This week on the Richard Crouse Show we meet Shawn Levy, the Montreal born producer and director, known for Stranger Things, Real Steel, the Night at the Museum franchise and the recent mega hit Free Guy with Ryan Reynolds. He has reteamed with Reynolds for the Netflilx sci fi family drama The Adam Project. He joined from Los Angeles via Zoom to talk about the why the film isn’t simply a sci fi epic and finding a child actor who could keep up with Ryan Reynolds. Then, Canadian comedian, actor, writer and YouTuber Julie Nolke also stops by to talk about how she amasses one million followers on You Tube and her new role in the hot sitcom Run the Burbs. Then, multi award winning humanitarian and community activist Akilah Newton joins me today to discuss her latest project, Big Dreamers: The Canadian Black History Activity Book for Kids Volume 2. It is a celebration of the Black Canadians who overcame adversity and went on to achieve greatness while changing the course of history. To wrap things up, we meet Mark Williams who played the English wizard Arthur Weasley in seven of the hit Harry Potter films and can now be seen in the BritBox drama “Father Brown,” one of the UK’s longest running Daytime Drama series.

This week on the Richard Crouse Show we meet multi-instrumentalist and Barenaked Ladies pianist Kevin Hearn. The Canadian Hall of Famer has just released a beautiful new solo record titled “There and Then: Solo Piano Improvisations” and he joined us via Zoom to talk about it. Then, actor Manny Jacinto stops by to talk about how = his character in the new Amazon Prime rom com “I Want You Back,” was inspired by two characters from his last TV show, the great sitcom, “The Good Place.” Then we meet CS Porter. We’ll learn about how and why he sat down to wrote a thriller called “Beneath Her Skin” after being diagnosed with MS. Finally, Aba Amuquandoh of “This Hour Has 22 Minutes” stops by, but she’s not here to talk about politics. She has her eye on something much smaller… tiny in fact. She’s the host of a new CBC Gem show called “Best in Miniature.” Listen and  learn how creators shrink down their designs to itty-bitty proportions.

This week on the Richard Crouse Show we meet Keala Settle. If you were a fan of the musical The Greatest Showman, starring Hugh Jackman, and who wasn’t?... then you’ll know her as the powerhouse voice behind the Academy Award nominated song This is Me. Today, we’ll talk about why she had such a difficult time singing that song, a brain disease she says has changed her life and we’ll find out all about her new project, Murder in Provence, a new detective series now available on BritBox that investigates the murders, mysteries, and dark underbelly of the idyllic area in the south of France. Then we meet actor, woodworker and author Nick Offerman. If you have been watching “Pam & Tommy” you know my next guest as Uncle Miltie, porn producer and all-round scumbag. Or maybe you know his role in “The Founder,” in which he portrays Richard McDonald, one of the brothers who developed the fast-food chain McDonald's. You absolutely know him as Ron Swanson, the mustachioed, libertarian guy in the corner office on the hit sitcom “Parks and Recreation.” This weekend he’ll co-host the “37th Annual Film Independent Spirit Awards” with Megan Mullally, who also happens to be his wife.

On this week’s Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Sarah Weinman. Her new book Scoundrel, is the wild and true story of a murderer who conned the people around him—including neo-conservative thinker and National Review founder William F. Buckley—into helping set him free. Then, Tara Mckenna stops by to talk about her book Don't Be Trashy: A Practical Guide to Living with Less Waste and More Joy. The author says she’s always been environmentally aware, but seriously began my low waste journey early in 2017 after travelling. Snorkeled through trash in Bali, Indonesia, or picking up litter on trails in Southern Ontario, Canada, taught her that waste is a worldwide issue.

