Episodes

227
May 16, 2024

Arthur Griffiths, Canucks/Grizzlies/GM Place

Former owner of the Vancouver Canucks/Grizzlies and GM Place Arthur Griffiths talks about his family ties to Dr Ballard’s dog food empire, how his Mom convinced his Dad to purchase the Canucks, his reverence for the late great Pat Quinn, that incredible 1994 Canucks’ playoff run, getting involved with the concrete pour at GM Place, negotiating Bryan Adams as the first event at the new building, how a meeting to discuss acquiring an arena football team with Jerry Colangelo planted the seeds for i...
226
May 13, 2024

Jay Rosehill, Maple Leafs/Flyers

Former Maple Leafs/Flyers tough hombre Jay Rosehill talks about his 13 year pro career, learning he was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning while exiting the shower, living away from home for the first time while playing for the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs, his NHL debut being thwarted by Nikolai Khabibulin’s poor paperwork, memories of his 1st NHL paycheque/game/goal, being mentored by Colton Orr as a teammate but later having to chuck knuckles with him as an opponent, memorable expe...
225
May 9, 2024

Sam Reid, Glass Tiger

Glass Tiger’s Sam Reid talks about how Tokyo became Glass Tiger after opening for Boy George & Culture Club at Maple Leaf Gardens, teaming up with Bryan Adams’ songwriting partner Jim Vallance, shooting TWO videos for Don’t Forget Me, opening on monster tours for Journey and Tina Turner, interesting Juno and Grammy ceremony experiences, giving Sir Rod Stewart vocal suggestions, getting dissed by Roger Hornsby and mistaken for David Hasselhoff, collaborating with Rik Emmett, and why almost 40 yea...
224
May 6, 2024

Sergio Di Zio, Actor

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.....
223
May 2, 2024

Tom Bailey, Thompson Twins

Thompson Twins' Tom Bailey talks about the 40th anniversary of Into The Gap, keeping in touch with his former bandmates Alannah Currie and Joe Leeway, the exposure that came with Top Of The Pops and MTV, opening for The Police while at the height of their fame [and dysfunction], playing 1985's Live Aid backed by Madonna, Howard Jones and Thomas Dolby encouraging him to resume touring Thompson Twins' music after a 27 year break, and seeing first-hand David Bowie's shockingly smooth stage entrance...
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...
221
April 25, 2024

Steven D’Souza, CBC

The CBC’s Steven D’Souza talks about his 24 years at the CBC, his path from Richmond Hill to Ryerson to the Toronto Sun to the Canadian Press to the CBC, getting good advice from Tom Harrington and Peter Mansbridge, how covering Mayor Rob Ford prepared him for covering President Donald Trump, travelling the globe to cover the 2017 eclipse/George Floyd protests/World Cup soccer/Parkland school shooting/the papal conclave/Beijing Olympics/numerous hurricanes, sometimes getting mistaken for Ian Han...
220
April 22, 2024

Mark Gane, Martha and the Muffins

Martha and the Muffins co-founder Mark Gane [currently the sole Muffin] talks about being in their 47th year as a band, how they chose that name [and why it temporarily changed to ‘M Plus M’], interactions with a flirty Prime Minister Trudeau [Dad of our current PM] at the 1980 Juno Awards, ‘Echo Beach’ co-winning the Juno for Song of the Year, the boost they got from CHUM-FM/CFNY/The New Music/The Garys, hanging out with Virgin’s Sir Richard Branson, touring with Roxy Music/Eurythmics, and work...
219
April 18, 2024

Sean Skahan, Hockey S&C Coach

Elite Hockey Stength & Conditioning Coach Sean Skahan talks about his son Will’s expectations at the upcoming NHL Entry Draft, his 19 years of NHL S&C coaching with the Anaheim Ducks and Minnesota Wild [as well as with the elite college hockey programs at U Minnesota/U North Dakota/Boston College/Boston U], meeting Cuba Gooding Jr and the Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger, the importance of getting Paul Kariya to buy into training as a team rather than as individuals, getting his name on the Stan...
218
April 15, 2024

Claude Feig, CBC

The CBC’s Claude Feig talks about his Venezuelan roots, his emigration to North York, learning tv/radio while shooting hoops at Seneca College, working on ‘Sportsline’ for Jim Tatti and Mark Hebscher, covering the first-ever games for the Toronto Raptors franchise, interacting with 'Dr J' Julius Erving and the late great Burt Reynolds, interviewing his childhood idol Pele not once but twice, and shares the inside story on how he got the nickname Pele [and why his real name wouldn’t have fit on a...
217
April 11, 2024

