Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - Carly Agro: Toronto Mike'd #225

Episode Date: March 17, 2017

Mike chats with Sportsnet's Carly Agro about her career in sports media, having a twin at CBC and who she sees as the rising stars at Sportsnet.

Welcome to episode 225 of Toronto Mic'd, a weekly podcast about anything and everything, proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, a local independent brewery producing fresh craft beer, and Chef's Plate, delivering delicious and locally sourced farm fresh ingredients and refrigerated kits directly to your door. I'm Mike from torontomike.com and joining me this week is Sportsnet's Carly Agro. Welcome, Carly. Hi, I'm so excited to be here. Go team craft beer. I'm a big fan. They have a kind request. They have one request.

Do they? Tonight when you're drinking your Great Lakes beer, you are not allowed to put any green dye in there. This is their request. They kindly asked. Fair enough. I will respect the brewer's wishes. If they're going to take the time to brew, we've got to drink accordingly

and responsibly, I might add. But confess to me now, have you ever had green beer? Yes, I have. I have too. I'm not a big fan because I genuinely, I am a craft beer fan.

I'm not just saying this because of Great Lakes. So when I get a good beer, I want to drink the beer as it was meant to be drunk, if that's the correct... Drunk or drank or drunken or drinking. So I don't really dangle in the green beer game that much. I really don't.

One, I don't know, there's a work function at a Jack Astor's one St. Patrick's Day, and they started ordering, like, you know, like Guinness and Heineken with green dye in it. And it's like, you know, and it's like, when in Rome, I'm like,

okay, like, what am I going to say? Like, be that pretentious asshole? Yeah, you don't want to be that guy. Well, and Guinness has those commercials out right now, this time of year, and they're saying, you know, respect the brewer. Right, right, right.

They don't want the green dye in their beer. So, no, they don't. So if you're out there doing that, perhaps you should consider stopping. Or drink a different beer. Yes. Maybe that's the deal. So I say to you, with the name Agro, the most Irish of names, I say to you, happy St. Patrick's Day. Oh, Irish is, Agro's not even

close, right? Oh, okay. That was a joke. Sorry. All right. We'll work on that as we get through the podcast. See, you didn't read the advanced scouting report that I'm a funny guy. I gotta make, you know. Oh, Oh, okay. That was a joke. Sorry. All right. We'll work on that as we get through the podcast. See, you didn't read the advanced scouting report that I'm a funny guy. I got to make... Oh, okay. Okay. Duly noted. But happy St. Patrick's Day to you.

Thank you. To you too. It's my mom's birthday today. So St. Patrick's Day is always a little extra special for me. Wow. My youngest child's birthday was two days ago. So your mom and my youngest are only two days apart. There you go.

That's cool. By the way, congratulations in finishing. You finished second place in the bachelor pool. Oh my gosh, I did. But more importantly, I beat, there's a guy that works with us. He's been doing the updates now on Sportsnet, Jesse Rubinoff.

I just want it duly noted that more importantly, I never watched a single episode. I've never watched a single episode. I've never watched a single episode of The Bachelor or The Bachelorette. And I still beat Jesse who is like a die-hard fan. Okay, let me tell you. I don't watch The Bachelor either, but my son

plays hockey on Monday nights. And when I get home from his house league hockey game, my wife is always watching The Bachelor when it's on. I see it on monday nights when i get home so like i get a little osmosis uh a couple of seasons anyways including this one and i once just went online and found there's some guy he like spoils the bachelor like he tells you everything yeah because it's not live you know it's all like yeah so like i think you

could easily win these bachelor pools by cheating. I didn't even cheat. I just took a gamble. And I guess I'm just that good at gambling. I don't know. And I don't even know who I think. I think the girl I had was Raven. So she finished second.

I guess she was like her first loser. I don't even know what you'd call her. The runner up. Yeah. So that was my, I don't know. That was my finalist, if you will. So I did all right. Do you like the Pogues?

What's that? This is an Irish band. Oh, sorry. I do now. I'm not picky with music. I like just about everything. But yeah, that's all right. Who is that, she says.

We have a generation gap. He fixed his teeth now. You need to go back and look at old pictures. All right, I'll do that. Okay, but on The Bachelor front, real quick, is that it's all ridiculous and nonsense. And I don't know why people watch. But people do watch. And the winner was Canadian.

Oh. I don't know what she wins because it's all like apparently they don't even live in the same country. Isn't true love the prize? Yeah. And I think there's one couple from Bachelor history that actually is together right now. Like I think, I don't know how many seasons there's been, but there's only one example where a couple actually stays together. Oh gosh. For what that's worth. Oh, what are you going to do? Uh, by the way, Carolyn Cameron. Yes. She was in your bachelor pool. She was. I'm, I have a curious, I'm very curious. Okay. So

Carolyn's been here. Yes. So did she ever mention that she went at like some, she said, did you ever like tell you like at work or whatever like oh yeah i went to some guy's basement to do a podcast like did she ever reference this well i brought it up i don't know if she was at work the other night um but ken reed was and because has he come or no i forget now not yet but uh i went to uh meet this guy i should point out to the crowd you can't see me that this Wendell Clark wrote, actually Jim Lang wrote the book about Wendell Clark and Wendell Clark, he was at Maple Leaf Gardens and I got invited like as a member of the media, I got invited to like meet and greet

and skate with Wendell. Look at you big wig. I know. I'm like, it's all worth it just for that. Like, and I got to meet Wendell Clark and while I was there, I bumped into Ken Reed and I introduced myself. I got a photo with him and I said, you know, you should come on my podcast. And I guess he's pushing some books too. And he said he would do it. So that's my Ken Reed story. Oh, there you go. No, Ken's a great guy. And I've been doing the show with him as of late. So we're having fun. But I do know that Carolyn was here.

She has mentioned it to me. So hopefully I know I've got big shoes to fill. So I will try to be just as exciting and entertaining as a guest. The curiosity I have is like, is she ashamed she does this? No. Does she say, oh, there's this guy and he gives you beer and he's okay. He's not going to be creepy or whatever. No. The whole thing in the basement thing and the tweeting thing, you know, but hey, I guess you got to do what you got to do.

The tweeting thing? Well, it worked, right? You got me here. And full disclosure, I did not know that there was craft beer involved. I didn't even dangle that in front of you. But I guess full disclosure, a long time ago now, I want to say almost a year ago, I tried to get you and your twin sister to come on at the same time. But that became so difficult

to arrange. It's like you don't get the president and the vice president flying on the same plane or whatever. Yeah, she's a little busy these days. She's got her hands full with Marketplace. So I don't know if you've seen this whole Subway thing. I'm all over it. Because yesterday, they launched a lawsuit.

Subway is suing the CBC because the C and I actually, the last episode with Mark Weisblatt, we talked about it, but we didn't know what the lawsuit yet. But, uh, so can you tell us your sister, Charles C.

Yes. And you said her name, right? Which I know she will. You know why I listen, I watched CBC news, but when she was, when she was doing CBC Toronto.

So I'm like, I'm not even faking this. Like I actually, she was on my screen all the time. Yeah. And the reason I wanted you both on is because one's on Sportsnet doing great work there. One's on my CBC doing great work there. Like I have a million questions for you both. You're going to have to field them all. I will. I will do my best to field them all.

The only ones I can't field are, unfortunately, about the lawsuit. Well, okay. Tell us what you can about what's going on with Subway and Marketplace. The only thing I think I can say is that I know that my sister worked her butt off on that story and that she takes great pride in her work and the work of her team. So I think that's probably where I can start. That's probably where I'm going to have to finish. Even on our, we have a group chat with our friends who all graduated from, um, Sheridan's journalism, new media program together. And, um, obviously that's

her work phone. So even today, you know, we've got friends who work at TSN and who work in other parts of the industry and the business and, um, lots of questions. And she's like, Hey guys, other parts of the industry and the business and lots of questions. And she's like, hey, guys, I'm on my work phone. I got to. Oh, yeah. And I'm sure I'm sure that now that there's a legal case, she could hide behind the famous I can't comment on like an ongoing case or whatever. Yeah, I think that's probably what's unfortunate, though, is that as much as she would want

to speak out and give her take, I think, first of all, the story speaks for itself and their data and their testing speaks for itself. But I think that's kind of the tricky thing with legal cases, right? You can't, even if you want to say something, even if you want to come to your own defense, I guess legally she's got to keep quiet. All right. To add a little context. I wish I could get into it. But to a little context, the stuff that's known as like news, it isn't like any secrets here so the marketplace was like testing fast food chicken items like the dna of fast food chicken sandwiches to see what person like is it all is it really like 100 chicken or whatever what's in there

right and they did all the fast food joints and they did subway has a chicken sandwich and some chicken stuff and that did very poorly i think it was something like 57% chicken. And even with the seasoning and the marinating and stuff, you shouldn't go down to 57%. So I guess the conclusion that Marketplace drew is that they had some kind of soy protein filler, I guess, to flesh it out. So this is all public domain stuff we're talking here.

