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.

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

This week on The Tragically Hip Top 40 Countdown, we slide into song #10 — and a conversation that’s as much about life, literature, and lyrics as it is about rock ’n’ roll.

My guest? The self-confessed “fully incompletist” himself, Mark from Michigan. Mark takes us through his winding Hip origin story — from near-misses in the ’90s to the life-changing moment he dropped “At the Hundredth Meridian” into his car stereo and never looked back. We talk first concerts (State Theatre, 2007 — 10 feet from Gord), rowdy balcony encounters, and why Sarah Polley’s delicate Sweet Hereafter cover still gives him chills

Also in this episode: sash talk, honorary Canadian citizenships, and the usual abacus/Kia Sportage nonsense.

Pull Quote: “Sometimes courage comes, and sometimes it doesn’t. But you muddle through anyway.” – Mark from Michigan

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🔥 TTHTop40 Round Table Review #3 went down Friday, August 8th — and it was everything it was cracked up to be.

Hot takes. Cold stares. And the pure perfection that is The Tragically Hip.

Join Sara J, Shirene from Sacramento, Thomas from Belgium, and me, jD, as we rip through the bottom 30, call out the surprises, and make some bold, maybe reckless, predictions for the Top 10.

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

What happens when a kid from Belgium falls head over boots for The Tragically Hip? You get a story that spans continents, spreadsheets, and six-string worship. This week, jD welcomes Thomas from Belgium to the show as we hit #11 on the countdown. That’s right. Eleven. Which means we are officially in the thick of the top ten next week.

But first, this episode is a postcard from across the pond—where fandom took root in a French-speaking corner of Europe and grew into full-blown obsession. How did it happen? Crash Thompson videos, bootleg YouTube jams, spreadsheet colour coding, and a live version of New Orleans is Sinking that jammed so hard it contained a proto-Head by a Century. Yup. That one.

jD is joined by Thomas from Belgium, a fan who discovered The Hip years after Gord’s passing and built his own connection through British Spotify gaps, YouTube live sets, and late-night park walks. Together, they explore track #11 and unpack how the band’s unmistakably Canadian spirit resonated across the Atlantic.

We also dive into Gord’s elliptical songwriting, Rob Baker’s underrated noodling, and the thrill of finding new meaning—on the 50th listen.

Thomas is a motorsports journalist who grew up in Belgium, lived in the UK, and found The Hip through a very Canadian set of internet coincidences. He’s got a soundcloud (with Hip covers), a YouTube channel, and a spreadsheet that could qualify as sacred text. He’s also got serious takes on In Between Evolution, respect for World Container, and love for the Fillmore 2000 gig.

This episode reminds us that Hip fandom is bigger than borders—and that sometimes, all it takes is a friend, a nudge, and a bluesy guitar lick to spark a lifelong obsession. It also reminds us how beautifully The Hip’s songs lend themselves to interpretation, imagination, and personal mythmaking—whether you’re in Toronto or a kitchen in Belgium.

Huge thanks to Thomas for bringing his curiosity, warmth, and accent (c’mon, it’s charming!) to the show. His journey into the fandom is proof that it’s never too late to fall in love with this band.

We’ll be back next week with the long-awaited start of the Top 10. It’s gonna get emotional. Get your tissues, get your beers, and get ready.

• 🏆 Think you—or someone you know—is The Hip’s Ultimate SuperFan? Nominate them now. Finalists will be revealed August 29!
• 🎤 Catch up on our latest Sunday Evening Jam – we talked SuperFan Search, Hipstory, and SiriusXM.
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Originally aired: July 27, 2025

This week: Sara J and jD reunite and take a stroll down memory lane — specifically, jD’s very first live Tragically Hip experience. Spoiler: it was loud, sweaty, and life-changing.

From there, they round up what’s hot and happening in the Top Forty universe:

• 👑 The Ultimate SuperFan Search heats up as we near the nomination deadline
• 💥 membersHIP is climbing fast (but we’ve still got a goal to crush)
• 🎟️ Early Bird Tickets for A Celebration of The Hip for ALS are still available — but not for long

Come for the Hip talk. Stay for the tangents. Maybe even stick around for the community.

This jam is part of our Let’s Get Fandom Right initiative — where love for The Hip meets real-world impact.

• Nominate your Ultimate SuperFan: https://bit.ly/tthultimatesuperfan
• Join the membersHIP: https://bit.ly/TTHTop40membersHIP
• Snag Early Bird tix for A Celebration of The Hip for ALS: https://bit.ly/HipForALS

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This live stream (and everything else we do) is powered by Hip fans who want to make good things happen. If that’s you, consider tossing a few bucks into the open guitar case:

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