AUTHORS Episodes

281
Dec. 19, 2024

Risto Pakarinen on Alpo Suhonen

Hockey Journalist/Author Risto Pakarinen talks about his new Alpo Suhonen biography, Alpo’s ‘favourite hockey experience’ serving as Pat Quinn’s Assistant Coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Alpo becoming the first European head coach in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks, Alpo supporting the ‘Finnish Flash’ Teemu Selanne during his 76 goal introduction to the NHL, Alpo’s interactions with Elvis Presley/John Lennon/Dustin Hoffman/Fred Shero, and why the message of the memoir aligns with Alpo’s p...
279
Dec. 12, 2024

Chris Myers, Fox Sports

Fox Sports Broadcaster Chris Myers talks about being the Forrest Gump of sports broadcasting, his start at age 16 interviewing Muhammad Ali, his near-death experience interviewing Iron Mike Tyson, his guiding philosophy on dealing with people as espoused by John Travolta in ‘Perfect,’ his longtime friendships with Bill Murray and Billy Crystal, his newest Fox Sports colleague some guy named Tom Brady, his interactions with Charles Barkley/Wayne Gretzky/Bill Belichick/Jimmy Kimmel/Kenny Albert/Al...
277
Dec. 5, 2024

Rob Del Mundo, Hockey Journalist

Hockey Journalist Rob Del Mundo shares stories from covering the Toronto Maple Leafs for 23 seasons from the Foster Hewitt Media Gondola, his memorable interactions with Sarah McLachlan/John Scott/Paul Hendrick/Andrew Ference/Tim Robbins/Jim Cuddy/Rob Baker/Robin Williams/Alex Lifeson/Jeff O’Neill/Cassie Campbell/Joe Nieuwendyk, the changing economics of the media press box’s gameday meal, and why ‘player scrumming’ is always preferred when it takes place OUTSIDE the dressing room [spoiler alert...
275
Nov. 28, 2024

Julie Cole, Mabel’s Labels

Mabel’s Labels Co-Founder Julie Cole talks about starting the business as a way to fix something that was pissing her off, starting from scratch in 2003 and then selling out for $12MM cash [!!!] in 2016, why she both likes and loathes the term ‘Mom-preneur,’ the process of her bootstrapped startup being acquired by industry leader Avery Labels/CCL Industries, and whether there is an actual MABEL out there [or not!]


For everything both Julie Cole and Mabel’s Labels, please visit https://mabels...
274
Nov. 25, 2024

John McGuire, Financial Empowerment

Financial Strategist/Author/Podcaster John McGuire talks about advocating for financial empowerment, his Wealth Eazy podcast, his interactions with the Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson, and the lessons from his new book "Wealth Without Wall Street: Taking Back Control of Your Money in A Rigged Financial System."


For everything John McGuire, including his book Wealth Without Wall Street: Taking Back Control of Your Money in A Rigged Financial System, please visit https://www.johnwmcguire.com/
TO...
273
Nov. 21, 2024

Iron Mike Keenan, Hockey Coach

Legendary Hockey Coach Iron Mike Keenan talks about winning at EVERY level over his 5 decade coaching career, getting his 'Iron' moniker not from Mike Tyson but rather from Mike Ditka, putting Gretzky/Lemieux/Hawerchuk [3 Centres!] on the ice at the same time which led to that iconic game-winner at the 1987 Canada Cup, bringing 'The Moose' Mark Messier to tears with his pre-Game 7 speech as the NY Rangers ended a 54 year Stanley Cup drought, coaching 50 future Hall of Famers [including Gretzky/L...
270
Nov. 11, 2024

Jim Lang Returns!

105.9 The Region's Weekday Morning Man & Author Jim Lang talks about his newest book Everyday Hockey Heroes, going to bed at 9:30pm and waking up at 4am for over a decade of morning radio, his interactions with Jesse Palmer/Ann Rohmer/Suneel Joshi/The Tragically Hip/Wendel Clark/Tie Domi/Max Domi/Bryan Berard, the culture shock of moving from Trenton Ontario to Burbank California, and some great stories about the do’s and do not's of interacting with the Stanley Cup!


Jim’s latest book Everyda...
269
Nov. 7, 2024

Kevin Shea Returns!

Hockey Historian & Author Kevin Shea returns to talk about his new book Jack and the Box: My Search for Stanley Cup Champion Jack McLean, how he turned obscure old photo identification into a career at the Hockey Hall of Fame, the unwritten rule that ONLY those who have actually WON the Stanley Cup can lift if over their head in celebration, and the fun fact that there are actually THREE Stanley Cups [and EIGHT 'Keepers of the Cup’!]


