House of Crouse: Recent Episodes
Richard Crouse
Where is the House of Crouse? It's everywhere and nowhere. It's in your imagination and in your headphones.
Hosted by Richard Crouse, it's a gathering place for interesting people to hang out and share stories. Upcoming guests to the House of Crouse include Amy Schumer, Josh Gad, Daniel Radcliffe and many more!
Come by every Monday for a new episode, curl up on the coach and see who has stopped by.
On the Saturday August 8, 2026 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet filmmaker, director, producer, and podcast host Pete Ferriero. Pete gained recognition for his documentaries The Price of Fame (about wrestling legend Ted DiBiase) and Her Name Is Chef (streaming on Hulu), which was praised by Padma Lakshmi for spotlighting women in the culinary world. He’s also the creator and host of the popular Beverly Hills, 90210 Show podcast, where he dives deep into the iconic series alongside its original producers and cast. His latest project, the feature documentary The Best Pizza is in LA, makes the bold case that Los Angeles is home to the world’s best pizza — complete with celebrity chefs and unforgettable pie tours.Then we meet Jake David Smith, a Broadway and national-tour musical theatre veteran. who made his Broadway debut in Disney’s Frozen, starred as Marius on the national tour of Les Misérables, and originated Prince Oliver in the Off-Broadway (and Amazon Prime) production of Between the Lines.Today we talk about his career and playing Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby, a extravaganza that Entertainment Weekly said explodes with life and energy. It’s playing at the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto until August 23.
The (Almost) Perfect Heist: The Incredible True Story of the Vancouver Safety Deposit Robbery.” What began as research for a novel became a years-long investigation into a bold caper involving seasoned criminals, an impenetrable vault, and millions in unrecovered loot. Part true-crime thriller, part investigative memoir, this book explores how close the thieves came to pulling off the perfect crime — and why so many questions still remain decades later.
B/Soul Album of the Year. She has toured with the Backstreet Boys, contributed vocals to Drake’s Take Care, and can now be seen in staged concert The Secret Chord: A Leonard Cohen Experience, playing at the CAA Theatre on Yonge Street in Toronto until August 16, 2026.
Then, we’ll meet writer, screenwriter, and copywriter Edward Chisholm. His new book, “Murder in Paris ’68,” is a work of narrative non-fiction that dives into the unsolved murder of Stevan Markovic, the Serbian bodyguard and associate of French film star Alain Delon. It was an immense scandal at the time, and Edward’s book captures the whole story.
On the Saturday July 25, 2026 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Suzie McNeil. She has built a career spanning television, stage, touring, and recording. She first broke through as the last woman standing on CBS’s Rockstar: INXS and has since shared stages with international artists including P!nk, Aerosmith, Alan Frew and more. She also starred as “Oz” in We Will Rock You and has led multiple genre-crossing projects, including The Loving Mary Band. Her gold-certified hit “SuperGirl” and a string of releases that have reached the Top 20 on Canadian pop charts continue to underscore her impact as a recording artist.Today we’re talking about her new music Line 49, a collection that reimagines classic Canadian songs through the rich, emotional lens of soul music. Where Northern roots meet Southern soul, and breathes new life into iconic Canadian classics with modern arrangements infused with pop and reggae influences.Then, Liv Albert, the host, creator, writer, editor, and producer of the Let's Talk About Myths, Baby! podcast, and a self-proclaimed giant nerd for all things Greek and Roman mythology. Liv studied English Literature and Classical Civilisations, and has authored two adult books on Greek mythology, including the bestselling title Greek Mythology: The Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes Handbook. Today we’ll talk about her first children's book, a retelling of The Odyssey.
On the Saturday July 15, 2026 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we spend the hour with with director Michelle Mama, and the subject of her new film, music icon, provocateur, queer trailblazer and Rough Trade singer Carole Pope. The documentary is “Antidiva: The Carole Pope Confessions,” a new, raw, rollicking look at the underground scene of the 1970s that spawned the band and how Carole Pope’s incendiary lyrics and magnetic presence shattered expectations of what a woman could be onstage.Today we’ll talk about the movie, which will be hitting select Canadian theatres this summer and premiere on the Documentary Channel, Sunday, July 19, and on CBC Gem Friday, July 24. We’ll explore Carole Pope’s edgy artistry and find out why she doesn’t have to try and bring a dangerous feel to her work these days… here’s a hint, it never went away.
On the Saturday July 4, 2026 edition of The Richard Ccrouse Show we meet Darragh McGee, a University of Bath sociologist, BBC New Generation Thinker, and expert on the globalization of sports gambling—especially its digital/tech-driven explosion, normalization among young people, and public health impacts (including in the UK and Sub-Saharan Africa). His book “Imitation Games: How Gambling Hijacked Sport” is a deep dive into these issues.It’s a pioneering investigation into the tech-fuelled world of online gambling—its explosive growth, and the transformational impact it is having on sports, fandom, and society.Then, we’ll meet musician John Fellner. Before stepping into the spotlight as an artist, Fellner built a strong reputation as a JUNO-nominated producer and songwriter. With more than 80 million streams tied to his production work, he’s now building momentum as a solo artist as well with the release of the EP “Boundaries.”
On the Saturday July 11, 2026 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Linus O’Brien, director of “Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror,” a documentary celebrating the 50th anniversary of “The Rocky Horror Show” and its creator, and Linus’s father, Richard O’Brien.The documentary, which is available now on Digital HD including Apple TV and Prime Video, tracks Rocky Horror’s humble beginnings as a 1973 London fringe theatre play, its subsequent flop on Broadway, its adaptation into the 1975 feature film, and its eventual resurrection via the midnight movie circuit.With interviews with creator Richard O'Brien and original cast members like Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, and Barry Bostwick, alongside commentary from high-profile celebrity fans like Jack Black and Trixie Mattel, it is the most complete look at the Rocky Horror phenomenon to date.Then, we’ll meet longtime staff writer at The New Yorker, Patrick Radden Keefe. He’s earned a reputation for transforming complex, high-stakes stories of power, secrecy, crime, and corruption into gripping, cinematic page-turners that read like thrillers while maintaining rigorous factual depth. Today we’ll talk about his new book, “London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth,” the gripping true story of 19-year-old Zac Brettler, who in November 2019 jumped (or fell) to his death from a luxury Thames-side apartment directly across from MI6 headquarters.
On the Saturday June 27, 2026 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Nicholas Shakespeare. He is a prize-winning British novelist, biographer, and journalist widely regarded as one of the finest English writers of his generation.A former literary editor at the Daily Telegraph and The Times, he is the author of eight novels, including the acclaimed “The Dancer Upstairs” (adapted into a film starring Javier Bardem), “The Vision of Elena Silves” (winner of the Somerset Maugham and Betty Trask Awards), and “The High Flyer.” He has also written acclaimed biographies of Bruce Chatwin and Ian Fleming.He returns to bookstores with “Frame 37” — a gripping, fast-paced political thriller in which ex-journalist John Dyer uncovers a dangerous conspiracy to bring his friend’s killer to justice in a world where proof is power and nothing is as it seems.Then, we meet Lee Kuhnle and Nathan Radke, authors of “Uncover Up: How To Think Clearly In An Age Of Conspiracies,” a new book that offers sociological, historical, philosophical, and literary perspectives on conspiracy theories, allowing us to cut through the fog of misinformation. We’ll talk about the truth behind false conspiracy theories, critical thinking in an age of information overload and why lies travel further and faster.
On the Saturday June 20, 2026 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Tom Doyle, a veteran music journalist and contributor to Mojo and Q, with books on Paul McCartney in the 1970s, Elton John, and Kate Bush. Today we talk about his latest book, “Ringo: A Fab Life.” It’s a look Starr’s career far beyond the rose-tinted ’60s, through the various addictions and career left turns in the ’70s and ’80s, before reaching the ’90s, his legacy and reputation intact.Then, playwright, actor and the internationally bestselling Canadian author of more than twenty novels, C.C. Humphreys drops by. Today we talk about his latest work of historical fiction, “The Double Life of Eve Sinclair,” a story of a female spy who must push herself to her very limits to save herself and everything she holds dear.
On the Saturday June 13, 2026 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet award-winning actor, writer, and director Mark O’Brien. You know him as Des Courtney on Republic of Doyle and ambitious Deputy District Attorney Thomas Milligan on HBO’s Perry Mason. On the big screen he’s delivered standout performances in films like Arrival, Ready or Not, Marriage Story, and Goalie — for which he won a Canadian Screen Award. More recently, he’s been behind the camera with his acclaimed directorial debut The Righteous, and now his chilling new supernatural horror film The Voices of Our Mother, which he wrote, directed, and stars in.Then, we’ll meet Kevin Hardcastle, an award-winning Canadian author whose debut short story collection Debris won the Trillium Book Award and ReLit Award, while his first novel In the Cage established him as a powerful voice in contemporary fiction. In his highly anticipated new novel County Road Six, Hardcastle delivers a taut, propulsive family drama about four O’Hare sisters forced to confront their violent father’s legacy and a long-buried secret on a decaying farmstead in rural Ontario.
On the Saturday June 6, 2026 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet singer-songwriter, TV host, producer, director and composer Kevin Gillis, creator of the beloved and legendary animated show “The Raccoons.” He is ushering in a new era for the beloved franchise as its iconic music is released digitally for the first time. Last month, the original version of the beloved theme song “Run With Us,” performed by Lisa Lougheed, arrived on streaming services for the first time ever. This leads into the release this month of “Evergreen Nights,” the first full album in the collection, featuring newly remastered originals with fresh interpretations from contemporary artists as part of a larger, multi-phase expansion. “Evergreen Nights” is available now wherever you legally buy, download and stream music.Then, we’ll meet queer feminist author and high priestess of home mixology Lindsay Merbaum. She is an author and mixologist specializing in custom and themed drink recipes like the themed drinks she creates for her books! Today we talk ablout her new book, “Vampires at Sea,” which is a kind of an Anne Rice / Love Boat romp featuring two ageless vampires on a cruise.
On the Saturday May 30, 2026 edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet Andrew Lownie, renowned royal biographer and literary agent. A Cambridge history graduate and President of the Union, Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and founder of the Andrew Lownie Literary Agency, he’s known for his meticulously researched biographies that have reshaped our understanding of key 20th-century figures. His previous works include the acclaimed Stalin’s Englishman on Guy Burgess, The Mountbattens, and Traitor King on Edward VIII. His latest book, Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, is already being called one of the most explosive royal biographies in years.Today we’re talking about his latest book, “Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York,” a book The Times called, “A catalyst for Andrew’s de-princing.” It is first joint biography of the Duke and Duchess of York, that’s Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, and the first full biography of either of them.Chronicling their lives in parallel, the picture that emerges is of a spoilt prince unable to connect and a duchess pushed by her insecurities into a desperate need to maintain the attention her ‘royal’ status brought. Rigorously researched and packed full of revelations, this is a royal biography Camilla Long, writing in the Sunday Times called, “a case for revolution.”Then, we meet Niagara-based wine, food, and travel expert Magdalena Kaiser. Daughter of the late Karl Kaiser (co-founder of Inniskillin Wines), she grew up immersed in Ontario’s wine scene—starting with tours and tastings as a teen and even helping bottle wine at age five. She serves as Director of Public Relations for Wine Country Ontario (formerly Ontario VQA), where she has spent the past 15+ years elevating the region’s international profile through media, trade, and export initiatives.Today we talk about her new book “Niagara Wine + Food: Signature Recipes from Ontario’s Iconic Terroir—A Cookbook” which highlights the region's terroir, varietals, and unique features, and profiles 44 of the region's best and most promising producers alongside 88 delectable wine-pairing recipes featuring iconic wine styles from the region.
On the Saturday May 23, 2026 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet award-winning comedian, actor, and author Eric Johnston. His book “Run with the Bull: Three Generations of Sports and Entertainment” chronicled his journey as he broke away from his family’s legacy of professional wrestling to pursue stand-up comedy and acting. The book draws inspiration from the challenging lives and untimely deaths of his father Bullwhip Johnson and grandfather Bull Johnson, Johnson navigates the shadows of mental health and addiction that plagued his predecessors.The book inspired a docuseries, also called “Run with the Bull,” which you can watch on Bell Fibe TV, that chronicles his mission to get healthy for the sake of his newborn son.Then, we get to know Sonya Singh. Following the success of her debut, Sonya returns with “The Fake Matchmaker,” a delightful, trope-rich rom-com with real heart. With sharp humour and irresistible chemistry, the novel delivers a smart, modern take on dating, expectations, and the beautiful messiness of falling for someone at the wrong time. Told through a fun, fizzy rom-com lens, Manisha’s story is also steeped in Indian culture, exploring family dynamics and generational expectations with warmth and wit.
betrayal, revenge, and everyday life tilting into the strange or magical.Then, we get to know Nick Fradiani. He rose to national fame in 2015 as the winner of Season 14 of American Idol. His debut album Hurricane featured the hit single “Beautiful Life,” and he has since built a thriving independent career with albums like Past My Past, multiple tours, and heartfelt original music. He is currently bringing Neil Diamond to life in A Beautiful Noise – The Neil Diamond Musical, now playing at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto until June 7. See Mirvish.com for more details.
actor is best known as the awkward, ambitious Cousin Greg Hirsch on Crave’s “Succession,” a role that earned him three Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.Today, we’re talking about his latest project, “The Sheep Detectives,” a new, all-star whodunnit comedy now playing in theatres, about a flock of sheep attempt to solve a murder mystery.You heard me right. This bizarre but crowd-pleasing murder mystery for the whole family that could have been titled “CSI: Livestock.” Murder, talking sheep and philosophy intertwine to create echoes of “Babe: A Pig in the City” and “Old Yeller.”Nicolas Braun plays Tim, the only, and rather clumsy, police officer in a small town, who investigates the murder of the local shepherd played by Hugh Jackman, as a flock of crime-solving sheep try to crack the case first.
On the Saturday May 2, 2026 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Jay Franco, the author of the Star Wars tie-in book “Star Wars: Be More Boba Fett.”As every Star Wars fan knows, bounty hunter Boba Fett was selected by Empire magazine as the 79th greatest movie character of all time, and is included on Fandomania's list of The 100 Greatest Fictional Characters. IGN ranked Boba Fett as the eighth top Star Wars character, due to his fan-favourite status.Boba Fett is also the favourite Star Wars character of my guest Jay Franco. Drawing inspiration from the bounty hunter to offer advice on embracing a freelance, entrepreneurial lifestyle, adaptability, getting the job done no matter what, and being your own boss all while weaving in Star Wars lore and humor.Then, we’ll meet New York Actor/Singer Nick Manna. On and off Broadway you may have seen him in Shrek The Musical, Avenue Q or as Ben Franklin in 1776. Today we’ll talk about his career and touring in the lead role of Dog Man in Dog Man: The Musical, a family-friendly stage adaptation of Dav Pilkey's popular book series playing at the CAA Theatre in Toronto from May 6 to June 14. Check Mirvish.com for more details.
On the Saturday April 25, 2026 we’ll meet we’ll meet Elyse Aeryn, a roots-rock singer-songwriter from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. She spent nearly a decade in the pulp and paper industry—then, in her late 20s, walked away to chase the music that’s always burned inside her.Her roots-rock sound fuses Stevie Nicks-inspired soul, with some Alanis, and memorable melodies. Her 2023 debut Joy State of Mind put her on the map with nominations and awards, and now, after overcoming a devastating motorcycle crash in 2025, she’s back. Her sophomore album Everybody Loves You… is10 tracks of bold, emotionally resonant rock that features radio-toppers like ‘Unstoppable.’Then, Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol of “Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie.”The movie, which blends footage from the 2007–2009 web series of the same name, begins with unemployed musicians Matt and Jay (Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol) hatching a plan to land a gig at the legendary Rivoli on Queen Street West in Toronto. Without contacting the club, writing any songs or practising, they decide to parachute off the CN Tower into the Skydome during a baseball game to announce the show in front of a stunned crowd.What could go wrong? Well, lots.No spoilers here, but when their skydiving stunt doesn’t get them the Rivoli gig, they (along with their camera guy Jared Raab) find themselves accidentally traveling back to the year 2008, and struggling to find a way back to the future.
His latest novel, “One Second Away” is a high-octane global thriller that begins with a parent’s desperate search and rapidly escalates into an international investigation involving the FBI, uncovering a far-reaching web of secrets and lies. Set across multiple cities, the story delivers relentless suspense while exploring the emotional fallout of life-altering decisions made in an instant.Then, we’ll meet Tom Howe, the British-born (now LA-based) film and TV composer known for his versatile work across dramatic scores, animations, documentaries, and feel-good series. He's scored over 100 projects, including major highlights like Ted Lasso, Shrinking, The Great British Bake Off and many more. We talk music and Ted Lasso with Tom.
was the winner of a MTV Music Video Award for Best Video with a Social Message.Today we’re talking about his directorial feature film debut. “Little Lorraine” tells the true story of a group of coal miners in Little Lorraine, Cape Breton who lose their jobs after a mining accident. Seeking new livelihoods, they join an uncle on his lobster fishing boat, only to discover the boat is part of a larger cocaine smuggling ring. As the operation expands, involving funeral homes and caskets, the friends find themselves in too deep. The film explores themes of family, loyalty, and the consequences of getting involved in criminal activity, all against the backdrop of a close-knit community facing an extraordinary crisis.
On the Saturday March 28, 2026 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet singer-songwriter and producer Peter Elkas.He’s toured the world as a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist with the likes of Neko Case, Joel Plaskett, and Andy Kim, released a string of celebrated solo records produced by Don Kerr and Charlie Sexton, and shared stages with everyone from Feist and Nick Lowe to The Doobie Brothers and Bruce Springsteen.Now, “Lion Lion,” originally released on his 2018 EP Lion, is roaring back into focus thanks to an unexpected new chapter. Elkas recently stepped into the acting world, appearing as Ed—the local record store owner—in the 2026 Netflix original series Finding Her Edge. In a perfectly meta twist, the show also features “Lion Lion” in an episode Elkas appears in, with the song landing on Netflix’s official Finding Her Edge playlist.We talk about the resurgence of the song and more!Then, award-winning Iranian Canadian filmmaker Alireza Khatami. His debut feature, Oblivion Verses (2017), premiered at the Venice Film Festival, earning multiple accolades including the Best Screenplay award in that category, the FIPRESCI Prize, and the Interfilm Award. In 2023, he co-directed Terrestrial Verses, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.Today we talk about his latest film The Things You Kill, a psychological thriller exploring family dynamics, toxic masculinity, and personal trauma (drawing heavily from his own experiences). It premiered in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at Sundance, where he won the Directing Award, and was selected as Canada's official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards and it is now playing in theatres everywhere.
On the Saturday March 21, 2026 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Nat Boltt and Miriam Margolyes, the writer director and star of a new, heartwarming dramedy called “Holy Days.” The story, set in 1970s New Zealand and adapted from Joy Cowley's novel, follows a grieving young boy (Elijah Tamati) who joins the nuns on a chaotic journey across the country. They aim to save their convent (or retrieve deeds to it) while dealing with themes of loss, faith, family, and mischief.Nat Boltt is an actress, you may remember from playing Penelope Blossom on the hit show “Riverdale.” She is a writer and director, and “Holy Days” is her first feature.British-Australian acting legend Miriam Margolyes, OBE, is the beloved character actress who's stolen scenes for decades—from Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter films and Mrs. Mingott in The Age of Innocence (which earned her a BAFTA) to countless unforgettable turns in Blackadder, Babe and recent projects like the Oscar-nominated short A Friend of Dorothy.Then, we’ll meet David Bouchard, a highly acclaimed Canadian author (of Métis/Ojibway heritage), former teacher and school principal, Order of Canada recipient, and passionate advocate for literacy, Indigenous stories, and cultural understanding. Today we’ll talk about his new book Dreamcatcher: Grandmother's Web.
On the Saturday March 14, 2026 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet 8 time Juno nominee Ammote. She recently won Best Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year at the Reggae North Music Awards. Her album Water earned her a JUNO Award nomination as well as Grammy Award consideration and she has shared stages with renowned artists such as Michael Bublé, Sean Paul, Ziggy Marley, Chronixx, Arkells, Brandy and Wyclef Jean.Today Ammoye joins me to talk about being nominated for Reggae Recording of the Year at the 2026 JUNOs for the song “More Reggae (Funk It Up),” her collaboration with powerhouse performer Samora.Then, we get to know Sonya Singh. Following the success of her debut, Sonya returns with “The Fake Matchmaker,” a delightful, trope-rich rom-com with real heart. With sharp humour and irresistible chemistry, the novel delivers a smart, modern take on dating, expectations, and the beautiful messiness of falling for someone at the wrong time. Told through a fun, fizzy rom-com lens, Manisha’s story is also steeped in Indian culture, exploring family dynamics and generational expectations with warmth and wit.
is streaming everywhere, and the key tagline from his promo is: “I learned from the greatest — now it's my turn to pass it on.” The song leans into themes of legacy, mentorship, influence, and paying it forward—fitting for an artist who's been in the game for decades and now focuses on inspiring the next generation.Then, we get to know writer, actor, and graphic designer Ann McDougall. Her book A Ghost in the Room - provides a very Canadian history of ghosts and the paranormal by combining intriguing stories from individual museums with her own personal research into how believers, practitioners, and charlatans alike all engage with the spirit world today. She made it her mission to explore as many supernatural activities as possible first-hand!She researches Toronto’s Mackenzie House, the site of a well-documented ghost, the hoax that is nevertheless known to this day as “Canada’s most haunted house,” the first Canadian radio broadcast of a séance in 1936 and travels to a Niagara Falls Casino to see a celebrity TV medium who claims to speak to “the other side” live on stage among many other stories.
On the Saturday February 28, 2026 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Elyse Aeryn, a roots-rock singer-songwriter from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. She spent nearly a decade in the pulp and paper industry—then, in her late 20s, walked away to chase the music that's always burned inside her.Her roots-rock sound fuses Stevie Nicks-inspired soul, with some Alanis, and memorable melodies. Her 2023 debut Joy State of Mind put her on the map with nominations and awards, and now, after overcoming a devastating motorcycle crash in 2025, she's back. Her sophomore album Everybody Loves You... is10 tracks of bold, emotionally resonant rock that features radio-toppers like 'Unstoppable.'Then, Joel Ryan from the indie band School House. After moving in together in 2021, three best friends, Mitchell Jackson, David Campbell and my guest Joel Ryan, discovered their new home was a century-old schoolhouse - inspiring the name of their band School House, and giving them a dedicated space to create.Since then, the group has rapidly gained attention, opening for Canadian music icon Alan Doyle, being named Group of the Year at the 2024 Ottawa Music Awards, and having their debut release awarded Album of the Year by Faces Magazine. The band then secured a coveted spot in the 2024 Mariposa Folk Festival lineup by winning the Artist Showcase - where they were celebrated as “fan favourites” by the festival. In 2025, they further cemented their place as one of Canada’s most exciting acts by winning the Boots and Hearts emerging artist showcase.
in the mall's structure, snuck in furniture, tapped into electricity, constructed walls (including smuggling in over 2 tons of cinderblock to build a fortified, lockable entrance), and even furnished it with everyday items like a TV, gaming system, books, and couches—all while filming much of the process themselves.They lived there undetected for four years (until 2007), when they were eventually caught and charged with trespassing.Then, Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol of “Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie.”The movie, which blends footage from the 2007–2009 web series of the same name, begins with unemployed musicians Matt and Jay (Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol) hatching a plan to land a gig at the legendary Rivoli on Queen Street West in Toronto. Without contacting the club, writing any songs or practising, they decide to parachute off the CN Tower into the Skydome during a baseball game to announce the show in front of a stunned crowd.What could go wrong? Well, lots.No spoilers here, but when their skydiving stunt doesn’t get them the Rivoli gig, they (along with their camera guy Jared Raab) find themselves accidentally traveling back to the year 2008, and struggling to find a way back to the future.
On the special Valentine’s Day edition of The Richard Crouse Show on Saturday February 14, 2026 we’ll meet Heather Hendrie, the editor of a brand new (hilarious) anthology of non-fiction stories about sex and relationships entitled “Pillow Talk - An Awfully Hilarious Anthology!” Heather is a nature-based therapist and clinical counsellor based in Whistler, British Columbia and she founded the Awfully Hilarious Project to end shame, uplift women’s health and destigmatize mental health. Her two previous Awfully Hilarious anthologies, “Stories We Never Tell” (2023) and “Period Pieces” (2024) were both Canadian Book Club Awards winners.Then we meet Shelley Saywell. As an acclaimed Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker known for tackling tough global issues like human rights, conflict, and women's stories in war zones, her new memoir “If Only Love: A Memoir of Second Chances” marks a deeply personal shift—exploring first love, long separation, a miraculous reunion via email after 30 years, profound joy, devastating grief, and the enduring power of love amid her high-stakes career.
this book cements Lindsay as one of the most provocative voices in contemporary literary horror.
from Titanic, directed by James Cameron.He worked with the late James Horner as an arranger/producer on films like “Avatar,” “The Amazing Spider-Man,” and others, before fully scoring “Avatar: The Way of Water” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash.”Today we talk about his work, from Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s dancefloor anthems to Avatar’s lush, habitable moon, Pandora.
On the Saturday January 24, 2026 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet musician, songwriter, and director Gerald Casale. Best known as a co-founder, co-lead vocalist, and bassist of band DEVO. He was a key creative force behind DEVO’s satirical, art-driven sound and aesthetic, contributing to hits like “Whip It” and directing many of their innovative music videos. His work is deeply influenced by his experiences as an art student at Kent State University during the 1970 May 4th massacre, which shaped his views on societal devolution, a core theme in DEVO’s music. Today we talk about evolution of a band famous for singing about devolution.Then, we’ll meet singer and songwriter Aiyana-Lee. Anyone who saw the Spike Lee, Denzel Washington film “Highest 2 Lowest” will remember her stunning film debut singing the title song, which she wrote, at the end of the film. She has an incredible story. She grew up surrounded by music, with family ties to Motown legends like grandfather Jimmy Ruffin and uncle David Ruffin of The Temptations, moved to LA at 15, where she faced industry challenges being taken seriously as a writer, and building a music career with millions of streams, and praise from figures like Elton John.
the Sparrow” among many others. Today we talk about herb latest work, “Kimberly Akimbo,” the Tony Award-winning musical about a bright but physically aging teenage girl with a rare genetic condition, similar to progeria, who navigates a dysfunctional family, first love, and the challenges of finding happiness and connection despite her unique circumstances and limited time.
is a radical rejection of the trauma and resistance narratives that have long anchored Black cultural representation, instead, she creates a new and deeply uplifting framework that is centered on Black people’s public expressions of joy.
On the January 3, 2026 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Canadian author, speaker, and productivity consultant Chris Bailey. Over the past decade, he’s built a devoted international following through his newsletter and podcast (~1M downloads) and has delivered hundreds of talks and consultations for clients including Microsoft, Zipcar, IDEO, Intuit, and The New York Times Content Studio. In “Intentional,” he argues that intentionality, not intensity, is the real key to following through. Through this shift, he offers a counterintuitive, refreshing alternative to our culture’s all-or-nothing approach to productivity.Then we get to know Julie Daniluk is a registered holistic nutritionist, TV host, and bestselling author of “Meals That Heal Inflammation” (with a revised edition featuring over 110 recipes). The book focuses on reducing chronic inflammation through diet, exploring its root causes, identifying food triggers, and providing delicious, healing recipes. Then Victoria Hetherington, novelist, nonfiction writer, NPR's The Moth storyteller, educator and author of “The Friend Machine: On the Trail of AI Companionship” stops by. A deeply personal blend of memoir, cultural criticism, and investigative journalism examining loneliness, AI companions (like Replika), commodified intimacy, and the blurring lines between human and machine relationships it’s available now wherever fine books are sold.Finally, historian, award-winning educator, and commentator J.D.M. Stewart drops in to talk about his latest book, “The Prime Ministers: Canada’s Leaders and the Nation They Shaped.” It is the first comprehensive chronicle of all Canadian prime ministers in over 25 years, covering from Sir John A. Macdonald to the current one (Mark Carney in the book's timeline). It emphasizes fresh perspectives on Indigenous relations, environmental policies, U.S. ties, and evolving reputations, while aiming to make history accessible amid concerns about young Canadians' knowledge gaps.
On the December 27, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet firector James House and producer Caroline Sciama of “Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar,” a compelling three-part docuseries that reexamines Taylor’s life through a modern lens, highlighting her evolution from child star under MGM’s control to a trailblazing activist, businesswoman, and feminist icon. It features exclusive interviews with Taylor’s son Chris Wilding, granddaughter Naomi Wilding, and stars like Sharon Stone, Joan Collins, and Paris Jackson, alongside rare archival audio and can be seen on Hollywood Suite.Then, we meet Atom Egoyan and Amanda Seyfried of the new film “Seven Veils.” In this a new psychological thriller, now playing in theatres, Seyfried is Jeanine, a director dealing with repressed trauma as she mounts a production of her mentor’s most famous work, the opera “Salome.” Rich with metaphor and suspense “Seven Veils” is an intellectual thriller about art imitating life.Finally, we’ll meet Keira Jang, star of “Can I Get A Witness?” a Canadian eco-sci fi/coming-of-age film now on streaming sevices. It’s set in a future where climate change and world poverty have been eradicated. To mitigate these modern-day issues, travel and technology are banned and every citizen must end life at 50. Documenting the process are artists as witnesses, like the character Kiera plays, a teenager on her first day on the job.
Key,” “Horns,” and “The Black Phone,” as well as “In the Tall Grass” (which he adapted for film and co-wrote the novella of with his father Stephen King.) Today we’ll talk about “King Sorrow,” a genre-bending horror epic that spans 25 years. It follows six college friends who summon a dragon using a book bound in human skin. Each year, they must choose a sacrifice—or become one.Then we get to know Jen Viens. They work in both film and theatre across Canada. When Jen is not wearing one of their many hats on set or on stage, they coach actors of all ages and keep productions safe and creative as an Intimacy Coordinator.Then we spend some time with Will Arnett. The Canadian born actor, comedian, and producer is known for his voice roles, particularly as the title character in the Netflix series BoJack Horseman and as Batman in “The Lego Movie” franchise. He is also famous for his live-action roles, most notably G.O.B. Bluth in “Arrested Development.” He is also the host for the US version of “LEGO Masters.”He has been Primetime Emmy Award-nominated for “Arrested Development,” “30 Rock,” and “BoJack Horseman.” Since 2020, he has hosted the Fox reality series Lego Masters. Arnett began co-hosting the comedy podcast “SmartLess” alongside Sean Hayes and Jason Bateman.Today we talk about his new film “Is This Thing On?” In the film, which is already getting Oscar buzz, he plays Alex, who, after many years with Tess, played by Laura Dern, reach an amicable end to their marriage. As they figure out how to live separately while raising two boys and maintaining their friendships, Alex discovers stand up comedy and, in the process, learns more about himself and his relationship.
Grace, a role that won him won a Screen Actors Guild Award and an Emmy Award stops by to talk about his new Hollywood Suite show “Hell Motel.” On the creep new show, 10 true crime obsessives are invited to the opening weekend of the newly renovated Cold River Motel, the site of a 30-year-old unsolved Satanic Mass Murder. History repeats itself when the guests get start getting knocked off one by one.Eric plays Hemmingway, a chef with a wickedly sinister flair. In this interview we talk about Hell Motel, and how to play dead on camera.Finally, we’ll meet singer and actor Maggie Lacasse who is bring a brand new, edgier interpretation of the character Killer Queen to the new Mirvish production of “We Will Rock You.”
On the Saturday December 6, 2025 episode of The Richard Crouse Show we get to know WWE Superstar Natalya “Nattie” Neidhart. In her new book, “The Last Hart Beating,” now available wherever you buy fine books, the longest-serving female wrestler in WWE history—invites readers inside her extraordinary journey, from her upbringing in the legendary Hart family home through her more than two decades in wrestling.In the book she writes about her chaotic childhood in the boom-and-bust world of professional wrestling, including her family’s brush with homelessness, her father’s battles with addiction, and how they shaped her, her front-row seat to the rise of women’s wrestling and the resilience it took to thrive as a female wrestler at a time when what you looked like on screen was more important than how talented you were between the ropes and much more.Then we meet Josh Levine. His new book,“Pretty, Pretty, Pretty Good: The Inside Story of Larry David’s Masterpieces,” is a detailed exploration of Larry David’s comedic legacy, focusing on his groundbreaking work in television. It delves into his creative process, highlighting how his irreverent humor and knack for turning social awkwardness into comedy gold revolutionized sitcoms. It’s a must-read for fans wanting to understand the man who made “nothing” the funniest thing on TV.
(#24 US, #2 Canada) propelled millions of records sold, three Juno Awards, world tours, and openers for Duke Ellington. Hoffert played keys/vibraphone and arranged until 1974; the band reunited in 1992 and continues today.Today we’ll talk about the release of “One Fine Morning (Anniversary Edition),” which is now available on limited edition three-colour-splatter vinyl, sun/moon vinyl, double CD and digitally. This is the first-ever fully remixed, remastered and expanded edition of the platinum-selling band’s breakthrough 1971 release.Then, we meet filmmaker Tasha Hubbard. Based on her own documentary Birth of a Family, her movie “Meadowlarks,” in theatres now, stars top Indigenous actors Michael Greyeyes, Carmen Moore, Alex Rice and Michelle Thrush as four Cree siblings, separated since childhood and now in their fifties, who agree to meet for the first time over a holiday weekend in Banff. The siblings were part of the 60s Scoop (1951-1991), seized by the government and placed in non-Indigenous homes.
On the Saturday November 22, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Eric Smith, veteran sportscaster and the long-time radio voice of the Toronto Raptors. Known for his insightful commentary and deep connection to the Raptors’ journey, Smith brings a unique perspective to basketball broadcasting. As co-author of “We the Raptors: Thirty Players, Thirty Stories, Thirty Years,” he combines his courtside expertise with storytelling to chronicle the franchise’s history through the voices of its players, capturing the heart of Canada’s only NBA team.Then we meet Ed Conroy. A Toronto-based cultural historian, writer, producer, archivist and vintage video sleuth, he is the founder of Retrontario.com and his pieces on Canadian pop-culture and history have appeared in The Toronto Star, Toronto Life, blogTO, and many other places. His latest project is “Imagination: The Golden Age of Toronto Kids' TV,” a comprehensive look back at fifty years of children’s television that shaped our young lives. From the beloved — “Polka Dot Door,” and “Today’s Special” — to the bizarre — “Kiddo the Clown” and “Maniac Mansion,” ImagiNation is a memory-filled trip for anyone who spent their weekdays after school or Saturday mornings staring at the electric babysitter.
social director who’s worked at companies such as Hello Sunshine and Reese’s Book Club, The Walt Disney Company, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Netflix, and Paramount. Today we’ll talk about her debut novel, “It’s Different This Time,” a second-chance romance that sees a twist of fate forces two former roommates to move back into their beloved New York City brownstone where they must confront the events that led to their estrangement—and the unresolved feelings lingering between them.
On the Saturday November 8, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet John Irving, an American-Canadian novelist and screenwriter. He achieved critical and popular acclaim after the international success of the 1978 novel “The World According to Garp.” He is an Academy Award winner whose other work includes “The Cider House Rules,” “A Prayer for Owen Meany” and “Avenue of Mysteries.” Today we talk about his new novel “Queen Ester.”Then we get to know celebrated actress, writer, and musician Elizabeth McGovern. You have seen her in her Academy Award-nominated role in “Ragtime,” and in iconic films like “Ordinary People” and “Once Upon a Time in America.” Her portrayal of Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham, helped make “Downton Abbey” a global phenomenon. Today we’re talking about “Ava: The Secret Conversations,” which she wrote and stars in as Hollywood icon Ava Gardner. It is a poignant play about Hollywood legend Ava Gardner, which she’s brought to life in London, New York, Chicago and now in Toronto at the CAA Theatre in Toronto.
On a special Halloween edition of The Richard Crouse Show I’ll have a look at a list of Canadian horror films that are scarier than the Frankenstein Burger King on Clifton Hill. I’ll tell you about a 3D archaeologist, a werewolf movie that reinvents the genre, the first slasher flick, a vocal virus, Canuck zombies and much more.
On the Saturday October 18, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Billy Corben. He is a documentary filmmaker from Miami, whose documentaries have covered everything from religious hypocrisy, baseball doping, drug running and other controversial topics. His latest film, “Canceled: The Paula Deen Story” traces the history of celebrity chef Paula Deen and reconsiders the scandal that exploded her multi-million dollar empire.Then, Sloan is one of Canada’s most enduring and influential rock bands, blending infectious power pop with sharp alternative rock since 1991. Originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, the band—Chris Murphy, Patrick Pentland, Jay Ferguson, and Andrew Scott—stands apart for their rare, democratic approach, with all four members writing and singing. Their landmark album Twice Removed is consistently ranked among the greatest Canadian records, and their catalog of hook-laden anthems and harmonies has earned them critical acclaim and a devoted fanbase worldwide. With an unstoppable live show and decades of hits, Sloan continues to define and defy the sound of modern rock.Today the band’s guitarist Jay Ferguson joins me to talk about their fourteenth studio album, “Based on the Best Seller,” which is available now wherever you buy fine music.
On the Saturday October 11, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Canadian astronaut, author, and musician Chris Hadfield. . A former Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilot, he flew three space missions, including commanding the International Space Station during Expedition 35 in 2013. Hadfield gained widespread acclaim for his viral videos, including a cover of David Bowie’s Space Oddity filmed in space. A bestselling author, his works include the memoir An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth and the Cold War thriller series The Apollo Murders, culminating in Final Orbit (2024), which is an edge-of-your-seat thriller about China's secret role in the 1970s Space Race between the US and the USSR.Then, we’ll meet celebrated Newfoundland-born musician, actor, author, and cultural ambassador Alan Doyle. Best known as the lead singer of the iconic folk-rock band Great Big Sea, today we’ll be talking about his two most recent projects, a stage musical called “Tell Tale Harbour,” which is making its Toronto debut at the Royal Alexandra Theatre after a smash-hit sell-out run at Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown, PEI. Based on the screenplay The Grand Seduction by Ken Scott, it’s the story of a small but proud Newfoundland harbour eager to keep its community together. We’ll also talk about his latest, wildly entertaining and informative book, “The Smiling Land,” a celebration of Newfoundland—both its storied past and its ever-vibrant present.
On the Saturday October 4, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Paul Myers is a Canadian writer and musician living in Berkeley, California. He’s written extensively about music, including books like the critically acclaimed “A Wizard a True Star: Todd Rundgren in the Studio;” “It Ain’t Easy: Long John Baldry and the Birth of the British Blues;” and “Barenaked Ladies: Public Stunts, Private Stories.” If you’re a comedy fan, you may have read “The Kids in the Hall: One Dumb Guy,” which was the source for the Canadian Screen Award-winning documentary “The Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks from Amazon Studios.” His latest book, available now wherever you buy fine books, is “John Candy: A Life in Comedy.Finally, Sloan is one of Canada’s most enduring and influential rock bands, blending infectious power pop with sharp alternative rock since 1991. Originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, the band—Chris Murphy, Patrick Pentland, Jay Ferguson, and Andrew Scott—stands apart for their rare, democratic approach, with all four members writing and singing. Their landmark album Twice Removed is consistently ranked among the greatest Canadian records, and their catalog of hook-laden anthems and harmonies has earned them critical acclaim and a devoted fanbase worldwide. With an unstoppable live show and decades of hits, Sloan continues to define and defy the sound of modern rock.Today the band’s guitarist Jay Ferguson joins me to talk about their fourteenth studio album, “Based on the Best Seller,” which is available now wherever you buy fine music.
On the Saturday October 4, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Paul Myers is a Canadian writer and musician living in Berkeley, California. He’s written extensively about music, including books like the critically acclaimed “A Wizard a True Star: Todd Rundgren in the Studio;” “It Ain’t Easy: Long John Baldry and the Birth of the British Blues;” and “Barenaked Ladies: Public Stunts, Private Stories.” If you’re a comedy fan, you may have read “The Kids in the Hall: One Dumb Guy,” which was the source for the Canadian Screen Award-winning documentary “The Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks from Amazon Studios.” His latest book, available now wherever you buy fine books, is “John Candy: A Life in Comedy.”Then, actor musician Donna Garner stops by. Her company Garner Theatre Productions is currently working with Mirvish Productions, on a staging of the Tony-nominated “Bright Star,” a musical, set in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, it tells a story of love and redemption inspired by the Iron Mountain Baby story. The bluegrass score by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell will be performed by an all-Canadian cast. Finally, Sloan is one of Canada’s most enduring and influential rock bands, blending infectious power pop with sharp alternative rock since 1991. Originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, the band—Chris Murphy, Patrick Pentland, Jay Ferguson, and Andrew Scott—stands apart for their rare, democratic approach, with all four members writing and singing. Their landmark album Twice Removed is consistently ranked among the greatest Canadian records, and their catalog of hook-laden anthems and harmonies has earned them critical acclaim and a devoted fanbase worldwide. With an unstoppable live show and decades of hits, Sloan continues to define and defy the sound of modern rock.Today the band’s guitarist Jay Ferguson joins me to talk about their fourteenth studio album, “Based on the Best Seller,” which is available now wherever you buy fine music.
On the Saturday September 27, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet actress Kim Roberts. She is s a distinguished Canadian actress with over 200 credits in film, television, theater, and voice acting. Born in Toronto to Caribbean parents, she began performing at age seven and is best known for roles like Mayor Goodway in PAW Patrol, Christine in The Handmaid's Tale, and Marnie in Schitt's Creek. A co-founder of Obsidian Theatre Company, she has worked alongside luminaries like Steven Spielberg and Robin Williams, earning accolades such as the 1996 Harold Award and the 2014 Reelworld Trailblazer Award.Then, we get to know Canadian actress, comedian, and musician Lauren Ash. Best known for her role as the no-nonsense Dina Fox on the NBC sitcom Superstore, Ash has also made her mark in films like Lars and the Real Girl and voiced characters such as Scorpia in She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. A Second City Toronto and Chicago alumna, she’s a two-time Canadian Comedy Award winner for Best Female Improviser and co-hosts the popular podcast True Crime and Cocktails. In 2023, she launched a music career, and today we talk about “Call Me When You Get This,” her gut-punching, emotionally charged pop-punk debut album.
On the Saturday September 20, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet musician, songwriter, and director Gerald Casale. Best known as a co-founder, co-lead vocalist, and bassist of band DEVO. He was a key creative force behind DEVO’s satirical, art-driven sound and aesthetic, contributing to hits like “Whip It” and directing many of their innovative music videos. His work is deeply influenced by his experiences as an art student at Kent State University during the 1970 May 4th massacre, which shaped his views on societal devolution, a core theme in DEVO’s music. Today we talk about evolution of a band famous for singing about devolution.Then, we spend time with actor, director, producer, screenwriter and political activist Rob Reiner. He starred on the classic sitcom “All in the Family,” directed the coming-of-age drama "Stand by Me," the romantic fantasy "The Princess Bride," and the rom-com classic "When Harry Met Sally," and his company Castle Rock Entertainment produced hits like "Seinfeld and "The Shawshank Redemption." Today we talk about the classic “Spinal Tap,” which he directed and starred in, the new sequel “Spinal Tap: The End Continues” and his new book, “A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever: The Story of Spinal Tap.”Then actor Rade Šerbedžija stops by to talk about "Rise of the Raven," a 10-part historical epic series about Hungarian commander János Hunyadi’s battles against the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century, and tell a grewat story about working with Maggie Smith.
On the Saturday September 13, 2023 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Rick Mercer. He needs no introduction, but here’s one anyway. Rick is a comedian, satirist, author and television host who co-created the groundbreaking CBC satire “This Hour Has 22 Minutes,” where his “Talking to Americans” segment became a cultural touchstone. As host of “The Rick Mercer Report,” he blended political rants, cross-country adventures, and celebrity encounters, earning over 25 Gemini Awards and multiple honorary degrees. He’s also a bestselling author of memoirs like “Talking to Canadians” and “The Road Years,” and has now launched the Stand-Up for Canada Comedy Tour, performing alongside rising stars in 21 cities, from Saskatoon to St. John’s. Check rickmercer.com. for tickets and info on shows near you.Then, we meet writer, award-winning journalist and editor Joelle Kidd. In 1999, after three years of secular living in Eastern Europe, she moved back to Canada and was enrolled in an evangelical Christian school. Immediately, she found herself in a world of upbeat Christan pop music and purity education, trying to make sense of this unfamiliar preteen cultural landscape.In her book “Jesusland,” Joelle writes about the Christian pop culture that she was suddenly immersed in, from perky girl bands to modest styling tips, and draws connections between this evangelical subculture and the mainstream.
On the Saturday September 6, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show documentary filmmaker Nara Garber. Specializing in observational social issue documentaries, her work as a cinematographer has been featured in the Peabody Award winner Best Kept Secret, the Academy Award winner Alex Gibney’s “Finding Fela” and Emmy-nominated “End of the Line: The Women of Standing Rock.” Today we talk about her latest film “Bankie Banx: King of the Dune,” explores the life of Anguillian reggae legend Bankie Banx.He’s a singer-songwriter known by many as “the Bob Dylan of the Caribbean.” Growing up in Anguilla Bankie made his first guitar and voraciously soaked up everything from British top 40 and folk to Rastafarianism and the Pan-Africanism of Walter Rodney. In 1978 he released his first album, and his breakout hit “Prince of Darkness” put both Bankie and Anguilla on the map.After a decade of touring and battling industry executives determined to pigeonhole his sound, Bankie came home and created the Moonsplash music festival and the Dune Preserve – a beach bar and performance venue.Nara Garber’s film about his remarkable life, “Bankie Banx: King of the Dune,” is part of this year’s CaribbeanTales International Film Festival, which takes place in Toronto from until Saturday September 13th, 2025, and streaming worldwide until October 3rd. Get more details at caribbeantalesfestival.com.Then, we get to know world renowned animal trainer Melissa Millett. With 25 years experience training animals, Melissa is known for the Ultimutt Animal Actors and Ontario Animal Actors, which provides animal actors for the motion picture industry in Canada. With a passion for positive reinforcement, she’s trained dogs, cats, and more for blockbuster films like “Pet Sematary,” major commercials, and captivating live performances, which were recently featured on Canada’s Got Talent. A five-time Guinness World Record holder for extreme animal tricks, Melissa has also educated thousands through workshops and ClickerExpo, transforming the art of animal training with her innovative approach.
On the Saturday August 30, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Lauren Holly. You know her from television shows like “Picket Fences,” “NCIS” and “Motive,” among many others. On the big screen you’ve seen her as Mary Swanson, the wealthy but troubled heiress, in the comedy “Dumb and Dumber,” as trophy wife Cindy Rooney opposite Dennis Quaid in “Any Given Sunday,” and many others in a career that spans forty years, and includes comedies like “The Adventures of Ford Fairlane” and “What Women Want,” action movies like “Crank: High Voltage” and dramas like “Chicago Hope.”She joins me today to talk about “Loathe Thy Neighbor,” a new project very near and dear to her heart. The film, which begins in theatres on August 29, follows Will Larkfield, played by Brennan Clost, a young man forced to relocate to his late father’s farm as part of an unexpected inheritance. What begins as a simple missing package soon spirals into a battle of wills with Lauren Holly’s character, the neighbor from hell, Wanda Bellerose, reminding us that sometimes the smallest problems cause the biggest messes.Then, guest James Webb tells his an incredible story. Hailing from Australia, he’s a competitive eater, ranked fourth in the world. He has shattered records, by devouring 59.5 donuts in one sitting and taking on the biggest names in the sport.After overcoming a near-paralyzing illness, James has risen to become the "Champion of the Southern Hemisphere," with his sights set on dethroning the legendary Joey Chestnut at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. Today we’re talking about competitive eating as a sport, how he prepares and the documentary “James Can Eat,” his story of resilience, obsession, and jaw-dropping feats will leave you hungry for more!
On the Saturday August 23 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet New York Times bestselling author Joy Fielding. With a career spanning over four decades, she has eraned readers with her ability to weave intricate plots, complex characters, and emotional depth. Known for bestsellers like “See Jane Run,” “Don’t Cry Now,” and “Someone Is Watching,” Fielding explores themes of relationships, betrayal, and human resilience.Today we’ll talk about her latest novel, the psychological thriller “Jenny Cooper Has a Secret.” The book follows a 76-year-old widow named Linda who visits Legacy Place, a memory care facility where she meets 92-year-old Jenny Cooper, a dementia patient who shocks Linda with a confession: “I kill people.” Initially dismissing it as delusion, Linda grows intrigued as Jenny lucidly recounts tales of her victims—mostly men who wronged her. When a resident dies under seemingly natural circumstances, Linda begins to question whether Jenny’s claims might hold truth.Then, we’ll hang out with singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith. Often called a “songwriter’s songwriter,” his fans include Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, Leonard Cohen and many, many others. He’s release 17 albums to date, and collaborated with producers like Daniel Lanois, Mitchell Froom and Bob Rock. His songwriting appears on albums from Rod Stewart, Michael Bublé, k.d. lang, Emmylou Harris and Feist. Today we talk about his latest album, “Hangover Terrace,”The album was sparked during Ron’s extended stay in the UK in late 2024, following his Sexsmith at Sixty tour. Inspired by time spent recording at London’s Eastcote Studios, Ron says the album was inspired by “the hangover I feel from the last few years of pandemic and life knocking us around.”
On the Saturday August 16, 2025 episode of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Patrick Tarr. He has over a decade of experience in the film and television world in Canada—currently he is the co-executive producer and writer of CBC’s “Saint-Pierre,” and he was the head writer and executive producer on CTV’s “Cardinal.” He’s also written for Saving Hope, Nurses, Cracked and The Colony, as well as Canadian institution Murdoch Mysteries to name a few.Today we’ll talk about his television work, but I also want to tell you about his debut novel, “The Guest Children,” which is now available wherever you buy fine books. The book was inspired by the real-life thousands of “guest children,” British children who were sent to Canada during WWII to stay safe from the bombings.Then, I don’t know if you’ve been watching the Billy Joel documentary on Crave called “And So It Goes.” It’s a fascinating and revealing two part look at the life and music of the “Just the Way You Are” singer, exploring love, loss and struggles that contributed to his songwriting.As a companion to those documentaries, I dug into the archive and found an intercview I did a few years ago with Liberty DeVitto. As Billy Joel’s drummer from 1976 to 2003, he’s credited as drummer on records with sales of over 150 million copies. Do you love “Just the Way You Are”? That Liberty DeVitto. How about “She’s Always a Woman,” “Only the Good Die Young” “You May be Right” or “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me”? All Liberty DeVitto. He’s what they call a New York City style drummer, solid and powerful. He also an author with a memoir called, “Liberty: Life, Billy and the Pursuit of Happiness,” available wherever you buy fine books. It details not only the good times with Joel, but also the bad… leading up to their split in 2006.Today, I chose some excerpts from the interview to share an insider’s view of what it was like working with Billy Joel as he became a superstar.Finally, I love going to live theatre, but I recently had a chance to experience it in a different way. “Back to the Future: The Musical” is now playing at the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto, and I was invited to not only see the show, but to visit the theatre, on stage and backstage, to chat with the show’s stars, DAVID JOSEFSBERG who plays Doc Brown and LUCAS v who brings Marty McFly to vivid life.The show is based on the iconic 1985 movie “Back to the Future,” and sees Marty McFly accidentally change the course of history when he is transported back to 1955 in a time machine built by the eccentric scientist Doc Brown. He’s in a race against time to fix the present, escape the past, and send himself… back to the future.
On the Saturday August 9, 2025 edition of the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Giles Blunt, the author of the John Cardinal novels, which were the inspiration for the popular crime television series “Cardinal” starring Billy Campbell as police detective John Cardinal.Twice nominated for the International Dublin Literary Award, his novels have been compared to the work of Ian Rankin and Cormac McCarthy.Today we talk about his latest novel, a period piece called “Bad Juliet.” Set at a tuberculosis sanitarium in the Adirondacks, it’s a riveting story of a young tutor falls in love with a mysterious woman who survived the Lusitania disaster.Then, we’ll meet Kiesza, a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist known for her genre-defying blend of dance, pop, and folk influences. Her latest album, Dancing And Crying: Vol. 2, follows the huge success of the single “I Go Dance” which soared to #1 on the US Dance Airplay Chart in 2024. We talk abvout her music and the long road to recovery after being hit by a car 8 years ago.
On the Saturday August 2, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Jeff Stinco, lead guitar player for Montreal’s own Simple Plan. Known for their pop-punk sound, Simple Plan have enjoyed international success with hits like "I'm Just a Kid", "Welcome to My Life", and "Perfect". They have six studio albums, two live albums, and have sold over 5.1 million albums in the United States alone. Today Jeff and I will talk about the band’s history and their new documentary “Simple Plan: The Kids In The Crowd” which offers an unprecedented look into the band's journey from basement shows in Montreal to global stardom. There’s lots of never-before-seen archival footage, plus new interviews with band members and lots of music. You can watch “Simple Plan: The Kids In The Crowd” on Prime Video.Then, we’ll meet Canadian television writer, producer, and showrunner David Shore. He’s known for creating the hit medical dramas “House M.D.” and “The Good Doctor,” which have won him a Humanitas Prize and a Peabody Award. We’ll discuss his Canadian roots and how he ended up in Hollywood. In October he’ll receive the lifetime achievement award at the Forest City Film Festival in his hometown of London ON.
On the Saturday July 26, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet award-winning comedian, bestselling novelist and actor Brent Butt. He’s been voted Best Male Stand-Up in Canada by his peers. He also created and starred in two successful sitcoms – “Corner Gas,” which was seen in 60 countries) and “Hiccups.” Add to that, two theatrical comedy films (“No Clue,” “Corner Gas: The Movie”) and four seasons of “Corner Gas Animated,” and you have one of the most successful comedians that Canada has ever produced.Today we’ll be talking about a career first for Brent, the release of a full-length comedy album. Called “easily Distracted,” it features his signature blend of wry observations and effortless storytelling and, of course, lots of laughs.Then we’ll meet Aurora Stewart De Peña. In her new book she satirizes the creative industry she’s spent years working in. The book, “Julius Julius” is a satirical novel set in the world’s oldest advertising agency, a surreal, labyrinthine building with a 2,000-year history tracing back to an ad man in ancient Pompeii. Through three voices from different eras, the story explores the absurdities and moral dilemmas of the creative industry.
On the Saturday July 19, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse we meet Louise Pitre. Often hailed as Canada’s first lady of musical theatre, she is a Tony-nominated actress renowned for her powerful performances on Broadway and across North America and Europe. Best known for originating the role of Donna Sheridan in “Mamma Mia!,” she has also played Fantine in “Les Misérables” and Edith Piaf in “The Angel & the Sparrow” among many others. Today we talk about “Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812,” an innovative musical from Mirvish that follows Natasha’s scandalous affair and Pierre’s existential crisis amidst the backdrop of 19th-century Moscow, drawn from Tolstoy’s “War and Peace.”Then, we’ll meet British author, academic, and adventurer Robert Macfarlane. A Cambridge University fellow, Macfarlane’s work often reflects his deep engagement with wild places, from ancient pathways to subterranean realms, earning him acclaim for his evocative prose and environmental advocacy. Today we talk about his new book “Is a River Alive?” a book that suggests rivers are not mere matter for human use, but living beings, who should be recognized as such in both imagination and law.
On the Saturday July 12, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Paul Sun-Hyung Lee. You know the Canadian Screen Award winner as family patriarch Appa on “Kim’s Convenience,” and as Inspector Albert Choi, the new head of Station House No 4, on “Murdoch Mysteries” and as Captain Carson Teva on the Star War series “The Mandalorian,” “The Book of Boba Fett” and “Ahsoka.”We’ll also meet a guest who began his career as a child actor, appearing in everything from “Back tio the Future II” to Internal Affairs opposite Richard Gere. He became an international star after playing Frodo Baggins in the acclaimed “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. He’s Elijah Wood, and his extensive filmography now includes “Bookworm,” an intriguing film about a 12-year-old named Mildred whose life is turned upside down when her mother lands in hospital and estranged, American magician father, Strawn Wise, played by Elijah Wood, comes to look after her. Hoping to entertain the bookish tween, Strawn takes Mildred camping in the notoriously rugged New Zealand wilderness, and the pair embark on the ultimate test of family bonding — a quest to find the mythological beast known as the Canterbury Panther.Then, we spend time with Gabrielle Drolet, a journalist, essayist, and cartoonist based in Montreal. She regularly contributes cartoons to The New Yorker and the Globe and Mail and is the first woman to receive a National Newspaper Award nomination for Editorial Cartooning. In 2020, she developed a condition that made her unable to use her hands. It only worsened over time, and as a writer and artist, she had to learn new ways of creating and expressing herself. She placed her first cartoon in The New Yorker—and then was unable to draw for a full year. She has since found ways around this using graphic design software, exercises, and many, many breaks, but the experience has completely changed her life.She writes about her experiences in her new book, “Look Ma, No Hands: A Chronic Pain Memoir,” an often funny but profound book on chronic pain, accessibility, and young adulthood.
