On the Saturday November 22, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Eric Smith, veteran sportscaster and the long-time radio voice of the Toronto Raptors. Known for his insightful commentary and deep connection to the Raptors’ journey, Smith brings a unique perspective to basketball broadcasting. As co-author of “We the Raptors: Thirty Players, Thirty Stories, Thirty Years,” he combines his courtside expertise with storytelling to chronicle the franchise’s history through the voices of its players, capturing the heart of Canada’s only NBA team. Then we meet Ed Conroy. A Toronto-based cultural historian, writer, producer, archivist and vintage video sleuth, he is the founder of Retrontario.com and his pieces on Canadian pop-culture and history have appeared in The Toronto Star, Toronto Life, blogTO, and many other places. His latest project is “Imagination: The Golden Age of Toronto Kids' TV,” a comprehensive look back at fifty years of children’s television that shaped our young lives. From the beloved — “Polka Dot Door,” and “Today’s Special” — to the bizarre — “Kiddo the Clown” and “Maniac Mansion,” ImagiNation is a memory-filled trip for anyone who spent their weekdays after school or Saturday mornings staring at the electric babysitter.

On the Saturday November 15, 2025 episode of The Richard Crouse Show we meet award-winning Canadian journalist and TSN Senior Correspondent Rick Westhead. He is known for fearless investigative reporting that shapes national conversations in sports and sports business. With more than two decades of experience, his work has earned two Canadian Sports Writer of the Year titles, six Canadian Screen Awards, and the 2023 Arnold Amber Award for Investigative Journalism. In 2025, The Hockey News named him among the 100 People of Power and Influence in hockey. Formerly a foreign correspondent for the Toronto Star, Westhead has reported from Afghanistan, China, and Saudi Arabia. His in-depth investigations explore complex issues affecting athletes and sports organizations, earning him respect as one of Canada’s leading voices in journalism. Today we talk about his latest project, A hard hitting and powerful look at hockey's moment of reckoning in Canada and the ways in which the game that is so universally loved has been rocked in recent years by court cases involving sexual assault and startling incidents of hazing and abuse throughout junior hockey. Then, we get to know Joss Richard. She is an Emmy-winning podcaster as the host and creator of the podcast Three's Company, Too: A Rewatch Podcast, an editorial & social director who’s worked at companies such as Hello Sunshine and Reese’s Book Club, The Walt Disney Company, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Netflix, and Paramount. Today we’ll talk about her debut novel, “It’s Different This Time,” a second-chance romance that sees a twist of fate forces two former roommates to move back into their beloved New York City brownstone where they must confront the events that led to their estrangement—and the unresolved feelings lingering between them.

On the Saturday November 8, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet John Irving, an American-Canadian novelist and screenwriter. He achieved critical and popular acclaim after the international success of the 1978 novel “The World According to Garp.” He is an Academy Award winner whose other work includes “The Cider House Rules,” “A Prayer for Owen Meany” and “Avenue of Mysteries.” Today we talk about his new novel “Queen Ester.” Then we get to know celebrated actress, writer, and musician Elizabeth McGovern. You have seen her in her Academy Award-nominated role in “Ragtime,” and in iconic films like “Ordinary People” and “Once Upon a Time in America.” Her portrayal of Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham, helped make “Downton Abbey” a global phenomenon. Today we’re talking about “Ava: The Secret Conversations,” which she wrote and stars in as Hollywood icon Ava Gardner. It is a poignant play about Hollywood legend Ava Gardner, which she’s brought to life in London, New York, Chicago and now in Toronto at the CAA Theatre in Toronto.

RICHARD LINKLATER + NATALIE MACMASTER + LINDEN MACINTYRE by Richard Crouse

On a special Halloween edition of The Richard Crouse Show I’ll have a look at a list of Canadian horror films that are scarier than the Frankenstein Burger King on Clifton Hill. I’ll tell you about a 3D archaeologist, a werewolf movie that reinvents the genre, the first slasher flick, a vocal virus, Canuck zombies and much more.

