Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - The Worst Podcast: Toronto Mike'd Podcast Episode 1560

Episode Date: October 8, 2024

In this 1560th episode of Toronto Mike'd, FOTM Jesse Hirsh extracts phoney baloney audio via Google's AI service NotebookLM. This episode completely lacks any humanity and truly is The Worst Podcast. There will be no sequel. Toronto Mike'd is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, Ridley Funeral Home, The Advantaged Investor podcast from Raymond James Canada, The Yes We Are Open podcast from Moneris and RecycleMyElectronics.ca. If you would like to support the show, we do have partner opportunities available. Please email Toronto Mike at [e-mail]

Okay, so we're diving into the deep end today with Toronto Mite. Toronto Mite, yeah. And we've got these two FOTM cast episodes you gave me. Right. Really interesting stuff. It's like a show about a show. It is, yeah. It's meta.

Very meta. And it's fascinating how interconnected everything is on Toronto Mite. It really is like this web of conversations. It's true. You know? Every guest is like a thread that kind of weaves it all together. Yeah, and it's funny you should say that because you hear about six degrees of separation and all that, but honestly this is ridiculous. Yeah. You've got Rob Puse, remember him? Yeah, yeah. A Rob Puse. Canadian music historian guy. Yeah,

yeah. Basically begging Toronto Mike to get Bob Roper on the show. Right. And that's a perfect example. And then what happens? Does no balls, right? No balls. So you've got that recommendation. Suddenly we're talking about Donna Halper. Donna Halper, I mean come on. The woman who helped put Rush on the map

and it's all because Bob Roper knew her back in the day. That's wild. It's crazy, right? It is crazy. And it goes even further. Oh, there's more. Oh yeah, there's more. That same thread leads to a band we can't talk about yet.

Oh, come on. Now you're just teasing. But you'll want to keep your ears peeled next quarter. All right, all right. You've successfully piqued my interest. Good. But it's not just that one instance, right? You're right.

I mean, we see this domino effect with Jay Douglas too. 100%, yeah. Right. Jay's episode, talking about that compilation album, Jamaica to Toronto, and somehow it grabs the attention of someone who knows Alan Zwi. Oh wow. Who, for those who might not remember, was actually on that compilation. And that little spark of interest leads Toronto Mike to Kevin Howes.

Kevin Howes. Kevin Howes. The guy. A key figure behind that album. I love it. It's amazing. It's like this one story unlocks another, you never know where it's going to go. Exactly, it's true. Like a journey.

It really speaks to the power of a single conversation, right? It does. And just to really drive that point home, one more example. Hit me? Mark Nathan. Oh, right, right. The bare naked ladies guy. Yes. Helped break them in the US. Exactly me? Mark Nathan. Oh, right, right. The bare naked ladies guy. Yes.

Helped break them in the US. Exactly. Get that episode. And his episode, you know who was listening? Barry Harris. No way. Barry Harris reaches out. Get out.

And boom, we get this incredible episode about his time working on Conan O'Brien. Conan. See, now you're speaking my language. Right. Okay, all right. So where does this domino you're speaking my language. Right. Okay, alright. So where does this domino fall next? I need to know. Mm-hmm.

So that same episode with Mark Nathan prompted Marine Cadell to reach out. No kidding. He'll be in that basement soon enough. Wow. It's amazing how this community just grows organically. It really is. Just from this shared love of music and storytelling. And curiosity, right?

It's true. People wanting to know more. Makes you wonder what other connections are out there. A hundred percent. Just waiting for a conversation to spark them. Exactly. Yeah. And speaking of connections, can we talk about like the sheer volume of content? Right.

This guy Toronto Mike puts out. I know. I mean. It's unbelievable. It's wild. That guy's a machine. I thought I was busy. I know.

It's crazy, right? It's next level. He even had the FOTM cast hosts like doing a double take. Oh, tell me more about this. Remember that whole episode count debate? Oh yeah, how could I forget that? It's so good. It's legendary. I know.

Toronto Mike thought he dropped 85 episodes. 85! In one quarter. I know! Can you imagine? 85! That's like a full-time job and a half. It's insane.

It's unbelievable. It was only 67. Oh, okay. 67 still- 67 still bonkers. A lot. It's a lot of content. That's commitment.

Serious commitment. Like you're not messing around with a schedule like that. No, that's not like a casual hobby. This is dedication. For real, for real. Yeah, it makes you appreciate all the work behind the scenes, right? Like all the hustle. And for context, the busiest quarter was actually Q2 2020 with 69 episodes. 69? 69. 69. In three months. I mean, come on.

