Inside Curling with Kevin Martin & Jim Jerome

The Players’ Championship is well underway. Kevin provides the latest on what he’s seeing on the ground and talks about how they’ve renovated Maple Leaf Gardens, now the Mattamy Athletic Centre. They also wonder if fatigue might be setting in for some of the teams and give their picks for the weekend.This podcast is produced by Amil Delic and Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The best curlers in the world are in Toronto this week. Kevin gives us a recap of what went down in Vegas at the World Championships and provides us with a bit of a preview from the Players’ Championship (5:30). The guys then discuss if curling events are too long (22:30), what is the best format for determining who makes the playoffs in events (28:15), they answer your questions (32:00), and they wrap things up with a story from Kevin.While in Toronto, Kevin had the opportunity to sit down with Olympic gold medalist and World Champion, Oskar Eriksson, to discuss his incredible season, how the no tick rule played out in recent events, mixed doubles, and how Team Nik Edin’s business is structured.This podcast is produced by Amil Delic and Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a very special episode of Inside Curling as Olympic gold medallists Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner join the podcast to discuss running the table at the mixed doubles competition in Beijing, how crazy their lives have been since returning home, the increase in interest in curling in Italy, how they developed their craft and taking their curling careers step-by-step in the future. This podcast is produced by Amil Delic and Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau and Griffin Porter.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The world men’s curling championship is in full swing in Las Vegas and Kevin brings us up to speed on the latest live from the Orleans Arena. Kevin and Warren also discuss some of the surprises and explain the tricky ice conditions. The guys also review the latest curling team breakups including Team McEwen and why the Mike McEwen and Reid Carruthers dynamic didn’t work out. Our Hot Rocks Topic takes aim at the draw shot challenge as Canada continues to struggle once again despite it being such a critical part of the game when it comes to breaking ties. We also answer another question about curling statistics in our Mailbag segment and Warren tells us about the history of the men’s worlds in Story Time. Our guest this week is Jon Killoran, who is the CEO of the Reno-Tahoe Winter Games coalition that has hosted curling events in Las Vegas. Killoran shares with us how his group has managed to pull it off, the impact curling has had in Las Vegas, the growth of winter sports in general in a non-traditional market, and what other committees can do in order to host similar successful events. This podcast is produced by Amil Delic and Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen, and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau and Griffin Porter.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hopp Schwiiz! Kevin and Warren share their takeaways from the women's worlds where Switzerland's Silvana Tirinzoni swept the field for gold and Canada's Kerri Einarson claimed bronze. Rachel Homan has added Tracy Fleury to her roster for next season and the guys discuss how they think it’ll work out. It’s high stakes in Las Vegas with the men’s worlds just around the corner and we’ve got the top picks to go all-in on. The World Curling Federation implemented the no-tick rule during the women’s worlds and Kevin and Warren weigh in on how it went down during our Hot Rocks Topic. This week’s Mailbag question asks: Should external factors like sweeping and line call affect how shots are judged by scorekeepers? Finally, Kevin tells a tale in Storytime about the unique way an ice-maker pebbled all the sheets at once in Scotland ... with a Scottish terrier by his side. Team Tirinzoni coach Pierre Charette joins the show to discuss his Swiss squad winning a third consecutive world championship, how they managed to bounce back from disappointment in Beijing, how he got involved in coaching, how his team practises for the draw-to-the-button shootout and what he thinks about the no-tick rule. Charette also explains what Team Tirinzoni has done to improve and separate themselves from the field plus how they’re able to balance curling with off-ice careers. This podcast is produced by Amil Delic and Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau and Griffin Porter.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eve Muirhead has done a ton of winning in her career and she just won Olympic gold in Beijing. She joins the guys to talk about the performance of her team, the road to gold, playing Team Sweden in one of the crazier games at the Olympics, what changed for her the last year to get her on this winning run, how she’s feeling physically, the state of curling in the UK, and her future in the sport.This podcast is produced by Warren Hansen, recorded by Andrew Holland and mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau and Griffin Porter.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kevin is on the ground in Prince George, B.C., for the world women’s curling championship and provides us with the latest as Scotland was forced to withdraw to due positive COVID-19 cases. The guys also clarify comments regarding their discussion about Brad Gushue and the residency rules from our last episode. Speaking of Scotland, we also elaborate on the issue with Team Mouat not being selected for the men’s worlds in Las Vegas. Winning gold medals or keeping curling clubs alive? The guys tackle the “elephant in the room” on Hot Rock Topics and where Canada’s priority should lie. We received a funny email from a listener regarding Brier Bear and Warren learns how the costume was actually cleaned. They guys also chat with 4-time Paralympic medalists Ina Forrest about her team's bronze medal performance in Beijing, the shot of the tournament, wheelchair curling at clubs, how she became interested in wheelchair curling, and the growth of the sport.Finally, Warren shares the story about “Morning Classes,” one of the greatest and longest-running traditions of the Brier. This podcast is produced by Amil Delic and Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by KevinMartin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau and Griffin Porter.