Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - Al Grego Kicks Out the Jams: Toronto Mike'd #1258

Episode Date: May 24, 2023

In this 1258th episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike is joined by the award-winning host of Yes, We Are Open as they kick out the jams. Toronto Mike'd is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, the Yes We Are Open podcast from Moneris, The Moment Lab, Ridley Funeral Home and Electronic Products Recycling Association.

I'm dying now. Welcome to episode 1258 of Toronto Mic'd. Proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery. A fiercely independent craft brewery who believes in supporting communities, good times, and brewing amazing beer. Don't pop that open yet, Al, until I finish saying the intro. Then you can pop it on the mic. Order online for free local home delivery in the GTA.

Palma Pasta. Enjoy the taste of fresh homemade Italian pasta and entrees from Palma Pasta in Mississauga and Oakville. Season 4 of Yes, We Are Open. The award winning podcast from Moneris,

hosted by FOTM Al Grego. RecycleMyElectronics.ca. Committing to our planet's future means properly recycling our electronics of the past. The Moment Lab. Brand marketing and strategy, PR, advertising, and production. You need The Moment Lab. Brand marketing and strategy, PR, advertising and production. You need The Moment Lab and Redley Funeral Home, pillars of the community since 1921.

Today, returning to kick out more jams, more great jams, is award-winning podcaster Al Grego. Welcome back, Al. How are you now? I'm all right. How the heck are you? You can tell you're not a Letterkenny watcher. Oh, no, I don't know. Did I miss a reference?

Explain it to me. You're supposed to answer good and you. Okay, okay. So that's an inside joke. I don't actually watch Letterkenny, but I did pull a very long clip for Roberta Bondar's episode. Yes, you did. A far too long clip, but I did pull a very long clip for Roberta Bondar's episode. Yes, you did. A far too long clip, as I've been told.

Okay. Do you think that clip was too long, the clip I pulled for Roberta Bondar's debut? For a woman as serious as she is, it was probably slightly too long. Now, what if I told you I added it in post? Would that change anything? Yes. She didn't have to sit there and listen to the 20 minutes of letter carrying. I hope you didn't make that Canadian

hero legend sit through all of that. I thought it was like a tribute to the show. It was. To her. Much like the t-shirt I'm wearing right now. Since we are live at live.toronomic.com but I'm not recording the audio. If you missed it, you missed it. Although we do take the photo by the tree.

But, Al Grego, tell the people what T-shirt I am wearing. It looks like you were wearing the Secondary Produce Stand podcast logo, yellow on red, which I think you're the only one to ask for that color combo. You just like being different, don't you? I wanted to have some color in my wardrobe because I felt it was too gray and black,

and I thought it needed some color. It looks great. What's the go-to color? Like what do most people pick? I think most people are boring like me. Go with either the black with white logo or the dark blue with the green logo seems to be popular as well. Well, I'm wearing this because you, in addition to hosting, and we're going to talk about Yes We Are Open, your award-winning podcast. Have you won any awards for the produce stand no we haven't we were nominated for a quill award this year but uh have they announced the winners yet because i was nominated for something yes you did i win no you

didn't win sorry we tried we tried to get you in there but is that okay what do you call again i know fotms are friends of toronto mike remind me what are the what's the name of the followers of your other podcast uh The Produce Stand? They're just DGens. Did they stuff the ballot box to get TMDS a nomination in these Quill Awards? They might have had a little bit of a hand in getting

your nomination, but that's what they're there for. And last question on this topic, what the hell are Quill Awards? Should I be excited about being nominated? Well, Quill is a podcasting company out of Toronto, and they do a lot of good work. So, you know, I mean, their awards are... It would have been an honor to be nominated for that.

Okay, I'm going to start putting it into my marketing material. Shout out to the Moment Lab. Okay, so a little update for those listening before we get to it with Al Grego. And we have great jams queued up, and we're going to have a great conversation. Uh, let's just shout out Donovan Bailey, who is a,

an FOTM himself. And I was hanging with him yesterday and he was going to kick out the jams yesterday. He's taking it very, very seriously out. Like he thinks the people don't know about his, uh, be him being a club kid as he calls himself.

So he was a club kid as he calls himself so he was a club kid before he was an olympic champion and he's really like kind of proud of this chapter of his life and he wants to like share it with the world so he's like taking his time coming up with his jams and he's going to kick him out next tuesday you should make it a little easier for him and say this could be just part one if you want to come back multiple times. Well, he's here every week anyway. Yeah, exactly. Of all the people to make it easy. So I just want to tell everybody,

Donovan Bailey's Jam Kicking was scheduled for yesterday. He's going to do it next Tuesday. Al, the hard-hitting question before we get into it, why did you miss TMLX 12? I was busy wrapping up the final episode of season four of the Yes, We Were Open podcast. You couldn't break away from the editing

booth for two hours to hang with good FOTM. I could not because I left myself short in time that week because we were up in Sudbury for my other podcast being background extras on Shorzy. I have so many places I need to go. Let's pop open our beers right now.

So you would have had a cold Great Lakes in the park if you had attended TMLX 12. Is that on mic? Okay. You've cracked open a Canuck Pale Ale. That is correct. I'm going to crack open a burst. Okay.

Thank you, Great Lakes beer. Okay. Thank you, Great Lakes Beer. Yes, thank you, Great Lakes. And you'll be taking some fresh craft beer home with you, Mr. Grego. And I hope you understand, Mike, how difficult a decision it was for me to skip out on that TMLX because I gave up my Ironman streak. I'm actually shocked at your commitment to Yes, We Are Open. And I hope the people at Moneris are listening because you were 11 for 11. You've been to 11 events and there was only two of you left.

You and the great Michael Lang. We don't mention his name here. You know, my last guest was Tyler Campbell. He's got a great beef going with Langer. But you missed TMLX 12 which brought you down to 11 for 12 and ties you with people like Rush Mike

and Moose Grumpy I think Leavey Fumka might be 11 for 12 I'm in much better company now I don't mind I don't feel bad for it but only Langer is 12 for 12 so I toast you I know no one likes him but I'm a big fan of anyone who's a big fan of mine so I toast Michael. I know no one likes him, but I'm a big fan of anyone who's a big fan of mine. So I toast Michael Lang.

Thank you, Great Lakes. Tell me about the Sudbury thing because I know Letterkenny fans will get a big kick out of this. This is a big, big... Can I swear on this podcast? It's your podcast. Big fucking deal.

Tell me what happened in Sudbury. We were invited up to be background extras on Shorzy by the production company. They were very thankful for all the work and... Free promotion. Yeah, basically free promotion and marketing that the produce stand has provided them. And they wanted to, you know, pay us back.

And so, yeah, we got to sit in the arena and be background extras, you know, during hockey scenes. So next season, you look into the stands and you might find one of us can you screen cap like if you're on shore z can you do a take a screen cap and tweet it at me oh you know i will if i if i find myself on on that show i will definitely screen cap it and share it far and wide with everyone and okay i feel feel like maybe at TMLX12, maybe, Lieve Fumke or somebody tipped me off that did you finally land your white whale? Like, is this the proper nomenclature?

Sure. No, he won't come on. Oh, I thought you, oh, you just met him. We met him. We met him in person. Oh my God. I thought he was on the produce stand. And I thought like, okay, what do you,

like when Ann Romer came on Toronto Mike and I just shut it down. Yeah, we didn't. Yeah. Yes, you did. A thousand episodes ago no uh you know we met him he's a what's his name again his name is jared kiso and uh if you've ever heard anything good said about the man it's true times a hundred like so he was very kind to you but not kind enough to say i'll go on your podcast he's a very private guy and the only media he's ever done was an interview on W5 and Q interviews. So I guess he likes the CBC. Okay, so when CBC adds the produce stand

to their network, he'll consider coming on with you. Okay, well, I hope one day he reconsiders because I think it'd be great if you guys have Jared Kiso. It would be great. On your podcast. Okay, this is episode 12 50

what did i say eight so uh historically every 250 episodes you would come over not as award-winning host of yes we are open which we're going to talk about as we kick out the jams but you would come over as fotm al grego correct and you would would have like an iPad or something with like clips and you'd go, you'd plug it into my board. I won't know what you're playing. You'd play a clip. Half the time I wouldn't know what episode it was from. Just kidding.

But then we'll count down like, I don't know, 10 or 15 or 20 like greatest moments from the previous 250 episodes. So this is 1258. I got out my calculator. I crunched some numbers. So this is 1258. I got out my calculator. I crunched some numbers.