On the Saturday July 5, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we celebrate Canadian music and the people who make it.We meet Kevan Staples, co-founder of the legendary Rough Trade. In this interview from 2021 Staples, who passed away earlier this year, talks about his legendary band and their best-known song, “High School Confidential.”Household name Randy Bachman stops by. He’s best known as the lead guitarist, songwriter and a founding member of the 1960s and 1970s rock bands The Guess Who and Bachman–Turner Overdrive. Bachman was also a member of Brave Belt, Union and Ironhorse, and has recorded numerous solo albums. He is also a national radio personality and was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2016… In this interview we talk about where it all began for him.We’ll listen to an interview from my archive with legendary musician Robbie Robertson. The Band guitar player, who passed away in 2023, joined me several years ago to talk about his earliest musical inspirations, how he was booed by Bob Dylan’s audience and how he once almost turned to a life of crime when he couldn’t get gigs.And, we’ll get to know Mike Downie, director of “The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal,” the definitive four-part documentary series about the band who, as the programmers of TIFF noted earlier this year, “went on to make music that defined Canada to the world and, more importantly, Canada to Canadians.”
On the Saturday June 28, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet acclaimed Canadian filmmaker R.T. Thorne. Known for his work on television series like The Porter and Utopia Falls, he brings a unique perspective shaped by his Trinidadian and Chinese heritage, as well as his roots in Calgary and Toronto.Today we’ll talk about “40 Acres,” a poignant exploration of family, survival, and resilience that premiered at TIFF and garnered praise at festivals like SXSW and Red Sea. It’s a post-apocalyptic film starring Danielle Deadwyler and Michael Greyeyes, in which a family fights invaders and cannibals to protect their remote 40-acre plot of land.Canadian Olympic gold medalist, television host, and inspirational speaker Jon Montgomery. He won the men’s skeleton event at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, famously celebrating with a “beer walk” through Whistler Village, and since 2013, he has hosted “The Amazing Race Canada,” earning two Canadian Screen Awards. Today we’ll talk about his latest project, “Savour the North” is a new, docu-style cooking series showcasing Canadian brands, recipes and the unique, authentic stories behind them.
On the Saturday June 21, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we spend some time with 8x JUNO Award-winning and multi-Platinum selling blues-rock artist Colin James. He released the first of his eighteen albums in 1988. He’s had international hit singles like “Five Long Years,” he’s worked with Stevie Ray Vaughn, Bonnie Raitt, Albert Collins, Pops Staples, Robert Cray, Albert King and Mavis Staples to name a few. He appeared on an episode of the television program Corner Gas and gave a command performance for Queen Elizabeth II. Today, we talk about his first band, his new record “Chasing the Sun,” the impact Stevie Ray Vaughn had on his career and working with regular collaborators like Tom Wilson and Colin Linden.Then, Brittlestar, also known as Stewart Reynolds, is a social media personality and author of two books. His last book, the best-selling “Welcome to the Stupidpocalypse: Survival Tips for the Dumbageddon,” is a collection of short comedic essays on politics, life, and more as a field guide for life.His latest book, available now wherever fine books are sold, is “Lessons From Cats For Surviving Fascism.” Through humor, sharp insights, and unapologetic defiance, the book lays out eleven essential cat-inspired strategies for resisting control and reclaiming power. From staying nimble and unpredictable to demanding what you need with the confidence of a hungry tabby, each chapter is packed with lessons that are as subversive as they are practical.
On the Saturday June 14, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet meet JUNO Award-winning Indigenous artist Crystal Shawanda. Born and raised on Manitoulin Island in Northern Ontario, Crystal began her career in country music, signing with RCA Nashville. After parting ways with the label, she launched New Sun Records and shifted her focus to the blues. Her highly anticipated new album “Sing Pretty Blues,” blends blues and Southern country soul with Stax, Chess and Motown influences, is available now via her very own label, New Sun Records on all streaming platforms.Then, Canadian director, playwright, and screenwriter, Celine Song stops by. In 2023 she became a Hollywood darling with her Oscar nominated feature film debut, “Past Lives.” The film, nominated for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay, follows two childhood best friends who reunite in adulthood years after one emigrates from South Korea to the United States.She returns to theatres with a new film staring Dakota Johnson. Set against the backdrop of New York City, the Rom Com Capitol of the World®, “Materialists” sees Johnson play Lucy, a matchmaker for the rich and famous. She has arranged nine marriages but personally keeps romance at arm’s length after a messy break-up. Things change for the “eternal bachelorette” when she meets wealthy charm-bomb Harry Castillo, played by Pedro Pascal. As romance blossoms, Lucy’s life is upended by the return of her broke ex-boyfriend, John, played by Chris Evans, forcing her to choose between a perfect match and her imperfect ex.Then, Eric McCormack, you know him as as Will Truman of the TV series Will & Grace, a role that won him won a Screen Actors Guild Award and an Emmy Award stops by to talk about his new Hollywood Suite show “Hell Motel.” On the creep new show, 10 true crime obsessives are invited to the opening weekend of the newly renovated Cold River Motel, the site of a 30-year-old unsolved Satanic Mass Murder. History repeats itself when the guests get start getting knocked off one by one.Eric plays Hemmingway, a chef with a wickedly sinister flair. In this interview we talk about Hell Motel, and how to play dead on camera.
On the Saturday June 7, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet magician and New York Times crossword constructor David Kwong. A Harvard graduate with a passion for the history of magic, he created “The Enigmatist,” an acclaimed theatrical show combining immersive puzzles and illusions that the Chicago Reader said, has one a-ha moment after another. David brings the show to Toronto at the Black Box Theatre until June 22. Get more info tickets at starvoxent.com.Then, we’ll get to know Matthew Lillard, one of the stars of the new film “The Life of Chuck,” an adaptation of a Stephen King novella. You know him as Stu Macher in “Scream,” and became a household name as Shaggy Rogers in the live-action Scooby-Doo films. Today we talk about stepping into Stephen King’s world, especially in a non-horror story like The Life of Chuck.Finally, we’ll meet Nashville-based, P.E.I. raised rising country artist Alli Walker, who was recently announced as the opener for Shania Twain’s Toronto show on July 16 at The Theatre at The Great Canadian Casino Resort. This marks Alli’s second time sharing the stage with Shania—following their viral moment at the 2024 Churchill Music Festival, where Shania invited Alli onstage to showcase her bagpipe skills, captivating millions online.With a unique blend of traditional country sounds and pop/rock sensibilities, showcased in hits like “I Like Big Trucks,” “Creek,” and “Dirt On Us,” Alli has quickly become one of the most exciting voices in the genre.
On the Saturday May 31, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet one of country music’s most exciting and dynamic new voices, Niko Moon. He first garnered attention as a co-writer for Zac Brown Band, contributing to hits like “Homegrown” and “Beautiful Drug.” He has also wrote songs for Dierks Bentley, Zac Brown Band, Rascal Flatts, and Morgan Wallen before breaking out as a solo artist with his 2020 multi-platinum single “Good Time”.His debut solo album "Good Time" showcased his ability to write a catchy-hook and he continued to deliver the optimism and hope he’s been known for on 2024 album "Better Days" and on his latest releases, "These Are the Days" and "These Are the Nights."This tour follows Niko’s latest EPs "These Are The Days" and "These Are The Nights," which features great tunes like “Money Can’t Buy” and “Summer Don’t Go”.Then, we’ll get to know Pete Crighton. He came of age in the early/mid 1980s in the shadow of HIV/AIDS. Growing up in Toronto, he was terrified that his friends and schoolmates would find out that he was gay at a time when being gay felt like a death sentence. He found comfort in music and eventually curated a massive record collection. That music, and his mid-life sexual awakening, from one-night stands to friendships resulting from app-based hookups, is the subject of his new book “The Vinyl Diaries: Sex, Deep Cuts, and My Soundtrack to Queer Joy.”
On the Saturday May 24, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Farren Timoteo, star, Co-Creator and Co-Executive Producer of “Made in Italy,” a tour-de-force solo show packed with disco, fantastic singing and a host of hilarious character, which plays at the CAA Theatre in Toronto until June 8, 2025.Based on his Italian family, in particular his father, it’s the story of an Italian teenager growing up in Jasper, Alberta in the 1970s, caught between two worlds and determined to make his mark. Farren and the show are the winners of a shelfful of awards, including the Calgary Theatre Critic's Award for Outstanding Performance in a One-Person Show.Then we’ll meet Christophe Lebold, the professor of literature, performance studies and rock culture from Strasbourg, France whose book, “Leonard Cohen: The Man Who Saw the Angels Fall,” is being called “an extraordinary piece of work, at every level” and the best book ever written on Leonard Cohen.
On the Saturday May 17, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Keith Elliot Greenberg. Before obtaining a college degree at Queens College in Communication in journalism, this longtime pro wrestling fan began writing pro wrestling stories professionally at age 19. Since then, Keith Elliot Greenberg has become a noted pro wrestling historian, who is also a New York Times best-selling author. His illustrious work includes writing for WWF Magazine and penning the autobiographies of pro wrestling legends, i.e. “Classy” Freddie Blassie, “Superstar” Billy Graham and Ric Flair.Today we’re talking about his latest book, "Bigger! Better! Badder: WrestleMania III and the Year It All Changed." It is the story behind Wrestlemania III, told from the perspective of company executives, wrestlers who appeared on the card, fans who attended the show, and other wrestling personalities. Then, we’ll meet writer, producer and director Bruce David Klein. His new film, “Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story,” about stage and screen legend Liza Minnelli premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival to rave reviews. The Hollywood Reporter called it a "gorgeous portrait", Deadline called it a "must-see", and The Wrap said it is "delightful."We’ll talk about the movie, Liza and find out what makes the film a truly terrific absolutely true story.
On this special episode of "Maple Syrup For Your Eyes" I have an in-depth look at the movie "Blackberry," the lessons learned from the film, about what it means to be Canadian, why we don’t celebrate our own stories and much more with the film's stars Jay Baruchel and Matt Johnson (who also co-wrote and directed).
Here's a list of Canadian dramas more flavourful than a bag of ketchup chips. Coming up I have the story of a mystical child on a remote island off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, a journey to justice for Christopher Plummer, the tale of a young women who went from wilderness of Alberta to the wild runways of the fashion world and a young Indigenous woman guided by spirits to exact revenge against a vicious Government Agent. First stop, Nova Scotia.
Here's a list of Canadian zombie movies with both gore and Braaaaains. I’ll tell you about a kid friendly zombie flick, heavy metal flesh eaters and a Civil War era zombie story that Variety says merits appreciation for really trying something different.
I present a list of Canadian sports movies guaranteed to light the lamp! From airborne bloody Chiclets and a hockey icon to the story of Saul Indian Horse and an elegy for a man who spent much of his career earning $25 a game, I have a look at Canada’s favourite game on the big screen.
On the Saturday April 12, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet artist and musician Sean Ono Lennon. A new documentary called “One to One: John & Yoko,” is a look at New York City in the early 1970s through the actions of two of its most famous residents, John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Newly restored footage, with remastered audio overseen by Sean Ono Lennon, of John Lennon’s only full-length, post-Beatles concert is intercut with talk show appearance, home movies and news accounts to create a sense of time and place. In this conversation we talk about the film and how, for Sean, working on it is “almost like getting more time with my dad.”Then, we’ll meet the creative team behind an intense new film called “Warfare.” Based on ex-Navy Seal Ray Mendoza’s real-life experiences during the Iraq War, “Warfare” is a harrowing portrait of modern warfare that sees a platoon of American Navy SEALs in battle with enemy combatants. On this show we meet co-directors Alex Garland and Rayn Mendoza and star D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai.
On the Saturday May 10, 2025 ediiton of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet a living legend on the Canadian Comedy scene. The Winnipeg born, Chicago bred Kenny Robinson is often called the Godfather of Canadian comedy. His irreverent, socially conscience, intelligent, opinionated and profane style of comedy has made him a fixture and favourite with comedy clubs, festivals, radio, and television audiences for 3 decades.This year he celebrates 30 years of his live show Kenny Robinson’s The Nubian Show, a monthly night of live comedy that has been the launching pad for many of Canada’s Whose Who of Comedy and featured appearances by heavy weight comics like Dave Chappell, Kevin Hart, Russell Peters. A new documentary, “People Of Comedy: Celebrating 30 Years Of The Nubian Show,” now streaming on Crave, traces The Nubian Show’s early beginnings at Toronto’s Yuk Yuk’s to its evolution into a powerful and unfiltered platform that has launched many careers, all under Kenny Robinson’s watchful eye. Then we’ll meet Luke Gordon Field, editor-in-chief of the Beaverton website, Canada's most trusted, least accurate news source, and co-executive producer of the critically acclaimed Beaverton television series. He has run The Beaverton since 2012, and is now the host of The Beaverton Weekly Report podcast, available wherever you find fine podcasts. Their press release says, “Every Wednesday Luke Gordon Field will assemble an all-star panel of comedians to talk, mock and riff their way through the news of the week. Their knowledge of the news will then be put to the test in a very important quiz where the stakes couldn't be lower. It's just like watching CNN, only funnier and with fewer erectile dysfunction ads.“
On the Saturday April 26, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet JUNO Award-winning Indigenous artist Crystal Shawanda. Born and raised on Manitoulin Island in Northern Ontario, Crystal began her career in country music, signing with RCA Nashville. After parting ways with the label, she launched New Sun Records and shifted her focus to the blues. Her highly anticipated new album “Sing Pretty Blues,” blends blues and Southern country soul with Stax, Chess and Motown influences, is available now via her very own label, New Sun Records on all streaming platforms.Then we’ll meet actor, comedian, writer and producer Susan Serrao, who started acting at the age of 35 after raising 4 boys. The Calgary based performer always encouraged her kids to go after whatever they wanted in life. Then one day her kids encouraged her to do the same thing, so she finally went after her dream to be an actor.Since then, she’s kept busy, appearing on shows like ”Fargo” and “Homeland,” appearing on stages across Western Canada and elsewhere. She has a YouTube channel called Susan Serrao Sketch ‘N Stuff which is home to her sketch series “got milf?,” her podcast “Completely Off Topic, With Susan Serrao.”
On the Saturday May 3, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet one of country music’s most exciting and dynamic new voices, Niko Moon. He first garnered attention as a co-writer for Zac Brown Band, contributing to hits like “Homegrown” and “Beautiful Drug.” He has also wrote songs for Dierks Bentley, Zac Brown Band, Rascal Flatts, and Morgan Wallen before breaking out as a solo artist with his 2020 multi-platinum single “Good Time”.His debut solo album ‘Good Time’ showcased his ability to write a catchy-hook and he continued to deliver the optimism and hope he’s been known for on 2024 album ‘Better Days’ and on his latest releases, ‘These Are the Days' and ‘These Are the Nights.'This tour follows Niko’s latest EPs These Are The Days and These Are The Nights (2024), which features great tunes like “Money Can’t Buy” and “Summer Don’t Go”.Then, we’ll meet Keira Jang, star of Can I Get A Witness?” a Canadian eco-sci fi/coming-of-age film now on streaming sevices. It’s set in a future where climate change and world poverty have been eradicated. To mitigate these modern-day issues, travel and technology are banned and every citizen must end life at 50. Documenting the process are artists as witnesses, like the character Kiera plays, a teenager on her first day on the job.
From a bloodthirsty brood, to celebrity viruses and a euthanasia program, on this week's edition of "Maple Syrup For Your Eyes" I have a look at two generations of filmmaking Cronenbergs, David, Brandon and Caitlin.
Here's a list of Canadian horror films that are scarier than the Frankenstein Burger King on Clifton Hill. I’ll tell you about a 3D archaeologist, a werewolf movie that reinvents the genre, the first slasher flick, a vocal virus and much more.
On the Saturday April 19, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Dr. Janet McMordie. She is a sports medicine physician who blends her medical expertise with a passion for the arts. During the pandemic, she embarked on a simultaneous journey into storytelling, discovering a revitalized connection to her creativity. She shifted from a tunnel-visioned medical career to explore improv, acting, and producing.We talk about medicine, acting, her award-winning Second Act Actors podcast and much more.Then, David Cronenberg. The Village Voice called him "the most audacious and challenging narrative director in the English-speaking world.”He has directed horror films, dramas, psychological thrillers and gangster films, like “Shivers,” “Scanners,” “Videodrome,” “The Fly,” “A History of Violence,” “Eastern Promises” and “The Dead Zone” among many others.Seven of his films were selected to compete for the Palme d'Or, the most recent being “The Shrouds,” which was screened at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.Starring Vincent Cassel, Diane Kruger and Guy Pearce, “The Shrouds” explores the future of death. Casserl plays a “an innovative businessman and grieving widower, who builds a novel device to connect with the dead inside a burial shroud. This burial tool installed at his own state-of-the-art though controversial cemetery allows him and his clients to watch their specific departed loved one decompose in real time.”It's an unsettling idea for a film, but it is a powerful and ultimately therapeutic look at grief in its many forms.
I present a list of Canadian sci fi and fantasy films that will wrap their robotic arms around you in a warm Canadarm hug. I’ll tell you about a government manhunt to eliminate the rise of the machine consciousness, a war-ravaged totalitarian future, marginalized superheroes, a slimy bipedal creature and an animated, malevolent rock star.
I present a list of Canadian documentaries that are more fun than a bucket of Beavertails. I’ll tell you about a major art forgery, the beginnings of a beloved band, a five-year-old orphan on the streets of Chennai, India, who went on to become one of Toronto’s most celebrated chefs and a journey across the 24,000 kilometers of our big, beautiful country. First up, a documentary about a family secret.
Film critic Richard Crouse presents a list of Canadian comedies that are more fun than a two four of Moosehead. We’ll meet the “Governor of Givin’er,” a bingo caller named Ned, an obsessive film fan, a free-spirited teen whose birthday mushroom trip brings her face-to-face with her 39-year-old self and writer director Cody Lightning and his film Hey Viktor!
On the Saturday April 5, 2025 edition of The Riuchard Crouse Show we’ll meet writer, radio host, television personality, and public speaker Bee Quammie. She was the co-host of the Kultur’D podcast on Global News Radio and is a regular guest on The Social. Her writing has been featured in publications including The Globe and Mail, Maclean’s, Chatelaine, Ebony, Flare, and Hazlitt among others, and covers topics spanning race and culture to parenthood to health and wellness.Her latest project is “The Book of Possibilities,” which shows us how small acts of bravery and paying careful attention to our inner voice can open up a world of opportunity and lead to a fulfilling life. Then, we get to know British novelist Natasha Brown. Her debut novel “Assembly” was shortlisted for many awards and she was named one of Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists in 2023 and one of the Observer’s Best Debut Novelists in 2021.Her new novel “Universality” tells the story of a young journalist who sets out to uncover a murder mystery and winds up drawing connections between an unsympathetic banker landlord, a larger-than-life columnist, and a radical anarchist movement. She solves the mystery, but what she uncovers unearths a deeper web of questions. Elle calls “Universality” an “instant classic,” and “The Bookseller” calls it “a pin-sharp, savagely funny tale of class, wealth and manipulation.”
On the Saturday March 22, 2025 episode of the Richard Crouse Show we meet Emily Diebert. She is a Science Fellow at the Gemini South Observatory in Chile, where she writes children’s books by day and works as an astronomer by night. Her debut novel is “Bea Mullins Takes a Shot,” a novel about a 7th grader who, after being forced to join her school's hockey team discovers unexpected friendships and a budding crush on the team captain.Then, it’s National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, a month-long campaign aims to educate Canadians about colorectal cancer and encourage screening. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Canada but can be effectively treated when detected early.To help me raise awareness is Dr. Peter Stotland, chief of surgery at North York General Hospital and the surgeon who did my colon resection when I was diagnosed with colon cancer twelve years ago.
On the Saturday March 8, 2025 edition of “The Richard Crouse Show” we’ll meet Paul Sun-Hyung Lee. You know the Canadian Screen Award winner as family patriarch Appa on “Kim’s Convenience,” and as Inspector Albert Choi, the new head of Station House No 4, on “Murdoch Mysteries” and as Captain Captain Carson Teva on the Star War series “The Mandalorian,” “The Book of Boba Fett” and “Ahsoka.”Today we’ll talk about all that and his new film “Night of the Zoopocalypse,” a new animated adventure now playing in theatres, a space virus turns the animals at Colepepper Zoo into gummi-bear looking zombies. As an animal apocalypse develops, a timber wolf and a mountain lion search for a cure and a way to stop Bunny Zero, leader of the mutants.Then, we’ll meet British actor Lucien Laviscount, star of “Emily in Paris” and the new rom com “This Time Next Year.” It’s the story of two Londoners, Quinn and Minnie who meet by chance and realize they were born in the same hospital on the same day, a minute apart, but their lives have gone in different directions since that day
On the March 15, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Atom Egoyan and Amanda Seyfried of the new film “Seven Veils.” In this a new psychological thriller, now playing in theatres, Seyfried is Jeanine, a director dealing with repressed trauma as she mounts a production of her mentor’s most famous work, the opera “Salome.” Rich with metaphor and suspense “Seven Veils” is an intellectual thriller about art imitating life.We also meet Sonequa Martin-Green. You know her from “Star Trek: Discovery,” “New Girl” and “The Good Wife.” She also played Sasha Williams, a main character and a survivor of the outbreak in “The Walking Dead.”Today we’ll talk about her new film, the dark comedy “My Dead Friend Zoe,” now playing in theatres. In it she plays an Afghanistan veteran haunted by her late best friend Zoe. Now in civilian life, she searches for a way forward as she suffers from PTSD and tends to her retired Lieutenant-Colonel grandfather played by Ed Harris.Then we meet Keira Jang, star of Can I Get A Witness?” a new Canadian eco-sci fi/coming-of-age film now playing in theaters. It’s set in a future where climate change and world poverty have been eradicated. To mitigate these modern-day issues, travel and technology are banned and every citizen must end life at 50. Documenting the process are artists as witnesses, like the character Kiera plays, a teenager on her first day on the job.
On the Saturday March 29, 2025 episode of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll spend some time with Rik Emmett.He is a solo artist, a guitarist, a poet, a song writer, a teacher, a Canadian Music Industry Hall of Famer who is probably best known as the co-singer and guitar player of Triumph, the gold and nine platinum selling rock trio who lit up radios in the 70s and 80s.Rik left Triumph in 1988 to pursue a solo career, and released records in a variety of styles, including rock, blues, jazz, classical, bluegrass, and flamenco. He’s he won the Canadian Smooth Jazz Award for Guitarist of the Year and now has written a new book called “Ten Telecaster Tales: Liner Notes for a Guitar and Its Music,” available now wherever you buy fine books.In the book Rik delves into the creative process — the roots, influences, philosophy, and spirituality involved in writing and recording.Then we’ll meet Hill Kourkoutis, a multi-hyphenate, award-winning songwriter and producer, who recently earned a well-deserved JUNO Award nomination for the Recording Engineer of the Year Award. This recognition comes for her work on “Ghost” by Sebastian Gaskin and “Should We” by Emi Jeen.
On the Saturday March 1, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa, a trailblazing physician recognized by the TIME magazine as a Next Generation Leader and an advocate for equity in healthcare. In her new book, “Unlike the Rest,” she shares her inspirational journey, from her childhood dream of wearing the white coat to overcoming systemic barriers to becoming a doctor. Her story is one of resilience and determination and she joins me via Zoom to talk about her life, her book and what it is like to be honored in Mattel’s #ThankYouHeroes campaign with a one-of-a-kind Barbie doll made in her image to commemorate her contributions as a frontline healthcare worker.Then we’ll hear the remarkable story of Sash Simpson. These days Sash is the owner/operator and Chef of Sash, a beautiful, fine dining restaurant featuring his distinctive, signature blend of globally inspired, locally-sourced ingredients. He’s also the subject of a new documentary, now on Crave, called “Born Hungry.” In the film, director Barry Avrich tells Sash’s triumphant and challenging story from a five year old orphan on the streets of Chennai, India, to establishing himself as one of Toronto’s top celebrated chefs.
On the Saturday February 22, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet director Ali Abbasi. His film “The Apprentice,” which was recently nominated for two Oscars, is a controversial coming-of-age look at Donald Trump’s early years under the mentorship of lawyer Roy Cohn. It paints a picture of the future president of the United States as an ambitious, if slightly awkward guy, who came to believe that there are only two kinds of people in the world, “killers and losers.” Ali Abbasi joined me on the phone to discuss his six year journey to getting this film made and released and much more.Then we’ll meet Nick Newman, author of several children’s novels including “Witchborn” and “In the Shadow of Heroes,” which was shortlisted for the Costa Children’s Book Award. He has previously worked as a teacher, musician, and stand-up comedian. Today we’re talking about his latest work, the eerie, hypnotic and darkly beautiful novel “The Garden,” which is about two elderly sisters living alone at the edge of the world and how their lives unravel when their sanctum is breached.
On the Saturday February 15, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Holly Brickley, her debut novel “Deep Cuts” is earning rave reviews. “Booklist” called it a “dazzling debut,” “Publisher’s Weekly” called it “a banger” and author Claire Dederer, national bestselling author of “Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma,” said, “I wish I’d written that,” which is pretty much the highest praise one writer can pay another. Brickley’s novel focuses on the relationship between music fans and Berkeley college students Percy Marks and Joe Morrow from their first meeting at a bar nearby. Joe — an aspiring songwriter — asks Percy for feedback on a song he worked on, which begins a passionate, multi-year musical partnership that skyrockets Joe into indie-rock stardom. Then, we’ll get to know author Haley Mlotek. Her work has appeared in everything from the New York Times Magazine and The New Yorker to Harper’s Bazaar and The Nation. Today we’ll talk about her latest work, “No Fault,” an intimate and candid account of one of the most romantic and revolutionary relationships: divorce.
On the Saturday February 8, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we spend some time with 8x JUNO Award-winning and multi-Platinum selling blues-rock artist Colin James who recently kicked off his “Chasing The Sun” Canadian tour which will make stops across the country including additional shows in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. Check your local listings for a date near you.Colin James released the first of his eighteen albums in 1988. He’s had international hit singles like “Five Long Years,” he’s worked with Stevie Ray Vaughn, Bonnie Raitt, Albert Collins, Pops Staples, Robert Cray, Albert King and Mavis Staples to name a few. He appeared on an episode of the television program Corner Gas and gave a command performance for Queen Elizabeth II.Today, we talk about his first band, his new record “Chasing the Sun,” the impact Stevie Ray Vaughn had on his career, working with regular collaborators like Tom Wilson and Colin Linden… and the car accident that sidelined him last year. Then, we’ll meet director Tim Fehlbaum. He’s an award-winning Swiss filmmaker whose previous films, like “Tides” and “Hell,” focused on post-apocalyptic and science fiction stories. He returns to the real world with “September 5,” a new thriller starring Peter Sarsgaard and Ben Chaplin, and now playing in select theatres, an American sports broadcasting crew finds itself thrust into covering the hostage crisis involving Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
On the Saturday January 18, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we get to know filmmaker, writer, visual artist and community organizer Rebeccah Love. Rebeccah is an advocate for people with mental and physical disabilities as she personally experiences both. Rebeccah has a history of psychosis and experienced institutional violence as a psychiatric patient. She also has a physical disability that affects her mobility and how she walks.Her new film is “Fortescue.” It touches on questions relating to the underlying tensions in female friendships, the male gaze and violence against the mentally ill. Rebeccah will take her film on a national tour this year, starting in February where the film will be screened in Vancouver, Victoria, Halifax, P.E.I and Toronto (more dates TBA).Then, I’ll take you to a little piece of France located 90-minute ferry from Fortune, Newfoundland. It’s Saint-Pierre et Miquelon, the location of a new CBC television show starring Allan Hawko, you know him and love him from “The Republic of Doyle,” among many other things, and “Death in Paradise” star Josephine Jobert. Called “Saint-Pierre,” the show is a police procedural set on the island involving Donny "Fitz" Fitzpatrick a police officer sent there to work after one of his investigations got uncomfortably close to the corruption of a powerful local politician on the mainland. Exiled to the French territory of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, he partners with local police officer Geneviève "Arch" Archambault to solve local crimes.
On the Saturday February 1, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Giacomo Gianniotti. He starred for seven seasons as “Dr. Andrew DeLuca” on ABC’s hit drama Grey’s Anatomy and has worked with everyone from Shelley Winters and Susan Sarandon to Zoe Saldana and Dustin Hoffman. Born in Rome, but raised in Canada, he works in both Italian and English and recently played the lead role in Netflix’s Italian mini-series “Deceitful Love.” Today we talk about some of that, and the second season of his new show “Wild Cards,” which can be seen on CBC and CBC Gem.He plays Cole Ellis, a demoted cop who arrests Max Mitchell, a transient con woman played by “Riverdale’s” Vanessa Mason. While in custody and being held at the station, she helps him solve another crime. The pair are offered an opportunity at redemption – Ellis a chance to get back his detective badge, and Max a chance to stay out of jail – they just have to pair up and work together.Then we get to know Timothy Caulfield. He is a university professor who specializes in legal, policy and ethical issues in medical research, and is also a best-selling author of books like “Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?: When Celebrity Culture and Science Clash.” He joins me later in the show to talk about his latest book “The Certainty Illusion: What You Don't Know and Why It Matters.”It's a fascinating read that asks the question, “In a world where there is so much conflicting information about how we are supposed to live, what can we really know?”
On the Saturday January 11, 2025 edition of "The Richard Crouse Show" we meet Mark Critch, star of "Son of a Critch," now entering its fourth season on CBC and CBC Gem. Developed from his 2018 memoir, “Son of a Critch,” which was in turn based on his real-life experiences growing up in Newfoundland, the series is an entertaining look into the life of a kid who is much older than his years.Young Mark is played by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Claire Rankin (Mary, Mark's mother), Sophia Powers (friend and love interest Fox), Colton Gobbo (Mike Jr., Mark's older brother), Mark Rivera (best friend Ritche) film legend Malcolm McDowell (Pop) and Mark plays his late father, Mike Critch, a popular local radio host.The first three seasons saw young Mark face awkward crushes, near-death experiences, family tensions and grapple with needing glasses.With comedy, self-depreciation and heartfelt authenticity, the show now enters into its fourth season. Drawing heavily on his own life for inspiration Mark Critich the new season sees young Mark on the bottom rung in Grade 10. There Mark meets a teacher who ignites his love for acting, leading him to start a sketch comedy troupe, Cat Fud. His mom Mary, facing menopause and a mid-life crisis, goes back to school for a fresh start. Brother Mike Jr. embarks on a radio career, joining Magic 97, a new FM radio station, and finds himself competing with his father, Mike Sr. who struggles to feel relevant when a new owner buys the radio station VOCM.I chat with Mark, then go to the vault for an interview with his co-star, the legendary Malcolm McDowell who plays his grandfather on the show.
As you may or may not know, when I’m not here talking to you on my show, I can be seen on the CTVNewsChannel and loads of other places talking about movies. I saw almost three hundred movies this year, wrote reviews for two hundred of those and there were high highs and the very lowest of lows.I rate my movies on a scale of 10 to 5 stars. I never a full 5 stars because nothing is perfect, but this year there were several 4 ½ star movies. The lowest rating I have ever given was "Minus Infinity x 10" for a movie whose name I will never mention again.Most movies fall into the 3 to 3 ½ star category, but there is a fairly wide range. Ten percent of the movies I see every year are terrible, ten percent are great but 80 percent fall into that mushy middle. Good to almost great.I don’t care about the box office. I love it when a movie makes a lot of money because it means the industry is healthy and people are supporting theatres, and that’s a good thing, but just because a movie makes bank doesn’t mean it is a good movie.Every now and again, though, there are movies that, for whatever reason, are great, but don’t connect with audiences. There have been a few of those this year, and for every movie that took a well-deserved dive, like “Joker: Folie a Deux” or “Borderlands” there were others that should have found an audience. On this show I’ll tell you about those movies!
On the Saturday December 21, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Bette Reynolds. She’s Everyone's Favourite Granny and if you’ve been on line in the last few months—and who hasn’t?—you probably saw her performance on The Voice UK.Earlier this year she became the show’s oldest contestant ever when she did her rendition of The Sugarhill Gang’s, Rapper’s Delight in an effort to get coaches Sir Tom Jones, Will.i.am, LeAnn Rimes and Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones to turn their chairs.She became a sensation, and she joins me today top talk about being on the show, doing a duet to Black Eyed Peas, I Gotta Feeling, with the song’s writer Will.i.am and her new Christmas single “Grandma's Christmas Escape.”Then, we’ll take a deep dive into Christmas horror stories with author Joshua Millican. Over the past decade-plus, Millican has proven himself to be a horror expert of the highest caliber. He is one of the genre’s premiere journalists, and today we’ll talk about the best Christmas horror movies and his two new books, “All Through the House: The Novelization” and “Chopping Mall: The Novelization.”Finally, I’ll share my conversation with one of the world’s most successful music stars, Robbie Williams. He found fame as a member of the pop group Take That from 1990 to 1995, launching his mega successful solo career in 1996. By 2008, he had sold more albums in the UK than any other British solo artist in history and right now his record sales stand at over 77 million worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time, and now his wide ride to fame has been captured in a new movie called Better Man, which comes to select theatres on Christmas Day before opening wide on January 10.
On the Saturday January 4, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Anna Lambe, an actress and television host from Nunavut. You’ve seen her in the feature film “The Grizzlies,” which earned her a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Most recently she appeared in HBO’s highly anticipated fourth season of “True Detective,” starring opposite Jodie Foster.Today we talk about her new project, “North of North.” In the CBC, Netflix and APTN series she plays a young woman who wants to build a new future for herself after a spontaneous — and extremely public — exit from her marriage. But it won't be easy in her small Arctic town where everybody knows everyone’s business.Then we’ll meet RaMell Ross, artist, writer, documentarian and director of “Nickle Boys,” an intriguing movie that was named one of the top 10 films of 2024 by the American Film Institute. It has also received several accolades, including a nomination for Best Motion Picture – Drama at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, and five nominations at the 30th Critics' Choice Awards, including Best Picture.Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Colson Whitehead, Nickel Boys chronicles the powerful friendship between two young Black teenagers navigating the harrowing trials of reform school together in Florida and it opens in theatres in Canada on January 10.Finally, we’ll meet director Tim Fehlbaum. He’s an award-winning Swiss filmmaker whose previous films, like “Tides” and “Hell,” focused on post-apocalyptic and science fiction stories. He returns to the real world with “September 5,” a new thriller starring Peter Sarsgaard and Ben Chaplin, and now playing in select theatres, an American sports broadcasting crew finds itself thrust into covering the hostage crisis involving Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
On this edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet multi-award-winning journalist, author and broadcaster Carol Off. For almost 16 years, she co-hosted CBC Radio’s flagship current affairs program, As It Happens. As a television journalist, writer and radio host it’s estimated she did 25,000 interviews with newsmakers and noticed that as politics became more polarized than ever before, words that used to define civil society were being put to work for completely different political agendas. In her new book, “At a Loss for Words: Conversation in the Age of Rage,” she analyzes six terms—freedom, democracy, truth, woke, choice and taxes—and how their meanings have been twisted. Then, we meet a guest who began his career as a child actor, appearing in everything from “Back tio the Future II” to Internal Affairs opposite Richard Gere. He became an international star after playing Frodo Baggins in the acclaimed "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. He’s Elijah Wood, and his extensive filmography now includes “Bookworm,” an intriguing film about a 12-year-old named Mildred whose life is turned upside down when her mother lands in hospital and estranged, American magician father, Strawn Wise, played by Elijah Wood, comes to look after her. Hoping to entertain the bookish tween, Strawn takes Mildred camping in the notoriously rugged New Zealand wilderness, and the pair embark on the ultimate test of family bonding -- a quest to find the mythological beast known as the Canterbury Panther.Finally, we meet director Tim Fehlbaum. He’s an award-winning Swiss filmmaker whose previous films, like “Tides” and “Hell,” focused on post-apocalyptic and science fiction stories. He returns to the real world with “September 5,” a new thriller starring Peter Sarsgaard and Ben Chaplin, and now playing in select theatres, an American sports broadcasting crew finds itself thrust into covering the hostage crisis involving Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet musician, broadcaster, photographer, empresario, and author who joins me today to talk about his newest book “Rollin’ Through the ‘70s. Weed, Woman and Song.” Born in Indiana, his recording career began in 1965 with a cover of jazz great Bobby Timmon’s song “Moanin’” by his band The Chateaus. Since then, he was mentored by jazz legend Oscar Peterson, and worked with everyone from Janis Joplin and The Pointer Sisters to Linda Ronstadt and Howdy Doody. I’ve had a remarkable life, he says, and he joins me today to talk about Vietnam and his arrival in Canada, smoking hash and many other stories from his book “Rollin’ Through the ‘70s. Weed, Woman and Song.”Then we get to know Christophe Lebold, a professor of literature, performance studies and rock culture from Strasbourg, France, joins me to talk about his book “Leonard Cohen: The Man Who Saw the Angels Fall.” It’s an intriguing, massive, 543-page compendium that takes a deep metaphysical dive into the late Montrealer’s world.
On the Saturday November 30, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Ronnie Shuker, author, editor, freelance writer, and an editor-at-large for The Hockey News. He has traveled to places such as North Korea, Chernobyl, Transnistria, and the Himalayas, where he took part in the Guinness World Record for the highest altitude hockey game ever played. He stayed closer to home for his new book, “The Country and the Game: 30,000 Miles of Hockey Stories.” In the waning days of the pandemic, sportswriter Ronnie Shuker stuffed his skates, sticks, and backpack into his faithful automobile, Gumpy, named for legendary goaltender Gump Worsley, and set off on a 30,000-mile, coast-to-coast-to-coast investigation of the many ways hockey touches the lives of Canadians.Then, we’ll meet Vass Bednar is the executive director of McMaster University’s Master of Public Policy in Digital Society program, a contributing columnist to The Globe and Mail, and the host of its podcast Lately. Today we talk about her new book “The Big Fix,” co-authored with Denise Hearn. The book examines how corporate concentration is growing across many industries, leading to higher prices for consumers, lower worker’s wages, more inequality, fewer startups, less innovation, and lower growth and productivity.
On the Saturday November 23, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Dale Dickey. You know her as a formidable character actor, known for her Independent Spirit Award winning performance in “Winter’s Bone,” and appearances in more than 60 movies, like Iron Man 3 and Hell or High Water, and television shows like My Name Is Earl, Breaking Bad and True Blood. Her latest film is the dark thriller “The G.” In the movie, she plays a grandmother looking for vengeance with the help of her granddaughter Emma (Denis), who calls her "The G," after a corrupt legal guardian puts her in a care home in order to take her property. Then, we’ll hear the remarkable story of Sash Simpson. These days Sash is the owner/operator and Chef of Sash, a beautiful, fine dining restaurant featuring his distinctive, signature blend of globally inspired, locally-sourced ingredients. He’s also the subject of a new documentary, now on Crave, called “Born Hungry.” In the film, director Barry Avrich tells Sash’s triumphant and challenging story from a five year old orphan on the streets of Chennai, India, to establishing himself as one of Toronto’s top celebrated chefs.
On the Saturday November 16, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet multi award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter and pianist Laila Biali. She has headlined festivals and venues spanning five continents from New York City’s Carnegie Hall to Beijing’s National Centre for the Performing Arts, and the Washington Post says she “masterfully mixes jazz and pop, bringing virtuosity and unpredictability to songs that are concise and catchy.” Her latest album “Wintersongs,” is her 10th recording as a bandleader and her first release in almost 2 years. Best described as a musical love letter to winter, it’s an entirely fresh and original offering, composed from a serene cabin surrounded by snow-capped mountains during a writing retreat in the heart of Canada’s Rocky Mountains. We will talk about “Wintersongs,” how a car accident altered the course of her career, singing with Sting and much more.Then, we get to know documentary filmmaker and investigative journalist Roxana Spicer. Her new book “The Traitor’s Daughter,” is about her decades-long quest to understand her extraordinary mother, who was born in Lenin's Soviet Union, served as a combat soldier in the Red Army, and endured three years of Nazi captivity.
On the Saturday November 9, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show I’ll tell you about the new psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, “Heretic,” now playing in theatres. In the film, door-to-door Mormon missionaries Sister Barnes and Sister Paxton are lured into a theological cat-and-mouse game by the curious (and possibly deadly) Mr. Reed, played by Hugh Grant. Grant is remarkable in the film. It’s really something different for him, and I had the chance to talk about the movie and that performance with the film’s two other stars Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East, and the film’s directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods.Then, we’ll meet Afro-Canadian rapper, singer-songwriter, and producer Kofi, who releases his newest album, “Pettyboy” on November 15th via Red Bull Records / The Orchard on all streaming platforms. We’ll learn how he balances life as a musician and professional volleyball player.Finally, we’ll get to know meet Sol León And Paul Lightfoot, choreographers who have been at the forefront of dance creation in Europe for over 35 years. This month they come to the National Ballet in Toronto for the first time with Silent Screen, a profound theatrical experience that brings a silent film to life, set to the music of Philip Glass.
Folks have a fear and fascination with bloodsuckers like Count Dracula and Akasha, the ancient vampire Queen of the Damned and others, so, to celebrate Halloween I’m bringing in vampire expert Prof. Stanley Stepanic of The University of Virginia to, not exactly shed some light one the subject, because, according to lore, that might make the vampires burst into flames, but to give us a lively history of the undead. To date he has published three textbooks that have been released in recent editions - these are "Dracula or the Timeless Path of the Vampire," "Russian and East European Film", and "Russian Folklore". His latest book, a novella titled “A Vamp There Was,” is set in 1920s Virginia, and looks at the vamp archetype… that of a desirable woman who manipulates men. A young man from Virginia investigates the secrets of her past and the devastating effect on the men who fall for her. Professor Stepanic teaches a popular class on Dracula at The University of Virginia which covers the history of the vampire from pre-Christian Slavic belief to the present and often appears on lists of students’ favorite University courses.Then, at the end of the show I share a taste of an interview I did with director Matt Reeves. He’s directed movies like “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,” “War for the Planet of the Apes” and “The Batman” with Robert Pattinson, but here we talk about his unique vampire film “Let Me In.” It’s a remake of a Swedish film, but unlike so many remakes, this story of a bullied young boy who befriends a young female vampire who lives in secrecy with her guardian, really works and is perfect Halloween viewing.
On the Saturday November 2, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa, a trailblazing physician recognized by the TIME magazine as a Next Generation Leader and an advocate for equity in healthcare. In her new book, “Unlike the Rest,” she shares her inspirational journey, from her childhood dream of wearing the white coat to overcoming systemic barriers to becoming a doctor. Her story is one of resilience and determination and she joins me via Zoom to talk about her life, her book and what it is like to be honored in Mattel’s #ThankYouHeroes campaign with a one-of-a-kind Barbie doll made in her image to commemorate her contributions as a frontline healthcare worker.Then, we’ll meet Marc Garneau, the first Canadian astronaut to go to space and, from 2001 to 2005, the president of the Canadian Space Agency. As a federal politician, he has served as Liberal house leader, Minister of Transport and Minister of Foreign affairs. He adds author to his resume with the release of a new memoir, “A Most Extraordinary Ride.”
On the Saturday October 19, 2024 episode of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet director Ali Abbasi. His film “The Apprentice,” which is now playing in theatres, is a controversial coming-of-age look at Donald Trump’s early years under the mentorship of lawyer Roy Cohn. It paints a picture of the future president of the United States as an ambitious, if slightly awkward guy, who came to believe that there are only two kinds of people in the world, “killers and losers.” Ali Abbasi joined me on the phone to discuss his six year journey to getting this film made and released and much more. Then, Elijah Wood stops by. He began his career as a child actor, appearing in everything from “Back to the Future II” to “Internal Affairs” opposite Richard Gere. He became an international star after playing Frodo Baggins in the acclaimed "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. His extensive filmography now includes “Bookworm,” an intriguing film about a 12-year-old named Mildred whose life is turned upside down when her mother lands in hospital and estranged, American magician father, Strawn Wise, played by Elijah Wood, comes to look after her. Hoping to entertain the bookish tween, Strawn takes Mildred camping in the notoriously rugged New Zealand wilderness, and the pair embark on the ultimate test of family bonding -- a quest to find the mythological beast known as the Canterbury Panther. It's a lovely film and it was lovely to speak with Elijah Wood about it and his secret regarding “Lord of the Rings.” Finally, we’ll meet Jenny Heijun Wills. She was born in Seoul, South Korea, raised in Southern Ontario, and currently lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She is the author of Older Sister. “Not Necessarily Related.: A Memoir.” As a self-described transnational and transracial
On the Saturday October 12, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Paul Gilligan. He writes and draws the syndicated comic strip Pooch Café with Andrews McMeel, which runs in over 250 newspapers around the world and has been twice nominated by the National Cartoonist Society for best strip. He is also the author-illustrator of Pluto Rocket: New in Town, King of the Mole People and its sequel, Rise of the Slugs. Today we’ll talk about his new book the graphic memoir Boy vs. Shark. In the book, ten-year-old Paul is terrified of sharks, but when he forces himself to see the movie Jaws to keep up with his more daring friends, he is traumatized into imagining a shark living in his bedroom.Then, we’ll spend some time with Victor Garber. On the big screen, you know the London, Ontario born actor from his roles in Godspell, Titanic, Sleepless in Seattle, The First Wives Club, Legally Blonde and many others. On television, he is best known as Jack Bristow in the ABC series Alias, and he originated roles in the Broadway productions of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Noises Off, Lend Me a Tenor, Arcadia and Art. This month he will receive a Lifetime Achievement in Entertainment Award from The Forest City Film Festival in his hometown.
On the Saturday October 5, 2024 edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet Zac Hanson, drummer for the 3x Grammy® Award-nominated, multi-Platinum pop-rock trio, Hanson. The band are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their landmark third album “Underneath” with a new expanded version of the album and a North American tour.The, later in the show we’ll meet author Jennifer Whiteford. She writes regularly for Razorcake, a long-standing punk publication and was also a founding member of the "all girl, all rock" band Sophomore Level Psychology. With those rock 'n roll days behind her, she says she now mostly stays home and reads and writes novels like her new one, “Make Me a Mixtape.” In the book a guarded punk-rocker-turned-barista meets a big-hearted sound tech who charms his way into her life and helps her revisit her musical past in this truly charming, cozy romance.
On the Saturday September 28, 2024 episode of The Richard Crouse Show we get to know Mike Downie, director of “The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal,” the definitive four-part documentary series about the band who, as the programmers of TIFF noted earlier this year, “went on to make music that defined Canada to the world and, more importantly, Canada to Canadians.” The four-hour Amazon Prime docuseries combines never-before-seen archival footage with new interviews with the band, family, friends, and famous fans including Will Arnett, Dan Aykroyd, Jay Baruchel and Geddy Lee, to create a joyful and moving look at The Tragically Hip, their music and the personal tragedies that defined the band. It's the story of a band of brothers, produced and directed by Mike Downie, brother of the band’s frontperson Gord Downie. Then, we meet Maisy Stella and Megan Park, the star and director respectively of “My Old Ass,” a wonderful coming-of-age story about a free-spirited teen whose birthday mushroom trip brings her face-to-face with her 39-year-old self, played by Aubrey Plaza, who delivers some choice advice and words of warning that transform her relationships with her family and friends. Finally, Divesh Subaskaran stops by. He’s the star of “Life of Pi” currently on stage at the CAA Ed Mirvish theatre in Toronto. Based on the best-selling novel, this story of adventure and discovery is an epic journey about a young man who survives a disaster at sea and forms an unexpected connection with another survivor: a fearsome Bengal tiger. We’ll find out what it is like to do this demanding show night after night and why his acting teacher at RADA—the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts—told him he should behave like a rockstar.
On the Saturday September 21, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Colin Mochrie actor, writer, producer and improvisational comedian, from the British and American versions of the improvisational TV show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” In this interview we talk about improv, working with the late great Richard Simmons in one of the funniest improvised scenes ever and his new show, “Old Enough.” It's based on the hit Japanese show of the same name and it follows kids (3-6 years old) as they head out by themselves and get their first taste of independence by running everyday errands for their parents. You can see the show on TVO and it is available to stream across Canada on the TVOkids streaming app and TVOkids.com.Then, we’ll meet musician and songwriter Diane Tell. From beginning her musical career at the age of 6, she has had many, many hits in Quebec, France and worldwide since being discovered by Radio Canada as she sang in the streets of Montreal during the Olympic Games. Today she joins me from her home in Switzerland to talk about songwriting, her life and being inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame this month.
On the Saturday September 14, 2024 edition of the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Mike Ayley, bass player from the multi-platinum bland Marianas Trench. The band’s sixth studio album, “Haven,” is available now wherever you legally buy and download music. They are also launching their North American “Force of Nature” this month, which will make stops across the US and Canada, culminating with the tour's final stop in the band's hometown, Vancouver, BC.Then, we’ll meet actor, author and musician Paul Spence. Best known for his portrayal of hard-luck metalhead Dean Murdoch in the 2002 mockumentary film "FUBAR: The Movie," which he co-wrote with friends Dave Lawrence and Michael Dowse. He also reprised the character in the sequel film FUBAR 2, and the television series Fubar Age of Computer. In a new stand-alone movie called “Deaner ‘89” he revisits the character, uncovers his Métis heritage, starts listening to his father’s heavy metal albums, dressing in his clothes, angers a biker gang, steals a bus – and much more.
On the Saturday September 7, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Barbara Adhiya. In her 20-year career as an editor with newswires CP/AP and Reuters, she says she never lost her hope and faith in humanity. Her new book as an editor, “Hope by Terry Fox,” is a testament that sentiment. Through over 50 interviews with people throughout Terry’s life — ranging from his siblings, nurses, and coaches to volunteers during the Marathon of Hope —Barbara discovers how Terry was able to run a marathon a day. Through their stories, passages from Terry’s marathon journal, and over 200 photos and documents, Hope shows that with enough resilience, determination, humility, and support, ordinary people can do impossible things.Then, we’ll meet Anne Allan, a theatre director, a producer, artistic director, and educator. Her career began as a classical dancer, training on scholarship at the Royal Ballet School in London, England. After becoming ballet mistress for London City Ballet, she was invited to become the private dance teacher to Her Royal Highness, Diana, Princess of Wales and did so for 9 years. She writes about that experience in her new book “Dancing with Diana.”
On the Saturday August 31, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Amanda Marshall.You know the name, but could be forgiven if you wondered what happened to her. After hits like her 1996 single, "Birmingham", which reached number 3 in Canada and charted on the US, and diamond and certified 3× platinum albums, she disappeared from the charts and the music scene for more than 20 years.She says the legal battle with her former manager that kept her away from the spotlight for two decades “turned out to be the very best thing that ever happened to me.” We’ll find out why in this interview.Then, we’ll meet three-time Academy Award nominee for Best Actor Viggo Mortensen. From his film debut in 1985’s “Witness” to the “Lord of the Rings” movies that made him a superstar to his more recent work, like the Oscar winning “Green Book,” he has been a constant, welcome presence on screens for 40 years. Joins me today as the writer, director, star, and composer of “The Dead Don’t Hurt,” a great new Western now available on all major platforms for Digital Purchase and Digital Rental.Then, we meet Salah Bachir, author of a new memoir, “First to the Leave the Party: My Life with Ordinary People Who Happen to Be Famous,” available now wherever fine books are sold.
On the Saturday August 24, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet David Huebert. As the author of two books of short fiction, two poetry collections, and the new novel, Oil People, described by Quill and Quire as “inventive,” “hallucinatory,” and “lushly poetic,” The Literary Review of Canada called him “One of the most captivating authors of the last decade.” He says that after many years of research, writing, and editing, his debut novel, “Oil People,” is now ready for readers.We’ll also get to know Ruth Reichl, the New York Times bestselling author of five memoirs, the novel “Delicious!,” and the cookbook “My Kitchen Year.” She was editor in chief of Gourmet magazine, and previously served as restaurant critic for The New York Times, as well as food editor and restaurant critic for the Los Angeles Times. She has been honored with six James Beard Awards.Today we’ll talk about her new book “The Paris Novel,” which follows Stella St. Vincent, an introverted thirtysomething, who finds purpose in a search for art, fashion and food on a 1983 Paris trip.
On the Saturday August 17, 2024 of the Richard Crouse Show we meet Michael Hirsh. He is a co-founder and the CEO of Nelvana, and one of the driving forces behind Canada’s animation dominance. His new book, “Animation Nation” is his behind-the-scenes account of working with such famous cartoon franchises as Babar, The Adventures of Tintin, Franklin, The Magic School Bus, and Beetlejuice, and larger-than-life personalities including Roseanne Barr, Mr. T., Deborah Harry, and Tim Burton. The book is a frame-by-frame account of how creative talent and entrepreneurial zeal built a global cartoon empire.Then, we meet Caroline Suh and Cara Mones, co-directors of a documentary Louis CK's fall and return to the spotlight called “Sorry, Not Sorry.” The film, whoch is available on several streaming services, features interviews with fellow comedians and women who spoke up about his sexual misconduct.
On the Saturday August 10, 2024 edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet Clare Titley, director of “The Contestant,” a feature doc, now available on Hollywood Suite On Demand. Narrated by Fred Armisen, it is an intimate portrait of Tomoaki Hamatsu, a Japanese reality TV star, nicknamed Nasubi, left naked in a room for more than a year and tasked with entering contests to earn food and clothing, while, unknown to him, millions of television viewers all over Japan watched his every move. The show turned him into an unwitting superstar, but at what cost?Then we’ll get to know Jonathan Torrens. You know him from Taggart and Torrens, the podcast with 4 million downloads he does with Jeremy Taggart, and his work on shows like “Street Cents” and his talk show “Jonovision” and, of course, his legendary performance as rapper J-Roc on the “Trailer Park Boys.” Today we talk about his latest project, the Truro, Nova Scotia based production company Canadian Content Studios and his new show “Roll With It.”
On the Saturday July 27, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we get to know Sunthar V. He is a Tamil Canadian comedian, presenter and writer who has performed on stages across the world including Toronto, New York, Chennai and London.Born in Toronto, Sunthar has been captivating audiences since 2019 with his distinctive humor and perspective. As an openly queer Tamil comedian, Sunthar’s comedy stems from his unique blend of life experiences and perspectives.Then, we’ll meet writer and stop-motion animator Marcus Kliewer. His debut novel “We Used to Live Here” began life as a serialized short story on Reddit, where it won the Scariest Story of 2021 award on the NoSleep forum (eighteen million members). Film rights were snapped up by Netflix, and it was acquired by Simon & Schuster in the US for publication even before it had been extended into a full-length novel. Film rights for his second book, which will be based on an unpublished story called The Caretaker, have been sold to Universal, with Sydney Sweeney attached to star.
I go to the vault to hear a vintage interview I did with Wolverine himself, Hugh Jackman. We don’t talk superheroes, instead, the actor gets personal, talking about the projects that worked, the ones that didn’t and what drives him. “When I started acting I was the dunce of the class,” he says.
On the Saturday July 27, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Natalie Shaw who stars as Cady Heron in the touring, musical production of the show that touches down in Toronto at The Royal Alexandra Theatre from July 30 - August 25, 2024.You remember the story… Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. Soon, this naïve newbie falls prey to a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung.Then, we’ll meet three-time Academy Award nominee for Best Actor Viggo Mortensen. From his film debut in 1985’s “Witness” to the “Lord of the Rings” movies that made him a superstar to his more recent work, like the Oscar winning “Green Book,” he has been a constant, welcome presence on screens for 40 years. Joins me today as the writer, director, star, and composer of “The Dead Don’t Hurt,” a great new Western now available on all major platforms for Digital Purchase and Digital Rental.Then, we’ll meet Willie Poll. She is the director of education for the Moose Hide Campaign, an organization focused on ending violence against women and children. But today we’re here to talk about her new book for children, “My Little Ogichidaa: An Indigenous Lullaby.”
On the Saturday Saturday July 20, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show, we meet English-Canadian alternative comedian James Mullinger. Though primarily a stand-up comic, Mullinger has held a number of roles in other media including a presenter of Blimey! An Englishman in Atlantic Canada, co-writer and co-producer of The Comedian's Guide to Survival. In 2022, he published his memoir, Brit Happens: Or Living the Canadian Dream, with Goose Lane Editions. In 2016, Mullinger broke Jerry Seinfeld's record ticket sales at Harbour Station and outsold performances including Guns N' Roses, Iron Maiden, and Snoop Dogg.We’ll also get to know Gareth Reynolds. He’s a stand-up comedian, a podcaster with three very popular shows, The Dollop, which is a weekly comedy/ history podcast, with co-host Dave Anthony and The Past Times, a totally different weekly comedy/history podcast, with co-host Dave Anthony and We’re Here to Help, a bi-weekly advice podcast, with co-host Jake Johnson. He’s written for shows like Arrested Development and he joins me today.We’ll also spend some time with comedian Ronny Chieng. You know him as a senior correspondent on "The Daily Show," the star of Ronny Chieng Takes Chinatown, one of the stars of “Crazy Rich Asians” and the blockbuster “M3GAN,” and as one of the most I demand comedians out there. Today we’ll talk about why he waited until he was in university to give stand-up comedy a try and why he says, “I’m still trying to figure out if I am funny,” despite selling out theatres across the world.
