Episode 11: The Nation

Rider Nation spans the globe and each fan brings their own energy and passion to cheering on the Green and White. In this episode, host Daniella Ponticelli shares the stories of three Saskatchewan Roughrider fans: Adam Grabowski, Laurie Beaurivage and Keith Pratt. They open up about their reasons for supporting the team throughout the years, and why they keep coming back.

Saskatchewan will never forget 2013. A year that saw a determined and dominant Roughrider team take the CFL by storm to start, survive a September slump and see success at home. Ten years after winning the Grey Cup, members of the 2013 Riders returned home to be inducted into the Plaza of Honour. Host Daniella Ponticelli sat down with Corey Chamblin, Tyron Brackenridge, Tristan Jackson, Kory Sheets and Mike McCullough to get five different perspectives on a historic season.

Alan Ford and his grandson Jaxon now also share being members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Alan’s 28-year career included playing on the 1966 Riders Grey Cup championship team, adding another ring in 1989 as the Riders general manager. Meanwhile, Jaxon is making his mark this year as a rookie. The Fords join host Daniella Ponticelli to share how their bond has strengthened through loss, hard work and a love of football.

Green is the colour, but getting players, coaches and staff game-day ready is a full-time career for equipment manager Gordon Gilroy. The 38-year-old has a passion for Roughrider history, shoring away memorabilia in the equipment room at Mosaic Stadium. In this episode, Gordon takes host Daniella Ponticelli on a tour and explains what it’s like to dress a CFL team, players, staff and coaches, year after year.

A lot goes into the production of a Saskatchewan Roughrider home game. From preparing the field to coordinating lights, cameras and sound. Not to mention all the people needed to make magic at Mosaic Stadium. Air it Out host Daniella Ponticelli goes behind the scenes of Fan Day and at the Labour Day Classic to showcase the making of a Game Day. Hear from Seth Strankman, Riders manager of game entertainment, Josh Shaw, Riders manager of operations and facilities, plus in-game host Sabeen Ahmad, P.A. announcer Darryl Brace, the Rider Pep Band and fans.

Episode 6: Rider Squad

The strength of the Saskatchewan Roughrider Football Club is its fans and volunteers. For the nearly 200 members of the Rider Squad, those roles go hand-in-hand. This episode of Air it Out: A Saskatchewan Roughrider Podcast is dedicated to the volunteers who elevate the game-day experience for everyone in Rider Nation. Host Daniella Ponticelli is joined by Volunteer and Guest Experience Manager Rob Harrison, and later dives into the Rider Squad experience with Nola and Gord Joorisity, and Anna and Darren Wilson.

There’s no shortage of homegrown talent on the Saskatchewan Roughriders. This season alone, eight members of the team hail from the heartland of football. In this episode of Air it Out, host Daniella Ponticelli sits down with Regina’s own Mitch Picton and the pride of Melfort, Logan Ferland, to talk about growing up and developing in Saskatchewan football. And for some bonus fun — both players try out some Saskatchewan trivia to close out this episode!

It’s a championship win Rider Nation will always remember. The 2013 Saskatchewan Roughriders won the storied Club’s fourth-ever Grey Cup after a phenomenal season. For that, the team will be inducted into the SaskTel Plaza of Honour this year. The club is also recognizing the incredible contributions of Wendy Kelly, who becomes the first female inducted into the Plaza as a builder. Two-time Rider Grey Cup champion Neal Hughes joins host Daniella Ponticelli to reflect on the 2013 team, while the club’s senior journalist and historian, Rob Vanstone, shines a light on Kelly and the road to a fourth championship.