Shaun Newman Podcast - Ep. 80 - Carly Agro - Sportsnet

Episode Date: May 20, 2020

Originally from Burlington, Ontario she has made a name for herself in the broadcasting world. She has been all over the world from the Sochi Olympics, the World Cup in South Africa, World Juniors, Hockey Night in Canada etc. Needless to say her story is filled with awesome stories and better advice.  

Hello everyone, I'm Carly Agro from SportsNet Central and welcome to the Sean Newman podcast. Welcome to the podcast, folks. It's a fun one again this week. It's been, actually, it's been a fun little stretch. Clark MacArthur on Monday. So if you miss that one, I highly, highly, highly suggest you go back. He talks about golfing with Michael Jordan four days a week. You heard me, right? Four days a week. He's living down in Jupiter, Florida. And, uh, You know, we talk obviously about his hockey career, but then, you know, life after hockey, and it's been pretty good to him. I mean, I guess the Gulf of Michael Jordan every day. Who wouldn't take that? Now, this week, before we get to our guest who is pretty cool, she's a pretty accomplished lady, we'll do our sponsors for the show. So the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation would like to thank our local health care team.

responded so quickly to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our local hospital leaders move fast to secure life-saving supplies for our frontline staff, and within days our hospital had a strong stock of life-saving supplies from the local community, and this happened because of you, our donors. Thanks to the strong support from all of our donors over many years, our frontline workers are empowered to care for all of us through the Lloydminster Regional Health Foundation. If you're looking for ways to help, a COVID-19 emergency fund has been started, While there's no pressure to give in these uncertain times, we are taking donations to cover a variety of items that have already been purchased and still need to be purchased.

The Health Foundation encourages those looking to donate to call us at 306-82061 or online at LRHF.com.ca backslash donate. Chris Weeb, Keep a Concrete, open for business, specializing in commercial agriculture and residential, basement floors, driveway, sidewalks, paddy, garage pads shops barns countertops essentially if you can dream it they can do it give the boys a call at 780 871 1083 Lionel and Kelly Durier Reynolds plumbing they're open for business residential and commercial plumbing and heating regular hours Monday through Friday 8 to 5 p.m. temporary close to walkins please phone ahead so they can be prepared for social distancing measures Reynolds has been serving the Lloydminster and surrounding area for over 40 years give them a call at 780 875 3405.

Kenny Rutherford Appraisal Group in these difficult times if you're in need of any appraisal work from bank loans, setting a fair purchase price, whether you're buying or selling any type of real estate, shop, homes, farms, cabins, restaurants, you name it. Give Kenny a call. There is no one better. 306, 307, 1732. and I guess it's about time that I let everybody know that I will be moving out of. Kenny and I are, he's moving out of his office. The podcast is making a move, and I'm going to say hello to my soon-to-be new home of Gartner management. So Wade Gartner, salute to you.

We're moving the podcast over to one of his buildings. So shout out to him, and a huge thank you to Kenneth, Kenny Rutherford, who has been absolutely a gem. to house the podcast and has been amazing to me in the start of this. So huge shout out to Kenny Rutherford and now a big shout out to Wade Gartner and Gartner management. Factory Sports, Taylor Holt and Nathan Mullet, I believe they just opened up. Give them a call 306, 825-7678.

Go get yourself a new bike, wheel around. It is beauty days out there. Summer is here. Carly Clawson, Windsor, Plywood. Open regular hours, call ahead so they can help with physical distancing. They have curbside pickup or free in town delivery while this current situation is at hand. And, you know, over the long weekend, I stopped in to Windsor and hit up Carly and bought some, I was working on my new wall that I'm going to have in the new studio.

So I stopped in and talked to old Carl, Mr. Charles. He got me hooked up, so a huge shout out to Windsor Plywood. Call and Ringette. CR Sales and Marketing is hoping everyone is staying healthy and safe. If you're looking for a unique and cost-effective approach to sales and marketing with the oil and gas industry, give Colin a call. 780, 871, 1417. Corey Dubick, Midwest Flooring, open regular hours, call, stop in or shop online. Lori LaBerge, Abbey Road, Flowers and Gifts, temporary close to walk-ins but are doing curbside pickup.

and free in-town delivery 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 780 875. 2211. Wandering Wilde is teamed up with Let's Walk the Talk. If you buy any of the Let's Walk to Talk gear from them, $10 goes back to the local charity who donates it now to Project Sunrise. It's a good little initiatives that they got.

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The YouTube channel is set up. We're constantly tweaking and trying to make it a little better experience for you. Now, here is your factory sports tale of the tape. This lady got her first crack at the TV side of things, an NBC WBAL. That is in Baltimore. Then she went to Ticat's TV. 2010, she helped in the World Cup in Johannesburg, South Africa. She then made a tour out west to this little town called Lloyd Minster

and worked for Newcap from 2010 to 2012. CTV, Eminton after that, followed by CBC Canada, where she got her first taste of hockey night in Canada, was Mountainside for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. And of course, now we all know her on Rogers Sportsnet. I'm talking to the one, the only, the talented, Carly Agro. So without further ado. Well, welcome to the Sean Newman podcast.

I'm joined tonight by Carly Agro. I'm so excited to be here. Thanks so much for asking me. I always do the double L, the Lloyd Love. That was our thing when I live there. so I'm happy to be back and connected to the Lloyd Monster, as I like to call it. The Lloyd Monster, is that the way you remember it? Hey, the true story about the Lloyd Monster is when I first, that was how I first saw the word Lloyd Minster in my life.

It was posted on a job posting on Canada Media Job Board. And honest to goodness, it was spelled incorrectly. And I distinctly remember saying to one of my friends in grad school, I have to apply for this job, A, because it's a sports job, and B, because it's in a place called Lloyd Monster. And I just want to be able to tell people that one day I lived in Lloyd Monster. And then, of course, I learned that, no, it's not Lloyd Monster. It's Lloyd Minster. So that's the true story, the Lloyd Monster.

How disappointed were you when you learned it wasn't Lloyd Monster? Well, and then I have also spent the last, however many years it's been since I live there, correcting everyone and telling them it's not Lloyd Minster, it's Lloyd Minster. So, I mean, Monster would have been more fun, but I still am correcting people on how you say it. So what can I say? You remember when you accepted that job, did you drive out or did you fly? Oh, my gosh. I remember everything. I remember I was pretty broke because I had graduated from my journalism and new media program. And I had been working, I'd been working for the Thai cats, actually. And I say the word work. meeting like I worked but I didn't get paid. I got like a $1,500 stipend for working for an entire CFL season and then my mom, I begged my mom to cover the bill so that I could go cover

the gray cup that year. So I was broke as a joke and I had been working for the Thai cats like from nine to whatever and then I would go work at a sports bar in Burlington where I grew up. So I remember packing up. I was just so excited that I got a job because, I mean, nowadays it's even harder. But I was just so excited I got a job in sports, doing what I wanted to do. And I've lived all over, so I was pumped just to get out of my parents' house. And I packed up everything I owned in two wardrobe boxes. And I shipped those out.

And then I flew. And I actually picked up a car. God bless this car dealership. I think it was in Drumillion. I had arranged to get my new car in Dramillion. I don't know. So anyways, that was how I got out. And then I was really lucky because my twin sister was actually living in Edmonton at the time. So in some crazy twist of fate, my sister was in Edmonton after she had lived all over for work. And then she was able to kind of help me get settled in Lloydminster. And I lived on both a Saskatchewan and the Alberta side in my time. Well, you are in good company there. I think a lot of people switch sides just to see if it feels

different. No, I switched sides because I made the mistake. When you're making what you make working in television when you first get started, I learned the hard way that living on the Alberta side was not the cost-effective move. And I also learn very quickly that you never want to live in an apartment near a four-way stop in Alberta or Saskatchewan because all of the diesel pickup trucks when they're coming to a four-way stop and then proceeding, I didn't get a lot of sleep. Oh my gosh. I did not get a lot of sleep when I lived in that place. You know, we live on a busy corner in the right beside apartment buildings. But are you on the Alberta side or the Saskatchewan side?

Bird aside. Okay. And I haven't learned my lesson yet. And the trucks rip off in the morning. And I was just saying before we started, three kids, four and under, there's been a couple times where there's been some choice words come out of my mouth because, man, it's a very unique thing to this area. I assume. You've been all over the world now. Oh, yeah. No, there's nothing quite like it. And it's one thing like when you're waking up, hung over from a night at the cooler to that sound. It's another thing when it's one of your toddlers that you just got down to sleep. So I feel you. You missed, were the, was the cooler still hopping while you were here? Oh, we put the hop in the hop in when it came to the cooler when I live there. Or at least I thought

we did. It's not going anymore. The cooler is, uh, is toast. There's hardly, yeah, there's hardly a bar going. Amigos is back going. What about the creepy country place that did the parochies at like 2 a.m? Oh. I can't remember the name of Ed. Oh my God. It was in a basement. Yeah. Yeah. That's the one. As he's on the border. Yep. Yeah. It's no go. It's no more either. Oh. Well, I can't move back then. Believe me. Half the town left. Oh, that's a bummer though. Oh. Oh. No, cool. Good memories. Oh, no, that's heartbreaking.

Oh, man. I hope the Winners is still there because that got me through my time in Lloyd. The Winners? The winners. It was the only place I could afford to shop. That and the Sears in the Lloyd Mall. Sears is gone. Winners is still here.

