Romance novels have become one of Canada's fastest-growing publishing genres, with print sales soaring, ebook readership growing, and dedicated romance bookstores opening across the country, raising questions about what's fueling the boom. Amy Lea, author of romantic comedies including "The Bodyguard Affair," joins Jeyan to discuss how shifting reader tastes have created new opportunities for Canadian voices in romance and why she now feels more confident setting stories closer to home. Then, Kaitlynd Carmichael of Indigo Canada and Kearston Bergeron, co-owner of Toronto's Hopeless Romantic Books, explore the factors behind romance's rapid rise and what its growing popularity reveals about today's readers.

Hosted by Jeyan Jeganathan, The Rundown delivers original journalism and in-depth analysis of the social, political, cultural, and economic issues that shape life in Ontario. Each episode focuses on one topic that’s making headlines, examining it from different angles and through diverse points of view — providing the context you need to understand what’s happening in the province and around the world.

<p data-renderer-start-pos="1">Hosted by Jeyan Jeganathan, The Rundown delivers original journalism and in-depth analysis of the social, political, cultural, and economic issues that shape life in Ontario. Each episode focuses on one topic that&rsquo;s making headlines, examining it from different angles and through diverse points of view &mdash; providing the context you need to understand what&rsquo;s happening in the province and around the world.</p>

Hosted by Jeyan Jeganathan, The Rundown delivers original journalism and in-depth analysis of the social, political, cultural, and economic issues that shape life in Ontario. 

The Rundown

What's Behind Canada's Romance Book Boom?

For generations, many 2SLGBTQ+ stories were left out of history books, archives, and classrooms, raising questions about whose experiences are preserved and whose are forgotten. Now, some educators are working to recover that history before more of it is lost. Ian Duncan, a history teacher at Garth Webb Secondary School in Oakville, joins Jeyan to discuss how students are helping uncover, document, and share Canada's queer history. Then, Windsor teacher Chris Rabideau explains how a local project is preserving 2SLGBTQ+ stories from the community, one story at a time, and why documenting these experiences matters for future generations.

Can Students Help Save Canada's Queer History?

As Ontario municipalities face growing pressure to repair and expand aging water and wastewater systems, some are asking whether new governance models could help manage the costs. Could municipal services corporations offer a viable solution, or do they raise new questions about oversight and public accountability? Michele Grenier, executive director of the Ontario Water Works Association, and Barbara Robinson, president of Norton Engineering, join Jeyan to discuss. Then, new research suggests a warming Arctic is reshaping vast lakes in northern Canada, raising concerns about what these changes could mean for freshwater ecosystems. Kathleen Rühland, senior scientist at Queen's University's Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Laboratory, explains what scientists are finding and why it matters.

Who Should Control Ontario's Water Infrastructure?

Young men are often told to tough it out, but a new report from GreenShield and Mental Health Research Canada suggests many may be struggling in silence, raising questions about why so many are reluctant to seek help when they need it most. Khush Amaria, director of clinical services at GreenShield, joins Jeyan to unpack the findings. Then, as loneliness becomes a growing concern, some people are turning to AI chatbots for companionship. Can a machine provide meaningful connection, or does it risk deepening the problem? University of Toronto psychology professor Paul Bloom weighs in.

What's Behind Canada's Romance Book Boom?

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