The Agenda in the Summer

As Ontario's cities head into elections this fall, Toronto author, columnist, and editor Shawn Micallef talks to Nam Kiwanuka about why local politics matter. Then, Ontario Hubs journalist Adam McDowell discusses the issue of cottages on First Nations land.

Nam Kiwanuka talks to Man Booker Prize-winner Alan Hollinghurst about his much-anticipated sixth novel, "The Sparsholt Affair."

Nam Kiwanuka talks to Tina Brown, celebrated editor of such magazines as Tatler, Vanity Fair, the New Yorker and the digital Daily Beast, about her memoir, "The Vanity Fair Diaries: 1983-1992."

Editor and author Tina Brown returns for a discussion about her experiences transforming some of publishing's iconic magazines and to share her thoughts on women in leadership.

Nam Kiwanuka talks to Aida Edemariam about "The Wife's Tale," a book about the life of her paternal grandmother in Ethiopia at the beginning of the 20th century.

Former Toronto mayor David Crombie discusses post-war era city building and how that differs from today's vision for municipalities. Then, northeastern Ontario hub journalist Claude Sharma discusses what he learned at a dark sky preserve in Manitoulin Island.

Musician Miranda Mulholland talks with Nam Kiwanuka how new technologies have changed how musicians experience their careers.

He's played in Junkhouse, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, and Lee Harvey Osmond. Hamilton's Tom Wilson talks to Nam Kiwanuka about his life in and out of music.

Mario Rigby talks to Nam Kiwanuka about his 12,000 kilometre, 800 day trek across Africa and what he learned along the way.

Lisa Genova has built a successful career writing novels about people struggling to cope with neurological conditions. She talks to Nam Kiwanuka about her latest book, "Every Note Played," in which the main character struggles with ALS.

David Crombie, a former Toronto mayor, talks to Nam Kiwanuka about how cities expanded beyond traditional suburbs in Ontario's past. Then, Ontario Hubs field producer Jeyan Jeganathan talks about beekeeping in Ontario.

Kaitlin Wainwright, director of programming at Heritage Toronto, and Morgan Cameron Ross, a musician who documents his passion for history at oldtorontoseries.com, discuss how cities are living histories.

Daemon Fairless, author of "Mad Blood Stirring: The Inner Lives of Violent Men," joins The Agenda in the Summer to discuss his book, which aims to understand why violence might be appealing to some men.

Journalist Rachel Giese talks to Nam Kiwanuka about her research into the myths of masculinity and the challenges facing boys today, the subject of her book, "Boys: What It Means to Become a Man."

Author and community organizer Jamil Jivani talks to Nam Kiwanuka about his book, "Why Young Men: Rage, Race and the Crisis of Identity," which aims to offer a better understanding of what leads young men to violence.

Carlo Fanelli, co-editor of a recent report, "The Public Sector in an Age of Austerity: Perspectives from Canada's Provinces and Territories," joins Nam Kiwanuka to discuss what the GTHA needs to do to prepare for population growth. Then, Ontario Hubs journalist Mary Baxter discusses the issue of addiction southwestern Ontario.

At 23, Pauline Dakin learned that her family had lived their lives as fugitives, running from a mob underworld. Her book, "Run, Hide, Repeat: A Memoir of a Fugitive Childhood", is an account of that life, and her journey to understand it.

Author Tom Rachman talks to Nam Kiwanuka about his third novel, "The Italian Teacher," his experience living in various countries, and how that has influenced his writing.

Sharon Bala's first novel, "The Boat People," was inspired by a group of Tamil refugees escaping war in Sri Lanka and landing in Canada in 2010. Bala talks to Nam Kiwanuka about how she turned this story into fiction and why it was important to document it.

Author Jan Wong talks to Nam Kiwanuka about what led to the writing of her book, "Apron Strings: Navigating Food and Family in France, Italy, and China."

Transit is one of the biggest issues in every city across the province. The Agenda in the Summer discusses how Ontario's large and smaller cities plan and pay for transit. Then, Ontario Hubs journalist Charnel Anderson discusses the cultural importance of powwows.

The Agenda in the Summer welcomes science journalist Britt Wray to discuss "Rise of the Necrofauna: The Science, Ethics and Risks of De-Extinction," her book about how advancements in genetic science mean it might be possible to bring back extinct animals through various kinds of selective breeding, cloning, and genome engineering.

