MAR 11

International Women’s Day Special: The Women Defining Toronto’s Voice, Leadership & Future

What does leadership really mean today — beyond title, authority, or position?In this special International Women’s Day episode of Table 6ix, hosts Tiana Jayatunga and Dana Duncanson sit down with three remarkable women whose work influences how our cities, institutions, and public conversations evolve.➡️ Featuring:• Maya Kane — Executive Director, Communications, Marketing, Brand & Research, CBC/Radio-Canada • Sarah Turney — Partner & Litigator, Fasken | Board Member, Downtown West BIA • Veronica Maggisano — Vice President of Development, Oxford Properties GroupTogether, they explore how women in senior leadership shape public narratives, civic systems, and the built environment — and why responsible influence matters now more than ever.The conversation dives into the pivotal career moments that shaped their leadership journeys, how they navigate pressure and public visibility, and how leaders can create environments where more women feel empowered to grow and take up space. ➡️ From media and law to city building and community leadership, this episode highlights the real impact women are having in shaping the future of our communities across Toronto and beyond.➡️ We also talk about:• What leadership really means today• Navigating pressure, responsibility, and visibility as a leader• Pivotal moments that shape leadership journeys• How media, law, and development influence cities and culture• The importance of representation in decision-making spaces• Creating opportunities for the next generation of women leadersWant more content from the table? Check out our socials: ✨ Follow on Instagram at @table6ixpodcast ✨ Follow on TikTok at @table6ix.podcast 🏆 Table 6ix is brought to you by the Toronto Downtown West BIA. For more information, visit: www.YourExperienceAwaits.ca

1h 3m

FEB 11

Unfiltered & Unstoppable: BEAR Steak’s Rise to Success with Aki Erenberg and Ricky Barrientos

In this inspiring episode of Table 6ix, hosts Tiana Atapattu Jayatunga and Dana Duncanson sit down with Aki Erenberg and Ricky Barrientos, the founders behind one of Toronto’s most talked-about food success stories: BEAR Steak Sandwiches. From a mother’s backyard during the Covid-19 lockdowns to becoming a Little Italy staple with a recently opened second location at The Well, Aki and Ricky share the grit, heart, and hustle behind their rise.This conversation dives into the power of community, the unseen intensity of building a food business from scratch and how documenting their journey through their YouTube docuseries The Backyard Boys is shaping the next chapter of their growth. Listeners will walk away inspired by their cultural influences, resilience through adversity, and their unshakable belief in bringing great food — and even greater storytelling — to Toronto.We also talk about:• The moment Aki & Ricky realized their backyard pop-up could become a full-scale Toronto restaurant success story.• What early chaos looked like — from long nights to juggling multiple jobs — and the lessons that stayed with them.• How their multicultural backgrounds influence their flavours, identity, and pride as POC founders.• The role community — both online and IRL — played in turning their sandwich into a citywide phenomenon.• What audiences can expect from The Backyard Boys docuseries, including behind-the-scenes stories and raw moments of self-reflection.• Their bold vision for the future, including their new location at The Well and what success looks like five years from now.Follow BEAR Steak Sandwiches on Instagram @bearsteaksandwiches and @thebackyardboysshow for the latest updates.Watch all episodes of The Backyard Boys Docuseries on YouTube @TheBackyardBoys-AkiRicky before or after you head over to The Well to try a sandwich yourself!Want more content from the table? Check out our socials: ✨ Follow on Instagram at @table6ixpodcast ✨ Follow on TikTok at @table6ix.podcast 🏆 Table 6ix is brought to you by the Toronto Downtown West BIA. For more information, visit: www.YourExperienceAwaits.ca

1h 10m

JAN 21

Breathing Easy, Staying Grounded and Integrating Your Wellness Plan With Gio Bartolomeo