Welcome to the Saturday July 13, 2024 edition of the Richard Crouse. On this episode we’ll meet New York Times bestselling author of The Authenticity Project, Clare Pooley. After working in advertising for twenty years it dawned on her that her daily ‘wine o’clock’ habit was out of control. She wrote the popular "Mummy was a Secret Drinker" blog and a memoir, "The Sober Diaries," published in 2017 to critical acclaim. Her latest book is “How to Age Disgracefully,” the story of a senior citizen with a shady past who bands together with her friends to save their beloved community center from closure by any means necessary.Then, we’ll meet Larry Gaudet, an award-winning novelist and writer of imaginative non-fiction. His corporate work over 25+ years spans branding, disinformation analysis, venture financing, IPOs, speechwriting, investor relations, and marketing strategy. The sum total of his experience is captured in his latest book, a novel called Eris, in which an anarchist online group sets out to assassinate the corporate elites they believe have turned culture into a digital nightmare.
On the Saturday July 6, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Amanda Marshall. You know the name, but could be forgiven if you wondered what happened to her. After hits like her 1996 single, "Birmingham", which reached number 3 in Canada and charted on the US, and diamond and certified 3× platinum albums, she disappeared from the charts and the music scene for more than 20 years.She says the legal battle with her former manager that kept her away from the spotlight for two decades “turned out to be the very best thing that ever happened to me.” We’ll find out why in this interview. Then, we’ll meet K.L. Armstrong is a pseudonym for bestselling author Kelley Armstrong. She has written over 40 books, including the bestselling young adult series the Darkest Powers and Darkness Rising, the YA book Aftermath, the middle-grade novel A Royal Guide to Monster Slaying and the adult thriller Alone in the Wild. Today we’ll talk about how and why she is so prolific, and her newest novel, Known To The Victim, a heartstopping, propulsive, race-against-the-clock thriller that asks a simple question, How far will you go to protect the only family you have?
On a very special Quirky Canada Travel edition of The Richard Crouse Show, we play travel agent, and suggest some cool roadside attractions to check out as you travel around this great country of ours this summer. You’ll hear about the monetary magnificence of the Giant $2 Coin in Campbellford, Ontario, the mysteries of Magnetic Hill in New Brunswick, the World’s Largest Kielbassa Sausage in Mundare, Alberta and we’ll boldly go where… well many have gone before… as we beam you to Vulcan, Alberta, the Official Star Trek Capital of Canada.
On the Saturday June 22, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show, we meet Tamara Podemski. You know her from TV shows and movies like Reservation Dogs, Dance Me Outside, The Rez, Ready or Not, North of 60, Rabbit Fall, Heartland, Cracked, Four Sheets to the Wind and numerous theatre productions, most notably as a member of the Original Canadian Cast of Rent, as well as playing Maureen in the Broadway Company of Rent.Currently she stars, alongside Josh Brolin, on the hir Prime Video sci fi western “Outer Range.” Brolin plays Royal Abbott, a Wyoming rancher who discovers a mysterious black void in his pasture., a hole that can send people to other moments in time. The show combines a “Yellowstone” vibe with the twisty-turny plot of “Lost.” Tamara plays the time-travelling Deputy Sheriff Joy Hawk, the acting sheriff of the county where the show is situated. In this interview we talk about “Outer Range,” why she felt excited but intimidated to take on the role, Broadway musicals, martial arts and much more. Then, did you know "It's Raining Men," the 1982 disco hit by the Weather Girls, is part Canadian? The upbeat song, which was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, was written by Donna Summer’s songwriter Paul Jabara and the Toronto-born musician and former band leader of Late Show with David Letterman, Paul Shaffer, who joins me from Los Angeles.
On the Saturday June 15, 2024 we get to know Olympian and World Champion Hurdler Perdita Felicien. These days you can see her as the host All-Round Champion, a competition show you can check out on TVO, TVOkids YouTube and TVOkids.com. Now in season six, the show, which sees young athletes come together to learn and compete in each other’s sports and earn enough points to become the All-Round Champion, is changing things up. This season the athletes will also have to compete as pairs in sports like Pickleball, Teqball, Roller Derby, Cricket, Synchronized Diving, MMA, Beach Volleyball, Canoe Sprint, Cheer, Ice Dance and Breaking.We’ll meet Haley McGee, the writer and performer of “Age is a Feeling,” a beautiful, funny and poignant one-woman show that follows a woman from the age of 25 until her death. The twist? It’s a choose-your-own-adventure show, where the audience dictates the general; direction of the play. It’s an impressive theatrical achievement that offers up 180 possible iterations of the material Haley will perform on any given night.We’ll also meet the Wizard in the form of veteran Broadway actor Blake Hammond who can currently be seen onstage in the touring production of “Wicked.”
On the Saturday June 8, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet George Miller. He has made pigs talk and penguins tap dance. He’s been a doctor and a film director. Among the bold-faced names on his resume are the titles “Babe: A Pig in the City,” “The Witches of Eastwick,” “Happy Feet” and “Lorenzo’s Oil.” One name, however, looms larger than the rest.“Mad Max.” He returned to theatres recently with “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,” his fifth Mad Max inspired film in 45 years. A mix of Norse and Greek mythology set against an apocalyptic backdrop, and set 15 to 20 years before the events of “Mad Max: Fury Road,” “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” is a high-octane origin story. Kidnapped from the Place of Great Abundance by Warlord Dementus’s (Chris Hemsworth) henchmen, young Furiosa (played by Alyla Browne as a child, Anya Taylor-Joy as an adult) vows vengeance for the death of her mother as warlords Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme) and Dementus vie for supremacy of the Wasteland.It's a pedal-to-the-metal epic, “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” follows the big-block engine power of “Fury Road” with a film that brings a backstory to the strong-willed Furiosa (Taylor-Joy). As expected, Miller delivers a high-octane apocalyptic tale with a fierce Taylor-Joy and charismatic warlord Hemsworth, that features action scenes that’ll make your eyes pop out of their sockets.We’ll also meet Simon Lewis, author of the book “Making 'A Bridge Too Far” which takes a deep dive into the making of what many people call, the greatest World War II movie of all time. Just ahead of the 80th anniversary of Operation Market Garden, which happened in September 1944 when the Allies attempted to capture several strategically important bridges in the Netherlands in the hope of breaking the German lines, comes the book which details the making of the movie based on the famous military maneuver. In recreating Operation Market Garden on film, director Richard Attenborough enlisted a company of actors and trained them to behave like soldiers. These actors underwent weapons training and were trusted to bring authenticity to their roles, a groundbreaking approach that hadn’t been tried before.
On the Saturday June 1, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Sharon Lewis. She is an award winning director for her documentary and feature work, and if you’ve been watching "Law and Order Toronto: Criminal Intent," “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” or the Netflix series “Ginny & Georgia,” you’ve seen her name in the credits as director.Then we’ll meet English author Sam Lloyd, the bestselling author of "The Memory Wood" and "The Rising Tide." Today we talk about his latest novel, a tense, mystery thriller called "The People Watcher." Today we’ll talk about the unusual visitation that inspired the book.We’ll also get to know New York City-based stand-up comedian Tina Friml. She has performed at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal, is a regular at the Comedy Cellar in New York City and has a large following on line for her unique take on her own physical disability, and fearless honesty about the social assumptions that come with living with cerebral palsy.Then, we’ll meet Willie Poll. She is the director of education for the Moose Hide Campaign, an organization focused on ending violence against women and children. But today we’re here to talk about her new book for children, “My Little Ogichidaa: An Indigenous Lullaby.”
On the Saturday May 18, 2024 edition of the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet former Toronto Star reporter Mary Ormsby. In “World’s Fastest Man:* The Incredible Life of Ben Johnson,” the veteran sports reporter details the rise and fall of Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson, the once celebrated athlete whose career was halted when he was accused of doping at the 1988 Olympics, and stripped of his gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul. It's a fascinating story, retold with in Ormsby’s in depth reporting and 30 hours of interview with Ben Johnson himself. Then we meet Indigenous Australian filmmaker, screenwriter and cinematographer, editor, composer and sound designer Ivan Sen. His latest film is “Limbo,” a study of damaged people, disguised as a police procedural. Shot in beautiful black and white, this outback noir tells the story of a drug addicted detective who goes to the Australian Outback to reopen a twenty year old cold case of a missing Indigenous girl, whose killer may still live locally. The film stars Australian actor Simon Baker, who audiences know best for his turn as Patrick Jane in TV’s long running series “The Mentalist.”
On the September 18, 2024 edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet Mary Badham. She had no acting experience before she auditioned for the role of the intelligent and unconventional girl Jean Louise Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. Better known by the nickname Scout, the character is the daughter of Alabama lawyer, Atticus Finch, played by Gregory Peck in the classic film.Mary Badham, at just ten years of age, became the youngest actress to that date to be nominated for Best Supporting Actress. At age fourteen, after appearing in several other films and television show, including the final episode of the original Twilight Zone series, she retired from acting at age fourteen. She stayed close with Gregory Peck, who she always called Atticus, until his death in 2003. To Kill a Mockingbird has never completely left her life, however, Mary has traveled around the world recalling her experiences making the classic film, and praising the book's messages of tolerance and compassion, and now, in her debut as a stage actor, she plays, quote “the meanest old woman who ever lived,” Mrs. Dubose in the national touring production of Aaron Sorkin's stage adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird, which features Richard Thomas in the role of Atticus Finch and is now playing at the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto. Check mirvish.com for more details.Then, Christian Sparkes, a film director and screenwriter from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. His new movie, “The King Tide,” is set in an isolated, struggling community, ten years after a child with miraculous gifts washed up on the beach. She is able to heal people, but after a decade of prosperity, her adoptive parents are forced to decide whether her safety is more important than their community's prosperity
On the Saturday May 11, 2024 edition of the Richard Crouse we meet General Roméo Dallaire. A celebrated global human rights advocate, he is also a highly respected author, public speaker, political advisor, and former Canadian senator. Throughout his distinguished military career, General Dallaire served most notably as Force Commander of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda during the 1994 genocide. He continues to work ceaselessly to bring international attention to situations too often ignored, whether the prevention of mass atrocities, ending the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict, the impact of post-traumatic stress disorder on veterans and their families, or strategic solutions for lasting peace.In his latest book “The Peace: A Warrior’s Journey,” general Dallaire shows us the past, present and future of war through the prism of his own life.Then, we’ll meet Rose Sutherland, author of “A Sweet Sting of Salt.” Based on the classic folktale The Selkie Wife, it is a piece of historical fiction that sees a young woman uncover a dark secret about her neighbor and his mysterious new wife… and she’ll have to fight to keep herself—and the woman she loves—safe.
On the Saturday May 4 edition of the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet novelist and writing coach Heidi Reimer. Her front-row seat to the theater world of her debut novel, “The Mother Act,” began two decades ago when she met and married an actor, and her immersion in motherhood began when she adopted a toddler and discovered she was pregnant on the same day.Then, we’ll meet photographer-turned-film director, Caitlin Cronenberg. Her new movie “Humane” stars Jay Baruchel, Emily Hampshire and Enrico Colantoni is a wild story about a family dinner that erupts into chaos when a father's plan to enlist in the government's new euthanasia program goes sideways.
On the Saturday April 27 edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet Ruth Reichl, the New York Times bestselling author of five memoirs, the novel “Delicious!,” and the cookbook “My Kitchen Year.” She was editor in chief of Gourmet magazine, and previously served as restaurant critic for The New York Times, as well as food editor and restaurant critic for the Los Angeles Times. She has been honored with six James Beard Awards.Today we’ll talk about her new book “The Paris Novel,” which follows Stella St. Vincent, an introverted thirtysomething, who finds purpose in a search for art, fashion and food on a 1983 Paris trip.We’ll also meet award-winning, former Toronto Star journalist Morgan Campbell. His new memoir “My Fighting Family: Borders and Bloodlines and the Battles That Made Us,” offers a history of his family’s multigenerational battles, a coming-of-age story, and a powerful reckoning with what it means to be Black in Canada when you have strong American roots.Then, we’ll meet Christian Sparkes, a film director and screenwriter from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. I really like his revenge thriller “Hammer,” the story of a father who faces a personal crisis when he discovers his estranged son fleeing a botched drug deal. It’s good stuff, and likely available on a streamer near you. Today, we’ll talk about his new movie “The King Tide.” Set in Newfoundland and Labrador, it tells the story of an isolated, struggling community, ten years after a child with miraculous gifts washed up on the beach. She is able to heal people, but after a decade of prosperity, her adoptive parents are forced to decide whether her safety is more important than their community's prosperity.
On the Saturday April 20, 2024 edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet CJ Tudor. She is author of The Burning Girls, The Other People, The Hiding Place, and The Chalk Man, which won the International Thriller Writers Award for Best First Novel, the Barry Award, and the Strand Critics Award for Best Debut Novel. In her new novel, The Gathering, a detective investigating a grisly crime in rural Alaska finds herself caught up in the dark secrets and superstitions of a small town.We’ll also get to know best-selling author Susan Fletcher, author of “The Night in Question,” which is being described as a lyrical and emotionally engaging novel infused with mystery and wisdom about love, friendship, and the power of forgiveness. Then, I chat with Canadian business executive, entrepreneur, publisher, art collector, fundraiser, and philanthropist Salah Bachir, author of a new memoir, “First to the Leave the Party: My Life with Ordinary People Who Happen to Be Famous,” available wherever fine books are sold.
On the Saturday April 13, 2024 edition of the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Phil Heath. Fans of bodybuilding will recognize his name as a seven-time Mr. Olympia winner, having won the competition every year from 2011 to 2017. His incredible athletic career was slowed by health concerns, but his strength of character and intensity is captured in a new film co-produced by Dwayne Johnson, “Breaking Olympia: The Phil Heath Story,” which is now available on the SuperChannel. It’s the untold story of how he battled back from injury in his quest to become the greatest of all. Later on we’ll meet Tassie Cameron. Tassie is an award-winning screenwriter who was the head writer and executive producer on the series Rookie Blue and creator of the show Pretty Hard Cases. Today we’re talking about her latest gig, as the producer of “Law and Order Toronto: Criminal Intent.” We talk about the show, and what it takes to quote, unquote, play a dead body on the legendary franchise.
On the Saturday April 5, 2024 edition of the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Marlo Mckenzie and Jonathan Parker, the filmmakers behind a cool new documentary called “Carol Doda Topless at the Condor.” The documentary, now playing in theatres, paints a picture of an accidental trailblazer whose provocative performances transformed not only San Francisco’s North Bay neighborhood, but the national nightclub business.Then, we get to know Holly Gramazio. She is a writer, game designer and curator from Adelaide, currently based in London. Today we’ll talk about her debut novel, The Husbands, which is poised to be a best seller. It’s the story of Lauren, who returns home to her apartment one evening and finds her husband there. Problem is she is not married. While she is trying to figure out who this person is, he goes to the attic to change the light bulb. But what comes down is ANOTHER HUSBAND .
On this episode of The Richard Crouse Show we meet #1 New York Times bestselling novelist, Karen Kingsbury. She is North America’s favorite inspirational storyteller, with more than twenty-five million copies of her award-winning books in print. Her last dozen titles have topped bestseller lists and many of her novels are under development with Hallmark Films and as major motion pictures. Today we’ll talk about how she found her way from journalism to writing best-selling fiction and the new film, “Someone Like You,” which she produced, based on one of her books.Then, Roger Mooking stop[s by. As a celebrity chef, restaurateur, television host, author, and award-winning recording artist Roger has earned an international reputation as a multi-media artist and entertainer showcasing a globally inspired vision that reflects his rich family heritage, love for people and travel. He does lots of things… and has even won a special All-Star Chopped celebrity chef episode… today we talk about his career in food and music, and how he combined all of his interests in a new book called “Curious Sounds.”
On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet Adam Growe. You may know him a standup comedian, a corporate entertainer or even a foster parent to seven children. But he's likely most recognized as being Canada’s favourite cab driver. He hosted the Canadian trivia-based game show "Cash Cab" for roughly eight years between 2008 and 2015, in which he'd quiz unsuspecting riders with general knowledge questions for their chance to collect money while he drove them from place to place. “Cash Cab” and Adam Growe return with a new spin on the old show… “Cash Cab Music.” Adam is back behind the wheel of a newly-renovated disco taxi, testing his cab customers on musical trivia. Get three wrong and you’re out but get the answers right and you can win cash and even sing some karaoke. Then, we get to know Shilpi Somaya Gowda is the New York Times bestselling, award-winning author whose novels have been translated into over 30 languages, been #1 international bestsellers in several countries and sold more than two million copies worldwide.Her newest book, “A Great Country,” has been named an Anticipated/Top Book of 2024 by over a dozen publications, a Heather's Pick at Indigo, and received a starred review from Publishers’ Weekly.
On the Saturday March 16, 2024 edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd, a.k.a. Merry Brandybuck and Pippin Took, from the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. . They've built upon their famous friendship by working together on podcasts (“The Friendship Onion,” “Moriarty: The Devil's Game”) and TV (Boyd appeared on Monaghan's travel show “Wild Things,” and the two just announced a new reality series “Billy and Dom Eat the World”). But now they're making their stage debut together as a different dynamic duo.The pair will star in a new production of Tom Stoppard's “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead” in Mirvish Productions' Off-Mirvish series at Toronto's CAA Theatre until April 6, 2024.Then, best-selling author Dolly Alderton stops by. She’s a regular columnist for the Sunday Times Style Magazine, and the author of the phenomenally successful memoir “Everything I Know About Love,” which she’s just finished making into a hit BBC TV series; and a bestselling novelist thanks to her barnstorming fiction debut “Ghosts.” Her latest best seller, “Good Material,” a story of heartbreak and friendship and how to survive both.We wrap up with Glass Tiger singer Alan Frew who talks about music, how he keeps his voice in shape and much more.
On the Saturday March 9, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Kathleen Munroe, “Law & Order” superfan, and the star of the new “Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent.” It’s the new adaptation of the legendary “Law & Order” brand, based on the classic series created by Dick Wolf. A psychological thriller wrapped in a criminal investigation, It will showcase original Canadian stories written and produced by, and starring, Canadians. Kathleen Munroe, who you’ve seen for portraying Dr. Amanda Perry on Stargate Universe, Samantha Flack on CSI: NY, and on shows like Chicago P.D., Chicago Med and FBI, plays Det. Sgt. Frankie Bateman, part of an elite squad of detectives who investigate high-profile crime and corruption in metro Toronto. Kathleen and I talked about how watching Jill Hennessy as Claire Kincaid influenced her decision to pursue acting and more!Then, we’ll get to know reggae-fusion artist Ammoye, who recently received a JUNO Award nomination for Reggae Recording of The Year for her incredible song, “Stir This Thing”. Seven-time JUNO Award-nominee Ammoye presents an innovative and unique reggae sound that blends elements of old-school rocksteady, dancehall, soul, and R&B. With an infectious voice and messages of empowerment, Jamaican-born Ammoye is a self-declared soul rebel.
On the Saturday March 2, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we get to know Alex Mallari Jr. The actor is known for his performances in the television series “Dark Matter” and “Ginny & Georgia.” You’ve seen him in movies “The Adam Project,” with Ryan Reynolds and “Shotgun Wedding” with Jennifer Lopez. Today we’ll talk about his latest Netflix movie, “Code 8 II” and working with Ryan Reynolds and Jenifer Lopez.We’ll also meet Liz Locke. If you like cocktails and classic movies like I do, you’ll want to check out her site CinemaSips.com and then check out her debut novel “Follow the Sun,” a portrait of the 1960s International Jet Set Era through the eyes of an aspiring singer-songwriter. Then, Dianne Whelan stops by. She is an award-winning director and cinematographer known for making films in extreme locations. She’s made movies in the Canadian Arctic and Mount Everest's base camp but her latest, “500 Days in the Wild,” tested her in ways she had never experienced before. She filmed herself traversing the entire 24,000 kms of longest trail in the world, Canada’s land and water trails from sea to sea to sea. It is an epic journey of discovery—hiking, biking, paddling, snowshoeing and skiing across the country—that provided challenges over the six year it took her to complete the journey, but at the end she emerged a bit wiser, and certainly more hopeful about the state of the world.
On the Saturday February 24, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet award-winning, former Toronto Star journalist Morgan Campbell. His new memoir “My Fighting Family: Borders and Bloodlines and the Battles That Made Us,” offers a history of his family’s multigenerational battles, a coming-of-age story, and a powerful reckoning with what it means to be Black in Canada when you have strong American roots.Morgan Campbell joins CBC Sports as our first Senior Contributor after 18 standout years at the Toronto Star. In 2004 he won the National Newspaper Award for "Long Shots," a serial narrative about a high school basketball team from Scarborough. Later created, hosted and co-produced "Sportonomics," a weekly video series examining the business of Sport. And he spent his last two years at the Star authoring the Sports Prism initiative, a weekly feature covering the intersection of sports, race, business, politics and culture. Morgan is also a TedX lecturer, and a frequent contributor to several CBC platforms, including the extremely popular and sorely-missed Sports Culture Panel on CBC Radio Q. His work has been featured in the New York Times, the Literary Review of Canada, and the Best Canadian Sports Writing anthology.Then we meet New York Times bestselling author Nita Prose joins me to talk about her new book, The Mystery Guest,” it’s a follow-up to her phenomenally successful first The Maid. It follows the adventures of Molly Gray, a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel who launches an investigation of her own into the death of an acclaimed author who died in one of the hotel’s rooms. We’ll learn how a mummified rat was part of the unusual inspiration for this book and much more.
On the Saturday February 17, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show, get to know Reinaldo Marcus Green, director of the Oscar winning film “King Richard.” He returns to theatres this weekend with “Bob Marley: One Love,” a story of how reggae icon Bob Marley overcame adversity, and the journey behind his revolutionary music. We talk about why Bob Marley’s influence still resonates today, when his life was cut short in 1981, when he was aged just 36. Then we’ll hear from Bob Marley’s son Ziggy Marley who talks about his father as an icon, a father and a musician.Rik Emmett also joins me. He left Triumph in 1988 to pursue a solo career, and released records in a variety of styles, including rock, blues, jazz, classical, bluegrass, and flamenco. He’s he won the Canadian Smooth Jazz Award for Guitarist of the Year and now has written a book called “Lay It On the Line: A Backstage Pass to Rock Star Adventure, Conflict and Triumph,” available now wherever you buy fine books.Finally, Chris Hadfield joins the show. He is an astronaut, engineer, singer, fighter pilot and author of many books, including the one we’ll talk about today, “The Defector.”
On the Saturday February 17, 2024 edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet Supinder Wraich and Enrico Colantoni, stars of the new CBC police drama “Allegiance.” Supinder stars as Sabrina Sohal, a star rookie police officer who must grapple with the limits of the justice system as she fights to exonerate her politician father. She serves her diverse hometown of Surrey alongside Vince Brambilla (played by Enrico Colantoni), a veteran training officer who sees her potential but doesn’t always agree with her forward-thinking methods. The first season of Allegiance airs on Wednesday nights on CBC and is available on the free CBC Gem streaming platform.We’ll also meet debut author Ashley Tate arrives on the crime fiction scene with a bang on 1 February. "Twenty-seven Minutes" is described as a twisty psychological thriller filled with dark secrets – like why, on the fateful night of a car crash that killed his sister, Phoebe, did it take Grant Dean 27 minutes to call for help? As the anniversary of Phoebe’s death approaches, Grant is haunted by what happened.We’ll also spend some time with comedian Ronny Chieng. You know him as a senior correspondent on "The Daily Show," the star of Ronny Chieng Takes Chinatown, one of the stars of “Crazy Rich Asians” and the blockbuster “M3GAN,” and as one of the most I demand comedians out there. Today we’ll talk about why he waited until he was in university to give stand-up comedy a try and why he says, “I’m still trying to figure out if I am funny,” despite selling out theatres across the world.
On the Saturday February 3 edition of the Richard Crouse Show, we meet Kristen Vaurio, director of the new Paramount+ documentary June. The feature documentary shines an important spotlight on the history of country music and the mark the Carter and Cash families made on the genre before diving into the complex life of the legendary June Carter Cash. The five-time Grammy® Award-winning singer, comedian, musician, actor and author has opened for Elvis, appeared onscreen with Robert Duvall and Jane Seymour and co-wrote one of the most recognizable country songs of all time, “Ring of Fire.” Perhaps at times overshadowed by her iconic husband Johnny Cash, she now takes center stage.Then, we meet Roger Mooking. As a celebrity chef, restaurateur, television host, author, and award-winning recording artist Roger has earned an international reputation as a multi-media artist and entertainer showcasing a globally inspired vision that reflects his rich family heritage, love for people and travel. He does lots of things… and has even won a special All-Star Chopped celebrity chef episode… today we talk about his career in food and music, and how he combined all of his interests in a new book called “Curious Sounds.”
On the Saturday January 27, 2024 edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet Nick Broomfield, director of the new documentary “The Stones And Brian Jones,” now playing in theatres. With candid interviews and never-before-seen footage he reveals how Brian Jones, the founder of the Rolling Stones, was left behind in the shadows of history.Broomfield props the film up with first-hand accounts, particularly from former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman, whose enthusiasm for the music, and Jones’s contributions to it, is infectious. The old stories are bolstered by the addition of new, fresh interviews but it is the focus on Jones as a brilliant musician and not simply another rock ‘n’ roll casualty, that elevates “The Stones and Brian Jones.” The story has its sordid moments, but Bloomfield emphasizes the very heart of Jones’s being, the music.We’ll also meet Douglas Smith, author of “The Dream Rider Saga.” Douglas is following up the award winning first two books in the series, “The Hollow Boys” and “The Crystal Key,” with a third book to round out the successful trilogy. The new book, which is available wherever fine books are sold, is called “The Lost Expedition.” Described by Library Journal as "one of Canada’s most original writers of speculative fiction." Smith calls the series “Indiana Jones meets Teen Titans.” All three books have been "Editor's Picks" from BookLife, which described "The Lost Expedition" as “The explosive conclusion to this spectacular fantasy joyride.”“The Lost Expedition” has a five out of five star rating on Good Reads and in this interview we’ll find out how Douglas came to writing as a second career, how he approached writing a trilogy, and much more.
On the January 20, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse we spend some time with Rik Emmett. He is a solo artist, a guitarist, a poet, a song writer, a teacher, a Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame and is probably best known as the co-singer and guitar player of Triumph, the gold and nine platinum selling rock trio who lit up radios in the 70s and 80s.Rik Emmett left Triumph in 1988 to pursue a solo career, and released records in a variety of styles, including rock, blues, jazz, classical, bluegrass, and flamenco. He’s he won the Canadian Smooth Jazz Award for Guitarist of the Year and now has written a book called “Lay It On the Line: A Backstage Pass to Rock Star Adventure, Conflict and Triumph,” available now wherever you buy fine books.In this conversation we talk about the memoir, objective perspective of a career when you’re inside it, his favorite guitar players and much more.Then, we’ll get to know Alan Frew, the Scottish-Canadian singer, songwriter, actor, and author, and notably lead singer of the Canadian rock band Glass Tiger. Today we’ll talk about his up-coming 80’s>90’s<
On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet Mark Critch and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth of the show “Son of a Critch,” now in its third season on CBC. Based on Mark’s best-selling memoir of the same name, Mark plays his own father, Mike Critch, a reporter for a Newfoundland radio station called VOCM. Benjamin plays a fictionalized younger version of Mark Critch, a preteen, who is much older on the inside than his years. The show also stars Malcolm McDowell as Pop Critch, Mark Critch’s grandfather and Claire Rankin as Mark’s mother.In Son of A Critch Season 3, Mark faces a near-death experience, business ventures, and explores stand-up, culminating in a reflective night with friends before saying goodbye to middle school.Then, we’ll get to know Adam Garcia. You’ll remember him as Kevin O'Donnell the Australian heartthrob in Coyote Ugly, who, after one striptease scene at the bar, becomes the boyfriend of Violet, played by Piper Perabo. He is also an Olivier Award nominated stage star, and television actor who is best known for lead roles in musicals such as Saturday Night Fever and Kiss Me, Kate. We talk about how being an anatomical model gave him a sense of being on stage, how The Rocky Horror Picture Show changed the direction of his life and his starring role in 42nd Street, now playing on stage at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto.
It’s the first show back in the new year, and I wanted to do something a little different. It’s a time of year when many of us are making resolutions and trying different things. Maybe starting a new hobby… and as I thought of that, I thought to all the people who have approached me since my first book came out way back in 1997, to tell me that they had always wanted to write a book, but didn’t know how to get started.The New Year is as good a time as any as to get started. I’ll give you some information on how to write your own book. In the last few years I have interviewed hundreds of writers and received lots of advice… and today I’ll share some of that with you.
On the Saturday December 30, 2023 edition of the Richard Crouse Show we have at two movies to end your year with a smile.First, we’ll meet Jon Heder, Jon Gries and Efren Ramirez, the stars of “Napoleon Dynamite,” the movie Jim Carrey said “changed comedy movies.” The story of a listless and alienated teenager who decides to help his new friend Pedro win the class presidency in their small western high school, while dealing with his bizarre family life back home, is one of the most quoted movies of all time. We go deep on the legacy of the movie. Then, I welcome brothers David and Jerry Zucker, and Jim Abrahams, the writers and co-directors of “Airplane!,” the 1980 hit spoof about which David Letterman said, “film comedy became different after that movie.” the Zuckers and Abrahams have a new book, “Surely You Can't Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane!,” available now wherever you buy fine books, will stop by in just a bit to tell all about the making of the movie and the film’s lasting impact.
On the Saturday December 23, 2023 edition of the Richard Crouse Show we have look at some of the greatest Christmas songs of all time. First we meet Moe Berg, one forth of the Trans-Canada Highwaymen, a new band that consists of four of this country’s best rock singer-songwriters, Sloan’s Chris Murphy, Odds’ Craig Nothey and former Barenaked Ladies frontman Steven Page. The album, “Explosive Hits Vol. 1,” is covers of Canadian AM rock radio hits from the 1960s and 70’s and it’s super fun. Moe Berg and I talk about the new album, and then get into the spirit of the season as Moe talks about a Christmas song he wrote with the Pursuit of Happiness and a tune he loves so much, he has a plaque with the lyrics.“Furious Devotion” author Richard Balls joins me to talk about “Fairytale of New York,” a song that is an Irish folk-style ballad and was written as a duet, with the Pogues' singer Shane MacGowan and Kristy MacColl as bickering former lovers on Christmas Eve. A song about their youthful hopes crushed by alcohol and drug addiction doesn’t sound like a Christmas cracker, but in the UK it was the most-played Christmas song of the 21st century and re-enters the music charts every December.We’ll also get to know Larry Weinstein, director of the documentary “Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas,” a musical documentary about the amazing story of a group of Jewish songwriters who wrote the soundtrack to Christmas, and we’ll learn how the Cuban Missile Crisis inspired one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time.Finally we wrap with Brent Butt, the star, writer and/or producer of TV shows such as “Corner Gas,” “Hiccups” and “Corner Gas Animated,” and the author of the best-selling thriller “Huge,” and home designer, television host and producer, best-selling author, sought-after public speaker, and host of her own special Tuscan getaways Debbie Travis on their favorite Christmas songs and stories.
On the Saturday December 16, 2023 edition of the Richard Crouse Show we get to know Tom Wilson. He is a Canadian music legend, famed storyteller and visual artist. Wilson’s memoir, “Beautiful Scars” reveals the impact of discovering his Indigenous heritage after a chance encounter with a stranger caused him to question everything he had always known about his past.As a musician he has won the Polaris Prize, Juno Awards, and has certified gold and platinum records. His song writing has seen his works recorded by and with artists such as: Sarah McLachlan, Jason Isbell, Colin James, Lucinda Williams, Mavis Staples as well as his own bands Lee Harvey Osmond, Junkhouse, and Blackie and the Rodeo Kings.Today we talk about creativity, specifically around a new show called “Amplify.” Each episode features a different Indigenous artist, and in his episode, Tom Wilson crafts a powerful song based on a famous painting by Métis artist Christi Belcourt. In conversation at a diner, the two remarkable artists explore their creative processes and sources of inspiration.Find the show on APTN or streaming on APTN lumi.Then, I welcome Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley, both internationally best-selling authors, and now, bestselling co-authors of the new romantic comedy novel “Three Holidays and a Wedding.”The story takes place in the year 2000 when Hannukah, Christmas and Ramadan all overlap. It follows two strangers who meet on a plane headed to Toronto but due to the weather end up in a charming small town with all the holiday spirit. Alternating between the perspectives of Maryam and Anna, you get a story about different cultures coming together, unlikely friendships and two separate love stories.
On the Saturday December 9, 2023 edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet Salah Bachir, author of a new memoir, “First to the Leave the Party: My Life with Ordinary People Who Happen to Be Famous,” available now wherever fine books are sold.Salah is a Canadian business executive, entrepreneur, publisher, art collector, fundraiser, and philanthropist, who has raised millions of dollars for charity… and says the only autograph worth having is on a cheque. He is a pioneer in consumer video, the founding president and chair of Famous Players Media, and later the president of Cineplex Media and creator of the Scene program, which I know you’ve all used… It is a storied career, which he covers in the book in 54 short chapters about the people he has met and befriended over the years… chapters like: Elizabeth Taylor Tries on My Pearls; Eartha Kitt is Not For Sale; Wooing Gregory Peck; Harvey Milk Sets Me Free and Keith Haring Does New York.Then we meet Academy Award-winning filmmaker Errol Morris. “The Pigeon Tunnel,” his latest film, now streaming on Apple TV+, is a look at the extraordinary life of David Cornwell a.k.a. prolific author John le Carré. Through a retelling of his life, Cornwell examines the very essence of truth, and how memory and manipulation play a part in how we shape our world and our perceptions. It is a greart movie and Morris is an interesting man, you’ll want to stick around for that one…We’ll also meet actor and author R.H. Thomson. You know him from his film and television work as Matthew Cuthbert in Anne With An E, in the movie Chloe directed by Atom Egoyan and as Marshall McLuhan in The Message by Jason Sherman. Today we’ll talk about his new book, In "By the Ghost Light," he looks at his family history and relatives who fought in World War I and World War II, as a starting point to examine war and its aftermath.
On the Saturday December 2, 2023 edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet Olympic gymnast, Cirque du Soleil acrobat, entertainment executive and now author, Mary Sanders. Mary inherited an Olympic dream by her father, a Big Ten Champion from the University of Michigan. Determined to follow in his footsteps, the young gymnast struggled through training setbacks, financial hardships, and personal rivalries, to compete in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. But that achievement was only the beginning for a woman determined to reinvent herself and consistently raise her own standards for success. In her memoir “9 Lives By 35,” now available wherever fine books are sold, Mary recounts her journey from Olympian to Cirque du Soleil acrobat to entertainment executive while balancing life at home with two children. It’s a story of dedication and personal sacrifice that led to success and reinvention.Then we’ll meet American comedian, radio host, writer, musician, actor and author Dave Hill. He is also part-Canadian, as he explained in his previous book, Parking The Moose. He’ll explain more about that in this interview.Today we’re here to talk about his latest book, “The Awesome Game: One Man’s Incredible Globe-Crushing Hockey Odyssey.” At the heart of the book is a simple question, Why is hockey so incredibly awesome?
On the Saturday November 25, 2023 edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet two Canadian legends. First up is stand-up comedian Brent Butt, the star, writer and/or producer of TV shows such as “Corner Gas,” “Hiccups” and “Corner Gas Animated.” He recently added a new line to his resume, thriller author. His debut novel is “Huge,” and it is indeed a huge bestseller. Set in 1994, the darkly comedic psychological thriller follows a trio of comics on a tour put together by a shady Winnipeg-based comedy booker, through small-town Manitoba and Ontario. The situation goes from bad to worse to downright frightening and violent as they try and get off the road in one piece. Then, we’ll meet Canada's sharpest and funniest political satirist, Rick Mercer. His latest project is a book titled “The Road Years: A Memoir, Continued…” It’s a look at the his wildly popular show The Mercer Report, it’s beginnings, it’s end and everything in between, including Every living prime minister. Rock and roll royalty from Rush to Randy Bachman. Olympians and Paralympians. A skinny-dipping Bob Rae. And Jann Arden, of course, who gets a chapter to herself.
On the Saturday November 18, 2023 edition of the Richard Crouse Show, we meet Nick Broomfield, director of the new documentary “The Stones And Brian Jones,” now playing in theatres. With candid interviews and never-before-seen footage he reveals how Brian Jones, the founder of the Rolling Stones, was left behind in the shadows of history.Broomfield props the film up with first-hand accounts, particularly from former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman, whose enthusiasm for the music, and Jones’s contributions to it, is infectious. The old stories are bolstered by the addition of new, fresh interviews but it is the focus on Jones as a brilliant musician and not simply another rock ‘n’ roll casualty, that elevates “The Stones and Brian Jones.” The story has its sordid moments, but Bloomfield emphasizes the very heart of Jones’s being, the music.We’ll also get to know Chelsea McMullen, director of Swan Song, a documentary that takes us inside the National Ballet of Canada’s 2022 legacy-defining new production of “Swan Lake,” choreographed for the first time by the company’s artistic director Karen Kain, who famously debuted in the ballet in 1971. The film’s intimate, character-driven approach chronicles creative conflicts, devastating injuries and personal sacrifices amongst its subjects who, in various ways, confront ideals of race, class and body standards as they navigate a tradition that has historically valued uniformity and compliance.Then, John Carney, the Irish musician and director of Flora and Son, a new Apple TV+. comedy about a mom, played by the fabulous Eve Hewson, who tries to connect with her rebellious son with music. The director of the Academy Award winning film “Once” tells me about his music saved his life and why he didn’t include my favorite Dublin pub in the film.
On the Saturday November 11, 2023 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we get to know Paul Langlois. Best known as the guitarist and songwriter for the Tragically Hip, he was asked to play the closing ceremonies of the Canada Summer Games in Niagara Falls in August of 2022. That gig got him playing again after Gord Downey’s passing, and the break up of the Hip, and rekindled his love for songwriting. From there, the collection of songs that became his new solo record “Guess What” emerged.Then, Chris Hadfield joins the show. He is an astronaut, engineer, singer, fighter pilot and the author of the memoir An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth, the children's book The Darkest Dark, which was illustrated by the Fan Brothers, and the photo book You Are Here: Around the World in 92 Minutes.Last year he wrote a thriller called “The Apollo Murders,” a Cold War thriller that introduced audiences to former U.S. test pilot Kaz Zemeckis, as he attempted to stay one step ahead of his Soviet rivals as Russian and American crews sprint for a secret bounty hidden away on the Moon’s surface. James Cameron called it a nail biter, and it hit number one on the best seller charts. Hadfield returns with “The Defector,” once again placing Kaz Zemeckis in the middle of the action, this time as he takes to the sky in aerial combat to hunt down a high-level defector and uncover Soviet secrets.Chris Hadfield joined me via Zoom to talk about creating the character Kaz, and how he approached writing his second book of fiction.
On the Saturday November 4, 2023 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Rik Emmett. He is a solo artist, a guitarist, a poet, a song writer, a teacher, a Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame and is probably best known as the co-singer and guitar player of Triumph, the gold and nine platinum selling rock trio who lit up radios in the 70s and 80s.Rik Emmett left Triumph in 1988 to pursue a solo career, and released records in a variety of styles, including rock, blues, jazz, classical, bluegrass, and flamenco. He’s he won the Canadian Smooth Jazz Award for Guitarist of the Year and now has written a book called “Lay It On the Line: A Backstage Pass to Rock Star Adventure, Conflict and Triumph,” available now wherever you buy fine books. In this conversation we talk about the memoir, objective perspective of a career when you’re inside it, his favorite guitar players and much more.
On the Saturday October 28, 2023 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet David and Jerry Zucker, and Jim Abrahams, the writers and co-directors of Airplane, the the story of a washed-up pilot summoned to greatness on a potentially doomed aircraft. It spoofed the genre of airline disaster movies, made a fortune at the box office in 1980 and inspired a generation or two of filmmakers like Peter Farrelly, one of the filmmakers behind s Dumb and Dumber; There's Something About Mary and the comedy-drama Green Book, who said, “Seeing Airplane for the first time was like going to a great rock concert, like seeing Led Zeppelin or the Talking Heads.”The movie’s secret weapon was the casting of serious actors, like Leslie Nielsen, Robert Stack, Lloyd Bridges and Peter Graves, who played the comedy straight. The result was a great spoof and a comedy unlike anything else. Now you can learn the story behind the making of the film in “Surely You Can't Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane!,” the new book by David and Jerry Zucker, and Jim Abrahams, which is available now wherever you buy fine books. We’ll get to know New York City-based stand-up comedian Tina Friml. She has performed at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal, is a regular at the Comedy Cellar in New York City and has a large following on line for her unique take on her own physical disability, and fearless honesty about the social assumptions that come with living with cerebral palsy.Finally, author Ainslie Hogarth stops by. She is the author of four novels, including “Motherthing,” a darkly comedic novel about a woman who must take drastic measures to save her husband and herself from the vengeful ghost of her mother-in-law that was chosen as one of New York Times picks for best book of the year in 2022. Today we’re here to talk about her new novel, “Normal Women,” a darkly comic story about how we value female labor—and how we don’t. In the story a new mother becomes embroiled in a dangerous mystery when her friend, a controversial entrepreneur, goes missing.
On the Saturday October 21, 2023 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we welcome a household name. In the NHL Ken Dryden backstopped the Montreal Canadiens to six Stanley Cup championships in eight seasons. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada and a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. He was a Liberal Member of Parliament from 2004 to 2011 and Minister of Social Development from 2004 to 2006. In 2017, the league counted him in history's 100 Greatest NHL Players. He received the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2020.He's also an author. His books include the bestselling “The Game” and “Face Off at the Summit.” His new book is “The Class: A Memoir of a Place, a Time, and Us,” a look back to class 9G at Etobicoke Collegiate Institute.Then, we’ll meet Irish-Canadian playwright, novelist, and screenwriter. Her 2010 novel “Room” was a finalist for the Booker Prize and an international best-seller. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for “Room,” and since then she has released a number of best-selling novels, including “The Wonder,” and her latest, “Learned by Heart,” which was shortlisted for the 2023 Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. The new novel is based on the true story of two girls who fall secretly, deeply and dangerously in love at boarding school in nineteenth century York.
On the Saturday October 14, 2023 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we get to know Academy Award-winning filmmaker Errol Morris. His film “The Thin Blue Line” placed fifth on a Sight & Sound poll of the greatest documentaries ever made, and he has, in his films, documented everything from the career of Robert S. McNamara, the Secretary of Defense during the Vietnam War and physicist Stephen Hawking to a topiary gardener, a robot scientist and a naked mole rat specialist.“The Pigeon Tunnel,” his latest film, now streaming on Apple TV+, is a look at the extraordinary life of David Cornwell a.k.a. prolific author John le Carré. Through a retelling of his life, Cornwell examines the very essence of truth, and how memory and manipulation play a part in how we shape our world and our perceptions.“The Pigeon Tunnel” is as compelling as any le Carré novel. Cornwell/ le Carré knows how to tell a tale, and like any good spy, he knows what details to include, and which to hide away. Morris doesn’t attempt to chip away at the façade and get at the underlying truth, because he knows, in the hands of master storyteller, a good story is a good story, whether it is true or not.We’ll also meet Robert McCallum, director of the Amazon Prime documentary “Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe,” an award-winning look at the life and legacy of legendary children’s entertainer Ernie Coombs. Finally, we’ll chat with Tatiana Maslany. You know her as the Emmy winning star of thew science-fiction thriller “Orphan Black,” and as part of the Marvel Universe as the star of “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.” Today she joins me to talk about playing Jennifer, a Monarch butterfly who suffers from acrophobia, a fear of heights, in the new animated film “Butterfly Tale.” We talk Butterflies, Broadway and much more.
On the October 6, 2023 edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet actor Peter Facinelli. You know him from roles on TV shows such like Six Feet Under, Damages and Nurse Jackie but he’ll likely always be best known as Dr. Carlisle Cullen in the wildly popular Twilight franchise. Today we talk about his new film On Fire, the story of a family who lives in a trailer home in the woods who are suddenly confronted by a wildfire.Then we’ll meet John Carney, the Irish musician and director of Flora and Son, a new Apple TV+. comedy about a mom, played by the fabulous Eve Hewson, who tries to connect with her rebellious son with music. The director of the Academy Award winning film “Once” tells me about his music saved his life and why he didn’t include my favorite Dublin pub in the film. We’ll also meet Michael Crummey, an award-winning poet and novelist from Newfoundland and Labrador. The Toronto Star called his latest novel, The Adversary, a story about two rivals who represent the largest fishing operations on Newfoundland's northern outpost, a masterpiece. We’ll talk about the novel and how it begins with one of the best opening lines I’ve read in recent memory.
On this episode of the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Stewart Reynolds a.k.a. Brittlestar, a fifty-something social media star who bills himself as “The Internet's Favourite Dad (unproven).” He has a massive following—his videos have been viewed over 650 million times on all the platforms—and done so without licking an airplane toilet seat, like viral video sensation Ava Louise, or posing provocatively on an OnlyFans page… yet. Today we’ll talk about his latest project, a new book called “Welcome to the Stupidpocalypse: Survival Tips for the Dumbageddon,” a collection of short comedic essays on politics, life, and more as a field guide for life.Then, we’ll meet Emily Pohl-Weary, a writer and creative writing instructor at the University of British Columbia. Her previous books include YA novels Not Your Ordinary Wolf Girl and Strange Times at Western High and the poetry book Ghost Sick. Today we’ll talk about her latest novel “How to be Found,” a young adult novel about inner-city teens who live on a razor's edge and understand that chosen family is just as important as blood.
On this episode of the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Bill Welychka. Fans of Much Music and MuchMoreMusic will remember Bill as the longest serving VJ on those channels, including a long stint as the host of the channel's country music series Outlaws & Heroes. These days Bill is still working in broadcast television, and has recently written a book about the lessons he learned from hanging out with many of the music industry’s biggest stars. The book is called “A Happy Has-Been (Exciting Times and Lessons Learned by One of Canada’s Foremost Entertainment Journalists.)” Today we talk about the book, Much Music, and his battles with depression. Then, we’ll get to know Canadian singer/songwriter, Astrid Young. She is the younger sister of Neil Young, with whom she toured and recorded for many years, and an accomplished musician whose discography dates back to 1984 and boasts over forty releases, including four solo albums and a multitude of credits as a side-musician and background singer. Through the years, Astrid has played stages large and small, from the Whiskey-A-Go-Go in Hollywood to Paradiso in Amsterdam, Brazil's Rock in Rio, and everywhere in between. Today we talk about the rerelease of her album ‘One Night At Giant Rock’ and some new songs, including “Lay Me Down (Borrowed Tune),” which I can’t stop listening to.
On the September 16, 2023 edition of the Richard Crouse show we’ll meet Jon Heder, Jon Gries and Efren Ramirez, the stars of “Napoleon Dynamite,” the movie Jim Carrey said “changed comedy movies.” The story of a listless and alienated teenager who decides to help his new friend Pedro win the class presidency in their small western high school, while dealing with his bizarre family life back home, is one of the most quoted movies of all time, and now you can revisit the fun when the stars bring "Napoleon Dynamite" to Toronto for a special screening and Q&A at the Elgin Theatre as part of Just For Laughs Toronto on September 27. Then, we’ll get to know comedian Ronny Chieng. You know him as a senior correspondent on The Daily Show, the star of Ronny Chieng Takes Chinatown, one of the stars of “Crazy Rich Asians” and the recent blockbuster “M3GAN,” and as one of the most I demand comedians out there. Today we’ll talk about why he waited until he was in university to give stand-up comedy a try and why he says, “I'm still trying to figure out if I am funny,” despite selling out theatres across the world, including two shows at the Meridian Hall in Toronto on September 23 and 24th as part of Just For Laughs Toronto.
On this episode of the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet award-winning country artist Jason McCoy. He has racked up multiple CCMA and CMA awards along with a Gold album and CMA Global Artist Award (Nashville CMA). As the creator and front man of the best-selling band in Canadian Country Music history, The Road Hammers, Jason embarked on a journey through the Country Rock genre and guided the band to unprecedented success throughout Canada and the United States. Along the way, the band earned a Canadian Platinum-certified album, secured three CCMA Band of the Year awards, and a JUNO award. Jason McCoy joins me today to talk about being inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall Of Fame and much more.Then, we’ll meet Claudia Dey. She is a best-selling author, playwright, actor and the co-designer of women's clothing brand Horses Atelier. Her books have been listed as one of the Most Anticipated Books by Entertainment Weekly, The Millions, Publishers Weekly (starred review) and BuzzFeed. Her latest book is “Daughter,” a searing and hypnotic tour de force about a woman, long caught in her charismatic father's web, who strives to make a life—and art—of her own.
On this special "Best Of" edition of the Richard Crouse Show, we’ll hear from EDM superstar Moby on what it was like to live next door to someone he calls the greatest musician to ever live. I’ll speak to an actor who was nominated for an Academy award, even though his whole role only consists of 17 lines… but I guarantee you’ve quoted one of them. We’ll hear from everyone from the band Cheap Trick and Johnny Rotten to Rick Mercer and many more!
On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Zalika Reid-Benta, an author who explores race, identity and culture through the lens of second-generation Caribbean Canadians in her work. The Columbia MFA graduate's debut novel “Frying Plantain,” a series of interconnected stories featuring a young Black female protagonist, was on the 2019 Scotiabank Giller Prize longlist. Her new book is River Mumma, is an exhilarating contemporary fantasy novel about a young Black woman who navigates her quarter-life-crisis while embarking on a mythical quest through the streets of Toronto.
Then, we’ll meet Carley Fortune, an award-winning journalist who has worked as an editor at some of Canada’s top publications, including The Globe and Mail, Chatelaine, Toronto Life, and The Grid. She was most recently the Executive Editor of Refinery29 Canada. Her new book is called “Meet Me at the Lake,” a love story about secrets, lies, missed connections and second chances that is being called, “beautiful and heart-tugging.” It recently caught the eye of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry who bought the rights to the book as their first big screen adaptation of a novel.
On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we get to know Paul Langlois. Best known as the guitarist and songwriter for the Tragically Hip, he was asked to play the closing ceremonies of the Canada Summer Games in Niagara Falls in August of 2022. That gig got him playing again after Gord Downey’s passing, and the break up of the Hip, and rekindled his love for songwriting. From there, the collection of songs that became his new solo record “Guess What” emerged.
We’ll also meet best-selling author Tom Rachman, the author of four works of fiction including the latest one, “The Imposters,” the story of an aging and embittered novelist who knows her mind of going. She is determined, however, to finish her final book, and reverse her fortunes, before time runs out. Alone in her London home during the pandemic, she creates, and is in turn created by, the fascinating real characters from her own life.
And later in the show we’ll meet Carly Stone and Amanda Fix, the director and star of “North of Normal,” the true story of Cea Sunrise Person, who, at age 15, was working as a high-fashion model in Manhattan and Paris. The new movie tells the story of her unconventional childhood with free-spirited mother Michelle, played by Sarah Gadon, and the journey from the wilderness of Alberta and British Columbia to the runways of the fashion world.
On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we get to know American film director, production designer, and screenwriter Catherine Hardwicke. Her directorial work includes “Thirteen,” ”Lords of Dogtown,” the megahit “Twilight,” “Miss Bala” and “mafia Momma” among many others. Today she’s here to talk about her latest film, “Prisoner’s Daughter,” a family drama starring “Succession’s” Brian Cox as a father hoping to reconnect with his estranged daughter and her son.
We’ll also meet author Wayne Ng. Wayne is an an award-winning short story and travel writer who was recently nominated for the Guernica Prize for his latest book, a family drama called "The Family Code," which was, in part, inspired by his 30 year career as a social worker.
Finally, we meet Phil Dellio. His new book, “Happy for a While: "American Pie," 1972, and the Awkward, Confusing Now,” is a look at the famous Don McLean song and how to approach great art made by people whose personal transgressions become a matter of public record.
On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Michael Timmins of the Cowboy Junkies. The an alternative country and folk rock band have been together, producing albums and touring, since 1985. Early on their version of the Velvet Underground song “Sweet Jane” earned them critical success and, the song’s writer, Lou Reed claimed that their version of "Sweet Jane" was his favourite. They are back with a new record called “Such Ferocious Beauty,” the band’s first release of new material in five years and follows their heralded 2022 collection of covers, “Songs of the Recollection.” It is a mix of styles Alternative? Rock? Americana? Roots? And a rumination on aging, losing parents and facing mortality.
The we get to know director, actor, writer Sharon Lewis. She talks about her documentary “With Wonder,” an intimate look at the journey of members of the Queer, Christian community of colour and their attempts to answer the question: Can you be both Christian and Queer? We’ll talk about her personal experiences and how she extended the documentary into a multipart series on YouTube called WITH WONDER: Untold Stories.
Finally, improviser and comedian Kris Siddiqi. In addition to his work as an improvisor at Second City and in clubs, the Canadian Comedy Awards nominee who has played a role in the Gemini winning Showcase series ‘Cock’d Gunns’, has written for and hosted YTV’s Saturday morning show CRUNCH!, the Showcase series Almost Heroes & Lost Girl, MTV’s Scare Tactics, My Babysitter’s a Vampire, and Disney’s Life with Boys. Kris is now one of the stars of the new Family Channel show "I Woke Up A Vampire.”
Welcome to the 800th episode of the Richard Crouse Show. Today, we’re getting nostalgic. I’ll have a look back at my favorite moments from 216,000 seconds and 800 episodes of the show.
Slash from Guns ‘N Roses talk about how his parents gave him a love of horror movies; show business legend Ann Margaret tells us how she got the nickname Slugger; Hugh Jackman reveals how he overcame his fear, onstage and off; Jodie Foster tells me about how she chooses the movies she wants to make; Eric McCormack talks about what he learned from his every first play, when he was in grade one; Malcolm McDowell on life as an actor; Michael Caine talks about being an icon and much, much more.
Some of these interviews were done in studio, many of them were done in hotel rooms in lots of different cities, and at least one of them was done in the back of a cab. The thing that binds them all is great conversation and hopefully, some insight into the lives of the people you know from television, movies, music or literature.
On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Kevin Hegge, director of the documentary Tramps, which is now playing in theatres. His film has an up-close-and-personal look at the New Romantics, the countercultural scene that emerged in late 1970s’ London. It united outsiders, misfits, and bohemians like Boy George, the scene’s most famous member. It is a look back at a time when the artists starved but looked fabulous, but it’s also a portrait of artists and their unswerving need to create, whether the canvas was the outrageous clothes they wore, the jewelry that adorned them, or the music they listened to. Tramps does a deep dive into the New Romantics as an art movement rather than solely a pop-cultural one. If you, like me, read magazines like New Musical Express, Face magazine or ID, you saw the photos and read the stories. Tramps brings the scene to vivid life.
Then, we get to know Belinda Carlisle. As the lead singer of the Go Gos, who produced hits like "Our Lips Are Sealed" and "We Got the Beat," she fronted the most successful all-female rock band of all time. As a solo artists, she topped the charts with songs like radio hits such as "Mad About You", "I Get Weak", "Circle in the Sand", "Leave a Light On", and "Heaven Is a Place on Earth.” Her new record, “Kismet,” marks her first new English language studio recording since 1997 and the triumphant reunion with hot making songwriter Diane Warren.
Finally, I’ll introduce you to Chris Nielsen and Bart Batchelor, the Vancouver based co-creators of “Psi Cops,” a new series on Adult Swim Canada and Stack TV. It’s the animated story of two paranormal investigators at a company called Psi Cops, who investigate alleged sightings of aliens, ghosts, demons, and other hocus-pocus nonsense. Imagine Mulder and Scully from the X-Files… if they were played by Abbott and Costello. It’s a fun show, and we’ll tell you all about it, and how Chris and Bart made the leap from advertising to the world of animation.
On this week’s edition of the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Jon Klassen. He is the creator of the #1 New York Times best-selling I Want My Hat Back. He is also the illustrator of The Shapes Trilogy of books which is now is now a television show on Apple TV+ called Shape Island. His new book is The Skull, a folktale about a brave girl who helps a Skull over come his fears as she overcomes her own.
Then, we meet C.C. Humphreys. You know him as an actor. He was Clive Parnell on Coronation Street and appeared on The Adventures of Shirley Holmes and Elysium among many others things.
He has also written twenty-two novels of both historical fiction and fantasy including his latest “Someday I’ll Find You,” a novel about a spy, and a pilot, who fall in love but are wrenched apart during World War II, and must find their way back to each other.
This tale of causes and compromises, heroism and betrayaI is perfect for fan of historical fiction, of books like “The Nightingale” and “Lilac Girls.”
On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet animator and author Alan Barillaro. He’s an Academy Award winner for his work at Pixar and is now an author with the release of a middle-grade novel called “Where The Water Takes Us” is available now wherever fine books are sold. It is a stirring story about a sensitive, shaken young girl who must face that growing up means coming to terms with the things you cannot change--and taking responsibility for the things you can.
We’ll also get to know Clare Pooley, the Cambridge educated author of "Iona Iverson’s Rules For Commuting." After working in advertising for twenty years it dawned on her that her daily ‘wine o’clock’ habit was out of control. She wrote the popular "Mummy was a Secret Drinker" blog and a memoir, "The Sober Diaries," published in 2017 to critical acclaim. Her latest novel, "Iona Iverson’s Rules For Commuting," is an entertaining book about unexpected friendships and the joy of connecting.
On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet best-selling author Ashley Audrain. Two years ago Ashley debut novel, The Push, became a New York Times, Sunday Times (UK), #1 international bestseller, and a Good Morning America Book Club pick. The psychological thriller tells the story of three generations of women who have been abused and are passing on their traumas through these generations.
