In part one of this epic two-part conversation, Darrin and Sara J dive deep into a rich and winding musical landscape. They explore the power of thoughtful feedback—from trusted sources—and how it can support the musicians in your life, and the importance of staying open to it yourself. Darrin reflects on his lifelong love affair with music, tracing it back to the nostalgic albums his parents played—records that have become part of his DNA. Born at a time when some of the most iconic music was not only being released but also performed live, Darrin walks us through his musical journey:
 From 70's prog rock to '80s new wave (and how one inspired the other) to his very first album purchase (which he still owns!) to a concert calendar that's still stacked decades later. He shares stories from his first live show—The Who in October 1982 at Toronto’s Exhibition Stadium—complete with a rare Joe Jackson opening set (thanks to The Clash playing SNL that night instead). The night would later be memorialized in a photo inside the sleeve of Jackson's 80/86 live album. We talk local shows, backstage moments, and what it's like to catch bands just before they hit their upward trajectory.
 He also opens up about the raw masculine energy of early Tragically Hip shows, the role music plays in connecting with his kids, and a few of the music websites he contributes to (more on that in Part Two!). You’ll also hear the origin story behind the lyric:
 “Everyone has their breaking point—with me it's spiders, with you it’s me.” and its connection to the 1977 sci-fi film—"The People That Time Forgot" We covered a lot, but there's still more ground to explore—don’t miss Part Two next week!