Latest news with #GeorgeStroumboulopoulos
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Canadian TV host George Stroumboulopoulos condemns Canada's political system, House of Commons: 'I despise what they did to this country'
Canadian radio and TV host George Stroumboulopoulos is reflecting on politics and the recent federal election, explaining why he's unhappy with Canada's system at the moment. The former MuchMusic video jockey opened up to Arlene Dickinson in a recent interview on her new podcast, "Arlene Is Alone: The Single Life." In a second part of the interview published on Wednesday, Stroumboulopoulos explained — after the Dragons' Den star shared she endorsed Prime Minister Mark Carney — that he never publicly endorses any candidates. Still, he always commits to voting nowadays and even "overdosed on political content" this election. "I sometimes vote and I [will] hate myself for my vote, because sometimes I make a strategic vote and I hate that. ... Sometimes I'll throw the future, I'll take the risk because I'm just going to vote the way I want to vote," he added. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Arlene Dickinson (@arlenedickinson) Recalling his days at MuchMusic, the "Strombo" Apple Music Radio host indicated "I struggle with the voting thing." Back then, he was once handed a pin that read "Much Votes" and was told to wear it on air. At the time, he recalled telling his co-worker that "voting doesn't matter," adding that "if it really mattered, they wouldn't let you do it." Now, he said he's learned voting does matter, but he isn't happy with the way the system works in Canada. "I despise what they did to this country, what the House of Commons has done to this country," he said. "I despise that the focus has been taken off of getting people out of poverty, protecting workers, giving people the freedom to express themselves." He eventually stated how he doesn't trust big companies to "put people's best interests at heart," explaining he believes the political parties in Canada have deep relationships with corporations. "When we complain about this country, there are two parties responsible for it. And their relationships with corporations, and how corporate money and lobby groups have destroyed the actual version of democracy — I'm not even sure if we ever had it," he shared. Regarding endorsing politicians, he said it's something he can't do because his values don't align with what the parties have done — especially with how, he noted he believes, political parties hate poor people. Moreover, he said can't get behind the government sending money, weapons or helping arm the "destruction of another group of people" in the world. "To give them my endorsement? I wouldn't do that because it doesn't jive with my values." "I love Canada and I love Toronto. I don't love it for what it is, I love it for the promise it ought to be. This country gave my family so much when I immigrated here, so much," he added. "But that doesn't mean that it can't be better and it can't grow. ... Until we get money out of politics and get rid of religion out of politics, we will be this mess." He clarified that he doesn't necessarily think endorsing politicians is a bad idea. In fact, he urged that getting people involved in various ways is the only way to make the system better. "Just where my values are at the moment, found it very difficult to endorse. If somebody stepped up and said my number one job is to get people out of poverty and I'm going to make sure that is our primary goal ... I would say, 'You know what? I'll work with you then.' I don't support politicians but I support their work." He shared he's had family and friends experiencing homelessness who have unfortunately died while being unhoused. He explained mental health played a role, as well as addiction to substances like drugs and alcohol. "It was also the '70s and the '80s — it was a pretty bleak time. They didn't have the tools and the language that we have now, obviously." Poverty is his top issue, he said, because most people in that situation aren't there due to their own doing. "It's not just empathy for the people we're trying to protect. The hard part is having empathy for the villains." Stroumboulopoulos clarified he understands he isn't an easy person to get along with: "I'm a hard guy to be around because I'm very confident and I'm very self-assured." But it's important to him to find common ground with someone who may disagree with his views. That might come in the form of connecting over "problematic" music or "very aggressive" sports like hockey or football. Even if someone is on the other side of a political issue than him, he noted he can find a "little bit of ground" with them through a common interest. "I'm always trying to get to the heart of the matter to see if we can find a place to be that we can agree on," he noted. "Because otherwise, I'm going to be alone all the time, and I don't think it's good for me to be alone all the time."
