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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 weeklyEpisodes82Founded18 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArts

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Latest Episodes

Chelsea Vowel is a lawyer, teacher and writer. 10 years ago, she published her influential book Indigenous Writes: A Guide to First Nations, Metis and Inuit issues in Canada. Chelsea joins the show to talk about the newly released 10th anniversary ed... more

For our team of producers at CBC Books, fall reading starts in spring when publisher catalogues and look-aheads arrive at the office. Ailey Yamamoto, Ashly July and Lisa Mathews have been reading fall books for months, and join the show to recommend ... more

After cleaning up at the Canadian Screen Awards in May, North of North returns for season two with nine awards under its belt including Best Comedy Series. In this episode, co-stars Anna Lambe and Maika Harper join the show to talk about the series, ... more

The Odyssey, both the movie and Homer’s epic poem, was at the top of the pop culture zeitgeist this summer. The sudden resurgence leads to the question: What is it about the Greeks, their myths and their philosophies that sticks with us? To dive into... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

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
Kudakwashe Rutendo
Columnist and classics scholar who studies ancient civilizations
Regular CBC Books contributor
Episode: Why we keep coming back to The Odyssey, 3000 years later
Kia Nurse
Professional basketball player, member of Team Canada and the WNBA
Toronto Tempo / Team Canada / TSN
Episode: Kia Nurse shares what the Toronto Tempo is reading
Nadine Bhabha
Canadian Screen Award-winning actor featured in Heated Rivalry
Nadine Bhabha / Canadian film and television
Episode: What happens when 6 Canadian actors start a book club
Clark Backo
Montreal-born actor with credits in Venom and The Last Dance
Clark Backo / Canadian film and television
Episode: What happens when 6 Canadian actors start a book club
Jess Salgueiro
Actor from Winnipeg, known for Frasier and Slow Pitch
Jess Salgueiro / Canadian film and television
Episode: What happens when 6 Canadian actors start a book club
Will Ferguson
Canadian author and travel writer
Self; various writings
Episode: These books introduced Will Ferguson to the world... and changed his life

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 233 ratings
  • 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
    Canada7 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
  • Random, Canadian, but good.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    chrisabraham
    4 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
#12
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#44
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#175
Poland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#176
New Zealand/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
What is the hardest part of translating a beloved novel?
Q: From Éric's perspective, what should readers take away after finishing the book?
Éric suggests that readers bring their own inner empathy to identify with characters, and that the book allows individuals to fill silences with personal interpretation, making the experience uniquely intimate for each reader.

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. Ideas
3. The Sunday Magazine
4. Q with Tom Power
5. The Current

How many episodes of The Next Chapter are there?

The Next Chapter launched 18 years ago and published 82 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. Anna Lambe
2. Maika Harper
3. Ashley Audrain
4. Kudakwashe Rutendo
5. Kia Nurse
6. Nadine Bhabha
7. Clark Backo
8. Jess Salgueiro

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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