Subway did not agree with these findings and they've launched a lawsuit because, as I was mentioning on the last episode, this isn't like a Canada story because I saw it gain traction. Like I saw some big outlets in LA and stuff like this thing went viral. Absolutely. It definitely went viral. And I think it speaks though, too, to the power of, I guess the, you know, the reach that marketplace has too, right? These are things that people like you and I care about. And yeah, there was, um, I think the today show reached out. I think time magazine was interested. Um, so it definitely got a serious conversation started. And I think that's, you know, even, and I don't know, I can't speak to it exactly because I'm not well-versed enough in it, but, um, I know Charlesy was really proud of the, um, workplace story that she did too. And the changes that,

um, that have been made in workplace dress codes now for women. So it's incredible to see, like, that's one thing I'm so proud of her for is that it's not just that she's doing these stories, but she's genuinely making a difference. She's starting conversations. And I know that, you know, as her sister, that's kind of where I'm proud. That's, you know, I'm a sports anchor and I'm pretty open and honest about the fact that I'm not changing people's lives.

I like to think we're entertaining, but, you know, she's out there making a difference and it's pretty cool to see. We need our sports distractions as well i will tell you right now i like to think i serve a purpose i okay well on the hill here let me let me congratulate you really quickly that not only did you come in second in the bachelor pool which i hear carolyn cameron uh won she did she won that it's not just the three of you right you carolyn and this guy there's more in this pool, right? Yeah, I forget.

Because you can't brag about coming in second if there's only three of you. No, I know. But see, I don't care. My thing was I beat Jesse. And as the person who literally has not... John Adams, our producer. He's our...

Oh, yeah. John Quincy Adams. I know him. Well, I refer to him as Prez because John Adams was my favorite U.S. president. Oh. But yeah, so I call him Prez. And Prez was a part of the pool.

I actually think there may have been four of us. But I... And I'm not too sure you get to brag about coming in second if there's four of you. But I'm the only one who has never watched a single second. So I'm hanging my hat on that. Oh, yeah. So where was I going with this?

Yeah, so congratulations on that. But also, you just got married. I did. Like super recently, right? Yes. Which is also part of the reason why i was unavailable to be here sooner but yeah uh january 21st so congratulations thank you uh where was the wedding uh it was all downtown and it was which part of downtown because i got married in the distillery district okay so we got married um the ceremony was at St. Paul's Basilica, which is beautiful.

We had the old school organ and everything. And then we had the reception at the Berkeley Church, which was a super cool spot. Yeah, my buddy, my good friend Jordy and her late husband, Mike Kick, got married at the Berkeley Church. I know the story went a little sad there, but great venue, like very cool venue.

Yes, it was a riot. And Carolyn was there. Ken was riot. And Carolyn was there. Ken was there. Ivanka was there. Our makeup artists were there from work. And it was it was a time. Ivanka just had a baby. She did.

She's a new mom. Cool. Congratulations, E, if you're listening and welcome to the world, baby George. Let me know if she's listening. I actually don't think she's listening, but I'd like to know. I have a checklist. My master checklist. Yeah, OK.

But she does great work. We're going to get into Sportsnet in a bit. All right. But you got your beer. That's from Great Legs Beer. I do. Enjoy responsibly. Chef's Plate wants to send you two free meals.

So I'll link you to their current menu, and you can pick your two favorites. Done. And send me a shipping address. Amazing. And they will send you two meals and everyone else listening can get a couple of plates for free by going to chefsplate.com and using the promo code Toronto Mike. All right.

I've wanted to get into that game, the whole chef's plate idea. This is your, this is your chance. Now I'm in. All right. It's, it's,

it's, you're good. Yeah, this is, uh, Barry chance now i'm in all right it's it's good it's your good um yeah this is uh barry davis uh is getting his today so today oh no way chef's plate is sending him two plates oh very cool former colleague yes sadly former but we don't have any insight into that do we no unfortunately i don't i hate i don't want to be that guest where i'm not allowed to talk about anything but you know you know, I think out of respect for Barry and out of respect for, you know, even our workplace, it's not really my place. But what I will say is that each and every time that I had the chance to work with Barry, his energy and his enthusiasm were contagious. My most fond memory of Barry was we actually got to go down to the Rogers Center and play a game on the field. So the Blue Jays brought in some of their clients

and that sort of thing, and I got to come down and be the host of the day, and I actually got to play. So did Jackie Redman. Nice. And Barry's energy, like you can't be in a room with him and not feed off of that.

So I'm definitely going to miss him at Sportsnet, but I wish him all the best in what he's doing and what's next. And I know whatever he puts his mind to, he's going to be successful at. Well, we know you haven't heard

of the Pogues and that's understandable. They haven't had a hit in a long time. Really, you're a young person. No worries. But you're familiar with Tom Petty.

Yes. Just making sure. I don't want to assume anything. So you got to check out Barry. I know. I've heard this. It Ain't Petty, I believe, is the name of his band. Yeah.

You know what? Good for him. I can only imagine Barry up on stage. It's kind of hard to imagine. But then at the same time, I think it's not. Because he's just such a fun, outgoing guy. So yeah, good for him. And you don't have to comment on this but my new thoughts i have

revised thoughts since my barry davis episode which is now i think okay so when tim and sid go to television that bumps hazel may from that slot time slot like this is just so these are facts i guess and so now hazel may who's i'm going to guess how she's been here she's lovely her husband was here kevin barker. It was great, but she has I'm going to guess a big contract. I'm going to just guess. I don't know. She's probably making some decent cabbage from Rogers and her show doesn't have its time

slot because Tim and Sid are now on, I don't know, what is it? Four to six? Is that Tim and Sid? Five to seven. Now Hazel's doing Blue Jay games with Barry. In my mind maybe that's why Barry's on the outside looking in because it's just more role for Hazel's doing Blue Jay games with Barry. In my mind, maybe that's why Barry's on the outside looking in, because it's just more role for Hazel. Yeah, you know what?

I really don't know. And I think this is the biggest misconception about communications companies. Yeah, yeah. You know, I actually found out, I was actually away. I was on my honeymoon when Barry, when that sort of, I guess, news, if you will, broke. So, you know, we don't know. We don't know these decisions and we don't always understand them. They didn't consult you.

No, please. As if my opinion is relevant in the matter. So, yeah, you know what? if my opinion is relevant in the matter. Um, so yeah, you know what? I, I literally have no insight into those things. Um, from all the time that I've spent with Hazel, she is such an inspiration. She is one of the hardest working people in this business and just watching her, like I'm in awe of what she does and her commitment and her knowledge and her passion. of what she does and her commitment and her knowledge and her passion. It gets inspiring.

And so I wish I had more insight into it, and I really don't. So I don't, you know, it's kind of tough for me too because people ask all the time. They think that because, you know, I work there that I know something that they don't, and I really don't. So, you know, I think it's going to be an exciting season this year for the Blue Jays. And I think no matter who's at the Rogers Center, if they're on the Sportsnet team,

you know that they're going to give it 110. It's impossible, Carly, because 100 is the max. Well, you know. Got to give her 110 and get pucks deep. You know the expression. Okay. By the way, where did you go on your honeymoon? I went to Fiji and then I went to New Zealand.

That's cool. That's far. It was awesome. So how long is that flight? So it was a bit of a journey. Oh, I think, sorry. My phone keeps buzzing. I don't think anybody can hear it.

They can't hear it, but if it's, you can do what you got to do. That's okay. Alan Cross took a phone call during his episode. Okay. I know. I know. It's like he touched the third rail. Oh no. But if you had to, if there was breaking news or something that was huge news and you had

to address it, I would forgive you. Okay. All right. Well, I don't think that's the case. Um, yeah, so I went to Fiji and so in order to get there, we got on a plane in Toronto and then flew out to LA and then we had a bit of 10 hour layover in LA. And then it was 12 hours to Fiji. And I've never flown that long or that far before. The farthest I've ever gone was when I covered the Sochi Olympics. Okay, but that's still pretty- That was a bit of a hike.

Most people haven't even gone that far. Okay. So my longest flight, I think it's to like Berlin or something. Like I was like, I think that's my longest flight. So what would that be? Like six?