Ever find that you can’t seem to catch your breath? You may not even realize that you are holding it or that your shoulders are tense because you are busy at school or working or taking care of others. We sat down with transformational wellness educator, breath work facilitator, and entrepreneur Gio Bartholomeo to learn about the impact breath work can have on our professional and personal lives. It is an effective and easy aspect to integrate into a wellness plan and the most underrated! We talk about reducing stress, unlocking emotional regulation, and reconnecting with the body through the breath as well as Gio’s start working with Wim Hof, The Iceman and the integration of other wellness practices like cold exposure, saunas, sleep and more. Keep an eye out for the Mobility House Spotlight where show host, Tiana experiences a consultation and therapy treatment first-hand – the variety of treatments offered by such an experienced team downtown Toronto will reinvigorate and support your wellness plans all year long. We also talk about: - How you could be breathing wrong right now & how to fix it - How Toronto compares to other cities when it comes to wellness - Examples of different types of breathwork - Why breathwork is the secret tool that leaders utilize for high performance - How the integration of breathwork with treatments from Mobility House will maximise your wellness plan - Practical tips and guidance to get started Follow Gio Bartholomeo at @elementalgio & @elementalrhythm for free courses, content and more! Follow Mobility House at @mobility_house - Your Home For All Things Wellness. 💪🏾 🚨 Discount code (6ix15) for 15% off all services Want more content from the table? Check out our socials: ✨ Follow on Instagram at @table6ixpodcast ✨ Follow on TikTok at @table6ix.podcast 🏆 Table 6ix is brought to you by the Toronto Downtown West BIA. For more information, visit: www.YourExperienceAwaits.ca

55 min

JAN 7

2026 is the Year of Resilience, Wellness and Intention with Dr. Sapna Sriram

It’s time to stop feeling guilt and shame when the same old New Years’ resolutions don’t stick. Instead, we are starting 2026 off strong with Dr. Sapna Sriram, a renowned leader and CEO in the field of sports medicine, rehabilitation, fitness, and sports performance to tackle how we can reframe wellness this year as something practical and personal - built through small, consistent habits rather than extreme routines or perfection. We talk about starting a wellness journey to managing stress, prioritizing sleep, and recognizing early signs of burnout, this episode offers grounded guidance for modern life. Stay tuned for the Sobr Market Spotlight on non-alcoholic drinks, unpacking the benefits of mindful consumption and how alcohol-free alternatives can support better energy, sleep, and social connection. Guess which one is everyone's favourite! We also talk about: - Sustainable wellness hacks - The realities of setting intentions and changing habits - Building a wellness vision that prioritizes the mind-body connection - Working from home vs. commuting to the office - The definition and accessibility of “quiet luxury” - Staying resilient as both a mom and an entrepreneur - Digital detox, screen time and more What will your wellness journey look like this year? Let’s get it! Follow Dr. Sapna Sriram at @drsapna and @integrahealth Follow SOBR Market at @thesobrmarket Want more content from the table? Check out our socials: ✨ Follow on Instagram at @table6ixpodcast ✨ Follow on TikTok at @table6ix.podcast 🏆 Table 6ix is brought to you by the Toronto Downtown West BIA. For more information, visit: www.YourExperienceAwaits.ca

53 min

08/05/2025

Healthspan vs Lifespan - Julian Ho on Living Better, Not Just Longer

Living longer doesn’t always mean living well. Holistic Fitness Coach and Healthspan Consultant Julian Ho joins us to unpack the real goal: to not just live longer, but expand the years we can enjoy sustained, optimal health In our Table 6ix season two finale, we sit down with Toronto-based coach, speaker, and ultra-endurance athlete, Julian Ho, to explore healthspan and how it relates to maintaining physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being over time. We talk about the circle of care that supports optimal health, why introspection is a critical component of living well, and why Toronto is quickly becoming a global hub for next-gen wellness culture. We also get into: The latest wellness and biohacking trends - and if they live up to the hypeThe importance of specificity in one’s approach to wellness and healthspanWhy you don’t need to be rich to be healthy and examples from global Blue ZonesThe underrated habit Julian swears by everyday for optimal healthspanWhy bringing it back to self and identifying your ethos is a critical step in one’s healthspan journey The deep, reflective questions he asks new clients in coaching them to achieve their healthspan goalsJulian’s favourite wellness destination in Toronto - it will surprise you! The wellness leaders Julian listens to for inspiration Plus, Julian shares how he celebrated his recent ultramarathon race (he placed 5th out of 169 racers) and what he ate first. Follow Julian @julianho.ca or visit: www.julianho.ca. To read more about his 100-mile race on May 24, 2025, see here. Follow Table 6ix on Instagram @table6ixpodcast. Table 6ix brought to you by the Toronto Downtown West BIA. For more information, visit: Table6ixPodcast.com.

