Episodes

Founder/Frontman of The Box Jean-Marc Pisapia talks about being Men Without Hats keyboardist pre-Safety Dance [and meeting Ivan at German language class], the influence of spending a month in the Soviet Union as a teen, the origin of L’Affair Dumoutier, opening for The Spoons on their first tour, the confusion around Sass Jordan’s membership in the band, filming Closer Together in the Dominican Republic, memories of playing Kingswood Music Theatre and the rotating stage at the Ontario Place Foru...

Hockey Pro/CBD recovery entrepreneur Kevin Tansey talks about playing for the Herning Blue Fox in Denmark [handball over hockey!], eating all the fresh fish he can handle, changing the stigma around CBD use, educating about the topical application of CBD [no, your leg won’t get ‘high’!], turning a horrible incident into a business opportunity to use CBD as the substitute for painkillers in the locker room, and the ‘special rules’ that apply when playing against a 50 year old Jaromir Jagr in his ...

Toronto Argonauts Former Co-Owner/K2 Pure Solutions Co-Founder David Cynamon talks about gaining the entrepreneurial spirit selling 50 cent foot longs [fully loaded!] at Edmonton Eskimos games, the business mentorship of his father [sweat the details] and his father-in-law [balancing Happiness=Reality/Expectations], why the 2004 Argos Grey Cup championship is etched in his memory, posits that Ricky Williams was misunderstood and ahead of his time regarding benefits of cannabis, shares the [not s...

Dragons’ Den Entrepreneur & Nuba Tisane Co-Founder [with her mom Amal!] Gina El Kattan talks about moving from Egypt to Oakville, jumping right into Business studies at University of Toronto, the lockdown power of the Clubhouse social networking app, FINALLY listening to her Dad’s plea to audition for Dragons’ Den, what REALLY happens during DD taping [no do-overs!], working on her MBA at Duke University, sneaking into Coach K’s final basketball game at Cameron Indoor Stadium, the challenge of s...

Chalk Circle’s lead singer & co-founder Chris Tait talks about getting grounded for playing ‘God Save The Queen,’ the band’s friendship with Blue Peter, breaking out with the support of CFNY & MuchMusic, touring with Rush/Crowded House/Tears for Fears, Geddy Lee convincing them to try playing wireless [spoiler: so much fun it was a fail!], Geddy restringing his bass for Brad Hopkins to play upside-down, the Sam the Record Man connection [‘Son of Sam’], risking electrocuting Neil Finn [and themse...

Toronto Life’s Editor-in-Chief Malcolm Johnston talks about managing the Toronto Life ‘brand,' coming up with the annual list of the 50 most influential Torontonians, serving as ‘an anchor for Toronto residents,’ digging deeply into Canada’s most famous cold case, his concern about the ‘war on journalists & journalism,’ being in awe of Andre De Grasse & Josh Donaldson, his respect for The New Yorker, being a reporter & investigative journalist at heart, and his thoughts on the Blue Jays trading ...

2 x World Juniors Gold/’92 Olympics Silver/Toronto Maple Leaf Kent ‘Mandy’ Manderville talks about the magical ’93 playoffs run, Wendel & Dougie’s leadership on AND off the ice, sharing a taxi with Pat Burns after 2 big losses, the Notre Dame Hounds, Cornell University, how he learned he was the 24th overall draft pick in 1989, his unique roommates/landlord living in the Annex, winning double Gold at the World Juniors, the Olympic experience, his ‘welcome to the NHL moment’ [spoiler: trade deadl...

WHA/NHL ‘Hot Line’ hockey star Anders Hedberg [the 'Swedish Express'] talks about Borje Salming, 3 Swedes [and a Finn!] representing 70% of this year’s Hockey Hall Of Fame induction class, why Ornskolsvik has produced so many hockey stars, transitioning from Sweden to Winnipeg and finding out he’d be playing with Bobby Hull, moving with Ulf Nilsson from Winnipeg/WHA to New York City/NHL, playing with pride for Three Crowns/Tre Kronor, and why PATIENCE will take the Maple Leafs to the promised la...