Yes. Getting you all caught up on everything, Lloyd. You know, hearing you talk about how broke you were. Yes. When I first came back, I wanted to get into radio. And I got steered away for that exact reason was there was no money in it. Everybody says there's no money in it, bought it, not a lot. And when you first started, did your parents try and maybe to like,

maybe you should try something, you know, where there's, or was it not that way? No, you know what? I was really lucky that my parents, it wasn't so much that they encouraged me because I'm so stubborn. So I kind of knew that this was what I had got this idea. You know what? Mr. Mulligan calls it he's got the aha moment. He kind of coined the term. You know Kyle's dad and Mr. Mulligan?

Absolutely. Okay. So he taught me this phrase when I had already had an aha moment and I didn't know I had an aha moment until he kind of coined the phrase for me. But I had went to school in Baltimore, Maryland. So I had played college soccer in the States. And I had been working as an intern at WBAL TV. I'm sure.

Oh, see, look, I got my Ravens one on here. So this is from when I was in Baltimore. Anyway, so I'd been working at WBAL TV doing this internship. And I got asked to go down and cover a baseball game. The Orioles were hosting the Oakland A's. And there was a pitcher making his major league debut. And my producer had said to me, like, I go, don't screw this up.

Our affiliate in Oakland wants this postgame sound of this guy named Dallas Braden. And he was making his major league debut. So it was a really big deal for our NBC affiliate in Oakland. So they sent me down, long story short, I'm absolutely crapping my pants. I've done all the Google searches I can do. Like I could tell you what Dallas Braden looks like to a T. I go in the Orioles room and it was awful. Everybody was mean to me.

I didn't know what I was doing. At the time, Amber Theo Harris was working for Masson. And I just remember watching her being like, I'm not that cool. They can tell. I don't know what I'm doing. How old are you? Oh, gosh. I was still in school.

So I was probably 22, I think. 22 in a major league. Yeah. Yeah. And like all the pressure is on me. So the camera guy says to me, like, Agro, I don't know who this guy is or what he looks like. you better not miss them. So I do all the stuff in the Orioles room and then he's like, we better get to the visitors like, or we're cooked. Like it hadn't even clicked to me that like,

oh yeah, they might take off pretty quickly because they're the visiting team. And so we go into the visitor's room and it's just like a mess. There's crap everywhere. It's dirty. And there's like two players left in there and Dallas Braden is definitely not one of them. And the cameraman's looking at me like, agro, do not F this up because we can't go back empty-handed. So, like, we're in a tunnel. And, like, by this time, I'm sure I'm, like, profusely sweating and then just, like, a hot mess. And so I don't know how or what, but, like, I see him. And, like, I was a goalkeeper in college soccer. So, like, I use, like, my goalkeeper voice. And I was just like, Dallas, Dallas, Brayden. Like, some crazy BIT,

you know what, is screaming at him in a tunnel in Baltimore. And he stops and he turns around. And I just, like, ran up to him and I said to the camera guy, I was like, okay, Ken Brown, like, this is him, let's go. And then it was just the best. It was the best. I got such a rush and I nailed it. I don't know what it is about being under pressure, but like that's when I do my best work. And I just nailed it. I had this awesome conversation with this guy. He was so excited to talk about his debut. I had made this cool connection between him and the guy who caught for him that night and how they went back to college or something like that. I don't know.

So he was responsive to me and I was responding to him. And I just felt like I just hit a home run, like knocked it out of the park. And then like that night I remember on the train, I used to have to take the light rail home in Baltimore. If you've ever seen the wire, you don't want to have to do that. I used to have to take the light rail and then like a city bus back to my college apartment. And I remember I called my mom on the light rail. And she's like, oh my God, are you okay?

I think she thought I got like robbed or something. And I was like, no, mom. I just had like the best night ever. She's like, what do you mean? I'm like, well, I think I want to like, I think I know what I want to do. She's like, well, like, you already did the soccer thing. I think it's a little late to do baseball. I was like, no, mom.

Like, I think I want to be a reporter. Like, this was great. And so she was just like, well, great, you know, just keep saying yes and see what happens. And so that was a really long story and I guess way of me answering your question. that once you knew what you wanted to what you wanted yeah it just like in that moment like it just clicked I was like okay this is what I'm supposed to do now so and my mom and my dad were always just kind of like they never said no to me they never I mean I went to school in Miami I went to school in Baltimore um you know I traveled I lived I moved like they'd never heard of Lloydminster I was going out there

by myself like they were just kind of like you know encouraging and they never never said no. I mean, I didn't really give them a chance, but yeah. So once I kind of got bit by the bug, I just, yeah, I just kept going, like full steam head. Your twin sister. Hey, how is it having a twin first off? Oh my gosh, how much time do we have? Oh, we got, we got plenty. Do you got, like, cool, like random stories of like weird twin twinning things? Not really. There was one time when I was lost and she said I was in a store of bracelets and apparently I was, but, um, no, you know what the biggest thing is for the two of us? I think is just that we, because we some way somehow wound up kind of in the same line of work, we've always been really

competitive. And so we're both each other's, um, like biggest cheerleader, but also like a sounding board. I can ask her something that I can't ask anybody else and she gives me a really honest opinion and I trust her her judgment. So that's been really cool having someone that. For the for the listeners, tell them what your sister does because chances are most people in this area, I assume are like me. And I had no idea. I had a twin sister. And if they do, they probably don't realize she's very successful. Yeah. So she is one of the hosts for CBC Marketplace. So she is an investigative reporter for CBC. If you've heard of the Subway story, the chicken,

the chicken DNA story, have you heard of that one? I can't say I have. No, okay. Well, that was probably one of her biggest ones because Subway launched like a $250 million lawsuit against her and my sister won. But, yeah, so she's a hardcore. Wait, but we got to back us up. You can't bring up the Subway Chicken, a huge lawsuit,

and then not at least explain it. They found that the subway chicken, and don't quote me on this because don't sue me to, but it was like 48% chicken DNA. So she did a bunch of testing, scientific testing, from a bunch of fast food chicken places, a bunch of different foods. You can still see the episode.

It's on Marketplace. Saturday Night Live wound up doing a skit about it. Time magazine picked it up. Like it was on the Today show. It was a huge. Scandal. Yeah. So, yeah, that's what she does. She's like the hardcore news junkie. I'm glad I got you to explain that because my brain, as soon as you said subway chicken, didn't go to subway chicken. It went to a chicken in the subway. And I was like, I don't know.

So, no, that makes a lot of sense now. So I'm just the dummy going subway chicken. What? That's okay. So now you know. So yeah, that's my twin sister. So she is pretty crazy then that you're now on SportsNet and she is on CBC Martin like that's really successful for two twins and before before that it never like dawned on you because obviously she had started down that path before you yeah she had always known that she wanted to do Gerald Nelson like she majored in inglis when she was in university I thought I was going to go to law school so um currently I grew the lawyer so I had an intern set up in DC and then it fell through at the last minute at a firm And my sister said to me, well, why don't you call your local NBC affiliate and shadow the

political reporter? And you'll meet some, you know, that way you'll be around, you'll make some good connections. And even though you're not necessarily in a, you know, a law firm, you'll be around people who are making legal decisions and around legal minds. So, yeah, so that was what I did. And then the sports department at WBAL knew that I had played D1 college soccer. So whenever they were down to man, they would say to me, hey, I grow like you want to do us a favor. And I just said yes to everything. I thought I was great. So that was how I got to do the Raven stuff. And I got to go do the, I got my, where's my, oh, my MLS Cup, which was in Washington, D.C., which was really cool. So yeah, that was, it just kind of all happened, not necessarily by accident. Like I said yes to everything.

But you also put yourself in, you know, a unique position to, you know, you didn't get the internship. So then you're, you know, you're very motivated. You can just do that. You follow some reporters around. And then all of a sudden they start asking you go do sports things. That's pretty crazy. That's how you got into what you're currently in. Because by an off chance, you get to go cover a baseball game, right?

Well, and I think a lot about it, like, now that we're talking about, I think a lot of it is to, maybe not necessarily like first impressions, but when you have an opportunity, like, nailing it. So, like, I remember after I had worked in Lloyd, Dave Mitchell was the sports director at CTV Edmonton. And I know I had applied for the job. I can't remember if it was Natasha St. Nashvsky who had left, like, why there was an opening. I think it was because she had left. Anyway, so I had applied, and then he brought me in, and I could tell, like, they were really skeptical about hiring me.

But I went in for- How can you tell? What do you mean? Well, because I just, God love Dave. I owe him a lot, because I think he's a big reason why I got the chance to even interview there. But I had to go an interview with the news director, Glenn Kubish, who's a brilliant journalism news mind. Anybody who knows CTV Edmonton respects Glenn Kubish. And so Dave was saying to me, you know, like, you're really going to have to nail it with him.

Like, you know, Coob's no joke. Like, he's really serious about, you know, good storytelling. And he's, you know, like, he's very performance. Like, he doesn't miss a beat, Coob. Like, Coob is the all-knowing, all-seeing. So I think he was worried about sending me in there. Like, how is she going to do? And like I had some story ideas to pitch them.

Like I was prepared. I had prepped. And I really think I went in and nailed it. Like I don't know if Kube would say the same thing, but I wound up getting the job. So I guess I didn't do that bad. So that's what I mean. Like when you have a chance, like you go and you make the most of it. And like you prepare for it and you set yourself up for the success.