No, no, no. Like nine or 10 maybe? Lynn or something. Like I was like, I think that's my longest flight. So what would that be? Like six? No, no, no. Uh, like nine or 10. Okay. So I only flew from Toronto to Paris. That was my longest. And that was, I think about six,

maybe six and a half. So, um, bit of a confession to make. I was a little nervous about flying that long. So, you know, I'm sitting in the bar,

just got married. I'm going to have a bloody Mary. I'm going to have another bloody Mary. I'm going to have another Bloody Mary. Three Bloody Marys later, I decided that it would be a good idea if I tried to sleep on the plane. My sister told me, hey, if you're nervous and you need to fall asleep,

maybe take a couple of gravel. I took a couple of gravel and then I went right to sleep on the plane. Then I didn't wake up for about seven hours that's amazing oh yeah i'm jealous oh it was a good sleep so you just need to do bloody marys and uh gravel and that's the secret i am not suggesting that by any means but i am telling you what i did so i woke up um on the plane and and then you know you get your nice

meal air new zealand those people were absolutely incredible and then uh we get off the plane and, and then, you know, you get your nice meal, Air New Zealand, those people were absolutely incredible. And then, uh, we get off the plane and as we're getting on, we had to take a private speedboat to this Island and I'm looking down and I had like these Lululemon pants on and they were loose when I got on the plane. And I'm thinking, okay, there's no way I've gained this much weight in this short amount of time. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. My legs had swelled up to like, it were unrecognizable. Like one of my traits. That's scary, right? Cause you could get like a, what am I thinking of? There's a word, uh, I think it's blood clotting or something. Yeah. So my legs were, and I have these pictures

of me when we first get to the resort and you know, I'm all excited.? Yeah. So my legs were, and I have these pictures of me when we first get to the resort, you know, I'm all excited, woohoo, but my legs, I look like I am like nine months pregnant and like I need to go

on The Biggest Loser. It was bad. How long does this last before your legs are normal? Well, I went, we went and checked into the room

and then I like laid down and literally sat there for like an hour, two hours with my legs elevated, like really attractive on your honeymoon with like these swollen legs. And then your husband's got like buyer's remorse. He's like, what have I done?

How quickly she let herself go. Oh, exactly. So yeah, it took, I was better by the next morning, but it was, it was pretty unattractive. Yep. Oh, that's, that's bad. It sounds like a cool place to go. Yes. And I went bungee jumping.

That was my claim to fame. I don't know if you saw it on the show or not, and I went bungee jumping. That was my claim to fame. I don't know if you saw it on the show or not, but I went bungee jumping on the Nevis Bungee, and I think it's about an eight and a half, nine second free fall. And that was sort of like my massive achievement. And we golfed on the 100 meters. Your massive achievement is the sleeping seven hours on the flight. That's amazing.

Yeah, I was pretty proud of myself. That is amazing. That's your achievement. Okay, back to your twin for a second here so how do you diverge tell me how it is that one of you ends up kind of going into you know news now and marketplace of investigative journalism yes very cool stuff like woodward and bernstein stuff and then and and this is not mean i don't mean this is coming across like you're not doing anything important and i don't even mean for that because you're on our televisions every day and we love what you do in sports. But how is it that you took such different paths, but you're both in the public eye?

You know what? It's funny. I actually, Charles and I both went to school in the States. She had a field hockey scholarship and I had a soccer scholarship. I think she always, journalism, writing, English, it was always a strength for both of us when we were even in high school. But I really thought that I was going to go to law school. So I majored in political science university. I'm a bit of a bookworm. So I actually triple majored at school. Well, that's what you know about John Adams. Hey, there you go. a bookworm. So I actually triple majored at school. Well, that's why you know about John Adams. Hey, there you go. It was more his wife that I was a big fan of. So I majored in political science, communications and media studies, and gender and women's studies. And so I was convinced

I was going to go to law school. I have a lot of lawyers in my family. My one aunt is actually a judge. And then I landed an internship in Washington, DC my senior year. Uh, it was a really prestigious firm. I was really excited. And then they canceled on me two weeks before I was supposed to start. And so naturally I call my sister crying. Um, what am I going to do? I'm going to be a failure. I'm not going anywhere. And she said, well, car, why don't you call your local NBC affiliate and see if you can shadow the political reporter or the legal reporter so that you can at least maybe make some connections and be around that world. So you're absorbing something. Right. Because she was actually already had an internal internship

lined up at Philly 10, I think it's called. So it was the NBC affiliate in Philadelphia. Yeah. So sure enough, I sent in my resume. I called and I think I made the deadline by like two hours. And so WBAL, um, in Baltimore, um, called me in for an interview and, um, I got a call back and, and I got it. And so, you know, they bring you in and they ask you what you're interested in. And I made it perfectly clear, like, ah, you know, politics, like legal, I want to be down at like the, you know, send me to Annapolis. Like I want to be in the heart of it. And I loved it. Um, but the sports department at WBAL knew that I had played college soccer. So they knew that, you know, I was an athlete and I kind of knew my way around other athletes, I guess. And whenever they were down a body in the sports department or needed help,

they'd call me, um, which I was, I was a yes person. I said yes to everything. So, um, it kind of happened by accident, but this is a true story. Um, one day, um, Dallas Braden was making his major league debut for the Oakland athletics and the sports department, um, had got a call from the NBC affiliate in Oakland. Hey, we really need, you know, we need an interview with this kid after the game. He's making his major league debut, like big deal. So, hey, I grow, can you go down to Camden yards and gather this for us? I said, absolutely. Now at the time, like most people, I had no idea who Dallas Braden was. He obviously hadn't played a game yet in the bigs. So I'm online and doing my research and making my notes and trying to memorize his picture. So I go down to Camden Yards with the camera guy. I think his name was George Brown. Anyway, it was Doug Brown because his dad also worked at the station. So there was Doug Brown Sr. and then there was Doug Brown Jr.

So I go down there with Doug Brown Jr. And he's like, all right, girl, I don't know who this guy is. This is all on you. Don't screw this up because they need it. And we're going to be cooked if we don't get it. So you go up. And if you've ever been to a baseball game and you're gathering, you kind of know the drill.

You go upstairs. You watch baseball. You eat hot dogs and popcorn. Like it's a pretty sweet gig. Okay. So he's eating the hot dogs and eating the popcorn. And I am nervous. Like I can't eat anything. Cause I'm so stressed about finding this guy. I'm a little anxious. So the game ends and we go down and I've only been to Camden yards once or twice before this. before this. And we go in the Orioles room and, you know, I'm kind of looking around in awe. Amber Theo Harris was actually working for the local network back then covering the team. And I'm just watching her and thinking, OK, if I copy what she's doing, like I'm good.

I remember Aubrey Huff was still an Oriole. Jeremy Guthrie was still an Oriole. He was one of my most memorable interviews. But then like push had come to shove, and we got to go to the visitor's room and find Dallas Braden. So Brown Jr. is elbowing me like, Edgar, let's go. It's go time. So sure enough, we go into the athletics room,

and this guy is nowhere to be found. At this point, I've got his picture committed to memory, and I'm thinking, all right, nope, not him. Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope. And I'm going around the room, and i'm thinking all right nope not him nope nope nope nope nope and i'm going around the room and like i'm starting to get a little like sweaty and nervous yeah and brown jr is looking at me like aggro do not screw this up so we go into the hallway and like it's the tunnel you know and you can kind of see like the team boss in the distance and all of a sudden i like i was a goalkeeperkeeper. Okay. So I, I like use my goalkeeper

lungs. I'm like Dallas, Dallas Braden. And he just like stops in his tracks and turns around and is like, who the heck is that? So we, you know, chase him down in the hallway and we, um, do this interview and it was awesome. I just got such a rush and you know, I had done a lot of reading and a lot of research. And the neat thing was, is the guy that was catching for him that day actually caught with him before in the minor. So there was some really cool, you know, he connected to the questions that I was asking him and it was a genuine moment. And like, we caught that on camera. And I remember, um, going home that night and, you know, like most college students, I didn't have a lot of money. I didn't have a car. I used to have to take two buses, um, and the light rail to get up to TV Hill. And I was on

the light rail on the train on the way home. And I called my mom and I said, yo mom, I think this is what I want to do. And she's like, what? What do you mean this is what you want to do? You want to watch baseball games? No, I think I want to be a sports reporter. And she said, hey, if that's what you want to do, go for it. And so that was kind of how it happened.

It was almost by accident. It's a great story. I'm going to make it a little better. From now on, Dallas Braden is the man you married in January. Like if you just think that's the greatest ending to that story. You end up marrying Dallas Braden. Well, here's the real sort of like everything coming full circle. My very first job in broadcasting was what i mean i worked for the

after i graduated which was awesome um but then i took a job out in lloyd minster um saskatchewan and while i was working on the sports desk in lloyd minster dallas braden pitched i think it was the 19th perfect game in major league history and what was super cool was that the interview that people had some of the sound bites from his major league debut was from the interview that i did with him back in 2007 when i was an intern at wba probably because it's the only authentic interview he's ever given and then after that it was all sports cliches and 110%. So it was really cool for me being like on the desk in Lloyd Minster and thinking, Hey,

you know what? It's really neat that, you know, I don't know if this is where I'm supposed to be or if this is what I'm supposed to be doing, but this feels right. And this feels cool that it's, it's really kind of coming full circle.

