13: The Global Village: How Madison Marshall Navigates Business, Belonging, and the Hockey Life

How do you build a future that's bigger than the game while you're still living in the thick of a contract year? Today, I'm sitting down with the incredible Madison Marshall, and she is pull-no-punches honest about what it really takes to thrive as an import partner in a new country.

We're talking about the transition from hockey wife to business owner with the launch of The Hockey House MN, and why Madison believes preparing for the next chapter is the most productive thing a couple can do for their current season. From building community and inclusivity with all of the wives/girlfriends (regardless of what stage of life they're in) to the logistical chaos of explaining a career with no permanent zip code to family back home, Madison shares the strategic roadmap for staying level-headed when the highs are high and the lows are subterranean.

If you've ever felt like an outcast in a new city or wondered how to turn a passion project into a community staple, Madison is here to show you the way. Grab a beer and settle in, because this conversation is the breath of fresh air every hockey group chat needs!

Did something in this conversation I had with Madison resonate with you? I'd love to hear about it, so let us know over on Instagram, @wereinonepod, and we'll see you back soon for another hard-hitting episode!

Just some of the highlights you'll hear:

• Why you can't wait for a community to find you and how being an active villager is the only way to build a real support system

• The origin story of how Madison and Ben turned a supply and demand gap in the Twin Cities into an elite, small-group training brand

• A look into the unwritten rules of game night etiquette and why Madison believes leading with an open invite is the only way to ensure no one feels like an outcast

• A relatable breakdown of the specific stress of a season where everything counts and nobody has a plan

• The ways in which Ben helps bring Madison back to center when the lifestyle feels overwhelming

• An honest conversation on why maintaining relationships with friends and family back home is something you have to actively work on and prioritize

• The honest admission Madison has about being more ritual-focused than the guy on the ice

• What she's doing to smash the stigma around retirement and why she is a huge advocate for preparing for the next chapter now

• The expert-level strategy used by Madison for making a temporary apartment in Germany feel like a permanent home

• Some of the non-negotiable food items and comforts she hauls overseas to keep homesickness at bay

LINKS:

Madison's TikTok, YouTube & Instagram

The Hockey House's Website

Ben's Hockey Profile

12: Vibes, Vision & Living Fully : How Catie McDonald Built a Life Through Hockey

11: Unsupervised : No Game Plan (My Solo Episode)