Blue Jays and Music with Ted Woloshyn, Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Blue Jays 2025 World Series Run vs. 1992-93 Championships

Ali and Ted compared last year’s World Series appearance to the championship years of the early 1990s.

Details
- Ted: The 2025 team felt more like a genuine family unit compared to the collection of players in 1992-93, with visible chemistry and mutual support among teammates
- Ted: Despite losing the World Series, the experience was more enjoyable because players genuinely liked each other and played as a cohesive team
- Ted: Trey Josevich’s journey from low A ball to World Series starter exemplified the special nature of the season
- Ali: Bottom-of-the-lineup contributors like Barger and Springer made significant impacts during the playoff run
Conclusion
- The 2025 team demonstrated that success comes from team chemistry rather than individual superstars
- The loss of Bo Bichette didn’t derail the team, proving their depth and resilience

Blue Jays 2026 Season Outlook

Discussion of the upcoming season’s roster and expectations.

Details
- Ali: Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce are major acquisitions for the pitching staff
- Ted: Kevin Gaussman will be the opening day starter
- Ali: Bichette is gone and Josevich starts on the injured list, but the team has enough pieces to contend
- Ted: Bullpen help is needed but if current relievers perform, the team has a strong product
Conclusion
- The Blue Jays are positioned as legitimate contenders for both division and World Series
- Team depth will be crucial given early season injuries

Management Extensions

The retention of key front office personnel following the World Series appearance.