When you win your first Pulitzer or whatever, they will play excerpts of this interview and I will have the same feeling. Well, I always, this is, I have not seen Dallas Braden since that day. And now he's working in broadcasting and I'm just hoping like some way, somehow, like our paths will cross and I'll go up to him and I can say to him like,

you're the reason why I'm here. So very cool. Now, how do you, so tell me like, so you were working for the Ticats and Lloyd M very cool now how do you so tell me like so you were working for the Ticats and you're Lloyd Mendes so how do you end up at Sportsnet oh my goodness well this is sort of the journey I think this is what makes everyone all right I shouldn't say everyone but most people in broadcasting so interesting because we all have such a different path um and it's you know we all have this passion we what we do, but it's how we got there. That's so different and unique. Um, so I mentioned that I went to Sheridan. Um, that was my journalism, new media program. Um, so after Sheridan, I worked for the Ticats for a year as their sort

of team reporter, which was cool. Cause I was heading down to Iverwin every day. This was back when it was Iverwin, not Tim Hortonsfield you know lugging my camera gear around and shooting and editing and like learning and making mistakes and you know try just trying to get better and then um that lasted for a year and I had bills to pay like I'd move back home and I was broke as a joke and it was like okay I need... And home is here. Burlington, actually. Burlington, okay. Yeah. And then I was literally, I remember going to Second Cup every other day and just scrolling through Canada media job search and thinking, something, is there anything?

And I remember the video guys at the Ticats were awesome because I had made a demo reel. And this was back when game film was put onto DVDs for players. They took my demo reel and put it in the machine for me, and then it spat out 100 DVDs. And I'm not kidding you. I sent out every one of those DVDs with my demo reel on it.

And one day in Second Cup, I saw a job posting for, it said Lloyd Monster. And I thought, oh, sports job in Lloyd Monster. I'm applying just because this place is called Lloyd Monster. And I thought, oh, sports job in Lloyd Monster. I'm applying just because this place is called Lloyd Monster. Little did I learn it was a typo eventually. But yeah, so I got that, took that job out in Lloyd Minster and it was such an unbelievable experience. I made some great friends. I covered chuck wagon racing. I covered rodeo, uh, the Alberta junior hockey league. It was awesome. And I just kind of tried to soak it all up. I did anything and everything I possibly could

just to learn and accept that, you know, not everyone is interested in the NHL. Sometimes it's, you know, local news and local stories are really important and I really tried to pay attention to that and then from there I got a job at CTV Edmonton and Dave Mitchell if he's going to hear this or Glenn Kubisch they were two guys that I like to think kind of took a chance on me because you know I had a year and a half experience working in Lloyd and Natasha Staniszewski had left CTV Edmonton. And there was kind of a vacancy there and they took a chance on this person that had worked in Lloyd Minster and for the Ticats. And I went to CTV Edmonton and it was the same thing. I got to be around the Oilers and the Eskimos and I just kind of soaked it all up, covered the Briar and the Scotties. And then CBC called.

And the truth is, is I'd only been in Edmonton, gosh, it was like for less than six months and I didn't want to leave. I really was loving what I was doing. I was putting a sports cast together every day. I was down at Rexall Place. Again, to when it was actually called Rexall place. Um, and I was just loving it. I was learning. I was getting my hands dirty. I was shot listing the Oilers game and putting together my own highlights. Like I was really doing it. And, um, CBC called and they said, Hey, we have an opening. We'd like to bring you in for an audition. And it was gut-wrenching because I couldn't really say anything to CTV Edmonton.

I didn't want to leave, but I had an unbelievable opportunity. And I went for the audition. I went for an interview. I met with Heather Hiscox and the crew from CBC Sports. And I thought I did a good job. I felt confident in my audition. And then I was actually covering the Briar in Saskatoon when I got a phone call from the folks at CBC and they said, Carly, like, we'd really like to bring you, we'd like to bring you in. And I was so excited. And I was also so disappointed because it was like,

oh, I can go to Toronto. I can be on a national network. No way. But I was also loving what I was doing in Edmonton and the people there were so good to me and I'll never forget it. Was your sister already at CBC at this time or not yet? Where was Charlesy? Just wondering because they can say we already have an aggro. You know what? She actually was at CBC. She had,

but she was at, I think she was at CBC Windsor at the time. And I think she might have been doing some backfill for CBC Toronto. Okay. But, and I remember I actually,

she actually told me to call Nabil Kareem, who's now at TSN. This just goes to show you how small of a world it is. Well, I was going to say, just the fact that your twin sister was employed at the CBC at the same time, that's already crazy small world stuff. It was weird. And I remember calling Nabil and asking him about the opportunity. And he was such a great friend at that time and support,

you know, like the shoulder to kind of lean on. And he didn't even know me. So it goes to show you too, how much people in the industry look out for one another, which is really cool. Yeah. Um, and so I took the job at CBC and, um, I, I, I literally was crying when I told, um, the folks at CTV Edmonton that I was leaving because I really didn't want to go. I just was loving it. And I took the job at CBC and it was awesome. I got to go to the Olympics. I was on Hockey Night in Canada ringside twice. We're talking like dreams. You had an offer. That's the offer you can't refuse. You don't want to leave Edmonton, but you cannot refuse this offer. No, I just couldn't. And, um, I, I spoke to some other people in the industry

who I trusted and looked up to, and they said, you know what, agro, like you might not get another phone call like this for five years. And as much as you're enjoying your time in Edmonton, you know, if what's important to you is taking a next step, then this is a next step. And I remember watching, um, the Vancouver Olympics in 2010 and saying, you know what, I'm going to be at the next winter Olympics. I don't care what I have to do. I don't care how much I have to, you know, sacrifice or where else I'm going to work. I'm going to be there. And I remembered that when I got offered the job from CBC and that was a major pull factor for me accepting that, that job. Do you think there's

a reluctancy amongst, uh, young people trying to break in like a reluctancy to leave the big market for something like a Lloyd Minster and then parlay that to an Edmonton that gets you into the Toronto, which is the biggest media market in the country. Whenever I speak to students, that's there. Oh, how do I, what do I do? How do I start? Where do I go? And I say, start small. It's so simple, but it's the only thing that I can say. And what's unfortunate is, is that those places are ceasing to exist, right?

Like the Prince Alberts, the Lloyd Minsters, the Kamloops. I have, you know, people working in the business that I know that started in Dawson Creek. Um, you know, those places are few and far between. This is a good point. Excellent point.

Actually, I talked to a lot of people in radio and back in the day, if I can use that expression, you know, guys would do like overnights and kind of, they would suck and they'd get better and they put in their reps and stuff. And that was a place where you can kind of go. And then at some point overnight stopped existing. Like it was just a pre-tape stuff and re-roll better and they'd put in their reps and stuff. And that was a place where you can kind of go. And then at some point,

overnight stopped existing. Like it was just pre-taped stuff and re-rolls and syndicated programming and stuff. Like there seems to be, and you're speaking, good point. Like these small markets, like some, I don't know, Thunder Bay or whatever.

Sure. Where you would go and kind of suck and get better and have a chance, whatever. They're all drying up now. They're being serviced by bigger metropolises, like whatever. So they're disappearing. There's nowhere for a person to kind of go now it's like there's no triple a am i like there's no minor league well but this is my challenge then that i pose or my suggestion

to students is make something start a podcast if something steve's dangle would be a perfect example. But my point to them is, is make your own niche, carve your own place, go to Monica Platek and I worked together at CBC. And she's another, I think, great example of someone who carved her own way. And if there wasn't a position there, she made one for herself. And, you know, so I think that's also go to a team and say, I want to be your social media department. I will bring my point and shoot camera. I will put this to your website. I will bring traffic. I will create content. Sometimes you have to be the author of your own path or your own career. And I think that that's the challenge now. It's how bad do you really want it? What are you willing to do to prove that you can,

that you, that you can do it? And, you know, cause, and I mean this in the most respectful way possible to a lot of students, but, um, I, I tend to get a little bit of like a silver spoon type of thing is, Oh, I've done my four-year program at Ryerson or here I have graduated from the college of sports media. Now I'd like to come and work at Sportsnet and Hey, I'm sure we'd love to have you come work at Sportsnet too, but I want to see that you, that you've earned it. I want to see that you've proved it and it's harder and harder to do, but I still think the people who ultimately will be successful, will be able to connect the dots to their, to their past.

