House of Crouse

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 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, 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: 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.