How do you build a future that's bigger than the game while you're still living in the thick of a contract year? Today, I'm sitting down with the incredible Madison Marshall, and she is pull-no-punches honest about what it really takes to thrive as an import partner in a new country.

We're talking about the transition from hockey wife to business owner with the launch of The Hockey House MN, and why Madison believes preparing for the next chapter is the most productive thing a couple can do for their current season. From building community and inclusivity with all of the wives/girlfriends (regardless of what stage of life they're in) to the logistical chaos of explaining a career with no permanent zip code to family back home, Madison shares the strategic roadmap for staying level-headed when the highs are high and the lows are subterranean.

If you've ever felt like an outcast in a new city or wondered how to turn a passion project into a community staple, Madison is here to show you the way. Grab a beer and settle in, because this conversation is the breath of fresh air every hockey group chat needs!

Did something in this conversation I had with Madison 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:

• Why you can't wait for a community to find you and how being an active villager is the only way to build a real support system

• The origin story of how Madison and Ben turned a supply and demand gap in the Twin Cities into an elite, small-group training brand

• A look into the unwritten rules of game night etiquette and why Madison believes leading with an open invite is the only way to ensure no one feels like an outcast

• A relatable breakdown of the specific stress of a season where everything counts and nobody has a plan

• The ways in which Ben helps bring Madison back to center when the lifestyle feels overwhelming

• An honest conversation on why maintaining relationships with friends and family back home is something you have to actively work on and prioritize

• The honest admission Madison has about being more ritual-focused than the guy on the ice

• What she's doing to smash the stigma around retirement and why she is a huge advocate for preparing for the next chapter now

• The expert-level strategy used by Madison for making a temporary apartment in Germany feel like a permanent home

• Some of the non-negotiable food items and comforts she hauls overseas to keep homesickness at bay

LINKS:

Madison's TikTok, YouTube & Instagram

The Hockey House's Website

Ben's Hockey Profile

12: Vibes, Vision & Living Fully : How Catie McDonald Built a Life Through Hockey

11: Unsupervised : No Game Plan (My Solo Episode)

How do you go from a viral TikTok about losing your job to a thriving remote career in Germany? Today, I'm sitting down with the absolute breath of fresh air that is Catie McDonald, and she's giving us the real, unfiltered look at life as an import partner.

We're diving into the logistical nightmare of moving a 70lb Labradoodle across Europe and why Catie is the self-proclaimed "saleswoman" for the hidden gem of Slovenia. From the middle-child luck of double-income households to the hilarious reality of being the spare human to a dog who only has eyes for her hockey-dad husband, Catie is a masterclass in making the most of every zip code.

She also drops some serious knowledge on the non-sexy side of the business(like the one thing you must have in your contract) and why saying yes to uncomfortable social situations is the only way to build your village from scratch. We even bond over our shared illness of pre-game superstitions and the essential snacks we haul overseas just to feel a little bit of home.

If you're ready to stop playing it safe and start leaning into the beautiful mishaps of this lifestyle, this conversation is your roadmap. Grab a drink and settle in, because Catie is about to become your new favorite hockey sister!

Did something in this conversation I had with Catie 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:

• Catie shares why she is the #1 advocate for the hidden gem of Slovenia and describes the magic of charcuterie on Budapest's Chain Bridge

• The surreal story of how a viral TikTok about losing her job actually landed Catie her current remote career in digital marketing

• A breakdown of the stress, high costs, and confusing paperwork involved in moving a "service dog" (who is actually a 70lb Labradoodle) across EU borders

• A look into the benefits of a double-income hockey household and the "middle-child luck" that allows Catie to thrive in sales while living in Germany

• What Catie and I think of pet loyalty and why the dogs always treat the "hockey dad" like a returning king while Mom is just the one who provides the snacks

• Why saying "yes" to uncomfortable social situations is the only way to build a support system from scratch as a hockey wife in a new city

• A relatable breakdown of the "illness" of hockey superstitions, from identical pre-game rituals to the wives accidentally eating heavy pre-game meals because they're "just there"

• Catie's super smart advice for new partners and what you absolutely have to consider about contracts in this professional hockey life we live

• Her honest admission about being a "vibes" girl who relies on the crowd's reaction to know when to be angry, especially in the different atmosphere of German hockey

• The essential comforts Catie hauls overseas, including American Advil, high-sugar granola, and the spice blends that keep homesickness at bay
  
  

LINKS:

Catie's TikTok & Instagram

Trevor's Hockey Profile

11: Unsupervised : No Game Plan (My Solo Episode)

What do you actually do when you've driven 39 hours across Europe only to realize you're locked inside a Wi-Fi-less apartment with a dog that needs to pee and a husband who has the only key? Why does it feel like a personal betrayal to leave a season seat in Scotland, and is the "coaching transition" really just a glorified lesson in instability? I'm flying solo this week with my very first Q&A episode to answer the messy, blunt, and as you'll hear, occasionally spicy questions you sent my way.

We're getting into the "milestone tax" of missing weddings back home, the absurdity of finding a fully staffed office in my supposed living room in Poland, and the Canadian survival kit I force my guests to smuggle through customs. I'm even addressing that one "See You Next Tuesday" DM because, let's be real, someone had to, and if you know me, I just had to respond.

This life is a beautiful, exhausting, zero-star disaster sometimes, and it's about time we talked about the parts that don't make the highlight reel. If you've ever felt like a stranger at your own family's dinner table or just want to know how we survive 18 moves, pull up a chair and settle in for this one!

I want to thank everybody who sent in questions, and as always, for listening and your support. If you like this style of episode, maybe I'll do another one and your question could be answered next time! If there are any other topics you would like to hear, or if you'd like to appear as a guest here, please don't hesitate to reach out to me and send me a little message on Instagram, @wereinonepod. We'll see you back soon for another hard-hitting episode!

Just some of the highlights you'll hear:

• The one specific mindset I've realized you have to adopt to survive the constant change after decades in this professional hockey lifestyle

• What I'd like others to understand about the "milestone tax" we pay every time a birthday or a retirement party happens without us back home

• A move we made that showed us the gold standard for how an organization should treat a family - and it changed my entire perspective on relocation

• I get real about whether constant moving actually hurts our kids or if it's secretly their biggest competitive advantage in life

• Why I'm calling out the unwritten rules about how coaches' wives are "supposed" to behave

• How on some days I'd give this life zero stars and a "do not recommend" warning, but there's one reward that keeps me from walking away

• Why leaving Scotland was so heartbreaking and felt like I was abandoning a family member

• The story of the time we were literally locked inside a temporary apartment for six hours with no phones, no Wi-Fi, and a dog that really needed to go out

• My "Canadian Survival Kit" and the three non-negotiables I make every visitor smuggle through customs for me

• A frustrating situation when we discovered a fully functioning business operating inside what was supposed to be our living room

• Why the move to behind the bench is 100% less secure than being on the ice, and how we handle the pressure of knowing the coach is always the first to go

• You'll get to hear a hate message and the "spicy" DM I received from a troll (yes, I'm sharing the unintelligent question they asked and the exact response I sent back)

• A final reminder of why I'm so grateful for this amazing life that we choose to live
  
  

LINKS:

09: 23 Years of Hockey Life: Identity, New Beginnings, and Building a Family with Bianca Lajeunesse Aubin