Those kids in their darn sense of entitlement. Well, and you know what, like things have, have come full circle. Like I use the Dallas Braden story, for example, but another great one for me would be, um, Scott Hartnell. Like he's born and raised in Lloydminster. Okay. Like he played for the blades when they were still the blades Blades back then. And, you know, working in Lloyd, I helped out with his Clark MacArthur and Scott did a celebrity golf tournament and, you know, developed a bit of a rapport with them just from helping out. And then, you know, then when I went to Edmonton and the Flyers came to town, Scott Hartnell answered all of my questions first and was, you know,

his dad and his mom came up to me outside of the, of the dressing room and Carly, how are you? And, you know, it was like those relationships tend to build on themselves and then you never know when that's going to come in handy. Bob Elliott. Okay. So he was in here recently. You know, Bob, Bob Elliott been a great baseball journalist for decades and decades. And like there were a lot of people like Edwin Encarnacion, for example, he would only talk to Bob Elliott. Like there's a whole trust you establish with the players. And I think that's the heart and soul of like a good sports journalist is gaining the trust of the players. And they open up and they tell you things.

So you don't get the cliched 110% stuff that nobody wants to hear. And you never know when things are going to come, um, you know, full circle. Like I just signed on, um, with BioSteel, uh, BioSteel sports as, as an ambassador for them. And, you know, some of their athletes, um, you know, I'm, I'm lucky that, um, like the experiences that I've had, like, uh, you know, um, Tyler Sagan would be a good example. He's a biosteel sports athlete and, you know, interviewing him, you know, when his teams would come to town and then seeing him at events, you never know when your paths are going to cross again. And that's another, you know, piece of advice that I have for, you know, upcoming, you know, students or interns

or whatever too, is that you can't burn any bridges and that not only goes for the relationships that you have with players like speaking to your Bob Elliott's but also to your colleagues because yeah you want to get ahead and yes you need to look out for yourself but I'm still a firm believer that you have to do that without stepping on other people um because you never know when your paths are going to cross again and when you might actually need their help. Right. So be a decent person. Yes.

How's that? Yeah. Definitely be a decent person. You know, treat other people how you'd want to be treated. I think it's pretty simple. Real quick, what does BioSteel do again? I should know this probably. BioSteel is, they have their drink, the pink.

So they're a sports, you know, nutritional lifestyle, you know, brand. So it's not just targeted for, you know, high performance athletes. It really is a nutritional lifestyle sort of approach. So their supplements are natural. They are, um, I've really enjoyed working them into my routine. So they've got everything from, you know, like a, a pre, I shouldn't really say pre-workout, but, um,

it's basically like an all natural version of a Gatorade. So it gives you your electrolytes, it hydrates you. Um, and then they've got everything from protein supplements to meal bars. Yeah. All that kind of stuff. Okay,

cool. Cool. Just curious. All right. And, uh, where, where are you at? You're at CBC right now. You're not at Sportsnet yet. Okay. Yeah. In this story. I got, yeah. No, no, don't stuff. Okay, cool. Cool, just curious. All right. And where are you at?

You're at CBC right now. You're not at Sportsnet yet. Okay. Yes. In this story. No, no, don't apologize because that's cool. So, I mean, you're doing hockey in Canada and you're going to be at an Olympics. And yeah, pick us up there.

So you're working for CBC in Toronto. Yeah. This should be it. Your next job should be, I don't know, Ron McLean's job. Oh, God. Oh, gosh. Oh, yeah. No no i can't even think about that but no that was definitely like we're talking like dream come true stuff you know

like ron mclean throwing to me on hockey night in canada um it was yeah so cbc was incredible it was about two and a half years and then um in comes rogers and in comes the new world sort of, I guess, that we're living in. So is this the big NHL deal? This was a big NHL deal. So things at CBC Sports, you know, we got called into a big staff meeting, and I'll never forget, I was actually working on the morning show when the news was breaking about the Rogers deal.

And I had to go on the air at six o'clock in the morning with little to no information except what was on Twitter. And it was really difficult. It was really stressful. And I remember when Hubert Lacroix came in and gave everyone, you know, the big speech. It was a very, it was a surreal day. And then the writing was sort of on the wall that, you know, things were going to change. CBC was going to be very different going forward. And I was nervous. I was, you know, I thought finally I'm at a place where I'm learning. I'm enjoying what I'm doing. I'm telling good stories. I'm happy. And then it's like, boom, you know, can't even get to the three-year mark and the rug just gets swept up from underneath you. So I started looking for other opportunities and, um, I, you know, reached out to, to TSN and

to Sportsnet and was, you know, sending resumes out to lots of different places. And, uh, I was really lucky that I had the chance to audition, um, at both TSN and Sportsnet. Um, and I never thought in, you know, my wildest dreams, like you believe in yourself and you're confident in your ability, but I was pretty bummed out with what was going on at CBC. And then I was extraordinarily lucky that I had a job opportunity, um, at both TSN and Sportsnet. And it was, yeah, it was one of the most difficult decisions, um, you know, I've ever had to make. And, you know, you work so hard and, you know, I look back on the days where I was alone and homesick and wondering what am I doing out here in Lloydminster and it's minus 40 and I'm going to a rink and you know and um even the time that I was in Edmonton and you know you're

homesick and you're lonely and you're working your tail off and you're putting in 13 hour days and you know you're kind of wondering like when is it is it worth it am I and I always told myself it was and then I think when I had the job opportunities for both of these networks that I've looked up to my entire life and career, I think at that moment it was a real realization of, yes, it's all been worth it. So what was the deciding factor? Oh, gosh. That's the million dollar question. you know what to be honest um job security at that point in my life was important because I had gone through what I'd went through at CBC I had just spent the past five years of my life picking up and moving and you know living paycheck to paycheck and trying to make a go of it and um

you know I think a major pull factor to me was the, that hockey deal and the longevity and the security that at least I thought was going to go along with that. But that being said, I mean, I've looked up to both of these networks for my entire life. And what was so difficult is that I'm a really big CFL fan. And, you know, I'm thinking, and I'm also a really big soccer fan and it's been a dream of mine to cover the World Cup I didn't get to go and cover the World Cup when I was at CBC it's one of my biggest disappointments so far in my my career so here I am thinking like oh my goodness I would love to cover the CFL I would love to be a part of the network that has the rights for the World Cup

and then I'm thinking then there's a network who has the NHL rights and oh my goodness. Then there's a network who has the rights to the Toronto blue Jays. Like how do I, either way I'm winning. I'm not losing in this situation. I think, okay. I understand.

Um, TSN of course has the exclusive rights to be CFL. Yeah. Your name is aggro. Okay. You know where I'm going with this. Okay. It's a natural. You should be covering the Argos, aggro okay you know where i'm going with this okay it's a natural you should be covering the argos aggro argo this is right am i crazy sort of kind of the bigger thing for me is

just that the cfl was a big part of my family i mean my grandfather worked really hard and was you know a driving force behind getting the cfl Players Association established and running. So the special teams player of the year award is still in his name in the CFL. So, you know, I grew up parking on lawns in Hamilton and going to the Labor Day Classic. So, yeah, the CFL

was a big part of my... It seems like your CFL guy was a great guy. He's been here. Arash Madani. He seems to hate the CFL. Am I wrong? Am I wrong? Am I crazy?

You know what I love about... I love the tweets. I made the tone down. I think it's... I don't want to call it... I can't... I don't want to put words in Arash's mouth. But what I love about Arash is that he doesn't worry what people think.

Arash does things the way that a rash wants to do things and it's not always what people want to hear but sometimes i think it's what they need to hear and and he has because rogers is not the rights holders he has the freedom to say the things that perhaps the part perhaps the partners might be less would not want to bite the hand that feeds maybe i don't even know if that has anything to do with it. Like, I'll give Arash credit. If he has a story, he tells his story. And I don't think he, like, I think that's what makes him a good journalist and a good reporter,

is that he tells the story that he has to tell. It's this tricky, and I still, you know, we still struggle with this every day even putting shows together um and I I mean I don't know who if people at TSN would agree with me or not but it's tricky like as the host of the show we kind of walk this line every day like what content do we go I always want to know like like like I always am interested in how much weight you give something because you have the exclusive rights to it you know I mean like like my one thing I always am interested in how much weight you give something because you have the exclusive rights to it. You know what I mean? Like, my one thing I always wonder is, is Rogers, and I don't know if they are or not,

but is Rogers purposely, I don't know if that's weird, but intentionally doing the CFL news maybe later and shorter because if you want to watch a CFL game, you got to go to TSN and they don't have, and also Bell Media owns the Argos for goodness sake. So there's a lot of like incentive for TSN to put the Argos first. Is there anything like anything like that? Well, no, see, this is where I give the producers a ton of credit. And this is where I think that they are like the hardest working people who get the least amount of credit. And I would say our producers never put anything like that.

