Ryan O'Connell talks about his memoir-turned-Netflix sitcom Special and what it's been like to turn his story, as a gay man with cerebral palsy, into a comedy series. Dhonielle Clayton and Nic Stone discuss their contributions to the anthology Blackout, which collects positive love stories by Black female writers. Canadian country singer Meghan Patrick shares the inspiration behind her new song Mama Prayed For. Ontario poet Canisia Lubrin talks about her book The Dyzgraphxst, which just won the 2021 Griffin Poetry Prize. Ethnomusicologist Max Jack talks about three pop songs that became soccer stadium chants.

Ojibway poet Duke Redbird reads a poem he wrote to honour the victims of residential schools. Blackfoot and Sámi filmmaker Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers discusses a collection of films she curated for the Toronto International Film Festival in honour of National Indigenous History Month. Cree author David A. Robertson opens up about his first memoir, Black Water: Family, Legacy, and Blood Memory, in which he ventures into some of the most personal storytelling of his career. Anishinaabe fashion designer Lesley Hampton tells us why she wants to support body neutrality over body positivity with her new summer collection focused on on "post-lockdown self-confidence."

Bestselling author Jason Reynolds discusses his novel Long Way Down, his entry into the world of literature and why he wants to write books that relate to young readers. Composer Tania León talks about her Pulitzer Prize-winning orchestral piece, Stride — one of 19 pieces composed by women to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. Writer Canisia Lubrin reads an excerpt from her Griffin Poetry Prize-nominated book, The Dyzgraphxst. Singer-songwriter Richard Marx shares an oral history of Luther Vandross's single Dance with My Father, which became a Father's Day anthem not only for fans around the world but for Céline Dion as well.

Emmy-winning actress Uzo Aduba (known as Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren on Orange Is the New Black) talks about taking on her first lead role in HBO's reboot of In Treatment. Cree-Métis baritone Jonathon Adams shares what they discovered when they began delving into the history of Indigenous music and how it was brutally suppressed by Canada's residential school system. Griffin Poetry Prize finalist Yusuf Saadi reads his poem Mile End from his debut poetry collection, Pluviophile. Elton John opens up about his "rollercoaster life," how having children changed everything for him and why he's now saying goodbye to life on the road.

With her debut feature Dead Pigs now hitting theatres for the first time, filmmaker Cathy Yan reflects on the huge impact the micro-budget satire had on her career. Our books columnist Jael Richardson fills us in on her summer book pick: Angeline Boulley's debut novel, Firekeeper's Daughter. Canadian R&B artist Emanuel discusses his debut album Alt Therapy, which was co-signed by Idris Elba and Kardinal Offishall before it was even released.

Canadian artist Jeff Lemire talks about seeing his acclaimed comic book series Sweet Tooth adapted into a hit live-action Netflix series of the same name. Canadian singer-songwriter Ruth B. discusses her sophomore album, Moments in Between, and what it was like returning home to Edmonton during the pandemic. Canadian actor brother duo Shamier Anderson and Stephan James talk about launching the Black Academy to support, empower and celebrate emerging Black talent across Canada.

Michelle Pfeiffer talks about her critically acclaimed role in French Exit, a film adaptation of Patrick deWitt's novel of the same name. On this week's screen panel, Kathleen Newman-Bremang and Teri Hart discuss MuchMusic's TikTok comeback and Bo Burnham's new Netflix comedy special, Inside. Hip hop artist Haviah Mighty introduces us to her powerful new track Protest off her forthcoming mixtape, Stock Exchange. Writer and director Miranda July talks about her latest film Kajillionaire, creative collaboration with strangers, and how all families are like cults.

Grammy-winning singer and activist Angélique Kidjo discusses her incredible new album, Mother Nature, which sees her championing young talent from across the African continent. Actor and producer Kheng Hua Tan (best known for Crazy Rich Asians and Netflix's Marco Polo) talks about her latest role in a gender-flipped reboot of the 1970s action series Kung Fu. Ewan Currie of the Sheepdogs introduces us to Rock and Roll (Ain't No Simple Thing) — the first track off the band's new EP, No Simple Thing. Blues musician Robert Finley talks about finding success in his late 60s, and his new autobiographical album, Sharecropper's Son, produced by Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys.

In response to the recent hate-motivated hit and run in London, Ont., Canadian poet Wali Shah performs his spoken word poem, Home, which he wrote shortly after a tragic incident that happened to him and his family. Canadian comedian, actor and CBC host Ali Hassan discusses the attack in London, Ont., and shares his own experience with Islamophobia. Amarrass Records co-founder Ankur Malhotra talks about a new three-part docuseries, Searching for the Blues, which shows what the blues of the American South has in common with a centuries-old music scene in Rajasthan, northwestern India. Toronto singer-songwriter Rochelle Jordan explains how the retro U.K.-inspired sound on her latest album, Play With The Changes, isn't just an ode to her British-Jamaican roots but her present-day mindset.

Singer-songwriter Liz Phair talks about her first album of new material in a decade, Soberish, which sees her reunite with producer Brad Wood, who worked with her on her breakthrough album, Exile in Guyville. Bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid discusses her latest novel, Malibu Rising, about a group of famous siblings who throw an epic party that goes up in literal flames. Canadian musician Alan Doyle introduces the title track off his new EP, Back to the Harbour — a collection of songs to celebrate his love of folk music. In light of the 20th anniversary of Degrassi: The Next Generation, stars Lauren Collins and Jake Epstein (a.k.a. Paige and Craig) look back on the show's impactful storylines, and tell us what it was like shooting Drake's Degrassi reunion music video, I'm Upset.