Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - Donnovan Bennett Kicks Out the Jams: Toronto Mike'd #1291

Episode Date: July 13, 2023

In this 1291st episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike catches up with FOTM Donnovan Bennett while Donnovan plays and discusses his ten favourite songs of all-time. Toronto Mike'd is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, The Moment Lab, Ridley Funeral Home and Electronic Products Recycling Association.

Welcome to episode 1291 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. 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.

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Lab and Ridley Funeral Home. Pillars of the community since 1921. Today, returning to toronto mike to kick out the jams is donovan bennett nice to meet you donovan likewise who's doing sales for you because you have more sponsors and ad reads i host two podcasts yes different platforms different companies and you have more sponsors for this one podcast in your basement where you may or may not kill me then do you think i'm gonna kill you i mean who told you because that was supposed to be a surprise but no i would never kill you but i will say that it's a overnight success story 11 years in the making 11 years i've been doing this okay fair enough okay it's i put in the time. How long have you been hosting your Sportsnet podcasts? Ooh, just under a year. Okay, and what are their names?

Well, for Sportsnet, it's the Going Deep podcast with Donovan Bennett. And for the CFL, I host the Waggle, which I've hosted for a couple years. So I guess both, similar to my children. I have a four-year-old and a one-year-old

oh that's fresh so yeah so both podcasts are still babies i suppose okay so i pledged i made this pledge uh all fotms no i made a decision that i should get to the first jam right away and then we'll kick out these jams and we'll talk about the music but along the way i have questions we'll catch up we'll get to know you better not your toronto mic debut but it's your toronto mic in-person debut i feel like that's like a category all unto itself so i'm gonna ask you but one question donovan bennett are you ready to kick out the jams i'm as ready as i'm gonna be to kick out the jams. I'm as ready as I'm going to be. See you next time. But this business, they probably take a long time Yes, yes, y'all, you don't stop, KRS-One, rock on

Yes, yes, y'all, you don't stop, KRS-One, rock on I'm about to hit you with that traditional style of cold rockin' Givin' options for head knockin', non-stoppin' Tick-tockin', lyrics be droppin', but styles can be forgotten So we bring back the raw hip-hoppin' Just like the records and tapes you be coppin' Pop some breakdancin', boogie poppin' and lockin' Tick-tockin', guaranteed to have you clockin'

We only get better and only better we have gotten This type of flow don't even think about stoppin' Beware, the length of the round flow can be shocking. All music lovers in the place right now have never understood the way the KRS got down. Yo, I'm strictly about skills and dope lyrical coasting. Relying on talent, not marketing and promotion.

If a dope lyrical flow is a must, you gots to go with the name you can quickly trust. I'm not saying I'm number one. I'm sorry I lied. I'm number one. KRS-One doesn't let me come in here, but I'm going to bring her down. But, okay, you're just kicking off with a bang here. That's quite the jam we're starting with. K.R.S. One, tell us why you chose to start with Step Into A World.

I don't know if I have a great reason for any of these songs. Oh, just make it up, Donovan. But, okay, so K. so KRS-One, for me personally, I remember as a youngster having a birthday party at the Sony boombox for the first time, and literally we played two songs all night

on repeat. This was one. Biggie Smalls' Hypnotize was the other. And it's a great party song, but also when you look at where we are, this is this is allegedly the 50th year of hip-hop this summer yeah yeah yeah 100 yeah and so when you you you listen to the lyrics and karis one mentions it right um talent not marketing and promotion that's the the the core of how hip-hop started where In fact, the DJ was the star

and the MC was just kind of keeping the party going. So to me, it's just nostalgic on the root of what now is a huge culture. It's an economy to itself. So those would be the random reasons why I'd pick Step Into The World.

On this 50th anniversary of hip-hop, it's great to pick a jam. You know, this is like from the Bronx, right? And hip-hop comes from the Bronx, if I have my history correct. And KRS-One, you can't go wrong, buddy, because, yeah, you know, shout out to Ridley Funeral Home.

We lost Scott LaRock, sadly, got shot down far too soon. But Boogie Down Productions is a big fucking deal. Good jam. And one that, for me, if it dropped right now, for the first time, still massive. I'd imagine people would be making TikToks to it. It would be in shampooiktoks to it it would be in like shampoo commercials and stuff i think it's one of those songs that it stands the test of time so it could come out now but even if you're at a party

now and you heard that record drop people would be hyped because of the nostalgia as well and there's a toronto connection if i may uh and that I believe Scott LaRock in Boogie Down Productions are sort of responsible for Mishy Mee getting her U.S. rap deal. And I believe she's the first Canadian to get a U.S. record deal, first Canadian rapper to get a U.S. record deal. So shout out to FOTM Mishy Mee.

Did not know that. So you're educating me on my own jam. Two-way street here, Donovan. On that note, so I mentioned, let's get to jam one and we'll catch up. So just like just left like five minutes before you arrived was another Donovan B. I thought it was a nice coincidence

that Donovan Bailey was here. And Donovan said, I'm going to quote him. This is what I said. So I told Donovan Bailey that Donovan Bennett was coming in and he said, I've got a lot of time for DJ. That's what Donovan Bailey, I got a lot of time for DJ. So he's got time for you, man. Yeah, so the DJ is a reference to how long

or how well you've known me. So the fact that he calls me Donovan Jr. DJ because I am a junior, lets you know that I've gone way back with the actual db and if i had a dollar for every time you know i'm in line for something giving my passport or license at the dmv and someone's donovan oh donovan like you mean like donovan bailey like no like yes my name is donovan My last name starts with a B. I am black.

Correct. Yes, like, yes. There's two? Funny joke, yes, like Donovan Bailey, except I'm not as fast or as rich. Well, today you might be as fast. Like, I feel like I would pick you in a race if you guys were racing here on my street here. That's very kind. I don't know if that's true.

You know what? It actually depends. I watch him hobble down these stairs every week okay I don't think he's beating you in 100 meters I think it depends on the distance I think I could beat him at like a kilometer race I don't know if I could beat him at 100

you know he had his Achilles heels like he's got like scars I feel like you know he's not 1996 Donovan Bailey okay you can take him but he's also one of the most competitive people. So he'll will himself. Only on the basketball court. So how do you know Donovan Bailey?

Is it just that your life in sports media means you've crossed paths? That he knows you well enough to say, I got a lot of time for DJ? Yeah, I mean, when you think about it, so I go from a kid Watching him As an adolescent And for me At that time and age and stage This is the first time

I'm seeing someone That looks like me How's my name Who is a Immigrant into this country From the same country that my family comes from, from the same parish that I have family from, and he's making the entire country proud.

So for reference, this is before the Raptors were a team or had Canadian players all over the NBA, before Drake was a huge sensation. So for a young black person to see someone like them celebrated in the media was a big deal. And, you know, that was juxtaposed with,

you know, when I learned what the media could be like when Ben Johnson wins and he's Canadian gold medalist. And when he loses, you know, he is a West Indian who, you know, test positive. So to see Donovan uh having that representation for me as a youngster was really big and then you know fast forward to me being able to cover him and get to know him you know he's been a great

uh inspiration in multiple ways so built a relationship over, over time, certainly. And I think he's really smart and knows not you, but that there are media members who have agendas. And so, you know, I think that's the real talk Donovan. Well, I think,

I think, you know, when you look at Donovan and maybe some people have taken some of his quotes out of context, historically, I think he, he looked at media adversarially and looked at it maybe as a bit of a sparring partner.

Now he's a member of the media, so I'd be interested to hear how his perspective has changed. But I think maybe it's because I see some of him in my own dad, my own family members, that empathetically I was able to relate to him at an early age in my... How old are you in 96? Why do I have you in diapers here? No, not that young.

No, I was, you know, I was born in 83, so what's that make me, 13, 12? Oh, you're prime time, okay. So I literally remember it like it was yesterday. I was at a baseball tournament, I think in Sarnia, and, you know, we would rush back to the hotel you know after the you know games or whatnot yeah both saturdays right because it was saturday and saturday the hundred and then the four by four to saddle up as a family and get around the tv to see

what donovan was going to do getting chills man i'm getting chills remembering i'm a little older than you but absolutely we were all in front of that TV, and it was a good time zone because it was Atlanta. And it's like, okay, this is prime time. We're not all waking up at five in the morning for this thing. This is perfect time. We're all around the TV. And we're only eight years removed.

