The Walder Sportscast

Host Chris Walder (@WalderSports) is joined by Louis Zatzman (@LouisZatzman), the managing editor of Raptors Republic and a freelance writer for the Milwaukee Bucks. The two preview the upcoming 2023-24 NBA season for the Toronto Raptors while touching on Scottie Barnes, Dennis Schroder, new head coach Darko Rajakovic, and the team's final win tally and playoff aspirations. They then get into some NBA topics of discussion, including James Harden's future in Philadelphia, the Memphis Grizzlies, Victor Wembanyama, and much more. Louis also dives into his time operating the Raptors Republic site, as well as an upcoming meet-and-greet event in downtown Toronto ahead of the home opener. He then talks about his time as an ESL teacher in Korea, a ghosts/haunted tour guide, and so much more.

Host Chris Walder (@WalderSports) is joined by Kashtin, the owner of the Pascal Propaganda Twitter account (@PascalFanClub) with over 7,000 followers at the time of recording. The two deep dive into Kashtin's fandom of the Toronto Raptors franchise and how far back it goes, while also discussing the inception of his account and what inspired it. Kashtin then goes on a memorable rant on Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment before the two discuss Pascal Siakam's future with the Raptors franchise, the likelihood of the All-Star forward getting traded, what a potential package could look like, and so much more.

Host Chris Walder (@WalderSports) is joined by Chelsea Leite (@ChelseaLeite), the new Editor-in-Chief of Raptors HQ over at SB Nation. The two discuss Chelsea's recent wedding getaway at her cousin's wedding, and how the transition has been since taking over Raptors HQ, the trouble in hiring a staff of writers and the online discord that followed. They then get into the recent rumors surrounding Portland Trail Blazers All-Star Damian Lillard potentially getting traded to the Toronto Raptors, which pieces Toronto should prioritize keeping, and if the new-look roster could compete for a championship. Chelsea then blindly ranks five random "Friends" characters, recounts a hilarious encounter with Improv legend Colin Mochrie, as well as an outlandish and crude suggestion she was provided by a drunk audience member during a recent Improv show of her own.

Host Chris Walder (@WalderSports) is joined by Alex Adams (@AlexAdamsBTP), an analyst for Canada's men's senior national basketball team and the host of the "Behind the Play" podcast. The two discuss Alex's recent trip to Jakarta to cover the FIBA World Cup, his travel experience, his relationship with Arash Madani, Dillon Brooks' tournament, Dennis Schroder as the Toronto Raptors' new starting point guard, an assessment of the franchise's front office, a blind ranking of current NBA guards, the beef between Senators and Maple Leafs fans, and so much more.

Host Chris Walder (@WalderSports) is joined by Josh Custodio (@J0shC), a co-host of Wrestling Brain (@Wrestling_Brain) on both Twitch and YouTube. The two discuss AEW's big announcement of a new two-hour program called "Collision," as well as CM Punk's inevitable return and connection to the show. Josh also reveals the genesis of Wrestling Brain and how the program got off the ground. They then preview AEW's Double or Nothing pay-per-view on May 28 before getting into a mega-sized version of Keep it or Kick it (a staple of Wrestling Brain) where Josh offers his thoughts on Roman Reigns' WrestleMania win over Cody Rhodes, Sanada's IWGP title run, Sting's retirement match, the TNT championship, and so much more.

Host Chris Walder (@WalderSports) is joined by Jay Rosales (@Rosalesaurus), a writer for Raptors HQ and the co-host of the "That's a Rap" podcast. The two discuss Jay's venture into being a regular media member at Toronto Raptors games, the impostor syndrome he's felt, and his journey being a writer alongside Chris back in the day. They then get into the recent firing of Raptors head coach Nick Nurse, some potential candidates to replace him, Becky Hammon receiving an interview, before getting into some NBA playoffs talk with the upcoming Lakers-Warriors series, and some reaction to the Bucks and Grizzlies being upset in the opening round. They then close out the show with their prediction for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers, eating at the Mandarin, the Netflix series "Beef," and much more.

Host Chris Walder is joined by Mike Roach, the co-host of the "Hustle Play" podcast alongside Toronto Raptors center Chris Boucher for Yahoo Sports Canada, as well as the host of "The Mike Roach Podcast." The two look back at Toronto's loss to the Chicago Bulls in the play-in tournament, what went wrong, Diar DeRozan's screams, and who's to blame for the defeat. They then preview the team's potential offseason moves, where the 2022-23 campaign went wrong, and which free-agents need to stick around. They culminate the podcast by picking the series winners for the first round of the upcoming NBA playoffs.