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a special edition as the guys discuss the free-agent frenzy happening in the curling world. Brad Jacobs, Kevin Koe, Tracy Fleury and others all announced they'll be splitting up at the end of the season and Kevin Martin has the scoop on what the new lineups will look like for next season. This podcast is produced by Amil Delic and Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau and Griffin Porter.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An unbelievable Brier has come to a close and Kevin and Warren share their thoughts on Team Gushue winning the championship while playing short-handed. The guys place their picks for the women’s worlds with Canada's Kerri Einarson looking like a favourite to win, plus they also analyze Jennifer Jones’s team splitting up at the end of the season and what’s next for them. In our Hot Rocks Topic, Kevin and Warren weigh in on why teams should consider having an alternate on hand at all times. Team Mouat all release the rock the same, should Canadian teams be doing the same? Kevin takes a crack at that in this week’s Mailbag segment. Email us your questions to [email protected] and you could win a free e-copy of Warren’s book Sticks and Stones if we answer your question on the show. Kevin takes us back in Storytime when teammate Dan Petryk tried (and failed) to beat jet lag. Team Gushue third Mark Nichols joins us during his final day of quarantine to discuss his Brier experience, falling ill with COVID-19 just before the playoffs, watching his team win short-handed, why they didn’t have an alternate player and what Curling Canada could do to ensure younger teams are provided opportunities to compete. Nichols also looks ahead to the men’s worlds with some familiar faces from the Beijing Winter Olympics in the field. This podcast is produced by Amil Delic and Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Andrew Holland, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau and Griffin Porter.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Playoffs! It’s the home stretch of the Brier and Kevin and Warren try to make some sense of the confusing playoff format. Warren also analyzes the stats and how things fell into a predictable order with the usual suspects on top during the week. Sportsnet staff writer Kristina Rutherford joins us live from Lethbridge with the latest from the Brier. Kristina shares her surprises and disappointments so far, her prediction to win it all, plus how curling, in general, can maintain a more lively crowd and atmosphere for future events. Kevin and Warren also revisit Kristina’s article examining Canadian curling’s messy quest to get back to No. 1 and what needs to be done now after returning from Beijing with one bronze medal. Check on Kristina’s article Rock and a Hard Place. This podcast is produced by Amil Delic and Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau and Griffin Porter.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re knee-deep into the Tim Hortons Brier and Kevin and Warren share their thoughts on the first stretch featuring a hotly-anticipated matchup between Canada’s Brendan Bottcher and former teammate Darren Moulding, now with New Brunswick, plus a boisterous crowd on hand. The Paralympics are also underway and Warren brings us up to speed with Canada in good standing to start. Our Hot Rocks Topic takes aim at allowing teams to sweep their opponent’s rock behind the tee line and the guys are divided on what to do with the rule. Should the degree of difficulty of a shot be incorporated into the stats? Kevin and Warren answer that in our Mailbag segment and explain why it’s tricky to implement it at all events. The guys are joined by Olympic bronze medalist Brad Gushue to talk about his Beijing experience, the field at the Brier, when fatigue sets in, having a strong fanbase and what is the future of Team Gushue.In the spirit of Brier week, Warren takes us back to the 1993 tournament in Story Time when the late, great ice-maker Shorty Jenkins went rogue to "fix" the ice. This podcast is produced by Amil Delic and Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Andrew Holland, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau and Griffin Porter.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Tim Hortons Brier is just around the corner, Kevin and Warren provide their best bets to win it all plus a couple of intriguing long shots. For all the latest curling odds, check out Sports Interaction.Team Homan second Joanne Courtney is stepping back from competitive curling at the end of the season and the guys discuss her decision. Also, the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling announced its 2022-23 schedule, Warren runs through the dates and locations while Kevin explains how communities are selected to host events. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, there has been a call for sporting organizations to withdraw events from the country and suspend Russian athletes from competitions. Our Hot Rocks Topic looks at the measures the World Curling Federation have taken and what more can be done. Could pre-positioned neutral stones be used in four-player team curling? The guys answer that question in our Mailbag segment as it’s something Warren has pondered and Kevin recalls a time in the mid-1990s when it was actually used in an event. No rest for the best, Kevin takes us back to 1992 in Storytime when his team went straight from the Winter Olympics to the Brier and almost reached the final while playing on fumes. Niklas Edin joins the show to talk about the relief of finally winning the elusive Olympic gold medal, what he’s been up to since returning home from Beijing, the future of his team, how his win will impact the growth of Swedish curling and the fairytale of progressing each step up the Olympic podium. Niklas is also preparing to represent Sweden at the world championship in Las Vegas and shares his thoughts on the no-tick rule that will be given a test run at the tournament. This podcast is produced by Amil Delic and Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Andrew Holland, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau and Griffin Porter.