Toronto Legends

By Andrew ApplebaumSociety & Culture Sports Arts Personal Journals

Toronto Legends episodes

June 08, 2023 Steven Salz, Rivalry
Rivalry Co-Founder & CEO Steven Salz talks about sports vs casino gambling, operating at the intersection of E-Sports & Entertainment, moving content from a 'transactional' to an 'entertainment' focus, the unbelievable magnitude & growth of E-Sports worldwide, appealing to his predominantly Millennial & Gen Z customer base, why ‘skins’ were the original currency for betting on gaming, lessons learned from Red Bull’s marketing, why you will NOT find any Kardashians endorsing Rivalry, the transition from a private to a public company traded on the TSX Venture Exchange, why MOBILE E-Sports will be the next big wave, and why an Isle of Mann license is actually highly desirable and NOT a ‘Bond Villain’ fictional jurisdiction!
TORONTO LEGENDS is hosted by Andrew Applebaum at [email protected]
All episodes available at www.podpage.com/toronto-legends/episodes/

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52 min
June 05, 2023 Scott Morrison, Hockey Author/Commentator
Longtime Hockey Commentator & Author Scott Morrison talks about writing his upcoming book 'Draft Day' with pickleball devotee Doug MacLean, serving as a protégé of the late great George ‘The Baron’ Gross at The Toronto Sun, why Harold Ballard called him ‘Whiskers,’ why the 1972 Summit Series is still so fascinating 50+ years later, why Rick Vaive’s #22 should ABSOLUTELY be raised to the Scotiabank Arena rafters, why Nelson Millman remains his trusted Vice-Chair for the annual Conn Smythe Sports Celebrities Dinner, his uncertainty as to the actual number of books he has written, his fond memories of writing for ‘Chill Magazine’ [official magazine of The Beer Store], and the scoop on his NEXT book [spoiler alert: can he bring Iron Mike Keenan & Brett Hull together again?!?!?]
TORONTO LEGENDS is hosted by Andrew Applebaum at [email protected]
All episodes available at www.podpage.com/toronto-legends/episodes/

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55 min
June 01, 2023 Brian Wood, Literary Agent/Poet
Literary Agent & Published Poet Brian Wood shares stories from representing diverse authors including Peter Mansbridge, Stu [The Grim Reaper] Grimson, Terry David Mulligan, Bob [Bobby Margarita] McKenzie, Tie Domi, Ellen Roseman, Steve Simmons, John Shannon, Colleen Jones, Scott Morrison, Justin Davis and Al Strachan. Brian talks about his three published poetry collections, and how they complement rather than replace his ‘day job’ as a literary agent. He also explains the economics of the book publishing industry, the role of ‘ghost writers’ in both fiction & non-fiction, and shares good advice if YOU have a book proposal you want to submit to an agent [hint #1: spell both your and the agent’s names correctly!].
For more info on Brian and his poetry collections [Winter Walk; Weekend Getaway at Generic Hotel; Zen in Beverly Hills] please visit www.brianjwood.com or purchase from your preferred bookseller!
TORONTO LEGENDS is hosted by Andrew Applebaum at [email protected]
All episodes available at www.podpage.com/toronto-legends/episodes/

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46 min
May 29, 2023 Michael Landsberg, TSN/SickNotWeak.com
Hey Landsberg!! Ex-TSN’s Michael Landsberg shares stories from his 37 year SportsDesk/Off The Record career [Gene Simmons, Thea Andrews, Mark Tewksbury, Stéphane Richer, Vince McMahon, Meat Loaf, Claude Lemieux, Darren McCarty, Dan Hill, Manny Pacquiao, Rick Vaive, Dikembe Mutombo, Jeff Marek, Caroline Cameron, George Cope] and his ongoing mental health advocacy via SickNotWeak.com!
SickNotWeak's online community is here to reach and help that lonely person. Together we can end the stigma that surrounds mental health. Join the movement at www.sicknotweak.com
As Director of Transportation, Michael may or may not personally deliver your cookie order from Casey Landsberg’s Sweetsie’s Cookies...order now at www.sweetsiescookies.com
TORONTO LEGENDS is hosted by Andrew Applebaum at [email protected]
All episodes available at www.podpage.com/toronto-legends/episodes/

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1 hr 5 min
May 25, 2023 Drew Arnott, Strange Advance
Strange Advance founder Drew Arnott talks about touring for the 40th anniversary of their debut album Worlds Away, why Steven Tyler did NOT like the band name, bigtime encouragement & friendship from Bryan Adams, having the late Bruce Fairbairn [Loverboy, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Van Halen, AC/DC] produce their first album, Scott Litt mixing their 2nd album before moving on to work with a small band called REM, memories from the Juno Awards, shooting their first video for MTV before MuchMusic even launched, why touring meant he had to learn to sing AND play keyboards at the SAME time, counting Geddy Lee and the late Neil Peart among their fans, memories of the rotating stage at the Ontario Place Forum, connections to Images in Vogue & Sweeney Todd [Roxy Roller!], and an explanation of exactly what a MELLATRON was and why it got replaced by a laptop!
Go to www.strangeadvance.com for tour dates & tickets!
TORONTO LEGENDS is hosted by Andrew Applebaum at [email protected]
All episodes available at www.podpage.com/toronto-legends/episodes/

