1 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:11,680 Speaker 1: Canst play God taking a walk with you BLUs night. Well, Hi, 2 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:14,240 Speaker 1: this is buzz Night. I'm the host of the Taking 3 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:17,479 Speaker 1: a Walk podcast series, where I walk and talk with 4 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:21,720 Speaker 1: interesting people at cool locations or if you prefer cool 5 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:26,680 Speaker 1: people at interesting locations. Either way, I'm good. I've talked 6 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:33,640 Speaker 1: with comedians, business leaders, ordinary people telling extraordinary stories, you 7 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:36,800 Speaker 1: name it. We even talk to a neuroscientist once. And 8 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:40,120 Speaker 1: if you're a regular listener, thanks for your support. And 9 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:46,400 Speaker 1: if you're new, please share and subscribe and tell everybody 10 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:48,919 Speaker 1: about taking a Walk. By the way, if you are 11 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:54,760 Speaker 1: a new listener, we actually do take a walk somewhere, 12 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 1: so you will hear noises and occasionally even somebody huff 13 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:05,440 Speaker 1: and puffing because we're actually walking. So I tell you 14 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:08,919 Speaker 1: that because when we do it in person, that's the case. 15 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:13,400 Speaker 1: And in this case, we're doing a virtual version of 16 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 1: taking a walk courtesy of pot Boom and their app. 17 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:22,319 Speaker 1: I prefer in person, but you know, it just seems 18 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 1: sometimes like it's not meant to be to get on 19 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 1: the road, at least in some cases. Today, our guest Toronto, 20 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 1: Canada area. Our guest is the president of News and 21 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:40,440 Speaker 1: Entertainment for Rogers Sports and media. It's been a while 22 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 1: since I've seen her in person, but it's nice to 23 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:48,360 Speaker 1: be virtually taking a walk with Julie Adam. Hello, Julie, 24 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 1: Hi Buss's great to be walking with you. As you said, 25 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:54,840 Speaker 1: I wish we were doing it in person, maybe we 26 00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 1: would be walking at Fenway Park and catching a baseball game. 27 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:02,960 Speaker 1: But happy to be virtually walking with you. That's awesome. Now. 28 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 1: I'm at a place called punk A Tacit reserve or 29 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:13,320 Speaker 1: preserve and conquered Massachusetts, so occasionally I might be swatting 30 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 1: away a mosquito in this sojourn. But it is a 31 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 1: beautiful day, and you are in the Toronto, Canada area, right, 32 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:28,959 Speaker 1: I'm in Toronto. Yes, I'm in midtown Toronto. Toronto's a 33 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 1: big city, and I am sort of in the midtown 34 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 1: area walking through a lovely North Toronto neighborhood. And I'm 35 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 1: sure at some point in time, you know, you'll hear 36 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:48,040 Speaker 1: a lot of car traffic and honking, but I'll try 37 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:53,600 Speaker 1: to avoid the main street. Just be careful too, We'll 38 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: do be careful. You might hear a dog barking here, 39 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:00,160 Speaker 1: you might hear an airplane flying over, because there's to 40 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:05,360 Speaker 1: Hanscom Air Force Base not too far from here, or 41 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 1: you might hear nothing so, but thanks for taking a walk. Now, 42 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:19,040 Speaker 1: how are our friends in Canada, and specifically Julie Adam 43 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 1: and her team at Rogers doing. We're doing well. We've 44 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:30,920 Speaker 1: you know, Canada has been i'm gonna say, perhaps a 45 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 1: little more conservative around COVID rules and so we you know, 46 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 1: we've had more lockdowns in the United States. Toronto being 47 00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 1: the biggest city, has had the most waves of COVID, 48 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 1: and so we spent the better part of two years 49 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 1: sort of going in and out of full lockdown. And 50 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:53,840 Speaker 1: you know, over the last maybe six months or so, 51 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:59,720 Speaker 1: the restrictions have eased, and so our team has, you know, 52 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 1: been and like most media teams, trying to respond to 53 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 1: this pandemic and having to manage you know, not only 54 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 1: not only that, you know, the news and the entertainment. 