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with our weekly show and the Brier field has been finalized with the three wild card teams selected including Brad Gushue’s Olympic team. Warren runs through the list and Kevin wonders if it would be better if there were younger teams in the mix instead of the same contenders. Also, the WCF has tweaked its proposed changes for the world championships and Warren explains what that’s all about.Our Hot Rocks Topic discusses a correspondence from Mike Hay of Scotland and how Great Britain reassembled its women’s team resulting in Olympic gold. Should Canada consider changing its rules restricting how teams are formed?In our Mailbag segment, Kevin and Warren answer a question regarding the difference in ice and why Canadian teams struggle with the conditions on the world stage. Plus, stick around for Story Time as Warren pays tribute to Larry Wood, a longtime curling journalist/historian and friend of the show who passed away earlier this month.Joining us this week for In The House is Andrew Paris, who founded the Black Rock Initiative and has partnered with Goldline Curling on the United We Curl project. Andrew shares his history with the sport, why he started the Black Rock Initiative and what he hopes to accomplish, his United We Curl brush “The Desmond” and what curling clubs can do to become more inclusive and welcoming for members of the BIPOC community.This podcast is produced by Amil Delic and Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Andrew Holland, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The games in Beijing have come to a close and Kevin, Warren and Jim share their closing thoughts on the hottest topics. Canada’s women’s team was eliminated based on the draw shot challenge and the guys discuss if the tiebreaker process needs to be reassessed to make it fair with so much at stake. The guys also talk about the importance of starting with the hammer with Kevin suggesting maybe curling games should be split into halves like football to ensure one team can’t control the hammer through the whole match. With Canada earning just one medal taking bronze in the men’s tournament, Warren and Kevin discuss what can be done to ensure more success in the future. For all the latest curling odds, check out Coolbet.This podcast is produced by Amil Delic and Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau and Griffin Porter.Audio Credit: CBCThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

That’s a wrap on the action in Beijing as Kevin and Warren break down the women’s final with Great Britain defeating Japan for gold. Although there’s no MVP award, Kevin explains why Great Britain's third Vicky Wright would be his choice. Kevin discusses what the pressure is like on curling’s biggest stage and Warren reflects on how Japan played a significant role in bringing curling into Nagano in 1998. The guys share their closing thoughts and if Canada needs to make some radical changes to return to the top of the podium. Also, Kevin scores bragging rights over Warren for picking Great Britain over Japan. For all the latest curling odds, check out Coolbet.This podcast is produced by Amil Delic and Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau and Griffin Porter.Audio Credit: CBCThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sportsnet’s Rob Faulds is our special guest co-host as Kevin and Warren recap a pair of medal games with Sweden’s Niklas Edin edging out Great Britain’s Bruce Mouat for men’s gold and Sweden’s Anna Hasselborg defeating Switzerland’s Silvana Tirinzoni for women’s bronze. One of our listeners has sent us an email suggesting how to change the draw shot challenge and the guys respond with their thoughts to make it fair for both teams and identical across all tournaments. Only one game remains in Beijing and the guys are split with Kevin picking Great Britain and Warren picking Japan to win the women’s gold medal matchup. For all the latest curling odds, check out Coolbet.This podcast is produced by Amil Delic and Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau, Nicholas Andrade and Griffin Porter.Audio Credit: CBCThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re down to the medal games in Beijing and Kevin and Warren recap the men’s bronze match with Canada emerging victorious plus a pair of wild semifinals on the women’s side with Japan and Great Britain upsetting the favourites. With Bruce Mouat, Oskar Eriksson and Jennifer Dodds all guaranteed spots on the podium in the team event, Kevin believes there’s no reason Canadians shouldn’t be allowed to compete in both mixed doubles and four-player curling. Coolbet Canada country manager Kris Abbott joins the show to discuss how they got into the curling betting scene, who sets the odds, the increase in betting through the Beijing tournaments and where the future of betting in curling is heading. Kevin and Warren make their picks with both taking Great Britain over Sweden for men’s gold but are split on the women’s bronze between Sweden and Switzerland. For all the latest curling odds, check out Coolbet.For more curling news and notes, check out Eight Ends with Jonathan Brazeaudaily on Sportsnet.ca. This podcast is produced by Amil Delic and Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau, Nicholas Andrade and Griffin Porter.Audio Credit: CBCThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sportsnet's Rob Faulds fills in as our guest co-host as Kevin and Warren recap the latest with Jennifer Jones missing the playoffs leaving Brad Gushue as Canada's only hope at winning a medal in the men's bronze game. The guys also discuss what Curling Canada needs to do to improve its draw shot challenge issues for the future plus how doping is being handled with Kevin sharing what he went through during his time competing for Canada. They wrap things up by making their picks for the women's semifinals and are divided on the bronze medal men's game with Kevin liking the United States and Warren picking Canada. For all the latest curling odds, check out Coolbet.For more curling news and notes, check out Eight Ends with Jonathan Brazeau daily on Sportsnet.ca.This podcast is produced by Amil Delic and Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Andrew Stoakley, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau and Griffin Porter.Audio Credit: CBCThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Canada’s Jennifer Jones scored a pivotal win over the United States but sustained an upset loss to China. Kevin and Warren discuss the results plus if it’s nerves or fatigue that’s setting in. The guys also go through the standings with Jones sitting in fourth place and above the logjam while Brad Gushue, who had the day off, managed to qualify for a men’s playoff spot based on other results. Rachel Homan posted a candid message on social media opening up after missing the medal round in mixed doubles. Kevin and Warren reflect on the pressure of playing for Team Canada with expectations high for those who wear the Maple Leaf. Gushue vs. Great Britain’s Bruce Mouat is the marquee matchup in the men’s round-robin finale plus Jones wraps things up against Denmark’s Madeleine Dupont on the women’s side. Find out who the guys are going with for their daily picks. For all the latest curling odds, check out Coolbet.For more curling news and notes, check out Eight