Julio Ramirez & Tyler Baldwin (Toronto Blue Jays International Scouting Department) join me to talk some baseball. We chime in on how Clayton Kershaw must feel after finally exercising the demons and bringing a World Series title back to Los Angeles, ending a 32 year drought. We talk about the impact that COVID-19 had on the 2019-2020 international signing period for MLB and the quick turnaround for 2021. We explore the emotions that young international prospects feel when they sign their first MLB contracts and what it's like for the scouts who get to see the impact it has on the families they've grown close to. We discuss some recent notable additions to the Blue Jays 40-man roster and what that means for some players in the near future. We also dive into our top 5 baseball video game/franchises and discuss arguably the single greatest video game athlete to ever exist. Tyler also shares an important message about mental health during this challenging time. If you'd like to help or know someone who may need assistance, please see the links below.

The Big O Podcast

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Julio Ramirez

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/herfavmonth/

Tyler Baldwin

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_thb_92/

Mental Health Links

Canadian Mental Health Association - https://cmha.ca/document-category/mental-health

Crisis Services Canada - https://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/

Mental Health America - https://www.mhanational.org/

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration - https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline

Doug Ellin (Emmy Winner, Creator of Entourage and Host of Victory The Podcast) joins me to talk about the Hollywood dreams of a young kid from Brooklyn who wanted the opportunity to be a stand up comedian or a Howard Stern type. Doug shares the story of how his Manager convinced him to write a spec script for Curb Your Enthusiasm and how that turned into Entourage, one of the greatest HBO shows of all time! We also discuss how Jon Cryer took a starring role from Doug in his own short film which led to him working behind the camera. We talk about his newly green lit show inspired by and starring french footballer and Arsenal legend, Thierry Henry. We get into how Victory The Podcast has provided a platform for Doug to finally fire back at some of his harshest critics and naysayers. 

The Big O Podcast

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thebigopodcast/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/TheBigOPodcast

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Doug Ellin

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mrdougellin/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/mrdougellin

Victory The Podcast

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/victory-the-podcast/id1517406283

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4ZD4p8eyBACTVI8p8pS4t0

Chaps and H (Hosts of the Dad Pops Podcast) join me to form what I like to call my Zoom Dad support group. The Dads share the origin story of why and how the podcast came to be. We talk about how Snaps has perfectly filled in the spot on this tri-dad experience. H and Chaps talk about how their fathers inspired them to be good husbands and even greater dads. We talk a little bit about the Mitchell Miller situation from our dad perspectives. We finally settle in and have the ultimate dad debate and try to answer who is the greatest GOAT of all time.

The Big O Podcast

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thebigopodcast/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/TheBigOPodcast

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheBigOPodcast

Dad Pops Podcast

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dadpopspodcast/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/DadPopsPodcast

Podcast - https://dadpops.buzzsprout.com/

Adam Lefkoe (Host of The Lefkoe Show Podcast, Emmy Winner and 2013 AP Kentucky Sportscaster of the Year) joins me to give his opinion on the best social holidays of the year. We discuss how he dove straight into the deep end when it comes to sports cards and how he's using this new investment passion to help fund his upcoming wedding and future home. We dive into whether he knew he would break into the media as a profession or if he thought he'd be driving a white truck and join his fathers business in Air Conditioning & Refrigeration. We talk about his journey from Louisville (really Nebraska) at WHAS to Tuesday night host of the NBA on TNT. We talk about the Stoic philosophy and how he embraces it in all aspects of his life. Adam inducts his ultimate Hall of Fame class...with a little twist.

The Big O Podcast

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thebigopodcast/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/TheBigOPodcast

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheBigOPodcast

Adam Lefkoe

Instagram

Personal - https://www.instagram.com/adamlefkoe/

Lefkoe Show - https://www.instagram.com/lefkoeshow/

Lefkoe Cards - https://www.instagram.com/lefkoecards/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/user/TheRivalryKY/featured

Twitter - https://twitter.com/AdamLefkoe

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AdamLefkoeBR

Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/5clRph15UkfhFMhJK63hk5

Anson Henry (former Canadian Olympic Sprinter, Pac 10 Track & Field Athlete of The Year and current CBC Sports Commentator) joins me to talk about how he got into track and field late in high school and turned it flourished into something special. We discuss how his dominance in the Canadian circuit and how it led to multiple scholarship offers at Division-1 schools across the United States. We get into how an unfortunate injury led to an unexpected transition into commentating and journalism with CBC. We also debate whether an asterisk should accompany all sports championships for 2020 and whether Kawhi Leonard deserves as much credit as he’s been given for the Toronto Raptors NBA Championship.