55 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 1: So in a lot of cases with our entertainment brands, 56 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:22,680 Speaker 1: it's been keeping things light for people and giving them 57 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:25,720 Speaker 1: the reason to last. And for our news teams it's 58 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:29,600 Speaker 1: the opposite. It's you know, the NonStop horiage of news. 59 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 1: So they've had to manage how they interact with the 60 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 1: audience and how they take care of the audience, and 61 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:38,320 Speaker 1: how we take care of our clients with how they 62 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:41,800 Speaker 1: take care of themselves. And you know, the number of 63 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:46,280 Speaker 1: people that call in sick because of COVID is way up, 64 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 1: and so it's been it has been a while two years. 65 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:52,920 Speaker 1: But I would say overall, we are doing well. And 66 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:55,599 Speaker 1: you know, at the end of the day, we always say, 67 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:59,240 Speaker 1: we work in media, we really don't have anything to 68 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 1: complain about. It's a great gig. Yeah, Well, you and 69 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:08,360 Speaker 1: I share something, which is the fact that I certainly 70 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:13,760 Speaker 1: started out on air in my career and I know 71 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:20,479 Speaker 1: you also did as well. Talk about how that shapes 72 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 1: you to this day as a leader of a media company. Well, 73 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 1: I know how hard it is, and I know that 74 00:05:28,440 --> 00:05:31,120 Speaker 1: I wasn't any good at it. And I'm not being modest. 75 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:35,480 Speaker 1: I mean I really I didn't have I didn't and 76 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:39,560 Speaker 1: don't have what it takes two and that it never 77 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 1: connected in my head sort of how you sit in 78 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 1: a room by yourself and talk to an invisible group 79 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 1: of people and have you know, no feedback and be entertaining. 80 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 1: And so that never clicked for me. I just as 81 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:56,280 Speaker 1: much as I wanted it to, I really didn't want 82 00:05:56,279 --> 00:05:58,000 Speaker 1: to be in management. I wanted to be on the 83 00:05:58,040 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 1: air and play music and around for a living. So 84 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:05,359 Speaker 1: I think, my you know, my first reaction is I 85 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 1: understand just how hard the job is. And you know, 86 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:14,320 Speaker 1: the people that do it for a living, they make 87 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 1: them look so easy, you know. And you know, when 88 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:20,120 Speaker 1: I was starting out in the business as an intern, 89 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:25,000 Speaker 1: you know, production operator, I really thought, oh, this is 90 00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:27,839 Speaker 1: an easy gig. I watched these people do this every day. 91 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:30,680 Speaker 1: How hard can it be? And then when you go 92 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 1: to do it, you realize, oh, my goodness, this is 93 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:38,520 Speaker 1: a hard job. And the people, you know, I guess, 94 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:42,160 Speaker 1: like anybody who's good at their job, they often make 95 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 1: it look easy. They're relaxed, you know, they can sort 96 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:50,279 Speaker 1: of jump right into it under pressure. But I found 97 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 1: it really, really difficult. So I guess I would be 98 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:57,280 Speaker 1: my first thought. So who shaped you and your leadership 99 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:03,240 Speaker 1: skills as you were progressing through your career. I take 100 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:05,960 Speaker 1: a you know, I like to think I take a 101 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:10,680 Speaker 1: little bit from everyone, you know, I take I learned 102 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:15,280 Speaker 1: as much from people in different roles as I do 103 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:18,880 Speaker 1: from people, you know, from my bosses, if you will, so, 104 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 1: you know, maybe start early with you know, my dad 105 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:27,960 Speaker 1: was a massive influence on me, just you know, I 106 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:33,600 Speaker 1: watched him work. I could see that he was you know, 107 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 1: he was a really nice guy and people liked him 108 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 