“Air It Out — A Saskatchewan Roughrider podcast” tells the players’ personal stories
A brand-new podcast focuses on fresh starts, appropriately enough, in the introductory episode.
“Air It Out — A Saskatchewan Roughrider Podcast” launched on Thursday by telling the stories of linebacker Micah Teitz, centre Peter Godber and assistant coach Naaman Roosevelt.
“The idea is to have themed episodes,” podcast host Daniella Ponticelli says.
“We talked to Micah Teitz about his return from injury, which is a fresh start for him. On the day we met with him, it was his 27th birthday. The last time he had played a football game, he was 25.
“We talked to Peter Godber about switching teams, and about doing so after you’ve had a really great year with the team you were just with. We also talked about how different it is here. He’s a really funny guy and I love his story.
“We also talked to Naaman Roosevelt about coming back here and having his fresh start.”
Roosevelt, a star receiver with the Roughriders from 2015 to 2019, is back with the Green and White as a first-year CFL coach.
Godber was a centre with the B.C. Lions from 2018 to 2022 before signing with Saskatchewan as a free agent on Feb. 14.
Teitz — who, like Godber, debuted in the CFL in 2018 — enjoyed a breakout season in 2021 before suffering a serious groin injury in the West Division semi-final. The injury cost him all of last season.
“The really big thing that we want to do is allow fans even more access to players,” Ponticelli says.
“There are articles on Riderville.com that allow people to read up on the players’ personal stories. We’ve got great media interviews and different ways that the Club is touching on all of those points and this just allows a little bit more.”
An updated edition of “Air It Out” can be accessed every second Thursday via all the conventional podcast sources. Part 2 is to drop on June 29, during the Roughriders’ first bye week.
“Our second episode will be all about community,” Ponticelli notes.
“We had a great chat with (receiver) Brayden Lenius. He’s just a tremendous guy to get to listen to.
“This platform allows you to have that space to open up, to air it out, and to give players a chance to just speak how they want to speak about something. You’re not cutting it off.”
Episode 2 will also feature Cindy Fuchs, Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation, who discusses the myriad ways in which the team engages with and benefits the community.
“I know that there are other podcasts out there but, personally, I really wanted to make this about people. says Ponticelli, who hosts, writes, produces and edits the podcast, with technical support from the Roughriders’ ace Digital Media Producer, Blake Tiedeman.
“We’re always dialled into what it is about the people. What’s great about that, too, is that it doesn’t matter then what’s happening in the season. We will talk about some of those things. We’re not going to shy away from it. But the focus is on the player or the focus is on the story that we’re telling.”
Ponticelli is close to all Roughriders stories due to her affiliation with the team’s radio rights-holder of the last 40 years, CKRM.
She plays host to the station’s pre-game and post-game shows in addition to serving as the sideline reporter during home games.
Now she is wearing yet another hat and helping the Roughriders offer another platform.
“I’ve always wanted to be part of a podcast or build one,” Ponticelli says. “I’ve listened to a lot of podcasts and I love them.
“You can put this on anytime to hear from a favourite player of yours or someone who is important to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
“We just want to explore the Club in other ways that people are not really doing and talk about the people who are making a difference.
“There’s a heavy focus on players, but also on the staff — the support people who are all around us, and the volunteers. We really want to tell those stories as well.
“We’re really excited about it and we hope people enjoy it.”
