Rephonic
Artwork for Bookends

Bookends with Mattea Roach

CBC
Grief
Identity
Literature
Family Dynamics
Mental Health
Canadian Literature
Cultural Identity
Chronic Pain
Canada
Poetry
Immigration
Graphic Novels
CBC
Friendship
Franz Kafka
Jackie Kay
Mirrors
Toronto
New York City
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 weeklyEpisodes173Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Bookends

Latest Episodes

The new novel from Marlon James is based on a rumour … but it’s no rumour that Marlon’s book is one of the year's hottest titles. The Disappearers is an epic Jamaican novel that centres on a group of gay men who were brutally attacked in Kingston in ... more

YouTube

Canadian writer Anne Carson is the winner of this year’s Nobel Prize in Literature. For today’s podcast, we’re diving into the archives and revisiting one of Anne’s conversations with Eleanor Wachtel on Writers & Company. Anne Carson is celebrated fo... more

Anita Rau Badami’s new novel, Asha in Her Garden, is her first in over a decade … and it all started with the striking image of a dying tree. On her seventieth birthday, Asha Mohan’s beloved backyard maple tree is cut down. As she watches it disappea... more

Imagine the pressure of being the only woman working on an offshore oil rig. That was the reality for Y.M. Abdel-Magied … and she turned her years in the field into a thrilling novel about oil, power and survival on the water. At Sea follows Zainab, ... more

Key Facts

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

Similar Podcasts

Recent Guests

Marlon James
Author of The Disappearers
Author
Episode: Why Marlon James disappeared
Anita Rau Badami
Author of Asha in the Garden
Author
Episode: A novel inspired by the death of a tree
Yasmine Abdel-Magied
Author of At Sea
Author, screenwriter, public speaker
Episode: Girlbossing on an oil rig
Téa Mutonji
Author of My Person, writer
Author / Writer
Episode: How bad was your worst friendship breakup?
Michelle Good
Author of Eliza Sunshine and Five Little Indians, Cree Nation writer
Author
Episode: Michelle Good is reclaiming her mother's name
Colson Whitehead
Author of Harlem Shuffle, Crook Manifesto, and Cool Machine
Author
Episode: Colson Whitehead’s lifelong love affair with New York
Natalie Zina Walshots
Author of Hench and Villain
Self-employed/author
Episode: What if your boss was a literal supervillain?
Malavika Kannan
Author of Unprecedented Times
Author, Unprecedented Times
Episode: Did the pandemic radicalize you?
Marc Bendavid
Author of The Sapling, actor known for Murdoch Mysteries and Reacher
Author
Episode: Why age-gap friendships are a risk worth taking

Host

Mattea Roach
Host of Bookends

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.3k ratings
  • Better with time!

    Great guests; lots of inspiration for what to read. Also agree with several other reviewers on how the show host has improved: by letting the guests talk without too many interruptions/personal anecdotes.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mmmmbirds
    Canada5 months ago
  • Brilliant

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Molinatoronto
    Canada5 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
    Canada9 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
    Canada9 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 States10 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Host is well-prepared, articulate, and makes complex topics accessible.
High-quality conversations with diverse authors and subjects.
A consistently engaging literary show with strong guest picks.
Thoughtful, intelligent interviews that let guests speak and ideas flourish.
Some listeners felt the host's approach can be too persistent; most praise the depth.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#10
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#23
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#25
Chile/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#48
Chile/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#76
Hong Kong/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#88
Israel/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why Marlon James disappeared
Q: What was the catalyst event that inspired the story?
He explains a real-world attack on gay men in Kingston in 1988, which shaped the novel's central conflict and themes, noting how details emerged through gossip and later corroboration.
Why Marlon James disappeared
Q: Why did you want to explore this era in Jamaica right now, rather than continuing in fantasy?
James describes a personal sense of need to return to Jamaica and address real historical events, using the past to confront present issues around homophobia, violence, and memory, while also taking a broader look at how culture moves and resists silencing.
Why Marlon James disappeared
Q: Marlon, I want to get a bit into character and talk about two of the central voices in The Disappearers, these two very different young men, Eddie and Jordan. Can you talk about the role that books and music play in their lives?
James explains that music and literature function as lifelines for the characters, shaping their identities and offering outlets for self-definition, especially in environments that restrict visibility. He highlights how pop culture acts as a companion and a form of resistance for them.
A novel inspired by the death of a tree
Q: What did you want to explore with their relationship?
Exploring how passion can fade or transform over time and how a couple can still be connected even when they no longer rely on each other in the same way as they did in youth.
A novel inspired by the death of a tree
Q: Speaking of husbands, one character we've not really spoken about so far is Suresh, who's Asha's ex-husband. Why did you give him that job?
He is a writer who can't do the journalism he wants in Canada, so he writes pulp romance to succeed, which creates tension with his past and the sense of national identity; the romance work complicates his sense of status and belonging.

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 Bookends

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

Listeners can expect deeply literary conversations that thread through history, culture, and contemporary society. Episodes feature authors and writers who scrutinize identity, memory, and place, often tying personal experiences to broader social themes, from diaspora and colonial history to gender, power, and technology. The discussions frequently blend rigorous literary analysis with intimate storytelling, offering behind-the-scenes writing processes, archival discoveries, and philosophical reflections that help potential readers decide what to read next. A notable strength is the host's ability to balance scholarly inquiry with approachable storytelling, drawing out nuanced insights without getting bogged down in jargon. Occasionally, gu... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Bookends?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Bookends. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Bookends and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Bookends get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Bookends, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Bookends?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Bookends, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Bookends have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Bookends has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

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. Q with Tom Power
5. The Current

How many episodes of Bookends are there?

Bookends launched 20 years ago and published 173 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Bookends?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Bookends?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Bookends from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Bookends?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Bookends. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Bookends?

Recent guests on Bookends include:

1. Marlon James
2. Anita Rau Badami
3. Yasmine Abdel-Magied
4. Téa Mutonji
5. Michelle Good
6. Colson Whitehead
7. Natalie Zina Walshots
8. Malavika Kannan

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days