Q with Tom Power - podcast cover

Q with Tom Power

Five days a week, Tom Power brings you candid conversations with some of the most exciting artists of our time. The conversation is informal, playful and allows musicians, writers, actors and filmmakers to explore their art and the contexts that have shaped them throughout their career.


Whether he’s ribbing Adele, singing a boy band classic with Simu Liu, or dissecting faith with U2 frontman Bono, Tom brings the same curiosity, respect and meticulous preparation into every conversation. 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.


Q covers arts and culture in all its forms, including music, movies, film, cinema, TV, comedy, painting, photography, theatre, Broadway, fashion, dance, opera, documentaries, books, fiction, memoirs and so much more. Tom gives each and every artist the space to tell their story in their own words. 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.


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).


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 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, 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 and Hans Zimmer.

Episodes

Sean Wang: How his new film Dìdi puts a spin on the classic coming-of-age story

Sean Wang is an Oscar-nominated filmmaker who’s just released his debut feature film, “Dìdi.” It’s a coming-of-age story in the tradition of movies like “Stand by Me,” but told from the perspective of a young Asian American boy in Northern California. Sean talks to guest host Talia Schlanger about the film, and what he learned about himself and his immigrant mom while making it.

Aug 19, 202428 min

Fat Mike: The end of NOFX

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 in just a couple months, it will all come to an end when they wrap 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 ...

Aug 16, 202429 min

Michael Mabbott & Lucah Rosenberg-Lee: Jackie Shane’s fascinating story

Michael Mabbott and Lucah Rosenberg-Lee are the directors of a new documentary about the late American R&B singer Jackie Shane. Jackie was a Black trans woman who became popular in Canada after moving to Toronto in the 1960s. She released a single called “Any Other Way” that charted across the country, but in the 1970s, she became a recluse and disappeared from the public eye. Michael and Lucah join Tom to discuss their film “Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story” and how an unreleased song ...

Aug 16, 202422 min

Fede Álvarez: Behind the scenes of Alien: Romulus

Every time a new movie in the “Alien” franchise is released, there’s a ton of anticipation. The Uruguayan filmmaker Fede Álvarez has taken up the gauntlet with his new film, “Alien: Romulus.” Fede sits down with Tom to talk about the legacy of “Alien” and his approach to making this epic sci-fi horror thriller.

Aug 15, 202434 min

Vinessa Antoine: Her new role on Plan B

If you could go back in time and change one moment you regret, would you do it? On the new season of the CBC time-travel drama “Plan B,” Canadian actor Vinessa Antoine plays a Montreal police officer who’s faced with that choice. She joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the series and how she took care of herself after telling a pretty dark story.

Aug 15, 202419 min

Carley Fortune: Leaving journalism to become a romance novelist

Carley Fortune is the Canadian author behind the New York Times bestselling novels “Every Summer After” and “Meet Me at the Lake” (the latter of which is being adapted for Netflix by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle). She talks to Tom about her latest book “This Summer Will Be Different,” what made her leave journalism to pursue being a novelist, and why the romance genre is having a moment right now. 

Aug 14, 202425 min

Chris Stein: Blondie, his relationship with Debbie Harry & the ugly side of rock 'n' roll

As the co-founder and guitarist of the band Blondie, Chris Stein helped define the sound of American new wave music. But professional success came with serious personal trade-offs. In his new memoir, “Under a Rock,” he shares unvarnished stories about what it was really like to be a rockstar in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Chris joins guest host Talia Schlanger to reflect on that time in his life, from his romance and partnership with Debbie Harry to the sober realization that there’s nothing glamorous ab...

Aug 14, 202425 min

Tommy Tiernan: Stand-up, Derry Girls & the price of authenticity

The legendary Irish comedian Tommy Tiernan is setting off on a North American tour this fall, with Canadian stops in Toronto, Calgary, Victoria and Vancouver. Ahead of the tour, he joins Tom to talk about his love of stand-up comedy, his role on the hit Netflix show “Derry Girls,” and what it’s like to interview famous people without any preparation.

Aug 13, 202437 min

Quick Q: New music from Ruby Waters

Ruby Waters is a Canadian singer-songwriter who’s just released her debut full-length album, “What’s the Point.” She joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the record and sets up a song, titled “Bucket.”

Aug 13, 20248 min

Elin Hilderbrand: Why she’s retiring from writing summer beach reads

Elin Hilderbrand is a bestselling romance author who’s been writing about summers on Nantucket for the last two decades. Now, after 30 books, she’s closing this chapter with “Swan Song,” her final novel set on the island. Elin joins Tom to share how her experience going to the most prestigious writing school in North America led her to writing beach reads, how she creates a community through fiction, and why she’s now calling it quits — sort of.

