Blackballed With James Di Fiore

Michael Price has been writing episodes for The Simpsons for 2 decades. He joins us to talk about what it is like to write for the best animated television series of all-time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Friday was so casual that Ryan did not show up, but Canadian rapper D-SISIVE filled in and held it down. Paul and Douglas also joined in, as did several voices inside James' head. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

D-SISIVE has had a long and challenging career in music. One of those artists who is super-respected among other rappers and musicians. He's back. And he's still got bars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hal Sparks has had a great career, going from iconic roles in Dude, Where's My Car and Queer As Folk to hosting his own daily podcast, MEGAWORLDWIDE. He joins James to talk politics, his career, and how he has lent his profile to worthy causes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's Friday, and we suggest something casual. This week the boys unload some of their frustrations re where we work, but in the end James offered to blow Douglas so it all worked out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul Riss has one of those bios that people find insane. His eclectic background includes being top in his field as a director of prestigious ad campaigns, and in his spare time an avid birder. Paul spent a big year getting the Latin names of all the birds he spotted that year tattooed on his body. Oh, and once upon a time Paul was married to James' sister, Kelley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Urban warfare expert John Spencer joins us to discuss the latest in the Russia/Ukraine conflict, how drones are playing a role, and whether or not this is a proxy war. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maxime Bernier is the leader of the People's Party of Canada, and last week he was given a gift from Pierre Poilievre after Poilievre denounced German politician Christine Anderson who was in Canada to visit with convoy protestors. We spoke with Bernier about that, his party's future and why he thinks they will let him in the debates during the next federal election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He speaks Cryptonian, meaning he understands BitCoin...maybe. Stock market whiz and crypto-currency expert Scott Trades joins us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He just wrapped up his Retrospected tour and it went very well. What did Classified learn about his audience, and will he do this type of tour again? Show less Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some producers work with a select stable of artists their whole career. Then there are super producers who have seemingly worked with everybody. Domingo is one of those super producers. Hear how the hip hop industry has changed, how legendary rappers navigate the booth, and what it is like being known as a humble guy when you have a catalogue as eclectic and massive as his. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The far left and the far right have one thing in common - they both behave exactly the same when they feel like they are on the right side of history. Why are they so alike, and how is it possible they do not know how similar they are? Why do so many people now subscribe the an ends justifies the means philosophy? Caryma Sa'd is back, and with her she has brought some disturbing footage of the Unhinged Fringe in Peterborough. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's Casual Friday, and James is on cloud 9. He just interviewed Jully Black and it was easily the best interview he's ever done. That was mostly because Jully Black told him it was the best interview SHE ever had. So he ate carrot cake the whole night. James is joined by Ryan & Ashley Lindley, Army Kris, Kristy O'Heir and a dude named Josh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

