December 12, 2011

Don Ferguson

You know, doing satire in Canada isn't always easy. South of the border, there's no shortage of big, easy targets. But here in Canada, making fun of ourselves has grown into a more subtle art. Thankfully, we've got artists like Don Ferguson, and the 'Royal Canadian Air Farce'. Launched on CBC radio in 1973, the show was a mix of political and cultural comedy, with a distinct Canadian flavour. When the show moved to a regular spot on CBC television in 1993, Don was at the top of his game, impersonating everyone from Pierre Trudeau to Bob Dylan. These days, Don is preparing for a brand new 'Air Farce New Year's Special', carrying on the legacy of the group without two of its founding members. And, he's got a new book: 'Air Farce: 40 Years of Flying by the Seat of Our Pants'. Co-written with his pal Roger Abbott, it's an insider's look at a show that made audiences laugh, and politicians just a little nervous. Full Bio

December 12, 2011

Niall Ferguson

Niall Ferguson has a new book out. It's called 'Civilization: The West and The Rest', and it's a provocative look at the history of western civilization, empire, and imperialism. One of the book's major themes is that the days of Western dominance are numbered. Niall sets out to answer some epic questions: what made the West, meaning Western Europe and North America, the masters of the modern world for centuries? And have those same heights of Western power now passed? Has the West been eclipsed by the likes of China, India, and Brazil? The book has generated some controversy, mostly around Niall's argument that colonialism, on the whole, wasn't so bad. Critics say he's basically advocating for stronger American imperialism and that he's dividing the world along racial lines. We'll find out what he has to say about those charges. Full Bio

December 13, 2011

Paul Anka

Forty-eight years ago, Paul Anka stood on a stage in Poland and apologized to his fans. He was 22. Paul had been touring Poland and the plan was for one final stop: in Warsaw. Unfortunately, that day also turned out to be the day JFK was assassinated. Paul had to cancel his show, but he told his fans in Poland that he'd make it up to them. It took nearly five decades, but a few weeks ago, Paul finally made good on that promise. He returned to the very same concert hall in Warsaw and performed that show. Imagine what it was like to leave that stage as a 22-year-old kid, and get back on it as a 70-year-old man? Those two nights in Poland are like bookends to an incredible career: Paul's written more than 900 songs recorded by the likes of Buddy Holly, Tom Jones, and even Ol' Blue Eyes himself. That's right - 'My Way' was aaaaall Anka. He also penned one of the most enduring TV themes in history: the theme song to The Tonight Show. And as for the present? Well, Paul's got a brand new Christmas record. It's called 'Songs of December' - it's eleven sparkling holiday classics by Canada's original teen idol. Full Bio

December 13, 2011

Jeffrey Eugenides

Imagine working on something for years, only to have to throw it all away and start again from scratch. People wonder why Jeffrey Eugenides publishes a novel every decade... well, there's your first clue. His latest, 'The Marriage Plot', grew out of another book he'd been working on for years. Talk about a rough day at the office... While he might never win a Pulitzer for speed, Eugenides has become known as one of the greatest American novelists of our time. He dabbled in creative writing and short stories throughout his college years. He didn't publish until 1993, with 'The Virgin Suicides'. 10 years later, Eugenides published 'Middlesex', and proved he was the real deal. The story of Cal, a hermaphrodite man of Greek descent, won Eugenides the Pulitzer and put him on America's most prestigious book club list. Thanks to Oprah, 'Middlesex' sold more than 3 million copies worldwide and inspired some very real and necessary dialogue about sexual fluidity, identity, and belonging. Now Eugenides is back to prove third time's the charm, with 'The Marriage Plot'. Full Bio

December 14, 2011

Samantha Bee

As 'The Daily Show with Jon Stewart''s Most Senior Correspondent, Toronto's Samantha Bee has investigated some of America's most-pressing issues, from who's going to win the race to be president, to what's really going on in the Occupy Movement, to why there are so few Asian men in porn (seriously). Although she's based in New York, she still finds time to come home to visit - and work, appearing in shows like 'Michael: Tuesdays and Thursdays' and 'Good Dog'. And she's picking up accolades, such as the Crystal Award for International Achievement, from Women in Film & Television - Toronto. Take note: that's international. 'Cause comedy, like news, knows no boundaries - and there's no telling where Samantha is going to take us next. Full Bio

December 14, 2011

Wade Davis

Bestselling author and anthropologist Wade Davis has spent the last 35 years trekking through the most remote corners of the earth. He's gone up mountains, consumed hallucinogenic plants, and braved secret rituals, all to paint a picture of indigenous cultures on the brink of extinction. Wade's first book was the bestseller 'The Serpent and the Rainbow' - a look deep inside the world of Haitian voodoo that was made into a movie by Wes Craven. Since then Wade has turned his adventures into more than a dozen books, has worked on 20 documentaries, and currently holds the post of National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence. Wade's got two new books: 'Into the Silence', and 'The Sacred Headwaters'. Full Bio

December 15, 2011

Jamie Bell

When he was just eight years old, Jamie Bell wanted to be Tintin - the brave boy reporter from the Belgian comic books with the Ed Grimley quiff. Around the same time, Jamie sat in a movie theatre watching the critically acclaimed reptile documentary 'Jurassic Park'. He was blown away by the film, and made a note to remember the name of the director - Steven Spielberg. Cut to 2011 and Spielberg is directing Jamie in the big-budget film version of 'Tintin'. It's a long way from Billingham, the working-class town in the north of England where Jamie was raised by his mom. As a kid, Jamie took ballet classes in a room full of little girls, keeping it a secret so he wouldn't get teased at school. If that sounds like the plot of 'Billy Elliot', it's because it is. And the world fell for that dancing kid. Since then, Jamie has worked to make the onscreen transition from boy to man. Now with 'Tintin', Jamie's a man playing a boy, and it's taking him back to where it all began. Full Bio

December 15, 2011

Bob Nicholson

As Canadians, hockey has always meant something to us - something beyond mere wins and losses. It all adds up to a lot of pressure on Bob Nicholson, President and CEO of Hockey Canada. Bob oversees all aspects of the game, from beginners to the Olympics. And for every gold medal or victory celebration, there are disappointments and critics. Bob's also responsible for player safety and has to deal with some tough questions: what do you do about head shots? How do you deal with fighting - especially among very young players? And how do you grow the game in 21st century Canada? Now, with the World Junior Hockey Championships just around the corner, Bob is preparing our top prospects for a battle in Alberta. Plus, there's a new book celebrating the tournament and the legacy of Hockey Canada: It's called 'Thirty Years of the Game at its Best'. Full Bio

December 16, 2011

Best of The Week and Laura Marling

Fridays on the show, we play our best interviews of the week. This week it's Paul Anka, Don Ferguson and a musical performance by Laura Marling.

Laura got started in music early: she once had to play outside one of her own shows in London when she was denied entry to the venue for being underage. The folk singer-songwriter hails from Hampshire, England, and music runs in the family - she's the youngest of three daughters born to a music teacher and the owner of a recording studio. Her parents instilled a love of folk music in her early on, which she said was "a bit of a blessing and a bit of a curse", since it made it hard for her to fit in with her peers musically. She doesn't have that problem now: Laura's in town promoting her third album, 'A Creature I Don't Know'.