Hey, it’s jD, and this week I’m joined by one of the most well-traveled Hip fans you’ll ever meet — Shaun from Vancouver, a part-time travel blogger, full-time Hiphead, and EV evangelist who somehow managed to turn Music @ Work into road trip therapy. (Respect.)
Shaun’s Hipstory begins in Yellowknife — bouncing on a bed, hopped up on sugar, catching Courage on MuchMusic. From there, it was uncles in Ontario handing him Up To Here and Road Apples, worn-out cassette tapes in a Ford Escort, and open mic nights that turned into once-in-a-lifetime Gord encounters. Like, literal Gord. In person. With a guitar.
We talk about what it means to fall out of love with a band and find your way back. About missed chances and backstage urinals. About the communal catharsis of the final tour and the weird comfort of watching Gord wear a Boston Bruins jersey while fronting the most Canadian band of all time. And about how rediscovering In Between Evolution lit a fire he thought he’d lost.
Shaun shares why the music hits harder now than it ever did in the moment — and why he’s dedicating time, energy, and a whole damn travel blog to mapping out a Tragically Hip pilgrimage route across Canada.
🎙️ Next week: We roll into California for a lyrical deep-dive with Neil from Arroyo Grande. If you’ve ever felt seen by a Hip lyric or cried on a hike listening to Machine, Neil’s your guy.
💬 Pull Quote
“When Gord came to Yellowknife, I handed him a guitar at a basement bar and got to say I opened for him. He even ranted about the fish we caught. It was surreal.”
👤 About Our Guest
Shaun from Vancouver is the guy behind This Life in Trips and MyEVTrips.com — two blogs fueled by wanderlust, road snacks, and Hip albums on loop. He’s seen the band live from Alberta festivals to Massey Hall tributes, and once held the door open for Ron MacLean while debating whether to ask for a selfie. He did not.
He’s also working on a “Hip Travel Bucket List” for superfans. Expect Kingston, Horseshoe Tavern, the Danforth… and maybe your neighbourhood bar if Gord ever wandered in.
📬 Get Involved
- 🎙️ Drop your hot take at castfeedback.com/tthtop40
- 📧 Send your Hipstory: tthtop40@gmail.com
- 📂 Grab bonus goodies & early episodes from the membersHIP folder
📡 Follow + Stream
- Spotify | Apple | YouTube | dewvre.com/tthtop40
- Instagram: @tthtop40
- Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/tthtop40
💸 Support the ALS Society of Canada
We’re aiming to raise $25K for ALS Canada in honour of our friend Matt Rona and the broader Hip community. Support us at buymeacoffee.com/tthtop40 — because it’s more than just a countdown.
Transcript follows below.
The Tragically Hip Top 40 Countdown
2025-05-24, 9:00 AM
The Tragically Hip Top 40 Countdown
Join jD beginning Monday, January 6th, 2025 while he counts down the top 40 songs by The
Tragically Hip as voted by you! Every week on The Tragically Hip Top 40 Countdown
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