Talia Schlanger’s first love is music, and she’s chased that passion from the stage as a performer to the studio as a producer, to the microphone as a radio host, and now from Toronto to Philly. Talia joins the World Cafe team straight from CBC, Canada’s public broadcaster, where she hosted a triple A radio show on Saturday and Sunday mornings. She was the on-camera host for 2 seasons of the CBC television series CBC Music: Backstage Pass, which saw her interview some of Canada’s best and brightest artists. Talia also hosted several prime time music TV specials for CBC, including the Quietest Concert Ever: On Fundy's Ocean Floor featuring Serena Ryder, CBC Music SongCamp and the CBCMusic.ca Festival Special 2015. Talia served as the the interim host of CBC Radio 2's Canada Live and she was a regular guest host on CBC Radio One's flagship artist and culture show q. She also filled in on Canadian current affairs radio shows including As it Happens, Day 6 and Because News. Some of her favourite music interviews include St. Vincent, Tanya Tagaq, John Fogerty, Barenaked Ladies and Grimes. ​​
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Talia’s first project at CBC was as a producer for CBC Music Presents: The Beetle Roadtrip Sessions, a cross-country rock and roll road trip which won a Canadian Screen Award in 2014. She was also the digital producer for Hockey Night in Canada Song Quest, CBC Music's search for the next great hockey song. ​​
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Born and raised in Toronto, Talia Schlanger is a proud alumna of Ryerson's Radio and Television Arts program. She’s also a professional actress, singer and voice-over artist. Talia spent most of 2012 performing in the first national tour of Green Day's rock opera American Idiot at various theatres throughout the United States. Talia thought she would be really cool when she met Billie Joe Armstrong after he watched American Idiot. She was not cool at all. She has also performed on stage with Mirvish Productions' original Canadian company of We Will Rock You, as well as in the ensemble and understudying lead roles Scaramouche, Oz (Canon Theatre, 2007/2008), and in Mamma Mia (Royal Alexandra Theatre, 2003/2004). ​​
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You can find Talia on Twitter and Instagram @TaliaSchlanger