Hey everyone. Today we talk with the poet Fareh Malik. We discuss his work and specifically his collection Streams That Lead Somewhere. Keep your eye out for him; Fareh won the RBC/PEN Canada New Voices Award this year. Really enjoyed our conversation (and we got a couple readings here too). Hope you enjoy!
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E309 with CARL WATTS
Hey all! Today Hamiltonian Carl Watts joins us to talk about his book, I Just Wrote This Five Minutes Ago: Essays on Contemporary Poetry. I feel like I’ve just begun to grasp my own understanding of poetry and was concerned that discussing poetry criticism would be way over my head. Maybe it was? Ha! It was a great conversation anyway. Check it out.
Also: River, Diverted somehow ended up in the top ten! Even adjusting for scope (it’s indie bookstores only, it’s Canadian indie publishers only) I’m still flabbergasted and thrilled. Thanks, book-buyers!
E308 with GARY BARWIN
Hey folks! I wanna take a second to say thanks to everyone who came to my book launch and who has supported me through this second novel experience.
One of those folks is this guy right here – the inestimable Gary Barwin, who joins me to talk about his latest collection of new poetry, The Most Charming Creatures. Enjoy the show!
E307 with JAMIE TENNANT & guest host MARK SAMPSON
Yes, today the guest is…me.
Self-serving? Maybe. Sometimes you gotta do it. A while back, author and excellent fellow Mark Sampson approached me to suggest he interview me when River, Diverted was released. The result was very kind, thoughtful, illuminating and entertaining – for me, at least! I hope you think so too.
River, Diverted was released Oct 1st!
If you’re in the Hamilton area, you can come on along to my launch party on Oct 12. Details below the sound file!

E306 with MARGARET SWEATMAN
Hey folks! Today’s show features an interview with the excellent Margaret Sweatman. Her newest book, The Gunsmith’s Daughter, has been a top seller in our local indie shops here in Hamilton. Hope you enjoy the conversation!
Also: something a little different on deck for next week…
E305 with NANCY JO CULLEN and DAVID EISENSTADT
Hey folks! Mix of stuff today, starting with poet Nancy Jo Cullen. Her collection, Nothing Will Save Your Life, is excellent! After that, David Eisenstadt joins us to talk about Under the Radar: 30 Notable Canadian Jewish Musicians.
E304 with SIFTON TRACEY ANIPARE
Hey folks! Exciting weekend this week. As I mentioned earlier, I was involved with two different events at the Supercrawl festival in Hamilton. My book was available for sale for the first time (in person, that is) and I was able to read from River, Diverted in front of live humans for the first time. It was fantastic overall.
One of the people I worked with this weekend was Sifton Tracey Anipare. Her book Yume is phenomenal, though I admit to a bias (I met her, she’s cool, she lived in Japan like I did, she wrote a book about it like I did, etc lol). I hope you enjoy our conversation today.
E303 with KIT DOBSON
This week we welcome Kit Dobson back to the program. We’ll talk about his latest, Field Notes on Listening.
Remember if you’re in Hamilton, come see me this weekend at Supercrawl! Saturday at 630 pm (interviewing Mike Barclay) and Sunday at 1 pm (on a panel with Terri Favro and Sifton Tracey Anipare).
E302 with ELAINE MCCLUSKEY + EVENTS
Hey all!
Just wanted to let you know a few things. RIVER, DIVERTED will be officially released Oct 15, but I suspect you can find it before that – especially if you pre-order from Palimpsest Press! Other fun things of note:
- I’ll be interviewing author Michael Barclay at the SUPERCRAWL festival in Hamilton, ON. 5 pm Sat. Sept 10. We’ll talk once again about his great book, Hearts on Fire
- I’ll be on a panel with Terri Favro and Sifton Tracey Anipare (who I hope to have on the show soon!). Same festival, next day – Sun Sept 11 at 1 pm. Both events at the lit tent!
- I’ll be hosting an online conversation courtesy of the McMaster University Alumni Association. That’s Thurs Oct 20, and it features Terri Favro and Farzana Doctor. Links to come.
- Finally, the local launch for RIVER, DIVERTED will be at MILLS HARDWARE (95 King St. E, Hamilton) on Wed Oct 12!
Yeah, so lots happening 😀
Including today’s show! I was able to chat with Elaine McCluskey about her collection of stories, Rafael Has Pretty Eyes. Truly enjoyed it, you should listen if you can!
E301 with MERILYN SIMONDS
Episode what now? We’re in the 300s? When did that happen? (Last week, I guess. Hah.)
Great chat with author Merilyn Simonds on this week’s show. We discuss her latest, Woman, Watching: Louise de Kiriline Lawrence and the Songbirds of Pimisi Bay. You don’t have to be a birder to find this one fascinating. Check it out!