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56 min
May 22, 2023 John Shannon, Hockey Storyteller
Sports Broadcaster/Author/Podcaster John Shannon talks about 'Team Baby Blue'/Hockey Night in Canada [that themesong, those blazers!], who Dave Hodge telephoned FIRST immediately after his irreverent on-air ‘pen flip’ in 1987, separating Don Cherry ‘the person’ from ‘the performer,’ pivoting from behind the camera to in front of the camera, podcasting with his longtime sidekick Bob McCown, why he is a ‘radio-holic,’ the definitive answer as to whether the rest of Canada really hates the Toronto Maple Leafs [or not!], why ‘the period’ is his absolute favourite form of punctuation, the difference between a ‘work stoppage’ & a ‘lockout,’ and his agreement with the host that televising hockey games WITHOUT any announcers would be an absolutely brilliant idea!
John’s book Evolve or Die, Hard-Won Lessons from a Hockey Life is published by Simon & Schuster and is available at your preferred bookseller!
TORONTO LEGENDS is hosted by Andrew Applebaum at [email protected]
All episodes available at www.podpage.com/toronto-legends/episodes/

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50 min
May 18, 2023Sean Kelly, Guitarist/Teacher/Author
Professional Guitarist/TCDSB Teacher/Author Sean Kelly shares a lifetime of surreal moments:
Inspired by Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider...eventually collaborates with Dee Snider!
First concert ever attended growing up in North Bay was Helix + Honeymoon Suite...eventually plays in both bands!
Loved Corey Hart...eventually plays Corey Hart’s songs [note for note] live in front of him at his Canadian Walk of Fame induction!
Named his band Crash Kelly after his hockey playing maverick Uncle Orville ‘Crash’ Kelly who [along with his Dad] played for the Johnstown Jets...the inspiration for the movie Slap Shot! [“he could have been the 4th Hanson brother”]
Teenage crush was Nena [99 Luftballoons]...eventually plays on the German version of The Voice live in front of celebrity judge [you have to see this coming] Nena herself!
KISS exits a limo in front of him in FULL makeup and he is stuck with the masses behind massive bodyguards...but Eric Singer recognizes him from touring with Alice Cooper and calls him over for personal photos with the band!
Played to 10 people in bars in North Bay...eventually played in front of 150,000 fans in Mexico City and 500,000 fans in Poland!
Sean’s Dad loved Sam Malone on Cheers...BIG validation comes when he sees his son interacting with Ted Danson on TV after performing on Late Night with Conan O’Brien!
Sean’s new book Don’t Call it Hair Metal, Art in the Excess of ‘80s Rock is published by ECW Press and available at your preferred bookseller!
TORONTO LEGENDS is hosted by Andrew Applebaum at [email protected]
All episodes available at www.podpage.com/toronto-legends/episodes/

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53 min
May 15, 2023 Ken Wong, Queen’s Business School
Retiring [not retired] Professor Ken Wong from the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University talks about his early immersion in the family business [Wong Wing grew from egg rolls in 1948 Montreal’s Chinatown to Canada’s largest processor of Chinese food], sharing the mantle of ‘media’s marketing go-to guy’ with Alan Middleton, the ‘friendly rivalry’ between Western and Queen’s [yep, he couldn’t resist and snuck a dig in there!], the importance of the numerous business school rankings ['be #1 in at least one of them & then ignore the rest of them'], why teaching at its highest level is actually performance art, shout-outs to some of his former students that have made it big, what he has advised all his past students to leave in their bottom right hand desk drawer, and why he does NOT have a retirement bucket list!
TORONTO LEGENDS is hosted by Andrew Applebaum at [email protected]
All episodes available at www.podpage.com/toronto-legends/episodes/

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48 min
May 11, 2023 Rick Vaive, Toronto Maple Leafs
Former Toronto Maple Leafs Captain Rick Vaive talks about being the first Maple Leaf in franchise history to score 50 goals in a season [and doing it 3 seasons in a row], playing his first pro season in the WHA with the Birmingham [Alabama!] Bulls for John Brophy, those horrific Vancouver Canucks 'halloween' uniforms, how he found out he got traded from Vancouver to Toronto, his love for the souvlaki at John Anderson Hamburgers, how he was informed he was now the Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs [at age 22!], his respect for Borje Salming [and his gameday ski outings], grabbing the 'team suit' before he could visit Harold Ballard in his 'home office,' stylin' on the ice with a Cooper 'knucklebuster' helmet & a football collar, writing his memoir with Scott Morrison, visiting with Auston Matthews after AM34 broke his 40 year old single-season goals record, and how he originally got the nickname SQUID!
Rick’s memoir CATCH 22: MY BATTLES IN HOCKEY AND LIFE [co-authored with Scott Morrison] is available wherever you get your books!
Rick’s podcast with Mike Wilson SQUID & THE ULTIMATE LEAFS FAN is available wherever you get your podcasts!
TORONTO LEGENDS is hosted by Andrew Applebaum at [email protected]
All episodes available at www.podpage.com/toronto-legends/episodes/

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50 min
May 08, 2023 Justin Davis, Conflicted Scars
Former Hockey Pro & Author Justin Davis walks us through a hockey journey that involved being drafted by the Washington Capitals, multiple championships at multiple levels of hockey, playing overseas, disturbing accounts of hazing rituals, suffering multiple concussions [one of which saw him hospitalized with brain bleed], and ongoing battles with mental health/depression/anxiety. How did he end up putting his memoir together, and what has the feedback been from his kids, his parents, his high school students, his former coaches/teammates, and the general hockey public? Some of his answers will surprise you! [Bonus Content: did Justin select his hockey agent based on an information pipeline to the O.J. Simpson murder trial?!?!]
Conflicted Scars: An Average Player’s Journey to the NHL is available wherever you get your books or at www.ecwpress.com
TORONTO LEGENDS is hosted by Andrew Applebaum at [email protected]
All episodes available at www.podpage.com/toronto-legends/episodes/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
40 min