They, the story that deserves to lead the show will lead the show. And that is, but it's easier for your producers to say that because you, you own almost everything. Like CFL is the only example I can think of where you do. Yeah. But I mean like a gray cup,

I mean, and I guess, you know, I guess at the end of November, you know, maybe it's less of a decision to make, you know, if the gray cups being played on a Sunday night, obviously you're going to wake up Monday morning and leave with

the gray cup. Um, but I, whenever I go in to do a show, that's how I approach it. And that's how our producers approach it, that the story that deserves to lead the show will lead the show. And I really can't think of an example where that hasn't, like where that hasn't been true. And I think as soon as we stop doing that, then we're not doing our jobs properly. So, I mean, there are things, you know, that have to run in the show, you know, like the advertising things or, you know, after our spring training report, we get that, you know, little thing like that, that that that obviously we have no control over and yes you're going to see that based on the properties um that i think each sort of network you know owns or has the rights to i should say

um but i don't know i honestly like when we go in to do a show that's the truth like we don't and i think as soon as we stop doing that, then like the blame's on us. I think it's tougher for the other guys because, uh, the last couple of years, this city in this country actually has had blue Jays fever. You know, you couldn't,

you can't make that. It is what it is. Yeah. So it's just a wonderful happenstance that, Hey, you're also, you have all the games. Okay.

So then, and, uh, you have the big hockey contract. Well, this is Canada. And especially now that some Canadian teams will actually play playoff games, you know, you know, thank goodness we got rid of that strong bow and now things are getting better.

Those Canadian teams. But, uh, you know, so, so I think it's tougher for the other guys, I would guess, because they don't,

these, these big properties like Blue jays and hockey are not in their back pocket but anyway yeah but i mean i think it goes both ways too like a good example even me last night so march madness is starting yeah um and hey who doesn't love march madness and i don't know if people out there know this but with the rights and things like that like you're actually restricted to the content that you can use in your show if you're not a rights holder. So perfect example, Sportsnet, we can only show 60 seconds of March Madness content in our show. I'm glad I know this is the inside baseball I need. And I don't know if people and I don't even know if I'm allowed to say this, but that's just the truth.

So last night, you know, I'm writing it on camera to go into our March Madness stuff. And I'm kind of being tongue in cheek about it, but there's a reason I'm like, let's take a quick look back through the first day of March Madness. And that's why. So the Vanderbilt guy who fouls unnecessarily and puts the guy in the line, who hits the two to win it, like which was the big game,

my favorite game yesterday. It's his bonehead play. Like you can't even really like set that up and play that through. Cause you only got the 60 seconds for the whole tournament. And the other one would be like world cup and Olympics. So if you're ever watching like a sports highlight show and wondering like, why are you showing me these ridiculous still photos? That's why.

And there are other things like the masters, for example, is one of the strictest about replay rules. Like, you know, the tiger woods, you know, the, the Nike like logo, like, of the strictest about replay rules. Like, you know, the Tiger Woods, you know, the Nike logo. Of course. Oh my God, have you ever in your life? Yeah.

You can't like show that. So sometimes even though that's the most perfect thing that you want to show, you can't show it because there are these types of restrictions. Wow. Yeah. Well, I always knew at the Olympics. Yeah. If you weren't the right soldiers, you had to steal pictures. And I always knew why that was. But I had no idea that there

was like a time limit on the footage for things like the March Madness tournament. And World Cup is another really strict one. And so... Why can't you... Here, so Andy Petrillo works for TSN and CBC. So how does she score that? Well, because you are allowed to, like, we all have contracts, right? And this is why some people have to bring in extra help to help them out, like, navigate these contracts. But, you know, you, essentially, we kind of work for ourselves, right? So, I don't want to say that you freelance because I really don't freelance because I only have, I guess, one employer. You're a permanent full-time employee of Rogers Media. Yes.

Okay. But I have a contract. So you're not a salaried guy, sorry, a salaried person like lots of people are. You have like a, I don't know, you explain it. What do I know? Yeah. So, I mean, I think, I don't know because I think everyone is different, but I do have a contract and I do have a salary that much I can say.

Um, I don't know the specifics of what Andy has worked out, so I can't, I don't want to speak. I'm just thinking of you in the world cup. This is my thing. I'm thinking like she's in Rio covering the world cup, but she's also on TSN radio right now. Maybe that sounds like you could be there too. It's the way that you sign your contract.

Like, so you have to work in, you know, like you have a, like a non-compete clause. Um, so, you know, if I'm working for one media company,

then I can't go work for another one. Um, but I don't, you know, I think with Andy's schedule too, she has a lot more flexibility. She has time to be able to do. So she's just negotiated the sins.

Yeah. She's, she's obviously. Like Roz Weston, who can appear on a Rogers radio station in the morning and then he's on Global doing entertainment tonight, Canada at night. You would just work with your employers and you would negotiate your contract accordingly so that you wouldn't have the competition clause or whatever so that you'd be able to go and work and, and work

elsewhere. And this next world cup is in Qatar. Is that how you pronounce it? Qatar? Yeah. It's going to be a cooker. Yeah. I heard, I heard, I've heard lots of negative things about the, uh, I don't know the, uh, yeah, but, uh, if you want to go there, let's start working on this. Let's get you working. Well, this is the hard thing for me too right is that i i'm such a soccer like soccer is what i know um and you know even the rio olympics like my heart was broken because i wanted to go so bad and then of course my twin sister gets to go right so you know but hey it was kind of the same thing right then i was in sochi and she wasn't so that's funny yeah it's it's hard do you ever end up in the same like do you ever cover the same thing like wouldn't it because that ever happen again we've never covered the same thing

but we were on news network a couple times in the same hour the cbc yeah yeah so we'd be on in the morning show and one you know in like the first block of the show maybe i was doing like stanley cup playoffs and then she'd show up later covering. Do people ever like say, hey, those people with the same last name, they look similar. Do you get a lot of that? Oh, even this morning

I got a tweet about the subway thing and saying, hey, is Carly what? Oh, there's two of you. Yeah, because the subway thing is actually going to end up being the best thing

that ever happened to your sister. Because this is one of those things where a name where I know Charles Siagro because I watch CBC Toronto, I watch Marketplace and I know her very well. I tried to get you both on for a where a name where I know Charles Siagro, because I watched CBC Toronto, I watched Marketplace,

and I know her very well. I tried to get you both on for a year or whatever. I know. But the average person isn't going to know that name. But now that it's news, and it sounds negative, because, oh, my God, they're being sued or whatever by Subway. But this will end up being the best thing that ever happened because she's going to get fame from this,

and she'll become a name, and she can parlay that. I think this will end up being a good thing for her yeah i don't and you know what though like i don't i i i don't want to speak for her but i don't think the fame like that has never been like i could care i mean i'm sitting here with no makeup on and my hair up like i could care less i thought you were wearing makeup oh please but like that's not something that um i know it's not something that motivates her. I know she's just proud of, this is a story that needed to be told. And that's, and I think that's kind of what, you know, like you meet different people throughout your career and you, I think some people are motivated by different things and that's fine. Like whatever lights your fire. Um,

but one thing that I've always been, um, I've always told myself is no matter, you know, people ask you, Oh, what's your dream job? What's your dream job? And I said, I just want to enjoy what I'm doing and how I'm doing it. And I want to be proud of, of the stories that I'm telling in the work that I'm doing. And I think she'd probably say the same thing and Hey, if it gets her some notoriety that might just happen to go along with it. But I think at the end of the day, she's just proud of the work she's just proud of that storytelling and i know she's not here to where is she i need to have questions for her but uh let's pretend let's make this up let's pretend she wants when dwight drummond goes on and does peter man's bridge's job she wants to

do dwight drummond's job let's pretend this right her chances of that happening improve with the notoriety and the name recognition and the fame. Yeah. I think it's all, I think it's just your, your resume too. I think it's what, you know, even me in my career, like what sporting events have you covered? What stories have you told? How well are you telling those stories? And so, yeah, are you kidding me? Like she's, she's a hungry, you know, go getter. If she's making, if she's making waves in the industry, of course, she's going to be proud of that. And if that opens up doors for her in the future, I don't think she's going to close them. You know, she's a, that's one thing I love about my sister is she is, you know, don't mess with her. Like she's not afraid to, to, to dig deep and go for it. And you know, if it, if it gets her, um, you know, if it provides her other opportunities in career for her career in the future, of course, she's going to be proud of that. Uh, back to sports net just for a second. So, um, at sports net, who would you say are the, the rising stars over there?

say are the the rising stars over there oh good question um you know who's one guy who i i'm so happy for right now would be ben ennis because ben ennis has you know he has worked his tail off he's done everything and he i mean what people don't know um ben has a little guy at home and you know ben would come in and do early morning radio. Then he'd stick around and fill in maybe on Andrew Walker's show or help Jeff Blair out when Jeff Blair's sick. Then he'd stick around and do the 1 a.m. show and work until 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning. Yeah, he's on there a lot doing stuff. He does. He is literally a, like, he is your utility player. He is your jack of all trades.

