telling their stories

Katie Uttley

TACKLE it Health & Wellness Society bring to you “Telling their stories” podcast and monthly TACKLE TALK series. Here you’ll find conversations with coaches, players, and physical and mental health professionals who have faced adversity, poor wellbeing, or have walked alongside someone who has. Opinions of our guests are their own. We wish to bring perspectives from all sides and walks of life as you can always learn something from someone else’s experience. Topics may include sensitive issues that deal with mental health, substance abuse, suicide, sexual assault, and more. These may trigger an emotional response from you and you might want to watch and/or listen with a trusted friend or adult. If at any time you are in crisis, please call KIDS HELP PHONE at 1-800-SUICIDE (784.2433) or visit crississervicescanada.ca. If you are in BC, dial 2-1-1 to connect to programs and services in your community. And if you need immediate help, dial 9-1-1. If you would like to tell your story, please email us at info@tackleit.org. “Telling their stories” is hosted by Katie Uttley, founder of TACKLE it.

  1. 03/01/2022

    TACKLE TALK MARCH - Amanda Ruller

    Originally from Regina, Saskatchewan, Amanda Ruller, is an accomplished athlete, coach, and inspiration to all. Ruller has a Bachelor of Kinesiology, Sport and Fitness Administration and Management degree from the University of Regina, was one of the top USports 60 meter sprinters in Canada, and was on the Canadian Olympic Bobsleigh and Skeleton development team. She played with the LA Temptation and the Atlanta Steam in the United States as well as was named to the Women’s Worlds Canadian Football team. Playing for Team Canada in the World Football Championship game in 2017, the team captured a Silver Medal. Ruller is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), Certified Exercise Physiologist (CEP), as well as Certified Coaching Certificate Level 3. She has a background in Olympic lifting and was on the Saskatchewan Olympic Lifting team. She was the University of Regina Rams Football team’s Speed coach for the 2019 season and currently is an assistant football coach for the running backs, Special teams, and strength and conditioning with the McMaster Men’s Varsity football program. In addition to her sporting and athletic achievements, Ruller has an avid interest in sports broadcasting and media. She was the Saskatchewan CFL Roughriders Game Day Host for their inaugural season in Mosaic Stadium. She has also worked as the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League broadcasting host for their game of the month on MaxTV Local Stream. Currently, she is the Game Day Host for the Saskatchewan Rush Lacrosse Club. Dreamer by Hazy https://soundcloud.com/hazy_music Music provided by www.plugnplaymusic.net

    TACKLE TALK MARCH - Amanda Ruller
  2. 02/02/2022

    TACKLE TALK FEBRUARY - Keon Raymond

    Our tackle talk speaker for this month is KEON RAYMOND, a former professional CFL defensive back, who is now the new head coach and director of football operations for the Prince George Kodiaks of the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL). The Kodiaks were formed in 2020, and is a community-owned training program with several teams for the age groups ranging from U-10 to U-23. He will oversee the development of youth training camps, player development and training, as well as the creation of a non-contact league and to expand the program from Prince George to other northern B.C. communities. Raymond played his college football at Middle Tennessee State where then signed with the Tennessee Titans of the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2006, but did not make the playing roster and was cut during training camp. He went on to play for the Nashville Kats and New Orleans VooDoo of the Arena Football League in 2007 and 2008. Unfortunately, the arena league folded and it looked as though his football days were over. However, he got a call from the CALGARY STAMPEDERS in the CFL and signed with them in 2008 where he went on to play for 8 years with the club. He proceeded to win 2 Grey Cup championships, in 2008 and 2014. After his 8 years with the Stamps, Keon signed with the Toronto Argonauts in 2016, but only played in 8 games before getting released on August 24, 2016. He went on to sign with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in October later that year and played in the last 2 regular season games and the team's East Semi Final loss to the Edmonton Eskimos. Raymond is a devout Christian and attended Royal Oak Victory Church in Calgary, Alberta, where he previously resided with his wife, Bianca, and their four children, Keon Jr., Dashaun, Ramael, and Gabrielle. Photo credit 1: Calgary Stampeders Photo credit 2: STEVE RUSSELL / TORONTO STAR Photo credit 3: stampeders.com Dreamer by Hazy https://soundcloud.com/hazy_music Music provided by www.plugnplaymusic.net

