Hospitals Are Better Than Reality TV

We’re talking hockey drafts, hockey agents, hockey reality shows, hockey WAGs and the absolutely wild world of youth sports where kids seem to need highlight reels, social media managers, and future plans before they can even drive. We debate whether young athletes really need agents, if social media is helping or hurting kids chasing big dreams, and whether talent alone is still enough to get noticed. Plus, we share stories from the rink that will have every sports parent nodding along. And then Nat quizzes Cat on hockey slang! Tune in to find out if Cat is a hockey expert or just really good at guessing.Keywordshockey, youth sports, social media, parenting, sports terminology, hockey slang, kids and social media, sports drafts, athlete brandingKey topicsHockey terminology and slang explainedThe youth sports draft process and athlete developmentThe role of social media in young athletes' careersParenting tips for kids in competitive sportsInsights into hockey culture and community Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are deep in the weeds over here with graduations, ceremonies, and all the end-of-year chaos that comes with having seven kids! So this week, we're bringing back one of your favourite episodes. We're talking about one of the biggest conversations happening right now: bodies, aging, weight, and the growing buzz around GLP-1 medications. With celebrities like Oprah and Serena Williams making headlines, it feels like everyone has an opinion—but what’s actually true? We dissect the reality of food noise, why weight and health are far more complex than willpower alone, and how aging can completely shift the way you think about your body. From metabolism and mindset to the pressure women face to look a certain way, we're having the honest conversation so many of us have been having behind closed doors. If you've ever wondered why some people seem to struggle with food differently, felt frustrated by outdated advice, or found yourself navigating a changing relationship with your body as you age, this episode is for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're talking about the great teen summer job debate: Are jobs really impossible to find, or have our kids become a little too selective? We get into a conversation about chores, responsibility, and why we're still cleaning up after our teenagers who somehow have time for their phones but not the dishwasher. If you're raising teens, trying to teach responsibility, or wondering if you're the only one having the same argument over and over again, this episode is for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From locker room culture and the lessons we hope our kids learn, to the coaches who change lives and the conversations every team should be having, this episode in our hockey series goes deep. We talk about raising kids who have the courage to speak up, why being "not guilty" isn't always the same as being right, and how sports can shape so much more than athletic ability. Of course, we also get into hockey parents, spring hockey battles, the family that got divorced over hockey, and the grown man who still resents his father for making him play. We talk about what happens when a sport becomes a kid's entire identity, why summer breaks matter, and how to make sure your relationship with your child exists beyond the rink. If you've ever spent a weekend at a rink, argued about spring hockey, or wondered if you're raising a kid who loves the game or just doesn't know anything else, this one's for you.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

School’s almost out, the kids are half checked out, and we seem to be running around to a million and one end of the year school events. Question...Why do we only give awards to the kids with the highest grades? Where’s the scholarship for the kid who makes everyone laugh, organizes the fun, and is the reason people actually want to come to school? That should be the Cat & Nat award. From there, we get into police chases and why crossing the border can make even the most innocent person question every decision they’ve ever made. Why does everyone suddenly feel guilty in front of a police officer? And how many oranges are too many oranges to bring across the border?Keywordsparenting, school ceremonies, billeting athletes, privacy, surveillance, technology, parenting humor, everyday life, societal rules, personal storiesKey topicsBilleting athletes and their familiesSchool closing ceremonies and awardsPrivacy concerns with technology and surveillanceParenting humor and everyday life stories Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everyone wants a simple answer: When should I give my kid a phone? The problem is, there isn’t one. It's one of the biggest parenting debates out there—phones, Snapchat, social media, and whether keeping our kids offline is protecting them or leaving them out. From flip phones and family tracking apps to group chats, Snap Maps, and the reality of how kids actually communicate today, we're unpacking the pressure many of us feel and the balancing act of keeping our kids safe while helping them stay connected. We talk about the fear of exclusion, the risks that come with social media, why one-size-fits-all rules rarely work, and why every child's readiness looks different. The question isn't always, "Is my child ready for a phone?" Sometimes it's, "Am I ready to parent one?"If you're navigating the digital world with tweens or teens, this episode is for you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are bringing you episode 4 of the wild world of youth hockey—from tournament weekends and rink life to hockey dads behaving badly, it all continues! We've got viral parent fights in the stands, glass-banging enthusiasts (one who aggressive cheerer/glass clapper who may surprise you!), sideline coaching, team group chats, and all the things that give them the ultimate rink ick. It's all part of the strange, entertaining, and occasionally unhinged culture of youth sports. Whether you're a hockey parent, a sports parent, or just someone who loves hearing about real-life chaos, this episode is packed with plenty of rink-side drama. Leave us your biggest rink icks, your wildest sports-parent stories, and tell us what's the craziest thing you've ever seen at a game? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We covered everything from mammograms and mysterious ultrasound follow-ups to hormones and perimenopause. We also talk about the anxiety of waiting for health test results, the surprisingly entertaining world of hospital waiting rooms, and whether hormones might be responsible for our shrinking patience. And because no conversation stays on track for long, we somehow end up pitching a whole new business venture involving spray tans, laser hair removal, and the realization that women could probably build an entire economy just by trading the skills they already have. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we're diving headfirst into the thing parents worry about more than anything else: teen mental health. Are our kids more anxious than ever, or are we just using different language now? What's the difference between being nervous, shy, anxious, sentimental, or depressed? And how much of it is connected to phones, social media, and the digital world our kids are growing up in? We talk about the realities of parenting in a world where our kids' entire social lives live on a device—and why conversations matter more than simply taking the phone away.Keywordsteen mental health, social media, anxiety, parenting, phones, digital age, teenagers, mental health awareness, summer seriesKey topicsTeen mental health and social mediaImpact of phones on anxiety and self-esteemParenting strategies for digital ageUnderstanding mental health terminology and misconceptions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Heated Rivalry and Off Campus to Shoresy and the wave of new hockey-inspired shows hitting our screens, it feels like hockey has officially entered its pop culture era. But why now? We sat down with branding, media, and pop culture expert Max Valiquette to unpack why these shows have become such massive cultural moments, why audiences are completely obsessed, and what hockey has that other sports don't. Whether you're a hockey parent, a Heated Rivalry superfan, or someone who's wondering why everyone on your feed suddenly can't stop talking about hockey, episode three in our Wide World of Hockey series breaks down the cultural moment everyone seems to be living through.Keywordshockey culture, pop culture, sports shows, media influence, identity, entertainment trendsKey topicsHockey's influence in pop cultureThe appeal of hockey-related showsThe role of gender and identity in sports media Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.