On the Saturday June 13, 2026 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet award-winning actor, writer, and director Mark O’Brien. You know him as Des Courtney on Republic of Doyle and ambitious Deputy District Attorney Thomas Milligan on HBO’s Perry Mason. On the big screen he’s delivered standout performances in films like Arrival, Ready or Not, Marriage Story, and Goalie — for which he won a Canadian Screen Award. More recently, he’s been behind the camera with his acclaimed directorial debut The Righteous, and now his chilling new supernatural horror film The Voices of Our Mother, which he wrote, directed, and stars in.
Then, we’ll meet Kevin Hardcastle, an award-winning Canadian author whose debut short story collection Debris won the Trillium Book Award and ReLit Award, while his first novel In the Cage established him as a powerful voice in contemporary fiction. In his highly anticipated new novel County Road Six, Hardcastle delivers a taut, propulsive family drama about four O’Hare sisters forced to confront their violent father’s legacy and a long-buried secret on a decaying farmstead in rural Ontario.
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Here’s some info on The Richard Crouse Show!
Each week on the nationally syndicated Richard Crouse Show, Canada’s most recognized movie critic brings together some of the most interesting and opinionated people from the movies, television and music to put a fresh spin on news from the world of lifestyle and pop-culture. Tune into this show to hear in-depth interviews with actors and directors, to find out what’s going on behind the scenes of your favourite shows and movies and get a new take on current trends. Recent guests include Chris Pratt, Elvis Costello, Baz Luhrmann, Martin Freeman, David Cronenberg, Mayim Bialik, The Kids in the Hall and many more!
All iHeartRadio Canada stations are available across Canada via live stream on iHeartRadio.caand the iHeartRadio Canada app. iHeartRadio Canada stations are also connected through Alexa, Siri, and Google Home smart speakers.
On the Saturday June 6, 2026 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet singer-songwriter, TV host, producer, director and composer Kevin Gillis, creator of the beloved and legendary animated show “The Raccoons.” He is ushering in a new era for the beloved franchise as its iconic music is released digitally for the first time. Last month, the original version of the beloved theme song “Run With Us,” performed by Lisa Lougheed, arrived on streaming services for the first time ever. This leads into the release this month of “Evergreen Nights,” the first full album in the collection, featuring newly remastered originals with fresh interpretations from contemporary artists as part of a larger, multi-phase expansion. “Evergreen Nights” is available now wherever you legally buy, download and stream music.
Then, we’ll meet queer feminist author and high priestess of home mixology Lindsay Merbaum. She is an author and mixologist specializing in custom and themed drink recipes like the themed drinks she creates for her books! Today we talk ablout her new book, “Vampires at Sea,” which is a kind of an Anne Rice / Love Boat romp featuring two ageless vampires on a cruise.
Each week on the nationally syndicated Richard Crouse Show, Canada’s most recognized movie critic brings together some of the most interesting and opinionated people from the movies, television and music to put a fresh spin on news from the world of lifestyle and pop-culture. Tune into this show to hear in-depth interviews with actors and directors, to find out what’s going on behind the scenes of your favourite shows and movies and get a new take on current trends. Recent guests include Chris Pratt, Elvis Costello, Baz Luhrmann, Martin Freeman, David Cronenberg, Mayim Bialik, The Kids in the Hall and many more!
All iHeartRadio Canada stations are available across Canada via live stream on iHeartRadio.caand the iHeartRadio Canada app. iHeartRadio Canada stations are also connected through Alexa, Siri, and Google Home smart speakers.
On the Saturday May 30, 2026 edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet Andrew Lownie, renowned royal biographer and literary agent. A Cambridge history graduate and President of the Union, Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and founder of the Andrew Lownie Literary Agency, he’s known for his meticulously researched biographies that have reshaped our understanding of key 20th-century figures. His previous works include the acclaimed Stalin’s Englishman on Guy Burgess, The Mountbattens, and Traitor King on Edward VIII. His latest book, Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, is already being called one of the most explosive royal biographies in years.
Today we’re talking about his latest book, “Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York,” a book The Times called, “A catalyst for Andrew’s de-princing.” It is first joint biography of the Duke and Duchess of York, that’s Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, and the first full biography of either of them.