    TACKLE TALK FEBRUARY - Keon Raymond
  3. 09/28/2021

    telling their stories - Ep. 35 Brad McGhie

    In episode 35 of telling their stories, Brad McGhie, former teacher with the Thames Valley Regional School Board at Medway high school in Ontario, gets real with his audience. He specializes in helping "at risk" teens to discover their strengths and to set goals for the week, month and for their career; especially those with a learning disability and/or mental health disorder. He is the founder of Upstream Synchronized Solutions for Youth Inc., a community-focused, youth-involved, evidence-driven non-profit to promote positive mental health and to prevent problematic substance use in the youth (15-25) population. McGhie is a retired teacher and coach at Medway for 30 years. He is a graduate of Medway and Western University where he earned a BEd. in Kinesiology and Exercise Science. While at university, he coached for Medway for 4 years. Over his 30+ years of coaching, he has given thousands of hours of his personal time to the student athletes at Medway, coaching over 80 teams. He has also volunteered his time outside of coaching seasons to work with students to improve their fitness levels through personal training. President of the Ilderton and District Lions Club, in 2005, he, along with three other teachers, began a campaign to upgrade the athletic facilities at Medway. When a Medway family offered to donate a substantial amount of money to the campaign, the momentum took a quick turn. With the tremendous support of three of his fellow Lions, discussions between the Thames Valley District School Board, Medway High School and the Ilderton Lions commenced. Their expertise and determination were pivotal to getting the project to where it is today. It took a lot of meetings and compromises on the part of all parties and this committee representing the Lions Club ensured the positions of all parties were taken into account in the outcome. In 2018, he was awarded the Spirit Award in recognition for his service to the community in the sports field. (https://ildertonlions.org/lion-brad-mcghie-receives-spirit-award/) Currently, Brad currently serves at Hasket Funeral Homes and is a technician at Blue Jay Irrigation. Fragments by Nomyn https://soundcloud.com/nomyn Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/l-fragments Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/ndyyIhwojys

  4. 09/15/2021

    TACKLE TALK SEPTEMBER - Alondra Johnson

    September's TACKLE TALK brings to you 3-time CFL All Star and 5x West All Star Linebacker, Alondra Johnson. Johnson was born in Gardena, California and played his college ball at West Texas State. He made his CFL debut in 1989 with the BC Lions, where he was nominated for the Lion’s most outstanding defensive player. He made his impressive debut with 115 defensive tackles. Known as “the heart of the stampeder defence”, he signed with the Stamps in 1991 and played the next 13 seasons with them. From his linebacker spot, Johnson finished with 1,095 tackles (second all-time in CFL history) and 83 special teams tackles for a grand total of 1,178 in 248 games. He also had 45 quarterback sacks for 333 yards, 43 tackles for a total loss of 113 yards, 16 fumble recoveries with 3 for touchdowns, 8 forced fumbles, 17 interceptions (one for a TD), and 10 pass knockdowns. In 19 post-season games, Johnson registered 83 tackles and seven special team tackles for a total of 90, two QB sacks for 22 yards, seven tackles for a loss of eight yards, two interceptions, one forced fumble, and one pass knockdown. In six Grey Cups, Johnson had 27 total tackles, a Grey Cup record, with one quarterback sack for 13 yards in the 2001 game and two tackles for loss in the 1991 final. In the 1998 Grey Cup victory, 26-24 over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, he set the CFL record for the most defensive tackles in a Grey Cup game with eight. That 1998 season a total of 87 tackles spurred him to the Norm Freidgate Trophy as the Most Outstanding Defensive Player in the West Division, as well as being named a West Division and CFL All-Star. As previously mentioned, He was a CFL All-Star in 1995, 1998 and 2000, a West Division All-Star also in 1991, 1992, 1997, 1998 and 2000, and a North All-Star in 1995. Johnson was also the first CFL player to score on a two-point conversion in 1989. He finished his CFL career in 2004 with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. In 2001 and 2002, he received the Stampeder President's Ring Award, voted by his teammates for his inspiration on and off the field. In 2005, Johnson was inducted into the WTSU Hall of Champions. In 2009, Johnson was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. In 2010, Johnson was inducted to the Calgary Stampeders Wall of Fame. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alondra_Johnson Fragments by Nomyn https://soundcloud.com/nomyn Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/l-fragments Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/ndyyIhwojys

    TACKLE TALK SEPTEMBER - Alondra Johnson

About

TACKLE it Health & Wellness Society bring to you “Telling their stories” podcast and monthly TACKLE TALK series. Here you’ll find conversations with coaches, players, and physical and mental health professionals who have faced adversity, poor wellbeing, or have walked alongside someone who has. Opinions of our guests are their own. We wish to bring perspectives from all sides and walks of life as you can always learn something from someone else’s experience. Topics may include sensitive issues that deal with mental health, substance abuse, suicide, sexual assault, and more. These may trigger an emotional response from you and you might want to watch and/or listen with a trusted friend or adult. If at any time you are in crisis, please call KIDS HELP PHONE at 1-800-SUICIDE (784.2433) or visit crississervicescanada.ca. If you are in BC, dial 2-1-1 to connect to programs and services in your community. And if you need immediate help, dial 9-1-1. If you would like to tell your story, please email us at info@tackleit.org. “Telling their stories” is hosted by Katie Uttley, founder of TACKLE it.