In this super‑awesome, snow‑blasting episode of Finnegan's Finn‑tastics, Finnegan and his co‑host William chat with Coach Tim – their legendary racing coach from Beaver Valley!

Listen in as they discuss:

❄️ Why skiing fast is basically the best thing ever

🎿The good, the bad and the silly of ski-coaching 🤖 Why Mark Rober robot hack packs that fire Nerf bullets are the best

🍌 Why bananas make excellent ski patrollers (hint: they keep their eyes peeled)

🍁 Who the Crazy Cannucks are 🧨 What 9-year olds love best about skiing (hint: the faster the better)

Plus Finnegan drops two amazing skier jokes. Coach Tim pretends not to groan.

This episode is basically: skiing + speed + snacks + silliness = Finn‑tastic.

❄️ Best Moments

• William's top Hack Pack pick: The robot that shoots Nerf bullets (obviously).
• Coach Tim's "happy place": Empty chairlifts + great snow + music in his earbuds.
• What's hard about skiing? When your wax is slow and you feel like a turtle.
• What's hard about coaching? Keeping 9‑year‑olds from going full bullet mode.
• Favorite animal of a skier? …a Slalomander. 🐊⛷️
• Why kids crash? Because they're trying hard, being brave, and learning fast.

🎿 What You'll Learn (for Real!)

• Why skiing is fun for beginners and super‑experienced racers
• That even Olympic skiers wipe out sometimes
• How to be a better racer: ⭐ Start strong ⭐ Turn early ⭐ Use your outside ski ⭐ Be aggressive (in a safe, not‑run‑over‑your‑coach kind of way)

In this incredible episode, Finnegan welcomes his cello-playing friend Brianna as a co-host. Together, they interview the super-talented, super-fun, professional cellist - Amanda Keesmaat!

Listen in as they explore:

🎻 What a professional musician actually does

Amanda explains what it means to be a professional musician - she plays cello in orchestras, makes videos, records music, travels for concerts, does admin work, and practices… a LOT!

🎒 How Amanda became a professional cellist

She began cello at age 4 - after stealing her brother's violin! From there years of practices, studying, and building relationships led her to stages across the world!

🎤 Performing on stage

Even the very best musicians - like Amanda - get nervous and make mistakes. The trick: keep going! Playing for others can feel amazing.

🎼 How orchestras work

Did you know musicians get their music WAYYYY in advance of their shows? Its up to them to perfect their pieces before they come together to practice, practice, practice. No showing up last minute and not prepared.

💿 How a music CD gets made

It takes months to make a CD. Musicians pick music, rehearse, record for days, edit tracks, add artwork to produce amazing sountracks.

🎧 Video game music

Amanda (and her husband Sean!) have performed for the Assassin's Creed video games. Yes - real instruments and voices are behind those cool game soundtracks!

💡 Amanda's Advice for Kids

Practice every day - you always get out what you put in! Music is everywhere: TV, movies, commercials, games. So keep learning- there are so many fun music jobs out there!

🎉 Favourite Moments

• Brianna calling the cello a "zello" when she first started
• Listening to Amanda play an amazing piece of music!
• Amanda describing trying to play her cello with a violin bow (spoiler: it did NOT work)
• Realizing Amanda is neighbours with a famous children's author!

Stay tuned for the next Finnegan's Finn-tastics adventure! 🎧✨

Get ready, because this week's episode is EXTRA special. My amazing co‑host Louise and I sit down with someone who keeps our school running smoothly… our very own principal, Monsieur Ferrand! 🏫 We hear funny stories about when he was a kid, hear him sing!, learn what it takes to be a great student, climb into the lost & found, and hilarious homework excuses!😄 ---- 🎉 What's Inside This Episode? 👋 A warm Finntastics welcome We kick things off with giggles, chit‑chat, and - of course - a joke or two. 👉 How do you make 7 an even number? You'll have to listen to hear the punchline! 🧒 What was Monsieur Ferrand like in Grade 4? Was he a perfect student? Did he forget homework? Was he good at recess games? Turns out… he loved marbles, tag, soccer, AND he had to work extra hard at math! 📚 The truth about homework Want to know a principal's most creative "my homework is missing" excuses? Let's just say… some stories include ski hills and stolen backpacks. 😂 Want to know a principal's most creative "my homework is missing" excuses?Let's just say… some stories include ski hills and stolen backpacks. 🛠️ Secrets to being a great student Hint: you don't have to KNOW everything Sweet school moments Find out which sweet story from a Grade 5 student still makes him smile today - and what his dog Bella Ciao has to do with it! 🐶💛 ⚽ Why moving your body helps your brain Monsieur Ferrand shares why being active isn't just fun - it makes you a BETTER learner. ⭐ Why You'll Love This Episode It's packed with:

