Friday, March 12, 2021 11 Brooklin Town Crier Famous Lost Words By Richard Bercuson One day years back, while deejaying in a Toronto club, something came over Tom Jokic who was known for not being able to stand still while on the job. He began dancing to the Van Halen song Dancing in the Street "like my life depended on it" on the dance floor, just feet away from Eddie Van Halen and Valerie Bertinelli who sat at a table, watching his gyrations with quizzical looks. (Jokic describes the memorable event, as it were, in an audio clip the BTC has uploaded to our site, brooklintowncrier.com.) Fast forward to today and the Brooklin resident calls it one of his more bizarre moments in the music industry. These days, Jokic is the co-host of the podcast "Famous Lost Words" along with former MuchMusic host and songwriter Christopher Ward. Through the magic of modern technology, Jokic in his Brooklin home and Ward in Los Angeles banter about music industry artists as they replay timeless interviews. Radio producer Jokic was for years the producer of CHUM radio's morning hit The Marilyn Denis and Jamar show. According to the iHeart web site, he is a font of useless knowledge. This lends itself perfectly to one of the more fascinating podcasts around because he has access to CHUM's archives which he trolls in search of, well, famous lost words. The labour of love which the two share has resulted in a hit that is heard around the world in over 30 countries as well as on the iHeart radio network. "I'm fascinated by these old interviews," he says, "most of which have never been aired aside from the first time." He and Ward met at a party and the two hit it off immediately. When they first discussed the podcast idea, Jokic admits that Ward was to be the key guy. "He has a ton of experience and is so well known that originally it was sort of going to be 70-30 him and me. I'd be his sidekick. Now it's evolved and it's more of a 50-50 split." A quiet Orbison Having access to those archives, for which Jokic is grateful, has allowed the show to let listeners in on some truly classic interviews. For instance, the late Roy Orbison, was a notoriously quiet man despite having a string of mega hits like "Pretty Woman." The podcast unearthed a couple of old interviews with him talking about his start in the '50s and how he once had to pass the hat to get some money after a show. He earned $8. Orbison explains as well how he gave the song "Claudette" to the Everly Brothers who made it a hit. On the 40th anniversary of John Lennon's death last December, Jokic and Ward broadcast a special episode of interviews Lennon had given, ones never before heard. A more recent episode was about Motown and included classic interviews with Smokey Robinson as well as a particularly poignant one with Mary Wells ("My guy") who died of cancer just a few years later. As for how to make this type of podcast work, Jokic says the trick is to want to make it sound like a conversation. "If you get too deep in the weeks, it's tough to make it interesting. Christopher and I want our personalities to be part of the draw. We want to acknowledge the artists we feature for who they are. Besides, we have fun together "Podcasting really gives you the ultimate freedom to explore." Into their art Of the artists he's spoken with himself or played interviews from, he says, "You can't wide brush them. Some are so deeply into their own art that they're willing to really talk about it." He cites an example of an interview he once had with The Eagles' Don Henley. He was allotted just 20 minutes, but when time was up, it was Henley who said to his staffer he needed "more time with Tom." Given the opportunity, Jokic has a short list of artists he'd love to interview. Joni Mitchell is at the top of that list though he recog- nizes she'd probably be tough to talk with as she's said to be both aggravating and fascinating. Paul Simon, Steve Nicks (Fleet- wood Mac) and Gordon Lightfoot are others as is Paul McCartney whose autograph he has on his copy of the Sgt. Pepper album. In the meantime, he and Ward continue recording "Famous Lost Words" with over 600 shows in the bank. "Famous Lost Words" is available on Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio or wherever you listen to podcasts. Plant-Based Eating by Sheree Nicholson What's a vegan? Recently I was at a local bakery and asked the staff if their oatmeal bars were vegan. One person replied they were gluten-free. Gluten is vegan as it's the protein in wheat. This is a common misunderstanding. Often restaurant staff and the general public don't really know what veganism is. The experience prompted me to address this through a list of the questions I'm frequently asked. What is a vegan? Vegans avoid eating all animal origin foods: meat, fish, dairy products, eggs, and honey. Many extend this to not using products tested on animals such as with clothing, shoes, personal care items, cosmetics, and medicine, which all have animal products in them. Is it hard to be vegan? The transition was much easier than I expected. I managed it overnight by taking on a Vegan Challenge. But many people just slowly eliminate animal products from their diets. Will I miss animal products? There are many vegan alternatives to meat, fish, eggs, and every sort of dairy product you could want. I don't miss anything. Many processed replacements contain numerous chemicals, so read the labels and use them sparingly, especially in the transition's beginning. What about protein? There are plenty of delicious vegan foods that are rich in this crucial nutrient. Including foods like beans, lentils, and tofu with most meals will significantly increase your overall protein intake. How do I get my B12? The easiest way to ensure excellent B-12 status is to take an inexpensive sublingual tablet every two or three days. This is an essential supplement for vegans. At your annual physical, get your B12 tested. Why can't I wear animal fibres? Animal fibres include down, wool, silk, and fur. Additionally, most shoes and belts are at least partly made of leather. These materials are invariably tied to the meat industry. Many vegans continue to purchase these products, so it's a personal decision. How much should I eat? The volume of food you need may actually be more than you're accustomed to. However, the energy matters, so be careful not to overeat. Plant-based foods digest faster than animal-based foods, so you may want to add a morning and afternoon snack. What might friends and family say? Your decision may not be fully supported. In my case, my Mom and a niece became vegan soon after I did which led to family gatherings with lots of plant-based options. Other family members tried to draw me into arguments, which I avoided. Hang in there; your change will soon be accepted. Not arguing with people allows them to ask questions later. If you need plant-based support, there are great blogs to read and local restaurants to visit where you can mix with likeminded people. Each of us is perfectly imperfect. Being kind goes a long way when confronted with those who challenge our choices. Sheree's hack: When given the opportunity to talk about your veganism, do so with compassion. Christopher Ward (left) and Tom Jokic