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Q with Tom Power

Author: CBC

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Five days a week, Tom Power brings you candid conversations with the artists shaping our culture. Whether he’s chatting with A-listers or rising stars, his disarming warmth and meticulous research always gets below the surface, bringing us deeper into the art and lives of today's most compelling musicians, writers, actors and filmmakers.


As a Canadian institution, Q has attracted the biggest names in the world. But it's never been about the fame. It's always been about the art.


Since becoming the host of Q in October 2016, listeners have come to know Tom for his in-depth interviewing style (asking founding Wu-Tang Clan member RZA what was inside his teenage notebooks), his mischievous sense of humour (jokingly chiding actor Catherine O'Hara for her parenting skills in Home Alone), and his genuine enthusiasm and fearlessness (singing a duet with Mavis Staples).


You’re just as likely to hear from celebrities and cultural icons as you are to hear from emerging artists at the beginning of their career. Tom gives each and every artist the space to tell their story in their own words. He also has a track record for interviewing artists on the precipice of stardom, like Lizzo, Billie Eilish and Daniel Caesar, who appeared on Q well before they hit the mainstream.


On Q, we cover arts and culture in all its forms, including music, movies, film, TV, comedy, painting, photography, theatre, cinema, Broadway, fashion, dance, opera, documentaries, books, fiction and memoirs.


Look to our archives to hear some of Tom’s award-winning artist interviews, including his moving and insightful conversation with the Canadian actor Michael J. Fox, which was awarded the prestigious gold medal for best interview at the 2021 New York Festivals Radio Awards.


In 2022, Tom spoke with Friends star Matthew Perry in front of a live audience. Their warm and frank conversation about the actor's struggles with substance abuse struck a chord, leading to millions views on TikTok and Instagram, while also being picked up by news outlets internationally, including Vanity Fair and CNN.


Tom’s impactful discussions with top talent have included Adele, Bono, Chappell Roan, Pamela Anderson, Cate Blanchett, Dua Lipa, Cher, Denzel Washington, Mick Jagger, Florence Pugh, Francis Ford Coppola, Kristen Stewart, Emma Stone, Jim Carrey, Billy Porter, Tom Hanks, Jerry Seinfeld, Tyler Perry, Alicia Keys, Alan Moore, Bruce Springsteen, Dolly Parton, Barbra Streisand, Darren Aronofsky, Harry Styles, Simu Liu, Sean Penn, Sandra Bullock, Michaela Coel, Ryan Reynolds, Katy Perry, Neil Young, Shakira, George Clooney, Ava DuVernay, Omar Apollo, Trixie Mattel, Orville Peck, Big Sean, Anil Kapoor, Jane Fonda, Robert DeNiro, Antonio Banderas, Elton John, Celine Dion, Kerry Washington, Chuck D, Steven Soderbergh, Mikey Madison, Cillian Murphy, Sean Baker, Steve McQueen, Paris Hilton, Taylor Tomlinson, Gwen Stefani, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Kylie Minogue, Stanley Tucci, Rufus Wainwright, Caroline Polachek, Hans Zimmer, Denis Villeneuve, Alex Garland, Alan Ritchson, Britt Lower, Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, David Blaine, Brian Tyree Henry, Perfume Genius, Deepa Mehta, Tracy Chapman, Chloë Sevigny, Josh Hartnett and many more.

