09/04/2026
Last night the S**t My Dad Taught Me crew headed to Theatre Aquarius in Hamilton to support our friend Rick Campanelli Rick Campanelli for the hometown launch of his new memoir, Tempted: My Story. HarperCollins Canada
We’re always happy to get out and support friends doing big things, but it doesn’t get much bigger than using your own story to help someone else.
Rick’s book isn’t just a look back at MuchMusic, ET Canada and an incredible career in Canadian broadcasting. It’s personal.
He opens up about the parts of life that never made it on camera, including his struggles with gambling addiction, the highs and lows of life and relationships, the pressure that can come with living so publicly, the mistakes, the consequences, recovery, and the people who helped him find his way back.
That kind of openness takes guts.
There’s something powerful about someone who has spent most of his adult life being recognized everywhere he goes saying, in effect: you knew the guy on television, but you didn’t know everything the guy behind the television was carrying.
That hits pretty close to what we believe at SMDTM.
The wins matter. The highlight reel is fun. But the lessons usually live somewhere else: in the mistakes, the sh*tty decisions, the people we hurt, the people who stick around, the moments we lose control, and what we choose to do next.
Rick is using his platform and his story to have a bigger conversation about addiction, recovery and the dangers of gambling, especially as it becomes more accessible and normalized.
That matters.
And because no SMDTM night is complete without at least one ridiculous moment, Rick also signed a copy of the book for the studio.
Yes, this is our second copy.
No, that did not stop Jamie from standing in line like an absolute fanboy to get it signed. 😂
Proud of you, Rick. Congratulations on Tempted: My Story, and thank you for having the courage to tell the whole story, flaws and all.
Great night. Great people. Important conversation.
Go buy the book 💯📖
**tMyDadTaughtMe