Ends with Jonathan Brazeau daily on Sportsnet.ca. This podcast is produced by Amil Delic and Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau, Nicholas Andrade and Griffin Porter.Audio Credit: CBCThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re entering the final stretch of round-robin play in the men’s and women’s tournaments and Kevin and Warren recap the latest with Canada’s Brad Gushue sneaking out a win over China but falling to ROC in an upset. Can Gushue get into the playoffs clean? The guys also look at how the women’s standings are shaping up with Jennifer Jones idle on the day. Canada continues to struggle with the draw shot challenge, should it be used to break ties in the standings? Kevin shares how the players feel and Warren explains why there aren’t any tiebreaker games. Warren also investigates what’s going on with the rock handle sensors as officials have finally given up on using them due to multiple malfunctions. Canada and the U.S. clash in the women’s division, find out which team the guys think will win in their daily picks. For all the latest curling odds, check out Coolbet.For more curling news and notes, check out Eight Ends with Jonathan Brazeaudaily on Sportsnet.ca. This podcast is produced by Amil Delic and Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau, Nicholas Andrade and Griffin Porter.Audio Credit: CBCThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Provincial playdowns wrapped up this past week with eight more teams securing spots to the Tim Hortons Brier. Warren provides a rundown through how the field is shaping up so far. Russian athletes competing as ROC aren’t fooling anyone. Should the IOC get tougher on state-sanctioned doping? Kevin and Warren weigh in as it was an issue in curling four years ago and has popped up again in other sports in Beijing. What about alternating the hammer after every end? Our Mailbag segment answers what would happen and why it’s not the ideal solution. Finally, Kevin shares a funny tale in Storytime when his coach Jules Owchar wanted his big moment in Vancouver but was nowhere to be found. E.J. Harnden from Northern Ontario’s Team Jacobs is our guest this week (17:20) to talk about heading to his 13th Brier, how the playdowns were held safely during COVID-19 restrictions, how Canada is doing in Beijing and what they could be doing to improve their draw-to-the-button shootout scores. Harnden also discusses why he’s a Brier purist and prefers the old format without any wild card teams, the balancing act of ensuring top teams and provincial representatives compete for national titles, how to ensure younger curlers have a path to the top and why he believes Northern Ontario has its own spot. Harden also reflects on how he’s proud and grateful people credit his team for being at the forefront of change in curling by increasing the fitness aspect and seeing that continue to evolve. This podcast is produced by Amil Delic and Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

She’s back! Jennifer Jones and Team Canada have returned to top form with back-to-back wins. Kevin and Warren recap how her team was able to turn it around with wins over ROC and Great Britain. Meanwhile, Canada’s Brad Gushue is cruising along and the guys share an update on a solid victory over Italy. Why is Canada’s draw-to-the-button shootout is bad? Kevin explains what might be causing it and Warren chimes in on why it’s crucial towards the standings without any tiebreaker games. The guys reflect on their picks from the last episode and lay down their best bets for the draws ahead with Jones having the day off and Gushue set for a two-game day against China and ROC. For all the latest curling odds, check out Coolbet.For more curling news and notes, check out Eight Ends with Jonathan Brazeau daily on Sportsnet.ca. This podcast is produced by Amil Delic and Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Andrew Stoakley, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau and Griffin Porter.Audio Credit: CBCThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re at the halfway point of the men’s and women’s curling tournaments in Beijing, Kevin and Warren discuss the latest results with Brad Gushue back in the win column but not quite in the clear while Jennifer Jones continues to trend in the opposite direction. The guys also look ahead to the back half of the schedule with some tough games still ahead for both Canadian teams. The stones in Beijing are getting sandpapered and Kevin explains how that makes them fresh again but also a challenge for the curlers. Also, the lights on the rock handles remain a problem and Warren believes he has the solution. Jones or ROC’s Alina Kovaleva? Gushue or Italy’s Joel Retornaz? Kevin and Warren place their picks for the games ahead. For all the latest curling odds, check out Coolbet.For more curling news and notes, check out Eight Ends with Jonathan Brazeaudaily on Sportsnet.ca. This podcast is produced by Amil Delic and Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau, Nicholas Andrade and Griffin Porter.Audio Credit: CBCThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve given Warren the day off and Emma Miskew joins the show to discuss skipping at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts with Rachel Homan away, the impact on the sport of Italy winning mixed doubles gold, and the difference between playing in the Scotties versus the games. Kevin and Emma also recap the latest action with Canada losing to Sweden in both men’s and women’s tournaments plus an update on the standings. They also address the numerous technical timeouts that have occurred with the rock handle lights not coming on and why it’s a good thing they’re using different stones from the mixed doubles tournament. Emma also explains how teams match their rocks during an event. Emma and Kevin wrap things up with their picks for the next three draws. For all the latest curling odds, check out Coolbet.For more curling news and notes, check out Eight Ends with Jonathan Brazeau daily on Sportsnet.ca. This podcast is produced by Amil Delic and Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau and Griffin Porter.Audio Credit: CBCThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Canada has hit its first stumbling block in women’s and men’s curling in Beijing with Jennifer Jones losing to Japan and Brad Gushue falling to Switzerland. Kevin and Warren recap the day’s action and what went wrong for the Canadian teams. It’s a small sample size but some teams have jumped out of the gate and Warren runs through the standings highlighting which teams to watch out for. Switzerland’s Peter de Cruz skips but at the second position with Benoit