I realized, oh my goodness, we have not done a best of 1001 through 1250, which was the Mike Stafford episode. That's right. Can you give us a progress update on, is it progress or progress? We're in Canada. It's progress.

So is it produce stand? Yes. Because I've been calling it produce stand. Yes, you have. And I also say pasta. Is it pasta? That I don't know. Do you want a lasagna? Of course I do. From Palma Pasta? Yes. Because I've been calling a produce stand. Yes, you have. And I also say pasta. Is it pasta? That, I don't know. Do you want a lasagna?

Of course I do. From Palma Pasta? Yes. Okay, I'll give you directions to Palma Pasta. That's the only reason I'm allowed to come down here. Oh, wait. Pick it up. Just kidding. I have one in my freezer for you, Al Grego.

The kids love it, right? Mm-hmm. Of course they do. You're using me for my lasagna. Every time I say I'm going to Toronto Mike's, they say, you're bringing lasagna home then. And no vegans in the house yet? No, heck no. You know, here, I

would say, you need to have iron in your diet. So it's difficult. Now, it's not impossible, but it's very difficult to get all the iron you need if you cut out red meat and fish and things like that. So I'm not telling people

they should eat meat. I think just for the environment alone, not eating meat would be a wonderful thing. I'm just pointing people they should eat meat. I think just for the environment alone, not eating meat would be a wonderful thing. I'm just pointing out there are some advantages to being a carnivore. Okay, got to keep the iron up so your hemoglobin levels are good. All right.

What is the progress again? So on this episode 1001 to 1250? I've assembled the academy, the team, and they're going through all the episodes as we speak, and we've got a spreadsheet going and stuff. Oh, Michael Lang, I think he told me he's a couple hundred episodes behind, so he actually can't be part of this team.

So I am crowdsourcing this functionality. Is YYZ part of this team? Because he's on these episodes. Yes, Gord is on there, and Gord's actually going to be on my podcast on the produce stand next week but so stay tuned

for that and all the worlds are colliding buy some time I know Al but I'm wearing the t-shirt exactly

because I like you that much but please so give us the final prog so when can we expect you to return to kick out the best of 1001

to 1250 and then I'm curious will episode 1250 be And then I'm curious, will episode 1250 be there? Because it's been, in terms of engagement, like I actually don't judge things on engagement, but for fun, because I'm a human being,

I did notice a massive like uptick in just emails about an episode, like almost Molly-esque. Yes. In the reaction to episode 1250. And it's still being shared and i'm still getting notes from people who i just heard episode 1250 with mike stafford i waver between feeling like he got you know jobbed by the corp and he got screwed over to he shot himself in the foot

and he deserves to bleed like it's all over the map here. Any chance 1250 makes the cut as the best of? Well, I'll say this. It's a memorable episode. And I look for memorable clips for these shows. So possibly. Okay, stay tuned. So will it be 2023 when you return for this best of? I'm hoping sometime in June.

Give me some time. How hard is it? The committee can help you. Is Tyler Campbell part of the committee? Yes. Because he's on it too. That guy's on it. Okay. Oh, yeah, they're all on it. And I'm grateful because I've had, I literally just wrapped up season four. So I haven't had a chance to think about it. So yes, I'd like to a few of those to be my own picks as well. So we'll see. Okay, one more question now, because you wear many hats. Like I think of you as the, the produce stand guy,

which means you're a letter Kenny expert and shoresy expert. I think of you as the award winning, uh, podcaster, uh, who hosts, yes, we are open from Mineris. I think of you as that guy.

And then I think of you as El Grego FOTM, who's been to 11 of 12, uh, TMLX events and listens to the program and curates the best of, and you've been there since the beginning. Some say I'm responsible for your award that you won. I'm not saying that. and listens to the program and curates the best of, and you've been there since the beginning. Some say I'm responsible for your award that you won. I'm not saying that.

I've heard that. People have mentioned it to me, but you can say what you want about that. How do you feel about the fact that we're now in late May 2023 and none of these people have appeared on Toronto Mic'd in this calendar year? You ready for the list? Yes. Stu Stone,

Cam Gordon, Mark Weisblot. What say you cuddly El Grego as Mark Weisblot once called you? I miss all three of them. I miss Mark's periodic episodes and I've been waiting to hear whether Stu's back in the

country because I was hoping to get him on the produce stand as well. Oh my god. If you can book him and I can't I'm gonna be very jealous now I do have an invitation to a wedding I won't give any specifics but I'm invited to a wedding in early July that Stu is also invited to interesting so I mean is he back in the country I don't think so no I don't think so either so So, okay. So Stu is MIA. So we're going to see him on milk cartons as we go. But I have some great news. Next week, returning to Toronto

Mic'd, 1236's own Mark Weisblatt! Excellent. That's happening next week, everybody. I get more notes. Well, you know, I don't get more notes about this than I do the Mike Stafford episode, but I get notes from people like, what happened to Mark Weisblatt?

And one of the consistencies with these emails I get is, did we have a falling out? Okay, did Weisblatt and I have, did I uninvite him because of something he said or did he get mad at me for something? And honestly, the truth, I wouldn't lie to you, Al Grego, you're cuddly and you're a good friend and you're a good FOTM.

Zero falling out. Literally, he asked if he could be removed from the lineup for an undisclosed period of time. And I complied because what am I going to do? Force him to come over? You know, I don't even pay the guy. I pay him with beer and lasagna and Ridley Funeral Home flashlights or whatever. And now, of course, he gets lovely Mineris wireless speakers. But as you know, the reaction's been great.

I got some news on that later. But no falling out, no ill will. My invitation to him was evergreen. When he's ready to come back, he'll come back. And he's coming back next week. So are you excited about that? I am. I'm looking forward to hearing what he's been up to and hopefully he's got some plans

to resume his regular visits here. And his 1236 newsletter. Yeah, that too. I mean, I'm a subscriber and I haven't received anything in my mailbox. No, that's bullshit, right? We get what we pay for, right, Al Grego? Exactly. Are you

ready, Al Grego, the cuddly one, are you ready to kick out the jams? Yes, I am. Why is the world so creepy, she asked The car full of haircut stroke pads Backseat full of the boys Told her that it isn't That it's exquisite

But like love it has its barbarous threats Still in spite of the cats And its stoop-shouldered tears I know I'm losing you I know what that means, yeah I told her that it isn't That it's real exquisite But like love, it can have its stuff to a fix

Like love in can have its stuff to a box And just like after she heard The word iridescent Everything was iridescent for a while You don't mind that I soak in this for a little bit? Oh, no. It's one of those, one of their songs that has no chorus, really. Yes, like nautical disaster. You know, this is the second episode in a row in which we kicked out a jam from In Violent Light.

Yep, that's why I picked it. Well, one of the reasons I picked it. So, yes from In Violent Light. Yep, that's why I picked it. Well, one of the reasons I picked it. So yes, In Violent Light, 2002. But in that year, it was also on the Men With Brooms soundtrack. And that's why we're kicking it off with our first episode of Yes, We Were Open. Okay, so tell me about episode... So again, we're here promoting season four.

That's right. But you know, if you haven't heard the first three, they're still available. Yes. They're podcasts. They're always available. Right. That's the glorious thing about podcasts.

That's why Langer's a year behind on his Toronto mic listening. But what was your subject? Who were your subjects? Episode one of season four of Yes, We Are Open. So this season I got to go east and I went to New Brunswick first. Nice.

Yeah, and I ended up at a pleasant little town called Sackville, New Brunswick. And I interviewed... I've heard of this town. Yeah, the members of the 150-year-old Sackville Curling Club. Wow. Yeah. The oldest business... Those are some old people.

Yeah, the oldest business by far that I've interviewed. And it was a great visit. You know, if you ever do an episode with the Hudson Bay Company, you can beat that record. Well, but they're not a small business. They are now. They're shrinking now. They're not going to be around much longer. I'll catch them on their way out, unfortunately.

Yeah. And I got to visit Alan Smith. He's a member of the curling club, but also kind of the club's historian. And I got to hang out with them and watch them curl. And even met Huey Fensom, whose great-grandfather was the owner of the first elevator company in Canada. Get out of here! He got bought up by Otis. It's a great story.