Details
- Ted: Shapiro received an extension due to accomplishing business objectives including ballpark renovations
- Ted: Atkins received a 3-year extension while Schneider got only 2 years, which is noteworthy
- Ali: Shapiro’s extension was expected given his success with the business side of operations
- Ted: Ed Rogers believes the current leadership is moving in the right direction
Conclusion
- Ownership demonstrated confidence in the current management structure
- The differing contract lengths suggest varying levels of security among leadership
- Canadian Music Icons – Jan Arden
- Discussion of Jan Arden’s career and musical contributions.
- Details
  - Ted: “Good Mother” is one of her most impactful songs, reflecting deep emotion about her mother who battled Alzheimer’s
  - Ted: Jan Arden’s live performances combine heartfelt songs with humorous banter about personal topics including her mother
  - Ted: “Insensitive” was the song that propelled her nationally and internationally, though she didn’t write it
  - Ali: Favorites include “Good Mother,” “The Sound Of,” “Insensitive,” “Thing For You,” and “Where No One Knows Me”
  - Ted: Her Christmas album is also noteworthy
- Conclusion
  - Jan Arden is recognized for both vocal talent and passionate, personal lyrics
  - Her live performances are highly recommended for their combination of music and storytelling
- Canadian Music Icons – Gordon Lightfoot
- Extensive discussion of Gordon Lightfoot’s legacy and storytelling through music.
- Details
  - Ted: “If You Could Read My Mind” is typically ranked as his most popular song
  - Ted: “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” is brilliant storytelling about building the transcontinental railroad, though too long for Top 40 radio
  - Ted: “Black Day in July” addresses the 1967-68 Detroit riots, though Lightfoot stopped performing it feeling it was too preachy
  - Ted: “1849” is a 6-7 minute story about the Gold Rush that would make a great film
  - Ted: “Daylight Katy” was actually about his cat, not a woman as many assumed
  - Ali: “Carefree Highway” and “Sundown” are also notable works
  - Ted: Lightfoot’s storytelling ability sets him apart as a songwriter
- Conclusion
  - Gordon Lightfoot’s legacy centers on narrative songwriting that captures Canadian history and experience
  - His larger body of work may have more lasting impact on Canadian music culture than other artists
- Other Canadian Musicians
- Discussion of various Canadian musical talents and their contributions.
- Details
  - Ali: Amanda Marshall has quality work though recent recording activity is unclear
  - Ted: Lighthouse is a favorite, particularly for horn arrangements, with “1849” being a standout narrative song
  - Ted: Lighthouse has been performing since the late 1960s with rotating membership of top musicians including Russ Little, Arnie Tchaikovsky, and possibly Weido Basso
  - Ali: Celine Dion is recovering from stiff person syndrome and performing again
  - Ted: Met Celine Dion at Canada’s Walk of Fame, noting her small stature but powerful voice
  - Ali: Nelly Furtado and Chantal Kreviazuk are notable talents
  - Ted: Chantal Kreviazuk received criticism for her Four Nations anthem performance but faced typical social media negativity
  - Ali: Bryan Adams is originally from the West Coast, likely Vancouver
  - Ted: Bryan Adams is also an accomplished photographer
  - Ali: Bon Jovi is originally Canadian
  - Ted: Burton Cummings with The Guess Who produced hits like “American Woman,” “Sour Sweet,” “Stand Tall,” “Clap for the Wolfman,” and “Albert Flasher”
  - Ali: BTO (Bachman-Turner Overdrive) had “Taking Care of Business” and “Let It Ride”
- Conclusion
  - Canada has produced diverse musical talent across genres and eras
  - Many Canadian artists have achieved international recognition while maintaining Canadian identity
- International Music Artists
- Discussion expanded to non-Canadian musicians.
- Details
  - Ted: Stevie Wonder is his all-time favorite singer with incredible output including “Superstition,” “Living for the City,” and “I Wish”
  - Ali: Stevie Wonder also contributed to “That’s What Friends Are For” with Dionne Warwick
  - Ted: Elton John’s success is inseparable from lyricist Bernie Taupin’s contributions
  - Ted: Notable Elton John songs include “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting,” “Your Song,” “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” “Something About the Way You Look Tonight,” and “Crocodile Rock”
  - Ali: Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain” sparked speculation about its subject
  - Ted: Carly Simon clarified the song was about multiple people she dated, not one person
  - Ted: “Anticipation” was written while waiting for a date with Cat Stevens and later used in Heinz Ketchup commercials
  - Ali: Cat Stevens’ “Wild World” and “Father and Son” are memorable works
  - Ted: Harry Chapin’s “WOLD” (W-Old) tells the story of an aging Top 40 DJ, and he changed lyrics to “CHUM” when performing in Toronto
  - Ted: Dr. Music’s “Sun Goes By” featuring Doug Riley is an uplifting, positive song
- Conclusion
  - Storytelling through music transcends national boundaries
  - Collaborations between artists and lyricists often produce the most memorable work
- The Ted Woloshyn Podcast Format and Content
- Explanation of the podcast’s approach and subject matter.
- Details
  - Ted: Focuses on people rather than traditional interviews, preferring conversations
  - Ted: Features authors of biographies and autobiographies but not novels
  - Ted: Recent guest Aaron Badgley wrote about Ringo Starr’s 1970-1980 post-Beatles decade and George Harrison’s record label
  - Ted: Guests include musicians, athletes, and other personalities
  - Ted: More interested in people’s journeys from beginnings to present and their experiences
  - Ted: Avoids current politicians to prevent policy discussions
  - Ted: Discovers guests’ secondary passions like Geddy Lee’s baseball collection worth millions, including Negro League signed balls and presidential signed balls
  - Ted: Currently publishing 2-3 times per month, working back to weekly schedule after health issues (fractured femur)
  - Ted: Upcoming interview with Joe Tilley about both his sports broadcasting career and addiction recovery podcast
- Conclusion
  - The podcast emphasizes authentic conversation over formal interviews
  - Focus on people’s full lives and passions beyond their primary careers creates engaging content
- Potential Podcast Guests – Politicians
- Discussion of politicians who might make interesting interview subjects.
- Details
  - Ali: Suggested John Tory as a potential guest
  - Ted: John Tory would be interesting given his diverse background including work with Bill Davis, Conservative Party leadership, Toronto mayoralty, CFL commissioner role, and Rogers executive experience
  - Ted: Would only interview Tory if politics could be avoided, anticipating negative reactions from “haters”
  - Ali: Bob Rae would be interesting given his NDP premiership, switch to Liberal Party, and role as UN ambassador to Canada
  - Ted: Rene Levesque might be interesting if still around
  - Ali: Mike Harris, Dalton McGuinty, and Kathleen Wynne are still active
  - Ali: Kathleen Wynne is a regular on Trafford’s “Now and Next” program
  - Ali: Values Wynne’s perspectives as someone who has been in politics but is now outside it
  - Ted: Hazel McCallion would have been a great guest given her professional hockey career in Montreal and record as longest-serving mayor of a major North American city
  - Ted: Hazel McCallion was knowledgeable about women’s hockey and respected by the Canadian national women’s team
- Conclusion