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Canadian TV host George Stroumboulopoulos condemns Canada's political system, House of Commons: 'I despise what they did to this country'
Canadian radio and TV host George Stroumboulopoulos is reflecting on politics and the recent federal election, explaining why he's unhappy with Canada's system at the moment. The former MuchMusic video jockey opened up to Arlene Dickinson in a recent interview on her new podcast, "Arlene Is Alone: The Single Life." In a second part of the interview published on Wednesday, Stroumboulopoulos explained — after the Dragons' Den star shared she endorsed Prime Minister Mark Carney — that he never publicly endorses any candidates. Still, he always commits to voting nowadays and even "overdosed on political content" this election. "I sometimes vote and I [will] hate myself for my vote, because sometimes I make a strategic vote and I hate that. ... Sometimes I'll throw the future, I'll take the risk because I'm just going to vote the way I want to vote," he added. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Arlene Dickinson (@arlenedickinson) Recalling his days at MuchMusic, the "Strombo" Apple Music Radio host indicated "I struggle with the voting thing." Back then, he was once handed a pin that read "Much Votes" and was told to wear it on air. At the time, he recalled telling his co-worker that "voting doesn't matter," adding that "if it really mattered, they wouldn't let you do it." Now, he said he's learned voting does matter, but he isn't happy with the way the system works in Canada. "I despise what they did to this country, what the House of Commons has done to this country," he said. "I despise that the focus has been taken off of getting people out of poverty, protecting workers, giving people the freedom to express themselves." He eventually stated how he doesn't trust big companies to "put people's best interests at heart," explaining he believes the political parties in Canada have deep relationships with corporations. "When we complain about this country, there are two parties responsible for it. And their relationships with corporations, and how corporate money and lobby groups have destroyed the actual version of democracy — I'm not even sure if we ever had it," he shared. Regarding endorsing politicians, he said it's something he can't do because his values don't align with what the parties have done — especially with how, he noted he believes, political parties hate poor people. Moreover, he said can't get behind the government sending money, weapons or helping arm the "destruction of another group of people" in the world. "To give them my endorsement? I wouldn't do that because it doesn't jive with my values." "I love Canada and I love Toronto. I don't love it for what it is, I love it for the promise it ought to be. This country gave my family so much when I immigrated here, so much," he added. "But that doesn't mean that it can't be better and it can't grow. ... Until we get money out of politics and get rid of religion out of politics, we will be this mess." He clarified that he doesn't necessarily think endorsing politicians is a bad idea. In fact, he urged that getting people involved in various ways is the only way to make the system better. "Just where my values are at the moment, found it very difficult to endorse. If somebody stepped up and said my number one job is to get people out of poverty and I'm going to make sure that is our primary goal ... I would say, 'You know what? I'll work with you then.' I don't support politicians but I support their work." He shared he's had family and friends experiencing homelessness who have unfortunately died while being unhoused. He explained mental health played a role, as well as addiction to substances like drugs and alcohol. "It was also the '70s and the '80s — it was a pretty bleak time. They didn't have the tools and the language that we have now, obviously." Poverty is his top issue, he said, because most people in that situation aren't there due to their own doing. "It's not just empathy for the people we're trying to protect. The hard part is having empathy for the villains." Stroumboulopoulos clarified he understands he isn't an easy person to get along with: "I'm a hard guy to be around because I'm very confident and I'm very self-assured." But it's important to him to find common ground with someone who may disagree with his views. That might come in the form of connecting over "problematic" music or "very aggressive" sports like hockey or football. Even if someone is on the other side of a political issue than him, he noted he can find a "little bit of ground" with them through a common interest. "I'm always trying to get to the heart of the matter to see if we can find a place to be that we can agree on," he noted. "Because otherwise, I'm going to be alone all the time, and I don't think it's good for me to be alone all the time."
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Canadian TV host George Stroumboulopoulos, 52, reflects on having post-concussion syndrome: 'My concussions have changed my brain chemistry'