42 min

07/22/2025

Building STACKT and RendezViews with Oliver Geddes and Matt Rubinoff

Two of downtown Toronto’s most popular places to hang out didn’t start with glossy plans or big budgets. They started with two guys who saw potential in empty land who had the vision, creativity and gumption to do something with it. In this episode, we talk with Oliver Geddes (RendezViews) and Matt Rubinoff (STACKT Market), two of the people behind Toronto’s most talked-about outdoor spaces. Their projects may look effortless now, but getting there involved a mix of grit, rule-bending, and a lot of negotiating with the city. We explore the origin stories behind both spaces, delve into the philosophy of placemaking in a city like Toronto, and discuss what it takes to build community spaces that are made for locals and loved by visitors. We talk about: How STACKT evolved from a cluster of shipping containers into a barrier-free public space and launchpad for small businesses - part incubator, part hangout, and fully rooted in community connection.How RendezViews turned an empty parking lot into Toronto’s largest outdoor patio, art park, and gathering space for over half a million people.Oliver’s call for city politics to reduce red tape and embrace creative development.Around the 16:45-minute mark, Oliver talks about the legendary after-hours hang out, The Matador, in a way that’s funny, heartfelt, and deeply nostalgic for anyone who remembers late-night Toronto.Why being “temporary” unlocked more creative freedom, and how that might be the key to innovative city design. When a pop-up space becomes part of people’s lives - from first dates to playoff game memories.Why Oliver says a day at STACKT Market was the best day he’d had in Toronto in a long time.Why you may catch Elmo twerking at a RendezViews event.During Quick Bites, Oliver shares his favourite view of the city, the land Matt would love to develop next, and what they’d each do with a $1 Million grant. Stick around ‘til the end to hear their love letters to Toronto. Follow RendezViews at @rendezviewsto and STACKT Market at @stacktmarket Follow Table 6ix on Instagram at @table6ixpodcast Table 6ix is brought to you by the Toronto Downtown West BIA. For more information, visit: www.YourExperienceAwaits.ca. Follow Table 6ix on Instagram @table6ixpodcast. Table 6ix brought to you by the Toronto Downtown West BIA. For more information, visit: Table6ixPodcast.com.

39 min

07/08/2025

How TIFF Became Global: Cameron Bailey on 50 Films That Shaped the Festival

TIFF is turning 50 - and the man behind it all is joining us at the table. Cameron Bailey, CEO of the Toronto International Film Festival, joins us to talk about curating The TIFF Story in 50 Films, a retrospective series that dives into the festival’s defining moments over the past five decades. From the cult classics to the Oscar darlings, the controversial premieres to the crowd-pleasers, these are the films that helped build TIFF into the global launchpad it is today. He breaks down how the 50 films were chosen (and why he was “ready for a fight”), shares behind-the-scenes stories, and reflects on TIFF’s evolution from “Festival of Festivals” to a cultural institution shaping the way people see the world through film. We also flip the script with a special segment we call “Quick Bites” where he chooses between socks or no socks, front row or back row, and which fictional character he’d pick to run the festival for a day. We talk about: How The TIFF Story in 50 Films came together, and the heated debates behind the picksWhy The Princess Bride was chosen to open the series and kick off Downtown Movies in the Park on July 9 at David Pecaut SquareTIFF’s impact on Toronto’s identity, economy, and global cultural standingThe Oprah moment, Precious, and the power of championing difficult storiesTIFF’s Oscar impact and why the People’s Choice Award has serious cloutThe future of film in the TikTok and YouTube eraTIFF’s Next Wave Festival and connecting with younger audiencesWhy Cameron says 1999 might be the best year for film, everAnd stick around until the end. We surprise Cameron with something sweet to celebrate TIFF’s 50th.. Let’s just say, there’s cake. Plus, his love letter to Toronto? You won’t see it coming. The TIFF Story in 50 Films runs all summer at TIFF Lightbox. Downtown Movies in the Park kicks off July 9 at David Pecaut Square: six free outdoor screenings with live performances, film intros, and TIFF’s famous popcorn. Grab your blanket and your friends - you don’t want to miss this series. Follow TIFF - @tiff_net Follow Table 6ix on Instagram @table6ixpodcast Table 6ix is brought to you by the Toronto Downtown West BIA. For more information, visit: www.YourExperienceAwaits.ca. Follow Table 6ix on Instagram @table6ixpodcast. Table 6ix brought to you by the Toronto Downtown West BIA. For more information, visit: Table6ixPodcast.com.

