CIUT Howl is a weekly Tuesday night radio show airing on CIUT 89.5 FM from 10:00 to 11:00 PM ET. Hosted by Valentino Assenza, the show features interviews, readings and music of authors, poets, scriptwriters, playwrights and songwriters, including local writers and literary icons.
On the last Tuesday of every month, they host an on-air poetry open mic, featuring previously self-recorded pieces submitted by poets/spoken word artists of all experience levels. For more information on the open mic, as well as submission guidelines, see the CIUT Howl Open Mic event listing.
About Valentino Assenza
Based in the Niagara region, Valentino Assenza has been a published poet and performing spoken word artist for over two decades. During that time, he’s released four chapbooks and performed all over Canada and the U.S., including as a member of the Toronto Poetry Slam Team (slam is a competitive poetry event, performed in front of a live audience and a panel of judges).
He’s been a co-host and co-producer of Howl on CIUT 89.5 FM since 2015, where he’s interviewed such notables as George Elliott Clarke, Anne Michaels, Denise Donlon, Ron Sexsmith and Margaret Atwood, among others. In 2019, he released Through Painted Eyes, his first full-length collection of poetry, published by Piquant Press.
About CIUT 89.5 FM
CIUT 89.5 FM is a non-profit, University of Toronto-based campus and community radio station. In operation since 1987, and under the leadership of industry professionals, its staff of creative and engaged volunteers creates music, news, political commentary, business insights and arts & culture programming that reflects the rich, dynamic and diverse city it calls home.
On air 24/7 all year round, CIUT embraces inclusion and socially relevant content, producing culturally rich and current programming that both fascinates and challenges as it entertains and educates. They also provide technical and professional training and mentorship in radio broadcasting and podcasting for student and community volunteers.
From dynamic and eclectic morning shows, multicultural to mainstream music, to edgy political commentary, business insight programming and straight up wonky and wonderful radio you simply won’t hear anywhere else, CIUT is a true original in a sea of sameness. – CIUT 89.5 FM
(Photo credits: CIUT 89.5 FM)
What we like about this radio show
An insightful and affable host, and a writer himself, we love listening to Valentino Assenza’s intimate, candid and often lively chats with writers from various disciplines – and getting to hear the guests read or play their music (sometimes a combination of both!). It’s especially cool that the show includes a range of writing talent, from emerging and local writers, to national and international literary icons. Listening to the interviews makes you feel like you’re in the room with Valentino and his guest.
We applaud CIUT Howl for offering an opportunity for poets and spoken word performers of all experience levels to submit their pieces to Howl’s monthly Open Mic feature. You never know what amazing new writers and books you may discover while listening to the show – and if you decide to submit to the Open Mic, you may even get to hear your own poem on the air. (Written by C.M.)
Ideas for where you can go from here:
- Listen to CIUT Howl. If you missed a broadcast episode, you can catch up with their archival recordings.
- Shop CIUT 89.5 FM merch. We especially like the t-shirt.
- Interested in volunteering at CIUT 89.5 FM? Check out their online volunteer form.
- Consider making a donation to CIUT 89.5 FM and help keep indie, alternative cultural programming alive.
- Consider submitting your poetry/spoken word recording to CIUT Howl Open Mic. See submission guidelines here.
We love radio programs about literature and books because they inspire you to get to know writers you may have never heard of. Getting to know writers you’ve never heard of allows you to expand your love and experience of reading. Expanding your love and experience of reading is part of the flourishing offline life Young W helps you discover: by exploring READING and the other 8 pillars of Arts & Letters, including those you may be hesitant to try.
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