Employee of the Myth
Employee of the Myth is a podcast about beloved roots-rockers, Skydiggers. This is a perfect listening companion while walking the dog, washing the dishes or driving to your favourite unspecified destination. Prepare to amaze your friends with your “behind the scenes” knowledge of one of Canada's favourite bands!
Season 1 & 2 : Hide Your Light, Bid Your Time (episodes 1-12)
Each episode in the first two seasons explores the new album, released in 2023. The conversations aim to place the songs in context of the more than 35 years that co-founders Andy Maize and Josh Finlayson have been writing, recording and performing together. Each episode features one of the new songs paired with another song from the band's catalogue, performed acoustically by Andy and Josh in the welcoming confines of the Woodshed recording studio in Toronto, ON.
Season 3: Community
This season highlights the vibrant and rich friendships and collaborations that have developed over the band's 30+ years of playing music.
Employee of the Myth
23 - Michael Johnston: Future Blue Jays Organist
"It's lovely to think of being able to walk into a situation with 20 years of hindsight now...I really felt a part of it...I was able to bring my own ideas, right from the start" — Michael Johnston
20 years ago, keyboardist/songwriter Michael Johnston was—like so many of us—a Skydiggers fan. However, being a sideman in one of his favourite bands hadn't occured to him, since—at that point—he was performing his own material and working mostly as a solo artist under his own name. Then one day Andy and Josh asked him to sit in for a few songs, and he gradually found himself living in what he refers to as an "imaginary dream state". Working from scratch, he developed keyboard parts that complemented the songs he'd come to know and love. Today, he's an integral part of the Skydiggers sound, and also a co-writer on several tracks.
This interview was recorded at The Tragically Hip's Bathouse Studio in Bath, Ontario, during the recording of Skydiggers new album Dreams and Second Chances (available everywhere May 9, 2025).
Available now:
Listen to "Dreams and Second Chances" (single)
Watch the lyric video for "Snow Blind"
Music in this episode:
"Dreams and Second Chances" - Skydiggers (Single, 2025)
"Hello Beautiful Life" - Skydiggers (City of Sirens, 208)
"I Love You, Too, Maybe" - Skydiggers (Dreams and Second Chances, May 9, 2025)
"Quiet Mind" - Skydiggers (Dreams and Second Chances, May 9, 2025)
"Je T'aime Toujours, Mon Amour" - Skydiggers (Bide Your Time, 2023)
FYI: Skydiggers Dakota Sessions (as mentioned in the conversation) can be found on the band's YouTube Channel
Stream, download, and follow Skydiggers
Employee of the Myth is brought to you by Skydiggers Productions
Featuring: Andy Maize and Josh Finlayson
Producer & co-host: Joel Stewart
Host and Editor: Jane Gowan (Music Buddy)
Audio Engineer: Tim Vesely
