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What if the skills that make you great in your sport are the exact same ones that unlock success in life and business?

In this episode, we sit down with Rae Irelan, transformational business strategist, speaker, and former professional dancer, to explore how discipline, identity, and creative thinking translate far beyond performance environments.

Rae shares how spending the first two decades of her life in dance shaped the way she approaches growth, pressure, and execution today. From relentless training and high expectations to stepping into the entrepreneurial world, she breaks down the transferable skills athletes often overlook and how to actually use them.

We dive into:

• How performance environments (like sport and dance) build discipline, resilience, and adaptability
• Why so many athletes struggle with identity when they step away—and how to navigate it
• The shift from external validation to internal alignment
• How to think like a creator, not just a performer
• Leveraging your unique story to build authority and impact
• The role of AI and modern tools in expanding opportunities for athletes beyond sport

This episode is a powerful reminder that your your sport may just the beginning. The real advantage comes from how you apply what it taught you.

About Rae Irelan

Rae Irelan is a transformational business strategist, speaker, and #1 international best-selling author. She is the co-founder of Evolved Podcasting and has been featured in Forbes and Entrepreneur Magazine. Rae helps visionary entrepreneurs amplify their authority, expand their impact, and unlock new revenue streams by blending creative leadership with smart AI-driven strategies.

Her foundation was built in the dance studio, where she spent the first two decades of her life as a professional dancer developing the discipline, mindset, and performance skills that now fuel her work today.

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What does it take to stop trying to fit in and start standing out? In this powerful episode, we sit down with two-time Paralympic gold medalist, world champion shot-putter, author, and speaker Greg Stewart for a conversation that goes far beyond sport.

Born without his left arm below the elbow and standing 7'2", Greg spent much of his life trying to shrink himself so others would feel comfortable. He chased belonging through basketball courts and volleyball floors, racking up accolades along the way, yet something was always missing. It wasn't until he stopped listening to external voices and started doing the inner work that everything changed.

In this episode, Greg opens up about growing up feeling different, the moment he realized his athletic success meant nothing without self-love, and how transitioning to shot put became the catalyst for finally taking charge of his own life. He also shares why he believes vulnerability is the answer to most of the questions we're afraid to ask, and what it really means to trust yourself.

We dive deep into:

• Why fitting in was actually pulling Greg further from fulfillment
• How sport teaches us to fail and why that's a gift
• The difference between self-love and ego
• How to have the hard, uncomfortable conversations that change everything
• Teaching youth to tune into their bodies instead of the noise in their heads

Whether you're a young athlete navigating identity and belonging, a parent watching your kid go through it, or someone who has spent years trying to fit into a box that was never meant for you, this episode will meet you right where you are.

About Greg Stewart

Greg Stewart is a two-time Paralympic gold medalist, world champion shot-putter, author, entrepreneur, and one of the most powerful voices in Canada on vulnerability, resilience, and human performance. Standing 7'2" and born without his left arm below the elbow, Greg's life has never been about fitting in, it's been about standing out. Yet his path wasn't defined by medals or records at first. Growing up in small-town British Columbia, Greg grappled with identity, belonging, and the complicated emotions that come with looking "different." He spent years trying to shrink himself to make others comfortable, until he learned that the stories he was hiding were the very ones that could set him free.

Greg went on to play university basketball, become a national champion, and eventually transition into shot put, where he discovered not just his sport, but his voice. In 2021, he won gold for Canada at the Tokyo Paralympic Games. In 2024, he defended his title in Paris. And in 2025, he cemented his place in history with a world championship in New Delhi.

Today, he is the founder of Mindfulete, a speaking and coaching platform built on what he calls Mindful Vulnerability: the idea that true strength isn't about perfection but about owning your story, facing discomfort head-on, and choosing growth over protection. Greg's talks for corporations, schools, and communities explore the three principles at the heart of his life and work: Trust, Ownership, and Integrity (what he calls Life's Golden Standards).

Greg is also the author of Stand Out, a children's book written in verse that traces his journey of growing up different and discovering confidence, courage, and community. He's currently writing the follow-up book, focused on teaching kids how to build habits rooted in those same golden standards.

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What happens when everything you’ve built your identity around suddenly gets taken away?

