Best Susan Orlean Podcasts (2026)

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Susan Orlean: Why being curious gives you a richer life 36:41

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17d ago36:41

36:41

Susan Orlean is the best selling author of seven books including The Orchid Thief and The Library Book, and has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 1992. On stage at the Vancouver Writers Fest, she talks about being curious about the world, and how that's led her to the most unexpected stories. She tells the stories behind her stories of th…

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Susan Orlean and David Ramirez 52:08

19d ago52:08

52:08

Acclaimed writer Susan Orlean (The New Yorker) reflects on her storied career through the lens of her new memoir Joyride, which touches on her unique approach to research and celebrity profiles... and how Meryl Streep came to portray her in the "adaptation" of her hit book The Orchid Thief; plus, Austin's beloved singer-songwriter David Ramirez per…

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Susan Orlean: New Yorker writer and author of the new memoir, "Joyride." 52:03

22d ago52:03

52:03

On the keys to capturing your own life via memoir. On why this multi-city book tour will likely be her last. On how it feels to have a book become a major motion picture. On turning 70 as a scribe.

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Susan Orlean on How to Actually Finish Your Book 43:13

28d ago43:13

43:13

Orchids. Infernos. Rin Tin Tin. What do these things have in common? They’ve all been the subject of books by Susan Orlean. In her new book Joyride, she pulls back the curtain on how she does it. Susan and Dan dig into how she decides which ideas are worth pursuing, how she pushes through the doubt, and why audiobooks might just be the purest way t…

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Cowboy Kent Rollins’ Guide to Success 27:10

11h ago27:10

27:10

Cowboy Kent has cooked meals on the open range and gone head-to-head with Bobby Flay and beaten him. But his success didn’t stop in the kitchen. He’s built a thriving YouTube channel, a successful catering business, and written cookbooks. In this episode, Kent shares why faith and family aren’t just part of his story, but the foundation of everythi…

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The rising cost of being a Canadian Olympian 19:37

14h ago19:37

19:37

With the Winter Olympics just weeks away, Canadian athletes are speaking out about the rising cost of representing their country. Luger Trinity Ellis says she’s cutting pennies just to stay competitive. Speed skater Hayden Mayeur says even athletes at the top of the funding scale are struggling to cover rent, food, travel, and equipment. We hear fr…

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When betting odds enter the news 21:08

14h ago21:08

21:08

And prediction markets, where people bet real money on real-world events are moving into the news itself. CNN and CNBC have struck deals with a company called Kalshi, bringing betting odds into their coverage of politics, the economy, and even war. Reporter Danny Funt explains why this alarms journalists and ethicists, the risks of conflicts of int…

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Why peace still feels out of reach in Ukraine 23:50

14h ago23:50

23:50

Nearly four years into the war in Ukraine peace is still elusive. What would it take to get there? Matt Galloway speaks with Yevhen Matvienko and Tim Mak about the current state of the war, Zelenskyy's popularity and could Russia end up with part of Ukraine?

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Covering Venezuela, CBS’s Anchor Du Jour, and a Pile of Football Audio 1:18:24

1h ago1:18:24

1:18:24

Hello, media consumers! Bryan is joined by Joel today to discuss the regime change in Venezuela (07:57), including CNN’s coverage of this news. Next, the guys examine the start of the Tony Dokoupil era at CBS News (26:50). They dive into who he is, why he was picked, and more. Then, Bryan and Joel take a look at CBS News’ newly released values (36:…

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Is it cringe to dance now? Update on GLP-1 medication; and more 1:39:15

23h ago1:39:15

1:39:15

Today on AirTalk: California's snowpack (0:15) New UCLA study on pollutants in burn area homes (9:44) Is it cringe to dance now? (33:39) GLP-1 check-in (50:46) Is being late an ADHD symptom? (1:26:11) Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or …

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S11 E1: Chris Duffy, Laura Danger, and Lauren LaRusso 18:03