1130 Episodes
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Lifelong best friends and creative partners Jay McCarrol and Matt Johnson began their careers making the viral web series-turned-TV show Nirvanna the Band the Show. Now, they’ve adapted that project into a feature film, fittingly titled Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie. During the Toronto International Film Festival back in September, Jay and Matt sat down with Tom Power to discuss the film, their friendship, the perils of fame and how they convincingly staged a wild stunt to jump off the CN Tower and parachute into the SkyDome.
Veteran actor Joan Chen (The Last Emperor, Twin Peaks) has entered a new phase of her career, earning acclaim for her recent performances in the drama Dìdi and the comedy The Wedding Banquet. In her latest film, Montréal, ma belle, she plays an immigrant woman who represses her sexuality for the sake of her husband and children. Joan joins guest host Garvia Bailey to tell us what drew her to the role, what it was like being “discovered” during the Chinese Cultural Revolution, and how she feels about media outlets declaring a “Joan Chen renaissance.”
Wally Baram isn’t afraid to overshare. That’s how she carved out a successful career in stand-up comedy, TV writing (What We Do in the Shadows, Shrinking), and acting (Overcompensating) all before turning 30. Now, she’s back on the road doing stand-up with a stop at Just For Laughs Vancouver. Wally joins guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about her early days as a stand-up comedian, what it was like being raised by eccentric parents in a Mexican-Syrian household, and what really goes on in a Hollywood writers’ room.
This week, Canadian R&B musician Aquakultre (a.k.a. Lance Sampson) releases his new album, 1783. The title refers to a pivotal year for Afro-Nova Scotians: after the American War of Independence ended, thousands of Black Loyalists arrived in Nova Scotia seeking new homes. Lance traces his own family lineage back to those early settlers. He joins guest host Garvia Bailey to discuss the stories behind the record — and how that history continues to reverberate today.
About a decade ago, Canadian musician Teagan Johnston was just getting her start in Toronto’s music scene. As her career began to gain momentum and her circle of musician friends grew, she found herself wrestling with some unexpected emotions. She was thrilled to see her peers succeed, but she also started to wonder whether she truly belonged, and if it would ever be her turn. Those conflicting feelings became the inspiration for her latest single, Neon Schoolgirl. Teagan joins guest host Garvia Bailey in the Q studio to tell us how writing the song helped her confront and overcome her imposter syndrome.
After more than 30 years on screen, Katherine LaNasa is finally having a breakout moment with her Emmy-winning role on The Pitt. But the road wasn't easy. As she was preparing to take on the hit medical drama, she was also undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Katherine sits down with guest host Garvia Bailey in the Q studio to talk about that health scare, her hard-fought early years as an actor, and what it means to reach a new level of recognition at this stage of her career.
On his new album Pray for Me, Toronto-based R&B singer RAAHiiM straddles the line between his religious upbringing and a musical style that feels true to who he is. He talks to guest host Garvia Bailey about the breakout year he’s had since being named Apple Music Canada’s Up Next Artist, and how he honours both his family roots and his creative identity through his music.
Last year, a movie called My Father’s Shadow made history when it became the first Nigerian film to be officially selected for the Cannes Film Festival. Set over the course of a single day in Lagos in 1993 (a day that happens to be one of the most catastrophic in Nigerian history), the film follows two young boys who join their father on a trip to the city so he can collect his paycheck. The story is semi-autobiographical, based on director Akinola Davies Jr.’s own family experiences. During the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, Akinola sat down with Tom Power to talk about memory, Nigeria’s lesser known history, and the stuff you learn about your parents after they're gone.
Thirty years ago, a modest Canadian documentary called Project Grizzly turned into an unlikely cult classic, winning over high-profile admirers such as Quentin Tarantino. Directed by Peter Lynch, the film follows Troy Hurtubise — an unconventional metalworker and amateur inventor who survived a near-fatal grizzly bear attack as a young man. Determined to face a grizzly again, Troy sets out to build a bear-proof suit of armour from a mix of scrap metal, rubber, hockey equipment and duct tape. But what Peter ultimately captures on film is something more complicated: a portrait of a man whose bold dream slowly becomes an all-consuming obsession. Three decades later, Peter sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger in the Q studio to look back on the film and its enduring legacy.
Award-winning actor Tantoo Cardinal (Dances with Wolves, Killers of the Flower Moon) is returning to the stage in a new theatre production called Witch. It follows a woman named Elizabeth who’s ostracized by her community after being branded a witch. But when the devil comes to town looking for souls, it’s Elizabeth who refuses to be bought while others give in right away. Tantoo sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the play, its theme of resilience, and the connection she feels to her character.
The 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympic Games start today and Canadian figure skater Elladj Baldé is representing Canada in a new way — as a special contributor on CBC. Elladj started skating at age six and, like many budding athletes, grew up dreaming of Olympic glory. But as a young Black man, he didn’t always see himself reflected in the world of figure skating, and that started to impact how he felt about the sport and even himself. In this conversation with guest host Garvia Bailey, Elladj talks about the crushing disappointment he experienced after he narrowly missed qualifying for the Sochi Olympics, how a trip to Guinea, West Africa changed his relationship with skating, and how he found a new sense of purpose on the ice.
For years, Tanya Tagaq has dazzled the Canadian music scene with a blend of sounds that span throat singing, trip-hop, dance, rock and classical music. But back in 2018, she surprised us with a different type of project: a novel called Split Tooth. Now, Tanya is reimagining parts of that novel in a new stage show called Split Tooth: Saputjiji. Not only that, she’s mashing it up with a new album set to be released in March. Ahead of the world premiere of Split Tooth: Saputjiji in Vancouver, Tanya joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the production, and what she gets from being on stage and performing. 
Marina Zenovich is a two-time Emmy Award-winning documentarian who’s built a career taking on some of pop culture’s most complex and controversial figures. From Roman Polanski to Lance Armstrong to Robin Williams to Richard Pryor, her specialty is getting past tricky, evasive subjects to uncover something real. Marina joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about her latest CNN documentary, I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not, and how she cuts through celebrity myth to find the human underneath. 
In a very short amount of time, Bruce Liu has gone from playing piano just for the joy of it, to winning an international competition and becoming one of Canada’s most acclaimed pianists. He has a unique way of putting music into words, describing classical pieces as if they were desserts. Ahead of concert dates in Toronto, Bruce sits down with guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about his career in music and how he stays grounded. Plus, he tells us which Mozart piece is like a mille-feuille and why.
Last month, one of this country’s greatest sculptors, David Ruben Piqtoukun, died at age 76. For the renowned Inuvialuk artist from Paulatuk, N.W.T., sculpting was a form of storytelling — a way of sharing stories from his community, as well as making sense of his own story as a residential school survivor. In 2022, he won the Governor General's Award in visual and media arts, and the following year, he joined Tom Power to reflect on his 50-year career. Today, we’re revisiting that conversation in his memory.
For nearly 60 years, the Canadian singer, composer and transgender activist Beverly Glenn-Copeland has been on a journey of music, art, community and spirituality. From his iconic work on the CBC Television show Mr. Dressup to his seminal 1986 synth-folk album Keyboard Fantasies, Glenn is now regarded as a Canadian icon — and his wife and creative collaborator, Elizabeth, has been there for much of his journey. Now, Glenn is releasing a new album called Laughter In Summer. Glenn and Elizabeth sit down with guest host Talia Schlanger in the Q studio to talk about creativity and spirituality, Glenn’s 2023 diagnosis of major cognitive disorder, and why they see this new album as a love letter to one another.
Today, we’re remembering Canadian comedy legend Catherine O’Hara, who died last week at 71. Over the years, we’ve been fortunate to have had her on the show many times. First, you’ll hear guest host Talia Schlanger’s 2024 interview with Catherine, when the long-awaited sequel to Beetlejuice came out. Then, you’ll hear Tom Power’s 2016 conversation with the Schitt’s Creek star about how coming from a big family helped shape her comedy.
As a founding member of the legendary sketch comedy troupe The Kids in the Hall, Bruce McCulloch is widely considered to be one of this country’s most celebrated comedic performers. Though his career has evolved over the years to working more behind the camera as a director, he’s currently preparing to take the stage once again with a new one-man theatre show. It’s called Dark Purple Slice and it uses music, stand-up and storytelling to journey into the darker side of life. Ahead of the show, Bruce drops by the Q studio to tell guest host Talia Schlanger where the title came from, why it’s important to laugh about the darkness, and why he says dark humour is the most human thing you can embrace.
Phoenix and Mercedes Arn-Horn are the twin siblings behind the Juno-nominated shoegaze duo Softcult. While Softcult has been celebrated all over North America, opening for bands like Muse and Incubus, they’re only just releasing their debut album today. It’s called When A Flower Doesn't Grow and it’s a record that’s been years in the making. Phoenix and Mercedes join guest host Talia Schlanger to discuss life outside the major label model, why they decided to call out the abuse they faced in their life and in the music industry, and how they see their role in supporting abused and marginalized people.
James Acaster is one of Britain’s top comedy exports right now. But for many years, he had a problem that just wouldn’t go away — his audience. James would get so frustrated and enraged by some of the people who came to see him, he almost quit comedy (plot spoiler: he didn’t). In the middle of his North American tour, James drops by our studio to tell guest host Talia Schlanger why he used to get so angry with his audience, and the journey he took when he realised maybe they weren’t the problem.
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Comments (14)

