Jonathan Torrens dropped by 12 years ago today. He was doing some work downtown at the CBC studios and he took a cab to south Etobicoke to chat with yours truly. It was episode 65 of Toronto Mike'd, but it felt like episode one.
You see, until then I either chatted up a co-host or invited over a guest I already knew, like Humble and Fred or Bob Willette. Then, out of the blue, I received an email from Jonathan Torrens.
Jonathan Googled 'Toronto podcast studio' or something similar, and ended up on this site. Then, he contacted me and asked if he could use my studio to record a new podcast he was starting with Our Lady Peace drummer Jeremy Taggart. At the time, I didn't provide this service (but I do now!), so I replied and asked if Jonathan would visit me for an episode of Toronto Mike'd while he was in Toronto. He said yes.
At the time, I recorded on the 2nd floor of my home, in a room that would eventualy go to my third-born son, and Jonathan and I had a great hour conversation about Street Cents, Jonovision, Trailer Park Boys, Mr. D., and more. This was a man I knew of and respected, but did not have a relationship with before he knocked on my front door. Eureka!
This could be Toronto Mike'd. I could invite people like Jonathan over for a lengthy unedited chat even if I had no prior relationship with the man, beyond enjoying his work on television. It took 65 episodes for the light to go on, and I never looked back.
There were no sponsors, no fresh beer or lasagna to gift my guest, and I didn't even think to take a selfie with him, but when Jonathan went outside to wait for his cab to take him back to CBC HQ, I snapped this picture.
Everything changed that day.
