4 OCT 2020 · My conversation with writer, analyst and investigative journalist Casey Michel, whose writings on global corruption, government kleptocracies, western relations and post-Soviet geopolitics have been featured on the BBC, NPR, MSNBC and countless other mainstream news sources. His editorials on nationalism, populism and extremist have also been featured on The Atlantic, The Washington Post and Sports Illustrated. We discussed: his recent article entitled "The Oathkeepers Are Today's Blackshirts" featured in The New Republic and the rise of extremism, if he feels that North Americans should be mindful of the burgeoning paramilitary forces that represent ultra-right nationalism, how he's kept track of historical firsts when it comes to the Donald Trump presidency and how badly it's undermining democracy in America, the likely scenarios that will unfold during the upcoming November election, his feelings on the shamelessness of an era no longer bound by traditional history and rife with cultural revisionism, which aspect of society should be blamed for the current state of affairs in the White House, if he's more worried about China or Russia when it comes to the future, and how he wrestles with the dystopian realities confronted on a weekly basis through a steady diet of worthwhile video games and enthusiastic bird-watching. Don't forget to follow Casey on social media (@cjcmichel) and check out all his brilliant work at caseymichel.com.

6 JUN 2020 · My conversation with critically acclaimed and avant-garde musician Tim Bernhardt aka Satin Jackets, whose mercurial creativity and refined European influence can be felt with every note, beat and melody featured in his ruggedly audacious compositions. As a crusader of the post-modern disco spirit which seemingly refuses to die, Tim's work has been traditionally characterized as new age house music - but really, it's house elevated to a whole new and powerful level of sumptuously gorgeous sound and dissonant beats that will leave you absolutely breathless and wanting more. We discussed: the retro aspect of his music and the origin story behind the name "Satin Jackets", the genesis of Coffee and Feels and how his commitment to exploring melodies/chords/vocals has allowed him to transcend conventional genres of the industry, why his tracks have often been described as both celebratory and lovestruck, his earliest association with disco and his impressions of how music has evolved during the pandemic, how being an independent artist relying on social media helped him connect with legions of new fans, how he feels about where music is today and the importance of being in control of the creative process, and why growing his brand slowly and steadily has given him the passion to keep coming back for more. Be sure to explore Tim's work via social media (@satinjackets), Spotify and countless other music sources.

2 MAR 2020 · My latest conversation with critically-acclaimed broadcaster and author Jesse Goldberg-Strassler, who was recently named Ballpark Digest's 2019 MiLB Broadcaster of the Year. We talked about the gruesome state of the game and what cheating has meant to an entire generation of baseball fans, if the Toronto Blue Jays can justify his prediction for wins in 2020 versus mine (JGS: 88, AS: 78), what this season has in store for Shapiro/Atkins detractors, and what modern technology has done to expose the true layers of amoral and unethical behaviour that exists in today's game. Be sure to check out Jesse's fine work at jessegoldbergstrassler.com and @jgoldstrass on social media. His latest books include: The Baseball Thesaurus and The Football Thesaurus. Subscribe to arishapiro.ca today to receive my latest audio, video and existential creative efforts.

22 FEB 2020 · Shapiro's Daily Show: Saturday Edition [00:38-12:35] A conversation with Chandler Worthy of the Toronto Argonauts [12:40-31:31] Blue Jays and Maple Leafs round table with Luke Armstrong and Sam Mendelsohn On this episode: a compelling discussion about football and philanthropy with Chandler Worthy who happens to be a wide receiver with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL. You can find him on Instagram (@cworthy16) and be sure to check out his fine work with Kalari.ca where he's developing a mental health company aimed at working with students to improve their self-esteem and confidence in leading by example. Also, writer and blogger Luke Armstrong (@armstrongthings) and sports broadcaster Sam Mendelsohn (@Mendy_Island) drop by to discuss the current scandal-plagued nature of a fresh new MLB season and why the Maple Leafs might be lacking the defensive pixie dust to help them deal with quality eastern conference foes. Subscribe to arishapiro.ca today and receive all my literary and video content free of charge. It's likely the best decision you'll make all week. Music: "Little Guitars" by Van Halen (Diver Down, 1982)

27 JAN 2020 · My latest conversation with celebrated Sportsnet anchor and radio/television host Alex Seixeiro, whose industry success, commitment to his craft and informed opinions make him a powerful conversationalist and a worthwhile authority on the subject of Toronto sports. We discussed his thoughts on the Blue Jays and their torrid off-season, the Raptors and their sublime excellence night in and night out, and the Maple Leafs and their quest to end over half a century of futility, along with his candid position on the changing of the guard (Don Cherry, Bob McCown) when it comes to broadcasting personalities and sports journalism in Canada. Be sure to check out Alex and his fine work on social media (@alexfan590) and across all Sportsnet affiliates. Subscribe to arishapiro.ca today to receive my latest audio, video and existential creative efforts that will either make your day or quite possibly bore you to tears. Either way, you won't regret it.