Her second book “The Whispers,” now available wherever fine books are sold, is a propulsive page-turner about four suburban families whose lives are changed when the unthinkable happens—and what is lost when good people make unconscionable choices.
We’ll also meet Elegance Bratton, the film director who turned his story of being a young gay man, who found unexpected strength, camaraderie and support when he joined the Marines, after being rejected by his mother, into a critically acclaimed film called “The Inspection.” It is a classic against-all-odds story that paints a vivid picture of life inside the boot camp, the dehumanization, the violence, but also the brotherhood. The movie carefully builds the world of the boot camp, creating a palette of claustrophobia, brutality and tension that adds layers to the telling of his survival story.
On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet Emm Gryner. She is a Canadian musician and vocal coach. David Bowie named Emm as one of his two favourite Canadian acts. U2 frontman Bono named her song “Almighty Love” as one of six songs that he wished he had written.
Gryner toured in David Bowie’s band, singing and playing keyboards, and appears on the recordings Bowie at the Beeb and Glastonbury 2000. Emm helped make the first music video in outer space with Chris Hadfield and is also the author of a book called “The Healing Power of Singing: Raise Your Voice, Change Your Life: What Touring With David Bowie, Single Parenting And Ditching The Music Business Taught Me In 25 Easy Steps.”
Her new album is “Business & Pleasure” is a celebration of the Detroit radio scene and the music that shaped her childhood. From Motown, jazz and pop, to Steely Dan, Fleetwood Mac and the Doobies, Business & Pleasure is infused with the sunshine soul and stellar playing of the late 70s and early 80s.
Then, Gord Sinclair stops by. Best known as the bass player and one of the songwriters in The Tragically Hip, he is now a “reluctant solo artist” with a new album called In Continental Drift, available now wherever you buy fine music.
Finally, we go into the vault to revisit my interview with the late, great rock photographer Mick Rock. He is often referred to as ‘The Man Who Shot the Seventies’, for his iconic images of Syd Barrett, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Queen, The Ramones, Blondie, Rocky Horror Picture Show, etc. London born, he has resided in New York for over 35 years. He has shot over 100 album covers.
Rock was instrumental in creating many key rock ‘n’ roll images, such as album covers for Syd Barrett’s Madcap Laughs, Lou Reed’s Transformer and Coney Island Baby, Iggy and The Stooges’ Raw Power, Queen’s Queen II (recreated for their classic music video ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’) and Sheer Heart Attack, The Ramones End of the Century and Joan Jett’s I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll, among many others. He was the chief photographer on the films The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Shortbus. He recently shot special stills for the new TV version of Rocky Horror, featuring the transgender actress Laverne Cox as Frank n Furter. He also produced and directed the seminal music videos for Bowie: ‘John, I’m Only Dancing’, ‘Jean Genie’, ‘Space Oddity’, and ‘Life On Mars’.
On this episode of the Richard Crouse Show we meet novelist, editor, and creative writing instructor Amy Jones. She is the author of the novels Every Little Piece of Me (McClelland & Stewart, 2019) and We’re All in This Together (McClelland & Stewart, 2016), her third novel, Pebble and Dove, which is available now wherever fine books are sold.
Set in Florida, it’s a story of mothers and daughters and an inspirational manatee. Mother Lauren's life is a mess. She has a storage unit full of candles she can't sell, a growing mountain of debt, and a teenage daughter, Dove, who barely speaks to her. When Dove discovers the abandoned Flamingo Key Aquarium and Tackle, she meets Pebble, the world's oldest manatee in captivity. It is Pebble, a former star attraction, and her devoted caretaker, Ray, who hold the key to helping Lauren and Dove move forward.
Then, Andrew F. Sullivan, an author the Globe and Mail called “One of the country’s most talented young writers.” He is the author of “The Marigold,” a new novel that combines decay, urban sprawl, urban dystopia, and nature’s vengeance in a story about a dystopian future in the city of Toronto where a monster of our own making, a deadly mold, becomes sentient and attacks from within.
On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Pete Sohn, director of the new Pixar film “Elemental.” He is an animator, voice actor, storyboard artist, and film director known for his work at Pixar as the director of 2015's The Good Dinosaur. He has also been the voice of Emile in Ratatouille, Squishy in Monsters University, and Sox in Lightyear… he returns to the big screen with “Elemental,” a beautifully animated movie that takes place in a city where fire, water, land, and air residents live together. With that as a backdrop, a fiery young woman and a go-with-the-flow guy are about to discover something elemental: how much they actually have in common. The story is a fantasy, but has roots in Sohn’s family story.
We’ll also get to know Liz Locke. If you like cocktails and classic movies like I do, you’ll want to check out her site CinemaSips.com and then check out her debut novel “Follow the Sun,” a portrait of the 1960s International Jet Set Era through the eyes of an aspiring singer-songwriter.
And we’ll meet Emmy-award winning documentary filmmakers Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine who have created a fascinating look at iconic Canadian singer and poet Leonard Cohen called “HALLELUJAH: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song” that uses one of his most famous songs as a starting point. We’ll find out why one of Cohen’s most famous songs was rejected by his record company and more.
On this week’s Richard Crouse Show we meet Lindsay Cameron. For many years Lindsay worked as a corporate lawyer in Vancouver and New York City before leaving the law behind to write books. Her first novel “Biglaw” was an insider's view of the cut-throat world of big New York law firms, was a big hit and was followed by a suspense novel called “Just One Look: A Novel” that critics called “totally addictive.” Her latest novel is “No One Needs to Know,” is another suspense story, described as “White Lotus” meets “Gossip Girl.” It explores a modern age nightmare - what if your darkest secrets were revealed to your enemies? In the book, an anonymous neighborhood forum gets hacked, and the darkest secrets of New York’s wealthiest residents come to light—including some worth killing for.We also get to know Carley Fortune, an award-winning journalist who worked as an editor at some of Canada’s top publications, including The Globe and Mail, Chatelaine, Toronto Life, and The Grid. She was most recently the Executive Editor of Refinery29 Canada. Her new book is called “Meet Me at the Lake,” a love story about secrets, lies, missed connections and second chances that is being called, “beautiful and heart-tugging.”
On this week’s edition of the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Martha Hall Kelly, the New York Times bestselling author of Lilac Girls, Lost Roses, and Sunflower Sisters. With more than two million copies of her books sold and her books translated in fifty countries, Martha joins me today to talk about her new book “The Golden Doves.” It is a gripping historical novel, inspired by true events, about two former female spies, bound together by their past, who risk everything to hunt down an infamous Nazi doctor in the aftermath of World War II.We’ll also meet Ari Aster, the writer and director of challenging hit films like Hereditary and Midsommar. Today we’ll talk about his latest movie, Beau Is Afraid, a three hour panic attack of a film starring Joaquin Phoenix as a mild-mannered but paranoia-ridden man who embarks on a surreal odyssey to get home to see his mother. I’ve seen a lot of movies, and I’ve never seen anything quite like this one. Find out what it means when I call it a “three hour panic attack.”And we’ll get to know we’ll meet British comedian, actress and television presenter Lorna Watson as we talk about how a one off character she did on a show called “Father Brown” a decade ago is back with season two of a show built around that very same character on the “Sister Boniface Mysteries,” which is is now available to stream on BritBox.
On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton, collaborators on a new album called “Death Wish Blues.”Samantha Fish, a guitarist, songwriter and singer, voted by guitarworld.com as oner of the 10 best blues guitarists in the world today joins us. Calling her a blues guitarist is a little misleading because in a career spanning over 10 years, the Kansas City, Missouri musician music features multiple genres, including blues but also rock, country, funk, bluegrass and ballads.Jesse Dayton boasts an exceptional resume as an acclaimed solo recording artist, collaborator with artists such as Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Duff McKagan, a touring guitarist for seminal punk band X, teammate with Rob Zombie on the soundtracks for his iconic horror films, and as a radio show host on Gimme Country.We’ll also get to know Ore Agbaje-Williams. She is a British-Nigerian writer from London who has written for gal-dem and Glamour. Her new novel, “The Three of Us” now available wherever fine books are sold, tells the story of long-standing tensions between a husband, his wife, and her best friend, that finally come to a breaking point in this sharp domestic comedy of manners, told brilliantly over the course of one day.We round things out with Joy Fielding, the New York Times bestselling author called "an ingenious master of domestic suspense," joins me to talk about her new novel “The Housekeeper.” It’s a suspenseful story about a woman who hires a housekeeper to care for her aging parents--only to watch as she takes over their lives.
On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet wrestler, comedian, actor and talk show host RJ City. A lifelong wrestling fan, he’s been wrestling professionally since 2006, he’s appeared in movies and these days, you can find him at All Elite Wrestling (AEW) as a backstage interviewer and host of a weekly comedy talk show on AEW's YouTube page called Hey! (EW) where he interviews other AEW talent.And, later we’ll meet Corinna Chong, a writer, editor, and graphic designer based in Kelowna, BC. Her first novel, Belinda's Rings, was published in Spring 2013. She won the 2021 CBC Short Story Prize for "Kids in Kindergarten." Today we’ll talk about her new book, “The Whole Animal,” a collection of short stories that grapple with the self-alienation and self-discovery that make us human.
On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Noah Pink, screenwriter of a new movie called “Tetris,” starring Taron Egerton, and now playing on Apple TV+, that tells the story of how Dutch video game designer Henk Rogers fit the differently shaped pieces of international intrigue and video game creation together to secure the intellectual property rights to popular game. It’s a story of international intrigue, the Cold War and of the deep friendship that grew between entrepreneur Henk Rogers and the game’s Russian creator Alexey Pajitnov.Then, Gregory Sestero, star of the found footage film “Infrared.” In the film he plays the creepy caretaker of an abandoned schoolhouse. If Greg’s name rings a bell, it’s likely because you’ve attended one of the midnight madness screenings of “The Room,” a movie so deliciously awful, it has become a cult favorite since its release in 2003. Gregory turned the experience of making the so-bad-it’s-a-hoot movie into a book, which eventually went on to become the Oscar nominated movie “The Disaster Artist,” starring James Franco and Seth Rogen. We talk about “Infrared” and whether or not, twenty years on, if “The Room” is an embarrassment or a source of pride.Finally, we go to the vault to hear a vintage interview I did with Wolverine himself, Hugh Jackman. We don’t talk superheroes, instead, the actor gets personal, talking about the projects that worked, the ones that didn’t and what drives him.
On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet Steve Ryan. He began his policing career at just eighteen years old. After nearly thirty years of policing — two thirds of that working as a detective — he retired and began a career with CP24 as a crime specialist. In his book, “The Ghosts That Haunt Me,” he reflects on just a few of the many cases that have greatly impacted him. He remembers six cases — seven people whose lives were senselessly taken — that he still thinks about nearly every day. While these stories are hard to tell, they were harder to live through.We’ll also get to know Barbie Latza Nadeau. She has worked as the Rome bureau chief for Newsweek Magazine and currently holds that position for The Daily Beast. She is an on-air contributor for CNN and a writer for Scientific American. She is also a true crime novelist, with a new book, “The Godmother,” about the rise of women in the mafia. Publishers Weekly calls it “A must for true crime fans,” and it is a great read.And finally, we’ll meet American film director, production designer, and screenwriter Catherine Hardwicke. Her directorial work includes “Thirteen,” ”Lords of Dogtown,” the megahit “Twilight,” “Miss Bala” and “Prisoner's Daughter” among many others. Today she’s here to talk about her latest film, Mafia Mamma, a movie I described as having the same kind of themes as “How Stella Got Her Groove Back” and “Eat, Pray, Love” only with 100% more gunplay and slapstick violence.
On this week’s Richard Crouse Show: It’s hard to remember now, but there was a time when we were not tethered to our smart phones. A new film, “BlackBerry,” starring Jay Baruchel and Matt Johnson, and now playing in theatres, vividly recreates the scrappy story of friendship, betrayal and hubris that began our obsession with our phones.Today, we going to focus on that story, courtesy of the film BlackBerry, which opens in theatres on May 12.There was a time when the Canadian made, odd little phone, with a QWERTY keyboard, encrypted messaging and low data cost, was a status symbol, used by some of the world’ most powerful people. In the hands of everyone from President Barack Obama and Justin Timberlake to Katy Perry and Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour, the phones helped the world communicate in a whole new way. They were the original smart phones, which makes their Canadian creators Mike Lazaridis and Doug Fregin, visionaries, the men who gave us the future. Recently I sat down with BlackBerry co-writer, co-star and director Matt Johnson, and Jay Baruchel who stars as the awkward genius behind the BlackBerry tech, Mike Lazaridis. Matt is the director of The Dirties, which won Best Narrative Feature at the Slamdance Film Festival, Operation Avalanche, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and mockumentary television series Nirvanna the Band the Show.You know Jay from his voice role as Hiccup Haddock in the How to Train Your Dragon franchise, and for roles in Knocked Up, Tropic Thunder, The Trotsky, Fanboys, She's Out of My League, Goon, This Is the End, and the action-fantasy film The Sorcerer's Apprentice. You can also see him as the host of We're All Gonna Die (Even Jay Baruchel) on Crave.BlackBerry is the story of the company Research in Motion, Jim Balsillie, the hotheaded businessman, played by Glenn Howerton, who was there for the rise and fall of the iconic company. “BlackBerry” isn’t just a business story or the story of innovation. Instead, it is an underdog tale that emphasizes the human foibles that led to RIM’s downfall, not just the financial ones. We began the interview with the idea of talking about the film, but were soon sidetracked by a discussion inspired by the lessons learned from the film, about what it means to be Canadian, why we don’t celebrate our own stories and much more. Stay tuned, it often doesn’t sound like an interview as much as a conversation we might have had over a drink or two. Like the movie we were supposed to concentrate on, before the conversation took a few left turns, the interview is passionate, patriotic, funny and not quite what you might expect.
On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Thomas Hayden Church. He became a star as Mechanic Lowell Mather on the sitcom “Wings,” was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance in “Sideways” and has had supporting roles in films such as Tombstone, George of the Jungle, The Specials, and Demon Knight. Today, we talk about his new movie, Acidman. In the film, he plays Lloyd, a reclusive man who lives in in the middle of nowhere, and spends his time searching for UFOs. He is estranged from his daughter Maggie and has been given the nickname "Acidman" by the locals. One day his daughter arrives to pass along some important news and they attempt to make contact, with UFOs and each other.We’ll also meet actor Melanie Scrofano. You know her from everything from the Crave comedy series Letterkenny and the comedy-drama series Being Erica, to the CTV fantasy-drama series The Listener and the Syfy modern Western drama Wynonna Earp. Today we talk about her latest movie, “The End of Sex.”Later in the show we’ll meet author Justin Cronin. In 2010, novel “The Passage” became a phenomenon. The unforgettable tale that critics and readers compared to the novels of Cormac McCarthy, Michael Crichton, Stephen King, and Margaret Atwood became a runaway bestseller and loved by readers around the globe. His latest book, “The Ferryman” is a riveting standalone novel about a group of survivors on a hidden island utopia—where the truth isn't what it seems. No less an expert than Stephen King said, ““The Ferryman is next to impossible to put down once you’ve read the first few pages. Exciting, mysterious, and totally satisfying, this is a book to get lost in…”
On this week’s Richard Crouse Show we meet Deaundre’ Woods who stars as Alexander Hamilton in the Toronto production of the hit show. We’ll talk about what he thinks sets Hamilton apart from other musicals, the excitement of performing the show with its creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and how a hole in a very inappropriate place on his costume helped calm his nerves in opening night.Then we’ll get to know filmmaker April Mullen. Her new film, Simulant, stars Sam Worthington of Avatar, Jordana Brewster of the Fast and Furious franchise and Marvel superhero Simu Liu in a sci-fi thriller that will explore the dangers of artificial intelligence in a world where sentient robots roam free.
On this edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet award winning Quebec filmmaker Stéphane Lafleur. His new movie “Viking” was a selection in Canada’s Top Ten and is available wherever you legally download movies on line. In the film The Viking Society is recruiting volunteers for the first manned mission to Mars. The goal is to form a B-team that will mirror the mission here on Earth in order to find solutions to the interpersonal problems that the Mars-bound crew is experiencing. Then, Andy Garcia about the scene that scene that made him a movie star, the Odessa Steps sequence in “The Untouchables.”Finally, we’ll get to know multi-hyphenate Kevin Smith. He’s a filmmaker, actor, comedian, comic book writer, author, and podcaster. You know his movies like “Clerks,” “Dogma” and “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.” Now he adds another hyphen to his resume. Documentary subject. The documentary “Clerk,” now on VOD, touches on every aspect of his work, from the film that put him on the map to the View Askewniverse to his health problems and a new found self-awareness.
On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet producer/writer/comedian Dan Galea. The two-time Canadian Comedy Award winner’s debut musical comedy album “Inter-Dan-Mensional” on Comedy Records, executive produced by Scott Thompson from Kids in the Hall who also appears on the album, is available next week at dangalea.ca. Dan spent twenty years working on the album, which he describes as a comedic diary of his life. It has everything from Disco to Metal and every song gives you a peek into who he is and what he is all about. Some songs are just silly, he says, “but so am I.” Scott Thompson joins us late to talk about his involvement with the record and why he loves comedian Flip Wilson.Then we’ll get to know bestselling Edmonton author and professor Thomas Wharton. He has written several books, including his award-winning debut novel, “Icefields,” and “Salamander” which was shortlisted for a Governor General's Literary Award for fiction. His latest book is “The Book of Rain,” a suspenseful sci-fi novel about nature, environmental stewardship and the fate of the planet. “The Book of Rain” is a multi-plotted novel set in a world where ghost ore, a new minable energy source much more lucrative than gold, can disrupt time and space and slowly make an environment inhospitable. In one of three ghost ore hotspots in the world, the Alberta mining town of River Meadows, residents have been evacuated, except Amery Hewitt can't seem to stay away
On this week’s Richard Crouse Show we meet Jacob Silverman. On this week’s Richard Crouse Show we meet Jacob Silverman. He is a journalist in New York, where he writes about technology, cryptocurrency, and politics. He's the author of "Terms of Service: Social Media and the Price of Constant Connection" and is a contributing editor for The New Republic and The Baffler. His new book, co-written with the actor and writer Ben McKenzie, is called "Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud," and will be published by Abrams Books in July 2023.He is also the host of new podcast "The Naked Emperor" about Sam Bankman-Fried, from CBC News' Front Burner and CBC Podcasts. The Naked Emperor is on CBC and everywhere podcasts are available.The podcast is the story of Sam Bankman-Fried, once a billionaire and trusted face of crypto with his trading platform FTX. Despite his dorm room lifestyle he charmed celebrities, politicians, and Silicon Valley. That is, until it all came crashing down. Today Sam faces charges that could send him to jail for the rest of his life. It’s a fascinating story.Then, Metis/Ukrainian writer and educator Conor Kerr stops by. His debut novel, "Avenue of Champions," won the 2022 RELIT Award and was shortlisted for the 2022 Amazon/Walrus Debut Novel Award and his available wherever you buy fine books, right now. The book centers on Daniel, a young Métis man searching for a way to exist in a world of violence, intergenerational trauma and systemic racism.Finally, we’ll meet Lilah Fitzgerald. Best known for her roles in “Seventh Son” and “Monster High.” She is also a busy author, with her debut novel “Stars and Swashbucklers” set to release on April 4th. The book is a futuristic fantasy that follows a girl on a sailing trip across a shattered Earth that has become a series of islands floating between the stars.. He is a journalist in New York, where he writes about technology, cryptocurrency, and politics. He's the author of "Terms of Service: Social Media and the Price of Constant Connection" and is a contributing editor for The New Republic and The Baffler. His new book, co-written with the actor and writer Ben McKenzie, is called "Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud," and will be published by Abrams Books in July 2023.He is also the host of new podcast "The Naked Emperor" about Sam Bankman-Fried, from CBC News' Front Burner and CBC Podcasts. The Naked Emperor is on CBC and everywhere podcasts are available.The podcast is the story of Sam Bankman-Fried, once a billionaire and trusted face of crypto with his trading platform FTX. Despite his dorm room lifestyle he charmed celebrities, politicians, and Silicon Valley. That is, until it all came crashing down. Today Sam faces charges that could send him to jail for the rest of his life. It’s a fascinating story.Then, Metis/Ukrainian writer and educator Conor Kerr stops by. His debut novel, "Avenue of Champions," won the 2022 RELIT Award and was shortlisted for the 2022 Amazon/Walrus Debut Novel Award and his available wherever you buy fine books, right now. The book centers on Daniel, a young Métis man searching for a way to exist in a world of violence, intergenerational trauma and systemic racism.Finally, we’ll meet Lilah Fitzgerald. Best known for her roles in “Seventh Son” and “Monster High.” She is also a busy author, with her debut novel “Stars and Swashbucklers” set to release on April 4th. The book is a futuristic fantasy that follows a girl on a sailing trip across a shattered Earth that has become a series of islands floating between the stars.
On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Lindsay Wong. She is the author of the critically acclaimed memoir "The Woo-Woo: How I Survived Ice Hockey, Drug Raids, Demons, and My Crazy Chinese Family," which was a 2019 Canada Reads finalist. Her new book, “Please Tell Me Pleasant Things About Immortality,” is a collection of 13 horror stories, all of which tour the Chinese-Canadian experience.Then we’ll meet Zale Mednick is a successful ophthalmologist who, just at the cusp of embarking on his career, was suddenly overcome with self-doubt about the path he'd chosen for himself. Realizing that his preconceptions might be misleading him, Zale set out to explore many of his preconceptions in a podcast called “Preconceived!” Today we talk about his podcast and his new book, “Preconceived - Challenging the Preconceptions in Our Lives.”Fionally, actor, musician and writer Cliff Cardinal stops by. If you happen to find yourself in Toronto in the next little while, check out his provocative new show, a “radical retelling by Cliff Cardinal” of William Shakespeare’s As You Like It. Called “The Land Acknowledgement or As You Like It,” the show is the unvarnished truth of the state of the reconciliation process this country has been attempting for the last few decades.
On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet director Chandler Levack, whose debut feature film, “I Like Movies,” will be in theatres on March 10. The film festival hit is based on her experiences working at a Blockbuster Video in Burlington, Ontario in the early 2000s. It’s the story of how movie obsessive Lawrence Kweller (Isaiah Lehtinen) allows his love of film, dream of attending NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, and anxiety, alienate the most important people in his life. Part work-place comedy—think “High Fidelity” only set in a video store—part character study, “I Like Movies” is sweet-natured, funny film that digs deep to make us feel empathy for Lawrence, a socially awkward character who hides his real feelings behind a facade of bluster and pretension. Strong performances and a genuinely heartfelt script make this take on adolescent angst a winning debut for Levack.Then, C. J. Tudor, bestselling author of “The Burning Girls,” “The Other People,” “The Hiding Place” and “The Chalk Man,” which won the International Thriller Writers Award for Best First Novel, stops by. Over the years she has worked as a copywriter, television presenter, who asked Tim Robbins an embarrassing questions, a voice-over artist, and dog walker. Today we’ll talk about some of those jobs and her new novel, “The Drift,” a heart-pounding new novel about three ordinary people who risk everything for a chance at redemption.And finally, we spend time with “In the Key of Dale” author Benjamin Lefebvre. He is a writer based in Kitchener, Ont. His edited books include the anthology “The L.M. Montgomery Reader,” which won the 2016 PROSE Award for Literature from the Association of American Publishers, and an edition of L.M. Montgomery's rediscovered final book, “The Blythes Are Quoted.”
On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet Gord Sinclair. Best known as the bass player and one of the songwriters in The Tragically Hip, he is now a “reluctant solo artist” with a new album pon the way.His new single “Gool Guy” marks a continuation of the solo career he never anticipated embarking on before the 2017 passing of The Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie. Following decades of music-making with the band’s frontman, Gord Sinclair continues to honour his friend through music.The new song is the follow-up to his debut solo project, 2020’s Taxi Dancers, which was released to critical acclaim, and brings back a more rhythmic and driving rock ‘n roll energy that just might put you in the mind of The Hip.Then, bestselling Métis author Cherie Dimaline stops by. Her breakout book, The Marrow Thieves, has been widely acclaimed for its portrayal of Indigenous colonization and ecological devastation and was named one of Time magazine's top 100 YA novels of all time and her other novels, like Empire of Wild and Hunting By Stars have won many awards, including the Governor General's Award for English-language children's literature.Her new book, VenCo is a novel about a coven of modern-day witches. It is an epic adventure that unfolds involving secret witches, witch hunters, magic spoons and an epic road trip from Toronto, to Salem, through Appalachia and into New Orleans.
On this week’s Richard Crouse Show we meet Matt Bauer. He is the director of “The Other Fellow,” a new documentary that asks a simple question, “What would it be like to share your name with legendary movie spy James Bond?” It is the untold story of the real James Bond[s], people like a Swedish superfan who changed his name to James Bond and opened his own James Bond Museum, a South Bend, Indiana man, James Bond Jr. whose life has been marred by several police officers who refuse to believe the name is real and other Bonds in Vancouver, Toronto, London, Denver, Guyana, Europe, the US and Baghdad. All are bound by being in that looming shadow of James Bond and the movie, The Other Fellow, explains how it creates an identity crisis like no other.Then, Darron Cardoza stops by. If that name doesn’t ring a bell, perhaps you know him by his on-line name, The Bitchy Waiter. He is a long time New York City restaurant worker, an actor and a writer. His popular blog and social media sites are the voice for restaurant workers around the world. He says out loud what most people in the restaurant industry are only allowed to think.
This week on the Richard Crouse Oscar Special we meet four Academy Award nominees!First up, Ke Huy Quan, nominated for Best Supporting Actor for the most aptly titled movie of last year, “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” You can say a lot of things about “Everything Everywhere All At Once” but you can’t say you’ve ever seen anything quite like it before. An eye-popping reflection on the power of kindness and love to heal the world’s problems, it is exhilarating that mixes and matches everything from family drama and tax problems to martial-arts and metaphysics into a whimsical story that moves at the speed of light. The result is a singular film that milks intentionality out of its madness.You know Ke Huy Quan as Short Round, the plucky kid companion to Indiana Jones in The Temple Of Doom and from a role in cult classic comedy-adventure The Goonies. We’ll talk about why he chose to return to acting in “Everything Everywhere All at Once” after a twenty-year break from Hollywood.I caught up with Best Director nominee Baz Lurhmann and the stars of “Elvis,” Best Actor nominee Austin Butler, who hands in a terrific performance as Elvis and Olivia DeJonge who plays Elvis’ wife, Priscilla. We talked about what the story of Elvis’s life can tell us about America, Priscilla’s role in the singer’s life and much more.Then, we meet Best Actor nominee Brendan Fraser, whose performance as a 600 pound man in “The Whale” earned him a six minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival, and the film’s screenwriter Sam Hunter, to talk about what Fraser learned from playing the character, how Hunter changed the script from the original stage play and more.
On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show, comedian and actor Matt Walsh was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards for his role as Mike McLintock in “Veep.” He is a founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade sketch comedy troupe, was a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and has appeared in films such as Road Trip, Bad Santa and The Hangover.He co-wrote and stars in the new film, “Unplugging,” a new comedy now on VOD, that sees a workaholic husband and wife, played by Matt and Eva Longoria, who are both permanently glued to their phones. In an effort to relax, they go off the grid on a rustic getaway with no cell service, internet or social media to revive their marriage. But what starts as the perfect weekend getaway quickly spirals out of control with unearthly encounters, strong edibles, cranky locals, and a pesky one - eyed dog. Without GPS to guide them or social media to save them, they are forced to rediscover what truly matters — each other.Then we meet “Pressure” star Kevin Doyle. In the show, now playing the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto, it’s D-Day, June 1944. The Allied forces led by General Eisenhower are poised to launch. 350,000 lives are at stake and the decision of whether to attack comes down to the most important weather forecast of all time. We talk about “Pressure,” and his most famous role, “Downton Abbey's second footman, Joseph Molesley.
On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Billboard’s Top New Country Artist of 2021, and CMT’s 2022 “Breakout Artist of the Year” Lainey Wilson. Her highly anticipated album “Bell Bottom Country” is out now and she recently announced a 27-city headlining tour, that will visit Vancouver and Edmonton this year.Then welcome Slava Pastuk, the co-author of “Bad Trips,” a book recounting how he went from an editor for VICE media, to being to sentenced to nine years in prison for recruiting friends into a scheme to smuggle cocaine from the U.S. into Australia.Finally, we’ll meet Maya Macatumpag, a Filipino Canadian stuntwoman whose work can be seen in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” the Ryan Reynold's movie “Deadpool 2”, and the TV shows “Supergirl” and “Supernatural.”
On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet Quebec ultramarathon runner Joan Roch who is preparing for a nearly 8,000-kilometre run from the most southern point of the United States to Quebec's Gaspé peninsula.Then, Oscar winner Laura Dern joins me to talk about her latest film “The Son,” which is in theatres now. In it, she plays Kate, ex-wife of the Hugh Jackman character and the mother of a young man experiencing extreme depression. We’ll also get to know Andrea Constand. Of the more than 60 women who publicly accused Bill Cosby of sexual assault, she is the only one to get a conviction. She joins me to talk about her pursuit for justice and healing and a new docu-series called “The Case Against Cosby.”Finally, we get to meet Lou Lou la Duchesse de Riere, an Indigenous burlesque performer from Quebec who was named No. 2 in the world by 21st Century Burlesque Magazine.
On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet Mark Critch. He is an actor, comedian and author, who, since 2003 has starred on the political parody show This Hour Has 22 Minutes. He’s photo-bombed Justin Trudeau, offered Pamela Anderson a million dollars to stop acting, and poked fun at characters like Rex Murphy, Don Cherry and Donald Trump.The show turns thirty years old this season, making it the longest running comedy show on Canadian television. As if that wasn’t enough to keep Mark busy, his other show, the hit CBC sitcom “Son of a Critch,” is now on its second season. The show is a biographical look at growing up in Newfoundland and Labrador, and in a fun twist, he plays his own father on the show.Then, we get to know Raymond Knowles, and he is the world’s number one Avatar fan. To prove it, he has tattooed 95% of his body with Avatar related tats, named his Edmonton Alberta based carpentry company Mr. Avatar, and has seen the movies more times than you can count.
Usually around this time of year I look at the best and worst movies of the year, but with so much negativity in the world, I decided to concentrate on the good stuff, the best movies I saw this year.
It’s time to buy a new calendar and think ahead to the next year. For some the New Year is a new start on old habits, for others, like me, it’s a time to make some resolutions, but why do we make them every year, when every year we break them. On the show today we’ll talk about resolutions, whether they help or hurt and how to make your life a little better in 2023.
On the Richard Crouse Show Booze & Reviews Christmas Special, I'll share movies to enjoy over the holidays and the perfect cocktail to sip while watching. Then, I'll tell you all about the booziest Christmas song of all time.
On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we get to know Teddy Wilson, co-host of “The Mightiest,” a six-episode docu-series, airing on Wednesdays on the Discovery Channel, that examines the science and ingenuity behind some of the biggest and most complex planes, trains, and ships that humankind has ever made and operated. From re-engineered Chinook helitankers fighting wildfires 24/7 in Southern California, to a train that helps sustain life and connect communities, the series gives viewers an all-access pass to every aspect of the vessels and the people around it as they embark on new and dangerous journeys.Then, we meet Enuka Okuma. You know here as detective Traci Nash in the police drama series, Rookie Blue. She is also known for her work on the television series Madison (and Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye. Today we talk about her work as one of the stars and writers of the hit CBC show Workin’ Moms.We’ll meet meet Humble the Poet. He is a Canadian-born rapper, spoken-word artist, poet, internationally bestselling author, and former elementary school teacher with a wildly popular blog with over 100,000 monthly readers. After the international best-selling success of his book “Unlearn,” Humble The Poet is back with a new book, “How to be Love(D).” With short chapters filled with insight, advice, and personal anecdotes from his own journey, this book is a guide to self-love that helps clarify your path inward toward the inherent love and value that is within each of us… perfect reading for the start of a new year.As we get closer to Awards Season, there is an embarrassment of riches of movies playing in theatres this month. IN this segment, we meet two of the stars of two of the season’s best movies. First, we meet Brendan Fraser. In his first leading role in a decade, he is garnering Oscar buzz for playing a 600-pound man trying to reconnect with his daughter in “The Whale.” The specter of death hangs over every frame of “The Whale,” and yet Fraser manages to bring optimism to a character not long for this world. He's looking to set things straight and make sure Ellie will have the tools to have a decent life after he goes. It is a tremendous performance that soars, transcending the stage-bound nature of the story.Now let’s meet Janelle Monáe. The Grammy nominated singer, rapper and actor is one of the stars of of “Glass Onion,” the sequel to the 2019 hit “Knives Out.” In the movie tech billionaire Miles Bron, played by Ed Norton, invites his friends for a getaway on his private Greek island. When someone turns up dead, Detective Benoit Blanc, played by Daniel Craig, is put on the case.
On this episode of the Richard Crouse Show we get to know, all the way from Cornwall in South West England, Jeremy Brown and Jon Cleave, two of the founding members of the sea shanty singing group Fisherman’s Friends. They have incredible story of being discovered by a music producer who visited their small fishing village of Port Isaac, and propelling them to stardom. Their recordings of traditional sea shanties have topped the charts and they’ve played on the main stage of the Glastonbury Festival in front of 100,000 people and for royalty at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Their story has inspired two films, “Fisherman’s Friends” and the sequel, which is in theatres now, “Fisherman’s Friends: One and All,” starring James Purefoy and now it’s a stage show called “Fisherman’s Friends: The Musical which has just touched diown at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto after a successful run in the UK. Then, Enrico Colantoni stops by. You know the talented actor from portraying Elliot DiMauro in the sitcom “Just Shoot Me!,” Keith Mars on the television series “Veronica Mars.” On the big screen he has appeared in the films “Galaxy Quest,” “A.I. Artificial Intelligence,” “Contagion,” and “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.” Today we talk about his latest film, a comedy about four stoners, the self-proclaimed "Vandits", have a bright idea to knock over a senior citizens bingo hall on Christmas Eve. In this segment we talk about the unusual way he paid for theatre school in New York City and how the cast and crew of “Vandits” persevered after all their equipment was stolen the night before they were to start shooting.Finally, we’ll meet Elegance Bratton, the film director who turned his story of being a young gay man, who found unexpected strength, camaraderie and support when he joined the Marines, after being rejected by his mother, into a critically acclaimed film called “The Inspection.” It is a classic against-all-odds story that paints a vivid picture of life inside the boot camp, the dehumanization, the violence, but also the brotherhood. The movie carefully builds the world of the boot camp, creating a palette of claustrophobia, brutality and tension that adds layers to the telling of his survival story.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show we meet Linwood Barclay. He is the best selling author of thrillers like “No Time for Goodbye,” “The Accident”, which was turned into the six-part television series in France and “Never Saw It Coming” adapted into a movie, starring Eric Roberts and Emily Hampshire, have made him a favourite writer of thrillers. So much so, that Stephen King calls him, “a terrific writer. 'A suspense master. 'In a class of his own.'Today we’re talking about his latest novel, “Look Both Ways.” In the book he envisions a world in which automotive technology outpaces our wildest dreams—and our darkest nightmares—as self-driving cars become sentient.Then, we’ll meet Yannick Bisson. You know him from sixteen seasons as Detective William Murdoch on the very popular “Murdoch Mysteries.” But did you know he is also a director? We talk about “Baking All the Way,” a new holiday movie he directed and stars in, playing in theatres for one night on December 5, then premiering on Super Channel Heart & Home on December 10.
On this week’s Richard Crouse Show we meet Billboard’s Top New Country Artist of 2021, and CMT’s 2022 “Breakout Artist of the Year” Lainey Wilson. Her highly anticipated album “Bell Bottom Country” is out now and she recently announced a 27-city headlining tour, that will visit Vancouver and Edmonton next year.
“Bell Bottom Country” draws its title directly from the name people use to describe the Louisiana native’s unique sound, style, and aesthetic — it’s Country, but with flare, mixing in elements of ‘70s Rock, Funk, and Soul.
We talk about her new record, what influence Hannah Montana had on her career… it’s not what you might think, and why she only wears bell bottom pants.
We’ll also meet Fab Filippo, co-creator, executive producer, co-showrunner on the CBC original series “Sort Of.” We’ll talk about the hit show and how the stories in “Sort Of” resonate across all genders, races, and ages – they are universal no matter how one identifies.
Then, we’ll meet Barry Avrich, director of “The Talented Mr. Rosenberg,” a new documentary about a lifelong con artist with a stunning history of heartbreaking betrayal, outrageous lies and elaborate masquerades.
On this episode of the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Bryan Trottier. He is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League for the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins. He won four Stanley Cups with the Islanders, two with the Penguins and one as an assistant coach with the Colorado Avalanche.
His new memoir, ‘All Roads Home: A Life On and Off the Ice,’ is a poignant and inspiring memoir of the people and challenges that shaped his life and career. In this interview we talk about growing up in a town of 500 people and how he celebrated his first Stanley Cup win.
Then, we’ll meet Eric McCormack. You know Eric McCormack as Will Truman in the NBC sitcom “Will & Grace,” or maybe as Grant MacLaren in Netflix's “Travelers” or Dr. Daniel Pierce in the TNT crime drama “Perception.” In the new coming-of-age movie, “Drinkwater,” he plays Hank, a small-town dad who didn’t live up to his potential. With its subplot about a Wayne Gretzky rookie card some physical comedy in a Tim Hortons drive-thru and a great Zamboni scene, it’s the most Canadian movie to come out so far this year.
On this episode of the Richard Crouse Podcast we meet Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ian Urbina, host of “The Outlaw Ocean.” The project began years ago as a series in The New York Times, where he was a staff writer. Between the articles, a book on the subject and now the podcast, the journey took more than four years, spanning 40 cities and every continent, and over 12,000 nautical miles across five oceans and 20 other seas.
In the podcast Urbina explores a gritty and lawless realm, populated by traffickers and smugglers, pirates and mercenaries, wreck thieves and repo men, vigilante conservationists, seabound abortion providers, clandestine oil dumpers, shackled slaves and cast-adrift stowaways. “The Outlaw Ocean” is brought to you by CBC Podcasts and the L.A. Times.
Learn more about The Outlaw Ocean Project, a non-profit journalism organization that produces investigative stories about human rights, at theoutlawocean.com.
Then, we’ll meet Scott Goodson, the author of “Activate Brand Purpose: How To Harness The Power Of Movements To Transform Your Company” and founder and CEO of advertising and marketing agency StrawberryFrog. He Zooms in, from New York City, to talk about purpose driven companies and why consumers care about what a company stands for and what its values might be.
On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet award-winning journalist and editor-in-chief of The Hamilton Spectator, Paul Berton. His new book “Shopomania: Our Obsession with Possession,” is a thought-provoking and provocative challenge to consumerism. It is a sassy and satirical look at today’s consumer culture that asks, Do we really need all our stuff?
We’ll also meet Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund. His film “Triangle of Sadness” received an eight-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival, and won the top prize, the Palme d'Or. It is a very dark satire, an over-the-top tale of hypocrisy, greed, and ambition that is about as subtle as a punch to the face, but it is memorable and for lovers of adventurous film, a must see.
Then, Metis author Willie Poll stops by to talk about her er new book for kids, “Together We Drum, Our Hearts Beat As One.” It’s a simple story of a little Indigenous girl who comes up against a monster called "Hate.”
On this special Halloween edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet Ainslie Hogarth, author of “Motherthing,” darkly comedic novel about a woman who must take drastic measures to save her husband and herself from the vengeful ghost of her mother-in-law.
Then, David Cronenberg stops by. The director of “Eastern Promises,” “A History of Violence,” “The Fly” and “Videodrome,” among many others, talks about “Crimes of the Future,” an all-star story of eroticized human evolution starring Kristen Stewart, Viggo Mortensen and Léa Seydoux and we’ll find out whether he likes the nickname for his fans!
We go to the vault to find an interview I did with Daniel Radcliffe the night after I hosted the Canadian premier of his first post Harry Potter movie, a brooding gothic horror film called “The Woman in Black.” In the film Daniel plays a recently widowed layer who is grieving the loss of his wife when he is sent to a remote village on business. Once there he discovers his client's house is haunted by the spirit of a woman who is trying to find someone and something she lost, and that no one is safe from her terrible wrath.
We’re talking horror, and who better to talk to than John Landis. As the director of An American Werewolf in London and the groundbreaking music video for Michael Jackson's "Thriller," he knows a thing or two about how to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. In this conversation we talk about The Exorcist, The Omen, ghosts and one of th4e scariest scenes he’s ever seen in a movie. Ninety years ago Charles Laughton starred in The Island of Lost Souls as Dr. Moreau, a brilliant surgeon who performed vivisection on animals with the goal of turning animals into half human beings.
On this week’s Richard Crouse Show we meet Douglas Stuart. His first novel, "Shuggie Bain," won a shelfful of major awards, including the Booker Prize, in 2020. It told the story of an alcoholic single mother and her children living in a Glasgow tenement in the 1990s. His new novel, "Young Mungo" centers on a romance between two teenage boys - one Protestant, one Catholic. It is a gripping and revealing story about the meaning of masculinity, the push and pull of family, the violence faced by so many queer people, and the dangers of loving someone too much. In this interview we talk about growing up in Glasgow, how writing became his second career and why he named his main character after the patron saint of Glasgow.
Then, we’ll meet Tegan and Sara, the Grammy and Academy Award nominated, identical twin sisters behind the earworm “Everything is Awesome” from “The Lego Movie” and many ither hits. But we’re not talking about music today. We’re here to chat about their latest project, a new television pm Amazon Prime show based on their memoir High School.
On this week’s Richard Crouse Show we meet Matt Cahill. He has a private practice and is a member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario and is a writer whose debut novel, “The Society of Experience,” was picked as a must-read by Harper's Bazaar magazine. His short stories have been widely published and his essay “On Madness Within Imagination” was selected for Best Canadian Essays 2017. His new book, “Radioland,” is a mesmerizing literary thriller, where music, fame and magic wind together in an eerie mystery.
Then, Robert Harris, bestselling author of “Fatherland,” “The Ghostwriter,” “Munich” and “Conclave.” His new novel, “Act of Oblivion,” is an historical novel that brilliantly imagines one of the greatest manhunts in history: the search for two Englishmen involved in the killing of King Charles I and the relentless foe on their trail.
Then, word legend gets kicked around a lot, but in this case it really fits. Stan Lee made an indelible mark on popular culture by co-creating some of the most popular characters in comic books. Without him there’d be no superheroes like Spider-Man, the X-Men, Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk, Black Panther and the list goes on and on. He is a legend and I got the chance to speak with him on the phone a couple of years before he passed away in 2018. He was in fine form, it's a really fun interview and I wanted to share it with you again.
On this week’s Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet actor and JUNO nominated, jazz singer and songwriter Alex Bird. The subject line of the email from his publicist really caught my eye. “Move over Bublé,” it read, “JUNO-nominated artist Alex Bird has released Canada's FIRST Thanksgiving song.” That’s right, Thanksgiving finally has its own anthem courtesy of Alex Bird. In this interview we talk about the inspiration behind “The Sweetest Moments” and why Canada deserved a Thanksgiving song of its very own.
We’ll also meet Mark Critch, star of the hit CBC sitcom “Son of a Critch” and “This Hour Has 22 Minutes,” which celebrates its 30th season this year. We talk about his time spent on the political satire, and some of his antics, like photo-bombing Justin Trudeau, interviewing Great Big Sea's Alan Doyle (while impersonating Alan Doyle), offering Pamela Anderson a million dollars to stop acting, and crashing a White House briefing.
Then, since publishing his first novel in 1968 John Irving has been a literary force. He is the Academy Award winning author of The World According to Garp, The Cider House Rules, A Prayer for Owen Meany and many others which have been translated into more than thirty-five languages. Today we talk about his latest novel The Last Chairlift, the epic story of a slalom skier with an eventful past, that displays his trademarked imagination, storytelling gifts, and intelligence.
On this episode of the Richard Crouse Show we get to know Bonnie Stern. If you are a foodie, or even if you aren’t, you already know Bonnie. She has studied and taught cooking around the world, hosted three national cooking shows, and for 17 years, wrote a weekly column for the National Post. Her latest cookbook, “Don't Worry, Just Cook,” co-written with her daughter Anna Rupert, aims to take the intimidation factor that some people feel every time they step into the kitchen. Filled with delicious, widely appealing, and timeless recipes, the book is perfect, not only for home cooks but anyone who loves food.
Then we meet actor and writer Jim Piddock. For four decades he has appeared on Broadway and on the big and small screen in movies like “Independence Day,” “Lethal Weapon 2,” “A Mighty Wind,” “Austin Powers in Goldmember” and shows like “Modern Family,” “Mom,” “Two and a Half Men,” “Lost,” Monk,” “Friends”… the list goes on. Jim looks back at his career in a funny and frank new memoir called “Caught With My Pants Down & Other Tales From A Life In Hollywood.” It is available now wherever fine books are sold.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show we meet director Brett Morgen and producer Debra Eisenstadt of the film “Moonage Daydream,” an impressionistic look at the life and work of iconic artist David Bowie, now playing in theatres.
Bowie led one of the most eclectic show business careers of the last sixty years. He was a seeker, an artist whose work flirted with everything from mime and music to acting and art. He was never less than a free thinker who valued artistic joy over fame.
Morgen’s film emphasizes the restless spirit that defined David Bowie, but don’t buy a ticket expecting a cradle-to-grave “Behind the Music” style expose. This is an experience, a collage of sound and vision, that over the two-and-a-quarter-hour running time creates a portrait that doesn’t attempt to define the artist as much as it does to illuminate his ever-changing philosophical mindset. To achieve this Morgen mixes never-before-seen footage and performances, forty remastered songs spanning the singer’s entire career and, as narration, excerpts from fifty years of Bowie interviews.
There are no talking heads or re-enactments, and neither is this one long music video. It’s an ephemeral collection of ideas and images with a solid intellectual underpinning, a philosophical edge and an emotional component for diehard Bowie fans. It also has a good beat and you can dance to it… most of it anyway.
We also get to know Ke Huy Quan, the star of the most aptly titled movie of the year, “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” You can say a lot of things about “Everything Everywhere All At Once” but you can’t say you’ve ever seen anything quite like it before. An eye-popping reflection on the power of kindness and love to heal the world’s problems, it is exhilarating that mixes and matches everything from family drama and tax problems to martial-arts and metaphysics into a whimsical story that moves at the speed of light. The result is a singular film that milks intentionality out of its madness.
What does all that mean? Stick around as I chat with one of the film’s stars Ke Huy Quan. You know him as Short Round, the plucky kid companion to Indiana Jones in The Temple Of Doom and from a role in cult classic comedy-adventure The Goonies. We’ll talk about why he chose to return to acting in “Everything Everywhere All at Once” after a twenty-year break from Hollywood.
On this week’s Richard Crouse Show we meet Nuela Charles. This year the SOCAN Foundation announced Nuela as a winner of the second annual Her Music Awards. She has amassed over 4 million career streams to date and over 738,309 total YouTube worldwide views and now, her self-titled album is available on all streaming platforms.
Over the last few years, Nuela has brought her distinct voice to various stages, having performed at Reeperbahn Festival in Germany, London, UK, and has shared the stage as direct support for some of Canada’s musical icons including Sam Roberts Band, Jann Arden and Stars.
Then, we’ll meet Barbie Latza Nadeau. She has worked as the Rome bureau chief for Newsweek Magazine and currently holds that position for The Daily Beast. She is an on-air contributor for CNN and a writer for Scientific American. She is also a true crime novelist, with a new book, The Godmother, about the rise of women in the mafia. Publishers Weekly calls it “A must for true crime fans,” and it is a great read.
On this week’s Richard Crouse Show we meet Peter Hitchcock, director of ‘A Song For Us,’ a new film about a British folk singer who reconnects with her long-lost lover. The world of folk music is a subject Peter knows well. As a younger man he ran beatnik folk clubs in England and hired Paul Simon for a mere £20 when the future superstar was unknown in the UK. He also has a rich background in film, from working as an extra at age ten to working with Wes Craven and so much more.
Then, Ayan Tani and Émeraude Domingos Mbuku, co-directors of “Reel Black: Our Film Stories,” an exploration of Black Canadian filmmaking, you can see in person and on line at the 17th Annual CaribbeanTales International Film Festival, stop by. Find out more details at caribbeantalesfestival.com
Later in the show we’ll hear from some people you’ve been listening to you entire lives. The American TV Guide ranked Sharon, Lois and Bram the number two children’s entertainers of all time, just behind Fred Rogers. Sharon Hampson, the late Lois Lilenstein and Bram Morrison are iconic for generations of Canadians. Today, Sharon, Bram and Sharon’s daughter Randi join me to talk about their new picture book, Sharon, Lois & Bram’s One Elephant Went Out to Play, and we’ll reveal s tightly held secret… the true meaning of the word Skinnamarink!
This week on the Richard Crouse Show we meet director and actor Valerie Buhagiar. Her film “Carmen,” now in theatres and coming to VOD on September 30, is a new coming of age story set on the island of Malta, that sees the title character, played by “Kalifornication” star Natascha McElhone, rediscover her own life and desires after her brother, the village priest, passes away. It is an empathetic and optimistic movie about a second chance at living life to the fullest.
We’ll also meet actor Dylan Smith. You know him from his performances in films like 300, Total Recall, Murder on the Orient Express and many others. He will next be seen in Prime Video’s largest title to date, “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.” The series serves as a prequel to the events we all know from J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and focuses on the forging of the Rings of Power and the One Ring in the Second Age. It begins it Prime Video run on September 2.
Then, I’ll tell you about “Elvis,” the film about the King of Rock and Roll from Moulin Rouge director Baz Lurhmann. It’s been a big hit in theatres and I caught up with director Baz Lurhmann and his stars Austin Butler, who hands in a terrific performance as Elvis and Olivia DeJong who plays Elvis’ wife, Priscilla. We talked about what the story of Elvis’s life can tell us about America, Priscilla’s role in the singer’s life and much more.
On this episode of the Richard Crouse Show we meet father and daughter Neil Osborne and singer/songwriter Kandle. Neil is the lead singer of 54-40, and has a remarkable catalogue of hit songs, including "Baby Ran," "I Go Blind," "Ocean Pearl" and the award-winning "Since When."
Kandle is a musician, singer and songwriter with a solo career, and has collaborated with her father in the past, but they’ve now officially formed their own band: a modern-day psychedelic blues rock duo called A Family Curse.
The A Family Curse collaboration actually began a few years ago when Neil and songwriter Danny Michel, recorded some instrumental jams together. But due to their busy schedules, the songs were left to collect dust until Neil sent them to Kandle. She added fresh new melody and lyrics and from there, Kandle and Neil decided to form the band and make an entire album.
Then, Kelly McCormack stops by. You know her as combative hockey player Betty-Anne on the hit show Letterkenny, but she is back in a new show now streaming on Amazon Prime. In “A League of Their Own” Kelly plays Jess, a shortstop from Moosejaw who utters the original film’s most famous line, there’s no crying in baseball.’
We round things out with Joy Fielding, the New York Times bestselling author called "an ingenious master of domestic suspense," joins me to talk about her new novel “The Housekeeper.” It’s a suspenseful story about a woman who hires a housekeeper to care for her aging parents--only to watch as she takes over their lives.
On this week’s Richard Crouse Show, Zac Hanson, drummer of the multi-platinum band Hanson, visits on a quick stop between gigs to talk about tjeir new album "RGB," how he juggles having five kids with life on the road, Hop Jam, Hanson’s annual beer and music festival and why he thinks Hanson has always been a bit of an anomaly.
Then we’ll meet Award winning and bestselling Canadian author Lilian Nattel. Her new book “Only Sisters” follows the lives of two sisters: Joan, the reliable one who stayed behind to care for their widowed mother, and the globe-trotting Vivien. When Vivien dies while working in a remote village, Joan is pushed to impersonate her online, leaving Joan tangled between right and wrong and adventure and tragedy.
On this week’s Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Dylan Smith. The son of filmmakers, Smith had an eye on a career in hockey until he was sidelined by an injury and discovered theatre. He is now an accomplished stage and film actor who has performed on Broadway, appeared in films like in films like “300,” “Total Recall,” “Murder on the Orient Express” and many others. He will next be seen in Prime Video’s largest title to date, “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.” The series serves as a prequel to the events we all know from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy and focuses on the forging of the Rings of Power and the One Ring in the Second Age. It begins it Prime Video run on September 2.
Then, you know jenny Slate as the voice of Tammy Larsen on the critically acclaimed animated sitcom “Bob's Burgers,” as Mona-Lisa on the series “Parks and Recreation,” as well as films like “Obvious Child” which won her the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actress in a Comedy, “The Secret Life of Pets” film franchise, “The Lego Batman Movie,” and “Despicable Me 3” and recently in the critically acclaimed “Everything Everywhere All At Once.”
Her latest film “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On,” expands on her popular YouTube videos that feature a talking seashell outfitted with a single googly eye and a pair of miniature shoes. It is one of my favorite movies of the year.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show, the Classic Rock Special! It’s August, and for many people the soundtrack to the late summer is classic rock, so I thought I’d take a trip through the vault and give some of my favorite interviews with classic rockers another spin.
We’ll meet Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen and bassist Tom Petersson who talk about the early days of the band and finding success in Japan. Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist and co-founding member of KISS stops by to talk about working with his former band, his new music and why he doesn’t approve of all of the KISS merchandise that features his image. Liberty DeVitto, author of the memoir Liberty: “Life, Billy and the Pursuit of Happiness” talks about the thirty years he spent playing drums for Billy Joel. We talk about how they met and get some inside scoop. For instance, did you know Only the Good Die Young was written as a reggae song? Finally, we meet John Lennon’s personal photographer Bob Gruen. The legendary photographer opens up about taking famous pictures of every rock ‘n roll star from David Bowie and Led Zeppelin to The Clash and The Sex Pistols.
On this week’s Richard Crouse Show Martin Freeman stops by. You know the Emmy, a BAFTA and Screen Actors Guild Award winning actor from playing Tim Canterbury in the original British series of “The Office.” He was Dr. John Watson in the British crime drama series “Sherlock” opposite Benedict Cumberbatch, Bilbo Baggins in “The Hobbit” film trilogy and will soon be seen in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” reprising the role of Everett K. Ross. Today we’ll talk about his newest project, the critically acclaimed police series “The Responder,” now playing on Brit Box.
Then, we meet Emmy-award winning documentary filmmakers Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine who have created a fascinating look at iconic Canadian singer and poet Leonard Cohen called “HALLELUJAH: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song” that uses one of his most famous songs as a starting point. We’ll find out why one of Cohen’s most famous songs was rejected by his record company and more.
Later in the show we’ll meet Gregory Sestero, star of a new found footage film called “Infrared.” In the film he plays the creepy caretaker of an abandoned schoolhouse. If Greg’s name rings a bell, it’s likely because you’ve attended one of the midnight madness screenings of “The Room,” a movie so deliciously awful, it has become a cult favorite since its release in 2003. Gregory turned the experience of making the so-bad-it’s-a-hoot movie into a book, which eventually went on to become the Oscar nominated movie The Disaster Artist, starring James Franco and Seth Rogen. We talk about “Infrared” and whether or not, twenty years on, if “The Room” is an embarrassment or a source of pride.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show we meet Chris Strikes and Joella Crichton. Their movie “Becoming a Queen,” which is now on VOD, is a documentary about Joella Crichton, Canada’s most decorated Caribbean Carnival Queen. The film, directed by Chris Strikes, covers Joella’s attempt to win a historic tenth title in her last ever competition. The movie explores expressions of cultural identity, Caribbean artistry and a community’s struggle against a lack of understanding of Carnival in the larger society.
We’ll also meet author KL Armstrong. She has written over 40 books, including the bestselling young adult series the Darkest Powers and Darkness Rising, the YA book Aftermath, the middle-grade novel A Royal Guide to Monster Slaying and the adult thriller Alone in the Wild. On television the SyFy series Bitten was based on her book the Women of the Otherworld.
Her new novel is “The Life She Had,” a thriller about two women with secrets they want to keep buried, but when a body is discovered nearby, they must move quickly to prove their innocence and protect the lives they've built for themselves. We talk about how she comes up with her intricate stories and characters, and why she sometimes writes under a pseudonym.
Finally, we’ll get to know Jon Harvey, bassist and lead singer of Monster Truck. The JUNO Award-Winners are one of Canada's hardest-working rock and roll bands, a reputation they've cemented by touring relentlessly. Their new single, “Get My Things & Go” is available now wherever you legally buy and download great music.
On this episode of the Richard Crouse Show we meet Maestro Fresh Wes. He’s the "Godfather of Canadian hip hop," a record producer, an actor, and author who adds competition show host to his resume with “Race Against the Tide.” He plays host to 10 of the world's best sand sculpting duos and throws down a challenge each week on the show: create show-stopping sculpture at New Brunswick's iconic and beautiful Bay of Fundy, before the world's largest tides flow in and wash their sculptures away. Watch the show on Sundays on CBC and CBC Gem at 8:30 p.m.