On the Saturday October 18, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Billy Corben. He is a documentary filmmaker from Miami, whose documentaries have covered everything from religious hypocrisy, baseball doping, drug running and other controversial topics. His latest film, “Canceled: The Paula Deen Story” traces the history of celebrity chef Paula Deen and reconsiders the scandal that exploded her multi-million dollar empire. Then, Sloan is one of Canada’s most enduring and influential rock bands, blending infectious power pop with sharp alternative rock since 1991. Originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, the band—Chris Murphy, Patrick Pentland, Jay Ferguson, and Andrew Scott—stands apart for their rare, democratic approach, with all four members writing and singing. Their landmark album Twice Removed is consistently ranked among the greatest Canadian records, and their catalog of hook-laden anthems and harmonies has earned them critical acclaim and a devoted fanbase worldwide. With an unstoppable live show and decades of hits, Sloan continues to define and defy the sound of modern rock. Today the band’s guitarist Jay Ferguson joins me to talk about their fourteenth studio album, “Based on the Best Seller,” which is available now wherever you buy fine music.

On the Saturday October 11, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Canadian astronaut, author, and musician Chris Hadfield. . A former Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilot, he flew three space missions, including commanding the International Space Station during Expedition 35 in 2013. Hadfield gained widespread acclaim for his viral videos, including a cover of David Bowie’s Space Oddity filmed in space. A bestselling author, his works include the memoir An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth and the Cold War thriller series The Apollo Murders, culminating in Final Orbit (2024), which is an edge-of-your-seat thriller about China's secret role in the 1970s Space Race between the US and the USSR. Then, we’ll meet celebrated Newfoundland-born musician, actor, author, and cultural ambassador Alan Doyle. Best known as the lead singer of the iconic folk-rock band Great Big Sea, today we’ll be talking about his two most recent projects, a stage musical called “Tell Tale Harbour,” which is making its Toronto debut at the Royal Alexandra Theatre after a smash-hit sell-out run at Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown, PEI. Based on the screenplay The Grand Seduction by Ken Scott, it’s the story of a small but proud Newfoundland harbour eager to keep its community together. We’ll also talk about his latest, wildly entertaining and informative book, “The Smiling Land,” a celebration of Newfoundland—both its storied past and its ever-vibrant present.

On the Saturday October 4, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Paul Myers is a Canadian writer and musician living in Berkeley, California. He’s written extensively about music, including books like the critically acclaimed “A Wizard a True Star: Todd Rundgren in the Studio;” “It Ain’t Easy: Long John Baldry and the Birth of the British Blues;” and “Barenaked Ladies: Public Stunts, Private Stories.” If you’re a comedy fan, you may have read “The Kids in the Hall: One Dumb Guy,” which was the source for the Canadian Screen Award-winning documentary “The Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks from Amazon Studios.” His latest book, available now wherever you buy fine books, is “John Candy: A Life in Comedy. Finally, Sloan is one of Canada’s most enduring and influential rock bands, blending infectious power pop with sharp alternative rock since 1991. Originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, the band—Chris Murphy, Patrick Pentland, Jay Ferguson, and Andrew Scott—stands apart for their rare, democratic approach, with all four members writing and singing. Their landmark album Twice Removed is consistently ranked among the greatest Canadian records, and their catalog of hook-laden anthems and harmonies has earned them critical acclaim and a devoted fanbase worldwide. With an unstoppable live show and decades of hits, Sloan continues to define and defy the sound of modern rock. Today the band’s guitarist Jay Ferguson joins me to talk about their fourteenth studio album, “Based on the Best Seller,” which is available now wherever you buy fine music.