Chronicling their lives in parallel, the picture that emerges is of a spoilt prince unable to connect and a duchess pushed by her insecurities into a desperate need to maintain the attention her ‘royal’ status brought. Rigorously researched and packed full of revelations, this is a royal biography Camilla Long, writing in the Sunday Times called, “a case for revolution.”
Then, we meet Niagara-based wine, food, and travel expert Magdalena Kaiser. Daughter of the late Karl Kaiser (co-founder of Inniskillin Wines), she grew up immersed in Ontario’s wine scene—starting with tours and tastings as a teen and even helping bottle wine at age five. She serves as Director of Public Relations for Wine Country Ontario (formerly Ontario VQA), where she has spent the past 15+ years elevating the region’s international profile through media, trade, and export initiatives.
Today we talk about her new book “Niagara Wine + Food: Signature Recipes from Ontario’s Iconic Terroir—A Cookbook” which highlights the region’s terroir, varietals, and unique features, and profiles 44 of the region’s best and most promising producers alongside 88 delectable wine-pairing recipes featuring iconic wine styles from the region.
Each week on the nationally syndicated Richard Crouse Show, Canada’s most recognized movie critic brings together some of the most interesting and opinionated people from the movies, television and music to put a fresh spin on news from the world of lifestyle and pop-culture. Tune into this show to hear in-depth interviews with actors and directors, to find out what’s going on behind the scenes of your favourite shows and movies and get a new take on current trends. Recent guests include Chris Pratt, Elvis Costello, Baz Luhrmann, Martin Freeman, David Cronenberg, Mayim Bialik, The Kids in the Hall and many more!
All iHeartRadio Canada stations are available across Canada via live stream on iHeartRadio.caand the iHeartRadio Canada app. iHeartRadio Canada stations are also connected through Alexa, Siri, and Google Home smart speakers.
On the Saturday May 23, 2026 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet award-winning comedian, actor, and author Eric Johnston. His book “Run with the Bull: Three Generations of Sports and Entertainment” chronicled his journey as he broke away from his family’s legacy of professional wrestling to pursue stand-up comedy and acting. The book draws inspiration from the challenging lives and untimely deaths of his father Bullwhip Johnson and grandfather Bull Johnson, Johnson navigates the shadows of mental health and addiction that plagued his predecessors.
The book inspired a docuseries, also called “Run with the Bull,” which you can watch on Bell Fibe TV, that chronicles his mission to get healthy for the sake of his newborn son.
Then, we get to know Sonya Singh. Following the success of her debut, Sonya returns with “The Fake Matchmaker,” a delightful, trope-rich rom-com with real heart. With sharp humour and irresistible chemistry, the novel delivers a smart, modern take on dating, expectations, and the beautiful messiness of falling for someone at the wrong time. Told through a fun, fizzy rom-com lens, Manisha’s story is also steeped in Indian culture, exploring family dynamics and generational expectations with warmth and wit.
Each week on the nationally syndicated Richard Crouse Show, Canada’s most recognized movie critic brings together some of the most interesting and opinionated people from the movies, television and music to put a fresh spin on news from the world of lifestyle and pop-culture. Tune into this show to hear in-depth interviews with actors and directors, to find out what’s going on behind the scenes of your favourite shows and movies and get a new take on current trends. Recent guests include Chris Pratt, Elvis Costello, Baz Luhrmann, Martin Freeman, David Cronenberg, Mayim Bialik, The Kids in the Hall and many more!
All iHeartRadio Canada stations are available across Canada via live stream on iHeartRadio.caand the iHeartRadio Canada app. iHeartRadio Canada stations are also connected through Alexa, Siri, and Google Home smart speakers.
On the Saturday April 25, 2026 we’ll meet we’ll meet Elyse Aeryn, a roots-rock singer-songwriter from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. She spent nearly a decade in the pulp and paper industry—then, in her late 20s, walked away to chase the music that’s always burned inside her.
Her roots-rock sound fuses Stevie Nicks-inspired soul, with some Alanis, and memorable melodies. Her 2023 debut Joy State of Mind put her on the map with nominations and awards, and now, after overcoming a devastating motorcycle crash in 2025, she’s back. Her sophomore album Everybody Loves You… is10 tracks of bold, emotionally resonant rock that features radio-toppers like ‘Unstoppable.’
