Tea. Toast. & Trivia.

S8 E12: Entering Gothic Horror with Catherine CavendishWhy do we willingly enter the dark?In this episode of Tea, Toast & Trivia, I am brewing a cup of Lapsang Souchong. Its dark, smoky flavour becomes our doorway into the world of Gothic horror.We travel back to Horace Walpole and the beginnings of the Gothic novel before considering how Frankenstein and Dracula helped shape an enduring literary tradition.Catherine Cavendish was the person who encouraged me to enter this world. Her novel, Ghosts of Chanterlands, carries the Gothic tradition into our own time. Through excerpts from our earlier podcast, we hear Cat’s own voice lead us into Chanterlands, where everything appears ordinary—until the house begins to remember.Gothic horror is about far more than frightening us. It asks what happens when the past refuses to remain buried. It allows us to approach the darkness from the safety of a story and perhaps recognize something of ourselves within it.Put the kettle on and join Cat and me as we step across

S8 E11: Jam First, Then Cream: What a Cream Tea Taught Me About Memory I was sitting in Port Isaac with a warm scone in front of me when I discovered that I might be about to commit a Cornish offense. There was jam. There was thick cream. There was tea. And somewhere nearby, a newspaper headline was warning of a cream tea “blunder” serious enough to inspire calls for a boycott.Suddenly, the order of things mattered.In Season 8, Episode 11 of Tea, Toast & Trivia, I return to that afternoon in Cornwall and to the wonderfully spirited question of whether jam or cream should come first. What begins as a local disagreement over a scone soon opens into something much larger: a reflection on cultural memory, belonging, and the ordinary customs that quietly connect one generation with another.Perhaps some of our deepest inheritances are carried not in monuments or history books, but in kitchens, recipes, familiar rituals and the way we prepare a scone.So pour yourself a cup of tea, find a scone if you can, and co

S8 E10: “The Grand Adventure” by D Wallace PeachWelcome to Tea Toast & Trivia.Thank you for listening in.I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I look forward to sharing this moment with you.There is a quiet magic in short stories. Within just a few pages, an entire world unfolds, fleeting, yet unforgettable. Short stories ask us to pause and listen closely. They remind us that even brief encounters can hold the full weight of a life. In their condensed form, they carry the pulse of human experience. Love, loss, wonder, and revelation are distilled into something both fragile and enduring.Today’s reading, “The Grand Adventure” by D. Wallace Peach, set in the late 1800's, embodies that rare gift. It is a journey of discovery and transformation, told with poetic precision and heartfelt insight. Diana captures how every threshold, real or imagined, invites us to step beyond comfort, into the grand adventure of becoming.This story is especially meaningful to me, as my mother, Frances, recently turned ninety-fo

S8 E9: Catherine Cavendish Reads Ghosts of ChanterlandsWelcome to Tea Toast and Trivia. Thank you for listening in!Author Catherine Cavendish joins Tea, Toast & Trivia to read the opening chapter of her haunting new Gothic novel, Ghosts of Chanterlands.Known for her atmospheric stories of haunted places, hidden secrets, and supernatural suspense, Catherine invites listeners into a world where old houses remember, history refuses to remain buried, and the past is never truly gone.Pour yourself a cup of tea and enjoy this special author reading, presented in Catherine’s own voice.Rebecca

S8 E8: The Comfort of English Breakfast TeaWelcome to Tea, Toast & Trivia. I’m your host, Rebecca Budd.Today, we begin with one of life’s simplest pleasures — a cup of English Breakfast tea and a slice of buttered toast with cinnamon and sugar.In this episode, we explore the history behind this beloved tea, trace the origins of breakfast through the centuries, and reflect on how small morning rituals can carry comfort, memory, and meaning.So put the kettle on, settle in, and join me for a thoughtful pause before the day begins.Rebecca

S8 E7: Writing the Edges: A Conversation with Alex GunnWelcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia.I’m your host, Rebecca Budd, and I look forward to sharing this moment with you.Today I’m delighted to welcome Scottish writer Alex Gunn, author of Soft As Nails. In this thoughtful conversation, we step beyond the pages of the novel and explore the writer behind the work.Together, we discuss Alex’s creative beginnings, the Scotland that shaped him, the importance of friendship and mentorship, and the courage it takes to find one’s own voice.So put the kettle on, settle in, and join us for a warm and engaging conversation with Alex Gunn.