We’ll also meet Ken Hall. If you are a fan of The Umbrella Academy, the Netflix series about a a dysfunctional family of adopted sibling superheroes who reunite to solve the mystery of their father's death and the threat of an imminent apocalypse, you’ll know Ken Hall. He’s played two roles on the show, Pogo, the talking chimpanzee and analytics specialist Herb. We’ll talk about working on the series and how he went from social work to the business of being funny.
Finally, Maxwell McCabe-Lokos, director of a new film called Stanleyville a new darkly humorous social satire now on VOD, stops by. Imagine if Samuel Beckett wrote “Squid Game,” minus the giant Kewpie doll, and you’ll get the idea of “Stanleyville.” It is a social satire, structured around a series of strange games administered by an odd moderator called Homunculus. The contestants are challenged to everything from balloon blowing contests to “writing a national anthem for everybody everywhere through all time.” As the games go on, escalating consequences pit the players against one another. It’s a cool move that is part Squid Game, part Lord of the Flies and part Samuel Beckett.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show we meet Chris Pratt and Taylor Kitsch. You know Chris Pratt as the star of the "Jurassic World" franchise and as Star-Lord in Marvel Studios' "Guardians of the Galaxy." Taylor Kitsch is a Canadian actor, known for his work as Tim Riggins in the NBC television series "Friday Night Lights," and starring in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," "Battleship," "Lone Survivor" and for playing David Koresh in the miniseries "Waco."
They are teamed to talk about their new series on Amazon Prime, "The Terminal List." The series follows James Reece, played by Pratt after his entire platoon of Navy SEALs is ambushed while on a covert mission. Reece returns home to his family with conflicting memories of the event and questions about his culpability. As new evidence comes to light, Reece discovers dark forces working against him, endangering not only his life but the lives of those he loves. Kitsch is Ben Edwards, Reese’s best friend and fellow Navy Seal.
We’ll also meet Chloe Traicos. You know her from the black comedy "The Righteous Gemstones," a series created by Danny McBride that follows a famous yet dysfunctional family of televangelists. You can find the show on Crave here in Canada. Chloe played Gloria Freeman, the wife of televangelist "Baby" Billy Freeman, who abandoned her and their son in a pet store. She also stars in “Introducing Jodea,” a comedy about a struggling young actress whose fortunes change when a world-famous movie director drives into the back of her car. It’s available wherever you legally buy and download movies. She has a fascinating story. Born and raised in Zimbabwe, she is unable to return because she made a controversial documentary about the country's former leader, Robert Mugabe.
Then, we’ll spend some time with Clare Pooley, the Cambridge educated author of "Iona Iverson’s Rules For Commuting." After working in advertising for twenty years it dawned on her daily ‘wine o’clock’ habit was out of control. She wrote the popular "Mummy was a Secret Drinker" blog and a memoir, "The Sober Diaries," published in 2017 to critical acclaim. Her debut novel, "The Authenticity Project," was inspired by her life and her seemingly perfect facade. Her new novel, "Iona Iverson’s Rules For Commuting," is an entertaining novel about unexpected friendships and the joy of connecting.
On this week’s Richard Crouse Show we meet Jeff Burrows, drummer of the multi-Platinum selling and multi-JUNO award-nominated Rock band The Tea Party, who will be returning to Canadian stages this summer with their first tour in almost three years.
The tour follows the release of The Tea Party’s “Sunshower” EP, a companion piece to the “Black River” EP, presenting a message of hope in the face of one of the most challenging years we as a society have endured so far in the 21st century.
We’ll also get to Know Daniel Paisner. He is one of publishing's most in-demand ghostwriters, the writer who actually writes those celebrity biographies that sit on the front of the racks at your favorite bookstore. His latest novel, “Balloon Dog” – a provocative, comedic, tender and contemplative book on middle age, social media, art, and belonging… asks: what happens when the life you are living is no longer the life you imagined?
Apart from Apart from being a novelist, my final guest today, Fiona Barton, has worked as a senior writer for the Daily Mail, a news editor for the Daily-Telegraph, and also as a news-editor for the Mail on Sunday. After an award-winning career in British newspapers, she gave it all to volunteer in Sri Lanka and since 2008, have trained and worked with exiled and threatened journalists all over the world.
She has also penned four worldwide bestselling thrillers, “The Widow,” “The Child” and “The Suspect.” She returns to bookstores with “Local Gone Missing,” a new crime novel featuring Detective Elise King investigating a man’s disappearance in a seaside town where the locals and weekenders are at odds with each other.
On this week’s Richard Crouse Show we tell you about “Elvis,” the new film about the King of Rock and Roll from Moulin Rouge director Baz Lurhmann. The movie covers the twenty-ish years in the lives of Elvis and his manager Colonel Tim Parker. Through the birth of rock ‘n roll of the late 1950s and the cheesy Hollywood years to the legendary 1968 Comeback Special and the Las Vegas rise and fall, Elvis and the Colonel shimmied and shook their way to the top of the charts and into the history books.
I caught up with director Baz Lurhmann and his stars Austin Butler, who hands in a terrific performance as Elvis and Olivia DeJong who plays Elvis’ wife, Priscilla. We talked about what the story of Elvis’s life can tell us about America, Priscilla’s role in the singer’s life and mushc more.
Then, Nyla Innuksuk, director of “Slash/Back,” a cool new coming of age story with an Indigenous and sci fiction twist, and a message about friendship and what it means to fight for community, stops by to tell us about the challenges of taking a crew of 50 people to Baffin Island in the summer of 2019, to make this film.
Finally meet writer Cian KEY ANN Cruise. He has a degree in film studies and philosophy and is a new dad. He combines all those avenues from his life in his new book, “Dad Bod: Portraits of Pop Culture Papas.”
A clever collection of essays about father figures in popular culture, he has a look at everyone from Gandalf to Homer Simpson, to unpack the qualities that inform our collective image of fatherhood. Stick around and find out what he says Rambo, as seen in First Blood, can teach us about the behaviour of toddlers.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show we meet actor and musician Noah Reid. He became involved in theatre around age six, has been regularly appearing on television since his high school years and has appeared in films like "Buffaloed" and "Disappearance at Clifton Hill," but it was his performance as Patrick Brewer, business partner and later husband, of Dan Levy’s character David on "Schitt's Creek" that made him a household name.
Patrick was already a well-loved character on the series when, in season 4, episode 6, he serenaded his David with a very familiar tune. The “Simply the Best” scene is one of the most emotional scenes in the entire series for the iconic couple, and is now a fan favorite. It also taught us something new about Noah Reid… he can really sing.
Turns out, he’s an accomplished musicians with three albums featuring his powerful vocals and honest delivery. His first two albums, “Songs from a Broken Chair” and “Gemini,” collectively have garnered 145 million streams, two nominations at the 2022 Canadian Folk Music Awards in the Songwriter of the Year and New/Emerging Artist of the Year categories and landed Noah on four Billboard charts. His latest album is “Adjustments,” which will be available everywhere you legally download and buy music this month.
We get to know Noah, and talk about his latest, on-going project, starring on Broadway in “The Minutes,” a show about the inner-workings of a city council meeting in the fictional town of Big Cherry.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show we meet actor Alana Hawley Purvis. In “Range Roads,” now available on Super Channel and to rent or buy on VOD, she plays an actress who tries to reconnect with her estranged brother after their parents die in a car accident. But there’s a mystery as well. Frankie finds a life insurance policy that names a woman whose name she doesn’t recognize. What’s her connection to the family?
We’ll also meet award-winning comedian Leslie Seiler. Leslie is from Halifax and now lives in Los Angeles. The focus of her mew comedy album, “Check For Snakes,” is moving to L.A. in 2016 and experiencing the Trump and Covid era from the perspective of someone from Canada. We talk about her comedy and her side gig… decorating Christmas trees for Jennifer Lopez.
Then we meet David Cronenberg. If it is true that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Cronenberg must be basking in the reflected glow of some pretty serious film fawning. The OG of Body Horror’s influence can be seen in lurid detail in recent movies like the Palme d'Or winner “Titane” and Natalie Portman’s biological thriller “Annihilation” among many others.
The director of “Eastern Promises,” “A History of Violence,” “The Fly” and “Videodrome,” among many others, returns to theatres after an eight-year break with “Crimes of the Future,” an all-star story of eroticized human evolution starring Kristen Stewart, Viggo Mortensen and Léa Seydoux.
Sharing a name with a movie the director made in 1970 and based on a script he wrote in the early 2000s, “Crimes of the Future” takes place in a time when "Accelerated Evolution Syndrome" has all but eliminated pain in most humans.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show we meet Elamin Abdelmahmoud. He is the host of CBC's weekly pop culture podcast POP CHAT, co-host of CBC's political podcast PARTY LINES, and a frequent culture commentator for CBC News. He's a culture writer for BuzzFeed News, and now adds author to his list of cr4edits with the release of a memoir called “Son of Elsewhere: A Memoir in Pieces.” In this interview we discuss moving to Canada from Sudan at age twelve, in addition to wrestling, turn of the century metal bands and the influence of TV shows like “The O.C.”.
Then we’ll meet Martin Freeman. You know the Emmy, a BAFTA and Screen Actors Guild Award winning actor from playing Tim Canterbury in the original British series of “The Office.” He was Dr. John Watson in the British crime drama series “Sherlock” opposite Benedict Cumberbatch, Bilbo Baggins in “The Hobbit” film trilogy and will soon be seen in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” reprising the role of Everett K. Ross. Today we’ll talk about his newest project, the critically acclaimed police series “The Responder,” now playing on Brit Box.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show we meet author Eugene Marten. His latest powerful new novel “Pure Life” is the sprawling story of the rise and fall of a former professional American Football player, Nineteen, who claws his way from a working-class background to wealth and fame before losing everything.
Then, we get to know Mark O’Brien. As an actor, Mark is one of the stars of Showtime’s "City on a Hill," starring opposite Kevin Bacon and produced by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. You’ve seen him on the Amazon series "The Last Tycoon" opposite Kelsey Grammar, and will soon see him in the recurring guest star role of ambitious Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Thomas Milligan in the second season of HBOs popular “Perry Mason” reboot. Today we’ll talk about “The Righteous,” his debut as a feature film director… oh, and he also wrote it and stars as well as Aaron, a mysterious young man who turns the life of a former priest upside down.
Finally, director Sunnie McFadden-Curtis stops by to talk about “Broken Vows: Stories Of Separation,” a new documentary that takes you into the lives of women experiencing separation.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show we meet Kevin Doyle. He is one of the stars of “Downton Abbey: A New Era,” the big screen continuation of the adventures of the aristocratic Crawley family. Doyle plays the Abbey's former second footman, and now village school master, Joseph Molesley and was a regular on the beloved television series for all six seasons.
I spoke with Kevin Doyle during the release of the first Downton Abbey movie, on the show’s popularity and learning the ins and outs of being a footman at the Abbey.
We’ll also meet award-winning Sri Lankan Canadian novelist Shyam Selvadurai. His new novel “Mansions of the Moon” is a reimagining of ancient India through the extraordinary life of Yasodhara, the woman who married the Buddha.
Then: Did you have a toy light sabre when you were a kid? I did… it was a Kenner Inflatable Light Saber that kept me and my friends safe from the Darth Vader and the Dark Side when I was thirteen years old. Later in the show we’ll meet Roger Christian, the English set decorator, production designer and feature film director who won an Academy Award for his work on the original Star Wars and was Oscar-nominated for his work on Alien. He is the man who built the lightsaber, probably one of the most famous props in movie history. He stops by to talk about his new film, a memoir documentary called Galaxy Built on Hope, which fills in a major missing chapter in the history of the making of "Star Wars." The film tells the story of the Star Wars Art Department and how Roger worked with the brilliant production designer John Barry to bring George Lucas' fantastic vision to the big screen on a budget.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show we revisit an interview with the late, great Gilbert Gottfried. As you probably already know, the legendary comedian passed away last month at the age of 67. I saw him perform just two weeks before his died, and while he looked frail, he delivered a show that was sweet, funny and incredibly rude, sometimes all at once, and that was Gilbert’s magic. There was no one else quite like him, no one as fearless as he was on stage, or as funny.
This conversation dates from the release of the 2017 documentary Gilbert. We talk about the beginnings of his stand-up career, why he doesn’t want his kids to follow in his footsteps and his legendary telling of The Aristocrats, the filthiest joke ever told, in the weeks following 9/11 and how that brough laughter back to New York City.
Then we’ll meet Professor William Irwin of the Philosophy Department of King's College in Pennsylvania. He is a philosophy professor, literary critic, and heavy metal scholar whose new book “The Meaning of Metallica: Ride the Lyrics,” takes a serious look at the lyrics of metal’s biggest band, disentangling double meanings, explaining stories, uncovering sources, and illuminating themes such as hope, despair, rage, resilience, power, liberty, justice, love, death, and insanity.
Do you have young kids at home? If so, a new series might be just the thing you’re looking for. “Luna, Chip and Inkie: Adventure Rangers Go” is a new series for 3-6 year olds will be available free and commercial free across Canada on the Knowledge Kids app and website. Within British Columbia, the series will also be available to watch on television on the Knowledge Network station.
Creating the music for the series is my guest Daniel Ingram. He is one of the top songwriters working in Children’s/Family entertainment and he has written songs for Emily Blunt, Zoey Saldana, Kristin Chenoweth and even Weird Al Yankovic. He has scored hundreds of episodes of television and most popular songs on YouTube have over 100 million online views, with a cumulative catalogue approaching one billion views.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show we have a look at a new series on Prime Video that reunites one of Canada’s favorite comedy troupes. From 1989 to 1995 the Kids in the Hall, comedians Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney, and Scott Thompson, bounced around the dial, with their eponymously named television show, bringing with them subversive comedy and loads of laughs.
These days there is a Kids in the Hall renaissance of a sort happening. A biography by Paul Myers titled “The Kids in the Hall: One Dumb Guy” is available wherever fine books are sold, a two-part documentary called “The Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks” will feature archival footage from the quintet's earliest years, behind-the-scenes clips from their sketch series and in-depth interviews… most excitingly, there the Kids are back together in front of a camera for a new eight-episode season on Amazon Prime, executive produced by Lorne Michaels. The revival is set to broadcast on May 13, 2022.
Joining me to talk about the Kids in the Hall, past and present is co-founder Dave Foley and Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet drummer Don Pyle, whose song "Having an Average Weekend", was used as the theme to original Kids TV show.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show we meet comedian Jessica Kirson. We talk about how her grandmother influenced her to follow her dreams and how she cultivated her talent. Keep up with Jessica check out her website jessicakirson.com and check out her entertaining podcast, “Relatively Sane Podcast,” which is available everywhere you listen to podcasts.
Then author Michael Barclay stops by. His book “Hearts on Fire” is about the creative explosion in Canadian music of the early 2000s. In the conversation we talk about how the fiercely independent Canadian spirit of the early 2000s plus musicians and bands like, Arcade Fire, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Feist, Tegan and Sara and Alexisonfire, who embraced, what Barclay calls their weirdness to great success. If you love music, you’ll want to hear this interview.
Then we’ll meet Raeann Brown who joined me from Wabush, Newfoundland to talk about her new book “Bedtime in Nunatsiavut,” which is described as an “Indigenous fairytale of dreams."
This week on the Richard Crouse Show we get to know Jamie Chai Yun Liew. She is a lawyer and law professor specializing in immigration, refugee, and citizenship law and the creator of the podcast Migration Conversations. She brings that experience to her critically acclaimed debut novel “Dandelion,” the story of an Asian woman who traces her mother's past journey in order to learn who she really is and where she belongs.
Then, we meet Mayim Bialik. She has played neuroscientist Amy Farrah Fowler on the incredibly popular “Big Bang Theory,” written books, earned a Phd in in neuroscience from UCLA and currently stars in the new sitcom Call Me Kat and hosts the primetime version of Jeopardy. Today she joins me to talk about her directorial debut “As They Made Us,” a family drama starring Candice Bergen and Dustin Hoffman.
We wrap up with NoViolet Bulawayo, whose new novel “Glory,” is set in the fictionalized country of Jidada. It is a brash and boisterous take on NoViolet’s home country of Zimbabwe and its political life.
On this week’s Richard Crouse Show we meet Katherine Ryan. She is a Canadian who moved to England in 2007 and now Brits know and love her from the many panel shows she’s appeared on, her wildly popular no-filter podcast Telling Everybody Everything or her Netflix comedy-drama “The Duchess.”
On this week’s Richard Crouse Show we meet Katherine Ryan. She is a Canadian who moved to England in 2007 with a boyfriend who wanted to start a comedy
She's known for being hilariously herself in a non-apologetic way, so it doesn’t comes as a surprise that her latest project, a memoir that details her rise to U.K. fame and her Canadian life before that as a Hooters waiter and Ryerson student, and before that her life in Sarnia, is called “The Audacity.”
We’ll also get to know actor Tim Roth. The English actor is perhaps best known for his collaborations with Quentin Tarantino… movies like “Reservoir Dogs,” “Pulp Fiction,” “Four Rooms” and “The Hateful Eight.” He is a Golden Globe and Oscar nominated actor who returns to theatres in Sundown, an intriguing film about a man who radically changes his life. We’ll talk all about that movie, his memorable turn in Pulp Fiction and his upcoming role in “She-Hulk,” opposite Tatiana Maslany later in the show.
The we meet comedian Charlie Demers. CBC radio called him “one of the smartest comics out there.” He is an acclaimed Vancouver playwright, author, radio personality, voice actor and comedian and also has a new comedy album called “I Hope I Don’t Remember This My Whole Life” available now wherever you legally buy and download albums.
On this episode of the Richard Crouse Podcast we’ll meet Ke Huy Quan, the star of the most aptly titled movie of the year. “Everything Everywhere All at Once” is a wild and woolly adventure where the quirk factor is turned up to 11 and literally anything could happen. It’s a full tilt boogie story about a laundromat owner in trouble with the IRS who is sent off to another dimension to battle an evil spirit called Jobu Tupaki.
You know Ke Huy Quan as Short Round, the plucky kid companion to Indiana Jones in The Temple Of Doom and from a role in cult classic comedy-adventure The Goonies. We’ll talk about why he chose to return to acting in “Everything Everywhere All at Once” after a twenty year break from Hollywood.
Then, we’ll meet meet Nicole Lundrigan. She is the author of several critically acclaimed novels, including her latest book, “An Unthinkable Thing.” It is the story of a young boy scarred by tragedy that brings him into the home of a "perfect" family--one whose dark secrets begin closing in, until a horrifying moment changes everything.
On this week’s Richard Crouse Show I’ll tell you about a new movie playing in theatres right now. “Run Woman Run” is the story of Beck, an Indigenous single mom at a crossroad. Ambitionless, when she isn’t binge eating, she’s hopping in the car to go check the mail… from the mailbox at the end of her driveway. Following a health scare, she decides to change her life through marathon running.
"Run Woman Run" is a lighthearted film with serious messages of recovery from residential school trauma, self-discovery and the erasure of Indigenous languages. It doesn’t shy away from the big topics, but at its heart it is an underdog story about overcoming obstacles and belief in one’s self.
I spoke with the film’s director Zoe Hopkins and breakout star Dakota Ray Hebert in separate interviews, which I have stitched them together to tell the story of the making of this wonderful film.
Then, Chris Hadfield, astronaut, engineer, singer, and fighter pilot and now author of a thriller called “The Apollo Murders” stops by to talk about his book and much more.
On this week’s Richard Crouse Show we chat with “Big Gold Brick” star Andy Garcia. In the off-beat comedy he plays an enigmatic, middle-aged father of two who enlists the help of a fledgling writer to pen his biography. He stars alongside Emory Cohen, Megan Fox, Lucy Hale and Oscar Isaac. “Big Gold Brick” is available on digital and on demand.
We also talk about the scene that scene that made him a star, the Odessa Steps sequence in “The Untouchables.”
Then, we’ll meet actor and writer Jim Piddock. For four decades he has appeared on Broadway and on the big and small screen in movies like “Independence Day,” “Lethal Weapon 2,” “A Mighty Wind,” “Austin Powers in Goldmember” and shows like “Modern Family,” “Mom,” “Two and a Half Men,” “Lost,” Monk,” “Friends”… the list goes on. Jim looks back at his career in a funny and frank new memoir called “Caught With My Pants Down & Other Tales From A Life In Hollywood.” It is available now wherever fine books are sold.
On this week’s Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Annmarie Morais and Ronnie Rowe Jr, the show runner and star, respectively of “The Porter,” a great new CBC drama, set in the 1920s, about the moment when railway workers from both Canada and the United States joined together to give birth to the world’s first Black union, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters.
We also get to know meet author Daniel Stolfi, author of “The Comedian Vs Cancer” a raw, moving and comedic memoir detailing his journey through cancer treatment at the young age of 25 and Mark Williams who played the English wizard Arthur Weasley in seven of the hit Harry Potter films and can now be seen in the BritBox drama “Father Brown,” one of the UK’s longest running Daytime Drama series.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show we meet Shawn Levy, the Montreal born producer and director, known for Stranger Things, Real Steel, the Night at the Museum franchise and the recent mega hit Free Guy with Ryan Reynolds. He has reteamed with Reynolds for the Netflilx sci fi family drama The Adam Project. He joined from Los Angeles via Zoom to talk about the why the film isn’t simply a sci fi epic and finding a child actor who could keep up with Ryan Reynolds.
Then, Canadian comedian, actor, writer and YouTuber Julie Nolke also stops by to talk about how she amasses one million followers on You Tube and her new role in the hot sitcom Run the Burbs.
Then, multi award winning humanitarian and community activist Akilah Newton joins me today to discuss her latest project, Big Dreamers: The Canadian Black History Activity Book for Kids Volume 2. It is a celebration of the Black Canadians who overcame adversity and went on to achieve greatness while changing the course of history.
To wrap things up, we meet Mark Williams who played the English wizard Arthur Weasley in seven of the hit Harry Potter films and can now be seen in the BritBox drama “Father Brown,” one of the UK’s longest running Daytime Drama series.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show we meet multi-instrumentalist and Barenaked Ladies pianist Kevin Hearn. The Canadian Hall of Famer has just released a beautiful new solo record titled “There and Then: Solo Piano Improvisations” and he joined us via Zoom to talk about it.
Then, actor Manny Jacinto stops by to talk about how = his character in the new Amazon Prime rom com “I Want You Back,” was inspired by two characters from his last TV show, the great sitcom, “The Good Place.”
Then we meet CS Porter. We’ll learn about how and why he sat down to wrote a thriller called “Beneath Her Skin” after being diagnosed with MS.
Finally, Aba Amuquandoh of “This Hour Has 22 Minutes” stops by, but she’s not here to talk about politics. She has her eye on something much smaller… tiny in fact. She’s the host of a new CBC Gem show called “Best in Miniature.” Listen and learn how creators shrink down their designs to itty-bitty proportions.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show we meet Keala Settle. If you were a fan of the musical The Greatest Showman, starring Hugh Jackman, and who wasn’t?... then you’ll know her as the powerhouse voice behind the Academy Award nominated song This is Me.
Today, we’ll talk about why she had such a difficult time singing that song, a brain disease she says has changed her life and we’ll find out all about her new project, Murder in Provence, a new detective series now available on BritBox that investigates the murders, mysteries, and dark underbelly of the idyllic area in the south of France.
Then we meet actor, woodworker and author Nick Offerman. If you have been watching “Pam & Tommy” you know my next guest as Uncle Miltie, porn producer and all-round scumbag. Or maybe you know his role in “The Founder,” in which he portrays Richard McDonald, one of the brothers who developed the fast-food chain McDonald's. You absolutely know him as Ron Swanson, the mustachioed, libertarian guy in the corner office on the hit sitcom “Parks and Recreation.” This weekend he’ll co-host the “37th Annual Film Independent Spirit Awards” with Megan Mullally, who also happens to be his wife.
On this week’s Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Sarah Weinman. Her new book Scoundrel, is the wild and true story of a murderer who conned the people around him—including neo-conservative thinker and National Review founder William F. Buckley—into helping set him free.
Then, Tara Mckenna stops by to talk about her book Don't Be Trashy: A Practical Guide to Living with Less Waste and More Joy. The author says she’s always been environmentally aware, but seriously began my low waste journey early in 2017 after travelling. Snorkeled through trash in Bali, Indonesia, or picking up litter on trails in Southern Ontario, Canada, taught her that waste is a worldwide issue.
Richard joins host Jim Richards of the NewsTalk 1010 afternoon show The Rush for Booze and Reviews! Today we talk about the Tom Holland action adventure “Uncharted,” the newfangled werewolf tale “The Cursed” and the man-and-his-dog tale of “Dog” with Channing Tatum. Then, instead of ordering in a pizza, why not try a pizza beer?
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Haley McGee, a Canadian living in London, England, who has written a book called “The Ex-Boyfriend Yard Sale,” a memoir about her attempt to pay off credit card debt by selling gifts from her exes. In the book she tries to calculate exactly how much romantic relationships cost in time, money and effort.
Then we’ll get to know Celeste Bell, co-director of a great new music documentary called “Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliché.” It’s the story of Bell’s mother, legendary punk rock singer Poly Styrene, whose band X-Ray Specs were one of the first punk rock bands to find commercial success with their album “Germfree Adolescents.” The documentary is a rarity, a movie about punk rock that casts its eyes beyond the musical anarchy to portray the real person behind the music.
Finally, we chat to Clark Backo. You know her as Wayne's love interest Rosie, on the television series “Letterkenny.” You can now see her in “I Want You Back,” a very funny rom com now playing on Amazon Prime.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Jann Arden. With 19 top ten singles, like “Could I Be Your Girl,” “I Would Die For You” and “Insensitive,” she is one of Canada’s best-known singer, songwriters. She has also written five books and has a hit sitcom on CTV called “Jann.” Her latest project is an album of new material called “Descendant,” a 15-song collection that represents the last 18 months of her life and headspace.
Then we’ll get to know multi-hyphenate Kevin Smith. He’s a filmmaker, actor, comedian, comic book writer, author, and podcaster. You know his movies like “Clerks,” “Dogma” and “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.” Now he adds another hyphen to his resume. Documentary subject. The documentary “Clerk,” now on VOD, touches on every aspect of his work, from the film that put him on the map to the View Askewniverse to his health problems and a new found self-awareness.
On this week’s Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet David Pevsner. Over the course of his 35-year career in show business, David has done it all. He’s acted on Broadway, off-Broadway, in independent films and on numerous TV network shows including Grey’s Anatomy, Modern Family and Criminal Minds.
Now he has added author to his resume… Damn Shame is his new memoir. It is a passionate and poignant look at one journey from a thin, shy boy ashamed of his body and sexuality to a defiant, fearless person exploring his erotic desires.
David Pevsner joined me via Zoom from his home in Los Angeles.
Then, stand-up comedian K. Trevor Wilson stops by. You know him as the long-winded Squirrely Dan on Letterkenny. Or maybe you’ve seen him do stand up on the Jimmy Kimmel Show or perhaps you’re a fan of his acerbic jabs on Roast Battle Canada… today he stops by to talk about his latest project, LOL: Last One Laughing Canada. It’s a six-part competition series on Amazon Prime where 10 of the best comedic talents from Canada are pitted against each other in a celebrity showdown. As the clock counts down their objective is to eliminate others from the house by making each other laugh, while not laughing themselves.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet best-selling author Michael Harris. In his new book, “All We Want: Building the Life We Cannot Buy,” Michael has a look at consumer culture and finds a roadmap to a healthier future through three realms… the worlds of Craft, the Sublime, and Care.
Then, “The Montague Twins: The Witch's Hand,” is a graphic novel written by Nathan Page and illustrated by Drew Shannon, and available now wherever you buy fine books. The book, the first in a series for Young Adult readers, tells the story of twins Al and Pete, their stepsister Charlie, and Rowan, their tutor in the ways of magic. It is a return to the old school amateur detective genre with a refreshing modern update that tells a compelling story with important social awareness.
This week on the Richard Crouse Podcast we meet Andrew Phung. You know him as the award-winning actor who played Kimchee in the CBC Television sitcom "Kim's Convenience," and have seen him in guest starring roles on shows like "The Beaverton" and "Wynonna Earp" but he’s back with a new show, now playing on CBC. On "Run the Burbs," he plays Andrew Pham, a suburban stay-at-home dad of two children whose wife is an entrepreneur.
Then, we spend some time with Kaya Usher. Her new album, "All This Is," was recorded with two of her children, fulfilling a dream that she and her husband, the late Tragically Hip singer Gord Downie, shared… to create music as a family. The result is an album of songs that represent not only an artistic awakening but personal healing.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet the cast of a new CBC Television show called “Son of a Critch.” If you are a fan of the political commentary and social satire of “This Hour Has 22 Minutes,” you already know Mark Critch. Since 2003 he has starred on the political parody show. He’s photo-bombed Justin Trudeau, offered Pamela Anderson a million dollars to stop acting, and poked fun at characters like Rex Murphy, Don Cherry and Donald Trump.
His latest project is much more personal. A couple years ago Mark wrote a warm and funny look back at his formative years, growing up in St. John’s, Newfoundland in the 80s called “Son of a Critch: A Childish Newfoundland Memoir”. That bestseller is now the basis of Son of a Critch, which airs on CBC television and CBC Gem on Tuesday nights.
Later in the show we’ll meet Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, who plays the eleven year old Mark on the show, and we’ll spend some time with the legendary actor Malcolm McDowell, the star of “A Clockwork Orange” and so many other films, and who plays Mark’s grandfather. McDowell talks about his new found love of Newfoundland and offers advice to young actors.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet the "Marie Kondo of Digital." Her name is Christina Crook, and she has written a thoughtful book about realigning our energies, increasing intentionality, and prioritizing our well-being in the digital age. She is a pioneer and leading voice in the field of digital wellbeing and the author of a new book called "Good Burdens: How to Live Joyfully in the Digital Age.'
Then, musician Jon Batiste stops by. Perhaps you know him as the bandleader on the "Stephen Colbert Show," or as an Oscar winner for his score to the Pixar movie "Soul." Today we find out about his album “We Are,” which is available now wherever you buy fine music.
Then we meet Robert Matzen, acclaimed Old Hollywood biographer and author of the new book "Warrior: Audrey Hepburn," which you may have seen featured in a four-page spread in a recent issue of "People" magazine.
Finally, author Jaime Weinman stops by. His new book is Anvils, Mallets & Dynamite "The Unauthorized Biography of Looney Tunes,“ an affectionate tribute and history of the home of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Sylvester and Tweety Pie, Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote, Porky Pig, and many other iconic cartoon characters.
On this week’s Richard Crouse Show Podcast we get to know legendary film critic Leonard Maltin. His new book “Starstruck: My Unlikely Road to Hollywood,” is on shelves now and details his 30-year run on Entertainment Tonight, his interviews with golden age of Hollywood elites like Katharine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Sean Connery, Shirley Temple, and Jimmy Stewart and insights into moviemaking with stories from the past, present, and future stars of film, like George Lucas, Kevin Feige of Marvel, Quentin Tarantino, and Guillermo del Toro.
Then, Helen Walsh, author of "Pull Focus: A Novel," a book that has been described as “Part Real Housewives, part grown-up Nancy Drew,” stops by. Set within the inner workings of an international film festival, the novel details Hollywood power brokers, Russian oil speculators, Chinese propagandists, and a board chair who seemingly has it out for Jane, the book’s main character.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast. If you are like my wife and I, for the better part of fifteen years, most Tuesday nights you would tune into "The Rick Mercer Report," hosted by my guest, Rick Mercer. Part travelogue of our beautiful country, part news satire, part sketch comedy. He golfed with Anne Murray, climbed to the top of a roller-coaster at Canada's Wonderland and even skinny dipped with Bob Rae. Find out how that happened later in the show.
And don’t forget the Rants, his minute long diatribes about whatever was on his mind that week.
Then, after fifteen years he quit "The Rick Mercer Report," a job he called, the best job in the world, at the peak of its popularity. Why? We'll find out.
After that he did stand up and then Covid-19 struck. In lockdown, after four books based on content from the shows, he began writing his most personal story yet. His story. The result is a revealing and hilarious memoir called "Talking to Canadians: A Memoir" and it is available now wherever you buy fine books.
Stick around… we talk about everything from why the critics called one of his first shows it We Have No Pity for the Audience to turning down a big money offer to head to the United States to host a game show to why his drama teacher told him quitting the school drama club would be, “one of the biggest mistakes of his life.’”
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Danny Goldberg. Regular listeners of this show may remember my interview with him from a year or two back when we talked about his rock ‘n roll life as the manager of Nirvana, the publicist for Led Zeppelin and record a company executive who released Stevie Nicks’ solo records and Warren Zevon's Grammy winning "The Wind," Steve Earle’s Grammy winner "The Revolution Starts Now," and the Baha Men’s "Who Let The Dogs Out."
What you may not know is that he is also an activist, sitting on the Board of the ACLU Foundation of Southern California and the Nation Institute and Americans for Peace Now and many others.
His new book is "Bloody Crossroads 2020: Art, Entertainment, and Resistance to Trump." It’s available wherever you buy fine books and takes a look at how singer Taylor Swift became an unwitting idol of the neo-Nazi movement, explores the impact of entertainment celebrities in communications, fundraising, and campaigning to support the election of Joe Biden and much more.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet “Furious Devotion: The Authorised Story of Shane MacGowan” author Richard Balls. The best-selling biography is a portrait either in self-destruction or the indomitable spirit of someone whose demeanor suggests a hangover come to life. It is also a vivid look at the life of the complex, contradictory and talented man best known as the lead singer of The Pogues.
Then, we’ll get to know Indigenous singer-songwriter Anyma, whose debut, 6-track EP “Humans” offers a glimpse into what she sees at the center of her balance – art, community, introspection, love, nature, wisdom, and humanity.
On this week's Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Commander Chris Hadfield, the first Canadian to walk in space and served as commander of the International Space Station.
Now, on earth, the astronaut and bestselling author, is turning to fiction for the first time. James Cameron, director of “Avatar” and “Titanic,” called Hadfield’s new book “The Apollo Murders,” “Nail-biting. I couldn’t put it down,” he said.
The new thriller is set in 1973. In this alternative history the Cold War is still burning hot and is now being projected into space with the Soviets building an orbiting spy station while looking to mine the moon for precious radioactive minerals. With Apollo 18 (the real Apollo missions ended at 17) the U.S. is out to frustrate these plans. It may be that the Soviets are one step ahead though, as they already have someone inside the Apollo program.
Hadfield is also the author of the memoir An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth, the children's book The Darkest Dark, which was illustrated by the Fan Brothers, and the photo book You Are Here: Around the World in 92 Minutes.
Commander Chris Hadfield joins me via Zoom from Las Vegas to talk about his new book The Apollo Murders.
Then, Katherine Ryan is a Canadian who moved to England in 2007 with a boyfriend who wanted to start a comedy career in the UK. His comedy career didn’t take off, but hers did, and now Brits know and love her from the many panel shows she's appeared on, her wildly popular no-filter podcast Telling Everybody Everything or her Netflix comedy-drama The Duchess.
She also has a new series, Backstage with Katherine Ryan, which will showcase live stand-up sets from beloved and emerging comedians. It’s slated to premiere on Amazon Prime in 2022.
She's known for being hilariously herself in a non-apologetic way, so it doesn’t comes as a surprise that her latest project, a memoir that details her rise to U.K. fame and her Canadian life before that as a Hooters waiter and Ryerson student, and before that her life in Sarnia, is called The Audacity.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show we celebrate Halloween with two of the stars of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,”Patricia Quinn and Nell Campbell. They both appeared in the original stage production and the movie, as castle maid Magenta and the tap-dancing Columbia respectively.
Then, we’ll spend some time with horror maestro Guillermo Del Toro, director of movies you love like Academy Award winning “The Shape of Water,” “Pan’s Labyrinth,” “The Devil’s Backbone,” “Pacific Rim” and many more. In a conversation we recorded nine years ago, we talk about why he is drawn to the horror genre, why children play such large roles in his films and much more.
Land finally, I recommend “Let Me In,” a great vampire movie you may not have seen… something fun to watch this weekend. We’ll also meet the director, Matt Reeves, who’ll talk about the movie and why we get scared when we go to the movies.
On this week’s Richard Crouse Show Podcast we get to know Hilary Brown, author of the new book War Tourist, available now on Amazon and Barnes and Nobel. In a career that spanned almost four decades, she was ABC’s first female foreign correspondent, and reported from every continent except Antarctica. TVO’s “The Agenda” called her “Canada’s best-ever female foreign correspondent.”
She was one of the last journalists to be lifted by helicopter from the roof of the American Embassy in Saigon in 1975, during the Communist takeover of South Vietnam. One of her ABC reports later appeared in the motion picture “The Deer Hunter” in what Brown calls her “fifteen seconds of fame.”
She has interviewed everyone from President Hamid Karzai, Condoleeza Rice and the Shah of Iran to Sidney Poitier, Lawrence Oliver and John le Carre.
She retired from what she calls “the best job in the world” in 2009, and has now documented her life in her fascinating new memoir, “War Tourist.”
Then Samantha Fish, a guitarist, songwriter and singer, voted by guitarworld.com as oner of the 10 best blues guitarists in the world today joins us. Calling her a blues guitarist is a little misleading because in a career spanning over 10 years, the Kansas City, Missouri musician music features multiple genres, including blues but also rock, country, funk, bluegrass and ballads.
Her latest album, “Faster,” available now wherever you buy fine records, adds a new twist or two… On the new record she explores new ground adding in elements of pop, contemporary R & B and hip-hop into the music.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we get to know Rob Lindsay, director of “No Responders Left Behind,” a documentary about the fight waged by former “The Daily Show” host Jon Stewart, social activist John Feal and FDNY hero Ray Pfeifer to get health benefits and compensation for 9/11 first responders. The film is now streaming on Discovery Plus in Canada.
Then, Rebecca Ferguson, star of the much anticipated sci fi movie “Dune” stops by to talk about her character Lady Jessica, and why she described reading the book to be like doing a crossword puzzle.
Then, Elaine Taylor Plummer stops by. She is a former actress. You’ve seen her in comedies like “Diamond for Breakfast” and “Half a Sixpence,” and she was even a Bond girl in 1967's “Casino Royale.” She dropped by the show today to talk about her husband of more than 50 years, the late, great Christopher Plummer and a new commemorative stamp issued by Canada Post in his honor. The couple met while filming Lock Up Your Daughters in 1969, and were together until the actor’s death in 2021 at age 91.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we get to know Danis Goulet who wrote and directed “Night Raiders,” a timely sci fi apocalyptic film set in the near future. In her dystopian drama cities in North America are run by the military and all children are property of the state. This Taika Waititi-executive produced film sees a Cree woman team with a group of vigilantes to free her daughter from a “children’s academy.” Goulet, who is of Cree and Métis descent, says everything in the film’s imaginary future is based on true events and “has to do specifically with policies that were inflicted upon Indigenous People throughout history.”
Then we meet radio and podcasting legends Humble and Fred, that’s "Humble" Howard Glassman and Fred Patterson as they celebrate ten years of the “Humble and Fred Podcast.” These days everybody from Bruce Springsteen and Barack Obama to Kim Kardashian West have podcasts, but ten years ago they were uncharted territory. Humble and Fred, who, as their website says, “have been entertaining Canadians since 1989” as a team on radio jumped into podcasting when their time in radio dried up. It was a newish technology and they dove in, creating a show that built an audience and, more importantly, maintained that audience over ten years. Find out more at http://www.humbleandfredradio.com.
Then we go to the vault to hear a vintage interview with Hugh jackman. The actor gets personal, talking about the projects that worked, the ones that didn’t and what drives him.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Rik Emmett. The musician, professor, writer and sometime cartoonist is in three Canadian “Halls” and two “Walks of Fame.” After 12 platinum LPs in his years as one third of the rock band Triumph, he went on to produce 20 indie projects, from rock and blues to jazz, folk, and classical. These days Emmett is trying something new. He’s reinventing himself as a poet. “Reinvention,” his new book of poetry, is available now wherever fine books are sold. It’s the project that followed on the heels of his retiring from touring and the life of a college educator in early 2019. In this book he makes sense of a life that always went in a lot of different directions all at once.
Then, Donna Morrissey author of six national bestsellers novels. She has received awards in Canada, the U.S., and England. Her fiction has been translated into several different languages. Born and raised in Newfoundland, she now lives in Halifax. Today we’ll talk about her new memoir Pluck: A memoir of a Newfoundland childhood and the raucous, terrible, amazing journey to becoming a novelist.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast: Remember “The Safety Dance”? Of course you do. The Men Without Hats song was a worldwide hit in 1982 and earned them a Grammy nomination but it didn’t end there. It has since been covered by everyone from “Weird Al” Yankovic to the cast of Glee to a recent version by Angel Olsen.
The song’s writer and lead singer, Ivan Doroschuk, joins me today from his home on Vancouver Island to talk about some new music and a reimagination of his biggest hit.
Men Without Hats have just released “Again (Part 1),” a five-song EP featuring covers of The Tragically Hip, Lou Reed, The Rolling Stones and Mott the Hoople, along with an all-new version of the group’s signature hit “The Safety Dance,” now called “No Friends of Mine.”
Then we meet Emm Gryner. She is a Canadian musician and vocal coach. David Bowie named Emm as one of his two favourite Canadian acts. U2 frontman Bono named her song “Almighty Love” as one of six songs that he wished he had written.
Gryner toured in David Bowie’s band, singing and playing keyboards, and appears on the recordings Bowie at the Beeb and Glastonbury 2000. Emm helped make the first music video in outer space with Chris Hadfield and is now the author of a new book called “The Healing Power of Singing: Raise Your Voice, Change Your Life: What Touring With David Bowie, Single Parenting And Ditching The Music Business Taught Me In 25 Easy Steps.”
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we get to know best-selling author Guy Vanderhaeghe. His previous fiction includes the award winning "A Good Man," "The Last Crossing," "The Englishman’s Boy." He is a three -time Governor General’s Award winner. He has the Writers’ Trust Timothy Findley Award, and the Harbourfront Literary Prize. He has received many other honours including the Order of Canada. His first novel in nearly a decade is "August Into Winter" is an epic story of crime and retribution, of war and its long shadow, and of the redemptive possibilities of love. Guy Vanderhaeghe joined me via Zoom from Saskatchewan
Then comedian and actor Shaun Majumder joins me to talk about his new CBC television show "Race Against the Tide." On the show 10 teams of two world-class, highly skilled sand sculptors compete to create extraordinary works of art made entirely out of sand while avoiding elimination. Not only are these best-in-show duos competing against each other, they are competing against, as the press release says, “Mother Nature’s unstoppable ticking clock and the world’s highest tide at New Brunswick's iconic and beautiful Bay of Fundy.”
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast I want to tell you about a new short film called Death Doula co-directed by my guests CBC radio and television host Amanda Parris and Lucius Dechausay. It’s the story of a dystopian near-future where our date of death is predicted by an app… but there’s a twist. The death doula, who helps people cope with their deaths, is then tasked with aiding his first love as she nears her final day. It’s an interesting piece of speculative fiction and will be available as part of the CaribbeanTales Film Festival, which this year is available on line across the country via Video-On-Demand screenings on CaribbeanTales-TV.
Then we’ll also meet Al Val, a queer comedian, actor, writer and musician who was recently featured on CBC Gem's The New Wave Of Standup and will be seen as part of the all-new season of The Stand-Up Show With Jon Dore.
Later in the show we’ll meet Linden MacIntyre. The award-winning former co-host of the investigative news program the fifth estate. He’s also a Giller Prize winning best-selling author with a new novel called the Winter Wives in stores now. It’s a new psychological drama that weaves threads of crime, disability and dementia together into a tale of unrequited love and delusion.
On this special Richard Crouse Show Podcast we talk to "Oscar Peterson: Black + White" director Barry Avrich. "Oscar Peterson: Black + White" is billed as a “docu-concert,” featuring rare concert footage as well as interviews with family members and musicians who performed with Peterson.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show our first guest today comes from a musical family. Martha Wainwright is daughter of folk singer and actor Loudon Wainwright III and singer-songwriter Kate McGarrigle. Her older brother is Rufus Wainwright… but she has made her own mark with a series of critically acclaimed albums. Her latest is “Love Will Be Reborn,” a record that appears to cover the period of time where Wainwright divorced her husband after about a decade of marriage. “Love Will Be Reborn” was recorded in Wainwright’s hometown of Montreal, in the basement of her cafe, Ursa which also served as a studio. Martha joins us via Zoom from Ursa in Mile End in Montreal.
Then we meet Nicole Dorsey, the director and screenwriter of “Black Conflux,” a film now on VOD after a very successful theatrical run. “The Globe and Mail” praised the story of the lives of a disillusioned teen and an alienated man that converge in 1980s Newfoundland for its “atmosphere of dread and depiction of rural life as a hotbed of sexual fantasies and violence.” Stick around, there’s lots to talk about on that one.
Finally, Marvel’s latest superhero stops by. He’s Canadian, you already know him from starring on “Kim’s Convenience,” but very soon he’ll be best known for playing the title character in “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” He’s Marvel’s first Asian superhero, his name is Simu Liu and here joins us today.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Rachel Yoder, author of a new novel called Nightbitch, the story of a stay-at-home mom who becomes convinced she's turning into a dog. The book is a best seller and has been optioned by Amy Adams to be turned into a film.
Then bestselling author Terry Fallis stops by to talk about the long-awaited follow-up to his chart-topping books The Best Laid Plans and The High Road. It’s called Operation Angus, and it’s a comic spy story that heralds the return of Angus McLintock.
And finally in the show we’ll meet Ali Liebert. She is a Canadian Screen Award winner for her work on Bomb Girls and can now be seen in They Who Surround Us, a poignant drama about a Ukrainian farmer living in Alberta who loses his wife in a tragic accident. It is getting great reviews and we’ll tell you all about it in just a few minutes.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet New York Times bestselling author Joy Fielding, author of twenty-nine novels, including acclaimed books like Someone Is Watching, Now You See Her and Still Life. In her most recent psychological thriller, Cul-de-Sac, a shooting lays bare the secrets harbored by five families in a sleepy suburban cul-de-sac.
Then, English actress, filmmaker, and former pop star Billie Piper, joins me via Zoom from London to talk about her challenging new movie Rare Beasts.
Finally, Rebecca Silver Slayter swings by to talk about her new novel, The Second History, a post-apocalyptic love story about a young couple embarking on a journey to understand, for the first time, what they've been hiding from all their lives.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Jena Malone. She is a Golden Globe nominated actress known for her roles in “The Hunger Games” franchise and “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” She returns to theatres and VOD in the critically acclaimed film “Lorelei.” The gritty story of a man released from prison after 15 years who reunites with his high school girlfriend, who is now a single mother of three, has been called a “moving character study” and that contains some of Jena Malone’s best work.
We’ll also meet author and a journalist Omar El Akkad. His novel “American War” was an international best seller that has been translated into thirteen languages. He returns to the best seller charts with “What Strange Paradise,” a new book that looks at the global refugee crisis through the eyes of a child.
Finally we chat with Spinmaster President, Jennifer Dodge. She's the producer of “Paw Patrol: The Movie” and has been a part of the Paw brand since the beginning.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast: Do you like to scroll through twitter looking for laughs? If so, I’m sure you already know about my guest today. The Toronto Sun called him Canada’s Funniest Comic recently… and his videos, parody songs and commentary frequently grab hundreds of thousands of likes and views on Twitter. On-line he is known as @Brittlestar but in life his pals call him Stewart Reynolds.
In this conversation we talk about his new brand of booze… that’s how you know when you’ve made it… it’s called Sex and Gold Butter Tart Flavoured Vodka. You’ll find out why it’s called that and much, much.
Then, singer, actor and all round nice person Shelley Hamilton joins me to talk about her new music, making music videos during COVID and her new habit of writing at least one letter a week to a friend or stranger, a process she details in her new podcast “Mother Love.”
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Tim Long. The Canadian comedy writer has been an executive and consulting producer on The Simpsons for more than twenty years, has written for The New York Times and The New Yorker and on July 30th, a movie he wrote called The Exchange, the true story of a socially awkward teen who discovers that a French exchange student is not as sophisticated and cultured as he hoped, will be available on VOD.
Then comedian Jessica Kirson stops by. We will talk about her feature-length documentary Hysterical, which explores the changing landscape of women in stand-up comedy… how she taught Robert DeNiro to be funny and her return to Just for Laughs.
Scottish-born Alan McGee is one of the most famous British record label bosses. He co-founded Creation Records in 1983, and released classic albums by Primal Scream, My Bloody Valentine, Teenage Fanclub and his most famous discovery, Oasis. "Creation Stories," a new biopic starring "Trainspotting's" Ewan Bremner, and now on VOD, is the complete story of sex, drugs and Alan McGee.
On this week's Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Tracey Deer, director of "Beans," which opens in theatres in July 23, joins me to talk about how the Oka Crisis in 1990 affected her life and eventually became the basis for her new movie.
Then, comedian Alonzo Bodden has been making audiences around North America laugh for more than 20 years. He’s a winner of the reality show Last Comic Standing, the podcast host of Who’s Paying Attention? (part of All Things Comedy), and a television host who recently released his fifth comedy CD titled Man Overboard… he’s had specials and is a regular at the Just for Laughs festival, and he returns to JFL this year, virtually from Los Angeles.
Richard joins Ryan Doyle and guest host Tamara Cherry of the NewsTalk 1010 afternoon show to talk about Squirt soda and the origin of the tequila-based cocktail the Paloma, and some movies to watch on the weekend, including "Black Widow" and "No Sudden Move."
This week on the Richard Crouse Show director Johnny Sweet joins us from Queens, New York. Johnny is a filmmaker and director who watched his industry come to a halt in the early days of the pandemic, and then turned his eye to another industry… the bar business. His new film asks a question… What happens if the entire bar industry in New York City is laid off in a single day? His film “Last Call : The Shutdown of NYC Bars” explores the social and economic impact of COVID-19 on the NYC hospitality industry.
Then, we meet M. Leona Godin, author of “There Plant Eyes: A Personal and Cultural History of Blindness.” Godin—who began losing her vision at age ten—illuminates the often-surprising history of both the condition of blindness and the myths and ideas that have grown up around it over the course of generations. She combines an analysis of blindness in art and culture with a study of the science of blindness and key developments in accessibility to paint a vivid personal and cultural history.
Finally, we’ll meet Eric Bauza. He is a Canadian voice actor, who is just the seventh person ever to voice Bugs Bunny on screen. You’ll soon be able to hear him do Daffy Duck, and many other voices in “Space Jam: A New Legacy” which comes to theatres soon! We’ll catch up with him and find out how Mr. DressUp out him on the road to working with the Looney Tunes!
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Chantel Guertin, beauty expert and television personality, well-known to audiences of Canada’s number‑one daytime talk show, The Marilyn Denis Show… she is also a frequent guest of morning news shows. Her new project is a novel called "Instamom." it’s the story of an Instagram influencer who became famous talking about her fun, fabulous and child-free life… her life changes in ways she did not expect when she becomes romantically involved with a chef who has a daughter.
Then Ana Golja stops by. The actor/producer/singer is well-known for her role on "Degrassi." She releases her second single “All Night” from her personal pandemic EP, “Strive.” We talk about the single and her work with Kids Help Phone.
And then Marci Ien, Member of Parliament for the riding of Toronto Centre, the former host of “The Social” and “Canada AM” and the author of “Off Script,” a collection of personal milestones, tales of resilience and kindness, dramatic moments from her career as a journalist and insights from the many unforgettable people that she's met and interviewed. We get caught up and talk about the power of “no,” about doing “Canada AM,” getting up in the middle of the night when everybody else is still sleeping to go to work, while raising a young family and more.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Dr. Jen Gunter. She has been called Twitter’s resident gynecologist, the Internet’s OB/GYN. She is an OB/GYN and a pain medicine physician. She is Gwyneth Paltrow’s nemesis, a fierce advocate for women’s health and has devoted her professional life to caring for women. She also writes about sex, science, and social media and is the author of The Vagina Bible and her newest book “The Menopause Manifesto,” which is in stores now.
Then, Emma Brodie, a Brooklyn, New York-based writer and editor stops by. As an editor, she’s published best selling authors like Awkwafina, Anna Drezen, Nathan W. Pyle and Marlee Grace. She is currently an Executive Editor at Little Brown. She joins me to day to talk about her debut novel, “Songs in Ursa Major,” a love story set in 1969 at the crossroads of rock and folk; where a young musical prodigy falls in love with a hard-partying folk legend.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Deanna Marigliese, the Canadian character art director for Pixar Animation Studios. Today we’ll talk about LUCA, a movie many families will enjoy together this weekend on Disney+.
Then, comedian, host of CBC Radio’s The Debaters he’s a Dad to Scarlett and Norah, Steve Patterson joins us to talk about his first book, "Dad Up!" It’s getting great reviews… Denise Donlan said it should come with ‘READ BEFORE PARENTING’ sticker and Brent Butt, creator of Corner Gas, called it a touching and very funny read.
Finally, Dan Robson is the author of numerous books about sports, like biographies of former Toronto Maple Leafs coach Pat Quinn and legendary player Johnny Bower but has now turned the focus on his own life, specifically his relationship with his late father Rick. "Measuring Up: A Memoir Of Fathers And Sons" is a tender memoir of fathers and sons, love and loss, and learning to fill boots a size too big.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Griffin Poetry Prize winner Jordan Abel. He joins me to talk about his intriguing new book Nishga. It’s a groundbreaking, deeply personal, and devastating autobiographical meditation that attempts to address the complicated legacies of Canada's residential school system and contemporary Indigenous existence.
Drawing on autobiography and a series of interconnected documents (including pieces of memoir, transcriptions of talks, and photography), NISHGA is a book about confronting difficult truths and it is about how both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples engage with a history of colonial violence that is quite often rendered invisible.
Then, veteran New Yorker staff writer Tony Hiss joins me on Zoom from his home in New York City’s East Village. His new book, "Rescuing the Planet" is an urgent call to protect 50 percent of the earth's land by 2050--thereby saving millions of its species--and a candid assessment of the health of our planet and our role in conserving it.
On this week's Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet two of the stars of "In the Heights," the highly anticipated film adaptation of the Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway smash hit show. You know Jimmy Smits from everything from "NYPD Blue" and "The West Wing" to "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" and "How To Get Away with Murder." He plays Kevin Rosario, owner of his own taxi cab service in In the heights. Joining him is Olga Merediz, who originated the role of "Abuela" Claudia, the loving matriarch of the barrio, in the Broadway show and now stars in the movie.
Then, I have a no holds barred conversation with musician, songwriter, singer, producer, and animal rights activist Moby. He has a new album called "Reprise" and a documentary called "Moby Doc" available right now. in the interview we talk about everything from using alcohol and drugs in a misguided attempt to find happiness to screwing up the courage to ask David Bowie to duet on Heroes… on acoustic guitar in his living room!
This week on the Richard Crouse Show we meet Brad Fraser. Brad is one of Canada's best-known playwrights, his work, plays like Poor Super Man, Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love and Kill Me now have been produced worldwide, in many languages, with highly successful runs in Toronto, New York, Chicago, Milan, Sydney and London… they’ve been adapted into films and named the best plays of their year by Time Magazine.
His plays often include frank depictions of sexuality, drug use and violence… and so does his newest work, a memoir called All the Rage, now available wherever you buy fine books.
Then Chris Wilson stops by to talk about his new podcast… it’s called This Time It's Different. The premise here is that each episode they do a completely different genre of either a popular existing podcast format OR they will create their own new format.
We can't go to bars right now, so here is a chance to safely soak up the ambiance of the world's greatest watering holes. Last Call is a podcast on the stories behind the places where everybody knows your name.
I’m Richard Crouse. I tended bar for seventeen years everywhere from hot spots to dive bars and I thought I had seen it all…
In my life behind bars I witnessed everything from first dates and marriage proposals to knife fights and a woman who brought a pet monkey in for a drink.
Nothing could surprise me…
Or so I thought…
Then I heard about how a lion who visited Harry’s New York Bar in Paris inspired Ernest Hemingway to write one of his greatest novels. And why there are century old chicken bones hanging above the beer-stained bar at McSorleys in New York City. And how Vincent Sardi refused to do business with the mob during Prohibition, so his famous Broadway Restaurant didn’t serve alcohol until the 21st amendment passed, six year after they first opened…
With the help of the Last Call radio players, music and interviews, I bring these stories, and many more, to life in my podcast Last Call. It’s fact folded in with a sprinkling of fiction, because, well, who doesn’t exaggerate after a few drinks?
So, open that bottle of wine or crack that beer and join me for an intoxicating guided tour of some of the strange stories from some of the world’s best watering holes.
On this episode of the Richard Crouse Show we meet Louise Johnson, a writer whose work has been published in The Globe & Mail, The Huffington Post, Darling Magazine and more. Her debut book, “Behind the Red Door: How Elizabeth Arden’s Legacy Inspired My Coming-of-Age in the Beauty Industry,” is equal parts educational biography of a woman whose name we know, but whose biography has been largely lost to time and memoir. Louise says it is a playbook for any woman looking to reconnect with her most authentic self and create a successful, fulfilled, beautiful life on her own terms.
Then, later in the show Noa Daniel stops by. Noa is a classroom teacher, consultant, podcaster and keynote speaker, and writer. Her third children’s book, “Strum and The Wild Turkeys,” is a book about finding your voice through a sense of belonging and the transformational power of music and was inspired by a true story.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show, a real-life story that has all the hallmarks of tabloid fiction. New Yorker magazine staff writer Patrick Radden Keefe received international acclaim for his 2019 investigation of the Troubles in Ireland, and now, in “Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty,” he turns his sights to three generations of the Sackler family, the dynasty behind Purdue Pharma — they manufacture Oxycontin — and the modern opioid crisis.
