Tag Archives: welcome

Allison Dore: comedian and radio host

Allison Dore is a renowned radio host, media personality and former comedian. Allison Dore will be launching Howl & Roar Records – a female-centric comedy record label aimed at empowering artists and facilitating the creation of content for women and underrepresented performers in comedy.

On September 19th in Toronto drop by the Bad Dog Theatre for the official launch party of Howl & Roar Records. For more information please visit Facebook.

This is episode #138  of the Welcome! podcast.

Here are some of the things we talked about:

  • Allison Dore was born in Ottawa, Ontario
  • She was encouraged to try comedy by her big brother, Jon Dore
  • Allison Dore suffered mental illness which resulted in her getting addicted to drugs to make herself feel better
  • Allison explains why she does not separate the art from the person (especially when it comes to people like Bill Cosby, Woody Allen, etc)
  • Why she started Howl & Roar Records
  • How Allison got her first gig on SiriusXM Canada radio
  • We also spoke about her shows, The Breakdown, Digging In and Allison Dore’s BroadCast

Listen below:

Girth Radio
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You can also subscribe to the podcast via RSS Feed if you so desire.

Music by Afraaz Mulji.

If you liked this episode you will also like the following conversations with other former podcast alumni:

John Sewell: Former Toronto Mayor

John Sewell is Toronto’s 58th Mayor. Sewell was first elected to Toronto’s city council in 1969 and served as the city’s Mayor from 1978 until 1980.

John Sewell was raised in the Beaches area of Toronto and earned his Law Degree from the University of Toronto. Sewell has always fought for the under represented and the underdog in Toronto.

Co-host Gregg Tilston joined me in studio for this conversation with Toronto’s first rebel mayor.

This is episode #137  of the Welcome! podcast.

Here are some of the things we talked about:

  • Why John Sewell wore jeans and a leather jacket when he was first elected to city council
  • Working with the community to help develop the St. Lawrence neighbourhood.
  • Why John Sewell thinks that the revitalized Regent Park didn’t go far enough in regards to affordable housing and integration.
  • The history behind the 401 Richmond heritage building and why it’s important to have smart property tax assessments instead of a one size fits all solution.
  • We discussed the challenges that cities all over the world seem to have regarding accessing funds for municipal programming and services.
  • A long and lively discussion around affordable housing.
  • Why John Sewell fought against the “megacity” proposal that created the city of Toronto as we now know it today.
  • Why Sewell thinks we should have smaller councils (in terms of councilors) while also having more local representation (more councils).
  • Sewell was a big fan of the Metropolitan Toronto system prior to “megacity”.
  • John Sewell’s candid thoughts on Richard Peddie, Desmond Cole, David Miller, John Tory, Jennifer Keesmat.
  • His favourite thing about Toronto.

Listen below:

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You can also subscribe to the podcast via RSS Feed if you’re so inclined.

Music by Afraaz Mulji.

If you liked this episode you will also like the following conversations with other former podcast alumni:

Stuart Coxe: Storyteller

Stuart Coxe heads up Canada’s largest independent podcast network, Entertainment One’s Podcast Network. Coxe was also an Executive Producer of The Secret Path and a founding board member of the Downie Wenjack Fund.

This is episode #136  of the Welcome! podcast.

Here are some of the things we talked about:

  • Stuart Coxe worked with Mr “Reality TV”, Mark Burnett
  • His experience working for CBC for 15+ years
  • Stuart Coxe helped to develop and launch Dragon’s Den in 2006
  • What his childhood was like.
  • Producing the “Becoming Canadian” series to celebrate Canada 150 in 2017
  • Stuart Coxe produced the Passchendaele interactive documentary called “Spurred On”
  • The current popularity of podcasts
  • How podcasts can monetize; especially in Canada with many independent podcastor’s and an overall small audience size.
  • Stuart Coxe teamed up with Gord and Mike Downie and the Wenjack family to start the Downie Wenjack Fund
  • Starting Antica
  • Where the name Antica came from
  • Working with Peter Mansbridge during 9/11

Listen below:

Girth Radio
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You can also subscribe to the podcast via RSS Feed if you’re so inclined.

Music by Afraaz Mulji.

If you liked this episode you will also like the following conversations with other former podcast alumni:

Noordin Kassam: A Love Story

Noordin Kassam in one of 8 children who came of age during the Idi Amin crisis in Uganda. He is also the father of two children who survived two separate terrorist attacks. This episode was recorded in front of a live studio audience in Canmore comprised of family members from across the world who had gathered to celebrate Noordin Kassam’s 80th birthday.

This is episode #135  of the Welcome! podcast.

Here are some of the things we talked about:

  • How it came to be that all the brothers and sisters have different last names.
  • The fun experiment that was MANTS and how all the brothers came to own a strip plaza in Kingston, Ontario.
  • Where Noordin Kassam was born.
  • What his childhood was like.
  • How he came to study accounting after almost choosing another career path.
  • The positive influence of his parents on both himself and all his siblings.
  • Navigating two crisis as a young adult: First, the Idi Amin situation in Uganda. Then, the draconian nationalistic policies of the Kenyan government in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
  • The importance of volunteering in Noordin Kassam’s life and his advice to future generations of leaders.
  • Meeting Rozy Auntie and why they had to hide their “friendship” from both their parents.
  • Tashmin was their first born child. As a child, both Rozy and Noordin Kassam were concerned that she wouldn’t do well in school. Years later, Tashmin ended up completing her PhD and is now working at the Aga Khan University.
  • Why Noordin’s second child, Faisal, decided not to follow in his father’s footsteps and become an accountant.
  • How Noordin Kassam came to find out about the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City and his frantic search to find out about Faisal who was working in one of the Twin Towers.
  • More than a decade later in 2013, Noordin would go through the same experience when Tashmin was caught inside Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya during the September 21 terrorist attacks.
  • Noordin Kassam describes his relationship with Rozy, who tragically passed away just short of their 50th wedding anniversary.
  • How the Rozinoor Foundation came to be and the various works it has already accomplished.