You can't just leave it to chance. You know, like with the Dallas Braden thing, I had done the research and the prep. And then, you know, with my interview with Kube, I had done the research and the prep. And I had asked my friends in the business, like, what are they going to ask me? How do I prepare? So, yeah, I think it's, a lot of it is, you know, making the most of an opportunity when you get one. It's, you always fall back on your level of preparation. Yeah.

Yeah. It wasn't it Oprah. Her thing was like, there's no such thing as luck. It's preparation meeting opportunities. so go figure she had a million-dollar idea with that one. That is the first Oprah quote I've ever had on the podcast. You're welcome. Well, she's one of the most successful, maybe the most successful sit-down host of all-time.

Yeah, I think that's pretty fair to say. I can't think of, yeah, there's not too many in her league. She's Michael George. And crazy small world, but the lady who I worked on the assignment desk in Baltimore used to drive Oprah to work. What? Yeah. I'm not making that up. It's so true.

Everybody in the office knew it and we were all like, all hail Beverly Epstein because she used to help Oprah. Like, yeah. So small world. It's amazing, like the connections that you make along the way. Like, it's crazy. Oh, yeah. No, absolutely. Well, that's this podcast is Casey.

point to that. I started out with, well, I'll put it this way. I started out by interviewing the guy who rented this building, good friend of mine, Ken Rutherford. And that name probably means nothing to you, which is okay. No, what does he do, Mr. Rutherford? He is an appraiser in town, runs an appraisal business. Okay. And then he teaches that- Did he sponsor a truck wagon tarp for something? Oh, no. Well, you know, I can't put that past Ken, but they're probably, is other Rutherford's in town. Okay. But the reason I say it is,

literally sat down because he helped me do the studio. And so I'd been, you know, sitting there and I just turned the computer on and recorded it. Because I was like, I don't know if this is going to be good or not. And then we put it out. And the next interview, I was supposed to do a guy. He missed, couldn't make it that night. So I interviewed my dad. That's where this started.

Oh, yeah. It was fantastic. And then, you know, now, I mean, got Carlyagra off. That's pretty cool. Well, but the Lloyd-Binster connections for me, like even in my own career, this is why whenever anybody talks about Lloyd-Mister, I have nothing but positive, wonderful things to say. Like, it really was a jumping-off point for me. And, like, I can connect everywhere I've been back to Lloyd.

Like, even when I worked, so then I got a job at CTV, Evanton. And I remember when the Flyers were in town to play the Oilers, I got, I always went into the pre-game skates because they were early in the morning on Saturdays. and I don't really think a lot of the other guys wanted to do it, but I got the kick out of it. So anyway, the Flyers were in town, and this was on all the, oh my gosh, crazy goalie. Oh, my gosh.

Remember the T on the bench? What's his name? Oh, my gosh. Not Brze Gallup. Was he the Prisgallov? No. Who was a crazy Flyers goalie? I don't know why I'm having a mind fart, but I am.

Brzgalov? Is it Brzgalov? Like you're talking the one who says really... Universe. random things all the time. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's fighting a bear, that kind of thing. Yes, yeah, yeah.

Brzgalov, right? Yeah, yeah. Brisgala. Okay. So that was when he was in, like, peak Brzgalov mode. But this was back when Scott Hartnell was still playing for the flyers. So,

um, I can remember that the guys at work had wanted me to try to do some bit with Brzgalov. Like, I'd brought a mug and some tea or something. And I remember, like, I got a bad feeling about it. And I remember, I had met Scott because he had done the Hartn-M-Hirthor golf classic.

Golf classic, yeah. And I remember Scott recognized me in the dressing room and was like, hey, like, what are you doing here? And I was like, oh, my God, this is so, like, all these guys are kind of looking at me. Like, who, like, because I was really new in M&10. And a bunch of the other reporters, you know, the big, I used to call them the P-Cote Mafia, because they all used to sit at Rexall Place with like their P-coats up and like, Nobody talked to me and I was like the new girl. So who was I?

Anyway, so the Picoe Mafia was like looking at me and like, who does she think she is that she knows Scott Hartnell? And then Scott's mom, I can't remember if Joy was there, but I know Bill was there. Even, I think Joy was there. Bill and Joy were like, hey, Carly, like when I walked out of the dressing room, they were there. So then the Picoe Mafia was grilling me even more because they're like, how was she in with the family? But so like that was a connection I had made. So Scott was really nice to me. And I remember I had said to him, like, hey, they want me to do some bit with Brzegal of like, what do you think is like, honestly, Carly, don't because they didn't even send him. I don't even send him to practice that morning because they didn't want him to do media. So he kind of like saved me the embarrassment and the who knows how bad it could have gone. Like he gave me a heads up not to do it because we had that previous relationship and kind of that sort of, that sort of, almost rapport or camaraderie from when he had been when I had met him when he was in Lloyd.

So like it just, it never, you know, it never hurts to, you know, be kind to people and be professional because you never know when it's going to come and help you, like down the road. And then when hockey day happened, like my, everybody at CBC had gone to a meeting. This was when I was working at CBC. And they were like, man, we got back from a prep meeting. And everybody said, like, well, you have to send Carly. So like then I was a big part of hockey day because I had had such good connections and memories from Lloyd Minster. And then from when I got sent at the stampede, when I was working at CBC, there was a big accident of the stampede and nobody knew anything about Chuck wagon racing.

So then I was on the national that night because I was explaining chuck wagon racing to people. So like all these things like all kind of happened crazily for a reason. And now Colby working at Sportsnet, you know, I walked into our Christmas party. and his wife was looking at me and I'm like, oh gosh, what did I do? And she gives me this big warm smile and she's like, I know you. And then we just hit it off because I had met her when Colby had gone and done the golf tournament there. So like all these, you know, it's so funny, like the connections that you make and how things, you know, if you put good things out there, you're going to get good things back from people.

And so I've only ever gotten good things back from Lloyd. So, you know, I could go on and on about the connections and experiences, but those are a few that really stand out. Well, that's good advice for people, though. Treat people with respect and you just never know where it goes. Well, and I think that's something, too, that I think like anybody in any industry that you're in, but especially in mine, like, it's easy to dismiss the grunt work, right? Like, none of the, I'm sorry guys that you're going to hear this,

but none of the guys that I worked with in Lloyd wanted to go and do the truck and get racing. Like they all kind of thought that it was, oh, God, like, what is this? You know? But the people that I met and the lessons that I learned from those families and those people and Brian Hebson, if you're out there, hello. But, like, that all really helped me. And then I got to go to the Stampede.

And then I got to go behind the barns. I had all these, like, VIP passes. and everywhere I went, people were nice to me and good to me because I had gone to Turtle Lake and done the Turtle for Derby. And I had gone, you know, to all these other races and I had met these families. So, like, then that really, like, then I walk into the Sampeed and I'm getting treated really well because I've made an effort to get to know these people. So, like, it never, it never hurts to be nice to people. And, like, just because somebody else dismisses that task or that opportunity, it might really, give you a boost one day. Like, I was on the national because I knew stuff about chuck wagon

racing and nobody else at CBC knew anything about it. So, like, who knew? So it just, you know, I think that you have to have that attitude with things in life because you never know when it's going to help you down the road. And I'm a big belief, at least in my career, like what I put out, I believe that that I've gotten some back for sure. When you look back on your time in Lloyd, What is the most random thing you went out and reported then? Is it Chuck Wagon Racing coming from out east and nobody knowing what you're talking about? The most random thing. Actually, you know it was really bad?

This just popped in my head. I don't know if it's the worst, but this totally comes to mind. So when I was in my job interview for CTV Edmonton, one of the stories that I pitched was, did you remember the Reaper's rugby team? Absolutely, yeah. Okay, so the cover of, God, what was the name of the newspaper? The booster, the meridian booster. Meridian booster. So accidentally the cover of the front page of the booster was like a rugby player whose private parts were completely exposed. And I had to pitch a story. Like they said to me in the interview, like, give me an example of a story in Lloyd that you'd have to tell today.

And I remember when I was driving into Edmonton, like that was the story of the story of the story. day. And that was one of the stories that I pitched to, and I think that's why I got my job at CDTV Eminton, because the story that I pitched was how I would cover the uncovering, I guess, if you will. Private parts on the front of a newspaper. Yeah, and if you look at, I guarantee you, Sean, like if you look it up, you'll be able to find it. It was a real talker. Oh, that and DJ Paul E. at the cooler. That was another one. And he brought the like bedazzled laptop with the Italian flag and everything. Yeah. Oh, you're you're bringing back some memories now. Yeah. It's a good thing I remember that night, but I do.

You're telling me in an interview you brought up genitals on the front of a newspaper. It was, I forget how they asked it to me, but it was just like what would be the biggest story in Lloyd today? Or maybe it was like, give me an example of a difficult story to tell. along those lines. And I was just like, boom, this happened today. Like, I literally, this is what's going on in Lloyd today. And everybody was talking about it. So, like, we couldn't not do it. Lloyd just can't win one, can we? Oh, yeah. It's all right. It was a funny one, though. Yeah. Oh, that's, that's, uh, oh, you got me tears over here. That's, that's good stuff. Have you, how have you been keeping busy during the COVID, uh, the pandemic? Like, I mean, for, you know,

I sit here and listen to you and the amount of time, even when you were in Lloyd, the things you're covering, the weekend, every weekend you're gone covering something. Every night, every, you're just, you are, you know, part of why you're successful is obviously you have talent and the way you've treated people. You've always got a little bit of charisma when it comes to being on air. But man, by listening to you, you work extremely hard. And there's, you can, no amount of talent can replace that. But now you're stuck at home. Yeah.

