Q with Tom Power - podcast cover

Q with Tom Power

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.

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Episodes

Q Introduces: Who Replaced Avril Lavigne?

Avril Lavigne was a punk pop sensation who topped the charts in the early noughties, and she still performs to sold-out crowds today. But what if the Avril we’ve been following all these years is not the same Avril we fell in love with? What if — as a curious theory claims — Avril was replaced by a look-alike at the height of her fame? In 'Who Replaced Avril Lavigne' comedian Joanne McNally searches far and wide — from Avril’s hometown to the underbelly of the internet — to find out if the rumou...

Mar 13, 202433 min

Diana Lee Inosanto: Ahsoka, transitioning from stunt performer to actor, and her connection to Bruce Lee

Diana Lee Inosanto spent years working as a stunt performer while dreaming of being an actor, but now she’s ready for her closeup. She’s joined the biggest franchise in entertainment history with a villainous role on “Ahsoka” — the latest series in the “Star Wars” universe. Diana talks to Tom about her beginnings as a stunt performer, what happens when you get everything you want a little later in life, and what it was like growing up with Bruce Lee as her godfather.

Mar 13, 202425 min

Bill T. Jones: Working with Keith Haring, athletic sweat versus poetic sweat, and his incredible life in dance

Bill T. Jones is a renowned dancer and choreographer whose work looks at race, death, mortality, grief and sexuality. In the late ‘80s, he visited clinics full of terminally ill patients — some of whom were just weeks away from passing — and created compelling dance pieces based on their movements. While he was in Toronto to give a talk at the Art Gallery of Ontario about his work with the late Keith Haring, Bill sat down with Tom to reflect on his incredible life in dance, the power of movement...

Mar 12, 202436 min

Denis Villeneuve: Dune 2, his vision for the sci-fi epic, and how the film reflects issues in the world today

The acclaimed Quebecois filmmaker Denis Villeneuve is back with “Dune: Part Two” — the highly anticipated sequel to his adaptation of Frank Herbert’s epic sci-fi novel of the same name. Denis joins Tom to discuss his vision for the second installment, the challenges of shooting in the intense heat of the desert, and how politics and religion in Quebec play into the film more than you might think.

Mar 11, 202424 min

Kim Gordon: Sonic Youth, TikTok, and her new solo album

Kim Gordon is an alt-rock legend who rose to fame in the ‘80s and ‘90s as the frontwoman of the band Sonic Youth. Now, at age 70, she’s back with her second solo album, “The Collective,” and a whole new generation is discovering her music on TikTok. Kim talks to Tom about her sound, where her inspiration begins, and how she approaches her art.

Mar 11, 202420 min

Shana Carroll: How to see circus as an art form

Shana Carroll has enjoyed a career in contemporary circus arts for more than 30 years. She was recently named a member of Quebec's Order of Arts and Letters for her work establishing the circus as a true art form. Now, her handiwork can be seen in the Broadway musical “Water for Elephants,” which premieres this month in New York. Shana joins Tom to share her story, what Quebec and Canada mean to the circus world, and what it’s like to tell your parents you’re literally joining the circus.

Mar 08, 202425 min

Olufikayo Ziki Adeola: Calling out Disney, Iwájú, and showing Lagos in the future

For the first time in Disney’s century-long history, the company is collaborating with an outside animation studio for their new six-part series, “Iwájú.” Set in a futuristic Nigeria, the series follows a young girl and her best friend on their coming-of-age journey. Director and screenwriter Olufikayo Ziki Adeola joins Tom to talk about this incredible moment for African animation, what it’s like making your hometown the setting for a futuristic sci-fi show, and why calling out Disney works out...

Mar 08, 202421 min

Chloé Robichaud & Yannick Nézet-Séguin: Days of Happiness, toxic family relationships, and making conducting believable on screen

When Chloé Robichaud decided to depict the world of conducting for her new film, “Days of Happiness,” she asked the acclaimed Canadian conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin to help her get it right. The film follows a female conductor looking to break through the glass ceiling of classical music while also breaking away from the control of her abusive father, who’s also her agent. Both Chloé and Yannick sit down with Tom to talk about “Days of Happiness,” the cycle of abuse that can haunt families for ...

Mar 07, 202425 min

Chelsea Peretti: Her debut film, women in comedy, and Hollywood's reaction to #MeToo

You may know Chelsea Peretti as Gina Linetti on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” but her career started back in the ‘90s when she was doing improv, interning for Lorne Michaels and guest writing for “Saturday Night Live.” Now, Chelsea has made her debut feature film, titled “First Time Female Director,” which she also wrote, stars in and co-produced with her longtime friend Amy Poehler. It tells the story of a woman facing challenges in the entertainment industry. Chelsea talks to Tom about the project, ho...