On the Saturday October 4, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Paul Myers is a Canadian writer and musician living in Berkeley, California. He’s written extensively about music, including books like the critically acclaimed “A Wizard a True Star: Todd Rundgren in the Studio;” “It Ain’t Easy: Long John Baldry and the Birth of the British Blues;” and “Barenaked Ladies: Public Stunts, Private Stories.” If you’re a comedy fan, you may have read “The Kids in the Hall: One Dumb Guy,” which was the source for the Canadian Screen Award-winning documentary “The Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks from Amazon Studios.” His latest book, available now wherever you buy fine books, is “John Candy: A Life in Comedy.” Then, actor musician Donna Garner stops by. Her company Garner Theatre Productions is currently working with Mirvish Productions, on a staging of the Tony-nominated “Bright Star,” a musical, set in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, it tells a story of love and redemption inspired by the Iron Mountain Baby story. The bluegrass score by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell will be performed by an all-Canadian cast. Finally, Sloan is one of Canada’s most enduring and influential rock bands, blending infectious power pop with sharp alternative rock since 1991. Originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, the band—Chris Murphy, Patrick Pentland, Jay Ferguson, and Andrew Scott—stands apart for their rare, democratic approach, with all four members writing and singing. Their landmark album Twice Removed is consistently ranked among the greatest Canadian records, and their catalog of hook-laden anthems and harmonies has earned them critical acclaim and a devoted fanbase worldwide. With an unstoppable live show and decades of hits, Sloan continues to define and defy the sound of modern rock. Today the band’s guitarist Jay Ferguson joins me to talk about their fourteenth studio album, “Based on the Best Seller,” which is available now wherever you buy fine music.

On the Saturday September 27, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet actress Kim Roberts. She is s a distinguished Canadian actress with over 200 credits in film, television, theater, and voice acting. Born in Toronto to Caribbean parents, she began performing at age seven and is best known for roles like Mayor Goodway in PAW Patrol, Christine in The Handmaid's Tale, and Marnie in Schitt's Creek. A co-founder of Obsidian Theatre Company, she has worked alongside luminaries like Steven Spielberg and Robin Williams, earning accolades such as the 1996 Harold Award and the 2014 Reelworld Trailblazer Award. Then, we get to know Canadian actress, comedian, and musician Lauren Ash. Best known for her role as the no-nonsense Dina Fox on the NBC sitcom Superstore, Ash has also made her mark in films like Lars and the Real Girl and voiced characters such as Scorpia in She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. A Second City Toronto and Chicago alumna, she’s a two-time Canadian Comedy Award winner for Best Female Improviser and co-hosts the popular podcast True Crime and Cocktails. In 2023, she launched a music career, and today we talk about “Call Me When You Get This,” her gut-punching, emotionally charged pop-punk debut album.

On the Saturday September 20, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet musician, songwriter, and director Gerald Casale. Best known as a co-founder, co-lead vocalist, and bassist of band DEVO. He was a key creative force behind DEVO’s satirical, art-driven sound and aesthetic, contributing to hits like “Whip It” and directing many of their innovative music videos. His work is deeply influenced by his experiences as an art student at Kent State University during the 1970 May 4th massacre, which shaped his views on societal devolution, a core theme in DEVO’s music. Today we talk about evolution of a band famous for singing about devolution. Then, we spend time with actor, director, producer, screenwriter and political activist Rob Reiner. He starred on the classic sitcom “All in the Family,” directed the coming-of-age drama "Stand by Me," the romantic fantasy "The Princess Bride," and the rom-com classic "When Harry Met Sally," and his company Castle Rock Entertainment produced hits like "Seinfeld and "The Shawshank Redemption." Today we talk about the classic “Spinal Tap,” which he directed and starred in, the new sequel “Spinal Tap: The End Continues” and his new book, “A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever: The Story of Spinal Tap.” Then actor Rade Šerbedžija stops by to talk about "Rise of the Raven," a 10-part historical epic series about Hungarian commander János Hunyadi’s battles against the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century, and tell a grewat story about working with Maggie Smith.

