Mattie Leon is a “real one”.

Great writer, great performer, and a great guy. Truly.

After a ten year absence of bumping into each other at gigs, we re-connect, and regale each other about getting older, staying artistically hungry, musical success, and outrunning life’s ticking clock.

This is us talking shop……

Strippers…

What drives a person to get naked and dance in a dark room full of voyeurs?

Desperation? Quick money? Troubled past?

If you’re asking my friend Sydney (Raven), she’d simply tell you that, she strips because she likes to strip.

No more, no less….

My guest is a wife, step-mom, home owner, government employee, and a human juxtaposition that had me pivoting, laughing and at times, speechless.

This episode manages to poke at the norm, while gently nudging the risqué toward a space where the safe things live……the proverbial middle.

Take a listen.

INSTAGRAM: the_rocky_talky_podcast

Fred Fuchs never planned on being a player in Hollywood, yet after a series of happy accidents, good fortune and a strong work ethic…Fred’s lack of planning turned into a storied 40 year career as an executive producer in film & television.

You may not recognize his name, but you undoubtedly know what he has done, as Mr. Fuchs boasts a resume that is as long as it is surreal. Here is a glimpse…..

THE GODFATHER III

(Al Pacino/Andy Garcia/Dianne Keaton)

BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA

(Winona Ryder/Gary Oldman/Keanu Reeves)

THE RAINMAKER

(Matt Damon/Danny DeVito/Claire Danes)

THE VIRGIN SUICIDES

(Kirsten Dunst/Josh Hartnett/James Woods)

MARY SHELLEY’S FRANKENSTEIN

(Robert De Niro/Helena Bonham Carter)

JACK

(Robin Williams/Jennifer Lopez/Diane Lane)

DON JUAN DEMARCO

(Johnny Depp/Marlon Brando/Faye Dunaway)

THE VIRTUOSO

(Anthony Hopkins)

FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA’S AMERICAN ZOETROPE (President)

CBC (Head of Arts & Entertainment Programming)

INSTAGRAM: @the_rocky_talky_podcast

I always wanted to know Dylan Hudecki during high school, but it never happened. He was in bands, confidant, and impossibly laidback. Whereas I myself, was faking asthma attacks in gym class (skins vs shirts), failing math, and pretending to like rap music and sports.

Thankfully some things change AND come full circle….

This past week, Dylan and I finally connected for episode 26, and I am really grateful that we did. His experiences, resume, and stories are seriously impressive.

Here’s a quick breakdown….

Shortly after the departure of Leslie Feist, Dylan did a five year stint with the much lauded indie rock band By Divine Right, ultimately setting off for him a string of surreal encounters, opportunities, and wildly entertaining fire-side stories (playing a game of shinny and scoring on The Hip’s Gord Downie).

Despite all the crazy tales and accidental name dropping, Dylan is still that way cool and laidback kid I remember admiring and wanting to befriend in high school.

Grade 9 me is happy….

Instagram: the_rocky_talky_podcast

There is a fire and fight in Colin MacDonald’s voice, and when you hear it….you immediately know it’s he and his cohorts, The Trews.

They have a sound that belongs solely to them, and them alone.

At their core…they are a rock n’ roll band, but in chatting with Colin, I quickly discovered a poetic, introspective, and soft underbelly living within him, and it was a special thing to uncover and witness.

This is a conversation with a successful musician charting his journey from a small town Nova Scotia cover band, to sharing stages with the The Black Crowes, Stone Temple Pilots, and The Rolling Stones…to name a few.

Enjoy.

CHOICE TRACK: “Another Year Zero” from their 2021 release WANDERER.

Instagram: the_rocky_talky_podcast

Pasta Mercato is perfect. A little shop set apart, with a very clear vision and devotion to Italian food. They know who they are, and they are good at what they do.

We chat with Chef/Co-owner Roman Kremnev and discuss his super focused operation that specializes in beautifully crafted pasta, focaccia, baked goods, and an imported goods section that’ll make the big stores blush.

When you’re done listening to this interview, head to Locke Street, walk into Pasta Mercato, and buy something.

Thank me later…

INSTAGRAM: @the_rocky_talky_podcast

Dan Hosh is a precious soul that I’ve been trying to connect with for almost two years. After many near misses, and shifting timelines…we finally had the chance to sit together, and pour over the mathematics and culture of music production.


Dan is a Toronto based record producer, songwriter & engineer. For the last twelve years, Dan has been busy crafting records for City & Colour, Arkells, The Glorious Sons, Whitehorse, Elliott Brood, Wild Rivers, and recently recorded & mixed the audiobook for Gord Downie’s “Coke Machine Glow”.

From 2013-2020, Dan owned the iconic Catherine North Studios in Hamilton, Ontario. In early 2020, he signed a publishing deal with Red Brick Songs and opened his boutique recording & mixing studio, Double Car Recording Co. in Toronto, Ontario.

Join us, as we geek out together…..and pour over our favourite albums, guitars, and bands.

As soon as Tasha Van Dinther from Thuya Studio walked in with flowers and said hello…I knew immediately our time together would be special. There is a serious ease, and availability in Tasha, and it made for a truly genuine and memorable conversation. We went off script, got real, and tumbled along a multitude of topics…landing somewhere between love & loss, art, David Bowie, and the wonder of eggs and buttered toast. This interview went off the rails in the best way…and I’m so grateful that it did. Tasha is a seriously free spirit, and she was nice enough to let me come along for the ride. Thank you Tasha.

Jason Thorne can consume data and multitask like no other….and he seems to do it with a comfortable ease. With a staff of 800 people, Jason and his department are responsible for the imagineering and execution of most planning projects within Hamilton. If you see a project breaking ground…chances are it has passed through Jason’s busy hands. The following is a conversation with a highly motivated individual, in love with the great cities of the world, and a desire to make Hamilton a beautiful, sustainable and happy place for visitors and natives alike.

My guest has a WAY cooler job than you, and me………

Michael Walsh is an Eisner award winning Canadian comic-book creator, based out of Hamilton, Ontario.

In 2013 Michael co-created the IMAGE comic book series COMEBACK (soon to be a major motion picture) . After this, Michael launched a follow-up to the hit television series the X-FILES for IDW. Since then he has worked primarily with MARVEL COMICS on properties such as Star Wars, Spider-Man, The Avengers, and the X-Men, as well as adapting the Star Wars film THE LAST JEDI. In 2019 Michael was the artist and colourist of the hit DARK HORSE x DC COMICS crossover, Black Hammer/Justice League.

In 2021 Image announced THE SILVER COIN (co-created by Michael) a new horror anthology series for mature readers. Each issue will tell a tale of terror in a shared supernatural world.

Told you so……