Schwarz throwing fourth stones. Kevin and Warren explain why some teams opt for this unorthodox setup. The guys answer a question from a listener about John Morris’ demeanour and how it affects the dynamic between him and Rachel Homan. Kevin also reflects on his time playing with Johnny Mo. Finally, Kevin and Warren put in their pick for Saturday’s games with both Canadian teams taking on Swedish squads. For all the latest curling odds, check out Coolbet.For more curling news and notes, check out Eight Ends with Jonathan Brazeau daily on Sportsnet.ca. This podcast is produced by Amil Delic and Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau, Nicholas Andrade and Griffin Porter.Audio Credit: CBCThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Canada’s Brad Gushue and Jennifer Jones are now both out of the gate in Beijing and looking sharp as Kevin and Warren bring you up to speed on all the action with Gushue improving to 2-0 and Jones off to a 1-0 start. The guys also reflect on Ben Hebert’s comments from Wednesday’s episode, and they explain the differences in pressure between playing in this tournament versus the Brier.Kevin answers a question from a listener about why Sweden’s Oskar Eriksson sometimes leans but doesn’t sweep a stone as we saw during mixed doubles play and adds how he teaches junior curlers sweeping techniques at his academy. Warren and Kevin wrap things up throwing down their picks for Draws 3 and 4 for the men’s division plus Draw 3 on the women’s side. For all the latest curling odds, check out Coolbet.For more curling news and notes, check out Eight Ends with Jonathan Brazeau daily during the games on Sportsnet.ca. This podcast is produced by Amil Delic and Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Andrew Holland, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau and Griffin Porter.Audio Credit: CBCThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s time for the men’s and women’s tournaments in Beijing and with Kevin getting the day off, we’ve got special guest Ben Hebert, gold medallist from 2010, to fill in for his former skip.Ben discusses what it was like playing for the bigger Team Canada, curling outdoors at Mosaic Stadium, why Canada’s mixed doubles team lost on the ice and not in their preparation, when the best time to hold the trials is, and whether or not curlers should play in both mixed doubles and four-player team curling at the games.We also get Ben’s predictions for the podium in the men’s and women’s tournament, plus his and Warren’s picks for the second men’s draw and the first couple of women’s draws. For all the latest curling odds, check out Coolbet.For more curling news and notes, check out Eight Ends with Jonathan Brazeau daily on Sportsnet.ca.This podcast is produced by Amil Delic and Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau, Nicholas Andrade and Griffin Porter.Audio Credit: CBCThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The hardware has been handed out and the guys recap the mixed doubles medal games in Beijing. With Italy going undefeated en route to gold, Warren reflects on the history of Italian curling. Did Canada lose or did other teams win? There has been a lot of criticism online after Canada missed the playoffs and Kevin and Warren explain why Rachel Homan and John Morris weren’t given a fair enough chance to succeed with so little prep time.The games continue with the men’s and women’s tournaments and Kevin and Warren share their picks for the final four and winners for the men’s opening draw. For all the latest curling odds, check out CoolbetThis podcast is produced by Amil Delic and Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau, Nicholas Andrade and Griffin Porter.Audio Credit: CBCThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Warren wraps up the week that was at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Thunder Bay with Kerri Einarson’s team the class of the field capturing a third straight Canadian women’s championship. Kevin gives a quick update on the mixed doubles in Beijing and why an Italy-Norway final is a big deal for the growth of the game. Quiet, please! Our Hot Rock Topics take aim at fan etiquette in the sport when it comes to cheering for particular teams rather than good shots by all. Should event officials enforce rules like golf or tennis? Could a proper mixed doubles tour work in Canada? Kevin and Warren discuss what it would take to make it happen in our Mailbag segment. Olympic gold medallist and three-time Scotties champion Joan McCusker joins the show to talk about all things women’s curling. Joan shares what goes through an athlete’s mind after a heartbreaking loss, which teams she was intrigued by at the Scotties and why Andrea Crawford’s phone could be ringing off the hook as we enter in a new Olympic quadrennial. She also shares her thoughts on how Canada should proceed moving forward with the format for its national championships, if players should be dedicated to mixed doubles full-time or compete in both disciplines, and how Einarson’s team should prepare for the world women’s championship. This podcast is produced by Warren Hansen, recorded by Amil Delic, mixed by Andrew Holland, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Canada missed out on the medal round in mixed doubles and the guys analyze what went wrong for Rachel Homan and John Morris and what went right for Italy with Stefania Constantini shooting the lights out all week. Warren and Kevin also critique if Canada’s team was set up for the best chance of success given the tight time for selection. Kevin explains what happens with blank ends in mixed doubles, Warren explains why Canada didn't let its athletes compete in both mixed doubles and team curling in Beijing, and the guys make their final picks for the podium. For all the latest curling odds, check out Coolbet.This podcast is produced by Amil Delic and Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau and Griffin Porter.Audio Credit: CBCThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An unreal tournament in Beijing just got crazier with Australia upsetting Canada in a wild extra-end affair and now Rachel Homan and John Morris must win against undefeated Italy, who maintained the momentum with a strong victory over medal contender Sweden. Kevin and Warren recap all the action, Warren notes some key stats, and the guys reflect on what went wrong with their predictions. Kevin explains how the power play has been used offensively and defensively while Warren chimes in on where the pre-positioned stones can be placed and why it can change depending on the ice conditions. We wrap up with our picks for the final round-robin draw with Kevin and