Do we enjoy getting a peak into influencers' lives? To kick off our first conversation of 2023, we dive into celebrity memoirs, with Karen McKay and Theresa Power from the Centre for Equitable Library Access. We highlight Spare by Prince Harry, Surrender: 40 songs, one story by Bono, Michelle Obama's Becoming, and other life accounts, written and read by the author.

Friends, we've dedicated this entire episode to featuring your top audiobook picks of 2022. We chat with lovely individuals on this show every week, members of the blind and low vision community, allies and friends, avid audiobook listeners and book lovers of all kinds, all over Canada. All year, we've opened up the space to review, discuss, recommend, browse, conceptualize and reminisce on Audiobooks. Now, let's shout out the books that have stuck with you through the year, making it on your top pick list for 2022. Nisreen and I have compiled your messages and reflections!

Today's theme is Immersive Reading: how books can take you places.

Danielle McLaughlin is the President of Pal Reading Services. She speaks to the important work done by the organization. Plus, Danielle highlights Olive Kitterdge, by Elizabeth Strout, one of many reads she's currently enjoying.

On Know Your Narrator, Sara Hillis features Simon Vance, a narrator who's lent his voice to every kind of title you can imagine.

Notable literary awards were handed out in November. We review the winners and prizes with Karen McKay and Theresa Power from the Centre for Equitable Library Access. Plus, we feature new Christmas books available on the CELA Library for your listening.

Aamer Khan reflects on his month of audiobook listening as "Mystery, romance and some real confusion." We dive into these categories with him. Plus, we hit Pause or Play on the police procedural fiction, titled Blackwater Falls, by Ausma Zehanat Khan.

Our guest this week is Joeita Gupta, Host of The Pulse on AMI-audio. We dissect the translation of Graphic Novels into audio formats, and compare our perspectives to those of Rhianna McGregor Hajzer, an Accessibility Tester with CELA's Graphic Novels Project.

In October, 2022, we lost one of the great narrators of our time, Dick Hill. Sara Hillis tributes this month's Know Your Narrator to his 30-year vocal career.

Karen McKay and Theresa Power highlight the Governor General’s Awards shortlists announced recently. Plus, we feature books in recognition of Transgender Awareness Month.

Aamer Khan visited the Toronto Book Awards! He reviews the walks and talks he engaged in with authors. Plus, we catch up on Aamer's ongoing book count for 2022, which has just reached a milestone!

We welcome Andy Frank, Manager of AMI-audio, for his insights on the industry of audiobooks and where listening is headed. We hit Pause or Play on the True Crime book, The case of the murderous Dr. Cream, By Dean Jobb.

Rozina Issani shares why reading The Doctor will not see you now, by Jane Paulson, left such a significant mark on her. Plus, we hit Pause or Play on the adventure tale, Ashfall prophecy, By Pittacus Lore.

Jim Dale's narration of the Harry Potter audiobook series holds the top six places in the top ten audiobooks in America and Canada. Sara Hillis introduces us to the man behind the voice, on Know Your Narrator.

Aamer Khan highlights co-authored books, and shares a unique example of group-writing, in which one author picked up the end of another writer's beginning.

Can books feel lost in translation? We hear from Peter Tsatsanis, Host of Peter's Book Club, who expresses his love for reading books in other languages.

On Know Your Narrator, Sara Hillis highlights Scott Brick, who started his voice career in 1999, and is now Audible's "most prolific narrator." We find out where it all started for him.

Karen McKay and Theresa Power, from the Centre for Equitable Library Access, feature titles from the Fantasy genre, recognized from this year's Aurora Awards.

How often do we check out True Crime in books, rather than podcasts or TV series? Aamer Khan takes us through his thoughts on the subject. Plus, he reviews Unmasked: My Life Solving America's Cold Cases, by Paul Holes.

Embers, by Richard Wagamese, is a title that has left a huge mark on Melanie Marsden. We learn why. Plus, we hit Pause or Play on All the things we don't talk about, By Amy Feltman.

Let's get to another Know Your Narrator feature, with Sara Hillis. Today we discuss one of Sara's all-time favourite voices, Davina Porter, best recognized for her work in the Outlander series.

Karen McKay and Theresa Power from the Centre for Equitable Library Access feature books being converted to film and TV shows. Plus, we discuss the Stephen Leacock short list and the Booker prize nominees for 2022.

Though it’s impossible, AMI Content Development Specialist Karen Magee tries her best to pick her favourite book. Plus, we hit Pause or Play on River of the gods, By Candice Millard.

Let’s put families on top! Aamer Khan highlights family-friendly titles, and some serious reads focusing on family dynamics. Plus, we hit Pause or Play on the Contemporary Romance title, You made a fool of death with your beauty, By Akwaeke Emezi.

