Audiobook Café
Jacob Shymanski shares in-depth conversations with authors, narrators and industry experts! Tune in for the latest audiobook releases, curated recommendations and literary news.
For the Love of Romance
Katie Robinson is the owner and executive producer of Lyric Audiobooks, a boutique production company specializing in romance novels.
Host Jacob Shymanski catches up with Katie to learn why romance audiobooks have become so popular over the years.
She also explains why the perfect narrator for romance goes beyond a "sexy" voice.
This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.
Audiobook Café broadcasts on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two back-to-back podcast episodes every Friday at 5 p.m. ET.
Follow Audiobook Café on Instagram @AMIAud...
For the Love of Genre Fiction
Host Jacob Shymanski and Red Széll explore the differences of genre fiction versus literary fiction. They also explain why genre fiction deserves greater recognition in the literary world.
Books mentioned in this episode include:
• “Pick a Colour” by Souvankham Thammavongsa
• “Life of Pi” by Yann Martel
• “Tom Lake” by Ann Patchett
• “Piranesi” by Susanna Clarke
• “Ulysses” by James Joyce
• “The Odyssey” by Homer
• “Death of the Author” by Nnedi Okorafor
• “Seething Lane” by Jack Jewers
• “The Secret Diaries of Samuel Pepys” Series by Jack Jewers
• “I Hope This Finds You Well” by Natalie Sue
• “Belgravia” by Julian Fellowes
• “Julie Chan Is De...
The Renovation: In Conversation with Kenan Orhan
Kenan Orhan’s “The Renovation” was longlisted the 2026 Booker Prize.
The book follows a woman who discovers that her bathroom has been remodeled into a prison cell where she is an unlikely inmate.
Host Jacob Shymanski catches up with Kenan to explore the book’s themes of exile, grief, memory, migration and the meaning of home.
This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.
Audiobook Café broadcasts on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two back-to-back podcast episodes every Friday at 5 p.m. ET.
Follow Audiobook Café on Instagram @AMIAudiobookCafe
We want your...
The Attraction to Heartbreak
Host Jacob Shymanski and guest Red Széll ask the question: why do readers enjoy heartbreaking stories?
They share their thoughts on how sad fiction helps build empathy and why the most powerful tragedies reflect the complexity of real life.
Books mentioned in this episode include:
Helen of Nowhere: In Conversation with Makenna Goodman
Makenna Goodman’s novel “Helen of Nowhere” was longlisted for the 2026 Booker Prize.
The book follows a disgraced professor as he visits a country house with a realtor who tells him about its mysterious former owner, Helen. As he becomes increasingly fascinated by Helen's alternative way of life, the ordinary house viewing turns into something much stranger and more psychologically charged.
Host Jacob Shymanski chats with Makenna about the novel’s themes and why the book is open to interpretation.
Spoiler alert at the 25:12 mark.
This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanero...
The Hystericals: In Conversation with Vivek Shraya
Disclaimer: This episode contains discussions surrounding suicide, self-harm and sexual violence. Listener discretion is advised.
Bestselling Canadian author Vivek Shraya is back with a new book fresh off the press!
“The Hystericals” is a chilling novel for the post-Me Too era. The story is set in an isolationist state where one woman’s death sparks a movement that could liberate women or destroy them all.
Host Jacob Shymanski speaks with Vivek about her inspiration behind the book’s themes of misogyny, women’s rights and allyship.
This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.
The Sixth Faction: In Conversation with Veronica Roth
Bestselling author Veronica Roth’s upcoming book “The Sixth Faction” is a reimagining of her dystopian hit trilogy “Divergent.”
The book provides an alternate universe that revisits a pivotal moment in the original story and asks what would happen if the character Tris made a different choice.
Host Jacob Shymanski catches up with Veronica to discuss the new book and to learn why she wanted to revisit the series.
The audiobook for “The Sixth Faction” comes out October 8 on Audible in Canada. The hard copy is out October 6!
This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.
What A Reader Wants, What a Reader Needs
Host Jacob Shymanski and guest Red Széll discuss what readers want most from books to make them more engaging, memorable and satisfying. Together they explore the importance of hyper-specificity, good dialogue, character relationship building and embracing the cliff hanger.
Books mentioned in this episode include:
This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.
Audiobook Café broadcasts on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two back-to-back podcast episodes every Friday at 5 p.m. ET.
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Getting Away with Murder: In Conversation with Shari Lapena
“Getting Away with Murder” was an instant New York Times bestseller!
