Holy Mackinaw! Leafs broadcasting legend Joe Bowen stops by our podcast Artwork

Closer Look - Insightful, credible, unfiltered conversations that matter

In cities and towns across Ontario — and at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill — our journalists work for you. Their mission is to dig for answers and tell you what they find. This new podcast from Village Media — ‘Closer Look’ — is all about the stories we tell. Every weeknight, hosts Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith go beyond the headlines with insightful, in-depth conversations featuring our reporters and editors, leading experts, key stakeholders and big newsmakers.

All Episodes

Closer Look - Insightful, credible, unfiltered conversations that matter

Holy Mackinaw! Leafs broadcasting legend Joe Bowen stops by our podcast

December 10, 2025 • Village Media Inc.

Send us a text

For more than four decades, Joe Bowen’s unmistakable voice has been the soundtrack of Leafs Nation. But this season will be the last of his legendary career behind the mic.

Bowen — the pride of Sudbury — is retiring from the broadcast booth after more than 3,800 NHL games and countless magical calls. And next Tuesday night, the Maple Leafs have a special on-ice tribute planned during their game against the Chicago Blackhawks, the same team on the opposing bench when Bowen first called the action way back in 1982.

“I wake up in the middle of the night thinking: ‘What in the hell are you going to say after this is done on the ice?’ ” said Bowen, during an interview on Village Media’s Closer Look podcast. “I'm hoping that I don't end up being a bawling mess, but I think we have a few things [to say] and lots of people to thank, that's for sure."

Bowen was gracious enough to spend 30 minutes on our podcast, reminiscing about his favourite calls, the many friends he’s made in the game, and his plans for retirement. He also expressed deep gratitude to the many fans who've reached out with best wishes.

“It’s been overwhelming, it really has,” Bowen said. “I've gotten letters, I've gotten texts, emails…It breaks your heart sometimes, but it warms your heart so many times, all of the great stories that everybody has.”

You can watch our full interview with Bowen in the above video, or in the YouTube clip below.

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, Closer Look is a new daily podcast that goes way beyond the headlines with insightful, in-depth conversations featuring our reporters and editors, leading experts, key stakeholders and big newsmakers.

Fresh episodes drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. right in your local news feed — and on the show’s dedicated website: closerlookpodcast.ca. Of course, you can also find us wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up for our free nightly newsletter, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and