Before, Behind and Between

Amazon is a huge company. And a lot of people, especially smaller businesses or content creators, simply don't like companies that big. Ironically, these are many of the very people for whom Amazon is providing unprecedented opportunity. This episode looks at Amazon's publishing model, and assumes the voice of "devil's advocate" in questioning the relevance - or irrelevance - of traditional book p...

Podcasting - Explained! is the latest installment in the Explained series, and my newest book, now available through Amazon. This episode condenses the content of an interview about the book, originally conducted by a journalism student during the week of May 24, 2021. Learn more about podcasting - and what you can expect in the more than 300 pages of Podcasting - Explained! available globally thr...

From All in the Family and Leave it to Beaver to Back to the Future and Frasier , film and tv productions often started with different characters and actors than those who later helped make the productions famous and memorable for fans. Find out more in this episode, and learn how Alice Cooper is connected to Eddie Haskell, that Archie Bunker's original surname was Justice, and how a mainstay from...

Bill C-10 of Canada's current Parliament proposes amendments to the Broadcasting Act that, some experts say, will stifle freedom of speech, and censor podcasters, streamers, Tubers and content creators. Although the Bill was introduced in November of 2020, it's only receiving wider public attention in the last few weeks. That attention focuses on issues fundamental to Canada's Charter of Rights an...

Is there anything David Cronenberg doesn't do? A lifetime legacy of stunning films and storytelling hasn't stopped this Toronto-based creator from spending his spare time in an acting role in Star Trek Discovery . If that weren't enough, he'll embark on a new production based on an original screenplay, a film called "Crimes of the Future". This episode talks about Cronenberg's part-time acting gig...

Most Rush fans have attended at least a couple of concerts; some people have attended gigs that number in the hundreds. Then there are those "special" events or occasions, when Rush was present in some way or some form - without the event being billed as a "Rush" event. In other words, there have been instances in which fans could experience a Non-Rush Rush event. This episode talks about what the...

Football today is a show, an entertainment product. Leagues have done a great job at recognizing this fact through the enhancement of the in-stadium experience. Broadcasters have done a great job at packaging the product and televising games to home viewers. Yet, something more is needed when viewers see entire sections of empty seats, and this is something that simply must be addressed when telev...

It was dubbed "SARSfest", the day-long music festival that helped Toronto out of the economic slump that resulted from an outbreak of SARS in 2003. This episode provides some of the backstory behind that event, most of which has never been reported in mainstream media. Have a listen to find out what a former Toronto MP, Keith Richards and Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones, and more than 700 wheelchai...

Creating beautiful and lasting artwork for an album is a challenge. Transforming that artwork into a live visual presentation, or creating imagery that inadvertently becomes a logo, is true artist elegance. And Rush's master of creativity, Hugh Syme, exemplified that. This episode talks about 5 examples of Rush album covers that integrated beautifully into applications beyond the cover or sleeve o...

Microphone technology has opened up so many opportunities, and has impacted social behaviour in countless ways. Yet the microphone, as ubiquitous as the device has become, is rarely given its due in podcast discussion. This episode aims to remedy that situation -- the one in which the mic is used all around us, and has given way to so many other related technologies, but is so often overlooked or...

Is Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson eyeing a North American football empire? Are we looking at the absorption of the CFL into the XFL ? Are these extreme measures for an extreme league in extreme times?  The recent official talks between the XFL and the Canadian Football League have become a source of podcast discussion, wild speculation, enthusiasm and optimism, and downright anger. It is no secret...

Watching old video footage of partial or complete games of the American Football League or the Continental Football League is a real treat for those of us craving some sort of football action during the football-less months of winter. Dig a little deeper and one appreciates that these two former football organizations really did produce some great on the field. While many people know about the his...

Ever thought about learning a new instrument, perhaps by starting with the ukulele? Turns out, a lot of people have in this age of contagion. This episode talks about a personal example in making use of extra or spare time by learning the uke, and explores the origin, stigma and sheer fun of that wonderful little instrument known today as the ukulele. 

This episode updates listeners on Strange New Worlds , which is set to begin production in Toronto, and the rumours of Captain Archer making an appearance somewhere in the near future. What's in store for the cast and crew of Strange New Worlds ? Does a possible cameo by Scott Bakula signal something bigger for the crew of the early 2000's Enterprise series? 

We don't usually think of love songs when considering Rush. But perhaps there are a handful of songs that could make the cut as a list of love songs by Rush -- in true Rush style, of course. This episode is brought to you by the spirit of Valentine's Day and the weekend that puts that extra bit of love in the air. 

This episode takes its lead from a chapter in my newest book, Content Creation and Promotion - Explained! . Here we talk about todays' economic and social trends, including the growth of social commerce and the increasing impacts of social media, and what these trends mean for those who create and promote content. 

There's always so much hope when we embark on the annual journey of a new year. This year not only begins with a new season of this podcast, but coincides with the inauguration of a new US President. Earlier today, January 20, President Joe Biden gave a hint as to what the world can expect from the 46th executive and chief of the United States. And while most of us hope for a return to normalcy, t...

It seems that just about everyone has his or her own list of must-see Christmas and holiday movies. However, two Christmas films you've likely not added to your annual holiday playlist are the first part of the discussion in this episode. Watching a young Alan Hale Jr., who played the Skipper from Gilligan's Island , star in a 1940s holiday movie is enticing enough. Wait til you find out more abou...

You know them well. Rankin Bass, also known as Videocraft International, produced some of the most memorable holiday tv specials using stop-motion techniques. Titles included Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer , Santa Claus is Coming to Town , the Little Drummer Boy , and many, many more. Canadians, especially Torontonians, are delighted to learn about the many local talents that went into the product...

Remakes are all the rage today. But there are a handful of films and tv shows that have been overlooked or simply haven't been tackled. This episode talks about five older and under-rated bits of cinematic history that could be given renewed life and a totally different treatment. 

Promoting a cause or issue is a lot trickier than many people think. It's one thing to get attention, but maintaining that attention, and converting interest into action, takes a refined strategy with clearly defined goals and objectives. Yet, even with all the "right" ingredients, timing -- and sometimes even luck -- often make a measurable impact. Learn more about advocacy and issue promotion in...

On Monday November 30, Canada's Minister of Finance presented a "mini budget" designed to give an economic update as well as outline spending proposals over the next several months. The numbers are big, and the details are slim. Does it respond sufficiently to how the pandemic is affecting Canadians? Is it enough to keep the country from plunging into an unprecedented economic spiral? Will this sp...

One of the greatest benefits of a cluster of small businesses is the character it gives to a neighbourhood or community. Small businesses are vital to creating that "main street" feel, giving your community one of its central draws. We need those small businesses, and we need the big ones, too. This episode discusses how The Walmarts and Amazons of the world make their contributions, despite popul...

The ever-changing global political geography shows no sign of slowing. Anywhere you look, countries change names, sometimes even borders. Others have reduced or expanded in size. New countries are created ever ten years or so. This process has certainly not been relegated to history. As the brief survey in the episode points out, if you're a fan of world maps and flags, the ongoing momentum of cha...

The Fan Controlled Football League begins its six-week season in February. Unlike anything that's preceded it, the FCFL is completely fan-based: fans choose and decide on a range of issues, from team names, to draft selections and even play calls during the games. Similar to some other social media platforms, the app will reward fans based on the worthiness of their decisions, which then translate...