paulcrosstoronto’s Podcast

Here's another taste of what's coming soon as Trevor Campbell and Paul Cross prepare to launch No Embargo - the podcast featuring a public relations professional and a radio news pro. 

Media literacy, narrative strategy, and behind‑the‑scenes truth‑telling from two insiders who unpack how stories develop - honest talk, nothing held back: No Embargo.

Today: a good news story from summer 2026

From July 20, 2026:  Millions of people across Canada and around the world are talking about the hottest music sensation of the moment - Angine de Poitrine. The costumed duo from Quebec is taking the world by storm, show after show, and clip after clip. Is mainstream media catching the story and the phenomenon that's spreading over social media? Is their appearance in each community being recognized as newsworthy? Can they get their music played on the radio?

Commentary and analysis.

Coming soon wherever you get your podcasts: No Embargo

 

Teaser from Trevor Campbell and Paul Cross

A news guy and a public relations strategist decode what makes news and why.

 

Media literacy, narrative strategy, and behind‑the‑scenes truth‑telling from two insiders who unpack how stories develop - honest talk, nothing held back: No Embargo.

 

Today: The end of NHL broadcasts on conventional over-the-air free TV

 

From June 19, 2026: As we build up content and resources for No Embargo here's another example of what the show is about.  The end of free NHL broadcasts is a major change after nearly 75 years.  Starting in fall 2026, NHL games will not be available on free over-the-air conventional TV; so they'll also be gone from channels on basic cable packages.  Viewers will have to pay to see NHL games.  Trevor and Paul agree that's a huge change, and it's an issue of public interest.  We break down the communications approach in the way the information was released by the parties involved and talk about what comes next in this significant change around availability of a cultural product.

 

Commentary and analysis.

 

No Embargo. Coming soon, wherever you get podcasts.

Coming soon from Trevor Campbell and Paul Cross: No Embargo

A news guy and a public relations strategist decode what makes news and why.

 

Media literacy, narrative strategy, and behind‑the‑scenes truth‑telling from two insiders who unpack how stories develop - honest talk, nothing held back: No Embargo.

 

Today:  What’s next after the death of six radio stations

From July 10, 2026: Trevor and Paul take a deep dive on what could happen next now that six information-oriented radio stations owned by one corporation have been shut down and taken off the air.  In some of the affected cities that radio station was the only all-news or news and talk station in the market. As the public outcry builds on social media and local business and municipal leaders recognize the loss, where is the broadcast regulator? The Canadian Radio-Television Telecommunications Commission – the CRTC – is silent so far.

Commentary and analysis.

Coming soon, wherever you get podcasts.

On 25 years of indifference.  On the 25th anniversary of a targeted murder of a young Black man by a racist white gang, during a public celebration in a municipal park, a look back, and links to related resources. I have found no recognition of the story at all today, in a search across news media sites and social media.  It was what I perceived as local news media failings that got me started in pursuit of the story back in May 2001.  Uses original audio from my archives.

The documentary I refer to in this episode originally was posted here in 2021.  NOTE: Language and the story itself may be triggering. 

https://paulcrosstoronto.podbean.com/e/cross-talk-extra-the-erasure-of-race-the-murder-of-howard-joel-munroe-part-1-a-killing-in-the-park-documentary/

The other resources I refer to are posted in Podbean at The Erasure of Race: The murder of Howard Joel Munroe.  Intended as an educational resource.

https://theerasureofrace.podbean.com

On the Passing of a Panther.  From January 14, 2026.  Exactly 32 years before this date, I sat with a former member of the Black Panthers Party for Self-Defence in an interview at CHUMFM in Toronto.  We knew him from the 60s as H. Rap Brown.  In 1994, he was known as Jamil al-Amin. On his death in November of 2025, I instantly thought of this interview.  In season five I have been mining my archives and memories; and that's where we're going again today.  Features audio from my interview for the In Toronto program on 104.5 CHUMFM.  For educational purposes.

On remembering the Quebec referendum of 1995: I was there. From October 30th, 2025. Thirty years ago, voters in Quebec voted narrowly -- narrowly -- to remain in Canada, and against pursuing separation.  It was a tumultuous time 15 years after the previous referendum.  It's one of the rare occasions when I spent an entire week broadcasting the CHUM Radio Network National News on the road; this time from CKGM In Montreal. Today I'm remembering that historic day, and how it was for me that night...reporting live from the headquarters of the Yes forces for separation.  Makes fair dealing use of archive audio from CBC national tv and CPAC archive audio. For educational purposes. 

On the radio call-in heard around the world: WWL New Orleans and local radio in times of local crisis. On September 2nd 2005 the mayor of New Orleans phones radio station WWL870 after the fifth day of the crisis brought on by Hurricane Katrina. Mayor Ray Nagin's call -- his words on the radio -- are so striking, so significant...the call gets picked up and broadcast around the world.  It's widely recognized as being the moment that woke up senior levels of government and agencies and got real help on the way to New Orleans.  Today, I am looking back at that event of 20 years ago.  This episode makes fair dealing use of audio from WWL Radio New Orleans.  Includes bits from my own personal interview with the host who got the call -- Garland Robinette -- from when I visited New Orleans and went to talk to him at WWL in 2008. In Robinette's own words, had the mayor not phoned the radio station that day...and said what he did...it likely would have been even longer before help arrived and "...more people would have died." 

WWL's own documentary and interview series about its remarkable performance during the Katrina crisis may be available to you at:  

https://www.audacy.com/wwl/news/local/wwl-presents-katrina20-years-later-a-new-orleans-story

The radio station's live stream appears to be unavailable outside the United States.

This episode is being posted on September 2, 2025 - 20 years after this historic broadcast. 

 

 

Forty years ago: Remembering Air India Flight 182. When an Air India jet was bombed over the Atlantic Ocean on June 23rd 1985 hours after taking off from Toronto, it was recognized as the single deadliest incident of terrorism involving a passenger flight in world history.  I remember that day vividly, as I explained in Episode One this season. Today, I'll tell you why it stands out in my memory.  It's unfortunate to hear reports that many Canadians have never heard of Air India flight 182.  It's a tragic Canadian story.  There's so much more to continue exploring. Today...what I remember.

The book I refer to in these episodes is The Death of Air India Flight 182 by Salim Jima. Star Books, London 1986.

The report for the Canadian government by Bob Rae referred to in this episode is here: https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/lssns-lrnd/index-en.aspx

This episode uses some of my archived audio from an interview conducted for the In Toronto program on 104.5 CHUMFM Toronto in June 1986.  Fair dealing use. For education and review purposes.

On Air India - in 2025 and 40 years ago. The tragic crash of an Air India jet on June 12, 2025 comes just days before the 40th anniversary of the bombing of an Air India jet on its way from Toronto to India.  I was already planning an episode in time for that stark anniversary, digging into my archives of coverage from the time.  There will be still more to come on that.  But I was getting the impression some people telling me the news now have no idea about the earlier case, and its very deep Toronto and Canadian roots.  So let's get started. For educational and review purposes. This episode uses archive audio from my work at CHUMFM Toronto back at the time.  You'll hear the voice of reporter Salim Jiwa, author or the book The Death of Air India Flight 182.  We spoke at different times over the years of the story.  Salim passed away in September 2024.  

From February 13, 2025: In time for World Radio Day.  But I'm not focused on the annual tribute to radio today.  I'm thinking about the need for better radio in Canada as the very sovereignty of this country is threatened.  Canada needs tougher, bolder, more thoughtful and life-experienced radio.  And mature analysis. Season 9 is coming soon.