Rock Stars with Jennifer Jones and Brent Laing

Taking a Break - The Off Season

What does life look like when the curling season ends? Today on Rock Stars, we talk about the so-called off-season and how it rarely feels like a full break. In spite of nagging injuries, 5:30am wake ups to devote energy to our business, and the hustle and bustle of life with kids, we wouldn’t trade our lives for anything. Keep listening to hear about the things that matter most to us and how we recharge while staying devoted to our dreams and goals.  Here’s what we get into: * What the curling off-season actually looks like and why there’s rarely a true break for top athletes * How we mentally transition from a high-pressure competition schedule to downtime and personal routines * Balancing family life, parenting, and travel while staying connected to sport and business commitments * Approaches to training, recovery, and planning for the next season without burning out * Our off-season hobbies  We hope we’ve inspired you to enjoy the moments that matter most no matter what you’ve got going on. Keep rocking the chaos, leave us a comment, and subscribe to the podcast for more inspiring conversations about life on and off the ice.  Instagram: @Rockstarscurl [https://www.instagram.com/Rockstarscurl] // Jennifer: @‌jjonescurl [https://www.instagram.com/jjonescurl/] // Brent: @‌brent.laing.99 [https://www.instagram.com/brent.laing.99/#] Facebook: Jennifer Jones [https://www.facebook.com/jjonescurl] // Official Team Jennifer Jones [https://www.facebook.com/teamjenniferjones] Twitter X: RockStarsCurl [https://x.com/RockStarsCurl] //Jennifer & @‌jjonescurl [https://x.com/jjonescurl] // Brent: @‌blaing99 [https://x.com/blaing99] Youtube: @‌RockStarsJonesLaing [https://www.youtube.com/@RockStarsJonesLaing] LinkedIn: Brent Laing LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-laing-910239169/]

The Real Cost of Chasing Olympic Dreams

Welcome back to Rock Stars! Today, we share what it really costs to attain the highest level of the dream you’re chasing. Looking back on our own experiences, we reflect on the way we’ve built our lives around chasing something bigger than ourselves. We talk about the realities behind elite sport, from the finances to the career choices and tradeoffs that happen along the way. We also get into the parts people don’t always see, including family life and the emotional side of staying committed to a dream over many years.  Stay tuned for more on: * The financial costs of competing at the top level of curling * Stories from our early years on tour and the creative ways we found to keep chasing our passions * Jen’s experience balancing a legal career with Olympic goals * What high performance asks of a family and how we’ve created our own version of normal * Our commitment to staying fully present for our lives * Why we believe there’s value in choosing your passions even when it’s difficult Whether your goal is in sport, business, family, or something completely different, we hope this episode reminds you that big dreams are rarely easy, but they can be worth it. If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a like and a comment with your thoughts. Until next time, stay committed to your dreams! Instagram: @Rockstarscurl [https://www.instagram.com/Rockstarscurl] // Jennifer: @‌jjonescurl [https://www.instagram.com/jjonescurl/] // Brent: @‌brent.laing.99 [https://www.instagram.com/brent.laing.99/#] Facebook: Jennifer Jones [https://www.facebook.com/jjonescurl] // Official Team Jennifer Jones [https://www.facebook.com/teamjenniferjones] Twitter X: RockStarsCurl [https://x.com/RockStarsCurl] //Jennifer & @‌jjonescurl [https://x.com/jjonescurl] // Brent: @‌blaing99 [https://x.com/blaing99] Youtube: @‌RockStarsJonesLaing [https://www.youtube.com/@RockStarsJonesLaing] LinkedIn: Brent Laing LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-laing-910239169/]