Yeah. It's been, you know what? It has been really hard. And I have good days and I have bad days. But I think, yeah, it's been really hard.

And for different reasons, I mean, professionally, it's been, I feel like I've lost a little bit of who I am. Like I really, I don't get to do what, like I know people say like,

you know, a job is a job. and that was actually one thing I really learned in Lloyd. One thing I loved the most about living there was people worked hard in Lloyd, but they played harder. And it was a mentality that I didn't have coming from Ontario. And it was a really good lesson for me to learn at that point in my life because it showed me too that.

I came from a place where, you know, the wealthiest people were lawyers and doctors and these sort of, you know, like your higher educated professionals. And one thing that Lloyd showed me was like hardworking people who have good ideas, like coming up with the best system to clean a well, for example, or coming up with a welding technique that nobody's thought about before, is not only profitable, but gives you a really good life. And so I learned when I was in Lloyd Minster, like these different, like just a different appreciation for not so much like,

monetary value, but like what's important? Like I had come from a pretty materialistic. Um, and I get now why people out west don't like people from the east, like meaning like Ontario, I guess. I'm not talking about like, you know, lovely maritimes and the Atlantic lovely people, but I get that now. So I, I, I think, you know, I never wanted to be one of those people like who lived to work, you know, who got up every day and was just like, oh, I live. I just, I live for my job. No, I don't think that's true, but I really love what I do. So, you know, I have fun when I'm at work. Like I have, you know, my good friends at work and we're all a good group and, you know, we know that we're lucky to do what we do and it's fun. Like I, I don't, there are days when I don't feel like I've

worked, you know, I really don't. And I know how lucky I am. Like I appreciate that. I really, really do. So I think now that I haven't been doing it for so long, like I realize, I know it's a part of me. It's a part of who I am. It always will be. Like I love, I love being able to entertain people. I love being able to enjoy those moments and bring that to people. Like, it's a responsibility. And, and I really miss it. Like, it's, there's nothing else like it, right? Like, I can't simulate that another way. I can't get that high, that adrenaline rush that I get from getting a screen. like hot off the printer and doing it live, you know, right out of an oiler's game for the entire audience to see with me for the first time. And if I screw it up, like, it's live. We can't fix that.

Like, that gives me a rush. That's, you know, I've been working on that craft for since 2007, I started working, you know? So, like, I realized not being able to do it how much I love it and how much I miss it. And so yeah, like I do feel like I've kind of lost a little bit of me during this time. And I don't know the other stuff that makes me me. Like I've always been a big fitness person and I can't go to the gym. Like my home workouts are like like they are what they are. So I miss like I don't really have anything that's, oh, you know, I'm having a hard time like doing me right now. So, you know, I have a two and a half year old to keep me busy, which is great. But my heart's breaking for him because I'm like his only playmate right now. So, um, you know,

God bless my husband for listening to me and my meltdowns that I've had lots of. So yeah, it's been like it hasn't really been easy. I feel like the longer it goes on, like the harder it's getting. So that's kind of my truth bomb for you there. Sorry. Oh, it's, it's, uh, lots of people are feeling that way. It's, it's, it's, it's been a very, very, well, in the last 100 years, you can't point to a time in history where this identical scenarios played out where the entire world is shut down and, you know, like, I think about it. Pro sports is big money. They've played through a lot of things, like a lot. Yeah. And it's all been shut down. I just keep waiting to wake up tomorrow morning and, you know,

hockey, hockey's going to, you know, they're going to start training camp and then you're going to get the buzz going and whatever. But the problem is right now, speaking specifically to hockey, even if they do the hub city theory, we're going to do the hub cities. Well, now you've got to bring in people from all these different countries. Oh, wait, we're shut down from people,

well, we're supposed to be. The United States is shut down. So now what happens? So, you know, now you got like quarantine time, even if they can get in. And then you got no fans in the stands. I don't even know what the report, like, you know. I don't know.

Right? Like, there's so many things. Yeah. There's so many questions. And I think the hard thing is, is do we want it back? Of course we do. Like, that's the simple answer, right? Like, of course we do.

Every, yes, of course we want it back, you know. But it's all the, you know, this is one of those things or like, we, you know, I get annoyed with that cliche of like some things are like some things are. It's like, yeah, of course, some things are. Like, this is one of those. those, you know, I'm not, I'm not disputing that. So I don't know. Like, I have so many questions and then I don't want to be one of those people who is selfish and says, well, you know, yeah, let's give these athletes, you know, special treatment or let's give the reporters, you know, special travel privileges or treatment. Like, I don't know. I don't want to be that person who advocates for

that because I don't know if it's right. Like deep down, I just don't know. I still have way more questions and I have answers about everything. Well, here's one guy that would gladly give special permission to let athletes get back together. Man, just a little live sports. No fans in the stands. I'm fine with it. Let's play the NHL playoffs. This is like the best time of the year.

I know. It's heartbreaking because it's like the same way we've been saying, oh, we're in this together. I mean, I'm the biggest believer that sports bring people together, right? So if there was ever a time. where we could use some unity and something to latch on to and bring us all together. It's the, you know, epitome of that, right? And we don't have it. And I don't know. Like, the longer it goes on, the more I'm like, I mean, it was, we had Bundesliga on in my house all weekend. And I haven't watched that much soccer since like soccer Saturdays of like the 90s. So I don't know. Like,

of course we all miss it and I just I don't have it's way above my pay grade to figure out how and when it happens but I mean I was encouraged when Tim and Sid got back in the television studio um you know but the thing is too like what people don't realize at home um like your average and I don't mean it to be like condescending but like when we put a live show on I don't think people appreciate how many people are in a building at one time working on that you know there's 15 people in a control control room, there's, I mean, when you have a full night of games on, like, there could easily be, I don't know, maybe as many even as like a hundred people in our newsroom, like shot listing, editing, writing, you know, it's, so that goes are the, like, when I think about

getting back up and running, those are the things. And I'm like, how do we do that safely? I don't know. So, I mean, I can. I don't know if you'd be interested in it or not. Like, I can remember when the night that the NBA showed, like the NBA was canceled and how it all played out for us live on TV. Do you want to tell us? Absolutely. Yeah.

Okay. So it was the, I remember the Oilers played. Was it the Wednesday or the Thursday of that week? No, I was going to say, so I was still playing senior hockey. We were in the middle of playoffs. And Thursday night, we got work that everything was canceled. So it would have been Wednesday, I think, that NBA shut down. Okay.

So because I'm pretty sure the Oilers played that Wednesday night on Scotia Bank Wednesday night hockey. And then I know Ken and Ivanka were getting ready to do their show out of that. And Ivanka was like eight and a half months pregnant. Like she was due at the end of March. And so anyways, all this Rudy Gober stuff was starting to break on Twitter. and we're all reading it. Like this is all real time, right? Like, we're all learning everything in the newsroom

the same time everybody else is learning it. The difference is we have to go on TV and then tell everybody about it, right? So Kennedy Blanca, we're going to come up out of the Oilers game and do a show. And then all this Rudy Goberra stuff was happening. And we realized the Raptors had an off day that day,

but they had an event. And it was like a fundraiser event. So we had sent, I mean, she's not a full-time reporter. She's one of our assignment editors. But we had sent an assignment editor and a camera person to cover the Raptors that night. And coincidentally, I had been up on the third floor and had said to this, and we're friends, I adore her. I had said to her, okay, well, I'm going downstairs. Let's take the elevator down together.

So her and I take the elevator down to the newsroom together and all this Gobert stuff starts blowing up. And then we realized, okay, wait a minute, the Raptors played the jazz Monday. It's, I guess this is Wednesday. And she was there today with the team, and she's sitting right there. And our camera person was with the team, and he's sitting wherever he's sitting. So all of a sudden, like, you know, alarm bells were kind of going off in everybody's heads, like, whoa. So Ivanka got sent home. and I ran up to make up because I knew that we were going to, I was going to, they said,

okay, Carly Ivanka's going home, you're going to do the show, the earlier show out of the Oilers game. So I got dressed and ready to go right away. And then, you know, we had like senior management coming down into the newsroom and addressing all of us. And they had said to us, look, like we are aware that this, these two people from our staff traveled and were with the chapters today and that they've been in the newsroom. They both got sent to get tested and we were all instructed to please not leave the building until we had the results of their tests. Plus, we have a live show to do in less than, I don't know how long. So I had to flip and go into like go mode for that show and um yeah we came up out of the oilers game and then i can't remember

if the NBA had announced yet that they were can't we're normally broke it live i think they broke it during the hockey game but then ken and i came up coast to coast like nationally and did an entire show um like we were getting Howard Beck like that second we were doing a you know a face time live michael grange or NBA analyst we've doing a chat with us live. Like everything, everything was happening in real time, and we're live on national television talking about it. So it was just a bizarre night from basically being on lockdown with your coworkers and then

sort of breaking this news to Canada that, hey, the NBA season is postponed indefinitely. And we don't know what this means for hockey. So it all played out very much in real time. And it was one of the most kind of surreal. real shows I've ever done because you're saying it out loud, but you're not really processing. Like, it wasn't hitting me. Like, what do you mean the NBA season is postponed or definitely? Like, I'm reading script, you know, I'm talking to Ken and we're having this conversation.

