Friday Special Blend
Friday October 17th, 2025 with Susan Johnston. Micah Petti. Gianluca Petti.
Conversations with Canadians (Jane Porter), The Book of Sentences (rob mclennan), and a world premiere audio reveal

In our first hour, Jane Porter, co-founder of the Bridge Building Group, joins us to talk about the art and power of courageous conversations, and her mission to get Canadians talking. Jane and her colleagues are launching a national community of bridge builders—bringing people together to have quality conversations that will help us heal, deepen relationships, and spark action that will move us forward, together. Jane is a professional facilitator and entrepreneur on a mission to transform the world one conversation at a time. Jane has spent the last fifteen years helping people, who often wouldn’t be in the same room together, have hard (but good!) conversations and find a way forward. Facilitating these groups have led to breakthroughs on some of the most challenging issues of our time: from how we extract natural resources thoughtfully, to how we reduce plastics, to how Indigenous people can lead on climate action. Jane lives in Hintonburg with her husband Mike and their two young kids and German Shepherd. In our second hour, Ottawa author rob mclennan joins us to talk about The Book of Sentences (University of Calgary Press), launching tomorrow as part of the Plan 99 Reading Series. rob mclennan is an editor, publisher, critic, and the author of more than fifty titles. He has won the John Newlove Poetry Award, the Council for the Arts in Ottawa Mid-Career Award and was longlisted for the CBC Poetry Prize. He lives in Ottawa, where he is home full-time with the two wee girls he shares with Christine McNair. Still the Mighty, a limited-edition gold vinyl record, will launch as part of CKCU's 50th anniversary celebrations. Want a copy? Email Jeff@CKCUFM with CKCU Album and ask him to put one aside, but do it soon! Cost: $30 + shipping. Launch event details still to come.