NHL left winger Paul Henderson of Kincardine, Ontario on the 1972 Summit Series goal against the Soviet Union that defined his career.
Fencer Eleanor Harvey now lives in Calgary. (Eva Pavia Gomez)
Hear John's conversation with fencer Eleanor Harvey and her coach Alex Martin:
Sports Talk16:26Episode 40: Eleanor Harvey and Alex Martin
Canadian foil fencer Eleanor Harvey, and her coach Alex Martin, on learning to love the sport again and how fencing is catching on with more Canadians.
Canadian sailors Antonia and Georgia Lewin-LaFrance are from Chester, N.S. (Sailing Energy)
Hear John's interview with Canadian sailors Antonia and Georgia Lewin-LaFrance from Chester, N.S:
Canadian sailors Antonia and Georgia Lewin-LaFrance from Chester, N.S., on why their family left Montreal for Nova Scotia, and how they're preparing for a very busy year ahead.
Liam Moffatt is a snowboarder from Truro, N.S., who grew up practicing at Ski Wentworth. (Liam Moffatt)
Hear John's conversation with snowboarder Liam Moffatt from Truro, N.S.:
Sports Talk13:04Episode 38: Liam Moffatt
Canadian snowboarder Liam Moffatt from Truro, N.S., on learning to board on a small mountain and why this winter might be his busiest yet.
Canadian kite racer Mac Morrin hopes to make it to the 2024 Olympics in Paris. (Submitted by Patrick Godbout)
John learns about Kite foiling with Olympic hopeful Mac Morrin:
Sports Talk15:24Episode 37: Mac Morrin
KiteFoil racer from Kingston, Ont., Mac Morrin on the magic feeling of racing on top of water and why he's looking ahead to 2024.
Canada's Michael Woods has been chosen as team leader of the Israel Start-Up Nation entry at the Tour de France. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images)
John catches up with Canadian cyclist Michael Woods on his way to the Tour de France:
Sports Talk11:46Episode 36: Michael Woods
Canadian cyclist Michael Woods from Ottawa, Ont., on the stress of competing in the Tour de France and how the pandemic actually aided his road to the Tokyo Olympics.
Former NBA player Mike Smrek from Welland, Ont., with his daughter Anna Smrek, who plays volleyball at university in Wisconsin. (Submitted by Mike Smrek)
John's special Father's Day interview with former NBA player Mike Smrek and his daughter Anna Smrek:
Sports Talk16:38Episode 35: Anna Smrek and Mike Smrek
Volleyball star Anna Smrek and her father Mike Smrek, a former NBA player from Welland, Ont., on why sport is such a big part of their family and how they've been coping with COVID separation.
John chats with former sports broadcaster and football player Andy Shaw:
Sports Talk26:14Episode 34: Andy Shaw
Canadian sports broadcaster and former Ottawa Rough Riders player Andy Shaw on what it was like to travel the world covering sports and what he learned along the way.
Cathy Phillips wearing her pink jersey from the World Women's Hockey Championship in 1990. (Cathy Phillips)
John speaks with hockey legend Cathy Phillips:
Sports Talk24:05Episode 33: Cathy Phillips
Retired hockey player and coach Cathy Phillips from Burlington, Ont., on the long history of women's hockey in Canada, and how it felt to step back on the ice after battling a brain tumor.
Michelle Stilwell won a total of six Paralympic gold medals in basketball and track, in addition to being a nine time world champion. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press)
John chats with former wheelchair racer and B.C. MLA Michelle Stilwell:
Sports Talk18:18Episode 32: Michelle Stilwell
Paralympian Michelle Stilwell from B.C. on why she was reluctant to try wheelchair racing at first and the pride she feels when she wears the Maple Leaf.
Jean François Ménard with Canadian freestyle skier Mikaël Kingsbury. (Submitted by Jean François Ménard)
John's two-part conversation with mental performance coach Jean François Ménard from Montreal:
Sports Talk22:46Episode 30: Jean François Menard — Part 1
Mental performance coach Jean François Menard from Montreal on what he learned when he joined the circus, and what it takes to compete at the Olympic level. This is part one of our conversation.
Sports Talk26:48Episode 31: Jean François Menard — Part 2
Mental performance coach Jean François Menard from Montreal on the power of walking and why there are some moments from his career so far that he'll never forget. This is part two of our conversation.
