Bleav in The Pressrow

Join us as we navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of sports gambling in Canada with Amanda Brewer, a seasoned expert in corporate communications and PR with a rich history in the gaming industry. Amanda provides a comprehensive understanding of the legislative changes occurring in the gambling market and the potential impacts. She shares her insights on the recent legalization of sports gambli...

In this insightful episode, we further discuss the recent events surrounding the Toronto Blue Jays and their management team, Ross Atkins and Mark Shapiro. Get to know more about Shapiro's public speaking skills and his role in decision-making for the team. We explore the potential moves the Blue Jays could make, including the possibility of acquiring one of the best players in the world, Shohei O...

Ever thought about what it's like behind the scenes of the fast-paced world of sports media? Join us as we sit down with award-winning TV producer, Dan Gladman, to get the inside scoop. From his time with the Toronto Raptors during their championship years to producing the iconic Kawhi Leonard shot Gladman's stories are a slam dunk. He also shares his thoughts on the geopolitical situation and its...

Since retiring from the NHL, Ray has become a stamp on EA Hockey's NHL game. Ferraro was a memorable player on the New York Islanders team in 1993. In 1993, he scored two overtime goals against the Washington Capitals during a Stanley Cup playoff game as the Islanders defeated both the Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins, which led to a Stanley Cup win. In this episode of The Press Row, Jonah tal...

Commencing his professional journey, Justin embarked on his career with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, initially holding roles as a writer and a media coordinator. He subsequently transitioned to TSN, where he assumed the position of lead editor, overseeing content related to the NFL, MMA, and NCAA. This valuable experience paved the way for his current position at theScore. Presently, Justin, alongside...

In a remarkable transition, Kieboom has ventured into the business realm as the Co-Founder and CEO of Pollen Returns. Spencer saw a way to get his platform out in the world. Leveraging his extensive experience and leadership qualities, he now spearheads this endeavor, demonstrating his prowess both on and off the field.   In this episode of The Press Row, Jonah talks with Spencer about: Spencer’s...

John is an esteemed figure in the sports media industry, having dedicated his entire career to this field. He has now ventured into podcasting and co-hosts the highly popular "Marchand & Ourand Sports Media Podcast." In his current role, John is associated with the Sports Business Journal, where he meticulously covers all the latest developments and trends in sports media. With his d...

In addition to his successful career in the media industry, Stephen Brunt has also made a name for himself as an acclaimed author with a collection of seven notable books. Among his literary works are renowned titles such as "Facing Ali," "Gretzky's Tears," and "Searching for Bobby Orr." The exceptional quality of "Facing Ali" earned it the distinction of be...

David pursued his academic journey at Western University with a keen interest in mathematics. However, during his junior year, he had an epiphany that sparked a passion for sports media. Taking action on this newfound ambition, David joined the sports department at Western and delved deeper into the world of sports media. As his passion grew, he secured an internship at The Fan, which eventually p...

Born in Toronto, Canada, Leonard Dick began his educational journey at Upper Canada College. His leadership skills and exceptional abilities led to his election as the Head of Howard's House and later earned him a position on the Board of Stewards. With a desire to pursue a career in the creative realm of the entertainment industry, Dick set his sights on Harvard University, where he furthered his...

Among Traikos’ accomplishments is his work as a writer for Postmedia Network and as an author of The Next Ones. Michael returns back to The Press Row to talk about NHL playoffs and some more media as well. In this episode of The Press Row, Jonah talks with Michael about: Maple Leafs VS Tampa  Cooper Vs. Keefe Media Writers not traveling Losing Relationships With Team Members Toronto's Harsh Media...

Vaughan had an outstanding career in the NHL that led him to 18 playoff games. The NHL veteran has worked over 1000 games in the NHL, including two heritage classics and an all-star game. The last game of Vaughan in the NHL took place in the brand new Kraken arena in Seattle where he is currently based and ended with a cereal send-off in front of family and friends. A link to Vaughan's hockey scho...

Among Traikos' accomplishments is his work as a writer for Postmedia Network and as an author of The Next Ones. The book has been awarded the Independent Publisher Book Award in the Sports/Fitness/Recreation category. Definitely worth a read. As a reporter for one of Canada's largest major daily newspapers, Michael has worked for 18 years. In this episode of The Press Row, Jonah talks with Michael...