**Jully Black called this Blackballed interview her "best interview of all-time."** She just came off a whirlwind week after changing one lyric in the national anthem that changed the political conversation. She's also part of the fabric of hip hop culture in Canada. Her name is Jully Black Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alka Pradhan is an American human rights attorney who has represented Guantanamo Bay detainees, civilian drone strike victims, and other torture victims. She is a tireless advocate for victims of torture, and currently represents Ammar al-Baluchi who was held at a CIA black site, tortured, and then put on trial for allegedly helping to facilitate 9/11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He is a PHD and an expert on the Russia/Ukraine conflict. He is also raising awareness re the alleged Russian kidnapping of Ukrainian children who are then reportedly adopted by Russian parents. Michael MacKay joins us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist who broke the Mỹ Lai Massacre and the Abu Ghraib stories... His latest implicates the Biden administration in the sabotaging of the Nord Stream pipeline. Seymour Hersh joins us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ryan Lindley took the day off, so everything was disorganized, and so James brought on Emmalene to talk sex. And did they ever talk sex. SO much sex. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Billy Vera is a Grammy-award winning artist and a 4 time nominee. He won for the hit 'At This Moment' a song that made James cry in grade 5 because of a girl he had a crush on. But Billy Vera has had a career that is much more than just that one hit. He's a legend among his peers. Also, James brings on a special guest tonight, and you won't believe who it is. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Sky became a household name during the pandemic due to his stance on vaccines/vaccine mandates. His trial began a few days ago, and he is mulling a run for Mayor of Toronto. He also has some very questionable views. He then cancelled one minute before this show. So, on that note, James welcomes Chris Sky haters to the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cheru Di Novo is a former MPP for Parkdale-High Park and one of the best political minds in Canada. Cheri shares her thoughts on Doug Ford's questionable ethics, John Tory's resignation, and the steps Ontario is taking to become a two-tiered health care system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Tory has resigned, and former Toronto mayoral candidate Rocco Achampong said he probably shouldn't have. Rocco joins us to talk about what's next for him, for Toronto, and if he will throw his hat into the mayoral ring. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's Casual Friday, and James brought with him an update on the elusive Shrooms Girl with Spenny, Ryan Lindley, Paul Atkinson and Douglas from the Eager Beaver Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emmalene Pruden knows a lot....about sex and relationships. She's also hilarious. What does she see as the main difference between men and women? And how often do couples successfully navigate the waters known as "finding the spark"? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Blackballed welcomes the co-founder of Death Row Records & certified hip hop legend The D.O.C. to the show @WESTCOASTDOC @jamesdifiore He's worked with NWA, Dr. Dre, Easy E, co-founded Death Row Records, & has one of the best pen games in hip hop history. His album No One Can Do It Better is one of the best debut albums of all-time. He's not just a part of hip hop culture, he's part of the underpinnings of hip hop itself. The D.O.C. will be on Blackballed tonight at 8 PM ET. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nigel Williams probably, front-man of the Pocket Dwellers, has the greatest lifetime rhyme book in Canadian rapper history. I mean, so says James. He's also a close friend of James' and was the mentor emcee for various young rappers in Whitby, ON. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James misses his buddy Adam Cann. Adam moved to Korea to teach English in 2004, found a wife and had a baby. He now works privately and has loads of time to say wildly offensive things to friends and family. Adam joins us from Korea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Casual Friday returns, and James broke his promise to stay sober before the show even began and ate 60mg of edibles. He and Ryan spoke with James' childhood friend, Dodi, and then James called out his colleagues on air. Ashley, Paul, Kristy and Melissa also stopped by. But the #1 rule of Casual Friday remains intact; what happens on Casual Friday stays on Casual Friday, mostly because we never remember what was said. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Fesiak has a dream job...sort of. The Ukrainian-Canadian is instrumental in making sure the Ukrainian frontlines have the equipment they need in order to fight and communicate effectively against the Russian invaders. His organization is called Heart of the World Ukraine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Gibbons is a former Major League Baseball player, manager, and author of the book Gibby: Tales of a Baseball Lifer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Normally when a media outlet co-signs information from a source or a reporter, that means any subsequent lawsuit against said source is then directed towards the outlet. If the outlet supports the work provided by the source, they get protected. Except when it is CANADALAND. David Wallace GoFundMe page - https://gofund.me/fc99d7e4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Police Chief Evan Bray made a statement re the death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of the Memphis Police, James jumped to a conclusion. He's glad he did. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lance Christie was just acquitted in UK court for a harassment charge against 8 members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. He speaks with James today about the impact his case has on members who are still trying to escape the clutches of the cult. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's that time of week again where James gets high and talks to variosu people about things that are not stressful. Last week James did a pile of shrooms, but this week he's going to take it easy....by eating 10mg of edibles every 20 minutes for more than three hours. Should be fine. Ashley Lindley joins us, as well as a bunch of other people TBD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James welcomes the host of the, Who's Got Next podcast, Ray Routh. James was recently the debut guest on Ray's new segment called Ray's Got Next and discovered James was a fellow hip hop head. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lance Christie in an ex member of the cult known as the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. Yesterday ex members around the world celebrated as Lance was acquitted on harassment charges of 8 current members of the PBCC. He joins us today, along with Richard Marsh, to talk about what this victory means to ex members, and current members trying to escape the cult. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daniel Drache is a scholar in Canadian and international political economy, globalization studies, communication studies, and cultural studies. He is also the author of the critically acclaimed book Has Populism Won: The War On Liberal Democracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's that time of week again. Casual Friday is back, and James decided to eat 5.5 grams of magic mushrooms an hour before broadcast. He held it together as he and Ryan Lindley were joined by Ray Routh, Army Chris, Caryma Sa'd, Paul Atkinson, Douglas Connors, Kristi O'Heir and Crier Media producer Chris Rooke. James wrote this summary but can't provide any details, with the notable exception that he discovered Douglas looks exactly like Saddam Hussein. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Crosby has died at age 81. We speak with music publicist Danny Deraney who worked with Crosby about his impact on music. Paul Atkinson also joins us to lend his thought on Crosby and his cultural contribution to the intersection of politics and music. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Caryma S'ad has a habit of pissing off the fringes on the left and the right. In this episode of Blackablled, Caryma faces off against a critic of hers, content creator Danny Taro. Danny believes Caryma should have adhered more closely to one side in a recent protest in Peterborough when she documented a drag queen story time protest/counter protest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beth Seed grew up in the cult known as the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. She survived a horrifying ordeal, including abuse and the forced separation from her family. She shares her story with us today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Max Fawcett is a writer/essayist/columnist for Canada's National Observer. Based in Alberta, Max will give us his thoughts on how Premier Danielle Smith is doing so far, what his thoughts are re free speech stalwarts like Jordan Peterson, and whether or not Pierre Poilievre's decision to go all-in with the right wing fringe is still holding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some people spend years getting their law degree and practice law until they retire. Others abandon law after realizing their life path wasn't them being their authentic self, add a subsequent experience with ayahuasca that helped cement the transformation and you have Tara Mesensky. She is a brilliant mind, and a personal friend of James. She spoke about her therapy practice, and how mind altering substances are finding their way into therapeutics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

She was never a member of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, but Terri Smith worked with and for several members in the town of Maple Creek, Saskatchewan. She claims she not only witnessed sexual assaults by PBCC members, but was a victim herself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Casual Friday is back with Canadian comedy legend Spenny and co-host of the Eager Beaver podcast Paul Atkinson. This week we venture into circumcision, tattoos and various references to Paul's penis. Guests attempt to manhandle James but he is having none of it. Hilarity ensued. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nobody wants to talk about it. Everybody deals with it. Mental health. It's gonna be ok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

F Is For Family was a stand-alone animated television series. It was funny, sometimes dark, nostalgic, and had more staying power than the 5 seasons implied. James is joined by Executive Producer Michael Price, writer/story editor Joe Heslinga, writer Emily Towers, and writer/script supervisor Henry Gammill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Ashton-Cirillo went from reporting on the Russian invasion of Ukraine to enlisting into the Ukrainian military. And just to make her story more interesting, she was once an opposition research professional for Republican candidates...as a transwoman. Sarah joined us from Kviv. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Casual Friday is a weekly roundtable show where James gets high, Ryan gets drunk, and a bunch of colleagues and randoms call in. This episode was particularly envelope-pushing because James had a couple of panic attacks this week. Don't worry, he did lots of shrooms to heal his brain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Melissa Lauren shares her back story; she was adopted but it turns out she is Italian, her singing career has never been better, and she shares the exact same name as a French porn star, which kept the lolz coming for years! She's authentic, hilarious and one of the best humans James knows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices