Lyss Houde has been a growing voice in hockey throughout Manitoba for a while now, and the gifted host has taken her talents to the world of podcasting where she is talking about important issues with people who are educated and passionate about the game. How it all got started "There are so many different intersections of my life that I feel have led me to this project, 'Chel Chit Chat'," Houde says with a big smile. "One thing that really stuck out for me was, a lot of what I was doing was Winnipeg Jet centric, and I wanted to talk a little bit more about hockey beyond what just happens at the top level. Another thing is, I felt that where I was at in my journey, I understand the basic rules, and I've had some very insightful conversations. I've been so lucky to be connected with so many people, whether it's from hockey organizations or media, I was learning so much from asking questions to the people I had access to. I knew so many people that had the same questions, people wanting to learn more, but didn't have access to the people that I did, and I recognized that privilege, and I thought that all those things together, there was an opportunity for me to really leverage the fact that I've learned so much over the years, I know so many wonderful people, and I take pride in my communication skills, I'm able to put it all together to build resources for other people to continue along their journey in hockey, as well." Chel Chit Chat Debuting in 2024, Houde launched her podcast, 'Chel Chit Chat', and she details what it's all about. "My podcast is called Chel Chit Chat, it's a fun spin on NHL, PWHL, WHL, all the hockey, and it's just chit chat. It's all about just talking. Sometimes, hockey can be a little intimidating to learn about, there can be a stereotypical way we talk about the sport at times. So what I've done is put together this podcast where every episode is an interview with someone in the industry, and the title is 'How to..." So, if you scroll through the podcast episodes and you want to learn about scouting, you want to learn about social media, learning about the aspects of the women's game, there's an episode for you that can help you learn, because I'm talking with someone who's an industry expert in that area. The two of us together, me and the person I'm interviewing, do we have all the answers to everything? Absolutely not. But, everyone can derive some version of value from what we have to say, and take pride in." Incredible response Since starting that first season, Houde says the feedback has been incredible, to the point that people are reaching out to her, and when she does reach out to guests, it's a quick, positive response. "I think that something that has really blown me away, since releasing that first season, people have been reaching out, letting me know that they have something to say, and wanting to be a part of the second season. It's been really incredible, it's difficult for me to even grasp that people see the value of something like this, and want to share their stories on my platform, it's something I will never, ever take for granted. I think another big thing is that I've received feedback from people that I really respect, who's opinions I value, and so many say that there was a space for something like this. I find that for us here locally in Manitoba, it feels really big, but in the grand scheme of things, especially compared to other sports across North America, it's not nearly as big. There are no as many people talking about everything, so if you can carve out a little niche for yourself, the odds of you being a one of one, or creating something that hasn't yet been created, is a lot higher than people recognize. A lot of people I've spoken to saw the innovation for a project like this, not that the idea is so far fetched from something someone else could be doing, but there are so few people talking about these topics, in this way, in this social media adjacent platform. It's been special to hear from people have their own niche's, recognize and respect the niche that I'm carving out for me." Lessons learned from season one Reflecting back on the first season, Houde says she learned a lot, and that first season helped guide her when it comes to what topics she want's to cover, and given her the confidence to discuss various areas with people she never thought would be interested. "Looking back at the first season and what was really interesting to me was, I understood that reaching out to some of the people that would be a dream of mine to have on a podcast, without having a real product might be a little difficult. It was like, 'hey, want to come on this idea of a podcast?' So at first, I really did leverage my personal network for that first season. People that I knew, people I had a connection with, people I've had conversations with about other things before. When I started the second season, that's when I started reaching out to other people that maybe I didn't have a personal connection to. That first season, I kind of did a little intersection of a topic that I wanted to talk about and the person I wanted to talk about that topic with. In season two, I've had more shots in the dark, if you will. I've focused in on topics that I've really wanted to talk about, and I know of a person who I think would be really good to speak about it with, and lucky for me, people have been really good, I've had a really good response rate, and people have said yes. I've changed up my interview style a little bit, I've worked on my conversation skills when it comes to talking with