But then when the show was over, I was like, gosh, that doesn't even feel real. You know, and we have all of our executive producers and higher ops are right there, you know, like watching you and listening to what you're saying and how you're saying it, because this is so unprecedented. And it was, I was really proud of what we did that night and our crew and everyone for gathering things as quickly as they did.

But man, like when we walked off the set, Ken and I were just like, what happened? So it was a really bizarre and also terrifying. Like, I didn't really appreciate it. Like, I took an elevator down with somebody who was with the team. You know, like, so what if she's sick? And then am I sick?

and then I just sat beside Kent. Like, you know, all these things are kind of almost like an afterthought because like the show just had to go on. It was pretty, it was pretty, yeah, all the things like the shows I've done in my career, like breaking news, that was a really intense thing to do. Yeah. I, I mean, you're absolutely correct. And like, you guys are hearing about it real time.

I mean, if it makes you feel any better, sitting and listening to everything that was coming out, your jaw was on the floor no matter where you were. Yeah. Is it just, how can the brain comprehend what is being said? Yeah. It's hard to get a brain. Even right now, man, like you think about, there's so much contradictory information coming out. I've probably flip-flopped whether it's real or not a hundred times now because if you go down the rabbit hole, either way. way, it is a scary rabbit hole. And you're just like, I don't know, can somebody just tell me and

nobody can. Nobody can tell you exactly what's going on. And it's hard because I think the way I am anyways, like I like to have things to look forward to. That's sort of how I, I don't know, I've always been that way. Like I like to have a thing that I'm, you know, working towards or gearing up towards. It's just kind of how I like perform well. And like, I got nothing. You know, like, and I know, like, and I know I know I'm not alone. I know that I'm not alone, you know, and I know people, of course, have it harder than I do. So some days I feel guilty even complaining. But yeah, like it's just, I got nothing. So you, you, you, you're one of the, I've read a statistic a while back. And it's like, I don't know, it's called 70%. It's a high number of people don't like their jobs, right?

Well, think about it right now. They're having, they're having issues now of, uh, people. businesses trying to fire back up because the government's got that 75% wage subsidy where essentially they'll pay workers to go back to work and they're having problems of people not wanting to go back to work. So businesses are trying to get their, you know, people to go back and they can't. Well, that's because there's a huge chunk of the population. They ain't loving what they're doing. And so you're, I wouldn't call it one of the fortune.

I think at an early age, you just, you know, you found what you wanted to do. And once you know what you want to do, it's easy to put a ton of. an effort into it. And at that time of your life, I assume you don't have your husband. You definitely don't have a kid, right? So you're free to just like attack it and go as hard at it as you want. And the funny thing is, is when you're doing that and you enjoy it, it doesn't feel that bad. Actually, you're, you know, when you listen to you talk about it, it's, you know, there's, there's a rush to doing all the stuff you're doing. Right. Well, and I remember actually, it's funny that you say that because I remember when I got, I loved working at ZTV, Edmonton. I was so happy.

I was getting to go to the rink and cover these morning skates and the world juniors were in Edmonton in Calgary that year. So I got to do all this world junior stuff. And, you know, I was going to Eskimos games and doing like live reports from, like it was, I just, I was so happy. I really felt like I was in a good, awesome place in my career. I went and did the briar and the Scotties because the guys didn't really want to go do the curling. So I was like, I'll do that. So I was doing all these great, awesome things. And I remember I got a call from someone at CBC asking me if I was interested in a position that they had opening.

And it was because actually, Nebill Kareem was leaving to go to TSN. It's amazing how all these, like, jobs are. connected, by the way. I could play like six degrees of separation with lots of people. But anyways, so there was a job opening at CBC in Toronto, and I was devastated because, I mean, this is like peak irony. It was a net, it was a job with CBC sports, like the sports network in Toronto. And I should have been like over the moon. And I was, but I was loving my life in Emmington. I had this kick-ass two-bedroom apartment and I felt like all independent. And And I mean, I was making like incrementally more money than I was making when I was

in Lloyd, but it felt like I was like living in the dream based on what I had kind of been. So I was devastated because I didn't even, I knew that it's what I should do. And I remember I asked, I actually turned to Ryan Rashog for some advice. And he had said to me, you know, Carly Tronger doesn't come call. very often. And if you don't take this, you might not know when you're going to get another chance. And so I had only been working at CTV, Eminton, for six months, which is not a long time, right? And I was so happy and I was so upset when I had to go and tell my boss that, you know, they flew me out for an interview and an audition and everything and it went well. And then I got the job

offer and I had to tell I had to tell my boss and like I was bawling. It was the most unprofessional I think I've ever been but it was so honest and sincere because I didn't want to leave. I was loving what I was doing. So I mean it's funny how like sometimes you get an opportunity also when you don't necessarily want one and even when it's hard like you got to sometimes you got to do the harder thing because it's it's the right thing. So I kind of learn that lesson pretty early too. When you're looking back at your journey, your road to where you are currently, what's one of the fun events that you got to go? Like, I mean, you've got to be Olympics, World Cup, you know, hockey night in Canada for, you know, like all that it is for Canada. What is something that you just look back and you're like, man, when I was going to the whatever that day, I can't.

can't believe I'm like this is unbelievable. You know what's going to sound really, I don't know if it's going to make me sound like such an a-hole, but it's the truth. When you're in some of the moments, like you don't, I don't think I appreciated how awesome it was. Like when I got to interview Alex Dono de facto-back gold medal, like when he defended his gold medal, that was like career highlight like for me. Um, I, I, I remember when I was on the bench for hockey night. It's funny because I keep that one like front and foremost because it was like my prize when I got to do the first game for hockey night.

Like it was cool because the producer in my ear, Shirelli Nahyak, if you ever want to learn from one of the best in the entire business, he's the guru of live event production. He just makes magic happen. Like so many of the amazing moments in sports that we've seen, especially with hockey, but also with the Olympics, he's been kind of calling the shots for. But he was really considerate of that. And the night that I did hockey night for the first time, actually, nobody knows this, but I was deathly ill.

Like I had had an asthma attack the Friday and was in the emergency room. And they were going to admit me, but Joel Darling had called me. I think it was like the day before and asked me to do. do the game. And so I was like, oh my God, no, like I can't be in the hospital because I have to be at the rink tomorrow morning for the pregame skate. And then I was flying to Sochi on the Sunday. So it was like a total like cluster, you know what, like me getting to do the game. And the only reason why I got to do the game was because David Amber was hosting for the Olympics and had never covered curling before. And he had to go out to Calgary, I think, to cover curling.

So anyways, but like I was just a mess. Like I actually had taken oxy, the doctor had prescribed me like oxycodone on the Friday. And I was like, I can't take this because I have to do hockey night. Like I don't know what you're talking about. Like I was a mess. But I was like, nothing is going to like take away this for me ever. So nobody knows that.

I probably shouldn't be saying that, but it's so true. And I took an oxy on the plane to Sochi on the Sunday because I was so sick, which I also probably shouldn't be telling you, but it's just the truth. So that Saturday at the game, Shirelli knew like how jacked I was and how like amazing it was. And so I was on the bench after I had done my two interviews. And he's like, okay, Carly, just soak it up. and I was like, I'm like, and like my earpiece like went dead. And I was like, Shrelli. Like, I'm like holding the mic and I'm like, what do you mean? Stoke it off. And like the warm up music was going. And like the players are taking their laps around the ice and like the lights are going. And I'm just sitting there like, just kill me now because I'll die happy. Like if I don't, if I never do anything again, I don't even care if I F this up. Like I'm the happiest of. I'm the happiest of. I. ever been in my entire life like even if I'm technically like on medication that's like elite like I was just I was like an out-body experience like I honestly and like I remember I seem to

remember like a player skating by and like wanting to change a stick and I remember being like oh that's Phil Kessel he's 81 like let me find 81 on the stick and I'll swab it for him like and I don't like I tell that story and like I was so I don't know what that like I'm like I think it happened, but now I'm looking back and I'm like, am I just having like, was I just having like a dream or something like or like a like a mirage? I don't know. And so Shirelli gave me that. Like Shirelli let me have that. Yeah, that moment that like awe of inspiring like just soak it up moment. And so I think that's probably like when I look back, I just that was cool. You know? And yeah, that was a pretty good one. Well, I think as kids in Canada specifically, all of us dream of being a part of that night production in some way, shape, or form. You know, most of us hope you're playing in the game, right?

You get to be, and then, you know, there's a reason why that towel goes over the player's shoulder and there's there's speaking of this is a Sean standby so this is a Sean Newman podcast spectacular I'm probably going to get in so much trouble like I'm probably going to get a call tomorrow from somebody and be like you're in big trouble from work but okay so this and if you look at the logo see how it's the old like the original hockey night with the CDC logo okay and this is how you know it's old because they no longer have CBC sports on them they now have the sports net. Yeah.