33 min

06/24/2025

Designing a Better Toronto with Chief City Planner Jason Thorne

Traffic, congestion, construction – every growing city experiences these challenges along the path to progress. While change can feel disruptive at times, the result is a stronger, more connected city for all. Downtown Toronto, like many urban centres, is evolving to meet the needs of today and tomorrow. We sit down with the person guiding the vision for our city’s future: Jason Thorne, Toronto’s new Chief City Planner. Known for his creative and community-first approach, Jason brings years of experience leading downtown revitalization projects in Hamilton, and now oversees city planning for THE fastest-growing city in North America (and the fastest growing area within Toronto - the King West district). Jason says growth is the clay for city building. It’s the raw material. But it’s what we do with it that matters. From designing joyful public spaces to navigating competing priorities and planning ahead for a city that is projected to have 4 million people, he’s thinking beyond building applications and approvals. His job is to make Toronto feel like home. We talk about: What a “beautiful city” actually means and why it matters right nowHow to balance rapid growth with livable neighbourhoodsWhy the experience of a neighbourhood matters just as much as housing and densityParks & public spaces and why they’re essential and not just ‘nice to have’The role of design in sparking civic pride and mental well-beingWhy heritage buildings still matter and how Toronto gets it right by integrating old with newWhat “considerate construction” actually looks likeHow to handle priorities that often seem to conflict—bike lanes vs traffic, growth vs preservationWhy consultation with business leaders, community members, and neighbourhood associations are an integral part of city planningWhy Toronto is recognized as one of the best cities in the worldPlus: In our rapid fire round, Quick Bites, Jason shares a public space that brings him joy, how his background in environmental activism compliments his role today, and the international cities that inspire him. He also talks about settling into life as a new Leslieville resident, and how exploring his own neighbourhood is shaping how he sees the city. Follow Jason Thorne - @jasonthorne_rpp and @cityofto Follow Table 6ix on Instagram @table6ixpodcast Table 6ix brought to you by the Toronto Downtown West BIA. For more information, visit: www.YourExperienceAwaits.ca. Follow Table 6ix on Instagram @table6ixpodcast. Table 6ix brought to you by the Toronto Downtown West BIA. For more information, visit: Table6ixPodcast.com.

30 min

Table 6ix

International Women’s Day Special: The Women Defining Toronto’s Voice, Leadership & Future

Unfiltered & Unstoppable: BEAR Steak’s Rise to Success with Aki Erenberg and Ricky Barrientos

Breathing Easy, Staying Grounded and Integrating Your Wellness Plan With Gio Bartolomeo

2026 is the Year of Resilience, Wellness and Intention with Dr. Sapna Sriram

Healthspan vs Lifespan - Julian Ho on Living Better, Not Just Longer

Building STACKT and RendezViews with Oliver Geddes and Matt Rubinoff

How TIFF Became Global: Cameron Bailey on 50 Films That Shaped the Festival

Designing a Better Toronto with Chief City Planner Jason Thorne

About

Information

Table 6ix

Episodes

International Women’s Day Special: The Women Defining Toronto’s Voice, Leadership & Future

Unfiltered & Unstoppable: BEAR Steak’s Rise to Success with Aki Erenberg and Ricky Barrientos

Breathing Easy, Staying Grounded and Integrating Your Wellness Plan With Gio Bartolomeo

2026 is the Year of Resilience, Wellness and Intention with Dr. Sapna Sriram

Healthspan vs Lifespan - Julian Ho on Living Better, Not Just Longer

Building STACKT and RendezViews with Oliver Geddes and Matt Rubinoff

How TIFF Became Global: Cameron Bailey on 50 Films That Shaped the Festival

Designing a Better Toronto with Chief City Planner Jason Thorne

About

Information