House Of Crouse

On the Saturday September 20, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet musician, songwriter, and director Gerald Casale. Best known as a co-founder, co-lead vocalist, and bassist of band DEVO. He was a key creative force behind DEVO’s satirical, art-driven sound and aesthetic, contributing to hits like “Whip It” and directing many of their innovative music videos. His work is deeply influenced by his experiences as an art student at Kent State University during the 1970 May 4th massacre, which shaped his views on societal devolution, a core theme in DEVO’s music. Today we talk about evolution of a band famous for singing about devolution. Then, we spend time with actor, director, producer, screenwriter and political activist Rob Reiner. He starred on the classic sitcom “All in the Family,” directed the coming-of-age drama "Stand by Me," the romantic fantasy "The Princess Bride," and the rom-com classic "When Harry Met Sally," and his company Castle Rock Entertainment produced hits like "Seinfeld and "

On the Saturday September 13, 2023 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Rick Mercer. He needs no introduction, but here’s one anyway. Rick is a comedian, satirist, author and television host who co-created the groundbreaking CBC satire “This Hour Has 22 Minutes,” where his “Talking to Americans” segment became a cultural touchstone. As host of “The Rick Mercer Report,” he blended political rants, cross-country adventures, and celebrity encounters, earning over 25 Gemini Awards and multiple honorary degrees. He’s also a bestselling author of memoirs like “Talking to Canadians” and “The Road Years,” and has now launched the Stand-Up for Canada Comedy Tour, performing alongside rising stars in 21 cities, from Saskatoon to St. John’s. Check rickmercer.com. for tickets and info on shows near you. Then, we meet writer, award-winning journalist and editor Joelle Kidd. In 1999, after three years of secular living in Eastern Europe, she moved back to Canada and was enrolled in an evangelical Christian school. I

On the Saturday September 6, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show documentary filmmaker Nara Garber. Specializing in observational social issue documentaries, her work as a cinematographer has been featured in the Peabody Award winner Best Kept Secret, the Academy Award winner Alex Gibney’s “Finding Fela” and Emmy-nominated “End of the Line: The Women of Standing Rock.” Today we talk about her latest film “Bankie Banx: King of the Dune,” explores the life of Anguillian reggae legend Bankie Banx. He’s a singer-songwriter known by many as “the Bob Dylan of the Caribbean.” Growing up in Anguilla Bankie made his first guitar and voraciously soaked up everything from British top 40 and folk to Rastafarianism and the Pan-Africanism of Walter Rodney. In 1978 he released his first album, and his breakout hit “Prince of Darkness” put both Bankie and Anguilla on the map. After a decade of touring and battling industry executives determined to pigeonhole his sound, Bankie came home and created the Moonsplash music

On the Saturday August 30, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Lauren Holly. You know her from television shows like “Picket Fences,” “NCIS” and “Motive,” among many others. On the big screen you’ve seen her as Mary Swanson, the wealthy but troubled heiress, in the comedy “Dumb and Dumber,” as trophy wife Cindy Rooney opposite Dennis Quaid in “Any Given Sunday,” and many others in a career that spans forty years, and includes comedies like “The Adventures of Ford Fairlane” and “What Women Want,” action movies like “Crank: High Voltage” and dramas like “Chicago Hope.” She joins me today to talk about “Loathe Thy Neighbor,” a new project very near and dear to her heart. The film, which begins in theatres on August 29, follows Will Larkfield, played by Brennan Clost, a young man forced to relocate to his late father’s farm as part of an unexpected inheritance. What begins as a simple missing package soon spirals into a battle of wills with Lauren Holly’s character, the neighbor from hell, Wanda Bell

On the Saturday August 23 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet New York Times bestselling author Joy Fielding. With a career spanning over four decades, she has eraned readers with her ability to weave intricate plots, complex characters, and emotional depth. Known for bestsellers like “See Jane Run,” “Don’t Cry Now,” and “Someone Is Watching,” Fielding explores themes of relationships, betrayal, and human resilience. Today we’ll talk about her latest novel, the psychological thriller “Jenny Cooper Has a Secret.” The book follows a 76-year-old widow named Linda who visits Legacy Place, a memory care facility where she meets 92-year-old Jenny Cooper, a dementia patient who shocks Linda with a confession: “I kill people.” Initially dismissing it as delusion, Linda grows intrigued as Jenny lucidly recounts tales of her victims—mostly men who wronged her. When a resident dies under seemingly natural circumstances, Linda begins to question whether Jenny’s claims might hold truth. Then, we’ll hang out with

