Description

This culturally rich 1996 episode brings together literary giant Margaret Atwood with Canadian music legends Molly Johnson and Colin Linden, plus CFL football hero Terry Evanshen. Margaret Atwood, fresh off the success of The Robber Bride (1993) which won the Canadian Authors Association Novel of the Year Award and the 1994 Trillium Award, discusses her acclaimed body of dystopian and feminist literature. Best known for The Handmaid’s Tale (1985), which was a finalist for the 1986 Booker Prize and would later be adapted into an Emmy-winning television series, Atwood had established herself as one of the world’s most important contemporary authors. By 1996, she was building toward her 2000 Booker Prize win for The Blind Assassin. Singer-songwriter Molly Johnson brings her powerful jazz-influenced vocals and socially conscious artistry to the conversation, while blues guitarist Colin Linden discusses his work as a sought-after session musician and producer who has collaborated with Bruce Cockburn, Colin James, and The Band. Terry Evanshen, one of Canadian football’s all-time greats, shares his remarkable story as a CFL Hall of Famer who played for the Montreal Alouettes, Calgary Stampeders, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and Toronto Argonauts, catching 600 passes for over 10,000 yards during his legendary career. This episode exemplifies Canadian excellence across literature, music, and sports, showcasing the depth and breadth of Canadian cultural achievement. A must-watch for fans of dystopian literature, CanCon music history, and CFL legacy.