Then, Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol of “Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie.”
The movie, which blends footage from the 2007–2009 web series of the same name, begins with unemployed musicians Matt and Jay (Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol) hatching a plan to land a gig at the legendary Rivoli on Queen Street West in Toronto. Without contacting the club, writing any songs or practising, they decide to parachute off the CN Tower into the Skydome during a baseball game to announce the show in front of a stunned crowd.
What could go wrong? Well, lots.
No spoilers here, but when their skydiving stunt doesn’t get them the Rivoli gig, they (along with their camera guy Jared Raab) find themselves accidentally traveling back to the year 2008, and struggling to find a way back to the future.
I sit with host Deb Hutton on NewsTalk 1010 to talk about where people are getting their news, the first lady of “Heated Rivalry” fans, Bob Seger Bars and I review the musical biopic “Michael.”
On the Saturday April 18, 2026 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet USA TODAY, Globe and Mail, and Toronto Star bestselling author Rick Mofina. He’s the author of more than thirty crime fiction thrillers that have been published in nearly thirty countries.
A former journalist, he has interviewed murderers on death row, flown over Los Angeles with the LAPD and patrolled with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police near the Arctic. He is a two-time winner of the Crime Writers of Canada Award of Excellence, and a multiple finalist for the International Thriller Writers Awards and the Shamus Award, presented by the Private Eye Writers of America. Library Journal calls him “one of the best thriller writers in the business.”
His latest novel, “One Second Away” is a high-octane global thriller that begins with a parent’s desperate search and rapidly escalates into an international investigation involving the FBI, uncovering a far-reaching web of secrets and lies. Set across multiple cities, the story delivers relentless suspense while exploring the emotional fallout of life-altering decisions made in an instant.
Then, we’ll meet Tom Howe, the British-born (now LA-based) film and TV composer known for his versatile work across dramatic scores, animations, documentaries, and feel-good series. He’s scored over 100 projects, including major highlights like Ted Lasso, Shrinking, The Great British Bake Off and many more. We talk music and Ted Lasso with Tom.
Each week on the nationally syndicated Richard Crouse Show, Canada’s most recognized movie critic brings together some of the most interesting and opinionated people from the movies, television and music to put a fresh spin on news from the world of lifestyle and pop-culture. Tune into this show to hear in-depth interviews with actors and directors, to find out what’s going on behind the scenes of your favourite shows and movies and get a new take on current trends. Recent guests include Chris Pratt, Elvis Costello, Baz Luhrmann, Martin Freeman, David Cronenberg, Mayim Bialik, The Kids in the Hall and many more!
All iHeartRadio Canada stations are available across Canada via live stream on iHeartRadio.caand the iHeartRadio Canada app. iHeartRadio Canada stations are also connected through Alexa, Siri, and Google Home smart speakers.
On the Saturday April 11, 2026 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet JUNO award-winner Meghan Patrick. Her bold honesty and powerhouse presence has made her one of country music’s most compelling voices. Her 2026 JUNO nomination for Country Album of the Year for “Golden Child” marks another major milestone for the Ontario native, who now lives in Nashville, in a career built on authenticity, critical acclaim, and growing international impact.
“Golden Child” is Patrick’s most personal work to date – an 18-track project rooted in self-reflection, growth, and emotional honesty. Anchored by a breakout title track that became one of the most successful releases of her career, the album has helped propel her beyond Canadian borders and into a new chapter of global recognition.
Then, we get to know Andy Hines, a Canadian filmmaker from Nova Scotia, whose feature film debut Little Lorraine is in theatres on April 17.
The son of photographer Sherman Hines, began his career as a music video director, creating videos for artists such as Alicia Keys, Keith Urban, Jason Derulo, Lizzo, Coldplay, Matthew Good and many others. He’s a Grammy nominee and his video for Big Sean’s “One Man Can Change the World” was the winner of a MTV Music Video Award for Best Video with a Social Message.
