The RIFF Toronto

my-toronto.ca

Welcome to The Riff, Toronto’s creative culture podcast brought to you by my-toronto.ca, where two internationally acclaimed artists (painter and animator Gary O'Brien and jazz fusion guitarist Jeremy Green) dig into Toronto’s entertainment scene. They’ll be hanging out with all sorts of creative minds...from music, comedy, sports, theatre and everything that lurks in between.

Episodes

  1. EMM - 200M Streams. No Label. No Rules. - The Riff ep 12

    Jun 17

    EMM - 200M Streams. No Label. No Rules. - 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

    53 min
  2. Kevin Comeau - From Hitchhiker to Juno Winner: The Crown Lands Story - The RIFF ep 11

    May 14

    Kevin Comeau - From Hitchhiker to Juno Winner: The Crown Lands Story - 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

    1 hr
  3. Afrim Pristine -The World's Youngest Cheese Master Reveals What Most Food Lovers Get Wrong RIFF ep10

    Apr 14

    Afrim Pristine -The World's Youngest Cheese Master Reveals What Most Food Lovers Get Wrong RIFF 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

    57 min
  4. Pete Bowman - Canada's Fishing Legend Reveals All - The RIFF -ep.9

    Mar 18

    Pete Bowman - Canada's Fishing Legend Reveals All - The RIFF -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 debatesFollow 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 YouTube channel

    50 min
  5. Maddy Goldberg - The Hidden World of Private Chefs: What Clients Never See - The RIFF ep8

    Feb 16

    Maddy Goldberg - The Hidden World of Private Chefs: What Clients Never See - The RIFF ep8

    What happens when a Michelin-trained chef shows up to a food bank with no set menu and two hours to feed 100 people? Pure magic. This week on The Riff, hosts Gary O'Brien and Jeremy sit down with Toronto's most fascinating chef — Maddy Goldberg. With 160K+ Instagram followers, viral food content, and a background in social work, Maddy is redefining what it means to be a chef in 2026. We get into: 🍽️ How she went from a 12-oz prime rib at age 6 to cooking at Michelin-recommended Aloette 🥄 What really goes on in a high-end restaurant kitchen (it's intense) ❤️ Why she gives 10% of every private dinner to charity 🥡 The shocking truth about food waste in the restaurant industry 😂 The story of a man who ate a full stick of butter at her dinner table (yes, really) Plus — Jeremy eats a birthday candle. Enough said. Whether you're a foodie, a creative, or someone who just wants to feel inspired — this episode delivers. Follow Maddy: 📸 Instagram: @maddygoldberg 📰 Substack: cookeat.substack.com 🎵 TikTok: @MaddyGoldberg1 --- 🎙️ The Riff drops new episodes regularly. Subscribe so you never miss one. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Subscribe to our YouTube channel

    52 min
  6. Tim Gallagher - Own a Piece of Your Favorite Song — And Get Paid Every Month - The RIFF -ep7

    Jan 18

    Tim Gallagher - Own a Piece of Your Favorite Song — And Get Paid Every Month - The RIFF -ep7

    What if your favorite song could pay you every month — forever? Most people have no idea that music royalties exist as an investable asset class. In this episode of The Riff, hosts Gary O'Brien and Jeremy Green sit down with Tim Gallagher — founder of Music Royalties Inc. and former Chairman & CEO of Metalla Royalty — to pull back the curtain on one of the most overlooked investment opportunities on the planet. Tim breaks down how he built a portfolio of 7,000 songs (including pieces of Rolling Stones, Dire Straits, Eminem, and Avicii) that has already paid out over $14 million in monthly dividends — and why he believes music royalties beat stocks, real estate, and even Bitcoin. In this episode you'll learn: Why a single hit song can generate $1M+ per year in streaming income — indefinitelyHow copyright law gives you a 150-year monopoly on the internetThe secret $500M/year payment system hiding in Canada that almost nobody knows aboutHow platforms like Spotify are driving billions in new royalty cashflowHow YOU can invest in music royalties — even as a regular personWhy legends like the Rolling Stones, The Who, and Eminem are part of this portfolioWhether you're a music lover, an investor, or an artist wondering how to secure your financial future — this episode will change how you think about music forever. 🎵 Find Music Royalties Inc. on Spotify 🌐 Visit mytoronto.ca for more Toronto culture, food & entertainment Also on this episode: We taste incredible sandwiches from Elfie's Sandwiches on Baldwin Street and rare bean-to-bar chocolate from ChocoSol on St. Clair West. Toronto's food scene never disappoints. #MusicRoyalties #PassiveIncome #InvestingTips #MusicBusiness #TheMusicIndustry #Spotify #RoyaltyInvesting #FinancialFreedom #MusicInvesting #TimGallagher #MusicRoyaltiesInc #TorontoPodcast #TheRiff #Entrepreneurship #AlternativeInvestments #StreamingMusic #SongwritingBusiness #WealthBuilding #MusicMoney #TorontoEntertainment Send us Fan Mail Support the show Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Subscribe to our YouTube channel