Broadcast Journalist turned Podcaster Wendy Mesley talks about her partnership/friendship with Maureen Holloway, not being retired but rather ONLY being retired from the CBC, pivoting to podcasting, wanting to BE Barbara Frum, the slight quantitative discrepancy on her Ryerson transcript, and recognizing the importance of words! TORONTO LEGENDS is hosted by Andrew Applebaum. TORONTO LEGENDS is powered by the Henderson Brewing Company. a locally-owned, award-winning neighbourhood brewery that cel...

Blue Rodeo bassist Bazil Donovan talks about learning the ‘guitar boogie shuffle,’ growing up in the Junction, Tiny’s beeper leading to his first gig for $30, listening to/learning from/eventually opening for John Fogerty, cutting his teeth on the baptism/confirmation circuit, answering the famous ‘bassist wanted’ ad in NOW magazine, the bandname origin story transitioning from the The Hi-Fi's, playing 1st out of town gig in Kingston and meeting the boys from some band called The Tragically Hip,...

Chef Rob Rainford talks about choosing between cooking and basketball camp, how the Food Network ‘changed everything,’ whether you should wash your chicken [spoiler: does more harm than good], shooting 18 hours of content for 22 minutes of a TV show, what the 'Rainford Method' encourages, how his skill set allows him to ‘hit for the cycle in cooking,’ his embrace of Tik Tok and Instagram, being Rob vs Robert, why you always wait for the first cheque to clear before promoting a project, some hint...

The Toronto Six’s homegrown hockey talent Saroya Tinker talks about being an EIGHT-sport high school athlete, living at Yale amongst ‘the Normies,’ playing in front of Ivy League crowds at ‘The Whale,’ her incredible mentors within the Toronto Six organization, a roadmap to consolidation for a single professional womens’ hockey league, her friendship with fellow Toronto ice hockey professional Wayne Simmonds, her mentorship program Sayora Strong, her involvement in Black Girl Hockey Club Canada,...

Glass Tiger frontman Alan Frew talks about the New Year’s Eve name changeover from ‘Tokyo’ to Glass Tiger [and how author George Plimpton inspired the new name], opening for Boy George & Culture Club, sharing urinals at the Grammy Awards with Roger Daltrey & Doc Severinson, how being last to the bus gave him his ‘Beatles’ moment in Saskatoon, confusion with Rod Stewart about who actually was the first to play SkyDome, Bryan Adams singing backup on Don’t Forget Me, knocking out TWO smash hits in ...

Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations Bob Rae talks about his incredible career as a diplomat, lawyer and politician, Canada’s role as the 7th largest donor to the United Nations, shares an actual ‘day in the life’ of our Ambassador, the funny/not so funny shaving cream incident caused by Frank Zappa at U of T’s Convocation Hall, the emotional joy of taking the same job for PM Justin Trudeau as his father Saul Rae did for PM Pierre Trudeau, being inspired by Stephen Lewis, meeting Bill Clint...

Writer & Journalist Ivy Knight talks about pivoting from 10 years in restaurant kitchens to writing, her realization that the pressure had turned her into a ‘dickless man’ and a ‘rage machine,’ the wonderful mentorship of James Chatto, her role in the documentary “The Heat: A Kitchen [R]evolution,” getting published in The New Yorker, enjoying her neighbourhood’s transition from 'Crackdale' to Parkdale, her distaste for Mayor John Tory but love for memes, and THREE awesome hidden gems in Toronto...

The Toronto Star’s City Columnist Edward Keenan talks about innocently attempting to walk behind the President’s desk in the Oval Office [spoiler: don’t do it!], Mayor Tory’s debate frequency strategy [down from 50 to 2!], how the upcoming municipal election is his Super Bowl, the Globe’s Marcus Gee as a ‘fond acquaintance,’ his South Riverdale days & Degrassi connections, morphing from an intern to a staff writer at Eye Weekly/The Grid, following in the footsteps of Daniel Dale in Washington, a...

