Can't Lit
129 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago - ★★★★★ - 3 ratingsA podcast on all things Canadian and Literature and then some.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
076 - Can't Lit - Dina & Jen - Revision
April 29, 2019 07:00 - 34 minutes - 47 MBNo guest, but lots of chatting. Dina & Jen talk about revision, editing, working with an editor, feedback, writing groups and workshops. And more! And find out what Dina and Jen think of books about writing. You probably already know in your heart.
075 - Can't Lit - Andrea Warner
April 15, 2019 07:00 - 1 hour - 106 MBWe talk to one delight about a book she wrote about another delight! Wonderful person and brilliant writer Andrea Warner is on this episode. We talk about her new book, Buffy Sainte-Marie: The Authorized Biography, why Buffy Sainte-Marie is totally amazing, research and writing, make-up and dog anatomy. Listen now for this truly delicious episode.
074 - Can't Lit - Dina & Jen - Jealousy
March 25, 2019 07:00 - 38 minutes - 52.8 MBThey're just jealous! And here to talk about. In this episode Dina and Jen talk about professional literary jealousy and what it looks like for them, how they talk about it and how they deal.
073 - Can't Lit - Lindsay Wong
March 11, 2019 07:00 - 52 minutes - 71.5 MBWhy hello there! In this episode we get to talk to amazing writer and lovely person, Lindsay Wong. We discuss her memoir, The Woo-Woo, manuscript rejection, writing about mental illness, family, eyelash extensions, and listening to music (and not listening to music). We cover a lot of ground, and give some good tips too. Both the writing kind and the make up kind.
072 - Can't Lit - Dina & Jen - Baby Writers
February 25, 2019 08:00 - 32 minutes - 44.4 MBDina and Jen talk about their experiences of being baby writers. Learn about how their careers began, about their youthful writing lives and how they each found literary community.
071 - Can't Lit - jaye simpson & Jessica Johns
February 11, 2019 08:00 - 1 hour - 110 MBOur first guests of the year are fire! Talented and delightful writers jaye simpson and Jessica Johns join us to talk about the Indigenous Brilliance reading series, Room Magazine, writing and performance, the ethics of care, making space, fashion, and so much more. There is much laughing. We have a very fun time.
070 - Can't Lit - Dina & Jen
January 28, 2019 08:00 - 1 hour - 96.6 MBIt's 2019! Dina and Jen are back in the recording studio (find out where we record in the episode) without a guest and are answering questions from you, the listeners (a.k.a. friends of the podcast) that you sent us on Twitter. We talk about when the movie is better than the book, what we wish we knew as baby writers, and lipstick. Happy to be back in your ears in the new year.
069 - Can't Lit - Shazia Hafiz Ramji
December 21, 2018 08:00 - 50 minutes - 69.5 MBThe year's almost over, but there's one episode left with completely outstanding guest, writer, editor, and beautiful human Shazia Hafiz Ramji! We talk about her poetry collection, Port of Being, talking and not talking about craft, literary tours, what it's like to talk about the hard stuff you wrote, creepy men, otters and koi, Marisa Tomei and there's even some special Gritty content. Wishing you all Merry Gritmas and a delightful new year.
068 - Can't Lit - BONUS Daniel Zomparelli
December 10, 2018 08:00 - 38 minutes - 53.1 MBDina travelled to LA for a little blast from podcast past with Daniel Zomparelli as guest and host. We talk about Daniel's new podcast, I'm Afraid That, books we loved this year, lawsuits we didn't, articles we didn't read and so much more. Recorded at Little Everywhere. Despite our jokes and rants we can't make up for the lack of Jen in this episode.
067 - Can’t Lit - Keith Maillard
November 26, 2018 08:00 - 1 hour - 89.1 MBThe days get drearier but the podcast gets more delightful with top drawer guest, writer, teacher, mentor, Keith Maillard! We talk about his new novel Twin Studies, writing research, relationships, Bakhtin, Refuse: CanLit in Ruins and some very enjoyable pets of CanLit. All tangents will be satisfying.
066 - Can't Lit - Waubgeshig Rice
November 12, 2018 08:00 - 1 hour - 105 MBThe days are getting darker but Can't Lit is here to brighten your day with a wonderful talk with talented writer and sweetheart Waubgeshig Rice. We talk about his new novel, Moon of the Crusted Snow as well as dystopia, masculinity, character development, 90s fashion and the dreaded diversity panel. We also talk about fun times had at the Vancouver Writers' Fest and yes, we do get into Gritty!
