Bar 89

The lads were fortunate enough to sit down with Sara and Emma from psyche-rock goth-noir band Bonnie Trash. The conversation delves into the fascinating inspiration behind their upcoming album, their most recent album 'Ezzelini's Dead' and some surprising synchronicities between Guelph and Veneto, Italy, their upcoming Hillside Sunday performance and how this year's theme relates to them.

To kick off Season 3 the lads sit down with Taylor Chalupka, Marketing Coordinator for the Hillside Music Festival to discuss what makes this incredible festival so unique and long-lasting. Focusing on this year's festival theme 'Stories that need to be told', we discuss the impact and reach that music can have to get not only important stories out to the world, but stories of shared experience as well.

In the season 2 finale of the Bar89 Podcast Steve leads Dan and Ryan through a conversation about the series finale of the best show on tv, Game of Thrones. Will Jon and Dani survive this winter? How will Arya impact the outcome? Could Cersei actually win? These, as well as many predictions, are the topics of this season's last episode. See you all for season 3 in June!!

Should NCAA athletes get paid? Should NCAA athletes be allowed to earn money off of their likeness? Does the NCAA have too much control? Why are Canadian USports so different? These are just a few of the questions Dan and the lads try to get to the bottom of in this week's college sports focused episode.

How much plastic waste do we create as individuals? How hard is it to remove plastic from our everyday lives? These 2 questions Ryan and the lads try to get to the bottom of in this episode, with a Part 2 coming in season 3. We all know that there is too much plastic in our environment, and recycling programs can be confusing and vary widely from region to region which can make things confusing, but when faced with changing our own behaviour, we often have excuses as to why we can't. With this in mind, and the Ontario PC government's current single use platics ban proposal, Ryan touches on a 60 day data finding mission he and Gin have begun in an effort to see where the reality lies, and to see what kind of a difference 2 average people can make.

'Wanna grab a coffee?' If you're a coffee drinker there is really only one answer to this question ever, and that's a resounding 'yes'! Coffee really is a part of who a lot of us are, so Dan and the lads dig into why this is, and how we fit into this rich, diverse and deeply connected culture.

Steve leads the lads through a conversation about the best and worst trilogies of all time. From the Blade series to the penultimate Lord of the Rings, the boys get into which they like, why they liked them, and what the actual definition of a trilogy is.

The boys from the bar jump into a discussion around technology; what role does it play, how important is it to our everyday lives, what do we look for when adopting technology, and where do we see it going?

Steve leads a conversation into a very important topic, that of blood, tissue and organ donation in Canada. The lads dig deep into the topic, touching on past donation experiences, fairness / unfairness in the current waitlist program, some of the rules around who gets an organ and how it's decided, and some of the moral or ethical questions about whether past behaviour such as alcoholism should impact ones donor status. This is a deep, emotional topic that the lads try their best to navigate, while shedding light on just how vital being a donor is.

The 91st Academy Awards were held this past weekend, and as always controversy was not far away. Green Book ended up taking home the nights top prize, with Olivia Colman and Rami Malek taking home top individual honours. Dan and the lads ask though, did you even watch it? Are the Oscars still relevant in today's day and age? What can they do to modernize these awards and make the voting more transparent? Perhaps supporting Brie Larson's efforts to diversify the critic base would be a good start...

Pitchers and Catchers Report!! With spring training underway, Ryan and the boys talk all things Toronto Blue Jays. From exciting prospects making their big league debuts, to the current state of free-agency in baseball, we got you covered for getting fired up for the 2019 season!

With the NBA recently completing a successful All-Star weekend in Charlotte, NC, Steve and the boys sit down to talk all things pro all star games, from skills competitions to the game itself, and how relevant they may be.

Dan and The Lads head to the best Ethiopian restaurant in the Waterloo region, Muya Restaurant. A favourite of local food critic Andrew Coppolino, the boys give their thoughts on the spectacularly good Muya Ultimate Combo they enjoyed, as well as the outstanding Ethiopian coffee tradition that they were fortunate to enjoy with owner Wendessen Weldegiorgis.

