From 1994 to 1997, she hosted CBC’s RealTime, a pop-culture magazine and interview show. It was billed as the first radio program in the world to integrate emerging internet technologies like IRC (Internet Relay Chat) into the program format. In 1999, she left broadcasting for the academic world—but in 2018, she returned to host Now & Next from Canada Media Fund, a podcast about emerging trends in Canadian media.

You're in the third season of the show, how has it developed over the last couple years?

At the very beginning, we were more tech-focused; covering topics like blockchain, VR and AR. We've moved more towards emerging trends, like sustainability initiatives on set, or remote distributed game development during COVID-19. Those aren’t necessarily tech stories—they’re stories about how people are working differently.

What have you learned over the last three seasons of doing the show and interviewing guests?

I'm always learning. That's why I love doing it so much.

“It’s really important to go in with a plan, but to be open to things coming out of left field, and keep that space open in your brain to explore that.”

— Leora Kornfeld

In a previous lifetime, I used to do live radio at CBC. It's been twenty-ish years since I've done that. At that time I was really in good shape; sort of like if you run all the time, you're in good shape. I haven't done this kind of work in a long time. So it's just a really good reminder that when you think you have a handle on why people are doing things, you've got to keep that space open for your own assumptions and suppositions to be incorrect.

I was actually going to ask you about that next. You were in traditional broadcasting for many years at the CBC. Do you find a difference between podcasting and radio?

It's funny because a lot of people think, ‘Oh, it's just a radio show but it's on demand.’ And I mean, it's a really long philosophical discussion. I think you could probably spend your whole lifetime, you know, in that sort of Socrates and Plato way, where you could sit around with togas on and discuss the philosophical differences between radio and podcasting… [laughs] that's one way to spend your life!

But podcasting has the ability to create niches. With broadcasting, the whole system is predicated on mass audiences; you don't go into broadcasting to appeal to a small number of people—you aim for the middle of the target by default.

With podcasting, you're able to do the opposite. What we're doing with Now & Next works perfectly for podcasting because it speaks specifically to a community of writers, producers, directors, and game developers.

Sometimes people tell me, ‘I listened because I saw the link in your email signature. I didn't think I'd be interested, but I was!’ Which is in a way, a supreme compliment.

“There’s literally millions of podcasts out there that everybody is competing with. Podcasting allows you to define your success in a different way. It’s not only about getting the huge numbers...”

— Leora Kornfeld

What is the value of podcasting? And what does it bring to audiences?

It allows for a longer exploration of stories and issues and ideas that wouldn't fit into a mass media format. In broadcasting, they would end up as little thirty or sixty-second clips. In podcasting, we can get into depth. Broadcast media does a great job of reaching the most numbers of people. But they're not going to give twenty minutes to a story about COVID-19 compliance on film and TV sets. A podcast is perfect for that.

Now & Next is published in both English and French, why is it important that the show exists in both languages?

Canada is a bilingual country, but also, the CMF funds English and French language film, TV, and games. A lot of us from English Canada don't realize how huge those industries are in Quebec. Montreal is one of the largest video game development hubs in the world.

They also have specific cultural issues to deal with. Where else are they going to find a show that speaks specifically to the stories and the issues related to what they're doing? You're only going to get that in a podcast.

You’ve had a very interesting career trajectory; did you ever think you’d be a podcast host?

To be honest, no. I left broadcasting 20 years ago and I moved my career in an entirely different direction. I started doing some work with CMF as a columnist and researcher. They knew that I had a radio background and they said, '‘Do you want to give it a try?’

I mean, it's flattering to be asked. But there's a part of me that was like, ‘Oh, I don't know. I gave that up so long ago.’ But I said, let's just try this and see what happens.

I remember being out for dinner in Montreal with some of the people from the CMF who commissioned it. They asked me a similar question: ‘What's it like doing this after 20 years?’ I didn't really have to think about it that much—it's an honest answer—I have a lot less patience listening to my own bullshit.

Twenty years ago, the world was very different; we're talking about a pre-Wikipedia world. Google didn't even exist then. So when I say I have less patience for my own bullshit, I mean that I ask better questions and I listen more intently.

Do you miss the studio?

I live on a busy street and I’m dealing with neighbours' dogs, streetcars, and construction surrounding my building on all sides.

You do all your interview prep, your reading, your questions are sorted out, you’re ready to go. You put your microphone on your coffee table. And then you have industrial noise hell from construction.

It's like a nice little safe, secure cocoon in the studio. Boy, do I miss the studio!

This interview with Leora Kornfeld was conducted and condensed by Emily Latimer.

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Leora Kornfeld Looks Back on Her Career