podcast
Best Baseball Podcasts
A friend of mine was bemoaning the state of sports radio in Toronto when I suggested that he look at podcasts as his source of sports talk “radio”. He’s a hockey and baseball fan. I can’t help with hockey because I’m only a fan every 4 years (hello Olympics!). So here are my favourite baseball podcasts:
And there are only two worth your time. And they are both brought to you by the same folks who brought to you the best damn sports mobile app of all time: The Score.
Drunk Jays Fans
Otherwise known as DJF, this podcast and blog provides everything a Toronto Blue Jays fan could ask for. The writers of the blog also provide everything you don’t want to hear such as why the Jays suck this year. Answer: Too many crap players. Writers Andrew Stoeten, Dustin Parkes, Drew Fairservice, and Scott Lewis provide amazing analysis that most writers and sportscasters ignore because of timelines, word count or just plain ignorance about the sport of baseball.
The DJF podcast is just as delightful. However, be careful. The content is NSFW so wear a headset if you listen to it at work or at home around kids. One thing you will notice is two things: Firstly, the crew are not shills for the team or ownership. Which means they tell it like it is. Secondly, they always provide insightful analysis no matter the colour of their language. So it’s both entertaining and educational.
Getting Blanked
My favourite part of this baseball blog is the My Approach series by Drew Fairservice. If this is all the baseball you read then you will be 1000 times smarter than anyone else you listen to in Toronto sports radio – never mind your baseball drinking buddies. Drew has interviewed a dozen or so of the top baseball stars of today asking them about their approach to the game. He sometimes interjects the interview with thoughtful analysis backed up by stats and videos. You will be hard pressed to find better baseball writing anywhere else.
The Getting Blanked podcast is the best baseball podcast around. These guys know their baseball and can talk about it just as well as they can write about it. Expect analysis of breakout players, Mike Trout, the most underrated players, Mike Trout, thoughts on stats and moneyball and even everyone’s favourite player, Mike Trout. Oh, expect to hear the boys trashing Toronto’s baseball beat writers and radio hosts for being lazy…and stuff. If you want to be a well rounded and knowledgeable baseball fan, then the podcast and the blog are a must. And the bumper music they play is outstanding too!
What podcasts do you listen to?
I’m in the need for some new and inspiring podcasts to listen to. I’m a Blue Jays and MMA fan. I’m also an entrepreneur and a social marketer. So the podcasts reflect this.
Here is what I currently listen to:
Drunk Jays Fans – brought to you by the guys from The Score’s mosts popular blog on your Toronto Blue Jays.
ESPN UFC Podcast – from across the pond in England. This is one of the most unbaised podcasts on MMA around.
Freakonomics Radio – from the blog and book of the same name.
Humble and Fred Radio – because sometimes I need to relax and just have some unadulterated fun.
Q: The Podcast – Jian Ghomeshi is the best interview today.
The Ricky Gervais Podcast – Gervais is not actively podcasting these days. But when he does, it’s golden.
Six Pixels of Separation – Mitch Joel’s weekly conversations are very enlightening. And the monthly Media Hacks is entertaining and informative.
Spark – Nora Young helps us understand how our lives are being transformed by technology.
This American Life – Some of the best stories of people and their lives from south of the 49th.
This Week in Startups – Jason Calicanis is entertaining and his interviews and weekly news roundups are a must listen for all entrepreneurs in the tech space.
Under The Influence – Terry O’Reilly uses his unique story-telling style to bring today’s marketing and advertising trends to Canadians.
Wiretap – One of the best shows by CBC. Jonathan Goldstein’s unique brand of humour and his band of characters always brings a smile to my face every week.
What’s your favourite podcasts? And why? Please share. Thanks!
New podcast in my ears
Many of you know I love listening to podcasts. Almost everyday I’m commuting 2-3 hours per day. So I spend most of this time listening to podcasts such as This American Life, Wiretap, This Week in Startups, and even the UFC ESPN Podcast.
Last week I discovered another podcast: Humble and Fred Radio. I wasn’t a big listener of theirs when they where on the radio here in Toronto. However, these guys are gold. They are funny and raw. Besides their random musings they also have amazing interviews. Recently they had Toronto Blue Jays long time announcer Jerry Howarth on. This was one of the best interviews I have ever heard.
Great job guys! And congrats on your new deal with Corus.
What podcasts do you consider required listening and why?
My Favourite Podcasts
Podcasts are what I refer to as the intersection between great radio and technology.
A few of the podcasts that I am going to list below can be originally heard on radio. However, most of the time I’m too busy to actually spend the time to listen to them live. And that’s why I enjoy my podcasts. I can still enjoy great talk radio. But on my schedule – where ever and whenever I want to.
In no particular order…
- Drunk Jays Fans. Published by The Score this podcast is digital heaven for Blue Jays fans. This no holds barred podcast includes everything a Blue Jays fan could want: stats, opinion and entertainment. The hosts are fans but they are also not homers.
- ESPN UFC Podcast. Hosted from England this MMA-themed but very UFC-centric podcast is a must listen to for all fans of the fight game. A similar show from North America would not be able to lend the perspective that this show does. I think the distance from England to the UFC head offices in Las Vegas allows this show to lend more perspective and credibility.
- Freakonomics Radio. If you’re a fan of the books and a reader of their blog you will love this podcast. Here’s what you can expect to learn from this podcast: the hidden side. Of everything.
- This American Life. I got turned on to this podcast by Karim Awad, who is an avid podcast consumer himself. He also used to have his own podcast! Every week, This American Life brings to life stories from America. It’s not so much about flag-waving, red-neck gun-shooting America. It’s more about the neighbourhoods, people and stories that can be found in any city in any country. A recent episode, titled The Ghost of Bobby Dunbar will leave you hanging until the end more than any TV show has ever done.
- This Week In StartUps. Want to hear conversations with some of Silicon Valley’s top entrepreneurs? Want to hear about the technology news of the week from the perspective of the insiders? Then this is a must listen to show.
- Under The Influence. Get an insider’s perspective on the world of marketing and advertising and the implications for today’s company’s and consumers. The host’s delivery and the show’s production will leave you wanting more.
- Wiretap. I stumbled across this program on CBC Radio. Ever since, I’ve been hooked. Wiretap, as I see it, is about how the world looks through the eyes of the host: Jonathan Goldstein. After just one listen you will feel like all the characters on the show are part of your family.
There are actually 13 podcasts that I subscribe to. But there are the 7 that I cannot do without. What are some of your favourite podcasts?
Why I do what I do.
I love Toronto. And not just the Blue Jays baseball team or the CN Tower. I mean what makes Toronto, well, Toronto.
Her people. Especially those people who are making things happen. Whether it be community activists like the folks at the Toronto Green Community or the start-up/tech space that I have been involved in for the past couple of years.
Earlier today, I had the opportunity to chat with Canadian entrepreneur, angel investor and venture capitalist Boris Wertz. He appeared as my guest on The XConnect Show. It was our 19th episode and the first time we had a live audience.
The reason we invited a select audience was because our team knew that many people in the start-up space would love the opportunity to listen and learn from Boris. So we had about 10 guests sit in on the session.
Before our taping I introduced Boris to every member of the studio audience. And that made me feel happy and proud. Happy that I could do it and proud that I had the chance to do it.
What made me more happier was receiving an email from one friend a few minutes ago who apologized for leaving without talking to me so he could share with Boris a cab ride across the city.
No need to apologize.
It’s why I do what I do.
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observations from just inside scarborough 