Aug 12, 202430 min

Quick Q: New music from Wild Rivers

The Canadian band Wild Rivers has just released their third album, “Never Better.” Vocalist Devan Glover joins guest host Vivek Shraya to tell us how turning 30 freed her from trying to be cool and shaped the album. Plus, she sets up a song from the record.

Aug 12, 202413 min

Clarence Maclin: From 15 years in Sing Sing to starring in a movie about it

Clarence Maclin spent 15 years as an inmate in Sing Sing Correctional Facility, one of America’s most notorious prisons. Now, he plays himself opposite Colman Domingo and Paul Raci in “Sing Sing,” a new film based on his experience in prison and the transformative theatre program that changed his life. Clarence joins Tom to discuss what it was like stepping back into a prison uniform, how acting helped him find his voice and his purpose, and how he hopes the film will change what you think you k...

Aug 09, 202421 min

Kenzie Allen: Her complex relationship to figures like Pocahontas

The Haudenosaunee poet Kenzie Allen has a complex relationship to stereotypical Indigenous figures like Tiger Lily and Pocahontas. But in her debut book of poetry, “Cloud Missives,” she doesn’t completely reject these figures outright. Kenzie joins guest host Vivek Shraya to talk about the collection, which is set to come out later this month. She also reads a poem for us, titled “In Which I Become (Tiger Lily).”

Aug 09, 202417 min

Shakira: Going to hell and back for her new album

Shakira is back with her first new album in seven years, “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran,” which details her tumultuous breakup with her ex-partner and the father of her two children. She sits down with Tom for a revealing interview about vulnerability, survival and what really matters in her life.

Aug 08, 202429 min

Anne Michaels: Her new novel Held & the unexpected reason she’s so private

Anne Michaels is an award-winning Canadian poet and novelist whose long-awaited third novel, “Held,” has just made the Booker Prize longlist. The story spans 115 years and deals in themes familiar to her work: history, grief and the power of love. Anne tells Tom why it took nearly 15 years to write the novel, why she’s so interested in writing about war, and why she chooses to live an intensely private life.

Aug 07, 202432 min

Quick Q: Bye Parula shares the story behind Q's theme music

If you listen to this podcast regularly, you might be familiar with our theme music. But it's not a track we commissioned for the show, it's actually a song titled “Still Got the Spirit” by the Montreal band Bye Parula. Singer Loïc Calatayud joins Tom to share the story behind the song that's kind of become the soundtrack to our show.

Aug 07, 202410 min

Orville Peck: Feeling like an outsider & finding his home in country music

The Canadian country singer Orville Peck has been steadily on the rise since the release of his debut album, “Pony,” in 2019. With the release of his latest album, “Stampede,” Orville sits down with Tom to discuss his career, his decision to take a step back from fame for a bit, and what it was like singing a duet with Willie Nelson.

Aug 06, 202434 min

Quick Q: Zehra Naqvi reads from her debut poetry collection

This past spring, the Canadian writer Zehra Naqvi released her debut poetry collection, “The Knot of My Tongue.” She tells guest host Talia Schlanger about her work, why she’s fascinated by the themes of language and displacement, and how her writing was deeply influenced by the 1947 Partition of India and Pakistan.

Aug 06, 202413 min

Jasmeet Raina: Overnight internet fame, his Sikh faith & his new show Late Bloomer

From 2009 to 2018, Jasmeet Raina was known online as Jus Reign. His viral videos about being a first generation Indo-Canadian millennial amassed more than 160 million views on YouTube and more than a million fans on Facebook. But one day, with no explanation, Jasmeet decided to walk away from the spotlight. Now, he’s back with a comedy series on Crave called “Late Bloomer.” Jasmeet talks to Tom about his hiatus, representing his Punjabi Sikh culture and faith on screen, and what his relationship...

Aug 05, 202433 min

Quick Q: Hana Shafi on the power of everyday interactions with strangers

Hana Shafi is a Canadian illustrator, essayist and poet whose new book, “People You Know, Places You've Been,” takes readers on a journey from public transportation to antique stores to waiting rooms, looking at the connections we create with total strangers as we go about our daily lives. Hana speaks with guest host Talia Schlanger about the book and the power of those seemingly mundane interactions. Plus, she reads a poem from the collection.