Does this guy sleep? Does he have a life? I'm starting to worry. Right. But no, seriously. Yeah. That kind of output, it really speaks volumes. It does.

About his work ethic? 100%. Yeah. And also his passion? Absolutely. Right. He loves it. Can't do that?

You can't fake that. If you don't love it? No. You just can't. No. It also makes me appreciate't do that? You can't fake that. If you don't love it? No. You just can't. No. It also makes me appreciate a show like FOTMcast even more. Oh, 100%.

Right. Yeah. Because it's like. Like having a friend. You need a filter. Filter through it all. With this much content. Yes.

You need someone to tell you, hey, you might have missed this little nugget. Totally. But trust me, it's worth checking out. 100%. And speaking of nuggets. Okay. There were a few in these episodes that really caught my ear. Okay. I like where this is going. Where do we even start? Give me your best shot. The passing of Benji Gregory maybe? Oh yeah. That was a bit of a poignant one. Yeah. Not exactly

a light topic. No, not cheery, but it's interesting, right? It is interesting. Because it's death. And for those who don't know, Benji played Brian on Elf. Exactly. Sparked some interesting reflections. It did, it did. It made you think. It did. And hey, yeah, yeah. Who doesn't love a good Willie Tanner impression, right? It's true, it's true. Gotta lighten it up. You gotta find the humor. Exactly. It's those unexpected moments that make these deep dives so fascinating. Oh, 100%. Yeah. And speaking of unexpected, did you catch that Mrs. O'Monick connection? Oh, yeah.

Mrs. O'Monick from Seinfeld? Yes. What about her? Turns out she and James Dean were an item back in the day. Get out! You're kidding. Nope. That's some old school Hollywood gossip right there.

I know. So good. But let's switch gears for a sec. From Hollywood to homegrown talent. We gotta talk about this Oh Canada re-recording project. Yes. This is a good story. This is interesting. This one's got some depth. On the surface, it's this awesome musical collaboration.

Right. Bringing together this huge constellation of Canadian artists. Like who are we talking about here? Give me some names. We're talking Maestro Fresh Wes. Maestro Fresh Wes. Okay, all right.

Whole nine yards. That James, big name. Yeah, huge. Okay. And speaking of Maestro. Yeah. Did you catch that little quip of his in the documentary? No, what happened?

He was caught on mic saying something like, I can't sing or I don't sing. Oh no. Hilarious. That's funny. I know, right? Especially considering his legendary status in Canadian music. It's amazing. It just goes to show even the most seasoned pros have those moments. Oh, of course. Of self-doubt, you know? Yeah, they're human. It's very humanized. They're human after all Exactly. Good reminder, but back to this Oh Canada project for a sec. The funding model they use was really interesting They didn't go the traditional grant route. They went straight to corporate sponsors. Really? Okay. That's a power move It's pretty gutsy. It is gutsy, but it speaks to their passion, right? Like this DJ from Orangeville, Ross Carlin,

he was like the driving force behind this whole thing. And he was determined to make it happen. That's amazing. Even if it meant cold calling CEOs for donations. I can't believe I'm out of here. I know, it's crazy. It's amazing. They were basically like,

hey, want in on this epic O'Canada video, it'll only cost you 40 grand. That's amazing. So good. I love it. It just goes to show you the power of a compelling vision. It's true. They weren't just asking for money.

They were offering these CEOs a chance to be part of something. Bigger than themselves. Exactly. A piece of Canadian music history. It's good sales pitch. And judging by the roster of artists they got got on board. Yeah, it clearly worked They were selling a dream and people bought it. They did hook line and sinker

I love those little details, you know great those behind-the-scenes stories Is it the good stuff that you don't always catch on the first listen? It's true It just adds so much richness to the whole experience. Absolutely. It's like finding those little Easter eggs. Yes, exactly. Hidden away. And speaking of hidden details, I love that whole deep dive into the phrase FOTM. Oh, yeah. Friend of Toronto Mike. Right. Which has become so ubiquitous. It's everywhere. It's part of the show's DNA.

Right. Like everyone knows what it means. But like all things, it had to start somewhere. Exactly, and they found it. Oh, did they really? They pinpointed the exact moment five years ago. No kidding? Can you believe it? Five years. Five years. Time flies when you're having fun, I guess, eh? That's what they say. That's what they say. And get this, even Toronto Mike wasn't 100% sure when it originated. Wow. See, that's what I love about this. I know. It's so good. It shows you, like, language has a life of its own.

