The Tragically Hip Podcast Series

Latest Episodes:

Flashback #29 Jul 30, 2025

Show notes

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

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tthtop40/donations
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The Tragically Hip Top Forty Countdown: Song 12 - John Paul from Toronto Jul 28, 2025

Show notes

Intro

What happens when you bond so hard with The Hip that they feel like your chosen family? This week, I’m joined by John Paul from Toronto—a lifelong fan who’s seen it all, from camping trips at Guelph Lake to getting kicked out of the Phoenix. We dig deep into Song 12 on the countdown and talk about the powerful, personal connections that make this band more than just music.

Episode Summary

We cover the full arc of John Paul’s fandom—from hearing those first singles on Toronto radio to buying Day for Nighton CD, obsessing over Phantom Power, and falling in love with the band’s live energy. We also swap stories about unforgettable Hip shows, camping mischief, and the heartbreak of being booted out before the third song.

About the Guest

John Paul is the quintessential Toronto Hip fan: thoughtful, passionate, and a little self-deprecating. He first fell for the band thanks to classic singles and videos on MuchMusic (shout out to Gord in the Bruins sweater), and over time found himself pulled in deeper with every album.

He’s been to half a dozen Hip gigs (plus a solo Gord show), but his fandom is built just as much on introspection—how the band offered him a sense of family, safety, and permission to see the world through Gord’s strange and beautiful eyes.

Why It Matters

This episode isn’t just about Song 12. It’s about how The Tragically Hip can be an anchor in your life. How they can make you feel at home, even when you’re homesick in Korea. How they become a mirror for your values, your memories, and your sense of who you want to be in the world.

It’s also about the messy side of fandom: the near-religious devotion, the gigs that changed you, the ones you missed, the ones you got kicked out of while pleading your case like a lawyer on fire.

If you’ve ever felt like The Hip knew you before you even knew yourself, this one’s going to hit close to home.

Closing

Huge thanks to John Paul from Toronto for bringing so much honesty, humour, and raw fandom to this week’s episode.

If this week’s track sparks a memory for you, share it with us! Drop a voice memo, send an email, or jump into the Facebook group and start a debate about your Top 10.

We’ll be back next Monday with Song 11 on the countdown. Don’t miss it.

So there’s that.

Connect with Us

🎥 Join us every Sunday at 8 p.m. ET for the Sunday Evening Jam – Live Stream

🔥 Nominate someone (or yourself) for The Tragically Hip’s Ultimate Superfan Search before August 25! Enter here

📣 Join our community & share your Hipstory:

Facebook: facebook.com/groups/tthtop40
Instagram: @tthtop40
Email: tthtop40@gmail.com
Website: dewvre.com/tthtop40
YouTube: youtube.com/@dewvre1974

Hashtags: #TragicallyHip #TTHtop40 #GordDownie #CanadianRock #HipFandom

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John Paul from Toronto joins jD to talk Song 12 on The Tragically Hip Top Forty Countdown—stories of fandom, family, and finding yourself in the music.

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Sunday Evening Jam - Live Stream July 20th Jul 25, 2025

Show notes

🎙️ Sunday Evening Jam Recap – July 20 Edition

Let’s call this one The Glitch, The Gratitude, and The Grail.

We kicked things off with the usual tech chaos (muted mics, ghost intros, Instagram wizardry), but once we found the signal, damn did we find our groove.

👥 Big thanks to everyone who joined us live — Craig, Kirk, Jeff, and eventually the full fuckin’ Voltron crew. Special love to Sara J for being the MVP of the night (and for calling me out with kindness about memory loss, missed uploads, and the mental gymnastics of running 14 things at once).

🎧 We talked about:

🧠 My bonkers amnesia moment and the double-episode debacle (you will get two 28s — you’re welcome)
🧩 SuperFan Search shake-ups and abacus math
🧨 Phantom Power as a live show powerhouse (hello, Phantom Zone)
📼 The Woodstock ‘99 footage: who owns it, what’s missing, and what could still come
🛸 Our most-wanted Hip Grail items (Limelight, unreleased solo footage, full show archives, YOU NAME IT)
💬 A full-on roundtable of geeky, glorious Hip talk

🎥 Oh — and we went live on Instagram, Facebook, AND YouTube. At the same damn time. Still can’t believe we pulled that off.