And you mentioned that you're right about the Ben Johnson situation. There was a great political cartoon at the time where it was like, Canadian wins gold. That was the first panel. And the second panel was Jamaican-Canadian accused of doping or something, steroids. And then the third panel was Jamaican loses gold medal.

This was the political cartoon. And we were eight years removed from that. And then he ran clean. Donovan Bailey ran clean and won double gold in atlanta and was the fastest man in the world and also didn't apologize for it either like he might as well have been american in terms of how brash and how much of a peacock he was lots of swagger which was antithetical to the way we were as canadians and specifically as immigrants as canadians where

you're a bit more docile you just want to go along to get along and you know talk about you know these memories that i have that have impacted me and made an imprint on me you know growing up as a kid you know often if you saw someone that was black on the news it was because they were a suspect for a crime and so i i vividly remember watching you know let's say cbc probably the The National, and someone's being described. And my grandparents audibly, before the sentence was finished, whether it was Peter Manridge or whoever, saying, Dear Lord, please don't let it be a black person. Because you knew that you're judged by your worst and not by your best,

and that there was a compounding interest of blame for every other black person. And so Donovan flips that on his head, and not only does he bring a claim in a positive aspect, he's not doing it tippy-toeing. He's doing it saying, like, this is what I deserve, this is what our country deserves so it really changed the way you know i i viewed us as being you know the black canadians uh you know west indian immigrants and and for me a young black male so we're actually because somebody was

with donovan and he's not a lesser person but he had a message for you too but i'm gonna get to jam number two and then uh chat a little more about the recording of Donovan Bailey running things with somebody who I'm going to name drop in a minute. But let's kick out jam number two. What would I do without your smart mouth Drawing me in and you kicking me out You got my head spinning No kidding I can't pin you down What's going on in that beautiful mind?

I'm on your magical mystery ride And I'm so dizzy, don't know what hit me But I'll be alright My head's underwater, but I'm breathing fire. You're crazy and I'm out of my mind. Cause all of me loves all of you. Love your curves and all your edges. All your perfect imperfections Give your all to me

I give my all to you You're my end and my beginning Even when I lose I'm winning Cause I give you all of me. And you give me all of you. John Legend, All of Me. All of me. John Legend, all of me.

Tell us why you chose this different tempo than your first jam. Very much so. I feel like we should slow dance or something. This is an audio endeavor. They don't know that we're not slow dancing. That's true. So I, like two billion other people on this planet currently have this as my wedding song all of me john legends however i will say that we had it as our wedding song before it became a cliche and i say we myself and uh my wife uh k McKenna. And so literally we were watching

a Oprah Winfrey feature interview on the OWN Network when that was a network that had original programming with John Legend. And so he goes over to the piano, plays this for Oprah before it's released, before it's been marketed. We hear it. We're like, this is our wedding for Oprah before it's released, before it's been marketed. We hear it. We're like, this is our wedding song.

But it's not out yet. Right. So this is, you know, we had a long engagement, 18 months. And so fast forward to by the time it comes out and it's released and we already know the song well, so much so that we filmed, like we filmed our TV on our phones and had this song on our phones. And this is our song. It means a lot.

Actually, listening to the lyrics, it's actually more representative of our life now. Because, you know, I'm crazy and you're out of your mind. It is applicable to people who have two kids. Like, you did it once. You knew how hard it was. And then you actively chose to do it again right so underwater and breathing fine is just our current chaos in our lives but by the time we get married 18 months later yeah then the song is like played out like

everyone and their mother and sister and brother have this as their wedding song and it's almost like sheepishly we're dancing to it because it's so cliche but yet it's still our wedding song and it's beautifully written by John Legend. Imagine being able to write a song like this, be able to perform it in multiple octaves and be able to play the piano on it. He hits all the notes. I'm listening to him hit that high note

and I'm thinking, oh, we can't do that. Or maybe you can. I shouldn't speak for you. I certainly cannot but I do try in the shower but i saw him live in vegas and when i tell you it sounds like the record if not better in person right it sounds like the record if not better in person there's many artists specifically when we're talking about singers who it's it's tough. Like, you're taking a mashup of your best takes in a controlled studio, and that's the record, and then you have to perform that

night after night after night on the road. I understand why that would be difficult. John Legend lives up to it. Love it, and that's why some artists, I'm not suggesting even for a moment John Legend would ever do this, but there are many an artist who will sweeten their live recording with an actual background track even for a moment John Legend would ever do this, but there are many an artist who will sweeten, you know,

their live recording with an actual, you know, background track of them when they nailed it in the studio. Like, this is a move. Not that John Legend would ever do that because that man can pull it off. You mentioned, you know, being crazy enough to have the second kid. So you mentioned a four-year-old.

You had a child when you were on Toronto Mike last. I should just do a little housekeeping and say the first time Donovan Bennett was on Toronto Mic, it was episode 643. We chatted. It's funny, you were 643. 645 belonged to a gentleman named Bob Segherini who sadly passed away this week.

And I dropped for episode 1290. This is now 1291. But 1290 is a tribute to Bob where I replay some of our conversation and I just want to give my condolences to Bob's daughter and everyone who's a fan of Bob Segrini. He was a good

FOTM and he's no longer with us. But you were 643 and this is what I wrote at the time. Mike chats with Sportsnet's Donovan Bennett about his work there. That's a good idea. The embracing of digital platforms and social media. Recent conversations with Willie O'Ree, Harrison Brown, and Jessica

Platt. Whether he'd work in the U.S., sleeping with the enemy, that ties to this jam, and his run for Ahmaud Arbery. That was the length of his time of the length of his, yeah, that was a time of the shooting of the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, and you were doing a run for him.

That episode was an hour and 18 minutes. I just quickly want to tell people you did return, but again, it was a remote. This is during the pandemic. You joined Garvia Bailey, FOTM Garvia Bailey. Speaking of Bailey's, we were talking about Donovan. no relation i don't think with garvia but uh we had an important episode about what it's like to be black in toronto and i want to thank you so much for doing that i just sat back and listened and uh you and garvia talked about what it's like to be black in this city yeah my pleasure so thank you for that okay so. So, uh, where was I going? All of me. Okay.

Your wife, uh, you had a second child. Okay. So this is what I think the true definition of crazy is. Okay. So you have a child, it's a lot of work. It's crazy. It's like going to war. It's nuts. And then you have another one like, Oh, that's nuts. But what if you did that twice? Like, what if you had a kid now? I'm not saying you should do this, but I did this. Okay. So I had a kid two years later, I had another kid. And then like a decade later, I had a kid? Now, I'm not saying you should do this, but I did this. Okay, so I had a kid. Two years later, I had another kid. And then like a decade later, I had a third kid and then another kid two years later. Like I literally did what you just did twice. Like that's really crazy, right?

It is. I originally wanted three. So my wife comes from three. I have a brother. And I said, let's go for three. And I said, three is just nice insurance like if one of your siblings is a loser you have another one to kind of you know make sure there's some checks and some balances after having two there's what one i mean it doesn't matter you you

said nicely that i had a kid no no my wife had a kid i was there right i was i was adjacent to the process and she's made it very clear that we are not having a third that i'm lucky that we had a kid. I was there. I was adjacent to the process. And she's made it very clear that we are not having a third, that I'm lucky that we had a second. Did she send you to get a snip? I mean, no, not yet. That'll be the sign that it really is over. Like, this is it. We're closing this door.

Yeah. I mean, yeah, I suppose. Only because I've been there. Okay. But she's pretty adamant that this is a wrap for us but two is a handful two is two is great well how is fatherhood uh how's it going it's exhausting I'm surprised I'm awake right now it can be exhilarating for sure when you are seeing someone figure out the world like learning how to be and exist in real time is really cool it's also really cool to come home and you know when they hear the garage door open

you hear the pitter patter of footsteps running to come see you we don't have pets you know we just have children so you know aside from each other the things that really give us unconditional love are those children and so irrespective of what my last article was like or broadcast like or podcast was like yeah my employment situation tax bracket that I happen to be in. My kids don't care about any of that. And so that is nice for sure. It's true. They really don't give a rat's ass that you're like famous

and the guy from TV, like it means nothing with the four-year-old and the one-year-old. No, I mean, the four-year-old, his understanding is that I'm his bodyguard and butler like i'm here to service his needs at all time which he is relatively appreciative for but um yeah it's uh bodyguard

butler chauffeur yeah you got lots of jobs there with the four-year-old but the four-year-old at least is of an age now where you know uh you know if you're on live television or whatever your your wife can stick on the television say hey there's daddy like that's kind of neat zero interest she's done it before and he says where's blippy like just get this off my tv i want to go on youtube and watch random people in russia unbox. That is really where it's at, is the Russian YouTube videos unboxing toys. What's that about? It kills me, but that's what he wants all the time. That's what they want. All right, we're going to get to the third jam.

