How do you handle the sudden, shocking end to a 16-year career? And what happens when a hockey life filled with structure and sacrifice gives way to a "real life" you're no longer prepared for?

In the powerful conclusion of my conversation with Mathieu "Tousy" Tousignant, Mathieu shares the emotional gut-punch of his forced retirement, revealing the raw truth behind the saying that a professional athlete "dies twice." He opens up about adjusting to civilian life, from managing a schedule without game-day focus to the surprising challenge of changing winter tires, and so much more.

You'll also hear about Tousy's new roles in coaching and training, which keep his passion alive, and the extraordinary story of his partner, Claudhel. Learn how she is the "yin to his yang" and his greatest supporter, including the unforgettable way they met (and the job she took to stay with Mathieu during a season abroad)...

Stay until the end for the hilarious inside scoop on the best on-ice chirps and the story of the toughest fight he ever took. Again, this is a brutally honest and genuinely uplifting look at finding passion and purpose after the uniform comes off, and if you missed it, make sure to check out Part One of this incredible conversation I had with Mathieu!

Did something in this conversation I had with Mathieu resonate with you? I'd love to hear about it, so let us know over on Instagram, @wereinonepod, and we'll see you back soon for another hard-hitting episode!

Just some of the highlights you'll hear:

• The emotional reality of Mathieu's forced retirement following back surgery and the powerful moment he realized "a professional athlete dies twice."

• A behind-the-scenes look at the intense summer training schedule he had while playing that most fans don't see, including the many sacrifices made over the years

• Mathieu's post-career pivot, covering his new role coaching M15-level youth hockey, working as a skill coach, and finding renewed passion as a personal trainer in Quebec

• The whirlwind story of meeting his long-time partner, Claudhel, falling in love almost instantly, and her decision to move to Germany with him just 2.5 months later

• How she worked a small, unexpected job at a German restaurant "peeling potatoes for a visa" just to be able to stay with him during his season abroad

• A candid discussion on the heavy emotional toll his fighting and big hits took on his partner, especially after concussions, and the constant support she provided through multiple surgeries

• The big ways in which life looks different now post-retirement for both Mathieu and Claudhel

• A hilarious recap of the funniest and most memorable chirps heard on the ice, and what a grocery stick has to do with hockey…
  
  

LINKS:

Mathieu's Player Profile

How do you force yourself into pro hockey? And what do you do when the ultimate dream turns into a 16-year journey defined by grit, injuries , and a last-minute flight across the Atlantic?

I'm joined by Canadian veteran Mathieu "Tousy" Tousignant to discuss his raw and real path from being undrafted to the notorious "pest on skates." He opens up about the non-glamorous AHL realities, the culture shock of living on a German farm, the hilarious terror of his first ride on the 300 km/h Autobahn, and so much more.

Mathieu reveals the emotional cost of playing with his style, including two back surgeries . From feeling the stress of getting tickets to the game for his family, to the potent Palinka shots after winning a championship with my husband, this is a brutally honest look at the grind and the unforgettable memories of a true hockey journeyman with a passion for the game that is second-to-none.

As you'll get to hear, Mathieu's energy is so infectious that you just can't help but love him. This conversation was so good that I just knew I had to keep the recording rolling, and we'll be bringing you Part Two in a few short weeks…you won't want to miss it!

Did something in this conversation I had with Mathieu resonate with you? I'd love to hear about it, so let us know over on Instagram, @wereinonepod, and we'll see you back soon for another hard-hitting episode!

Just some of the highlights you'll hear:

• Mathieu's undrafted hockey journey and the early dedication that propelled his career from a young age

• The unexpected culture shock of his first pro stop as a fan favorite in Texas, including the language barrier and the dramatic reality of American life off of the ice

• How Mathieu undertook the process of changing his game to become an agitator, taking on the role of "the pest on skates" to earn a spot and thrive in the AHL

• A behind-the-scenes look at his chaotic, last-minute decision to sign with Ravensburg in Germany (DEL2), receiving his contract and plane ticket and flying out the same day

• The shocking first experience Mathieu had on the German Autobahn, where he realized cars could pass him at speeds up to 300 kilometers per hour

• Why he considers his career in Frankfurt, Germany, a turning point in his professional hockey career

• His experience winning a championship with Nottingham (EIHL), and why he considers this his "best season ever"

• The emotional story of Mathieu's forced retirement following a severe hit that resulted in his second back surgery, marking the end of his playing career

LINKS:

Mathieu's Player Profile

What if the love of your life lived across the Atlantic, and pursuing that relationship meant giving up the successful career you worked so hard to build? Today's special guest is Kennedy Forbes, an American who (in her own words) knew "nothing about" hockey but ended up marrying a Scottish player, Alex Forbes, and moving her life overseas.

How do you cope with the deep "embarrassment" of being unable to work due to complex visa laws, and what happens when family members judge your life choices? Kennedy breaks it all down in this one, and you are going to want to miss what she has to say….

Kennedy takes us through the hilarious cultural shocks, from confusing cilantro with coriander to dealing with the terrifying reality of driving on narrow Scottish country roads. She reveals the profound personal sacrifices, like putting a career on hold and the constant emotional toll of having "three homes" while dealing with the guilt of leaving family behind. She also shares the essential partner survival guide: realizing you don't have to be "best friends with everyone" and learning to block out the noise of outside pressure, and a whole lot more.

This conversation is an honest look at the chaotic, yet fiercely loving, life of a hockey partner dealing with international borders, cultural divides, and finding her own identity. Press play to hear how Kennedy found her footing and why she ultimately wouldn't trade this unpredictable life for anything in the world!

Did something in this conversation I had with Kennedy resonate with you? I'd love to hear about it, so let us know over on Instagram, @wereinonepod, and we'll see you back soon for another hard-hitting episode!

Just some of the highlights you'll hear:

• How an American girl who had never watched a hockey game in her life ended up meeting and falling for a Scottish player in Utah

• The behind-the-scenes of Kennedy's decision as an 18-year old to fly across the world for a boy she hadn't introduced to her mother to

• The reason couple briefly broke up and the what led to them reuniting and moving forward with their relationship

• How she's learned that the only way to survive the mental strain of the hockey partner lifestyle is to block out the noise of outside judgment

• Kennedy's insights on being married to a player from a different country, having three different homes and dealing with the constant feeling of being pulled in a million different directions

• Why the family-oriented atmosphere of the Glasgow team stood out so much to her compared to the initial social struggles of their first year in Coventry

• The raw truth about the financial and personal sacrifices of the hockey lifestyle, specifically putting your own dreams on hold for years

• What the biggest culture shock was for Kennedy when moving to Scotland, the big realization she made about coriander and cilantro, and why Halloween is such a special time for her

• How terrifying it was for Kennedy to learn to drive on the opposite side of the road, while dealing with aggressive drivers on narrow country lanes
  
  

LINKS:

Kennedy's Instagram

04: Living in the Moment: A New Hockey Wife's Guide with Audrey Somoza