Strong Girl Talk

About Strong Girl Talk

Whether you’re a strong girl yourself or are raising one, this show is for you. Strong Girl Talk exists at the intersection of research and culture for women and girls in sport. Let’s go! Author & Strong Girl Publishing founder Molly Hurford and Dr. Sasha Gollish, Executive Director of Yellow Running Shoes, have teamed up to bring you Strong Girl Talk, a show that covers the latest in sports science with a focus on women and girls, as well as trending topics around gender equity in sports. And every episode kicks off with our wrap-up of top headlines in women’s sport that have us cheering! stronggirl.substack.com (https://stronggirl.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Strong Girl Publishing

Category

health & fitness · sports

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

7 Mar 2025

Latest episode

6 Nov 2026

Latest episodes

51 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Nov 2026

   What we still get wrong about sport (the answer will surprise you)

   Welcome to Why Can’t They Play?, a Strong Girl Talk podcast presented by RE.sport (https://projectresport.com). Today Sasha interviews Dr. Joe Baker, who’s the Tanenbaum Chair in Sport Science (https://discover.research.utoronto.ca/53684-joseph-baker), Data Modelling and Sport Analytics (https://kpe.utoronto.ca/faculty/baker-joseph). He is the author/editor of 13 books, including the Tyranny of Talen (https://www.amazon.ca/Tyranny-Talent-compels-athletic-achievement/dp/1738644103)t, 5 journal special issues and more than 300 peer-reviewed articles, commentaries, position statements, and book chapters. In addition he uses models of athlete learning and development to help understand how to maximize function and performance in non-elite populations. Do us a huge favour and make sure you give the podcast 5 stars and click follow: In this episode we chat about: * Joe’s book, The Tyranny of Talent (https://www.amazon.ca/Tyranny-Talent-compels-athletic-achievement/dp/1738644103), is all about rethinking and reimining talent and how it expresses with kids * Joe and Sasha are working on a project looking at where people with disability between the ages of 15 and 44 live across Canada. Our co-author, Michael Frogley, presented this work at the RE.sport May 20th event (https://youtu.be/pqfn_rVxf-E?si=z59rkV_MfDvPoluC), plus the very cool graphic recording (https://projectresport.com/may20-event) to capture what we’re doing in this project. For those of you who applied for the RE.sport Microgrants (https://projectresport.com/micro-grants), we’ll be announcing those awarded the microgrants at the end of November. Remember you can follow Molly and Sasha on Social Media including: Molly - @mollyjhurford (https://www.instagram.com/mollyjhurford/) @stronggirlpublishing (https://www.instagram.com/stronggirlpublishing/)Sasha - @SGollishRuns (https://www.instagram.com/SGollishRuns/) @Yellow_Running_Shoes (https://www.instagram.com/yellow_running_shoes/)RE.sport - @project_resport (https://www.instagram.com/project_resport) Listen, Subscribe, Rate + Review on Substack (https://stronggirl.substack.com/) | Spotify (https://stronggirlpublishing.com/podcast/) | iTunes (https://podcastsconnect.apple.com/my-podcasts/show/strong-girl-talk/36cacc88-f800-4cc8-9154-f8bd68f42f68/episodes) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@StrongGirlPublishing) Get the book! We worked with the RE.sport team to create a graphic novel that’s research-based and evidence-informed to help kids understand the barriers that their peers may face in sport. It’s available for preorder now, and bulk options (with PDF lesson plan downloads and a tryout assessment) are available for classes and teams. Check it out here. (https://stronggirlpublishing.com/products/why-cant-they-play-a-graphic-novel?variant=51874577383745) You walk past the tryout poster in the hallway.Some kids can’t wait.Some feel nervous.Some don’t even stop to look. What is stopping some kids from trying out for the team while others don’t think twice? What makes some kids excited, while other kids don’t even consider signing up? Asking “Why Can’t They Play?” seems like a simple question, but it has an incredibly complex answer. All kids should be able to play, but for some, a tryout poster hanging in the hall is just another reminder of why they can’t play. In this graphic novel, a team of researchers breaks down some of the main ways that a soccer tryout can exclude many kids—and why that’s wrong, and what kids, coaches and educators can do about it. When we work together, we can find a way that we can all play. Get full access to Strong Girl Society at stronggirl.substack.com/subscribe (https://stronggirl.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

2. 

