In this conversational YouTube segment, former CBC Radio host Tod Maffin recounts the creation of his technology‑focused program eCitizen, which aired on Tuesday evenings at 8 p.m. He explains the technical and scheduling challenges of delivering a live show across Canada’s multiple time zones, describing the two standard CBC approaches (live only to the East Coast with a taped rebroadcast, or a single simultaneous live feed requiring separate time‑zone announcements). To achieve a truly live experience in every zone while still promoting an 8 p.m. slot, the team produced five distinct regional feeds. Maffin then details the extensive audition process for a co‑host, noting that most candidates were nervous and lacked genuine chemistry. He turned to his former colleague Tamara, who auditioned with a relaxed, “no‑stakes” attitude because she didn’t aspire to a radio or acting career. This lack of pressure, according to Maffin, allowed her to connect authentically and secure the role. Tamara reflects on her brief preparation time and nervousness, suggesting that the limited lead‑up may have helped her stay calm. The segment ends with Maffin offering more CBC stories if the audience is interested.
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Okay, another CBC Radio story. So I used to be a CBC Radio host about 20 years ago, and when I came into the network, they gave me my own show. In our first half hour, the eCitizen— and it aired Tuesday evenings at 8 o'clock. I wanted it to be live because it was a show about technology, and I wanted it to be interactive, to have the audience be able to control it as it goes. At CBC Radio, there's only two ways to do live shows. There is either you do it live to the East Coast, like the Newfoundland and Maritimes time zone, Atlantic, And then Network in Toronto records that, and then they give the taped version all the way back. So it's across the country. So it's actually only live to the East Coast. And at the time they called it bicycling it back across the country, but all those were taped. Or you do it the way some shows that are live do it right now, like Cross Country Checkup, which is you are uniquely live to the whole country at the exact same time. The problem with that is you've gotta give people different time zone things. So it's like 1 o'clock Pacific, 2 o'clock, uh, Mountain, 3 o'clock Central. Et cetera. We wanted to be live in every time zone at the same time, but also be able to promote that it was at the— at 8 o'clock. So the way we did this was we did 5 different shows. Every time zone got their own unique show, and we needed someone— we knew that they needed someone to bounce off me, and we auditioned a lot of people. We put an ad in like the Georgia Straight and in— and sent it out to actors unions and things like that, and we had lots of people come in to audition, and they were— most of them were very nervous, I think, because this you know, could potentially be a big thing for their career or whatever. Um, and there were some incredibly talented people, but none that it felt like a genuine connection. I was bitching about this to my friend Tamara, um, who I used to work with at a, like, a web development firm. And I'm like, you know, we just can't— I, I like, I'm not just not finding someone who like gels. Like, we need someone that's got like a connection like you and I have. She's like, well, give me a shot at it. Like, all right. So she came in and auditioned and was perfect. And I think the reason she was perfect was because she genuinely didn't give a shit, right? She didn't want to be in radio. She didn't want to, like, have a career as an actor. So she came in, there were zero stakes for her, and she came in and just nailed it. At least that was my experience. What was your experience?
I remember what shirt I was wearing. I remember where we sat. Um, I remember being nervous, but also there wasn't a long time between the time that you invited me to come in and audition and when it all happened. So I didn't have a lot of lead-up to think about it and get nervous. So maybe that was part of it.
I have more CBC stories too if you guys really want them.
