Q with Tom Power

It's not uncommon for big musical artists to take a break in between albums, but it is uncommon for them to use that break to go to Harvard Divinity School. That's exactly what Maggie Rogers did a few years ago at the height of her success. She sits down with Tom Power to talk about that decision, how she applied her theological studies to her work as a singer-songwriter, and how trusting her instincts and prioritizing fun on her latest album, “Don’t Forget Me,” changed her approach to songwriting.

As one of Bono and Ali Hewson’s four children, Eve Hewson (The Perfect Couple, Flora and Son, The Knick) might be as close to Irish royalty as you can get. But she’s also managed to carve out her own path in acting. While she has a few high-profile Hollywood films in the works, it’s the Irish stories, like the Emmy-nominated black comedy series “Bad Sisters,” that she holds closest to her heart. Eve talks to Tom Power about where that Irish pride comes from and what drew her to her latest role in “Bad Sisters,” which is back for Season 2.

Samuel D. Hunter is the award-winning playwright and screenwriter behind “The Whale.” His latest play, “A Case for the Existence of God,” is about an unlikely friendship between two men who have one thing in common: they’re single fathers of young daughters. Samuel was inspired to write the play after he adopted his own daughter and realized that as a parent he no longer had "the luxury of being cynical.” He joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the play, and why he puts so much of himself in his work.

The Canadian singer-songwriter and musician Logan Staats has had one heck of a month. He performed alongside Eric Clapton, Taj Mahal and Allison Russell at a Robbie Robertson tribute concert in Los Angeles, and then he took part in the inaugural Reverie Indigenous Music Residency presented by CBC and the SOCAN Foundation. Ahead of a special performance at Massey Hall in Toronto, Logan sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger to tell the story behind his new song “Deadman” off his latest record.

Mike Burkett, also known as Fat Mike, is the lead singer and bassist of NOFX, which is not only one of the most influential and successful punk bands of all time, but also one of the longest-serving. They’ve been together for 41 years, but just last month, it all came to an end when they wrapped up the last few shows on their final tour. In this chat with guest host Talia Schlanger, Mike opens up about how it feels to say goodbye, what he regrets, and what he calls his “desperate need for validation.”

Anna Marie Tendler is a multidisciplinary artist known for her evocative self-portraits that explore grief and isolation. In 2021, following her high-profile divorce with comedian John Mulaney, Anna checked herself into a psychiatric facility, seeking treatment for self-harm and suicidal ideation. She details that experience in her new memoir, “Men Have Called Her Crazy,” which is her reintroduction to the world as an artist on her own terms. Anna joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about her mental health journey, how photography kept her grounded and why she chose to leave her ex-husband out of the book.

Before he started working on his new album, the rapper Tristan Grant (also known as Wolf Castle) suffered a concussion following a skateboarding accident. The long recovery process got him thinking about his life and the man he wants to be. Tristan sits down with Tom Power to talk about that personal growth journey and how it impacted his latest record, “Waiting for the Dawn.”

What’s our individual responsibility when we see atrocities happening in our world? That question is the central premise of the new film “Small Things Like These,” which sheds light on Ireland’s infamous Magdalene laundries. Set in a small Irish town in 1985, the film stars Cillian Murphy as Bill Furlong, a coal merchant and father of five girls who discovers that the local convent in his community is forcing the young women in their care to live under inhumane conditions. Cillian joins Tom Power to talk about the film, why he didn't want to portray his character as a hero, and what life has been like for him after winning an Oscar for “Oppenheimer” earlier this year.

Before making her name as a singer-songwriter, Jennifer Castle worked at a restaurant in Toronto with celebrity chef and restaurateur Matty Matheson. Now, nearly 20 years later, Matty is an executive producer and actor on the hit series “The Bear” and Jennifer has a song featured in Season 3. She joins Tom Power to talk about waiting tables in her 20s, reuniting with her old friend, and her new song, “Blowing Kisses.”

The Oscar-winning British film director Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave, Shame) is renowned for his cinematic portrayals of difficult realities. His latest film, “Blitz,” is a war drama that follows George, a young Black boy living in London during the Blitz — Germany’s bombing campaign against the U.K. during the Second World War. Steve joins Tom Power to talk about the film and why he thinks this story matters in 2024.

Naomi Snieckus and Matt Baram are a married Canadian comedy duo who have teamed up to create a new stage show called “Big Stuff.” It’s part storytelling, part duo stand-up and part improvised — but most importantly, it’s a personal reflection on the treasured keepsakes and unresolved emotions that are left behind when we lose someone we love. Naomi and Matt join Tom Power to tell us more about the show and what inspired it.

For decades, the Canadian visual artist Marcel Dzama has been attracting attention for his drawings, films, sculptures and installations. Earlier this year, Tom Power spoke with the Brooklyn-based artist about his new solo show, “Ghosts of Canoe Lake,” which opened at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Ontario. Now, the exhibit is making its way to Marcel’s hometown of Winnipeg at the gallery where he got his first big break, the Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art. In this conversation, Marcel talks about his work, his newfound appreciation for Canadian artist Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven, and how losing his earliest work in a fire allowed him to feel more freedom as an artist.

Back in April, the award-winning Canadian writer Ian Williams was named this year’s Massey lecturer. Since 1961, the Massey Lectures have invited distinguished writers, thinkers and scholars to present their ideas in a five-part lecture series across Canada. In this conversation with Tom Power, Ian tells us how to have better conversations with one another,  why it’s important to have difficult conversations even at the risk of offending people, and how listening can be a courageous thing to do.

Sean Baker (Tangerine, The Florida Project, Red Rocket) is an award-winning filmmaker whose work often explores the lives of people living on the fringes. His latest film, “Anora,” follows a sex worker who quits her job after a whirlwind romance with a Russian billionaire, but soon realizes her fairytale ending isn’t all she’d hoped. Sean joins Tom Power to tell us why this story spoke to him, how a Canadian sex worker’s memoir helped shape the film, and what it felt like to win the prestigious Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival — a dream he’s had forever.

The Juno-winning Canadian jazz singer and pianist Laila Biali is back with a new album, “Wintersongs,” which was inspired by some time she spent in Banff. She says the album brings her back to her roots as a classical pianist — a path that was cut short after a car accident changed her life at 15. Laila sits down with Tom Power to talk about the record, how it blends different sides of herself, and a difficult new challenge she’s facing in both her life and music.