    48 min
  7. Donna Garner - Nervousness Is Just Excitement in Disguise — and Other Lessons from a Theater Lifer - The RIFF - ep 6

    2025-12-18

    Donna Garner - Nervousness Is Just Excitement in Disguise — and Other Lessons from a Theater Lifer - The RIFF - ep 6

    🎭🎵 She learned accordion in 8 days and booked a Broadway national tour. No big deal. In this episode of The Riff, hosts Gary O'Brien and Jeremy Green sit down with the extraordinary Donna Garner — actor, singer, pianist, multi-instrumentalist, voice coach, music director, AND founder of Garner Theatre Productions. Oh, and she's the youngest of 13 kids raised on a dairy farm near Stratford, Ontario. Yeah, she's kind of a force of nature. We dig into: 🎬 How Donna's family staged a full production of The Sound of Music to raise money for Ronald McDonald House 🪗 The wild story of renting an accordion with only 8 days to learn it before a major Broadway audition 🎭 What it really means to be an actor-musician — acting, singing, AND playing an instrument on stage at the same time 🇨🇦 Why Canadian artists need to stop apologizing for their talent 🎓 The honest truth about building a career in the performing arts 🎸 Instruments in Hands — the incredible charitable program giving instruments and free lessons to those who can't afford them 🌮 Plus, we sample some of Toronto's best tacos from Seven Lives in Kensington Market! Whether you're a theater lover, a musician, an aspiring performer, or just someone who appreciates people who do extraordinary things — this episode is for you. 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode of The Riff — Toronto's home for deep conversations with the city's most creative minds. 👉 Learn more about Donna and Garner Theatre Productions: garnertheatreproductions.com 🌐 Visit us at: mytoronto.ca #TheRiff #DonnaGarner #TorontoTheater #ActorMusician #BrightStar #CanadianArts #Toronto #Musical #Broadway #PerformingArts #GarnerTheatreProductions #MirvishProductions #BrightStarMusical #InstrumentsInHands #TorontoEntertainment #JazzFusion #JeremyGreen #GaryOBrien #Podcast #TorontoPodcast #ArtsPodcast #MusicTheater #MusicalTheater #SteveMartin #EdieBrickell #Accordion #LiveTheater #CanadianTalent #KensingtonMarket #SevenLivesTacos #TorontoFoodSend us Fan Mail Support the show Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Subscribe to our YouTube channel

    50 min
  8. Darin Bristow - Film Animation, The Art of the Ask & Sammy Hagar's Tequila - The RIFF ep.5

    2025-11-23

    Darin Bristow - Film Animation, The Art of the Ask & Sammy Hagar's Tequila - The RIFF ep.5

    Including SpongeBob's Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie, Darin Bristow has 30 years of experience in animation and media and has spearheaded major projects for Nelvana, Pipeline Studios, PBS Kids, Nickelodeon, and Netflix. Darin has produced music videos for Kim Mitchell, Big Sugar and Sammy Hagar of Van Halen, blending his talents across the entertainment industry.  A triple graduate of Sheridan College, Darin holds a First-Class Honours master’s degree with a focus on design psychology. He now supports studios in creating content that resonate deeply with audiences. Darin also teaches at 5 Canadian leading animation programs.  Darin is also the creator of Sammy Hagar’s unofficial podcast, which reaches listeners in over 50 countries, celebrating the Red Rocker lifestyle and the spirit of creative passion. Foodie Highlight: Porchetta and Co, 2022 New Zealand Pinot Noir is Staete Landt of Marlborough (State of Grace) found at the LCBO Vintage section.  Daris Bristow can be found at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darin-bristow-ma-b733411/ AND https://www.instagram.com/thebogusotisshow AND https://www.youtube.com/@SoulshakerRocksU Send us Fan Mail Support the show Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Subscribe to our YouTube channel

    49 min
  9. Gino Del Sole - Life in the Theatre Pit, Ace Frehley & Gordon Ramsay's F#*@ing Peas. The RIFF -ep.4