Marie-Soleil Beaudoin is the only Nova Scotian woman qualified by FIFA to referee soccer at the World Cup level. (Canadian Soccer Association)
John's conversation with soccer referee Marie-Soleil Beaudoin from Halifax, N.S.:
Sports Talk18:00Episode 29: Marie-Soleil Beaudoin
Soccer referee Marie-Soleil Beaudoin from Halifax, N.S., on the road to the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2023 and the life lessons she's learned from soccer.
Brent Hayden celebrates his bronze medal in the men's 100m freestyle at the Olympic Games in London in 2012. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)
John talks with Olympic swimmer Brent Hayden from B.C.:
Sports Talk23:42Episode 28: Brent Hayden
Olympic swimmer Brent Hayden from B.C. on how he rediscovered his love for the sport, and why he's building a darkroom to take his photography to the next level.
Fay Ebert has set her sights on the Tokyo Olympics. (Dan Mathieu)
John chats with 10-year-old skateboarding prodigy Fay Ebert and her mom, Elisabeth:
Sports Talk20:00Episode 27: Fay Ebert
Ten-year-old skateboarding prodigy Fay Ebert from Toronto, Ont., on what it's like to be part of Canada's skateboarding community and why she loves the ukulele.
Abby Hoffman was the flag bearer for the Canadian team at the 1976 Olympics in Montréal.
A conversation with former Olympic track and field athlete Abby Hoffman:
Sports Talk21:52Episode 26: Abby Hoffman
Former Olympic track and field athlete Abby Hoffman from Toronto, Ont., on how she disguised herself as a boy when she was nine years old to play hockey, and what's changed (and what hasn't) for women in sport 60 years later.
Robert Esmie, left, celebrates Canada's gold medal after winning the 4x100 relay at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. (Thomas Kienzle/Associated Press)
John chats with retired sprinter Robert Esmie:
Sports Talk22:40Episode 25: Robert Esmie
Retired sprinter Robert Esmie from Sudbury, Ont., on the obstacles he overcame to compete in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and the importance of besting his opponents mentally, not just physically.
Performance physiologist, scientist, author Dr. Greg Wells at one of his inspirational talks. (Courtesy drgregwells.com) Hear the latest podcast with scientist, performance physiologist, author Dr. Greg Wells:
Sports Talk22:49Episode 24: Dr. Greg Wells
Performance physiologist and author Dr. Greg Wells on how breaking his neck at 15 sparked an interest in medicine and why he says returning to normal after COVID-19 isn't the answer.
P.E.I.'s Lorie Kane turned pro in 1993 and joined the LGPA tour in 1996. She was named Canadian female athlete of the year twice. (Getty Images) John chats with P.E.I. golfer Lorie Kane.
Sports Talk18:05Episode 23: Lorie Kane
Pro golfer Lorie Kane from Charlottetown, P.E.I., on what it was like to be inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame and why she tries to live in the moment.
Gordie Howe pinches the ear of Alex Faulkner following a game in the 1963 playoffs. (Submitted by Alex Faulkner) John talks with Alex Faulkner of Bishop's Falls, NL.
Sports Talk18:39Episode 22: Alex Faulkner
Retired NHLer Alex Faulkner from Bishop Fall's, N.L., on what it was like to compete against his brother George and how he's witnessed the game of hockey change over the years.
Carol Anne Chénard referees the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. (The Canadian Press) John chats with recently retired FIFA women's soccer referee and official Carol Anne Chénard:
Sports Talk21:41Episode 21: Carol Anne Chénard
Recently retired soccer referee Carol Anne Chénard from Ottawa, Ont., on her start in speed skating and why a breast cancer diagnosis in 2019 hasn't slowed her down.
John phones Kentville, N.S., sports writer Burton Russell:
Sports Talk14:18Episode 20: Burton Russell
Sports writer Burton Russell from Kentville, N.S., on why he's scrapbooked every day for last 70 plus years and what it meant to him to be inducted into the Maritime Sport Hall of Fame.
Canada's Greg Joy clears the bar in front of a hometown crowd at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Summer Games, where he went on to win silver. (Fred Chartrand/Canadian Press) John talks with 1976 Olympic silver medallist Greg Joy:
Sports Talk21:15Episode 19: Greg Joy
Olympic high jumper Greg Joy from Vancouver, B.C., on his silver-medal moment in 1976 and how the sport he loves has evolved over the years.