And Huey was a hilarious interview. He was a pleasant guy to talk to and and had lots of stories and uh yeah it was fun well at the end of the day yes we are open as a storytelling podcast like the reason i like it is like i happen to be a very small business owner like it is almost too small you're like that's too small come on give us a break you're something you need something between the hudson bay company and tmds but like the way you tell the story even the ambience sounds like i find myself getting lost because you've got a great voice you're a curious cat you're a good conversationalist and you give you bring us into that place and time like it's like okay i'm in new brunswick now we're talking to does alan go by al alan oh yeah. We both introduced ourselves as Owl and shook our hands.

Did you say you can call me Owl? Yeah. You're kicking out that jam? Let me check the list. No, you're not kicking out that jam. All right. So curling. Yeah, that's an inspired choice because they make a cameo.

The Tragically Hip are in Men With Bruins. So finding a curling song is surprisingly difficult. I did find one. The Weaker Dance. They have the definitive great, they have a fantastic, Hearts, what's that, Curling Heart? I'm going to Google it while you tell me your thought there. Well, so, yeah, I found a few, but they weren't, I mean,

they were fine. They were like, we don't have a Stompin' Tom version of the. Tournament of Hearts by the Weaker Thans is my all-time favorite. And it's a beautiful song by a great band, but they're out of, you know, Winnipeg. the Weaker Thans is my all-time favorite. And it's a beautiful song by a great band, but they're out of, you know, Winnipeg.

Yeah, the Weaker Thans. Yeah, I know them. They also have that song I Hate Winnipeg from the Less Than Kind soundtrack.

You got it. Shout out to, what was his name? He was on your show. I'm going to watch you square him because this happens to me all the time

because you know I don't edit this show. And I can picture a face. There he is. And now this ties into Stu Stone because he was in Bandits. I met him at the other Stu Stone premiere. He was there at the Faking a Murderer. So I went and said hi because I was a big fan of Less Than Kind.

Right. I'm hoping to have him on the podcast. And he's an FOTM. That's right. Okay. Well, listen, this is the Stu Stone podcast. And welcome if you're listening at home. Just so I want to, so I went with the Men

with Brooms soundtrack because it's a soundtrack that's better than it should be. Sarah Harmer. Yes. Our Lady Peace. The new Pornographers. Is this Silver Road? I've been here on the Silver Road. I don't know which track they use. I think it is and it's a great song. Two tracks by Big Sugar.

Your buddy Tom Wilson's in there. Matthew Goodband's in there with Hello Time Bomb. Holly McNarland. And two songs by the hip poets and this one, Throwing Off Glass. Yeah, I just decided

to remind myself, and you're right, this soundtrack, and the movie's not very good, but the soundtrack, because Mass Romantic by the New Pornographers is just, from that decade,

one of the great Canadian songs. Shout out to Michael Barclay, who wrote the book. But holy moly, I am looking at this right now. It's a heavyweight soundtrack. Yeah, Holly MacGarland shows up there. Okay, put her on my list. And even Our Lady Peace and FOTM Jeremy Taggart on drums is there with Life.

That's right. Yeah, and that Silver Road with Sarah Harmer features the Tragically Hip and beautiful song and a great version. Yeah. Big Sugar. Digging a Hole

is on that album. Yeah. Oh my goodness. Oh, Hockey Skates by Kathleen Edwards. Yeah. Oh, this soundtrack and I had no business

being so good. All right. Good start. So episode one, 150 year old curling club in New Brunswick and you, you got to expense that trip to New Brunswick.

Did you have a good time? Sunny Sackville. Sackville is a very charming town. Actually, Moneris has an office there, so I got to go visit that as well. Oh, they made you work? No, they didn't make me work, but I wanted to go visit. And unfortunately, it was empty

because everyone's working these days. But Sackville itself, the Mount Allison University is in that town. So it's like a town, I think the, I can't remember now, but I think the population might be 6,000 and university makes up half that population. Right. Yeah, like there's a lot of towns in this country

where they're university towns. And that's cool. Sackville, I've heard a lot about Sackville. Where have I been? I've been to Moncton. Spent, I walked on the ocean floor in Moncton because they have this tide thing going on there. The Boar Tide.

Yeah, you got it. You know all about it. I was there, so I get to. I think St. John. I spent a night at St. John, which is in New Brunswick, I believe. And that's now home to FOTM Maestro Fresh West. Oh, see, next time I go,

maybe I'll knock on his door. And I think he has a radio show there. I don't know if that's changed, but that's what he told me last time. Okay, see, next time I go, maybe I'll knock on his door. And I think he has a radio show there. I don't know if that's changed, but that's what he told me last time. Okay, great start. Are you ready for jam number two? Go for it. Love is a burning thing.

And it makes a fiery ring Bound by wild desire I fell into a ring of fire I fell into a burning ring of fire. I went down, down, down, and the flames went higher. And it burns, burns, burns the ring of fire.

The ring of fire. Did you go to a volcano? Close. Alright, tell me why we're listening to the legendary Johnny Cash and Ring of Fire. Another stop on my tour was a small town called Rigo in Quebec, and I visited Greg and Tina Brooks, and they are the owners and proprietors of Brooks Pepper Fire Foods hot sauces.

Okay, did you sample their hottest of sauces? No, because I'm a chicken shit. But I did sample, you know. Oh, when in Rome. I know, I sampled I think one that was around 7 or 8 on their scale of 0, or actually minus 4 to 28. Okay, it goes

to 28. Yeah. Okay, I'm thinking if you're there, you've got to go give me your spiciest sauce and let's go for it. Well, when the owner says that I don't even try number 28, then I'm excused. I'm not Rick Mercer. I'm not there for the stunts. I'm there for the story.

I just thought of something. Okay, Al, I know you're a letter-kenning guy, but did you ever hear of a show called The Simpsons? Yes. Do you remember when Homer had the hot pepper and the dog was talking to him? Who do you think voiced the dog? Oh, here we go. I don't know. Who?

Johnny Cash. Really? Johnny Cash voiced it? It all comes full circle. Find your soulmate, Homer. Yeah, and that's because he tripped out like an acid trip because he took the hottest of peppers there. Am I going to? Yes, Johnny Cash. an acid trip because he took the hottest of peppers there. Do you know this song,

although popularized by Johnny Cash, was not originally recorded by Johnny Cash? That is correct. I don't want to step on your toes. Do you have some fun facts? I should just let you do your fun facts. It was written by June Carter Cash and Merle Kilgore. June Carter Cash later became

Mrs. Cash. Originally recorded by June's sister. She wasn't June Carter Cash. She was June Carter Cash later became Mrs. Cash. Right. Originally recorded by June's sister. In fact, she wasn't June Carter Cash. So she wrote it. She was just June Carter. Thank you for that correction. June's sister, Anita Carter. So same year, she came out with it first.

And then Johnny Cash made it the big hit. Johnny liked the song so much, he married the songwriter. Yeah, it was just the song, yeah. And because it was back in the, what year are we talking about here? The 60s. He had to marry June. He wasn't allowed to marry Merle Kilgore back then. I don't know if that's...

I'm bringing the fun facts here. I'm bringing the heat because you got the hot. So tell me about this business. It was really cool. So I got to visit them. They have a store there and they let me tour the production facility and the jarring facility and stuff. And I got to visit them. They have a store there and they, and, and they toured, they let me tour the production facility that, and the jarring facility and stuff.

And I got to see their operation and it was really cool. Yes. I did try one of their hot sauces and it was plenty hot. I didn't need to go any hotter than that. But they were a delight and a lot like really fun to interview. And yeah, had a great time with them. Here's a fun fact I got from the Wikipedia page.

You ready? In 2004, Merle Kilgore, who of course was a co-writer of the song of June, wanted to license the song for a hemorrhoid cream commercial. That's about right. Preparation H, I believe, to be specific. And the June Carter hes were not interested in licensing that great song to Preparation H. And here I am using it

to talk about a hot sauce company. Well, I thought it was for volcanoes at first. So, okay. You know, I love it. I love it because we kick out these jams. We get the story behind season four of Yes, We Are Open. And along the way,

I can ask you a few questions such as, how many awards have you won for this podcast? Because I mention it every time. And then I remember that I've won zero awards for Toronto Mic'd. Just the one, the branded podcast of the year. But we've been nominated for a couple. And I'm hoping this year we'll enter for the Canadian Podcast Awards again. And I'll see if I can't get our followers, our supporters.