Listen below:

Girth Radio
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You can also subscribe to the podcast via RSS Feed if you’re so inclined.

Music by Afraaz Mulji.

If you liked this episode you will also like the following conversations with other former podcast alumni:

Elena V. Wolfe

Currently a star in the hit Nikelodeon show, Star Falls, Elena V. Wolfe was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario and fell in love with acting at a very young age while watching her favourite shows on television. Her first introduction to performing came in the form of a high school musical when she was cast to play one of the evil step sisters Lucinda in Into the Woods.

Her acting would take a backseat however when she received a scholarship to play varsity tennis at the University of Virginia.

It wasn’t until after graduating college that her acting career would resurface when she landed her first role in the American crime drama television series The Bridge on FX. Shortly after, Elena joined the cast of the hit sci-fi television series Defiance on Syfy and Space. Other credits to her name include Flashpoint (CTV), The Firm (NBC), Degrassi Takes Manhattan and Filthy Cities.

This is episode #134  of the Welcome! podcast.

Here are some of the things we talked about:

  • What does the “V” stand for in Elena’s name?
  • How Elena got her start in acting.
  • Attending the University of Virginia on a tennis scholarship.
  • Some of the world’s famous women and men Elena has watched play and played against.
  • Elena’s thoughts on players “grunting” when hitting shots in tennis.
  • Her previous modeling career.
  • Why Elena studied law in grad school and how that’s helping her career today.
  • Her initial and continuing attempt at writing a book.
  • Why she left her career in tennis.
  • Moving back to the Greater Toronto Area

Listen below:

Girth Radio
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You can also subscribe to the podcast via RSS Feed if you’re so inclined.

Music by Afraaz Mulji.

If you liked this episode you will also like the following conversations with other former podcast alumni:

Tim Micallef from Tim and Sid show

Tim Micallef is co-host of the wildly popular Sportsnet TV program, Tim and Sid.

An honorary resident of Scarborough (he’s actually from Don Mills but proudly beats his chest to the beat of Scarborough), Tim Micallef joined me in studio where we discussed his career, sports and why Sid Seixeiro never seems to wear a tie to work.

This is episode #132  of the Welcome! podcast.

Here are some of the things we talked about:

  • I always thought he was from Scarborough. However, Tim Micallef called Don Mills home.
  • His Malta roots.
  • Playing basketball in high school was much different that playing varsity sports.
  • How his sports career never took off at Carleton University.
  • How he started at The Score as an intern.
  • Where Tim Micallef’s love of the UNLV Running Rebels came from.
  • Tim Micallef shares his thoughts on if NCAA athletes should be paid. Or not.
  • The chemistry he has with Sid Seixeiro on their popular show, Tim and Sid.
  • Tim Micallef’s relationship with Bob McCown.
  • The legacy of Jose Bautista.
  • What does Tim Micallef think of Alex Ovechkin’s first Stanley Cup? And where did all the Ovechkin haters go?
  • Is LeBron James the greatest basketball player of all time? And is Michael Jordan even in the conversation (Sid Seixeiro seems to think Jordan played against much inferior talent)?
  • What is up with Vince McMahon’s XFL?
  • The legacy of Duane Casey and his time with the Toronto Raptors.

Listen below:

Girth Radio
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You can also subscribe to the podcast via RSS Feed if you’re so inclined.

Recorded live at Girth Radio.

Intro music by Famous.

If you liked this episode you will also like the following conversations with current/former Sportsnet personalities:

Episode #120: Glynis Ratcliffe

This week Glynis Ratcliffe joined me in studio for a chat. Glynis is a recovering opera singer! We spoke about #metoo, Nora Loreto, and other stuff. What was most interesting was her story about her grandfather’s lost (and found) manuscript!

Listen below:

Girth Radio
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You can also subscribe to the podcast via RSS Feed if you’re so inclined.

Recorded live at Girth Radio.
Music by Afraaz Mulji.

Episode #109: Morgan P. Campbell

Award-winning journalist Morgan P. Campbell and I discuss:
– the meaning of Black History Month
– the Negro League Baseball HOF and the state of African American players in Major League Baseball
– Bigotry vs Racism
– Super Bowl LII
– the legacy of Martin Luther King
– XFL
– and so much more!

Recorded live at Girth Radio.

Listen below:

Girth Radio
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You can also subscribe to the podcast via RSS Feed if you’re so inclined.

Episode #103: Afraaz Mulji

Afraaz Mulji is a talented multi-instrumentalist specializing in percussion and keyboards. At just 18 years of age he’s already well on his way to achieving his musical dreams.

Recorded live at Girth Radio.

Listen below:

Girth Radio
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You can also subscribe to the podcast via RSS Feed if you’re so inclined.

Episode #101: Kelly McCormack

International award-winning actor, writer, singer and producer Kelly McCormack is a woman who wears many hats. Kelly is making waves as a fresh female voice and powerhouse in Canadian film-making. This is one conversation you do NOT want to miss!

Recorded live at Girth Radio.
Music by Afraaz Mulji.

Listen below:

Girth Radio
MixCloud 
Apple Podcasts
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You can also subscribe to the podcast via RSS Feed if you’re so inclined.