Mar 07, 202421 min

Mark Seliger: Oscar Party portraits, capturing someone's essence, and the stories behind his most iconic celebrity photos

For the past decade, the renowned photographer Mark Seliger has set up a pop-up studio inside the annual Vanity Fair Oscar Party, where he’s produced iconic portraits of Hollywood actors in the immediate afterglow of their big wins. Those portraits are now presented in a new book, “Vanity Fair: Oscar Night Sessions.” Mark joins Tom to share how he captures the raw emotion of an artist at the peak of their success, plus some incredible behind-the-scenes stories from his shoots and his best advice...

Mar 06, 202430 min

Lily Gladstone: Working with Scorsese, breaking into Hollywood, and Killers of the Flower Moon

Lily Gladstone had a tough task with her first major Hollywood film: she had to hold her own against Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro — and hold her own she did. Her character, Mollie Burkhart, is being praised as the star-making turn of Martin Scorcese’s latest film, “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Lily talks to Tom about the role of a lifetime, and the challenges in telling stories about murder and colonialism.

Mar 06, 202418 min

Tate McRae: Performing on SNL, her hit song Greedy, and not being judgmental of your art

Tate McRae’s wildest dreams are coming true. At the end of 2023, her song “Greedy” topped the charts around the world, she made her “Saturday Night Live” musical guest debut and she performed at the Billboard Music Awards. In the middle of this pivotal time in her career, she talked to Tom about staying grounded, why her biggest hit initially scared her and how she never wants to write a song with the intention of it going viral on TikTok.

Mar 05, 202428 min

Corb Lund: Remembering Ian Tyson, The Grand Ole Opry, and El Viejo

The Albertan singer-songwriter Corb Lund dedicated his new album, “El Viejo,” to his late friend and hero, Ian Tyson. Corb joins Tom to talk about Ian’s legacy, the time they spent together, and he also sets up the album’s title track for us.

Mar 05, 202419 min

Jeremy Dutcher on the sound of grief + New music from Elliott Brood

After winning the prestigious Polaris Music Prize back in 2018 for his debut album, “Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa,” Jeremy Dutcher is back with his long-awaited sophomore record, “Motewolonuwok.” Jeremy tells Tom about the pressure of writing your second record when your first was so successful, how he directed his trumpeter to “play grief,” and why he’s decided to sing partly in English on his new album. Plus, the band Elliott Brood is set to release a new album called “Country” — it’s a companio...

Mar 04, 202442 min

Jacob Collier is tired of making music on his own + Emily Austin reads from Gay Girl Prayers

Six-time Grammy award winner Jacob Collier has worked with everyone from Stormzy to Brandi Carlile to Shawn Mendes. He joins Tom to talk about his new album, “Djesse Vol. 4,” the isolation of being a child prodigy, and why he thinks the human voice is the most profound instrument in the world. Plus, what’s your relationship like with holy texts? Canadian poet Emily Austin sat down and rewrote some parts of the bible that didn’t sit right with her as a queer woman. She tells Tom what inspired her...

Mar 01, 202451 min

Kōji Yakusho: Finding happiness in simplicity, Perfect Days, and working with Wim Wenders

The Japanese actor Kōji Yakusho is prolific, from his roles in Japanese films to parts in American movies like “Memoirs of a Geisha” and “Babel”. This year, Kōji won the best actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for his role in “Perfect Days,” directed by Wim Wenders. He tells Tom about his rise in film and TV, how working with renowned director Wim Wenders showed him the fun of filmmaking, and what “Perfect Days” can teach you about happiness.

Feb 29, 202423 min

Measha Brueggergosman-Lee on collaborating with Margaret Atwood to create Zombie Blizzard

Two heavyweights of Canadian culture have come together for an exciting new collaboration. Acclaimed soprano Measha Brueggergosman-Lee sings the words of literary giant Margaret Atwood on “Zombie Blizzard,” an album of musical interpretations for seven Atwood poems. Measha joins Tom to talk about the project, why she finds Margaret Atwood such an inspiration, and her own personal attachment to Margaret’s poetry.

Feb 29, 202421 min

Karen Robinson: Law & Order Toronto, moving from Jamaica to rural Alberta, and naming her character after family

For over 30 years, the “Law & Order” franchise has taken viewers inside a dramatized version of the American justice system. And though the series is most notably associated with New York City, the franchise has now come to Toronto. Canadian actor Karen Robinson talks to Tom Power about starring in “Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent,” her love of telling complicated stories, and why starring in a “Law & Order” spinoff series makes her father so proud.

Feb 28, 202425 min

Adrian Glynn: Why it's important to know your grandparents' story

How much do you really know about your grandparents? The Vancouver musician Adrian Glynn recently realized that he didn’t know much, so he went on a deep dive into his grandparents’ journey from refugee camps in Austria to Montreal — and now has a new album about their journey. Adrian joins Tom to explain how learning about your grandparents can help you understand yourself a little better, too.