I am going to get back to Donovan Bailey's co-host on Running Things. I have not forgotten. I even took a note here, but let's get to jam number three I just want to be, I just wanna be successful I just wanna be, I just wanna be successful I just wanna be, I just wanna be successful Oh yeah, Trey, I fuckin' feel ya They be starin' at the money like it's unfamiliar I get it, I live it, to me there's nothin' realer Just enough of saw your problems, too much'll kill ya

And when I leave, I always come right back here The young spit it at everybody in rap fear A lot of y'all have still sounded like last year The game need changin', I'm the motherfuckin' cashier Nickels for my thoughts, dimes in my bed Quarters of the kush, shake the lines in my head Take my verses too serious, you'll hate me Cause I'm the one to paint a vivid picture, no HD

Yeah, I want it all, that's why I strive for it Diss me and you'll never hear a reply for it Any awards, show or party, I get fly for it I know that it's coming, I just hope that I'm strive for it. This means you'll never hear a reply for it. Any awards show or party, I get fly for it. I know that it's coming. I just hope that I'm alive for it. I want the money, money in the cars,

cars and all. Successful, Drake. Mm-hmm. Why successful by Drake? And before you tell us, I will tell you that every episode of, back to Donovan Bailey for a minute.

I might have all the DBs going on here, but he always kicks out a jam in the beginning before they dive into the world of track and everything. And today he picked a Drake song. So he picked... Coincidentally enough, I'll just shout out his Drake song. Was... Who told you...

It's a Drake feature, but it's a... I'm going to pronounce this wrong. J-Hus? Please, pardon me. I do not know. But tell us why you chose Successful. But it's Jay I'm going to pronounce this wrong Jay Huss Please Pardon me I do not know But tell us why you chose Successful Well there's so many Drake songs

That I could choose And if I was going to have An allotment of songs There has to be at least one Drake on there And I was talking to a friend Recently Who is a hardcore Swifty

And said part of the reason is Around the same age And grew up Essentially with Taylor Swift So a lot of the reason is around the same age and grew up essentially with Taylor Swift so a lot of the things whether it was 21 or other records that she was talking about were things that were going on with her at the same time. Now I'll have to say

things that Drake are talking about right now not going on in my life. I mean he is a dad but he's not talking about daycare drop off and making sure that he's got the toy of choice so that he doesn't

have a meltdown. And making sure that the cinnamon toast is cut with specific rectangles. That's my life right now. Drake is talking about other things. But at this time, when I was young, coming up in the industry, and Drake was just starting and and aspiring i did relate in terms of you know having some ego having some grand ideas of being successful but also you know here in the record

the vulnerability of what exactly is success right which is why the i suppose line comes in there because okay where these are these things that you ascribe to be successful what does that look like and so certainly for me I knew I wanted to be successful I also knew I wanted to really grind and put in a lot of work at the beginning of my career because I wasn't going to have the same energy or ability later in life when I had kids when I have a partner that needed me so yeah it was it was about getting my feet planted being successful and figuring out exactly what that meant because i even would argue still for people in our industry the definition of success from person to person wildly different

right and maybe if they're being totally truthful and so so that's why I picked that record. And it's young Drake, right? And Drake has the Raptors connection. Yeah, for sure. And you were at Sportsnet during the championship season of 2019, flags fly forever. Yes, sir. I believe we're down to one Raptor who played,

that's an important word there, but who played in that playoff run of 2019. Chris Boucher, he's the last guy. Well, P.K. Siakam. It depends if, sorry, if Pascal Siakam is a Raptor when the season begins. I guess I've already kind of figured he's gone. Is Siakam, is he a Raptor opening day?

I think so. Okay. Well, I am maybe embracing myself. I think it's just like a defense mechanism that I've already moved on. So Siakam and Boucher, last two Raptors still who played in that 2019 run. Ten years. You're ten years at Sportsnet this year, right?

Am I? Well, I don't know because the bio says you've been a member of the Sportsnet team since 2013. Yeah, that's probably about right. Whenever, essentially, Rodgers bought the score, and I came over with many people in the merger, that would be the date. So, yeah, that sounds about right. I am terrible with dates unless it aligns to some sort of huge landmark event. So, for example, and this sounds terrible, but I remember that my child was born in 2019 because my eldest child was born

not only in the middle of the Raptors run in 2019, he was born in the middle of the Sixers series, he was also born the day of Vladdy Jr.'s debut at the Toronto Blue Jays. Wow. I was supposed to be there covering it. Right. And I was in the hospital.

So I kind of say that he wanted to see what all the hype was about. So he was born literally as Vladdy was taking BP. And now he is a home run derby champion. Yes. See how it all works out here. Okay. So you've been so sportsnet proper uh since 2013 i uh teased that who's the co-host of running things with donovan bailey

it is uh jason portwondo and jason portwondo says he hasn't talked to you in a while but he wanted to say hi to you do you remember jason from uh i'm assuming you overlapped at sportsnet did not overlap at sportsnet uh but i do i do remember his work at Sportsnet really, really well. And yeah. Well, it's also possible I'm screwing up Portwondo's bio here. I got to re-listen to his episode of Toronto Mike. But for all I know, he was at TSN at that time, and I could be butchering this completely.

But he says hello regardless, Jason Portwondo. Yes. I think at the time when I came over to Sportsnet, he was dominating you know, dominating all things woodbine, horse racing. Yeah, Port Wando's one of the great people in the industry

and low-key, a pretty good soccer player. Is he? Okay, he's in good shape, that's for sure. Like, he likes, you know, when he's coming, showing off his calves,

like, he's in great shape. He's very fit. Now, yeah, right, you mentioned the horse racing with Port Wando, and whenever you'd get one of those events, TSN would have the rights, and you'd see, I'd say, it would typically be like a Laura Dyken

and Jason Port Wando sort of bringing you the queen's plate or whatever, now the king's plate. And the fun fact for you, which is not news to anyone listening, but Laura Dyken's dad lives across the street. See, it all comes full circle here. So, okay. Let's get to another jam. I have a lot of ground I want to cover with you,

but let's kick out another Donovan Bennett jam. What y'all thought y'all wasn't gonna see me? I'm the Osiris of this shit. Wu-Tang is here forever Motherfuckers This 97 I ain't my niggas and my niggarettes Let's do it like this I'ma rub your ass in the moonshine

Let's take it back to 79 I born atomically Socrates, philosophies, and hypotheses Can't define how I be dropping these mockeries Lyrically perform armed robbery Flee with the lottery possibly they spotted me, battle scarred shogun, explosion when my pen hits

tremendous, ultraviolet shine blind forensics, I inspect view through the future, see millennium, killer bees sold, 50 gold, 60 platinum shackling the masses with drastic rap tactics, graphic displays melt the steel like blacksmiths, black woojackets, queen bees ease the gunson bumbling with patrolmen, tear gas, lace Wow.

Hey, can we dedicate this jam? Let's dedicate it to a guy I know is listening right now. He never misses a Toronto mic, especially a kick out of the jam. But Ryan Wollstat, I think you're giving him a big smile right now. This is right in his wheelhouse. He's a big 90s hip-hop head and Wu-Tang Clan. Nice. now this is right in his wheelhouse he's a big 90s hip-hop head and uh wu-tang clan nice well um this one for me great beat by the way one of the best beats of all time in my humble opinion one imagine today like a nine person rap group i just something that necessarily wouldn't happen

love that it did no this is just uh essentially a lot of these songs are just nostalgic to my childhood. And I remember we'd be playing this, you know, outside playing basketball all day, playing, you know, American or 21, depending on where you lived and what you called it. Yeah, 21 here. It's called American somewhere? Yeah. Okay. I only know it was 21. So, you know, it's called American somewhere. Yeah. Okay. I only know what is 21.

