Going Deep with Donnovan Bennett

The opening matches of the Gold Cup - CONCACAF's top continental tournament for men's senior national teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean - are just days away, with Canada looking to earn a trophy - what's the status of the team ahead of the tournament? Donnovan chats all things Canada Soccer with Jesse Marsch (5:43), head coach of the men's senior national team - what do expectations look and feel like for Marsch's squad for both this tournament and in the lead up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Afterwards, Donnovan chats with Canadian caddie Dave Markle (28:19), Nick Taylor's caddie, to discuss his first-of-its-kind partnership with Sleeman, and to also chat about what the role of a caddie entails both on and off the course. Plus, with the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final, Donnovan wraps up with an essay on what a Cup win would do for the legacy of superstar Connor McDavid. 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.

With UFC 315 in Montreal in the rearview, Donnovan visits with a pair of Canadian fighters coming off big wins on home turf: Jasmine Jasudavicius (2:10) and Mike Malott (23:29). In each chat, they get into what led them to the world of MMA, what it means to fight (and win) in Canada, having the support of MMA legend Georges St-Pierre, and what's next. Afterwards, former NHL player and front office executive - and Vancouver Canucks legend - Trevor Linden (40:16) stops by the studio to discuss how men should be more aware of their health as they age, and to get into the Stanley Cup Playoff run by the Edmonton Oilers. 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.

The 2025 CFL season is less than a week away, and the defending Grey Cup champion Toronto Argonauts are readying their title defence - Donnovan gets into all things Argos with GM Michael 'Pinball' Clemons, as they chat about what success looks like after four straight trips to the East Final, and three straight trips to the Grey Cup itself. Afterwards, Donnovan and Sho chat about Hamilton's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander being named the 2024-25 NBA MVP, and whether or not his accomplishments have already made him the best Canadian basketball player of all time. 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.

With the NASCAR season fully on the go, Donnovan takes a look at Season 2 of Full Speed, a sports docu-series that focuses on drivers and their hunt for the NASCAR Cup - he chats with executive producer Aaron Cohen and NASCAR's Senior VP of Content John Dahl on what the series entails and how they are aiming to continually broaden the sports scope around North America and the world at-large. Afterwards, Donnovan chats with Vancouver filmmaker Manny Mahal about CBC's cop show Allegiance, as it tackles a variety of systemic issues within the world of hockey. 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.

On another edition of We Eatin', Donnovan heads down to Bar Mordecai to have a sit-down dinner and chat with some of the biggest minds improving women's sports across Canada: Diana Matheson, Jayna Hefford, and Teresa Resch. With the Northern Super League (NSL), the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL), and the Toronto Tempo in the WNBA all either in full swing or preparing to launch, Donnovan gets them to discuss what they want fans to take away, what the journey has looked like to this point, and what's still to come. 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.

The CFL has a new leader, as Stewart Johnston (2:10) has been appointed the 15th Commissioner of the league - Donnovan chats with the new boss on what made him take the job in the first place, where he finds the game now, and what is to come. Afterwards, Canada Basketball President and CEO Michael Bartlett (28:49) stops by, and Donnovan asks him about the leadup to the 2028 Summer Olympics, which Canadian players he's keeping an eye on during the NBA Playoffs, and how the game continues to grow in the interim, including the return of GloblJam to Sportsnet later this summer. 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.

With Asian Heritage Month in full swing, Donnovan dives into chats with a variety of hockey players from all levels across the sport, including Los Angeles Kings defenceman Jordan Spence (5:38), Winnipeg Jets 2024 draftee Kevin He (27:04), and three-time Olympic medallist and Team Canada legend Vicky Sunohara (39:48). From California's Manhattan Beach to the University of Toronto, Donnovan travels across North America to find out more about the varied paths these players took to the sport of hockey, what they've accomplished, and what's still ahead. Jordan Spence Video Feature: https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/video/kings-spence-inspiring-hockey-fans-in-australia-japan-pei-and-l-a/ 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.

Meet Mitchell Hooper, the 2023 World's Strongest Man (21:41). Donnovan chats with the Midhurst, Ontario native on his dominant career, how he made the switch from other sports to strongmen competitions, how he got started in this field, and what he hopes to accomplish going forward both within his sport and outside of it. With the NFL Draft nearing, Donnovan also chats with Ken Brown, VP of Global Solutions at Furnished Quarters (2:36), a company that helps to ensure newly acquired athletes seamlessly transition from one team to another - including finding short-term housing in the new cities they're in. Mitchell Hooper: https://www.mitchellhooperstrongman.com/ 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.

With Earth Day 2025 here, Donnovan took a trip to Seattle for a visit to the home of the Kraken: Climate Pledge Arena. After catching some fish at Pike Place Market, he went up to the arena to learn more about their goal of being the most progressive, responsible and sustainable arena in the world. Climate Pledge Arena's Goal: https://www.climatepledgearena.com/sustainability/ 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.

The Northern Super League finally kicks off all over the country this week, the latest sports offering for Canadians from coast-to-coast - with AFC Toronto's home opener at BMO Field coming this weekend, Donnovan previews the team at-large with head coach Marko Milanović (2:15) and CEO Helena Ruken (17:07). Afterwards, Donnovan chats with Hockey Hall of Famer Grant Fuhr (47:26), who has a new (but familiar) partnership with Pepsi, as the Stanley Cup Playoffs draw closer. 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.