1: me had a great sense of humor, and you know, 109 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:42,040 Speaker 1: you didn't really need anybody that didn't like my dad. However, 110 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 1: it's also not a however, but an end. He was 111 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:50,280 Speaker 1: also really tough. I mean, he was fair, but you know, 112 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 1: he believed strongly, and you know, you got to stand 113 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 1: up for yourself and stand up for your values and 114 00:07:57,280 --> 00:08:01,200 Speaker 1: do the right thing, and you know, when people aren't 115 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:04,720 Speaker 1: doing the right thing, to make sure that you, you know, 116 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 1: use your voice. So I would say, you know, he 117 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:13,440 Speaker 1: shaped me early on and right through until he passed away. 118 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:17,480 Speaker 1: Is definitely my number one confidant. You know, I was 119 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 1: always going, you know, calling him or going to see 120 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 1: him to talk about business challenges or you know, things 121 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 1: that I wasn't sure about, or getting his advice. And 122 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:34,079 Speaker 1: then in the industry, I had several people who I 123 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 1: worked with. He taught me a lot, and you know, 124 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:44,640 Speaker 1: probably the person who influenced me the most was when 125 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:47,320 Speaker 1: Rogers bought the radio station that I was working for. 126 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:51,839 Speaker 1: You know, it was it was one of those that 127 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:54,800 Speaker 1: I didn't know anything about it, and you know, they 128 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 1: changed the format and so they a lot of the 129 00:08:56,960 --> 00:09:02,040 Speaker 1: personnel change, but they kept me and the general manager 130 00:09:02,559 --> 00:09:06,600 Speaker 1: market manager, you know, really took me under his wing. 131 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:09,920 Speaker 1: And it's kind of funny because he was trying to 132 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:13,839 Speaker 1: hire a program director to program the station and he 133 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:16,719 Speaker 1: couldn't you know, I guess things just didn't work out. 134 00:09:16,920 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 1: I was the assistant program director and he told me 135 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:22,440 Speaker 1: point like, you're not going to get this job, but 136 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 1: do it for now because we need someone to do it. 137 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 1: We just bought the station and then when the real 138 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 1: program director comes in, you know, we'll have a job 139 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:33,400 Speaker 1: for you. It'll be in another market and you're going 140 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:35,320 Speaker 1: to have to move and are you okay with that? 141 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:38,800 Speaker 1: And I said sure, all, yeah, that's fine. And I 142 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:43,160 Speaker 1: think what I take away from what I took away 143 00:09:43,160 --> 00:09:46,439 Speaker 1: from him was a few things. One was just how 144 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 1: honest he was and direct he was, and he you know, 145 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:53,280 Speaker 1: he didn't sort of didn't beat around the bush with 146 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:56,679 Speaker 1: that conversation, and that really allowed me to get my 147 00:09:56,760 --> 00:10:00,320 Speaker 1: head around what I needed to do and the set 148 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:04,520 Speaker 1: the expectations. The second was he gave me a lot 149 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:07,120 Speaker 1: of shots. You know that I wasn't. I ended up 150 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 1: getting the job, and you know, and then he gave 151 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:17,120 Speaker 1: me several other promotions and more opportunities, and you know, 152 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:19,720 Speaker 1: he gave me all these shots, and I wasn't ready 153 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:22,800 Speaker 1: for most of them. In fact, I don't think I 154 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:24,480 Speaker 1: was ready for any of them, because when are you 155 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 1: ready for anything? I mean, we're never ready for anything. 156 00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 1: We have to get the experience. We have to have 157 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:33,280 Speaker 1: the opportunity to get the experience in order to be ready. 