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

Why are there grocery flyers and lawn chairs in this art gallery?

Nico Williams is an award-winning Canadian artist known for creating soft sculptures out of intricate beadwork. In Canada, beading has a long artistic and cultural history among Indigenous people who’ve been using glass beads to decorate moccasins and clothing for generations. But Nico takes that a step further by beading everyday objects like J-cloths, grocery store flyers and lawn chairs. He talks to Tom Power about taking the traditional practice of beading to a new frontier, winning the 2024...

Mar 14, 202519 min

Rick Astley doesn’t have an attitude about Rickrolling — anymore

In the 1980s, Rick Astley became a global superstar with hits like “Never Gonna Give You Up” and “Together Forever.” But then, at age 27, he quit the business. That could have been the end of the story, but then the Rickroll meme of the mid-2000s brought him back to the world’s attention. Now, Rick has released a new memoir, “Never,” in which he opens up about his strange and incredible life. He joins Tom Power to share some of those stories.

Mar 13, 202537 min

Are you ready to be nostalgic for the 2000s?

Karen Knox’s new film “We Forgot to Break Up” tells the story of The New Normals, a fictional indie rock band on the rise in the early 2000s. Their songs are hard, their relationships are fraught and they’re trying to make it in an industry that wants to shape them into something else. The Canadian director drops by our studio to talk to Tom Power about this coming-of-age story and why she wanted to tell it.

Mar 13, 202515 min

Boi-1da is the Canadian producer behind some of Drake’s biggest hits

The Grammy-winning Canadian producer Boi-1da has found massive success by crafting hits for the likes of Drake, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Eminem and more. Ahead of being honoured with the International Achievement Award at this year’s Junos, Boi-1da sits down with Tom Power for a rare conversation about his career, what Canadian artists need now more than ever, and how his dad playing a certain couple of tapes in the car led to one of his biggest hits.

Mar 12, 202536 min

Ikky wants Canadians to open their minds to Punjabi music

Ikky is a Canadian musician and producer who’s bringing Punjabi music to the world — and putting the spotlight on Canada in the process. The international hitmaker has racked up billions of streams and worked with artists both at home and in India. Now, he’s back with a new single, “Tell Me,” which is a bilingual collaboration between OneRepublic and Karan Aujla. Ikky sits down with Tom Power to tell us how that track came to be, how his work fuses traditional Indian music with influences from h...

Mar 11, 202532 min

A tribute to jazz’s unsung women

Kris Davis is a Canadian pianist whose new album, “Run the Gauntlet,” has been getting a lot of attention. She joins Tom Power to tell us why she wanted to dedicate the record to six female jazz pianists who’ve influenced her throughout her career, and how she went about composing new pieces of music in their honour. Plus, Kris sets up the title track from the album.

Mar 11, 202512 min

Dan Stevens watched hours of MAGA podcasts to play a conspiracy provocateur

In Netflix’s new political thriller “Zero Day,” Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey, Legion) plays Evan Green, a brash, outspoken and wildly popular political commentator who streams his government conspiracies to millions of viewers. Evan’s number one target is the country's former president, played by Robert De Niro. The British actor joins Tom Power to tell us how he developed his character, what he learned from watching hours of conspiratorial media, and what it was like going up against De Niro in t...

Mar 10, 202523 min

This might make you appreciate your dad’s music taste more

When the Canadian singer-songwriter Basia Bulat was a kid, she felt embarrassed by the Polish disco music her dad listened to. But now that she’s a parent herself, she’s found a new appreciation for her parents’ taste in music. It even inspired a tune on her latest album, “Basia's Palace.” Basia joins Tom Power to talk about the album, the Polish music that soundtracked her childhood, and how she also drew inspiration from video games.

Mar 10, 202522 min

Bong Joon Ho is back with Mickey 17

After his huge success with “Parasite” in 2019, Oscar-winning director Bong Joon Ho is back with a new film, “Mickey 17.” The title character, Mickey (played by Robert Pattinson), is an “expendable” — a disposable crew member on a space colony who undertakes dangerous missions and laboratory tests. Whenever he dies, his body and memories can simply be “reprinted” by his employer. Director Bong joins Tom Power to talk about the film, what he wanted to say about authoritarianism and bad politician...

Mar 07, 202519 min

Don’t call Jan Lisiecki a child prodigy

Calgary’s Jan Lisiecki was only nine when made his orchestral debut as a classical pianist. While most of us were still figuring out cursive, he was playing sold-out recitals — so, of course, he was called a child prodigy. But Jan has complicated feelings about that term. He joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about his new album, “Preludes,” why he’s been resistant to being called a child prodigy, and what he’s looking forward to as he turns 30 later this month.