Canadian radio and TV host George Stroumboulopoulos is getting to the core of his "truest self," an area where he shared he believes most people aren't achieving in life. The former MuchMusic video jockey recently opened up to Arlene Dickinson about everything from being "lonesome" and having ex-girlfriends as his closest connections, to health issues like post-concussion syndrome. Speaking to the Dragons' Den star on her new podcast, Stroumboulopoulos explained how — spending years interviewing high-profile athletes, musicians and leaders — he's learned people who are living as their truest selves are having the "most honest conversations with themselves." However, he noted many people aren't reaching their full potential. "So many people get on a path because they think it's something they're supposed to do, something they were encouraged to do, and there's an element of them just going with the flow or feeling trapped," he said during the latest "Arlene Is Alone: The Single Life" episode posted on Wednesday afternoon. Early on in the podcast, Stroumboulopoulos shared a bit about his health and what his experience has been in the past. As someone who spends most of his time alone, he's learned to mentally run through a checklist if he isn't feeling well. That means asking himself if he's tired, if he's eating right, if he's exercised and if he's had enough water. "I just go through the checklist of physical things — this, this, this. Usually if something is bugging you, you know why, usually." Spending his youth in Toronto, Stroumboulopoulos reflected on how he wasn't necessarily able to let mental health problems take over his life. "I don't have clinical depression and — this is my superpower — I don't have anxiety. I don't think I was ever allowed to. You just have to barrel through, when I was growing up," he said, explaining he's learned to become adaptive and that he holds himself "super accountable" to how he feels. There was one instance he reflected on where he said he woke up in a parking lot in the California desert wearing only his boxers and a T-shirt. He recalled previously checking into a motel under a fake name using cash, eventually thinking he was going to die and then stumbling out into a parking lot in fear no one would find his body. A couple days later, he headed to the airport still uncertain about what had happened. He happened to sit down next to a former NHL player and they recognized each other. Stroumboulopoulos explained what had happened, and the athlete indicated he likely had post-concussion syndrome. The former Hockey Night in Canada anchor said he was eventually diagnosed, explaining that motorcycle crashes, hockey injuries and fights caused his concussions. "My concussions have changed my brain chemistry. I feel things bubbling inside me now. I know how to stop them before they get out of control, but it's all related to my post-concussion syndrome," he said, adding he feels "almost unstoppable" at the moment but realizes it'll catch up to him at some point. Stroumboulopoulos self-described himself as "one of those old-school Gen Xers," where he keeps everything about himself secret and handles issues alone. "I don't tell anybody anything about my life. I don't let people know when I'm sad, I don't let people know when I'm hurting, I don't share anything," he said, adding he holds himself to the highest standard and that his life is far from an "open book." Moreover, he said a lot of the hobbies and work that he enjoys — like filming, editing and playing instruments — are things that happen to be solo activities. However, he admitted he know it's probably best to be making more of an effort to call people in his life, even if it's to simply meet for dinner. "I think friends and people in our lives are like the battery tender that recharges the car battery," he shared. "Your job is to top up each other's lives and when you lose them, they return all that leftover electricity." Recently, he said he started sending out-of-the-blue texts saying "hey, just sending you love" to people in his life who he knows are on the road alone often. "We're cultured to be part of this rugged individualism." He reflected on two people in his life who could be considered life-long friends, the first being someone he's known since he was born. They grew up together and even lived in the same building, but he said his friend lives in Whistler, B.C., so they mostly connect over text. The other person, Adrian, was his first roommate and a friend from high school. "That's it," Stroumboulopoulos said about his close friendships. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Arlene Dickinson (@arlenedickinson) But the "Strombo" Apple Music Radio host explained there are actually two more people he's close with — both of whom happen to be ex-girlfriends. He described them as being "two of the most important people in my life," sharing one is now a wife and mother living in Los Angeles who influenced a large part of the person he is today. "We are each other's release valve, conversation place, her husband and I are great friends. It's maybe the most enriched relationship I have in my life, my relationship with her," he shared. "You never know, right? There's lots of exes who, we're not in each other's lives in the same way. But two of my closest [friends] are my exes, and it's really lovely." But the thought of what could've been with either woman when it comes to romance has never crossed his mind post-breakup, he shared: "If a thing ends, it ends already for a reason. ... I have so many regrets, but not there." He then explained what he thinks is the "key to life," and it's something he doesn't think he'd have been able to do in his 30s and only learned upon age: "You don't just listen to talk. Hear them. Validate people on the other side of the firing line. Validate them, because what they're feeling is real. They may not be the best at communicating it, they also have their own history. "I try to look at every single person I interact with, even people I want to fight ..., through the same prism, which is, 'You are also just trying to get through this.'"