158 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:37,000 Speaker 1: And so he gave me a lot of shots. And 159 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:39,840 Speaker 1: the last thing was he was really tough on me, 160 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:42,560 Speaker 1: tough in it, like not in a He was a 161 00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:44,240 Speaker 1: great guy, and he was nice and made a lot 162 00:10:44,280 --> 00:10:48,440 Speaker 1: of laughs. But you know, I would get inundated with 163 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:54,520 Speaker 1: messages from him about, you know, early in my programming career, 164 00:10:55,120 --> 00:10:59,600 Speaker 1: like why did the jingle run here? And why did 165 00:10:59,640 --> 00:11:02,800 Speaker 1: we play this saw? And why was this morning show 166 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:04,920 Speaker 1: break this long? And what are you trying to do 167 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:09,080 Speaker 1: over here? And it was it was relentless. And he 168 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:12,320 Speaker 1: used to joke and say, you know, I'm either going 169 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:14,320 Speaker 1: to get you to be really good at your job 170 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:15,959 Speaker 1: or I'm going to kill you. One or two things 171 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:20,520 Speaker 1: is going to happen obviously, you know he was gooking around, 172 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 1: but it you know, I don't think with that sort 173 00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 1: of like those three things, you know, just the seeing, 174 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 1: direct the belief, and giving the opportunities to stretch myself 175 00:11:34,559 --> 00:11:38,040 Speaker 1: and then non stop feedback. He gave me tons of 176 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 1: positives with that, dudes, but you know, it was constant 177 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:45,760 Speaker 1: feed that and those have always really stuck with me. 178 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:50,800 Speaker 1: His name's Chuck McCoy. It's sort of the infamous radio 179 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:53,840 Speaker 1: legends in Canada, and I was just really lucky to 180 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:57,960 Speaker 1: work with him. That's great. Those are so many qualities 181 00:11:58,679 --> 00:12:02,800 Speaker 1: and so many important qualities, which leads me to the 182 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:06,880 Speaker 1: qualities that you talk about in your book, which congratulations. 183 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:14,040 Speaker 1: We could add author to your resume. Imperfectly kind Why 184 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:18,960 Speaker 1: kindness is the must have superpower you need. I love 185 00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:25,240 Speaker 1: the title, I love the book. Congratulations on it. Talk 186 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:30,719 Speaker 1: about what motivated you to put the book out? Thank you. 187 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 1: I don't know why, but for some reason, I've always 188 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:35,680 Speaker 1: had it in my head that I want to write 189 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:40,319 Speaker 1: a book, and you know, I don't for as long 190 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:43,680 Speaker 1: as I can remember, and so I've taken it, took 191 00:12:43,679 --> 00:12:47,400 Speaker 1: a few swings at it, and I could never just 192 00:12:47,440 --> 00:12:50,640 Speaker 1: couldn't get going, and I get started, and I'd always 193 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:54,880 Speaker 1: have this, you know, this inner voice that would tell me, 194 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:57,560 Speaker 1: you know, why are you doing this. You're not an author, 195 00:12:57,720 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 1: you're not a writer. Nobody's going to read it. It's 196 00:12:59,679 --> 00:13:01,040 Speaker 1: not going to be any good. You know, you have 197 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:05,040 Speaker 1: that jerk of an inner voice. He tries to talk 198 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:06,560 Speaker 1: to the other of doing things that you want to, 199 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:09,520 Speaker 1: you know, talk, try to talk to you, tries to 200 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:12,959 Speaker 1: talk out of your dreams and push you down. I 201 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:16,320 Speaker 1: think we all have that voice, and for whatever reason, 202 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:20,440 Speaker 1: one day I just sort of, you know, I'm having 203 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:24,840 Speaker 1: this inner conversation and shot back like, who cares if 204 00:13:24,880 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 1: it's not any good? I mean, I'm not trying to 205 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 1: be a full time writer. It's just something I want 206 00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:37,079 Speaker 1: to do, and it's probably it may fail. Like maybe 207 00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:39,440 Speaker 1: I will write something and release it and it won't 208 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:43,080 Speaker 1: be any good. But that's not failure. Failure is really 209 00:13:43,280 --> 00:13:46,120 Speaker 1: not doing it. And so once I got my head 210 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:51,240 Speaker 1: around that that need gave me permission to start. I 211 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:56,000 Speaker 1: titled the original title this book will fail, just to 212 00:13:56,040 --> 00:13:59,560 Speaker 1: remind myself that you know this, you know, this wasn't 213 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:02,200 Speaker 1: about being having a New York Times best selling author, 214 00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:06,560 Speaker 1: just about doing the work and you know, stretching myself 215 00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:09,600 Speaker 1: and giving myself an opportunity to do something I hadn't done. 216 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:12,960 