For everything Kevin Shea [his 21 books and beyond], please...
266
Oct. 28, 2024

Steve ‘Dangle’ Glynn, Hockey Rants & Raves

Podcaster/YouTuber/Author Steve 'Dangle' Glynn talks about his new book Hockey Rants & Raves, initiating the Steve Dangle experience as an early YouTuber way back in 2007, starting up the SDPN podcast network with partners Adam Wylde and Jesse Blake, his time on Sportsnet supported by Tim & Sid, his interactions with Wayne Gretzky/Felix Potvin/Jerome Iginla/Michael Buble/Nick Kypreos/AM34’s parents, and the legend of David Ayres the MLSE-employed zamboni-driving emergency goalie who defeated the...
265
Oct. 25, 2024

David McPherson, Horseshoe Tavern/Massey Hall/Golf

Author David McPherson talks The Horseshoe Tavern, Massey Hall, 101 Fascinating Canadian Music Facts, working on Toronto Raptors game-day programs during the Vince Carter days, combining his passion for golf with his passion for writing, and he shares some fun anecdotes involving Maestro-Fresh Wes, Willie Nelson/Farm-Aid, Snow, Blue Rodeo, Moe Berg, Gowan, Led Zeppelin, Lowest of the Low, the Rolling Stones and the Barenaked Ladies!


For everything David McPherson, please visit his substack at...
260
Oct. 14, 2024

CBC’s Bob McDonald, Just Say Yes

CBC Radio Quirks & Quarks longtime host Bob McDonald talks about fully exposing himself in his new memoir Just Say Yes, his school report cards [“Bobby can do better...much better”], his appointment to the Order of Canada, having an asteroid named after him, getting a phonecall from Chris Hadfield in space, his interactions with Buzz Aldrin/Stephen Hawking/Carl Sagan/Peter Mansbridge, his unrestricted access visit to the Kennedy Space Center for the 2nd shuttle launch, and the upcoming 50th anni...
257
Oct. 3, 2024

David Miller, Two-Term Toronto Mayor

The City of Toronto’s two-term former Mayor David Miller talks about immigrating to Canada, his transformative experiences at Harvard, vivid memories from his campaign victories in 2003 [the BROOM!] and 2006 [the REPEAT!], his assessment of Mayor Chow’s current reign, governing in a system with 44 Councillors that have no party affiliation, why David Crombie remains a Toronto Legend [both are former Swansea boys], why they still call him Mr Mayor in the United States [although he misses wearing ...
253
Sept. 19, 2024

Shawn Micallef, Toronto Star/Spacing

Author/Journalist Shawn Micallef talks about moving from Windsor to Toronto in 2000, co-founding Spacing Magazine, morphing from writing for Eye Weekly to the Toronto Star, using psychogeography as the backbone of his first book STROLL, the immense ongoing changes in Toronto that led to his recently revising that book, his thoughts on Toronto Star colleague Edward Keenan/urbanist Richard Florida/Mayor Olivia Chow, and why he believes Toronto is like an infinite onion whose layers simply need to ...
237
June 20, 2024

Keith Merith, Author

Retired Police Superintendent and now Author Keith Merith talks about his 31 years of service for the York Regional Police, the messages of truth/pain/optimism/perseverance delivered in his new memoir, his six principles of success, his fantastic experiences with Bernice and the late Herb Carnegie, and why his retirement has been so fabulous that it can only be best described as DELICIOUS!


A Darker Shade of Blue: A Police Officer’s Memoir is available from ECW Press at https://ecwpress.com/pr...
236
June 17, 2024

Bruce Dowbiggin, Author

Media Triple Threat/Author Bruce Dowbiggin talks about co-writing with his son Evan [he’s like a sports ‘Rain Man’], the imminent integration of fellow sports journalist Eric Duhatschek into his own family, shuttling between Calgary and the 'Winter White House' in Florida, why newspaper columnists used to be the ‘Princes of the Pressbox,’ his career-changing investigative journalism into disbarred lawyer/former head of hockey players' union/convicted felon Alan Eagleson, why he doesn’t trade hol...
235
June 13, 2024

Hannah Mary McKinnon, Author

International Best Selling Author Hannah Mary McKinnon talks about the imminent release of her latest suspense thriller ONLY ONE SURVIVES [‘sharing the spotlight can be murder!’], how a professional crisis saw her pivot from high-powered business executive to becoming an author [‘I’ve read a lot of books, so shouldn’t I be able to write one??’], aligning herself with the OTHER author Mary McKinnon, admiring Roger Moore from afar but Jeffrey Archer from up-close, why she’s a ‘plotter’ who intervi...
231
May 30, 2024

Roland Gulliver, TIFA

Toronto International Festival of Authors Director Roland Gulliver talks about the 'multifaceted monster' that is TIFA, their MOTIVE crime and mystery festival coming up in June, their flagship Fall festival coming in September, making his career move from Edinburgh to Toronto just 3 weeks before the pandemic shut everything down, Linwood Barclay as a celebrity author [and former Toronto Star columnist], and why he STARTS a lot of books with the best of intentions!


