Featured Guest, Neil Armstrong, journalist, writer and editor shares some of the books on his shelf for this #BHM #AfricanFuturesMonth focussed edition of The More the Merrier with donna g.

Street-based photographer, Gun Roze and I discuss past shows, his spotlight in Spectaculum Magazine, and his latest project, reimagining the male nude.

Photo: Gun Roze at "Backstage" opening. Source: Instagram @gunroze7

Arts and culture writer, Heidy M (hyemusings.ca) and cinephile Gordon G are back on the show. We chat about recent films and a classic that will make you wary of cats.

Welcome to 2024. The first show of the year features Sistah Lois (pronounced 'Loyce'), activist and edutainer, and my mentor from my early days in radio at CIUT 89.5 FM. In this chat we discuss what community means to her, life lessons (those lived and those learned from the ancestors), and her future ventures.

Photo of Sistah is courtesy of her Instagram @sistahlois

A collection of three interviews from 2023: Doctor and playwright Suvendrini Lena on the Palestinian play, Rubble, Tamas Wormser on the Jewish doc, Shalom Putti and Bernardo Ruiz on his doc El Equipo about the "disappeared."

Music: Peace is the only way by Lenka Lichtenberg and Roula Said

Enjoy this all-music episode as we move towards the end of 2023😊

Bahamadia, 'I Confess'

Jill Scott, 'Easy Conversation'

Kindred the Family Soul, 'Surrender to Love'

Melanie Durrant, 'Let Me'

LAL, 'One Way'

Jade Elektra, 'A Little Bit of House'

Njako Backo and Kalimba Kalimba, 'Family'

Okavango African Orchestra (Juno Award winners), 'Bilan'

Miss Blandine, 'Point d'interrogation'

Djely Tapa, 'Départ pour lune'

Naxx Bitota, 'Poso Oyo'

Sonia Aimy, 'Husband in Canada'

Please note: All samples played are limited to those available via Toronto Public Library using the Libby app. No copyright infringement intended. Mature subject matter, listener discretion is advised.

AUDIOBOOKS

'Tatouine', Jean-Christophe Réhel

'A Dream of a Woman', Casey Plett

'Chinkstar', John Chan Simpson

'Kameleon Man', Kim Barry Brunhuber

'God Loves Hair', Vivek Shraya

'Empire of Wild', Cherie Dimaline

'We, Jane', Aimee Wall

MUSIC

Blaxam 'everybody'

Nicky Lawrence 'dreamer'

Alan Hobbins 'Chopin Nocturne in d-flat major, opus 27, no 2'

Theatre legend, Philip Akin joins me to talk about his directing take on The Lehman Trilogy at Canadian Stage + Jérémie Abessira, Executive Director of the European Union Film Festival, and I chat about the is a year's festival. Music by Alex Bird and the Jazz Mavericks (Where the Blackbird Sings), Lady Laistee (Ooh, Child) and Amai Kuda et les bois (Better Way).

My chat with Tapestry Opera's Michael Hidetoshi Mori about directing the 60 minute opera "Rocking Horse Winner" based on D.H. Lawrence's short story. Runs until Nov 12 at Crow's Theatre, 345 Carlaw.

Music on the show includes works from Rocking Horse Winner composer and librettist Gareth Williams and Anna Chatterton; Nathaniel Dett Chorale (Listen to the Lambs cd), and soprano, Denise Williams (Soulphisticated.)

Kirk Cooper joins me to talk about The Durham Regional International Film Festival + arts and culture writer Heidy M of hyemusings.ca and cinephile, Gordon G and I share our TIFF2023 faves.