semi-prose

Feb 24 2020 21
semi-prose Podcast artwork

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

Feb 24 2020 52 mins  
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).

Betcha By Golly Tawâw: Tawâw by Shane Chartrand, with Jennifer Cockrall-King

Feb 17 2020 38 mins  
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)

A Cherie on Top: Empire of Wild by Cherie Dimaline

Feb 10 2020 47 mins  
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,

Jia Whiz: Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino

Feb 03 2020 43 mins  
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)

Pico the Guy-o: Autumn Light by Pico Iyer

Jan 27 2020 41 mins  
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).

She's The Baum: I Like To Watch by Emily Nussbaum

Jan 20 2020 46 mins  
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)

Spilling the Téa: Shut Up, You're Pretty by Téa Mutonji

Sep 09 2019 38 mins  
Allie, Kristina, Evan, and Max discuss Shut Up, You’re Pretty by Téa Mutonji and whether you’re more defined by your good sex or your bad sex (11:30); Fleabag and Lynda Barry (15:40); getting to have formative sexual experiences that are positive is just luck (16:40); Téa Mutonji joins the conversation (18:01); on working with Vivek Shraya and getting more fearless (26:50); S

Anar-ea of Expertise: Night of Power by Anar Ali

Aug 26 2019 35 mins  
Allie, Evan, Kristina, and Max discuss Night of Power by Anar Ali and that one girl in high school who could quote Rumi (10:22); trauma doesn’t just go away (13:07); Anar joins the conversation (15:37); they fuck you up, your mum and dad (15:59); the economics of prayer (19:47); on how Dolly Parton is Bollywood (30:00)

Hey, Mascarenhas: Coconut Dreams by Derek Mascarenhas

Aug 12 2019 33 mins  
Allie, Evan, Kristina, and Max discuss their childhood Ikea awakenings (4:42); 5AM breakfast stampedes (5:49); why why why Delilah (9:23); Derek Mascarenhas joins the conversation (17:07); what’s Goa on (18:24); Neighborhood #1, Mara Wilson, and Small Things (27:38)

Going Back to Ali: Love From A to Z by SK Ali

Jul 29 2019 35 mins  
Allie, Evan, Kristina, and Max discuss the things they have done to get a kiss (6:26); brown female anger (10:52); SK Ali joins the conversation (16:48); on being both devout and desirous (17:38); you’re beautiful, good, valued, and wanted (25:36); CCR, Hailee Steinfeld, and a disreputable history (33:09)