Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast

Mike MacKay & Brandon Brock

Join Coach Mike MacKay and Coach Brandon Brock as they dive into weekly conversations about transformational coaching, stewardship, and performance safety. The Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast is a place for all coaches to join in on a conversation to help grow the game of basketball.

Look forward to weekly episodes including conversations with coaches from across the country and around the world engaging in conversations around new concepts in the game of basketball.

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21 episodes
Updated Today

Episodes21

Newest first

Today · 20 min
Points to Ponder - Playing the Course You're On
On this episode of the Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast, Coach Mike MacKay shares a story of his time up in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories and how his time playing golf, allowed him to reflect on the various theories around skill acquisition. To get access to the written version of the Point to Ponder, subscribe here: https://mailchi.mp/2a41fa914c75/dtt92e5wlh
Monday · 1 hr 6 min
Pauline Lordon - From Player to Coach Developer
On this episode of the Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast, Coach Mike sits down with Pauline Lordon, longtime coach, educator, mentor, and learning facilitator who has coached at every level of the game, from community basketball to university and national team programs. Pauline shares lessons from her coaching journey, the mentors who shaped her, and her thoughts on mentorship, building trust, creating learning environments, and why joy and relationships are at the heart of coaching.
July 30 · 11 min
Points to Ponder - The Beautiful Game
On this episode of the Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast, Coach Mike MacKay shares another Points to Ponder, this time about his reflection on the FIFA World Cup. To get access to the written version of the Point to Ponder, subscribe here: https://mailchi.mp/2a41fa914c75/dtt92e5wlh
July 27 · 58 min
Chantal Vallee - Head Coach, University of Windsor Women's Basketball
On this episode of the Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast, we are joined by Chantal Vallee, Head Coach of the University of Windsor Women's Basketball Team. Chantal joins the podcast to share her extensive journey and history in coaching. She recounts stories of winning 5 straight USports National Championships, being the first Female head coach in the CEBL, and her new book that she recently published Dare to Win. If you're interested in the book, you can find it here: https://www.amazon.ca/Dare-Win-Blueprint-Performance-Championship/dp/1770418253
July 23 · 19 min
Points to Ponder - Defending Your Position
On this episode of the Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast, Coach Mike shares another Points to Ponder, this time on what it means to Defend Your Position. This episode does a deep dive on the intricacies of supporting athletes to become more intentional in guarding the ball. To get access to the written version of the Point to Ponder, subscribe here: https://mailchi.mp/2a41fa914c75/dtt92e5wlh
July 20 · 32 min
Jhanelle Peters - Mental Performance in Basketball
On this episode of the Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast, Coach Mike MacKay sits down with Jhanelle Peters. Jhanelle is a registered Psychotherapist and is the former Mental Health Clinician for the Toronto Raptors. She talks about about helping athletes perform under pressure and explores why anxiety isn't the enemy but useful information. Jhanelle also breaks down her "normalize, reframe, refocus" framework for shifting athletes from fear-based thinking to fact-based confidence. The conversation covers individualizing coaching styles to fit different athletes' needs, why coaches should ask rather than assume, how a coach's own body language shapes a team's response under pressure, and building mental performance training into everyday practice through simulated pressure, routine, and self-talk rooted in progress over perfection.
July 16 · 19 min
Points to Ponder - Batman and Robin, the Dynamic Duo
On this episode of the Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast, Coach Mike shares a Point to Ponder about Batman and Robin, Yes, you read that correct, but it's not quite what you think. Tune in to learn more about how the goal should be to develop athletes who can be both! To get access to the written version of the Point to Ponder, subscribe here: https://mailchi.mp/2a41fa914c75/dtt92e5wlh
July 13 · 39 min
Marissa Lindquist - Head Coach, Women's Basketball University of Alberta Augustana
On this episode of the Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast, Coach Mike MacKay sits down with Marissa Lindquist, the Head Coach of the Women's Basketball team at the University of Alberta Augustana. Marissa was also the head coach of the 17U Team Alberta Women's team that won Gold at Canada Summer Games in 2025. Marissa explores her coaching journey as a former athlete and taking over a program for the first time.
July 9 · 18 min
Points to Ponder: The Missing Link in the Constraints-Led Approach
On this episode of the Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast, Coach Mike shares another Points to Ponder. This one revolving around the idea of using the Constraints-Led Approach in basketball and what we as coaches might be missing in our application. To get access to the written version of the Point to Ponder, subscribe here: https://mailchi.mp/2a41fa914c75/dtt92e5wlh
July 7 · 59 min
BONUS - Community Super Clinics and Kimberley Super Clinic Recap
