The RIFF Toronto – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Détails du podcast

Informations techniques et générales issues du flux RSS du podcast.

The RIFF Toronto

my-toronto.ca

Musique

Arts

Cinéma & Séries

Fréquence : 1 épisode/25j. Total Éps: 18

Unearthing How Creatives Go from Good to Great.

Toronto’s Creatives. We feed ’em. They talk.

The hosts and guests never know what we’ll serve from Toronto’s world-renowned culinary scene.

A my-toronto Show and Podcast
Hosted by internationally acclaimed Toronto artists: Visual Artist Gary O’Brien and Jazz Fusion Guitarist Jeremy Green.

From the comedy clubs of the core to the music venues of the west end, to Juno Award winners and Michelin-rated artists, The Riff is a chill hang with today’s inspiring artists in every form; on a mission to spark the creativity that lives inside everyone.

Lire plusRéduire

Site

RSS

Apple

Données mises à jour le 26/10/2026

Classements récents

Dernières positions dans les classements Apple Podcasts et Spotify.

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Aucun classement récent disponible

Liens partagés entre épisodes et podcasts

Liens présents dans les descriptions d'épisodes et autres podcasts les utilisant également.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2503064/fan_mail/new
18 partages
https://www.buzzsprout.com/TheRIFF
18 partages

Qualité et score du flux RSS

Évaluation technique de la qualité et de la structure du flux RSS.

Qualité du flux RSS

Correct

Score global : 79%

Historique des publications

Répartition mensuelle des publications d'épisodes au fil des années.

Year

Derniers épisodes publiés

Liste des épisodes récents, avec titres, durées et descriptions.

She Won an Oscar for Frankenstein - Here's What It Really Took

Saison 2 · Épisode 6

mercredi 21 octobre 2026 • Durée 50:17

The RIFF S2 ep.6 -Cliona Furey

Final YouTube Description She won an Oscar for Frankenstein and has spent 15 years as Guillermo del Toro's go-to hair designer — and today she's telling us everything. On this episode of The Riff, Oscar and BAFTA-winning hair designer Cliona Fury (Crimson Peak, Nightmare Alley, Priscilla) joins hosts Gary and Jeremy for a candid conversation about building a career in film, working alongside legendary directors, and what it really takes to go from good to great.

Cliona shares how she went from an opera house wig-making apprentice to one of the most in-demand hair designers in film, the discipline she learned from years in theater, and what it's really like on set with Guillermo del Toro — from his obsessive attention to detail to the code words his longtime crew uses to read his mind. She dives deep into her Oscar-winning work on Frankenstein, the meticulous historical research behind Priscilla, and the emotional toll and reward of owning your craft in a high-pressure industry.

Plus, Gary shares a personal update on a hand-painted portrait of Rush drummer Neil Peart, and the crew heads to Union Station's German beer hall Wurst and Brazilian chocolate shop Chocolata Brigaderos for this episode's foodie segment, powered by MyToronto.ca.

Whether you're an aspiring artist, film industry hopeful, or just love hearing how the movie magic really happens, this episode is packed with insight, honesty, and a few surprising stories from a career at the top of the industry.

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, give it a like, drop a comment with your favorite moment, subscribe for new episodes every week, and share it with someone who'd love it too.

#TheRiffPodcast #ClionaFury #GuillermoDelToro #Frankenstein #HairAndMakeup #FilmIndustry #BehindTheScenes #TorontoPodcast #CreativeProcess #OscarWinner

Resources Mentioned

MyToronto: https://www.mytoronto.ca
Wurst (Union Station / King St): https://wurstkitchen.com
Zing Candy: https://www.zingcandy.com
Netflix (Frankenstein behind-the-scenes special): https://www.netflix.com
YouTube Chapters

0:00 Welcome to The Riff
0:48 Catching Up with Jeremy — Toto Concert Story
2:46 Gary's Neil Peart Portrait Reveal
5:04 Guest Introduction: Cliona Fury
6:13 Meet Cliona Fury
6:50 How Cliona Got Into Hair Design
7:53 Growing Up on Film Sets
14:13 Working with Guillermo del Toro
19:28 Behind the Scenes of Priscilla
26:28 Winning the Oscar for Frankenstein
33:13 Advice for Aspiring Artists
37:37 What's on the Table Today
39:04 Foodie Segment: Wurst & Chocolata Brigaderos
43:16 The Creative Thread: Good vs. Great
47:22 Thanking Cliona
49:00 Closing Thoughts