Mar 07, 202521 min

Amanda Seyfried had something to prove after Mean Girls

Amanda Seyfried was 17 when she landed her breakthrough role as Karen Smith in “Mean Girls.” But as fun as the movie was, she didn’t want to get pigeonholed as “the ditzy blonde” forever. Amanda says her first true departure was her starring role in Atom Egoyan’s erotic thriller “Chloe,” which established her as a serious actor who was willing to take a risk. Now, she’s teamed up with the Canadian director once again on his new film, “Seven Veils.” Tom Power caught up with Amanda to talk about h...

Mar 06, 202520 min

How a chance encounter at a truck stop got AHI into songwriting

You never know who you might meet at a Canadian gas station. AHI sits down with Tom Power to tell us how a chance encounter at a truck stop in Thunder Bay inspired him to pursue music full-time. He also sets up a song off his new album, “The Light Behind the Sun.”

Mar 06, 202516 min

Comedian Mae Martin moves into music

You may know the Canadian comedian and actor Mae Martin from their hit stand-up special “SAP,” their semi-autobiographical comedy series “Feel Good,” or their popular “Handsome” podcast, which they co-host with Tig Notaro and Fortune Feimster. But what you might not know is that Mae is also a musician. Mae drops by our studio to talk to Tom Power about their debut album, “I’m A TV,” and how it feels to pivot from performing comedy to getting on stage with their guitar.

Mar 05, 202529 min

Why aren't there more love songs about friendship?

There are countless songs about romantic love, but when Georgia Harmer sat down to write her new single, “Can We Be Still,” she had platonic love on her mind. Georgia says the song is an ode to friendship that she wrote for an old friend as they began to drift apart. The Canadian singer-songwriter joins Tom Power to tell us more about “Can We Be Still” and what inspired her to write it.

Mar 05, 202512 min

Josh Gad has complicated feelings about tough love

Josh Gad (Frozen, The Book of Mormon) has made a huge name for himself on the stage and screen, but he says he’s struggled with anxiety and body image issues throughout his career. The award-winning actor, singer and comedian has just released a new memoir, “In Gad We Trust: A Tell-Some,” that sheds some light on those obstacles. Josh joins Tom Power over Zoom from his home in Los Angeles to talk about the book, his most famous role voicing Olaf in Disney’s “Frozen” franchise, and his time worki...

Mar 04, 202533 min

Derek Chan wants you to snack during his new play

“A Taste of Hong Kong” is a new play that combines theatre and food to tell a story that’s not often seen on stage. Described as a “snack-sized tasting class,” the show invites audiences to try some of Hong Kong’s famous street foods (including pineapple buns, curry fish balls and siu mai) as they watch the performance. The story follows actor Derek Chan as Jackie, a man who moves to Canada from Hong Kong during the pro-democracy protests. Derek joins Tom Power to talk about the play, its delici...

Mar 04, 202513 min

Víkingur Ólafsson: The billion-stream pianist

Víkingur Ólafsson is one of the world’s most in-demand classical pianists right now. The Icelandic musician just picked up a Grammy for his “Goldberg Variations” album, and he recently reached one billion streams for his music. Before playing a few shows in Canada, Víkingur dropped by our studio and sat down at Glenn Gould’s rehearsal piano that lives here. He talked to Tom Power about why Gould is such a big influence on him. Plus, he played us his favourite version of the “Goldberg Variations....

Mar 03, 202533 min

T. Thomason is taking his Dirty Thoughts on the road

T. Thomason is a Canadian singer-songwriter who recently released an album called “Tenderness.” Now, he’s taking it on the road with his Dirty Thoughts tour. The tour is a collaboration with sex educators and workers, queer and trans small business owners and queer spaces. T. joins Tom Power to talk about the tour and how he hopes it will create an experience that draws people in and dispels shame.

Mar 03, 202519 min

Why Molly Parker loves playing complex characters who’ve “lost everything”

The Canadian actor Molly Parker (Kissed, Six Feet Under, Deadwood) has become known for playing complex characters with really compelling stories. In her new series, “Doc,” she stars as a brilliant doctor who’s struggling with amnesia. Molly joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the show, her journey as an actor, and why she loves playing characters who’ve “lost everything.”

Feb 28, 202526 min

Peter Fernandes was told he’d never do Shakespeare. Now he stars in Fat Ham

When Peter Fernandes was just starting out as an actor in Edmonton, he was told he didn't have the right stuff to do Shakespeare. In fact, he was told he could never do Shakespeare. Today, he’s one of the most celebrated theatre actors in the country with a starring role in a new production of “Fat Ham” — James Ijames’s Pulitzer Prize-winning adaptation of “Hamlet” set at a barbecue in the American South. Peter sits down with Tom Power to tell us about the play, why he was so keen to bring it to...