If you missed it, we’ll be back next Sunday. Maybe with a topic. Maybe with functioning tech. Definitely with beers, laughs, and Hip talk.

📣 If you’ve got your own grail wish list, drop it in the comments. Or just tell Pete to get another tattoo.

🧡 Powered by NorthStar Bets

🎶 Fueled by fandom

🧠 Surviving by spreadsheet

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tthtop40/donations
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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Flashback #28 Jul 24, 2025

Show notes

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

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tthtop40/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Tragically Hip Top Forty Countdown: Song 13 - Andrew from Tampa Jul 23, 2025

Show notes

Intro

What happens when your Hip fandom runs so deep you can rattle off setlists, sneak into soundchecks, and still get choked up thinking about the last Kingston show? This week, I’m joined by Andrew from sunny Tampa, Florida—who’s here to remind us what living for the live show really means as we crack open Song 13 on the countdown.

Episode Summary

We cover a lifetime of cross-border Hip fandom, the thrill of hearing the band test songs live before they were released, and how seeing Gord Downie sweat and snarl on stage changed everything. We also dig into this week’s track, exploring its hypnotic build, raw emotion, and how it turned every venue into a sweaty, bouncing mess of humanity.

About the Guest

Andrew grew up on the shores of Lake Ontario before moving to Florida, but the Hip was always there—on the radio, in the background, waiting to take over his life. He caught his first show in 2000 and was immediately hooked, going on to see 40+ gigs, sometimes three or four nights in a row.

He shares stories about sneaking into soundchecks back in the Wild West days of touring, building his calendar around Hip shows every summer, and collecting truly one-of-a-kind memorabilia—from a Gord Downey mic stand base to backstage tour books you can’t buy anywhere.

Why It Matters

This one’s for the die-hards. For anyone who’s built their year around Hip gigs, who’s stayed up late chasing setlists online, who’s made friends for life in the pit.

Andrew’s memories take us back to the gritty, real-life side of fandom—where you weren’t just listening to The Tragically Hip, you were living them. From the heartbreak of shows missed to the joy of watching Gord turn a song into something unrecognizable, this episode is a love letter to the messy, sweaty, unfiltered magic of live music.

If you’ve ever lost yourself in the push and pull of a Hip crowd, or felt Gord’s words cut straight through you—even when you didn’t know what the hell he meant—this one’s gonna hit home.

Closing

Huge thanks to Andrew from Tampa for dropping all his stories, honesty, and Hip history on us this week.

If this week’s episode brings back memories, tell us about it. Send us your Hipstory, drop us a voice memo, or come argue your Top 10 in the Facebook group.

We’ll be back next Monday with Song 12 on the countdown—don’t miss it.

So there’s that.

Connect with Us

🎥 Check out the Sunday Evening Jam – Live Stream every Sunday at 8pm ET.

🔥 Nominate someone for The Tragically Hip’s Ultimate Superfan Search before August 25! Enter here.

📣 Join our community & share your Hipstory:

Facebook: facebook.com/groups/tthtop40
Instagram: @tthtop40
Email: tthtop40@gmail.com
Website: dewvre.com/tthtop40
YouTube: youtube.com/@dewvre1974

Hashtags: #TragicallyHip #TTHtop40 #GordDownie #CanadianRock #HipFandom

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Andrew from Tampa joins jD for Song 13 on The Tragically Hip Top Forty Countdown—sharing deep fan stories, live show memories, and the sweaty magic of Hip fandom.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tthtop40/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Tragically Hip Top Forty Countdown: Song 13 - Brad from Buffalo Jul 21, 2025

Show notes

Intro

What happens when a Hip fan from Buffalo finds himself explaining Canadian starlight, family road trips, and Gord’s cosmic madness to his kids? This week, I’m joined by Brad from Buffalo to talk all things fandom, cross-border connections, and a song that—like the band itself—never gives up all its secrets.

