
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


For Episode 30 of Gryph Nation Radio, we are thrilled to be joined by author Jael Richardson.
Jael is a proud U of G alum and a former Gryphon student-athlete who played four seasons with our Gryphons women's soccer team (1999-2002). While pursuing her undergraduate degree from the University of Guelph in theatre studies, Jael discovered her love for writing, leading her to the University of Guelph-Humber where she completed her Masters of Fine Arts in creative writing. Since obtaining her undergrad and Masters from U of G, Jael has gone on to establish herself as one of the most important figures in Canadian literature. In 2012, Jael authored, The Stone Thrower: A Daughter’s Lesson, a Father’s Life, a memoir about her father, Chuck Ealey, and his coming of age in small-town Ohio during the U.S. civil rights era. The memoir also dives into Chuck Ealey's impressive tenure as a quarterback in the CFL, where he would go on to become the first black quarterback to win the Grey Cup (1972 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats). Jael's memoir was published to critical acclaim and later adapted into a picture book.
Next up for Jael was the creation of a one-of-a-kind literary festival in her hometown of Brampton. She is the founder and executive director of F.O.L.D. (the festival of literary diversity) with the first festival taking place in May of 2016. It is the first literary festival devoted to celebrating underrepresented authors and storytellers. Jael has been at the forefront of actively promoting authors from marginalized communities, while advocating for greater inclusion within the publishing industry.
And last, but certainly not least, is the arrival of Jael's debut novel, Gutter Child, which released in late January of 2021. Published by HarperCollins Canada, Gutter Child has been met with rave reviews from national media outlets across the country, including the Globe & Mail and the Toronto Star.
Our conversation with Jael explores her days as a Gryphon student-athlete, while also diving into her literary career and of course her debut novel, Gutter Child.
By Guelph Gryphons AthleticsFor Episode 30 of Gryph Nation Radio, we are thrilled to be joined by author Jael Richardson.
Jael is a proud U of G alum and a former Gryphon student-athlete who played four seasons with our Gryphons women's soccer team (1999-2002). While pursuing her undergraduate degree from the University of Guelph in theatre studies, Jael discovered her love for writing, leading her to the University of Guelph-Humber where she completed her Masters of Fine Arts in creative writing. Since obtaining her undergrad and Masters from U of G, Jael has gone on to establish herself as one of the most important figures in Canadian literature. In 2012, Jael authored, The Stone Thrower: A Daughter’s Lesson, a Father’s Life, a memoir about her father, Chuck Ealey, and his coming of age in small-town Ohio during the U.S. civil rights era. The memoir also dives into Chuck Ealey's impressive tenure as a quarterback in the CFL, where he would go on to become the first black quarterback to win the Grey Cup (1972 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats). Jael's memoir was published to critical acclaim and later adapted into a picture book.
Next up for Jael was the creation of a one-of-a-kind literary festival in her hometown of Brampton. She is the founder and executive director of F.O.L.D. (the festival of literary diversity) with the first festival taking place in May of 2016. It is the first literary festival devoted to celebrating underrepresented authors and storytellers. Jael has been at the forefront of actively promoting authors from marginalized communities, while advocating for greater inclusion within the publishing industry.
And last, but certainly not least, is the arrival of Jael's debut novel, Gutter Child, which released in late January of 2021. Published by HarperCollins Canada, Gutter Child has been met with rave reviews from national media outlets across the country, including the Globe & Mail and the Toronto Star.
Our conversation with Jael explores her days as a Gryphon student-athlete, while also diving into her literary career and of course her debut novel, Gutter Child.