What happens when one of Toronto’s most recognizable voices on Canadian culture sits down to talk about his favorite band of all time? This week, jD is joined by Mike from Toronto (you know him better as Toronto Mike) for a heartfelt countdown conversation. From first spins on Q107 to life-changing live shows, Mike opens up about what The Tragically Hip have meant to him — and why one song in particular brings him to tears every time.

Along the way, we revisit Road Apples, the magic of New Year’s Eve 1999 at the ACC, and the emotional weight of Gord Downie’s final performances. And in a moving moment, Mike shares how he processed the day Gord passed, sitting alone in his basement studio and pressing record. You can still hear that raw, unfiltered tribute, For Gord, right here: Toronto Mike on Gord’s passing.

Mike is the host of the long-running Toronto Mike’d podcast, where he’s interviewed hundreds of cultural figures, musicians, and storytellers. A lifelong Hip fan, his Hipstory began in 1989 with Blow at High Dough blasting from the Mighty Q — a one-two punch with New Orleans Is Sinking that sent him racing downtown to buy Up To Here. Since then, The Tragically Hip have been a constant through his life, from weddings to Y2K countdowns to the bittersweet goodbye of the Man Machine Poem tour.

Every fan has that first song that changed everything. For Mike, it was Blow at High Dough on the radio. For countless others, it was another track, another moment, another show. This episode reminds us why The Tragically Hip aren’t just a band — they’re a soundtrack, a touchstone, and sometimes, a mirror for our deepest emotions.

Big thanks to Mike for bringing his Toronto heart and Hip soul to the countdown. Next Monday, we’ll be back with song #8 and another fan whose Hipstory will keep this ride rolling.

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jD welcomes Toronto Mike to the Tragically Hip Top Forty Countdown. Hear fan stories, Road Apples memories, and a moving tribute to Gord Downie.

No single track, no script, no rules — just your weekly Hip hangout with jD & Sara J, this time joined by Adam in Florida and Jeff from Belleville. We covered a little of everything: Hip talk, fan stories, and a few tangents that may or may not survive the edit.

We also touched on two standout fan perspectives from opposite ends of the map, proving that The Hip’s reach is just as strong in the sunshine as it is north of the 401. Somewhere in between, there was laughter, light heckling, and the kind of shared stories that make you wish the night wouldn’t end.

📺 Watch the replay: [YouTube link]

🎧 Catch past episodes: [Podcast feed link]

Follow + Stream

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Support the membersHIP

Help us keep the Sunday Evening Jam going (and support the ALS Society of Canada) by joining our membersHIP here: [membersHIP link]

Join jD and Greg every week as they recap the song of the week by exploring the back catalogue of the Fully & Completely episodes.