Then, The Social host Cynthia Loyst stops by to talk aboput her book Find Your Pleasure: The Art of Living a More Joyful Life. We’ll talk about how to take the guilt out of pleasure and get to the heart of what you need and want in all aspects of life.
And finally, we celebrate Asian Heritage Month in Canada with Allan Cho And JF Garrard, the editors of “Belief,” a new collection of Asian writing from the online magazine “Ricepaper.”
This week on the Richard Crouse Show we meet author Jeff Vandermeer. He’s been called "one of the most remarkable practitioners of the literary fantastic in America today.” His novel, “Annihilation,” won many awards and was adapted into a Hollywood film starring Natalie Portman. Several other adaptations of his novels will soon be coming your way from Netflix soon… but today we’re here to talk about his latest novel “Hummingbird Salamander,” a speculative thriller of dark conspiracy, endangered species, and the possible end of all things.
Also stopping by today is Jonathan Meiburg… you may know him as the singer of the Austin, Texas based indie rock band Shearwater, but he’s not here today to talk about music. Today we’ll talk about his other passion, a rare bird known as the striated caracaras and his book, “A Most Remarkable Creature: The Hidden Life and Epic Journey of the World's Smartest Birds of Prey.”
Then Sonia Manzano, who played Maria on the classic kid’s show “Sesame Street,” for 44 years stops by to talk about a new documentary called “Street Gang: How We Got To Sesame Street.”
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Oscar nominated musician, bandleader, and television personality Jon Batiste. We’ll talk sbout his new album “We Are,” which was just one of the many projects he’s had going during our last locked down year. From bandleader on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” to scoring the Pixar animated movie “Soul” to writing and recording this album he’s been a busy guy. We start the interview by talking about his earliest musical memories.
Then, Golden Arm is a buddy comedy that follows a tough female trucker who trains her timid best friend to compete in the National Ladies Arm Wrestling Championship. My guest in this segment Dot-Marie Jones plays Big Sexy, the rough-and-tumble mentor who puts her trainees through a rigorous schooling in order to create a winner.
You know Dot-Marie from her work on the television shows like Glee, which earned her three Emmy nominations, and Lizzie McGuire and movies like Material Girls… but did you know she is also a 15-time world arm wrestling champion?
Then we wrap with Gordon Deppe, lead singer, guitarist and songwriter for The Spoons. The writer of big hits like "Romantic Traffic," "Nova Heart," "Old Emotions" and "Tell No Lies" is back with a new song called “A Better Ending” co-written virtually with people all across the country.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Blue Rodeo’s Greg Keelor. His new solo album Share the Love is available now and has a fascinating backstory from studio to stores.
We’ll also meet June Millington, guitar player for the best 1970s band you’ve never heard of. Formed in 1969, Fanny were the first all-female rock band to release an album on a major label and no less an authority than David Bowie called Fanny one of the finest bands of their time. “They’re as important as anybody else who’s ever been, ever,” he said. “It just wasn’t their time.” We talk about the band and the new documentary "Fanny: The Right to Rock."
Then we meet Craig Pryce, director of "The Marijuana Chronicles." It is the fascinating true story of a 98-day marijuana-based medical experiment to assess the scientific, social and physical effects of marijuana use on a group of 20 women that took place in Canada in 1972.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Craig Taylor, author of "New Yorkers: A City and Its People in Our Time." Taylor is a chronicler of some of the world’s greatest cities. His book "Londoners" was called the "best book about London in at least a decade" and the new one on New York City, which is made up of profiles of bodega cashiers, hospital nurses, elevator repairmen, emergency dispatchers; the people who wire the lights at the top of the Empire State Building, clean the windows of Rockefeller Center, and keep the subway running. It’s a book about the New York you don’t often read about and it is already getting rave reviews. The Independent called it, “Jaw-dropping…enthralling…Start spreading the news: Taylor’s book is a stunning work of modern social history."
Then Anthony Q. Farrell joins us. He’s a former stand up comedian who has written for "The Office," was executive story editor for "Little Mosque on the Prairie" and is known for his work as a writer on the Nickelodeon sitcom "The Thundermans." He’s back with two new shows "The Parker Andersons" and "Amelia Parker" which you’ll find on the Super Channel. What makes these shows unique is that they are two stand-alone comedy series, each with their own storylines and episodes, but are connected by larger overarching plot lines tying the two independent shows together.
Finally, you know my guest Lucas Hedges from his Academy Award nominated performance in "Manchester by the Sea" and you’ve seen him in "Lady Bird" and the film "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri." His latest movie, "French Exit" has him starring opposite Michele Pfeiffer. He joins us to talk about his claim that he took on the role of the son of a soon to be broke Manhattan socialite because he wanted to be bored while playing a character.
When I edit the audio from interviews I clean them up, cutting out "Ums" and "ahs." For your enjoyment I offer up a moment of zen, a compendium of the sounds you don't usually hear on the radio.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Florian Zeller, the Oscar nominated director of "The Father." He discusses his personal connection to the material and what it was like working with Anthony Hopkins.
Then, Dylan Playfair, co-star of the Disney+ show "Mighty Ducks: Game Changers" stops by to talk about how playing hockey prepared him for a career as an actor.
Then, "Falcon and the White Soldier" co-star (and MMA legend) Georges St-Pierre talks about why he never enjoyed fighting.
Finally, we ask our panel, stand up comedian Debra DiGiovanni, Second City alum Darryl Hinds and Just for Laughs co-founder Andy Nulman, to discuss influences in comedy.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast: If you love records like Joshua Tree, Wrecking Ball, and Time out of Mind you know my guest’s work. Daniel Lanois has an incredible resume. His work as a producer for U2, Peter Gabriel, Emmylou Harris, Bob Dylan, the Neville Brothers, Robbie Robertson and Neil Young among many others led Rolling Stone Magazine to say, “His unmistakable fingerprints are all over an entire wing of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”
Lanois has moved back to Canada and launched the brand new Maker Series imprint out of his Toronto-based recording studio. First up in the Maker Series is a solo record called Heavy Sun. A soulful, joyous album recorded in Los Angeles and Toronto that fuses classic gospel and modern electronics. He says the intent of the music is to “lift people’s spirits.”
Then, we meet Jessica Bruder, author of the 2017 book “Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century,” and Bob Wells, a real-life nomad and one of the stars of the Oscar nominated film “Nomadland.”
Then, the man, the myth, the legend William Shatner. His career is so epic it spans generations. Some will remember him as the iconic Capt. James T Kirk of the USS Enterprise. Others know him as the veteran police sergeant in T. J. Hooker. Still others think of him as the host of the reality-based television series Rescue 911 or the "Big Giant Head" from 3rd Rock from the Sun or as attorney Denny Crane both in the final season of the legal drama The Practice and in its spinoff series Boston Legal. He’s an actor, an author a singer and now the star of Senior Moment a new rom com on VOD this week.
The romantic comedy focuses on Shatner’s character Victor, a retired pilot whose life goes into a tailspin after he loses his driver’s license, but starts looking up when he finds love with a character played by Jean Smart.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Vivek Shraya. Described as "cultural rocket fuel" by Vanity Fair, Shraya is a Canadian multi-media artist whose art, music, novels, poetry and children's books touch on themes of cultural as well as personal transformation. Her successful one woman show “How to Fail as a Popstar” details a failed career in music from singing in religious gatherings where you sang as a kid, to talent shows in Edmonton malls, to a grab at pop stardom… It’s now a raw and honest book about fame for, as the press release says, “any kid whoever sang into a hairbrush and imagined their name in lights.”
Then Eden Robinson, author of the Scotiabank Giller Prize nominated “Trickster” books stops by to talk about her life, quitting a five pack a day cigarette habit and the release of the final book in the troilogy, “The Return of the Trickster.”
On this week's Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet singer, songwriter Thad Cockrell who was about to throw in the towel on his music career when Jimmy Fallon chanced upon one of his songs and changed his life. He’s now a number one selling artists with a great story.
Then, Kim Echlin, the award author of the new Bosnian war themed novel "Speak, Silence," stops by to discuss the book and offer tiups for writers.
We wrap with a panel, journalist Kevin Donovan author of “Billionaire Murders,” Kristi Lee, host of CDN true crime podcast “Canadian True Crime” and Michael Arntfield, a former detective/ writer, producer, and consultant for the true crime series “To Catch a Killer,” who aim to answer the question of why we enjoy true crime stories.
On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet singer, songwriter and now author Kat Goldman. Her book "Off the Charts: What I Learned From My Almost-Fabulous Life in Music" is a funny and heartfelt look at what it's like to meet your first fan, date a rock star (never again!), perform in a grocery store, and rebuild your career after getting hit by a car in a bagel shop.
Then, did you know "It's Raining Men," the 1982 disco hit by the Weather Girls, is part Canadian? The upbeat song, which was just inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, was written by Donna Summer’s songwriter Paul Jabara and the Toronto-born musician and former band leader of Late Show with David Letterman, Paul Shaffer, who joins me from Los Angeles.
Finally, blogger, columnist, and media personality Perez Hilton, Francesca Bacardi senior Reporter at PageSix.com and reality television personality Roxy Earle, discuss the public’s appetite for gossip.
On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Canadian acting icon Jayne Eastwood who talks about working with Cloris Leachman on family drama "Jump, Darling."
Then Canadian animator Andrew Lawson talks about working on the big Disney animated film "Raya and the Last Dragon" during the pandemic.
The comic book legend Josh Blaylock talks about his new project, a comic book company called PopCultivator, whose fans are its main investor and creators.
And finally, Disney Vice President of Marketing Greg Mason talks about the launch of Star.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet rock legend and “Do You Feel Like I Do?: A Memoir” author Peter Frampton, who talks about everything from his early days–his friendship with “Dave” Bowie–and meeting Jimi Hendrix to superstardom and fighting a degenerative disease.
Then, the panel, solo artist and STYX keyboardist and vocalist Lawrence Gowan and Grammy and Academy Award-nominated composer, producer, pianist, arranger, conductor and recording artist Stephan Moccio, discuss staying creative in the pandemic and what good we can take away from this difficult time.
On this week's Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet David Fishof who managed some of the biggest names in sports before turning his eye to music. While he was working with Ringo Starr he hatched the idea for the Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp, a retreat for amateur musicians to play with and learn from professionals like Roger Daltry from The Who and Bill Wyman from the Rolling Stones.
He is now the subject of a fun new documentary called Rock Camp that details the wild and woolly beginning of the Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp and the role it plays in making people’s lives better.
Then, the panel, Denise Donlan, the former president of Sony Music Canada, among many other titles including author and public speaker, Canadian soprano Measha Brueggergosman and documentary filmmaker Paul Saltzman, whose latest film is about his experiences studying at the same ashram as The Beatles in 1968, talk about what it means to be a legend.
Richard and NewsTalk 1010 host Jerry Agar discuss legendary film director Martin Scorsese's comments about cinema being devalued by on algorithms-based suggestions in streaming.
Today I’ll introduce you to Nicholas Snyder, a Brussell’s based filmmaker and astrologist. Nicholas says his aim is to use film as a language to convey the inexplicable. To that end, today we’re talking about his new documentary “The Astrology Of Pandemics,” a timely film that shows how valuable and useful astrology can be in the prediction of future pandemics and how we could use it as a tool to understand the current pandemic. Nicholas Snyder joined me via Zoom from Brussels.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Rob Baker (The Tragically Hip) and Craig Northey (Odds) of Stripper's Union, the Canadian supergroup whose new album "The Undertaking" is available now wherever you buy fine music.
Then Cree composer/artist Nigel Irwin joins us to talk about his new gig as Nagamo’s Co-Creative Director. Nagamo Publishing is the world’s first Indigenous-created production music library for media. Nagamo’s goal is to provide Indigenous composers much-needed opportunities to showcase their talents in the industry, while allowing clients to access this groundbreaking music that spans all genres and nations.
And finally, Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo talks about creating musis during the pandemic.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Katherine Gray and Alexander Rosenberg, glass blowers and judges on the Netflix show "Blown Away." It’s a competition show, like "Survivor" of "Hell’s Kitchen," but here the contestants make beautiful hand blown glass pieces with the winner earning a career boosting residency at the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York.
Then Rebecca Reid, author of "Rude: Stop Being Nice and Start Being Bold."
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Karma Brown, the bestselling author of five novels including the #1 bestseller "Recipe for a Perfect Wife." Today we talk about her first non-fiction book "The 4% Fix: How one hour can change your life." It's all about how to find guilt-free time for what you really want to do, and why it matters.
Then, Jake Brennan, host of "Disgraceland," the number downloaded music podcast in the world, stops by to talk about where music and crime intersect.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Bill King, a three-time Juno Award nominee who has served as music director for Janis Joplin, Linda Ronstadt, the Pointer Sisters, Martha Reeves and Craig Russell. He’s a renowned musician, a radio host and now the author of “Coming Through the ’60s: An American Rock ’n’ Road Story,” his second book release in the past year, following the spring debut of “Talk! Conversations in All Keys,” a collection of interviews that King did with everyone from Oscar Peterson and Jeff Healey to Bruce Cockburn and Buffy Sainte-Marie.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet international superstar Josh Groban who talks about writing and recording his new album "Harmony" while in lockdown in Los Angeles.
Then, Jessica Rothe & Harry Shum Jr., stars of the romantic drama "All My Life" stop by. The pair play a young couple whose wedding plans are put into jeopardy when the groom-to-be is diagnosed with a terminal disease.
Then, Canadian icon Jim Cuddy talks about his new single "Good News" and author Claire McNear talks about her new book "Answers in the Form of Questions: A Definitive History and Insider's Guide to Jeopardy!"
On this week's Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Gastronaut, artist and eight time Guinness World Record holder, Bob Blumer. He is the creator and host of the television series Surreal Gourmet, and Glutton for Punishment, and a producer and host of World’s Weirdest Restaurants. His shows air on various networks in over twenty countries world-wide. He is also the author of seven cookbooks including the most recent "Flavorbomb: A Rogue Guide to Making Everything Taste Better," a book he hopes will make you a better cook.
Then, comedian Jon Dore stops by to talk about his new TV show "Humour Resources." He stars as a retired comedian-turned-human resources manager for comics, virtually coaching them on the appropriateness of their material and their workplace behaviour. Guests include Sarah Silverman, Tom Green, Eric Andre, Reggie Watts, Nikki Glaser, The Lucas Bros., Aisha Brown, and Scott Thompson.
On this week's Richard Crouse Show we have a look at the art of song writing with an A-list group of artists: Gordon Lightfoot, Bob Geldof, Alice Cooper, Randy Bachman, Bob Ezrin, The Kings, Kevan Staples, Robbie Robertson, Damhnait Doyle, Elvis Costello, Steve Earle, Bernie Taupin and Sting.
On this week's Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Jamaican-American reggae musician, singer and DJ Shaggy who is here to talk about his new reggae-themed holiday album "Christmas in the Island."
Next is Harnarayan Singh, host of the Punjabi-language broadcast of Hockey Night in Canada and the author of a fascinating new memoir called One Game at a Time: My Journey from Small-Town Alberta to Hockey's Biggest Stage. In this interview we talk about the FIRST memoir he wrote… when he was six years old, what it was like growing up as a Sikh kid playing hockey in rural Alberta and much more.
Then, think you’ve got problems with the family? Robert Lacey’s book would be hard to top for stories of family disfunction. "Battle of Brothers: William and Harry – The Inside Story of a Family in Tumult" is the final word on the battle royale between the two famous brothers. Also, if you’ve been watching "The Crown," and who hasn’t been? You’ve seen his work. He’s the historical consultant on that popular Netflix show.
Finally, we meet "Soul" co-directors Pete Docter and Kemp Powers, producer Dana Murray and Canadian story lead Trevor Jimenez.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast: Anthony Daniels, the actor behind C-3PO Zooms in from London to talk about the paperback release of his book "I Am C-3PO," sing a song and send a very special Christmas wish. Then, "The Star Wars Book" co-author Cole Horton swings by to talk about why "Star Wars" still resonates after more than four decades.
This week on The Richard Crouse Show Podcast we are joined by iconic musician and songwriter Elvis Costello. In an exclusive one-on-one Costello talks about life in lockdown, creativity in isolation and his 33rd album “Hey Clockface.”
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we answer the age old question, "What are you watching on television?" Culture journalist and co-author of "What to Watch Next," now in bookstores, helps you navigate pandemic viewing.
Then, award winning historian and author of "The Company," Stephen R. Bown, drops by to discuss one of the worst villains in Canadian history.
This week on the Richard Crouse Podcast we meet John Landis, director of some of the most popular movies of all time including The Blues Brothers, Trading Places, National Lampoon's Animal House, Three Amigos! And Spies Like Us, Coming to America.
His new project is "John Landis Presents The Library of Horror – Haunted Houses: Classic Tales of Doors That Should Never Be Opened," an anthology book featuring classic haunted house ghost stories. The selection includes tales of terror by Bram Stoker, H. P. Lovecraft, and Percival Landon; studies of creeping dread by Edgar Allan Poe and Henry James; short, sharp shockers by Ambrose Bierce, M.R. James and Lafcadio Hearn; and comedic masterpieces by Oscar Wilde and Saki.
Then we meet country star Jason Blaine. You know his hits like “Country Side” and “Friends of Mine” and he’s back with a new EP called "Go With Me," which promises to deliver many more hit songs.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Andrew Ferriss of INXS. In the 1980s and for much of the 1990s he wrote some of your favorite songs including "New Sensation," "Never Tear Us Apart" and "Elegantly Wasted." He’s put the new wave dance rock of his superstar band on hold to write a series of heartfelt songs with a country-roots edge for a new 5 song EP called "Love Makes the World," which is available now wherever you legally buy or download music. In this interview we talk about music during the pandemic, life in one of the biggest bands in the world and why he loves Nashville.
Then, journalist Justin Ling, author of “Missing from the Village: The Story of Serial Killer Bruce McArthur, the Search for Justice, and the System That Failed Toronto’s Queer Community” stops by. The book documents the tragic and resonant story of the disappearance of eight men–the victims of serial killer Bruce McArthur–from Toronto’s queer community.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show podcast we meet Ansley Simpson, a Toronto-based Anishinaabe singer-songwriter. Nominated for two Indigenous Music Awards and winner of “Best New Artist," on November 6 and November 12, she appears as part of the 13-episode AMPLIFY series on APTN. The show has a fascinating premise… invite an Indigenous songwriter to find a piece of Indigenous inspiration (whether it be a book, art piece, belief, etc.) and write a song about it.
Then from his home in London , England via Zoom, New York Times–bestselling author Simon Beecroft joins us to talk about his latest, "The Peanuts Book: A Visual History of the Iconic Comic Strip." In this celebration of Schulz and his beloved work, explore rarely seen sketches, influential comic strips, and collectors’ artifacts. Pore over evolving artworks of Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and the gang. Chart the rich history of Peanuts as it grew to become the world’s favorite comic, and travel from 1950 to the present day, from California to Japan. Every page of this visual guide is an exhibition to treasure. Discover the enduring and nostalgic charm of Peanuts in this stunning anniversary book. With a foreword by Stephen Colbert.
This week on The Richard Crouse Show Podcast we are joined by Sam Roberts who joins us via Zoom from his home in Montreal. His band, the aptly named Sam Roberts Band has been nominated for fourteen Juno Awards, they’ve won six, including Artist of the Year twice. They’ve been very busy since the world pressed pause back in March. The band’s song ‘We’re All in this Together’ became an anthem of sorts for various promos featuring frontline workers and Canadians alike. They put the finishing touches on their new album and played a part in each and every charitable opportunity they could to help artists and Canadians across the board.
Sam Roberts Band have a new album called ‘All of Us’, the first in 4 years
Then, Ethan Lou is a journalist whose work has appeared in in the Globe and Mail, the Guardian, the Toronto Star, the Walrus and the Washington Post.
He has broken stories about the Canadian spy agency’s secret briefing to parliament, the snubbing of Sri Lanka by the country’s prime minister and the possible non-depiction of the future King Charles on Canadian bank notes.
This year was supposed to see the publication of his first book, "Once a Bitcoin Miner: Scandal and Turmoil in the Cryptocurrency Wild West" but the pandemic pushed that release date into next year… but he still has a book in stores right now. It’s called Field Notes from a "Pandemic: A Journey Through a World Suspended" and was inspired by two articles he wrote for MacLeans magazine after a January visit with his ailing grandfather in Beijing allowed him to witness the very earliest stages of a COVID-19, a virus he says, will forever change the world as we know it.
The book says that over decades, globalization has crafted a world painfully sensitive and susceptible to shocks such as this pandemic… and examines the virus's beginnings and how it spread and the unprecedented measures to contain it. He also looks at past pandemics in other crises and how they shaped the world--and has an argument for why this one's different.
"Field Notes from a Pandemic: A Journey Through a World Suspended" is a timely look at how the virus has transformed the world.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Great Big Sea's Alan Doyle who stops by to talk about his new book "All Together Now" and tell us why St. John's has one of the best pub cultures in North America.
Then Jake Clemons, saxophone player for the E Street Band discusses his Uncle Clarence and working with Bruce Springsteen.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast: Chart topping songs like "Why Does It Always Rain on Me?" and "Coming Around" and albums like album, "The Man Who," which spent nine weeks at number one on the UK Albums Chart, made Scottish rock legends Travis one of the most interesting bands of the last few decades. They are back with an emotionally charged & deeply heartfelt ninth studio album simply called "10 Songs." it’s a record about life’s challenges and how love can help weather those trials and tribulations. Joining me today is Travis lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Fran Healy on Skype. He’s been called one of the UK’s finest songwriting exports.
Then "Aladdin" star Mena Mossaud stops by to chat up hius new book "Evolving Vegan."
Finally, Halifax-based Rich Aucoin’s fourth studio album, “United States,” is available now wherever you legally buy or download music on sites like bandcamp. He has been long-listed for the Polaris Music Prize twice and has built a reputation for putting on some of best live shows in Canada. So that’s where we began… by talking about the lack of live music in our lives right now.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast: This year is the 20th anniversary of Reelworld, a festival founded by my guest Tonya Williams, to showcase films, animation, shorts, music videos, industry panels and awards from racially diverse and indigenous filmmakers and media artists.
Missing this year are the parties and galas as ReelWorld has adapted to the pandemic and moved on line. The entire festival will be online - with live webinars from Oct. 14 to 19. They are also promoting www.accessreelworld.ca - which is now the largest national database for Canadian Black, Indigenous, People of Colour in the Creative Industries. Tonya Williams joins me from her home in Los Angeles.
Then, "Aladdin" star Mena Massoud joins me to talk about his new project, a book called "Evolving Vegan."
On the October 4, 2020 edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet former Rough Trade keyboardist and “High School Confidential” co-writer Kevan Staples on the occasion of the song being inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame,
Then, Ace Frehley, former guitarist for KISS swings by to talk KISS Koffins and the release of his new solo album "Origins Vol. 2."
Finally, we talk to Steve Earle, a Grammy award winning singer-songwriter, a record producer, author and actor whose song Copperhead Road is still a jukebox favorite thirty-three years after it made him a superstar. Earle Zooms in from his home in Tennessee to talk about how his new album “Ghosts of West Virginia” might bridge the political gap.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show we talk about one of the most enduring Canadian rock and roll hit of all time. John Picard of The Kings said, “We never made a million dollars, but we had a song that people love and has stood the test of time.”
40 years ago The KIngs released their Bob Ezrin produced debut album, “The Kings Are Here” on the US major label Elektra Records. That same month, their smash hit single “This Beat Goes On / Switchin’ to Glide” first entered the Billboard Hot 100.
And on August 23rd, 1980, The Kings closed the now-legendary Heatwave Festival, a giant outdoor concert some called "Punk Woodstock" that drew 100,000 people to Mosport Park, just north of Bowmanville, Ontario.
The Kings played alongside Talking Heads, Elvis Costello, The Pretenders, Nick Lowe and Rockpile, Teenage Head, the B-52’s, and more. The Kings and Teenage Head were the only bands that gave permission to be filmed. As Teenage Head’s audio has disappeared, the only surviving footage of that iconic night is of The Kings, and now you can see the 30-minute concert movie “The Kings: Live at Heatwave” at their YouTube channel.
With band members Dave Diamond and John Picard a.k.a. Mister Zero, we talk about the only surviving, authentic, and original sync footage from that legendary concert and, of course, we’ll celebrate four decades of one of the greatest double-A sides ever “This Beat Goes On / Switchin’ to Glide…”
Then, we go back to the vault to find an interview I did with producer Bob Ezrin from his Los Angeles home in 1994. Ezrin produced The Kings, but he is best known for his work with Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, Kiss, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Peter Gabriel, Andrea Bocelli and Phish. His career in music has spanned four decades and he continues to work with acts such as Deftones and Thirty Seconds to Mars.
We talk about how he got his first big musical break producing Alice Cooper and some fascinating behind the scenes stories of working with Cooper and Peter Gabriel.
On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Gloria Kim, writer/director of a new family drama called "Queen of the Morning Calm." In this interview we about the eleven years she spent working to get this story to the screen, How her background in journalism (former Maclean’s reporter) informed the writing of this story, how she guided her eleven year old co-star Eponine Lee through the film’s difficult material and much more.
Then, former CTV Toronto crime reporter Tamara Cherry joins the show to talk about her new book, "All the Bumpy Pebbles," a novel based on her reporting of human trafficking cases.
Finally, Kevan Staples, former keyboardist for Rough Trade and co-writer of the classic hit "High School Confidential," stops by to talk about the history of the controversial tune.
On the September 12, 2020 edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet Jeff Gibbs and Ozzie Zehner, director and producer of the climate change movie “Battle for the Planet of the Humans.” The controversial documentary is a harsh look at how the environmental movement has lost the battle through well-meaning but disastrous choices.
Then we spend time with singer-songwriter Hannah Georgas. Her new album, “All That Emotion,” is a lush and lovely record, produced by Aaron Dessner, hot off his work on Taylor Swift’s recent smash, folklore.
Here’s some info on The Richard Crouse Show!:
Each week on the nationally syndicated Richard Crouse Show, Canada’s most recognized movie critic brings together some of the most interesting and opinionated people from the movies, television and music to put a fresh spin on news from the world of lifestyle and pop-culture. Tune into this show to hear in-depth interviews with actors and directors, to find out what’s going on behind the scenes of your favourite shows and movies and get a new take on current trends. Recent guests include Ethan Hawke, director Brad Bird, comedian Gilbert Gottfried, Eric Roberts, Brian Henson, Jonathan Goldsmith a.k.a. “The most interesting man in the world,” and best selling author Linwood Barclay.
On this episode of the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Iain Reid the Canadian author of the bestselling novel "I’m Thinking of Ending Things."
"I’m Thinking of Ending Things" has been described as a psychological thriller and horror fiction, and is about a young man who takes his girlfriend to see his parents on a remote farm and the disturbing aftermath that follows. It sounds simple, but this is anything but. It’s a story of predetermination and free will that bears up to reading and rereading.
It’s now also a Netflix film, directed by Charlie Kaufman, starring stars Jessie Buckley, Jesse Plemons and Toni Collette.
Then, Richard welcomes four very special guests, “Midsommar” director Ari Aster and star Jack Reynor.
Today I spent a chunk of my day going through closets, finding discs of unlabelled photographs and other bits and pieces that have piled up in the nooks and crannies of my house. I came across a set of interviews I did at a rather loud party at the Tavern on the Green in New York City in 2009 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the release of The Wizard of Oz.
That day I mixed and mingled with some of the original Munchkins like Karl Slover, who was just two feet tall when he played the first trumpeter, Villager Munchkin Ruth Duccini, member of the Lollipop Guild Jerry Maren and Judy Garland’s daughter Lorna Luft, while enjoying Wizard of Oz themed drinks like the Gin Tornado. But mostly I soaked up the stories from some of the folks who were there when Judy Garland was swept away to a technicolour OZ.
Today I banged the interviews together in a podcast, the first project from the newly dubbed Isolation Studios. I enjoyed doing it and somehow the movie makes perfect sense for right now. “Someplace where there isn’t any trouble? Do you suppose there is such a place, Toto? There must be. It’s not a place you can get to by a boat or train. It’s far, far away… behind the moon… beyond the rain.”
This week on the Richard Crouse Podcast: Today, broadcasting directly from Isolation Studios (a.k.a. my home office) we meet Andrea Dorfman, a filmmaker, animator and artist who joins us via Zoom from her home in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Her films have played at film festivals around the world, won awards and she is back with a new one, now on VOD. “Spinster” stars actor and comedian Chelsea Peretti from “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” as a wedding caterer gets dumped on her 39th birthday. Over the next year she builds a new life based on self-empowerment and independence.
“Spinster” is being called “the anti-rom-com of the summer,” so I began by asking Andrea Dorfman about subverting the rom com genre…
Then country artist Sacha stops by to talk about her EP "The Best Thing."
Then, we meet Sam Maggs, an author who joins us via Zoom from her home in Los Angeles. Sam is a bestselling author of books, comics, and video games. She’s been a senior games writer, the author of many YA and middle-grade books, a comics writer for beloved titles like Marvel Action: Captain Marvel, My Little Pony, and Transformers. She is also an on-air host for networks like Nerdist. Today she joins me to talk about two books, “Con Quest,” an adventure novel for young readers set in the world of comics conventions and “The Unstoppable Wasp: Built on Hope,” a Young Adult novel based on the world of “The Unstoppable Wasp” Marvel comics series. I love this line in her bio… as a Canadian in Los Angeles, she misses Coffee Crisp and bagged milk. In this interview we talk about her books, why we both feel we have to work all the time and discuss whether that is a good thing or not. Let’s get to know Sam Maggs…
On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Kiesza, a singer, songwriter and pop star with a fascinating story of resilience. From the reserves of the Royal Canadian Navy to writing songs for people like Rihanna to her single "Hideaway" debuting at number one on the UK Singles Chart to collaborating with everyone from Duran Duran to Pitbull and Diplo she is a bona fide pop princess. Then, in 2017 she suffered life altering injuries when a taxi t-boned the car she was riding in. Her recovery from a traumatic brain injury was slow and involved staying in a darkened room for six months but she is back with a new album, a new self-run record label and a new outlook.
Then... In a career that spans five decades Chaka Khan has sold an estimated 70 million records, collaborated with everyone from Ry Cooder and Robert Palmer to Ray Charles and Quincy Jones, from Chicago to De la Soul and Mary J. Blige. She’s a musician, singer and songwriter with a shelfful of Grammys. I first saw her, with the band Rufus, on Soul Train singing their mega hit Tell Me Something Good. I became an instant fan and have remained so all these years later.
I had the chance to speak with the music legend via Zoom to talk about her role as the voice of Henrietta the Chicken in the new Disney+ film The One and Only Ivan.
And finally...I speak to Tom Kenny and Bill Fagerbakke, the stars of “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run.” For more than twenty years Kenny and Fagerbakke have voiced two of pop culture’s favorite animated characters, SpongeBob SquarePants and his pal Patrick Star. In the new film, playing in theatres in Canada, SpongeBob and Patrick go on a rescue mission to save SpongeBob's pet snail Gary, who has been "snailnapped" by King Poseidon. In this interview e talk about the new movie, the popularity of SpongeBob memes and why these characters have endured for more than two decades.
On the Richard Crouse Podcast this week we meet Jay Baruchel. He's been acting since the age of twelve and has appeared in everything from "Knocked Up" and "Tropic Thunder" to "The Trotsky" and "She's Out of My League" to the action-fantasy "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" and "This Is the End." He’s probably best known as the voice of Hiccup in the wildly successful "How to Train Your Dragon" franchise but he says, despite all the success in front of the camera, what he really wants to do is direct.
Two years ago he wrote and directed the sports comedy "Goon: Last of the Enforcers." Now he appears both in front of and behind the camera in "Random Acts of Violence," a genre film that asks serious questions about how we relate to violence in art.
Based on a 2008 Image Comic, “Random Acts of Violence” begins with comic book writer Todd (Jesse Williams) suffering a case of writer’s block. His series, a grisly and successful adaptation of a real-life serial killer dubbed Slasherman, is coming to an end and he doesn’t know how to wind it down.
On a press tour from Toronto to New York to promote the final issue, Jesse and friends, visit the scene of the Slasherman’s crimes. As the group fall victim to a series of heinous copycat crimes the film asks, “What are the real consequences when life (and death) begin to imitate art?”
I talk about that with Jay in this interview but we started by reminiscing about the “beforetime” when we could go to the movies. I asked him what movie memories stand out for him when he thinks back to the theatre experience.
NOTE: This podcast contains language that may not be suitable for all listeners. NSFW!
Then, we meet Mike Scott, the founding member, lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of The Waterboys. He is a restless creative spirit, known for radical changes in music style throughout what he refers to as his "allegedly unorthodox" career. The music on his solo albums and with The Waterboys explores a number of different styles, including folk, Celtic and rock and roll, fusing them together to create a sound that is not only catchy but unique.
The press release for his newest record "Good Luck, Seeker," says the songs are populated by unrepentant freaks, soul legends, outlaw film stars and 20th Century mystics, drawing inspiration from the Stones, Kate Bush, Sly and Kendrick as well as Mike Scott’s very own musical past.
It’s a genre busting effort with epic songs like the dramatic, spoken word tune "My Wanderings In The Weary Land" to the earworm of the extremely catchy single “The Soul Singer.”
In this interview we talk about the construct of time, the power of the Clash and why he liked a record by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich enough to spend 8 and sixpence, or about 50 cents on it…
I began the interview by asking Mike Scott why he’s never made the same record twice.
NewsTalk 1010 host Jim Richards and Richard Crouse discuss the recent allegations surrounding the "Ellen" show. Will this be the end of the show or is there life after a scandal for the afternoon talk show?
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast:
We meet Dawn Tyler Watson. via Zoom from her home in Montreal. To call Dawn Tyler Watson a blues singer isn’t quite accurate. Sure, she’s called the Queen of the Blues in Montreal and latest record “Mad Love,” just won the 2020 JUNO award for Blues Album of the Year, but her music also infuses elements of Jazz, Soul, Rock, and Gospel to pushes the boundaries of traditional Blues.
We caught up, talking about what she learned while busking in the subway, taking home the coveted first-place prize at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in 2017, why she used to have imposter’s syndrome, but doesn’t anymore and how her perspective on everything changed after triple bypass surgery.
I started the interview by asking how she and her dog Molly are doing these days.
Then, Chris Hadfield stops by to discuss when science and pop culture collide.
On this week’s The Richard Crouse Show we meet:
Joe Pantoliano, a working actor for over forty years. From doing plays in empty basement theatres in New York City to Broadway to guest roles on the biggest television shows of several decades like “MAS*H” and “The Sopranos” and juicy supporting parts in films like “Risky Business,” “The Goonies,” “The Fugitive,” “Memento,” “Bad Boys” and “The Matrix” he says “There aren’t any small parts, only small paychecks.”
He jokes that he has a twenty-minute face, perfect for character work but his new film, “From the Vine” offers him the chance to show off his ninety-minute face. His first starring role in recent memory sees him playing a man who gives up a high-flying career as an executive to return to Italy, where he was born, to search for find his centre and regain his moral compass. In this interview we talk about the parallels between his life and that of his “From the Vine” character, Jimmy Stewart’s wig and how “On the Waterfront” made him want to be an actor… and here’s a surprise. It had nothing to do with Marlon Brando.
Let’s get to know Joe Pantoliano.
Then we meet hip hop musician, former elementary school teacher and author Humble the Poet. He stopped by the “Pop Life” bar to discuss his new book “Things No One Else Can Teach Us,” what he learned from his failures, including a bad record deal, how even after he crawled out of crippling debt, the satisfaction was short lived and much more.
Finally, we close with legendary rock photographer Mick Rock who talks about his collaboration with David Bowie.
On this week's The Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet:
James Purefoy, direct from the south west of England, via Zoom. If you were a fan of HBO’s “Rome,” you know him as joyfully decadent Roman general and politician Mark Antony. Perhaps you were a fan of “The Following,” which saw him play a college professor-turned-serial-killer and cult leader for three seasons opposite Kevin Bacon. The versatile actor has a list of credits as long as my arm including the film he joins me to talk about today, “Fisherman’s Friends.” No, it’s not about the cough drops… it is a is a good-natured crowd pleaser about a real life singing group from Cornwall in England who went from singing at the local pub, when they weren’t on the water making a living, to producing the biggest selling traditional folk album of all time. Purefoy plays Jim, the leader of the group, who was initially skeptical about their chances for success outside their tiny village. When we did this interview he was sitting in his garden, and proudly showed me all the produce he’s been growing since the beginning of the pandemic. That also means that from time to time you’ll hear a bird chirping or a bit of wind… it’s not your speakers, it’s just nature on Purefoy’s property.
Then we spend time with Rod Lurie, a West Point graduate who became a film critic and was once banned from screenings for referring to Danny DeVito as “a testicle with arms.” He is a journalist and author and, since 1999, a filmmaker.
In this interview we talk about West Point, why he stood at attention at a screening of “Poltergeist” and, of course, his latest film, “The Outpost.”
It’s an intense recreation of the Battle of Kamdesh, a bloody 2009 confrontation that saw 400 Taliban fighters attack Combat Outpost Keating in Afghanistan, a station manned by 53 American soldiers and just days before it was to be disbanded. Critics are raving about the film. “IndieWire” said that Rod shot “much of the 45-minute long ambush in hectic, agile long-takes that allows him to capture the Battle of Kamdesh for all of its terror, and with a clarity that allows us to feel that terror in our bones."
The film is also being praised by veterans, including those who fought in the battle, for its realistic depiction of warfare and the life of a soldier.
“The Outpost” is available now on VOD, wherever you legally rent or buy movies.
Finally Richard welcomes Phil Dellio, author of "You Should've Heard Just What I Seen: Pop Music at the Movies and on TV."
On the Richard Crouse Show Podcast this week we meet Liberty DeVitto. He joins me via Zoom but you’ve been listening to him for decades. As Billy Joel’s drummer from 1976 to 2003, he’s credited as drummer on records with sales of over 150 million copies. Do you love “Just the Way You Are”? That Liberty DeVitto. How about "She's Always a Woman,” “Only the Good Die Young" “You May be Right” or “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me”? All Liberty DeVitto. He’s what they call a New York City style drummer, solid and powerful. He also an author with a new memoir, “Liberty: Life, Billy and the Pursuit of Happiness,” available now wherever you buy fine books. It details not only the good times with Joel, but also the bad… leading up to their split in 2006. Later in the show I ask Liberty about how his relations with the singer disintegrated… and how they buried the hatchet after fifteen years. We started though, by talking about something we’re all missing these days: live music.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast: My guest today joins me via Zoom from his home in Massachusetts. Dan Lyons has spent much of his recent career, following jobs as a senior editor at Forbes magazine and a writer at Newsweek, examining something that is on people’s minds these days… work.
Drawing on his experience at his first job outside of a newsroom, at the HubSpot start-up he has looked at how and why we work from all angles.
He has been called “the Mark Twain of Silicon Valley,” and “Jonathan Swift for our own digital age.” No less an expert than money man Dave Ramsay, of daveramsey.com,” says Lyons is “the expert on the culture of work, and how it’s changing business and lives.”
Today we take the conversation he started in his last book, Lab Rats: How Silicon Valley Made Work Miserable for The Rest Of Us, and recontextualize for the pandemic to talk about what work will look like in the coming months and years.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast: “Black Leopard, Red Wolf” author Marlon James, recently named one of Time’s 100 most influential people. From Time magazine: James lives part-time in St. Paul and teaches at Macalester College, where he is writer-in-residence. He was born in Jamaica and is the author of “The Book of Night Women,” winner of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize; “A Brief History of Seven Killings,” winner of the Man Booker Prize, and “Black Leopard, Red Wolf,” already being made into a movie. About that book, Rushdie writes, it is “highly original, its language surging with power, its imagination all-encompassing. Marlon is a writer who must be read.”
Then, stand-up Comic & host of CNN’s “United Shades of America” W. Kamau Bell’s Twitter bio reads, “I tell jokes, but I’m not kidding.” Find out what he means in this exclusive, full-length interview.
And finally, Spike Lee gives us his perfect movie double bill!
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast: Ian Williams is the author of Personals, Not Anyone's Anything, You Know Who You Are, and a finalist for the ReLit Prize for poetry. He was named one of ten Canadian writers to watch by CBC. His latest book is a novel called “Reproduction,” a love story about the way families are formed. That novel, which explores unconventional connections and brilliantly redefines family made him the second writer with Trinidadian roots to win the coveted Giller Prize, the biggest prize in Canadian Literature.
Then, Sir Ben Kingsley stops by. He burst onto screens in 1982 playing the title role in "Gandhi," a part that won him an Oscar for Best Actor and a shelf full of other awards… other memorable roles followed in "Schindler's List," "Bugsy," "Sexy Beast" and dozens upon dozens of other great films. He was made a Knight by Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in 2002 and it is there that we began our conversation.
Finally, an in-depth interview with Arlene Dickinson, Canadian businesswoman, investor, television personality and author of, “Reinvention: Changing Your Life, Your Career, Your Future.” She is a dragon investor on CBC television’s Dragons' Den, she owns one of Canada's largest independent marketing and communications firms and is someone who has shaped and reshaped her life. Arlene stopped by to discuss her new book, and how to make meaningful changes in your life at any age.
This week on the June 15, 2020 episode of Richard Crouse Show Podcast: We meet Clarke Peters, one of the stars of the new Spike Lee joint “Da 5 Bloods.” It’s an adventure movie that also examines the role of African American soldiers in Vietnam and how that conflict affected the rest of their lives. We talk about how he was accused of draft evasion by the FBI, how life during the pandemic has taught us to think about more than just ourselves and why he considers himself a stage actor first and foremost.
Then we talk to Steve Earle, a Grammy award winning singer-songwriter, a record producer, author and actor whose song Copperhead Road is still a jukebox favorite thirty-three years after it made him a superstar. Earle Zooms in from his home in Tennessee to talk about how his new album “Ghosts of West Virginia” might bridge the political gap, going to Walmart and how doing yoga helps to center him in these anxious times. NSFW Please note that some of the language used on this podcast may not be appropriate for all listeners.
What to watch when you’ve already watched everything Part Fourteen! Binge worthy, not cringe worthy recommendations from Isolation Studios in the eerily quiet downtown Toronto. Three movies to stream, rent or buy from the comfort of home isolation. Today, a coming of age story, a comic playing against type and the secret history of disco. #Pariah #Drive #TheSecretHistoryofDisco
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast: My guest today isn’t a psychic but fifteen years ago in a book called “Pandemic,” he wrote that the world was well overdue for a killer virus. On the Richard Crouse Show Podcast I speak with Daniel Kalla, an emergency room doctor, the head of the ER department at St. Paul’s hospital in Vancouver and the author of bestselling books including his most recent novel “The Last High.” We talk about his pandemic prediction, why we have been lucky as a planet and if he ever feels like a character in one of his own books.
Then... as the lead guitarist and singer for the platinum selling Big Sugar my next guest has employed his signature six string stomp to giant hits like “Diggin’ a Hole”, “The Scene”, “Turn the Lights On” and “Roads Ahead.” Gordie johnson zooms in from his Soundshack Studios, just outside of Austin, Texas to discuss Big Sugar’s new album “Eternity Now,” their first in five years, his love of doubleneck guitars and how being in isolation is kind of like being a musician on the road.
On the May 24, 2020 episode of The Richard Crouse Show we meet comedian and author Mark Critch, photographer Paul Perrier and “The Trip to Greece” star Rob Brydon. Critch talks about life in isolation in Newfoundland, photobombing Justin Trudeau and offering Pamela Anderson $1 million to quit acting. Photographer Paul Perrier talks about “The Mask Project” on Instagram (search thetorontoportrait) and then British comedian Rob Brydon joins us from England to talk about Al Pacino, whether he’s keen to fly on a plane again, meeting Michael Caine, and, of course, the fourth instalment of “The Trip” series, “The Trip to Greece” available this week on VOD.
What to watch when you’ve already watched everything Part Fourteen! Binge worthy, not cringe worthy recommendations from Isolation Studios in the eerily quiet downtown Toronto. Three movies to stream, rent or buy from the comfort of home isolation. Today, going underground, a gang war in rhyme and the beginning of a franchise. #Buried #ChiRaq #FirstBlood
What to watch when you’ve already watched everything Part Thirteen! Binge worthy, not cringe worthy recommendations from Isolation Studios in the eerily quiet downtown Toronto. Three movies to stream, rent or buy from the comfort of home isolation. Today, a financial crisis, a blacklisted writer and a troubled trumpeter. #TheBigShort #Trumbo #BornToBeBlue
This week on The Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet comedian and actor Sean Cullen. We find out his #COVID19COMEDYFEST, how “Full Metal Jacket” influenced his humour, why he hates “Mrs. Doubtfire” and what it was like playing twins in the new Netflix animated movie “The Willoughbys.” Then, internationally best selling author and forensic anthropologist Kathy Reichs visits via Zoom. We talk about finding the real life inspiration for her wildly popular series of Temperance Brennan "Bones" novels, why she doesn't wear rings anymore and why crime books are so popular. Come visit with us! In isolation we are united!
What to watch when you’ve already watched everything Part Twelve! Binge worthy, not cringe worthy recommendations from Isolation Studios in the eerily quiet downtown Toronto. Three movies to stream, rent or buy from the comfort of home isolation. Today, a strange biography, lovestruck bank robbers and a cabin in the woods. #ALiarsBiographyTheUntrueStoryofMontyPythonsGrahamChapman #TheTown #ACabinInTheWoods
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast: Almost Live from Isolation Studios! Richard speaks to Kristian Bruun, star of “Orphan Black,” “Carter” and “Ready or Not.” Join us to hear about life as a Los Angeles-based actor during the pandemic, how packs of coyotes have been spotted in his neighbourhood and how his character Donnie from “Orphan Black” would fare during self-isolation. Then, we meet Laura Vandervoort, star of “Rabid,” new to VOD this week. We talk about her recent consultation with a dog psychic, why you should never drink the fake blood on a movie set and her hand washing tips. Come visit with us! In isolation we are united!
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Gordon Deppe, lead singer, guitarist and songwriter for The Spoons. The writer of big hits like "Romantic Traffic," "Nova Heart," "Old Emotions" and "Tell No Lies" joins me to talk about what should have been a celebratory summer season for The Spoons, who turn forty years old this year, the band’s brand new album “New Day New World”—and play the title track for us live!—why he doesn’t feel like writing songs right now and what it is like being married to a front line worker. Then, we speak to tv host, author, designer and olive oil farmer, Debbie Travis. From her home in London, England she describes what’s happening in her neighborhood, why she left her retreat in Tuscany when the pandemic started and why may be the perfect time to reinvent your life, which just happens to be the subject of her best selling book, “Design Your Next Chapter: How to Realize Your Dreams and Reinvent Your Life, now out in paperback. Come visit with us! In isolation we are united!
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast: Almost Live from Isolation Studios! Richard speaks to Michael Greyeyes, star of “Blood Quantum,” new to VOD this week. We talk about the film’s social messages of identity and survival and, on a lighter note, what it’s like to be covered in fake blood. The, we meet Amy Jo Johnson, director of “Tammy’s Always Dying,” a new film starring Felicity Huffman about a woman who says, “I’m not a good person, but I am a good time.” We talk about releasing a film during a pandemic, how her fans from her “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” are the fuel to the engine of her new career as a director and much more. Come visit with us! In isolation we are united!
What to watch when you’ve already watched everything Part Eleven! Binge worthy, not cringe worthy recommendations from Isolation Studios in the eerily quiet downtown Toronto. Three movies to stream, rent or buy from the comfort of home isolation. Today, wrestling, murder, aliens and keeping time. #Foxcatcher #AttackTheBlock #Whiplash
What to watch when you’ve already watched everything Part Ten! Binge worthy, not cringe worthy recommendations from Isolation Studios in the eerily quiet downtown Toronto. Three movies to stream, rent or buy from the comfort of home isolation. Today, newsrooms, vigilantes and a twelve-year-old vampire. #Christine #HarryBrown #LetMeIn
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast: Almost Live from Isolation Studios! Richard speaks to "Relax! Dammit" author Timothy Caulfield and magicienne Julie Eng about how they are holding up during the pandemic and what we can do to make the most of our time in isolation.
Timothy Caulfield is a professor of law at the University of Alberta, the Research Director of its Health Law Institute, and current Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy. He specializes in legal, policy and ethical issues in medical research and its commercialization. He is also a television host and author of several books.
Julie Eng has brought her original magical approach to thousands of performances around the world for over three decades—everywhere from expected venues like small private functions, festivals and conventions, to less-obvious ones at senior centers and children’s hospitals. As the executive director of Magicana, a Toronto-based organization dedicated to the exploration and advancement of magic, Julie has also been steeped in the study of the rich history and applications of the often-misunderstood art.
What to watch when you’ve already watched everything Part Nine! Binge worthy, not cringe worthy recommendations from Isolation Studios in the eerily quiet downtown Toronto. Three movies to stream, rent or buy from the comfort of home isolation. Today, dinosaurs, the meaning of life, the potential of the page and true crime. #treeoflife #paterson #westofmemphis
What to watch when you’ve already watched everything Part Eight! Binge worthy, not cringe worthy recommendations from Isolation Studios in the eerily quiet downtown Toronto. Three movies to stream, rent or buy from the comfort of home isolation. Today, there’s trouble in the kitchen, thrill killers and “Gucci!” #nosetotail #eighthgrade #thestrangerspreyatnight
This week on The Richard Crouse Show Podcast: Three of Richard’s favourite interviews from the most recent season of “Pop Life.” First up, Harry Connick Jr., a musician who first performed in public when he was just five years old and is still making music, most recently releasing an album of interpretations of classic standards called “True Love: A Celebration of Cole Porter.” Connick Jr stops by the Pop Life bar to talks about his earliest musical memories, the massive success of his When Harry Met Sally soundtrack, how he narrowed down Cole Porter’s library of hundreds of songs to the 13 that appear on the record and more!
Then, the multi-Gold and Platinum-selling Bif Naked. She has been called a Punk Princess, Rock Goddess, and Legend… she’s all that and more. Add to the list, Cancer Survivor, Mentor and Entrepreneur. With a new tour, a new record and her own CBD brand, Bif is busier than ever. She found time to stop by the Pop Life bar to talk about the record that made her take up music over medicine, how her cancer diagnosis changed her and taking risks.
And finally, an in-depth interview with John Lennon’s personal photographer Bob Gruen. The legendary photographer opens up about taking famous pictures of every rock ‘n roll star from David Bowie and Led Zeppelin to The Clash and The Sex Pistols.
What to watch when you’ve already watched everything Part Seven! Binge worthy, not cringe worthy recommendations from Isolation Studios in the eerily quiet downtown Toronto. Three movies to stream, rent or buy from the comfort of home isolation. Today, too much money, a murderous game and SSSHHH! They're listening!
What to watch when you’ve already watched everything Part Six! Binge worthy, not cringe worthy recommendations from Isolation Studios in the eerily quiet downtown Toronto. Three movies to stream, rent or buy from the comfort of home isolation. Today, a human-animal hybrid, a homemade superhero and a country music legend.
Charles MacPherson is known as Canada’s Butler. A world authority in household management and butlering, he is the founder of Charles MacPherson Associates Inc., North America’s only registered school for butlers and household managers. He brings 30 years of experience in his field and is the resident butler for The Marilyn Denis Show. He’s also an author with a number of books to his credit, including “The Pocket Butler's Guide to Good Housekeeping: Expert Advice on Cleaning, Laundry and Home Maintenance,” now at fine bookstores everywhere.
What to watch when you’ve already watched everything Part Five! Binge worthy, not cringe worthy recommendations from Isolation Studios in the eerily quiet downtown Toronto. Three movies to stream, rent or buy from the comfort of home isolation. Today, Ozark drug dealers, driving lessons and teenage rock n' roll! #Winter's Bone #TheRunaways #LearningToDrive
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast: Two of Richard’s favourite interviews from the most recent season of “Pop Life.” The television host, author, restaurateur culinary legend Lidia Bastianich stopped by the “Pop Life” bar to talk about how growing up on her grandparents’ farm affected her relationship with food… how she ended up in New York City working with a soon to be very famous actor and what dish every household should know how to make.
Then, we hear from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of “Tuesdays With Morrie, Mitch Albom. His new book, “Finding Chika,” the intimate and heartwarming memoir about the young Haitian orphan whose short life changed his life, is his most personal story to date.
What to watch when you’ve already watched everything Part Four! Binge worthy, not cringe worthy recommendations from Isolation Studios in the eerily quiet downtown Toronto. Three movies to stream, rent or buy from the comfort of home isolation. Today, rogue cops, troubled troubadours, a chef and a story about a cat!
What to watch when you've already watched everything Part Three! Binge worthy, not cringe worthy recommendations from Isolation Studios in the eerily quiet downtown Toronto. Three movies to stream, rent or buy from the comfort of home isolation. Today, road warriors, romantic zombies and an underemployed dancer.
What to watch when you've already watched everything Part Two! Binge worthy, not cringe worthy recommendations from Isolation Studios in the eerily quiet downtown Toronto. Three movie choices to stream, rent or buy that will help fill the minutes until we can comfortably cough in public once again. And no, "Electric Boogaloo" is not one of the selections.
What to watch when you've already watched everything. Binge worthy, not cringe worthy recommendations. It's a long title, I know but in self isolation I have more time on my hands than usual. Here are three movies you may not have seen that are available to rent or buy on VOD and streaming services that can help pass the minutes, hours, weeks... whatever, until we are allowed to touch our faces again.
This week on The Richard Crouse Show Podcast: Two of Richard’s favourite interviews from the most recent season of “Pop Life.” Singer-songwriter, author, political activist and occasional actor Bob Geldof stops by the Pop Life bar. He became famous as the lead singer of the Irish rock band the Boomtown Rats in the late 1970s and became a legend when he and Midge Ure founded the charity supergroup Band Aid to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia and went on to organise the charity super-concert Live Aid… He is an accomplished solo artist whose charitable work continues to this day. They were supposed to talk about the Boomtown Rats, “Citizens of Boomtown,” their first album in 36 years and a lead single, “Trash Glam Baby,” but, as you’re about to find out, that was just a starting point for a much wider conversation.
Then Richard welcomes an actor who plays a doctor on one of the most popular shows on television. You’ve seen Christina Chang in films like 28 Days and Random Hearts, and on television on 24, CSI: Miami, Boston Legal, Suits, and Desperate Housewives but she is best known as Dr. Audrey Lim on The Good Doctor. We talk about a little bit of everything, including what it was like to move to the United States from Taiwan when she was a teenager and the kind of research she does about medical procedures to convincingly play a doctor on TV.
Like most everybody else I’m self-isolating in this very odd time. With no movies to review and my television show "Pop Life" on hiatus I’m finding things to keep myself busy. Today I spent a chunk of my day going through closets, finding discs of unlabelled photographs and other bits and pieces that have piled up in the nooks and crannies of my house and I came across a set of interviews I did at a rather loud party at the Tavern on the Green in New York City in 2009 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the release of The Wizard of Oz.
I mixed and mingled with some of the original Munchkins like Karl Slover, who was just two feet tall when he played the first trumpeter, Villager Munchkin Ruth Duccini, member of the Lollipop Guild Jerry Maren and Judy Garland’s daughter Lorna Luft, while enjoying Wizard of Oz themed drinks like the Gin Tornado. But mostly I soaked up the stories from some of the folks who were there when Judy Garland was swept away to a technicolour OZ.
So, I banged the interviews together in a podcast, the first project from the newly dubbed Isolation Studios. Somehow the movie makes perfect sense for right now. "Someplace where there isn't any trouble? Do you suppose there is such a place, Toto? There must be. It's not a place you can get to by a boat or train. It's far, far away... behind the moon... beyond the rain."
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast: Three years ago Alexis Alexander had a corporate advertising agency career. Then his second child was born with a physical ailment that kept the family in and our of Sick Kids Hospital. Alexis then changed up his life and started writing and self publishing Children's books based on his family called Friendly Fables.
Since 2017 Alexis has written and self-published 14 books, released a Children's Rap album that went to #1 on Itunes in November, and now performs in schools 2 to 4 times a week.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast: “I wasn’t delivered by a stork, I was pulled out of a hat.” That’s what my guest Julie Eng says about how she arrived in the world. Julie grew up learning and performing magic side-by-side with her father, who was a well known magician on the west coast and she is now an in demand performer and the executive director of Magicana, a Toronto-based organization dedicated to the exploration and advancement of magic.
This week on The Richard Crouse Show Podcast: Albert Shin, director of “Disappearance at Clifton Hill.”
Some info on the movie: “Downton Abbey’s” Tuppence Middleton is a woman troubled by a childhood incident. As a little girl on a fishing trip with her parents, she witnessed the kidnapping of a one-eyed boy. Years later, after the death of her mother she returns home to sell the family’s run-down motel, the Rainbow Inn. Sifting through some old photos she comes across some old photos that dredge up memories of the terrible event.