So, you know, call your own fouls, but those were, those were good memories as a kid. But that's what Donovan, that's what music, the beauty of music is.

It's essentially a time machine. Like it just takes you right back to, and, and I'm still listening to a lot of the jams I listened to when I was a teenager. Like, it's funny how you kind of keep them with you and they just they just bring you right back to like simpler times. Well, you've got some actual cassette tapes in here and you're the only person. Can I explain that, though? Something to play them on.

Can I explain that, though? I don't want people to think I'm still listening to Cassette Day, although not that there's anything wrong with that. But I produce the Humble and Fred podcast, and these are tapes from Fred's attic or basement or something. And I'm literally digitizing them because I might drop these throwbacks in the feed when they take vacation days. So this is actually, that's why I have cassettes here.

There's a purpose for it? Yeah. Well, I remember know back in the day you had to listen to the radio it's a hope and wait for your favorite songs come on and then you gotta time it up you gotta press record to get it one that doesn't happen now and two i don't know how people find their new music now like maybe it's just a curated playlist you know on their streaming uh service of choice i'm not sure how many people are actually listening to the radio to find music

but part of the reason why the music i listen to is so nostalgic is because i am not willing to put in the work to go on like 17 different blogs to find out who the new hip-hop artist is that's underground that I need to listen to. But this, I turned 40 not too long ago. And when this track dropped, the boys went nuts. Because, yeah, it brings us back to a time. So at this time when you're... Oh, actually, sorry. I should also say this. Go ahead.

Sid Cicero knows Knows this entire song By heart And would recite it Acapella For us in Newspit 2 And the song's like Nine minutes long

Wow It's not a slow rap It's a fast rap But Sid could do the entire thing And we'd love it And die laughing There are people listening Who would love it

If Sportsnet could reunite Sid with Tim entire thing and we'd love it and die laughing there are people listening who would love it if sportsnet could reunite sid with tim uh you heard any rumblings anywhere is that ever a possibility or will that get you in trouble well i could i can strongly say that i do not think tim will be sid's new co-host on breakfast television that would be the shock of the season yeah so i do not think you know who it will be you have any insight into who it's going to be? I do not. I have zero insight. No, I haven't heard any.

They did auditions. I know Liza Fromer came over. She did a couple of weeks, a little throwback there. She would love the gig. I know there's a lot of people who would love that gig with Sid. Who would you like to see get the gig? I'd like to see Liza Fromer get the gig. She's a great FOTM.

We just kicked out the jam. She was a great fun and she loves it and she was great at it. Why not? I've done that show a couple times. Well, many times as a guest, but a couple times as a host filling in in the summer.

And it's a beast. I mean, the hours are serious. You're talking about a production meeting at 4.30 a.m. Wow. But also, the show are serious. You're talking about a production meeting at 4.30 a.m. Wow. But also, the show moves so quickly that it's like, okay, we're over here on this set, and okay, we're here on this set,

and we're talking to this expert about, you know, the new school backpacks for your kids, and now we're talking to this person about, you know, what the next infectious disease is going to be, and then we're talking to this person who was starting a youth baseball league. You're all over the place in terms of topic and issue, and it moves really fast. And then you take a breath,

and you've got to do it again the next morning. So you're telling me you're not interested in the gig. Is that what you're telling me? Well, I'm telling you I'm not qualified for the gig is what I'm telling you. But I understand why it would take a while to find someone who's a good fit because it's made to look easy. It's not easy, which is why I am actually very proud of but in awe of the fact that Sid was able to make that transition. It's essentially like you are a great hip-hop artist for 20 years,

and then you make the transition, and you're going to be an R&B artist at an entirely high stage. You know what I'm thinking? I'm not hip-hop, but one of the great country singers of the day is Darius Rucker, who, of course, was with Hootie and the Blowfish. So there's a complete transition, and you don't see that very often there's a reason because it's tough it's tough it's tough i had a fun fact that was going to drop during the krs one uh step into a world and i

forgot to drop it so i'm going to drop it now so one of the things not live you can re-edit it i will i refuse so one of the uh great you know samples in KRS-One song that we played is a song called The Champ by the Mohawks. The Champ is actually sampled in like 8 million different hip-hop songs. But one of the songs built on that sample is Let Your Backbone Slide by Maestro Fresh West. So I just thought it would be fun to say this while people were listening to Step Into a World and you can hear the champ in there. But that is like the basis for Let Your Backbone Slide by FOTM Maestro. Love it. Yeah, pausing for the, I don't know, the reaction there.

Okay. One more thing I wanted to say about you and morning shows. So you don't think you're qualified for breakfast television, but very recently Scott MacArthur came on the show and there was a like a listener question about um they brought in mike zigaman as to be his co-host and blah blah blah so i won't drag into any of that but a listener said they thought you were the ideal co-host for scott macarthur oh wow and the question was posed to scott whether there was any consideration no he said he not. No, he said he thought you had good chemistry. So this is just like fans speculating and stuff.

But was there ever any consideration given to giving you the co-hosting slot on the Fan 590 morning show of Scott MacArthur or any other host for that matter? Not that I know of. Well, you would know, I would think, because they would probably ask you first. Actually, you know what? I think they often ask you last,

to be honest. But no, not that I know of. I've hosted with Scott. I've filled in on some shows with Scott. He had some interim periods between co-hosts where they had to kind of bridge the gap before someone was being announced. Scott's great. He's super talented,

passionate, knowledgeable. his voice is important his representation is important so yeah i have a lot of time for scott remember listening to him on on this uh you know very platform and before i got to know him personally but yeah he he's um one of the good ones in our industry and he's got a podcast now with richard griffin which i helped them with and that was a great great who don't you help i'll give you the list of people i won't help and that'll be afterwards okay i'll give you that list but uh scott mccarthur who came on this show and you can go find the recent episode where he talks about it all but he had this like epiphany of sorts where he realized i don't want to be on the radio anymore this is he wasn't at rogers he's at bell media on 10 10 but he had this whole like i don't want to be on the radio anymore

and he he left radio and he's moving to nova scotia like he sold his toronto loft and he's heading out to the maritimes because he had this uh epiphany macarthur is yeah i did not know that i know because you didn't listen to the toronto mic episode come on donovan come on donovan all right you're forgiven but you should queue it up and listen because he reveals all and it's quite something and there's a great stephen brunt episodes since i'm promoting these other episodes that you should check out where brunt talks about why he's not at Sportsnet and what's next for him. It's quite something here. Also lives out

east. Maybe they should do a podcast together. He summers in Newfoundland, I believe, Mr. Brunt. He helps to organize the Woody's Point Writers Festival where songwriters collect.

And that sounds pretty cool to me. Okay, we're going to get to another jam, and then I'm going to give you some gifts. Because you finally came in person. You got nothing for those Zooms we did, Donovan. So now you get rewarded for making the trip here. But let's get to another jam. You don't know, babe When you hold me And kiss me slowly It's the sweetest thing

And it don't change If I had it my way You would know that you are You're the coffee that I need in the morning You're my sunshine and my brain when it's pouring Won't you give yourself to me, give it all I just wanna see, I just wanna see How beautiful you are

You know that I see it I know you're a star Where you go I'll follow No matter how far If life is a movie Know you're the best part You're the best part Best part You're the best part, oh, best part

It's the sunrise and those brown eyes, yes You're the one that I desire When we wake up And then we make love It makes me feel so nice You're my water when I'm stuck in the desert You're the talent all I take Donovan and I are dancing again, everybody. I'm dancing and I'm crying.

Tell me, because Daniel Caesaresar toronto guy the feature but this is her it's called best part and it's a it's a beauty man yeah so a couple things one i love daniel caesar i love his story the fact that he came up on the east side of toronto ajax pickering it's a testament that if you have talent, you'll be found anywhere. I love his style and his approach, both him and her. Understated, not trying too hard, just give me a beautiful guitar set

and a microphone and I'm good. But the other part that I love about this song is it's truly a 50-50 partnership between the two of them and so much so that hers fans and followers attribute the song to her and daniel caesar's fans and followers attribute the song to him they both perform it uh you know individually and together and i said to you earlier that you know i my wedding song was all of me but by the time it came out it was you know somewhat played out well if i was getting married now or since this probably would

have been my choice uh for a wedding song it i believe describes the evolution of our relationship. It really is a 50-50 partnership between these two artists. And does that describe your marriage as well? 50-50 partnership? Look at you, Barbara Walters. It does. That's what I make you cry. That's why the Kleenex is over here.