Today we’re talking about his directorial feature film debut. “Little Lorraine” tells the true story of a group of coal miners in Little Lorraine, Cape Breton who lose their jobs after a mining accident. Seeking new livelihoods, they join an uncle on his lobster fishing boat, only to discover the boat is part of a larger cocaine smuggling ring. As the operation expands, involving funeral homes and caskets, the friends find themselves in too deep. The film explores themes of family, loyalty, and the consequences of getting involved in criminal activity, all against the backdrop of a close-knit community facing an extraordinary crisis.
Each week on the nationally syndicated Richard Crouse Show, Canada’s most recognized movie critic brings together some of the most interesting and opinionated people from the movies, television and music to put a fresh spin on news from the world of lifestyle and pop-culture. Tune into this show to hear in-depth interviews with actors and directors, to find out what’s going on behind the scenes of your favourite shows and movies and get a new take on current trends. Recent guests include Chris Pratt, Elvis Costello, Baz Luhrmann, Martin Freeman, David Cronenberg, Mayim Bialik, The Kids in the Hall and many more!
All iHeartRadio Canada stations are available across Canada via live stream on iHeartRadio.caand the iHeartRadio Canada app. iHeartRadio Canada stations are also connected through Alexa, Siri, and Google Home smart speakers.
On the Saturday April 4, 2026 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet actor Shamier Anderson. He’s best known for roles like Deputy Marshal Xavier Dolls in Wynonna Earp, Trevante Cole in Invasion (Apple TV+), and the memorable Mr. Nobody / The Tracker in John Wick: Chapter 4. He’s also involved in initiatives supporting Black Canadian talent, like co-founding awards and events with his brother, actor Stephan James.
Today we’re talking about how he made the switch from law enforcement to acting, studying kung fu and his latest role, playing controversial Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson. “Hate the Player: The Ben Johnson Story” is a satirical comedy miniseries for Paramount+ and GameTV that focuses on Johnson’s 1988 Seoul Olympics 100m gold medal win (and world record), the subsequent doping scandal that stripped him of it, and a “definitely-not-biased” retelling that explores the legacy, the pressure, and perhaps the bigger picture of athletics in that era.
Then we meet Herman Tømmeraas, an actor best known for breakout roles like Christoffer Schistad in the Norwegian hit teen series Skam (Shame), he co-starred in Netflix’s Ragnarok, and more recently, played the troubled rock star Payton Adler in the 2025 Canadian thriller Sweetness (directed by Emma Higgins). In Sweetness, he plays a dysfunctional, drug-addicted musician whose life intersects with an obsessive teenage superfan (Kate Hallett) in a dark, twisted story exploring fame, addiction, obsession, and captivity—often compared to a Gen Z take on Misery.
The movie is great, but there’s more. The fictional band in the film, Floorplan, is releasing an album! While the band only exists within the film’s universe, the music behind it is very real. Performed by my guest, actor Herman Tømmeraas, and written and produced by JUNO Award-winning Canadian composers and artists Blitz//Berlin, Floorplan blurs the line between fiction and reality, with the music exploring themes of addiction, emotional reckoning, and hard-earned clarity through the perspective of Herman’s character in the film, Payton Adler.
Each week on the nationally syndicated Richard Crouse Show, Canada’s most recognized movie critic brings together some of the most interesting and opinionated people from the movies, television and music to put a fresh spin on news from the world of lifestyle and pop-culture. Tune into this show to hear in-depth interviews with actors and directors, to find out what’s going on behind the scenes of your favourite shows and movies and get a new take on current trends. Recent guests include Chris Pratt, Elvis Costello, Baz Luhrmann, Martin Freeman, David Cronenberg, Mayim Bialik, The Kids in the Hall and many more!
All iHeartRadio Canada stations are available across Canada via live stream on iHeartRadio.caand the iHeartRadio Canada app. iHeartRadio Canada stations are also connected through Alexa, Siri, and Google Home smart speakers.
On the Saturday June 13, 2026 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet award-winning actor, writer, and director Mark O’Brien. You know him as Des Courtney on Republic of Doyle and ambitious Deputy District Attorney Thomas Milligan on HBO’s Perry Mason. On the big screen he’s delivered standout performances in films like Arrival, Ready or Not, Marriage Story, and Goalie — for which he won a Canadian Screen Award. More recently, he’s been behind the camera with his acclaimed directorial debut The Righteous, and now his chilling new supernatural horror film The Voices of Our Mother, which he wrote, directed, and stars in.
