In this episode of the You Can Play Podcast, Brock Robinson Barclay — lifelong athlete, hockey and baseball coach, and sport management professional — joins us to talk about how culture is built, one small moment at a time.

Drawing on experiences across locker rooms, teams, and community events, Brock shares how trust and teaching are the foundation of a healthy team environment. From addressing slurs on the ice to celebrating players’ individuality off it, he reflects on what it means to create a space where everyone feels like they belong — not just as athletes, but as people.

Brock talks about moving away from “punishment culture,” the difference between discipline and teaching, and how tiny gestures of care — like a shin tap — can rebuild trust when words fall short. His philosophy is simple but powerful: “If someone feels safe enough to be themselves on your team, that’s a win.”

In this episode of the You Can Play Podcast, David Smith — a strength and conditioning coach, mental performance coach, and sport & exercise science lecturer — joins us to explore the intersection of performance, psychology, and inclusion in sport.

David shares lessons from years coaching across disciplines — from cheerleading to football to basketball — and how every great team starts with trust, not hierarchy. He talks about psychological safety as the foundation of performance, and why coaches must balance challenge with care: creating spaces where athletes can be uncomfortable enough to grow, but safe enough to stay.

From redefining “banter,” to responding to exclusion, to supporting LGBTQ+ athletes with confidence and compassion, David offers a coach’s perspective grounded in science and empathy. His advice? Build relationships. Check in often. Be curious. And always — as he says — “make a grand entrance and a big finish.”

In this episode of the You Can Play Podcast, Jonas Worth — Canada West Commissioner, soccer coach, and lifelong educator — joins us to talk about what it really means to model the values we teach. From coaching through injury to addressing harmful language on the field, Jonas shares how small choices — a word, a tone, a question — can shift a team’s entire culture.

He reflects on the difference between punishment and teaching, the courage it takes to say “I don’t know”, and the importance of vulnerability and boundaries in leadership. Whether he’s helping athletes return from injury or guiding teams through tough conversations, Jonas reminds us that great coaches aren’t invincible — they’re resilient, curious, and willing to grow right alongside their players.