The thriller novel follows a New York couple who kill a wealthy relative after making a bad investment that caused them to lose their inheritance.
Host Jacob Shymanski chats with author Shari Lapena about her fascination over the “perfect murder” and why she decided to drift away from a traditional murder mystery concept. She also shares her perspective on what it’s like to be a Canadian author during political tensions in the U.S.
This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.
Audiobook Ca...
Highbrow & Lowbrow Books
How do you distinguish “highbrow” from “lowbrow” books?
Does a highbrow book imply it’s better than other books?
Host Jacob Shymanski and guest Red Szell explore the division between the two concepts and deconstruct its relevancy in modern day.
Books mentioned in this episode include:
• “The Da Vinci Code” by Dan Brown
• “Dungeon Crawler Carl” series by Matt Dinniman
• “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
• “Moby-Dick” by Herman Melville
• “Finnegans Wake” by James Joyce
• “Infinite Jest” by David Foster Wallace
• “Mrs. Dalloway” by Virginia Woolf
• “Dracula” by Bram Stoker
This episode was produced Andrika De Lanerolle
Audiobook Café bro...
Daughters of the Wreckage: In Conversation with Stefanie Koens
Earlier this month, Australian author Stefanie Koens released her debut novel in North America.
“Daughters of the Wreckage,” is a gripping dual-timeline historical novel inspired by the true story of the Batavia shipwreck and the women who survived it.
Host Jacob Shymanski catches up with Stefanie to discuss the historical significance of the Batavia shipwreck and to learn about her own personal fascination with the events.
This episode was produced Andrika De Lanerolle.
Audiobook Café broadcasts on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two back-to-back podcast episodes every Friday at 5 p.m. ET.
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Tempted: In Conversation with Rick Campanelli
“Tempted” is a bombshell memoir by Canadian media personality Rick Campanelli.
From his humble beginnings in Hamilton, Ontario, to his time as a MuchMusic VJ, Tempted is a story of Rick’s achievements and the secret gambling addiction that he battled along the way.
Audiobook Café’s Jacob Shymanski catches up with Rick to learn about the double life he led and why now is the time he chose to reveal his story.
This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.
If you or someone you know, is in need of support s...
Pick a Colour: In Conversation with Giller Prize Winner Souvankham Thammavongsa
Souvankham Thammavongsa is the 2025 Giller Prize winner for her book “Pick a Colour,” an intimate novel following a nail salon owner as she works for privileged clients who don't even know her true name.
Audiobook Café host Jacob Shymanski catches up with Souvankham to learn why she chose a nail salon as the primary setting for her book and to discuss why she deliberately chose to make a plotless story driven by voice and character.
This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.
Audiobook Café broadcasts on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two back-to-back podcast e...
Not a Word: In Conversation with Linwood Barclay
New York Times bestselling author Linwood Barclay is back with a new thriller!
“Not a Word” follows a man whose world is upended after he stumbles upon a grisly crime scene in the family home. As authorities unravel a web of secrets, they uncover a connection between his father and a pharmaceutical company.
Audiobook Café’s Jacob Shymanski catches up with Linwood to learn about his evolution as a writer, his early passion for fan-fiction writing, and why he chooses to start all his books with a compelling opening.
This episode was produced by Andri...
Book Recommendations: In Conversation with Ramya Amuthan
Host Jacob Shymanski and guest Ramya Amuthan reflect on five books that they each personally enjoyed this past year, covering a wide range of genres including psychology, literary fiction, romance, dystopian fiction, mystery, non-fiction and social commentary.
Books mentioned in this episode include:
“The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma” by Bessel van der Kolk “Our Wives Under the Sea” by Julia Armfield “My Year of Rest and Relaxation” by Ottessa Moshfegh “I Who Have Never Known Men” by Jacqueline Harpman “The Paper Palace” by Miranda Cowley Heller “Good Guys” by Sharon Bala “Ev...A Beginner’s Guide to Audiobooks Part Two
Host Jacob Shymanski and guest Red Széll share continue their beginner’s guide to audiobooks.
In part two of this discussion, they explore:
Chapter 4: learning to listen to audiobooks as a skill
Chapter 5: how to choose the right introductory audiobook
Books mentioned in this episode include:
“The White Spider” by Heinrich Harrer “War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy “Project Hail Mary” by Andy Weir “Dungeon Crawler Carl” by Matt Dinniman “The Devil and the Dark Water” by Stuart Turton “Not Quite Dead Yet” by Holly Jackson “The First Law” series by Joe Abercrombie “1984” by G...The Blood of Things: In Conversation with Jamaluddin Aram
“The Blood of Things, a Love Letter to Afghanistan” is an upcoming collection of essays by Jamaluddin Aram. The book explores Afghanistan's history, culture, people and beauty through his personal experiences of growing up in the country.
