Episodes

TVO Superstar Steve Paikin talks about his 5 shows over 31 years [and counting] at Ontario’s public television channel, starting his broadcasting career alongside Michael Landsberg at UofT Radio, chasing ambulances at The Hamilton Spectator, why he agrees with the host that Boston is the City of Champions, why Mikhail Gorbachev [impactful!] & Mordecai Richler [prickly!] were notable interviewees, his interactions with Elwy Yost/Scotty Bowman/Ken Dryden/Hugh Heron/Kenny Stabler/Doug Ford, his Dad...

Opa!! Guitar virtuoso & 'Lord of the Strings' Pavlo Simtikidis talks about going from Pape & Danforth to selling CDs at the One of a Kind Craft Show to his PBS Special 'Live from Santorini,' swimming upstream against record label executives who told him he was ‘too ethnic’ and to ‘get rid of the bouzouki,’ successfully suing Jay-Z & R Kelly for copyright infringement [he is now a co-writer of FIESTA!], touring around the world consistently for over 25 years, his collaborations with Jose Felician...

Go Get It! 1996 Olympic Gold Medallist Sprinter & Canada’s Chef de Mission for the Paris 2024 Olympics Bruny Surin talks about why ‘the me I see is the me I will be,’ coming to Quebec from Haiti as a 7 year old, his infatuation with Carl Lewis [and eventual visit to his Houston mansion], being linked together forever in Canadian sports history as brothers with Donovan Bailey/Robert Esmie/Glenroy Gilbert/Carlton Chambers, why he no longer accepts unsolicited sprinting challenges from the general ...

Global TV’s The Morning Show co-host Carolyn MacKenzie talks about ‘adulting’ while studying Journalism at Carleton University in Ottawa, the transition from reporter to news anchor to lifestyle host allowing her to become more of her authentic self, how her show is effectively ‘an hour with friends,’ why eating crickets first thing in the morning on an empty stomach is NOT advisable, why she preferred the controlled environment of a broadcast studio vs beaming in from home during covid, her gue...

The Region 105.9’s Morning Man Jim Lang talks about the power of hyper-local radio, the awe–inspiring signage he encountered while visiting Lee Eckley at CHUM-FM [‘through these doors walk the finest radio talent in Canada’], his Humber College internship with an absolutely all-star broadcasting team at Q107 [John Derringer, Gene Valaitis, Jane Hawtin, Andy Frost, John Gallagher, Jimmy James, Bob Mackowycz Sr, Steve Anthony], enjoying his one & only LIVE Stanley Cup parade while working in Montr...

The Box’s Jean-Marc Pisapia returns to the podcast ahead of an exciting 3 stop Ontario visit to talk about touring in 1983 versus in 2023 [these days he hits the stage when he would normally be going to bed, LOL], why L’Affaire Dumoutier is still his absolute favourite song [and he explains that iconic video!], his first professional job with Ivan Doroschuk and [a pre-The Safety Dance] Men Without Hats, his favourite tour memories with The Spoons/Chris de Burgh/The Pretenders/Jethro Tull, playin...

Grill On!! BBQ Master Steven Raichlen talks about the 25th anniversary of his landmark book The Barbecue Bible [and how it can stand in for the actual Bible], his new PBS show Steven Raichlen’s Planet Barbecue, why grilling is the world’s most universal cooking method, his newfound love for Planchas & Griddles, why his favourite form of live fire cooking is Cave Man grilling, why he employs not one but two Fire Wranglers on set, how he avoids packing on the pounds with all that food lying around...

NHL Coach/GM/Executive/Broadcaster and now Author Doug MacLean introduces his new book DRAFT DAY: How Hockey Teams Pick Winners or Get Left Behind and shares stories from a lifetime in hockey including his first pro head coaching job with the Baltimore Skipjacks, his first NHL head coaching job with the Florida Panthers, starting the Columbus Blue Jackets from scratch, why you need at least 10 of your own draft picks on the team to win a Stanley Cup, and the difficulties of the ‘GM Conundrum.’ ...

