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The Next Chapter with Antonio Michael Downing

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

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 weeklyEpisodes52Founded18 years ago
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ArtsBooks

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Latest Episodes

Iona Whishaw dreamed of being a writer since she was a child. It may have taken longer than she had expected, but by her mid sixties she had fulfilled that childhood dream. Inspired by the true stories of her family's connection to secret intelligenc... more

Elsie Silver has become one of the most popular romance writers in the world. She's best known for her small town, slow burn romance novels, which exploded onto bestseller lists and sent production companies scrambling to be the first to adapt her wo... more

When Jennifer Chevalier isn’t digging up the latest political scoop on The House on CBC Radio, she’s unearthing untold stories of women in history. She has always been particularly interested in the women labeled as witches throughout history. In her... more

Caroline Bicks grew up reading and loving Stephen King's work. She never would have imagined that one day she'd be working alongside the King of Horror himself. After teaching and writing about Shakespeare for many years, she changed direction and to... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Jennifer Chevalier
Senior producer of The House on CBC Radio; debut author of The Winter Witch
CBC/ CBC Books
Episode: Exploring the fear that turned women into “witches”
Kawika Guillermo
Author of A Floating Isles on Growing Pains and Video Games; scholar
University of British Columbia
Episode: Exploring the fear that turned women into “witches”
Ailey Yamamoto
Associate producer at CBC Books; book recommender
CBC Books
Episode: Exploring the fear that turned women into “witches”
Caroline Bicks
Author of Monsters in the Archives, My Year of Fear with Stephen King
University of Maine
Episode: Reflecting on a year of fear with Stephen King
Carmela Vedar
Owner of Book Wardrobe in Streetsville, Mississauga
Book Wardrobe
Episode: How this independent bookstore owner stocks their shelves
David Williams
English professor at University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
Episode: How this independent bookstore owner stocks their shelves
Kim Echlin
Storyteller, author, essayist, and teacher
Author of Tell Others, Storytelling for a World in Turmoil
Episode: Can reading be the first step to making real change?
Graham Wright
Keyboardist for Tokyo Police Club and author/reader featured on the show
Tokyo Police Club
Episode: Dystopian apartment hunting and searching for a place to call home
Alicia Cox Thomson
Arts journalist and co-reader of Judy Blume: A Life by Mark Oppenheimer
Arts journalism
Episode: What made Judy Blume’s books so popular? Reflecting on her illustrious career and new biography

Host

Antonio Michael Downing
Host of The Next Chapter, known for engaging conversations about literature and insightful discussions with a diverse range of authors and literary figures.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 228 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
    Canada3 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
    Canada4 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.

Insightful discussions about books and reading culture that resonate with the audience.
Hosts deliver engaging interviews with authors and literary enthusiasts, making the content relatable and meaningful.
Listeners appreciate the discussions about censorship and inclusivity in literature, indicating a thoughtful approach to contemporary literary issues.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#21
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#48
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#220
New Zealand/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#243
Sweden/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Can reading be the first step to making real change?
Q: How does Echlin view reading as a political act?
Reading is described as an act of empathy and a public act of witness, where opening one's mind to another's perspective can foster healing, connection, and a more compassionate society.
Can reading be the first step to making real change?
Q: What stands out looking back on the Rushdie interview and the fatwa era?
The guest emphasizes that the core lesson is not yielding to publicists but engaging with the text, and that the courage to speak through literature helps preserve voice and memory even amid threats.
A reality show where contestants win a trip ... to Mars?
Q: Tell us what kind of future does William Gibson envision in the Agency?
Bednar explains that Gibson imagines a near-future world centered on technology, a female protagonist testing a digital assistant, and a thriller framework that probes trust, control, and the ethics of AI as it interacts with human goals.
Dystopian apartment hunting and searching for a place to call home
Q: What drew you to Pay As You Go, and how does it portray the idea of home?
He describes the book as an odyssey through an urban landscape, using a protagonist's quests for an apartment to illuminate broader questions of belonging in a bustling city.
Dystopian apartment hunting and searching for a place to call home
Q: What was it for you to tip the balance toward music versus writing early on?
He reflects that music felt immediately accessible and communal, especially when making music with his brothers, which made the band a natural path during adolescence.

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?

Focused on literature and the reading experience, this show brings together authors, critics, and book enthusiasts to explore a range of themes related to books and reading culture. Frequent discussions cover topics such as censorship, the poignancy of family-owned bookstores, the influence of literary prizes, and the importance of inclusivity within literary dialogues. The content is distinguished by a nurturing tone and an emphasis on community, often drawing on personal stories to connect with broader issues in literature and society. It seeks to engage listeners by celebrating the joy of reading and the insightful conversations that can arise from it, making it an excellent choice for avid readers looking to deepen their appreciation fo... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with The Next Chapter:

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

How many episodes of The Next Chapter are there?

The Next Chapter launched 18 years ago and published 52 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. Jennifer Chevalier
2. Kawika Guillermo
3. Ailey Yamamoto
4. Caroline Bicks
5. Carmela Vedar
6. David Williams
7. Kim Echlin
8. Graham Wright

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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