Derry Grehan, Honeymoon Suite

Honeymoon Suite’s Derry Grehan talks about their first new full length studio album in 16 years, playing live on American Idol with his daughter Leah Marlene and Katy Perry, how winning the Q107 Homegrown Contest launched their career, meeting Bob Dylan/Steven Tyler/Sir Rod Stewart at the 1986 Juno Awards [where they won Group of the Year], meeting Eddie Van Halen at Pearson airport, ‘acting’ as a guitarist in a Pepsi commerical, having their songs used in Miami Vice and Lethal Weapon, how he us...
216
April 8, 2024

Tom Harrington, CBC

43 year CBC all-star Tom Harrington talks about his Newfoundland origins, getting his CBC television start on The Tommy Hunter Show at age 7 [and later on Reach For The Top], starting university at 16 [!!!], working the sales floor at Tip Top Tailors [which lead to his start in the media], experiencing Montreal Canadiens Stanley Cup Fever in 1986 & 1993, calling Atlanta Olympics late-night softball solo off a monitor, the myth that ALL the CBC personalities know and hang out with each other, hos...
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...
214
April 1, 2024

Chris Kontos, NHL/Olympian

NHL sniper Chris Kontos talks about his crazy hot 1989 playoff scoring run for Gretzky’s LA Kings, scoring FOUR goals in Tampa Bay Lightning’s inaugural game in 1992, winning an Olympic Silver Medal for Canada at the 1994 Lillehammer games, meeting Sylvester Stallone at the Fabulous Forum, his man-crush on Ron Duguay, and his amazing international hockey experiences playing in Finland/Sweden/Italy/Germany/Switzerland!


For everything Chris Kontos, please go to https://www.chriskontos.com/
TORO...
213
March 28, 2024

Frank Ferragine, Frankie Flowers

Breakfast Television's Frank ‘Frankie Flowers’ Ferragine talks about his Holland Marsh origins, running into the Stavros/Longos/Fortinos families at the Ontario Food Terminal, getting his TV start on CKVR because he was the only Ferragine who talked without swearing, giving gardening tips to George Clooney/Sir Richard Branson/Dr Mehmet Oz/Kardinal Offishall/Dion Phaneuf/Elisha Cuthbert, declares whether Anthony Farnell & Mark Cullen are friends/enemies/frenemies, shares stories from 299 Queen St...
212
March 25, 2024

Ben McCabe, Bloom

Bloom CEO Ben McCabe talks about his entrepreneurial journey, removing the stigma from reverse mortgages/equity releases, marking the transition from accumulation to decumulation of wealth in the retirement savings journey, and whether Bloom needs a boffo spokesman to combat their competition’s use of Kurt Browning/Peter Mansbridge/Tom Selleck!


For more on Bloom, please visit https://www.bloomfin.ca/
TORONTO LEGENDS is hosted by Andrew Applebaum at andrew.applebaum@gmail.com
All episodes avai...
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...
209
March 15, 2024

Kimberly Carson, Breast Cancer Canada

Breast Cancer Canada CEO Kimberly Carson talks about breast cancer being 50+ diseases at 5 different stages affecting both women AND men [the most diagnosed cancer worldwide], her focus on ‘precision oncology’ [personalized care], the differences between leading charitable vs non-profit vs for-profit organizations, why PREVENTION is the best way to stop breast cancer, being on the leading edge of implementing AI technology into research, HOW to ask donors for money, and why Progress is Beautiful...
208
March 7, 2024

Dr Nirav Patel, Whole Body MRI

Whole Body MRI Co-CEO and Chief of Radiology Dr Nirav Patel talks about full body screening, why they are the only clinic of their kind in Ontario, the misconceptions about ‘private clinics,’ the movement from reactive to preventative healthcare, why radiologists are the specialty with the most vacation time, and why Kim Kardashian raving about full-body scans is good for both patient awareness and autonomy!


For more on Whole Body MRI, please visit them at https://wholebodymri.ca/
TORONTO LEG...
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/


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206
March 1, 2024

Megan Rafuse, Shift Collab

Shift Collab CEO Megan Rafuse talks about creating Canada’s Go-To Mental Health Company, why therapy is like going to the gym [and why choosing a therapist is like dating], how all business relationships are also human relationships, the importance of understanding your ‘Zone of Genius,’ bootstrapping a start-up with a co-founder who is also her husband, the industry challenges of her competition coming from venture/insurance-backed technology-driven therapy networks, running a company that is m...
205
Feb. 26, 2024

Gordie Johnson, Big Sugar

Big Sugar’s Gordie Johnson talks about hanging around with ‘Uncle Charlie’ during the Rolling Stones’ Toronto rehearsals, Keith Richards stealing CDs from his duffle bag, enjoying relaxed table-talk with Eric Clapton, sharing enchiladas & Modelo Especials with ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, getting a superlative comparison to Eddie Van Halen courtesy of Joe Satriani, Rush’s Alex Lifeson gifting his double-neck guitar because it was affecting his golf swing, Mrs. Johnson’s need for an ice cream bar lead...
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...