Warren split on who will win between Italy and Canada. For all the latest curling odds, check out Coolbet.This podcast is produced by Amil Delic and Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau, Nicholas Andrade and Griffin PorterAudio Credit: CBCThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re starting to see some separation in the mixed doubles field in Beijing and Kevin and Warren go over the latest results with Italy improving to 6-0 to stay on top and Canada coming out strong to beat the U.S. in a pivotal matchup. Warren brings us up to speed on some more interesting stats and the standings with Kevin sharing his insight as to what’s a safe record to aim for playoffs. The guys discuss a few unique aspects of mixed doubles such as the pre-positions stones can be placed (21:00) why the female players generally throw the first and last stones with the male player throwing the middle three (24:00) and how critical it is to get the freeze on the first shot of the game.Kevin and Warren share their picks for Draws 10, 11 and 12 (26:30) and Jim closes things off with a funny story from 2010 involving Wayne Gretzky being denied entry as a spectator into an event in Vancouver. For all the latest curling odds, check out Coolbet.This podcast is produced by Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau and Griffin PorterAudio Credit: CBCThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Business has picked up at the mixed doubles curling event in Beijing! Kevin and Warren recap the latest (1:00) as Canada has stepped up its game plus Italy continues to surprise while Norway and Switzerland disappoint. The guys also discuss why there have been so many high-scoring games (4:00) and also delve into the stats (6:00) as the numbers never lie for why some prominent players are struggling. Four curlers were named flag-bearers for the opening ceremonies, why has a Canadian curler never been chosen? Kevin and Warren examine why it hasn’t happened yet (16:00) and if it’s overdue. We wrap up with our picks for Draws 7, 8 and 9 (21:00) with Canada our favourite over both Sweden and the United States. For all the latest curling odds, check out Coolbet.This podcast is produced by Warren Hansen and Amil Delic, recorded and mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau, Griffin Porter and Nicholas Andrade. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re through Day 2 of the mixed doubles competition and a logjam has already formed in the standings. Kevin and Warren run through the latest results with China and Italy jumping out as surprises, the United States struggling, and Canada splitting its pair of games to start. Kevin also reveals what he believes is the toughest shot in curling while Warren shares his thoughts on Kristina Rutherford's Big Read as things aren’t quite so rosy in Canada’s quest for medals. Check out the article here: https://www.sportsnet.ca/curling/longform/inside-canadian-curlings-messy-quest-to-get-back-to-no-1/The guys also make their picks for Draws 5 and 6 and while they agree on Canada (a heavy -294 favourite) over Switzerland, they're divided on Canada vs. China. For all the latest curling odds, check out Coolbet.This podcast is produced by Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Andrew Holland, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau and Griffin Porter.Audio Credit: CBCThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The quest for gold has begun in Beijing with the mixed doubles competition kicking off the action. Kevin and Warren break down the opening draw results including a pair of early upset wins by China and Czech Republic plus a marquee matchup between favourites Great Britain and Sweden that did not disappoint. Warren explains if it was early-event jitters or adjusting to the ice conditions and rocks that played a factor in some uncharacteristic misses. The guys also look ahead to why Canada will be in tough to start against Great Britain, and they make their best bets for Draws 2, 3 and 4.For all the latest odds, check out www.coolbet.comKristina Rutherford's Big Read goes inside Canada's pursuit of medals and if its identity in curling is at risk as a result: https://www.sportsnet.ca/curling/longform/inside-canadian-curlings-messy-quest-to-get-back-to-no-1/This podcast is produced by Warren Hansen & Amil Delic, recorded and mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau.Audio Credit: CBCThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Scotties Tournament of Hearts has begun in Thunder Bay, Ont., and with a small sample size to examine, Kevin and Warren discuss if it’s just rust that has affected a few teams out of the gate or could this be the year we see some surprises in the field. The guys also reflect on their pre-event picks to win and how those teams are doing. In Hot Rock Topics, Brad Heidt suggests the Canadian championships should be structured like the League Cup in soccer with multiple stages and byes for the higher-ranked teams to ensure the best teams are in the final round. Could something similar work in curling? Also, holding the hammer is a huge advantage and our Mailbag segment asks what if you gave 0.5 points to the team without the hammer to start: Is it worth a shot or would it be too confusing for new fans?Kevin shares a funny tale in Story Time from his college days when coach Jules Owchar enforced a curfew during an event and quite literally wouldn’t let him out of his hotel room to hang out with his future wife Shauna. Reid Carruthers, who is serving as the interim coach for Team Canada’s Kerri Einarson, joins the show to share how he came on board, what protocols are in place to make sure the Scotties Tournament of Hearts goes off without a hitch, his thoughts on the new playoff format and advice for people looking to get into coaching. Carruthers also talks about what’s going on with his provincial playdowns in Manitoba, why he was shocked but not surprised by Jason Gunnlaugson’s decision not to compete due to COVID concerns and other teams he’s looking out for. As one of a handful of curlers who have played all four different positions at the Brier, Carruthers also reveals which spot in the lineup is his favourite. This podcast is produced by Warren Hanse, recorded and mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau and Amil Delic.