Lynx Equity Limited Co-founder and President Brad Nathan talks about ranking #478 of Canada’s largest 500 companies, hitting $650mm in revenue while shooting for $1B, his entrepreneurial start drilling peepholes [legally!], an absolutely horrible interaction with a cantankerous Tommy Lasorda, attempting to outsource his paper route to his father, transitioning his leisure time from combat sports to piano [!!!], his brief career at Bagel World [one hour], his brief career as a practicing Chartere...

As Toronto Raptors Broadcaster Jack Armstrong enters his 25th season [Hellooooooo!], he talks about his MVP [Mom!!], growing up in Brooklyn NYC, Fordham U road trips driving the team van to fine dining establishments [White Castle!!], differentiating between broccoli and skittles, his love for fellow Toronto Legend Chuck Swirsky, Vince/Jack/Chuck all sharing their first NBA game together [with Paul Pierce in Boston], why he owes so much of his success to ‘that orange ball,’ how he went overnight...

Two-time Olympic Champion/three-time World Champion Sprinter Donovan Bailey talks about solo vs team gold medals at Atlanta in 1996, his better-late-than-never appointment to the Order of Canada, being drafted by the BC Lions, his thoughts 25 years after the 150m SkyDome race against Michael Johnson, the enduring legacies of announcers Geoff Gowan and Don Wittman, meeting Nelson Mandela and Muhammad Ali, the 3rd season of his podcast Running Things, his continued mentorship by Coach Dan Pfaff, w...

Filmmaker & Marketing Executive Barry Avrich talks about RENT-A-FAN CLUB, getting stuck in an altercation between Jackie Mason & Jerry Stiller, why you need to treat ‘yelling’ as performance art, why his Bob Saget anecdote was far too filthy to share, whether we can expect an update to Unauthorized: The Harvey Weinstein Project, how Hollywood is the “only place you can die of encouragement,” his father’s best advice [“look at the audience, not the movie” and “DON’T blend in”], working on docs ab...

Publicist and Music Industry Expert Eric Alper talks about music entering his bloodstream via his Grandfather Al’s Grossman’s Tavern, the influence of American Hot Wax & Music World at Promenade Mall, why Snoop Dogg travels with his own personal joint roller, launching Nickelback’s 1st EP, The Wiggles’ roots in punk rock [!!!!], why Bill Wyman hitting on his wife was cool, recollections of Ringo Starr/Ray Charles/Duran Duran/Chickenfoot/The English Beat/Matt Dusk/DJ Khaled/Maestro Fresh Wes/Sine...

‘When Canada Shut Down’ author Sean Mitton talks about Paul Henderson’s Goal of the Century being Canada’s ‘Man on the Moon’ moment, the Henderson Hat Trick [THREE game-winning goals], how Phil Esposito’s passionate ‘rant’ galvanized the country, shares the bond between Tretiak and Henderson’s grandsons, tells tales of the ‘Russian Stick Boy,’ explains how the Henderson goal actually saved a marriage [!!!], confirms that one Harold E. Ballard was in attendance in Moscow, explains how applying to...

Multiple-time Manager of the Year Jake Gold talks about his first concert [Beatles at Maple Leaf Gardens 1964!], 17 years of managing The Hip/a 17 year break/starting anew in 2020, music’s most important North American cities [NYC, LA, Toronto], getting creative backstage with Robert Plant, earning bona fides from the Rolling Stones by playing through a cross-storm hurricane, Dan Aykroyd’s advocacy to appear on Saturday Night Live, the impact of the Another Roadside Attraction music festival, wh...

Broadcaster/Podcaster Ted Woloshyn talks about taking over for Wally Crouter for a decade of mornings at CFRB, dealing with 2:45am wakeups when you aren’t a morning person, his 11 year run of ‘Saturdays with Ted’ on Newstalk 1010, losing the Best Comedy Album Juno Award to some guys named Bob & Doug, getting early encouragement from Bob McAdorey at the CNE, his ahead-of-everyone-else recognition that Bill Cosby was a JERK, his admiration for Jann Arden, transitioning from radio to podcasting, wh...