ARTS Episodes

Gemini Award winning actor Peter Keleghan talks about playing the original Lloyd Braun on Seinfeld, bureaucracy preventing him from reprising that role in future episodes, taking over Mike Myers spot at Toronto’s Second City, his work on The Red Green Show and Murdoch Mysteries, working with George Clooney Jennifer Aniston Ted Danson Candice Bergen Jerry Seinfeld Michael Richards Jerry Stiller Steve Martin Hilary Duff, how at every Hollywood casting call he seemed to be up against Jon Hamm and B...

Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet co-founder and Author Don Pyle talks about his new memoir, their iconic instrumental ‘Having an Average Weekend’ serving as theme song for the Kids in the Hall, not being a favourite of Lorne Michaels, beating out David Foster and Liona Boyd for a Juno award, being at The Ramones first Toronto gig in 1976, catching reunion shows of Iggy Pop/The Stooges and the Sex Pistols, getting Mike Myers and Paul Myers mixed up at an REM show, hanging out with The B-52s Fred S...

10,000 Maniacs co-founder Dennis Drew talks about the band’s 45th anniversary, their roots just across the border from Toronto in Jamestown NY, coming up on a parallel path with Michael Stipe and REM, the impact of former lead singer Natalie Merchant, their landmark 1993 performance on MTV Unplugged, opening for the Grateful Dead in front of 80,000 at the Buffalo Bills old home at Rich Stadium, their appearances on Saturday Night Live The Tonight Show Late Night with David Letterman The Arsenio ...

Former Blue Rodeo/Wilco’s Bob Egan talks about forsaking corporate riches to jump on Wilco’s tour bus at age 38 (on the advice of Johnny Cash and at the request of Jeff Tweedy), touring Norway with Bazil Donovan before joining Blue Rodeo for 17 years, bonding with Gord Downie while playing on the Tragically Hip’s Juno-award winning Bobcaygeon, his upclose and personal interactions with Keith Richards Sheryl Crow Gary Oldman William Shatner, playing on Austin City Limits with both Billy Bragg and...

In case you missed it, from November 2024: Canada’s Folk Singer Valdy talks about touring the world for over 50 years, criss-crossing our country coast-to-coast-to-coast at a clip of about 200 shows per year, his guest spots on The Beachcombers (Relic was a gentleman) and Front Page Challenge, his interactions with Steve Martin Quincy Jones PM Paul Martin Karen Kain Kenny Rogers Glen Campbell Murray McLauchlan, why he prefers using a chainsaw for his woodworking projects, and why you shouldn’t c...

Singer/Songwriter Marc Jordan talks about his ongoing work with Sir Rod Stewart, playing alongside Ian Thomas Murray McLauchlan and Cindy Church in Lunch at Allen’s, writing his breakout song Marina Del Ray after a Telly Savales sighting, his status within the world of Yacht Rock, keeping the music in-house with his wife Amy Skye and their two singer/songwriter children, his work with Alan Frew David Hasselhoff Don Johnson Olivia-Newton John, the epiphany he achieved while stoned in a cow field ...

Netflix global smash success ‘Finding Her Edge’ Showrunner Jeff Norton talks about his roles as CEO of the Show and Keeper of Tone, the exceptional timing of a figure skating-centred series airing just after Heated Rivalry and just ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, the story inspiration coming from a combination of Jane Austen plus Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir, cameos from Elvis Stojko, Piper Gilles, Paul Poirier, his happy place within the Netflix family, the blizzard of unsolicited pitches he no...

In case you missed it, from March 2023: Hollywood Macher Paul Reiser talks about casting Helen Hunt as his Mad About You wife with his actual wife’s approval, stumbling into his breakout role in Barry Levinson’s ‘Diner,’ seeing George Carlin/Robert Klein/David Brenner/Robin Williams/Billy Crystal/Rodney Dangerfield live in the local NYC clubs, sharing the set with Carol O’Connor/Carol Burnett/Mel Brooks, using his son as cultural canary in the coalmine to accept the role of Dr Sam Owens on ‘Stra...

Edmonton transplant/singer/songwriter Moe Berg talks about the ongoing concern that is The Pursuit of Happiness (TPOH), his supergroup Trans-Canada Highwaymen (TCH), meeting Jeff Bezos, the rocketship that was I’m An Adult Now, touring with Duran Duran/Eurythmics/The Replacements, meeting his idols Todd Rundgren/Alice Cooper/Jeff Lynne, the nemesis that was The Parachute Club, his love for the Chicago Blackhawks, throwing out the first pitch at a Toronto Blue Jays game, his multiple appearances ...

Martha and the Muffins co-founder Mark Gane talks about his debut solo album called Garden Music, his creative and life partner Martha Johnson, their song Echo Beach putting him into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, being signed to Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin UK record label, sharing a Juno Award with Anne Murray, having three albums produced by Daniel (then Danny) Lanois, touring with the Eurythmics, why they changed their name to M + M (and subsequently back to Martha and the Muffins), ...