Oh, now I have to realign the degens now remember when i was the forefather now i'm the follower here oh my goodness does minaris give you a bonus when you get an award like that like here al here is an award of your own my typical year-end stipend as everyone does on oh you should get something extra for winning like a podcast awards if they did add to your contract or something like you got, I'll make it up. You get $2,500 every time you're nominated for an award. I would start an award. I would start the, just the Toronto Podcast Association gives out these awards and I would

give you awards and then you could just like slip me like a 200 bucks or something. You're missing out an opportunity here. I think you. Mike, you're missing out on an opportunity here. I think you've got, you're onto something. You have so many connections in the biz, you should start your own award. Okay, I'm going to work. That's a new project for 2023. I'll get the VP on that one right away.

Now, I had a guest this morning from Esri Canada. So shout out to Mike Rogotsky from Esri because a couple of people there, Mark and Maggie, were recording a show they have with Esri Canada. And I was telling them that you were coming over because, long story short, Maggie saw there was boxes of Palma Posta and she asked about it. And I said, oh, every time a guest comes, every time a bell rings, an angel gets their wings. Every time a guest comes over, I give them a lasagna. This was like mind blowing to her.

So we're chatting and then I'm talking about how you're coming over and I give them a little bit of lasagna. This was like mind-blowing to her. So we're chatting, and then I'm talking about how you're coming over, and I have the songs loaded up. And then I played this, and then, oh my goodness, a dance party broke out. And Mark Ho particularly loved this jam. It brought him right back.

He's an 80s kid. Anyway, let's get to it. The third jam. Here we go. Rock it. Rock it. Rock it. Rock it. jam. Here we go. If I, I get to know your name

Well, if I could trace your private number, baby All I know is that's me You look lovely, that's a fact Open up your loving eyes I want some Well, if I, I I see the sights of you And you're the one else who do And I, I've got to have my way now baby

All I know is that's me, you look like you're having fun Open up your loving eyes, watch out Here I come. You spin me right round, baby, right round. Like a record, baby, right round, round, round. You spin me right round, baby, right round. Like a record, baby, right round, round, round. Elves dancing in the TMDS studio, everybody.

The sprinkler. You spin me around, dead or alive. That's right. Your choice. Tell us the reason why, and then I'll shout out somebody. All right. So I went back to New Brunswick. This time I was in Moncton.

But a second trip? No, no, same trip. Okay, because there's a note on the live stream, live.tronemike.com, from the aforementioned YYZ, Gord, how much lobster did you consume during your trip to New Brunswick? Here's the thing. You don't like lobster. No, I love lobster.

But when you're traveling alone and you're walking into one of those, I wanted to go in and have some seafood, but it was like one of those restaurants where it's like packed with people and i just didn't feel right walking in by myself and ordering the lobster so i didn't i never had any lobster while i was there that's the saddest story i've ever heard it was so sad i was like outside the window looking in at all the nose pressed up against the window the lobster looking inside everyone enjoying lobster plus my pretty and wouldn't cover lobster that would be out of pocket. Yeah, that's no good. Okay, so continue, my friend.

So I visited Patrick Parise at Spin It Records and Videos, so hence the Spin It theme. And he basically runs a vinyl and video rental store, if you can believe it. Largest in Canada. He still rents videos. Yes. DVDs and yeah. Amazing. And the vinyl collection is amazing

and surpassed only by his pinball machine collection. His vintage pinball machines. This guy is just a Luddite is what you're telling me. I mean you know he's our age but he's you could say that he's stuck in the past. I think he's just celebrating. He's a nostalgia merchant for sure. You claim's stuck in the past. I think he's just celebrating. Yeah, he's a nostalgia merchant for sure.

Like you claim to be all the time. Like retro Ontario. He's definitely a nostalgia merchant. And his store, if ever you're in Moncton, I highly recommend you check out Spin It Records and Video because there's something there for everyone. Okay, because when I saw the song by Dead or Alive, I thought you were going to be shouting out Ridley Funeral Home.

Well, you can. I'll leave that to you. Well, let me give you this, okay? Because I want to hear what joke you have for this. But I have a, it's measuring tape, courtesy of Ridley Funeral Home, pillars of the communities in 1921. Oh, by the way,

there's going to be a grilled cheese challenge on Lakeshore in New Toronto on June 10th. And Ridley Funeral Home is entering the grilled cheese competition which they won last year. Al, that's for you. Thank you. That's all you got. No jokes about measuring something. Measuring

your casket. Okay, this one is for my Letterkenny listeners. I'll say this. Happy 5.15 day and we'll leave it at that. You'll have to look at that yourself. I gotta Google that one later. May 15th is a special day in Letterkenny world. Yes, You Spin Me Around Like a Record by Dead or Alive. Is that considered a parenthetical jam

because like a record is in... Yeah. Yeah, there you go. That's exactly what a parenthetical jam is. So in 85 on from their album youth quake uh releases a single in 84 and you hear this song and it screams the 80s and it's like one of those seminal 80s songs but it took like 11 or 17 weeks for it to get to number one in the uk interesting it took a while it was a grower it was a grower not a shower is that what

you're telling me it's back to the measuring tape. Okay. Great song. Takes me right back. Absolutely a parenthetical jam. A great example. And I see it does eventually peak at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. But yeah, it takes a while to get there. Ranked 981 by Q Magazine on the list of 1001 best songs ever. Well, we shouted out Ridley Funeral Home because of Dead or Alive,

but we should also shout out Ridley Funeral Home. But of course, the lead vocalist we listened to in this great song, Pete Burns, no longer with us. That's no good. No. Shout out to Ridley Funeral Home. Ridley Funeral Home, if they're not,

are they a Moneris client? That's a great question. I don't recall. Because I will talk to, actually, I see him tomorrow. He's coming over tomorrow. I don't recall. Because I will, I'll talk to, actually, I see him tomorrow. He's coming over tomorrow. I'll find out. If they are,

then you should definitely do an episode because that's a great story. And if they're not, I'm going to make sure they rectify that because you're doing it wrong. Yeah,

exactly. Switch, and then I'll come and visit you. How long have you been at Moneris? Eight years this month. And you're happy there?

Very much so. That's like the greatest endorsement because I get itchy after eight months anywhere, which is why I do this now and it's always different all the time. But eight years. Yeah. It helps when you switch careers midway, but it's still in the same company. So you are like the, correct me if I'm wrong, but like your business card says podcast guru.

What's on there? Well, actually, technically I'm the emerging channels communications manager. Not podcast guru. But when somebody asks me what I do, I say I'm a podcaster and we leave it at that. Anything specific that might've inspired you to go down this path? Or was it just like a, you went to,

you had a dream. Oh, come on. You know the story. We've, we've rehashed this story. This is Toronto Mike. Yes.

This isn't GSVR Open. Toronto Mike. No awards will be won on this program i need to capture this story again because i quite enjoy it yeah well years ago when i started my gig at maneras just up the road from you eight years ago uh yes and um i believe i reached out to you because i was a listener and and even a reader of your blog from 2003 love it and uh and i said hey i want to start podcasting at work. Can I come and see your studio?

And you said, hell no. Who do you think you are? Yeah. And like, you think any random stranger can just write me and end up in my basement studio? I've had Humble and Fred down here. I've had Rosie down here. Who the hell are you? Jeff Merrick's been down here.

Jeff Merrick. Episode 74. George Strongblop has been down here. Who the hell are you? Jeff Merrick's been down here. Jeff Merrick. Episode 74. George Strongblatt has been down here. Right. No, you were gracious and you gave me the tour and we talked podcasting and I put the headphones on and you played that amazing ill vibe theme and it gave me shivers. It was amazing. And from then on, I was hooked.

Shout out to Illy. Love that story. Every time you come over, I can ask for that story i'll just probably get jukebox i'll just play it okay let's kick out another jam loving this let's kick out some can con i went walking in the garden i was tripping on snakes now i ain't asking for your love and I'm just asking what your love is gonna take Ignorance is bliss when you're young enough to kiss a Young men don't need pardons How much love you gonna make?

Keep your head above the water And breathe before the ice of the lake I ain't gonna let him twist my wrist I ain't gonna let him kiss these lips, no Yeah! Finally some Toronto content! Yes. Why... Is it The Garden or Garden? The Garden by July Talk. It's finally some Toronto content. Yes. Why?

Is it The Garden or Garden? The Garden by July Talk. Is it The Tragically Hip or can you just say Tragically Hip? Yeah, it's The Hip. So you don't need to say Tragically at all? No. I'm going to call Jake and find out. Okay.

