Mark sits down with Ron Davis in his west-end Toronto home for a wide-ranging conversation covering his long career as a groundbreaking jazz, classical, world and traditional music composer, writer, teacher, and performer. Ron explains his openness to music and genre exploration and reflects on how the world around him influences his compositions. Plus, a deep dive into his thesis on Chronosemantics!

This episode is sponsored by Koerner Hall at The Royal Conservatory of Music, Superframe Framing Services, Saulter Street Brewery & Red Eye Media.

BONUS ROUND!! Chris Locke is an internationally celebrated stand-up comedian. He has appeared on CBC's 'Mr. D', 'Baroness Von Sketch', and is a contributor to the popular website, 'Funny or Die'.

In this edition of the Bonus Round, Chris offers his curated list of the best comedy albums (or specials) of all time! Plus commentary on how big changes in culture have affected his outlook on what was once considered great.

This episode of Bonus Round is sponsored by Koerner Hall at The Royal Conservatory of Music, Superframe Framing Services, Saulter Street Brewery & Red Eye Media.

Mark catches up with comic Chris Locke, 15 years after parting ways under strained circumstances. You may have seen the Toronto-based actor, writer, and performer on his Just For Laughs special, his Funny or Die series (Learning Nature with Chris Locke), and CBC's 'Mr. D' & 'Baroness Von Sketch'. He has won the Canadian Comedy Award for Best Male Stand-up and was named Toronto's best Stand-up comedian by NOW Magazine. Chris explains to Mark his love for old-timey comedy and examines how the machinery of fame has changed. Chris also offers his thoughts on comedy in social media, lays out his own on-stage philosophy, and ponders the absurdness of politics and culture. Plus, real talk on Kevin Hart's Oscar host derailment. This episode is sponsored by Koerner Hall at The Royal Conservatory of Music, Superframe Framing Services, Saulter Street Brewery & Red Eye Media.

BONUS ROUND!! Britta Johnson is a Canadian theatre maven who has penned recent hits like the 6-time Dora Award winner Life After and 2018’s immersive cult-choral musical, Dr. Silver.

In our first edition of the Bonus Round, Britta offers up her thoughts on five massively influential Broadway Musicals. Why she loves them and how each one has affected her outlook on Musical Theatre.

This episode of Bonus Round is sponsored by Koerner Hall at The Royal Conservatory of Music, Superframe Framing Services, Saulter Street Brewery & Red Eye Media.

Britta Johnson is a Canadian theatre maven who has penned recent hits like the 6-time Dora Award winner Life After and 2018’s immersive cult-choral musical, Dr. Silver. But don’t expect to find soundtracks from Ms. Saigon or Les Miz on her smartphone. Britta tells Mark about growing up backstage at the Stratford Festival, how she dodged science class by writing a two-act musical at in Grade 11, and why she continues to confront grieving and loss a decade after losing her father at just 13-years-old. Britta also offers her ideas on how music and art can hold the painful truths that we are experiencing during this time of cultural tipping points. Plus, her thoughts on staging the US premiere of Life After this March in San Diego. This episode is sponsored by Koerner Hall at The Royal Conservatory of Music, Superframe Framing Services, Saulter Street Brewery & Red Eye Media.

Veteran radio broadcaster Mark Wigmore welcomes artists, entertainers and cultural figures to his new podcast, Art at the End of the World. Enjoy long-form conversations with fascinating personalities who have helped to shape culture, while learning how they work within, and interpret our changing times.

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Every generation asks the same question:

Is this it?

Are we entering humanity's final chapter?

Is it the end of the world?

Like civilizations and societies of the past, we are facing unprecedented challenges: Political disarray, environmental and ecological crises, and cultural tipping points.

But something feels different about our modern existential dread. The information age and the advent of technological connectivity, was touted as advancement and the democratization of knowledge. Instead, we are overwhelmed with the scope of our problems, and paralyzed with the infinite options and ideas clanging around impermeable echo chambers.

For millennia, we have fascinated over artists who hold up a mirror to our collective reality. We have turned to them as translators, interpreters and vessels of empathy.

What are those artists saying now? And what are they creating and thinking during these dark days?

In 2019, veteran broadcaster and arts journalist Mark Wigmore will debut the first season of his new podcast, Art at the End of the World. The interview-based program features artists, entertainers and innovators speaking to their life experience and craft, while reflecting on what it is to make and curate art in the current political, ecological and cultural climate. Season One welcomes comedian Chris Locke, theatre maven Britta Johnson, broadcast legend John Donabie, and classical/jazz/world pianist & composer Ron Davis, amongst others.

Get to know the artists and thinkers helping to shape culture, and find out how they create and reflect, here at the end.