On this episode of the Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast, Coach Mike MacKay and Coach Brandon Brock share exciting news about Canada Basketball’s new partnership with Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities to offer more Community Super Clinics across the country. From there, Coach Mike reflects on the meaning of stewardship, why it matters in sport, and how we can all play a role in leaving the game better than we found it. Mike and Brandon then connect with several key people from Kimberley, B.C., who helped bring the Kimberley Super Clinic to life and made the event such a meaningful experience for the local basketball community.
July 6 · 59 min
Jodi Gram - National Team Coaching, Mentorship, & Reflection
In this episode of the Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast, Mike MacKay sits down with longtime coach, educator, and mentor Jodi Gram to explore the relationships, risks, and reflections that have shaped her coaching journey. From being tapped on the shoulder for opportunities she never thought she was ready for, to leading in high-performance environments and now mentoring the next generation of coaches. Jodi shares honest reflections on confidence, leadership, parent relationships, mentorship, and the overlap between teaching and coaching. Together, she and Mike unpack what it means to build people through sport, why curiosity and communication matter in difficult conversations, and how great coaching often begins with someone willing to see something in you before you see it in yourself.
July 2 · 31 min
Points to Ponder - Gordie Herbert Podcast #2 Planning with Clarity
On this episode of the Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast, Coach Mike MacKay shares another Points to Ponder, this time reflecting on his second conversation with Senior Men's National Team Head Coach Gordie Herbert. To get access to the written version of the Point to Ponder, subscribe here: https://mailchi.mp/2a41fa914c75/dtt92e5wlh
June 29 · 49 min
Gordie Herbert Part 2 - Style of Play, NBA and FIBA differences, and much more
On this episode of the Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast, coach Mike MacKay sits down with Senior Men's National Team Head Coach Gordie Herbert for a second conversation to dive deeper into Coach Herbert's coaching philosophy, style of play, NBA and FIBA differences, and much more. This is a great opportunity to get a glimpse into the mind of a National Team head coach and an episode you definitely won't want to miss.
June 25 · 19 min
Points to Ponder - Gordie Herbert Conversation Follow-up
On this episode of the Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast, coach Mike Mackay shares another Point to Ponder. This time, it's a follow-up on the conversation that Coach Mike had with Senior Men's National Team Coach Gordie Herbert and some of the lessons coaches can take away from his style and philosophy around the game. To get access to the written version of the Point to Ponder, subscribe here: https://mailchi.mp/2a41fa914c75/dtt92e5wlh
June 22 · 34 min
Gordie Herbert Part 1 - Head Coach, Senior Men's National Team
On this special episode of the Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast, we are extremely excited to welcome the new Head Coach of the Senior Men's National Team, Gordie Herbert to the podcast. Coach Mike chats with Coach Herbert about his journey from playing on the National team, to coaching in Europe, to finding his way back to lead his country. Coach Herbert shares his personal coaching philosophy as well as what he believes makes great teams. This is an episode you do not want to miss.
June 18 · 13 min
Points to Ponder - Languishing in the Familiar
On this episode of the Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast, Coach Mike shares another Point to Ponder on the term, Languishing. Not familiar with Languishing? Listen to the podcast to find out! To get access to the written version of the Point to Ponder, subscribe here: https://mailchi.mp/2a41fa914c75/dtt92e5wlh
June 15 · 32 min
Mailbag Episode - Answering Your Questions
On this episode of the Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast, Coach Mike MacKay and Coach Brandon Brock take some time to answer some of the questions that coaches have submitted from across the country. The conversation covers all sorts of topics from Transition Defense to Performance Safety. To submit a question of your own, send an email to coaching@basketball.ca with "Podcast Question" in the subject line.
June 11 · 12 min
Points to Ponder - Defensive Decision Making
On this episode of the Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast, Coach Mike explores the UAE compass as it relates to defensive decision making. To get access to the written version of the Point to Ponder, subscribe here: https://mailchi.mp/2a41fa914c75/dtt92e5wlh Lifetime Game Plan Pro Membership (Available until June 15th, 2026): gameplanbasketball.ca Free Game Plan account required to access the Lifetime Membership. Head to the Workshops tab to find the Lifetime Membership option.
June 8 · 53 min
Feedback and Crucial Conversations
On this episode of the Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast, Mike and Brandon discuss the topics of delivering feedback to athletes to help prepare coaches for having those crucial conversations. Mike and Brandon explore different types of feedback, when to give feedback, and how to set yourself up for success ahead of time. Then, the coaches finish the episode with some scenarios that coaches may experience and provides some suggestions on how to work through them.
June 4 · 17 min
Points to Ponder - Feedback and Clarity
On this episode of the Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast, coach Mike shares another Point to Ponder on the importance of Clarity in delivering Feedback. To get access to the written version of the Point to Ponder, subscribe here: https://mailchi.mp/2a41fa914c75/dtt92e5wlh Lifetime Game Plan Pro Membership (Available until June 15th, 2026): gameplanbasketball.ca Free Game Plan account required to access the Lifetime Membership. Head to the Workshops tab to find the Lifetime Membership option.