065 - Can't Lit - Vivek Shraya
October 29, 2018 07:00 - 58 minutes - 80.7 MBBoo! Don't be scared. It's just a podcast. And this episode has the beyond delightful, smart, talented and hilarious, Vivek Shraya. We discuss her new book, I'm Afraid of Men, masculinity, being a multi-disciplinary artist, readers and audiences, fashion, and so much more. And maybe we decide to write Can't Lit: The Musical.
064 - Can't Lit - Kim Fu
October 15, 2018 06:00 - 59 minutes - 81.9 MBFresh from the Fraser Valley Literary Festival Dina and Jen talk with novelist, poet, and great dog parent, Kim Fu! We talk about new latest novel, The Lost Girls of Camp Forevermore, character, structure, poetry and fiction and of course dogs. Thanks to the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford for letting us record in a very quiet and lovely room.
063 - Can't Lit - Andrew Wilmot
September 24, 2018 06:00 - 1 hour - 112 MBYes, it's fall, but in the world of this Can't Lit we're in a wildfire smoke summer haze with the truly lovely Andrew Wilmot. We discuss his debut novel The Death Scene Artist, writing genre, first book feelings, bodies, and Angelina Jolie's dating life. Jen gets real about grief and Dina admits to some Bob Seger feelings.
062- Can't Lit - Amanda Leduc
August 27, 2018 07:00 - 1 hour - 99.4 MBLate summer is here! But don't be sad, because the amazing Amanda Leduc is also here to talk about her upcoming novel, The Centaur's Wife, muppets, accessibility, world building, the FOLD, and of course many other things. Jen has summer emotions, and Dina surprises everyone with her Rage Minute.
061- Can't Lit - andrea bennett
July 30, 2018 06:00 - 1 hour - 95.7 MBSummer is here and Dina and Jen bask in the glow of talented writer, editor, artist and all around lovely human andrea bennett! We talk about definitive hot takes, poetry, drawing, editing, bikes, and dogs and babies. This episode has it all.
060 - Can't Lit - Samantha Marie Nock
June 25, 2018 05:00 - 57 minutes - 78.4 MBSummer has arrived and this new episode with amazing writer and delightful person Samantha Marie Nock is a great sunny or rainy day companion. Discussed in this episode: the vulnerability of writing, putting together a first poetry manuscript, friendship, fear, boy bands, PUPPIES and the latest CanLit trash. Jen and Dina are emotional as usual.
059 - Can't Lit - Hannah McGregor
May 28, 2018 05:00 - 1 hour - 122 MBJen and Dina have the best time with podcaster, scholar, writer and truly wonderful human Hannah McGregor! We talk scholarly podcasting, publishing, lipstick and bodies (don't comment on them, okay?) and of course there is rage and emotions and, yes, lots of laughter. Also, we all proclaim our love for librarians.
058 - Thank You For Being a Friend
April 30, 2018 05:00 - 1 hour - 152 MBMarita Dachsel, Charlotte Gill, Jennica Harper, Nancy Lee and Laisha Rosnau are extraordinary writers who've also been friends for twenty years! Jen and Din are lucky to talk to them about their super-friendship origin story, how they help each other with their writing, celebrating successes, being there for each other (cutting umbilical cords!), teaching, pay inequality and so much more.
057 - Can't Lit - BONUS Sharon Bala
April 20, 2018 05:00 - 35 minutes - 16.3 MBGet excited for this bonus episode with super delight and excellent writer, Sharon Bala. We talk about her new novel, Boat People, writing refugees and immigrants, displacement, unlikeable characters, female relationships and gross politicians. And of course, we talk a little bit about fashion.
056 - Can't Lit - Alicia Elliott
March 26, 2018 05:00 - 1 hour - 36.6 MBHello friends! This month we have another truly exciting guest: the amazingly talented and charming, Alicia Elliott. We talk about writing non-fiction (and other genres), privilege, how we have to interrogate to be good and responsible writers, lipstick, musicals and so much more. We also play a new game: 'New Lipstick or New Poetry.' And there is a lot of singing.
055 - Can't Lit - Katherena Vermette
February 26, 2018 06:00 - 1 hour - 81.2 MBWinter is bleak but this episode will warm you up. Jen and Dina get to talk to the multi-hyphenate, multi-talented, multi-award-winning, novelist, poet, filmmaker (and more) Katherena Vermette! They talk with her about her novel, The Break, poetry and genre-hopping, baggy, high-waisted jeans, self-care in hard times and single moms. You're gonna feel the feelings!
