She’s a meteorologist. She’s an author. And she’s a big music fan. This week it’s my pleasure to welcome my pal Amy Sweezey to the show to talk about our mutual love for 80s hair bands!

Amy and I have a terrific chat about the power of nostalgia, the pressures associated with forecasting the weather, Ron MacLean, KISS dress ups, suicide, Hee Haw, the Vietnam War, music therapy, and how a Tom Cochrane song found its way onto her radar.  I really enjoyed this conversation, don’t miss it.

Sweezey’s playlist: 

Def Leppard – Pour Some Sugar On Me

AC/DC – You Shook Me All Night Long

Nancy Sinatra – These Boots Are Made For Walkin’

The Rolling Stones – Paint It Black

Tom Cochrane – Life is a Highway

Patsy Cline – Crazy

Ron Kenoly – Majesty

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This week’s NSTS guest needs no introduction. Canadian broadcaster Alan Cross returns to the show to talk tunes!

As always, Alan is an engaging guest – highlights include the future of rock, his new gig with Q107, his first impression of U2’s “Vertigo”, his days as a DJ, some great Beatles recording stories, and what’s buried very, very deep in the mix of Pearl Jam’s “Alive”.

Cross’ playlist:

U2 – Vertigo

Nine Inch Nails – Head Like A Hole

Pixies – U Mass

The Beatles – Hey Jude

Rush – 2112

Pink Floyd – One of These Days

Pearl Jam – Alive

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Radio and television broadcaster Todd Miller is my guest on NSTS this week, and he brings with him songs from a wide array of musical genres. I do love when that happens.

In this episode Todd and I chat about the career twists and turns of Judas Priest, radio playlist secrets, the dulcet tones of jazz artists Weather Report, the AC/DC song he never needs to hear again, and why Monty Python is good for you.

Miller’s playlist:

Judas Priest – A Touch of Evil

Gary Moore – The Messiah Will Come Again

Jeff Beck – Where Were You

John Entwistle – Too Late The Hero

Weather Report – A Remark You Made

David Gilmour – The Blue

Monty Python – Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

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This week we’re doing something a little different.

My guest is Toronto Tabla Ensemble artistic director Ritesh Das, in to talk about his new album Bhumika that launches November 9. Ritesh has performed with The Tea Party’s Jeff Martin, Loreena McKennitt, and other notable musicians, and he takes me through the history and cultural significance of the tabla, a percussion instrument originating in the Indian subcontinent.

Das’ playlist: 

Bhumika

Sare Nau

Faceoff

Casual

Sare Panch 

Regenesis

New Routes

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