Episode Summary

We dive into Brad’s deep roots with The Tragically Hip—from his first time hearing a certain hockey-tinged track in a car ride home from college to years of road trips across Ontario. We talk about the vibe of the music, the strangeness that makes it magic, and why this countdown track is the very definition of a grower.

About the Guest

Brad is a dyed-in-the-wool Hip superfan from Buffalo, New York—a city where the band’s legend looms nearly as large as it does here at home. He first fell in love with The Tragically Hip during long drives back from college, hitting play on Fully Completely and never looking back.

Brad has stories about hearing Day for Night the day it came out, seeing the band live 20+ times, and making pilgrimages to Ontario lakes where Gord’s lyrics come alive one star at a time. He’s the kind of fan who didn’t just listen—he felt it, and he’s spent decades trying to share that feeling with family and friends (including his very opinionated 12-year-old).

Why It Matters

This episode is about more than Song 13. It’s about Hip fandom as a kind of shared citizenship—a borderless, lifelong, deeply personal thing. Brad’s memories of being on a dock in Ontario, watching the stars reveal themselves one by one, tie him forever to the band’s most poetic imagery.

It’s also a love letter to the mystery at the heart of The Tragically Hip. Brad talks about why he never wants their songs explained, why Gord Downie seemed part alien, part shaman, and how the confusion and chaos is exactly what makes these songs worth obsessing over.

If you’ve ever argued with friends about the best Tragically Hip songs, shared your fandom with your kids, or caught yourself crying at lyrics you don’t even fully understand—this one’s for you.

Closing

Huge thanks to Brad from Buffalo for bringing the full Hip fandom energy to this week’s episode. If this track has ever messed with your head in the best way possible, tell us about it! Send us your Hipstory, leave a voice memo, or come argue your top 5 in the Facebook group.

We’ll be back next Monday with Song 12 on the countdown. Don’t miss it.

So there’s that.

Connect with Us

🎥 Catch the latest Sunday Evening Jam – Live Stream on YouTube

🔥 Nominate someone (or yourself!) for The Tragically Hip’s Ultimate Superfan Search – entries close August 25! Enter here

📣 Join our community & share your Hipstory:

Facebook: facebook.com/groups/tthtop40
Instagram: @tthtop40
Email: tthtop40@gmail.com
Website: dewvre.com/tthtop40
YouTube: youtube.com/@dewvre1974

Hashtags: #TragicallyHip #TTHtop40 #GordDownie #CanadianRock #HipFandom

Meta Description (SEO)

Brad from Buffalo joins jD for Song 13 on The Tragically Hip Top Forty Countdown—fandom stories, cross-border memories, and the strange magic of the Hip’s most cryptic tracks.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tthtop40/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Tragically Hip Top Forty Countdown: Special Update — The One Where jD Fucks Up (and Owns It) Jul 20, 2025

Show notes

🎧 What happens when your host gets electroconvulsive therapy, lights a joint, and suddenly realizes he’s recorded two episodes of the same song? You get a bonus episode—and a raw, unfiltered apology.

This week, jD hits pause on the usual countdown to come clean about a scheduling snafu that resulted in two episodes for song #13. In true TTHTop40 fashion, he turns a mess into a moment—with a behind-the-scenes confessional, a little hard truth, and a lot of heart.

🎙️ Episode Summary

In this special audio missive, jD explains how a mix of mental health treatment, a love of cannabis, and memory loss led to a full-on podwreck: two different guests, two different recordings, both labeled Episode 13. So rather than let one hit the cutting room floor, he’s giving you both. Double drop, baby.

He also reflects on the highs and lows of managing a major year-long podcast project while living with mental illness, shares where we’re at in the countdown, and reassures listeners that the train is still on the tracks—just maybe with a few weed cookies in the conductor’s pouch.

🧠 Why It Matters

This isn’t just an “oops.” It’s a look into what it really takes to make a podcast like this happen—especially when you’re fighting your own brain just to keep going. It’s vulnerable, funny, and a little chaotic (like most good Hip shows), and it proves that even when things go sideways, the countdown rolls on.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed, spaced out, or just straight-up forgot what day it is, this one’s for you.