Why The Garden? All right. Well, episode four of Yes, We Are Open. I went to Milton, Ontario and I visited all the way to Milton. All the way to Sunny Milton right off the 401. James Snow Parkway. I visited our

buddy Ian Service. Slow down. Ian Service. Love this guy. Big hard calves. Keep going. Oh God. He's Big hard calves. Keep going. Oh, God. No, he's got great calves. Yes, F-O-T-M-E in service.

He of the hard calves. And I visited his place of employment. Well, one of his many places of employment, Landscape Ontario. And they, among other things, they make nice gardens. Well, a big part of landscaping is a garden. Absolutely. But how do you choose? And I'm glad you chose this.

I quite like a July talk. I'll tell you a little story how I met them once. But there's so many garden jams. There are. And I mean, I could have chosen a bunch, but this one has a bit of a special place in my heart because the weekends, not the weekend, but the weekends. Well, he changed his name for you anyway.

He saw you guys came up, the weekend showed up, and he said, that's it. I'm going back to my birth name. Right? Exactly, yeah. That's exactly why he changed it. We play this song. This is one of the songs we play on our set list. And I love playing this song because it shows off the difference between myself and Brooke, our other singer.

And yeah, we love it. It's a good duet song if you have a great woman voice along with someone who sounds like Cookie Monster. That's right. I've been walking in the garden. Yeah. There you go. Just do the rest of the episode like that, okay?

Because you could have, you're like, I could do, wanna run through your working garden. Right, you got some STP. There's some Pearl Jam. There's a lot of garden And I won't even go back to like In the Garden of Eden By Guns and F and Roses A lot of gardens

I like this one I would kick out I would kick out the garden songs one day But yeah that's great I was very early days of Humble and Fred So go back to like 2000 Their daily podcast I should point out 2011 like I don't know October 2011 And the Early Days of Humble and Fred. So go back to like 2000, their daily podcast, I should point out.

2011, like I don't know, October 2011. And the, I'm going to get that correct. I want to get the names right. It is Peter Drumanis and Lee Faye Goldstein, by the way,

daughter of Toronto Sun journalist, Lori Goldstein. Oh. If you didn't know that, which is a fun little fact. So Lee and Peter were guests on Humble and Fred in the early days

and I had a great chat with them like backstage. Like they were in like a green room basically. It was like being on like the Tonight Show or something. You should have them on.

I know I should have them on. You're absolutely right. I should have them on. I have a vague recollection during the pandemic. July Talk did a show. Drive-In. Yes, a drive-in show.

Ontario Place. Well, and they broadcasted it at the drive-in in Holland Landing, which is, yeah. And you know Holland Landing because that's near where you live. Yeah, exactly. Maybe you even live there at the drive-in. I might even live there, yeah. My wife saw Janet Jackson yesterday. I like saw her walking down the street,

but like paid big money to see her at the Budweiser stage. Oh, wow. That would have been a good show. Yeah. And she even bought a t-shirt and she, she came home late last night wearing her Janet Jackson teenager. Like she was a teenager. I said teenager because I was going to say wearing her Janet Jackson t-shirt

like she was a teenager. And then I just, you know, switched it up there. Okay. So keep up with me. Anyway, Landscape Ontario. I just really want to give them a shout out. Yeah, yeah. Let's talk more about them.

They do great work. They're like an association that represents landscapers all across the province, obviously. I got to visit their headquarters and check that out. I even got to attend their trade show, their annual trade show, which happens at the Congress Center. Right. And that was impressive. Like talk about going into a real live,

like Tonka trucks, you know, life-size, like this machinery and it's gleaming brand new. The cleanest it'll ever be because it's meant to be digging around in the dirt. It's just an impressive place to go visit. And yeah, lots to see. Pools and gazebos and, you know, all this stuff. Like if you ever dreamed of having, you know, a backyard oasis, this is the kind of place

you want to go and check it out. Midnight at the Oasis. If we ever get the pleasure of visiting the Ian Service Estate in Guelph, Ontario, I wonder what that landscaping looks like. Yeah, that's a good point. You know what I mean? Like, you know, you always want to know like, but then it's like, who cuts the barber's hair? That's true. Not a good analogy, but that's because there's multiple landscapers.

You'd think that he would have volunteered his backyard to be like, you know, Team LX. Yeah. I could get Mike Schreiner over there. Who else do I know in Guelph? That's it, actually. Yeah. I could get Mike Schreiner over there. Who else do I know in Guelph? That's it actually. Okay. So Ian, if you're listening,

Ian's been busy lately because there's something I've had him, asked him to work on and he's, he's like a one-armed wallpaper hanger. Shout out to the one-armed wallpaper hangers. But Ian Service, a great member of the, the FOTM community. And I did listen to that episode because I wanted to hear Ian's voice

and sparse Ian, but he's in there. Yeah, I mean, I was there to interview Heather McRae and Joe Salemi because they're the big hitters there. But Ian definitely helped me with the introduction into the show and into learning more about Landscaping Ontario. He's a big shot there.

Like even during their gala, everyone was deferring to, to Ian. He's, he's a big wheel at the cracker factory. Okay. See, I think I speak Simpsons the way you speak letter Kenny.

Yeah. So why don't you start a Simpsons podcast? I can listen to it. Oh, how many, what season are they on? 32 maybe. I have 89 was the first. There's more than a couple of Simpsons podcast. I can listen to it. Oh, how many, what season are they on? 32 maybe? 89 was the first episode. There's more than a couple

of Simpsons podcasts, I'm sure, out there already. Oh, there's always room for one more. You're an award winner, okay? So we're going to get to the next jam, but I just want to let everybody know that if it wasn't Al Grego on Toronto Mic today, I would be giving my guest a wireless speaker, courtesy of Moneris.

I'm not giving Al one because I feel like he's got bushels full. I got a couple of boxes in my house with your name on them, actually. Okay, well, bring them to me. What are you doing with my freaking speakers there? But when there's anyone out there with old speakers or old laptops or old phones, that's a big thing. Everybody's upgrading their phone every three, or in my case, every 13, 14 years, whatever you can afford.

What do you do with the old phone, right? What do you do with the old phone? I've been, lately, we took our old phones and put them on the Wi-Fi and we let the kids play with them. Like it's their phone, like just for like whatever, watching YouTube or whatever.

But at some point when your phone is broken or it's time for the junkyard, you don't throw it in the garbage. You go to recyclemyelectronics.ca. Repeat with me, everybody. Recyclemyelectronics.ca. Find the nearest, closest place to safely drop off that tech

so it can be disposed of in a proper manner. I almost broke into the 100th Meridian by the tragic clip. Dispose of it properly and get Ry Cooter to say my eulogy. But do it at double speed if you don't mind. If you don't mind. I prefer it regular speed. I prefer the album.

I prefer it double speed because I love it live where it's double speed. And when I listen to the album, it feels too slow. Sort of like the people I encounter in the wild who tell me they listen to Toronto Mike at double speed and they think I'm drunk. Yes. And I'm not drunk. This is actually my speed.

I can't give you double speed in real time. Or maybe I can. Okay, let's get to another jam. Jam. You know my girl just called me up And she woke me from my sleep I heard the thing she said You know she hurt my feelings deep

I'm gonna buy me a dog A dog? A dog. Why? Why? Cause I need a friend now Babe, you need all the friends you can get, I'm telling you I'm gonna buy me a dog My girl, my girl, no love, no how I'm telling you. I'm gonna buy me a dog.

My girl, my girl, no love, no how. Don't ruin my time. The only song I already ruined, but it was wrong. Where's the verse? She used to bring me mine. Is this an outtake, Al? What's going on here? This is the final track on the Monkees' self-titled debut, Monkees. Gonna buy me a dog.

Let me guess. Dog rumors. Yes. debut monkeys. Gonna buy me a dog. Let me guess. Dog groomers. Yes. Well, pretty much. Dog house in actual Montreal. Yeah, they're groomers. They sell dog food. They sell all sorts of pets. Your one-stop shop for all your canine requirements.

Absolutely. And where are they again? They're in Montreal on Sherbrooke Street West End. I know Sherbrooke Street very well. And where are they again? They're in Montreal on Sherbrooke Street, West End. I know Sherbrooke Street very well. And you didn't tell me you were going. I would have joined you to visit my daughter. Yeah, it was a lot of fun in Montreal. And, yeah, they were great.

Great visit there with Evelyn and her staff, Sarah. I'm noticing a trend. So, like, by seasons, do you decide if you're going west or east yeah I try to yeah so you know season one

Saskatchewan season two BC season three Ontario season four I thought I'd go east since we went west

and I hit New Brunswick yeah cause I'm here in Moncton I'm here in Quebec rural Quebec I suppose and then and I'm hoping to go even further east

for season five I said rural did you hear that yeah well done. When I listen to the produce stand, you don't stumble on brewery. Say it for me again. Brewery. No, I don't.

I stumble on other things, but not brewery. Famously, I stumble on Massachusetts, but that's just for effect. On purpose. Yes. I'm just going to tell people all my stumbles are on purpose as well. Okay, so I've never owned a Monkees album. I only know the hits. I watch the show on MuchMusic, though. And Syndication, obviously.

And I know all the hits in Last Train to Clerksville and all the Believer songs. They have like I'm a Believer and they have Daydream Believer. They're like the Believer jammers. Yeah, I'm a big fan of Monkees. I actually got to see them live in Toronto back in probably 95, 96.

Okay, so all four were there. Only three. No, Michael Messmith was not there. But he was, that was still. Oh, because he had all that white paper money. Exactly. Yeah, liquid paper, yeah. Liquid paper.

Yes, you know what I mean. Yeah, I know. Okay, because he's no longer with. So we're down to one, right? One monkey. One monkey, yeah. Mickey Dolenz. That's right.

Do you remember a movie with Mickey Dolenz's daughter and the French actor, famous French actor? Gerard Depardieu. Yes, thank you. Gerard Depardieu and Mickey Dolenz's, I think her name is Amy, Amy Dolenz. Do you remember this movie at all, like in the 80s? It rings a bell, probably.

And there was a line, like I would quote it with my brothers forever afterwards, where Gerard Depardieu goes, I'm dying now. Like this is the way he said it. I now need to look this up. It wasn't a Cyrano remake, was it? No, that was called Roxanne. No, no, no, no.

There was one with Gerard Depardieu. Oh, yeah, I'm sure. I'm sure. But this is not that. Okay, so I will tell you. Give me two seconds, Mr. Google here. Da-da-da-da-da-da-da. Why is it taking me so long to find it?

I'm now on the wiki page, and I'm going to just give people a play-by-play of my Google. This movie was called She's Out of Control. Oh, yeah, I don't think I ever saw that one. That's Mickey's daughter? Yeah, do I have the right movie? Is Gerard in this thing? That's everything. If Gerard de Bardot is

in this movie. If he's not in this, I have the wrong movie. Imagine, you know, this is a common occurrence where you... Because no, she's out of control. I might be screwing things up here. I think, Al, I'm going to fix it in post. Don't worry. This never happened. No, you're not. No, you're not. But she's out of control is Amy Dolenz

and Tony Danza. Oh, that's the same thing. Gerard de Bardot. No, you're not. But she's out of control is Amy Dolenz and Tony Danza. Oh, that's the same thing. Gerard Depardieu. No, but what am I thinking of with Gerard Depardieu? Gerard, come on. He's in a bunch of things. Oh, he's in a lot of French stuff.

But this was an American movie and I'm now going to Gerard's Wikipedia. Trust the Maneras people know this is all good stuff here. Oh, yeah. Gold, Jerry. He's Wikipedia. Trust the Maneras people know this is all good stuff. Oh, yeah. Gold, Jerry. It's gold. Maybe join the next jam because by default,

it went to the French Wikipedia page. When you Google the name Gerard Depardieu, it brings you to the French. And okay. So I'm going to glance at his IMDb filmography while we kick out the next jam. All right. You do it.

Yeah. So I do have a bonus jam actually here. So I'll start the bonus jam while I look up what movie I am thinking was the Tony Danza She's Out of Control by Amy Dolenz. Here is a bonus jam

for the monkeys. Huh? Ah. Ah. You know my girlfriend called me up And woke me from my sleep You should have heard the things she said You know she hurt my feelings deep I'm gonna buy me a dog

Because I need a friend now I'm gonna buy me a dog My girl, my girl, the love you know how Bow, wow, wow She used to bring me my newspaper Because she knew where it was at She used to keep me so contented But I could teach a dog to do that

I'm gonna buy me a dog Because I need a friend now I'm gonna buy me a dog My girl, my girls will love me know how Bow, wow, wow, wow What are we listening to, Al Greco? We're listening to Poised for the Worm. Is that your band? That's mine.

Because that's why you have a Twitter handle, PFTW. That's correct. So this is your voice? That's me singing. Okay, let me hear it now that I know that. Here. You. That's right. So this is your voice? That's me singing. Okay, let me hear it now that I know that. Here. This is you. That's right.

Amazing. I would hire this voice to perform at TMLX events. I wouldn't pay them, but I would give you free beer. I think I've lost my mind. You know, I might be brain... I'm finding out Friday, okay? It's, again, an MRI Friday. I must be brain damaged because

I can't the only thing I can find is Green Card which is an American movie of Gerard Depardieu but is there this line I have

I can see it in my mind's eye Gerard Depardieu saying I'm dying now to his daughter and she Green Card does he have a daughter

in Green Card I don't know is she for sure Mickey Dolan's daughter no I don't think now I think for sure Mickey Dolan's daughter? No, I don't think. Now I think I was confused.

I was conflating. She's out of control with this movie, which I need the name for. Green Card makes sense. I think that might have been his big American debut. Yes. Okay. And that's Andy McDowell's in that. Does he have a daughter in that, Dolan's? And what happened to Amy Dolan?

She had such a promising. I don't think. I actually. Oh it oh oh my god i'm not brain damaged al this is great news i can't believe this i think what's the name of the worm band again poised for the worm poised for the worm which explains why when you follow al on twitter it's at p f t the worm band the arrogant worms the movie i'm thinking of, everybody, is called My Father the Hero. Oh, okay. And that's got the line, My Father the Hero.

It's 1994. I thought it was the 80s. 1994, and it's absolutely not Amy Dolan's. So she's out of control. So I confused, I conflated, if you will, because that's a bigger word there. I conflated my father, the hero, with she's out of control, the Tony Danza

Amy Dolenz. I'm glad we could work that out. And you know who's played, I think this is Catherine Hegel who would go on to be in Grey's Anatomy. Yeah. Oh my God. I gotta find, I don't remember if it's, I remember watching it. Is it hilarious? Like the quote says on the cover of the freaking

poster, it says hilarious. Who's that? I got to find out who that is. I have to revisit my father, the hero, just to find out if Gerard says,

I'm dying now? It clearly left an impression on you. Yeah. Well, that's what happens. You're unlocking all of these memories here. Woo!

Let's get to another jam. More CanCon, if you will. Let's go. Let's go. What raises her most from her head to her toes? She'll say, I'm not sure it's any business of yours But I do like to waltz with the log driver Before he goes swirling down, down white water That's where the log driver learns to step lightly I figured you would have grabbed the version from the movie.

You gave me a specific version. No, I just told you who the artist was. Okay, anyway. The McGarrigle sisters. Yeah, yeah. Anna. Yeah, they sing that. Which I also pulled as the bonus because I'm like, why is Al want this version?

I just, that's who wrote it. Wade Hemsworth. I'm dying now? I wrote it. Okay. No relation to Liam and all the Hemsworths. Who knows? But probably not.

Can I guess? Axe throwing. That's correct. I heard the episode. I cheated like a mofo okay great episode tell me more backed in monkton and i interviewed mr darren hudson who's a multiple world log rolling champion i think he said six time world champion at log rolling wow that's crazy considering comers numbers yeah and and his i think his uncle was a nine time champion and his mom was like a, uh,

also a competitive log roller. I mean, this guy is a true dyed in the wool lumberjack. Like, uh, his family owned a sawmill from the 1800s. And like Gordy Levesque on the cover of pale ale. Exactly.

And, uh, and yeah, I got to go visit timber lounge in Moncton. They own a couple of different locations, but the visit Timber Lounge in Moncton. They own a couple of different locations, but the one I went to was in Moncton. I got to throw up an axe for the first time. I got a bullseye the first time I threw one. Get out of here.

Is that on tape? It's in Instagram. So you can, yeah, it's been recorded for posterity. But yeah, it was a great visit and a lot of fun. Axe throwing was always something that I never understood the appeal. But now I understand. Now you're in. Yeah, I'm in. I'm totally in. It's worth the drive to Moncton. That should be their slogan. It should be.

