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Artwork for Bookends

Bookends with Mattea Roach

CBC
Grief
Identity
Literature
Family Dynamics
Mental Health
Cultural Identity
Canadian Literature
Chronic Pain
Canada
Immigration
Poetry
CBC
Graphic Novels
Friendship
Franz Kafka
Philip Roth
Jackie Kay
Mirrors
Toronto
Storytelling

When the book ends, the conversation begins. Mattea Roach speaks with writers who have something to say about their work, the world and our place in it. You’ll always walk away with big questions to ponder and new books to read.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes165Founded19 years ago
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BooksArts

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Artwork for Bookends

Latest Episodes

If an asteroid was hurtling towards Earth, and you had no other choice … would you upload your mind to a computer to survive? Robert J. Sawyer explores that dilemma in his new novel, The Downloaded 2: Ghosts in the Machine. The Canadian sci-fi legend... more

Coast to coast, province to province, soccer pitch to hockey rink … there’s no one Canadian experience, and no one Canadian story. This week, Bookends is highlighting four Canadian writers we’ve featured on the show so far. From a hockey drama in the... more

When Marjane Satrapi died earlier this month, we lost an acclaimed graphic novelist and filmmaker … and a voice that explored Iranian society in a wholly unique way. You might know Marjane from her celebrated graphic memoirs Persepolis and Persepolis... more

Fatherhood isn’t easy. It might be hard to put the experience into words … but Jordan Abel’s new poetry collection does just that. Dad Era is addressed to Jordan’s daughter Phoenix. Through free verse, pictures and a mix of ideas both personal and un... more

Key Facts

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Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Jack Wang
Author, The Riveter
HarperCollins (publisher implied)
Episode: Bookends highlights: Y’all know we’re Canada down
Alison McCreesh
Author, Degrees of Separation
Visual artist/Author
Episode: Bookends highlights: Y’all know we’re Canada down
Conor Kerr
Author, Beaver Hills Forever
Author
Episode: Bookends highlights: Y’all know we’re Canada down
Marjane Satrapi
Graphic novelist and filmmaker known for Persepolis and Chicken with Plums
Author/Artist
Episode: Marjane Satrapi: In conversation with Eleanor Wachtel
Jordan Abel
Nisga'a writer and poet, author of Dad Era, previously Nishka
Self-employed/Writer
Episode: What does it mean to be a dad, anyway?
Solvej Balle
Author of the On the Calculation of Volume series
Solvej Balle (author)
Episode: This time loop story digs deeper than Groundhog Day
Nussaibah Younis
Author of Fundamentally, policy and humanitarian background
Author, Fundamentally
Episode: A raunchy workplace satire ... about deradicalizing ISIS brides?
Fran Lebowitz
Legendary writer and critic known for Metropolitan Life and Social Studies; featured in Scorsese documentaries
Author
Episode: Here’s why Fran Lebowitz needs a cigarette
Kevin Hardcastle
Author of County Road Six
Author
Episode: Dive into the dark underbelly of rural Ontario

Host

Mattea Roach
Host of the show, known for interviewing authors and leading discussions on books and ideas.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.3k ratings
  • Brilliant

    The podcast is great and Mattea is brilliant. The variety of books and authors is refreshing. Keep it coming.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Molinatoronto
    Canada2 months ago
  • Love the thoughtful conversation!

    Mattea is an excellent host and interviewer! They always ask such interesting questions. My favourite podcast by far!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WilliamFrancis
    Canada6 months ago
  • Ian McEwan

    Congratulations on the great questions that fuelled a fascinating conversation with the master novelist of our time,Ian McEwan. I just finished his latest novel and found the interview enhanced my reading experience. Keep it up!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Connie49
    Canada6 months ago
  • Terrible

    I live in the US as do many many of your readers, Louise. I didnt appreciate your negativity re the US or the tone of your remarks. I didn’t listen all the way through. I enjoy your books. I will keep reading them but I’d rather think of you as what I have imagined and not what I just heard. Very disappointing. I detected the same attitude with Mattea as well. We as citizens of our great country the USA aren’t graced with the options that our leaders choose to make.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Kirkieblue
    United States6 months ago
  • Excellent

    I’ve always enjoyed listening to programs like this where the authors are interviewed ..it provides tremendous insight into the kind of writing that they do. I really really like Mattea Roach’s interview style. It’s intelligent. It’s easy to listen to. I think she’s doing a marvellous job ….you can tell she’s a very bright person. Gratifying to hear one of the authors that she’s interviewed compliment her on her questions and her style. I think that’s super.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pametc
    Canada8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Fans appreciate the breadth of guests and depth of literary discussion.
Listeners praise the host for intelligent, well-prepared questions and engaging interviews.
Some listeners feel the host occasionally injects personal viewpoints; others see growth in interviewing style over time.
There is demand for access to older episodes or archives and strong appreciation for the show's literary focus.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#227
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#8
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#28
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#222
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#110
Indonesia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#142
Israel/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How to find hope in a funeral home
Q: Why did you want to include this personal note at the end of the novel?
The personal note is a way to anchor the fiction in lived experience, offering readers transparency and building trust that the emotions and events described have real resonance for the author.
What does it mean to be a dad, anyway?
Q: How does Dad Era relate to Nishka and your exploration of intergenerational trauma?
Dad Era continues a through-line from Nishka by revisiting my father's art and the ways intergenerational trauma moves through generations; it reframes those themes through fatherhood and the transmission of Indigenous knowledge in everyday acts, like playing with Play-Doh and storytelling.
What does it mean to be a dad, anyway?
Q: What inspired you to center fatherhood in Dad Era?
I wanted to move away from the zero-laugh stereotype in my earlier works and explore how joy, openness, and complexity can coexist with trauma and history, especially in the context of Indigenous urban life and my relationship with my daughter.
Marjane Satrapi: In conversation with Eleanor Wachtel
Q: What drew you to write Chicken with Plums and portray a man's story through love and despair?
Satrapi describes it as freeing to tell a male-centered story, allowing her to explore themes of death, desire, and the artist's internal freedom without being pigeonholed by gender expectations.
Bookends highlights: Y’all know we’re Canada down
Q: How did you balance personal memory with broader historical themes in Beaver Hills Forever?
By using an intimate, conversational, album-like structure that resembles oral storytelling, weaving personal scenes with cultural critique to keep the texture vivid while letting the broader Edmonton community anchor the narrative.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Bookends

What is Bookends about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful literary interview show where each episode centers on a author or writer, exploring craft, themes, and the world they create. Conversations blend deep literary analysis with personal story, often touching on memoir, cultural context, and the ethics of storytelling. Notable strengths include a diverse roster of guests across genres and an interviewer known for insightful, well-researched questions that bring out both craft and perspective. Potential listeners may be drawn to rigorous literary discussion, interest in book culture, and recommendations across contemporary and classic titles.

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Which podcasts are similar to Bookends?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Bookends:

1. The Next Chapter with Antonio Michael Downing
2. Ideas
3. The Sunday Magazine
4. The Current
5. Q with Tom Power

How many episodes of Bookends are there?

Bookends launched 19 years ago and published 165 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 Bookends?

Recent guests on Bookends include:

1. Jack Wang
2. Alison McCreesh
3. Conor Kerr
4. Marjane Satrapi
5. Jordan Abel
6. Solvej Balle
7. Nussaibah Younis
8. Fran Lebowitz

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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