
31 episodes

semi-prose Penguin Random House Canada
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- Arts
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4.2 • 60 Ratings
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semi-prose is the books podcast that’s half as serious and twice as smart as your other favorite books podcast.
Join Evan, Allie, Kristina, and Max: four semi-professional readers as they explore new Canadian books through their personal histories, stores of pop culture, and readerly curiosities, before the pros – the authors themselves – join the conversation. Because when you’re done the last page, you’ve only really read the half of it.
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The Thom-Thom Club: I Hope We Choose Love by Kai Cheng Thom
In the final episode of semi-prose, Kai Cheng Thom joins us to assure us we can survive hard conversations (2:50); the performance of virtue in Chinese Christian, SJW, and queer communities (6:00); on the ethics of mentorship (14:15); our boundaries do not hurt other people (21:45); seasons in the sun, gender-queer magic gem stones, and holy wild (47:00).
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Betcha By Golly Tawâw: Tawâw by Shane Chartrand, with Jennifer Cockrall-King
Indigenous food for the future (6:10); Saskatoon berries, rose hips, stinging nettles (18:55); on the generosity of Indigenous communities (27:45); check out a round dance, check out a pow wow (31:00); New Moon, Red Chef Revival, The Sous Chef (32:40)
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A Cherie on Top: Empire of Wild by Cherie Dimaline
A special live episode from this year's Toronto International Festival of Authors, featuring:
Storytelling as survival (12:49); the qualities of Hot Jesus (17:55); what happens when colonization comes for our gods (22:40); on showing the absolute joy of Indigenous love (28:30); put a comma after cock (30:20); tips on surviving the Rogarou(36:40); Jeremy Dutcher, the southern wild, and Half-Breed (41:55) -
Jia Whiz: Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino
when seeming good gets in the way of actually being good (4:15); that time Jia was in 'Cats' (19:30); magazines that tell girls that their entire purpose is improving themselves (20:30); the 'side hustle', aka capitalism tilling every last inch of your selfhood (24:00); melancholia, the rainbow, and how to do nothing (39:30)
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Pico the Guy-o: Autumn Light by Pico Iyer
When life gives us dress rehearsals for, you know, death (2:20); it's the impermanence that gives us joy (9:45); California for the possibility, Japan for the reality (11:30); some writing advice from the Dalai Lama (23:55); the perfect foreigner, Leonard Cohen, and a quiet Lear (35:00).
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She's The Baum: I Like To Watch by Emily Nussbaum
Emily Nussbaum joins Evan and Kristina to discuss her book I Like to Watch and how Buffy the Vampire Slayer changes lives (2:00); when black sitcoms were gentrified off the air (13:02); Game of Thrones was not that interesting, True Detective was fake philosophical (24:20); a show can be flawed and be worth talking about (30:30); Fleabag and her compulsiveness to seduce (33:50)
Customer Reviews
Science podcast fan
Engaging conversation that flows well. I really like how this brings out the host’s personalities and their guests. Sometimes putting on this podcast brings up my day, even if I don’t pick up the books they promote. Keep up the good work!
It’s, like, kinda, like, really, like, annoying
Interesting thoughts but far too many slang interjections. Sometimes it’s too hard to listen to.
It keeps getting better!
The shows have been getting better every episode. I like The approach of the set up (thesis) and group discussion and then author interview of the book.
Keep it to within 20-25 minutes