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Lire plusRéduire

Inside Hollywood’s Prop Workshop — Crafting Swords, Space Suits, Robots & Movie Magic

Saison 2 · Épisode 5

mercredi 7 octobre 2026 • Durée 53:59

Walter KlassenFX - The RIFF-S2 ep5 - Ever wonder how your favorite movies fake it — and make it look real? In this episode of The Riff, we sit down with Taku Desai, Chief Creative Officer of Walter Klassen FX — a Toronto-based special effects studio that's been behind the magic of Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein, The Boys, The Handmaid's Tale, Captain America, Star Trek, Shazam, The Shape of Water, Reacher, and many more.

We go inside the world of practical effects — how they build mechanical machine guns that don't fire, swords in five different materials for five different stunts, space helmets with hidden fans and magnetic battery covers, and animatronic animals so anatomically accurate you can't tell them from the real thing.

Plus: Why are filmmakers ditching CGI and going back to practical effects? Is AI about to change everything again? And what does it take to build a career doing something this cool?

We also talk Jack White's no-phones concert experience and why it felt like going back in time, Jeremy's jazz album In Motion hitting #1 on American radio, and we taste some incredible Nashville Hot Chicken from Chen Chen's at The Well in Toronto.

🎬 If you love film, behind-the-scenes magic, or the craft of making things with your hands — this one's for you.

📍 Walter Klassen FX: walterklassenfx (Instagram) | walterklassen.com
🎵 Jeremy Green – In Motion — out now - www.jeremygreenguitar.com

Sponsored by mytoronto.ca — explore Toronto like a local.

Subscribe, like, and hit the bell so you never miss an episode of The Riff.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Working With Major Artists: What Publicists See (Stories from the Road)

Saison 5 · Épisode 4

mercredi 23 septembre 2026 • Durée 50:29

The RIFF S2 - ep4 -Dawn Dwyer Pappas

What is it actually like working with major artists behind the scenes?

In this episode of The Riff, we sit down with an experienced music publicist who has worked at the highest levels of the industry. This conversation goes beyond theory and into real moments from the road, from press days to high-pressure situations where everything is on the line.

These are grounded, human stories about supporting artists, managing energy, and helping things hold together when it matters most.

We get into:
• What working with top-level artists is really like day-to-day
• How publicists support artists in high-pressure situations
• The moments that don’t go as planned… and how they’re handled
• What it takes to maintain momentum at a high level

If you’ve ever wondered what happens around major artists when the spotlight isn’t on, this is a rare inside look.

#MusicIndustry #Publicist #NSYNC #ChristinaAguilera #WWE #MusicBusiness #TorontoPodcast #BehindTheScenes #EntertainmentIndustry #PodcastClips

Resources Mentioned

WWE: https://www.wwe.com
Sony Music Canada: https://www.sonymusic.ca
BMG: https://www.bmg.com
EMI/Universal Music Canada: https://www.universalmusic.ca
Spotify: https://www.spotify.com
myToronto.ca: https://www.mytoronto.ca
YouTube Chapters

0:00 Cold open — the Christina Aguilera hotel story
1:10 Intro to The Riff Toronto
8:48 What does a music publicist actually do?
17:31 Life on the road with Christina Aguilera
21:20 Publicist vs. doing it yourself as an artist
26:36 Rule #1: never want it more than the artist
34:39 Behind the scenes at WWE
39:34 Ric Flair's book and other wild stories
46:05 The creative side of being a publicist
48:42 Food segment: Montreal bagels & Papa Roti coffee58:43 Final thoughts and goodbye

From Uncle Trent's garage to iHeart's Top 40 Rock Charts

Saison 2 · Épisode 3

mercredi 2 septembre 2026 • Durée 54:02

Johnny Ross - The RIFF S2 ep3

Johnny Ross, frontman of Canadian rock band Learhaven, joins Gary and Jeremy on The Riff Toronto for one of our most honest and entertaining conversations yet. Johnny breaks down the wild chaos of touring Spain and Switzerland (burst pipes, gear crashes, and empty venues that filled up in 5 minutes flat), the story behind "Soulbreaker" landing on Hockey Night in Canada, and why his obsession with '70s tone, vintage gear, and vinyl isn't nostalgia — it's a philosophy.