054 - Can't Lit - Rahila's Ghost
January 29, 2018 15:19 - 1 hour - 94.3 MBWay back in November Jen and Dina interviewed part of the amazing team behind Rahila's Ghost Press, a new chapbook press that will knock your stockings off. And we sure did have a fun time, talked about a lot of poetry and yes, there were emotions. Now the episode is here for your listening pleasure, with publisher Mallory Tater, managing editor Curtis LeBlanc, editors Adèle Barclay and Shaun Robinson, and two of the first poets publisher by the press, Megan Fennya Jones (Normal Women) and J...
053 - Can't Lit - XXXmas
December 18, 2017 05:00 - 1 hour - 122 MBHappy holidays from your original Can't Lit hosting team! Dina welcomes Daniel back into the "studio" in this guest-less episode that goes on too many tangents to name just one. There's a special gift at the end of the episode: a delightfully boozy pitch for a Hallmark holiday movie.
052 - Can't Lit - David Chariandy
November 27, 2017 16:00 - 1 hour - 83.8 MBThis episode is full of fun, friendship and lots of love. Dina and Jen talk to the recent winner of the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize, novelist, and truly lovely person, David Chariandy. We talk about his new novel, Brother, Jen and David's early days as published writers, writing the good and hard stuff, and the passing of Jen's beloved dog companion, Molly. Molly, we love you and you are missed. We also play a game called, "Write or Go Right?" Three Leos together on the mic and it ca...
051 - Can't Lit - Gurjinder Basran
October 30, 2017 04:00 - 1 hour - 76.6 MBRecorded in September but here now for your ears is an episode with lovely writer Gurjinder Basran! Jen and I talk to her about her new novel, Someone You Love is Gone, which features ghosts and sadness and some laughs too. We also discuss representation in literature, rap and hip hop, and a Tinder date from the news. There's even some Halloween cackling. Happy listening!
050 - Can't Lit - 50th Episode Litacular
September 25, 2017 09:00 - 1 hour - 98.2 MBWe made it to 50 episodes! And to celebrate Dina and Jen got a lot of snacks together and welcomed Adèle Barclay, Juliane Okot Bitek, Raoul Fernandes , Leah Horlick, Nancy Lee, Ben Rawluk and Beni Xiao back to the podcast. With a very special speaker phone call from Daniel Zomparelli this episode has all the feelings, book talk, tangents and valid complaints your ears have been hearing for 50 glorious 'sodes. Do we finally go deep on Marian Engel's Bear? You decide! Thanks for listening! We ...
049 - Can't Lit - Bianca Spence & Paul Vermeersch
August 28, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 95.3 MBDon't lament summer ending because we have the two most lovely guests: Paul Vermeersch and Bianca Spence! While visiting Vancouver from Toronto they made time to talk to Jen and me about karaoke, Degrassi, diversity panels, friendliness in literary community and fries. We also bring back Literary Would You Rather?
048 - Can't Lit - Michael V. Smith
July 31, 2017 06:00 - 1 hour - 58.6 MBThis episode with writer Michael V. Smith is a joyful summer treat! He writes great poems, prose and tweets. Jen and Dina talk to him about his new poetry book, Bad Ideas, dreams, why we write, navigating the exclusion and power imbalances of the literary community, Disneyland and even Daniel's wedding. We have so many laughs. Also, we talk about Jen's new book, Gentlemen of the Shade. Read both of their new books and you'll have a better summer.
047 Can't Lit - Kai Cheng Thom and Ali Blythe and Leah Horlick
June 26, 2017 04:00 - 1 hour - 82.3 MBThree amazing guests in one super episode! Finalists Kai Cheng Thom and Ali Blythe along with event MC Leah Horlick join Dina and Jen the day after the Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBTQ Emerging Writers ceremony. We talk poetry (a lot, in so many ways), exclusion in canlit, the problem with "universal" stories, and so much more. This episodes has laughs, lots of emotions and ends in a real lovefest. Though not in the room with us third finalist Eva Crocker makes an appearance through the magic o...
046 Can't Lit — Tenille Campbell
May 29, 2017 04:00 - 1 hour - 38.7 MBThings get spicy in this episode because Dina and Daniel get to talk to poet, photographer and general delight Tenille Campbell! We talk about that writing life, surprise yoga, and culture, sex, desire in her wonderful debut poetry collection #IndianLovePoems. Come for the hook up stories, stay for the fun cackling throughout. Also, Daniel deals with reviews of his new book, Dina survived a year of teaching and Tenille was in a commercial.
