We Speak Events

Cold Warz VIII Delivers A Full Night Of Muay Thai At The Parkdale Hall

Published

2 minutes ago

November 8, 2026

Young champion with title belt at Cold Warz VIII. Photo by Leo Bodei.

A young champion points at the camera with his title belt at Cold Warz VIII at The Parkdale Hall. Photo by Leo Bodei.

The Parkdale Hall belonged to the fighters on Sunday night. Cold Warz VIII packed the Toronto room for a full card of Muay Thai, and the night gave the crowd everything the sport promises: clean knockdowns, raised arms, and young fighters carrying title gold out of the ring. We Speak Media photographer Leo Bodei was ringside for all of it.

Leather From The Opening Bell

The card wasted no time. Fighters traded kicks and knees in the pocket from the early bouts on, with the room close enough to hear every shin land.

Fighters trade shots mid-kick at Cold Warz VIII. Photo by Leo Bodei. — *Fighters trade shots in the ring at Cold Warz VIII. Photo by Leo Bodei.*

Arms Raised, Gold Carried Out

A winner raises both arms under the lights at Cold Warz VIII. Photo by Leo Bodei. — *A winner raises both arms under the lights at The Parkdale Hall. Photo by Leo Bodei.*

By the end of the night the referees had raised a run of winners, and the title fights delivered the pictures of the evening: a young champion in red TITLE gear pointing at the camera with his belt around his waist, and victors soaking in the lights with both arms up.

More To Come

*A knee lands during a Cold Warz VIII bout at The Parkdale Hall. Photo by Leo Bodei.*

Sunday’s set is the first look. Leo is still editing the rest of his take from the night, and the strongest of those frames will join the gallery below as they land.

Photo Gallery

Fighters exchange strikes in the ring at Cold Warz VIII. Photo by Leo Bodei.

Muay Thai fighters trade blows at Cold Warz VIII. Photo by Leo Bodei.

All photos by Leo Bodei.

We Speak Entertainment

A Night For The Planet: Inside The Captain Planet Foundation’s 35th Anniversary Gala At Coca-Cola Roxy

Published

54 minutes ago

November 8, 2026

Justiz Walker

A guest poses with Captain Planet on the step and repeat at the Captain Planet Foundation's 35th Anniversary Concert for the Planet gala at Coca-Cola Roxy. Photo by Justiz Walker.

The Captain Planet Foundation marked 35 years of putting environmental power in young hands on Saturday night, and Atlanta showed up for it. The foundation’s Concert for the Planet benefit gala filled the Coca-Cola Roxy with a step and repeat that never slowed down, a ballroom at full tables, and a stage program that moved from film clips of the foundation’s young grant winners to the first Ted Turner Legacy Award. We Speak Media photographer Justiz Walker was on the carpet and in the room as it happened.

The Carpet Belonged To Captain Planet

Guests arriving at the Roxy stepped onto a step and repeat backed by the foundation, Delta and Warner Bros., and nearly every group made the same stop: a photo with Captain Planet himself, green hair, red suit and all, pointing straight at the camera with them. Families, foundation leaders and longtime supporters took their turn, and the line ran all night.

Yola singing on stage at the gala. Photo by Justiz Walker. — *Yola performs at the Concert for the Planet gala at Coca-Cola Roxy. Photo by Justiz Walker.*

Yola Took The Stage

The evening’s performance came from Yola, who stepped to the microphone in a black gown and delivered the night’s musical set to the ballroom, singing under the gala lights with the crowd at the tables in front of her.

The First Ted Turner Legacy Award

A presenter in red at the gala podium. Photo by Justiz Walker. — *A presenter in red addresses the gala from the Concert for the Planet podium. Photo by Justiz Walker.*

The stage program, guided through the night from the Concert for the Planet podium, built to a first: the inaugural Ted Turner Legacy Award, presented on stage during the gala. Honorees crossed the stage to accept framed awards and glass honors as the ballroom watched, with Captain Planet standing in for the presentations.

Thirty Five Years Of The Power Is Yours

The ballroom at full tables during the gala. Photo by Justiz Walker. — *The ballroom at full tables during the Concert for the Planet gala. Photo by Justiz Walker.*

Inside the ballroom, tables ran the length of the room under auction paddles and big screens, with displays of the foundation’s history laid out for guests, including the original Captain Planet artwork and the story of the show that started it all. The film program showed the foundation’s current work: classrooms and young people running environmental projects of their own, which is where the money raised on nights like this goes.

The Headline Still To Come

The night was billed as a concert as well as a gala: The Wallflowers headlined the evening, celebrating 30 years of Bringing Down the Horse, with Monica Pearson and Marcia Gay Harden serving as the night’s emcees. Our coverage closed from the carpet and the ballroom floor.