In this episode, we sit down with Dallas Soonias, a former Team Canada volleyball player turned filmmaker, to unpack the reality of chasing elite performance, breaking down physically and mentally, and rebuilding from the ground up.

Dallas shares how a career-altering injury forced him to confront more than just rehab and pushed him to face the parts of himself he had been avoiding for years. What started as a pursuit to “get back on the court” turned into a deeper journey through mindset, identity, and resilience.

We dive into:

• The difference between being competitive vs. being consumed by it
• How injury became the catalyst for growth, self-awareness, and better performance
• Why being at 70% physically made him a better teammate and player
• The mental skills that separate athletes in high-pressure moments
• How to stay calm, focused, and effective when everything is on the line
• What it really means to add value to a team even when you’re not playing
• And how the lessons from sport translate directly into leadership, creativity, and life after sport

This episode is a powerful reminder that sometimes your biggest setback becomes the exact thing that elevates you if you’re willing to face it.

About Dallas

Dallas is a multi-talented actor who also writes, directs, and produces his own projects. His first short film, Frank Gets the Job Done, was commissioned by ImagineNATIVE Film Festival and TELUS Storyhive. He followed that by writing, directing, and starring in The Saint and the Bear.

In 2024, Dallas directed the western short One Click and the TV series Renegade Fever. With strong ties to the sporting world, he is also proud to be the first male Indigenous athlete to represent Canada in volleyball.

During the 2024 Summer Olympics, Dallas produced and hosted a segment for CBC Olympics, directed the Olympic opening, and worked as an analyst for CBC Sports covering volleyball.

Dallas is Nehiyaw/Anishinaabe, registered with The Chippewas of Nawash, with close ties to his father’s band, Red Pheasant. He grew up off-reserve in Red Deer, Alberta.

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This week on Forged Youth's Q&A episode, Mariel and Jordan are responding to a real post from a hockey parent, and it opens up one of the most common conversations happening in youth sport right now: should my kid be playing on more than one team?

The short answer? It's complicated. And at 11 years old? Probably not.

In this episode, we dig into what's really driving the push for more ice time, more teams, and more commitment at younger and younger ages, and what kids actually need to develop into great athletes and even better humans.

Here's what we get into:
→ The real cost of a 3-hour round-trip commute for an 11-year-old
→ Why unstructured play is one of the most underrated development tools
→ Deliberate practice: how to grow when you're the best player in the room
→ Teaching leadership early and why it matters more than goals
→ Following your kid's lead vs. knowing when to say no as a parent
→ What recruiters and coaches are actually looking for beyond skill

Real talk, just two people who've lived it from the ice to the coaching floor.

Train your mind. Build your grit. Forge your legacy.

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What if one of the best environments for developing resilient athletes… had no structured practices, no yelling coaches, and no guaranteed success?

In this episode, we sit down with Hippie Mike to explore what decades in skateboarding culture can teach us about athlete development, mindset, and long-term growth.

Having taught thousands of athletes and helped shape some of today’s top pros, Mike shares why skateboarding creates a unique environment where failure isn’t feared but expected.

And more importantly… embraced.

We dive into:

• Why falling is one of the most important skills young athletes can learn
• How unstructured environments build creativity, resilience, and confidence
• The role of mentorship vs. traditional coaching
• Why too much structure can actually limit development
• How athletes build self-belief by figuring things out on their own

The best athletes are the ones who learned how to adapt, persist, and grow through failure.

Whether you’re a parent, coach, or athlete, this episode will shift how you think about development, confidence, and what it really takes to improve.

👤 About Hippie Mike

Hippie Mike has been immersed in the world of skateboarding since 1986 and has spent decades developing and mentoring athletes at all levels. Over the years, he has coached and influenced thousands of skateboarders, including several who have gone on to become top professionals in the sport.

He is the owner of multiple small businesses, including HMI Skate Park in Hope, BC, where he continues to mentor and support the next generation of athletes in a positive, community-driven environment.

Hippie Mike has also played a significant role in growing the skateboarding community through event leadership, having organized and run more than 350 skateboard events over the past 20 years. Among these is the long-running Hippie Mike’s Tour de Surrey, a decade-long series that became a staple in the local skateboarding scene.

Through his work, he has remained committed to creating opportunities for young athletes to develop not only their skills, but also confidence, resilience, and a lifelong passion for the sport.