13 AUG 2019 · My conversation with Juno-award winning singer, actress and television personality Sass Jordan, who is often referred to as Canada's Queen of Rock - and for good reason! This British-born rock singer from Montreal, Quebec is beloved on both sides of the border as a legendary Canadian musician and personality. We discussed the staples of a Gen-X childhood growing up in Toronto during the 1980's, what inspires her to continue writing music, how the changing industry has affected her quest for authenticity, what drives her to embrace the creative process in an ever-changing world, how her emotional maturity transcended the usual trappings of soul-sucking fame, what it means to appeal to a brand new and younger audience while enjoying the fruits of the old, and what it was like to rub shoulders with some of the biggest artists on the planet (Foo Fighters, Aerosmith, Cheap Trick, The Rolling Stones). Be sure to visit Sassjordan.com to order your (kick ass) 180-gram coloured vinyl limited edition 25th anniversary of her seminal release "Rats", and check out Twitter (@sassjordan) and Instagram (sass.jordan) to catch up on the latest Sass Jordan tour dates, musical releases and other literary moments of zen.

5 JUL 2019 · My conversation with British eSports journalist and livestream commentator Richard Lewis, whose intrepid investigations and soothsaying work as the former host of ELeague and By The Numbers: CSGO, a weekly counter-strike: Global Offensive podcast, has made him into one of the most critically-acclaimed and trusted internet personalities around. We discussed his recent article on Desmond Daniel "Etika" Amofah and how struggles with mental health and social media integrity are producing the next great medical epidemic, his candid thoughts on the perils of app-based addictions, how he keeps himself sane during his repeated forays into match-fixing scandals/gambling controversies/unethical program violations, the true damage that Facebook has caused an entire generation, if we've gone past the point of no return when it comes to regulating or defining the influence of modern social media, and what drove him to become a crusader against misanthropic corporations and unscrupulous profit-driven game developers. Be sure to follow Richard (@RLewisReports) on Twitter, and be sure to visit his YouTube page for the latest video commentaries and eSport industry takes.

18 MAR 2019 · My conversation with consumer advocate and altruist Ira Rheingold, who is the executive director of the National Association of Consumer Advocates; a nationwide organization of more than 1500 attorneys who represent hundreds of thousands of consumers victimized by fraudulent, abusive, and predatory business practices. We talked about his love of fighting for consumer rights, his overall impressions of the Trump presidency, the changing tides of Democrat vs. Republican ideological struggles, his thoughts on the future of fairness and transparency when it comes to the average taxpayer living in North America, his candid take on the Equifax scandal, the concept of reverting to cretinism as global populism grows, the battle for truth and education in contemporary society, how social media remains a powder keg for the upcoming 2020 election, and the dangers of baseball's greed and lingering hubris. Be sure to follow Ira (@IraRheingold) on social media, and visit consumeradvocates.org to learn more about an organization worth admiring for all the right reasons.

11 MAR 2019 · My conversation with celebrated writer and historian Gil Troy, who has received numerous international awards for excellence in commentary and is also a prolific author of such critically-acclaimed books as "Age of Clinton: America in the 1990's" and "The Zionist Ideas: Visions for the Jewish Homeland." We discussed if there was anything left that surprised him politically or spiritually during the age of Trump, how his academic and literary background allowed him to sublimate a world filled with extreme ideas and unreasonable people, what inspired him to study world history and understand the basic question of conflict and resolution, if the dangers of historical revisionism keep him awake at night, his take on Samuel Huntington's clash of civilizations paradigm, if tribalism and the rise of authoritarian regimes is all but destroying the concept of centrism, how the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin and the demise of compromise changed the Israeli narrative permanently, his take on separating anti-semitic discourse with anti-Israel sentiment, and why Quebec took sovereignty off the table after decades of fervent nationalism. Make sure you're following Gil (@GilTroy) on social media, and be sure to visit his website (giltroy.com) to enjoy his latest literary efforts and commentary on the world around us.

8 MAR 2019 · My conversation with investigative journalist and best-selling author William D. Cohan, whose prodigious nature and intrepid literary skills have made him one of the world's foremost authorities on the true nature of Wall Street corruption and financial subterfuge. We talked about his latest book (Why Wall Street Matters) and his thoughts on an increasingly polarized and rudderless United States government, what inspired him to leave his former life as a senior investment banker and continue his passion for journalism, where he finds the diligence to stay on top of significantly ambitious and controversial projects, how Canadians should perceive their neighbours down south while witnessing political chicanery at play, if North Americans should really be worried about a Warren Buffet style 'megacatastrophe' in the near future, his candidly unfiltered conclusions on the Trump presidency, and why baseball and the Boston Red Sox made him the happiest man in the Western Hemisphere. Be sure to follow Bill (@WilliamCohan) on social media and visit his website (williamcohan.com) to find his latest published works, award-winning mantras, and compelling streams of worthwhile literary and audio appearances.