So, okay, so this towel was supposed to be placed around Phil Kessel's neck when he scored a hat trick against the Ottawa Senators. And so what happened was, I mean, so this was the second game I did. And I remember it because I got to interview Bobby Ryan. and he's like one of my just favorite humans players ever. I just have always rooted for him ever since that night. So anyways, Phil Kessel scored a hat trick in this game. And at the end of the game, I'm standing by with, you know,

you have a cameraman and like an audio person and it's like you just have like this kick-ass team around you and you just feel like you're a friggin boss. So I'm standing there waiting to interview Phil Kemp. Kessel about his, because he got a hat trick. And whatever happened with the late game, we had, they dropped our interview. So everything is happening live, right? So like you, you're trying to time everything, but like you're also syncing up with Vancouver or Edmonton, like wherever the late game is. And so they dropped Phil Kessel. And so I don't remember how I stole this towel, but I stole the towel. So I don't know, like if some,

the lovely, I'm sorry now if I'm going to rat her out, but if it was like the PA or whoever I was with, like if she set it down and then left to go do something, but like, I may have asked, but I don't think I did. And then I just took the towel. And then I remember I went and met my friends. I think it was like Orles or somewhere after for a beer because I was just like hyperventilating still

and I remember like I walk up to my friends in the bar and I pulled this towel out of my bag and they were just like oh my God that's crazy

and then when I explained to them that it was like Phil Kessel's towel they just like lost their minds it was nuts yeah so that's my story about my Phil Kessel towel

Are the towels that under lock and key? They're literally under lock and key. Like you don't understand. They're literally under locking key. It's nuts. And I have a mic. I also probably shouldn't be telling you this. But these are also, the mic flashes are also like gold.

I feel bad for saying this. But I have a hockey night one hidden at Sportsnet that I may or may not have scooped. from something that I did where I needed a hockey night, my flash. So for whatever reason, these are like, they're like gold. And I stole this one when I was at the Olympics in Russia. So this was actually with me over there.

What are they gonna do with it afterwards? I don't know, but like there's just like a thing about them. Like the towels are literally locked up. And like people ask us all the time. Like at charity event, like can we get a towel? Can we get like, Like we just know like you don't even ask they're like that's crazy you know how crazy that is like i know but but like we all are into like the lore of the towel right it's like right so i mean

yeah and i for i still love so there you go yeah who's the best person you've ever had the pleasure interviewing. Because you, because you have done a lot. You've been on the beat. You know what? Stinks though? Like since I've been at sports, I shouldn't say it stinks. Because I, since I've been at sports not, I haven't been in the field as much as I was at CBC. So I do miss reporting. I definitely do. Because you, oh, I miss it so much. Yeah. Just love being in like the locker room and on the field and around the crowd or? It's not, it's not like I'm a mate, like, I won't say this the wrong way, but like, I'm not, I don't get like starstruck. Like I'm not, I don't walk in and be like, oh my God, look, there's so

and so. Like, I'm not like that. And I'll tell you the truth, most people that I've been in a room with, that was the first thing that got on my nerves when I got to Edmonton. It's like the way that people cowered to athletes. Like the reporters, um, I didn't realize it, but I was like, why is your voice so low? Like, ask a question. Like, like, speak like they're just a per like i understand we respect them like they're professionals and as am i but like i don't it's not like i'm cowering in the corner kind of thing i mean it's hard not to but um so like i'm not a star like i don't miss it because i miss being around like the stars i miss it because i like asking questions i like observing and then asking somebody about something like i and i enjoy

then retelling that like using my senses to see and hear and like bring you that and like bring you there, because that's one of the things that gets on my nerves about reporters is I'm like, tell me something I don't already know. Like, tell me something that you saw or that you heard or that you smelled, you know, like, tell me something I don't already know. Don't tell me what their goal streak is or their drought or whatever. Like, bring me there. Like, tell me something about, you know, like, so that's what I miss. I'm trying to think the person who, like, I loved You don't know how a lot of fun doing was when Heather Moyes and Kaylee Humphreys won their gold medal in Sochi. Because I forget how the schedule had worked out that night, but I had a ton of time.

Like, Shirelli actually was the one who was in my ear that night. And I didn't care what was going on around me. I, like, initiated this crazy Canadian celebration. I like called their parents and family in from the stands. And we had like this Canadian kind of like semi-circle. And we were just celebrating their gold medal like with their family members right near the podium there by the bobsled track. Yeah.

So that was really cool because it was like we were celebrating a medal with the people that they wanted to celebrate it with. But then we were broadcasting that back to Canada. So it was this cool kind of. you know, live kind of love fest, but like, go Canada go kind of thing. So that was a really cool thing to be a part of. Is the Olympics just like on an absolute other level? Because I mean like sitting back here watching it, it totally is. But then again, I've never been to an Olympics. So I can't sit here and say that. You know the thing that's a prize,

it is. Now granted, I didn't go to an Olympics in Canada, right? Like if I had been in Vancouver, I think the answer to that question would be absolutely yes. But you know what surprised me about the Olympics? How much I feel bad to, I don't want to put words in athletes' mouth, but I did get the vibe from them. So I feel like it's a truthful thing for me to say. It surprised me how much the Olympics were kind of just like another competition for some of the athletes. Really?

Yeah. And I don't mean that to take away, like from how hard they tried. But like the way that they prepare, the way that they go out and do their thing. And I think that for some of the sports, especially in the Winter Olympics, it's different, right? So like, Bob's lay like an Olympic medal, big deal because like the World Cup circuit is important to them. But like that's when the spotlight is on their sport. Whereas like with snowboarding and snowboard cross, like those kinds of things at the time, because the X games had been so, successful and also so lucrative for those athletes that like it almost a little bit like took

away from some of those events for me because I could tell that like it wasn't really like the peak thing necessarily in in their maybe like in their sport skiing I would say it was different because I feel like during the rest of the calendar year we don't really watch a lot of the like your traditional ski events like you're downhill like super. you know what I mean like those things but I feel like some of the more like extreme kind of like it was just kind of like another competition

How about uh what the heck is it called ski jump ski? Oh like where they're doing the big that one I actually was not assigned to that Did you get to at least see it? No I didn't I was like run ragged during Olympics That's the one thing I would say like

I did that was the only thing I didn't do cross-country because that was at another venue but I did like if it happened on a mountain I did it and then I did all the bobsleigh and all of the like all the sliding. So like I was

yeah I didn't get to do that one thing you didn't get to do yeah sorry but the half pipe was really cool I mean it's just like the fact that it's so worldly was what really took my breath away yeah you know like you're in a media center and like the guy beside you is from Russia and that person is from Argentina.

Like, that was what was cool to me. I was like, gosh, the world is really all together right now. You know, like, and I kept actually all my, I can show you my cheesy Olympic stuff. But when I first, when I first got there, my mom was nagging me about the pins. And I was like, Ma, like, this is just like a crazy mom thing, like, we need me alone. I'm not giving people pins. But then I got like, don't you remember back in the day, well, with soccer, you must have went to events where you always gave in patches. Oh, you did patches.

We did patches, which I thought, but I don't know. So then I got, but then I got like bit by the pin bug and I kept all of my like, I don't know, which you can see some of them. But like, for the listeners, they can't see, but for the people on YouTube, no, no, no, you. No, no, you could. Oh, no, bring them back up because I'm sitting there staring at them. So like, and I got some, like, what's the best one on there? What's the one that you're like, yeah, that was cool to get. I'm happy I stuck it on. Oh, who did I have to kiss their butt for one?

Oh, I really wanted the Italian ones because I'm Italian and I just thought like that. Oh, you know what it was? It was this one. This was like the hardest one to find because it's Coca-Cola. So see how it's the polar bear, the Coke polar bear? this was like the I don't know like the golden ticket of that Olympics

that it was like the Coke bear so yeah that was a cool one so yeah I got kind of into the pin thing but yeah it was just like the fact that you know like it's the whole world and you're all together and everybody's just kind of in a good mood and wants to celebrate and there's something cool about seeing like

Canadian jumpsuit flag kind of flying kind of flung or the Sweden or the Finland or the whatever, right? Yeah, and everywhere we went, like we, I will say that's also when I also kind of had a bigger appreciation for being Canadian because there is something about being Canadian in that world. And I can tell you, this is my Olympic horror story. The producer, God, lover, Kathy.

I had tickets to the women's gold medal game and the men's gold medal game in hockey. Okay. Asked me if I went to either of them. Did you go to either of them? How didn't you go to either of them? Because, I forget what happened, but I got assigned.

I think I had to go do a story or something. And so I gave one of my tickets to my tickets to my, producer that I had worked with on the ski hill and then I wound up watching the gold medal game um at the media center and I remember thinking like oh my god I had a ticket to this like yeah so I just I had to work I couldn't I couldn't get out of whatever I had been assigned to do or whatever I had been assigned to do finish late and like because I was in the mountains doing all the skiing and snowboarding. And then I was at the sliding center. The hockey venue was in another part of Sochi. So I wasn't going to get there. And yeah, but I love Kathy. She gave me tickets to both.

You want to know my fondest memory of the Sochi Olympics? I do. The gold medal game, Canada's playing Sweden. And I forget what time that came on over there. But here, it was, I want to say five in the morning, I think roughly, something like that. And Alberta's premier passed a law for the day, allowing bars to open up at five in the morning, okay, and serve alcohol. This is the most Canadian thing in the world. So we go to the brewhouse till there's people who went there till close and then stumbled back up there at five. We went there until midnight and then went to bed and then showed up at 4.30 in the morning to get in line to get a table and at five in this, I don't know how many people in there, but it was max capacity. I didn't have a chair. You just

stood. They served breakfast and beer and we watched that game and it is, wow, they went three nothing. It was unbelievable. They had the horn going and everybody comes stumbling out of there at eight in the morning half pin. That's so great. And that was all of Alberta. It was unbelievable. You know what was cool too about when I watched it? We had a lot because the Swedish media base was right across like the hallway from ours in the media center in Sochi. So we had put like a piece of tape on the ground like this is your half of the ice. This is our half of the ice. And we taped like a tuni in the center of the ice or it was a loony or something like for good luck, you know.