people who I don't have a pre-existing relationship with. I've had an amazing time building new relationships, outside of my normal zone, and it's been very cool to grow those connections through important conversations." Educated, remarkable guests In a short amount of time, Houde's hard work, interview skills, and choice of topics, have given her the opportunity to speak with some incredible women in different fields of expertise. "It's been a huge part of season two for me, was that, making progress through celebration is important to me, but I understand there are a lot of difficult topics to talk about. I wanted to work on my skills first, before talking things on the show. Episode topics like making space without losing yours, or not feeling threatened by other women in the industry, because sometimes it feels like there are only space for one or two people in this particular instance, and if another woman comes in you'll lose your spot, talking about topics like that. Talking about how to protect your love of the sport when it feels like it doesn't love you back, and prioritizing mental health. I wanted to talk about things like that, but I wanted to make sure I was ready, and could deliver in a good way. That's been something that's been huge in this second season. I've spoken with Sara Orlesky and Liz Knox, these are people that I cannot express enough about what these women have done to advance the sport for other women, and it's not something that you can google and learn everything about what they've done, it's just incredible. They've been so, so kind to me, so helpful, and they understand how serious I take what I'm doing, how important it is to me, and through that, it's important to them. Together, we've put together some really incredible and fantastic interviews." Balancing the dark and the celebration Hockey is far from a perfect sport, there are things that happen, things that need to be discussed, and those are things Houde wants to talk about, but she also is aware of the need for balance, and to not always focus on the heavier things. "It's hard," the star host says candidly. "I find it really, really difficult at times. I think what I've been able to manage, and I take a lot of pride in managing in my day-to-day life, not that I think that being a devils advocate is always super important, but I'm very good at entering a conversation and figuring out what is needed here in this particular situation. When it comes to women in sport, many say that there has never been a better time to be a woman in sport, and absolutely, we are on the shoulders of the trail blazers that came before us. Then they may add that it's easy to be a woman in sport, that's when I'll say whoa, okay, let's unpack that a little. Other times, people may say that it's never going to get any better, it's a white man's world and it'll never change, then I cut that and will want to discuss all the really cool things that have happened, and how things have changed for the better. I like to try and strike the balance of what perspective I feel is needed in a conversation, and what I've done through that, is try and balance out the heavy topics. I'll spread them out over the course of an episode. When I come up with questions, I'll try and bake them into almost a more complete picture that includes celebration, because nothing exists in isolation, there is never one person's story who's strictly celebration from start to finish, there is always perspective and insight to both. Carving that out, turning it into a conversation where people can walk away from understanding the gravity and severity, but also understanding the progress being made, and there is so much to be joyful about, it's something I take a lot of pride in, and think it's been showcased throughout this season." The overall goal and the future As 'Chel Chit Chat' continues to grow, Houde can see where the podcast could go, and what she wants to accomplish through this platform. "One thing that has been really cool for me is that the podcast is just one branch of a couple different things that I do, under the same kind of brand name. I also make short form videos that I label, like how people don't understand why icing is a rule in hockey and if it really gives a team an advantage, things like that, I'll film a video and post it on my socials, and my hope is that my page can be a place where people can come to learn. I want to be a resource for people that are trying to learn, and if the resource isn't there, they are comfortable asking me, and if I don't know, I still find a way to help them. I've always been very transparent about that from the beginning, I don't know everything about hockey, nobody does. If "making it" in hockey is a 40 step program, I'm on step seven, but that means I understand step five or six in this current landscape, really, really well. I want to help people make their way through their journey, be a space where people can come to learn and one thing is, I'm never, ever going to force this podcast. For example, I'm doing 12 episodes, and I wouldn't do that if I didn't think there were 12 topics that I wanted to talk about, and provide my listening audience with value. I'm never going to do say a season of 20 episodes if I don't have 20 important things to say. I really take pride int he quality of the content that I'm putting out in the podcast, the quality of the people I'm bringing on, and how important it is to talk about the topics that their bringing their expertise to on our platform. Across the board, making sure people can continue