No, it does, which is another reason why symbolically, you know, the song makes a lot of sense. But yeah, it does. But actually, I would say it does but actually i would i would i would say it doesn't it doesn't in that nothing is truly 50 50 and so it's true in the fact that yeah we we share to the the burden of getting our family and ourselves to a hundred, but there will be days or weeks or stretches where for whatever reason, I got to, you know, pick up the slack and be over 50%. And then, you know,

vice versa, there's going to be times when I don't have enough and my wife is going to have to fill that deficit. And it's something, you know, as you go, you learn to get better. And that's in all facets, it's dealing with the kids and, you know, managing the house and our responsibilities. It's in our careers. You know, there are times when, you know, I've been able to push really hard in my career and go for things, understanding that, you know, my wife has had my back or, you know, potentially would have to take a step back. And, you know, there have been times when the opposite has been true, and that will be fluid probably until we retire, right? We're just navigating the age and stage that we're in to get ourselves collectively to 100%.

So our wedding rings on the inside inscribed is teammates. And so in many ways, you know, what we're trying to do is get to an optimal position get to a winning score and whether that means more shots for her more shots for me um you know it's not going to be evenly distributed as 50 50 but hopefully you know but the sum will always be 100 that's the plan anyways that's the plan so we're generally we're the splash brothers and she's steph curry and i we're the Splash Brothers and she's Steph Curry and I'm Clay Thompson. But every once in a while there's game six Clay

where he goes nuclear and hits a bunch of threes. There's a lot of Steph Curry sightings lately. I'm getting notes. Oh, he was on this golf course. He's just around here because he married a local gal. Yeah, his wife Aisha is from Markham. They've got lots of fans, family here. And, you know, for the last couple summers,

I think it's really started, he would always visit, but started in COVID where he would just get a house here and spend a good part of the off-season. Do you know the name Dave Bedini? I don't. Should I? Well, only if you're a fan of Bedini? I don't. Should I? Well, only if you're a fan of the real statics and beyond. But Dave Bedini, founding member of the greatest band ever to come out of Etobicoke, the Rio Statics.

I know that's a low bar. But Jeff Merrick, for example, he would probably say the Rio Statics, one of his favorite bands of all time. Jeff Merrick knows every band of all time. He definitely knows the Rios statics one of his favorite bands of all time so that's just merrick knows every band of all time he definitely knows the rios and uh dave badini is a big sports fan too and he just wanted to say that you are and i'm quoting him now the best smartest voice in media in toronto that's kind and he's a good i should say badini also writes books like he's more than just a's kind. And he's a good, I should say, Bedini also writes books. Like he's more than just a musician. He writes books. He started a newspaper called the West End Phoenix.

I feel like this is, you know, we just played some Daniel Caesar, but this quote, that's praise from Caesar. Yeah. I mean, that's,

listen, that is high praise because we have so many talented and smart broadcasters, writers, hosts in our city, in our country. So the fact that anyone's putting in that conversation, writers, hosts in our city and our country. So the fact that anyone's putting me in that conversation, yeah, appreciate it. Shout out to my buddy Chris Cooksey, who when he's on Twitter, you were coming on, he wanted me to know

you're very good. So Cooksey, whose son is very good at hockey, actually, shout out to Chris Cooksey. Chris Cooksey says you're very good, Donovan Bennett. But okay, I got gifts for you. I gotta come back here more or you just tell me the people you know feel good about me. Okay, here. So later today, I'm recording an episode

of Life's Undertaking, which is Brad Jones's podcast. Brad Jones is the funeral director at Ridley Funeral Home. And Brad wants you to be safe, Donovan. So here's a, I feel like your four-year-old will enjoy this. But this is a flashlight for you, courtesy of Ridley Funeral Home. Oh, thank funeral home and brad jones another person you do a podcast for yeah we're gonna do it at five o'clock today you can hang around and hang out with the funeral director but i think four-year-old i mean i've had a

four-year-old four times they love flashlights like you can do a four-year-old a flashlight and they're just that's a big big deal to them well this is the michael jordan of flashlights like i almost blinded myself when i turned it on because secretly they want you to be a client at ridley funeral home so they you know yeah blind you dangerous well i death becomes you no offense to ridley funeral home but i hope i'm not a client soon but now now I've got the website number and a flashlight to find me. You get an FOTM discount, but they're good people there.

Does your family of four there, do you guys enjoy Italian food? I think my son is Italian. I might need a DNA test. Oh my goodness. Because all the time, what do you want for dinner? Pasta.

What do you want for dinner? Pasta. I don't know if your kids were like this pasta it's a big hit pasta so yeah so well man my son is a is a paisan in my freezer right now a large lasagna courtesy of palma pasta they have locations in mississauga and oakville they're gonna feed us at tmlX 13 on August 31st. More on that in a minute. But yeah, you're getting a Palma Pasta lasagna. Frozen, solid. You're going to take it home and you're going to enjoy that. Kate. Orders. I got dinner tonight. This is great because we live in Mississauga.

Okay. So the fact that we've got... You're in the Palma Pasta backyard. Yeah, we've got a go-to spot now for all our Italian food needs. It's amazing. TMLX 13. that's my event. So this is, now I'm promoting myself here. But the 13th Toronto Mic Listener Experience

is going to take place from 6 to 9 p.m. on August 31st. We're all going to get free food from Palma Pasta, but we're also going to get a free drink because hosting us is Great Lakes Brewery here in Southern Etobicoke. Great Lakes has some fresh craft beer for you, Donovan. This is great lakes brewery here in southern etobicoke great lakes has some fresh craft beer for you donovan this is why you got to come in person this is why i didn't want you to you zoomed a couple of times we had a pandemic but now you got to you know get your uh get your treats great i got i got dinner you're taking care of i've got drink

and i've got a way to find myself if the power goes out and I lose all light. So this is perfect. One more shout out here before the next jam. But I mentioned TMLX 13. Everyone is invited. All FOTMs are invited. Free food, free drink. Hey, we're going to hang out at Great Lakes Brewery on, again, that's August 31st. But the next day, the day after TMLX 13, there's an event you got to know about.

It's called Getting Hip to the Hip an evening for the Downey Wenjack Fund and it's 7.30 at the Rec Room. Go to gettinghiptothehip.com and use the promo code FOTM10 It just so happens my next guest on Toronto Mic'd so you're Donovan Bennett. You're here for

whatever this episode number is, 1291 The next guest is Paul Langlois of the Tragically Hip. He'll be in studio Monday. So gettinghiptothehip.com. Use the promo code FOTM10 and you can save 10%. Yeah, if you love the hip, there's a cover band there. There's a live recording of Getting Hip to the Hip.

There's a whole bunch of activities planned. There's a silent auction. It's going to be a good time. So join us. I think tickets are only like 40 bucks. save you save 10 with that promo code i'll be there getting hip to the hip september 1st 7 30 my wife is a queens alum uh loves kingston and i feel it's just a rite of passage if If you spend any time in Kingston, you have to love the Tragically Hip. It's the law, I think.

Yes, exactly. It's mandatory. Great band. Okay, we missed the Tragically Hip. Paul's got some solo material, but it's funny because he's coming in because he's got a solo album. He's doing Breakfast Television,

and then Jake Gold is taking him from Breakfast Television to My Basement. That's where we're at in 2023. Well, maybe he'll have some insight for you on who the next host of BT will be. Can you name all the hosts of BT, all the, sorry, the women hosts of BT? There's only been three.

Can you name them? I can only name you one. Okay, you can name Dina. Pre-Dina was Liza Fromer. Okay. And pre-Liza was Ann Romer. Oh. She's the OG host of Breakfast Television.

