EP. 66 Renee Hess

After visiting a friend’s studio in 2023, Sharks defenceman Jacob Trouba decided to try painting. He quickly became hooked, and developed his own personal style where he suits up in hockey gear and roller blades, coats himself in paint, and body checks a canvas. On this episode of The Undercurrent, Jacob takes Tara on a tour of his studio, talks about his identity as an artist, and about working with acclaimed artist and photographer William Wegman.

The Undercurrent kicks off a new season with 2-time World Champion, Olympic Gold Medalist and San Jose Sharks super fan Kristi Yamaguchi. Kristi talks to Tara about growing up an East Bay kid, what the arrival of pro women’s sports teams in the area will mean for a new generation, the magical authenticity of Olympic champion Alysa Liu, and what it’s been like loving the Sharks since day one!

On May 19th, it was confirmed that San Jose would be one of four markets to land a Professional Women’s Hockey League expansion team. A few days later. Troy Ryan was announced as the incoming GM and Head Coach - the first person to hold the dual role in the PWHL. On the final episode of the season, Tara sits down with Troy to talk about his path from Nova Scotia to The Bay Area, and what fans can expect when PWHL San Jose hits the ice!

On this edition of The Undercurrent, Tara gets an update on the incredible progress of Black Girl Hockey Club from founder Renee Hess. Renee also talks about the release of her book “Blackness Is A Gift I Can Give her”, and why supporting BGHC is more important than ever.

It’s playoff time in the Professional Women’s Hockey League! On this episode of The Undercurrent, Tessa Bonhomme and Julia Tocheri - hosts of the PWHL’s Jocks In Jills podcast - give Tara a playoff preview, and talk about the league’s explosive growth.

In 2021, Luke Prokop made history as the first player under NHL contract to come out as gay. Now the subject of a new documentary called The Hockey Player, the Bakersfield Condors defenceman sits down with Tara to talk about identity, resilience, and what it takes to chase an NHL dream while carrying the weight of a movement.

The show Heated Rivalry has become a pop culture phenomenon unlike any we’ve seen in a long time. On this episode of The Undercurrent, Tara Slone talks to the President of the San Francisco Earthquakes LGBTQ+ hockey team, Kieran “Kiki” Flaherty, Eula Idemoto, Board President of the Northern California Women’s Hockey league, and LGBTQ+ advocate and educator Brock McGillis about the positive effect Heated Rivalry is having on grassroots hockey and beyond. Plus, the panel discusses the recent policy change at USA Hockey that bans transgender players.

On the latest episode of The Undercurrent, Tara speaks with acclaimed director Hubert Davis about his re-imagining of the 1986 hockey classic Youngblood, and why this new version hits differently.

On this edition of The Undercurrent, 17-year-old Callum Walsh explains how his high school hockey team’s Pride Games are changing the culture at his school - on the ice, in the locker room, and across the entire community.

On this edition of The Undercurrent, Tara sits down with Christina Lamey, President and founder of the Cape Breton Blizzard Female Hockey Association. They discuss the excitement surrounding the upcoming 2026 U18 Women’s World Championship and dive into Christina's tireless advocacy for equitable ice time for girls and women in the sport.