1. The Supporting Act with Matt Moskal
2. Couch Surfin’
3. Witchpolice

Matt Moskal’s no stranger to this category, as The Supporting Act was ranked second in last years’ Uniter 30 poll. Hardly a small feat for a podcast that had only existed a mere 10 episodes at the time.

One year and nearly 60 episodes later, The Supporting Act has quickly become one of the most thought-provoking Canadian podcasts. Each week, Moskal conducts informal interviews with artists, musicians, writers and comedians, ranging from casual friends to complete strangers.

Guests have included Winnipeg punk band Mobina Galore, Dashboard Confessional’s Chris Carrabba and cutting-edge comics Mark Forward and Shane Mauss.

Moskal first dabbled in the arts as both an indie musician and journalist, in addition to his work at Sudbury’s CKLU radio. An avid talk-radio listener as an inquisitive youngster, broadcasting has been an ever-present aspect of Moskal’s life.

“I just can’t help but have questions for people,” Moskal says. “(The podcast) is something I have so much fun with. I don’t know what I would do if I stopped doing it.”

While at school in Ontario, Moskal also hosted Discorporate Rock Radio (formerly Songs from the Black Hole), a campus radio show, the title of which he sheepishly explains as part of his “weird Frank Zappa phase.”

In 2015, Moskal plans to produce podcasts for a number of Winnipeg comedians, though he does not envision himself as the ruler of a podcast network.

“I’m not a network guy,” Moskal says. “I’m a free agent, so to speak.”

Moskal’s personal favourite Supporting Act episodes include his chats with local legend Fred Penner, comedian John Wing, and Nicholas Thorburn of Islands/The Unicorns, the podcast’s most downloaded episode. However, Moskal is quick to add:

“Hawksley Workman was a fucking awesome guest! You guys can print swears, right?”

Yes, we can.

Part of the series: The Uniter 30

Published in Volume 69, Number 15 of The Uniter (January 7, 2015)