    2025-10-23

    Gino Del Sole - Life in the Theatre Pit, Ace Frehley & Gordon Ramsay's F#*@ing Peas. The RIFF -ep.4

    Gino Del Sole is a seasoned guitarist with over 20 years of experience performing in the theatre pit for the shows Beetlejuice, Moulin Rouge, and In Dreams (Mirvish Productions), as well as Come From Away, Kinky Boots, and Legally Blonde. His genres span across Rock, Pop, R&B, Jazz, and Country. He’s played thousands of live shows, including 800+ aboard the Norwegian Breakaway in productions like Rock of Ages and Burn the Floor. Gino is the co-founder and lead guitarist of AC/DC Show Canada and Epic Elton, performing 100+ shows each year, and has collaborated with The Official Blues Brothers Revue, Alfie Zappacosta, Aaron Walpole, and Terry Hatty from The Guess Who. He’s now working on new music for an upcoming solo project. 🎸 Watch more musician stories on The RIFF → YouTube Playlist 📺 Subscribe to @my-toronto 🔗 Follow Gino Del Sole: Instagram → @ginodelsole YouTube → Gino Del Sole Guitarist Send us Fan Mail Support the show Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Subscribe to our YouTube channel

    1h 8m
  10. Rich Brown - Creating Albums, Junos & Brussel Sprouts - The RIFF-ep3

    2025-10-08

    Rich Brown - Creating Albums, Junos & Brussel Sprouts - The RIFF-ep3

    On this episode of The Riff Toronto, we sit down with one of Canada’s most celebrated bassists, Rich Brown — fresh off his Juno Award win and the release of his stunning new album, Nyaeba. Rich opens up about his creative process, his approach to composition, and what continues to fuel his lifelong love of music. We also dive into his long-time friendship and musical chemistry with co-host Jeremy Green, giving listeners a rare glimpse into the shared language of two master musicians. Plus, we highlight one of Toronto’s standout foodie gems — Mary Be Kitchen, a downtown spot known for wholesome comfort food made right. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Subscribe to our YouTube channel

    1h 3m
  11. Rick Menary - Cover Bands & Getting Gigs - The RIFF - ep2

    2025-09-12

    Rick Menary - Cover Bands & Getting Gigs - The RIFF - ep2

    Rick Menary is a singer and guitarist, currently the creator and member of the blues-rock band, "The Spitfire Kings": A band with a faithful Toronto following. Menaryhas been highly active on the Toronto music scene since the early 80s. Menary's entrepreneurial skills within the competitive world of the music biz spans every genre and generation. His street-borne education earns him the respect of many; from promoters to every musician who has lived a life on the road, on stage and beyond. For the video version of this podcast go to https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5RdWksuiK4DQx0WPI9uDCHLqJx42tOtZ&si=zqu2lSPX2hhdkU8A Send us Fan Mail Brought to you by my-toronto.camy-toronto.ca: Explore Toronto Like a Local.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Subscribe to our YouTube channel

    53 min
  12. SamIAm - A journey from Rock to EDM - THE RIFF ep.1

    2025-08-21

    SamIAm - A journey from Rock to EDM - THE RIFF ep.1

    Classically trained, yet fuelled by Ozzy, Iron Maiden, Children of Bodom, and Forteresse, she’s spent nearly 20 years tearing up stages across classical, blues, rock, and extreme metal. In 2024, Sam brought that same hunger for heavy, high-impact sound to the decks of Toronto as a DJ. Her sets swing from the warm, rolling pulse of terrace-ready tech house to the shadowy, hard-hitting techno and hard dance that ignite warehouse floors after dark. Her mission is clear: to cut through the weight and absurdity of modern life with transformative, body-shaking music—to give people permission to let go. For the video version of this podcast go to https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5RdWksuiK4DQx0WPI9uDCHLqJx42tOtZ&si=zqu2lSPX2hhdkU8A Send us Fan Mail Brought to you by my-toronto.camy-toronto.ca: Explore Toronto Like a Local.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Subscribe to our YouTube channel

    54 min
  • 12 Episodes

About

Welcome to The Riff, Toronto’s creative culture podcast brought to you by my-toronto.ca, where two internationally acclaimed artists (painter and animator Gary O'Brien and jazz fusion guitarist Jeremy Green) dig into Toronto’s entertainment scene. They’ll be hanging out with all sorts of creative minds...from music, comedy, sports, theatre and everything that lurks in between.

Information

  • Creator
    my-toronto.ca
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The RIFF Toronto
  • Show Website
    The RIFF Toronto