On the Saturday August 16, 2025 episode of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Patrick Tarr. He has over a decade of experience in the film and television world in Canada—currently he is the co-executive producer and writer of CBC’s “Saint-Pierre,” and he was the head writer and executive producer on CTV’s “Cardinal.” He’s also written for Saving Hope, Nurses, Cracked and The Colony, as well as Canadian institution Murdoch Mysteries to name a few. Today we’ll talk about his television work, but I also want to tell you about his debut novel, “The Guest Children,” which is now available wherever you buy fine books. The book was inspired by the real-life thousands of “guest children,” British children who were sent to Canada during WWII to stay safe from the bombings. Then, I don’t know if you’ve been watching the Billy Joel documentary on Crave called “And So It Goes.” It’s a fascinating and revealing two part look at the life and music of the “Just the Way You Are” singer, exploring love, loss and struggles tha

On the Saturday August 9, 2025 edition of the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Giles Blunt, the author of the John Cardinal novels, which were the inspiration for the popular crime television series “Cardinal” starring Billy Campbell as police detective John Cardinal. Twice nominated for the International Dublin Literary Award, his novels have been compared to the work of Ian Rankin and Cormac McCarthy. Today we talk about his latest novel, a period piece called “Bad Juliet.” Set at a tuberculosis sanitarium in the Adirondacks, it’s a riveting story of a young tutor falls in love with a mysterious woman who survived the Lusitania disaster. Then, we’ll meet Kiesza, a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist known for her genre-defying blend of dance, pop, and folk influences. Her latest album, Dancing And Crying: Vol. 2, follows the huge success of the single “I Go Dance” which soared to #1 on the US Dance Airplay Chart in 2024. We talk abvout her music and the long road to recovery after being hit by a

On the Saturday August 2, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Jeff Stinco, lead guitar player for Montreal’s own Simple Plan. Known for their pop-punk sound, Simple Plan have enjoyed international success with hits like "I'm Just a Kid", "Welcome to My Life", and "Perfect". They have six studio albums, two live albums, and have sold over 5.1 million albums in the United States alone. Today Jeff and I will talk about the band’s history and their new documentary “Simple Plan: The Kids In The Crowd” which offers an unprecedented look into the band's journey from basement shows in Montreal to global stardom. There’s lots of never-before-seen archival footage, plus new interviews with band members and lots of music. You can watch “Simple Plan: The Kids In The Crowd” on Prime Video. Then, we’ll meet Canadian television writer, producer, and showrunner David Shore. He’s known for creating the hit medical dramas “House M.D.” and “The Good Doctor,” which have won him a Humanitas Prize and a Peabody Awa

On the Saturday July 26, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet award-winning comedian, bestselling novelist and actor Brent Butt. He’s been voted Best Male Stand-Up in Canada by his peers. He also created and starred in two successful sitcoms – “Corner Gas,” which was seen in 60 countries) and “Hiccups.” Add to that, two theatrical comedy films (“No Clue,” “Corner Gas: The Movie”) and four seasons of “Corner Gas Animated,” and you have one of the most successful comedians that Canada has ever produced. Today we’ll be talking about a career first for Brent, the release of a full-length comedy album. Called “easily Distracted,” it features his signature blend of wry observations and effortless storytelling and, of course, lots of laughs. Then we’ll meet Aurora Stewart De Peña. In her new book she satirizes the creative industry she’s spent years working in. The book, “Julius Julius” is a satirical novel set in the world’s oldest advertising agency, a surreal, labyrinthine building with a 2,000-year

On the Saturday July 19, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse we meet Louise Pitre. Often hailed as Canada’s first lady of musical theatre, she is a Tony-nominated actress renowned for her powerful performances on Broadway and across North America and Europe. Best known for originating the role of Donna Sheridan in “Mamma Mia!,” she has also played Fantine in “Les Misérables” and Edith Piaf in “The Angel & the Sparrow” among many others. Today we talk about “Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812,” an innovative musical from Mirvish that follows Natasha’s scandalous affair and Pierre’s existential crisis amidst the backdrop of 19th-century Moscow, drawn from Tolstoy’s “War and Peace.” Then, we’ll meet British author, academic, and adventurer Robert Macfarlane. A Cambridge University fellow, Macfarlane’s work often reflects his deep engagement with wild places, from ancient pathways to subterranean realms, earning him acclaim for his evocative prose and environmental advocacy. Today we talk about his new b