3h ago18:03

18:03

In this episode, meet comedian Chris Duffy, educator Laura Danger, and psychotherapist Lauren LaRusso. Hear Chris Duffy on how comedy can make life better and why he would describe recording his audiobook as “bliss,” Laura Danger on how the labor of household carework impacts our wellbeing and our relationships, and Lauren LaRusso on creating a too…

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Erik Kramer Former NFL QB, author of "The Ultimate Comeback" 58:48

6h ago58:48

58:48

On attempting to take his own life with a gun—and living to tell. On the tragic loss of a son. On why Rodney Peete is cooler than Andre Ware and whether he could still throw NFL passes. On finding meaning in life.

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After Venezuela, how far will Trump go? 19:30

15h ago19:30

19:30

After the US raid on Venezuela and arrest of its de facto leader Nicolas Maduro, Donald Trump warned a number of other countries that they could be next. Matt Galloway speaks to Janice Stein, founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy at the University of Toronto and Jorge Heine, former Chilean cabinet minister and co-au…

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2025 in good news stories 13:36

15h ago13:36

13:36

Last year was a bit of a whirlwind when it came to the news. From ongoing atrocities around the world in places like Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan to stories closer to home like the catastrophic fires that ripped across Canada this summer and the ongoing fallout of the U.S. trade war. Matt Galloway talks to Angus Hervy, the editor of Fix the News, about …

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Alberta doctor says ER system is in “crisis” 10:16

1d ago10:16

10:16

Dr. Paul Parks is an ER doctor in Medicine Hat, and President-elect of the section of Emergency physicians of the Alberta Medical Association. He describes ERs that simply cannot cope with the number of patients needing care, and says the Smith government's efforts to reform the healthcare system are only creating more chaos.…

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Freebirthing society linked to harm 26:55

15h ago26:55

26:55

A year-long Guardian investigation has uncovered dozens of baby deaths around the world - including Canada - linked to mothers influenced by Free Birth Society, or FBS. We speak with Sirin Kale, one of the journalists behind the investigation of the multi-million dollar business run by two influencers promoting the idea of giving birth with no medi…

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The latest on Venezuela; PetTalk: ask a veterinarian; and more 1:39:14

2d ago1:39:14

1:39:14

Today on AirTalk: The latest on Venezuela (0:15) What bills come into effect January 2026? (37:39) A history of U.S. involvement in Latin America (51:15) PetTalk: Ask a vet! (1:08:01) Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency…

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Memoir Nation Greatest Hits, 2018-2025 51:37

2d ago51:37

51:37

Memoir Nation is ringing in the new year with some of our greatest hits. We’ve gone into the archives and chosen a clip from a handful of our favorite guests over the years. Listening to each of these memoirists speak about memoir, writing, and the gifts and challenges of the genre is so inspiring—and we hope this hour of insight will be some fuel …

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From the Titanic to the North Pole: Joe MacInnis reflects on a life of exploration 24:08

3d ago24:08

24:08

Joe MacInnis has spent his life going where very few people ever have — beneath the ice at the North Pole, down to the wreck of the Titanic, and into the deep waters of Lake Superior to visit the Edmund Fitzgerald. Now 88, the Canadian physician and deep-sea explorer looks back on a lifetime of high-risk exploration. He talks about the moment he ca…

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The US has captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Now what? 19:23

3d ago19:23

19:23

After a months-long pressure campaign, the U.S. military stormed into Caracas this weekend, capturing Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. We look at what this means for the future of Venezuela—with Phil Gunson, a senior analyst for the Andes region of the International Crisis Group and Luis Duno-Gottberg, a Venezuelan sc…

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What’s ahead for Canada's economy and your wallet in 2026. 21:21

3d ago21:21

21:21

As Canada moves into 2026, a lot of people are feeling unsure about the economy. After a year of trade tensions, job worries, and high living costs, many Canadians are asking: what happens next? And how does it affect my money? We break down what’s shaping Canada’s economy in 2026, from uncertainty in trade with the U.S. to longer-term challenges a…