Aug 05, 202412 min

Josh Hartnett: Shedding the heartthrob label

Between 1998 and 2002, Josh Hartnett was an inescapable presence on the big screen. During that time, he became a teen heartthrob with films like “The Virgin Suicides” and “40 Days and 40 Nights,” before catapulting to A-list status in blockbusters like “Pearl Harbor” and “Black Hawk Down.” But then, at the height of his fame, he decided to walk away from Hollywood in search of artistic fulfillment. Now, he’s back in the spotlight with recent roles in “Oppenheimer,” “Black Mirror” and “The Bear....

Aug 02, 202421 min

Elijah Wood: Child stardom & his new movie Bookworm

Elijah Wood has racked up more than 60 TV and film credits over the course of his 35-year career. He made his film debut as a child actor in 1989’s “Back to the Future Part II” and established himself with several lead roles throughout the 1990s. By the early 2000s, he had become a megastar thanks to “The Lord of the Rings” franchise. Elijah’s latest role is in the family-friendly adventure movie “Bookworm,” which follows a washed-up magician who reconnects with his estranged daughter. He tells ...

Aug 02, 202422 min

Sarah McLachlan: Fame, stalkers & her biggest hits

Sarah McLachlan is having a big year. Right now, the Grammy-winning Canadian superstar is in the middle of a massive North American tour to celebrate the 30th anniversary of her breakthrough album, “Fumbling Towards Ecstasy.” This September, she’ll also be inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. Sarah joins Tom to talk about being back on the road for the first time in nearly a decade, what she thinks about some of her biggest hits, and why she says her daughters finally think she’s...

Aug 01, 202436 min

Quick Q: Emily Austin on rewriting parts of the Bible through a queer lens

What’s your relationship like with holy texts? Growing up, the Canadian poet and novelist Emily Austin attended Catholic school and was an altar server, but as she got older, she started questioning how parts of the Bible made her feel as a woman and a queer person. In her new collection of poetry, “Gay Girl Prayers,” she reclaims Catholic prayers and biblical passages by providing alternate versions through a queer and feminist lens. Emily joins Tom to talk about the collection and read a poem ...

Aug 01, 202414 min

Keanu Reeves & China Miéville: Their new novel The Book of Elsewhere

Sometime between starring in action movies and touring with his band Dogstar, Keanu Reeves created a comic book series called “BRZRKR.” But he wanted to take the story further, so he called up China Miéville, one of the most prolific speculative fiction authors in the world, and convinced him to collaborate. Now, they’ve released their new novel, “The Book of Elsewhere,” which is based on the series. In this Canadian broadcast exclusive interview, Tom chats with Keanu and China about the book an...

Jul 31, 202423 min

Qasim Khan: Taking on the role of Hamlet

The Canadian actor Qasim Khan has taken on the coveted role of Hamlet for Canadian Stage’s annual Dream in High Park, which sees him performing in an outdoor amphitheatre to an audience of a thousand people, six times a week. Qasim sits down with Tom to talk about the part, his complicated relationship with the iconic “To be, or not to be” soliloquy, and what this production of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy does a bit differently.

Jul 31, 202424 min

Karen Robinson: Her starring role on Law & Order Toronto

For more than 30 years, “Law & Order” has taken viewers inside a dramatized version of the American justice system. While the franchise is most notably associated with New York, it’s now come to Toronto with the Canadian spinoff series “Law and Order Toronto: Criminal Intent.” Actor Karen Robinson talks to Tom about her starring role on the show, her love of telling complex stories, and how it feels making her dad proud.

Jul 30, 202425 min

Marigold Santos & Rajni Perera: Their epic new exhibit in Montreal

Two Canadian visual artists, Marigold Santos and Rajni Perera, have come together to create an epic exhibit called “Efflorescence/The Way We Wake” at Montreal's Fondation Phi. The four-floor show includes work by both artists separately as well as pieces they made together. It explores topics like diasporic identity and motherhood through the lens of science fiction and folklore. Marigold and Rajni join guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the exhibit and the trust between them that made it ...

Jul 30, 202418 min

Jelly Roll: From incarceration to country music stardom

Jelly Roll’s origin story isn’t that of the average country singer-songwriter. While growing up in Nashville's Antioch neighbourhood in the ‘90s, Jelly Roll developed an interest in hip-hop music and learned to rap. But from 14 to 25, he began cycling in and out of prison for various offences, including felony charges. In the years since getting out, he’s gone from rapping to singing, ultimately finding a home in country music. Jelly Roll sits down with Tom to share his incredible story.

Jul 29, 202440 min