to learn from what we have to say, and what's being posted on the social media pages, the podcast, YouTube channel, all that fun stuff." Exciting time now and looking ahead Overall, Houde believes now is a special time for women in sport, and in her opinion, in a specific and important way. "I think that one thing that I always talk about, and it's a little tongue-in-cheek, but the whole idea of the word feminism when talking about advancement of women in sports, anything like that, I want women to not do everything. The whole idea is that for I as a woman, I want to do the things that I love, but if I am not doing something, it's because I don't want to do it, not because I don't think I should be doing it, not because I don't think I can. To me, what it looks like when advancing women in sport, understanding that there are still a lot of roles occupied by men, or spaces where women choose not to engage, but the whole point is that it's based on informed decision making, and choice. The deliberate and informed decision making to not participate in something, instead of feeling like, 'oh my gosh, I could be the first woman to do this, so maybe I'll work my butt off go get there,' but if you don't want to do that, it's okay. You don't have to feel like there's some massive burden of representation. We just want people to do, and to be. You look at Sara Orlesky, she's the perfect example, if someone would have said to me when I was first starting this career, if that's what you want to call it, that women cannot be in sports broadcasting, I'd ask them what they're talking about? My entire life, Sara Orlesky has been on my tv as the rink side reporter, or the sideline CFL reporter, or doing Jets content, so like, I don't completely understand the gravity of someone thinking that women don't belong in sports broadcasting, because my reality is different. That's what advancement looks like to me, people and the girls of tomorrow, when they're told that women can't coach in the NHL, they respond by pushing back, saying that every time they turn on a Seattle Kraken game, they see a woman on their tv. That is so exciting, the progress isn't some idea that someone did something incredible 300 years ago, it's someone doing something every single day, and we all get to live and breathe and be a part of it, and that's the coolest thing on planet earth for me." Talking to inspirations while being an inspiration As Houde continues to build platforms, speaking with women who inspire, Houde herself has become an inspiration for young women, wanting to do what she does. "It's unbelievably weird, that's the first word that comes to mind," she says with a laugh. "I feel like for someone like myself, I'm still early on my journey, but I look so fondly at the people who are kind of in these places above me. It's strange, because I feel like I'm still so junior, and that I still have so much more room to grow in all of these areas, and I think that anyone would say that it's the one on one conversations, the messages you receive from people saying that they want to learn from you, it never feels real, but it's the greatest privilege of all time, because that is was progress feels like. It makes me want to be better, helps me along my journey to know that certain parts of my story, like when people ask how I found success in different ways, it kind of forces me to reflect in an uncomfortable way, because I have to kind of give myself more credit than I would ever really want to. I have a bad habit of laughing things off, playing it down, but I can never erase the fact that I've worked incredible hard over the last few years to build skills, a network, and a reputation as someone who is kind, cares about what she does, and is respectful to all these things. It's the world's greatest privilege to hear things from girls that I've coached or people whom I respect, when they say they've learned something from what I've done. It's one of my biggest motivators, knowing that I'm making an impact. I understood that what I was creating with this podcast had value, because I saw value in it, but getting some of that reinforcement from other people, that's why we continue to work hard and what we do." The dream 3 With season two already underway, Houde admits she hasn't given a lot of thought to a season three, but there would be three dream guests she would love to have on, if possible. "Oh my goodness, I think that anyone who might be in a similar position as me, would have to circle Jessica Campbell. I've met her before, I think she's someone who is just so exceptionally cool, she's doing something that maybe many didn't think would be possible, as quick as she was able to accomplish what she has. She's be amazing. I'd say one of the most incredible athletes ever, Marie-Philip Poulin, she's be incredible to just talk with about what she's seen in her time. To go back to the 2010 Olympics until now, to talk with her about all of that, it be incredible. A third would be Blake Bolden, who has so much experience in not only the professional playing tier, but also the media, video coaching and scouting, she's been involved in men's and women's game in so many different areas. She's also on the Amazon Prime broadcasts, she's so well-spoken, well informed. Those are three women that may be getting a phone call from me in the upcoming months or years, they are absolutely pipedream guests for me." If Lyss Houde has proven anything with her podcast, it's that pipedreams can become reality, and the opportunity to be special is available on many different levels.