Host Chris Walder (@WalderSports) is joined by Will Lou (@William_Lou), the host of "The Raptors Show" on Sportsnet 590 The Fan. The two discuss Will's recent live show with Toronto Raptors GM Bobby Webster, the success of his radio show/podcast, his relationships with Blake Murphy and Alex Wong, the frustrating 2022-23 Raptors campaign, what the team needs to look for in this summer's draft, having big heads, bubble tea, best-dressed Raptors, and so much more.

Host Chris Walder (@WalderSports) is joined by Crina Mustafa (@CrinaMM), a digital host for Homestand Sports and the host of the "Court Time with Crina Mustafa" and "North of the Net" podcasts. The two discuss Crina's last two years and how her career path in sports media has drastically changed since the last time they recorded a podcast. They also get into the evolution of women in sports media, finding a work-life balance being in the field, how therapy has helped her maintain a level head, being a part of Homestand Sports and what that brand is trying to achieve, the Toronto Raptors' offseason plans, the Nikola Jokic vs. Joel Embiid NBA Most Valuable Player race, the WNBA coming to Toronto, and so much more.

Host Chris Walder (@WalderSports) is joined by Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC), a radio host and writer for both Sportsnet 590 The Fan and Sportsnet covering the Toronto Raptors and Toronto Blue Jays. The two discuss Blake's ongoing battle with long Covid and post-Covid complications, his busy schedule and how he juggles his many roles, as well as his recent stint doing professional wrestling commentary for Smash Wrestling in Toronto. Blake also provides his two cents on Fred VanVleet's recent pipebomb-esque rant on NBA officiating following the Raptors' loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, whether or not this season can ultimately be considered a success, and how the franchise can potentially keep all of their big name free agents like VanVleet, Jakob Poeltl, and Gary Trent Jr.

Host Chris Walder (@WalderSports) is joined by Jon Alba (@JonAlba), an Emmy-winning sportscaster who's the host of "The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy" and "Strictly Business with Eric Bischoff" podcasts. The two preview All Elite Wrestling's "Revolution" card, which includes MJF defending the AEW championship against Bryan Danielson in a 60-minute Iron Man match, Jon Moxley battling Hangman Adam Page in a Texas Death match, and The Elite putting their Trios titles on the line against House of Black. Jon also recommends some Bruce Springsteen songs for Chris, and talks about his battles with his own mental health and how he's prioritizing his own happiness.

After an eight-month hiatus, "The Walder Sportscast" finally returns as host Chris Walder (@WalderSports) is joined by Yahoo Sports Canada's Imman Adan (@Imman_Adan) to talk a number of topics, including the early days of Toronto Raptors Twitter, the current state of the team following the trade deadline earlier in the month, fallout from NBA All-Star Weekend, Nikola Jokic's Most Valuable Player bid, the future of the "Dishes and Dimes" podcast, and so much more.

Host Chris Walder (@WalderSports) is once again joined by Noor Zainab (@NoorrZainab), the former co-host of the "Dishes and Dimes" podcast who is now an on-air host for both the Parleh and FanDuel Canada, as well as the co-host of the "In the Zone" NBA and WNBA podcast. Some of the topics the two discuss include: - Chris' upcoming wedding plans - The story behind Noor joining the world of sports betting media - If there's any pressure behind providing accurate information to consumers - Impostor Syndrome - The Parleh and female representation - Takeaways from the 2022 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors - OG Anunoby rumors and disgruntled Toronto Raptors players - Rapping John Cena's entrance theme - Noor's father looking like The Undertaker - "Love on the Spectrum" - Noor's tongue in photos and so much more!

Host Chris Walder (@WalderSports) invites Braden Herrington (@TheBrayD), the co-host of the "UpNXT" and "BDElite" podcasts which are a part of the Post Wrestling family of shows, onto the program. Some of the topics the two discuss include: - Braden's infamous "Helloooo!" greeting - Starting a Patreon - Transition from NXT Black and Gold to NXT 2.0 - Covering wrestling when the quality is below standard - NXT OG stars jumping to All Elite Wrestling - Cody Rhodes' initial WWE run - AEW vs. New Japan Pro Wrestling dream matches - Gargano vs. Andrade and Chill - Chipotle - Christmas elf bar-hopping - Braden's music and alias "Ben Tramer" and so much more!

Host Chris Walder (@WalderSports) returns to host "The Walder Sportscast with his first guest in over three months, Mike Roach, the co-host of the "Hustle Play" podcast alongside Toronto Raptors center Chris Boucher at Yahoo Sports Canada, as well as the host of "The Mike Roach Podcast." Some of the topics the two discuss includes: - The Philadelphia 76ers eliminating the Raptors in the first round of the NBA playoffs and the Twitter slander that ensued following the Miami Heat bouncing Philly in the second round - How toxic an environment Twitter can be - James Harden's postseason struggles - Consistency being a podcaster - Pros and Cons of hosting a show by yourself or alongside a co-host - Carving out a path in sports media - The genesis of "Hustle Play" with Chris Boucher - Behind the scenes stories from the infamous Boucher-William Lou episode - Timbiebs Timbits - "The Circle" - MMMBop and so much more! If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/MI/NJ/PA/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-877-770-STOP (7867) (LA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), call/text TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA). 21+ (18+ WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/LA/MI/ /NJ/NY/ PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Min. $5 deposit required. Eligibility restrictions apply. See http://draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.

