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

Imagine this....you're faced with the decision to leave a 7-year career as a stable ICU nurse in the town you grew up in, complete with a leadership role and financial security, to follow a hockey player you barely know across the globe? What do you do, and how do you deal with the "witching hour" of contract negotiations while living with your parents and trying to avoid the constant question: "Where are you going next year?" Today, I'm sitting down with an amazing young woman, Audrey Somoza, wife of European veteran Ethan Somoza, for a conversation that's as real and refreshing as it gets.

Audrey shares the feeling of entering the hockey world blind, the intimidation of a new social scene, and the initial shock of moving to Budapest, Hungary, where she had to "get comfortable just feeling dumb" while navigating a foreign city. We talk about the guilt of hitting pause on her nursing career, the unexpected community she found documenting her life on TikTok (and the viral story that landed her in People Magazine!), along with so much more.

This conversation is an honest look at surrendering to a life you never planned, finding joy in the constant movement, and appreciating the "blip of your life" that is the short, incredible ride of professional hockey. You won't want to miss Audrey's powerful perspective on growth and seizing every moment!

Did something in this conversation I had with Audrey 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 Audrey met her husband Ethan and why he decided to stay in the ECHL for an extra year to build the foundation of their relationship

• What motivated Audrey, a former ICU nurse, to leave her stable, leadership-role career to join Ethan on their global adventures

• The reasons she encourages him to play the game as long as he can, and the inspiring perspective on living in the moment that she lives by

• How entering the European hockey world in Budapest forced Audrey out of her comfort zone while initially navigating the city and going to games alone

• The story of what led to her viral TikTok video and how it ultimately resulted in her and Ethan being featured in People and Yahoo

• Audrey's candid thoughts on the struggle to find remote work led and the professional avenue she is now considering pursuing

• What no one warned her about before joining the hockey world, and why the best advice she can give others is to simply surrender to the experience and enjoy the ride
  
  

LINKS:

Audrey's Instagram & TikTok

Woman Stunned When She Spots Fiancé in Background of Old Video on Her Phone Taken Months Before They Met (People Exclusive)

How do you find your footing in a foreign country after falling in love with a professional hockey player, living a life you swore you'd never live? And what happens when a secret teenage fling is rekindled a decade later with a persistent DM? I am so excited to chat with Tori O'Connor, wife of undrafted European veteran Ryan O'Connor, as she gets raw and real about her journey from an independent tech sales career to embracing the "two lives" of a European hockey wife and mom.

Tori opens up about the shock of expectations versus reality in German hockey towns, the lonely days of working remote Eastern hours from Europe, and the savage intensity of European fans. Plus, you'll hear Tori's unbelievable, 5-hour natural birth story in a German hospital that involved a "sunny side up" flip, two black eyes, and an umbilical cord scare, all while her husband was texting the coach about Sunday's game!

This episode is about realizing that sometimes, the biggest wins are just finding your support system when you're thousands of miles from home. I am so honored that Tori joined me and was so open to share her experiences with us, and I can't wait for you to hear the unfiltered truth of sacrifice, surprise, and finding pride in a life you never planned.

Did something in this conversation I had with Tori 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 incredible story of how an undrafted player's career can lead to incredible success across the globe

• Tori and Ryan's secret college relationship and what happened when couple reconnected much later through social media

• What it's like to balance a full-time tech sales job remotely with the European hockey life, and some of the challenges Tori faces in this role

• Tips for successfully navigating a late-term international flight while pregnant, plus the surprisingly common side effect of a 9-hour flight

• How Tori's natural birth in Germany resulted in a five-hour pushing marathon, a "sunny side up" baby flip, and two black eyes

• The crucial post-birth support system she received in Germany that is non-existent in Canada

• What fan passion really looks like in Europe and a few of the crazy stories that demonstrates their enthusiasm for the game

• Why you might look back on the professional athlete life after it's over and realize your identity as a hockey wife became something you learned to be proud of

Have you ever wondered what happens when a hockey player's career dream and their family dream collide? In this episode, I chat with someone that I've known for a long time (in fact, he and my husband Jay won the Calder Cup together way back in 2001)! My guest today is the one and only Levente Szuper, the only Hungarian goaltender to ever be drafted into the NHL, and he's here to uncover the real, raw, and sometimes messy truth of a hockey life.

Levente takes us through his wild, almost unbelievable journey from a child actor and pianist in Budapest to a Calder Cup winner in North America. He gets brutally honest about the decision to retire at the height of his career, the epic story of his last-minute Memorial Cup win, and why he played in a World Championship after not even putting on his goalie gear for a year.

This isn't your average hockey story; Levente's is a true Cinderella story that is so unbelievable that you have to listen to it to believe. It's about finding your place, living two lifetimes in one, and realizing that sometimes, the biggest wins happen off the ice.

Did something in this conversation I had with Levente 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 acting, music, and a multi-sport upbringing created an unconventional path for this future NHL-drafted goaltender

• Why the most exciting thing in Levente's career was also the most devastating moment: winning the Memorial Cup after being pulled in a previous game

• The reason professional scouts and general managers were afraid to draft him, despite his record-breaking rookie season

• How Levente and his wife, Amy, overcame the intense challenges of long-distance and a professional hockey lifestyle to build a strong partnership that endures today

• Why this promising 32-year-old goaltender decided to retire at the top of his game after the birth of his first child

• A behind-the-scenes of Levente's incredible comeback: playing in a World Championship tournament as the starting goalie after a full year of retirement

• Some of the struggles he faced off the ice in a management capacity in Hungary from a culture he no longer understood

• How Levente has found his true purpose living a "simple life" as an author, broadcaster, and dedicated family man

Is the professional hockey lifestyle really as glamorous as it seems? What happens when your entire identity is tied to someone else's career, and you're forced to live a nomadic life? To kick off things in this very first episode of We're In One, I sit down with Krystie Letang to dive into the raw and unfiltered reality behind the rink, and trust me, we're not holding anything back. Krystie is married to Alan Letang , former Professional hockey player turned coach.

After decades in the game, Krystie reveals the true cost of the pro hockey lifestyle and why it's so misunderstood. She gets real about the loneliness of being a coach's wife, the shocking truth that the loneliest job in hockey actually isn't that of the coach, shares the brutal, in-your-face advice she has for the next generation, and a whole lot more.

So grab a drink of wine or your favorite beverage, buckle up and hit "play", because this isn't your average hockey story; this is the real, unapologetic truth. Krystie and I just scratched the surface in this conversation and as you'll hear, we have so much more to talk about. If you'd like me to bring Krystie back for a Part Two, 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:

• Some of the sacrifices involved in the demanding lifestyle of professional hockey

• How we've both come to realize the way to make a team work is to create a family where everyone is willing to go to war for each other

• Why the loneliest job in hockey is not the head coach, but the coach's wife

• How living abroad has given us the unique freedom to raise our kids "old school" and without judgment

• The truth behind the misconception that a professional hockey wife's life is just "one long vacation"

• Why the transition from a player's wife to a coach's wife requires a whole new level of investment

• Why the professional hockey lifestyle can be so unrelatable and confusing to those who have never experienced it

• What the advice "play until they kick you out" means to Krystie and I

That's right, We're In One is coming soon! If you don't want to miss a single episode when we officially launch, here is your friendly little nudge to go ahead and hit that follow/subscribe button on your favorite podcast app. And, if you're vibing with us, leaving a quick rating and review would mean the world.

Don't forget to swing by and follow our fresh new Instagram, @wereinonepod, and catch some behind-the-scenes, sneak peeks and all the fun.

New episodes are coming real soon, and we've got lots to talk about – so stay tuned!