Speaker 1: And then when COVID hit, you know, I was just 217 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:16,440 Speaker 1: sick and tired of all the negative news and I 218 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 1: needed to do something positive and I needed to and 219 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:24,280 Speaker 1: we were in lockdown. I wasn't traveling, so I had 220 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:26,800 Speaker 1: a bunch of time on my hands, and so I 221 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:30,080 Speaker 1: think all those things together to Dave that you know, 222 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:34,840 Speaker 1: the permission and the time to give it a go. 223 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:38,360 Speaker 1: And I'm so glad I did it. It was it 224 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:44,720 Speaker 1: was so much fun, and it was really scary, and yeah, 225 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:48,800 Speaker 1: and a great experience and a great learning experience. Well 226 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:51,720 Speaker 1: that's great. Yeah, it's just got a great vibe to it, 227 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:56,720 Speaker 1: and God knows we need a little positive vibe these days. 228 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:01,120 Speaker 1: I interviewed someone I don't know if you know, this 229 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:06,120 Speaker 1: person by the name of Charlene Lee, a business strategist 230 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:11,720 Speaker 1: for you know, all different types of fortune five hundred companies, 231 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:17,120 Speaker 1: and she writes about you know, disruption and transformation among 232 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:24,640 Speaker 1: other things, but writes about people and culture. And she 233 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:29,520 Speaker 1: had a comment which basically, in so many words, says 234 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:35,640 Speaker 1: that companies need to start treating their people like humans. 235 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:40,560 Speaker 1: I'd love to get your reaction to that comment. Seems 236 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:45,400 Speaker 1: so obvious, don't you think, I mean, I guess, yeah, 237 00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:50,560 Speaker 1: it's complicated. You know, business relationships are very complicated because 238 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:55,720 Speaker 1: of course we are humans and we need to treat 239 00:15:55,760 --> 00:16:00,000 Speaker 1: each other with respect. And they're just so complex because 240 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:05,320 Speaker 1: they're not always clear. You know, people aren't always there's 241 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:10,760 Speaker 1: power and authority and involved and there's you know, some 242 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:15,080 Speaker 1: people I think they know more than others. And so 243 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:19,400 Speaker 1: it's an odd dynamic, isn't it new business relationships? And 244 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:22,960 Speaker 1: I do think at the heart of it, you know, 245 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:28,440 Speaker 1: we we have to treat each other with respect, and 246 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:31,840 Speaker 1: we have to treat each other, yes, like human beings. 247 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 1: And you know, sounds so silly that we have to 248 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:37,680 Speaker 1: treat each other way we want to be treated. And 249 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:41,360 Speaker 1: I think this notion of you know, you're a high performer, 250 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:44,480 Speaker 1: you can live a great business results, you're complete jury, 251 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:48,320 Speaker 1: but that's okay because you deliver great business results. I 252 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:54,800 Speaker 1: just think that's passee and and and yes, we want 253 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:57,520 Speaker 1: people to drive great results, but not at the expense 254 00:16:57,640 --> 00:17:03,040 Speaker 1: of you know, treating others like ournage. So yeah, I 255 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:06,639 Speaker 1: agree with that, and it is obvious. And I think 256 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:09,760 Speaker 1: the world is getting to be you know, the business 257 00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:13,640 Speaker 1: world is getting to be a better place to work 258 00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:17,360 Speaker 1: from a culture perspective, not perfect, but I think we're 259 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:21,679 Speaker 1: getting there. And who wants to surround themselves with, you know, 260 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:25,240 Speaker 1: people who treat each other as badly. I mean, that's 261 00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:30,880 Speaker 1: not fun and that's not productive. And so yes, absolutely 262 00:17:31,119 --> 00:17:35,440 Speaker 1: to each other like humans. So you've got a lot 263 00:17:35,480 --> 00:17:40,080 Speaker 1: of great brands in your company. What are some of 264 00:17:40,119 --> 00:17:44,280 Speaker 1: the brands that you would maybe like to highlight just 265 00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:47,000 Speaker 1: in terms of what they do every day for their community, 266 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:53,440 Speaker 1: for their advertisers, and how they stand out in their markets. Yeah, 267 00:17:54,160 --> 00:17:57,320 Speaker 1: because you know I should