An interview with poet and award-winning novelist Ben Lerner about his gripping new book 10:04. On anxiety for the future, the importance of imagination, and why the line between fiction and reality is blurrier than we might suppose.

Noam Chomsky talks Climate Change & His Message to the Future

Jan 15th, 2015 25m 11s

A new interview with world-renowned intellectual Noam Chomsky. In this conversation Chomsky reflects on the challenge to humanity posed by climate change, what ordinary citizens can do to combat it, and shares some of the lessons he's gleaned f

Michael Crummey, Exploring A Changing Way of Life in Newfoundland

Nov 3rd, 2014 57m 21s

Award-winning Canadian author Michael Crummey has just come out with his latest novel 'Sweetland' which tells the story of one man's response to the resettlement of his small struggling Newfoundland community. What results is a fascinating me

David Carr: on Journalism, Addiction, and the Changing Media Landscape

Oct 5th, 2014 58m 13s

New York Times columnist David Carr has become one of the most insightful reporters of what is happening within the world of media and journalism today. From Glenn Greenwald and the NSA revelations, to the struggles of mid-size newspapers, to

The Public - Alexander Maksik, 'A Marker to Measure Drift'

Oct 21st, 2013 56m

Author Alexander Maksik has recently released his second novel called A Marker to Measure Drift. It tells the story of Jacqueline, a young liberian woman who has fled the civil war engulfing her country, and is now haunted by the memory of the

The Public - David Suzuki, A Life Spent Communicating Science

Sep 20th, 2013 58m 23s

David Suzuki is not only one of Canada's best known environmentalists and scientists, he is also one of this country's most distinguished broadcasters. The longtime host of The Nature Of Things speaks about his life, his early days as a scien

The Public - Ralph Nader, Life as an Outspoken Citizen

Aug 21st, 2013 38m 34s

This week a conversation with renowned progressive political icon Ralph Nader. In the interview Nader reflects on the four decades he's spent working as a consumer advocate and outspoken public figure, the current state of American democracy (i

The Public - Filmmaker Alan Zweig reflects on the art of living in '15 Reasons To Live'

Aug 6th, 2013 44m 49s

This week, a conversation with Toronto Filmmaker Alan Zweig about his new documentary 15 Reasons To Live, in which through fifteen separate chapters and personal portraits he reflects on the various facets of the human experience that make life

The Public - Finding brotherly love on tour with The National in "Mistaken For Strangers"

Jul 12th, 2013 1h

In 2010, indie rockers The National are about to embark on their biggest international tour yet when lead singer Matt Berninger invites his younger at times floundering brother Tom along to be part of the tour crew. Tom agrees, and brings his c

The Public - Filmmaker Cullen Hoback, With Online Privacy 'Terms And Conditions May Apply'

Jun 26th, 2013 47m 40s

We have all clicked agree to lengthy "Terms and Conditions" documents in order to use of everything from iTunes to Facebook and Gmail. But exacty what does it say in these documents? And what does it mean for our right to privacy and the use of

The Public - Humorist David Sedaris

Jun 10th, 2013 39m 44s

A conversation with humorist and best-selling author David Sedaris on writing, his public/private persona, and finding humour in the painful. His latest collection of essays is called "Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls."

The Public - Documentary Films - Tiny: A Story About Living Small & Caucus

Jun 4th, 2013 1h

This week a look at two new documentary films 1) Tiny: A story about living small, examines the new trend of people opting to downsize and live in extremely tiny houses and 2) Caucus, is a behind-the-scenes look back at the 2012 republican p

The Public - Filmmaker Matt Anderson, "Fall & Winter"

May 24th, 2013 1h

A conversation with filmmaker Matt Anderson on his stunning new documentary Fall & Winter. The film, which played to sold out theatres at the SXSW and Hot Docs film festivals, is a journey into the root causes behind the global environmental cr

The Public - Fred Penner

May 13th, 2013 1h 15m

Fred Penner, the renowned Canadian children's performer and beloved television peresonality speaks about his life growing up in Winnipeg, the TV show that endeared him to a generation, and his belief in the transformative power of music.

The Public - Carl Honoré on The Slow Fix

Apr 13th, 2013 1h 12m

An interview with award-winning journalist Carl Honore on his new book The Slow Fix - why In a culture obsessed with speed, the way to deal with our complex problems might just be to take our time.

The Public - Lewis Lapham

Mar 26th, 2013 1h 8m

Lewis Lapham, the founder of Lapham's Quarterly, and acclaimed editor emeritus of Harper's Magazine speaks about his days growing up in San Francisco and his time at Yale, as well as shares his reflections on history, journalism, and the state

The Public - Noam Chomsky

Mar 13th, 2013 37m 49s

An interview with Noam Chomsky, the world renowned public intellectual and outspoken activist, on everything from his resistance during the Vietnam War, and early years in activism, to confronting the challenges that face humanity today, and th

The Public - Thomas Frank

Mar 1st, 2013 1h 1m

This week, Thomas Frank, journalist, writer, and columnist for Harper's Magazine, shares his thoughts on election 2012, Obama's second term, as well as a conversation about his own life and background - how he became the writer and cultural thi

The Public - Jean Vanier, Liz Marshall

Feb 20th, 2013 1h

We're back from our break! This week on The Public we speak to Canadian philosopher, author and humanitarian, Jean Vanier, on spirituality, community, and his philosophy of becoming human. In the second half, award-winning documentary filmm

The Public - Doug Saunders

Oct 12th, 2012 1h

This week, an interview with Globe and Mail columnist Doug Saunders on his latest book 'The Myth of the Muslim Tide', which challenges the notion that Western values are being threatened by a wave of Muslim immigration.

The Public - Chris Hedges

Oct 3rd, 2012 57m 22s

Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, and outspoken public intellectual Chris Hedges on his latest book Days of Destruction Days of Revolt, and on his life spent fighting for political and social justice.

The Public - Sook-Yin Lee

Sep 27th, 2012 1h

An in-depth interview with host of CBC's Definitely Not The Opera, and all around Canadian rennasaince woman, Sook-Yin Lee

The Public - Bernie Finkelstein

Sep 20th, 2012 1h

Founder of True North Records and iconic figure of the Canadian music industry Bernie Finkelstein on his beginnings as a producer, the Toronto Yorkville scene of the 1960s, and his life spent celebrating and fighting for homegrown Canadian musi

The Public - David Miller

Sep 13th, 2012 1h 1m

A feature conversation with former mayor of Toronto David Miller on his childhood growing up in Britain and Canada, his life in politics and his ongoing efforts to make our cities more sustainable.

The Public - Mark Kingwell

Sep 6th, 2012 56m 7s

Writer and Professor of Philosophy Mark Kingwell reflects on modern society, valuing the intrinsic, and some of his early influences that turned him on to the world of philosophy and literature.