CBC
21-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
'They are really Canada's band.' New doc celebrates 40 years of Blue Rodeo
Social Sharing "When I was in my 20s, I loved them, and now that I'm in my 40s, I don't know what I would do without them," says Canadian media personality George Stroumboulopoulos about one of his favourite bands, Blue Rodeo. "I think that in some ways they are really Canada's band, right? Because they're a little ragged, they're very real and authentic. They're definitely cheeky. They're just like us," says former MuchMusic producer Denise Donlon. High praise indeed. Both celebrities appear in Blue Rodeo: Lost Together, a new documentary now streaming on CBC Gem, which chronicles the journey of one of Canada's longest-running and most beloved bands. A celebration of the band's legacy, their music and the enduring friendship between lead singers Jim Cuddy and Greg Keeler, Lost Together charts their rise from a Queen Street bar band to an integral part of Canada's soundtrack. "I think that they are one of the greatest groups to ever come out of Canada. I love them," says fellow musician Andy Maize (Skydiggers). Blue Rodeo: Lost Together | Trailer | Watch now on CBC Gem 23 days ago Duration 2:42 Here are five things we learned about one of Canada's favourite bands. They were almost dropped from their first record label Blue Rodeo released their debut album, Outskirts, in 1987. Although their live performances in Toronto had been selling out for months, their sound didn't fit in with the high-production, big rock music that was popular then. The record wasn't selling and the reaction from their label was swift. "He basically told us 'if it doesn't pick up, we're going to drop you,'" remembers singer Jim Cuddy in the documentary. "We were having a lot of trouble. It was sort of going down the tubes," agrees bandmate Greg Keelor. They knew their best song, Try, was very popular with live audiences so the band recorded a music video. Record label marketing exec Dave Tollington took the video to John Martin, director of music programming at MuchMusic, who put the song into heavy rotation. "John hated the video, but he loved the song," says Tollington. "It hit a critical mass, and we never looked back, and neither did the band. I mean, it just took off like a rocket." The album went on to sell over 500,000 units and Blue Rodeo began their journey to the top of the charts. Blue Rodeo's drummer quit to go back to his day job — as a postie Drummer Cleave Anderson was already a veteran on the Toronto music scene when Cuddy and Keeler asked him to join their new band in 1984. He'd played with local punk groups like the Battered Wives and the Forgotten Rebels, but had a young family and worked a day job at Canada Post. He wasn't sure he was a good fit, but they convinced him to come on board. After the success of the band's second album, Diamond Mine, Anderson got an ultimatum from the Blue Rodeo's manager, "Cleave, we're going to be on the road, we're getting serious. And you're going to have to quit your postie job." The choice was clear. "I just didn't want to be on the road all the time," remembers Anderson. "The damn guys didn't have to get so popular to make it look shitty on me." So, he went back to his job as a mailman. "The funny thing about Cleave is when he finally retired from the post office, he phoned me up and he said, 'I just retired. So, tell Glenn [longtime drummer for Blue Rodeo] thanks'," remembers Cuddy. Best friends feuded while on The Tonight Show Blue Rodeo's unique dynamic comes from its two frontmen, Cuddy and Keelor, who share both singing and songwriting duties equally. Although they are longtime high school chums, there was sometimes a healthy rivalry. They would alternate TV show appearances, but when The Tonight Show called, the network wanted the band to perform After the Rain, which was Cuddy's song. They were on tour for Casino, trying to break into the U.S. market and it was Keelor's turn to sing. "So I had a little hissy," says Keelor, "and I played so loud at soundcheck that they took me out of the mix." Cuddy got a call and was told 'You need to tell the guitar player to turn his guitar down.' "There's a certain point where you realize you cannot influence your partner's behaviour," he remembers. Blue Rodeo recorded their most successful album — on a farm Exhausted after years of touring, the band members needed a break. Feeling creatively inspired, they decided to record a simple, acoustic album at Keelor's farm, intending it to be a fun, secondary project. "We set up in his living room, and there's people all around," remembers Cuddy, "people are in the pool and we're just doing songs live off the floor." Using sleeping bags and packing blankets to create a makeshift studio, they invited musicians like Sarah McLachlan and Anne Bourne to perform, and captured something truly special."Of all the experiences I had over 25 years in the business, that's kind of the top," remembers Tollington. Music engineer Doug McClement notes, "If you put headphones on, you can hear dogs barking, you can hear birds, you can hear thunder and lightning some nights. That's five guys in a room playing songs." 5 Days in July was released in October 1993 and it was the band's most commercially successful album ever. It was almost over due to Keelor's hearing issues After years in the music business, Keelor began to suffer from tinnitus. "I thought that part of my life was over," he says, "all those things I loved to do was all taken away." The band adapted by reducing the amount of sound on their stage to help Keelor be comfortable. But playing these quiet shows slowly became unbearable too. So, in 2016 he called Cuddy and quit Blue Rodeo. "I was shocked, but I was also wounded, I was wounded that he quit over the phone to me, but I was also kind of tired of the drama," remembers Cuddy. The pandemic gave Keelor the break he needed and he began writing rock songs again. So, in 2021 the band came together virtually to record Many A Mile. Michael Hollett, founder of Toronto's North by Northeast music festival says, "I think Greg came back because he missed it. He missed Blue Rodeo. I think it was hard for him to think of a life without that available to him." "The band has never been better!" says Keelor. "As you get older and you start to appreciate what a rare opportunity it is to make your living playing in a band. I think that your gratitude fuels your will to stay," says Cuddy. And after 40 years, Blue Rodeo's story isn't finished yet.