He is your utility player. He is your jack of all trades. And I'm thrilled for him that his hard work and his, you know, passion and his knowledge are being rewarded because he's going to have essentially a full time, you know, steady gig now with Andrew Walker. Right. And this was only announced yesterday, I think. Yeah. I'm not sure when like an official press release went out. I saw the photo because. Yeah. And the new promo that's running with all the guys in the studio with bob and it's like yeah we all like each other do we i don't know uh so this is so yeah so so the andrew walk they're still calling

it the andrew walker show i believe and then he's gonna have essentially a co-host so he doesn't have to fill up the whole time himself because greg brady is doing mornings and everybody knows that story yeah which is cool too. Like Hugh Burrell's back. Greg Brady is back. Like that's great. You know, I, at the end of the day, yes, like this is work and these are our jobs, but these are people too. And the worst thing that you hear about in this business is when people lose their jobs.

Talented, hardworking, nice people. So that's also part of it too. I'm thrilled that people are back and employed, but for a guy like Ben, I mean, he's earned it and he is, I mean, I, if I had to fill a three hour radio show, it would like those guys I really look up to. So, and yeah, so I would definitely say Ben is one of those, one of those guys that I think the rising star rising star and someone else, um, is Eric Thomas who works with us and he's been filling in now, um, since Ivanka has gone on her maternity leave. Um, Eric is holding down like the 1am spot while Carolyn and I take turns filling in for Ivanka. And Eric is what I love about Eric is that we all kind of bring something to the

table, right? Like Ken Reed is your, like, he's your vintage the table, right? Like Ken Reed is your, like, he's your vintage hockey guy, right? Like he's got that, you know, you can say he's got that kind of covered. Um, Carolyn is a tennis whiz and I just love that about her. Um, me, I think I kind of bring, I'm a little different. Like I like the amateur stuff, but I really like my hockey. Um, you know, and Eric actually is American, but he spent a lot of time in Montreal and he is like a basketball, like whiz kid. And Eric is like this kind of like strong silent type, but if you kind of get him going, like he can get fired up and watching and listening to him, listen to a basketball game. Like I'm so excited to go into work tonight with March Madison and Eric being

there. So Eric Thomas would be another person who like, we are so lucky that, that like I'm lucky I can call him a teammate for sure. Good. So Ben and Eric. Yeah. Cool.

I mean, there are others, but I mean, I don't know how long you can name mean, there are others, but I mean, I don't know how long. You can't name them all, you know. Because you mentioned the 590 changes and Greg being back there with Hugh and Elliot Price from Montreal. Yeah. So what did you think of the Dean Blundell experience and then the decision to switch it up? You know what?

Like, one thing I will say is, like, I'm always a person who does, like, there's nothing wrong with trying something new. Like, you know, it kind of bothers me

how much other people like to see other people fail. And, you know, like, you're absolutely right about one thing here, which is,

we like to, I don't want to eat our young or whatever, but we like to knock people off the pedestal. Yeah. We put them up there and then we just want to watch them fall. Yeah. And I can't, you know, I've been in places where, you know, like with what I went through at CBC and watching people get laid off and lose their jobs and even me going somewhere new when I didn't want to and when I was happy.

Like, so I don't think there's anything wrong with trying something new. I don't think there's anything wrong with, you know, taking a chance and even looking, you know, I don't want to get into the larger conversation that is the Ron McLean, George Trumbelopoulos thing, but. But why not? It's a great combo. But I mean, like things like change is change. Like sometimes that has to happen.

It doesn't always work out. It doesn't always go well. But, you know, I think that's part of the industry. Like if everything stayed the same, I think people would get bored every once in a while. So and I have to be honest with working the 1 a.m. show. Dean Blundell's broadcast time was not carly aggro schedule friendly that's right so i can't you know really speak to that but um you know i i'm also so so you gave me rogers tried something gave it gave it i think a fair amount of time and then decided

let maybe this isn't working the way we wanted it to let's go back to something else well and i think people also forget like it's hard to do this job like just because you have a show when you have a time slot doesn't mean people are going to listen or doesn't mean people are going to watch like i very well in i don't know how long could be out of a job like how much longer are people going to watch sports highlight shows for like i don't know um, people are still in their cars and luckily still listening to radios, but like, it's hard, it's hard to be good and it's not always easy. So on the one hand, like I'm thrilled that Hugh Burrell gets, you know, another shot because I've done some charity work with you um I think he was a very hard-working very um like knowledgeable guy and I hated seeing him go same thing with

Jamie Thomas like Jamie and I worked together for a really long time like he's a nice guy he knows his stuff but sometimes things are just out of your control. And it's not easy to be a part of, that's for sure. Like it's awkward, you know, for me to even be here talking about it. On a brighter note, you mentioned Hazel May as one of your, can I use the word mentors? Sure, yeah. So at Sportsnet, anyone else at Sportsnet that has sort of been a mentor? Yeah, Martine Gaillard. I think she is one of, like, I don't know.

I don't think, and not that she wants people to talk about her, but I look at Martine and she is, like, I don't even know how long she's been doing this for, but, like, she is, she makes everything look effortless. And she, like, when I watched her on that Muhammad Ali broadcast, like, that's Martine. Like, she is so multi-talented and multi-skilled. And because, you know, she works the weekends now, I don't get to see her as much. But watching her and her element, she is one of those, like, timeless professionals.

Like, she is a total pro. I'm trying to, I hope I get the right name here. Oh, my goodness. But Liza Fromer, I believe, is a person who I spoke to recently who was, like, friends with her at Ryerson. Oh, really? Like, they were really tight. With, speaking of, like, Rogers Radio, Julie Adam is in that group, too. Oh, cool.

Like, the bunch of them are, like, buddies from, Adam is in that group too. The bunch of them are like buddies from like Ryerson. Yeah. And she's been in this business for I don't even know how long. I don't want to get into ages and numbers and everything else. She'll kill me. I'm doing the math right now. But yeah, like she and I think it's important for, I don't know, selfishly, it's really nice for me to have people like that that I can look up to. And then if I'm ever having, you know, I wouldn't hesitate going up to her and asking her for help or asking her for advice.

Okay, I don't know, this might be an uncomfortable question. But do you think there might be a double standard with regards to, I don't want to use the word, expiry date on women in sports broadcasting in front of the camera? Like that they're, it just seems like, I mean, Martine, who's, I think she's probably younger than me,

like around my age or whatever. We're probably around the same vintage or whatever. But can she keep doing that in today's sports media landscape? Oh, I think good is good. I agree good is good, but do you think that's the way it's been playing out? Because I can think of a lot of old male faces doing sports radio right now i mean there's come on you know don cherry

there's some real old guys doing sports me i have trouble picturing old female faces doing sports yeah i mean like let's i'm not one of those people who like tries to sugarcoat things either like if you're on tv television is a visual medium. Call a spade a spade. People on camera, I think it's a visual medium. You've got to look a certain way. You've got to sound a certain way. You can't beat around that bush. I won't name names, but there are a lot of not great looking older dudes in front of the camera on Sportsnet.

There is or there is not. There is. There is. I mean, I don't want to use these names because that's a mean thing to say. Somebody who's not handsome or good looking or whatever, but there are people I see on covering hockey and stuff who are older. And, and I'm not talking about Ron and Don or anything like that.