Host Jacob Shymanski chats with Jamaluddin about Afghanistan's complicated history and why people should look beyond the current narratives focused solely on war and the Taliban.
“The Blood of Things, a Love Letter to Afghanistan” comes out as an audiobook on September 15, 2026.
Audiobook Café broadcasts on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two back-to-back podcast episodes every Friday...
A Beginner’s Guide to Audiobooks Part One
Host Jacob Shymanski and guest Red Széll share a beginner’s guide to audiobooks.
In part one of this discussion, they explore:
Chapter 1: why you should start listening to audiobooks Chapter 2: the different formats and styles of audiobooks Chapter 3: where to buy or borrow audiobooks without breaking the bankThis episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.
Audiobook Café broadcasts on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two back-to-back podcast episodes every Friday at 5 p.m. ET.
Follow Audiobook Café on Instagram @AMIAudiobookCafe
We want your feedback!
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Oxford Soju Club: In Conversation with Jinwoo Park
Author Jinwoo Park’s debut novel “Oxford Soju Club” is a spy thriller that follows the lives of three Koreans caught up in an espionage.
The story weaves a tale of how immigrants are forced to create identities to survive, and how in the end, they must shed those masks and seek their true selves.
Host Jacob Shymanski catches up with Jinwoo to learn about his inspiration for the book, his experiences as a Korean immigrant in Canada and his love for spy fiction. They also chat about Jinwoo’s work as a literary translator for “One D...
Escape!: In Conversation with Survivor Contestant Stephen Fishbach
Stephen Fishbach’s debut fiction novel “Escape!” was featured on Spotify's list for best audiobooks of 2026 so far.
His book follows a reality TV star and a disgraced producer who gets one last shot at redemption on a show set on a remote island, only to discover that the plot twists are beyond what they ever imagined.
Host Jacob Shymanski catches up with Stephen to learn about his inspiration behind the book and his real-life experiences as a television executive and a two-time contestant on ‘Survivor.’ Stephen also explains why he chose to write a fictional st...
Summer Sizzlers
Host Jacob Shymanski and Red Széll share some fun reads to enjoy on a warm summer night.
They also explore the guilt of listening to books that are formulaic and easy to digest.
Books mentioned in this episode include: “The Da Vinci Code” by Dan Brown “One Golden Summer” by Carly Fortune “Dream Harbor” and “The Daisy Chain Café” by Laurie Gilmore “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas “The Wandering Inn” by Pirateaba “Around the World in Eighty Days” by Jules Verne “The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece” by Tom Hanks “Falling Animals” and “The Red Mouth” by She...Lords of Serendipity: In Conversation with Randy Boyagoda
Randy Boyagoda’s upcoming novel “The Lords of Serendipity” cuts deep into the world of higher education. The book explores a fictional story of a Sri Lankan village girl who dreams of going to Harvard and a middle-class American girl whose life has been designed to get her into an elite liberal arts college.
Host Jacob Shymanski catches up with Randy to contrast the importance of higher education with its absurdities, exploitations and false promises.
This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.
For more information on Randy's work, visit RandyBoyagoda.com
Aud...
Disability Pride Month
In celebration of Disability Pride Month, we open the vault to look back on some of our favourite author discussions on disability, accessibility and inclusion.
The episode includes by the following authors:
• David Lepofsky, author of “Swimming Up Niagara Falls”
• Kristen Joiner, co-author of “Being Heumann”
• Victoria Nolan, author of “Beyond Vision”
• Jennifer Chevalier, author of “The Winter Witch”
• Jessica Slice, author of “Unfit Parent”
• Molly Burke, author of “Unseen”
• Lachi, author of “I Identify As Blind”
This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.
Audiobook Café...
There Plant Eyes: In Conversation with M. Leona Godin
In recognition of Disability Pride Month, we look back on “There Plant Eyes” by M. Leona Godin.
The book captures the cultural history of blindness while blending together Leona’s personal story of sight loss.
Host Jacob Shymanski catches up with Leona to discuss society’s perceptions of blindness and the importance of challenging the ideas about what it means to be “blind.”
This episode is produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.
