Nonis and trade talk as the “Leaf Matters” podcast hits 50 episodes...

Reaching small milestones is one of the things that sometimes makes life a bit more enjoyable. So it was nice to reach a rather modest mark recently (50 Episodes) along with my partner and co-host Matteo Codispoti (We Want a Cup) on the “Leaf Matters” podcast that we have produced, starting back in early November of 2012.  For the record, "Episode 50" featured our first ever "fan" round-table, featuring Toronto-based Leaf supporter Sean Pratt and Daryl Keeping, a native and resident of Newfoundland and another long-time Leaf fan with blue and white in his family's veins.  On the podcast they both share some vivid memories of what it means to be a Leaf fan.

On "Leaf Matters", we of course look to keep abreast of the major Maple Leaf topics of the day, but we’ve also had some tremendous guests over the past five months since we launched the show.  We’ve featured some outstanding (and very proud, if you listen to the interviews) former Leafs, along with special guests like long-time Leaf coach Pat Quinn and Elizabeth Brinton, the granddaughter of Maple Leaf founder Conn Smythe and the daughter of former Leaf owner (through the four Stanley Cups in the 1960s) Stafford Smythe (pictured at right).

Along the way, a number of folks from the mainstream media have given freely of their time to join the show, and we have also tried to ensure that we've reached out to our friends and colleagues in the hockey/Leaf blogosphere.  Some have declined our offer to take part, but most have been very willing to guest on the show.  All our guests have done an excellent job providing their insight and offering analysis when it comes to what is facing the team we all follow so closely.

If you’ve never listened to the program, I invite you to give it a try. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea.  Matteo encouraged me to follow the HF Boards, for example, to chat about the topics we discuss on the podcast but I had to stop.   It was simply too negative for me. I don’t mind fair 'criticism' but as I try to remind people, we are simply two long-time Leaf fans looking to offer an enjoyable alternative to what you might usually hear.  We are not broadcasters, or mainstream media people.  We are looking to produce a show by Leaf fans and for Leaf fans, nothing more than that.

We hope some of you do like what we’re doing, and based on a lot of the feedback we have received (Facebook, Twitter, iTunes, personal e-mails) many of you have, and that’s good to hear. Those that don't have the freedom to look elsewhere for Leaf chat.  It's the same with this site, Vintage Leaf Memories.  I well recognize it won't be a blog everyone will love or even like.  But I hope enough will continue to support my efforts here to make it worthwhile continuing, when I sometimes think my absence would go unnoticed.

For those who might be interested, the program is available on iTunes and also on the PodAlmighty Network, Canada's top podcast network.

Here is a list of individuals we have chatted with on the "Leaf Matters" podcast so far:

Former Leafs

·      Allan Bester

·      Laurie Boschman

·      Bob Nevin

·      Mark Osborne

·      Mirko Frycer

·      Jim Dorey

Mainstream media

·      Mike Zeisberger, Toronto Sun

·      Lance Hornby, Toronto Sun

·      Kevin McGran, Toronto Star

·      Damien Cox, Toronto Star

·      Adam Proteau, The Hockey News

·      Sean McIndoe (“Down Goes Brown”) National Post

·      Darren Yourk, Globe & Mail

·      Paul Hendrick, Leafs TV

·      Joe Bowen, Leafs play-by-play

·      Dave Feschuk, Toronto Star

·      Steve Buffery, Toronto Sun

Bloggers

·      Rob Del Mundo, TML fans

·      Jon Steitzer, Maple Leaf Hot Stove/Yakov Mironov

·      Anthony Petrielli, Maple Leaf Hot Stove

·      Marco Perruzza, Hope in the Big Smoke

·      Curt Snodden, Blue Chips Prospects
    Miranda Furtado, "Babes Dig Balls"

Special guests

·      Pat Quinn, former Leaf player and coach

·      Elizabeth Brinton, granddaughter of Maple Leaf founder Conn Smythe

·      Matt Nichol, founder, Biosteel

I hope I’m not missing anyone.  We certainly appreciate everyone who has taken the time to visit the show.  If you do like the program, I hope you'll consider leaving feedback on iTunes or on the PodAlmighty Network site.

Matteo and I hope we’ll be around when we really have something special to talk about in Leafland.  The Leafs matter, and Leaf fans matter, too.

Thank you.