Yeah. For most of my life, I have not been awake when Breakfast Television has been. I can't say I've seen a minute of it either. Like, don't tell anyone. No, listen. My consumption of BT has gone up, one, when I've been on the show, and two, since I've had kids and I've been awake at that hour here's a jam so i should tell you so so i said donovan bailey and jason portwando we were

kind of prepping for the show and i mentioned you were coming on and then i got all those nice things said about you and then they wanted to know well donovan really wanted to know your jam so i had to kind of play through your jam so he could hear what your jams were oh man i feel judged now well when i got to this jam portwando just broke he just sang this at the top of his lungs. So let's get to the song that I heard Port Wando singing earlier today. Yeah, no I've never been someone shy Until I seen your eyes, still I had to try Yeah, oh yes, let me get my words right and then approach you

When I treat you like a man is supposed to You'll never have to cry. No, I know everyone can relate to when they find a special someone. And she's royal, yeah, so royal. And I want her in my life. And I want her in my life I never knew anyone So one of a kind No, the way she moves to our own beat

She has the qualities She's royal Big tune, big tune Tell us why you chose this jam so this is a song that you know in west indian jamaican culture let's say at a wedding when you're announcing the matriarch the grandmother the mother you know the wife you often play this song it's certainly the case for me i think we've played it when my grandmother came out because we announced my grandparents at our wedding.

But I have strong, strong women in my life. My wife, obviously. But often they say you marry your father if you're a woman or you marry your mother if you're a man or if you're in a same-sex relationship, you marry the parent that you like the most, I suppose. Um, you know, for me, I have a strong woman in my life and my wife, strong woman in my life and my mom, strong woman in my life and my grandmother. And so, um um in many ways i've been raised by these royal women uh so hopefully that means i'm uh empathetic to you know women's plight and their issues but

hopefully also i get some of that strength and that resilience that all women have to have and apply it in a way that is beneficial to all people. So, yeah, that's why, you know, we're going with this track, She's Royal. So because I had to load it up for you, Jason called for it when they were talking about Shakira Jackson because they were covering the Jamaican track championships that happened over the last week. So we played it for Sharika Jackson. I love that. She is royal,

that's for sure. Man, okay. Yeah, I learned all my track from Donovan, but it sounds like we just had the US championships and the Jamaican championships and lots going on in

the world of track. Interesting question came in for you, Donovan. This came courtesy of Eric and he says, I'm jealous of Donovan's sense of style and fashion could you ask him if he's permanently done with neckties uh great question and i mentioned everything that i get from women that would also be my fashion

sense because my one fashion rule is listen to what the women in my life tell me to wear and that includes all three of those women I mentioned, but also our stylists at Sportsnet, Deb Berman. And, I mean, permanent is extreme. It's a long life. And there may be a setting, like a black tie affair, a wedding, per se, where I feel the need to put on a tie, or maybe I'm in the wedding party and we're all wearing ties.

I'm not going to abstain and protest. But, yeah, I feel no need. I used to love neckties. I still have a bunch. Strong half-winds or not. But, yeah, no, it's the air tie. No necktie, just the shirt buttoned up all the way to the top. I can't do ties because I went to a Catholic high school

and at least my first couple of years there, ties were mandatory. And I think because now in my mind, it's like you were forced to wear this tie as part of the school uniform. I can't wear it. I won't wear it. I just went to a wedding.

I went to a wedding last Friday and no tie for me. Well, I feel that way about working out. I was an athlete and they made you go to the gym at a certain time and do certain exercises and as soon as i was done i was like ah i can't do that anymore now obviously i have to find ways to stay active but you know just lying on my back and doing max bench press does not seem appealing i'll just chase after the kids that'll keep you uh that'll keep you active uh i had a similar experience with reading i used to love to read just read read read and then i i'm an english major at u of t and you had to they forced you to read all these books and then once i got like at my last exam and i'm done it's

like for a long time i'm kind of still there i can't read anymore it's like you forced me to read all in the great books a lot of them some of them not so great but just because it's just the nature of being forced to do something you don't want to do it for pleasure. I get that. Look, this is like on the couch here. Okay, we're going to get to another jam. I got more questions about Sportsnet and et cetera, but let's kick this one.

Everybody talk about song killing. When they done know sayh we a original song killer Fasu all you know we Anytime we start dance, dance off the lock Girl fall back a week You know seh we a be think punk cock Can't chat to me Me start dance from nineteen o long Think I only forty five we collect A duck plate we out Anytime we drop Cardinal, IRS and wire A blood clap, big tune that

Yes, oh me, oh me, oh my Them mature Mr. Cardinal, I play music and deny Cause them circle cats rap so fly, them jacks stay, they will die And I ask, when them under murder song before I dance Can't turn around, I jump and beg in front of life They can't fast-fall me, I have to put the time back Rap from T-Dot to the Bronx and Brixton to come back If a MC step out of line and feel him, I forget

Cut up, butt up, lick up, piss up, sound get bricked up Beat up, I kick up till the boys start nicked up Girlfriend, what's your name? How you look so sweet with your horse legs acting like you're strange. It's full time, now you come off of that range. My name's why you're bareback farming in the plains. Blessing this, effortless, mess with this. Effortless if you think you got a chance to dance.

Old time killing. Love it. Tell me why this great, bring it back home here. Tell me why you chose this jam. Love Cardi. Love Julie Black. Love that time where, you know, for the first time, you know, and Cardi has a song called Cardi Slang. You know, there's just a huge group of us, you know, first generation or second generation Canadians from the West Indies

where we're blending, you know, a culture and heritage that we've had passed down, but we didn't grow up back home in the islands. And yet we're assimilating with our culture here in Canada, but also, you know, as black people assimilating with the hip hop culture that is so influenced from what you get from the United States. And so, you know, Cardi at the time really embodied what that looked like and what that meant. And, you know, we could create our own culture and our own sound and our own language. And so that's what old time killing represents to me. This is before, you know, Drake has, you know, people in Japan and Germany, you know, saying things that we started saying here in Toronto. you know, saying things that we started saying here in Toronto.

And so when I watch those videos, it's wild. But for the first time, when you saw it in its embodiment, for sure it was Cardi and that crew of artists that came up in Canada at that time. And so that's what Old Time Killin' represents to me. I recently told Cardi this in an interview that I did with him. recently told cardi this in an interview that i did with him you know in our basketball you know layup line we were listening to old time killing like this was the song for all scenarios whether it was the dance there was you know the weight room whether it was you know playing basketball so yeah all time killing and and another song that's timeless because I don't know if you've seen recently on IG, the All Time Killin' Challenge, where current day artists are freestyling over this beat and trying to one up each other. And those videos have been amazing to watch as well.

Love it. Love that perspective. Just for the older crowd, I'll just shout out DJ Ron Nelson and Fantastic Voyage on CKLN. This is the show, I feel, that brings Toronto hip-hop to the forefront because that's where he's playing the mess out of the aforementioned Mishy Mee

and the aforementioned Maestro Fresh West, but then you got your MC Rumble, you got your Dream Warriors. I feel like there's that scene that's happening, late 80s, spilling into the 90s. Then this scene that you're referencing. And then, of course, literally I'm in Frankfurt at a conference back when I had a real job. I'm in Frankfurt, and I'm chatting with the guy, and I'm talking about Drake. And he's like, I love Drake.

And he starts busting into rhymes. I'm like, she loves Drake. And he's like, I love Drake. And he starts busting into rhymes. I'm like, she loves Drake. And then I said, you know, Drake's from Toronto. And he looks at me, had no idea. No idea, Drake. He thought Drake was American. And I'm like, no. You know, like literally Drake is a Toronto boy like me.

Woo! World domination for Toronto hip hop. Yeah, those Weston Road flows. He's referring to Toronto. Right. Right. All right. You know, through's referring to are Toronto. Right. Right. All right. Through the six of his wolves.

Okay. Let's go right to the next jam. Jam. Lord of Moses I'm searching, I'm searching That is why they pirate our page I'm searching, I'm searching Like Borges on a cliff, I'm away I'm searching, I'm searching That is why they duplicate the swings

I'm searching, I'm searching That is why they duplicate the swings And then certain and certain Whoa, whoa New tune when we use our wig then One big ass phrases we take and take then Some get to break but a party take then Bigger takes over another line like big then Could you never get me down For gabbing every word's a couple billion pounds When everybody get around Telling to you with the alien sound Wayne Wonder.