Inspired by Tony Romo's recent run of success as an NFL broadcaster, the fellas jump into a conversation about the art of broadcasting and colour commentary. From Bob Cole to Jack Armstrong, legends of the mic are this episodes focus.

The boys break down quite possibly the most boring championship game in the history of sports, touching on the endless 'is Tom Brady the best of all time' debate, some of the best commercials from this year, and Maroon 5's attempt at a half time show.

With all of the recent uproar over Gillette's recent online commercial entitled 'The best men can be', the boys sit down for an open chat about what that means, why people freak out over the idea of toxic masculinity, and how, quite frankly, the world would be better off if women ran the show. They also touch on the false narrative being espoused by some (ahem... Trump) that it's a difficult time to be a man.

Steve and the lads give the rundown on this annual Scottish celebration. Fellow Scot, Rob Laurie, shares his knowledge and experience surrounding the Bard of Ayrshire and the world of scotch. We're talking haggis, bagpipes and scotch on this episode, while also butchering Burns' Address to Haggis. A beauty episode!

In this day and age of up-to-the minute news available at everyone's finger-tips at all hours of the day, the lads discuss where they get their news from, how they digest it, and how the world of news is changing at an unprecedented and scary pace.

The boys discuss their love, and hate, of puns. Why do they make us laugh and/or groan? Which NFL Dad jokes made the biggest impression? They then play a game of Laugh and Lose 2.0.

Dan cooks up a conversation with Steve and Ryan about chefing out in the kitchen. From past influences on current tastes, to how much the Food Network can influence home chefs, the boys turn up heat on their favourite cooking traditions.

Ryan leads 2019's first episode of the Bar89 Sports Hour diving into the Raptors at the halfway mark, the enigma that is Kyle Lowry, the NFL playoffs, the pressures of being a kicker, and the un-yielding pressure that faces our players at the World Junior tournament.

Inspired by Season 3's opener of Netflix's Black Mirror, Ryan talks with the lads about the Orwellian reality exhibited in the 'Nosedive' episode, and how eerily similar China's impending Social Credit Scoring system will be. The lads also ask the question that, with all the social media and Uber like ranking systems out there, are we already living in a Black Mirror world? Are we the frog in the pot of water?

Happy New Year from the lads at the Bar89 Podcast!! From it's historical origins to present day traditions, Steve leads a chat about all things New Years and past and future resolutions.

For the final episode of 2018, Dan and the lads discuss the recent resignation of Kevin Hart from being the host of the 2019 Oscars due to some old tweets. He had already addressed and apologized for these tweets years ago, so why should he be made to apologize again? Simply put, when is enough enough for someone to be forgiven of their past?

With Seattle being awarded the newest franchise in the NHL, Steve leads the lads through a conversation about what their name should be (hint - Seattle Rain), what cities could be next to receive professional sport franchises and expansion franchises in sport overall.

With the trailer for Avengers Endgame finally going public, Ryan leads the lads through a talk about the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Recapping the 'Snappening' from Infinity War, the lads discuss the introduction of Captain Marvel, and the upcoming finale of Phase 3 of the Universe.

In the spirit of the holiday season Dan hosts a chat with the lads about their favourite Christmas movies, and what the holidays mean to them.

Ryan hosts the boys on a conversation about local, university and grassroots sports in Canada, what role do they play and how do more people get connected to these incredible leagues. #PodPint:

24 games in to the NBA season, the lads are joined by the one and only Raptors Whisperer, Mr. Pericles Puleghini to discuss their impressions of how the Toronto Raptors have done so far, and where they see this team going this season.

Dan has Steve and Ryan dive back into their 13 year old selves by playing some NES and SNES games. From Contra to TMNT to Super Mario 3, this trip down memory lane is one to behold.

