A new tone at 50

… I’m finally settling into a new age.

Today’s Substack is brought to you by the fine folks at Cora’s Pizza and certainly not Door Dash or their awful drivers.

These Last Few Weeks in My Brain

It’s been a hectic stretch — between a Coursera class, cooking up some new business ideas, applying for jobs (it’s been really difficult), and oh yeah, deciding to retire The Sound Podcast. So consider today’s Substack a double dose of delight.

As many of you know, I’ve hosted The Sound Podcast with Ira Haberman for the last 8.5 years. It’s been a true honour — interviewing incredible musicians, introducing newer artists, and digging deep into the music I love. But truthfully, sticking to just the jam band scene started to feel a little… stale. 785 episodes will do that to you.

The good news? I’m already laying the groundwork for a brand-new podcast — something a little broader, a little bolder, and full of people and conversations I think you’ll really enjoy. More on that soon.

A few thank-yous are in order…

First, to Adam Karch, my technical director and all-around mensch. Adam has been with me since day one and is hands-down the best editor I’ve ever worked with. I’m thrilled he’s joining me on the next chapter. Thanks, Karch.

To Andrea Rooz, our “imaging voice” — your buttery-smooth delivery helped shape the identity of the show, and I’m so grateful for your time, talent, and continued support.

To our loyal listeners — especially what my kids lovingly call The Jewish Deadhead Cult of Toronto — thank you for being part of this ride.

To my family and friends (some of whom still don’t understand what a jam band or podcast actually is), thanks for cheering me on anyway.

And to the publicists, managers, tour staff, and artists — thank you for your time, your trust, and your art. I was grateful before we spoke. I’m even more so now.

This isn’t goodbye. I’m still listening for the secret and searching for the sound. Stay subscribed here — and follow me on IG or X @irahaberman — for news about what’s next.

The Unfiltered Take

I may actually be maturing (don’t laugh). Here’s why:

Every few weeks, I treat myself to a beard trim at a very hoidy-toidy barber shop. I could do it myself, but I’ve never been great with straight lines — and shaving with glasses on is just awkward. Plus, I love the warm towel ritual and the straight razor shave. It’s calming. It’s indulgent. It’s me-time.

But lately, my go-to barber has been on maternity leave, and this week’s substitute didn’t bring the magic. No warm towel. Barely touched the beard. A letdown.

Now, younger Ira would’ve made a scene. This Ira? I paid, left, and vented to my buddy Hoidzy. Then I filled out the shop’s customer feedback survey. A few days later, the owner called — thanked me for the honest review, offered a free service, and even recommended specific barbers for next time. That’s how you turn a bad experience into a great one.

Lesson: Sometimes a quiet, respectful nudge works better than a noisy complaint. Who knew?

UPDATE: Speaking of customer service… wait until you see how my pizza was delivered last night.

I’ll tell you what I did next week.

The Spin Cycle (Music Picks)

Phish kicked off their summer tour — and 30+ years in, they’re still blowing me away. I’ve been watching the live streams, and the setlists + retro stage setup? Chef’s kiss. Check out the tour etc. at LIVEPHISH.com

Still working through that Grateful Dead box set I mentioned last week (spoiler: the early 80s were not their best era), but otherwise, it’s been a bit quiet on the new music front.

That said, I rewatched the Yacht Rock documentary on Crave for the fourth time. (U.S. folks: it’s on HBO Max.) The way the genre was retroactively invented is fascinating. And Rick Moranis’s SCTV spoof of Michael McDonald? Gold star comedy. If you haven’t watched the doc, start there — then listen to this playlist:

Game Notes (Sports Sidebar)

Since the last Substack, both the NHL and NBA crowned new champs.

In hockey: Congrats to the Florida Panthers, who went to the Final three years in a row and finally brought home the Cup. As a Leafs fan, I can’t help but wonder what might’ve happened if Sam Bennett hadn’t steamrolled Anthony Stolarz in the first round. Sigh.

The Oilers, meanwhile, need a serious retool — especially in net and on their bottom lines. They were outplayed and outcoached, but I still think a healthy Zach Hyman would’ve made a difference against Florida’s relentless forecheck.

We’ll talk more hockey next week with the draft wrapping up and free agency opening July 1.

In the NBA, I thought OKC would ride SGA and JDub to a deep run — but the Pacers surprised me. Fun basketball. Good for the league.

As for the Raptors and Masai Ujiri/MLSE breakup? Here’s a summary of what I wrote in a group chat:

“MLSE is now a president-free zone. Masai joins Brendan Shanahan on the sidelines. Honestly? Doesn’t bother me. He lucked into Kawhi and hasn’t done much since. Totally overrated.”

“Fans should care about wins, not titles. This separation was coming. Timing’s a bit weird, but maybe they held off until after the draft. Either way, it’s fine. He was here for the ring. Now he’s not. Next.”

And then there are the Blue Jays — Toronto’s favourite yo-yo. A decent record masking some serious inconsistency. Expect a rocky second half.

Call for Connection

If you’ve made it this far, you’re either very loyal (thanks) or genuinely curious about how my brain works. Either way, I appreciate you.

Please hit subscribe if you haven’t. And if you liked what you read, share it with a friend. Got thoughts or feedback? Leave a comment or hit me up on IG or X @irahaberman.

Thanks for reading.

—Ira