• jokes 🤣
• real stories ✨
• AND a peek into what principals are really like 👀

3… 2… 1… BLAST OFF! Strap in for another space‑tacular espisode as Finnegan chats with Jehan Dastoor — a real, actual ROCKET SCIENTIST! 🚀🤩

In this episode, Jehan and Finnegan explore ALL kinds of amazing things, like:

🐄 How far space is… measured in COWS! Why use kilometers when you can ask, "How many cows away is the Moon?"

🗺️ Where Singapore is and how it's different from Canada Singapore = tiny island, sunny, always warm. Canada = huge, snowy, chilly enough to turn your eyelashes into icicles.

🧠 How Jehan became a rocket scientist Staying curious, asking big questions, working hard.

🔥 What heat shields are and why rocket ships need them Rockets get SUPER HOT when they race back to Earth, so heat shields protect them.

🌌 All sorts of wild space facts! Including the mind‑blowing one that…astronauts actually GROW in space!

Strap in — this episode is ready for a moo‑n landing! 🌕🐄✨

Grab your safari hat! In this week's episode, we're going on a wild adventure with Grant Furniss, Director of Wildlife Care at the Toronto Zoo!

🐾Listen in to hear:

• Why zoos are more than just places to see animals - they're hubs for conservation, education, and research.
• How the Toronto Zoo keeps its animals happy and healthy.
• The hilarious story of Kembali, the orangutan who made a daring escape from his new adventure park - and how donuts and popcorn helped bring him back!
• What a Bettong is (hint: it's adorable and plays a big role in its ecosystem).
• What a hippo's favourite music is.

Whether you're an animal lover, a curious mind, or just in need of a feel-good story, this episode is packed with fun and learning.

Discover more about the incredible work happening at the Toronto Zoo

Hope you like it!

Today's episode of Finnegan's Finn-tastics is AWESOME!

My friend Armaan and I got to interview the inspiring Brittany MacLean! She's:

• A 2-time Olympian
• A bronze medal winner in the 4x200m relay at the Olympics (SO COOL!) 🥉
• The holder of many of Canadian swimming records - including the 1,500m freestyle, which she STILL holds!
• The host of the Ready Room podcast (you should totally check it out here)

We talked about:

• How to chase BIG dreams 💭
• What it takes to make it to the Olympics 🏅
• What to do when things get tough
• Why peanut butter and bananas are the snack of champions 🍌🥜

AND… we got to meet her dog, Burleigh. She's SO cute! 🐶

🎧 Listen in - this episode is packed with fun and inspiration!

On this episode of Finnegan's Finn-tastics we talk about two topics: being a vet and doing triathlons.

Allie, our emergency veternarian will share her thoughts on:

• What it takes to become a vet
• The hardest and best parts of being a vet are?
• A funny story involving a boa constrictor and a towel?

And, Nicolas and Allie who are great triathaletes will also discuss:

• What a triathalon is
• Why they are great
• How to get started

Hope you like this episode!

xox

Finnegan

Have you ever wanted to have a pet? This is the episode for you!

We talk to my friend Michelle and her dog Barkeley about dog ownership.

• How to pick one?
• What's great about them?
• What's challenging? (hint: it is gross!)
• Can you make them smarter?

Hope you like this episode!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

FINNEGAN

Have you ever wanted to run your own business? Not sure how to get started?

Well, this episode is for you!

Listen in as we explore all things entrepreneurial with Marcus and Peter:

• What is an entrepreneur?
• What makes a good business idea?
• How to turn an idea into a business?
• What is great about running your own business? What's challenging?

You can learn more about Peter and his companies through his LinkedIn and his company website. You can also contact him here.

Hope you like this episode!!

PS. Have an idea for a future episode of Finnegan's Finn-tastics? I'd love to hear it!! Send me a note at: [email protected].

Have you ever wondered how the beautiful buildings around us are designed and built? On today's episode you can learn how!

Join me as I chat about all things architecture with my friend Eloise and her mom, Alexis. Together, we explore:

• What architecuture is
• How great buildings are designed and built
• How to become an architecture
• What's great and what can be challenging as an architect

Be sure to stick around to the end of the episode where Ellie and I share some funny jokes too!

Hope you like this episode.