On the Saturday July 12, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Paul Sun-Hyung Lee. You know the Canadian Screen Award winner as family patriarch Appa on “Kim’s Convenience,” and as Inspector Albert Choi, the new head of Station House No 4, on “Murdoch Mysteries” and as Captain Carson Teva on the Star War series “The Mandalorian,” “The Book of Boba Fett” and “Ahsoka.” We’ll also meet a guest who began his career as a child actor, appearing in everything from “Back tio the Future II” to Internal Affairs opposite Richard Gere. He became an international star after playing Frodo Baggins in the acclaimed “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. He’s Elijah Wood, and his extensive filmography now includes “Bookworm,” an intriguing film about a 12-year-old named Mildred whose life is turned upside down when her mother lands in hospital and estranged, American magician father, Strawn Wise, played by Elijah Wood, comes to look after her. Hoping to entertain the bookish tween, Strawn takes Mildred camping in the noto

On the Saturday July 5, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we celebrate Canadian music and the people who make it. We meet Kevan Staples, co-founder of the legendary Rough Trade. In this interview from 2021 Staples, who passed away earlier this year, talks about his legendary band and their best-known song, “High School Confidential.” Household name Randy Bachman stops by. He’s best known as the lead guitarist, songwriter and a founding member of the 1960s and 1970s rock bands The Guess Who and Bachman–Turner Overdrive. Bachman was also a member of Brave Belt, Union and Ironhorse, and has recorded numerous solo albums. He is also a national radio personality and was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2016… In this interview we talk about where it all began for him. We’ll listen to an interview from my archive with legendary musician Robbie Robertson. The Band guitar player, who passed away in 2023, joined me several years ago to talk about his earliest musical inspirations, how he

On the Saturday June 28, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet acclaimed Canadian filmmaker R.T. Thorne. Known for his work on television series like The Porter and Utopia Falls, he brings a unique perspective shaped by his Trinidadian and Chinese heritage, as well as his roots in Calgary and Toronto. Today we’ll talk about “40 Acres,” a poignant exploration of family, survival, and resilience that premiered at TIFF and garnered praise at festivals like SXSW and Red Sea. It’s a post-apocalyptic film starring Danielle Deadwyler and Michael Greyeyes, in which a family fights invaders and cannibals to protect their remote 40-acre plot of land. Canadian Olympic gold medalist, television host, and inspirational speaker Jon Montgomery. He won the men’s skeleton event at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, famously celebrating with a “beer walk” through Whistler Village, and since 2013, he has hosted “The Amazing Race Canada,” earning two Canadian Screen Awards. Today we’ll talk about his latest proje

On the Saturday June 21, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we spend some time with 8x JUNO Award-winning and multi-Platinum selling blues-rock artist Colin James. He released the first of his eighteen albums in 1988. He’s had international hit singles like “Five Long Years,” he’s worked with Stevie Ray Vaughn, Bonnie Raitt, Albert Collins, Pops Staples, Robert Cray, Albert King and Mavis Staples to name a few. He appeared on an episode of the television program Corner Gas and gave a command performance for Queen Elizabeth II. Today, we talk about his first band, his new record “Chasing the Sun,” the impact Stevie Ray Vaughn had on his career and working with regular collaborators like Tom Wilson and Colin Linden. Then, Brittlestar, also known as Stewart Reynolds, is a social media personality and author of two books. His last book, the best-selling “Welcome to the Stupidpocalypse: Survival Tips for the Dumbageddon,” is a collection of short comedic essays on politics, life, and more as a field guide fo