BONUS - Deborah WIllis
May 22, 2017 04:00 - 19 minutes - 8.88 MBA short bonus episode! Jen and Dina wished they'd had more time with Deborah Willis, but we all still had a fun time and great a conversation about Deborah's amazing new short story collection, The Dark and Other Love Stories, hypochondria, Riverdale, and quite a bit of gross body stuff. HOT TIP: This episode was recorded in February! A real blast from the near past.
045 Can't Lit — Carleigh Baker and Daniel Zomparelli
April 26, 2017 06:00 - 1 hour - 42.9 MBIt may be Poetry Month, but we pull a short story switcheroo! Daniel is the guest, along with Carleigh Baker. Jen Sookfong Lee is your guest host. Dina is up to the same old tricks. In this whopper of an episode we talk about Daniel's book of short stories Everything Is Awful and You're a Terrible Person, and Carleigh's Bad Endings. Other topics covered include: reviews, Canada Reads, putting biographical stuff into fiction, and a ban on summer literary events.
044 Can't Lit — Juliane Okot Bitek and Leah Horlick
March 28, 2017 06:00 - 1 hour - 34.1 MBLive from Growing Room: A Feminist Literary Festival we have two mega-talented and wonderful guests, Juliane Okot Bitek and Leah Horlick! In our second live outing we talk about rejection, free labour, jumpsuit anxiety, book award red carpet fashion, broken heaters, their books, 100 Days (Juliane) and For Your Own Good (Leah), and of course Dina and Daniel's anxiety. We also debut our newest segment "I'm So Tired" and everyone, including our audience, has a lot to say about it.
043 - Eden Robinson
February 27, 2017 07:00 - 39 minutes - 18 MBWhen Daniel's away Dina gets to co-host with podcast guest host superstar Jen Sookfong Lee! They talk to complete talent and delight Eden Robinson. Be prepared for so much boisterous laughter. Their conversation touches on her new novel, Son of a Trickster, otters and other animals, humour, swearing, dietary restrictions and Dina talks about her Danielversary.
042- Regis and Kelly
February 20, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 28.9 MBNo guest? No problem. It's just Dina and Daniel! They went to Kelowna and lived to tell the tale. This episode has so much: spring books we're excited about, a literary festival/winery recap, so much singing, and a very special CanLit Feud featuring one of the hosts.
041 Can't Lit — Beni Xiao & Mariah Devcic
January 30, 2017 18:55 - 1 hour - 39.2 MBHappy New Year, listeners! Daniel has a post-vacation glow and Dina beams from an amazing otter encounter. Our smart and talented guests are writers Beni Xiao & Mariah Devcic. These sharp young ones talk about writing, university, periods, the culture of CanLit and so much more. Don't call them emerging. They're already here!
040 Can't Lit — It's a Wonderful Can't Lit
December 20, 2016 01:49 - 1 hour - 50 MBHappy holidays, listeners! This episode has singing, laughing, shouting, seasonal stories, book recommendations, suggestions for places to donate this holiday season from many guests from Can't Lit past: Jen Sookfong Lee, Ben Rawluk, Adèle Barclay, Sheryda Warrener, Elee Kraljii Gardiner, Carleigh Baker, Anthony Casey & Anakana Schofield. Daniel has a broken water pipe, Dina is sometimes quiet, and it all happens during a snowstorm! xoxo
039 Can't Lit — Zoe Whittall
November 28, 2016 07:00 - 1 hour - 30.2 MBOh wow! On this episode we have the amazing novelist, poet, TV writer and enjoyable person, Zoe Whittall! Her great novel, The Best Kind of People, was shortlisted for the Giller Prize and Dina and Daniel praise it like dorks. We talk about that novel, but cover so many other topics, like blemish talk, TV we're watching, weird movies, and so much more. Zoe wins the award for Super Delightful Podcast Guest!
BONUS — For Leonard Cohen
November 17, 2016 21:00 - 38 minutes - 17.7 MBIn a special bonus episode of Can't Lit, Daniel interviews Dina about late Canadian icon and her hero, Leonard Cohen. She talks about his influence, why he's amazing and the time she met him at a chain bookstore basement. We also just look at the past week and say WTF?
038 Can't Lit — Adèle Barclay
October 26, 2016 23:54 - 1 hour - 29.9 MBHooray for Halloween candy and our supes special guest, secret matriarch and poetry witch, Adèle Barclay. As we munch on so many fun-sized chocolate bars we talk about her new poetry collection, If I Were in a Cage I'd Reach Out for You, her new position with CWILA, winning the LIT POP poetry prize and finishing her PhD, and we give some dirtbag tips for writers. We also talk so much Halloween stuff and Daniel gets us to play a game called Which Witch?
