Stroumboulopoulos at Algonquin College

SAO blogger Sarah, and event team member Nora, with George.

I have been a fan of George Stroumboulopoulos ever since I first watched him on Much Music. He is a Toronto native and studied radio broadcasting at Humber College. George has had a successful career in radio and television interviewing important political, musical and social leaders. I was very excited to hear his stories, and thoughts.

This was a true Q and A style event starting with a few questions from a public relations and a journalism student. Then the floor was opened for questions from the audience. I was surprised how much he shared. The conversation flowed from the way he dresses, to his broadcasting and interview practices, to his childhood and his last name.  Being a public relations student I found it really interesting to hear all of his stories.

Not only did I get to watch the show but I also got to sit in on the small meet and great before the show with select broadcasting, journalism, and public relations students.

Here are some of the things that I learned from George that night:

1. He does not believe in having a plan b or goals “I just go with the flow.”
2. His news comes from Twitter. He does not follow newspapers.
3.  Labeled 'Hasn’t Hit Me Yet' by Blue Rodeo as one of the great Canadian songs.
4. The art of interviewing is in the follow up question.
5.  That a life worth living is a life lived authentically.
6.  Radio is a beautiful fluid relationship. Unlike the harsh start and stop relationship of television.
7.  A lot of crazy things happen behind the scenes at Much Music.
8.  Enjoy your time as a girl because you will spend the majority of your life as a woman.
9. George is happy if at the end of the day he can say “on this day I didn’t waste my day, I got to connect with actual people.”
10.  He is just as nice and down to earth as I thought he would be.

Not only is he a great person to talk to, he could also be one of the nicest people on tv. He took a few extra questions from the audience and stayed late to talk and take photos with everyone that lined up.

I learned a lot about the broadcasting business and heard some amazing stories about his life. It was a great night and I learned things that I will never forget.

Thank you George Stroumboulopoulos!  

- Sarah Raphael SAO blogger