Dumped

Was it something I said?

Hey, hello, welcome to whatever the heck this is now, and will become later. It doesn’t really matter.

But one thing is for sure, I’m glad you’re here!

Now, let me ask you, have you ever been dumped?

Have you ever been dumped by someone who you knew, deep down, wasn't the one you were going to spend the rest of your life with?

And I know, the idea of "the one" is perhaps outdated and idealistic, but stay with me here.

Because if you replace “dumped” with “laid off” and “someone” with “Corus” you're left with me (and countless others; it’s been a tough year).

Less than a week after celebrating two years of Let’s Talk with Dani Stover, I was told goodbye and good luck.

Ok, well not in so many words.

You could say the writing was on the wall, but I must have been looking at the wrong wall!

And it’s good. I’m good. This was in the cards. I’ve been in this place before, and I’ll probably be here again.

The difference is, the last time I was here, I didn’t have any experience in news talk radio, or content producing, and now I do.

Two years ago, I didn’t have my own show, with my name on it that played in multiple markets across the country every single night.

For me, Let’s Talk was:

A show that pushed me out of my comfort zone.

A show that enabled me to be creative, critical, curious, collaborative, and a little cheeky. Also alliterative.

A show that highlighted important and interesting conversations.

A show that made me a better, more thoughtful broadcaster and storyteller.

A show that allowed me to play whatever music I wanted to!

A show that gave me the opportunity to meet, and work with some truly awesome people.

I adored Let’s Talk with Dani Stover, and the body of work that was created. Some call it a clip show, but only because they have no idea what the hell they are talking about.

What you might not know is that I listened to a ton of audio, and wrote out everything. Burli folders packed with scripts. Pages upon pages of words, research, and jokes that I turned into long-form radio segments, every single night.

It was not easy. Some nights you feel like an unpolished turd, and other times, you feel like an absolute genius, but you can’t spend too much time in any one place, because you have to do it all again tomorrow.

By far, my biggest regret is not podcasting the show, but podcasting isn’t what I love about radio.

So here is one intro segment I did recently about the fact that loads of people on the station were complaining about “the woke takeover of Remembrance Day.”

When I was laid off, I asked sheepishly through tears, “was it something I said?” imagining this was the final nail in the coffin.

The song is Doomsday by MF Doom, featuring Pebbles the Invisible Girl. It kicked off every show for the past two years, and I love that for us.

I’m also leaving the piece that my colleague Santiago Bedoya wrote, voiced and produced at the end, and encourage you to listen to that too! It’s about the Ford government’s sworn enemy, for some weird reason — bike lanes.

So I’ll end this for now, by saying thanks for reading this far! I hope you come back when there’s more to say. I will have more to say.

If you were a fan or frienemy of the show in any capacity, I appreciate your energy and engagement!

And for all of you who have reached out over the past couple of weeks, and offered encouragement and support, it means the world to me!

Till next time!