We get into the real talk: why comfort is the enemy of great art, what it actually takes to build a band that lasts, and the one thing Johnny says every great — from Zeppelin to Warren Buffett — has in common.

Plus, Gary and Jeremy try Quan Quan on the Esplanade — a Vietnamese hidden gem with a 4.9 ⭐ Google rating that looks like a convenience store from the outside.

🎸 What's in this episode:

0:00 — Intro & the Rush T-shirt story
10:00 — Johnny's origin story: Uncle Trent's garage, drums & the family instruments
20:00 — Hockey goalie → rock frontman (the connection is real)
30:00 — Building Learhaven, the writing process & vintage tone obsession
33:00 — The European tour: burst pipes, gear crashes & packed venues
45:00 — "Soulbreaker," vinyl, and the art of the album
52:00 — What separates the greats? Johnny's answer: "artistic nicotine"

🔗 Follow Johnny Ross & Learhaven: 🌐 Website: learhaven.com 📸 Instagram: @JohnnyRoss5th | @Learhaven 🎵 Stream "Soulbreaker" on all platforms

🌆 Toronto's best kept food secret: 📍 Quan Quan — 140 The Esplanade, Toronto 🌐 mytoronto.ca

🎙️ Follow The Riff Toronto: 📸 Instagram: @TheRiffToronto 🌐 mytoronto.ca

If this episode fired you up, hit that subscribe button — it's how we keep landing guests like this.

#TheRiff #JohnnyRoss #Learhaven #Soulbreaker #CanadianRock #TorontoMusic #RockPodcast #IndieRock #MusicPodcast #VinylCommunity #TorontoPodcast #HockeyNightInCanada #iHeartRadio #RockMusic #MusicianLife #BandLife #TorontoEats #QuanQuan #MyToronto #CreativeThread #RockAndRoll #PodcastLife #NewMusicAlert #LocalMusic #TorontoLocal

Why 99% of Content Creators Fail (And How He Didn't)

Saison 2 · Épisode 2

mercredi 5 août 2026 • Durée 54:02

Dontoverthinkitchip - The RIFF S2 ep2

He quit a 6-figure insurance job with only $500/month coming in — and went $75K into debt chasing a dream. Three years later, he's landing brand deals with PlayStation, Nissan, the Toronto Blue Jays, and Chipotle, with 16 million views from nearly 6 million accounts. This is the story of @dontoverthinkitchip.

In this episode of The Riff, Gary and Jeremy sit down with Toronto-based content creator Chip — the force behind one of Canada's fastest-rising social media channels. What started as a sports betting page in December 2023 has evolved into a full-time viral content machine built on relatable comedy skits, Toronto food culture, and one unbreakable rule: post every single day.

In this episode:

Why Chip walked away from a six-figure career with almost nothing in the bank
The real daily grind behind viral content (hint: it starts at 5:30 AM)
How he sent 20 DMs a day to restaurants and turned $250 gigs into major brand contracts
Why your biggest supporters will never be the people you grew up with
The moment in Saskatchewan at minus 40 that almost broke him — and what kept him going
How brands are now paying creators NOT to talk about their product
Why going viral overnight is actually less valuable than the slow grind
The Kevin James obsession that shaped his entire comedic style
What consistency + originality actually looks like in practice
Why 99% of creators quit — and the one mindset shift that separates those who make it

Plus: The guys taste pulled pork brisket mac & cheese from Smoke'N Bones on Baldwin Street — and Chip makes a case for why Baldwin Street is the most underrated food strip in Toronto.

Whether you're a content creator, an entrepreneur, or just someone who's been sitting on a dream they haven't acted on yet — this one's for you.

🎙️ The Riff — where creativity winds its way through food, music, art, and everything in between. Hosted by Gary & Jeremy, brought to you from the heart of Toronto.

📍 Food feature sponsored by mytoronto.ca — your guide to exploring Toronto like a local.

Electronic artist’s guide to playing big lineups

Saison 2 · Épisode 1

mardi 14 juillet 2026 • Durée 54:44

Andrew Stasiw - The RIFF S2 ep1

Toronto's underground EDM scene has a new king — and he built it from a laptop during lockdown.