mention all of them. What 268 00:17:57,520 --> 00:18:02,800 Speaker 1: time do we have as you want? Always hard to 269 00:18:02,840 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 1: pick a few, but I'll pick a few. You know, 270 00:18:07,440 --> 00:18:13,640 Speaker 1: there's maybe start with Breakfast Television and CITYTV. City TV 271 00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:16,560 Speaker 1: has got a great story. You know, it's a that's 272 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:21,719 Speaker 1: a local television brand and it's a it's a national network, 273 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:28,919 Speaker 1: but it has local executions and local stations and it 274 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:32,080 Speaker 1: was started. I think it's gonna be I feel like 275 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:35,520 Speaker 1: it's going to be a fiftieth anniversary this year, and 276 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:39,560 Speaker 1: you know Rogers bought it from the front. The original 277 00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:42,520 Speaker 1: founder was Moses Nymer, and you know, it was all 278 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:49,040 Speaker 1: about being local television and did some incredible, really innovative 279 00:18:50,119 --> 00:18:54,920 Speaker 1: things like speakers. Corner just had so many it's such 280 00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:59,280 Speaker 1: a neat, such a neat television station. It was, you know, 281 00:18:59,280 --> 00:19:03,960 Speaker 1: a bit of rev It really represented the diversity of 282 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:08,760 Speaker 1: the community. The personalities have always represented the diversity of 283 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:13,040 Speaker 1: the community and it's still that way today. And so 284 00:19:13,080 --> 00:19:17,080 Speaker 1: if we think about City TV, it's just this great 285 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:21,000 Speaker 1: national network that airs hit TV shows like Law and 286 00:19:21,119 --> 00:19:27,000 Speaker 1: Order of Chicago, and then it has this incredible morning show, 287 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:33,760 Speaker 1: Breakfast Television. And I'm always just so inspired by whenever 288 00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:36,800 Speaker 1: they do some kind of call to action, and usually 289 00:19:36,840 --> 00:19:41,600 Speaker 1: it's a fundraiser or you know, something for charity. Anytime 290 00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:44,879 Speaker 1: they put out the ask, you know, the audience is 291 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:49,119 Speaker 1: happy to donate or raise a raise money or raise 292 00:19:49,160 --> 00:19:51,119 Speaker 1: funds and I always hear, oh yeah, I saw that 293 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:55,600 Speaker 1: on Breakfast Television. And it's just such a great reminder 294 00:19:55,680 --> 00:20:00,719 Speaker 1: of the power of people and a great brand and 295 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:03,920 Speaker 1: being consistent. And they do news, traffic and weather and 296 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:06,240 Speaker 1: all those things. But it's really fun. And then the 297 00:20:06,320 --> 00:20:10,040 Speaker 1: other incredible part of it. City TV is City News, 298 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:15,600 Speaker 1: which is the local news brand, and we recently rebranded 299 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:21,560 Speaker 1: all of our English news outlets to City News, so 300 00:20:21,920 --> 00:20:28,119 Speaker 1: we have you know, radio, digital and television and City 301 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:31,439 Speaker 1: News is you know, continues to be. It was the 302 00:20:31,640 --> 00:20:34,760 Speaker 1: first news network that you know, didn't have anchors at 303 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:41,199 Speaker 1: the desk, and they're always you know, looking for the 304 00:20:41,320 --> 00:20:44,040 Speaker 1: right local to tell all local stories. We just launched 305 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:49,280 Speaker 1: a new feature last week where they're going into different neighborhoods, 306 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:52,520 Speaker 1: doing the news from different neighborhoods, you know, not from 307 00:20:52,520 --> 00:20:56,040 Speaker 1: a city, but from an actual neighborhood and talking about 308 00:20:56,080 --> 00:20:59,679 Speaker 1: that community. And you know, they're five o'clock and six 309 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 1: of news on Friday. It was all about talking. It 310 00:21:03,840 --> 00:21:09,840 Speaker 1: was all about a community in Scarborough, which is an 311 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:15,679 Speaker 1: area of Toronto. So just that hyperlocalness is amazing. So 312 00:21:15,800 --> 00:21:18,199 Speaker 1: that I would say that's one. And then on the 313 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:22,520 Speaker 1: on the radio side, you know, we we can continue 314 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:27,000 Speaker 1: to have two of the biggest brands in Canada and 315 00:21:27,040 --> 00:21:30,280 Speaker 1: they're really special because they were also among the first 316 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:35,360 Speaker 1: radio brands in Canada. C CHFI is where Rogers started. 