On the Saturday September 13, 2023 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Rick Mercer. He needs no introduction, but here’s one anyway. Rick is a comedian, satirist, author and television host who co-created the groundbreaking CBC satire “This Hour Has 22 Minutes,” where his “Talking to Americans” segment became a cultural touchstone. As host of “The Rick Mercer Report,” he blended political rants, cross-country adventures, and celebrity encounters, earning over 25 Gemini Awards and multiple honorary degrees. He’s also a bestselling author of memoirs like “Talking to Canadians” and “The Road Years,” and has now launched the Stand-Up for Canada Comedy Tour, performing alongside rising stars in 21 cities, from Saskatoon to St. John’s. Check rickmercer.com. for tickets and info on shows near you. Then, we meet writer, award-winning journalist and editor Joelle Kidd. In 1999, after three years of secular living in Eastern Europe, she moved back to Canada and was enrolled in an evangelical Christian school. Immediately, she found herself in a world of upbeat Christan pop music and purity education, trying to make sense of this unfamiliar preteen cultural landscape. In her book “Jesusland,” Joelle writes about the Christian pop culture that she was suddenly immersed in, from perky girl bands to modest styling tips, and draws connections between this evangelical subculture and the mainstream.

On the Saturday September 6, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show documentary filmmaker Nara Garber. Specializing in observational social issue documentaries, her work as a cinematographer has been featured in the Peabody Award winner Best Kept Secret, the Academy Award winner Alex Gibney’s “Finding Fela” and Emmy-nominated “End of the Line: The Women of Standing Rock.” Today we talk about her latest film “Bankie Banx: King of the Dune,” explores the life of Anguillian reggae legend Bankie Banx. He’s a singer-songwriter known by many as “the Bob Dylan of the Caribbean.” Growing up in Anguilla Bankie made his first guitar and voraciously soaked up everything from British top 40 and folk to Rastafarianism and the Pan-Africanism of Walter Rodney. In 1978 he released his first album, and his breakout hit “Prince of Darkness” put both Bankie and Anguilla on the map. After a decade of touring and battling industry executives determined to pigeonhole his sound, Bankie came home and created the Moonsplash music festival and the Dune Preserve – a beach bar and performance venue. Nara Garber’s film about his remarkable life, “Bankie Banx: King of the Dune,” is part of this year’s CaribbeanTales International Film Festival, which takes place in Toronto from until Saturday September 13th, 2025, and streaming worldwide until October 3rd. Get more details at caribbeantalesfestival.com. Then, we get to know world renowned animal trainer Melissa Millett. With 25 years experience training animals, Melissa is known for the Ultimutt Animal Actors and Ontario Animal Actors, which provides animal actors for the motion picture industry in Canada. With a passion for positive reinforcement, she’s trained dogs, cats, and more for blockbuster films like “Pet Sematary,” major commercials, and captivating live performances, which were recently featured on Canada’s Got Talent. A five-time Guinness World Record holder for extreme animal tricks, Melissa has also educated thousands through workshops and ClickerExpo, transforming the art of animal training with her innovative approach.

On the Saturday August 30, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Lauren Holly. You know her from television shows like “Picket Fences,” “NCIS” and “Motive,” among many others. On the big screen you’ve seen her as Mary Swanson, the wealthy but troubled heiress, in the comedy “Dumb and Dumber,” as trophy wife Cindy Rooney opposite Dennis Quaid in “Any Given Sunday,” and many others in a career that spans forty years, and includes comedies like “The Adventures of Ford Fairlane” and “What Women Want,” action movies like “Crank: High Voltage” and dramas like “Chicago Hope.” She joins me today to talk about “Loathe Thy Neighbor,” a new project very near and dear to her heart. The film, which begins in theatres on August 29, follows Will Larkfield, played by Brennan Clost, a young man forced to relocate to his late father’s farm as part of an unexpected inheritance. What begins as a simple missing package soon spirals into a battle of wills with Lauren Holly’s character, the neighbor from hell, Wanda Bellerose, reminding us that sometimes the smallest problems cause the biggest messes. Then, guest James Webb tells his an incredible story. Hailing from Australia, he’s a competitive eater, ranked fourth in the world. He has shattered records, by devouring 59.5 donuts in one sitting and taking on the biggest names in the sport. After overcoming a near-paralyzing illness, James has risen to become the "Champion of the Southern Hemisphere," with his sights set on dethroning the legendary Joey Chestnut at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. Today we’re talking about competitive eating as a sport, how he prepares and the documentary “James Can Eat,” his story of resilience, obsession, and jaw-dropping feats will leave you hungry for more!