S8 E6: The Happy Tea and the Tower Nobody WantedWelcome to Tea, Toast & Trivia.Today, I’m pouring a cup of The Happy Tea as we revisit one of history’s most surprising reversals of opinion—the story of the Eiffel Tower, once mocked, resisted, and nearly dismantled before becoming one of the most beloved landmarks in the world.What can this famous tower teach us about patience, beauty, and the slow work of acceptance?Settle in, pour yourself something warm, and join me for a quiet reflection on first impressions, endurance, and the joy of what remains.Rebecca

S8 E4: Wryson’s Eternity by Shehanne MooreIn this special episode of Tea, Toast & Trivia, I reflect on the work of Scottish author Shehanne Moore, with a focus on her latest novel, Wryson’s Eternity.After a technical mishap prevented our original interview from being shared, I chose another path: a personal reflection on Shey’s storytelling gift. Her characters are flawed, wounded, passionate, and real. They face danger, risk love, and search for healing in worlds filled with adventure, hope, and redemption.Pour yourself a cup of tea and join me for a thoughtful journey into memory, love, and the stories that stay with us.Music by Epidemic Sound”A Life of Devotion” by David Celeste“The Fellowship” by Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen

S8 E3: Graciela Gonçalves Da Silva on Sharing Silences“I learned to share silences, paying attention to things that I did not understand, and there was no chance to ask, but just being there was enough to enjoy it. This was deeper than any words I wished to use. Life was suddenly filled with humble adventures.” Graciela Gonçalves Da SilvaWhen Graciela first shared this reflection with me during our 2023 conversation on Tea, Toast & Trivia, I sensed that she was speaking from a place beyond explanation. Not offering conclusions. Not trying to persuade. Simply describing what happens when we learn to stay present long enough for meaning to emerge on its own.She is an Argentine artist now based in Los Angeles, with murals and public works spanning cities across the world. Her characters, colours, and stories live not only on walls, but in the daily rhythms of the communities that encounter them. Whether in bustling urban centres or quieter neighbourhoods, her work invites pause, recognition, and gentle curio

A Conversation with EglundWelcome to Tea, Toast & Trivia.I’m Rebecca Budd, and I’m so glad you’re here. I look forward to sharing this moment with you.Today’s conversation marks the beginning of a new journey for us. One that reaches across generations, languages, and lived experience. We are beginning a series titled Faust: Unravelling the Great Enigma, and I can think of no better person to open this exploration with than our guest, Eglund, joining us from Germany.For Eglund, Faust is not simply a great literary work encountered later in life. It is part of the cultural air he grew up breathing. Like every German schoolchild, he learned Faust in school. He recited passages in class. He absorbed its presence long before he could fully grasp its depth.But Faust did not remain a school text for him.The copy Eglund owns today once belonged to his mother, a quiet, tangible inheritance. And it was only years later, as an adult, that he truly understood what Faust was asking of him. Not as an examination subje

S8 E2: Dave Astor On Books Keep Us CenteredIn a world that moves quickly, speaks loudly, and rarely pauses for reflection, books continue to offer something quietly radical: steadiness. They slow us down. They ask us to listen. They remind us that complexity has always existed and that human beings have long turned to stories, ideas, and language to make sense of it all.Today on Tea, Toast & Trivia, I’m delighted to welcome back Dave Astor for a thoughtful conversation about how books help keep us centred in uncertain times. This is not a discussion about reading lists or literary trends, but about reading as companionship, as a way of orienting ourselves when the world feels fragmented, overwhelming, or simply too fast.Together, we explore why books still matter, how reading creates inner stillness, and what happens when we give ourselves permission to step away from the noise and return to the page. It’s a conversation about humour, empathy, attention, and the deep human need for stories that help us li