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Angela Davis with Deepa Fernandez 1:24:40

3d ago1:24:40

1:24:40

The iconic activist and philosopher Angela Davis has been a major influence in global politics for more than 50 years. Davis first gained fame in the 1960s and 70s through her work within second-wave feminism and Marxist advocacy, specifically fighting against the firing of Communist professors at University of California. More recently, she has fo…

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Snack Break: Coffee time 11:45

3d ago11:45

11:45

Sahand Dilmaghani is the founder and CEO of Terra Kaffe, who happens to make Dan’s current favorite coffee machine. Sahand recently joined Dan for a webinar, and this snack break serves up some of Dan’s favorite insights from that conversation. They talk about slowing down when things get chaotic, the best advice he’s gotten, and how knocking on do…

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Ben Markovits on 'The Rest of Our Lives' 29:20

4d ago29:20

29:20

This week on Marginalia, Beth Golay speaks with author Ben Markovits about his novel, The Rest of Our Lives. Plus book critic Suzanne looks ahead to some titles coming in 2026. And we’re joined by Steve Iwanski, owner of Charter Books in Newport, Rhode Island who has some book recommendations.By Beth Golay

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George Saunders and Samantha Crain (REBROADCAST) 51:14

5d ago51:14

51:14

Award-winning author George Saunders (Lincoln in the Bardo) unpacks his writing process and explains how creating confusion often leads to interesting literary worlds; and singer-songwriter Samantha Crain discusses the importance of making music in her Choctaw language, before performing "Joey" from her album A Small Death.…

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Scott Galloway’s operating manual for being a man today 24:54

12h ago24:54

24:54

Podcaster, professor and entrepreneur Scott Galloway believes young men are struggling with feelings of alienation, loneliness, and failure. And that's a danger to all of us, especially when they buy into the dangerous rhetoric they hear online. We talk to him about his new book, Notes on Being a Man, what he's learned from his own life, and why th…

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Canada's grocery sector has been plagued by in-fighting. Now it has a referee 19:31

12h ago19:31

19:31

Tensions between grocery suppliers and retailers came to a head during the pandemic. Karen Proud will oversee a new code of conduct meant to solve disputes and name and shame bad actors. But critics say she needs a bigger stick, like the ability to issue fines.

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Lost at sea for 52 hours: How seven fishermen survived 24:35

12h ago24:35

24:35

When seven fishermen disappeared off Newfoundland’s coast last summer, everyone feared the worst. But as hours turned into days and hope dwindled, the men were found — alive. The ‘Lucky 7’ share their harrowing brush with death in our documentary Lost at Sea.

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Snack Break: Antarctica Explorer 18:33

7d ago18:33

18:33

It’s time to pull out your New Year's party horns. Instead of resolutions, Dan kicks off the year with a pep talk from Colin O’Brady, the first person to walk across Antarctica completely alone and unsupported. They talk about pushing past limits, facing fear, and what dragging a sled across the ice has to do with building something hard from scrat…

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How a grizzly on a B.C. island sent a community into crisis 23:26

8d ago23:26

23:26

It had been a century since Texada Island had seen a grizzly bear. So when one swam 5 kilometres from the mainland over to the community off the B.C. coast, it created curiosity, panic and division about how to live with a giant predator — a giant predator they named, Tex. Molly Segal brings the story of that island community, and the bear, in her …

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Canada's food scene a story of immigration and community 23:51

8d ago23:51

23:51

CBC host of Locals Welcome Suresh Doss talks about the new show -- and why visiting diaspora establishment restaurants paint a vibrant picture of families' journeys to make Canada their home.