But that was what was cool about watching the game with the Swedish fans because if it had been the Americans, like there's no way that that actually. atmosphere would have been like that. But everybody was just appreciating how good of a hockey game it was. So it was kind of cool that like even though they were our enemies, like then they were celebrating with us. They were happy for us. And it was kind of this like international appreciation of the sport kind of thing, which was me. If it was if it was Sweden and Finland, they wouldn't have been so cordial. Oh good God. No. No. I learned that over there too. You know, we've talked an awful lot about a lot of different things. And the one thing we, you know, I wanted to talk a little bit about was your time in Lloyd.

And we talked a little bit about it. But I thought maybe we could come back to it because what was one of your favorite things about Lloyd? All the different stuff I got to do. I mean, I know I had on it earlier. I talked about the people and how eye-opening it was for me. Um, because I just, it was just that mentality of the work hard, play harder. And I loved it. It was just like, even though, I mean, I remember us going out and playing hockey on Bud Miller when it was like minus 30 something. Like my hair was literally frozen. You know, like, get like the icicles up your nose and everything. And then we go to BP after and like have a beer. And it was like the greatest day ever. Um, you don't get that in Ontario? No, it's just like. You know what? Because people here complain when it's that cold. And so, you know what's funny is I had a winter wedding. I'm convinced because of my time in Lloyd, because I love the winter now. I got to go. I went ice fishing when I was there. A friend of mine took me to his family cabin and I got to go and do ice fishing. I went snowmobiling. I went ATVing for the first time. And I got stuck in a few.

with horse, you know what? Because I'm stubborn and I don't listen. When they say don't go through the deep puddle, like the puddle because you don't know how deep it is underneath. Like you don't go through the puddle because it could really be deep underneath. Like I went to Regina. We went to Riders games. Oh, how did you like your rider's game?

Oh, gosh. It was so great. And then it made me mad because I'm like, I'm a Thai cat. Well, I mean, my family's all from Hamilton. Yeah. So. So, um, you're a Ticat fan. Well, and I worked with the team, right?

So I kind of really kind of reconnected with them when I was there. How cool are the fans in Saskatchew? You've got to experience fans everywhere. Well, you know what I love, though, is that, like, you see them. So, like, I had remember we went to Regina Beach that same weekend. And, like, there's rider gear everywhere. Like, people wear their rider stuff to the beach. They wear the rider stuff to the mall.

They wear it up for dinner. They wear it to a wedding. Like it's just like it's everywhere. Like you can't escape it. And yeah. So that's what I thought was cool about it. It's just that like you see it even though for a place that's so spread out like Saskatchewan, it's amazing how much like how wide that net is cast.

Like you could be anywhere in Saskatchewan and still see it. Like it's everywhere. So yeah, I, oh, God, the atmosphere. And I was at the old, I got to go see games at Mosaic, which was really cool. Mosaic Stadium, I still retell this story, is the only place I've ever been in a stadium setting, where they allowed one of our compadres to roll in with a beer bong and proceed to have beer bongs in the stands while we whipped, absolutely whipped, if there's any Winnipe. fans out there. We whip the bombers. 53 rip on the Labor Day classic. And he was running around

our area with this beer bong, getting people to beer bong. And I'm like, I'm staring at this. I'm having a grand all time. And I'm going, I can't believe this is happening. Like, I mean, this is a few years back. This is 2012 roughly. Right. So I don't know if they had allowed in the new one or not. But that is Saskatchewan. It was unreal. Well, in the pink lemonade drinks, I learned all about those. Those are really good. So yeah, I think that's what I like, I think that's what I like the most about Lloyd, all the different things I got to go and do. Like, and just the people I met, like, I, you know, one of my friends there was a carpenter and he was like, like, I didn't. And I, I, I'm going to sound ridiculous, but like, I didn't have a friend at home who was a carpenter in Ontario.

Like, I just did it. And I just was so impressed. I was like, what did what this person can do with their hands? Like, they literally are building this person's home. and like I just I just found it so much more like I just love that like raw rustic element of it you know like people make things here they do things for themselves like I got to go cattle branding when I lived in Lloyd and I was like this is badass like I can't ride a horse to save my life because I literally my horse bit through the bridle is that what it's called I don't even know and he

bolted because I didn't know what I was doing he was so pissed off off. He just, so like all the different things I got to do, like I would never get to do that had I not been out there and embraced it, you know? It's funny. All the things you're talking about, you just kind of take for granted out here. Yeah, but that's what I mean. Like, so I also loved it. You know what I mean? Like, I guess maybe because it was new to me. Um, and I really embraced it. But, you know, when someone said, oh, hey, like, we're going to go ice fishing. Do you want to come? I was like, yes. Like, I don't know what I'm doing, but I want to try it. So, yeah, like all the stuff I got to do, I just, that was what I loved the most for sure.

You have, well, no, I assume going from Lloyd to Eminton to Toronto, every time you made the step up, the newsroom, so to speak, got just a smidge bit better. what was going from Lloyd to now what are some of like the biggest differences I mean obviously the amount of people working in there's got to be one yeah the scale you know what it is though like and this is one of the things that I've always said to students like wherever I've gone the quality of a story that you're telling doesn't change so whether it's airing in Lloydminster or Edmonton or you know across the country like people are still going to see it and people are people so you know maybe the photographer who shot it like the cameraman will be that much better maybe by the time you get somewhere your read will be that much better but like if you're telling a good story it doesn't matter where you tell it it will resonate with people because people are people so I mean I think I think resources would be a big difference you know like in Lloyd we we tried to do a lot with you know what little we had

you know, the technology was better, so things were just easier and faster as I moved up. And, you know, now, like, I look back when I was in Lloyd, I wrote everything, I produced everything, and I presented. When I'm at SportsNet, you know, I'm still writing and critiquing scripts and I write all my own on cameras, but like, that's not a lot of script compared to what I used to be doing at all. So like now that I really get to focus on the performance side of the job, like I think that's gotten a lot better. Whereas in other places, because you wear so many more hats, it's harder to focus on that's almost like an afterthought. It's like, oh yeah, well, I'll just figure it out when I get there when I do it. So I think, yeah, you know, like technology resources and also like the quality of the people around you. you know, like the editors might be that much better.

The sound engineers. So, you know, like the quality of the finished product gets to be that much more polished because you're working with more senior people. How about the outfits? Oh. Well, my style's been a journey. Yeah, well, because you have, like, again, I hate to say it's resources, but like we have stylists who go shop for us now.

So like I get to pick, I get to veto, you know, I get final say. Like if I don't want to wear it on camera, I don't have to. But you know, like I have a budget for that now. Like I have someone who knows I have to wear something on TV every day. So, you know, when we're in Lloyd, we're making peanuts. Like I'm wearing my winner's clothes when I'm on the anchor desk because that's all I'm buying. You know? So it's a little different now.

Yeah. that's got to be a beautiful perk just like the first time you're like oh man this is nice yes it's wonderful I love our stylist I love our makeup artist but um it's actually the thing I like the least about what I do really oh yeah like I hate sitting in the makeup like I love our makeup artist and like they're amazing don't get me wrong like it's not it's not a knock on them but like if I could do the show like I have sweatpants on and like my slippers and like a waff, like if I could do the show like this, I would. Um, but I understand I can't. It's a visual medium. Um, but like it's just so, like I would say it takes me about an hour,

sometimes hour and a half to get ready for the show. Like I got to do my hair, I'm going to do my makeup. I got to get dressed and I got to go fix everything again. Like it's, and I'm doing have five nights a week, like every night. And it's, I mean, it's great because I have a makeup artist who does my makeup and she does a wonderful job. But like, I'm sitting in a makeup chair for 45 minutes, five days a week, every day. Like, it's just, I don't know. It gets all. Yeah. What's one of the things then you miss about whatever studio low budget you want to go? What's one of the loveliest things you had back then that now you just you don't you know what it is it was um and this isn't a knock like on the people i work with at sports net because we are a family and we are

we do do everything together but when you're in like those low budget places you really count on everybody and like you really need other people's help to make it work and so it forces you to become this tight, close-knit kind of family. And like, even if you don't like each other, you know, you still have to be able to work together in order to make the final product work. And, you know, I can look back on my newscast that from Lloyd and, you know, they're not high production value super, like I'm not, I look at them, not that I'm not proud of them, but like I know what it was kind of thing. But like I'm also really proud of that because I know how hard we all worked to make that happen.

And like how like how stressful those days were and how things came like right down to the wire and how it almost didn't happen. You know, like so I missed that aspect of it. Like look what we can do with what little we have. And you know, we were really proud of it. and we worked really, really hard. So I think that's kind of one of the things that I miss is like, you know, you're all in it together.

And if like if it gets bumpy, like they're the only ones that are going to help, you know, bring you back. So yeah, that was really cool. Like we really were a good, it really forces you to rely on other people. Well, I've held you here for we're closing in an hour and a half. Let's go into the final segment, the Crude Master Final Five. So shout out to Heath and Tracy McDonald, sponsors of the podcast since the very beginning. Five quick questions or long questions, whichever you prefer.