Love Wayne Wonder. And you know what So that song There's so many songs to choose from On that rhythm The Showtime rhythm And for me arguably Between the Showtime rhythm

Or the Joyride rhythm One of the best dance hall rhythms Of all time Essentially 15-20 great songs rhythm one of the best dance hall rhythms of all time where you know he's essentially you know there's probably 15 20 great songs to the same beat same rhythm if you will and so that for me is my favorite because i love uh wayne wonder but yeah just again bringing back to a time whether it was you know end of time in high school or beginning of time at university you know going to the the uh orange room at the drink nightclub in London Ontario as a western student where there was you know one room that

was essentially just all reggae all the time um yeah loved uh you know love the track love those times and those memories and yeah I had to have a good representation of reggae in my assortment of songs. Love it, love it. Earlier today, I was thinking I was rather clever. I looked at my calendar and it said 10 o'clock, Donovan Bailey. And then it said 11 o'clock, Donovan Bennett. And I was going to tweet that I had a back-to-back Donovan B's.

But then I realized I can't word it like that because your Donovan has two, well, there's three N's in it, but there's two back-to-back. I'm sure I asked you about this the first time you were on Toronto Mic'd, but the Donovan with the two N's instead of the one N, is that intentional or was that like the registry office when you have to give your thing for the birth certificate, somebody screwed up? Not intentional by me because I had nothing to do with it. You were pretty young.

No, so and as I mentioned, I'm a junior, so I have the same name as my dad, which is again two N's. So your dad got the two N's, right? Correct, yeah. They didn't just add the N for me because then that would technically. To differentiate. Well, then I would no longer be a junior. I'd just, you know, have a redone. They'd call you the N for me. Because then that would technically... To differentiate. Well, then I would no longer be a junior.

I'd just, you know, have a... They'd call you double N or something. Yeah. You know, essentially, to make a general long story short, that's just how my people are. And so, you know, one thing, you know, at the time in Jamaica, when you're talking about not necessarily when I was born, in the day you know when my dad was born so you know let's say the 60s give or take you know you would have a child especially if you you know lived in the country that's the the culture is different here you're not rushing to get it registered and

get all these fill out all these paperwork's what now he's kind of slow play it so much so that you would just send someone okay you know you're in the country hey you're going into town get this done for me okay and often people would come back and you know broken telephone the name would be spelled different the entire name would be different right so in every Jamaican family there's someone with a name that's a little bit off a little bit messed up and then you just pass that off for generations but my people are special and so much so that in every in every jamaican family there's people who you you call them by something that's

not their actual name and you call them by something that is just like a declaration so every jamaican family there's a captain every jamaican family there's a sergeant every jamaican family there's a junior and you just call them junior whether or not they're actually a junior so it's just one of those quirks that makes my people special and and so i imagine the fact that i and i think via twitter one or two other people have over the years reach out to me like yeah me too me too, brother. I'm a Donovan with two N's. But most of the time, you know, Donovan is spelled with one N. But I also will say, shout out to, and I rate and respect the people who reach out to me via email who actually pay attention and put the two N's. I want you to know I pay attention.

I know there's two ends in your name yeah but there's you know i'll get an email from a pr person but hey you know we've got this event happening in the city you know love to see you plus one there to kick off whatever and you know i will judge whether or not their their attention to detail lets them know that there's two ends what's happening's happening to me all the time now, I guess that people sell lists of influencers or like media people or whatever. And I'm on some of these lists, believe it or not, I'm on some of these lists,

but they have like a field for first name and they have a field for last name. Okay. And in the field for first name, it says Toronto and in the field for last name, it's Mike. Okay. So I'm getting lots of like form emails inviting me to pr events and stuff saying hi toronto like this is like a typical and it's like an identifier for me to know oh this is a mass

email with like a variable pulling in sucking in the first name field this is not no one no human is going to be uh saying hello toronto but give me the story of the email that you get where you're like how did I get on this list and or what is it that these people think I do because I'll get you know PR um and news pitches of like a guest hey you know you want to talk to so-and-so about this of course every morning there's about three or four I have to delete I'm like this has nothing to do with what I do for so why is it that you think you can pitch me, you know, let me actually go through my phone.

It's a broad break. I mean, it'd be a fun exercise because I get these two. I wake up every morning and I go through them and I'm like, hi Toronto. Some unknown country music star is coming through. Would you like to talk to whatever? Like I get,

I get stuff and he's like, okay, they're all trying to just get their, they're all PR people. By the way, before I go any further, there is a very good PR company, a Canadian based PR company that's working with a lot of FOTMs you know and love, The Moment Lab. So if you do need help with your PR, if you need help with your branding, your messaging, anything of that nature, have a

conversation with Matt and Jared from The Moment Lab. I'm happy to introduce you. We appreciate the Moment Lab support. And since I'm doing this very quickly, I'm going to say recyclemyelectronics.ca is where you go if you have old electronics, old tech, old devices you need to dispose of. Don't throw it in the garbage. Those chemicals end up in the landfill.

It's bad for everybody. But you can go to recyclemyelectronics.ca and find out where you can drop it off. Shout out to Tennis SemiPro. He's not really pro. He's an amateur. But Cliff Hacking at EPRA. I hear he had a match with an FOTM last week.

So congrats, Cliff. What do you see there, Donovan, with two Ns? You do not miss a moment to plug anything. Well, I don't edit anything. Do you edit on Sportsnet? No, you're live, right? No, it just amazes me how many different things and people that you've got to plug at your disposal.

I'll give you this one. I got it at 7.40 a.m. New follow-up. So I didn't answer this first time. They were hoping I'd answer the second time. New study, advanced algorithms and machine learning AM. Yeah. New follow-up. So I didn't answer this first time. They're hoping I answer the second time. New study, advanced algorithms and machine learning from AI fosters customer loyalty. Interview with visionary CEO of a yacht firm.

What am I doing with that that has any relation to sports? I'm not sure. That's a broad spray. Like, this is just a hope and a prayer. Maybe you know someone you're going to forward to. But I agree with you. Like, what the hell? And it's funny is that marcelina who sent that is that marcelina okay so i got it also 740 so this is fun that we're doing this we're on the you know what's shocking so i got to follow up new study advanced algorithms and machine learning from ai fosters customer loyalty interview with visionary ceo of yacht firm i have it right now

i'm looking at a marcelina didina. Did you get digital surviving tactics? I'll check in a second. But the interesting thing about this yacht one, and I did ignore it. I completely ignored it. Shout out to Cam Gordon. But it's good morning, Mike. It's not good morning, Toronto.

So they got that right. But of course, look, you and I are getting, and then there's two, yeah. I got one at 753. Oh, I'm on there twice. I'm in there as Mike at torontomike.com and I'm in there And then there's two. Yeah. I got one at $7.53. Oh, I'm on there twice. I'm in there as Mike at TorontoMike.com and I'm in there as my... Another address.

I got it twice. So I got that same email at $7.40 and then I got it again at $7.53. Which other one do you want me to check real quick here before we get to the penultimate jam? Oh, it's fine. It's just... It's funny how we were on the same list, buddy.

I'm getting these two. I'm not going to talk to... Digital Surviving Tactics. You get that one? Digital Surviving Tactics. Let's see. Searching my email. Oh, of course I spelled it wrong.

Let's see here. I got something with... Okay, so I got this thing on June 25th. Not the same one you're talking about. Okay, no. So I did not get the one you're referring to because uh i had to have to go too far back so i didn't get that one but we get we get lots of uh these pitches and more often than not they're not uh like acceptable for like our programs on that note before i kick out your penultimate jam if somebody's listening to you now i don't know this guy but i like the cut of his jib okay that would be like an old person saying that the guy like the cut of his jib where exactly on

sports net can we see donovan bennett i want you to just run it down television radio podcast where the hell can we see or hear you well first and foremost i would say podcast going deep with donovan bennett you can get it wherever you get your podcast i will say that there's a new venture that i'll be a part of in the fall which i you can't tell us i mean can you uh hint uh that it's gonna start in the fall um and uh so so you'll be able to consume that. I go on breakfast television periodically. So if you want to wake up early, you can see me try to talk some sense into Sid about all things sports. And I do host and do feature content for Sportsnet. content for Sportsnet.

I am the lead in terms of our diverse and inclusive content that we try to put out throughout the year. Most recently, the last piece I did in that aspect is a sit-down with John Calipari, head coach of Team USA at Global Jam in Kentucky. So if you go on Sportsnet's YouTube page, you can find all my sit-down feature interviews there. Amazing. And you were nominated for a

Gemini and a Digital Publishing Award, correct? I was. So old that it's not even called Gemini's anymore. They're the CSAs now. But yes, I was. Forever Gemini in our heart, I think. Gemini was an Atari 2600 clone. So I really

wanted an Atari 2600 when I was a kid. And again, I'm a few years older than you. I really wanted this badly. And for Christmas, a Gemini arrived. Gemini was just a less expensive clone, but it would play Atari 2600 games. That sounds like a wise choice by your parents. There you go.

