House of Crouse

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.

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.”

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 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.”

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 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.

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<<REWIND! Shows that will feature performances of classic hit songs that have left an indelible mark on the music industry to this very day. Concert goers can expect to hear Frew perform hit songs by Simple Minds, Tears for Fears, Midnight Oil, REM, INXS, Tragically Hip, Pearl Jam, and Robert Palmer to name a few.

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.