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What will AI look like in 2026? 19:21

8d ago19:21

19:21

Artificial Intelligence exploded in 2025. This year saw big promises -- that AI would usher in an age of unprecedented abundance, solve intractable problems, and touch every corner of our lives. At the same time, we saw growing anxiety around AI taking jobs, worries there's an AI bubble, and warnings around the dangers of AI. So, between the hype a…

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The Book Show | Allison Russell – The Antidote [encore airing] 27:21

8d ago27:21

27:21

Karen Russell's latest, “The Antidote,” is a dust bowl novel and a reckoning with a nation’s forgetting that enacts the settler amnesia and omissions passed down from generation to generation.By WAMC

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Kelsi Mayne: Fantastic on-the-rise country singer 55:38

7d ago55:38

55:38

On the step-by-step process of writing her new single, "For The Record." On what it means to make it in country music in 2025. On the impact of Eminem on her writing process. On writing for the Walmart shopper.

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Jordan TooToo says life in North made him a better NHL player 24:45

9d ago24:45

24:45

Longtime Nashville Predator Jordin TooToo is the subject of a new documentary, highlighting life in the North, his struggle with substance abuse and how the serenity he felt on the land in Rankin Inlet was matched only by the peace he felt playing hockey.

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Are Canadians becoming less generous? 18:34

9d ago18:34

18:34

Fewer Canadians are donating and volunteering. The economy, the pandemic, age are all factors -- but longtime leaders in the charitable sector say we've also lost some shared values. We speak with a lifelong volunteer about why she volunteers and what it means to them. We also talk to Megan Conway from Volunteer Canada and Bruce MacDonald from Imag…

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Searching for Fela Kuti 26:57

9d ago26:57

26:57

Jad Abumrad’s new podcast, Fela Kuti: Fear No Man, digs into Fela Kuti’s life, the good and the bad because he not only pioneered Afrobeat and pushed against the impacts of colonialism but he was also a deeply complicated and flawed man who left a wake of inspiration and trauma.

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Grant and Brooke on How to Keep Doing What You Say You Want to Do—and Write and Finish Your Memoir (JanYourStory Prep) 16:59

9d ago16:59

16:59

JanYourStory is starting this week! And since this show falls at the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026, Grant and Brooke are picking up from where they left off last week (how to start) to focus on how to keep going. Questions of fear and readiness (or lack thereof) are addressed, but the primary message of this week’s show is that if you say y…

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How this conductor is bringing Powell River, B.C. together with music 26:52

10d ago26:52

26:52

Many small communities across the country are struggling to survive as people age and their children choose big city life. Powell River, B.C. is trying to keep its own numbers up with the help of a conductor who’s worked with some of the world’s biggest orchestras. In her documentary War and Peace, the CBC’s Liz Hoath hears from locals who say Arth…

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One word to describe 2025 politics? Our National Affairs Panel weighs in 19:41

10d ago19:41

19:41

As 2025 comes to a close, Canadian politics looks very different than it did a year ago. Prime Minister Mark Carney wraps up his first year in office leading a minority government. It was a year that saw Justin Trudeau step aside, a surprise election, and a tariff war. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre lost his seat and now faces tough questions…

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The power of going ‘Against the Grain’ with Terry O’Reilly 20:13

10d ago20:13

20:13

Some of the biggest inventions in history started with someone being told they were wrong, and then not taking “no” for an answer. For Terry O’Reilly, those are the most captivating stories. In his new book, Against the Grain: Defiant Giants Who Change the World, the host of CBC’s ‘Under the Influence’, explores what we can learn from mavericks, in…

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The Holiday Mailbag Episode 56:12

3d ago56:12

56:12

Hello, media consumers! Today's episode is a special holiday mailbag episode wherein Bryan and Joel answer your questions, as well as some they have for each other. The show starts out with a discussion about what media they enjoy in their free time (02:29) before they dive into questions like “What was the most overcovered story this year?” (12:06…

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Encore - Frank Gehry 59:03

10d ago59:03

59:03

This week, we’re celebrating the life of architect Frank Gehry, with a conversation recorded in 2015. Widely regarded as one of the most influential designers of the last century, the Canadian-born architect was known for his use of bold shapes and unconventional building materials like titanium, stainless steel, and even chain-link. Among his most…