Curling Without Borders

In this episode of Rock Stars, we dive into one of the biggest conversations in curling right now: Brad Gushue becoming the new High Performance Director for USA Curling. We unpack why the announcement caught so many people off guard, what it says about the future of coaching in Canada and the United States, and whether this is curling’s version of a “brain drain.”  Here’s what we get into today: * Why Brad Gushue’s move to USA Curling became such a hot topic across the curling world * The qualities that make a successful high performance director and why leadership matters so much * Why top Canadian coaches and players continue to find opportunities internationally * Our thoughts on whether curling programs should prioritize domestic hires or search globally for the best talent * What success realistically looks like for USA Curling leading into the 2034 Olympics * The importance of team culture and building systems that last beyond one Olympic cycle What’s your hot take on Brad Gushue’s new role? We want to hear from you! Leave us a comment or head over to our socials with your thoughts and any topic ideas you have for future episodes. We’ll see you next time! Instagram: @Rockstarscurl [https://www.instagram.com/Rockstarscurl] // Jennifer: @‌jjonescurl [https://www.instagram.com/jjonescurl/] // Brent: @‌brent.laing.99 [https://www.instagram.com/brent.laing.99/#] Facebook: Jennifer Jones [https://www.facebook.com/jjonescurl] // Official Team Jennifer Jones [https://www.facebook.com/teamjenniferjones] Twitter X: RockStarsCurl [https://x.com/RockStarsCurl] //Jennifer & @‌jjonescurl [https://x.com/jjonescurl] // Brent: @‌blaing99 [https://x.com/blaing99] Youtube: @‌RockStarsJonesLaing [https://www.youtube.com/@RockStarsJonesLaing] LinkedIn: Brent Laing LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-laing-910239169/]

The Benefits of Sport: Raising Confident Kids Through Sports

Sports play a powerful role in shaping confidence, resilience and life skills that go far beyond the game. Today on Rock Stars, we get into one of the biggest parenting questions in youth sports: should kids specialize early or play multiple sports? We share what we’ve learned through our own experience raising kids in sport. Here’s what we get into today: • Why we believe kids should try multiple sports • The difference between team sports and individual sports, and how each builds confidence and teamwork • How activities like dance, gymnastics, hockey, and curling shape development, discipline, and enjoyment • Why failure, learning, and hard work are essential for building resilience, confidence, and long-term success • Why simplifying commentary can help new sports fans, specifically in curling, better understand and engage with the game Whatever stage you’re at in parenting or sport, we hope this episode gives you perspective on how to support your kids in chasing what they love while building skills that last a lifetime. If you enjoyed today’s episode, subscribe to the podcast for more conversations like this one! Leave us a review or comment if there are topics you’d like us to cover! Instagram: @Rockstarscurl [https://www.instagram.com/Rockstarscurl] // Jennifer: @‌jjonescurl [https://www.instagram.com/jjonescurl/] // Brent: @‌brent.laing.99 [https://www.instagram.com/brent.laing.99/#] Facebook: Jennifer Jones [https://www.facebook.com/jjonescurl] // Official Team Jennifer Jones [https://www.facebook.com/teamjenniferjones] Twitter X: RockStarsCurl [https://x.com/RockStarsCurl] //Jennifer & @‌jjonescurl [https://x.com/jjonescurl] // Brent: @‌blaing99 [https://x.com/blaing99] Youtube: @‌RockStarsJonesLaing [https://www.youtube.com/@RockStarsJonesLaing] LinkedIn: Brent Laing LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-laing-910239169/]

What Makes a Great Leader?

Being a leader is more than having authority, it’s about inspiring and guiding others to reach their full potential. Today on Rock Stars, we dive into the qualities of a great leader, exploring the impact that strong leadership can have in sports, business, and life. We share our personal leadership experiences, the challenges we've faced, and the insights we've gained along the way. Whether you're leading a team, a business, or a family, we believe that it’s crucial to understand the power of influence and the responsibility that comes with it. Here’s what we get into today:  * Why leadership starts with creating an environment where trust and collaboration thrive * Inspiration over authority and the importance of earning trust through consistent action and respect * The role leaders play in setting the standard for accountability and creating a culture of learning * The importance of elevating those around you through purposeful action and how this empowers team members to shine and grow  Whatever role you’re in, we hope this episode inspires you to step up as a leader that embodies clarity and integrity. If you enjoyed today’s episode, subscribe to the podcast for more empowering conversations. We’d also love to hear your thoughts on leadership. Leave us a comment and connect with us on social media to keep the conversation going.  Instagram: @Rockstarscurl [https://www.instagram.com/Rockstarscurl] // Jennifer: @‌jjonescurl [https://www.instagram.com/jjonescurl/] // Brent: @‌brent.laing.99 [https://www.instagram.com/brent.laing.99/#] Facebook: Jennifer Jones [https://www.facebook.com/jjonescurl] // Official Team Jennifer Jones [https://www.facebook.com/teamjenniferjones] Twitter X: RockStarsCurl [https://x.com/RockStarsCurl] //Jennifer & @‌jjonescurl [https://x.com/jjonescurl] // Brent: @‌blaing99 [https://x.com/blaing99] Youtube: @‌RockStarsJonesLaing [https://www.youtube.com/@RockStarsJonesLaing] LinkedIn: Brent Laing LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-laing-910239169/]