Feb 28, 202418 min

Alan Ritchson on Reacher, Ordinary Angels, and living with bipolar disorder + Meredith Hama-Brown on her film Seagrass

The actor Alan Ritchson is best known for playing Jack Reacher, an ex-military nomad who negotiates suspicious and dangerous situations. But in his new film “Ordinary Angels,” Alan plays a father whose brawn is of little use in the face of his young daughter’s illness. He sits down with Tom to talk about playing a dad desperate to save his child, what it’s like to do a scene with an Oscar winner when you can tell she’s not sure about you, and why he wrote a letter to Tom Cruise when he booked “R...

Feb 27, 202448 min

Pam Grier: How she became the queen of Blaxploitation film and Hollywood’s first female action hero

Pam Grier (Coffy, Foxy Brown) is Hollywood’s original female action hero and the undisputed queen of 1970s Blaxploitation movies. This month, the Toronto Black Film Festival is presenting her with a career achievement award in honour of the five decades she’s spent representing Black women on screen. Pam sits down with Tom to talk about her incredible legacy, how she got cast in her very first film, and how running into Quentin Tarantino in traffic led to her comeback in “Jackie Brown.”

Feb 26, 202432 min

Alexandra Billings: Queen Tut, chosen family, and the evolution of trans representation in film and TV

Alexandra Billings (Transparent, Never Have I Ever) is a groundbreaking trans actor who’s had some incredible firsts in her career, including playing one of the first openly trans characters on TV in 2005’s “Romy and Michele: In The Beginning.” Now, she stars in the new queer-led Canadian indie film “Queen Tut.” Alexandra joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the emotional reaction she had to reading the script and how her own experience as a trans woman informed her performance.

Feb 26, 202419 min

Marlon Wayans: From Scary Movie and White Chicks to his new life as a stand-up

Marlon Wayans (In Living Color, Scary Movie, White Chicks) has been acting, writing, producing and directing comedy for more than 30 years. With his movies grossing more than $1 billion at the global box office, he’s achieved massive success, but he’s never been one to simply rest on his laurels. Marlon is currently taking his stand-up routine on tour, showing audiences who he really is. He tells Tom where his comedic instincts come from, what it’s like to come from a legendary comedy family, an...

Feb 23, 202431 min

Kablusiak: The winner of the Sobey Art Award, one of Canada’s most prestigious visual arts prizes

Last fall, the Calgary-based Inuvialuk artist Kablusiak was recognized with the $100,000 Sobey Art Award, one of the highest honours in the Canadian art world. Now, their work is on display at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa until March 3. Kablusiak talks to Tom about their big win, the power of satire in visual art, and why having their work in the National Gallery makes them feel like a spy.

Feb 23, 202416 min

Brittany Howard on leaving Alabama Shakes, What Now, and growing up in poverty + New music from Mumford & Sons

Brittany Howard’s new album “What Now” is her second solo release since a hiatus with her band Alabama Shakes. Now more than ever, she’s exploring the potential of her famous raspy voice by pairing it with surprisingly poppy songs about love and heartbreak. Brittany sits down with Tom to talk about the record and finding the courage to step into new musical territory. Plus, the boys from Mumford and Sons are back with their first new song since 2019, titled “Good People.” What you might find sur...

Feb 22, 202449 min

Adam Beach: Exile, Smoke Signals, and his journey to acting

Adam Beach has been in more than 60 films and TV shows, from Canada’s “North of 60” to the cult classic movie “Smoke Signals,” to Clint Eastwood’s “Flags Of Our Fathers.” Adam tells Tom about how he began acting in Manitoba, how he looks back on his leading role as Victor in “Smoke Signals,” and why he’s drawn to his complicated character in the new film “Exile.”

Feb 21, 202424 min

Shea Couleé: The Love Ball, their dance record, and life after Drag Race

Shea Couleé is known by many as the winner of “RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars” Season 5. But in the years since their win, Shea has gone on to do some other pretty incredible things, like recording their debut studio album and being cast in the upcoming Marvel series “Ironheart.” Now, they’re set to embark on a tour called “The Love Ball,” which features original music and choreographed performances. Shea talks to Tom about some of their latest projects, what fans can expect from their tour, and t...

Feb 21, 202422 min

Chromeo: Adult Contemporary, growing up, and what it means to be funky as you approach middle age

Chromeo’s Dave 1 and P-Thugg started out as high school best friends making weird music in Montreal basements 20 years ago. They never could have guessed that their interest in electro-funk and ‘80s synths would take them to festival stages playing for thousands — and earning a Grammy nod along the way. Chromeo drops by to chat with Tom about their new album, “Adult Contemporary,” which poses the question: how do you stay funky in your 40s?

Feb 20, 202429 min
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