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let the games begin! The guys run through all 10 teams set to compete in the mixed doubles event in Beijing. Who will end up on the podium? Kevin and Warren provide their picks on who they believe will take home the hardware. Also, Jim looks at a couple of interesting odds with Canada at a spicy +8000 to win all three gold medals in curling but also +800 to end up empty-handed. Which one is the more likely outcome? This podcast is produced by Warren Hanse & Amil Delic, recorded by Mike Rogerson, mixed by Amil Delic, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Scotties Tournament of Hearts has been given the green light and the guys run through the field and make their picks to win it all in Thunder Bay. Warren also recaps the world qualification event and which countries are now heading to the world championships. The Olympics are a lucrative venture and Warren looks at where the money comes from, where it goes and how the athletes factor into the picture in our Hot Rock Topics. Should there be standardized instructions for learning to curl? Our Mailbag segment addresses that and looks at how curling clubs can attract new members. Finally, Warren takes us back in Storytime to a unique event, that awarded two points for covering the button, and what happened to it. Postmedia journalist Ted Wyman, who will be heading to Beijing to cover the Winter Olympics, joins the show to talk about the process of getting to the Winter Games, why he loves the game, his favourite curlers to interview, how the mixed zones will be managed at games, the format of the Scotties and Brier, and the biggest changes he’s seen in the sports.This podcast is produced by Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Andrew Holland, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau and Amil Delic.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finally, Curling Canada has named its mixed doubles team for the Beijing Winter Olympics and, no surprise, it’s Rachel Homan and John Morris. Kevin and Warren discuss why they were selected and if the right team was chosen. Curling Canada also announced an expanded Scotties Tournament of Hearts field with three wild card teams and Warren explains what the deal is. In Hot Rock Topics, the guys look at the future of mixed doubles in Canada and why the sport’s governing bodies need to give it more prominence. Team Homan’s Emma Miskew joins the show to talk about moving up to skip for the first time at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts with Rachel Homan heading to Beijing, finding ways to train as a team, all the confusion around who would be representing Ontario at the Scotties, and she works through disagreement with Rachel after of being together.This podcast is produced by Warren Hanse, recorded and mixed by Andrew Holland, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau and Amil Delic.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kevin sits down with Kerri Einarson and Shannon Birchard to talk about the purposed rules changes, and Shannon tells us about her family's ties to curling dating back to her grandfather and the art of sweeping (1:00).Then, Kevin catches up with Kevin Koe and Ben Hebert to talk football, podcasting, the idea of a 5th player and how the potential rule changes could impact their style of play (14:00).This podcast was produced by Amil Delic, recorded by Andrew Holland, mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The field is just about set for the Scotties Tournament of Hearts with some curling associations holding playdowns and others naming their reps. Kevin and Warren recap the results and look into the wild-card conundrum with the rankings not paused during the latest COVID-19 crisis. Also, Curling Canada still hasn’t announced its Olympic mixed doubles team and the guys try to figure out what the holdup is with the Beijing Winter Games only weeks away. In Hot Rock Topics, Warren attempts to clear up the confusion surrounding provincial playdowns and why Curling Canada doesn’t intervene to ensure there’s consistency across the nation. Hit and stick around until the end of the show for Story Time as Warren looks back at the infamous “LaBonte boot” controversy from 1972 as another kicked rock controversy emerged this past week during provincials. Marc Kennedy, who is Beijing bound as Brad Gushue's alternate, joins the show to discuss heading to his third Olympics, how he’s avoiding COVID-19, what the team is planning on doing over the next three weeks, supporting the mixed double team, accommodations in Beijing, and the procedure if you were to test positive at the Olympics.This podcast is produced and mixed by Andrew Holland, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau and Amil Delic.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As they prepare for their fourth Olympic appearance, Nik Edin and Oskar Eriksson sit down with Kevin Martin to talk about their mindset leading up to the Winter Games, what it will take to capture gold, how they tackle angles, curling in Sweden, and they give their thoughts on the proposed rule changes.This podcast is produced and mixed by Amil Delic, recorded by Andrew Holland, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re back from the holidays and COVID-19 remains the main topic with more provincial championships cancelled. Kevin and Warren discuss the latest as we draw closer to the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. The guys also weigh in on Canada’s selection process for its mixed doubles Olympic team — with Curling Canada consulting the Canadian Olympic Committee and Own The Podium — and will it result in a fair nominee. Is the World Curling Federation (WCF) backpedalling on trialling new rules at the world championships? Warren takes aim at the announcement the WCF made during the holiday break in our Hot Rock Topics. We’ve proposed a World Cup model for curling in previous episodes and Our Mailbag segment clarifies how the World Cup circuit used for winter sports differs from soccer’s quadrennial World Cup. Stick until the end as Kevin takes us back to a pre-Airbnb era in Storytime to tell the tale of when he went knocking door-to-door in Vancouver to find someone who would rent their house to his team during the 2010 Winter Olympics. Two-time world and six-time Canadian champion Colleen Jones is our guest to talk about the biggest changes to curling over the years, advice for younger curlers, how the Olympics has fuelled international growth and how her passion has kept her motivated to continue playing. Jones also discusses what Canada should consider when choosing its mixed doubles team for Beijing and why having a deeper bench for this Olympics, in particular, makes common sense. This podcast is produced by Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Amil Delic and Jonathan Brazeau.