Here's the NFB short we were all raised on. It was like mandatory viewing as a young Canadian. One of the most requested films in NFB history. Do you think kids today, you have kids, I have kids, do you think it's such a bigger universe than it was when we were growing up? Could anything like this resonate with them today?

I think so. I'm not so sure because my daughter will put on some YouTuber and all this. This whole big universe of media that is invisible to you and I as Gen Xers. Yeah, but just because it's invisible to us doesn't mean that they don't have their own version of something like this you know but this one transcended the generations like the the greatest generation the baby boomers gen x my my son is 16 years old you know what music he's listening to right now nirvana dream theater okay and and that kind of stuff he like he wants that kind of stuff. He wants to be in a band.

He wants to drum in a band. And that's the kind of music he's listening to because the music that's on today, he can't drum to because it's all, you know... Electronic. Yeah. So, I mean, I think it's weird because, yeah, the monoculture is gone but they're still finding a way

to find the quality music. I can't remember where I picked this up. I watched, I think, a documentary or something in the last week where they talked about how back in the day, they said there was like 100 famous people and everybody knew them. Yeah. You knew these 100 famous people. That's right.

Today, you and I are famous in certain streams. Very small. Well, I don't know. Maybe your voice is more famous than your face, but I can't go to the dome without multiple people stopping me for selfies and tell me they love Toronto Mike. Yeah. Like that's just a that's not tooting my own horn. That's like a fact.

Yeah, that's great. So yeah, you're very distinctive, too, though. I mean, you see the flash of silver and it's like, hey, I think that's Mike. Did you see my photo of Hayden? Yes, I did. So I'm going to see him tonight. We're going to hang out for an hour tonight. I told Hayden that he stole my look.

I had it first. Okay. Okay. I'm playing, yeah, this is the famous version from the NFB. I also have found, so let me bring that down. And I'm also going to see if this will play really quickly here because I'm kind of fascinated by this whole, I might even blog about it. I'm so excited by all this. really quickly here because I'm kind of fascinated by this whole,

I might even blog about it. I'm so excited by all this, but I found on IMDB, I found where the heck is it? Too many tabs open, Mike, where the heck is it? Stand by,

stand by. I found. But anyway, so while you're looking for that, monoculture, my daughter wants to play bass. Her favorite song, she's nine,

is Are You Gonna Be My Girl by Jack. I'm dying now. Daddy, I told him I had to stay with you for your final day. Catherine Hagel. she's nine is Are You Gonna Be My Girl by Jack Catherine Hegel hold on let's listen and back to you When was I in Africa? During the Hundred Years' War. The Hundred Years' War was in the Middle Ages, in Europe. He didn't seem to notice. He's very impressed by you. He thinks you're a great guy. What a relief.

And I told him I'm staying with you. Isn't he jealous? I told him there's nothing to be jealous of. That there's nothing between us anymore because of... I promise you won't get mad. Here it comes. between us anymore because of... I promise you won't get mad. Here it comes. Why do I get so frightened

every time you ask me that? Because of your heart. My heart? What about my heart? I told him you were dying. I'm dying now? Daddy! Okay, I'm so excited.

That memory of yours, Mike. Did you hear that? That's a real memory. That happened, but it wasn't Amy Dolan's. No, it was Katherine Heigl. It was Katherine Heigl. Wild.

Okay. Al, I'm loving this so much. I'm sad it's going to end, but we have a penultimate jam coming up here. So I love that story of Gordy Levesque. He's not, what's his real name? Oh, Darren Hudson. Darren Hudson.

Yeah. Log driver. He's always waltzing. He's throwing axes. That's a man, baby. Holy smokes. Here's a song that the FOTM Bob Willett tries to sneak into every jam kicking we do.

I finally caught him on it. Like two thirds of song lists, regardless of category or what we're doing, will include this song if you don't call him out on it and say enough is enough. But it's beautiful. Here we go.

We'll include this song if you don't call him out on it and say enough is enough. But it's beautiful. Here we go. Bob may have emailed me and asked me to include this. I'm not surprised. I'm just kidding. He's supposed to be here next week, I think. Oh, no, two weeks from now because we had a trouble scheduling post. Don't worry about a thing.

Every little thing gonna be alright. Singing don't worry about a thing. Cause every little thing gonna be alright. Rise up this morning. Sing it, Al. This is my message to you. See, now I feel better about everything. Three little birds. The Honorable Robert Nesta Marley.

Sugar Cane Restaurant. On Danforth Avenue in East End of Toronto. Five, six, nine. Close. I think it's six, nine or six, nine, nine. Now that Corey's is closed, you can buy that and have that address. Probably, yeah. Do you think they charge a premium to get the address?

I doubt it. I think everything's a premium in Greektown now, so it doesn't matter. Anyway, the Charles sisters, Nicole, Donna, and Renee, three little birds. Oh, clever. And they opened up a Caribbean restaurant in the heart of Greektown. Because why not? And let me tell you.

It's Toronto, man. I ate there. The food is amazing. I highly recommend if you have a chance, you'll have to make reservations because they are busy. Okay, so if you're in the West End, go to Palma Pasta. If you're in the East End, go to Sugar Cane. Sugar Cane. Love it. And that was a short flight

for you. Yeah, short. Hop, skip and then the jump away. Moncton, Quebec and the Danforth. Great time visiting them and they have a really great story to tell. I mean, they went from running a catering company out of their own home to

their parents basically are their investors and they opened this restaurant in Greektown just before the pandemic. So they didn't even have a chance to get their feet in the ground before everything got shut down. So it's a bit of a harrowing story, but they came out the

other end unscathed and actually probably stronger for it. I agree with that sentiment completely because if you can make it, if you do launch and then you have the pandemic and you can survive the pandemic, listen, the hard part's done. Like now it's easy.

You made it through that, you can make it through anything. So I wish them much luck. The Three Little Birds. I love that song choice too for another inspiring tale in the fourth season of Yes, We Are Open, an award-winning podcast from Onaris

hosted by FOTM, The Cuddly One. Again, Mark Wiseblood anointed you The Cuddly One. Yeah. How do you feel about that again? I'm going to have to thank you for that. I don't know. You like it, right? Are you going to own it or are you going to reject it?

I'll own it. Why not? What am I going to do? I don't know. You can ask me to stop Are you going to own it or are you going to reject it? I'll own it. Why not? What am I going to do? I don't know. You can ask me to stop calling you the cuddly one. I think it's good branding. Okay.

Love it. This has been going so well. We have one jam to go. I got to slow this down. Let me just briefly tell you. So I mentioned Donovan Bailey off the top and there's a pretty exciting

meeting happening between Donovan Bailey and these people. And I want to let everyone know that I'm happy to broker, like even if it's a zoom, we can jump on a zoom. If you're looking for any assistance with PR or messaging with your, your brand,

if you're the cuddly one and you want to take it to the next level, get the word out to the world that the cuddly one is here. He's an award-winning podcast podcaster. He's got great t-shirts with his side hustle. The Moment Lab is who you want. Matt and Jared at the Moment Lab. Just ask Stu Stone

about the Moment Lab. Just ask Rick Campanelli about the Moment Lab. They'll help you achieve your public relations goals. So shout out to the Moment Lab. Are you ready, Al Grego, to kick out one more jam? Let's do it. It's trippy in the headphones. Summer Summer, it turns me upside down

Summer, summer, summer It's like a merry-go-round I see you under the midnight All shackles and bones High shoes with the cleats Tricking A temperamental blow Don't you let me go

Gotta hold on you Gotta hold on you Gotta hold on you Tonight Gotta hold on you a hold on you, I've got a hold on you tonight I've got a hold on you, I've got a hold on you I've got a hold on you Oh, it's magic When I'm with you

Oh, it's magic Oh, it's magic Just a little magic You know it's true Magic. Again, I'm not going to answer. I cheated and listened to this episode, and it's a mind blow. You saved the best for last. The season finale of season four of Yes, We Are Open. Tell us why we're listening to the Cars

magic. Well, A, the Cars are one of the most underrated bands ever. Amazing band. But B, make fun of me for only going to Greektown for my second last episode. This one here is right in my backyard. I went to Newmarket,

Ontario. Sunny Newmarket, Ontario. Home of Alan Frew from the Climbers of the Cars. Alan Frew in the Cars. No went to Newmarket, Ontario. Sunny Newmarket, Ontario. Home of Alan Frew from the Climbers of the Cars. Alan Frew in the Cars. No, he's from Glass Tiger. I visited Neville, Michael, and Leslie Jones-Lissac. They are from Top Talent Entertainment Agency.

