Breaking the Ice

Rolling with the hockey life punches with Claire Stewart

Claire Stewart, girlfriend of Lawson Crouse, who plays for the Arizona Coyotes in the NHL, joins me today on the podcast. We talk about her experience in this hockey world and some of the challenges she has endured in her personal life. Before her and her boyfriend met, she had decided to cut ties with the modeling industry, and was cleaning up her life mentally and physically. She was letting go of toxic relationships and focusing on self love, and a positive healthy happy life for herself, by herself. But when the right person comes along, you just know!

 

Through her life experiences, Claire has really learned to roll with the hockey life punches and make the most of every single experience that this crazy life throws our way! 

Stepping into your power with Katie Anderson

Katie Anderson, girlfriend to William Rapuzzi, who plays in Dornbirn, Austria in the ICE Hockey League, joins me on the podcast today to talk about all things career. We cover topics such as, getting a working visa as a girlfriend, finding jobs in your summer or season city to imposter syndrome, not knowing how or where to start and ideas to take that first step.

 

We have to remember to not compare our year one to someone else’s year ten and realize that our individual personalities are what make us unique and make a business unique. Katie talks about how this hockey life has really allowed her to step into her power, in terms of starting her own business and finding something that she is passionate about! I felt like I was sitting down with an old friend for this conversation! She was so easy to talk to and offered a lot of advice.

 

 

Here are a few additional resources that Katie provided below:

 

Finding work as an expat in your respective country (in order to obtain a visa as a girlfriend since not all countries will allow you to be attached to your sig o's):

 

https://www.inlingua.com/centers/

Facebook Search Prompts

• “Expat Jobs in [your city/town]”
• “Expats in/of [your city/town]”

Google Search Prompts

• “Jobs in [your country/city/town] for expats”
• “Seasonal jobs in [your country/city/town]”

Look up Hotels & Restaurants in your area, don’t be afraid to reach out and see if they’re interested in part-time/seasonal help. You may have to do some of the leg work but oftentimes they will help you with obtaining your visa! 

 

Finding seasonal work at home:

 

Is there anything in your town that is seasonal or peaks when you are home (i.e. the tourism season in Alaska runs ~April-September), look into what jobs are available seasonally in your hometown. 

 

Have a nursing or other medical license? Oftentimes, private practices will happily take on extra help seasonally. 

 

Bars & Restaurants are also happy to take on seasonal help usually.

 

Finding online work/building an online career that fits the expat lifestyle:

 

Facebook & Pinterest are my favorites for finding useful and valuable content/groups. 

 

Pinterest Prompts

• “build an online business”
• “Learn how to…[enter in what you’re interested in doing]”
• “Become a…[web designer, developer, coder, online coach, etc]”

 

Facebook Groups (these are VA specific but you can search so many other types of groups)

• https://www.facebook.com/groups/howshedidthat/
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/vasavvies/
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/109710112902737/

 

AND lastly, I forgot to mention on the pod that I know so many amazing women in the hockey community also have online product-based businesses! You don’t have to just offer a service if doing your own thing is your thing! 

 

Retirement & life after hockey with Stefanie Heid

Stefanie Heid, wife of Chris Heid, who had a career ending injury that immediately led him to retirement, joins me on the podcast today. Retirement from hockey is something that we may be going through now, have either already gone through or will go through at some point in our hockey lives. For most families, this is a rough transition and we want to know the best ways to support our partner.

Stefanie has such a positive outlook on retirement and life after hockey. Her and Chris both believe that hockey was the start to their lives but not the focus and feel it catapulted them into what they were really meant to do. I can’t wait for you guys to hear this episode and I hope it helps someone who may be needing to hear this today!

Stefanie’s husband is now a mental strength coach and helps coach players boost their mental performance so they can become better athletes and people. Check out his website here: 

https://underthebucket.com/

Let‘s talk about mental health with Mimi Franco

Mimi Franco, engaged to Scott Tanski, who finished last season in Glasgow in the EIHL, joins me today on the podcast to talk about mental health. Mimi and Scott have both lost loved ones to mental illness and are really dedicated to mental health advocacy and ending the stigma against mental illness and anxiety.

