Noted historian and bestselling author Jean Barman talked with Joseph Planta about her latest book Stanley Park’s Secret: The Forgotten Families of Whoi Whoi, Kanaka Ranch and Brockton Point (Harbour, 2005), a fascinating book about inhabitants of the park who were displaced in order to create the constructed ideal of an urban oasis.

Joseph Planta has a neat conversation with the sports columnist and author Jim Taylor, who has edited a new book, The Best of Jim Coleman: Fifty Years of Canadian Sport from the Man Who Saw it All (Harbour, 2005). It’s a collection of the legendary Coleman’s classic columns representing a remarkable look back at Canada and the sports that the country watched.

Jonathan Ross of TDH Strategies, a communciations and public policy firm, talked with Joseph Planta about all matter of politics–from Christy Clark’s political future after losing the NPA mayoralty nomination, to the future of Larry Campbell as a senator, to the federal scene about a Martin cabinet shuffle, Pierre Pettigrew, and Stephen Harper’s grasp of the leadership of the Conservative Party.

The National Post’s Stewart Bell talked with Joseph Planta about his latest book, The Martyr’s Oath: The Apprenticeship of a Homegrown Terrorist.

Dr. Kenneth Haller, a pediatrican at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, and an assistant professor of pediatrics at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri, talked with Joseph Planta about the Harry Potter phenomenon, and how it’s a good tool in broaching developmental issues with children. Also discussed was how to address such tragedies, such as last week’s bombings in Britain and other violence that’s in the news.

Former broadcaster Jack Bennest talked with Joseph Planta about his radio days, from taking night courses at BCIT, to CKOK in the Okanagan, to CJOR and CKNW in Vancouver. As well, he shared some stories about knowing and working with Pat Burns, Jack Webster, Erwin Swangard, and more. Bennest is also the proprietor of http://www.bcradiohistory.com, a remarkable repository of radio’s past. Former broadcaster Jack Bennest talked with Joseph Planta about his radio days, from taking night courses at BCIT, to CKOK in the Okanagan, to CJOR and CKNW in Vancouver. As well, he shared some stories about knowing and working with Pat Burns, Jack Webster, Erwin Swangard, and more. Bennest is also the proprietor of http://www.bcradiohistory.com, a remarkable repository of radio’s past.

Television producer Michael Levitt talked with Joseph Planta about trends in television, namely the proliferation of reality television, and whether it’s here to stay. Having produced the Dallas, Happy Days, and currently producing the Knots Landing reunion shows, as well as award shows such as the Billboard Music Awards, the TV Land Awards, and the Teen Choice Awards, Levitt offered his advice to award shows like the Oscars and Emmys, who’ve seen ratings decline in the last number of years.

One Day/One Life is the latest production from the folks at The Broadway Chorus. They’re director Ashley Lambert-Maberly talked to Joseph Planta about what to expect when the show runs from Wednesday, June 29th to Saturday, July 2nd at the Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island; as well as the state of Broadway musicals in New York and beyond. For tickets and information visit http://www.onceupon.org, or call 778.322.7182.

Independent journalist John Twigg from BCPOLITICS.COM joined Joseph Planta again to look at politics in British Columbia and federally as we head into the summer season. Topics discussed include: the future of electoral reform, Gordon Campbell’s cabinet, the NDP caucus, the appointment of Jessica McDonald as head of the provincial civil service, and Stephen Harper and his leadership of the Conservative Party.

Dennis Brown, former fishery policy advisor to the premier of BC, and the author of a new book, Salmon Wars: The Battle for the West Coast Fishery (Harbour, 2005), gives Joseph Planta a terrifically informative overview of the industry’s history in this province, discussion about the resource, and the political management, or mismanagement, as Brown charges.

Co-creator, producer, and head writer of the new CTV series Robson Arms, Susin Nielsen talked with Joseph Planta, about the locally set and shot series with a remarkable cast of Canadian talent, including such stars as John Cassini, William B. Davis, Shirley Douglas, Alisen Down, Fred Ewanuick, Perry Finnbogason, Megan Follows, Colin Foo, Margot Kidder, Mark McKinney, Kevin McNulty, Jane McGregor, Tobias Mehler, Gabrielle Miller, David Richmond-Peck, Zak Santiago, and more.

Steven Wong was a gangster who walked the streets of Vancouver’s Chinatown with impunity, and throughout Asia even after he supposedly died in 1992. Bestselling author Terry Gould tells Joseph Planta the fascinating story of how he befriended Wong, and how for the past decade or so he’s tried to find Wong in a hunt that’s stretched from Canada to Macau, to Cambodia, to The Philippines, where Wong staged his death. Gould’s remarkable book is Paper Fan: The Hunt for Triad Gangster Steven Wong (Vintage, 2005).

Author Hugo Bonjean talked with Joseph Planta about his book, In the Eyes of Anahita (Eagle Vision, 2004), a thought-provoking book looking at the condition of the developing world in South America, and how North Americans and others are part of the problems there. The book is fictionalised novel, but it’s a very thoughtful book about the condition of the world today.

Theatre in the Raw’s Artistic Director Jay Hamburger talks to Joseph Planta about their latest production, The Inspector General. Listen to Jay talk about the show, which opens June 15th to the 18th, and the 22nd to the 26th at the Ukrainian Hall, as well as his thoughts on the local theatre scene. (For more information call: 604.708.5448.)

Christopher Gaze, the Artistic Director of Bard on the Beach, talked with Joseph Planta about William Shakespeare, and the forthcoming 16th season which bows under the tents at Vanier Park in Vancouver, June 2nd to September 25th, 2005.