Coaches IDEA

In this episode Marvin Okello speaks with Brittnee Habbib about her journey from elite gymnast to founder of Girl Powered, a program that creates a safe, culturally affirming space for Black girls through gymnastics.
Brittnee continues her journey from elite athlete to coach, entrepreneur, and founder of Girl Power’d, reflecting on how her experiences in high-performance gymnastics shaped the way she now approaches coaching, mentorship, and creating opportunities for the next generation.
This episode explores the transition from athlete to coach, the responsibility coaches have in shaping young people beyond performance, and how Brittnee turned the lessons and challenges from her own sporting journey into a program designed to empower young girls through movement, confidence building, representation, and community.
Brittnee explores important topics including:
• Transitioning from elite athlete to coach and mentor• How personal experiences can shape your coaching philosophy• Redefining success beyond medals, results, and performance• Creating spaces where young girls feel seen, supported, and empowered• The importance of representation and culturally relevant programming• Turning challenges in sport into opportunities for change• Building Girl Power’d and using sport as a vehicle for confidence and leadership• The responsibility coaches have to develop the person, not just the athlete
Whether you are a coach, athlete, parent, educator, or community leader, this episode offers valuable insights into how lived experience can shape leadership, why representation matters, and how coaches can use sport to help young people develop confidence, identity, and a stronger sense of belonging.
 
Want to learn more about Brittnee's latest project Finding Me?
Brittnee is currently working on Finding Me, a film that explores personal growth, identity, and empowerment. Listeners can learn more by visiting the project information page at Girl Power'd and watching the available trailers.
To request access to view the film, email girlpowerd.gforce@gmail.com with the subject line "FINDING ME."
Those interested in supporting the film can also contribute through the contact information provided on the project page.

Welcome to another episode of Coaches IDEA Podcast with host Marvin Okello featuring Brittnee Habbib, a former Canadian national team gymnast and NCAA standout.
Brittnee shares her journey from early talent and cultural roots in Toronto to competing internationally, confronting discrimination in youth sport, and transitioning into entrepreneurship and mentorship through her program Girl Power'd.
 
This episode explores resilience, leadership, the power dynamics in individual sports, and how Brittnee uses her experience as an elite athlete to empower young girls through sport, confidence building, and community leadership.
 
Brittnee explores important topics including:
Life lessons learned through grassroots and high-performance sport• Confidence, representation, and belonging in sport• Building safe and empowering environments for young athletes• Overcoming barriers and challenges in sport• The role communities, schools, and coaches play in creating positive sport experiences
Whether you are a coach, athlete, parent, educator, or community leader, this episode offers valuable insights on resilience, self-discovery, privilege, and the importance of concepts such as the rule of 2 not just in theory but in practice. 
 
Want to learn more about Brittnee's latest project Finding Me?
Brittnee is currently working on Finding Me, a film that explores personal growth, identity, and empowerment. Listeners can learn more by visiting the project information page at Girl Power'd and watching the available trailers.
To request access to view the film, email girlpowerd.gforce@gmail.com with the subject line "FINDING ME."
Those interested in supporting the film can also contribute through the contact information provided on the project page.
 

Coach’s IDEA  Episode 11: Anneka Siegel
In this episode of the Coach’s IDEA Podcast, host Marvin Okello is joined by Anneka Siegel, parasport athlete, coach, and advocate based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Anneka shares her journey of rediscovering skiing through mono skiing after losing the use of her lower legs, and how adaptive sport helped her reconnect with the sport she loved. She also discusses her growth as an athlete, her experiences travelling to high-performance camps across North America, and her passion for creating stronger pathways for adaptive athletes in Nova Scotia and beyond.
This conversation explores coaching philosophy, mentorship, accessibility, representation, and how coaches and sport organizations can better support athletes of varying abilities. Anneka reflects on the importance of curiosity, saying yes to opportunities, challenging stigma, and approaching inclusion with both an open heart and practical planning.
Guest advice from this episode:Say yes to opportunities. Be curious. Do not act on stigma or assumptions. Think through the real operational pieces needed to make inclusion and accessibility work.
Thanks to Anneka Siegel for joining us on Episode 11of Coach’s IDEA.
You can check out Anneka on her social media accounts with the handle @annekasiegel to follow her along her coaching journey. 
Stay tuned for Episode 12 with Canadian International gymnast Brittnee Habbib and until next time, keep those IDEA’s in mind.

Welcome back to Coach’s IDEA, the podcast where we dive into the real stories, experiences, and insights shaping coaching and sport today.
 