Feb 28, 202522 min

Jay Douglas: The reggae legend on Toronto’s almost forgotten Jamaican music scene

Jay Douglas has been making reggae music in Canada for decades. First as the frontman of The Cougars, a popular group in Toronto and Montreal’s Caribbean nightclub scenes, and then as a solo artist. A new documentary, “Play It Loud,” tells Jay’s story and the story of reggae in Toronto. He sits down with Tom Power in our studio to talk about the film, and how he went from selling out clubs in the ‘60s to almost being forgotten.  

Feb 27, 202526 min

Nish Kumar: The political comedian on getting death threats from the far-right

Nish Kumar is a British stand-up comedian who isn’t afraid to ruffle feathers with his political comedy. But when he started getting death threats, it seriously impacted his mental health. Ahead of his new North American tour, Nish drops by our studio to chat with guest host Talia Schlanger about his comedy, the death threats he's received from the far-right, and why he wanted to talk about it all in his stand-up routine.

Feb 27, 202528 min

Deryck Whibley: The Sum 41 frontman looks back on his life through heaven and hell

For nearly 30 years, Sum 41 has been one of Canada’s most beloved and successful rock bands. This year, they’re saying their final goodbye, and lead singer Deryck Whibley has decided to share his story in a new memoir, “Walking Disaster: My Life Through Heaven and Hell.” He joins Tom Power to look back on his life and career, which saw him reach the heights of rock stardom and the depths of addiction and self-destruction.

Feb 26, 202537 min

Quick Q: How a soccer injury led Nia Nadurata to songwriting

Nia Nadurata is an up-and-coming singer-songwriter from Toronto who just released her first EP, “Still Living With My Parents.” It captures the thoughts and emotions of a young artist who’s at an important intersection in her life as she starts on a new path as an adult. Nia joins Tom Power in our studio to talk about her music and set up a song off the record.

Feb 26, 202513 min

Enrico Colantoni: Why the actor credits his “working class mentality” for his success

Enrico Colantoni (Galaxy Quest, Flashpoint, Veronica Mars) is one of Canada’s most successful actors with more than 100 TV and film credits to his name. He joins Tom Power to look back on his career, from his early days as a struggling actor, to getting his first big break playing John Belushi in an episode of “A Current Affair,” to developing his memorable character Mathesar in the movie “Galaxy Quest.” Enrico also talks about his current role on the CBC police procedural drama “Allegiance,” an...

Feb 25, 202522 min

Saya Gray: Her debut album, heartbreak & gigging as a teen with a fake ID

The Toronto-born artist Saya Gray has just released her debut album, “Saya,” but it isn’t her first foray into music by a long stretch. Saya grew up in a piano studio, surrounded by some of the best musicians in the country. She’s been gigging seriously since she was a teenager, playing in bands with much older musicians at clubs where she had to use a fake ID to get in. Eventually, she started touring with the likes of Daniel Caesar and Willow Smith. Saya sits down with Tom Power to tell us abo...

Feb 25, 202518 min

Meredith MacNeill & Jennifer Whalen: Tackling menopause with fearless humour

In the new sitcom “Small Achievable Goals,” co-creators Meredith MacNeill and Jennifer Whalen star as two women who are navigating menopause while also working in the podcast world. You might recognize the duo from the wildly funny all-female Canadian sketch comedy show “Baroness Von Sketch Show.” Meredith and Jennifer sit down with guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about “Small Achievable Goals,” its hilarious and subversive take on menopause, and how they had to overcome some of their own sha...

Feb 24, 202523 min

Ron Dias: How growing up in Scarborough inspired his new film Morningside

The Canadian director Ron Dias describes his new film “Morningside” as a love letter to Scarborough — the district of Toronto where he grew up. The film follows a group of Scarborough residents as they grapple with violence in their community, a rapidly changing city, and the loss of their local community centre to gentrification. Ron sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the film and how he hopes it changes the way people see Scarborough.

Feb 24, 202526 min

Tate McRae: Learning how to stay present at the height of pop superstardom

Calgary's Tate McRae is back with five Juno nominations and a brand new album, “So Close To What.” The reigning Canadian pop princess talks to Tom Power about her skyrocketing career, growing up on social media, and how she’s learning to slow down and appreciate the present moment.

Feb 21, 202523 min

Sebastian Gaskin: Why he started embracing his Indigeneity in his music

Sebastian Gaskin is a musician from Tataskweyak Cree Nation in Manitoba who fuses his culture with R&B, rock and pop music. Now, he’s released his debut album, “Lovechild.” Sebastian joins Tom Power to talk about his path in music, how he came around to embrace his Indigenous identity in his art, and why writing joyful and hopeful songs is just as important to him as writing political songs.

Feb 21, 202519 min