I'm talking about others. I, there's no female equivalent. Yeah. I don't know. You know what? I don't know why that is. Like I,

I don't want to sound naive when I I don't know why that is. Like, I, I don't want to sound naive when I say this, but even, um, like I would hope even myself, like I would really like to believe that the reason why I've got the job that I have is because I'm the best person for it. Not because of, you know, whatever color of my skin, like this is a running joke. Like everyone always asks me what I am. Like, what ethnicity are you? Like, can I check off a box? Is that a question? Oh, I get it all the time. Like, what are you? What, what's your background? Like you, you know, so I like to, I genuinely like to believe that the reason why people have their jobs is because they're the

best person for it. So maybe, you know, maybe Hazel will be that person. Maybe Martine can be that person. Like, I don't know, but you know what? I'm not in the position to power of power to make those decisions. So I don't know if anyone's going to want to look at me on camera when I'm like 50 or 60, maybe they will. I don't know. But I mean, I guess until I, I guess you just kind of have to cross that bridge when you come to it. is good yeah i kind of just want to go back i'm almost uncomfortable having the discussion be because i'm not in front of any cameras and i don't have to worry about this at all and i'm not even trying to suggest that men don't have the same concerns because i'm sure there's a pressure on men to stay looking youthful and stuff in front

of the camera it just as a spectator it seems to be a little more important for the woman to look young and oh like track the ladies for the men yeah and i'm not gonna sit here like and kid yourself like it like as a female um like you worry about how you look you worry about um yeah like you can't you can't i'm not afraid to admit it yeah of course i worry about it and you know with social media the lovely entity that it is being what it is, everyone likes to give you their opinion. And, um, I, I think it's important though, to be, you've got to be comfortable in your own skin to be able to do this. Like you can't, I remember Cassie Campbell, the first Cassie Campbell Paschal, the first time I ever met her, it was at a hockey night get together. And she said, you know, like, do you have like

a cheerleader at home? And I said, you know what? Um, this was actually, I had just started like dating my husband, um, like seriously. And she said, you know, one thing I will say, um, is that it really makes a difference. She's like, I'm not saying that it has to be, you know, your boyfriend or your husband or a partner. Maybe it's your mom or maybe it's your dad. But she said, if you have someone who has your back and will be a support for you to lean on while you go through this, that is very important. And I remember that and I carried it with me. easier for me not to worry about my age or my looks, or if I'll still be around when I'm 50 or 60, um, is because he's got my back. And I do see some younger female broadcasters in particular, I think struggling with that. And that's okay. That's part of growing up. That's part of your career. That's part of finding yourself. But, um, I think it's important to, you've got to, it's got to come from within got to, it's got to come from within. Cause if you're looking to get that kind of confirmation from somewhere else, you know, you might not. And it's, most people are better at being mean than they are being nice,

especially on social media. I was going to say my advice, my advice on to follow up that would be, uh, don't read the comments. How's that? I just, people just are, I find people are very mean unnecessarily to men and women in the public media. Brendan Dunlop, actually a co-worker of mine, he said something that has still stuck with me. He said, you know, Agro, if someone is commenting on my hair or on the suit that I'm wearing that night,

he's like, then I must be doing a pretty good job of everything else. If that's all that they're coming at me with, then I guess I'm doing okay. So we can say the same, because I know that you'll get jokes about your shoulders. Oh my God, I get it all the time. Right, which is strange to me,

because they think your shoulders are broad. Oh no, but let's be clear here. My shoulders are very broad. I'm checking it now. I can't tell. Well, you probably can't, but hey. So that's because you're an athlete. Yeah. Yeah. I'm checking it now. I can't tell. Well, you probably can't, but hey. But yeah, is that like a, so that's a, cause you're an athlete. Yeah. Yeah. I'm okay with it. I mean, swimmers, right? Like you find a great swimmer and you're going to find broad shoulders. This

comes with the territory of using your upper body. Yeah. I like to like chalk it up to my, um, my division one goaltending days. Um, but yeah, like it's, but I, I think part of it is, is like, you have to be comfortable in your skin and like you kind of have to make a decision are you going to let this bother me or are you just going to embrace like who you are and what you're about and guess what like these are my shoulders they're not going anywhere like what are you gonna do i'm good with it but yeah go into the knife and chisel those down the best tweet i ever got um was ever got was, remember when Conor McDavid and the broken clavicle? Yeah.

Someone tweeted me and said, man, if Conor McDavid had Carly Agro shoulders, there's no way his clavicle would be broken. And I was like, yes! Like, that is the tweet of the night. That is funny. But it's, you know what? Like, some people, I can totally understand why it bothers them and it upsets them. And, you know, yeah, every once in a while, of course, if someone says something nasty, like, you know, but you've

got to get to a point, you know, where like you're it's I'm comfortable in my own skin, like no matter what what anyone says to me, like I'm going to wake up in the morning and I'm going to be OK. Yeah. So but yeah, like people say stuff all the time and the shoulders are a, are a popular comment. I even put it in my Twitter bio cause I would get it so much. That is funny. Uh, you were on a panel about, um, marketing yourself to succeed in sports business. Oh yes.

At McMaster. So, um, maybe, uh, a quick synopsis of basically what you had to say there. My biggest message was I said, if like you only remember one word or anything that I mean, anything I say today, I said, just remember this. I said, be a yes person. Say yes. Walk out of this room and remember. Yes, because I wouldn't I know I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing if I didn't say yes. Like when I, and, uh, like when I worked for the Thai cats and I used the term worked, I mean, it was a glorified internship. I made 1500 bucks for the whole season. Um, and it didn't even cover my parking, but that funny oh yeah like it literally did not even cover my

parking um but i said yes and i got great experience um lloyd minster do you want to pack up and move to a place that you've never heard of and is and they pay big bucks over there i hear that's like oh god oh yeah um like but i said yes um you, Carly, do you want to go cover the Calgary stampede? Yes. When, you know, the chuck wagon racing, like I said yes to everything. And I, I I'm not trying to like toot my own horn, but that's how you learn. That's how you get better. That's how you make mistakes. And that's how you, you gain the experience. So that was my big piece of advice was just say yes because you never know who you're going to meet. You never know what you're going to learn.

You never know when it'll come back and help you. So say yes. No, that's great advice. And final thing, as I noticed you presented a Canadian Screen Award. I did. So tell me about that. Oh my gosh.

It just happened, right? It did just happen. I was really excited to be asked because I've never been nominated for a Canadian Screen Award. So why did they ask you? about that oh my gosh right uh it did just happen i was really excited to be asked because um never been nominated for a canadian screen award so why did they ask you i have no idea probably because someone else wasn't available oh no you were their first choice oh but um yeah i got asked to present which was really cool i presented with um uh laney louie who's on the the social oh of course she's a riot uh blogger of gossip yes gossip blog yes not exactly my wheelhouse like i am not good with celebrities or anything like that

my brother one of my brothers is fascinated with like who in hollywood is dating who and all that stuff and then and my mom kind of gets into it with him too and i can't even like i just don't care no and it's funny because like my husband actually is better at it than me like i don't know tmz thing yeah i don't know if you like read like we're in the grocery store and he's always like scanning those like you know what do you call rag mags like the tabloids if it's an athlete i'm good but yeah i'm not good with the with the hollywood stuff yeah so it was really cool the neat part was um we had some folks at sportsnet who did win um and i don't

like i don't know how those things work i don't even understand the voting um but we had um and i cannot pronounce his last name so phil if you're listening i'm sorry but um phil was one of the guys who worked on this really cool like raptors marcus stroman um piece and they won and then also steven brunt won and it was kind of cool because i asked steven steven was nominated um uh in the same category twice for his muhammad ali um sort of essay and then also for his incredible feature from sinaloa to the show um and i said to him like you know steven i'm really sorry to ask but like was there one that you wanted to win for like more than the other? And he said, you know what, Carly?

Like, I was so proud of them both that that it really didn't matter. But like what people might not know about Stephen Brunt. I mean, he like if you ever get a chance to go out for dinner with Stephen Brunt, like you have to go because he's just an encyclopedia. Why won't he ask me oh but he like his passion and knowledge and understanding of muhammad ali like that was the work that he did on that was like it literally took my breath away and to see someone and i mean this in the most respectful way possible but of of his sort of age and where he is in his career like he doesn't really have to do that kind of stuff anymore but he does it because like he still has that fire like he's still you know he wants to

be the person to go to those places in Mexico and hide in the corner and and get that so he is a storyteller like no other and it was so special for me I mean even just to be able to call him a teammate and to be able to stand up and cheer for him after he won because I've gotten to do some pitch talks with him now I've met his wife and like I was I was proud of him not because like he needs me to be proud of him but just because that's like the epitome to me of like a sports journalist like he is you're preaching to the choir and i'm like i've been trying to reach out to him to get him to sit down here so i'm still working on way better stories and insight than i would like blow your mind you're you're being uh humble but you are

you are fantastic and I thoroughly enjoy this. And congratulations again, not just on the marriage, but finishing second in the bachelor pool. Take that, Jesse Rubinoff. Now we just got to get your twin to get in here. I know. She's a little preoccupied at the moment. But maybe when things set about.

No such thing as bad press. I think that's what they say. And that brings us to the end of our 225th show. Thank you for having me. No, thank you for coming. You can follow me

on Twitter at Toronto Mike. Carly, please remind us all what your Twitter handle is. At SNCarlyAgro. Pretty simple. SNCarlyAgro. Oh, and I'm on Instagram now. So can you follow me so I feel cool?

My daughter is a big Instagrammer. Really? I'll get her to follow you. All right. Thank you. Same thing. SNCarlyAgro. I kept it simple.

And our friends at Great Lakes Brewery are at Great Lakes Beer. And Chef's Plate is at ChefsPlateCA. See you all next week. Take a streetcar downtown Read Andrew Miller and wander around And drink some Guinness from a tin Cause my UI check has just come in Ah, where you been? Because everything is kind of rosy and green Thank you.