Bookends with Mattea Roach

Nearly 20 years after her breakout memoir, Fun Home, cartoonist Alison Bechdel is still unearthing new truths about her life in that time. The memoir and its Broadway adaptation changed Alison’s life and brought a degree of success she was unaccustomed to. She explores these themes in her latest work, a comic novel called Spent. It’s about a cartoonist's complicated relationship with money and capitalism, and the struggle to stay true to her values. Alison tells Mattea about creating a fictionalized version of herself ... and shares surprising revelations about her parents, which have given her new insight into her own life story. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes: Adrian Tomine: Answering his readers' burning questionsRumaan Alam: How would you spend a billion dollars?

Through his books and public speaking, David A. Robertson has dedicated his career to sharing stories about Indigenous people. His latest book, 52 Ways to Reconcile, is a guide for all of us to take action when it comes to reconciliation — and shows how small acts can have a big impact. Like all of David's work, the book tackles hard truths with a gentle touch and a profound sense of hope. David joins Mattea Roach to talk about educating children on Indigenous histories, how his father influenced his life and work and why "reconciliation" is a journey ... not a destination. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes: Tanya Talaga: Searching for her great-great grandmother — a story of family, truth and survival Imani Perry: Tracing blue through Black American life

The 1983 revolution in Grenada was a major moment of the Cold War era ... and writer Zilla Jones grew up hearing stories about its connection to her own family. She transports readers back to that time in her debut novel, The World So Wide. It follows a Canadian opera singer named Felicity who is caught up in the military coup and placed under house arrest. What unfolds next is a saga that spans decades and reflects on race, love, belonging and revolution. Zilla joins Mattea Roach to talk about why opera is at the centre of the story, her work as a lawyer and the power of art as protest. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes: Nnedi Okorafor: Bringing a writer to life in Death of the AuthorJack Wang: Reimagining the lost stories of Chinese Canadians during WWII

There’s no easy answer to that question — and Vijay Khurana’s debut novel, The Passenger Seat, takes a closer look at how complicated it really is. Drawing on aspects of a real string of murders that took place in British Columbia in 2019, the story follows two high school boys as they set off on a road trip that turns violent. It examines male friendships and masculinity with nuance and complexity, asking difficult questions about what we can learn from men who commit violence … and what separates a killer from the rest of us. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes: Rumaan Alam: How would you spend a billion dollars?What if your dreams could land you in jail?

Growing up in the midst of the HIV/AIDS epidemic left Pete Crighton with a huge fear of sex … and he threw himself into music as a way to cope with his anxieties. Decades later, he realized that he needed to face his fears and live his queer life to the fullest. Pete writes about this journey in his new memoir, The Vinyl Diaries, where he uses his favourite songs, albums and artists as the backdrop to his story. He tells Mattea Roach about his later-in-life exploration of sex and why music was so formative to his queer experience. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes: Kate Bush spins a magical story on her album Hounds of LoveZoe Whittall: Why heartbreak is a valid form of grief

For years, Casey Johnston thought fitness was all about shrinking down. She was terrified of weightlifting and what it would do to her body. Now, she’s a writer and fitness advocate with a massive following of fellow lifters. Her latest book, A Physical Education, tells the story of how stepping into the weight room changed her life — body, mind and heart. Speaking with Mattea Roach, she shares how training for strength helped her take a closer look at her upbringing, body image and the way she approaches every day. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes: Kate Gies: Reclaiming her body after years of medical traumaWhy growing up is so hard — and why Canadians are so funny

During the pandemic, journalist Carley Fortune turned to romance writing as an outlet … and her debut novel, Every Summer After, was a life-changing success. The nostalgic summer love story was a massive hit, launching her into the world of book lists, devoted fans and screen rights. This spring Carley is back with One Golden Summer, the much-anticipated sequel to her debut novel. Carley joins Mattea to talk about revisiting old characters, her love of the lake and sharing the beauty of rural Ontario with the world. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes: Casey McQuiston: Celebrating queer love and joy and navigating the future of romanceEmma Knight: 'Bad' mothers make good stories — and are more true-to-life

It's not you — the internet really does suck. Novelist, blogger and noted internet commentator Cory Doctorow explains what happened to the internet and why you're tormented by ads, bots, algorithms, AI slop and so many pop-ups. Spoiler alert: it wasn't an accident. In Understood: Who Broke the Internet, Doctorow gets into the decisions made by powerful people that got us here, and most importantly, how we fix it. More episodes of Who Broke the Internet are available at: https://link.mgln.ai/4HbHJ8

Long before he became a bestselling writer, Ocean Vuong sold rotisserie chickens at Boston Market. In his latest novel, The Emperor of Gladness, he explores the meaning that can be found in the daily grind of a fast food restaurant. The book follows a young addict named Hai as he unexpectedly becomes caretaker to an elderly woman and makes unlikely connections at the fast-food restaurant where he works. Ocean tells Mattea Roach about challenging the American Dream, how being raised by women shaped him and why this novel is his most self indulgent yet. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s triumphant return to fictionTeresa Wong: Illustrating her family's past — in all its ordinary and epic moments

As a child, Madeleine Thien loved to sit on her father’s lap as he flipped through the newspaper. Later on, she became fascinated by the newspaper archives at the Vancouver Public Library. Her exploration of history and storytelling continues with novels such as Do Not Say We Have Nothing. Now she's back with her long-awaited new novel, The Book of Records. The book questions the very nature of time, asking how great thinkers like Hannah Arendt lived through catastrophes of the past — and what they can tell us about surviving today. Want to know why Madeleine loved our interview with Cory Doctorow? Take a listen here: We can still avoid a tech dystopia — here’s how