On the Saturday August 23 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet New York Times bestselling author Joy Fielding. With a career spanning over four decades, she has eraned readers with her ability to weave intricate plots, complex characters, and emotional depth. Known for bestsellers like “See Jane Run,” “Don’t Cry Now,” and “Someone Is Watching,” Fielding explores themes of relationships, betrayal, and human resilience. Today we’ll talk about her latest novel, the psychological thriller “Jenny Cooper Has a Secret.” The book follows a 76-year-old widow named Linda who visits Legacy Place, a memory care facility where she meets 92-year-old Jenny Cooper, a dementia patient who shocks Linda with a confession: “I kill people.” Initially dismissing it as delusion, Linda grows intrigued as Jenny lucidly recounts tales of her victims—mostly men who wronged her. When a resident dies under seemingly natural circumstances, Linda begins to question whether Jenny’s claims might hold truth. Then, we’ll hang out with singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith. Often called a “songwriter’s songwriter,” his fans include Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, Leonard Cohen and many, many others. He’s release 17 albums to date, and collaborated with producers like Daniel Lanois, Mitchell Froom and Bob Rock. His songwriting appears on albums from Rod Stewart, Michael Bublé, k.d. lang, Emmylou Harris and Feist. Today we talk about his latest album, “Hangover Terrace,” The album was sparked during Ron’s extended stay in the UK in late 2024, following his Sexsmith at Sixty tour. Inspired by time spent recording at London’s Eastcote Studios, Ron says the album was inspired by “the hangover I feel from the last few years of pandemic and life knocking us around.”

On the Saturday August 16, 2025 episode of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Patrick Tarr. He has over a decade of experience in the film and television world in Canada—currently he is the co-executive producer and writer of CBC’s “Saint-Pierre,” and he was the head writer and executive producer on CTV’s “Cardinal.” He’s also written for Saving Hope, Nurses, Cracked and The Colony, as well as Canadian institution Murdoch Mysteries to name a few. Today we’ll talk about his television work, but I also want to tell you about his debut novel, “The Guest Children,” which is now available wherever you buy fine books. The book was inspired by the real-life thousands of “guest children,” British children who were sent to Canada during WWII to stay safe from the bombings. Then, I don’t know if you’ve been watching the Billy Joel documentary on Crave called “And So It Goes.” It’s a fascinating and revealing two part look at the life and music of the “Just the Way You Are” singer, exploring love, loss and struggles that contributed to his songwriting. As a companion to those documentaries, I dug into the archive and found an intercview I did a few years ago with Liberty DeVitto. As Billy Joel’s drummer from 1976 to 2003, he’s credited as drummer on records with sales of over 150 million copies. Do you love “Just the Way You Are”? That Liberty DeVitto. How about “She’s Always a Woman,” “Only the Good Die Young” “You May be Right” or “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me”? All Liberty DeVitto. He’s what they call a New York City style drummer, solid and powerful. He also an author with a memoir called, “Liberty: Life, Billy and the Pursuit of Happiness,” available wherever you buy fine books. It details not only the good times with Joel, but also the bad… leading up to their split in 2006. Today, I chose some excerpts from the interview to share an insider’s view of what it was like working with Billy Joel as he became a superstar. Finally, I love going to live theatre, but I recently had a chance to experience it in a different way. “Back to the Future: The Musical” is now playing at the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto, and I was invited to not only see the show, but to visit the theatre, on stage and backstage, to chat with the show’s stars, DAVID JOSEFSBERG who plays Doc Brown and LUCAS v who brings Marty McFly to vivid life. The show is based on the iconic 1985 movie “Back to the Future,” and sees Marty McFly accidentally change the course of history when he is transported back to 1955 in a time machine built by the eccentric scientist Doc Brown. He’s in a race against time to fix the present, escape the past, and send himself… back to the future.