Instead of packing up and leaving town she opens an investigation. “I’m someone who saw it,” she says. “Saw them take him. I was seven. I was there when it happened and I have proof.” When she uncovers the story of some local performers, the Magnificent Moulins, and their missing and presumed dead son she wonders if he could be the one-eyed boy. Her sister Laure (Mindhunter’s Hannah Gross) doesn’t believe her story—Abby is a pathological liar—but local historian and podcaster Walter (David Cronenberg) does. “Do you know what happens when a body hits the bottom of the gorge?” he asks. “Think swallowing a live grenade.” That would explain why no body was ever found, but it opens the door to a conspiracy that leaves Abby questioning her sanity. “There’s a lot of history round these parts,” Walter says, ominously.
This week on The Richard Crouse Show: “Nose to Tail” writer/director Jesse Zigelstein and star Aaron Abrams. “Nose to Tail” is the story of an abrasive chef as he struggles to make a go of his failing restaurant over a one day and night.
Synopsis: Waking up hung-over in his cramped downstairs office, Daniel begins planning a special meal for a VIP table of investors who, if impressed, might provide the financial lifeline the restaurant needs to survive. Before dinner service begins, however, he must deal with an unhappy landlord, a disappointed ex-wife and the loss of a sous-chef. Also, like flies buzzing around a rotten piece of meat, there’s a food truck across the street that may be siphoning Daniel’s customers and an annoying food blogger who seems to know more about the state of Daniel’s restaurant than Daniel does.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show: Liz Kozak is an award-winning producer, writer and editor. She is Director of Editorial and Content Development at The Second City and together they are the authors of The Second City: The Essentially Accurate History.
This week on The Richard Crouse Show Podcast “The Assistant” director Kitty Green stops by. The film is a re-creation of a day in the life of Jane, played by “Ozark” star Julia Garner, an assistant to a Weinstein-esque figure at the height of his power.
Green is an award-winning Australian filmmaker. Her debut documentary feature, “Ukraine Is Not a Brothel,” explored a provocative feminist movement in Ukraine. After making its premiere at the Venice Film Festival in 2013, the film screened at more than 50 film festivals internationally and won the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Award for Best Feature Length Documentary. Green’s follow-up project, “The Face of Ukraine: Casting Oksana Baiul,” won the Short Film Jury Prize for nonfiction at the Sundance Film Festival. Her latest feature documentary, “Casting JonBenet,” was acquired as a Netflix Original, premiered at Sundance in 2017, and screened at the Berlinale before receiving the AACTA Award for Best Feature Length Documentary.
This week on The Richard Crouse Show: In his over 30-year career, J.C. MacKenzie has appeared in over 150 movies and TV shows, including Aaron Sorkin‘s "Molly’s Game" and the TV show’s "Dark Angel," "Dexter" and "The Shield." He’s also a favorite of director Martin Scorsese, appearing in "The Aviator," "The Departed," "The Wolf of Wall Street," "The Irishman" and HBO’s "Vinyl." He’s currently starring in HBO’s "Share," which can be seen on CRAVE and the upcoming series "October Fraction" for Netflix.
This week on The Richard Crouse Show Podcast: On this show we’ll have a look back at three musicians who have stopped by the Pop Life bar to share their stories.
Randy Bachman is a household name. He’s best known as the lead guitarist, songwriter and a founding member of the 1960s and 1970s rock bands The Guess Who and Bachman–Turner Overdrive. Bachman was also a member of Brave Belt, Union and Ironhorse, and has recorded numerous solo albums. He is also a national radio personality and was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2016… In this interview we talk about where it all began for him and where he is today.
Canadian soprano Measha Brueggergosman opens up about life-changing moments and what it means to her to have a ‘full’ life.
Legendary musician Robbie Robertson talks about his earliest musical inspirations, how he was booed by Bob Dylan’s audience and how he once almost turned to a life of crime when he couldn’t get gigs.
Here's a quick chat with the late Terry Jones, Monty Python's "master of the absurd."
Everyone remarks on the importance of Monty Python. Everyone, that is, except the members of the troupe itself. “I don’t see it as a legacy really,” says founding funnyman Terry Jones. “I can’t see it. I think people talk about it. I have no idea what impact we had on comedy.”
This week on the Richard Crouse Show: Bernie Taupin, Elton John’s songwriting partner of fifty years. YouTube sensation Gigi Gorgeous. The social media star opens up about being true to yourself. Arlene Dickinson, Canadian businesswoman, investor, television personality and author of “Reinvention: Changing Your Life, Your Career, Your Future.” Then travel guru Rick Steves opens up about his love for travelling and how he hopes to inspire others, then from first trips, to memorable experiences.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show, a Pop Life special with some of Richard's favourite interviews from the past season of his television show.
In an in-depth interview astronaut Chris Hadfield stops by the “Pop Life” bar to discuss when science and pop culture collide.
Mo Rocca, correspondent for CBS Sunday Morning and author of “Mobituaries: Great Lives Worth Reliving.” He stops by the “Pop Life” bar to discuss his new book, the art of the obituary and how everyone has a story.
Author and rapper Humble the Poet. He stops by the “Pop Life” bar to discuss his new book “Things No One Else Can Teach Us,” what he learned from his failures, including a bad record deal, how even after he crawled out of crippling debt, the satisfaction was short lived and much more.
Music industry legend Danny Goldberg began his career in 1969 as a music journalist before becoming Vice-President of Led Zeppelin’s Swan Song Records from 1974-1976. And there’s more, much more. On “Pop Life” he talks about his relationship with Kurt Cobain.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show, a Pop Life special with some of Richard's favourite interviews from the past season of his television show.
In an in-depth interview astronaut Chris Hadfield stops by the “Pop Life” bar to discuss when science and pop culture collide.
Mo Rocca, correspondent for CBS Sunday Morning and author of “Mobituaries: Great Lives Worth Reliving.” He stops by the “Pop Life” bar to discuss his new book, the art of the obituary and how everyone has a story.
Author and rapper Humble the Poet stops by the “Pop Life” bar to discuss his new book “Things No One Else Can Teach Us,” what he learned from his failures and how even after he crawled out of crippling debt the satisfaction was short lived and much more.
Music industry legend Danny Goldberg began his career in 1969 as a music journalist before becoming Vice-President of Led Zeppelin’s Swan Song Records from 1974-1976. And there’s more, much more. On “Pop Life” he talks about his relationship with Kurt Cobain.
This week on The Richard Crouse Show: Indie superstars Tegan and Sara. They stop by the “Pop Life” bar to discuss their new memoir “High School.” They talk about how music became the perfect fit for them. They tell stories about writing their first song, ‘Tegan Didn’t Go to School Today,” the important people in their lives and how music became a replacement for drugs and alcohol.
The cast of “Frozen 2,” Josh Gad who plays the snowman, and Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel, as sisters Princess Anna of Arendelle and Queen Elsa of Arendelle. They talk about keeping the plot secret during the three year production and why the original film resonated with audiences.
Shania Twain, “Queen of Country Pop,” opens up about going back to Las Vegas and her crippling battle with stage fright.
Then an in-depth interview with John Lennon’s personal photographer Bob Gruen. The legendary photographer opens up about taking famous pictures of every rock ‘n roll star from David Bowie and Led Zeppelin to The Clash and The Sex Pistols.
Richard and NewsTalk 1010 reporter Lucas Meyer have a look at what's in store in entertainment in 2020.
This week on The Richard Crouse Show: Richard chats with “1917” co-writer Krysty Wilson-Cairns about tending bar, working with Sam Mendes and writing a film that is presented in one shot. Then he speaks to the two stars of the Fist World War story to discuss creating the characters and the challenges of shooting the epic film. Then we meet “Rise of the Skywalker” star Joonas Suotamo about playing the iconic Wookie character Chewbacca, and what it is like wearing the fur suit for ten hours a day and Yvette Nicole Brown who plays Aunt Sarah in the Disney+ version of “Lady and the Tramp.” They talk about adopting rescue dogs, wearing corsets and if Brown agrees that her character is the villain of the story.
This week on The Richard Crouse Show Podcast: Howard Shore has composed scores for over 80 films, including The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies.
He has three Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards and four Grammy Awards on his shelves and was the original musical director for the American show Saturday Night Live from 1975 to 1980.
He is also a consistent collaborator with director David Cronenberg, having scored all but one of his films since 1979.
He has also composed a few concert works including one opera, The Fly, based on the plot of Cronenberg's 1986 film.
Based on the award-winning novel by music scholar Norman Lebrecht, THE SONG OF NAMES is a bold journey through friendship, betrayal, and reconciliation.
These are pretty cool. This is vintage audio of five original Star Wars radio commercials. They arrived at the station on vinyl and were recently found and converted to mp3s. Thanks to Jim Richards Showgram for sending them over!
This week on the Richard Crouse Show: A long time ago at a radio station far, far away… Now that the Skywalker saga is coning to an end Richard takes you back to the beginning of the phenomenon. In new interviews C-3PO actor Anthony Daniels talks about playing the character for the last time and Joonas Suotamo talks about playing the iconic Wookie character Chewbacca, and what it is like wearing the fur suit for ten hours a day.
Richard chats with "1917" co-writer Krysty Wilson-Cairns about tending bar, working with Sam Mendes and writing a film that is presented in one shot.
SYNOPSIS: At the height of the First World War, two young British soldiers, Schofield (Captain Fantastic’s George MacKay) and Blake (Game of Thrones’ Dean-Charles Chapman) are given a seemingly impossible mission. In a race against time, they must cross enemy territory and deliver a message that will stop a deadly attack on hundreds of soldiers—Blake’s own brother among them.
Richard sits down with the two stars of the Fist World War epic "1917" to discuss creating the characters and the challenges of the one-shot technique used to film the movie.
Richard speaks with "Rise of the Skywalker" star Joonas Suotamo about playing the iconic Wookie character Chewbacca, and what it is like wearing the fur suit for ten hours a day.
Moore in the Morning host John Moore and Richard Crouse discuss meeting "Sesame Street" puppeteering legend Carol Spinney.
Here are five things you might not know about Big Bird and the man behind the mask.
Muppet mastermind Jim Henson created Big Bird, but Spinney says, “I was given a lot of freedom to create the kind of guy he is. He’s a person like I was as a kid, except he doesn’t get pushed around as much. I was the smallest boy in my class so there is a lot of satisfaction playing the largest character who’s ever been on television. To be loved like a little child but be eight-feet-two, what a strange accomplishment.”
Caroll’s relationship with Big Bird lasted longer than his first marriage, which blew up because his then wife was “embarrassed” by his career choice but Spinney calls his job “a dream come true. From the moment I first became aware of television I knew I wanted to be on TV regularly for children. So many of the things that have happened for me have been things I dreamed of doing.” As for retiring? “I can’t imagine it,” he says. “It keeps me young.”
Underneath Big Bird’s feathers is a device called “an electric bra” strapped to Spinney’s chest so he can see what’s happening outside the feathers. “We call it that just as a joke,” says Spinney. “It’s really a TV monitor, a tiny little television set. We have a new one now, an LED monitor and it is too big. It takes up room and it is robbing me of space for the scripts inside.”
Caroll is President Obama’s ninth cousin, but Big Bird isn’t dogmatic in the least. “Big Bird, I’m told by the owners of him, does not have political opinions. I thought of an idea that would get around that problem if someone [ever asked about it]. ‘I don’t know who that is,’ he says in Big’s voice. ‘I thought we had a king.’ In most fairy tales lands are run by kings or queens.”
NASA invited Big Bird’s to be a passenger on the doomed Space Shuttle Challenger to get kids interested in the space program. “I said, ‘Yes, I’d love to go.’ About a month later they found out there was no place on the craft to put Big Bird. I realized it would be dangerous, but who could picture what actually happened?”
You know my guest today from playing Stephen Jameson on “The Tomorrow People” and Ronnie Raymond/Firestorm on “The Flash” or on “The X-Files” as FBI Agent Miller. Today Robbie Amell is here to talk about his latest film, the sci fi thriller “Code 8.”
CODE 8 INFO: Code 8, written by Chris Pare, is set in a world where 4% of the population is born with some type of supernatural ability, but instead of being superheroes, they are heavily policed and live in poverty. Robbie plays Connor, a powerful young “electric” struggling to pay for his ailing mother’s medical treatment. To earn money, he joins a lucrative criminal world led by Garrett, played by Stephen, who teaches him how to use his powers to pull off a series of increasingly dangerous crimes.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast: Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated for her screenwriting work on the feature film 'District 9', Terri Tatchell loves blending fantastical stories with social commentary. The 'Endangered and Misunderstood' series of children's picture books does just, taking an accessible approach to the serious subject of endangered animals, with an emphasis on laughter, adventure and everyday relatable themes.
Richard interviews Yvette Nicole Brown who plays Aunt Sarah in the Disney+ version of "Lady and the Tramp." They talk about adopting rescue dogs, wearing corsets and if Brown agrees that her character is the villain of the story.
Our guest today has been called Twitter’s resident gynecologist, the Internet’s OB/GYN. She is Dr. Jen Gunter, an OB/GYN and a pain medicine physician. She is Gwyneth Paltrow’s nemesis, a fierce advocate for women’s health and has devoted her professional life to caring for women. She also writes about sex, science, and social media and is the author of The Vagina Bible: The Vulva and the Vagina--Separating the Myth from the Medicine.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast: Eating has become a confusing experience. Should we follow a keto diet? Is sugar the next tobacco? Does fermented cabbage juice cure disease? Are lectins toxic? Is drinking poppy seed tea risky? What’s with probiotics? Can packaging contaminate food? Should our nuts be activated? What is cockroach milk? We all have questions, and Dr. Joe Schwarcz has the answers…
He is an author and a professor at McGill University. He is the director of McGill's Office for Science & Society, which is dedicated to demystifying science for the public.
In separate interviews Richard sits down with the cast of "Frozen 2," Josh Gad who plays the snowman, and Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel, as sisters Princess Anna of Arendelle and Queen Elsa of Arendelle. They talk about keeping the plot secret during the three year production and why the original film resonated with audiences.
This week on The Richard Crouse Show Podcast: Anne Bokma is an award-winning freelance journalist and the author of My Year of Living Spiritually: From Woo-Woo to Wonderful—One Woman's Secular Quest for a More Soulful Life.
In 2017, she began a quest to become a more spiritual person. After leaving the fundamentalist religion of her youth, she became one of the eighty million North Americans who consider themselves spiritual-but-not-religious, the fastest growing “faith” category.
The resulting book documents a diverse range of soulful first-person experiences and personal reflections on her spiritual journey.
Richard interviews "Terminator: Dark Fate" director Tim Miller.
More than two decades have passed since Sarah Connor prevented Judgment Day, changed the future, and re-wrote the fate of the human race. Dani Ramos (Natalia Reyes) is living a simple life in Mexico City with her brother (Diego Boneta) and father when a highly advanced and deadly new Terminator – a Rev-9 (Gabriel Luna) – travels back through time to hunt and kill her. Dani's survival depends on her joining forces with two warriors: Grace (Mackenzie Davis), an enhanced super-soldier from the future, and a battle-hardened Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton). As the Rev-9 ruthlessly destroys everything and everyone in its path on the hunt for Dani, the three are led to a T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) from Sarah’s past that may be their last best hope.
The book is called Craft Cocktails: Seasonally Inspired Drinks and Snacks From Our Sipping Room. On sale in store – October 1, 2019
GEOFF DILLON is the founder of Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers. He has a degree in biology and economics and is a Master Distiller certified by the Institute of Brewing and Distilling. Geoff lives in Beamsville with his wife Whitney and their dog Sam.
WHITNEY RORISON is the Hospitality Manager at Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers. With a passion for spirits and cocktails, she has been involved in the business from the very beginning. Whitney lives in St. Catharines with her husband and two children.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast: Catherine Hernandez is the author of Scarborough and the upcoming Crosshairs, her second novel which will be published in 2020 by Harper Collins Canada. Soon, Scarborough will be adapted into a film by Compy Films, Telefilm Canada and Reel Asian Film Festival. Her plays The Femme Playlist / I Cannot Lie to the Stars That Made Me, Singkil, and Kilt Pins were published by Playwrights Canada Press, and she is the Artistic Director of b current.
Today we’re here to talk about I Promise, a children's picture book about how all queer families start with the promise to love a child, with illustrations by activist and scholar Syrus Marcus Ware.
This week on The Richard Crouse Show Podcast: Dave Hill is a comedian, writer, musician, actor, radio host, and man-about-town originally from Cleveland, Ohio but now living in New York City. He is also one quarter Canadian, thanks to his grandfather… and has always had a fascination with Canada, a fascination he explores in his new book "Parking the Moose."
This week on The Richard Crouse Show Podcast: Director Jim Mickle and star Boyd Holbrook talk about their new sci fi thriller "In the Shadow of the Moon."
Jim Mickle is the creator of TV series “Hap and Leonard” and director of films such as “Cold in July” and Cannes Fortnight selection “We Are What We Are,” “Mulberry Street,” and “Stake Land.” Actor Boyd Holbrook has appeared in films such as “Milk,” “Out of the Furnace,” “Run All Night,” and “Gone Girl,” and starred as DEA Agent Steve Murphy in the Netflix series “Narcos” and in 2017 he portrayed villain Donald Pierce in “Logan.”
Synopsis: In 1988, Philadelphia police officer Thomas Lockhart (Boyd Holbrook), hungry to become a detective, begins tracking a serial killer who mysteriously resurfaces every nine years. But when the killer’s crimes begin to defy all scientific explanation, Locke’s obsession with finding the truth threatens to destroy his career, his family, and possibly his sanity. “In The Shadow Of The Moon” is a genre-blending psychological thriller that examines the power of time, and how its passing can either bring us together or tear us apart.
This week on The Richard Crouse Show Podcast: Steve Smith called his new tour This Could Be It, although he says “if I was a betting man, I'd put my money on 'This Is Definitely It.'" He’s talking about talking his alter ego Red Green, on his final journey throughout his homeland, with a coast-to-coast trek that will culminate on October 30th at the Georgian Theatre in Barrie, Ontario.
These final “Lodge Meetings” have not only entertained audiences on both sides of the border but given the comedian a chance to see how The Red Green Show has helped people's lives.
Kicking off September 19 in Grand Prairie, Alberta, Red Green
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast: “Between Two Ferns: The Movie,” brings back the celebrity-interview spoof that racked up millions of views since the first of its 22 episodes hit the internet in 2008.
The film is a mockumentary about “Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis,” a public-access TV show with a host who asks famous people obnoxious questions.
Co-starring with Galifianakis is Lauren Lapkus as Zach’s assistant who joins us today along with the film’s director Scott Aukerman.
This week on The Richard Crouse Show Podcast: Kevin Doyle plays the Abbey's second footman, Joseph Molesley. Molesley has had a tumultuous time over the series, however he seems to have found peace and, potentially, love with fellow servant, Phyllis Baxter (Raquel Cassidy).
As well as numerous stage credits, Doyle is a familiar face on British television. As well as appearances on Casualty, Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and Midsomer Murders, he has starred in ITV's At Home With the Braithwaites, BBC drama The Lakes and played the rebel John Constable in The Tudors.
This week on The Richard Crouse Show: Ann Hui is The Globe and Mail’s National Food Reporter and uses food as a lens to explore public policy, health, the environment, science and technology. Before she joined The Globe, her writing was published in the Walrus, the National Post, the Toronto Star and the Victoria Times Colonist. Her new book is Chop Suey Nation: The Legion Cafe and Other Stories from Canada’s Chinese Restaurants.
This week on THe Richard Crouse Show our guest is Michael Crummey, the author of eight books of poetry, a book of short stories, a book of nonfiction, and four celebrated novels, including the Giller-prize nominated River Thieves. His new book is The Innocents, a story of survival in which a brother and sister confront the limits of human endurance and their own capacity for loyalty and forgiveness in an isolated cove on Newfoundland's northern coastline.
Adrienne Kress is a writer and an actress born and raised in Toronto. She is the daughter of two high school English teachers, and credits them with inspiring her love of both writing and performing. She is the author of The Explorers series, including the new book The Explorers: The Quest for the Kid. She also has a second book coming out this month called Bendy and the Ink Machine: Dreams Come to Life. To find out more about Adrienne, visit AdrienneKress.com and follow @AdrienneKress on Twitter and Instagram.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast: A two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, my guest Terry Fallis is the award-winning author of six national bestselling novels, including his latest, Albatross: A Novel.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show: In January 1985, at the age of eighteen, Logathasan (Das) Tharmathurai left his home in Sri Lanka in a desperate bid to build a new life for himself and his family abroad after a deeply traumatic encounter with a group of Sinhalese soldiers. The story of his terrifying and often astonishing journey includes a refugee camp, being smuggled across international borders, living with drug dealers, being imprisoned, and more… the entire story is in his new book The Sadness Of Geography.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show: Joanne Vannicola is an Emmy award-winning actor and writer, who has been working in film, television, and theatre since they were eight years old. They have also been nominated for a Genie, a Gemini, and an ACTRA award.
Joanne is a long-time advocate for the LGBTQ community and is the Chair of the first LGBTQ+ committee for the actors union, ACTRA, and sits on the sexual assault ad-hoc committee at ACTRA for women in film and television.
Joanne’s memoir, All We Knew but Couldn’t Say (Dundurn Press) is available now.
This week on The Richard Crouse Show podcast writer and theatre creator Graham Isador joins the show. He trained as a part of the playwright unit at Soulpepper Theatre. Isador's first person journalism--pieces on spending a week living like Joe Rogen or searching for the worst bar in Niagara Falls--has appeared at VICE, The Risk Podcast, and the punk rock satire site The Hard Times, and many other places. Richard and Graham discuss his new Summer Works show White Heat, how seriously people should take online abuse, and the late, great Spalding Gray.
This week on The Richard Crouse Show, Richard welcomes Damhnait Doyle a Juno-nominated songwriter and performer who serves on SOCAN’s board of directors. In April, she released her solo album, Liquor Store Flowers. Recently she also wrote an opinion piece on how the music industry needs to support musicians who quit drinking.
This week on The Richard Crouse Show, Richard welcomes “Teardown: Rebuilding Democracy from the Ground Up” author Dave Meslin. From the publisher: “He has been called a “wizard,” a “mastermind,” “the ultimate ideas guy,” a “mad scientist,” and a “start-up genius.” As a social and political entrepreneur and community organiser he promotes the message: We’re stronger and smarter when we’re all involved. His latest project is a book called Teardown: Rebuilding Democracy from the Ground Up. It is a recipe for change. A cure for cynicism. A war on apathy.”
This week on the Richard Crouse Show: “Listen Up!” is the new book by my guest Grammy-award winning producer Mark Howard. An album-by-album account of working with iconic artists such as Anthony Kiedis, Michael Stipe, Gord Downie, and Bono the book is a backstage pass into the lives of some of the planet’s most iconic musicians. Along with the inside stories, each chapter gives recording and producing information and tips with expert understanding of the equipment used in making the world’s most unforgettable records and explanations of the methods used to get the very best sound.
This week on The Richard Crouse Show, Richard welcomes four very special guests, “Midsommar” director Ari Aster and star Jack Reynor, “The Lion King” co-star Billy Eichner and travel guru Rick Steves.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show: With three GRAMMY® nominations and 11 albums to his name, Donny McCaslin is one of music’s most respected saxophonist and band leaders on the scene today. As the bandleader on David Bowie's final album Blackstar he pushed his boundaries even further. McCaslin brings his daring fusion of vibrant electronica and illuminating art-rock across Canada this June.
This week on The Richard Crouse Show, Richard has an in-depth look at “Toy Story 4.” To talk about the creation of Pixar’s first ever Canadian character, the patriotic daredevil Duke Caboom, Richard chats with Greg Mason, Vice-President of Marketing for Walt Disney Canada and Ben Su, one of the Canadian animators who helped create the character. Keanu Reeves also chimes in on why he wanted to play Caboom. Then Tony Hale, who plays the new character Forky in the film, swings by to talk about his character’s existential crisis.
This week on The Richard Crouse Show: A new documentary called “There Are No Fakes” explores what the filmmaker says could be the largest art fraud scam in Canadian history. What begins as a document of a court case and its countersuits turns into something more important, more vital, as it underlines how Indigenous artists, even world-famous ones, have been exploited. Joining me in studio are director Jamie Kastner and one of the film’s subjects, Barenaked Ladies member Kevin Hearn.
This week on “The Richard Crouse Show”: You know Randall Park as Eddie Huang’s father, American restaurateur Louis Huang, in “Fresh Off the Boat,” for which he was nominated for the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series. He was Danny Chung on “Veep,” Kim Jong-un in the 2014 film “The Interview” and you’ve seen him on “The Office,” in “Trainwreck” plus the superhero movies “Ant-Man and the Wasp” and “Aquaman” among many others. He co-wrote and co-stars with Ali Wong in his latest Netflix movie “Always Be My Maybe.” In the romantic comedy they play childhood friends who have a falling out and don’t speak for 15 years. They reconnect as adults when Sasha runs into Marcus in San Francisco. Although the old sparks are still there, the couple live in different worlds.
I love this so much. I interviewed director Jamie Kastner and Barenaked Ladies member Kevin Hearn this morning about a fantastic film they have coming out on June 14 called "There Are No Fakes." The whole interview will air in a week or so but I wanted to share this great clip of Kevin talking about working with Lou Reed. Reed was his friend and musical hero. He was also Reed's musical director and keyboardist from 2007 until his passing in 2013.
This week on The Richard Crouse Show author Anthony De Sa. He grew up in Toronto’s Portuguese community and attended The Humber School for Writers and now heads the English department and directs the creative writing program at a high school for the arts. His latest novel is "Children of the Moon," an historical drama set in Tanzania and Portuguese-controlled Mozambique. He lives in Toronto with his wife and three sons.
Richard Crouse interviews Mena Massoud, the Canadian star of the Disney live action remake of "Aladdin." They talk about working with Will Smith, why he switched from neuroscience to theatre school and supporting ethnically diverse Canadian artists.
This week on The Richard Crouse Show: Woman Enough: How a Boy Became a Woman and Changed the World of Sport is the account of a human rights battle with global repercussions for the world of sport; it's a challenge to rethink fixed ideas about gender; and it's the extraordinary story of a boy who was rejected for who he wasn't, and who fought back until she found out who she is. It’s written by my guest today Kristen Worley.
In 1976, Ian McEwan’s first collection of short stories, First Love, Last Rites, won the Somerset Maugham award; his first novel, The Cement Garden, was published two years later. He won the Booker prize in 1998 with Amsterdam. He was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of British Empire) in the 2000 Queen's Millennium Honors List for his services to Literature. His novels Atonement, On Chesil Beach, Enduring Love and The Children Act have been made into films. His new book Machines Like Me is in bookstores now.
This week on The Richard Crouse Show: "In This Dark Chest of Wonders: 40 Years of Stephen King's The Stand," Andy Burns ("Wrapped In Plastic: Twin Peaks," BiffBamPop.com) tells the story behind the story of King's enduring opus and delves deep into its various incarnations — the unfilmed George A. Romero adaptation; the 1994 ABC mini-series; the audiobook; and Marvel Comics' adaptation. Included are exclusive interviews with Stephen King experts Bev Vincent, Robin Furth, Mick Garris, Jamey Sheridan, WG Snuffy Walden, Grover Gardner, Ralph Macchio, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Mike Perkins.
This week on The Richard Crouse Show we welcome one of Canada's favourite performers, Mary Walsh. She became famous on the sketch comedy show CODCO, created CBC’s This Hour Has 22 Minutes, and is a versatile actress appearing in the Gemini Award-winning Hatching, Matching and Dispatching, which she wrote and starred in. She is a Member of the Order of Canada and has received a Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards for Lifetime Artistic Achievement.
NewsTalk 1010 morning host John Moore and Richard discuss the passing of Chewbacca portrayer Peter Mayhew. “Peter Mayhew was a kind and gentle man, possessed of great dignity and noble character. These aspects of his own personality, plus his wit and grace, he brought to Chewbacca. We were partners in film and friends in life for over 30 years and I loved him. He invested his soul in the character and brought great pleasure to the Star Wars audience," Harrison Ford said in a statement.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show director Larry Weinstein stops by to discuss his latest documentary "Propaganda: The Art of Selling Lies." A timely look at what activist Astra Taylor calls, “political brainwashing,” the film details the reasons why we are so often sucker punched by the use and abuse of the media.
This week on The Richard Crouse Show: "Black Leopard, Red Wolf" author Marlon James, recently named one of Time's 100 most influential people. From Time magazine: James lives part-time in St. Paul and teaches at Macalester College, where he is writer-in-residence. He was born in Jamaica and is the author of "The Book of Night Women," winner of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize; "A Brief History of Seven Killings," winner of the Man Booker Prize, and "Black Leopard, Red Wolf," already being made into a movie. About that book, Rushdie writes, it is "highly original, its language surging with power, its imagination all-encompassing. Marlon is a writer who must be read."
This week on The Richard Crouse Show: Funny, thought-provoking, and incredibly disturbing, Slow Death by Rubber Duck reveals that just the living of daily life creates a chemical soup inside each of us. The book by Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie empowers readers with some simple ideas for protecting themselves and their families, and changing things for the better.
On this week's show lifestyle celebrity and TV pioneer Debbie Travis stops by to chat. She discusses her new book "Design Your Next Chapter: How to realize your dreams and reinvent your life," her legendary television shows "Debbie Travis' Painted House," "Debbie Travis' Facelift," "From The Ground Up" and "All For One" plus how she designed her own success.
On this week’s show: "Through Black Spruce" stars Tanaya Beatty and Brandon Oakes and director Don McKellar.In “Through Black Spruce,” an adaptation of Joseph Boyden’s Giller Prize-winning novel, Beatty stars as Annie Bird, a Cree woman from James Bay who travels to Toronto in search of her twin sister Suzanne, a model who disappeared without a trace.As Annie explores the dark underbelly of the city’s fashion scene at home in Moosonee her Uncle Will (Mohawk actor Oakes) runs afoul of local drug dealers. They think Suzanne’s boyfriend ripped them off and want to talk to her about where he is. When Will won’t tell them he is beaten within an inch of his life.
On this week's show: Director, writer and producer John Lee Hancock. His films include THE FOUNDER, starring Michael Keaton, which tells the story of McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc; and SAVING MR. BANKS, starring Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson, about the relationship between Walt Disney and P.L. Travers. He also wrote and directed Warner Bros. and Alcon Entertainment’s celebrated feature THE BLIND SIDE. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won Sandra Bullock the Best Actress award. His new film, THE HIGHWAYMEN follows the untold true story of the legendary detectives who brought down Bonnie and Clyde.
On this week’s show Richard welcomes the stars of “An Audience of Chairs.” Based on a 2005 novel of the same name by Newfoundland & Labrador author Joan Clark, “An Audience of Chairs” stars one of our guests, Carolina Bartczak, as a woman who risks everything in order to reconnect with the daughters she thought she’d lost forever. Also with us is Gord Rand who plays Ben, a lonely trucker who passes through town.
Just days after his 50th birthday in 2013, CTV's film critic Richard Crouse was booked for a routine colonoscopy. He thought it would be little more than a nuisance, but it wound up being a life-saver.
Now, six years later, in honour of Colon Cancer Awareness Month, Crouse shares his account of the moment he was diagnosed with cancer and the life-changing effects of that news.
Read his story at ctvnews.ca
Just days after his 50th birthday in 2013, CTV's film critic Richard Crouse was booked for a routine colonoscopy. He thought it would be little more than a nuisance, but it wound up being a life-saver.
Now, six years later, in honour of Colon Cancer Awareness Month, Crouse shares for the first time his account of the moment he was diagnosed with cancer and the life-changing effects of that news.
On this week's show performers Rebecca Liddiard, Gerry Dee and Lisa Berry discuss MADE | NOUS a movement to encourage all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the creative talent from our country at home and abroad.
Richard joins Moore in the Morning host John Moore on NewsTalk 1010 to discuss the impact of the documentary “Leaving Neverland” and the legacy of the late Luke Perry.
This week on The Richard Crouse Show we welcome Ruth Goodwin, Liz Johnston and Nigel Downer to talk about their new show Entrances and Exits at Sketchfest. Also appearing in the live show are Colin Mochrie (Whose Line), Linda Kash (Best in Show) and Andrew Phung (Kims Convenience).
This week Richard welcomes Ali and Larry Weinstein, co-directors of "The Impossible Swim." In July 2018, Maya Farrell attempted her second crossing of Lake Ontario, following in the footsteps of great Canadian female marathon swimmers Marilyn Bell and Vicki Keith. Featuring interviews with Bell and Keith, ‘The Impossible Swim’ explores the legacy, what it takes physically and mentally to be a marathon athlete, and the new rising regime.
This week on The Richard Crouse Show, Ian Williams. He is the author of Personals, Not Anyone's Anything, You Know Who You Are, a finalist for the ReLit Prize for poetry. He was named one of ten Canadian writers to watch by CBC. His new book is a novel called “Reproduction,” a love story about the way families are formed.
On the Richard Crouse Show this week: While attending college for musical theatre Harris Anderson began to perform stand-up. After moving to Vancouver in 2013 he began to perform regularly at clubs and shows around the city. He has appeared at JFL Northwest multiple times and has been called one of the most exciting up-and-coming comics on the scene. His debut comedy album Above and Beyond is available from Vancouver independent record label 604 Records.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for January 26, 2018! This week Richard speaks with Jennifer Dale. Dale stars in the romantic drama “Into Invisible Light.” It’s a film that asks ‘What would you do if you had a second chance in your life?’”
I'm on a purge, ridding myself of stuff I've carried around for years. Right now I'm digitizing cassettes of old interviews (What was I doing 36 years ago today? According to the label on one of the tapes I was interviewing David Wilcox!), airchecks and whatnot when I came across this little gem from my first ever radio gig at CKBW Radio in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. Click and enjoy the first promo from my first radio show!
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for January 26, 2018! This week Richard speaks with Stefan Grambart and Richard Rotter, part of the creative team behind the immerse web series "Damaged." Synopsis: "Damaged" is a digital psychological thriller and interactive experience, about a young man who tries to unravel the mystery of a local gang and their connection to a serial killer called The Wolf.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for January 19, 2018! This week: We all want to be happy. And money can play an important role in helping us get more joy out of life. Money expert Melissa Leong has written a new book called Happy Go Money and she’s here to tell us how to get happier and wealthier in 2019.
NewsTalk 1010 host Jerry Agar really liked "The Upside" starring Kevin Hart and Bryan Cranston. Film critic Richard Crouse rated it 2.5 out of 5. Jerry asks, "Are film critics out of touch with the general public?"
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for January 12, 2018! This week on the Richard Crouse Show we chat with Dr. Don Weaver, physician, researcher, 'Origami Master' of drug design, multiple patent holder, "micropharma" founder, Tier 1 Neuroscience Canada Research Chair and Director of the Krembil Research Institute. We talk concussions, brain health and the James Cagney movie "Captains of the Clouds."
Do we boycott what looks to be a good movie because originally it was produced by Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Hart is in it? Richard and NewsTalk 1010 host Jerry Agar discuss.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for January 04, 2018! This week on the Richard Crouse Show we chat with Jason Sniderman. He invented his glam-rock musical persona when he was 12 years old. Now at 59, the Toronto musician is ready to share it with the world.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show we chat with Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall author of "Hungover: The Morning After And One Man’s Quest For The Cure." From www.penguinrandomhouse.com: Bishop-Stall spent the better part of a decade studying the complex state of post-drunk hell for “Hungover: The Morning After and One Man’s Quest for the Cure.” He doesn’t just delve into the chemical science of hangovers; he also mixes personal memoir with some of history’s most storied mornings after. Bishop-Stall insists that hangovers should stop being viewed as some sort of cosmic punishment , and instead as a common condition worthy of a cure.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show we chat with Emily Mortimer, star of "Mary Poppins Returns," Patrick Wilson and Yahya Abdul Mateen II of "Aquaman," Travis Knight director of "Bumblebee," comedian Greg Proops, "Eighth Grade" director Bo Burnham and "A Quiet Place" director John Krasinski. It's a jam packed show so grab and egg nog and join us!
This week on the Richard Crouse Show the team behind Montreal’s Joe Beef and Liverpool House restaurants, Frédéric Morin, David McMillan And Meredith Erickson, have a new cookbook, Joe Beef: Surviving the Apocalypse; Another Cookbook of Sorts. They provide survivalist recipes for both outdoorsmen and bunker-dwellers, as well as a dollop of French cuisine and a 16-page gatefold full of photos of preserved edibles to stock in the cellar.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for November 10, 2018! This week Richard welcomes Paul Myers, author of “Kids in the Hall: One Dumb Guy,” the definitive, authorized story of the legendary sketch comedy troupe.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for December 1, 2018! This week Richard welcomes singer/songwriter Jon Brooks, photographer Rick McGinnis and actor and Humanity and Inclusion spokesperson Anthony Lemke.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for November 10, 2018! This week Richard welcomes Sam Maggs, a best-selling writer of books, comics, and video games. She’s a Senior Writer for Insomniac Games; the author of “The Fangirl’s Guide to the Galaxy,” “Wonder Women,” and “Girl Squads.”
This week Richard welcomes chef and author of "The Last Schmaltz," Anthony Rose. "Whether you know him as Toronto's King of Comfort Food, the Don of Dupont, or the Sultan of Smoked Meat, a conversation about the food and restaurant scene in Toronto isn't complete without mention of Anthony Rose. From his famous Fat Pasha Cauliflower (which may or may not have caused the Great Cauliflower Shortage of 2016) and Rose and Sons Patty Melt to his Pork Belly Fried Rice and Nutella Babka Bread Pudding, Anthony's dishes have consistently made waves in the culinary community. Now, in his first cookbook, Anthony has teamed up with internationally-renowned food and travel writer Chris Johns to share his most famous recipes and stories."
This week Richard welcomes Ryan Boyko, director of "That Never Happened: Canada's First National Internment Operations." INFO: Between 1940 and 1920 over 8500 people were wrongfully imprisoned in Canada. A new documentary That Never Happened: Canada's First National Internment Operations reveals the story of Canada's first national internment operations between 1914 - 1920, when over 88,000 people were forced to register and more than 8,500 were wrongfully imprisoned in concentration camps across Canada, not for anything they had done but because of where they came from. In 1954 the public records were destroyed, and in the 1980s a few brave men and women began working to reclaim this chapter in history and ensure future generations would know about it.
In 2011 Barry Avrich made a documentary about indie film mogul Harvey Weinstein, Unauthorized: The Harvey Weinstein Project. He has followed that one up with The Reckoning: Hollywood’s Worst Kept Secret, available on VOD this week.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010! Richard and Phil Savenick talk about the MZTV Museum of Television presentation of “FORGOTTEN GENIUS: The Boy Who Invented Electronic Television”, the new exhibit, curated by Savenick. It is devoted to the story of Philo T. Farnsworth (1906 – 1971), the man who revolutionized television and changed the future of communications on earth.
This week Teddy Wilson stops by The Richard Crouse Show. MIGHTY TRAINS takes viewers into the world of rail travel to witness the inner workings of what it takes to launch and execute a mighty journey on some of the world’s most incredible railway equipment. The six-part series is hosted by Teddy Wilson, an engaging and inquisitive train enthusiast. He goes along for the ride from beginning to end, keeping our viewers riveted to every exciting detail of the train and its journey.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for September 29, 2018! This week Richard welcomes Brock Cahill: Founder of SeaChange, Cinematic Activist; Preservation Tactician, Regina Domingo: Executive Director and Founder of Nakawe Project Conservationist, Filmmaker and Julie Anderesen: Founder, Shark Angels. the panel discusses their friend and colleague the late documentary filmmaker Rob Stewart and his new film “Sharkwater Extinction.”
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for September 29, 2018! This week Richard welcomes Dave Bidini. The Toronto-based musician and author is the co-founder and songwriter with the Rheostatics, has written a number of books on music, hockey and life on the road and is the founder of the West End Phoenix, a monthly newspaper for his own West End neighbourhood in Toronto. His new book is Midnight Light, a Personal Journey to the North.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for September 29, 2018! This week Richard welcomes singer/songwriter Catherine MacLellan. Her father Gene MacLellan made history as the first Canadian songwriter to have a song broadcast over one million times in the United States. A new documentary, The Song And The Sorrow, about Gene, his suicide in 1995 and how Catherine became ready to confront the hurtful mystery of her absent parent and embrace his musical legacy.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for September 29, 2018! This week Richard welcomes comedians Greg Proops and Tony Hinchcliffe.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for September 15, 2018! This week Richard welcomes music biographers Nicholas Jennings and Michael Barclay! Their latest books on Gordon Lightfoot and The Tragically Hip, respectively, are must reads for music lovers.
Comedian Greg Proops on why he loves podcasting. See him at JFL42 in Toronto this weekend! Tonight at 7 pm at the Royal Theatre, Friday night at midnight at Second City, Saturday at 8:45 pm at the Royal and Sunday at 8 at Yuk Yuks!
Comedian Greg Proops on what he talks about on his podcast. See him at JFL42 in Toronto this weekend! Tonight at 7 pm at the Royal Theatre, Friday night at midnight at Second City, Saturday at 8:45 pm at the Royal and Sunday at 8 at Yuk Yuks!
Comedian Greg Proops on what made him laugh as a youngster. See him at JFL42 in Toronto this weekend! Tonight at 7 pm at the Royal Theatre, Friday night at midnight at Second City, Saturday at 8:45 pm at the Royal and Sunday at 8 at Yuk Yuks!
This week on The Richard Crouse Show: You know her from twitter--@annetdonahue--and Flare calls her “the internet’s best friend,” but my guest Anne T. Donahue has also written for MTV, Cosmopolitan, the Guardian, the Globe and Mail, Refinery29, Sportsnet, Nylon, and Paper Magazine… her latest project is a book, Nobody Cares, a collection of essays about, as the press release says, “work, failure, friendship and the messy business of being alive in your twenties and thirties.”
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for September 8, 2018! This week Richard welcomes “Beirut Hellfire Society” author Rawi Hage.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for August 25, 2018! This week Richard welcomes photographer Denis O’Regan is David Bowie’s official tour photographer and creator, in collaboration with Bowie, of Ricochet: David Bowie 1983.
On this week's The Richard Crouse Show, Richard sits down with Brian Henson, son of Jim Henson and the director of ‘Happytime Murders.’ They discuss the R-rated movie, the miscreant puppets who star in it and if there was a line they wouldn’t cross.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for August 18, 2018! This week Richard welcomes actor Eric Roberts, star of the new thriller “Never Saw it Coming.” Roberts talks about the new film, working with Shelley Winters, Bob Fosse and more!
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for August 11, 2018! This week Richard welcomes comedian, author and former “Saturday Night Live” star Darrell Hammond and Danai Gurrira, co-star of “Black Panther.”
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for July 28, 2018! This week Richard welcomes singer, song writer, activist and author Bif Naked!
From her website: Bif Naked is an International Recording Artist, Poet, Writer, Troublemaker, Nice Girl, Dishwasher, MartialArtist, Ballerina, StraightEdger, TreeHugger, Bare-Knuckle Fighter, Canadian Citizen and Middle Daughter.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for July 28, 2018! This week Richard welcomes "the most interesting man in the world," actor and Astral Tequila spokesperson Jonathan Goldsmith! How interesting is he? He talks about taking Judy Garland on a date and getting shot by John Wayne!
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for July 21, 2018! This week Richard welcomes Lauren Greenfield, director of the documentary “Generation Wealth,” Bo Burnham, director of the wonderful new film “Eighth Grade,” comedian Darcy Michael and “Swap Club 2” author Lauren Wise.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for July 14, 2018! This week Richard welcomes the best selling author Linwood Barclay. We talk about his latest book, “A Noise Downstairs” and how he found his way from newspaper columnist to chart topping writer of thrillers.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for June 30, 2018! This week Richard welcomes "A Quiet Place" director John Krasinski, "Ant-Man and the Wasp" star Hannah John-Kamen and legendary photographer Mick Rock.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for June 30, 2018! This week Richard welcomes Jay Bennett, producer of the “Darken,” a new sci-fi, horror hybrid film from director Audrey Cummings and Ruth Goodwin of Entrances and Exits: A Spontaneous Farce.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for June 16, 2018! This week Richard welcomes Sook-Yin Lee, writer, director of “Octavio is Dead!”
Some info on the film: A mysterious, sensual tale, Octavio Is Dead! follows Tyler (Sarah Gadon) on an adventure that will define her life. Escaping her overbearing mother (Rosanna Arquette), Tyler enters the rich and strange world of her deceased father, Octavio (Raoul Trujillo), a father she never knew. Sexual identity, the occult, and the ability to distinguish fantasy from reality confront her along her journey.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for June 16, 2018! This week Richard welcomes Brad Bird, director of “The Incredibles 2,” Domee Shi, the first female director of a Pixar short, Travis Smith, author of “Superhero Ethics” and Jeremy Piven, "Entourage" actor-turned-stand-up-comedian.
This week on The Richard Crouse Show best selling author and scientist Dr. Joe Schwarcz. He joins us to debunk some popular misconceptions about science and talk about his new book, "A Feast of Science." . Are there fish genes in tomatoes? Can snail-slime cream and bone broth really make your wrinkles disappear? What’s the problem with sugar, resistant starch, hops in beer, microbeads, and “secret” cancer cures? Are “natural” products the key to good health? And what is “fake news” all about? Listen in as Dr. Joe answers these questions and more.
Mick Rock, legendary photographer, "The Man Who Shot the Seventies," drops by the Richard Crouse Show. His bio: Legendary rock photographer Mick Rock is often referred to as ‘The Man Who Shot the Seventies’, for his iconic images of Syd Barrett, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Queen, The Ramones, Blondie, Rocky Horror Picture Show, etc. London born, he has resided in New York for over 35 years. He has shot over 100 album covers.
Rock was instrumental in creating many key rock ‘n’ roll images, such as album covers for Syd Barrett’s Madcap Laughs, Lou Reed’s Transformer and Coney Island Baby, Iggy and The Stooges’ Raw Power, Queen’s Queen II (recreated for their classic music video ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’) and Sheer Heart Attack, The Ramones End of the Century and Joan Jett’s I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll, among many others. He was the chief photographer on the films The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Shortbus. He recently shot special stills for the new TV version of Rocky Horror, featuring the transgender actress Laverne Cox as Frank n Furter. He also produced and directed the seminal music videos for Bowie: ‘John, I’m Only Dancing’, ‘Jean Genie’, ‘Space Oddity’, and ‘Life On Mars’.
A classic quote from Mick in the London Times, who dubbed him ‘the music world’s top snapper’: “I’ve never felt like a voyeur, although I’ve certainly done plenty of looking! I work from the inside out. Like a cook I gather all the ingredients and keep mixing and stirring and tasting until the kind of effluvia starts to rise, then I’m off to the races. It’s an addictive kind of a feeling that I need a regular shot of otherwise I don’t feel right…”
See an exhibition of his work at the LISS GALLERY in Toronto, 112 Cumberland St - 416-787-9872.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for May 26, 2018! This week Richard takes a look at “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” with special guests star Paul Bettany, vice president of marketing for LucasFilm in Canada Greg Mason, ILM special effects guru Greg Kegel and more!
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for May 19, 2018! This week Richard welcomes Michael Melski, director of psycho drama “The Child Remains.”
From Richard’s review of “The Child Remains:”
The story of the Butterbox Babies resides in one of the darkest chapters of Canadian history. From 1928 to 1945 a home for unwed mothers on the South Shore of Nova Scotia sold and otherwise disposed of babies, allegedly burying the unwanted tots in “butter boxes” or wooden crates from the local grocery. The dastardly goings-on at the Ideal Maternity Home lie at the heart of a spooky new film from East Coast filmmaker Michael Melski.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for May 12, 2018! This week Richard welcomes Sarah Rotella, director and producer for Nobody Famous, Maya Gallus, Director of The Heat and comedian Kyle Bottom.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for May 4, 2018! This week Richard welcomes Norwegian director Håvard Bustnes to discuss his film “Golden Dawn Girls.”
Info on “Golden Dawn Girls” from HotDocs.ca: “When the key male leaders of Greece’s far-right political party, Golden Dawn, are imprisoned for organized criminal activity, the task of leadership falls on the shoulders of a daughter, a wife and a mother. Together this fiercely poised and unsettling trio are entrusted with the leadership of the party and continuation of its ultranationalist, far-right political agenda, which has been described as neo-Nazi, fascist and anti-globalist, although the group rejects these labels. As the party prepares for the upcoming elections, director Håvard Bustnes gains access to their secret chambers and meetings and the women aggressively attempt to control the filming, as if expecting Bustnes to become their personal propagandist. But when the women call “cut,” he leaves the camera rolling and we gain exceptional insight into the dark side of this political party, revealing an ever-widening gulf between facts and political image-making.” – Heather Haynes
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for April 21, 2018! This week Richard welcomes “The Accountant Of Auschwitz” director Matthew Shoychet and producer Ricki Gurwitz, “United We Fan” director Michael Sparaga and Scott Reid, CTV’s political analyst and “Avengers: Infinity War” fan.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for April 21, 2018! This week Richard welcomes guests from A Swingers Weekend, co-writer and director Jon E. Cohen and co-writer and producer Nicola Sammeroff and star Jonas Chernick! This is a lively one as the panel chimes in on the effectiveness of sex robots, Dwayne Johnson and more!
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for April 14, 2018! This week Richard welcomes guests, from the web series Chateau Laurier, director/producer James Stewart and co-writer Emily Weedon and Trista Suke, director Foxy .
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for March 31, 2018! This week Richard welcomes Tom Rachman, author of the bestselling “The Italian Teacher.”
Some info: Tom Rachman is the author of four works of fiction: his bestselling debut, The Imperfectionists (2010), which was translated into 25 languages; the critically acclaimed follow-up, The Rise & Fall of Great Powers (2014); a satirical audiobook-in-stories Basket of Deplorables (2017); and an upcoming novel set in the art world, The Italian Teacher (March 2018).
Born in London and raised in Vancouver, Tom studied cinema at the University of Toronto and journalism at Columbia University in New York. He worked at The Associated Press as a foreign-news editor in Manhattan headquarters, then became a correspondent in Rome. He also reported from India, Sri Lanka, Japan, South Korea, Egypt, Turkey and elsewhere. To write fiction, he left the AP and moved to Paris, supporting himself as an editor at the International Herald Tribune. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and newyorker.com, among other publications. He lives in London.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for March 31, 2018! This week Richard welcomes Alan Hollinghurst, author of the bestselling “The Sparsholt Affair.”
From www.penguinrandomhouse.com: “From the winner of the Man Booker Prize, a masterly novel that spans seven transformative decades as it plumbs the complex relationships of a remarkable family.
“In 1940, David Sparsholt arrives at Oxford to study engineering, though his sights are set on joining the Royal Air Force. Handsome, athletic, charismatic, he is unaware of his powerful effect on others—especially on Evert Dax, the lonely and romantic son of a celebrated novelist who is destined to become a writer himself. With the world at war, and the Blitz raging in London, Oxford exists at a strange remove: a place of fleeting beauty, of secret liaisons under the cover of blackouts. A friendship develops between David and Evert that will influence their lives for decades to come.”Alan Hollinghurst’s sweeping new novel evokes across three generations the intimate relationships of a group of friends brought together by art, literature, and love. We witness shifts in taste and morality through a series of vividly rendered episodes: a Sparsholt holiday in Cornwall; eccentric gatherings at the Dax family home; the adventures of David’s son Johnny, a painter in 1970s London. Richly observed, emotionally charged, this dazzling novel of fathers and sons, of family and legacy, explores the social and sexual revolutions of the past century, even as it takes us straight to the heart of our current age.”
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for March 24, 2018! This week Richard welcomes award winning comedian and writer Stacey McGunnigle, actor Anthony Lemke and "Punk Rock" actor Ruth Goodwin.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for March 17, 2018! This week Richard welcomes Fan Expo HQ Vice President Andrew Moyes, Tanner Zipchen and one of Toronto Comic Con’s cosplay guests, Violet Love.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for March 10, 2018! This week Richard welcomes The Opera Queen, Catherine Kustanczy, Julie Eng, magicienne, ED of Magicana and host of The Science of Magic and CSA nominee for best original screenplay Adam Garnet Jones.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for March 3, 2018! This week Richard welcomes Kevin Frank, artistic director of the Second City Training Centre, Second City director and performer Carly Heffernan and Media Whore author Daniel Shehori.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for February 24, 2018! This week Richard welcomes director, producer and writer Ingrid Veninger who talks about her new film Porcupine Lake.
A long weekend treat for you! Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for February 17, 2018! This week Richard welcomes comedian Ali Hassan, actor Christy Bruce and comedian and actor Paul Bates! They wonder if anyone really likes holding hands and discuss if Facebook should have a dislike button and more! reposted without the annoying metronome sound!
A long weekend treat for you! Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for February 17, 2018! This week Richard welcomes comedian Ali Hassan, actor Christy Bruce and comedian and actor Paul Bates! They wonder if anyone really likes holding hands and discuss if Facebook should have a dislike button and more!
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for February 10, 2018! This week Richard welcomes A. C. Peterson, who plays Bernie in “Dark Harvest,” “My Piece Of The City” subject Kate Fenton, Clare McConnell from Second City National Touring Company and the “Star Trek Discovery” series.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for January 27, 2018! This week Richard welcomes the cast of “Jerusalem,” Kim Coates, Nicholas Campbell and Philip Riccio. From the Streetcar Crowsnest website: The theatre experience of 2018. Award-winning Canadian screen icon Kim Coates (FX’s Sons of Anarchy) returns to the stage after almost thirty years—teaming up with two of Toronto’s leading theatre companies to present the national premiere of Jez Butterworth’s explosive masterwork. A pied piper tale for the Tarantino generation, Jerusalem is the story of aging daredevil Johnny “Rooster” Byron, purveyor of drugs, alcohol, mythic tales and sanctuary to the troubled teens of Wiltshire county. Come squat with Rooster deep in the heart of Byron wood, as he rails against the community council bent on eradicating him, bulldozing the land, and putting up condos. A bold new exploration of one of the most lauded plays of the past twenty years, described by Ben Brantley of The New York Times as “a great frame-busting play that thinks big — transcendently big — in ways contemporary drama seldom dares”.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for January 27, 2018! This week Richard welcomes “Badsville” director April Mullen, Sharon Lewis, writer/director of the new film “Brown Girl Begins” and Craig Lauzon, who talks about “The Drawer Boy” as part of the 50th Anniversary of Theater Passe Muraille.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. In this episode actor Geoff Stults talks about the fib he told to land the role of a Green Beret in "12 Strong" while "Forever My Girl" star Jessica Rothe gushes about her favourite movie... and no, it's not the one we were supposed to be talking about! It's fun stuff so c'mon in and sit a spell.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for January 20, 2018! This week Richard welcomes certified tea sommelier Jennifer Commins from Pluck Tea, actor Connor Thompson and Be Ready for the Lightening author Grace O’Connell.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for January 6, 2018! This week Richard welcomes Carson Pinch from Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival 2018, “Off the Cuff” comedian Jeff Leeson and show regular and comedian Simon Rakoff!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. On the first all new, all singing and dancing show of 2018 "American Wolf: A True Story of Survival and Obsession in the West" author Nate Blakeslee stops by to tell the fascinating story of one wolf pack, led by alpha female, O-Six. It's a fascinating look at wildlife in America's west that isn't simply about the wolves but politics as well. It's good stuff so c'mon in and sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. As we start another year we're taking one more week to remember the good stuff about 2017. Christopher Nolan stopped by the HoC to talk empathy, his epic war film "Dunkirk" and what movies inspired him to make movies. Ethan Hawke came by to talk "Maudie," the biopic of Nova Scotian painted Maud Lewis and why he feels he never had his big break. It'll give you something to think about in the New Year so c'mon in and sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. We wanted to repay you for being such great houseguests so we put together a special show with two of out favourite people from the past year. Hollywood legend Ann Margret talks about the accident that almost ended her career while Gilbert Gottfried talks about why he wouldn't want his kids to follow in his footsteps. It's good stuff so c'mon in and sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Today singer, painter and author Tom Wilson stops by to chat about his memoir "Beautiful Scars: Steeltown Secrets, Mohawk Skywalkers." You know his music from bands like Junkhouse, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings and Lee Harvey Osmond, now find out his fascinating life story. It's good stuff, so c'mon in and sit a spell.
If you haven’t seen Star Wars The Force Awakens yet, SPOILER ALERT, Luke turned his back on everything and went to hang out with Porgs on a deserted island after his nephew slaughtered all of his new Jedi. This weekend fans will flock to theatres to find out what happens next in the Skywalker Saga. Who is Rey, what’s the deal with Snoke – why are Chewie and the Porg Screaming in the trailer all will be revealed in the most anticipated movie release of the year.
In this hour we'll hear from some Sci-Fi and fantasy experts – my pals from Innerspace on the Space channel – a long time Star Wars fan who debunks the myth that Star Wars fans are all nerdy basement dwellers and we start with the man responsible for HYPING up Canadians about ALL of the Star Wars movies coming to a theatre near you.
The Richard Crouse Show for Saturday December 9, 2017. This week Richard welcomes Larry Weinstein, director of “Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas,” John Mitchell, director of “Waiting for Ishtar” and Susan Coyne, screenwriter of “The Man Who Invented Christmas.”