S8: E1: Turning the Page: Welcoming 2026 with Tea, Toast & TriviaThere is something quietly ceremonial about the first episode of a new year. It feels less like a launch and more like opening a door, pausing on the threshold before stepping forward.As 2026 begins, I wanted to start Tea, Toast & Trivia not with urgency or prediction, but with reflection. This opening episode, “Turning the Page: A New Beginning for 2026,” is an invitation to slow down and consider where we’ve been, what we carry with us, and how we choose to move forward.Each of us lives a story that is constantly unfolding. Some chapters are marked by celebration, others by transition, loss, or quiet reorientation. Over the past year, I’ve experienced those shifts firsthand, moments that reminded me that while we cannot return to earlier pages, we can carry their wisdom into what comes next.This episode reflects on that truth. It is shaped by memory, by gratitude, and by a deep belief in what Meister Eckhart called “the magic of beginn

S7 E11: Christmas Tea with Jane AustinUnwrapping the GiftsThere is something timeless about sharing tea at Christmas. It is a ritual of warmth and conversation. This year, I invite you to join me for A Christmas Tea with Jane Austen, a special Tea, Toast & Trivia episode that celebrates the enduring gifts Jane left to us: wit, companionship, and resilience.My own journey with Jane began in Bath, where her world comes alive in the graceful curves of the Crescent and the lively spirit of the Assembly Rooms. It found its quiet conclusion in Winchester Cathedral, where she rests beneath a simple stone that belies her extraordinary legacy. Between those two places, Bath’s laughter and Winchester’s peace, I began to understand how deeply Jane’s voice continues to echo across time.In this Christmas reflection, I explore how Jane’s humour sparkles like gold, how her characters offer companionship like frankincense, and how her courage shines through life’s trials like myrrh. Together, these three gifts remind us

S7 E10: The Night Before ChristmasWelcome to Tea Toast & Trivia. Thank you for listening in to a Christmas Eve reflection on the poem that changed how we see Christmas.Christmas Eve brings us once more to words that have shaped the wonder of generations. Tonight, we return to Clement Clarke Moore’s beloved poem, a story that reminds us that imagination, generosity, and joy are timeless companions.Clement Clarke Moore, born July 15, 1799, was a writer and American Professor of Oriental and Greek Literature, Divinity and Biblical Learning at the General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church in New York City. Clement Moore had strong ties to the seminary, for it was his generosity that led him to donate land — his private apple orchard — upon which the seminary was built. The Seminary remains on that same parcel of land, located at Ninth Avenue between 20th and 21st Streets, in an area known as Chelsea Square.Clement Moore accomplished a great deal in his lifetime. He was a writer and a poe

S 7 E9: Yvonne Thevenot on Mentorship in a Changing WorldIn 2021, I had the privilege of sharing a conversation with my friend and business strategist, Yvonne Thevenot about mentorship in a changing global world. At that time, we were navigating the uncertainties of a pandemic, learning how to work, connect, and find meaning within new digital and emotional landscapes.When I listened again to our conversation a few weeks ago, I realized that this discussion is even more relevant today. We continue to live through an era of profound transition, one that asks not only for adaptability but for empathy, courage, and shared wisdom. Mentorship remains one of the most essential ways we grow together. It is a bridge between experience and aspiration, between what we know and what we are still becoming.Yvonne embodies the art of mentorship. A certified change expert and business transformation specialist, she approaches every challenge with humanity and insight. Her work is client-focused and people-centric, grounded