First off, what has been your COVID hobby? What have you been up to while being stuck inside? Honestly, the only thing has been trying to find new workouts to do at home, which isn't very exciting. It's honestly just because I'm scared I'm going to go back to work. people are going to be like, whoa, she had a good time on her quarantine. So yeah, that's so what have you been doing for, what have you been working out at? What has been your good of choice? It's so old school and lame, but it's my P90X Pliometrics video. Everybody's into that. I tell you what we pull. Yeah, yeah. It's like, because it makes me work hard. And then I do

and I'm like, okay, this actually wasn't that hard. Like, I used to be so intimidated by this. So, yeah, and I've been doing a lot of workouts outside. So, like, I take my son to the park and then I run and I bring my resistance bands and there's like stones and I do like step ups and lunges and like it's not very exciting, but it's, it's all I can do. So, yeah, that's been it. I'm not baking.

I'll tell you that much. If you could sit down for a beverage, of your choice with any one person to pick their brain. Current or past. Who would you take? You know who jumped on my mind first? Was Peter Mann's Bridge? Only because when I met him for the first time,

I literally didn't speak. Like, I couldn't. I was just, like, in shock. And he... So I was walking out of my dressing room, which was a shared dressing room. Like, please don't think I had my own dressing room in CVZ. I walked out and the national set was actually right near the dressing room and he was there and he was like Carly and I just like like when I say I didn't speak like this is why I would pick him because I would just want to apologize for how absolutely incompetent I presented myself and I was just like I didn't even say yeah I just like I guess the shock on my face like acknowledged that I heard him and he was

like, you know, I just wanted to say welcome and you've been doing a great job in the mornings and I'm really looking forward to seeing more of you. And again, like, I didn't, when I tell you, I didn't respond and you literally nothing came out of my mouth. I just stood there. And then he, like, and then he just realized that I wasn't going to like snap out of it. And so then he just said, okay, see you around. And I, again, just nothing. So you ever wonder how many times that happens to that guy or anyone for that matter just like we're trying to be nice and the people just are like and you know what Sean when the first night I did a a game on hockey night he sent me an email and said um I just wanted to say congratulations and I thought you did a great job and like that meant

you know that meant the world to me because well I don't think I have to explain why but yeah it it was uh I think it just says a lot about what he's like and who he is kind of thing On a funny side note, hey, like the fact that you got tongue tied by Peter Madge Bridge is pretty awesome. My wife's from Minnesota. So she came up here, has been living here now for, I think we're going on eight years. Wow. And took her to Bruce, which is close to Viking, Alberta. Okay.

There's a stampede there, rodeo. And it's close to the Sutter's hometown. right there from Viking and so Darrell Sutter was there in his wranglers his old beat-up you know like just this old farmer hat and he's sitting there and he walks up

and he's talking to my brother I and our brother-in-law and he says something and I can't like spit a word out I mean I'm not a word not a word and my wife is looking at me like you're an idiot like what was that And I'm like, that's Daryl Sutter. She's like, because he looks like an old barber, right?

I'm like, it's Daryl Sutter. Daryl Freakid Sutter. She's like, who's that? And I have to explain to her, the hockey lore of Daryl Sutter. And that happens to the best of us. I'm glad to hear that you had one person that could do it to you. Yeah. So, yeah, that definitely happens.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting out in your profession, Or maybe just in general. What's a good piece of advice for chasing a career of your passion? Okay, so I have two. I know I'm kind of breaking the rules, but one is say yes, be a yes person. That's kind of my thing. I always try to tell students that be a yes person because I think I've given you lots of examples already of why that can be helpful.

And then the other thing I say is be, yourself. And when I say be yourself, I mean, because, you know, you can watch people or listen to them and pick up things that you think that they do well. But in this business, the only thing that sets you apart is you. You know, nobody looks like you. Nobody sounds like you. Nobody's been where you've been or has done what you've done. So, you know, I mean, you might think that, you know, Jay Onright does this type of highlight package really well. and you love the way that he says a name. Well, you can't say it like him because then everybody's going to say,

but that's the way Jay says it. And I understand like the inkling to do that. I think it's actually a trap. Like I kind of fell under when I first got started is that you try to sound like other people because you think that that's how you should. So I always tell people like be the best, the best version of yourself because that's the only thing that makes you different from other people in this business.

and find out what makes you you you like I think the reason why I've done my best work at sports and that is because I'm the most comfortable in my own skin right now like that I've ever been in my life so I think it when you're comfortable on camera then you can actually do the work well then you can actually get into the entertaining people and then you're not so worried that you're going to make a mistake every three seconds and oh my god they're going to find out that I don't know what I'm talking about it's like no you do Or like in my case, I do. I've done this for long enough.

I know what I'm saying. I understand, you know, so I think that's important. Those are both very, very good pieces of advice. If you could guest appear on someone else's show of your choosing, who would you want to sit down and have, pick your brain? I would kind of want someone to like psychoanalyze me. So like, Sorry.

You want to be on Dr. Phil? Is that what you're trying to tell me? No, because he's illegal or something. Doesn't he, like, not even have, like, a legal doctorate or whatever? That's probably true. But, yeah, like, I think I'd want someone to explain, like, why I am the way I am. Like, all the things that drive my husband crazy to me about me, like, I'd want them to break that down and be like, this is why you're like this. The only famous show I could think of is Dr. Phil.

I know. You know what I think of, though? I think of Dr. Laura Schlesinger, which is like a radio show that used to air like at like two in the morning or something and people would call it and like tell her their problems. She an old lady? Like a really old lady? Yeah, yeah, yeah. And she was fantastic, wasn't she? I know. And my sister and I, when we were like 10, we used to listen to her. I know who you're talking about. Shoot. I know exactly who you're talking about. Yeah, she was fantastic. Yeah. So I'd want her to like get into like my nitty gritty and explain why I am the way. Okay, your final one. If you, the most random place you've ever reported from,

where it could be the weather, it could be the stadium, it could be the people, it could be all of them mixed together. Okay. So I think it's actually kind of like a running joke now at CBC slash Sportsnet. Because I worked in Lloyd and because I've been so many places,

I think they always try to find the furthest place and send me. And I always say yes, because I still always say yes, because I just, I love it. I meet new people. It's so great. You know, I'm down for whatever. So I have been to Ituna, Saskatchewan, which was great. And most recently for Hockey Day, I was in, oh my gosh, why can't I'm drawing a name, a blank name. It was northern, like northern Manitoba. Oh my gosh, why can't I? I'm so embarrassed now that I can't remember because I was just there. So we flew, I was a thousand kilometers north of Winnipeg.

So it was like minus, like honestly it was minus, you know, like 45. Churchill, sorry, Churchill, Manitoba. Okay. Yeah, so I got to go to Churchill, Manitoba for hockey day. And it was awesome. I loved it. And like, I cannot wait to take my family back. What was it about Churchill? So it's literally called the polar bear capital of the world.

Correct. Yeah. Because of where they're situated, like the peninsula, and they've got the bay on one side and they have the river on the other side. And we tried to see the northern lights. We didn't get lucky. I actually saw the northern lights when I was in Lloyd, crazy enough. Do you know? I actually, whoa, whoa, whoa. I suppose. No, no. You're in the city. So you don't see the Northern Lights at all where you're at? No, no. Really? Yeah, no, not at all. Thanks. And when I was in Lloyd, I was living, was it East Lake was the name of our apartments? I loved it because there was all like the canola fields like right near there. And so I used to love the smell.

Everybody at work thought I was crazy, but I really liked the smell. And I remember when I was on my balcony, talking to my mom. and I was like, oh my God, mom, I know you're going to think I sound crazy, but I swear to God, I think there's like a UFO or something going on tonight. I was like, the sky is green. And she's like, Carr, have you been drinking? I was like, no. Like, she's like, well, and then I said, oh my God, I think it's the Northern Lights. So yeah, I got to see the Northern Lights and but so Churchill is really famous for Northern Lights, polar bears, and beluga whales. I tell you what, you're making me happier and happier. I live exactly where I do because like the Northern Lights is just kind of like a, I don't want to say a standard thing.

I don't want to make it not seem like it's not the crazy, cool thing it is. But I mean, you see it quite a bit. Yeah, no, we get nothing here. Nothing. So yeah, but Churchill was amazing. The people there were great. I got to go dog sledding. And yeah, it was really cool.

We saw an Arctic box. It was awesome. Well, I really appreciate. you hopping on. It's been a pleasure to have you. Likewise. Maybe who knows, maybe down the road, I'll try and convince you to come back on for another time. Yeah, you just let me know. I mean, my Lloyd connections are, I mean, yeah, I've made so many. So anytime. Well, thanks again. And if anyone from Lloyd is listening, if you're ever in the Toronto area, you know how to get a hold of me. Can me a shout, say hello. I'll show you around Sportsnet. It'll be great.

cool well thanks again for hopping on okay and if bill spence is listening you still owe me a drink oh bill spence you getting called out dun dunna i just always like to chirp bill because he was always so kind to me especially his wife so uh yes lisa well i know Lisa runs the show in that household so that shouldn't surprise uh too many listeners all right well thanks again Sean i really appreciate it. And Lloyd, I got nothing but loved for you. So yeah, if anybody's ever in the Toronto area, hit me up and we'll, I'll try to repay some of the hospitality that you all showed me. Right on. Well, thank you. Okay, take care. Hey, folks, thanks again for joining us today. If you just stumble on the show and like what you

hear, please click subscribe. Remember, every Monday and Wednesday a new guest will be sitting down to share their story. The Sean Newman podcast is available for free on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever else you find your podcast fix. Until next time.