CBC Radio

My main companion in the studio is CBC Radio.  I love hearing a mix of music and the stories behind the lyrics and musicians.  I grew up listening to CBC (and watching it) up north as that was all we had and I loved it.  My favorite programs (and hosts) are Radio 2 Morning with Tom Power, Shift with Tom Allen, Radio 2 Drive with Rich Terfry, Tonic with my friend Tim Tamashiro, and Vinyl Café with Stuart McLean. 

Not only do I love the music, which ranges from folk to jazz to classical but I also love, love, love the quirky stories they all share...about the songs, the song writers, really about anything.  Tim told me they are 'water cooler' stories, those things you might remember and share at work.  A while ago, an unusual story stuck with me of how studies have shown women to look the most haggard on Wednesdays at 3pm.  It made me laugh and I definitely shared it with the ladies at the library.

And Stuart McLean's stories about Dave and Morely and their family are so funny and heart warming.  I was so grateful to see him live last Christmas.  The way he delivers his stories and the musicians he features on his program are all fantastic.  Everyone in my family has changing favorites, stories that make us laugh until we cry...mine currently is of their son Sam and his soccer try-out.  I can't help but smile just to think of it.

I also prefer the news broadcasts as they still feel like factual stories, unlike so much news broadcasting which tends to lean too heavily on the entertainment industry which is unfortunate.  If I want celebrity 'news' I would rather read an Enquirer (do they still publish those?).  And I especially enjoy hearing the good stories that happen in the world, too.

I have always been a fan of CBC listening to it while growing up in a northern community not only because that is all we had in both radio and television, but because I really enjoyed what they offered and I have to say it's getting better and better all the time.  I have to be careful about what I listen to while I paint as anything too fast makes me move faster and I'd rather move a little slower.  I began to wonder if the music does that to me as I work, how does it affect me as I do anything in my day.  Because I want to live more mindfully, less stressed (yes, I am definitely affected by everything in my environment), and not feel rushed, I choose what I watch, listen to and do carefully...and CBC Radio is definitely in that mix.