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How Junie B. Jones inspired Taylor Tomlinson’s comedy career

October 3, 2026 · 27 min

Show notes

With four Netflix specials and a late-night show to her name, Taylor Tomlinson has comedy figured out. But something she had never done before, was write a book. The comedian just released an essay collection called Actually, Nevermind, all about how people are allowed to change their minds. In the book, she lets us into her brain, discussing everything from love to religion, personal stories and mental health. She takes us back to a time when she thought she was destined to be a writer, and when Junie B. Jones taught her to be funny. A lifelong reader, she joins The Next Chapter to talk about her favourite books and what it meant to write her own.


Books discussed on this week's show include:

The Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

Bossypants by Tina Fey


Liked this conversation? Keep listening:

The books that made Andrew Phung fall in love with storytelling

What books drew Brendan Fraser to storytelling?


Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

All episodes of The Next Chapter with Antonio Michael Downing

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