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kevin, Warren and Jim take a few minutes to discuss how COVID-19 continues to impact the curling world as both the Canadian Olympic mixed doubles trials and now the third Pinty's Grand Slam of Curling event of the season, Meridian Open, have both been cancelled.This podcast is produced by Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Andrew Holland, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Amil Delic and Jonathan Brazeau.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the craziest years in curling has come to an end. The guys are joined by Sportsnet's curling commentating crew of Rob Faulds, colour commentator and Olympian Joan McCusker, and colour commentator and Olympian Mike Harris to wrap up the year.This podcast is produced by Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Amil Delic and Jonathan Brazeau.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Olympic field has been finalized and Kevin and Warren run through the final curling teams to qualify in the Netherlands. Curling Canada announced the Olympic mixed doubles trials will go ahead as planned next week in Portage la Prairie and the guys look at how COVID-19 restrictions have impacted the event. Provincial playdowns have also begun with Manitoba crowning a new Scotties champion and Kevin tells us what happened with big names like Kerri Einarson and Jennifer Jones not competing. Plus, Brad Gushue has named his fifth for the Olympics and we analyze the big reveal. It’s a Festivus miracle with a special “airing of grievances” as Kevin and Warren present their biggest curling beefs in our Hot Rock Topics. Before the year ends, we clear out our queue and answer your burning questions about: What can curling clubs do to attract younger members? Would alternating hammer every end guarantee fewer blanks? Sudden death or best-of-three finals? What’s the problem with ties? What are the finances like to run atop curling team?This podcast is produced by Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Andrew Holland, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Amil Delic and Jonathan Brazeau.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We kick things off with the latest news from the Netherlands as the final spots for the Olympics are up for grabs with the mixed doubles field finalized and the men’s and women’s divisions down to the wire. Meanwhile, the world mixed doubles qualification event and the Continental Cup were both cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions and the guys discuss if this is a sign of things to come. Kevin also recaps the Canadian senior championships as Sherry Anderson captured a fourth consecutive title on the women’s side. Speaking of the Netherlands, our Hot Rock Topics this week discusses the controversy over an on-ice sponsor that led to some broadcasters not airing the Olympic qualification events until a change was made. This week’s Mailbag question asks how the WCF’s new test rules would affect the recreational game and Warren explains why keeping it simpler at the club level is better. Warren also reminisces about the time he was summoned to “Curler’s Court” in Scotland during Storytime. Two-time Olympic gold medallist Kaitlyn Lawes, who plays third for Jennifer Jones, joins the show as she prepares for a third consecutive Winter Games. Lawes talks about how it’s been since winning the Canadian trials, her biggest takeaways from previous Olympic experiences, how she prepares mentally for big games, how they’re truly a five-player team with alternate Lisa Weagle and why she believes it’s the future of the sport. Lawes also takes a look at the rest of the Olympic field and having the right support staff in place for Beijing. This podcast is produced by Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Andrew Holland, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Amil Delic and Jonathan Brazeau.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vicky Persinger and Chris Plys won the U.S. Mixed Doubles Olympic Trials in October. That earned them a spot at the Olympic Qualification Event in the Netherlands, where they went undefeated and qualified for the Olympics. Vicky and Chris join Kevin, Warren and Jim after winning the U.S. Trials to talk about their partnership, how they got into the game, their style of play, the curling scene in Alaska, how Vicky almost quit the sport and Chris tells us how the split the sweeping between the two of them.This podcast is produced by Kevin Martin and Amil Delic, recorded by Andrew Holland, mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Canadian curling club championships wrapped up this past weekend and Kevin has all the details plus Warren runs through some familiar names competing this week in the Canadian senior championships. The mixed doubles Olympic qualification event is also underway and Warren highlights the contenders. Following Team Bottcher’s botched dismissal of third Darren Moulding, our Hot Rock Topic looks at the need for a team behind the team to manage off-ice decisions. Our Mailbag addresses Canada’s residency rules (19:00) and if more exemptions should be granted. Stick around for Storytime (50:00) as Kevin talks about when he parted ways with John Morris in 2013 and how it turned out positive for everyone involved down the line. Brad Gushue is our guest (24:00) on the heels of winning Canada’s Olympic curling trials and preparing to return to the Winter Games. Gushue discusses the emotions of winning the trials, having his parents in the crowd, balancing his schedule leading up to Beijing and why having a physiotherapist is at the top of his priority list. He also explains why his team is considering competing in provincials playdowns, having both Jeff Thomas and Jules Owchar as coaches for the Olympics, how he handles the flurry of media requests and the difference in competition since his last trip to the Olympics in 2006. This podcast is produced by Warren Hansen, recorded and mixed by Andrew Holland, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Amil Delic and Jonathan Brazeau.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After much discussion, Darren Moulding joins the podcast to explain why he wasn’t surprised when he was cut from the team, what caused tension, why things would have been better with a different coach, why he wanted to be more involved in the business side of the team, and why he believes the best is yet to come in his curling career. The boys share their thoughts on the news, explain why teams need an owner/general manager to make things more organized and smoother, plus the pressure on skips to juggle all those roles and more.This podcast is produced by Warren Hansen and Kevin Martin, mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Amil DelicThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.