Audiobook Café broadcasts on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two back-to-back podcast episodes every Friday at 5 p.m. ET.
Follow Audio...
High-concept Novels
Host Jacob Shymanski and guest Red Széll talk about "high-concept" novels. Stories whose premises are distinctly creative and take big risks. Together they examine the practical limits of creativity.
Titles mentioned in this episode include:
“Project Hail Mary” by Andy Weir “Jaws” by Peter Benchley “Jurassic Park” by Michael Crichton “Nineteen Eighty-Four” by George Orwell “Animal Farm” by George Orwell “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel “The Day of the Triffids” and “The Midwich Cuckoos” by John Wyndham “The Lord of the Flies” by William Golding “The Last Murder at the End of the World” by Stuart Tur...2026 Canada Reads: In Conversation with Winner Loghan Paylor
Author Loghan Paylor’s debut novel is winner of the 2026 edition of Canada Reads!
“The Cure for Drowning” is a World War II historical fiction about a messy and emotionally rich love triangle.
Host Jacob Shymanski catches up with Loghan to learn about the research that went into developing the book and its themes of gender nonconformity and queerness in the 1940s.
Loghan also describes who their favourite characters are and reflects on how the audiobook feels like a refreshing interpretation of their writing.
This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle...
You'll Love It Here: In Conversation with Natalie Sue
Natalie Sue’s debut novel “I Hope This Finds You Well” was an international bestseller. Now she’s back with another novel set to release in August! “You'll Love It Here” is a contemporary and thoughtful comedy about a career-oriented woman who gets forcefully put on leave. She becomes the building manager for her strange apartment building and ends up forming a connection with her tenants that she previously disliked.
Host Jacob Shymanski chats with Natalie about her unique writing style, her comedic inspirations and how she feels to be filed under the “chick lit” genre.
This episode was...
Mighty Real: In Conversation with Barry Walters
Author Barry Walters’ latest book "Mighty Real" blurs the line between chronicle and memoir and explores the fascinating history of LGBTQ+ music from the underground dancefloors of the 1970s to the global charts of the 1990s.
Host Jacob Shymanski catches up with Barry to learn how LGBTQ+ musicians, music industry executives and fans reshaped the mainstream music scene. Barry also reflects on his daunting experience to record the 21-hour long audiobook.
This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.
Audiobook Café broadcasts on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two back-to-back podcast...
Laughing in the Face of Tragedy
Host Jacob Shymanski and guest Red Szell explore the power of humour in storytelling and how humour can make challenging topics approachable in a way that nothing else can.
They cover a range of titles that utilize humour effectively, including:
Books mentioned in this episode include:
“The Heroes” by Joe Abercrombie “Catch-22” by Joseph Heller “The Master and Margarita” by Mikhail Bulgakov “Molly the Maid” Series by Nita Prose “The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams “Gentleman Bastard” Series by Scott Lynch “Good Omens” by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett “Educated: A Memoir” by Tara Westover “Candide” by...Property: In Conversation with Author Kate Cayley
Kate Cayley’s “Property” is a 2026 finalist for the Amazon Canada First Novel Award.
The fictional novel follows troubled residents in a gentrifying neighbourhood where they navigate class and privilege, queer respectability and friendship. By the evening, tragedy strikes and someone has died.
Host Jacob Shymanski chats with Kate about the book’s themes and her narration for the audiobook.
This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.
Audiobook Café broadcasts on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two back-to-back podcast episodes every Friday at 5 p.m. ET.
Follow Audiobook Caf...
Wayback Playback: Victoria Nolan’s “Beyond Vision
Paralympian Victoria Nolan’s 2014 memoir “Beyond Vision: The Story of a Blind Rower” is the inspiration behind the upcoming biopic “Blindly Victorious.”
Host Jacob Shymanski catches up with Victoria to learn about her journey with vision loss, her experience as a para-athlete and the process of bringing her lived experiences to the big screen.
Audiobook Café broadcasts on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two back-to-back podcast episodes every Friday at 5 p.m. ET.
Follow Audiobook Café on Instagram @AMIAudiobookCafe
We want your feedback!
Be that comments, suggestions, hot-takes, audiobook reco...
Authors Who Take Big Risks
Host Jacob Shymanski and Red Széll reflect on authors who take big risks in their storytelling, everything from subject matter to writing styles and killing off significant characters.
