Journalist and author Christopher Shulgan talks to Joseph Planta about his new book, The Soviet Ambassador: The Making of the Radical Behind Perestroika (McClelland & Stewart, 2008) a fascinating account of the life Aleksandr Yakovlev, a man vital to the end of the Cold War, whose ideals were influenced by Canada and friends he made here.

Author and Toronto Star columnist Richard Gwyn talks to Joseph Planta about his biography of Canada’s first prime minister, John A: The Man Who Made Us (Random House, 2007).

The Unexpected War: Canada in Kandahar is a remarkable book on how Canada ended up in Afghanistan. The book’s authors, Janice Gross Stein and Eugene Lang talk to Joseph Planta about the inside story on Canada’s involvement.

Author, historian, and Geist contributor Daniel Francis recently spoke to Joseph Planta about his book, Red Light Neon: A History of Vancouver’s Sex Trade (Subway, 2007).

Author and military historian Mark Zuehlke recently talked to Joseph Planta about his book, For Honour’s Sake: The War of 1812 and the Brokering of an Uneasy Peace (Knopf, 2006). He tells the story of Canada’s most famous war vividly recreating the war as never before, providing context to some of countless legends that have come from the conflict which pitted the British and the Americans, that saw Canadians and Indians fight with the British, seeing Canadians burn down the White House.

The historian, Margaret MacMillan talked to Joseph Planta about her bestselling book Nixon in China: The Week that Changed the World (Viking, 2006). The bestselling author of Paris 1919, provost of Trinity College and professor of history at the University of Toronto writes about Richard Nixon’s groundbreaking trip to China, the players involved and the history made. MacMillan is due to become warden of St. Antony’s College at Oxford in 2007.

Conservative Senator Hugh Segal recently spoke with Joseph Planta about current political affairs and his new book, The Long Road Back: The Conservative Journey, 1993-2006 (HarperCollins, 2006), an informed book on conservatism in Canada, and the renewed party and its players.

In a fascinating conversation, constitutional scholar and former MP Dr. Edward McWhinney talked with Joseph Planta about his new book The Governor General and the Prime Ministers: The Making and Unmaking of Governments (Ronsdale Press, 2005). Also discussed is the significance of the office in our country’s politics, and the possibility of reform.

University of Toronto political science professor Stephen Clarkson talked with Joseph Planta about his new book, The Big Red Machine: How the Liberal Party Dominates Canadian Politics (UBC Press, 2005).

Harbour Publishing’s Howard White joined Joseph Planta to talk about Raincoast Chronicles Fourth Five, which he’s edited, a large collection of stories, poems and articles on British Columbia identity, culture, and history.