The Power of the Word – A Conversation with Mary Jo MaloWelcome to Tea, Toast & Trivia!Today, I am returning to one of the most memorable conversations ever shared on this podcast—an intimate and profound exchange with poet, Mary Jo Malo.Though Mary Jo has stepped away from blogging, her words continue to move through the world like quiet currents – clear, enduring, and deeply felt. She reminds us that poetry is not only read, it is spoken, embodied, and lived. Her belief in reading poetry aloud resonates deeply with my own journey as a reader and listener.In this episode, Mary Jo shares her creative process, her poetic beginnings, and the enduring power of language to wound, to heal, and to carry us across time. To honour her voice, I have chosen to republish our conversation. Because some words, like hers, are meant to be heard again and again.A word has powerWhether mined bydemagoguesfor controlor carved into stonefor memorial…destroy the wordYou stealtime.— Mary Jo Malo, SteleI invite you to listen wi

S 7 E7: Dr. Rick Nason on It’s Not ComplicatedWelcome to Tea, Toast & Trivia. Thank you for joining the conversation.Today, we’re connecting Vancouver to Halifax, bridging the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of Canada in a dialogue that explores the art of thinking differently.m delighted to welcome Dr. Rick Nason, professor at Dalhousie University and author of the thought-provoking book It’s Not Complicated: The Art and Science of Complexity in Business. In this compelling work, Dr. Nason challenges conventional thinking and invites readers into the world of “complexity thinking”—a dynamic, human-centred approach that helps us navigate uncertainty, unpredictability, and the tangled systems that shape our lives and work."It’s not complicated—it’s complex. And that changes everything.”  From our conversation with Dr. Rick NasonThe first time I met Rick, he offered a piece of advice that stayed with me: “Embrace the emergence.” It was a moment that made complexity feel not just theoretical, but deeply per

S7 E6: Exploring Jacobite Memoirs with Dr. Leith DavisWelcome to Tea Toast & Trivia.  Thank you for listening in. I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I look forward to sharing this moment with you.I am thrilled that I am meeting up with Dr. Leith Davis, Professor of English at Simon Fraser University. She is a co-founder of the Department of English’s Master of Arts program with Specialization in Print Culture.  Leith the Director of Simon Fraser University’s Centre for Scottish Studies.Leith is a collector of stories – stories that have been kept safe in the folds of history waiting to be heard. Today, she shares her thoughts on the Jacobite Memoirs of The Rebellion of 1745 from the manuscripts of the Late Right Rev. Robert Forbes, A.M. Bishop of the Scottish Episcopal Church, The Lyon In Mourning.This promises to be an extraordinary discussion. So, put the kettle on and add to your thoughts on Tea Toast & TriviaThank you for joining Leith and me on Tea Toast & Trivia. And a special thank you to Le

S7 E5: Bruce Arthurs on Storytelling Through ArtWelcome to Tea Toast and Trivia.Thank you for listening in!I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I look forward to sharing this moment with you.Today, I have the pleasure of speaking with my friend Bruce Arthurs, an extraordinary and innovative artist who has made a remarkable return to the world of creativity after spending over three decades away from his craft. Bruce’s first career led him to the executive levels of financial services, where he honed a keen analytical mind and a strategic approach to problem-solving.  I believe that this experience provided him with a unique perspective on the business of art. His journey back to art has been fueled by a passion for storytelling and a desire to capture the essence of his diverse travel experiences. His artwork is a vibrant representation of the cultures and mythologies he has encountered along the way.Bruce infuses his work with a unique vibrancy that speaks to the heart of human experience. His action figures ar

S7 E4:  Catherine Cavendish Reading “The Stones of Landane”Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia. Thank you for listening in. I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I look forward to sharing this moment with you.Bookstores, libraries, and coffee shops are great places for book readings. There is something extraordinary about hearing the voice of an author reading their stories. Their voice and intonation are nuanced by the many hours of effort putting pen to paper.  They created the characters, structured the plot, and lived every twist and turn that creates bumps in the storyline.  Public libraries and bookstores have expanded their reach into a global community. Book readings have gone virtual.  We are learning to embrace technology in new ways.  Welcome to the podcast series, “Authors Reading their Books”, which brings authors and their books from across the world to your home.  I invite you to put the kettle on and join the conversation on Tea Toast & Trivia. I am delighted that Catherine Cavendish has gracious