Iryn Tushabe says she loves Uganda “like a problem.” Her debut novel, Everything Is Fine Here, dives into what exactly those words mean. Aine is coming of age at a boarding school in Uganda … and her world is turned upside down when she learns that her beloved older sister is gay. She’s happy to see her sister in love, but disapproving parents and a hostile culture complicate her ideas of love and faith. Iryn joins Mattea Roach to talk about queer culture in Uganda, her complex relationship with religion and the folklore that inspired the story. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes: In the Caribbean, secret lives come at a costEmily Austin: Would life be easier as a rat? And other ways to escape adulthood

Inspired by her own experience as a skincare influencer, Liann Zhang’s debut novel, Julie Chan is Dead, is a wild ride into the world of social media. Julie Chan’s estranged twin sister Chloe is a famous mega-influencer … while Julie leads a less glamorous life. When Chloe mysteriously dies, Julie makes a split-second decision to take over her life. She’s suddenly thrust into the world of luxury skincare and toxic influencer cliques — all while trying to stay undetected as the nobody that she actually is. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes: Pitbull, Scarface and a whale walk into a bookCurtis Sittenfeld is fascinated by fame

In The Dream Hotel, Laila Lalami imagines a world where the government has access to data about people's dreams … and uses it to decide if someone is likely to commit a crime. When Laila's protagonist, Sara, is flagged as high risk, she’s sent to a retention centre and subjected to constant surveillance. Laila talks to Mattea Roach about her interest in dreams, the dangers of invisible data collection and her multilingual journey to writing. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes: We can still avoid a tech dystopia — here’s howNnedi Okorafor: Bringing a writer to life in Death of the Author

You may not be familiar with Dorian McNamara yet … but his story, You (Streetcar at Night), is the winner of the 2025 CBC Short Story Prize. If you’ve spent time in Toronto, you’ll know its trademark red streetcars. Dorian grew up on those streetcars, which is why he chose one as the backdrop for his story of a young transgender person reflecting on their first relationship. Dorian and Mattea Roach talk about reflecting on transition, what he loves about Halifax and what winning this prize means for him. You can read Dorian’s winning story here.

That all-consuming, dizzying feeling is what acclaimed poet Seán Hewitt captures in his debut novel, Open, Heaven. The book follows a teenager named James, whose first love is made complicated by his own sexuality and the realities of the rural English village where he lives. Seán joins Mattea to talk about the difference between love and desire, the role of nature in his work and why Ireland is such fertile ground for poets. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes: Alan Hollinghurst: Coming of age in Britain and writing through the gay gazeEmma Knight: 'Bad' mothers make good stories — and are more true-to-life

For some people, young adulthood can feel more like a crash landing than a glorious journey — and Georgia Toews knows that better than anyone. Her new novel, Nobody Asked For This, is about Virginia, a young comedian. Alongside the usual messiness of growing up and chasing comedy stardom, Virginia is grappling with the loss of her mother, discord in her closest personal relationships and navigating a traumatic encounter. Georgia and Mattea Roach talk about the perils of adulthood and the Canadian comedy industry. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes: Emily Austin: Would life be easier as a rat? And other ways to escape adulthoodFawn Parker: Blending her own grief with fiction in new novel Hi, It’s Me

Readers have been waiting for a new novel from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie for 12 years … and Dream Count delivers a sweeping tale that was well worth the wait. In the novel, Chimamanda weaves together the perspectives of four women moving between Nigeria, Guinea and the United States. In this Canadian broadcast exclusive, she joins Mattea Roach to talk about her longing to be known, grappling with the sudden loss of her parents and how her mother’s spirit brought her back to fiction Check out the full video interview on the CBC Arts YouTube channel.

After years in the Internet trenches, Scaachi Koul is no stranger to a good fight — but her latest essay collection is all about knowing when to walk away. In Sucker Punch, Scaachi examines her recent divorce with her signature ruthless humour, picking apart what the end of her marriage made her realize about her self-worth, upbringing and love of conflict. Scaachi joins Mattea to talk about divorce in the public eye, challenging her previous work and why her mother is at the centre of the new book. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes: Curtis Sittenfeld is fascinated by fameZoe Whittall: Why heartbreak is a valid form of grief

You might know John Green as the author of bestsellers such as The Fault in Our Stars and Looking for Alaska, or from the hugely popular Crash Course and Vlogbrothers Youtube channels. John’s latest obsession is tuberculosis, the deadliest disease in the world — and he writes all about it in his book, Everything is Tuberculosis. John and Mattea Roach dive into the wild history of the disease, why it persists today and John’s personal relationship with a young tuberculosis patient from Sierra Leone. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes: Bryan Lee O’Malley: 20 years of Scott PilgrimJudith Butler: Breaking down why people fear gender

The poet and author Otoniya J. Okot Bitek’s debut novel, We The Kindling, weaves together stories of women who were abducted as children by a rebel militia in northern Uganda. The novel doesn’t have just one protagonist — each powerful voice adds to a chorus that tells a haunting story of loss, survival and what it means to hold on to hope, no matter how small. Otoniya joins Mattea to talk about her own writing journey, the complex history behind the novel and what she means by the “cartography” of stories. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes: V.V. Ganeshananthan: Exploring the complexity of Sri Lanka's civil war in her prize-winning novel, Brotherless NightIn the Caribbean, secret lives come at a cost