Joseph Planta presents the On the Line program’s Ninth Anniversary Program featuring clips from past guests: Conrad Black, Michael Chabon, Randy Cohen, Jian Ghomeshi, Orrin Hatch, Arthur Hughes, Stanley Karnow, Guy Gavriel Kay, JJ Lee, Gloria Loring, Deepa Mehta, Michael Moss, Susan Musgrave, Tom Reiss, Shelagh Rogers, Jake Tapper, Mo Twister, Roy Henry Vickers, and Pablo Ziegler.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line in Vancouver, at TheCommentary.ca.

This is the Ninth Anniversary Program, and the fourth such compilation of clips culled together to illustrate the guests who have appeared on this show, and the sort of discussion had thereon. As I’ve said in previous years, it’s a sketch of the sort of conversations that have broken out on this program. This past year in particular has yielded many memorable guests, and hopefully in the next ninety minutes or so I’ll be able to include many of those interviews I’ve enjoyed

I like doing this look back at the show; it’s a good chance to reflect on what was and what will be on the program. This past year, I began interviewing guests in person. And there were a number of great folks who took the trouble to come to the office at my house, to sit down and endure my questions. You’ll hear from some of those in-person guests on this retrospective now.

This show remains enjoyable to do. After nine years, and just over nine hundred interviews, it’s still astounding to think of the sorts of people who’ve deigned to talk to me. I enjoy engaging in conversations with the sort of guests who have appeared over the years. It’s fun. It’s also informative for me. And yes, a lot of work at times, but as this is an avocation, it’s enjoyable, fulfilling work.

The key to a good guest is someone you can engage in a conversation with, and that can be a bit of a challenge when one’s only contact with them is over the phone. But distance is not an impediment to establishing a rapport or a connection. Those are the better interviews.

When I spoke to Shelagh Rogers in October 2012, it was a lot of fun, because we hit it off. It was a relief for me, because I’ve been in awe of her talents as a broadcaster and an admirer of the good work she does across the country away from her microphone of her CBC Radio One program, The Next Chapter. Ms. Rogers lives in British Columbia, on one of the Gulf Islands, and in this clip now, I ask her about where she works, how she does it, and the connection that a good interview illustrates.

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