Show Notes
In this episode of Cynthia and Josie’s Unmentionables, we speak with award winning journalist and TSN reporter Rick Westhead about Canadian hockey culture and the systems that shape young boys in sport. Rick Westhead is the journalist who broke the 2022 Hockey Canada World Junior sexual assault allegations story. His book, We Breed Lions Confronting Canada’s Troubled Hockey Culture, examines junior hockey in Canada, locker room dynamics, hazing rituals, and the lack of accountability that has allowed harmful behaviour to persist. We discuss how hockey has become deeply tied to Canadian identity, particularly in Ontario, Toronto, and communities across Canada, and why questioning hockey culture can provoke such intense backlash. Rick also reflects on social media harassment, power, masculinity, and the personal cost of investigating sport at the highest levels. The conversation explores how minor hockey and elite junior leagues operate, how secrecy and humiliation are normalized, and why real change has been so difficult. At the same time, Rick highlights programs in Hamilton Ontario and across Canada that are teaching consent, healthy masculinity, and leadership through sport. Proceeds from We Breed Lions support organizations including the London Abused Women’s Centre, the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre, and Canadian Tire Jumpstart, helping combat gender based violence and improve access to sport. This episode is essential listening for parents, coaches, athletes, and anyone invested in the future of hockey in Canada.
More from Cynthia and Josie's Unmentionables
The "Just Saying Hi" Episode (An Update on Nothing)Hey everyone! If you’re looking at your feed right now thinking, "Wait, is this a real episode?"… the short answer is no, not quite. Consider this our ultimate "un-episode."Life has been seriously busy, so we wanted to pop into your headphones strictly to say hello, check in, and fill you in on what’s actually been happening in our world. There is no official topic, no formal script, and absolutely no agenda, just a casual, messy life update between friends.Don't worry, we are already working hard on the next launch and will be back very soon with our regular, full-length episodes. But for today? We're talking about absolutely nothing. Grab a coffee or a glass of wine and come catch up with us!
Change is hard. Even when it’s good. On this episode of Cynthia & Josie’s Unmentionables, Cynthia and I talk about all the emotions that come with change as The Social enters a new chapter. What happens when something that has been such a huge part of your life starts to look different? There’s excitement, fear, grief, uncertainty… and a whole lot of “WHAT NOW?!” We’re talking honestly about navigating change, letting go, figuring out what comes next, and why even positive change can feel really freaking hard. Come hang out with us for the conversation we probably wouldn’t have anywhere else.
SUMMER SERIES: Best Sex Ever What makes for the best sex ever? Chemistry? Communication? Confidence? Or maybe a very active imagination? In this summer edition of Cynthia & Josie’s Unmentionables, we dig into what makes sex satisfying, then revisit “What’s Your Sexual Fantasy?” with guest Lucas De Man, exploring research into common fantasies from around the world. Consider it a little summer vacation for your imagination.
In 2023, our lives changed with an unmistakable, stomach-turning pop. In this episode, we are looking back at the raw, hilarious, and deeply honest podcast episode we recorded right after my husband broke his penis.We revisit the immediate trauma, the emergency room panic, and the intense recovery process. Then, we fast-forward to today to give you the ultimate update. We share exactly how he is doing now, how our intimacy survived, and what life looks like years after the ultimate bedroom nightmare.
This week, we're looking back... and looking up. After Cynthia’s recent colonoscopy, we're revisiting our very first Unmentionables episode on hemorrhoids, sharing what we’ve learned from our own butt-based adventures, and proving once again that the most awkward conversations are often the most important, and the funniest.