On the Saturday August 9, 2025 edition of the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Giles Blunt, the author of the John Cardinal novels, which were the inspiration for the popular crime television series “Cardinal” starring Billy Campbell as police detective John Cardinal. Twice nominated for the International Dublin Literary Award, his novels have been compared to the work of Ian Rankin and Cormac McCarthy. Today we talk about his latest novel, a period piece called “Bad Juliet.” Set at a tuberculosis sanitarium in the Adirondacks, it’s a riveting story of a young tutor falls in love with a mysterious woman who survived the Lusitania disaster. Then, we’ll meet Kiesza, a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist known for her genre-defying blend of dance, pop, and folk influences. Her latest album, Dancing And Crying: Vol. 2, follows the huge success of the single “I Go Dance” which soared to #1 on the US Dance Airplay Chart in 2024. We talk abvout her music and the long road to recovery after being hit by a car 8 years ago.

On the Saturday August 2, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Jeff Stinco, lead guitar player for Montreal’s own Simple Plan. Known for their pop-punk sound, Simple Plan have enjoyed international success with hits like "I'm Just a Kid", "Welcome to My Life", and "Perfect". They have six studio albums, two live albums, and have sold over 5.1 million albums in the United States alone. Today Jeff and I will talk about the band’s history and their new documentary “Simple Plan: The Kids In The Crowd” which offers an unprecedented look into the band's journey from basement shows in Montreal to global stardom. There’s lots of never-before-seen archival footage, plus new interviews with band members and lots of music. You can watch “Simple Plan: The Kids In The Crowd” on Prime Video. Then, we’ll meet Canadian television writer, producer, and showrunner David Shore. He’s known for creating the hit medical dramas “House M.D.” and “The Good Doctor,” which have won him a Humanitas Prize and a Peabody Award. We’ll discuss his Canadian roots and how he ended up in Hollywood. In October he’ll receive the lifetime achievement award at the Forest City Film Festival in his hometown of London ON.

On the Saturday July 26, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet award-winning comedian, bestselling novelist and actor Brent Butt. He’s been voted Best Male Stand-Up in Canada by his peers. He also created and starred in two successful sitcoms – “Corner Gas,” which was seen in 60 countries) and “Hiccups.” Add to that, two theatrical comedy films (“No Clue,” “Corner Gas: The Movie”) and four seasons of “Corner Gas Animated,” and you have one of the most successful comedians that Canada has ever produced. Today we’ll be talking about a career first for Brent, the release of a full-length comedy album. Called “easily Distracted,” it features his signature blend of wry observations and effortless storytelling and, of course, lots of laughs. Then we’ll meet Aurora Stewart De Peña. In her new book she satirizes the creative industry she’s spent years working in. The book, “Julius Julius” is a satirical novel set in the world’s oldest advertising agency, a surreal, labyrinthine building with a 2,000-year history tracing back to an ad man in ancient Pompeii. Through three voices from different eras, the story explores the absurdities and moral dilemmas of the creative industry.

On the Saturday July 19, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse we meet Louise Pitre. Often hailed as Canada’s first lady of musical theatre, she is a Tony-nominated actress renowned for her powerful performances on Broadway and across North America and Europe. Best known for originating the role of Donna Sheridan in “Mamma Mia!,” she has also played Fantine in “Les Misérables” and Edith Piaf in “The Angel & the Sparrow” among many others. Today we talk about “Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812,” an innovative musical from Mirvish that follows Natasha’s scandalous affair and Pierre’s existential crisis amidst the backdrop of 19th-century Moscow, drawn from Tolstoy’s “War and Peace.” Then, we’ll meet British author, academic, and adventurer Robert Macfarlane. A Cambridge University fellow, Macfarlane’s work often reflects his deep engagement with wild places, from ancient pathways to subterranean realms, earning him acclaim for his evocative prose and environmental advocacy. Today we talk about his new book “Is a River Alive?” a book that suggests rivers are not mere matter for human use, but living beings, who should be recognized as such in both imagination and law.