Allan Davis, the inaugural program director of the current FAN 590, started the establishment of Canada's initial all-sports radio station. He played a pivotal role in launching the careers of numerous beloved broadcasters in the country. Davis has been at WGR in Buffalo since 2011 and is still leaving his mark there to this day.  In this episode of The Press Row, Jonah talks with Allan about: All...

Matt Sekeres and Blake Price used to host a show on TSN 1040. After their tenure at the radio station ended, they made the decision to shift their program to a daily podcast, airing from 3 to 6 p.m. Seven months later, they achieved a significant milestone when their podcast garnered one million downloads. Additionally, they established a physical location for their podcast recordings, which allow...

Bruce Garrioch is a renowned sports journalist who has been with the Ottawa Sun for over 20 years. He specializes in covering the NHL and the Ottawa Senators and is known for his writing on various sports and leagues. Garrioch first caught the attention of The Sun in the early 1990s and has since won several awards for his contributions to sports journalism, including the title of Ottawa Sun's Spo...

Kevin Donovan began his career at the Toronto Sun as an intern in 1985 and has since built a 38-year career in investigative journalism, currently serving as the Chief Investigative Reporter for The Star. He studied political science at the University of Western, Ontario, but discovered a passion for journalism through his involvement with the school newspaper.  In 2015, Kevin Donovan was recogniz...

Why are people so angry on social media/the angry media? Did The Sopranos movie suck? Is it okay to admit that? Does the MLB season start too early? Was the latest MLB deal step one, or does more need to come? Is banning the shift a good idea? What can be done to speed up the game? Are specialty pitchers ruining the game? Can the Blue Jays sign all their young talent, and should they? Maverick vs....

Adam Seaborn joins Jonah Sigel for part two of the focus on ratings this time on radio ratings specifically. The rating world was evolving pre-Covid and the decrease of audience due to audience behavior, i.e. staying at home vs. commuting has accelerated that change. What that means for ratings and ad sales is critically important to the industry. Who are the winners, and losers and where is this...

An in-depth historical look at the rating system in Canada, where it is now, and where it is going with Adam Seaborn. Adam has been a media seller for Bell (TSN) and a buyer. While he is no longer in the media sales "game" he is well suited to talk about the players, the system, and what goes on inside.  This is the first look, focusing on radio and listening. Hosted by Simplecast, an Ad...

For over 22 years Barb Digiulio was a prominent voice at The Fan 590. First handling news and traffic when the station was 1430 and then handling hosting and co-hosting duties when Rogers purchased the station. Name the personality, over the years Barb has worked with them in sports. Elliotte Friedman, Dan Shulman, Bob McCown, George Stroumboulopoulos, and many, many more. After that Barb moved ov...

For many, no Sunday is complete without a glance at the Toronto Sun, website or physical paper to read the weekly column from Toronto Sun columnist Steve Simmons. Many in the business have quipped that the only thing seeing your name in the column is NOT seeing your name in the column. In this episode of The Pressrow Steve and Jonah discuss: The developing story of Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Wa...

Prime Time Sports, Canada’s longest-running sports talk radio show appeared originally on the old CJCL 1430 and then on The Fan 590, hosted by Bob McCown. While several broadcasters and journalists co-hosted with Bob, it is long-time TV hockey executive John Shannon who sat in the number two seat most often. Today, McCown and Shannon co-host a streaming show that's uber-successful and simulcast on...

You can call Leah Hextall a lot of things, but lazy is not one of them. Determined to make a career in broadcasting, Leah has constantly rolled up her sleeves, worked hard in pursuit of her dream. While she found success along the way, it was setbacks that set the stage for the climb to the next rung in her amazing journey. From Brandon Manitoba to Boston and Toronto (with stops along the way) she...

Looking for an advantage. We hear the term all the time in sports (and in life). Parents in man facets of raising their kids do all sorts of things (some legal, some not) trying to ensure the success (whatever that may mean) of their children. Personally, I know parents who paid serious money to have their kids play way above their skill level, knowing their child would rarely play in games to be...