Today’s episode is one I’m really excited about. I had the chance to sit down with Dean Smith who is a coach & leader with Hockey Nova Scotia, and a finalist for the Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award. But more than that, Dean is someone who is deeply committed to making sport more inclusive, more representative, and safer for everyone involved.
 
In this conversation we get into Dean’s journey growing up in Whitney Pier, how he first got into coaching, some of his favorite moments as an athlete, and how those experiences shaped the way he shows up for the athletes he works with today. 
 
We spend some time unpacking his work with Hockey Nova Scotia, including how he became involved at the board level and the role he’s playing in advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in the game. Dean shares openly about the barriers he faced getting started in coaching; some he expected, and others he didn’t see coming and how those experiences continue to drive his work today.
 
We also reflect on spaces like the Diversity in Sport Conference and Black Leaders in Sport Day in Ottawa, and why those moments of connection, learning, and community matter so much.
 
And for all the coaches listening, this episode is full of practical insight such as what you can be doing right now to create safer, more inclusive environments for athletes from all backgrounds, and why that work goes far beyond the rink.
 
We close out the episode by Dean leaving us with some powerful advice he’d give to his younger self. 
 
This is an honest, thoughtful, and inspiring conversation and I think you’re really going to take a lot from it.
Let’s get into it!

The group dives into the significance of EDIA. Nicole shares her experiences with the Wanderers and Hockey Nova Scotia diversity committees, emphasizing the need for intentional representation and safe spaces. Morgan underscores the value of networking and creating inclusive environments where individuals can feel supported, while Kurtis reflects on the importance of community in shaping positive change.
In a deeply personal segment, Kurtis offers nuanced advice for individuals with disabilities exploring adaptive sports, whether born with a disability or acquiring one later in life. He also thoughtfully explores language—why some embrace or avoid the term “disability”—and how self-identification plays a vital role in empowerment and advocacy.
The group discusses stigmas and stereotypes they’ve faced both as athletes and coaches, ranging from assumptions about competence to challenges with accessible infrastructure. They also explore intersectionality—how overlapping identities (such as gender, race, or socioeconomic status) affect experiences in sport.
A key framework discussed is the three-question model: “Can I get there? Can I play? Can I stay?”—a holistic approach to designing accessible sport & recreation environments. This involves considering transportation, physical accessibility (like washrooms), financial costs, opportunities for participation beyond competition, staff readiness, and the broader sense of community and support.
Zach shares his perspective as an ally and how able-bodied individuals can better support and advocate for those with disabilities. He emphasizes that allyship means listening, learning, asking questions, and being unafraid to make mistakes in the process of trying to do better.
Kurtis also shares how he got involved in adaptive golf, highlighting the importance of mentorship, awareness, and having access to the right equipment.
Looking ahead to 2025, the guests discuss what coaches can do to foster inclusive and welcoming environments. Their advice includes not making assumptions, being curious and open-minded, and actively engaging with individuals who have lived experiences. They stress that creating inclusive sport spaces is a continuous journey—one that benefits from compassion, humility, and a willingness to grow.
The episode concludes with a reflective and moving question: What advice would you give to your younger self?
Nicole reminds us that “everything happens for a reason.”
Zach encourages taking risks: “Don’t be afraid to make mistakes—you don’t know unless you try!”
Kurtis offers hope: “You may see your disability as a negative thing, but don’t let that stop you—it could be life-changing.”
Morgan suggests leaving sport on a high note: “Walk away while you’re happy. Appreciate and hold on to the good memories and lessons.”

In this episode of the Coach’s IDEA Podcast, host Marvin Okello welcomes Lewis Page and Kennedi Kiarash, the head coach and assistant coach of the Halifax Tides, respectively. 
The conversation dives into several important topics about coaching and women’s sports, touching on their personal coaching journeys, mentors, and favorite moments as athletes. The coaches share their thoughts on how the landscape for female coaches and athletes has evolved in Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Canada, particularly in light of recent discussions about the importance of supporting female athletes financially to ensure they can focus on their sport without needing additional income sources. The Tides, they discuss, provide their players with fair salaries, which has become a notable point of conversation in women’s sports.
Further, they discuss the importance of EDIA (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility) both personally and within the broader coaching community. Kennedi provides insight into how coaches in 2025 can better support an inclusive and diverse environment for their athletes, especially women.
The coaches also reflect on the impact of Canadian soccer stars like Kara Lang and Christine Sinclair, noting the increasing prominence of Canadian female athletes like Jordan Huitema and Kadeisha Buchanan in international leagues, and how this will shape the future of women's soccer.
Lastly, they share memorable sports moments as fans and offer advice for coaches working with female athletes, rounding out a dynamic and inspiring conversation about the evolution of women in sports, coaching, and the importance of mentorship and support.