Andrew Stasiw of King and Queen Events joins Gary and Jeremy on The Riff to pull back the curtain on how he went from bedroom producer to booking global heavyweights like Danny Avila, Maddox, and Sam Pacho at iconic venues like Coda — all as an independent operator competing against the monopolies.

In this episode:
🎧 How to break into the EDM scene (basement to mainstage)
📈 The networking moves that actually work (cold emails are dead)
🌍 What it's REALLY like hosting international DJs in Toronto
🎶 Why reading the room separates good DJs from GREAT ones
💼 Balancing friendship and business in the music industry
🔥 Why Toronto's electronic scene is exploding RIGHT NOW

Plus — we taste Rasta Pasta from Waterworks Food Hall. Jamaican-Italian fusion. Trust us on this one.

Whether you're an aspiring DJ, a music lover, or an entrepreneur figuring out how to grind your way to the top — this episode hits different.

Subscribe & hit the bell so you never miss a new episode of The Riff, where we chase the creative thread connecting music, food, arts, and culture.

🔗 King and Queen Events: kingqueenevents.com | @kingqueenevents

☕ Coffee by Found Coffee — Front Street, Toronto
🍝 Food by Rasta Pasta — Waterworks Food Hall, King West
🌐 Explore Toronto like a local: mytoronto.ca

#TheRiff #TorontoEDM #KingQueenEvents #DJLife #TorontoNightlife #EDMToronto #Podcast #MusicBusiness #HouseMusic #Techno #AndrewStasiw #Coda #TorontoEvents

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Subscribe to our YouTube channel

200M Streams. No Label. No Rules.

Saison 1 · Épisode 12

mercredi 17 juin 2026 • Durée 52:36

EMM - The Riff ep 12

She climbed into a coffin full of biting worms — and kept singing. 🎵🐛

In this episode of The Riff, Gary and Jeremy sit down with EMM — a classically trained, award-winning artist from Traverse City, Michigan who grew up surrounded by musical prodigies, moved to New York before high school, and built an independent music empire with 200 million streams entirely on her own terms.

Now signed with Sony/The Orchard (while keeping full ownership of her masters), EMM is on The Dumb Tour promoting her album Black Diamond — and she stopped into The Riff studio fresh off a sold-out Toronto show at the Drake Underground.

In this episode: 🎤 The coffin shoot — wrong worms, biting legs, 2 hours in bugs (and she was singing live) 🎹 Growing up at Interlochen, home of child prodigies practicing 12 hours a day 💡 Why "irrational confidence" is her secret weapon 💰 How brand deals funded her music before the music funded itself 🎧 The truth about publishing rights, predatory label contracts, and keeping your leverage 🌀 Manifestation, flow states, and "transcendence" on stage 📵 Dopamine detoxes and why boredom is rocket fuel for creativity 🍪 Gluten-free treats from Bunner's Bakery in Kensington Market (and yes, they're incredible)

Whether you're an artist, entrepreneur, or just someone chasing something big — this one's for you.

Follow EMM: @emminreallife (all socials) | Link in bio

Explore Toronto like a local: mytoronto.ca

🔔 Like, subscribe & share — sharing is caring

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Subscribe to our YouTube channel

From Hitchhiker to Juno Winner: The Crown Lands Story

Saison 1 · Épisode 11

jeudi 14 mai 2026 • Durée 01:00:09

Kevin Comeau - The RIFF ep 11

What happens when a kid hears Rush for the first time and his entire life changes? We found out.

Kevin Comeau of Juno Award-winning prog duo Crown Lands sits down with The Riff to talk about the moment A Farewell to Kings rewired his brain at 14, hitchhiking across Canada and down the California coast after reading Jack Kerouac, accidentally joining a reggae band in a Hollywood guitar shop, and how a Rush notation book stuffed into a backpack became the foundation of his guitar playing.

We also get into the real story behind the Crown Lands name, the identity crisis that almost ended the band, getting discovered by Eric Singer of Kiss through a YouTube live video, and why their new album Apocalypse — out NOW — is the record they've always wanted to make.

Plus: space operas, dragon riders, prog nerd deep dives on Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, Jan Hammer, and Joni Mitchell. Oh, and incredible food from Queen's Harbour on the Toronto waterfront.