💌 Thanks & What’s Next

Thanks to everyone for their patience and kindness. If you’re Brad from Buffalo... seriously, get in touch, dude. We don’t even have your email. And if you're Andrew from Florida—not Tampa, maybe Orlando—thank you for your grace and understanding.

Next Monday, we return to the regularly scheduled programming with song #12. You won’t want to miss it.

🔥 Bonus Drop Details

You’ll get two episodes tomorrow:

🎧 Episode 28a: Andrew from Florida
🎧 Episode 28b: Brad from Buffalo (???)

Why? Because jD fucked up. So there’s that.

🎟️ Tickets & Campaigns

⏰ Early Bird Tickets for A Celebration of The Hip for ALS end August 4:

Get yours here

👑 Nominate someone for The Ultimate Hip SuperFan Search before August 15:

Submit your nomination

🤝 Connect with Us

📩 Email: tthtop40@gmail.com

📸 Instagram: @tthtop40

📘 Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/tthtop40

🌐 Website: dewvre.com/tthtop40

📺 YouTube: youtube.com/@dewvre1974

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Tragically Hip podcast, Gord Downie stories, Fully Completely, Hip fandom community, Canadian alt-rock history

Meta Description:

jD owns his memory lapse and drops two episodes for song #13. A raw, funny, heartfelt update from The Tragically Hip Top Forty Countdown.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tthtop40/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Sunday Evening Jam - Live Stream July 13th Jul 18, 2025

Show notes

In honour of our resident metronome Johnny Fay’s birthday on the 7th, we’re talking The Hip’s best songs to air drum to this week. Plus: an update on The Tragically Hip’s Ultimate Superfan Search, the lowdown on our epic Buffalo–Kingston run, and a deep dive into song number 15 on the countdown—Fireworks.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tthtop40/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Flashback #27 Jul 16, 2025

Show notes

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

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tthtop40/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Tragically Hip Top Forty Countdown: Song 14 - Vish from Edmonton Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

Intro

What happens when a song sits at the strange intersection of post-hardcore drumming, Gord’s ghostly poetry, and full-on studio alchemy? This week, I’m joined by Vish from Edmonton—longtime Hip-head, writer, broadcaster, and host of Kreative Kontrol—to wrestle with what makes this entry in the Top Forty so haunting and so essential.

Episode Overview

We dig into the power of The Hip’s studio experimentation, Vish’s personal memories of the band, and why this song stands out even among the weirdest, most ambitious corners of Phantom Power.

About the Guest

Vish Khanna is a staple in Canadian music media. He’s a writer, interviewer, and the voice behind the Kreative Kontrol podcast. But beyond the mic, he’s a lifelong Hip fan who’s seen it all—from the Kumbaya Festival broadcast live on MuchMusic to the raw power of Another Roadside Attraction at 15 years old.

Vish shares deeply personal stories of meeting Gord Downie in tiny clubs, trading emails, and even jamming on stage with members of the Country of Miracles at Hillside. This isn’t just fandom—it’s a lifelong relationship with the music, the people, and the community they built.

Closing

Huge thanks to Vish for his time, his honesty, and his endless Hip-lore. If this track hits you in the gut like it does for us, share your own Hipstory. Leave us a voice memo, send an email, or come argue your rankings in the Facebook group.

We’ll be back next Monday with Song 13 on the countdown—don’t miss it.

So there’s that.

Connect with Us

🎥 Watch the Sunday Evening Jam – Live Stream every week on YouTube

💥 Nominate someone for The Tragically Hip’s Ultimate Superfan Search – entries close August 25! Details here

📣 Join the community & share your Hipstory:

Facebook: facebook.com/groups/tthtop40
Instagram: @tthtop40
Email: tthtop40@gmail.com
Website: dewvre.com/tthtop40
YouTube: youtube.com/@dewvre1974

Hashtags: #TragicallyHip #TTHtop40 #GordDownie #CanadianRock #HipFandom

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Vish from Guelph joins jD to talk Song 14 on The Tragically Hip Top Forty Countdown—Hip fandom, Gord Downie memories, and why this track hits so hard.

Optional Tags (for site or SEO)

Tragically Hip podcast
Gord Downie fan stories
Fully Completely
Hip fandom community
Canadian alt-rock history

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tthtop40/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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