This week on the Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet Haley McGee, a Canadian living in London, England, who has written a book called “The Ex-Boyfriend Yard Sale,” a memoir about her attempt to pay off credit card debt by selling gifts from her exes. In the book she tries to calculate exactly how much romantic relationships cost in time, money and effort. Then we’ll get to know Celeste Bell, co-director of a great new music documentary called “Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliché.” It’s the story of Bell’s mother, legendary punk rock singer Poly Styrene, whose band X-Ray Specs were one of the first punk rock bands to find commercial success with their album “Germfree Adolescents.” The documentary is a rarity, a movie about punk rock that casts its eyes beyond the musical anarchy to portray the real person behind the music. Finally, we chat to Clark Backo. You know her as Wayne's love interest Rosie, on the television series “Letterkenny.” You can now see her in “I Want You Back,” a very funny rom com now playing on Amazon Prime.  

On this week’s Richard Crouse Show Podcast we meet David Pevsner. Over the course of his 35-year career in show business, David has done it all. He’s acted on Broadway, off-Broadway, in independent films and on numerous TV network shows including Grey’s Anatomy, Modern Family and Criminal Minds. Now he has added author to his resume… Damn Shame is his new memoir. It is a passionate and poignant look at one journey from a thin, shy boy ashamed of his body and sexuality to a defiant, fearless person exploring his erotic desires. David Pevsner joined me via Zoom from his home in Los Angeles. Then, stand-up comedian K. Trevor Wilson stops by. You know him as the long-winded Squirrely Dan on Letterkenny. Or maybe you’ve seen him do stand up on the Jimmy Kimmel Show or perhaps you’re a fan of his acerbic jabs on Roast Battle Canada… today he stops by to talk about his latest project, LOL: Last One Laughing Canada. It’s a six-part competition series on Amazon Prime where 10 of the best comedic talents from Canada are pitted against each other in a celebrity showdown. As the clock counts down their objective is to eliminate others from the house by making each other laugh, while not laughing themselves.

This week on the Richard Crouse Podcast we meet Andrew Phung. You know him as the award-winning actor who played Kimchee in the CBC Television sitcom "Kim's Convenience," and have seen him in guest starring roles on shows like "The Beaverton" and "Wynonna Earp" but he’s back with a new show, now playing on CBC. On "Run the Burbs," he plays Andrew Pham, a suburban stay-at-home dad of two children whose wife is an entrepreneur. Then, we spend some time with Kaya Usher. Her new album, "All This Is," was recorded with two of her children, fulfilling a dream that she and her husband, the late Tragically Hip singer Gord Downie, shared… to create music as a family. The result is an album of songs that represent not only an artistic awakening but personal healing.

This week on the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet the cast of a new CBC Television show called “Son of a Critch.” If you are a fan of the political commentary and social satire of “This Hour Has 22 Minutes,” you already know Mark Critch. Since 2003 he has starred on the political parody show. He’s photo-bombed Justin Trudeau, offered Pamela Anderson a million dollars to stop acting, and poked fun at characters like Rex Murphy, Don Cherry and Donald Trump. His latest project is much more personal. A couple years ago Mark wrote a warm and funny look back at his formative years, growing up in St. John’s, Newfoundland in the 80s called “Son of a Critch: A Childish Newfoundland Memoir”. That bestseller is now the basis of Son of a Critch, which airs on CBC television and CBC Gem on Tuesday nights. Later in the show we’ll meet Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, who plays the eleven year old Mark on the show, and we’ll spend some time with the legendary actor Malcolm McDowell, the star of “A Clockwork Orange” and so many other films, and who plays Mark’s grandfather. McDowell talks about his new found love of Newfoundland and offers advice to young actors.

Welcome to Nick & Roy's Totally Useless Christmas Party. Special guests include Richard Crouse of "Pop Life" and Last Call with Richard Crouse Podcasts", He shares useless pop life information and also reveals the origins of some Christmas drinks. Lianne Phillipson of "Eat This" Podcast shares useless food traditions from years past. IHeart radio's Science Correspondent, Dan Riskin offers useless information about reindeer and why their noses are cold. Listen, laugh and be merry.  Merry Christmas from Nick & Roy.  

Guests: Leonard Maltin and Helen Walsh.