Peter Wohlleben, a former forest ranger and author of "The Hidden Life of Trees," talks to Nam Kiwanuka about his new book, which explores the inner lives of animals.

Kate Harris always knew she wanted to travel from small-town Ontario to Mars. Along the way, she ended up on an epic journey on the fabled Silk Road. She talks to Nam Kiwanuka about that adventure, the topic of her book, "Lands of Lost Borders: Out of Bounds on the Silk Road."

The discovery and uses of magnets are topics of interest for science journalist Alanna Mitchell. She talks to Nam Kiwanuka about her book, 'The Spinning Magnet: The Force that Created the Modern World and Could Destroy It."

Ahead of the fall municipal elections in Ontario, The Agenda in the Summer talks to Brantford Mayor Chris Friel about how to preserve community and character as cities grow. Ontario Hubs field producer Jeyan Jeganathan heads to Chelmsford, Ontario to see how one modular farm is reshaping the industry in northern Ontario.

Nam Kiwanuka talks with columnist Shawn Micallef about his affection for his adopted city, and muses on why not everyone feels that way about Ontario's capital city.

Photographer Leah Denbok talks to Nam Kiwanuka about her experience photographing homeless men and women for collection in a book, and why she felt the project was important.

Once a leader of a criminal gang in Toronto, Richard Atkinson now spends time talking to kids about why they should steer clear of the kind of life he lived. He talks to Nam Kiwanuka about his life, chronicled in a recently released memoir.

Bestselling American author Rachel Kushner talks to Nam Kiwanuka about her third novel, "The Mars Room," the story of a woman serving two consecutive life sentences in prison.

Given that Ontario's population is aging, The Agenda in the Summer discusses how city planners can best accommodate the needs of an older population.

American author Claire Messud joins The Agenda in the Summer to discuss her sixth novel, "The Burning Girl," and what drew her to writing about the bonds and bounds of female friendships.

Living solo, without children is still considered an unconventional life, yet more Canadians are doing it than ever before. Nam Kiwanuka talks to Andrea Bain and Kelli Maria Korducki, two authors who've written about going against the grain.

Globe and Mail columnist Elizabeth Renzetti has spent three decades reporting on and opining about feminist issues. She talks to Nam Kiwanuka about what she's learned along the way about the evolution of women's rights.

Toronto author Sheila Heti talks to Nam Kiwanuka about her new novel, "Motherhood," in which a young woman ponders whether having a baby will curtail her life and creativity. Then, Northwestern Ontario Hubs journalist Jon Thompson talks about Finnish saunas in Thunder Bay.

Why don't young people vote? It's a question that comes up every election, and the upcoming municipal campaign will be no different. But just because they don't make their views known at the ballot box doesn't mean they're not engaging in civic activities elsewhere. The Agenda in the Summer discusses what motivates youth to vote, or not to vote. Then, Ontario Hubs field producer Jeyan Jeganathan visits the Northern Reach Rescue Network.

Edna Manitowabi, an elder and professor emeritus at Trent University's Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies, talks to Nam Kiwanuka about her role as the grandmother in the film adaptation of Richard Wagamese's novel, "Indian Horse," and how it reflects her own story of growing up in a residential school.

Cherie Dimaline's celebrated novel, "The Marrow Thieves," involves a group of Indigenous survivors of a global disaster who are trying to reclaim their lives. She joins The Agenda in the Summer to talk about the message of the novel.

Artist Rebecca Belmore and Wanda Nanibush, curator of Indigenous art at the Art Gallery of Ontario, talk to Nam Kiwanuka about Belmore's exhibit, and how the presence of Indigenous artists in the public sphere can help facilitate reconciliation.

An accomplished musician and visual artist, Tom Wilson grew up in Hamilton not knowing until recently that his heritage is Mohawk. He chronicles this discovery and his life in the Canadian music scene in a new memoir. He talks to Nam Kiwanuka about his life and work.

The Agenda in the Summer discusses how Ontario cities can reinvent themselves. Then, Ontario Hubs field producer Jeyan Jeganathan talks to Rachel Romu.

Prolific writer Martin Amis talks to Nam Kiwanka about his new collection of critical essays and journalism.

Nam Kiwanuka welcomes novelist and essayist Martin Amis for a reprise of their conversation.

Nam Kiwanuka welcomes author, pastry chef and bakery owner Jackie Kai Ellis to talk about how time in the kitchen helped ease her out of depression.

Nam Kiwanuka talks to journalist and author Jan Wong about her latest book.