And I had a great time with those guys because it's literally magical. Michael and Neville are both magicians. So I got to witness some of that magic. But they've also started this company back in 1984. Michael started a company first as a magician, but then realized that clients were asking for more. 84.

In 84. The year this song was released. Right? I mean, there's so many levels, right? And so he started... I'm dying now? He started bringing on other acts, jugglers and other magicians

and mall Santa, everything. Do you do the clown? Yeah. You should introduce them. I wonder, maybe they represent him. Who knows? Anyway, so they've got hundreds of acts and they're the biggest in Ontario

and one of the biggest in the country, and they're doing great. That's inspiring AF. Now, I'm with you. The cars are underappreciated, I would say. This is the second single from Heartbreak City. Can you, Al Grego, name the first single? And before you guess the first single from Heartbreak City back in 84, let me just say the video was a mind blow to me. Okay?

I know, yeah. What is the first single from Heartbreak City? Oh, you might think I'm foolish. That's right. Wasn't that video a mind blow? Yeah, it was. And Paula, I can never remember her name, Paula Karofsky, whatever. He married her, I think.

Yeah, that's the most unbelievable part of that whole story, actually. Oh, like when Julia Roberts was with Lyle Leavitt, yeah. Okay, so that, I mean, I'm not telling you anything you don't know, but Rick Ocasek, great in the cars, of course, but also produced that great Weezer album, the blue album, the first one. Wow. And do you know who produced that song

we just listened to? Mutt Lang. Okay, look at you. I had it written down. Okay, well, if you finish yours, then I'll come back. I'm stealing your thunder here. So this is from Heartbreak City in 1984,

as you said, second single from the album, written by Rick O'Casey. I really did steal your thunder. Yeah, produced by Mutt Lang. Everything he said here peaked only at number 14 in Canada. Figure it out.

But yeah, US Billboard Hot 100. Blocked by Glass Tiger maybe. Who knows? Number one on the rock charts though. So that's, I mean, the cars are so great. Can you name the third single from that album that was also a hit? Drive?

Correct. Oh, wow. And what was interesting about Drive, not performed by Rick Ocasek, written by Rick Ocasek, but- I think it was his bass player, singer. Benjamin Orr. Shout out to Ridley Funeral Home.

None of these guys are with us because Ocasek and Orr gone too soon. Too bad. I really like the cars. And another band, I'm around the same time that I feel is underappreciated is the Pretenders. Like, I always, whenever I listen to some old Pretenders, I think, like, amazing, first of all.

But you don't hear the Pretenders talked about in even the same breath. It's like, I don't think you hear about them in the same esteemed air as, you tell me, rarefied air as, like, an Elvis Costello. Am I wrong? Oh, no. Probably. Yeah. I mean, Elvis Costello is revered because of

his songwriting and all this stuff. But the Pretenders as a band, particularly those first couple albums, I think they're right there with Elvis and these cars here, Rico Kasich, Talented Mofo, that video for You Might Think will never be... It's like right up there with Take On Me.

It's one of those... And then later, when Peter Gabriel put out Sledgehammer, like these were the videos we went to, right Al? Yeah. That video for It's Magic shot at the Hilton house, like the house, the home of the Hiltons. Oh, Paris and the Gang. Yeah, basically.

And you watched Mad Men? Did you watch Mad Men? Okay, because Conrad was a character in Conrad Hilton. And he's walking on the water in the pool. That's just a plexiglass platform that he's walking on. I don't like these cheats. I thought the dude was walking on water. He is Rick O'Kasek.

How's your beer? Like, delicious? Did you enjoy your... It's disappeared. It's done. It was great. It's good, right? Oh, yeah.

Amazing. Thank you so much. I mean, they've been sponsoring this show for 100 years, but if they quit tomorrow, I'm not quitting Great Lakes. It really is the most delicious fresh craft beer you can buy in this province. So I just want to shout them out. You are getting your lasagna. You can tell the kids.

And when will Season 5 head into production? What's the plan there? Season 5 will be scheduled for October, November of this fall. But do you have to get renewed or did they get a two-year deal? As far as I know, I've been renewed. We'll see.

You just keep doing it until they tell you to stop? Exactly. That's what I do. That's what I do here. I just keep doing it until you tell me to stop. Okay.

And when season five comes out, will Moneris be back? Love talking about award-winning podcasts because I don't get to do that on Toronto Mike. Fingers crossed. I think on the strength

of these episodes alone, I think it's worth coming back. Oh, you're preaching to the choir here. I'm doubling the rate. Absolutely. You're making a good point. Oh man, I'm a bad negotiator. And I'll see you soon because you're back next week to do the best of 1001 to 1000. Back in a couple of weeks, yes, Mike.

Really? In a few weeks. Because I was actually doing the joke of next week thinking you'll be here in like September or something. I'll get here in June sometime. I wonder if the staff, I'm curious if I hear any Mike Stafford in the best of episode

because I personally, it's not my list. If I were doing my top 10, like, I don't know, my top 10 of the last 250 episodes, I'm going to hear Stafford in the best of episode because I personally it's not my list if I were doing my top 10 like I don't know my top 10 of the last 250 episodes I'm gonna hear Stafford like I just think it's a top 10 episode but I'm dying to know because it's so polarizing was Molly Johnson the best of do you remember she was absolutely was she number one

she was number one are you kidding me I'm dying now that to me I'll always remember this episode because it started with Mickey Dolan Survivor of the Monkeys

and his daughter being in a movie I thought he was she was the daughter in the Gerard Depardieu which I can't what's the name of that again

Green Card no it wasn't Green Card oh the name My Father the Hero My Father the Hero My Father the Hero so in my mind this is how this is how it works

this is why people think Sinbad was in a movie called Shazam or whatever Kazam or whatever they say okay

which never happened by the way that's why they think the Berenstain Bears is spelled differently Mandela Effect Mandela Effect that's right

so I had My Father the Hero is that what it's called okay gerard de pardo i had amy dolan's in there and i remember gerard de pardo's voice saying i'm dying now and now i find out she's out of control was amy dolan's and tony danza but it must have been around a similar time period i don't know how they got conflated. But there was a movie with Katherine Heigl. Heigl? Heigl. Yeah. Either or. Either

like Benjamin or. Now, the fact that I've got this straight now and it actually happened makes me think maybe I'm not brain damaged. Do you think I'm brain damaged now? I mean, you know, I think Gerard Depardieu and Tony Danza in a certain light might look similar.

They should do a, they're still both alive. They should do a buddy. Side by side. Buddy movie. Buddy. One's a famous actor in France. The other is from Brooklyn, New York. And he was a boxer.

And he was a boxer. Hey, Angela. And I think, I don't want to steal a bit from community, which is also a funny show, but there's no debate who the boss is, right? Right. Like, I don't understand the confusion. Yeah. No, she literally pays. Who pays the bills around here? Because she

can fire him. Maybe the whole title was, was it Angela or was it Mona? Because Mona was kind of the boss. Mona Robinson. She was foxy. Shout out to Ridley Funeral Home. And that! What came first? Golden Girls or Mona that taught

us that even geriatrics can have a sex drive? Well, Mona was also in Soap, which I believe predated Golden Girls. But was she a horny old lady in Soap? I don't remember. I just remember a little bit of the first openly gay character on TV was in Soap. Yeah, Billy Crystal. I don't know. But I think Mona wins.

I think Mona's the OG. Mona is the inspiration for Golden Girls because we learned on Golden Girls that even elderly people can have a sex drive. Thank you for saving that for my episode, by the way. And that is the end of the Meniris sponsorship. They're a sponsorship. That brings us to the end of our 1,258th show.

I couldn't remember. You can follow me on Twitter. I'm at Toronto Mike. Again, Al is at PFTW, like the band we heard. Our friends at Great Lakes Brewery are at Great Lakes Beer. Palma Pasta is at Palma Pasta. Moneris is at Moneris. Recycle My Electronics are at EPRA underscore Canada. The Moment Lab are at The Moment Lab.

And Ridley Funeral Home are at Ridley FH. I decided last week I would play like 10 seconds of this song after I shut up, and then I'd fade it down. I love this song. Shout out to Low lowest of the low. And we timed this chat so well, Al Grego. Well planned.

I can let it play to the very end. You know why? Yeah. There's only 10 seconds left. Well played. See you all later this week. See ya!