Canada’s Metal Queen Lee Aaron talks about her childhood interactions with Burton Cummings, the genesis of her Lee Aaron pseudonym (Aaron Spelling?!?!), getting assistance on her first album from Triumph’s Rik Emmett, playing the Gasworks and Canada’s Wonderland, a racquetball injury leading to super producer Bob Ezrin parachuting in to finish her album, touring with Bon Jovi, playing with Heart and meeting her idols Ann & Nancy Wilson, her enshrinement on Canada’s Walk of Fame, and her ongoing ...

Television Producer Mitch Azaria gives his elevator pitch for the TRIPPING doc series, introduces the latest episode as a 3hr immersive boat ride through the Muskoka Lakes, shares the saga of kidnapper Three-Fingered Abe and his victim John Labatt, shares memories from his former life working on Sportsline with Bob McCown/Jim Tatti/Mark Hebscher/Dave Hodge/Bill Bird, and warns about the challenges of working with a non-union Red-Tailed Hawk [Diva alert!]


For everything TRIPPING, please visit ...

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s stunt double Peter Kent talks about the OTHER Canadian Peter Kent (and meeting his brother the ‘Scud Stud’ Arthur), getting hired by fellow Canadian James Cameron in 1984 for a little film called The Terminator (and getting paid a flat $40/day), his working and personal relationship with The Austrian Oak on 14 films over 14 years, the pressure of standing in for the seven-time Mr Olympia and greatest bodybuilder in history, his interactions with Tom Cruise/Richard Dawson/...

Music Promoter and Merch Impresario Norman Perry talks about cutting his teeth at Pink Floyd’s 1971 Montreal show, unveiling Brian Johnson with AC/DC on their 1980 Canadian tour, why Disney & the NFL are better marketers than Gene/Paul/KISS, continuing to honour the legacies of David Bowie/Tom Petty/Miles Davis, his surprisingly successful collaboration between AC/DC and Gucci, why his goal is to 'feed you what you want, when you want it,' and how he has succeeded for over 50 years with the simp...

Canada’s Folk Singer Valdy talks about touring the world for over 50 years, criss-crossing our country coast-to-coast-to-coast at a clip of about 200 shows per year, his guest spots on The Beachcombers [Relic was a gentleman] and Front Page Challenge, his interactions with Steve Martin/Quincy Jones/PM Paul Martin/Karen Kain/Kenny Rogers/Glen Campbell/Murray McLauchlan, why he prefers using a chainsaw for his woodworking projects, and why you shouldn’t confuse him for Vi-Valdy!


Valdy will be a...

Singer/Songwriter/Broadcaster Talia Schlanger talks about creating her debut album Grace For The Going, hosting NPR’s World Cafe and CBC’s Q, her musical theatre experiences with Queen’s We Will Rock You/Green Day’s American Idiot/ABBA’s Mamma Mia, her productive educational experiences at Ryerson/TMU, her 3 years living and working in Philadelphia, meeting Willie Nelson/Brian May/Roger Taylor/Macy Gray/KD Lang, why Missy Misdemeanor Elliott is on her interviewing bucket list, and why Alec Baldw...

Art of Time Ensemble's Artistic Director Andrew Burashko talks about his debut as a concert pianist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra at age 17 [under the baton of John Williams!], his 80 projects and recordings over 25 years with the group, working with singers Steven Page/Craig Northey/Chris Murphy/Andy Maize, collaborating with Margaret Atwood/Branford Marsalis/Pinchas Zukerman/Sir Andrew Davis/Jukka-Pekka Saraste, his 'pinch-me' moments meeting Neil Young/Catherine O’Hara/Michael Ondaatje,...

Actor Sergio Di Zio talks about FLASHPOINT being shot in Toronto, his over 100 credits in TV/film/theatre, working the stage with Megan ‘Anne of Green Gables’ Follows, his movie debut in National Lampoon’s Senior Trip with Jeremy Renner & Tommy Chong, his interactions with Russell Crowe/Ron Howard/Jeff Daniels, why he is NOT a huge fan of AI, and who he sometimes gets mistaken for!


Sergio stars with Megan Follows in “Four Minutes Twelve Seconds" until May 12 at Tarragon Theatre’s Extraspace.....

Canada’s Artist Charles Pachter talks moose, hockey murals and why the Queen WAS amused!


Charles shares the stories behind meeting his husband Keith Lem [Orillia aristocracy!], the inspiration from his lifelong friendship with ‘Peggy Nature’ [Margaret Atwood at Camp White Pine], his mother’s reaction to his Leafs/Habs murals going up in the TTC College Street subway station [“it’s the basement, but at least it’s permanent!’], opening the ‘other Shaw Festival’ and then building his ‘palace’ in...

Christmas Singer/Songwriter Kristian Noel Pedersen confirms his middle name is legit and not a marketing tool, talks about the release of his 15th annual original Xmas album ‘A Christmas Around Town,’ shares his love for 'Bandcamp-Heads' & Mariah Carey, and extols the virtues of apparently silly projects being able to bring people together!


For the full Kristian Noel Pedersen Experience, please visit https://akristiankindachristmas.bandcamp.com/
TORONTO LEGENDS is hosted by Andrew Applebaum a...

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!


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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...

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...