Mr Toast, Peter Gzowski, and a CBS interview with Donna Williams
Once upon a time I was in Toronto, a place with icy ponds and mother of pearl rainbows sparkled in frost. I was taken to CBS radio station to meet with a journalist, Peter Gzowski. He was a toasty man, a voice like an open fire, a manner like a children’s pediatrician. He was rustic, real, and I called him a Gadoodleborger, my term for one who makes bridges between worlds and can be entrusted as a gatekeeper between them, a translator. Peter was dyslexic and did a lot of work helping those with Dyslexia. He was also the author of ten books, did around 27,000 interviews in his career, and touched the hearts and warmed the homes of Canadians for decades. He was the voice of Canada. Our interview was one he stated was one of the highlights of his career as a journalist. It had people stopping on the motorway to listen and a pile of letters 30 cm high arrived at my hotel room. People had never heard anything like it. Clearly Peter could tame cats, he could speak cat, and he enticed me to finish the interview in free fall, going right off the page and into a taped discussion. The interview has recently played again on CBC on 30th July. Here’s the link to the podcast.
Donna Williams
http://www.donnawilliams.net
http://www.aspinauts.com
Thank you for posting that! I grew up listening to Peter Gzowski, so it will be wonderful to listen to your interview. He is still sadly missed.
Like you touched Peter so deeply with your interview, I too felt the depth of your world and was amazed by it. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself and taking the risks to do so, You have given us all a gift with this insight.
I recently listened to that interview, done by CBC.
It had a profound impact on me.
At one point I started crying, deeply moved by
the cheer beauty and depth of Donna’s brilliant mind
and soul….. by the immense beauty of the Human
mind, which she reveals in such magic ways…
That interview is incredible, Donna. Peter’s toastiness and your quiet fizz made magic together. Thank you.
The link you have up here has now been updated, but you can still download the entire interview on Rewind’s “past episodes” page at http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/rewind/
Hi Donna,
Isn’t it interesting how much we all change. I have only heard you speak in more recent interviews.
It warmed my heart that you suggested back then that your story could help others know they were not alone. As Nobody Nowhere did for me.
And it’s great to be reminded that we are still not alone in our unusual ways of growing and being in the world.
Thanks, as always (and I must get in touch soon)
Paula 😉
Hi Donna:
I happened to hear your interview when it re-aired. When I heard it the first time I had just started teaching. Since then I have spent years with all kinds of kids, who are in this world in all kinds of ways, and I tried to be with them in ways that would help them love who they were and grow into everything that they could be. Part of what stayed with me on this journey was your voice and your words. I read your books and now I have discovered you again – in your blog and on your website – and your evolved self! Listening to your interview with Tony Atwood I was struck by how much you have grown. Wow! You are an inspriation. Thanks!
Carol
Thanks so much for the interview. I luckily caught it on radio here in Canada. I’ve found Somebody Somewhere, but haven’t got Nobody Nowhere yet. Hopefully I can find myself again. Thanks for all your experiences.
Thank you so much for sharing. Your ability to articulate your experience with such grace was a revelation. My father and I were one of the ones at the side of the road, both in tears. You touched us deeply and changed my life. It must have been fantastic to have met Peter, he was a genuine soul.