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The Next Chapter with Antonio Michael Downing

CBC
Canada Reads
Family Dynamics
Books
Literature
Canadian Literature
Mental Health
Cultural Identity
Identity
Social Media
Indigenous Identity
Romance Novels
Anne Of Green Gables
Heated Rivalry
However Far Away
Memoir
Life After Ambition
Children's Literature
Fashion
Hockey
Hustle Culture

Looking for your next great read? The Next Chapter’s got you covered! Book lovers join host Antonio Michael Downing to dive deep into great books. Big feelings, hot takes, enlightening conversations — you’ve never been in a book club like this before. It’s Canada’s book club, and everyone’s invited. So pull up a chair and join the conversation. New episodes every Saturday and Monday.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes88Founded18 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArts

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Latest Episodes

In his decades of making music, writing and running a newspaper, Dave Bidini has interpreted and celebrated the things that make this country unique. Last year, that meant teaming up with Nobel laureate Anne Carson and other notable Canadian writers ... more

Since writing his first book at the age of twelve, it's hard to imagine a more prolific writer than Gordon Korman. In nearly five decades of writing for kids and young adults, he's published 107 books, and sold around 35 million copies. He's beloved ... more

At the age of 27, Sam Demma just published his third book. His latest is called Return on Goodwill: Do good. Expect nothing. Watch life surprise you. He talks about how a trip to Value Village changed his perspective on everyday interactions, and sha... more

When writer and creative Arizona O'Neill read the satirical novel Fruit Fly by Josh Silver, it got her thinking about the publishing industry and the popularity of gay romance written by women. It's about a straight female author with a bad case of w... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Arizona O'Neill
Writer and illustrator discussing Fruit Fly
CBC Books contributor
Episode: Can straight authors write books with gay protagonists?
Thea Lim
Writer and thinker featured in The Walrus piece Abolish the Top Ten List
The Walrus Magazine
Episode: Comparison kills: why ranking books can get problematic
Don Gillmor
Author of Cherry Beach; journalist and novelist
CBC Books (interview guest)
Episode: Comparison kills: why ranking books can get problematic
Taylor Tomlinson
Stand-up comedian and author of Actually, Nevermind
Author
Episode: How Junie B. Jones inspired Taylor Tomlinson’s comedy career
Chelsea Vowel
Author and Metis writer, author of Indigenous Writes
Indigenous Writes
Episode: 10 years since publishing Indigenous Writes, what’s changed?
Anosh Irani
Playwright and novelist adapting Rohinton Mistry's A Fine Balance for theatre
Crow's Theatre (Toronto) and author of The Little Theatre
Episode: 10 years since publishing Indigenous Writes, what’s changed?
Anna Lambe
Star of North of North, actress
North of North / CBC
Episode: What the stars of North of North are reading
Maika Harper
Star of North of North, actress
North of North / CBC
Episode: What the stars of North of North are reading
Ashley Audrain
Author of The Push, novelist
Author, The Push
Episode: What the stars of North of North are reading

Host

Antonio Michael Downing
Host of The Next Chapter, CBC Books and CBC's literary programming; leads interviews and book discussions with authors, editors, and industry guests.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 238 ratings
  • This podcast is a a great source of book recommendations, with a mix of authour interviews, panels and diverse view points.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Podperson
    a month ago
  • AMD & Friends!

    I love being able to dip into these engaging conversations about books! The chemistry between AMD and his guests is always electric. <3

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ADIDA$&ACID
    Canada8 months ago
  • Shelagh is great!

    I love Shelagh’s interviews. I don’t like the way the producers cut in with ads about other CBC shows. Sometimes they cut in in mid sentence, and they do it at a volume that is much greater than Shelagh’s volume. This would be five stars but for the CBC’s shabby production values.

    Update - I was sad when Shelagh retired, but I am enjoying Antonio Michael Downing very much. He is an excellent host!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Proud Canadian Triathlon Fan
    Canada9 months ago
  • Please find a different new host

    Ryan B. Patrick is not experienced enough to host this show. His radio voice is lacking any kind of enunciation and his volume dips down so low you often can’t hear him. He resorts to juvenile slang to praise authors and seems like an unprepared student trying to bluff his way through every assignment. Please don’t let the amazing legacy of The Next Chapter be ruined by a poor choice of new host. Shelagh Rodgers is truly irreplaceable, but there has to be someone who has more skill available tha... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Scyvghb
    Canada3 years ago
  • The Theory of Crows

    I never miss an episode and often order the books based on your conversation. I just ordered The Theory of Crows. Your avid listener, Verla k

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Treesmendus.com
    Canada4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Engaging, insightful conversations with electric guest chemistry.
Listeners praise deep, craft-focused discussions and strong interview quality.
Consistently showcases Canadian literature and publishing perspectives.
Some critique production pacing or ad placement, but overall high regard for hosts.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#60
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#136
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#156
Mexico/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#212
New Zealand/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Comparison kills: why ranking books can get problematic
Q: So what really bugs you about when it's applied to books in this way?
Lim explains that ranking reduces a book to a relative position, overlooks the book's intrinsic qualities, and reflects a capitalist logic of competition rather than the book's own meaning.
How far must we go to find our way home?
Q: Why did you choose to focus on homecoming as a central theme in these novels?
Both authors describe home as a dynamic both inward and outward—grounded in place but expanded through relationships, memory, and the desire to see oneself reflected in history, which informs their narrative choices and character arcs.
What made The Tragically Hip Canada’s band?
Q: How did the band's reluctance to engage with media affect your approach as an outsider?
Their reticence made an outsider perspective all the more necessary to balance the narrative, and it allowed the book to present a more objective, spectrum-rich portrait rather than a sanitized legacy.
What made The Tragically Hip Canada’s band?
Q: Why did you decide to write this book and why now?
I believed no one else would tell the deeper story of Gord Downie and the Hip with the honesty and breadth it deserved, especially as fans looked for a fuller context beyond the surface celebration.
How to avoid getting locked in an echo chamber
Q: So what is it about being shaken up and being disrupted that you like so much?
Disruption, as explained, challenges you to rethink your assumptions, not to cling to comfortable habits, and it's the tension between explore and exploit that drives meaningful breakthroughs.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Next Chapter

What is The Next Chapter about and what kind of topics does it cover?

- A literary-focused interview show that features in-depth conversations with authors, editors, translators, and publishing professionals. Episodes often center on writing craft, storytelling, translation, Canadian literature, book adaptations, and the broader book ecosystem, with a mix of author interviews, panel discussions, and cultural context. Notable strengths include thoughtful interrogations of craft (from translation to editing), a strong emphasis on Canadian literature and publishing, and regular book-recommendation or Proust-style segments. Listeners are likely drawn to deep dives on how books are made, from inception to on-shelf reality, and to conversations that connect literature with broader cultural or media themes.

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Which podcasts are similar to The Next Chapter?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Next Chapter:

1. Bookends with Mattea Roach
2. Q with Tom Power
3. The Sunday Magazine
4. Ideas
5. Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

How many episodes of The Next Chapter are there?

The Next Chapter launched 18 years ago and published 88 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Next Chapter?

Recent guests on The Next Chapter include:

1. Arizona O'Neill
2. Thea Lim
3. Don Gillmor
4. Taylor Tomlinson
5. Chelsea Vowel
6. Anosh Irani
7. Anna Lambe
8. Maika Harper

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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