Welcome to the House of Crouse. ”Atonement” director Joe Wright’s new film is a spirited—and funnier than you’d imagine—retelling of the machinations behind World War II’s Operation Dynamo. In a tour de force performance, “Darkest Hours” stars Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill in a movie that would make a great double bill with Christopher Nolan’s “Dunkirk.” Wright swings by the CrouseCast to talk about the movie and active resistance against bigotry and totalitarianism. Then "In the Cage" award winning Kevin Hardcastle author offers up why you should always back up your MacBook and more! It's good stuff, so c'mon in and sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. This week the director and star of the terrific neo-noir "Sweet Virginia," Jamie M. Dagg and Christopher Abbott swing by to ask, How do you have a soft spot for a murderous psychopath? Then Shirley Gnome, “the Queen troubadour of intelligent black-comic sex balladry,” stops by to talk carnal cabaret, hecklers and her new album Take It Up The Notch. It's good stuff! Stop by and sit a spell!
“The Queen troubadour of intelligent black-comic sex balladry” joins The Richard Crouse Show to talk about getting her start as a performer, how she handles hecklers and her new album "Taking It Up The Notch." Her bio calls it "award winning, cleverly-carnal cabaret comedy that is NOT for the faint of heart." Tune in, it's raunchy good fun.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. By day David Nickle is a mild mannered reporter, covering Toronto City Hall for Metroland Media Toronto, but by night he is one of the best horror writers in the genre. Comparisons to H.P. Lovecraft and Stephen King abound. He's also acclaimed, with a closet full of awards like the Bram Stoker Award and Aurora Award for his fiction. His new novel "Volk: A Novel of Radiant Abomination" is earning raves. Check this out: "...a political, psychological and philosophical allegory of remarkable depth and ambition: the most intellectually provocative horror novel of the twenty-first century." Wow. Join the CrouseCast to hear David talk about his book, the problematic Lovecraft and much more.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to work at PIxar? "Coco" star Anthony Gonzalez enthusiastically tells us what it's like. The "Justice League" star Ray Fisher describes how his character Cyborg resonates with fans who feel under-represented. Then "A Brief History of Oversharing" author Shawn Hitchens swings by to discuss the importance of humiliation. It's good stuff so c'mon in and sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Joe Hagan is an investigative journalist who has written for New York, Rolling Stone and The Wall Street Journal. Today he swings by the CrouseCast to talk about the book Jann Wenner doesn't want you to read, "Sticky Fingers: The Life and Times of Jann Wenner and Rolling Stone Magazine." It's a fascinating book with its own fascinating story. So, c'mon in and sit a spell with us.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Taika Waititi has remained true to the core of what fans will expect from the crown prince of Asgard as played by Chris Hemsworth, but this time around the Norse God is not exactly your father’s Thor. "Thor: Ragnarok" is a reinvention of the franchise and Waititi stops by the HoC to explain how he did it. Then "Dina" co-directors Dan Sickles and Antonio Santini stop by to talk about how they achieved the level of intimacy the present in their award winning documentary. It's good stuff so c'mon in and sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Join Richard as he speaks with Second World War historian James Holland and "Hunting Nazi Treasure" producer Steve Gamester as they explore how artwork and cultural artifacts are targets during times of war. Also, find out why "Dunkirk" didn't pass the history test. It's good stuff so c'mon in and sit a spell.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for October 21, 2017! This week Richard welcomes "One Brother Shy" author Terry Fallis and Bianca Marais, author of the South African set novel "Hum If You Don’t Know the Words."
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Singer, songwriter, author and actor Alan Doyle didn't leave Newfoundland until he was twenty years old. His experiences criss-crossing the country since then with his band Great Big Sea and as a solo artist form the backbone of his new book "A Newfoundlander in Canada." He's a great storyteller and you'll want to hear his stories unique POV on Newfoundland, Canada and music. It's great stuff so c'mon in and sit a spell.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for October 14, 2017! This week Richard welcomes comedian Danny Polishchuk, the host of a comedy event on November 4th at the Isabell Bader Theatre in support of the Canadian Civil liberty association, Michael James Regan writer, director and star of Recall and comedian Simon Rakoff.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. This week legendary theatre director Benedict Andrews calls in to chat up his first film, the controversial Una. He talks about presenting the complex story of a woman and her abuser and working with stars Rooney Mara and Ben Mendelsohn. Then comedian Danny Polishchuk details the long strange journey his latest show took to get to the stage. It's great stuff so c'mon in and sit a spell.
In "Great Great Great" a young couple's decision to get engaged threatens to break them apart. Richard Crouse welcomes the film's stars Sarah Kolasky (also the co-writer), Daniel Beirne and Richard Clarkin to talk relationships, gun control, insults and the other big pop culture news of the week.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Canada is a huge country with a small population. Author Doug Saunders explains how we got here and why we need to increase the population if we are to survive. The author of "Maximum Canada: Why 35 Million Canadians Are Not Enough" gives us a history lesson with an eye to the future on this week's House of Crouse podcast. C'mon in and sit a spell!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. This week Denis Villeneuve swings by to tell the HoC what advice Blade Runner director Ridley Scott gave him about reimagining the world for a new generation. Here's a hint, the answer is NSFW. Then The Mountain Between Us director Hany Abu-Assad describes why shooting his film in remote western Canada was "like having an orgasm." It's good stuff so stop by and sit a spell.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for September 23, 2017! This week Richard welcomes Daniel Shehori author, with Stephen Shehori, of Media Whore: A Shockingly Simple Guide to Becoming Your Own Kickass Publicist, Ruth Burns of Culture Days and Antanas Sileika, author The Barefoot Bingo Caller.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. It's a packed show. Jake Gyllenhaal, Tatiana, Miranda Richardson and Jeff Bauman, the real life inspiration for "Stronger" swing by to talk about their take on the Boston Marathon bombing of 2013. It's is not the story of a bomb or the radical politics that saw it planted at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. It’s the story of the aftermath and one man's inspirational recovery. Then "Battle of the Sexes" directors Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton come by to talk about why Billie Jean King is such an important thread in our cultural fabric. It's all good stuff, so c'mon in and sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Howie Mandel is best known as a stand up comedian and game show host, but he also has a serious side. In our conversation he talks about "On My Way Out: the Secret Life of Nani and Popi," a film he produced about how secrets can be harmful and then reveals how sharing a secret changed his life. It's good stuff, so c'mon in and sit a spell.
Richard Crouse and NewsTalk 1010 morning show host John Moore talk about Crouse's new talk show "Pop Life."
More info: Set in a bar, the show features Crouse sharing a toast with celebrity guests and entertainment pundits each week. Guests on the show will include jazz musician Diana Krall, rock star Meatloaf, stand-up comedian and CNN host W. Kamau Bell and more.
In addition to in-depth conversations, the show will also include panel discussions with actors, musicians, authors and journalists on hot-button topics of the week from the world of show business, pop culture and media.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. It's astounding. Time is fleeting. 42 years have zipped by since Patricia Quinn and Little Nell Campbell became cult heroes courtesy of their starring roles in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." They drop by and madness takes control of the HoC. Then author Claire Cameron talks about her fascinating book "The Last Neanderthal," a suspenseful, and profoundly moving book that asks us to reconsider all we think we know about what it means to be human. It's good stuff, so c'mon in and sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Author and broadcaster Linden MacIntyre is a Giller Prize winner, a journalist who worked as a foreign correspondent for the CBC for almost 40 years and he's a hell of a story teller. He swings by the House of Crouse to chat up his latest novel The Only cafe. We talk about growing up with a tradition of storytelling and how he drew upon the violence he witnessed while reporting in Beirut in the 1980s to write this book. It's fascinating stuff, so c'mon in and sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Patti Cake$, a story of big dreams and hip hop glory, stars Danielle Macdonald as a walking, talking attitude in plus size clothes; a woman with a way with words and a dream of bettering her circumstances through hip hop. We talk with her about dropping the Aussie accent to play Patti. Then Penelope Cruz drops by to chat up her new film The Queen of Spain, which sees her play Spain's most glamorous political heroine, Macarena Granada. It's good stuff, so c'mon in and sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. I wonder if, in 200 years, aliens will study all our dead Instagram accounts to gain insight into our way of life. If so, you could forgive them if they surmised that everyone in 2017 lived perfect, #blessed lives filled with the wonders of avocado toast and gorgeous sunsets. I got top thinking about that after my convo with "Ingrid Goes West" star Aubrey Plaza. It's a great movie and we had a lovely time discussing how social media affects each and every one of us. Then we dig into the vault to speak with Ryan Reynolds, which is always fun. C'mon in and sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. It's a full house today, all aces and no jokers. Kim Coates stops by to describe how he landed the biggest role of his life playing Tig on "Sons of Anarchy." Then Ted Kotcheff talks about how and why he made "First Blood," the movie that gave us Rambo. To close things off the aptly named The Amazing Randi swings by to talks about his wild life and working with Johnny Carson. It's great stuff. C'mon in out of the heat and sit a spell with us.
NewsTalk 1010's Richard Crouse Show welcomes film critics Peter Howell and Andrew Parker. They talk about the discuss the state of film criticism in a bummer summer.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Last year Taylor Sheridan helped breathe new life into the western genre with the script to Hell or High Water. It was a hot and sweaty West Texas crime drama that earned four Oscar nominations. Before that he penned Sicario, the Emily Blunt, Benicio del Toro drama about an idealistic FBI agent working with an elite task force to stem the flow of drugs between Mexico and the US. His latest film, this time as both writer and director, is another neo-western but feels much different. “Wind River” is a wintry murder mystery set on a First Nations Reserve. Listen in and find out why he wouldn't trust anyone but himself to direct this film. Then Wyatt Russell, son of Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell and star of the soon-to-be-released-on-DVD "Goon: Last of the Enforcers" swings by to talk hockey and having famous folks. It's good stuff so c'mon in and sit a spell.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for July 29, 2017! This week Richard welcomes a special roster of guests. Ethan Hawke talks about his movie “Maudie,” Christopher Nolan chats about shooting his film “Dunkirk” on the beach where it actually happened, Matt Reeves talks about the scariest movie he’s ever seen and former Vice President Al Gore speaks about the environment and his new documentary “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power.”
Here’s some info on The Richard Crouse Show!: Each week on The Richard Crouse Show, Canada’s most recognized movie critic brings together some of the most interesting and opinionated people from the movies, television and music to put a fresh spin on news from the world of lifestyle and pop-culture. Tune into this show to find out what’s going on behind the scenes of your favorite shows and movies and get a new take on current trends. Richard also lets you know what movies you’ll want to run to see and which movies you’ll want to wait for DVD release.
The show airs:
NewsTalk 1010 – airs in Toronto Saturday at 9 to 10 pm.
For Niagara, Newstalk 610 Radio – airs Saturdays at 6 to 7 pm
For Montreal, CJAD 800 – Saturdays at 6 to 7 pm
For Vancouver – CFAX 1070 – Saturdays 6 to 7 pm.
For London — Newstalk 1290 CJBK, Saturdays 10 to 11 pm
Welcome to the House of Crouse. This week the late, great George A. Romero puts an end to one of the most enduring film legends of all time. Then the former Vice President of the United States drops by to discuss his new documentary "An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power" and what to do when it gets so hot the street starts to melt. Stop by and sit a spell, it's good stuff. Also, there is a great pun inhere somewhere about the pairing of the Zombie King and a man named Gore, but we are too tasteful to make it.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. We welcome two film directors to sit a spell at the HoC today. William Friedkin is a legend, the director of The Exorcist and The French Connection among many others. We don't talk about those. Instead I asked him about one the most trangressive movies ever made, The Devils. Listen in to hear his opinion on why naked nuns may have cost Ken Russell a box office hit. Then Christopher Nolan brings his big brain over to talk about Dunkirk and why cinema matters. It's good stuff, swing by.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. World War Z, Zombie Women of Satan and The Walking Dead owe a debt of gratitude to Night of the Living Dead. In 1968, the story of story of people trapped in a rural Pennsylvania farmhouse trying to survive an attack by reanimated ghouls dragged a bloody new horror genre into the marketplace. The film was directed by George A. Romero, man a kind and gentle man who became known as the King of the Zombies. He passed away this weekend at the too young age of 77. The House of Crouse pays tribute to the great man.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. It's a full house this week with guests from the film and fashion world. Izzy Camilleri is here to talk about her healthy eating book "Izzy's Eating Plan" but we also talk about how she designed one of the most iconic Canadian stage costumes of all time. Then Ali Weinstein stops by to chat about her film "Mermaids," a look at the healing power of the mono-fin. Then, in one from the vault, we geek out with "War for the Planet of the Apes" director Matt Reeves. We talk movies and why "The Exorcist" still scares him today. It's great stuff so c'mon in and sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. The reality of the situation is that beloved actor James Cromwell is now a jailbird. The "Babe" star was sentenced to jail for refusing to pay fines related to his arrest at a protest at a New York power plant. When he swung by the HoC he talked about the beginnings of his political activism. Then, HoC pal Kris Abel stops by to talk about another kind of reality, virtual reality and a new project from "Ghostbusters" director Ivan Reitman. It's good stuff so whatever your reality is, c'mon in and sit a spell.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for July 01, 2017! This week Richard and panelists “Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons” star Ruth Goodwin, “Encyclopedia of Lies” author Chris Gudgeon and tech wizard Kris Able talk about the important stuff like robotic dog nannies and mini bars!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Julie Taymor brought the animals of The Lion King to life on Broadway, creating one of the biggest hits ever on the Great White Way. She's the director of movies like "Frida" and "Across the Universe." In "A Midsummer Night's Dream" she blends the two, presenting a film of her acclaimed stage production. It's beautiful, magical stuff and we spoke about it at length. Then the HoC pays tribute to the great Swedish actor Michael Nyqvist who recently passed away at age 56. The "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" star talked about everything from Proust to George Clooney. It's good stuff, so c'mon in and sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. It's Canada Day up Canada way. To celebrate we're having a look back at the life and legacy of a voice that every Canadian knows. Peter Mansbridge, who steps down this week after a 50 year career with the CBC, talks about how he landed the gig that would make him famous and the first words he ever spoke on air. Then we look at the beginnings of the polar bear fighting superhero Captain Canuck. It's good stuff so grab a plate of poutine and a glass of maple syrup and c'mon in and sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. This week we get our motors running and head out on the highway. It's our classic cars episode. To celebrate we welcome Nathan Fillion, one of the stars of "Cars 3." We chat about everything from car design to soap operas and naming your kids after TV characters. Then Edgar Wright pulls into the parking lot. We talk about his twenty-two-years-on-the-making pedal to the metal movie "Baby Driver." C'mon in and fill up your tank!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. This week we celebrate two years of non-stop conversations! To help us whoop it up Gilbert Gottfried stops by to talk about being hated on the internet, why he doesn't want his children to become comedians and Yakov Smirnoff. Then we grab another comedian, Albert Brooks, from the vault. In a convo from 2011 he talks co-starring in the movie Drive and his concern that Twitter will turn him into Bob Hope. It's good stuff! Come on in and join the fun!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Batmans come and go. For a time Michael Keaton wore the caped suit. Then in rapid succession Val Kilmer and George Clooney donned the cowl. In recent years Christian Bale and Ben Affleck have been fitted for the Bat-Suit, but of all the actors to have played the Dark Knight, one stands head and shoulders above the rest in our imaginations. For two-and-a-half heady years—and 120 episodes—from 1966 to 1968 Adam West was Batman on the most popular show on television. West passed away Friday night in Los Angeles after a short battle with leukemia. He was 88 years old. This conversation dates from 2010 and finds West in a chatty and gracious mood. Sit back and raise a glass to the man who called himself The Bright Knight.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. This week we learn about the perils of pizza delivery from Brett M. Butler and Jason G. Butler, former delivery guys and directors of First Round Down. Following the talk of pizza and porn we go long with legendary director Tony Palmer. The All You Need Is Love documentarian talks about how his friendship with John Lennon kickstarted his film career, working with Leonard Cohen and much more. It is great stuff so grab a slice and sit a spell with us.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Today we're throwing A Night At El Morocco theme party with three very special guests. Join us to hear Topher Grace talk about his idiotic new character, David Soren on elevating potty humour and Gilbert Gottfried reveal why the entire internet hated him. It's party chat at its best, so pull up a stool to the bar, pour a cold drink and sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse's celebration of forty years of one of the great movie franchises. February 3, 1959 and February 9, 1964. The day the music died and the date it was reborn on the Ed Sullivan Show, both days burned into the collective memories of pop culture fanatics everywhere. But what about May 25, 1977? If you were a teenager then chances are you felt the earth shift. It was the day Star Wars opened, kicking off a cultural phenomenon that continues to this day. C'mon in and sit a spell as HoC has a look at the universe George Lucas unleashed in 1977. Richard chats with Anthony Daniels a.k.a. C-3PO, Riz Ahmed, star of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story on his childhood love of the franchise, the father of the light sabre Roger Christian and Pablo Hidalgo, the ultimate Star Wars fan and keeper of the myths as part of the Lucasfilm Story Group. C'mon in, pour yourself a Ragnook Spring Water and join the fun.
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for May 6, 2017! This week Richard welcomes First Round Down’s Butler Brothers (directors Brett M. Butler and Jason G. Butler) and star Rachel Wilson. Here’s some info on the movie:
You can never go home again, particularly if you’re a former local legend gone bad. “First Round Down,” an offbeat new film starring “Orphan Black’s” Dylan Bruce is a story of hockey, hitmen and hometown expectations.
Split into three sections—or periods—Bruce plays Hamilton, Ontario’s Tim Tucker, a junior hockey star and prodigy on and off the ice. When an injury ends his NHL dreams he goes off the grid, disappearing, leaving behind his pregnant girlfriend Kelly Quinn (“The Republic Of Doyle’s” Rachel Wilson) and all traces of the life he once knew. After ten years of doing wet work as a Montreal mob enforcer he returns home after his parents pass away to look after his younger brother and get his life back on track. “Winning has been harder to come by since you haven’t been around,” says his old coach. “Winning has been harder since hockey hasn’t been around,” comes Tim’s rueful reply. A job as a pizza delivery driver is less than satisfying—customers who don’t tip bring out his bad side—so before long he takes on the proverbial one last job to make money to look after his brother and possibly woo Kelly.
A Cancon soundtrack—heavy on Junkhouse, Sloan, The Northern Pikes and Triumph—fuels the action. “First Round Down” is working class Tarantino, a scrappy crime story that proudly wears its low budget status on its sleeve, wisely investing in story and characters instead of oversized set pieces.
Bruce, Quinn and John Kapelos (playing a mob boss) keep things lively but it is the filmmaking that impresses. Full of energy, it’s a grubby popcorn flick with the spirit of a hockey fight.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. It's a special time around here as we celebrate 100 weeks of good conversation. This week we sip some bubbly and have a look at the yin and yang of movie promotion. The yin is Guy Ritchie, the yang is Charlie Hunnam. Click on the link for the whole story. Then we go long with photographer Chris Buck. His 30 year retrospective Uneasy is on bookshelves right now and he's a fascinating interview with great stories about taking photos of everyone from Donald Trump to Ice T. It's good stuff. C'mon in and sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. This week we learn about Baby Groot and golf. Not playing golf with Baby Groot, but how Michael Rooker relates to the tiny tree-like being and why Jason Connery loves to play golf. The HoC guests give you a behind-the-scenes look at Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 and Tommy's Honour. It's good stuff so c'mon in, sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. This weeks we opened the vault and John Lydon jumped out! It's an encore conversation with the Sex Pistol about life, perception and a movie called "Sons of Norway." then Ken Finkleman swings by to talk about his new movie "An American Dream" and share stories about working "as a hack" in Hollywood. Find out how he dealt with his crew's taste for cocaine on the set of "Airplane 2." It's good stuff. C'mon in and sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. When Terry Jones announced, ‘I’ve got dementia. My frontal lobe has absconded,’ I immediately thought back to discussing the legacy of Monty Python with the comedy legend. He's a lovely man and I wanted to share a few minutes of that talk with you. Then "Degrassi: Next Class" screenwriter Courtney Jane Walker swings by to talk about how she finds inspiration everywhere from court rooms to the subway. Finally, we go long with "American War" author and former war correspondent Omar El Akkad. The Washington Post called the novel "poignant and horrifying" and El Akkad is a fascinating conversationalist. It's all great stuff so c'mon in and sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Five years after being offered the role of Emily Dickenson in "A Quiet Passion" Cynthia Nixon said, “I never thought it would come together. I thought, ‘Thank you for thinking of me, it is a good part for me but I don’t see how you are going to get this made.’” Find out how she and Terence Davies brought the film to the screen. Then sit back and let "First Blood" director Ted Kotcheff regale you with stories from his very entertaining life. It's all good stuff so c'mon in and sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. In "Maudie" Ethan Hawke plays a gruff Nova Scotian man who learns how to love. How brusque is he? “You walk funny,” he says when he first meets her. “You a cripple? You sick?” Not exactly a charmer. We talk about the film and his love of Nova Scotia. Then we go long with Ann-Margret, talking about her life, career--including a twenty-two foot on-stage tumble that almost ended her career--and her new movie, Going in Style. It's all good stuff so c'mon in and sit a spell!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. This week Linda Thorson, star of the film The Second Time Around (in theatres now!) swings by the HoC. Thorson is a stage, film and television actress, best known for playing Tara King in the classic television series The Avengers alongside Patrick Macnee. She talks about getting her most famous role with a little help from John Huston and dancing with Paul McCartney! It's good stuff so c'mon in and sit a spell!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. First up, "Wilson" star Judy Greer stops by for a quick visit to talk about working with Woody Harrelson and signing the boobs of Archer fans. Then we go long with "Goon: Last of the Enforcers" star Kim Coates. He recites Shakespeare, talks about "Sons of Anarchy" and growing up on the Canadian Prairies. From boobs to Shakespeare, we cover it all, so c'mon in and sit a spell.
The Richard Crouse Show from NewsTalk 1010. This week Richard sits with Linda Thorson, the star of the film The Second Time Around (in theatres now!). Thorson is a stage, film and television actress, best known for playing Tara King in the classic television series The Avengers alongside Patrick Macnee. She also appeared in everything from the action-adventure series Return of the Saint, Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Greek Tycoon, the Steven Seagal actioner Half Past Dead, Emily of New Moon and the long running British TV series Emmerdale… and let’s not forget critically-regarded stage turns in Noises Off, Equus and August: Osage County.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. It's a full house today. Dax Shepard and Michael Pena stop by to chat about doing the stunts in "CHIPS," their wild and wooly update of 70s television nostalgia. Wyatt Russell talks about his famous parents, Goldie and Kurt, and how playing a professional hockey player in "Goon: Last of the Enforcers" took him back to when he was a real life professional goalie. Then to round out the visit, "Personal Shopper" director Olivier Assayas calls Kristen Stewart the "best actress of her generation." It's good stuff so c'mon in and sit a spell.
Here is NewsTalk 1010's Richard Crouse Show for March 11, 2017. Guests include Ian Lake and Krystin Pellerin of the Stratford festival production of "Macbeth" and Dave Alexander from "Untold Horror."
Welcome to the House of Crouse. To me the still shot of two teens, one wearing an Edward Bear t-shirt, hitchhiking on a two-lane highway is a powerfully nostalgic Canadian image. I grew up in 1970s era Nova Scotia where hundreds of kids (me included) hitchhiked on roads big and small. The image is iconic, a sentimental picture of a simpler time brought to vivid life in “Weirdos,” Bruce McDonald and Daniel MacIvor's sweet new coming of age story. So pull up a beanbag chair, pull on your tie dyed t-shirt and listen to Bruce and Daniel as they transport us back to the 1970s. C'mon in and sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. C'mon in, pull up a bean bag chair and enjoy photographer Chris Buck talking about taking portraits of everyone from President Obama and President Trump to Jay Z and Willie Nelson for his book Uneasy. Which world leader did he make spit out their gum? Listen in and find out. Then Logan star Hugh Jackman comes by to talk about finding the confidence to get up on stage in drama school. It's good stuff, so sit back, relax and sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Put on your jumpers or your nicest frock! It's "Rule, Britannia!" Day around the HoC. Gemma Arterton pops round to talk about cannibal ants who can change species and her zombie movie "The Girl with All the Gifts." Then it's sit-back-and-listen-to-a-legend time as we raid the vault to bring you Michael Caine speaking about his revenge flick "Harry Brown." It's great stuff, so never mind the bollocks, drop in for a cuppa and take a load off.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. On Oscar weekend we celebrate actors and the craft of acting so it is with sadness we commemorate Bill Paxton who passed away yesterday at age 61. In this short podcast I speak with the director and cast of "Mean Dreams." They talk about what it was like working with Paxton and shooting one very difficult scene.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Today "Fist Fight" director Richie Keen talks about sneaking on to the sets of John Hughes films and how it made him feel like he finally found the place he belonged. Then Natalie Brown swings by to chat about making "XX," a new horror anthology film written, produced, directed and starring women! Pull up a beab bag by the fireplace and hang out with us. You're always welcome at the House of Crouse. No walls here.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. It's a sombre week around the HoC as we remember Rob Stewart, the environmentalist and filmmaker who passed away January 31, 2017 while filming a documentary. His movie Sharkwater won awards all over the world and shed light on the plight of sharks in the modern world. On a lighter note, Michael Cera stops by to chat about playing Robin in The Batman Lego Movie. C'mon in and sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Elan Mastai wrote "The F Word." That should be enough to earn him a place of honour at the HoC but, as if that wasn't enough, he then wrote a wildly imaginative and entertaining book of humanistic sci fi called "All Our Wrong Tomorrows." Interested? Tune and hear him talk about it. It's a good listen so c'mon in and sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Today around the old HoC we're thinking locally but acting globally. Joyce A. Nashawati’s pre-apocalyptic film "Blind Sun" sets xenophobia and alienation against the sunny backdrop of Athens, Greece. Jamie Kastner's documentary "The Skyjacker's Tale" tells the story of Ishmael Muslim Ali an American convicted of murdering eight people in the US Virgin Islands who hijacked an American Airlines plane full of passengers to Cuba on New Years Eve 1984, and got away with it. Until now. Great stories, so come on in and sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Today it's ripped-from-the-headlines day around the old HoC. Two documentary filmmakers drop by to chat up two very different films. Dilip Mehta's "Mostly Sunny" is a look at Sunny Leone, the Canadian born performer who made the jump from porn star and “Penthouse Pet of the Year” to Queen of Bollywood. Then Emmy Award winner Stanley Nelson drops by to discuss "Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities," his wide ranging look at how Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or HBCUs, have helped shape the societal and cultural history of America for the last 170 years. It's fascinating stuff so c'mon in and sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. This week "Paterson" star Adam Driver expresses disbelief that his new film won't make $165 million on it's opening weekend and Don McKellar talks about why he has always found film restrictive. It's fun stuff, so c'mon in and sit a spell with us.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. We're having a look back today at some favourite conversations from 2016. Jay Baruchel talks soccer, Moon Zappa chats about her dad Frank, exotic dancer and JFK mistress Tempest Storm talks about her life and comic book legend Stan Lee discusses alliteration. It's all good stuff, and it's all at the House of Crouse! C'mon in and sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. It was so busy around here for the holidays we forgot to post the Best of 2016 edition! Here it is, words of wisdom from Spike Lee, Jonah Hill, photographer George Zimbel and Cheap Trick! Crazy big show to celebrate a crazy year. C'mon in, take a load off and sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Denise Donlon is a lot of things, Canadian business executive, television producer, host and member of the Order of Canada to name just a few. She is now also an author. Her book "Fearless as Possible (Under the Circumstances)" is a memoir about her career spent at the highest levels of Canadian cultural life. Today she stops by the House of Crouse to talk about Much Music, Sony Records, a disagreement with Leonard Cohen and much more. C'mon in and sit a spell!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Last week we teased you with a taste of Riz Ahmed. Today you get the long version were we talk about Star Wars, The Night of and much more. David Frankel, director of Collateral Beauty, talks about working with an all star cast and how Will Smith controls the weather to get his way on set. C'mon in, sit a spell!
Welcome to an extra House of Crouse. In joyous celebration of the release of "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" here's a standalone HoC podast with Lucasfilm story group head geek Pablo Hidalgo. He probably knows more about "Star Wars" than anyone on the planet and is the man with the "Star Wars" plan. He makes sure the all the puzzle pieces fit together seamlessly. C'mon in and geek out with me and Pablo. The force is strong with him.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. It's a packed house this week. Director John Madden goes long on his political thriller Miss Sloane and the pleasures of working with Jessica Chastain. T.J. Miller talks about laughing through the apocalypse and Riz Ahmed discusses realizing a childhood dream by starring in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. It's loads of guests and loads of fun so c'mon in and set a spell!
Check out the Richard Crouse Show on NewsTalk 1010 for December 03, 2016! This week Richard welcomes "Dark Matter" star Anthony Lemke stops by to talk about his work as Official ambassador in Canada for Handicap International.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. If you are one of those people who likes to see all the movies that will be nominated for Academy Awards then run out and see "Manchester by the Sea" right now. If you are one of those people who likes to learn all about the movies that will be nominated sit a spell and listen to Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams talk about making "Manchester." Then, as if that wasn't enough, Denise Donlon stops by to tell a funny and touching story about her friend Leonard Cohen. C'mon in and sit a spell. There's always room for one more at the House of Crouse.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. “How to Train Your Dragon” star Jay Baruchel stops by the HoC to chat up his new documentary “Celtic Soul.” The film features Baruchel and sports broadcaster Eoin O’Callaghan, who met via twitter and a shared love of Glasgow Celtic. After two years of chatting 140 characters at a time the pair became friends when O’Callaghan came to Montreal to visit the actor. That turned into the first leg of a journey that would take them from Quebec’s Bell Centre, home ice of the Canadiens, to Dublin’s Croke Park, one of Europe’s largest sports stadiums where they try hurling, a forerunner to hockey. They travel two continents and three countries to make it to see a match in paradise a.k.a. Celtic Park and Jay and Eoin tell the whole story on the show this week. It's a great story. C'mon in, sit a spell and enjoy.
Welcome to the Richard Crouse Show! This week: Kim D’Eon is an award-winning television host and Canadian media personality who became a registered holistic nutritionist after following her passion for healthy eating. Equipped with a science-based education in nutrition, an honours degree in journalism, as well as a 15-year broadcasting career, she’s become a recognized healthy living expert who inspires people to eat more real food.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. It's a magical day around here. Not only do the cast of the Harry Potter prequel Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them drop by--including Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne--then we have a Warren Beatty sighting. As fans know Beatty sightings are as rare(and precious)as Bismuth Crystals. He and Rules Don't Apply star Lily Collins swing by to talk about the movie and the film's unusual production. Abracadabra! C'mon in and sit a spell... we're pulling rabbits out of hats today!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. What do you call a group of directors? A herd? A swarm?I don't know. Since the cinema is my church perhaps I'll call my guests, "Arrival" helmer Denis Villeneuve and "Trolls" co-directors Walt Dohrn and Mike Mitchell a congregation of directors. Whatever you call it, it's two lively conversations about everything from how sci fi sparked a young boy's imagination to how the power of a positive attitude changed one director's life. C'mon in, sit a spell at the good 'ole HoC!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. This weekend Rachel McAdams will be on every movie screen in North America as part of the "Doctor Strange" cast. Before the film's release she stopped by the HoC to talk about sewing up turkeys and much more. Legendary photographer Lynn Goldsmith also drops in, talking about praying with Bono, loaning a leather jacket to Bruce Springsteen and asking Bob Dylan to be quiet. It's great stuff and you don't want to miss it. So, c'mon in and set a spell!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Here edited audio from a press conference I hosted with 'Gimme Danger" director Jim Jarmusch and his subject, Iggy Pop. By 1973 Iggy and the Stooges had imploded, leaving behind three commercially unsuccessful records and a slug trail of decadence and unfulfilled expectations across two continents. “Gimme Danger” is Jarmusch’s grotty documentary about the life, death and influence of The Stooges. It's a first hand account of what the director calls “the greatest rock and roll band ever." C'mon in and sit a spell!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. C'mon on in, settle into a comfy chair by the fireplace and meet Cobie Smulders and director Uwe Boll. Cobie has been in action movies a plenty, but she’s rarely part of the action. That changes in Jack Reacher: Never Go Back. She talks about it hear. Then Uwe tells us why, after making thirty movies, the critics won't have him to kick around anymore. Join us. It's more fun in here than it is out there!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. “If it bleeds it leads,” is an accepted mantra around newsrooms these days but back in 1974 it was a new, controversial idea. In the based-on-true-events film Christine Rebecca Hall plays Christine Chubbuck, an investigative reporter at a local ABC affiliate in Sarasota, Florida. She was particularly disdainful of the idea until she became the poster child for news sensationalism by announcing to her viewers, “In keeping with WZRB’s policy of bringing you the latest in blood and guts, and in living color, you are going to see complete coverage of an attempted suicide," before putting a gun to her head and pulling the trigger. Rebecca Hall stops by the HoC to discuss the film and the life of Christine Chubbuck.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Set in a world where regular folks still open the door for rattily dressed kids selling magazines, American Honey is a road trip about families lost and families found, about poverty and disenfranchised youth. We tale to the stars Riley Keough and Sasha Lane. Then, from the vault just in time for Halloween, we have Drew Goddard talking about his amazingly good and amazingly underrated 2011 movie Cabin in the Woods. C'mon in and sit a spell!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Today Tatiana Maslany, Dane DeHaan, Rachel Weisz, Tom Wilkinson and more stop by to talk about their new movies, "Two Lovers and a Bear" and "Denial." Find out why Maslany was afraid of one of her "co-stars" and why Wilkinson doesn't love doing interviews. C'mon in, sit a spell and hang out at the good old HoC!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Based on the book The Queen of Katwe: A Story of Life, Chess, and One Extraordinary Girl's Dream of Becoming a Grandmaster the Disney movie Queen of Katwe tells the tale of how Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga), an illiterate girl from a very poor family in Kampala, Uganda, learned to play chess and with the help of mentor Robert Katende (David Oyelowo) became a World Chess Olympiads contestant. Meet director Nair, real life inspirations Mutesi and Katende and star Oyelowo as they stop by the HoC.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. At it’s very core Snowden, the story of Ed Snowden, an American computer wiz who leaked classified information from the National Security Agency to The Guardian, is about privacy, and how much of it you can expect to enjoy every time you turn on your computer or pick up your mobile phone. Learn more in the HoC conversations with director Oliver Stone and the film's stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Shailene Woodley. C'mon in and sit a spell... but leave your cell phone in the microwave.
It's Part Two of a House of Crouse extra! Here is the raw and unedited audio from a press conference I hosted with 'Gimme Danger" director Jim Jarmusch and his subject, Iggy Pop. By 1973 Iggy and the Stooges had imploded, leaving behind three commercially unsuccessful records and a slug trail of decadence and unfulfilled expectations across two continents. “Gimme Danger” is Jarmusch’s grotty documentary about the life, death and influence of The Stooges. It's a first hand account of what the director calls “the greatest rock and roll band ever." Cover photo by Elizabeth Beddall.
It's a House of Crouse extra! Here is the raw and unedited audio from a press conference I hosted with 'Gimme Danger" director Jim Jarmusch and his subject, Iggy Pop. By 1973 Iggy and the Stooges had imploded, leaving behind three commercially unsuccessful records and a slug trail of decadence and unfulfilled expectations across two continents. “Gimme Danger” is Jarmusch’s grotty documentary about the life, death and influence of The Stooges. It's a first hand account of what the director calls “the greatest rock and roll band ever." Cover photo by Elizabeth Beddall.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. On January 15, 2009 Sully Sullenberger was an airplane captain with forty-two years experience piloting a plane on a routine run from New York's LaGuardia Airport to a stopover at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The next day he was a worldwide hero, an instant celebrity. I spoke to the man behind the Miracle on the Hudson and now, the subject of a new Clint Eastwood film starring Tom Hanks, so, c'mon in and sit a spell and hear what Sully has to say.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Face front, true believer! Stan Lee is near the House of Crouse. If I stand on the roof I can almost see him. He's at Fan Expo this weekend, so to celebrate I'm putting this quick chat up earlier than usual. Find out the practical reason behind his unusual habit of using alliteration to name characters like Peter Parker, Bruce Banner, Matt Murdoch and Reed Richards and much more! C'mon in and sit a spell with one of the architects of modern pop culture.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. West of Memphis, is a documentary from Oscar nominated director Amy Berg, details the efforts to find justice for Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley Jr. and James Baldwin, collectively known as the West Memphis Three. Last week I saw a tweet from Echols--"I walked off of death row exactly 5 years ago today."--and was inspired to go back into the HoC vault to find chats with Echols, his wife Lorris Davis and Berg. It's fascinating stuff, so c'mon in and sit a spell and listen in.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. By definition the term ‘war dogs’ refers to “bottom feeders who make money off war without ever stepping foot on the battlefield.” In the new film War Dogs Jonah Hill plays Efraim Diveroli, a true to life twenty-something arms dealer who fits that description to a tee. This week Hill stopped by the HoC to chat about the movies and how he gets inside the head of the characters he plays.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Nino Ricci is an award winning author who has not only won every award imaginable but has also worked with Sophia Loren. His books include "The Origin of Species" and of "The Lives of the Saints" trilogy and the newest one, "Sleep." The Globe and Mail called the novel one of "the 20 books you’ll be reading and talking about for the rest of the year.” Listen in and hear us spend thirty minutes talking about this fascinating book... and Sophia Loren.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. I like Bryce Dallas Howard. Interviewed her a few times and I know two things, she is very nice and has a great laugh. She's down to earth and says things like, "I have a very strong body, a dense body, I’m big boned." She's not your typical star and today we talk about a number of things including her new film Pete's Dragon, her dad Ron Howard and working with Robert Redford. It's good stuff and you'll like it. C'mon in and sit a spell with me and Bryce Dallas Howard.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. This week stand up comedians Darren Frost and Simon Rakoff hang out with Richard in the living room. In a wide ranging conversation they talk about everything from free speech to what happens when you get death threats and are assaulted on stage. It's good stuff so c'mon in and sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.... well, actually it was at the HoC this week, Roger Christian dropped by to talk about his new book Cinema Alchemist: Designing Star Wars and Alien. He won an Academy Award for his work on the original Star Wars and was Oscar-nominated for his work on Alien, directed the second unit on both Return of the Jedi and Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace as well as feature films including The Sender and Nostradamus.. Today he talks about Star Wars and how he created some of the most famous props in movie history.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Come on in and enjoy the air conditioning and the conversations with shark preservationist Rob Stewart and Muslim, Interrupted stand up comic Ali Hassan. Find out why sharks are endangered and how Ali Hassan hides his dietary habits his children. Come on in. Sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. SPOILER ALERT! This week we have a show that reveals many secrets, so if you haven't watched the fourth season of Orange is the New Black, please be careful and listen for our special Spoiler Alert Horn during the Samira Wiley interview. She talks about playing the prison drama's much loved character Poussey Washington. Joining her is Danieils, a directing collective comprised of Daniel Scheinert and Dan Kwan. They talk about making Swiss Army Man, a movie about a farting corpse, and how it was a deeply personal experience for them. Stop by the House of Crouse, sit a spell. You'll like it.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Moon Zappa swings by the House of Crouse to talk about her father, her mother and how having a giant hit song at age fourteen almost gagged her with a spoon. We also talk about a cool new documentary called Eat the Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words. Tune in, you'll like the conversation, fer sure, fer sure.
Happy Canada Week. Here at the House of Crouse we go big. Not satisfied to simply celebrate Canada Day on July 1, we're honouring our home and native land for the whole week! Spend some time with us and noted patriots Brent Butt, Jay Baruchel, Jill Hennessy, Deepa Mehta, Patrick Mckenna and the most Canadian being of all, Captain Canuck. Stop by and stand on guard with us.
Welcome to the House of Crouse, where great conversations great conversations get started. Today we enjoy the HoC air conditioning--it's so cold in here you could hang meat in the living room--as we talk about two things everybody loves, tickling and Elvis Presley. David Farrier is a New Zealand journalist who chronicled being sucked into the weird and wild world of competitive tickling videos in his documentary Tickled. It's a crazy story that takes on the aura of a thriller. Imagine Michael Clayton with tickling and you get the idea. Then we talk to Steve Michaels, one of the world's great Elvis tribute artists. Learn how he rose to the top of one of the world's most specialized professions. C'mon in. Sit a spell, it cool in here in more ways than one.
Welcome to the House of Crouse! Happy birthday to us! One year ago this week we opened the HoC doors and since then the foot traffic has been crazy! We've had to have the floors redone and don't even ask about the wear and tear on the furniture! We wouldn't have it any other way. This week ultimate film fans Chris Strompolos & Eric Zala drop by to discuss Raiders! a doc about their remake of Raiders of the Lost Ark and the legendary Tempest Storm comes by with secrets about Elvis and JFK. C'mon in! Sit a spell!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. There's something for everyone on today's show. If you're an indie movie fan check out my chat with Maggie's Plan director Rebecca Miller. Find out why she had to shoot her new movie in NYC. If your taste in films runs more toward the superhero side, listen in on my talk with "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows" star Stephen Amell. Cowabunga!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Fifty episodes! Over 100 interviews! That's a lot of talking. We continue the HoC tradition of bringing you the best in wordy ramblings and informative recitations as we welcome Emilia Clarke and Jojo Moyes, the star and author, respectively of "Me Before You," a three hanky romantic film in theatres now and Phillip Norman, the legendary biographer who tells us everything we need to know about Mick Jagger. Stop by, have a listen and get some satisfaction.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. We go to extremes today. You'll learn how and why to plan an orgy in a small town with the stars of the film with the most provocative name of the year, Ennis Esmer and Kristian Bruun and then, in an interview from the vault Mia Wasikowska talks about playing Alice Kingsley. The movies How to Plan an Orgy in a Small Town and Alice Through the Looking Glass are in theatres now but the conversations about them are right here! C'mon in and sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Many different accents this week talking about many different things. British director Ben Wheatley discusses sneaking sneaking weird into the mainstream in High-Rise. Olympia, Washington based writer Jim Lynch talks about his love of the sea and his book Before the Wind and then Italian director Luca Guadagnino talks about Ralph Fiennes's "psychoanalytical" dancing in A Bigger Splash. It's a worldly episode of House of Crouse!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Occasionally an image seen on line or in a magazine will burn itself into your brain. HoC guest George Zimbel has taken his share of memorable photographs but his 1954 snap of Marilyn Monroe, standing on a subway grate, skirt flying up around her waist is not only one of those memorable pictures, it's one of the most iconic images of the twentieth century. Listen in and find out the story behind the photo. Also stopping by for a chin wag is Emily VanCamp, co-star of Captain America: Civil War. Find out who she supports, Iron Man or her love interest Captain America. The answer may surprise you!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Is the saxophone a cursed instrument? Does its smooth and seductive sound drive people mad? Larry Weinstein thinks so and has made a fascinating film about it called The Devil's Horn. We talk about the yakety sax history of the instrument and Craig Davidson swings by to chat about his new memoir Precious Cargo. Join us! Sit a spell!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. This week we dig into the vault to chat with James Cameron. The Avatar director has just announced he will make four Avataronian sequels and shoot them all at the same time. In this conversation from 2010 Cameron discusses making the original film, "I'll be back," and much more.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Do you know where you were on July 8, 1977? I do. I was fourteen years old at the Halifax Forum gearing up to see KISS’s Love Gun tour with opening act Cheap Trick. It was my first big rock show and I remember it as if it was yesterday and not almost 40 years ago. A lot has changed since then… I don’t have braces anymore for instance… but one thing hasn’t. With 20 Million Albums sold, 40 gold & platinum Certifications for 16 studio albums, Cheap Trick is still rocking as hard as they did when they made my fourteen year old braces rattle. Recently inducted into the Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame and with a new album called Bang, Zoom, Crazy...Hello available now, founding members Rick Nielsen (lead guitar) and Tom Petersson (bass guitar) join me at the House of Crouse.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Roger Corman has had 90 birthdays. In that time he's directed 55 movies and produced almost 400. He gave a start to many young film directors, Francis Ford Coppola, Ron Howard, Martin Scorsese and James Cameron to name a few, and is known as the The Pope of Pop Cinema. As a belated birthday present this week the House of Crouse pays tribute to the man who bragged he made a hundred movies in Hollywood and never lost a dime.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Richard Linklater’s new film Everybody Wants Some!! is set in that sweet spot between Saturday Night Fever and the Reagan Years. Ripe with feathered hair, bell bottom pants and milk crates used as LP storage, it’s the story of college life over the course of one weekend in 1980 set to the throbbing beat of disco and new wave music. Richard and Richard discuss the movie and more on this week's House of Crouse podcast.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. This week show runner Glen Mazzara shares secrets about how he made the transition from hospital administrator to Hollywood hotshot and John Lydon talks about... well, just about everything from frozen nipples to Richard III.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Today we celebrate our 40th episode with filmmakers Spike Lee and Jeff Nichols. Lee talks about Chi-Raq, his audacious look at gang violence on the Southside of Chicago. Nichols, the director of Mud and Take Shelter stops by to discuss his new one, Midnight Special, and how working with Michael Shannon has mad him a better filmmaker. Stop by, sit a spell and help us commemorate our 40th show!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Today Richard has a look at the Chet Baker biopic "Born to be Blue," with the help of its stars Ethan Hawke and Carmen Ejogo. They discuss creativity, what it is like to be an artist and their work on the film. C'mon cool cats and kitties, stop by for an jazzy look at what it is like to have a creative life.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. This week Robert Carlyle gives us news on the upcoming Trainspotting sequel while Canadian news legend Peter Mansbridge tells us how he joined the ranks of Mickey Mouse, Jiminy Cricket and Aladdin and became a Disney character in Zootopia.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. The Oscars are finally over so we can move on to other things. This week those things include a chat with The Taliban Shuffle author Kim Barker and A Perfect Day star Benicio Del Toro. Barker's book has been adapted into the new Tina Fey movie Whiskey Tango Foxtrot about her years as a foreign correspondent in Afghanistan. Del Toro talks about aid workers in war zones. Come along and join us!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. In the film Race, Toronto-born actor Stephan James plays the greatest and most famous athlete in track and field history. On the HoC podcast James talks about playing the hero and what superhero he'd like to play next. Then Jason Sudeikis, who plays Owens's trainer in the film, chimes in on what makes a hero. Lace up your running shoes and join us!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Two interesting chats for you today. First up, Mr. Deadpool, Ryan Reynolds. This conversation comes years before he wore the red leather suit and made $135 million on his opening weekend. On today's show we talk about Buried, his riskiest film to date. Then it is my "conversation" with filmmaker Paul Dalio. I use quotation marks because it's really just one question and an extraordinary 22 minute long answer. His film is Touched With Fire details the lives of two bipolar poets and you do not want to miss his description of four years of battling the disease himself.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. This weekend the continuing adventures of awesomeness of Kung Fu Panda 3 ruled the movie theatres. Find out why the movies are so popular from the directors Jennifer Nelson and Alessandro Carloni! Also from the vault we have a chat with Billion's star Paul Giamatti about why his character in Sideways doesn't like Merlot (It's not what you think!).
Welcome to the House of Crouse! Today we hear from two Oscar nominees. We'll learn, right from the horse's mouth, to pronounce the name Saoirse and hear all about George Miller's medical career and how it surfaces in his work as the director of film's like Mad Max: Fury Road. Sláinte!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. It's Movie Monday at the HoC! Today we have a look at the Oscar nominated Spotlight, the true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered allegations of child molestation and the subsequent cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese. Stopping by to chat are John Slattery (he was Roger on Mad Men!) and Liev Schreiber. Go ahead, make your day and give us a listen.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. It's January 18, which, according to a pseudo-scientific study is the most depressing day of the year. Come by the House of Crouse and find out why going to the movies can actually make you feel better when you;re feeling down. The stick around and hear 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Beghazi star Pablo Schreiber talk about working with director Michael Bay. Come on in and stay warm and happy at the House of Crouse!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Our guests today are both magicians. One is an actual magician, the other a wizard of words. James Randi was one of Johnny Carson's favourite guests and he's one of mine as well. He's a stage magician, scientific skeptic and was the guy who beheaded Alice Cooper dozens of times on stage! Charlie Kaufman is the screenwriter of Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and now the writer and co-director of "Anomalisa," a stop motion film with puppets that's more human than most live action films. Come by for a visit. Sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. It's a new year, a time of new beginnings, so in that spirit we have three fascinating men talking about the start of their musical careers. When did they first realize they could make a living playing music? Who influenced them? And how did a Toronto Maple Leafs game almost keep one of them from joining a band? It's our longest and most epic episode yet, so help me welcome Dee Snider, Alan Frew and Gino Vannelli to the House of Crouse "Prelude to Fame" edition.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Our last visit before the new year sees "The Big Short" director Adam McKay swing by to talk finances ("If the guy who made Stepbrothers can understand it, so can you," he says.) and legendary film historian David Thomson come by to discuss movies and how they "screwed" his life up. Happy New Year! Listen in again in 2016!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. With just days to go before Christmas it's time to sip some eggnog, lounge by the fire, throw our favorite James Brown holiday record on the hi fi and open gifts. I'll let you in on a secret, this year we got you a really cool interview with Ethan Hawke. We talk about creativity and what it is like to be an artist. Join in on the conversation... don't let us be the only creatures stirring this Christmas!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. C-3PO and me. My inner fourteen year old is still freaking out. Thanks to Anthony Daniels for taking the time to talk about playing one of the most famous movie characters of all time, artificial intelligence, hearing his own voice coming out of a GPS and much more. I didn't call him a mindless philosopher, he didn't call me an overweight glob of grease. We got on quite well.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Today Dane DeHaan talks about playing screen legend James Dean in Life, while real life cult-legend Jack Rebney, better known as the Winnebago Man, chats not so amiably about finding fame on the internet.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. It's a short but very sweet podcast this week. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be the child of an extremely famous person? Stop by the HoC and find out with Roy Orbison's kids, Roy Jr. and Alex discuss life in the Orbison household. This show is not only for the lonely!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Dalton Trumbo was an Academy Award nominated screenwriter when his political beliefs saw him drummed out of Hollywood’s inner circles, reducing him to penning scripts for b-movies like “The Alien and the Farm Girl.” HoC guests and Trumbo stars Bryan Cranston and Michael Stuhlbarg drop by to chat about free speech, Edward G. Robinson and how to freak out "Breaking Bad" fans.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. It's movie night and tonight we put the spotlight on "Spotlight." Like “All the President’s Men,” the new Michael Keaton drama is a story about newspaper reporters taking on the establishment. Instead of going after the highest office in the land, as Woodward and Bernstein did in their Watergate exposé, in “Spotlight” Boston Globe reporters delve into the Catholic Church’s cover-up of abusive priests. Stars Liev Schreiber and John Slattery drop by to discuss!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. It's our second annual HoC Ladies Night! Mary Mapes is the true-life inspiration for the movie Truth and former Dan Rather producer at 60 Minutes 2. We talk about journalism and what it feels like being a scapegoat. Toni Colette stops by to talk about working with Drew Barrymore on the new film Miss You Already. Oh yes it's ladies night and the feeling's right!
Welcome to the House of Crouse! There's nothing scary about John Waters but somehow including his conversation in the HoC Halloween Spooktacular just seemed right. Barry Levinson stops by to chat up The Bay, his criminally underrated horror film. Stop by, have some candy, have a listen but whatever you do DON'T GO IN THE BASEMENT!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. We threw open the doors a bit early this week--normally a new episode goes up every Monday--so we share our chats with Atom Egoyan and Dean Norris (Remember him from Breaking Bad?) of the movie Remember. It's a twisty-turny story of revenge and trying to reconcile the past with the present. Join us for a (non-spoiler) look at this new, powerful drama.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Today Richard welcomes director Deepa Mehta and film legend Malcolm McDowell. Topics covered include Vancouver's Sikh gangs and playing ping pong with Stanley Kubrick. C'mon in. Take your shoes off. Sit a spell.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. To paraphrase an old song goes, "If you wanna be happy for the rest of your life..." listen to Rosamund Pike and Simon Pegg discuss happiness and whether money and fame can really, truly change your life. Then Paul Gross swings by to discuss his new movie Hyena Road. Happiness is... episode 18 of the House of Crouse podcast!
Welcome to the House of Crouse and our second Musical Hootenanny-A-Go-Go! Sitting in with the HoC house band are Jill Hennessy, whose album I Do is available now, Queen of Noise and singer of the legendary The Runaways Cherie Curry talks about her years with the band and Thelma Houston chats about her legendary disco hit Don't Leave Me This Way. Tune in, it'll be like music for your ears, without any actual music!
Welcome to the House of Crouse! It's Ladies Night and the feeling's right! We greet Emily Blunt. She's in theatres now in "Sicario," but here she gives us a history lesson on Queen Victoria while Aubrey Plaza swings by to talk about being funny, among other things!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. As October approaches we find ourselves staying inside as the nights cool down, enjoying books like Robert Schnakenberg's "The Big Bad Book of Bill Murray." Robert stops by for a chat, as does Bruce McDonald and Chloe Rose, director and star of the Halloween themed "Hellions." We talk devil babies and how October 31st gave Bruce his Mr Entertainment gene.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. This week we take a break from the Toronto International Film Festival to talk TV with three people who made a name for themselves on the small screen, Outlander's Sam Heughan, and the Breaking Bad duo of Dean Norris and Bryan Cranston.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. Today Ivan Drago goes head-to-heads with Captain Von Trapp. That's right, Dolph Lundgren and Christopher Plummer stop by for a visit. It's physical vs ephemeral as Lundgren talks about his work out routine while Plummer speaks about art and other things. Join us, feed your mind and your body.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. As the days gets shorter and it gets darker earlier the HoC takes on a spooky vibe, almost as if we hired a German Expressionist Home Decorator when we renoed the place a few years back. With this in mind we offer up two great horror conversationalists, the great George A. Romero and the bestselling author of Horns, Joe HIll. It's going to be a creeptastic time, so don't just stand there in the shadows, come on in for a visit!
Welcome to the House of Crouse. This week Learning to Drive star Ben Kingsley stops by to chat about being a storyteller on film. Greta Gerwig talks about her process and finally, we wrap up with a blast from the past. While doing renovations in the east wing of the House of Crouse we discovered a box containing a 33 year old interview with Jim Carrey. Listen in and hear whether or not the twenty-year-old aspiring comic feels he has a chance to make it in the movies.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. At the HoC we rock 'n' roll all night but only part of every day because we need time to put together podcasts like this week's first annual Rootin' Tootin' HoC Hootenanny. Richard welcomes special guests musician / actor Rick Springfield, Kevin Bacon (of The Bacon Brothers) and Guns N' Roses legend Slash. Springfield chats about his biography and the idea of fame, Kevin Bacon discusses why he stopped counting lines in scripts and riff-master Slash talks about Hammer Horror films and why he plays guitar every day. Listen in, it will blow your nose and then blow your mind.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. In episode nine Richard talks spiritualism with "The Gift" star Rebecca Hall, writing giant, boffo hit movies with Thomas Lennon and strange career choices with "Inside Out" star Phyllis Smith.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. In episode eight it gets all superhero-y around the House of Crouse as Wolverine and The Hulk... er... Hugh Jackman and Mark Ruffalo stop by. Both talk about the years before they were superstars and superheroes.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. In a special "Jumping off the House of Crouse roof" Richard welcomes the stars and director of Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation. Rebecca Ferguson chats about overcoming fears to jump off the roof of the Vienna Opera House on her first day of shooting. Director Christopher McQuarrie talks about strapping Tom Cruise to the side of an airplane and Cruise reveals that he used to jump off the roof of his Ottawa home. No one actually jumps off the House of Crouse roof, but wouldn't it be cool if they did?
Welcome to the House of Crouse. In episode six Richard welcomes Broadway and movie stars Daniel Radcliffe and Josh Gad. Radcliffe talks about life after Harry Potter and working on the Great White Way while Gad chats about his journey from The Book of Mormon to playing Olaf in Frozen.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. The fifth episode takes place at the House of Crouse Gymnasium as Richard welcomes pumped-up house guests Dwayne Johnson and Southpaw star Jake Gyllenhaal. Johnson talks about starting out in the biz with no money and having to sleep on a mattress stolen from the garbage while Gyllenhaal chats about what he learned from playing Billy Hope, a boxer with an anger problem.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. In the fourth episode Richard welcomes Amy Schumer. She’s everywhere and soon she’ll be on the big screen in "Trainwreck," directed by comedy maestro Judd Apatow from a script by Schumer. In the most unconventional rom-com since "Bridesmaids," she stars as a young, promiscuous New York woman who drinks too much and finds true love despite doing everything to avoid it. In her visit to the House of Crouse Amy talks about fame, why it sucks and the making of her first film.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. In the third episode Richard welcomes two legends, Alice Cooper and Michael Caine. Alice talks about the early days of his band, buying his costumes from the Ice Capades and how having a chicken on stage worked out well for Cooper even if it doesn't work out well for the bird. Caine brings along the most famous Cockney accent in history to talk about growing up in the Elephant and Castle area of London and what it is like being an icon.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. In the second episode Richard welcomes Trainwreck co-stars and stand up comedians Colin Quinn and Dave Attell. We talk about how Jerry Seinfeld gets to rehearsal, political correctness in comedy, Quinn's Oscar chances and shooting Trainwreck.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. In the first episode Richard welcomes Mad Max: Fury Road director George Miller, Crimson Peak director Guillermo del Toro and the man beneath Big Bird's felt and feathers, Caroll Spinney.