Audiobook Café

Host Jacob Shymanski and guest Red Széll ask the question: why do readers enjoy heartbreaking stories?
They share their thoughts on how sad fiction helps build empathy and why the most powerful tragedies reflect the complexity of real life. 
Books mentioned in this episode include: 

• Erich Maria Remarque’s “All Quiet on the Western Front” 
• Amor Towles’ “A Gentleman in Moscow” 
• Éric Chacour’s “What I Know About You” 
• Erich Segal’s “Love Story” 
• John Green’s “The Fault in Our Stars” 
• John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men”, “The Grapes of Wrath” and East of Eden” 
• Patrick Ness and Siobhan Dowd’s  “A Monster Calls” 
• Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” 

This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle. 

Audiobook Café broadcasts on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two back-to-back podcast episodes every Friday at 5 p.m. ET.

Follow Audiobook Café on Instagram @AMIAudiobookCafe

We want your feedback!

Be that comments, suggestions, hot-takes, audiobook recommendations or reviews of your own… hit us up!

Our email address is: [email protected]

About AMI

AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.

Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+

Learn more at AMI.ca

Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:

• Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio
• Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
• TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc

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Makenna Goodman’s novel “Helen of Nowhere” was longlisted for the 2026 Booker Prize.

The book follows a disgraced professor as he visits a country house with a realtor who tells him about its mysterious former owner, Helen. As he becomes increasingly fascinated by Helen's alternative way of life, the ordinary house viewing turns into something much stranger and more psychologically charged.

Host Jacob Shymanski chats with Makenna about the novel’s themes and why the book is open to interpretation.

Spoiler alert at the 25:12 mark. 

This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.

Audiobook Café broadcasts on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two back-to-back podcast episodes every Friday at 5 p.m. ET.

Follow Audiobook Café on Instagram @AMIAudiobookCafe

We want your feedback!

Be that comments, suggestions, hot-takes, audiobook recommendations or reviews of your own… hit us up!

Our email address is: [email protected]

About AMI

AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.

Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+

Learn more at AMI.ca

Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:

• Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio
• Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
• TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Disclaimer: This episode contains discussions surrounding suicide, self-harm and sexual violence. Listener discretion is advised.

Bestselling Canadian author Vivek Shraya is back with a new book fresh off the press! 
“The Hystericals” is a chilling novel for the post-Me Too era. The story is set in an isolationist state where one woman’s death sparks a movement that could liberate women or destroy them all. 
Host Jacob Shymanski speaks with Vivek about her inspiration behind the book’s themes of misogyny, women’s rights and allyship. 

This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.

Audiobook Café broadcasts on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two back-to-back podcast episodes every Friday at 5 p.m. ET.

Follow Audiobook Café on Instagram @AMIAudiobookCafe

We want your feedback!

Be that comments, suggestions, hot-takes, audiobook recommendations or reviews of your own… hit us up!

Our email address is: [email protected]

About AMI

AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.

Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+

Learn more at AMI.ca

Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:

• Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio
• Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
• TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bestselling author Veronica Roth’s upcoming book “The Sixth Faction” is a reimagining of her dystopian hit trilogy “Divergent.” 
The book provides an alternate universe that revisits a pivotal moment in the original story and asks what would happen if the character Tris made a different choice. 
Host Jacob Shymanski catches up with Veronica to discuss the new book and to learn why she wanted to revisit the series. 
The audiobook for “The Sixth Faction” comes out October 8 on Audible in Canada. The hard copy is out October 6! 
This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle. 

Audiobook Café broadcasts on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two back-to-back podcast episodes every Friday at 5 p.m. ET.

Follow Audiobook Café on Instagram @AMIAudiobookCafe

We want your feedback!

Be that comments, suggestions, hot-takes, audiobook recommendations or reviews of your own… hit us up!

Our email address is: [email protected]

About AMI

AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.

Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+

Learn more at AMI.ca

Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:

• Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio
• Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
• TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Jacob Shymanski and guest Red Széll discuss what readers want most from books to make them more engaging, memorable and satisfying. Together they explore the importance of hyper-specificity, good dialogue, character relationship building and embracing the cliff hanger. 
Books mentioned in this episode include: 

• “The Martian” by Andy Weir
• “The Lies of Locke Lamora” by Scott Lynch
• “Teifi Valley Coroner” Series by Alis Hawkins

This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle. 

Audiobook Café broadcasts on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two back-to-back podcast episodes every Friday at 5 p.m. ET.

Follow Audiobook Café on Instagram @AMIAudiobookCafe

We want your feedback!

Be that comments, suggestions, hot-takes, audiobook recommendations or reviews of your own… hit us up!