On the Saturday June 14, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet meet JUNO Award-winning Indigenous artist Crystal Shawanda. Born and raised on Manitoulin Island in Northern Ontario, Crystal began her career in country music, signing with RCA Nashville. After parting ways with the label, she launched New Sun Records and shifted her focus to the blues. Her highly anticipated new album “Sing Pretty Blues,” blends blues and Southern country soul with Stax, Chess and Motown influences, is available now via her very own label, New Sun Records on all streaming platforms. Then, Canadian director, playwright, and screenwriter, Celine Song stops by. In 2023 she became a Hollywood darling with her Oscar nominated feature film debut, “Past Lives.” The film, nominated for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay, follows two childhood best friends who reunite in adulthood years after one emigrates from South Korea to the United States. She returns to theatres with a new film staring Dakota Johnson. Set against

On the Saturday June 7, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet magician and New York Times crossword constructor David Kwong. A Harvard graduate with a passion for the history of magic, he created “The Enigmatist,” an acclaimed theatrical show combining immersive puzzles and illusions that the Chicago Reader said, has one a-ha moment after another. David brings the show to Toronto at the Black Box Theatre until June 22. Get more info tickets at starvoxent.com. Then, we’ll get to know Matthew Lillard, one of the stars of the new film “The Life of Chuck,” an adaptation of a Stephen King novella. You know him as Stu Macher in “Scream,” and became a household name as Shaggy Rogers in the live-action Scooby-Doo films. Today we talk about stepping into Stephen King’s world, especially in a non-horror story like The Life of Chuck. Finally, we’ll meet Nashville-based, P.E.I. raised rising country artist Alli Walker, who was recently announced as the opener for Shania Twain’s Toronto show on July 16 at T

On the Saturday May 31, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet one of country music’s most exciting and dynamic new voices, Niko Moon. He first garnered attention as a co-writer for Zac Brown Band, contributing to hits like “Homegrown” and “Beautiful Drug.” He has also wrote songs for Dierks Bentley, Zac Brown Band, Rascal Flatts, and Morgan Wallen before breaking out as a solo artist with his 2020 multi-platinum single “Good Time”. His debut solo album "Good Time" showcased his ability to write a catchy-hook and he continued to deliver the optimism and hope he’s been known for on 2024 album "Better Days" and on his latest releases, "These Are the Days" and "These Are the Nights." This tour follows Niko’s latest EPs "These Are The Days" and "These Are The Nights," which features great tunes like “Money Can’t Buy” and “Summer Don’t Go”. Then, we’ll get to know Pete Crighton. He came of age in the early/mid 1980s in the shadow of HIV/AIDS. Growing up in Toronto, he was terrified that his friends

On the Saturday May 24, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Farren Timoteo, star, Co-Creator and Co-Executive Producer of “Made in Italy,” a tour-de-force solo show packed with disco, fantastic singing and a host of hilarious character, which plays at the CAA Theatre in Toronto until June 8, 2025. Based on his Italian family, in particular his father, it’s the story of an Italian teenager growing up in Jasper, Alberta in the 1970s, caught between two worlds and determined to make his mark. Farren and the show are the winners of a shelfful of awards, including the Calgary Theatre Critic's Award for Outstanding Performance in a One-Person Show. Then we’ll meet Christophe Lebold, the professor of literature, performance studies and rock culture from Strasbourg, France whose book, “Leonard Cohen: The Man Who Saw the Angels Fall,” is being called “an extraordinary piece of work, at every level” and the best book ever written on Leonard Cohen.

On the Saturday May 17, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Keith Elliot Greenberg. Before obtaining a college degree at Queens College in Communication in journalism, this longtime pro wrestling fan began writing pro wrestling stories professionally at age 19. Since then, Keith Elliot Greenberg has become a noted pro wrestling historian, who is also a New York Times best-selling author. His illustrious work includes writing for WWF Magazine and penning the autobiographies of pro wrestling legends, i.e. “Classy” Freddie Blassie, “Superstar” Billy Graham and Ric Flair. Today we’re talking about his latest book, "Bigger! Better! Badder: WrestleMania III and the Year It All Changed." It is the story behind Wrestlemania III, told from the perspective of company executives, wrestlers who appeared on the card, fans who attended the show, and other wrestling personalities. Then, we’ll meet writer, producer and director Bruce David Klein. His new film, “Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story,” abou

On this special episode of "Maple Syrup For Your Eyes" I have an in-depth look at the movie "Blackberry," the lessons learned from the film, about what it means to be Canadian, why we don’t celebrate our own stories and much more with the film's stars Jay Baruchel and Matt Johnson (who also co-wrote and directed).