   30 Oct 2026

   When “Keeping It Fun” is a Catch-All—And Why We Need to Put Friendship + Respect Back on a Pedestal

   Welcome to Why Can’t They Play?, a Strong Girl Talk podcast presented by RE.sport (https://projectresport.com). Today, Sasha interviews Dr. Sarah Teetzel (https://ca.linkedin.com/in/sarah-teetzel-04887951), an associate professor (https://chrr.info/person/people_network/sarah-_teetzel/) in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management. Her research focuses on applied ethics and human rights in sport, including the eligibility constraints that transgender athletes face to compete in sport. This is a big one, folks. Before we get into this week’s episode, Lizzie Learns to Ride (https://stronggirlpublishing.com/products/lizzie-learns-to-ride) by Girls in Gear founder Dr. Gabrielle Rossi is out now (https://stronggirlpublishing.com/products/lizzie-learns-to-ride)! Pick up this adorable picture book for the reluctant rider in your life and help them grow the confidence they need to pedal with pride. In this episode we chat about: * Sarah’s Olympic Studies (https://umanitoba.ca/kinesiology-recreation-management/faculty-staff/sarah-teetzel-phd) Work, how she sees the Olympic Values of Excellence, Friendship, and Respect, and challenges us to think about Excellence as Moral Excellence * A book she co-authored, The Olympic Winter Games at 110: Challenges, Complexities, and Legacies (https://www.routledge.com/The-Olympic-Winter-Games-at-100-Challenges-Complexities-and-Legacies/Dichter-Teetzel/p/book/9781032623184) * We also talk about the barrier that gender diverse and non-binary athletes face, and how when we look at those barriers, kids of all gender identities, especially girls can find their place of belonging in sport. It’s the last day to apply for the RE.sport microgrants (https://projectresport.com/micro-grants); applications close this Friday, October 30th is the deadline to apply. You can find more information here (https://projectresport.com/micro-grants) and if you missed the information sessions you can find recordings at the bottom of the page. Remember you can follow Molly and Sasha on Social Media including: Molly - @mollyjhurford (https://www.instagram.com/mollyjhurford/) @stronggirlpublishing (https://www.instagram.com/stronggirlpublishing/)Sasha - @SGollishRuns (https://www.instagram.com/SGollishRuns/) @Yellow_Running_Shoes (https://www.instagram.com/yellow_running_shoes/)RE.sport - @project_resport (https://www.instagram.com/project_resport) Listen, Subscribe, Rate + Review on Substack (https://stronggirl.substack.com/) | Spotify (https://stronggirlpublishing.com/podcast/) | iTunes (https://podcastsconnect.apple.com/my-podcasts/show/strong-girl-talk/36cacc88-f800-4cc8-9154-f8bd68f42f68/episodes) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@StrongGirlPublishing) Get the book! We worked with the RE.sport team to create a graphic novel that’s research-based and evidence-informed to help kids understand the barriers that their peers may face in sport. It’s available for preorder now, and bulk options (with PDF lesson plan downloads and a tryout assessment) are available for classes and teams. Check it out here. (https://stronggirlpublishing.com/products/why-cant-they-play-a-graphic-novel?variant=51874577383745) You walk past the tryout poster in the hallway.Some kids can’t wait.Some feel nervous.Some don’t even stop to look. What is stopping some kids from trying out for the team while others don’t think twice? What makes some kids excited, while other kids don’t even consider signing up? Asking “Why Can’t They Play?” seems like a simple question, but it has an incredibly complex answer. All kids should be able to play, but for some, a tryout poster hanging in the hall is just another reminder of why they can’t play. In this graphic novel, a team of researchers breaks down some of the main ways that a soccer tryout can exclude many kids—and why that’s wrong, and what kids, coaches and educators can do about it. When we work together, we can find a way that we can all play. Get full access to Strong Girl Society at stronggirl.substack.com/subscribe (https://stronggirl.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

3. 

