A New Era at Free 981
The Big Show is no more. This morning we’re launching a new morning show: The Stax Show with Blair and Brandt on Classic Rock Free 981. …
The Big Show
The Cos-man Cometh
Bill Cosby. What can I say? I say this. (And some listeners agreed, some strongly disagreed!)Â …
A Smaller Big Show
Radio is a business that eats its young. If you don’t know that going into it, you learn it along the way. Â It throws out good people on whims. You have to expect to one day get fired for no reason, or you’re just not being realistic. But some of us still love it despite its obvious flaws. …
Terror in the Capital
Brandt’s Randt airs on Wednesdays at 6:50 am on The Big Show. There was no way I could have known about the events in Ottawa to follow yesterday. …
It’s Good to be a Skeptic
Like most other radio morning shows, we had some fun with the three-breasted Florida woman.  I immediately called foul, and didn’t believe it was true. Several news sources claim to have dug up a report the woman wrote about lost luggage that included a “three-breast prosthesis”. …
Hope, Fun and Food
A big, clean, sparkling kitchen with the latest appliances and plenty of room to work – who doesn’t want that? On Friday night we got to wander through several different but equally stunning working kitchens in the new GCW showroom and plant in St. Thomas. …
Cookies for Breakfast!
You have until Sunday to buy a Smile Cookie at Tim Hortons and help fund children’s health charities in your area. Your Smile Cookie dollars stay in the community where they’re spent and you can even order the treats by the dozen for your office or for home. I’m told they freeze well. Â And at only a buck a piece they’re quite a bargain. …
The Cult of Apple
The world stopped turning on Tuesday as Apple unveiled its new gizmos. Then U2 came out and performed, proving it’s no longer what rock and roll is all about. …
Brandt’s Randt – Feed the Kids
I read an advisory from the Ontario government that just got my goat. Â Earlier this week, the province released its new Strategy to End Homelessness. They’ve said this before and whenever a government says they’re going to end something complex you know it’s just a whole lot of hope and a bunch of money. Â So I randted. Â …
Brandt’s Randt – Social Media Debbie Downers
A study came out from Pew Research that claimed those on social media are less likely to give their opinions, especially when they’re pretty sure their friends will disagree. They say the perception that grumpy contradictory people flood Facebook, Twitter etc is flawed. I say perception is reality. So I randt. …
Vacation!
I am officially off duty this week and as such, I leave you with a gallery of photos from Rock the Park. Nothing will match the 2013 version when I met and had a lovely chat with Tommy Shaw of Styx, but it was big  fun nonetheless. …
Brandt’s Randt – Cool Me Down!
I try very hard not to crab and whine when it’s hot and sticky but I can’t help but celebrate this stretch of weather that everybody else seems to be complaining about! …
Rock The Park 11
As I write this, I wonder how I’ll ever talk on the radio this week! My throat is shot, my neck is killing me, my feet are swollen and I’m grinning like an idiot. Rock the Park 11 was a huge success as one of London’s most-beloved annual events and a fundraiser for an important charity founded by two of the most wonderful people I’ve ever been lucky enough to meet.
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A Friday Moment of Zen
This is Rock the Park weekend here in London. For those of us on The Big Show on Free-FM it means a five-hour live broadcast from Harris Park followed by band intros, meets and greets and such.  We have appointment with Huey Lewis & the News, Burton Cummings and the band whose big win in our contest got them the right to open the day, Highway Jones. …
Brandt’s Randt – Joe Fontana’s Sentence
Our city’s former Mayor is either a terrific actor or a broken man. In my kindest thoughts, I assume the latter, because his life was built around being the big-talking man with a swagger whom everybody wanted to talk to when he entered a room. Â Not so much anymore. Â On Tuesday he was sentenced to four months’ house arrest and 18 months of probation for doctoring an invoice and taking the money after submitting it to the government as an expense. Â So I randt. Â …
Baconfest
The King of Bacon has been crowned. Long live the King! …
Brandt’s Randt – Please Use Your Wet-Naps!
The 1,000,000th photo of a kid with ice cream all over their face sent me over the edge! I love kids. Kids are messy. Stuff happens. But it’s not adorable, like many parents think. So I randt. …
I’m on Fire For You
Thursday was one of the weirdest work days I’ve ever had, and that’s saying something! Â …