Jeffery Reiney highlights Darren McGarvy, a rapper, social commentator, and activist, who wrote the title The Social Distance Between Us. Plus, we hit Pause or Play on the auto-biography Greenlights, by Matthew McConaughey.

Sara Hillis debuts our brand new segment: Know Your Narrator. First up, we feature the classic Recorded Books voice of Frank Muller, known for his recordings of Stephen King novels.

We get to major awards and literary news with Karen McKay and Theresa Power, from the Centre for Equitable Library Access. Plus, they feature titles under the theme: Popular books and their read-alikes.

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, by Ishmael Beah, is an absorbing account by a young man who gets swept up in Sierra Leone's civil war; we preview this recommendation by George Quarcoo. And, Aamer Khan takes us through the books he’s begun, the series he’s in the midst of, and ones he’s finally about to complete.

No matter how busy life gets, Sehdeen Lowe gets her daily dose of Audiobooks in; she highlights some of her top listens. Plus, we hit Pause or Play on the title Still just a geek, By Wil Wheaton.

Julie Martin has several thought-provoking book recommendations for us. Plus, we hit Pause or Play on Love that story: Observations from a gorgeously queer life, By Jonathan Van Ness.

Karen McKay and Theresa Power feature titles written by LGBTQ+ authors for Pride Month. Plus, we hit Pause or Play on The girl in the middle, a Biography by By Anais.

Aamr Khan encourages us to take a step back on binge-listening, and slow down the pace for an intentional, unhurried experience. Plus, We highlight Asian Heritage Month with this week’s Pause or Play; The Book of Form and Emptiness, by Ruth Ozeki.

Avid reader Kathrine Vatcher gives us her recommendation of a non-fiction favorite in her library, and explains her fascination of reading real-life stories. Plus, we hit Pause or Play on the Romance title Sari, not sari, By Sonya Singh.

Does the clarity of audio make or break your listening experience? We talk through this question with Host of Mushroom FM, Sara Hillis. Plus, we hit Pause or Play on the Historical Fiction title Her Hidden Genius, By Marie Benedict.

The Centre for Equitable Library Access now offers its services in Manitoba. We get the details on that, plus a list of featured titles at this year’s Festival of Literary Diversity, with Karen McKay and Theresa Power.

Greg David is dipping his toes into Audiobook-listening, and he has a lot to share on his impressions. Plus, we hit Pause or Play on Consuming History: Historians and Heritage in Contemporary Popular Culture, written by Jerome De Groot.

We Spring into Antarctica with Aamer Khan! Plus, let’s explore the self-development title Didn't See That Coming: Putting Life Back Together When Your World Falls Apart, written by Rachel Hollis.

Wendy Hoang brings us deep into the world of fantasy behind the series, His Dark Materials. Plus, We hit Pause or Play on the title Moon Witch, Spider King, By Marlon James.

Michael Feir is going through a short-story listening phase! We get his recommendations of authors and collections. Plus, We press Pause or Play on Run Towards the Danger By Sarah Polley.

Karen McKay and Theresa Power from the Centre for Equitable Library Access share their favourite books with puns in the titles! Plus, we press Pause or Play on the historical fiction tale, Daughters of the Deer, By Danielle Daniel.

We discuss Beyond vision: the story of a blind rower, by Victoria Nolan. Plus, Aamer Khan catches us up on his list of reads for March, and it’s a long one!

Let’s meet Jacob Shymanski, Technical Producer at AMI-audio, with an appreciation for audiobooks. Plus, we press Pause or Play on the Memoir Maid, written by Stephanie Land.

Ryan Hooey of Kelly and Company’s Chatty Bookshelf joins us with his latest audiobook recommendations! Plus, let’s press Pause or Play on Black Milk, by Elif Shafak.

CELA Library’s Karen McKay and Theresa Power highlight empowering, honest literature written by women. Plus, we hit Pause or Play on the The midnight hour By Elly Griffiths.

Do celebrity memoirs appeal to you? Kim Kilpatrick gives us her thoughts and recommends All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Dohr.

We get talking Romance, Murder Mysteries and a touch of Vampires with Aamer Khan. Plus, we press Pause or Play on The Red Palace By June Hur, a tale of Historical mystery.

We get to know avid Audiobook listener Sarah Patel, and her take on choosing audiobooks and where to find them. Plus, we press Pause or Play on the book All About Love: New Visions, written by Feminist Bell Hooks.

We get to CELA news and announcements with Theresa Power and Karen McKay. Plus, they shout out some Contemporary Romance recommendations with diverse writing styles.