Got to be sensible here. Hey, let's get to that penultimate jam. I almost feel like we should hit the post on this because there's a bit of a build sensible here. Hey, let's get to that penultimate jam. I almost feel like we should hit the post on this because there's a bit of a buildup here. But I'm not good enough to hit a post. So I'll just let Allison take us here. Here we go. Thank you. Get ready to whine. Get ready to win! All right, Donovan, I just glanced at the clock and I realized I lied to you and I said we'd be done by 1230.

So I'm going to let you tell us what we're listening to and why it's your penultimate show. This is Alison Hines, Faloma. And I had to have a little bit of Soca Calypso on the list. And this reminds me of Carnival. This reminds me of Caravana of Good Times and yeah I wanted to make sure that every song

I had on my list would not be on anyone's list ever I'm not sure if I was successful in that endeavor but yeah I threw in some Alison Hines there to end it strong Okay I can tell you that Donovan Bailey hated this and Jason laughed oh he hates Soca he tapped out right away on this one Okay, I can tell you that Donovan Bailey hated this, and Jason laughed. Oh, he hates Soca.

He tapped out right away on this one. Well, you know what? Soca, massive in Trinidad. Not as big in Jamaica. We're more dance hall people, but this song specifically just makes you want to get your rag and kind of wave it in the air. Okay, so we established you've been at a sports net proper for, for,

uh, 15 years. I do know from conversations I've been having recently with Brad Faye, that sports nets got a 25th anniversary coming up and we're working on something for that. But I will make an announcement, uh, since I have a Rogers employee with me that,

I have a Rogers sanctioned 30th anniversary of 680 episode coming up like I have some big names from 680 that are going to be a part of this and more news on it soon some FOTMs are returning but this should be fun the 30th anniversary

of 680 episode of Toronto Mike. That should be really good I'm very interested to hear who you got and the stories that they tell. Also interested to hear what you got cooked up with good buddy Brad Fate. And Jamie Campbell's a part of that. Oh, nice.

It should be good. There's a Much Music documentary going on right now and the next doc that needs to be done, maybe the next big show that you need to do is someone telling the story of the Score Television Network and all the people

that came through there and what it started as. Shout out to Henzy. Yes. What the brand has become. But when you look at all of the successful people, Elliott Friedman, Adnan Virk,

Renee Young or Paquette, depending on when we're talking about her, Jackie Redmond, Tim and Sid, Rash Medani, Glenn Shuler, Laura Dykin, on and on and on and on and on. I'm the man for this job. It's funny you mentioned the music doc. I had the director on the program.

Cabby Richards. How can I forget Cabby? Of course, can't forget Cabby. I will say that Michael Williams is making his in-person debut at the end of August, and he's part of this documentary too. There's a bunch of nostalgic documentaries for Gen Xers. The MuchMusic doc's coming out. There's a CFNY doc coming out.

There's a Lowest of the Low doc coming out. So there's lots of docs coming out. There's a CFNY doc coming out. There's a lowest of the low doc coming out. So there's lots of docs coming out. Scott Metcalf, Mike Epple, and Richard Southern are the three guys tapped to join me to do the 30th anniversary

of 680. Okay, let's get to your final jam. Can I call you DJ or do I got to call you Donald? I mean, you just did, so sure. Well, I did ask if I could.

I feel that's a little different, but okay. We're going to kick out your final jam. You've been amazing. I know I went a you just did, so sure. Well, I did ask if I could. That's a little different, but okay. We're going to kick out your final jam. You've been amazing. I know I went a little over time, but you're getting a lasagna out of this, Donovan, so it's worth the drive. Here we go. Hey, hey Hey, hey

On time, on time Every time, every time Always there, always there Said you'll never leave us No forsaken, forsaken So we stand On your word Brought us out of darkness into your light Firepower

We're set free When two or three are gathered You're there You're there In the midst In the midst Thank you, Lord Thank you, Lord So that we know our Soul's anchor

Every single day you're worthy To you we give the glory Cause our Soul's anchor When we think back where we started To you we give the glory Cause our soul's anchored When we think back where we started We were brokenhearted Now our soul's anchored You're taking us to church here.

This is Sunday Service Choir with Soul's Anchored. Yeah, and so I grew up in the church, you know, going with both my sets of grandparents and so love the soulful church music when i got married this basically is a podcast just talking about my marriage i said whatever it takes don i surprised my wife even though you know she planned essentially the entire wedding but surprised her with a gospel choir coming out after we were walking down the altar singing Happy Day. I suppose I could have chose that song. Love the Sunday service choir. And many people, when they heard the beat drop, assumed it was genuine, so anxious,

but not exactly. Sunday service, a little bit problematic because Kanye West is problematic. But I am certainly to this day a real strong believer. And I think about whether it's my career, my relationships and friends, my life. I am so thankful. I think that is the way I would describe the blessings that I've been given because I don't know that I deserve them but I try to do the best with them. So yeah, that's the genesis of this song.

Lovely. Now in 2023 as we speak, are you still a religious man, Donovan? I am. I mean, I think certainly there are some problematic aspects of religion, in my case, you know, Christianity, but I certainly am spiritual. Certainly do, you know,

call on, you know, God for grace and for, you know know help in making decisions and you know i i am trying to navigate what that looks like when you know you don't want to throw the baby out with the bath water to a certain extent but you do realize that in many institutions uh in 2023 there there are problems so certainly spending a lot of time thinking about it navigating uh on it praying on it but yeah i i i i do consider myself a uh a believer and a christian Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh. We can't help but lift our heads up.

Well done, Donovan. That was a great jam kicking. Well done by you on that nice little fade at the end. You're a DJ as well. It only took me 1,291 episodes to figure it out, but I'm glad to finally meet you in person. The Zooms were fun, but nothing like an in-person episode, so I'm glad you made the trip.

Don't leave without the lasagna. Sorry for going over time, but that was fantastic, and I hope you visit again. My pleasure. I questioned why you'd want to talk to me and listen to anything that I like, but this is a fun concept. I'm happy.

Have you turned around? Because you were a little sour on it. Not sour. No, I just didn't think anyone would care about the music that I liked, but I like the music. I'm the boss around here. I know what people care about, and people want to hear Donovan Bennett kick out the jams,

and you did a great job. So thank you so much for doing that. Donovan Bennett kick out the jams and you did a great job. So thank you so much for doing that. And that brings us to the end of our 1,291st show. Now you can follow me on Twitter. I'm going, I've decided I'm going down with the ship at Toronto Mike on Twitter.

I'm there until they charge me money or it just shuts down. What's the best way to follow you, Donovan Bennett in the social media universe? At Donovan Bennett. Donovan with two N's in the middle. On Twitter, on Instagram, and on threads. I was going to ask you because I'd set up threads and then very quickly realized you can only update and see comments and participate via mobile. And maybe I'm an old man or whatever, but I tapped out because I need to be able to create content on my laptop.

I didn't know that it was only mobile because I only use my mobile. So there you go. It's perfect for you. It's perfect. Perfect for you. Terrible for me. I am there if you want to follow me, but I doubt I'll post because I don't actually log in. But follow Donovan Bennett with two N's.

Our friends at Great Lakes Brewery are at Great Lakes Beer that beer is yours you're taking that home with you Palma Pasta is at Palma Pasta I've got your lasagna getting hip to the hip is at getting hip pod use that FOTM 10 promo code save 10% get your tickets

for September 1st Recycle My Electronics are at EPRA underscore Canada the Moment Lab are at the Moment Lab and Ridley Fun Electronics are at EPRA underscore Canada. The Moment Lab are at The Moment Lab and Ridley Funeral Home are at Ridley FH. See you all Monday when my guest is

the tragically hips Paul Langlois. That'll be fun. See you all then. Well I've been told that there's a sucker born every day But I wonder who

Yeah, I wonder who Maybe the one who doesn't realize There's a thousand shades of gray Cause I know that's true, yes I do I know it's true, yeah I know that's true, yes I do I know it's true, yeah I know it's true How about you? All that picking up trash and then putting down roads