317 00:21:36,040 --> 00:21:39,440 Speaker 1: Ted Rodgers, you know, the founder of the company started 318 00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:41,760 Speaker 1: see to buy ninety you know, it's on ninety eight 319 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:44,199 Speaker 1: point one now, it was the first that and you 320 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:48,679 Speaker 1: think about that one radio station helped ted Rogers build 321 00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:54,080 Speaker 1: this incredible company, you know, which is wireless and cable 322 00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:56,960 Speaker 1: and you know all the things that Rogers is now. 323 00:21:57,520 --> 00:22:00,720 Speaker 1: You know, media is just a piece of it and 324 00:22:00,880 --> 00:22:02,880 Speaker 1: radio is just a piece of that. But it all 325 00:22:02,920 --> 00:22:07,200 Speaker 1: started with a radio station. So you know, amazing, amazing 326 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:12,160 Speaker 1: brands that were that we're all lucky to work with. 327 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:16,240 Speaker 1: And then we just launched Sonic Radio in Vancouver, and 328 00:22:16,320 --> 00:22:19,560 Speaker 1: a shout out to the team there, you know who 329 00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:24,320 Speaker 1: did decided to play Rage against the Machine, you know, 330 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:28,000 Speaker 1: the same song for twenty four hours, just as a 331 00:22:28,040 --> 00:22:31,320 Speaker 1: way to transition from a pop station to an alternative station. 332 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:34,760 Speaker 1: And you know, the news grew up around the world 333 00:22:35,560 --> 00:22:40,760 Speaker 1: and you know, coverage from Rolling Stone magazine throughout and 334 00:22:40,960 --> 00:22:44,320 Speaker 1: I just think it's a that's a great nod to 335 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:49,240 Speaker 1: you know, a local music brand still being able to generate, 336 00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:53,880 Speaker 1: you know, news across North America. Actually it was worldwide. 337 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:58,560 Speaker 1: There were European publishers that were writing about it over 338 00:22:58,600 --> 00:23:02,080 Speaker 1: this goofy radio star, you know where they take the 339 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:05,280 Speaker 1: song killing in the Name and play it over and 340 00:23:05,320 --> 00:23:08,880 Speaker 1: over and over again. So it's it was pretty fun 341 00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:13,040 Speaker 1: ride and a pretty fun launch. Yeah, congratulations on that. 342 00:23:13,240 --> 00:23:15,480 Speaker 1: I love that one. And I love the fact that 343 00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:18,720 Speaker 1: you guys just went for it and did it and 344 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:23,520 Speaker 1: you reaped the rewards. So well, that's the you know, buzz, 345 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:26,040 Speaker 1: that's the team, and and that you know, Christian is 346 00:23:26,080 --> 00:23:34,320 Speaker 1: our our national content director and you know he's overseeing 347 00:23:34,400 --> 00:23:38,080 Speaker 1: Sonic in Vancouver and Jack in Vancouver, and Paul Kay, 348 00:23:38,160 --> 00:23:42,480 Speaker 1: who's our VP of music Brands, you know, and and 349 00:23:42,560 --> 00:23:47,440 Speaker 1: has productions. You know, Christian and Paul and their respective team, 350 00:23:47,520 --> 00:23:49,760 Speaker 1: and it would take me an hour to name all 351 00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:53,239 Speaker 1: of them. That's all that, right, And when you you know, 352 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:57,919 Speaker 1: you asked me earlier who helped shape my career? Those 353 00:23:58,040 --> 00:24:00,920 Speaker 1: are the kind of people that shape my career because 354 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:03,840 Speaker 1: I'm learning from them all the time, you know. And 355 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:08,320 Speaker 1: I think as a as a leader, it's not you 356 00:24:08,359 --> 00:24:11,800 Speaker 1: don't just learn from your boss, you know, you really 357 00:24:11,840 --> 00:24:14,800 Speaker 1: you learn. You should be as humans, we should be 358 00:24:15,640 --> 00:24:20,560 Speaker 1: on a constant journey of learning and learning from other people. 359 00:24:21,320 --> 00:24:26,040 Speaker 1: And that was a great example of them and their 360 00:24:26,040 --> 00:24:29,520 Speaker 1: team's going for it. And hey, I know I had 361 00:24:29,560 --> 00:24:31,320 Speaker 1: nothing to do with that they just told me this 362 00:24:31,359 --> 00:24:32,800 Speaker 1: is what we were doing, and I said, all right, 363 00:24:32,840 --> 00:24:37,320 Speaker 1: well good luck and and then it was such an 364 00:24:37,320 --> 00:24:41,159 Speaker 1: incredible launch, So all the kudos to the team, well, no, 365 00:24:41,560 --> 00:24:45,719 Speaker 1: I love it. So in closing, then, is there one 366 00:24:45,760 --> 00:24:53,119 Speaker 1: thing you might suggest to other media operators, whether they 367 00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:57,719 Speaker 1: be us or whether they be elsewhere in Europe or 368 00:24:57,840 --> 00:25:05,040 Speaker 1: where you know, wherever, that they should uh maybe consider differently, reconsider. 369 00:25:06,080 --> 00:25:11,200 Speaker 1: I guess you know, I still hold true that it 370 00:25:11,280 --> 00:25:14,760 Speaker 1: all comes down to the people. And you know, we 371 00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:16,560 Speaker 1: don't have as many people as we used to have, 372 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:20,760 Speaker 1: and that's, you know, always the worst part of the 373 00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:23,720 Speaker 1: job is, you know, having to think about how you 374 00:25:23,800 --> 00:25:27,560 Speaker 1: can do more with fewer people. But to me, you know, 375 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:32,480 Speaker 1: the magic happens from having great people and so as 376 00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:36,720 Speaker 1: much as and then having them execute really well. And 377 00:25:36,760 --> 00:25:39,280 Speaker 1: so I don't have any magic wands or tricks for 378 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:44,399 Speaker 1: what media companies should do. You know, there's not a 379 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:47,960 Speaker 1: like you know, do this and do A and B 380 