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What actually builds confidence in athletes?

In this powerful conversation, Mariel sits down with Shawnee Harle, Olympian, sport psychology expert, and one of Canada’s most respected voices in athlete development, to unpack the truth about confidence, identity, and the pressures young athletes face today.

From Olympic teams to youth sport, Shawnee has spent decades helping athletes perform at their best while staying grounded in who they are beyond the scoreboard. In this episode, she shares practical insights on how athletes can build real confidence, how parents and coaches can support development without adding pressure, and why the most important lessons in sport often happen far away from the podium.

Inside this episode, we explore:

🏆 Why confidence isn’t something you “have” — it’s something you build
🧠 The difference between performance identity and personal identity
🔥 How athletes can respond to failure, pressure, and setbacks
👨‍👩‍👧 What parents and coaches can do to create healthier sport environments
🎯 Why long-term development matters more than early success

This episode is a must-listen for athletes, parents, and coaches who want to understand the mental side of sport, develop resilient competitors, and build confidence that lasts far beyond the game.

Because sport isn’t just about winning, it’s about who you become along the way.

https://www.shawneeharle.com/

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How do you motivate your child to give their best in sport… without making them lose their love for it? That’s the question Mariel and Jordan tackle in this Q&A episode.

A parent of a swimmer asked how to motivate their child to swim as fast as they can while still enjoying the sport. It’s a challenge that nearly every sports parent eventually faces. Because at some point, the excitement fades. Early morning practices become harder, friends start doing other things, and the grind of competition and expectations starts to weigh on young athletes.

In this conversation, we unpack the deeper truth about motivation and why trying to “force” it usually backfires, exploring how athletes build sustainable drive through identity, discipline, and reconnecting with their personal “why.”

We also discuss the hidden factors that cause many young athletes to lose their spark, including burnout, pressure, and the mental barriers that coaches often don’t have the time or training to address.

Tune in for practical strategies parents can use to support their athlete’s mindset without creating unnecessary pressure or expectations. Because the goal is to raise resilient humans who know how to handle adversity, take ownership, and continue growing long after sport ends.

Train your mind. Build your grit. Forge your legacy.

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What if the path to your dream isn’t straight? What if it zigzags through setbacks, detours, risks, and reinvention?

In this episode, we sit down with Ben Boudreau, a former professional hockey player and coach, to unpack what it really means to chase a dream for nearly two decades.

Born into a hockey family, Ben grew up around the rink. But his journey wasn’t a typical “blue-chip prospect” story. He went undrafted. He stepped away from hockey. He pursued television and film. He worked at CBC. He waited tables.

And then, on a free agent tryout he almost didn’t attend... his life changed.

What followed was 900+ professional games across North America and Europe, championship wins, head coaching roles, life-changing risks, fatherhood, and a relentless commitment to the dream of one day lifting the Stanley Cup.

In this episode, we dive into:

• Why there is no straight path to success
• The courage it takes to bet on yourself
• How support systems fuel risk-taking
• The difference between motivation and inspiration
• Why character beats talent every time
• What separates average players from great ones
• How work ethic is developed — not inherited
• Why giving back builds real leadership
• Balancing fatherhood with ambition
• How to handle self-doubt when the future feels uncertain

Ben shares openly about getting cut, getting back up, doubling down during uncertainty, buying a house during a pandemic without knowing if hockey would return and winning a championship because he refused to quit.

Because in the end, success isn’t about the straight path, it’s about staying on the train long enough to see where it goes.

👤 About Ben Boudreau

"I was born into a hockey family. My father Bruce, a former NHL player then currently playing in Germany, was where I was born. It wasn't until I was 5 years old that I grew up in Niagara through my mother and father's divorce. I had a very normal childhood in the city of St. Catharines where I went on to pursue my education through Television and Film. Upon graduating and working at CBC downtown Toronto, my life took a big turn after signing a free agent professional hockey contract, which led to the last 18 years chasing my dream of trying to lift the Stanley Cup one day.

Through the last 18 years I have amassed over 900 professional games of being on the ice or behind the bench. I won a championship in 2021 with the Fort Wayne Komets. I have two boys, 4 and 8, that were both born in Indiana and now currently living in Niagara, pursuing my dream of one day trying to lift the Stanley Cup."

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