   23 Oct 2026

   All Bodies Are Sport Bodies… But Why Don’t Some Kids Feel That Way?

   Welcome to Why Can’t They Play?, a Strong Girl Talk podcast presented by RE.sport (https://projectresport.com). Today Sasha interviews Dr. Chelsi Ricketts (https://ca.linkedin.com/in/chelsi-ricketts-7a96632ab), a University of Toronto recipient of a Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship carrying out her research at the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education’s Mental Health and Physical Activity Research Centre. Chelsi’s research is focused on girls and gender-diverse youth to understand body diversity based on their experiences as current or former sport participants, with the goal to help inform strategies that promote more body-inclusive sport environments. Do us a huge favour and make sure you give the podcast 5 stars and click follow: In this episode we chat about: * Why so many kids, especially girls, are dropping out of sport (https://kpe.utoronto.ca/faculty-news/chelsi-ricketts-and-shalom-brown-research-impact-identity-safety-sport-participation) * Her presentation (https://youtu.be/jfvL2Du6br8?si=f6yCDR0CTzbxTfke) at the RE.sport May 20th (https://projectresport.com/may20-event) event, including this incredible graphic recording (https://projectresport.com/may20-event) * We talk about inclusive sports policies through youth voices, including The Undropped Kit (https://www.asics.com/gb/en-gb/mk/soundmindsoundbody/undroppedkit), a project lead by Tess Howard (https://www.instagram.com/howard_tess/?hl=en), founder of Inclusive Sportswear (https://www.inclusivesportswear.com) and supported by ASICS Remember we have one week until the RE.sport microgrants (https://projectresport.com/micro-grants) close; Friday, October 30th is the deadline to apply. You can find more information here (https://projectresport.com/micro-grants) and if you missed the information sessions you can find recordings at the bottom of the page. Remember you can follow Molly and Sasha on Social Media including: Molly - @mollyjhurford (https://www.instagram.com/mollyjhurford/) @stronggirlpublishing (https://www.instagram.com/stronggirlpublishing/)Sasha - @SGollishRuns (https://www.instagram.com/SGollishRuns/) @Yellow_Running_Shoes (https://www.instagram.com/yellow_running_shoes/)RE.sport - @project_resport (https://www.instagram.com/project_resport) Listen, Subscribe, Rate + Review on Substack (https://stronggirl.substack.com/) | Spotify (https://stronggirlpublishing.com/podcast/) | iTunes (https://podcastsconnect.apple.com/my-podcasts/show/strong-girl-talk/36cacc88-f800-4cc8-9154-f8bd68f42f68/episodes) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@StrongGirlPublishing) Get the book! We worked with the RE.sport team to create a graphic novel that’s research-based and evidence-informed to help kids understand the barriers that their peers may face in sport. It’s available for preorder now, and bulk options (with PDF lesson plan downloads and a tryout assessment) are available for classes and teams. Check it out here. (https://stronggirlpublishing.com/products/why-cant-they-play-a-graphic-novel?variant=51874577383745) You walk past the tryout poster in the hallway.Some kids can’t wait.Some feel nervous.Some don’t even stop to look. What is stopping some kids from trying out for the team while others don’t think twice? What makes some kids excited, while other kids don’t even consider signing up? Asking “Why Can’t They Play?” seems like a simple question, but it has an incredibly complex answer. All kids should be able to play, but for some, a tryout poster hanging in the hall is just another reminder of why they can’t play. In this graphic novel, a team of researchers breaks down some of the main ways that a soccer tryout can exclude many kids—and why that’s wrong, and what kids, coaches and educators can do about it. When we work together, we can find a way that we can all play. Get full access to Strong Girl Society at stronggirl.substack.com/subscribe (https://stronggirl.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

Who has been a guest on Strong Girl Talk

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Mia Lerner
• Marley Blonsky
• Dr Sasha Gollish
• Stevie Lyn Smith
• Vanessa Coulbeck

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 15 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

30

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0