The third annual MOTIVE Cri...
222
April 29, 2024

Paul Woods, Argos Year of the Rocket

Toronto Argonauts historian & author Paul Woods takes us back to 1991’s Year of the Rocket, with great stories revolving around Raghib 'Rocket' Ismail, Wayne Gretzky, John Candy, Bruce McNall, Adam Rita, Mark Rypien, Dan Aykroyd, Matt Dunigan, Ricky Foggie and Michael 'Pinball' Clemons...with bonus stories about the Foot Stomp, the Flying Beer Can, Ricky Williams, Doug Flutie, former team president Keith Pelley’s return as CEO of MLSE, whether Joe Montana could have been an Argo [!!], and why Mc...
215
April 4, 2024

Macho Man Randy Savage biographer Jon Finkel

Author Jon Finkel talks about his new biography on the Macho Man Randy Savage! He shares the transformation from Randy Poffo>>Randy Savage>>Macho Man, the influence of his wrestling father Angelo and brother Leapin’ Lanny, his real-life marriage [and divorce] with Miss Elizabeth, his up and down relationships with Hulk Hogan and Vince McMahon, the ongoing power of his Slim Jim meat stick endorsement, and visiting the site of Randy Savage's untimely death in Seminole, Florida.


MACHO MAN: THE U...
211
March 21, 2024

Kim G C Moody, Tax Guru

Canadian Income Tax Act Expert Kim G C Moody tells us what the ‘G C’ stands for, why he has a sock collection that rivals Prime Minister Trudeau’s, explains the difference between tax EVASION [illegal!] and AVOIDANCE [encouraged!], speculates on the tax-related reasons why Steven Stamkos may have chosen the Tampa Bay Lightning [Florida] over his hometown Maple Leafs [Ontario], explains how he squeezes the most out of his day with a 4:30am wakeup, and shares his bemusement at the ‘keyboard warrio...
210
March 18, 2024

Rik Emmett, Lay It On The Line

Singer/Songwriter/Poet/Guitarist Rik Emmett talks about his days in Toronto power trio Triumph, explains why he was pictured on the back of the Allied Forces album in a Habs jersey [blasphemous!], why even today he suffers from bad GAS [Guitar Acquisition Syndrome], how Mike Levine’s bad spelling led to Richard becoming Rik, pulling up to YOUR high school in the 70s with a tractor trailer full of pyro/flash pots/propane torches, helicoptering to the 1983 US Festival to play in front of 375,000 o...
207
March 4, 2024

Don McDougall, Birth of the Blue Jays

Former Labatt Brewing Company President Don McDougall shares the story of the birth of our Toronto Blue Jays, co-starring Paul Godfrey, Paul Beeston, Peter Bavasi, Pat Gillick, Herb Solway, Ted Rogers, Howard Webster, Page Wadsworth, Sydney Cooper, Charles Bronfman, Neil MacCarl, Bob McCown, Ray Kroc, Sid Oland and featuring a cameo by Alan Eagleson!


TORONTO LEGENDS is hosted by Andrew Applebaum at andrew.applebaum@gmail.com
All episodes available at https://www.torontolegends.ca/episodes/


...
204
Feb. 22, 2024

Tim Wharnsby, Journalist/Author

Journalist and Author Tim Wharnsby talks about his time at the Toronto Sun/Globe & Mail/Hockey Night in Canada and shares great stories about the characters involved in Canada’s 2002 Olympic Hockey Gold Medal team including Wayne Gretzky, Joe Sakic, Pat Quinn, Chris Pronger, Russ Courtnall, Bobby Clarke, Owen Nolan, Bob Nicholson and Bob Cole! BONUS MATERIAL: Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman...as human beings one is a stud, and one is a dud!


Tim’s book Gold: How Gretzky's Men Ended Canada's 50-Y...
200
Feb. 8, 2024

Damien Cox, Media Triple Threat

Journalist/Broadcaster/Author Damien Cox talks about starting out from The Toronto Star’s Scarborough bureau [the Toronto Zoo beat], co-hosting Prime Time Sports with the Bobcat Bob McCown [otherwise known as The Cutting Edge...with listeners!], his afternoon show on The FAN and subsequent books with Gord Stellick, his stint on Hockey Night in Canada during the Strombo Years, his thoughts on the major players [Darryl/Lanny/Borje/Inge/Captain Video/Palmy/Tiger/Harold] involved in his new book on ...