Folk-tinged pop singer-songwriter, Basia Bulat joins Shad to discuss the departure from her roster of restrained, intimate songs to her new record's big drums, R&B basslines and soaring vocals which has her poised for wider success and earned her a spot on the Polaris Prize shortlist.

Meredith MacNeil and Carolyn Taylor of CBC’s all-female sketch comedy program “Baroness Von Sketch Show” join Shad to discuss satirizing every day life — from the absurd and awkward moments to the cringe-worthy yet relatable plotlines.

Violinist Lara St. John sits down with Shad to talk about her latest record, Shiksa. The record is a love letter to the traditional music of the Balkans and Eastern Europe.

The premise for Swiss Army Man is nothing if not original. The genre-defying film stars Paul Dano as a lonely castaway who befriends a flatulent corpse with magical powers, played by Daniel Radcliffe. Today the filmmakers Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, also known as Daniels, join Shad to discuss their strange Sundance hit.

Author Yaa Gyasi knew that she wanted to write a book about what it meant to be black in America. But it wasn’t until she took a trip to her native country of Ghana that she gained perspective on the legacy of slavery, and her story grew to span generations. Gyasi joins Shad to discuss her debut novel “Homegoing” which follows two half-sisters — one who is sold into slavery, the other forced to marry a slave trader — and continues into the present day, delving into the lives of their descendants.

He directed the classic "Ghosbusters" movie. Now Ivan Reitman has backed the all-female reboot that he couldn't wait to "unleash" on the world. Today ​Reitman joins guest host Rachel Giese to discuss why he's so proud of the new film.

SPOILER ALERT!

Fan favourite Poussey Washington, played by Samira Wiley, is suffocated by a prison guard — one of "the good ones" — during a peaceful protest. The Juilliard-trained actor learned of the distressing, ethically thorny scene long before her cast mates. For nearly a year, she quietly contemplated the end of her character's narrative arc, and the significance of killing the show's "moral compass."

Part hip-hop, part WWE-inspired theatre. Insane Clown Posse's music is like sweet Faygo soda — delicious to some, disgusting to others. Today Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope join Shad to discuss their first Canadian tour in over a decade following years of being banned from the country.

When the FBI calls your fanbase a gang, is that the kind of press you want? Insane Clown Posse's Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope explain why they have a problem with the saying "any press is good press".

Crime fiction writer Todd Babiak was wrapping up his latest novel, “Son of France”, when his brother called him in tears. "She's dead. Paula's dead." His brother's girlfriend had been murdered. Babiak joins Shad to discuss how the tragedy helped him understand the profound severity of losing a loved one, and how it later informed his writing.