It took Joe Clark just 39 years to get into the Prime Minister’s Office. He was, and still is the youngest Prime Minister in Canadian history. It was June of 1979. Things were looking good for the honest to goodness politician from High River, Alberta.

But before Joe Clark could say Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump, his party was ejected from Parliament. A budget bill calling for short term pain for long term gain was voted down, and March 3rd, 273 days after he took office, an eviction notice arrived to 24 Sussex Drive.

On this week’s episode of The CJSR Edition, 33 years after he vacated the PM’s chair, The Right Honourable Joe Clark sits down in the CJSR studios for an extended interview.

But first, in preparation for his interview, our News Director Matt Hirji enlisted the help of two political scientists, Steve Patten and Joseph Ahorro to help understand Joe Clark’s political career.

Welcome aboard the CJSR Edition, featuring our exclusive, extended interview with Canadian astronaut Commander Chris Hadfield.  He discusses donning the technological marvel of the one-person space ship that is the space suit and the mind numbing sensation of space walking; about feeling more closely connected to the world up in space, mortality, and the startling visual beauty of planet earth.

Journalist Sandra Martin has figured out the way to keep people alive forever. As the Obit Queen of Canada and senior features writer at the Globe and Mail, Martin’s job is immortalize lives that were. On this episode of the CJSR Edition Martin talks about what she’s learned about death after more than 8 years on the deadbeat.

What happens when you die? This month’s Red Star Session got us thinking about the afterlife.

Curse you Tyler Butler, one of Edmonton’s finest singer-songwriters who came into CJSR’s Studio A earlier this month to perform a brand new song called ‘Bury Me in the Garden.’ How dare you come in and sing a song that pulled so hard at our heartstrings and made us think about our own mortality? And then you had the gall to talk to us about the birth of your new record label Cabin Songs that emerged out of a paradigm shift in your thoughts about the music industry? The audacity! Enjoy!

About 83 percent of our blood is comprised of water.

On this week’s episode of The CJSR Edition we present two interviews with experts blood and water respectively.

Acclaimed Canadian author Lawrence Hill talks about the liquid that singularly unites and divides us. Blood! His newest book, “Blood: The Stuff of Life” is the basis for this year’s CBC Massey Lectures.

Then later in the program, Water! Maude Barlow, National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians speaks about the complex realities of water sustainability today. Her newest book, released earlier in 2013, is called Blue Future: Protecting Water for People and the Planet Forever.

Tune in to hear the final word in the Edmonton mayoral campaign! The CJSR Edition sits down with Don Iveson, Karen Leibovici, and Kerry Diotte who candidly discuss their thoughts on what makes Edmonton a great city, and what makes each candidate the best person to lead Edmonton for the next term.

Plus, we examine three touchstones of elections in Edmonton: apathy, financing, and advocacy.

After 3271 days served as Mayor of Edmonton, and with only 20 days left until he officially vacates the mayor’s office  Stephen Mandel speaks in a surprisingly frank interview about his successes and failures as Edmonton’s mayor. Then, what did the Ottoman Empire sound like in the 15th century? That and much more, on this episode of the CJSR Edition.

On this week’s episode of the CJSR Edition, two stories about people coming together for the greater good!

Brian Mason and Danielle Smith, leaders of Alberta’s NDP and The Wildrose Party respectively, go head to head in a debate of political philosophies…with a little radio magic.

We also focus on the international student protest at the University of Alberta against the sudden and unexpected increase in international student tuition fees for the current academic year.

On this week’s episode of the CJSR Edition, stories about the blurring of realities, clarity in the face of deception, smoke and mirrors.

We’ll hear a presentation that magician Ian Pidgeon delivered this summer at Edmonton’s Nerd Night about the power that sleight of hand can have on our society.

Then, later we’ll hear from students at the University of Alberta talking about their first weeks on campus. They’ll talk about their hopes and expectations for the next four years of school. Expectations that might not align with reality — at least according to one jaded man who spent 15 years pursuing a bachelor’s degree in the labyrinth that is the U of A.

And to start it all off, an interview with Canadian fantasy writer Kelley Armstrong about the process of penning imaginary worlds.

Last weekend Edmonton Public Library Writer-In-Residence, Omar Mouallem took part in the Three-Day Novel Contest. The literary marathon — where participants are challenged to write a book in just 72 hours — was not only a test of Mouallem’s literary wits, but also his physical and mental endurance.

And the day after he wrote the book, we dragged the droopy eyed, exasperated Omar Mouallem into our studios to talk about what it’s like to accomplish something in three days that some people spend a lifetime just dreaming about.

Plus, we’ll speak to paleontologist Dr. Phil Currie about the University of Alberta’s brand new massive open online course (MOOC) that he’s teaching this fall.

Then later, schools back from summer, and the University of Alberta is a sometimes intriguing, sometimes confusing place. CJSR’s Bob Brophy gives it to you straight.

All that and more, on this, the first episode of the second season of The CJSR Edition.