Monique Allain volunteered as a concierge with Team Canada at Olympic Games in Athens, Beijing, Vancouver, Sochi and Rio. She is shown with SIdney Crosby during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games. (CBC) John chats with Monique Allain, former university athlete, coach and sports researcher from New Brunswick.
Sports Talk17:09Episode 18: Monique Allain
High performance sports consultant Monique Allain from Fredericton, N.B., on how she learned her early coaching methods were stressing athletes out and what she's discovered about what it takes to be a star athlete.
Halifax marathoner, runner, coach Freeman Churchill is shown in 1981 Boston Marathon. He clocked 2:34.43 on that day. (Courtesy of Freeman Churchill) John phones Freeman Churchill - runner, coach and sport therapist from Halifax, N.S.
Sports Talk15:30Episode 17: Freeman Churchill
Runner, coach and sports therapist Freeman Churchill from Halifax, N.S., on the evolution of running and why he says this is the perfect time to try it out.
P.E.I.'s Mark Arendz, gold medallist at the 2018 Paralympics, was also the country's flag-bearer in the Closing Ceremony. ( Linnea Rheborg/Getty Images) John chats with Paralymic Nordic star Mark Arendz:
Sports Talk19:00Episode 16: Mark Arendz
Mark Arendz, biathlon and para-Nordic skier from P.E.I., on his success at the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang and how losing a race by .7 of a second became a powerful motivator for him.
Canadian national fencer Kelleigh Ryan talks to John Hancock about her Olympic dreams. (Fencing Canada)
John's interview with Canadian national fencer Kelleigh Ryan:
Sports Talk19:44Episode 15: Kelleigh Ryan
Canadian national fencer Kelleigh Ryan from Ottawa, Ont., on the string of bad luck her team endured before COVID-19 struck and why she's not giving up on her Olympic dreams.
Paul Tingley, posing with CBC reporter Colleen Jones, shows off the bronze medal he picked up at the Rio Olympics. (CBC)
John chats with Paralympic sailor Paul Tingley:
Sports Talk18:30Episode 14: Paul Tingley
Paralympic sailor Paul Tingley from the Halifax area on how he ended up sailing and why an hour-long race can feel like 10 minutes when he's out on the water.
Olympic and world figure skating champion Kaetlyn Osmond, shown at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, and Patricia Benoit Chafe, director of winter sport at Own the Podium, talk to John Hancock about their lives in sport. (Paul Chiasson / The Canadian Press; Martin Photography)
John chats with Patricia Benoit Chafe, the director of winter sport at Own the Podium, and Olympic figure skater Kaetlyn Osmond:
Sports Talk14:57Episode 13: Patricia Benoit Chafe
Patricia Benoit Chafe, director of winter sport at Own the Podium, on the early years of the Sackville skating club and how she used a PhD in mathematics to help change the sport of figure skating.
Sports Talk17:07Episode 12: Kaetlyn Osmond
Olympic figure skater Kaetlyn Osmond from Newfoundland on learning to skate at age two and why she decided to retire after so much success.
Halifax-born Jackie Barrett, who now resides in Newfoundland and Labrador, will be inducted into the Canadian Sports Halls of Fame. He’s among the 2020-21 inductees. (Courtesy of Special Olympics)
John chats with Special Olympian powerlifter Jackie Barrett:
Sports Talk12:48Episode 11: Jackie Barrett
Special Olympic powerlifter Jackie Barrett from Halifax, N.S., on the rush of competing in front of a large crowd and how he is honouring his late mother’s legacy.
Mike McPhee, of River Bourgeois, N.S., talks to John Hancock about his rewarding hockey career which took him to the NHL and international tournaments. (CBC / NSSHF)
John catches up with former NHLer Mike McPhee:
Sports Talk19:20Episode 10: Mike McPhee
Former NHLer Mike McPhee from River Bourgeois, N.S, on his journey to playing for the Montreal Canadiens and what it was like to go head-to-head against a Russian team in Moscow.
Andrew Todd, left, and Kyle Frederickson at the Gavirate ParaRowing International Regatta in Italy in May 2018. They were double gold medallists at the event. (Rowing Canada Aviron) John chats with Paralympic rower Andrew Todd:
Sports Talk16:26Episode 9: Andrew Todd
Paralympic rower Andrew Todd from Dartmouth, N.S., on how he used rowing as a tool for recovery and the hurdles he overcame to defend a world championship title in 2019.
