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Bookends with Mattea Roach

CBC
Grief
Identity
Literature
Family Dynamics
Mental Health
Cultural Identity
Canadian Literature
Chronic Pain
Canada
Poetry
Immigration
CBC
Graphic Novels
Friendship
Philip Roth
Franz Kafka
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 weeklyEpisodes168Founded19 years ago
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BooksArts

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Artwork for Bookends

Latest Episodes

If you just let go of everything that’s out of your control … can you truly be happy? Maria Semple tests that philosophy in her new novel, Go Gentle. The story follows Adora Hazzard, a Stoic philosopher in her 50s who lives a calm, mostly happy life ... more

Maggie O’Farrell brought Shakespeare’s son out of the footnotes of history with her 2020 novel Hamnet. Its hugely successful movie adaptation made a splash at the Oscars and Maggie herself earned a nomination for the screenplay. Maggie’s new novel, L... more

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Imagine your entire family … immediate and extended … living in one apartment complex together. Karan Mahajan’s latest novel, The Complex, follows four generations of a family across India and America in the 1970s. In Delhi, most of the family lives ... more

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

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

Maggie O'Farrell
Author of Land and Hamnet screenwriter
Author, Screenwriter
Episode: From Hamnet to Land, Maggie O'Farrell maps uncharted history
Karan Mahajan
Author of The Complex
Penguin Random House (author)
Episode: Can you make a family — and a country — great again?
Robert J. Sawyer
Canadian science fiction writer
Author of The Downloaded series
Episode: Sci-fi, survival and the final frontier
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
  • 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
    Canada2 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
    Canada3 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 States7 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
#9
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#18
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#250
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#24
Indonesia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#42
Indonesia/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#76
South Africa/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Sci-fi, survival and the final frontier
Q: Can you talk about what it was like to decide to undergo cancer treatment while writing, and how that influenced your fiction?
He explains that facing a terminal diagnosis reshaped the themes of his work, using fiction to process existential questions, and that he purposely integrated his real-life cancer experience into The Downloaded 2 to magnify the stakes and explore life, death, and technology from a personal perspective.
Can you make a family — and a country — great again?
Q: What fascinated you about the Mundell Commission protests and the late 80s/early 90s period in India?
Mahajan discusses how that era produced a 'prehistory of the present,' with movements like Hindu nationalism quietly gathering and the author's choice to highlight perspectives on the 'wrong side of history.'
Can you make a family — and a country — great again?
Q: Why dedicate this novel to your brother?
He explains the personal resonance of brotherly dynamics in the story and how the family motif grew into a broader reflection on identity and roots.
From Hamnet to Land, Maggie O'Farrell maps uncharted history
Q: Did you enjoy that process of writing for the screen and collaborating as opposed to writing a novel?
I found it to be a different craft that required different mental muscles; it felt separate from traditional novel writing, with its own set of collaborative demands and on-set realities, even as I still drew on storytelling instincts.
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.

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?

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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What are the audience demographics for Bookends?

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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. Q with Tom Power
5. The Current

How many episodes of Bookends are there?

Bookends launched 19 years ago and published 168 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?

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What guests have appeared on Bookends?

Recent guests on Bookends include:

1. Maggie O'Farrell
2. Karan Mahajan
3. Robert J. Sawyer
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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