Room 442 & Footy Prime the Podcast host James Sharman talks about his UK accent drawing more girls than fights as a 16 year old being plopped into a Mississauga high school, being a pre-launch pre-day oner at Headline Sports [and its eventual morphing into The Score], tagging along with Elliotte Friedman to interview the great Pele, the importance of TFC’s birth in 2006, the mentorship of Sportsnet’s Gerry Dobson, the differences between British and North American play-by-play commentary, John H...

Sports betting industry expert Harley Redlick provides an outstanding primer on the Ontario sports gambling industry [as it moved from black to grey to white market], shares his ’10 Commandments of Successful Sports Betting,’ explains why the NFL is King when it comes to sports wagering, suggests that the consumer/operator/regulator relationships serve as a ‘Betting Business Bermuda Triangle,’ and asserts why the Connor McDavid sportsbook ads are obviously targeted at children [“No adult is taki...

Toronto International Film Festival CEO Cameron Bailey returns to the podcast to talk TIFF 2023, about the ramifications of the Hollywood actors/writers strike on the red carpet, about the most attention-grabbing & most highly-anticipated films [and their stars], how you can enjoy TIFF even if you aren’t attending any movies, the ‘informal market’ that drives the incredible amount of business transactions being done during the festival, and who you should be keeping your eyes open for on the str...

Dine Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Sara Waxman talks about meeting her husband Al three days after arriving in Toronto from Winnipeg, his worldwide popularity from the television shows King of Kensington, Cagney & Lacey and Twice in a Lifetime, her 25 year run as the Toronto Sun’s restaurant critic, her renowned cookbooks & house parties, Al’s statue in Kensington Market, her appointment to the Order of Ontario, and the joy she gets from working on her multimedia empire with her son Adam! Read. Wa...

With the imminent publication of his memoir A Mic For All Seasons, the most versatile sports broadcaster in North America Kenny Albert talks about learning by osmosis from Dad Marv and Uncles Al & Steve, working alongside The Great One Wayne Gretzky [and #99 writing the foreword to his book], taking over for ‘the Vin Scully of hockey’ Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick, the confusion about how John Tavares pronounces his own name, starting his career as the voice of the AHL’s Baltimore Skipjacks while rooming on...

King of NHL ’94 World Championships organizer Darrell Sampson talks about why the GOAT of all hockey video games [from a 16 bit computing world!] still resonates today at its 30th anniversary, that scene in 'Swingers' where Vince Vaughn made Wayne Gretzky’s head bleed and legs spasm [actually NOT from NHL '94 which was fightless/bloodless], Jaromir Jagr being the last player to play in the NHL who also played in the entire 16 bit era of hockey video games, the craziness of holding their inaugura...

Raising Empowered Athletes author Kirsten Jones talks about her membership in the William & Mary Athletics Hall of Fame alongside Michael ‘Pinball’ Clemons, shares stories from 15 years on the global footwear team at Nike under founder Phil Knight, parses the real from the fictional in Matt Damon/Ben Affleck’s Nike movie AIR, draws lessons from [in]famous athlete/parent combos including Tiger/Earl Woods, Bronny/LeBron James & Lonzo-LiAngelo-LeMelo/LaVar Ball, transferring her experiences as a pe...

Zane Caplansky from Caplansky’s Delicatessen talks about the titans of Jewish Deli [Yitz’s, Centre Street Deli, Pancer's, Shopsy’s, Switzer’s], his origins at the Monarch Tavern [T.O.’s first pop-up], the role of Thunderin’ Thelma [T.O.’s first modern day food truck], opening his eponymous restaurant on College St, collecting Geddy Lee’s email address & naming a meal after him, why Adam Sandler couldn’t resist bussing tables, the legacy of the Caplan name in local/provincial/national politics, r...