Our email address is: [email protected]

About AMI

AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.

Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+

Learn more at AMI.ca

Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:

• Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio
• Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
• TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

“Getting Away with Murder” was an instant New York Times bestseller! 
The thriller novel follows a New York couple who kill a wealthy relative after making a bad investment that caused them to lose their inheritance. 
Host Jacob Shymanski chats with author Shari Lapena about her fascination over the “perfect murder” and why she decided to drift away from a traditional murder mystery concept. She also shares her perspective on what it’s like to be a Canadian author during political tensions in the U.S. 
This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle. 

Audiobook Café broadcasts on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two back-to-back podcast episodes every Friday at 5 p.m. ET.

Follow Audiobook Café on Instagram @AMIAudiobookCafe

We want your feedback!

Be that comments, suggestions, hot-takes, audiobook recommendations or reviews of your own… hit us up!

Our email address is: [email protected]

About AMI

AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.

Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+

Learn more at AMI.ca

Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:

• Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio
• Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
• TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How do you distinguish “highbrow” from “lowbrow” books? 
Does a highbrow book imply it’s better than other books? 
Host Jacob Shymanski and guest Red Szell explore the division between the two concepts and deconstruct its relevancy in modern day. 
Books mentioned in this episode include: 
•    “The Da Vinci Code” by Dan Brown
•    “Dungeon Crawler Carl” series by Matt Dinniman
•    “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
•    “Moby-Dick” by Herman Melville
•    “Finnegans Wake” by James Joyce
•    “Infinite Jest” by David Foster Wallace
•    “Mrs. Dalloway” by Virginia Woolf
•    “Dracula” by Bram Stoker
This episode was produced Andrika De Lanerolle 

Audiobook Café broadcasts on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two back-to-back podcast episodes every Friday at 5 p.m. ET.

Follow Audiobook Café on Instagram @AMIAudiobookCafe

We want your feedback!

Be that comments, suggestions, hot-takes, audiobook recommendations or reviews of your own… hit us up!

Our email address is: [email protected]

About AMI

AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.

Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+

Learn more at AMI.ca

Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:

• Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio
• Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
• TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Earlier this month, Australian author Stefanie Koens released her debut novel in North America. 
“Daughters of the Wreckage,” is a gripping dual-timeline historical novel inspired by the true story of the Batavia shipwreck and the women who survived it. 
Host Jacob Shymanski catches up with Stefanie to discuss the historical significance of the Batavia shipwreck and to learn about her own personal fascination with the events.  
This episode was produced Andrika De Lanerolle. 

Audiobook Café broadcasts on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two back-to-back podcast episodes every Friday at 5 p.m. ET.

Follow Audiobook Café on Instagram @AMIAudiobookCafe

We want your feedback!

Be that comments, suggestions, hot-takes, audiobook recommendations or reviews of your own… hit us up!

Our email address is: [email protected]

About AMI

AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.

Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+

Learn more at AMI.ca

Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:

• Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio
• Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
• TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

“Tempted” is a bombshell memoir by Canadian media personality Rick Campanelli.

From his humble beginnings in Hamilton, Ontario, to his time as a MuchMusic VJ, Tempted is a story of Rick’s achievements and the secret gambling addiction that he battled along the way.

Audiobook Café’s Jacob Shymanski catches up with Rick to learn about the double life he led and why now is the time he chose to reveal his story.

This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.

If you or someone you know, is in need of support services for gambling addiction in Canada, visit Responsible Gambling Council online. 

Audiobook Café broadcasts on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two back-to-back podcast episodes every Friday at 5 p.m. ET.

Follow Audiobook Café on Instagram @AMIAudiobookCafe

We want your feedback!

Be that comments, suggestions, hot-takes, audiobook recommendations or reviews of your own… hit us up!

Our email address is: [email protected]

About AMI

AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.

Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+

Learn more at AMI.ca

Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:

• Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio
• Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
• TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Souvankham Thammavongsa is the 2025 Giller Prize winner for her book “Pick a Colour,” an intimate novel following a nail salon owner as she works for privileged clients who don't even know her true name. 
Audiobook Café host Jacob Shymanski catches up with Souvankham to learn why she chose a nail salon as the primary setting for her book and to discuss why she deliberately chose to make a plotless story driven by voice and character. 
This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.  

Audiobook Café broadcasts on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two back-to-back podcast episodes every Friday at 5 p.m. ET.

Follow Audiobook Café on Instagram @AMIAudiobookCafe

We want your feedback!

Be that comments, suggestions, hot-takes, audiobook recommendations or reviews of your own… hit us up!

Our email address is: [email protected]

About AMI

AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.

Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+

Learn more at AMI.ca

Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:

• Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio
• Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
• TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.