Alan Cross is a broadcasting legend, music historian, and creator of The Ongoing History of New Music. And Alan’s been schooling Barry on music since the latter was a child. We spoke with Alan about hitting clubs on Yonge and Queen in the 80s, birthing one of the best music shows ever, and getting fired and rehired by a media giant. We also talked about how the market forced Indie88 and Edge102 to play the same homogenous shit, how the Trickle Down theory is good for musicians, and why Toronto is the key to Canada’s music future.
Tag Archives: Media
SOMEHOW, I WILL MISS YOU, ROB FORD: AN OBITUARY
Barry reflects on the life and death of his one-time nemesis, His Former Worship, Rob Ford.
EPISODE 26: PSIPHON’S KEITH McMANAMEN
Keith McManamen is a strategic analyst with Psiphon, a Hogtown-based company that circumvents Internet censorship around the world. Keith is also a member of the growing University of Waterloo alumni to have graced this show with their time. We spoke with Keith about fucking with repressive governments, violating sovereignty, and the Internet as a moral entity. We also talked about how the United States is spying on us, how the media has become Orwell’s Ministry of Truth, and the Privacy V. Convenience dilemma.
MIGHTY PIGS #3: ODD FUTURE
Yes, the Mighty Pigs are back. In this long-put-off episode, Barry and his other friend named Sam talk about what makes the NBA so special, how Drake got shafted at the All-Star Game, and the Raptors’ ceiling come the playoffs. They also talk about Optimism V. Reality, the worth of Bismack Biyombo, and win or lose, why the Raptors are worth our love and affection.
EPISODE 25: IS TORONTO A PLAYGROUND FOR THE RICH?
Live from 12 Ossington in downtown Toronto, Hogtown Talks presents its first live debate. The subject of discussion: Is Toronto a playground for the rich? Barry moderates a formidable planel including Andray Domise, Shawn Micallef, Mackenzie Keast, and Jacquelyn West. Unwieldy topic be damned, the panel talked about the poisonous effects of gentrification, how the City has abandoned the suburbs, and Toronto’s ongoing problems with racism. They also touched on the impossiblity of owning land, culture’s ostensibly invisible impact on the poor, and what we can do to fix this place we call home—with or without City Council.
EPISODE 22: CHEF DAVE MOTTERSHALL
Dave Mottershall is an award-winning chef and the genius behind Toronto’s Loka. After spending seven years revolutionizing the PEI food scene, Dave returned to Toronto to rejuvenate his life and career. We spoke with Dave about working in fine dining restaurants across Canada, finding his food “voice,” and staging in Toronto’s best restaurants. Dave also talked about opening up his own brick and mortar restaurant, cooking for the right reasons, and why Toronto is home.
EPISODE 16: THE WALRUS’S KYLE CARSTEN WYATT
Kyle Carsten Wyatt is the managing editor of The Walrus, a doctor of English Literature, and the first American to be on the show. He’s also Barry’s old boss. We spoke with Kyle about the agony and ecstasy of growing up in Nebraska, moving to Hogtown in his twenties, and why living in the Distillery District sucks. He also let Barry grill him about the ostensible shortcomings of Canada’s most awarded magazine, what new editor-in-chief Jonathan Kay brings to the table, and—surprise!—why Toronto is amazing. This episode is sponsored by Regal Bicycles.
SNAX! THE SNAX AWAKENS
In this inaugural episode, Barry explains what the hell Snax will be—shorter podcasts that are just as delicious as our long ones, but slightly more digestible. And Drizzy. Always Drizzy.
EPISODE 12: ACTIVIST AND WRITER DESMOND COLE
Desmond Cole is project coordinator at City Vote and a staff writer for Torontoist. Most notably, Desmond covered the Ferguson protests following a grand jury’s choice not to indict white police officer Darren Wilson in the killing of black youth Michael Brown. We spoke with Desmond about the resolve of Ferguson’s protestors, whether it’s possible to be an objective reporter in the face of tragedy, and how many people can’t seem to admit that they’re scared of black people. Desmond also talked about how blogging led to his career in journalism, Toronto’s denial of its own systemic racism, and still, why Hogtown is an amazing place.
EPISODE 11: JOURNALIST JOHN LORINC
John Lorinc is a lifelong Torontonian and current midtowner. John’s words have appeared in the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, and The Walrus, and he’s a senior editor at Spacing. John spoke with us about his Hungarian Jewish roots, how he became a Hogtown expert by accident, and what it was like to suffer cover four years of the Fords. He also talked about being independent in a Left and Right world, whether some version of John Tory will rule Toronto for eternity, and why, despite all of our faults, he still loves Toronto.
Hogtown Talks 