The Big O Podcast

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thebigopodcast/?hl=en

Twitter - https://twitter.com/thebigopodcast?lang=en

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheBigOPodcast/?ref=py_c

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGWvjioAgU0EHiFcdbRRuvg?view_as=subscriber

Anson Henry

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/anson_henry/?hl=en

Twitter - https://twitter.com/ansonhenry

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukyv24QLI20&feature=youtu.be

Marcus Smith aka That Motivated Kid (motivational and fitness entrepreneur & host of the Lost and Found Live Podcast) joins me to talk about what it's like creating a unique motivational and fitness platform in an oversaturated space. We get into how the journey of finding who he was began once he lost himself. We discuss how motivators need motivation too and why harnessing the energy from this in his circle keep him going. We dive into the Lost & Found Live podcast and how it's just the beginning of something truly special.

The Big O Podcast

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thebigopodcast/?hl=en

Twitter - https://twitter.com/TheBigOPodcast

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheBigOPodcast

That Motivated Kid

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thatmotivatedkid/?hl=en

Website - https://thatmotivatedkid.com/

Podcast - https://thatmotivatedkid.com/lost-found

Matt Black (Northern Red Knight alumni, Toronto native and two time Grey Cup Champion) joins me to talk about what it was like being drafted in the 6th round by his hometown team. We get into winning the Grey Cup twice and the difference between those two teams. I ask Matt to cast a 2022 movie based on his 2017 Championship Toronto Argo’s team. We discuss what it was like being diagnosed with dyslexia in grade 2 and how the resiliency to overcome those challenges helped develop his work ethic and mold him both academically as well as professionally. We also talk about Matt's retirement and his new position within Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.

Nelly J & Faheem (Hosts of Good Rookies podcast, fellow scorpio’s and Toronto sports fanatics) join me to talk about game 1 of the NBA Finals and the injuries that might've hurt the Miami Heat's chances of winning an NBA title. We discuss what Doc Rivers agreeing to be the Head Coach of the Philadelphia 76ers means both for the organization as well as the landscape of the Eastern Conference. We dive into the realization that led to the rebranding of the Zoned In Podcast to the Good Rookies podcast. We debate which Toronto athlete is the most memorable and iconic when it comes to the City of Toronto.

The Big O Podcast

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thebigopodcast/?hl=en

Twitter - https://twitter.com/thebigopodcast?lang=en

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheBigOPodcast/?ref=py_c

Good Rookies Podcast

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/goodrookies/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClyshI3pQG4oQUpatS3Iudg

Nelly J

https://www.instagram.com/nelly_licious/

Faheem

https://www.instagram.com/faheem4thewin/

CJ Capital, Seth Zosky & Matthew Joseph Novary (winners of Canadian Family's Got Talent and members of the music group CZN) join me to talk a little about their individual journeys and how fate brought them together to form the group CZN. We get into the music that inspired them as young men and the artists that helped influence them the most. We discuss how they’re using their platform to help educate others about why black lives matter and the feeling of going from shooting hallway a cappella music videos to being selected by none other than Simon Cowell as the winners of a major talent competition.

The Big O Podcast

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thebigopodcast/?hl=en

Twitter - https://twitter.com/thebigopodcast?lang=en

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheBigOPodcast/?ref=py_c

CZN

Youtube

Website

Instagram

Alex Ababio aka Bambino Rino (Co-Host of The Politics As Usual Podcast) joins me to talk about the current state of the podcasts within the industry. We get into what it was like being recruited for football by the former Mayor of Toronto and Don Bosco's very own, the late Rob Ford. We touch on the importance of sharing information within your business community and like-minded people. We also discuss some sage advice for entrepreneurs who are looking to start their own business.

The Big O Podcast - Instagram

Politics As Usual - Instagram

The Politics As Usual Podcast