Books mentioned in this episode include:
• “The First Law Series” and “The Heroes” by Joe Abercrombie
• “Brighton Rock” and “The End of the Affair” by Graham Greene
• “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman
• by Joe Abercrombie
• “The Road” and “Blood Meridian” by Cormac McCarthy
• “Flesh” by David Szlay
• “Game of Thrones” by George R.R. Martin
• “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” a...
Transness & Dad Rock: In Conversation with Author Niko Stratis
In 2025, music writer Niko Stratis released “The Dad Rock That Made Me a Woman,” a memoir-in-essays on transness, dad rock, and the music that saves us.
Host Jacob Shymanski catches up with Niko to learn about her journey as a trans woman through, her love for bands like Wilco, and her experience with narrating the audiobook.
This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.
Audiobook Café broadcasts on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two back-to-back podcast episodes every Friday at 5 p.m. ET.
Follow Audiobook Café on Instagram @AMIAudiobookCafe
We wan...
The Cultural Significance of Books
Host Jacob Shymanski and guest Red Széll explore the complex modern cultural significance of books. They examine books as status objects, books as a refuge of long-form content and the way the publishing industry culturally punches above its weight.
In the latter portion of the show, Jacob chats with Penny Leclair about her new book “Life with Jefferson: A Biography of a Guide Dog.”
This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.
Audiobook Café broadcasts on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two back-to-back podcast episodes every Friday at 5 p.m. ET.
Foll...
The Table Where We Meet: In Conversation with Jess Janz
This summer, Jess Janz is coming out with a new essay collection “The Table Where We Meet.” The book reflects on ‘Dinner with Strangers,’ an initiative she created that encourages strangers to gather and learn more about each other without ever talking about their work or jobs.
Host Jacob Shymanski chats with Jess about the world of human interaction and belonging. She also reflects on her experience writing and narrating the audiobook.
This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.
Audiobook Café broadcasts on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two back-to-back podcast episodes eve...
Honey: In Conversation with Imani Thompson
Imani Thompson’s debut novel “Honey” is a wickedly funny and suspenseful thriller about a graduate student who murders bad men and justifies it in the name of feminism.
Host Jacob Shymanski catches up with Imani to learn how the book explores issues of racialized systems and the Manosphere. In addition, Imani reflects on her research and process for writing her debut novel.
This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.
Audiobook Café broadcasts on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two back-to-back podcast episodes every Friday at 5 p.m. ET.
Follow Aud...
Global Accessibility Awareness Day
Host Jacob Shymanski celebrates Global Accessibility Awareness Day which is recognized on May 21. He looks back on past interviews with:
Matisse Hamel-Nelis, co-author of the educational book called “Accessible Communications: Create Impact, Avoid Missteps and Build Trust” Craig Fitzpatrick, a blind ice hockey player who published an audiobook called “Finding the Puck: Leadership Lessons from My Journey Through Blind Hockey” Mark Pearson, the co-founder of the audiobook platform Libro.fm and Lachi, a recording artist and musician who released “I Identify as Blind: A Brazen Celebration of Disability Culture, Identity, and Power”This episode was produced by Andrika De Lane...
The Last Woman of Warsaw: In Conversation with Judy Batalion
Author Judy Batalion joins host Jacob Shymanski to talk about her debut historical fiction “The Last Woman of Warsaw.” The novel tells the story of two very different Jewish women in Warsaw in the late 1930s as they unexpectedly come together in search of their missing mentor.
Judy and Jacob chat about the research she did to capture 1930s Warsaw, including the fashion, art and architecture. She also describes the real-life experiences that influenced the story and its characters.
This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.
Audiobook Café broadcasts on AMI-audio in Canad...
The Heroes’ Journey
The monomyth, otherwise known as the “hero’s journey” is a story structure popularized by Joseph Campbell in his book “The Hero With A Thousand Faces.”
It’s a classic storytelling pattern that has been repeated time and time again from myths around the world.
Host Jacob Shymanski and guest Red Széll explore the concept of the monomyth and debate if it really is the human story society craves.
In the latter portion of the show, Red reflects on his 100th episode of the “My Life In Books” podcast.
This episode was produced...
The Winter Witch: In Conversation with Jennifer Chevalier
Jennifer Chevalier’s fiction novel “The Winter Witch” captures the story of two sisters fleeing a curse aboard a bride ship from Normandy to 17th-century Quebec. Along the way they meet a mysterious witch who forces them to confront the truth of their past.
Host Jacob Shymanski chats with Jennifer about the research she did to create the book’s setting and characters. She also shares a Shelfie, her three favourite books with a magical theme.
This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.
Audiobook Café broadcasts on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes tw...