Charlottetown's Lyndsay Doyle recently did a photojournalism project on women in sport. (Lyndsay Doyle Photography)
John catches up with photographer Lyndsay Doyle:
Sports Talk15:23Episode 8: Lyndsay Doyle
Photographer Lyndsay Doyle from Charlottetown, P.E.I., on the women in sport who inspire her and why she wanted to highlight their stories in her new book.
Mark de Jonge won gold and set a world record at the 2014 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Moscow. (canoephotography.com / Balint Vekassy (ICF))
John chats with Olympic paddler Mark de Jonge:
Sports Talk17:03Episode 7: Mark de Jonge
Olympic paddler Mark de Jonge from Halifax, N.S., on his quest for balance on and off the water and why he spends his spare time making watches.
Blayre Turnbull celebrates a goal against Finland during the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey Women's World Championship preliminary round game. (Jason Kryk / The Canadian Press)
John chats with Olympic and professional women's hockey player Blayre Turnbull:
Sports Talk13:11Episode 6: Blayre Turnbull
Olympic hockey player Blayre Turnbull from Stellarton, N.S., on how her hometown instilled her love of hockey and what she hopes for the future of her sport.
John Hancock talks to Jacob Saunders in Episode 5 of his podcast series. Jacob and his brother Graeme of Chester, N.S., are Olympic sailors. (Pedro Martinez/Sailing Energy)
John chats with Olympic sailor Jacob Saunders:
Sports Talk15:06Episode 5: Jacob Saunders
Olympic sailor Jacob Saunders from Chester, N.S., on why he was never more than two metres apart from his older brother for many years and the challenges of managing an Olympic campaign at 18.
"The reason I wanted to do this was to really find out more from these athletes than the 20-second clip you would use in a sportscast," John says.
"It's a chance for them to tell their story and, in many cases, you unearth gems you weren't aware of."
And John wants to hear from you!
Is there an athlete you want to hear from or questions you want asked? You can contact John on Twitter @johnhancockcbc or send him an email john.hancock@cbc.ca.
Sports Talk with John Hancock includes chats with, clockwise from top left, NHLer Ryan Graves, gymnast Ellie Black, paratriathlete Kamylle Frenette and curler Brad Gushue. (Photo credits, clockwise from top left: Colorado Avalanche; Carlos Osorio for CBC Sports; Tommy Zaferes; Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press )
Listen to more episodes:
Ellie Black: Olympic and world gymnast from Halifax, N.S.
Sports Talk17:37Episode 1: Ellie Black
Olympic gymnast Ellie Black from Halifax, N.S., on how she overcame her fear of backwards tumbling and why she always eats a banana during competitions.
Ryan Graves: NHLer who played junior hockey in P.E.I. and is from Yarmouth, N.S.
Sports Talk14:45Episode 2: Ryan Graves
NHLer Ryan Graves from Yarmouth, N.S., on how he learned to stop on skates and why he loves P.E.I. so much.
Kamylle Frenette: Para-triathlete from Dieppe, N.B.
Sports Talk11:06Episode 3: Kamylle Frenette
Paratriathlete Kamylle Frenette from Dieppe, N.B., on why she loves the grueling challenge of competing in three sports at once and how she came to accept her disability.
Olympic curler Brad Gushue from Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador, on how he handled the pressure of the 2017 Brier in front of a home crowd and why he gave up a promising career as a pro golfer.
Canadian national fencer Kelleigh Ryan from Ottawa, Ont., on the string of bad luck her team endured before COVID-19 struck and why she's not giving up on her Olympic dreams.
Patricia Benoit Chafe, director of winter sport at Own the Podium, on the early years of the Sackville skating club and how she used a PhD in mathematics to help change the sport of figure skating.
Olympic figure skater Kaetlyn Osmond from Newfoundland on learning to skate at age two and why she decided to retire after so much success.
Special Olympic powerlifter Jackie Barrett from Halifax, N.S., on the rush of competing in front of a large crowd and how he is honouring his late mother’s legacy.
Former NHLer Mike McPhee from River Bourgeois, N.S, on his journey to playing for the Montreal Canadiens and what it was like to go head-to-head against a Russian team in Moscow.
