This might be one of those summers where the only traveling we do will be the good ol’ family road trip and it could also mean we’ll likely not be heading too far from home. So, where to go? Debbie Olsen thinks she can help. She worked with a small group of nature writers to put together a new book called "150 Nature Hot Spots in Canada: The Best Parks, Conservation Areas and Wild Places." Olsen has been all over the country and can talk about places close to home you might want to check out, and some of her own highlights from all over the country.

Alberta author, Tom Morin, nearly died 3 times because of his work and so sometimes, it takes a while for a message to sink in. For Tom, it was clear he needed to rethink work and now he's a workplace consultant, hoping to help others with his new book, "Your Best Work: Create the Working Life That's Right For You."

On Wednesday, July 1 from 4-6pm, Russell Bowers is hosting a special countdown for Canada Day by putting Canada's biggest musicians on "The Musical Map of Canada," revealing who is the biggest selling artist from each province and territory. To chat about the artists, he will be joined by Andrew Mosker, CEO of the National Music Centre. Andrew and Russell also spoke extensively about the NMC, it's role in preserving the country's musical legacy, and the impact it's having with online programs all over the country during the Covid shutdown.

Bob Sandford holds the Chair in Water & Climate Security at the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment & Health. He's also the author of books like "Rain Comin’ Down: Water, Memory and Identity in a Changed World" as well as "Quenching the Dragon: The Canada-China Water Crisis." Bob is concerned about water security during a time of Covid, but he also thinks right now is an opportunity to really think about our water supply.

The Calgary Underground Film Festival isn't able to invite audiences to gather at local movie houses to watch films for 2020, however, as we all know, watching movies at home is all too easy. If you've got the right set-up, you can even take a movie streaming from a website and share it on your big screen TV. The films run from June 22-28 and information can be found online at https://www.calgaryundergroundfilm.org/

This year’s CUFF festival includes three world premieres amongst the full line up of 22 feature films, one of which is a trippy horror and morbidly funny flick called "Dead Dicks." Jillian Harris stars as a young nursing student named Becca who receives a series of panicked messages from her suicidal older brother Richie, played by Heston Horwin. To chat more about the movie and her own roots in Alberta, actor Jillian Harris joined Russell from her home.

Sarah Kurchak has a new book out called “I 'Overcame' My Autism and All I Got was this Lousy Anxiety Disorder.” It's a somewhat provocative title and Sarah also has thoughts on the Autism has played in the Anti-Vax movement. She spoke with Russell about her life and the new book..

Jess Knights says her latest album could be the perfect record for someone going through a break-up. The Calgary-born R&B singer had planned the usual things to launch her new album, but obviously Covid scuttled that. However on June 20, she is performing live on her Facebook page live at 7pm (MT) and to preview the new songs, Jess Knights joined Russell to play two tracks from "Best Kind of Light."

What would you consider to be a long run? 5k, 10k? A marathon? How about taking on over 200 kms ... in one go? Sam Dickie is about to set off from Lake Louise and will run to Jasper and he's doing it as a challenge for himself and as a fundraiser for a youth mental health program. You can follow along with his run on his website, samueldickie.com. Before he sets off on his run, Sam Dickie joined Russell from his home in Banff.

As the economy in Alberta has the door creak open for some business in June, there's a new one on Edmonton's Whyte Avenue attracting attention, where the Old Strathcona Arts Emporium recently opened its doors. The concept offers spots for artists in four-week rental contracts where their work is displayed and sold for no commission beyond the rental fee. The shop is in an old skateboard store between Hudsons Taphouse and the ice cream shack. The emporium has 17 artists showing now and they are still looking for more to join them. You can look up their shop by going to https://www.sconaemporium.ca. One of the artists already benefiting from the new shop is sculptor, Ellie Shuster and to chat about her work and the new emporium, Russell reached Ellie Shuster safe at home in Edmonton. [https://www.portraitsinclay.ca/]

Daybreak's books reviewer, Angie Abdou (The Bone Cage, Home Ice) returns for the month of June to peer inside the pages of a new works of fiction, Jaclyn Dawn's "The Inquirer" from Newest Press.