With some help from the community of Bar89 listeners, the lads discuss some of the rule changes they'd like to see in sports today. Some are practical while others are practically insane. Shout outs to Michael McLeod, Cliff Tindall and Peck Puleghini, thanks for your great ideas!

Superstitions. We've all heard of 'em and almost all of us have at least a couple, but where do they come from? Ryan leads the lads through a conversation about some of the most common superstitions and their respective origin stories, some of the more bizarre ones out there and several of the craziest examples from the world of sport.

Discussing the oft-ignored topic of men's health, Steve leads Ryan and Dan through a conversation about Movember. From its origins in Australia and how the movement has evolved over the years, to how and where to make a donation, the lads open up about what men's health means to them.

After forgetting his NES/SNES system at home, Dan calls an audible and leads a conversation with Steve and Ryan about their favourite video games turned movies and vice versa. From a missed-mark attempt at Super Mario to a solid franchise like Resident Evil, what does it take to make a good video game into a good movie, and what are the risks?

With the increase in resting star athletes over the last few years, Ryan leads a conversation with Steve and Dan about how much times have changed, whether this is good for teams or fans and how we may never see likes of Cal Ripken Jr. again.

Dan and Steve sit down for a chat with weeknight Sportsnet Central co-anchor and author Ken Reid to discuss his newest book "Hockey Card Stories 2". From favourite goalie masks to coolest interviews, Ken delves into the world of hockey card nerdom.

Steven and Ryan discuss Season 1 & 2 of Netflix's glorious creation, Ozark. Paying specific attention to what drew them to the show, the lads discuss the great performances and the unending anxiety the show gave them while watching.

With Dan taking care of the local municipal election results program, Ryan hosts a conversation with Steve about the landmark amendment to Canadian law, the legalization of Marijuana and cannabis products.

Steve leads a conversation with the lads surrounding athletes who demand trades; can a player be justified in wanting to relocate in the middle of a contract, or should they honour their commitment and play it out?

The lads sit down with Outta the Park podcast host, former on-field reporter for the Toronto Blue Jays and lead singer for We Ain't Petty, Barry Davis to discuss all things music and baseball.

Kick-starting Season 2, Dan and the lads had the incredible opportunity to speak with entertainment reporter, fellow Laurier grad and all round quality dude, Chris Van Vliet about some of his most memorable interviews and his budding bromance with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

Ryan closes the final episode of Season 1 by talking all things Oktoberfest with the lads, from it's origins to how Kitchener, Ontario's version became North America's largest Bavarian Festival.

Steve takes Dan and Ryan down memory lane by forcing them to complete the age-old Pepsi Challenge. Discussing all things pop, the lads rehash the different marketing campaigns of the 2 cola giants, as well as some of the more obscure pops out there.

It's another edition of the Bar 89 "Book Club"! Dan, Steve and special guest Rob Laurie have the privilege of talking with national bestselling author and Giller Prize Finalist Eden Robinson about her book "Son of a Trickster" and the upcoming sequel "Trickster Drift".

Dan and Ryan talk all things video games, from their first experiences with system-based gaming to how much video games are a part of their adult lives.

With the Toronto Blue Jays' season winding down and Steve on the "10-day DL", Ryan and Dan discuss the current state of their beloved team, their respective level of trust in the current administration and what the future will hopefully hold for the franchise.

Dan leads Steve and Ryan through a conversation about the recent completion of the NBA 2K season, the Toronto Uprising, how E Sports are perceived in general and what the future holds for competitive gaming.

Steve discusses all things sports etiquette and sportsmanship, from kneeling the clock out to not taking a lay-up when up in the dying seconds.

Ryan discusses the minutiae of the immigration conversation with Steve and Dan, from what it means to the Canadian identity to who is responsible for the necessary education for new immigrants, regardless of the country they move from and to.

Late night talk shows: how awesome are they? Dan discusses the importance, relevance and future of late night chat shows with Steve and Ryan

Steven takes Dan and Ryan through a conversation on the sometimes surprising places our food comes from, and just how much effort it takes.