🎸 Crown Lands – Apocalypse is out now | crownlandsmusic.com

🎙️ Sponsored by mytoronto.ca | Featuring coffee from Coffee Island (York St.)

Subscribe, like & share — it genuinely helps us keep making this show.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Lire plusRéduire

The World's Youngest Cheese Master Reveals What Most Food Lovers Get Wrong

Saison 1 · Épisode 10

mardi 14 avril 2026 • Durée 56:31

Afrim Pristine - RIFF S1 ep10

🎙️ What does it take to become one of the most respected names in the food world?

In this episode of The RIFF, we sit down with Afrim Pristine, internationally recognized cheese master, entrepreneur, television personality, and one of Canada's leading voices in food culture.

From building a world-class business to appearing on major television shows, Afrim shares the lessons, challenges, and mindset that helped shape his remarkable journey. We dive into the art and science of taste, the importance of passion and persistence, and what separates true craftsmanship from the ordinary.

Whether you're a foodie, entrepreneur, aspiring creator, or simply someone who enjoys hearing incredible success stories, this conversation is packed with insights, inspiration, and plenty of surprising moments.

🔥 In this episode:
✔️ The journey to becoming a world-renowned cheese master
✔️ Behind-the-scenes stories from the food industry
✔️ Building a successful brand through passion and expertise
✔️ Lessons in entrepreneurship, creativity, and leadership
✔️ Why taste is about more than just food

Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more conversations with fascinating people who are changing their industries and inspiring others to do the same.

#AfrimPristine #TheRIFF #Podcast #Entrepreneurship #FoodCulture #SuccessStories #CheeseMaster #Business #Leadership #Foodie #Inspiration #TorontoPodcast #Interview #CanadianBusiness #FoodIndustry

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Canada's Fishing Legend Reveals All

Saison 1 · Épisode 9

mercredi 18 mars 2026 • Durée 49:38

Pete Bowman - The RIFF -S1 ep.9

Pete Bowman — Canadian fishing legend, TV host of Fishin' Canada (3.5M viewers), and Hall of Famer — sits down with The Riff for one of the most entertaining fishing conversations you'll ever hear.

From stunning a fish with a boat oar to get his lure back, to revealing how a laid-off electrician accidentally became one of Canada's most beloved TV personalities, Pete holds nothing back.

In this episode:

🎣 How Pete went from electrician to fishing icon
🏆 Being inducted into the Canadian Angler Hall of Fame (and why it shocked him)
🐟 Big pike, bass & monster fish hiding RIGHT in Toronto Harbour
💰 The insane prize money in North American fishing tournaments (up to $1.25M!)
🌊 The WILDEST fish story you've ever heard — an oar, a pike, and a turtle
♻️ Why hunters and anglers are actually conservation's greatest allies
🎿 Winter Olympics chaos, Ray Gun on skis, and skeleton vs. luge debates

Follow Pete Bowman: 📺 Fishing Canada — Saturdays 8AM on Global TV 📸 Instagram: @petebowman_fishing 📘 Facebook & YouTube: Fishing Canada / @fishingcanadaofficial

Fishing in Toronto? Pete recommends: 🎣 Fish City Tours — Taro Murata 🎣 Cast Adventures — Paul Castellano, Niagara River

The Riff is a Toronto-based podcast where we sit down with fascinating people over great food and real conversation.

Subscribe for new episodes every week ⬇️

#FishingCanada #PeteBowman #ThRiff #FishingPodcast #Toronto #FishingCanadaShow #CanadianFishing #BassFishing #ConservationFishing #TorontoHarbour

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Subscribe to our

Podcasts Similaires Basées sur le Contenu

Découvrez des podcasts liées à The RIFF Toronto. Explorez des podcasts avec des thèmes, sujets, et formats similaires. Ces similarités sont calculées grâce à des données tangibles, pas d'extrapolations !

À propos Méthodologie Contact Me soutenir Politique de confidentialité Mentions légales

The RIFF Toronto – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Détails du podcast

Classements récents

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Liens partagés entre épisodes et podcasts

Buzzsprout2

Other31

Qualité et score du flux RSS

Historique des publications

Derniers épisodes publiés

Podcasts et contenus similaires

Podcasts Similaires Basées sur le Contenu

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Podcasts Similaires Basées sur le Contenu

Buzzsprout2

Other31

YouTube3