Allan Gregg In Conversation (audio)

As a teen, Marina Nemat was tortured and imprisoned for two years in Iran. She later escaped to Canada. In her bestseller, "Prisoner of Tehran", she recounted her ordeal. Now she has a new book, "After Tehran", about her struggle to deal with her tortured past.

Oxford economist and Africa expert Paul Collier, author of "The Plundered Planet", looks at how the natural resources of Africa's poorest countries must be managed for the sake of their own prosperity, instead of being plundered. Also, Zambian-born Dambisa Moyo, a Harvard and Oxford-educated economist who has worked at the World Bank and at Goldman Sachs, talks about her new book "Dead Aid", in which she looks at the history of foreign aid to Africa and argues that it's been disastrous for Africa and must stop.

Renowned author Salman Rushdie, whose novel "The Satanic Verses" led to a fatwa calling for his death, talks about his new novel for young people. It is called "Luca and the Fire of Life".

Medical oncologist Dr. Robert Buckman gives us the latest info on cancer survivorship in his book, "Cancer is a Word, Not a Sentence," and the re-issue of his book "What You Really Need to Know About Cancer." (Original broadcast June 2006)

Ivan Van Sertima, is a scholar of African Studies at Rutgers University. He maintains that Africans were responsible for advances in metallurgy, astronomy, agriculture, medicine and other fields. He also believes that black Africans came to North America before Christopher Columbus. (Original broadcast 1997)

Ken Wiwa, son of Nigerian activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, talks to Allan Gregg about his difficult relationship with his father. Ken Wiwa writes about it in his book, "In the Shadow of a Saint." (Original broadcast Feb 2001)

David Suzuki, author of "David Suzuki's Green Guide" talks about his campaign to reduce Canadians' carbon footprint and the latest environmental issues is Canada and the US with the new Obama administration. Original broadcast Feb 2009)

Chief of Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, Roberta Jamieson, reflects on PM Paul Martin's Throne Speech commitment to ease aboriginal struggles. (Original broadcast april 2004)

Former wife of Pierre Trudeau and author of "Changing My Mind", Margaret Trudeau talks about her lifelong struggle with bipolar disorder and her work as an advocate for those who suffer from mental illness and also for their families.

Journalist Pico Iyer has known the Dalai Lama personally for more than thirty years and now he's written a book about him. It's called "The Open Road: the Global Journey of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama." (original broadcast April 2008)

Writer Naomi Klein presents her thesis on how corporate branding with logos is creating the next worldwide political youth movement. Protesters at the WTO meeting in Seattle and the APEC "pepper gate" incident are just the start. She talks with Allan Gregg about her book, "No Logo: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies."

George Monbiot is the author of the best selling books "The Age of Consent: a manifesto for a new world order" and "Captive State: the corporate takeover of Britain"; as well as the investigative travel books "Poisoned Arrows", "Amazon Watershed" and "No Man's Land". He writes a weekly column for the Guardian newspaper. During seven years of investigative journeys in Indonesia, Brazil and East Africa, he was shot at, beaten up by military police, shipwrecked and stung into a poisoned coma by hornets. He talks to Allan about his latest book "Heat: How To Stop The Planet From Burning" (Original broadcast Jan 2007)

Superstar Canadian comic and author Russell Peters talks about his memoir "Call Me Russell". He talks about his childhood in Brampton, Ontario and about his rise to fame.

Superstar Canadian comic and author Russell Peters talks about his memoir "Call Me Russell". He talks about his childhood in Brampton, Ontario and about his rise to fame.

About 30 years ago, Germaine Greer's book "The Female Eunuch" made her an icon for the feminist movement. Today, Germaine Greer says women still have good reason to be angry. Her latest book is "The Whole Woman". (Original broadcast May 1999)

Evangelist Billy Graham talks to Allan Gregg about the relevance of the bible to the way we live; about his involvement in social problems; his thought of new-age spiritualism and the importance of evangelism in keeping the church alive. (Original broadcast June 1995)

Marianne Williamson has become a leader of the new age spirituality movement. Her books and lectures have attracted star such as Oprah and Elizabeth Taylor. Her latest book is called "Enchanted Love: The Mystical Power of Intimate Relationships."

Former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien sits down with Allan Gregg for a wide-ranging interview. They discuss Chrétien's new memoir, My Years as Prime Minister, his views on the state of politics in Canada and his recent heart surgery. Released earlier this fall, the book chronicles the high points and challenges of Chrétien's decade in office as Canada's twentieth prime minister - from eliminating the deficit to the 1995 cliffhanger Quebec referendum to his decision to keep Canada out of the Iraq war, as well as the rift between Chretien and his successor, Paul Martin. (Original broadcast Dec 2007)

Gay Talese is a legendary reporter and writer, pioneer of the New Journalism. His career spans half a century. Among his classic bestsellers; The Kingdom and the Power, about the New York Times, Honor Thy Father, about the Mafia and Thy Neighbor's Wife about the sex industry. In his latest book, Talese turns the focus on himself. It's called A Writer's Life. (Original broadcast Dec 2006).

Neil Postman offers a critique of our modern philosophical condition by challenging our widely held assumptions concerning education, technology and media. His new book is called "Building a Bridge to the Nineteenth Century". (Original broadcast 2000)