Mimi's first season overseas was also the first time her and Scott had lived together. It was a complete lifestyle change having to depend on someone and have the identity as "Scott's girlfriend" instead of just, Mimi.

In this episode, she shares her story, including some of her struggles and the way she overcame them. We talk about the importance of reaching out when you are struggling and she shares some of the tips that help her stay grounded.

I loved talking to Mimi and I hope conversation about mental health is something that we can continue to normalize as a community! 

The ups & downs of hockey, friendships & the NHL Bubble with Drew Shott

Drew Shott joins me on the podcast today! Drew's boyfriend, Jalen Chatfield, plays in the AHL for the Utica Comets & up in the NHL for the Vancouver Canucks. We talk about going from long distance to moving in together, the ups & down transactions of hockey, friendships, the NHL bubble & more!

Optimizing your health during the hockey season with Tanya Jarrett

Tanya Jarrett, wife to Patrick Jarrett, who retired from professional hockey in 2018, joins me on the podcast to discuss all things health. Tanya is a nutritional therapist and she shares her methods to optimize your overall health during the hockey season & in life!

 

After giving birth to her daughter, Tanya knew she had to make a lifestyle shift. She walks us through several steps you can take to make little switches to start feeling better mentally, emotionally and physically! She also has several great programs for her business, linked below. I learned SO much from her and I can't wait for you all to hear.

 

http://www.tanyajarrett.com/

Having a baby in Europe, Part 2 with Cassie Garbowsky

Part 2 continues from last week episode so if you missed it, listen back!

 

Within part 2, Cassie talks about postpartum and how she had to go back to the hospital several times and felt she wasn't getting the help she needed during this new and overwhelming time.

 

We spend a good portion of the episode talking about the neccessities you need when having your baby during the hockey season overseas. You can really get ANYTHING overseas but it's more for your comfort.

 

Enjoy!

Having a baby in Europe, Part 1 with Cassie Garbowsky

Cassie Garbowsky, wife of Matt Garbowsky, who finished last hockey season in the EBEL in Graz, Austria, joins me on the podcast today. Being over halfway through my pregnancy and having my baby in Graz next season, I had tons of questions for her and we decided to make this a two part episode!

Cass talks about planting the seed of having a baby to your husband, what you need to have written in your European contract, the benefits of having a baby abroad to first trimester anxiety and her personal birth experience in Europe.

I am so excited to share this one with you! Enjoy :)

Eloping in the Midst of a Global Pandemic with Emily Usset

 

Emily Usset joins me on the podcast for Episode 7. This girl was a freakin blast to talk to and I loved her endearing personality! Her and her husband met in college in the states, as he came over from Finland to play college hockey. We talk about the cultural differences of marriage in the U.S. and Scandanvian countries and once they were engaged and planning their big day, BOOM enter a global pandemic!

 

After blessings from their parents, they decided to elope to a courthouse in Finland. Mind you, Emily came over for a two week trip in March and has been kickin it in Finland ever since (bringing not much more than a winter jacket, doc martens and purple tennies!...see pictured above). We cover so much ground in this episode including what family and friends think when you follow your spouse all over the heck, the travel ban on the US for girlfriends and wives AND stay tuned for a special story about the sauna culture in Finland (and how she had to sauna in her birthday suit with her husband’s entire family, when she visited for the first time).

 

This is a good one folks, be sure to tune in!

Transitioning to life in a foreign country with Priscilla Frattin

Priscilla met her husband Matt Frattin in 2013 when he was playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 2017, Priscilla and Matt decided to make the move overseas and signed in Kazakhstan, with their 6 year old daughter and she became pregnant, while she was over there.

We talk about what her experience was like living somewhere so foreign, transitioning her daughter to a new school, while navigating everything in between, in addition to being newly pregnant. We also tap into the struggles of going to a new country and some of the difficulties we endure aka the grocery store and how important it is to connect with other hockey girls beforehand.