037 Can't Lit — Jen Sookfong Lee and Anakana Schofield
September 27, 2016 23:42 - 1 hour - 36.9 MBDina and Daniel invited Jen Sookfong Lee and Anakana Schofield into a literary pop-up shop and recorded Can't Lit Live! In our first live episode we talk about their books, The Conjoined and Martin John, Lionel Shriver, shirts, and of course go on so many tangents in front of an audience. We play a special game: Who Said This in an Interview: Anakana or Jen? and Dina gets Daniel and their guests to share their rage! Do things get out of hand? You tell us.
036 Can't Lit — Anthony Casey
August 29, 2016 09:00 - 1 hour - 39.3 MBThis episode is jam-packed! Our smart and talented guest is all-year-round fun time, Anthony Casey! We talk about writing TV recaps and drag comedy (shout out to Shanda Leer), and his new personal project, One Hour Writer, Pretty Little Liars, Daniel's fun travel stories, Dina getting old and getting stoned, the Olympics (sort of), puppy play and so much more. Grab some Weed Dunkaroos and listen.
035 Can't Lit — Chelene Knight
July 18, 2016 07:00 - 1 hour - 35.4 MBJoin us for a podcast brunch with our fantastic guest, Chelene Knight. We talk with her about her excellent poetry collection, Braided Skin, and her new manuscript, Dear Current Occupant. We also talk about good and bad cocktails, not having the answers, and summer looks and treats. Then we play a game just for Meme Queen Chelene: Stand By Your Meme.
034 Can't Lit — Vivek Shraya
June 27, 2016 07:00 - 1 hour - 34.3 MBSummer is here and your hosts get to bask in the talented glow of multi-hyphenate and human delight, Vivek Shraya! We talk about her new book, even this page is white, new photography project, Trisha, and her band with her brother, Too Attached. We also talk about Pride, hip hop and R&B, racism in canlit, pop culture and everywhere, summer , shorts and so much more. Dina gets real about her uterus and we find out if the hosts have ever fought.
033 Can't Lit — Elee Kraljii Gardiner
May 29, 2016 17:47 - 52 minutes - 24.2 MBStrap on your skates, Can't Lit listeners! Wonderful writer and human Elee Kraljii Gardiner joins Dina and Daniel to talk about her debut poetry collection, Serpentine Loop (Anvil Press, 2016). Also discussed: figure skating, Boston, statues, book tours, short stories and the hard parts about writing. Do we reference The Cutting Edge? You bet we do! Let Elee double toe loop into your heart. Toe pick!
032 Can't Lit — Rosé
May 14, 2016 19:37 - 55 minutes - 25.5 MBThe sun is shining and our guest is our dear friend, rosé. Daniel talks about his fun adventures and new home. Dina's Rage Minute makes its first appearance and she introduces a new game: Race Horse or Poetry Book? CanLit Feuds is here for you, along with other literary trash talk . Special cameo appearance by human delight Gabe Liedman.
031 Can't Lit — Ben Rawluk
April 01, 2016 17:45 - 56 minutes - 26.1 MBKick off Poetry Month with a new episode from your loving Can't Lit duo! This month superhero braniac and literary heartthrob Ben Rawluk joins us to talk about so many great and mind-tingling things, but especially the action-packed upcoming issue of Poetry Is Dead: Prose Poem vs. the Super-Hero. Have a super-duper Poetry Month!
030 Can't Lit — Charles Demers
March 02, 2016 20:46 - 1 hour - 34.5 MBOh boy! This episode is a real champ because we talk to Charles Demers, a.k.a Charlie, formerly a.k.a Chuck. We get into some serious topics like: chunky guacamole, last name pronunciation, t-ball, his new book, "The Horrors", being a homeowner in Vancouver, and Elena Ferrante. We also play a new and not stressful game: Alphabet of Anxiety.
029 Can't Lit — Carleigh Baker
February 15, 2016 23:37 - 51 minutes - 23.7 MBIt's the Can't Lit Bowl! Over bowls of snacks we ignore Super Bowl Sunday and talk to the delightful writer Carleigh Baker! We discuss chapbooks, including hers, The Closest We'll Get to Neon, The Peel Project documentary, poetry, her upcoming short story collection, Bad Endings, being hungover dirtbags and sexy dentists. Touchdown!