Narativ’s Zev Shalev has travelled from Israel to South Africa to Bathurst/St Clair [arriving with $2k in a snowstorm] to NYC to LA & back to Toronto, along the way sharing experiences with Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama, Valerie Pringle, Dan Matheson, Jennifer Hedger, Arisa Cox, Ben Chin, the late Sarika Sehgal, Dina Pugliese, Roz Weston, Billie Holiday, Barb Williams, Moses Znaimer, Cheryl Hickey, Rick Campanelli, Harry Smith, Bob Schieffer, Julie Chen, Leslie Moonves, Wendy Mesley, Oprah Winfre...

Canadian boxing legend Syd 'The Jewel' Vanderpool talks about working out with his 4 older brothers in the makeshift boxing ring in the carport of their Kitchener home, winning his first bout at 6 and a half years old [!!!], meeting the emotional hurricane that is Iron Mike Tyson, missing out on meeting Wayne Gretzky despite arranging for his daughter Paulina to sing the national anthem before one of his bouts, his epic internationally televised championship title fights against Bernard ‘The Exe...

7-Mary-3! 7-Mary-3! Jon Baker is IN the house! CHiPs star Larry Wilcox talks about going from Wyoming to Vietnam to Hollywood, his big break getting $450/week acting opposite a Collie named LASSIE, initially turning DOWN the role of Officer Jon Baker, meeting Presidents Reagan & Bush Sr, why today he recognizes that anonymity is a GIFT, being haunted to this day by Ponch’s singing rendition of ‘Celebration,’ how the motorcycle duo got access to those extensive LA freeways, why NEITHER of them ac...

PointsBet Canada’s Chief Commercial Officer Nic Sulsky provides an A+ primer on the Ontario iGaming market, why it was essential to move from a ‘grey’ to a licensed/regulated sports betting market, how partnering with MLSE builds on the strength of 365 live events per year, building a ‘challenger brand’ by being authentically Canadian & wrapping yourself in the red & white flag [via The Trailer Park Boys!], his Family Channel days of driving coast to coast with 2 puppets transporting a jar of oc...

Molloy + Van Wert’s Jimmy Molloy talks about a lifetime spent in the Annex/Yorkville, how being a busboy in 1976 was “a summer job that got out of control” resulting in his ownership of French fine dining institution Auberge Gavroche, transferring his service skills to the world of luxury real estate, wise lessons learned from Franco Prevedello/Galen Weston Sr/Bar Italia, how a home is ‘the filing cabinet of your life,’ why serving people & relationships are fundamental to business success, the ...

Global News Morning Kingston’s Bill Welychka talks about starting at MuchMusic the same week he graduated from Seneca College’s Radio and TV Arts program, the surreal experience of moving from WATCHING [on tv] to WORKING alongside Christopher Ward/Steve Anthony/Michael Williams/Laurie Brown/Denise Donlon, sliding from MuchMusic over to MuchMoreMusic, his anticipation for and involvement in the upcoming MuchMusic documentary '299 Queen Street West,' why the visionary Moses Znaimer’s Speakers Corn...

While awaiting his day with the Stanley Cup in Scottsdale, Vegas Golden Knights Director of Goaltending Sean Burke talks about his 18 year NHL career, lugging his goaltending equipment on the TTC from his Bloor/Dufferin home [before buying a Chevy Cavalier hatchback!], the misfortune of facing Wayne Gretzky on his return to Edmonton in the 1989 All Star game, representing Canada at TWO Olympic games, why he wasn’t shy to chuck the knuckles, why it’s great to play in warm weather markets and go s...

Freed Developments’ Glen Baxter talks about making the move from Montreal to Toronto, doing CBC French language traffic reports without ever owning a car, getting ‘the call’ in 1991 from Moses Znaimer, his 20 years at 299 Queen Street West for MuchMusic/CityTV/CTV's In Fashion, his excellent interactions with David Bowie/Drake/Rihanna/Deadmau5/Jeanne Beker/Tim Blanks/Jay Levine/Rick Campanelli/Dave Foley/Alex Lifeson/Joe Mimran/Michael Budman/Don Green, his NOT so excellent interactions with Bar...