Audiobook Café

In a second celebration of Poetry Month, Danielle McLaughlin continues to school us on what makes poetry. We explore the structure and spirit of poems—from the musicality of dub poetry to William McG…

What happens when an ad pulls you into a 2,000-episode audiobook? Aamer Khan shares how he stumbled onto Pocket FM—and why the platform might be brilliant, broken, or both. We break down the app's cr…

It’s the contest that turned bad writing into comical, witty, creative art. We explore the spectacularly awful and oddly brilliant world of the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest, where contestants imagin…

Long audiobooks are a commitment, and we’re here to defend why that commitment is worth our while. Red Széll makes the case for expansive storytelling that sits beyond the 15-hour listen, Jacob offer…

It’s politics on paper. With the Canadian federal election just around the corner, Karoline Bordeau and Jacob Shymanski explore two popular books that shine a light on the two main political players.…

What makes beautiful writing beautiful? CELA’s Karen McKay and Theresa Power join us to unpack the essence of great prose. Flow, rhythm, emotion, clarity; why are some sentences unforgettable? We go …

Danielle McLaughlin leads us through a poetic journey through memory and meaning. We reflect on the poems we carry from childhood to adulthood, from Dennis Lee to Robert Frost. Discover the history o…

Impressive worlds like Westeros or the USS Enterprise didn’t just spring from a map—they were shaped by values, power structures, and human history. Author and voice actor J.M. Frey explains why grea…

Ardra Shephard, creator of the Tripping on Air blog and host of Fashion Dis, reflects on her freshly released memoir, Fallosophy. She reveals the truths behind writing about her experiences living wi…

From the biting irony of Swift’s A Modest Proposal to the bureaucratic absurdity of Heller’s Catch-22, satire has long been a tool for exposing society’s flaws—one dark laugh at a time. Red Széll exp…

Buckle up! Karen Magee is back for another Rapid-Fire Review, where she races against the clock to give us the gist of her five most recent reads, which range from mysteries, memoir, and cerebral des…

Sara Hillis explores John Lee’s fascinating journey from working odd jobs across Europe (like picking fruits in France) to becoming an Audie Award-winning voice behind some of the best-loved books in…

Vikas Adam has narrated over 500 audiobooks, earned 25 Earphones Awards, and was an inaugural inductee into the Audible Narrator Hall of Fame. He shares insights on how he prepares to step into the s…

Sadie by Courtney Summers is a young adult thriller told in alternating perspectives—a documentary maker following a missing girl’s story and Sadie’s own journey. With immersive sound design meeting …

Karoline Bordeau unpacks Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, where Indigenous wisdom meet scientific exploration.  Kimmerer’s reflections on traditional teachings and ecological science offer…

Jacob Shymanski and Red Szell unravel their impressions of what it means to experience a short story in all its intended brilliance. From gothic tales by Poe, to 20th-century icons like Fitzgerald an…

Long time friend and avid reader Paul Daniel takes us on a journey through three of his most recent reads: Imminent by Luis Elizondo, Ringmaster by Abraham Josephine Reisman, and Invisible Man by Ral…

During Part 2 of Jacob’s chat with Alina (of According to Alina), they explore the effects of BookTok on book consumption habits, particularly the trend of overconsumption and its impact on the publi…

We explore Wild Life, the newest novel by Canadian Author and disability advocate Amanda Leduc. Wild Life follows two hyenas, Barbara and Kendrith, who, through their interactions with humans over de…

Is it better when rockstars tell their own stories? Celebrity memoirs are supposed to capture the highs and lows of fame, creativity, and personal struggles, but is that enough for the reader? Greg D…