100%. You know, it evolves. Yeah, it does. It takes on these different meanings. Totally. And what starts as this simple phrase, repeated enough times, becomes this like badge of honor. Exactly. A symbol of belonging.

Absolutely. Within this community. A hundred percent. It's like an inside joke that everyone's in on. I love it. And for those keeping score at home, the very first FOTM ever mentioned was none other than Colleen Rusholm. Who's that?

The voice of the Hamilton Tiger Cats. No way! Yes! That's amazing. How about that? That's incredible. And now she's a friend of Toronto Mike. For life. For life. It's amazing how those little things, right? Yeah, yeah. Become these important symbols. It's true. They're like little touchstones. Exactly, yeah. That everyone recognizes. And it gives a show personality. Yes. Like its own unique flavor. 100%, 100%.

Right. But on a different note. Yeah. That whole conversation about fact checking and accuracy. Yes. It really got me thinking. It's important. It's scary how easy it is.

Oh, I know. For misinformation to just slip through the cracks. It's a little... Even when you're talking about something as, you know, niche as a podcast. It's true. And that's where I think the listeners play such a vital role. 100%, yeah. They're crucial.

They keep things honest. It's like crowdsourced fact checking. It's the perfect example of crowdsourcing. Right. Which is like the whole ethos of Toronto Mike'd anyway. Exactly. Shared knowledge. Totally. Keep it real. And there were a couple instances in these episodes where listeners really stepped up. Okay like what? Like the whole Gloria Martin, Andrea Martin mix-up. Oh yeah yeah. Easy to do. One letter. One

letter. Changes everything. but it just highlights how quickly misinformation can spread It's true. You think you've got it all figured out right and then someone pulls the rug out from under you Always double-check your facts folks It's a good reminder always double-check and then there was that debate about the shadowy men on a shadowy planet theme song Oh, yes turns out they didn't actually play it live. Every single episode. On Kids in the Hall. Right.

Even though the documentary kind of implied that they did. Implied it. Yeah. Yeah. Another one of those easy assumptions to make. Yeah. Yeah. But it's great that people were paying attention.

I love it. And willing to speak up. Yes. You know. Shows how much people care. They care. About getting the details right. And while we up. Yes, you know shows how much people care They care about getting the details right and while we're talking about, you know, yeah engagement Yes, we can't forget about the where stew segment. Oh so good with stewstone That guy's a wild card man. You never know what he's gonna say never know what's gonna come out of his mouth

It keeps you on your toes keeps it fresh Right, it speaks to the whole spirit of Toronto Mic'd, right? 100%. Just letting the conversation flow, embracing the tangents. It's organic, the surprises. That's what makes it fun. Absolutely, creates that sense of community.

And to all our listeners out there, don't be shy about chiming in with your own observations. Thanks. Your own fact checks. So yes. You never know what seemingly insignificant detail might unlock some new understanding.

Because every little thing adds to the tapestry, you know? It's all part of the big picture. Exactly. We're all in this together. I love that. And on that note, we can't wrap up this deep dive without mentioning the Tom Wilson supercut. Oh, so good.

It's more than just clips. It's true. It's a microcosm. It's like a distillation of the show's essence. Of everything that makes Toronto Mike so special. It's all in there. All the camaraderie. It's an inside joke.

The genuine affection. A hundred percent. Between Toronto Mike and his guests. You can feel it. And for those who haven't had the pleasure, we'll play you a little snippet right now. Enjoy. You ready for this? You can feel it. And for those who haven't had the pleasure, we'll play you a little snippet right now. Enjoy.

You ready for this? Let's hear it. Here we go. All right. See what I mean? Every time I hear Tom Wilson say, Toronto Mike. I know. It brings a smile to my face.

Every time. It just perfectly captures the spirit of this show. The spirit of Toronto Mike. It really is a testament to the power of deep listening. Hundred percent. When you really tune in, you immerse yourself in a community, you start to pick up on these layers. Oh yeah. You wouldn't even notice otherwise. The humor, the inside jokes. All of it. It's like unearthing a treasure chest. Yes. Full of these like shared memories. It's the best. It's great.

It really makes you wonder. It does. What other hidden patterns and connections are buried in the stuff we consume every day? What are we missing? Right. What seemingly insignificant details could unlock a deeper understanding?

That's the question, isn't it? It is the question. That's the question. The ultimate question. And on that note, we'll leave you to continue your own deep dives. Happy listening everybody!