The Next Chapter with Antonio Michael Downing

Kim Holderness and her husband won over the internet making funny family videos. Now they have millions of followers, have written children's books together and won the Amazing Race. Last year, Kim set another goal for herself, to read 50 books by the time she turns 50. Plus, Ryan B. Patrick recommends two modern classics by Black Canadian writers and predicts a future classic.

Books discussed on this week's show include:
My Friends by Fredrik Backman
Awake by Jen Hatmaker
Super Agers by Eric Topol
What We All Long For by Dionne Brand
Fifteen Dogs by Andre Alexis
You’ve Changed by Ian Williams

For many years Amil Niazi burned with professional ambition, she reached for it every day and was determined to find success. But even in moments of external success, she began to fall out of love with the corporate rat race. She began looking inward, and began to question if she would ever find fulfillment in the world of promotions and job titles. This is the journey she reflects on in her new book Life After Ambition. Plus, musician Sarah Kae shares what she’s been reading.

Books discussed on this week's show include:
How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell
Daughter by Claudia Dey
A Ballet of Lepers by Leonard Cohen

The last few years have seen lots of books removed from schools, libraries and bookstores. Last fall, Alberta scaled back its proposed book ban after public pushback, and in the U.S., thousands of books have been removed from schools and dropped from curriculums. Kudakwashe Rutendo and Mirian Njoh weigh in on the topic and discuss influential challenged titles from their own lives. Plus, get to know author Madeleine Thien through the Proust Questionnaire.

Books discussed on this week's show include:
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Steven Chbosky
The Book of Records by Madelein Thein

Having fun isn’t hard, when you’ve got a library card. That’s a mantra Mychal Threets, or Mychal the Librarian, has practiced since childhood. He’s a librarian and literacy advocate who brings his library love to life on TikTok and Instagram. Millions of views later, he was named the new host of the recently rebooted Reading Rainbow on PBS. Plus, Ontario musician Evan Redsky on the book that provided him with two years of inspiration.

Books discussed on this week's show include:
I’m So Happy You’re Here: A Celebration of Library Joy, illustrated by Lorraine Nam
One Native Life by Richard Wagamese

Lisa Bailey says this latest chapter of her life is like the plot of a rom com. Daughter leaves the big city to return to her hometown to help run her Dad’s used bookstore. Now, Bailey Books in St. Albert has caught the internet’s attention with videos showcasing their rare used books and knack for book binding and repair. Plus, Terese Mason Pierre shares the black speculative fiction novels that made her fall in love with the genre.

Books discussed on this week's show include:
The Bachman Books collection by Stephen King
Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson
Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
River Mumma by Zalika Reid-Benta