Scott wachter

cancon be damned, never talk about Drake.

Mar 13th
Reply

Imperfectionist Podcast

ICON and fantastic human

Dec 12th
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Scott wachter

literally the plot of Slings and Arrows.

Jun 9th
Reply

Pattie Shirley

Prepare to meet your favourite performers. q has music, TV, movies, art, theatre, and comedy. Expect surprising insights. Q personalises arts and entertainment. https://wordle-unlimited.io

Aug 8th
Reply

Donna Lockey

I could listen to them talk for hours, but would occasionally love to add a story of my own to just see where they would go with it. Creativeness is always a collaboration - inspiration type thing which is so apparent between these two wonderful musicians! Glad you had a good time with the interview. I suspect you always have a good time, Tom. work is work, but loving your work!

Dec 16th
Reply

Gilgamesh

Research fail Q. Bojack Horsemans final season dropped months before Covid hit.

Jul 15th
Reply

Gilgamesh

Soft ball interview that doesn't call Bonnell out for her blatant racism nor does it call her out for using that racism as a marketing strategy.

Feb 21st
Reply

Shannon Thorpe

q

Nov 29th
Reply

Shannon Thorpe

q

Nov 29th
Reply

Estelle Hopper

I just got a second notification about this shite.! Thus achieving a "will never be listened to" status!

Oct 31st
Reply

Estelle Hopper

I love Castbox, but this new thing with the unwanted notifications about random rubbish of no interest to me, is a step too far...... Oh and Creepy AF too!

Oct 31st
Reply

Louis VXI

OK look I'll be honest I know why, but please stop activating suggested content every time I switch the fucker off

Oct 31st
Reply

Louis VXI

Why the fuck did Castbox notify me about this?

Oct 31st
Reply

Nicola Brown McLachlan

love this podcast. I'm living in Idaho and so miss my hometown of Toronto. thanks Tom fory daily dose of Canadiana!

Feb 19th
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