Host Chris Walder (@WalderSports) invites Eric Smith (@Eric__Smith), the play-by-play man for the Toronto Raptors on Sportsnet 590 The Fan and the co-host of the "Smith and Jones" podcast, onto the program. Some of the topics the two discuss include: - How Eric has found longevity in an industry where it's usually hard to come by - His backup plan if broadcast media didn't work out - Working alongside George Stroumboulopoulos - If covering the 2019 NBA Championship was the most fun he had on the job - His close friendship with Jack Armstrong - The Toronto Raptors' short-term goals - The best of Pascal Siakam - The Raptors' inability to defeat Dwane Casey's Detroit Pistons - The Buffalo Bills' Super Bowl aspirations - Meeting actor Len Lesser (Seinfeld's Uncle Leo) - His "From Brooklyn to New York" album - His loyalty to his barber and so much more!

Host Chris Walder (@WalderSports) invites Amy Audibert (@amyaudibert), a sideline reporter and colour analyst for the Toronto Raptors on Sportsnet, onto the program. Some of the topics the two discuss include: - Amy's disdain for decaffeinated drinks - Amy's recent media whirlwind - If she has any added preparation working for the Raptors as opposed to the Raptors 905, college basketball, or WNBA - What it's like being an analyst while having to wear a mask during the pandemic - The all-women's broadcast and if it will return - An edition of "Likely or Unlikely" featuring Pascal Siakam's All-Star bid, Goran Dragic's future, and the beef/friendship between The Raptor and Devin Booker - Calling a 43-0 quarter - "Dexter: New Blood" - Drag Queens - Working at a casino - Her dog, Gus and so much more!

Host Chris Walder (@WalderSports) invites his beautiful fiance Meghan Howe (@MeghanHowe_xo) onto the program for a special holiday edition of the podcast. Some of the topics the two discuss include: - Meghan's recent concussion following an unfortunate spill outside of their apartment - Chris almost setting their home on fire - Meghan's thoughts on "The Bachelorette" finale with Michelle picking Nayte over Brandon - Which Home Alone film is better? - Muppet Family Christmas, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Elf ... - Who is Meghan's favorite Toronto Raptor? - Chris having never seen a Star Wars film - Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, or Splash Mountain?? - Singing songs from "The Little Mermaid" and so much more! (Music: Christmas Village - Aaron Kenny, Canon and Variation - Twin Music, Deck the Halls B - Kevin MacLeod, non-copyright Disney music)

Host Chris Walder (@WalderSports) invites Ben Carlos (@BenJCarlos), an on-air host for Yahoo Sports Canada and the host of the "Friends With Ben" podcast, onto the program. Some of the topics the two discuss include: - Deep diving for research into podcast guests - Their shared admiration for Sean Evans of "Hot Ones" - Being nervous reaching out to big-time guests - Ben's interview to land a job with the Toronto Raptors' interactive squad - The most gratification Ben's received from asking a question that's impressed a guest - What it's like trying to get a live crowd energized during a losing effort - How Ben joined Yahoo Sports Canada and any pressure he felt coming in following William Lou and Alex Wong's departure - Pascal Siakam's All-Star potential - Roman Reigns' WWE Universal Championship reign - The Raptors potentially moving OG Anunoby to the Pacers - Pixar movies which are better than Ratatouille - Pablo Sanchez of "Backyard Sports" - Winnie the Pooh - "Survivor" legends and so much more! (Music: Conservation - Cxdy, Secret Job - Godmode)

Host Chris Walder (@WalderSports) invites Savanna Hamilton (@SavHamilton11), a sideline reporter for the Raptors 905, as well as a producer for MLSE and on-air host for NBA TV Canada, onto the program. Some of the topics the two discuss include: * Reactions to the recent Not Guilty verdict of Kyle Rittenhouse * How to overcome any mental hurdles that come with overworking in sports media * If the industry is making progress in including more women and POC * The impact Duane Watson and Akil Augustine have had on her career * If she ever looks back on what could have been had she not suffered major injuries as a basketball player for the Ryerson Rams * Pascal Siakam's hot and cold start to the season * Likely/Unlikely on early Raptors storylines * Adding milk before cereal * Big Turk chocolate * "You" * Her twin sister and so much more!