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 1: will happen other than I think if you hire really 381 00:25:53,560 --> 00:25:58,840 Speaker 1: great people and let them figure out what they need 382 00:25:58,880 --> 00:26:02,520 Speaker 1: to do and help them execute and give them the 383 00:26:02,560 --> 00:26:05,960 Speaker 1: tools to execute where you can, that to me is 384 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:08,960 Speaker 1: the magic. That's where all the good stuff happens. You know, 385 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:11,639 Speaker 1: somebody had to come up with the idea to play 386 00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:14,600 Speaker 1: a song for twenty four hours straight and then pick 387 00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:17,879 Speaker 1: that song. You know, there's no machine that's going to 388 00:26:17,960 --> 00:26:21,080 Speaker 1: do that. That's a human being, you know, knowing their 389 00:26:21,119 --> 00:26:24,040 Speaker 1: audience and knowing the market and having an idea and 390 00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:27,159 Speaker 1: going for it. So to me, it's putting our faith 391 00:26:27,840 --> 00:26:30,919 Speaker 1: and we'll always be about putting our faith in people. 392 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:34,160 Speaker 1: And then I think the other thing is just this, 393 00:26:35,920 --> 00:26:39,080 Speaker 1: I don't know, having humility, I guess, and being humble 394 00:26:39,200 --> 00:26:43,879 Speaker 1: about the reality of our world, which is there is 395 00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:49,760 Speaker 1: so much competition for time. And you know, people that 396 00:26:50,200 --> 00:26:53,280 Speaker 1: we all hear the you know, the cliche around times 397 00:26:53,320 --> 00:26:57,399 Speaker 1: the new currency, but there's just so much competition and 398 00:26:58,520 --> 00:27:01,000 Speaker 1: we have to whatever it is that you know, you 399 00:27:01,720 --> 00:27:04,359 Speaker 1: want people to do, you have to earn their time. 400 00:27:05,440 --> 00:27:07,080 Speaker 1: And so I think we have to stay true to 401 00:27:07,119 --> 00:27:11,159 Speaker 1: getting great people and then having high standards around the 402 00:27:11,160 --> 00:27:14,040 Speaker 1: products that we put out if we're expecting people to 403 00:27:14,080 --> 00:27:20,200 Speaker 1: give this new time. Bravo Julie Adam for the work 404 00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:26,240 Speaker 1: you're doing and the standards that you're setting, And I'm 405 00:27:26,280 --> 00:27:31,320 Speaker 1: so grateful for your time and your generosity today. Thank 406 00:27:31,359 --> 00:27:35,000 Speaker 1: you for taking a walk with me. Thank you. Can 407 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:38,240 Speaker 1: I ask one question before you go, of course? So, 408 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:41,280 Speaker 1: I mean, you have an incredible background. I'm a fan 409 00:27:41,400 --> 00:27:45,240 Speaker 1: of yours. You've done, you know, amazing work throughout your career. 410 00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:49,280 Speaker 1: You're in the podcasting space. Now, how's it going and 411 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:52,760 Speaker 1: how are you feeling about the podcasting business? Well, it's 412 00:27:52,800 --> 00:27:58,560 Speaker 1: going great. And that doesn't suggest that taking a walk 413 00:27:58,560 --> 00:28:03,119 Speaker 1: as a walk in the park because it's not building 414 00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:08,600 Speaker 1: an audience. Is certainly something that I was never under 415 00:28:09,520 --> 00:28:14,080 Speaker 1: a illusion that that's easy, and once you get into it, 416 00:28:14,520 --> 00:28:19,320 Speaker 1: you see it's even harder than you initially thought. But 417 00:28:19,359 --> 00:28:27,000 Speaker 1: it's tremendously gratifying when it comes to creativity and learning 418 00:28:27,200 --> 00:28:34,720 Speaker 1: and relearning old skills and learning new skills. And that's 419 00:28:34,760 --> 00:28:40,920 Speaker 1: something I'm incredibly grateful for as well. And I think 420 00:28:40,920 --> 00:28:45,360 Speaker 1: it's really interesting that and certainly something I think media 421 00:28:45,440 --> 00:28:50,520 Speaker 1: companies should think about, which is the fact that you 422 00:28:50,520 --> 00:28:55,040 Speaker 1: can create an audience that doesn't have any borders whatsoever. 423 00:28:57,080 --> 00:29:00,320 Speaker 1: And you know, I'm not sure how to monetize it 424 00:29:00,360 --> 00:29:02,960 Speaker 1: in that regard. That's a whole other thing. It's got 425 00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:07,560 Speaker 1: about three hours, but the notion that you can go 426 00:29:07,720 --> 00:29:13,600 Speaker 1: beyond your border and cultivate a community is a pretty 427 00:29:13,600 --> 00:29:18,200 Speaker 1: cool thing. So I'm not even a year in yet, 428 00:29:18,280 --> 00:29:22,400 Speaker 1: I'm almost a year and having a blast and very 429 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:26,880 Speaker 1: grateful for it. And how it allows me to connect 430 00:29:26,920 --> 00:29:30,000 Speaker 1: with new people is terrific, and how it allows me 431 00:29:30,080 --> 00:29:33,360 Speaker 1: to reconnect with folks like you that I respect is 432 00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:37,520 Speaker 1: also a joy as well. I love that. Well, good 433 00:29:37,560 --> 00:29:41,040 Speaker 1: congratulations and good for you for going for it. You've 434 00:29:41,080 --> 00:29:43,760 Speaker 1: always been someone who goes for it and I really 435 00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:47,000 Speaker 1: appreciate the opportunity to chat with you and and I 436 00:29:47,040 --> 00:29:52,000 Speaker 1: wish you the best, keep going. Thanks, Julie, all the 437 00:29:52,040 --> 00:29:56,479 Speaker 1: best to you. I appreciate it very much. Taking a 438 00:29:56,520 --> 00:30:01,880 Speaker 1: Walk with Buzznight is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or 439 00:30:02,160 --> 00:30:03,880 Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcasts.