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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.

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Christian McBride is a nine-time Grammy-winning bassist and composer who’s known for his prolific career across jazz and other genres. His new big band album, “Without Further Ado, Vol 1.,” nearly reunited the beloved U.K. rock band The Police. Christian joins Tom Power to share that story and more, including his time going to high school with The Roots and playing with Miles Davis as a teenager. Plus, ahead of an appearance at the Oscar Peterson centenary celebration in Toronto, Christian talks a little bit about why the Canadian pianist was so important to him.Fill out our listener survey here. We appreciate your input! 
As a teenager, Canadian singer Skye Sweetnam was on track to be a major pop star. She opened for Britney Spears before she'd even put out a record. But when people stopped buying music and started downloading MP3s her dream fell apart. Skye joins Tom Power to tell us how she picked up the pieces and built something better as the frontwoman of the hard rock band Sumo Cyco, which has just released a new album, “Neon Void.”Fill out our listener survey here. We appreciate your input! 
You might know Steve Martin as a comedy legend, but he’s also a serious musician. If you know his early comedy albums, like “A Wild and Crazy Guy,” you might even be familiar with his banjo playing. In recent years, he’s gotten a lot more serious about the banjo, joining bluegrass bands and releasing music. Now, he’s teamed up with Alison Brown — one of the best banjo players alive — on a new album, “Safe, Sensible And Sane.” Steve and Alison join Tom Power to talk about the record, how they both found their way back to the banjo and what makes their musical collaboration so special.Fill out our listener survey here. We appreciate your input!
Greg Wells is a Grammy-winning and Oscar-nominated record producer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and mix engineer who was recently made a Member of the Order of Canada. He sits down with Tom Power to talk about his early days playing in k.d. lang’s band, producing and writing hits for artists like Adele, John Legend, Ariana Grande, Celine Dion, and Taylor Swift, and why he’s spent the last few years converting an old church in rural Newfoundland into a community music hub.Fill out our listener survey here. We appreciate your input!
Tanveer Alam is a Toronto-based dancer and choreographer who specializes in Kathak, a style of Indian classical dance that traces back to the 18th century. Tanveer is one of the creative forces behind the “Kathak & Ballet” programme, which will be on stage as part of the Fall for Dance North Festival in Toronto this week. He sits down with Tom Power to talk about the history and hallmarks of Kathak dance, what Kathak has in common with ballet, and what’s needed to ensure that South Asian dance continues to thrive in Canada.Fill out our listener survey here. We appreciate your input!
This year, Iranian director Jafar Panahi won the Palme d'Or at Cannes for his extraordinary new film, “It Was Just an Accident,” which he shot secretly in Tehran under great risk of serious harm. Jafar has been in prison twice on charges of “anti-government propaganda” as well as for protesting the imprisonment of other filmmakers. At this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, he joined Tom Power to tell us how “It Was Just an Accident” was shaped by his two experiences in Tehran’s Evin Prison.Fill out our listener survey here. We appreciate your input!
You don’t become one of the most successful pianists of our time without a lot of practice. That’s something Lang Lang knows all about. Six years after the release of his celebrated “Piano Book” record, the virtuoso Chinese pianist is back with a new album, “Piano Book 2.” It’s designed to inspire people of all ages, levels and backgrounds. Lang Lang sits down with Tom Power at the Glenn Gould piano in our studio to discuss the album and his life in music. He tells us about the teacher who didn’t believe in him, how he got past that early rejection, and how he found the right people to support him.Fill out our listener survey here. We appreciate your input! 
What happens when you start to feel anxiety and self-doubt in the middle of chasing your dreams? The Canadian folk trio The Pairs don’t necessarily have the answer, but they are working through these feelings on their new album, “Together on a Rock.” While their songs don’t come with perfect endings, the stories they tell are incredibly honest and vulnerable. Renée Coughlin and Hillary Watson of The Pairs join Tom Power to set up their devastating new track, “Past My Prime.”Fill out our listener survey here. We appreciate your input! 
Vancouver's own Ryan Reynolds (Dead Pool, Free Guy) is one of the biggest movie stars in the world. But these days, he's using his voice to talk about another great Canadian movie star: the late John Candy. Ryan is one of the producers behind the new documentary “John Candy: I Like Me,” which examines the life, work and legacy of the beloved actor and comedian. In a special interview backstage at Toronto’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Ryan sits down with Tom Power to talk about the film, and the parallels between John’s career and his own.Fill out our listener survey here. We appreciate your input! 
Back in 2023, Debby Friday won the prestigious Polaris Music Prize for her debut album, “Good Luck.” When she sat down to write her next record, it would’ve been easy to stick with what worked the first time, but instead, Debby made a conscious decision to do things differently. The result is her most ambitious album yet, “The Starrr Of The Queen Of Life,” which features everything from dance floor bangers to intimate ballads. This past summer, Debby joined Tom Power to take us inside the emotional and artistic journey behind her new record.Fill out our listener survey here. We appreciate your input! 
Jeff Wall is one of the most influential photographers of our time. His photos have sold for millions at auctions, he’s an Officer of the Order of Canada, and his work has advanced photography as an art form through the use of staged scenes and large lightboxes. But before ever picking up a camera, Jeff was just a kid living in Vancouver trying to find his way, experimenting with different artistic mediums like painting and filmmaking. Now, he’s getting ready for his first major Canadian exhibit in 25 years. In a rare interview, Jeff tells Tom Power about the first time he got a camera, how his parents supported him by building him a shed in their backyard, and why he kind of likes it when you don’t know the titles of his photographs.Fill out our listener survey here. We appreciate your input! 
In her latest poetry collection, “Wellwater,” Canadian poet Karen Solie takes a hard look at climate grief and economic anxiety. Her opening poem, “Basement Suite,” was inspired by short-term rentals and precarious living arrangements. But for Karen, the role of poetry isn’t about finding the answers to big questions — it's about honouring our curiosity with the hope that we can eventually find new ways forward. She joins Tom Power to talk about her new book and she reads a few poems for us as well.Fill out our listener survey here. We appreciate your input! 
Before cementing her status as a bonafide comedic talent, Rose Byrne (Bridesmaids, Neighbors) was known for more dramatic roles. Now, the Australian actor is combining those skills in the new comedy-drama, “If I Had Legs I'd Kick You.” During this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, Rose sat down with Tom Power to discuss the film and what it was like co-starring with Conan O'Brien in his first serious acting role. She also told us how she broke out of her shell as a shy kid, how she and Heath Ledger helped each other out as young Australians in Hollywood, and what she thinks about her one line from “Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones.”
Italian pianist and composer Ludovico Einaudi is a powerhouse in classical music. As one of the most streamed classical artists of all time, his atmospheric, meditative piano sound has captured the imaginations of acclaimed filmmakers and famous fans, such as Iggy Pop, Nicki Minaj and Ricky Gervais. Ludovico’s new album, “The Summer Portraits,” was inspired by paintings he saw on a summer vacation that transported him back to his childhood. He joins Tom Power at the Glenn Gould piano in our studio to talk about his life, career and the healing power of music.
Remembering D'Angelo

Remembering D'Angelo

2025-10-1414:46

Today we’re remembering the Grammy-winning R&B and soul singer D’Angelo. The musician’s family confirmed in a statement today that he died following a prolonged battle with cancer at age 51. Back in 2017, we did a deep dive on D’Angelo’s 1995 debut album “Brown Sugar,” which some say marked the birth of the term "neo-soul." In tribute to D’Angelo, we dug deep into the “Q” archives to bring you this guide to “Brown Sugar” by music historian Jason King.
You probably didn’t expect the bestselling author of “The Notebook” and the acclaimed director of “The Sixth Sense” to start working together, but you’ll be glad that they did. Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan have collaborated on a supernatural love story that’s being released as a novel first, followed by a movie next year. It’s called “Remain” and it follows a grieving architect who moves to Cape Cod and meets a mysterious woman. Nicholas joins Tom Power to talk about the book, his deep love for horror, and how he almost collaborated with Night on the movie adaptation of “The Notebook.”
Leith Ross is a Juno-nominated singer-songwriter whose music blew up on TikTok during the pandemic. Now, they’ve released their sophomore album, “I Can See The Future,” which sees them embracing radical optimism to envision a better world. Leith sits down with Tom Power to talk about building community even when it’s hard, and why they opted for a quieter life in Winnipeg after getting their big break.
On the 30th anniversary of Blue Rodeo’s best selling album “Five Days in July,” bandmates Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor join Tom to recall how they found refuge in Greg’s Ontario farmhouse to create a Canadian masterpiece.
Natalie MacMaster is a virtuoso Canadian fiddle player from Cape Breton who’s brought traditional East Coast music to the rest of the world. She was nine when she got her first fiddle, but she felt like she already had nine years of experience at that point because she had been surrounded by fiddle music from the time she was born. Now, Natalie has released a new memoir, “I Have a Love Story,” which traces her incredible life in music. She sits down with Tom Power to talk about that first fiddle she got at nine, the advice Santana gave her when she broke a string on stage, and how to get your kids to practice the fiddle (she has seven children herself).
For nearly three decades, Boston’s Dropkick Murphys have been the loud, proud voice of working class punk. They’re the kind of band that’s stood for something since day one. But these days, even their crowds aren’t immune to the polarizing divides running through America. Knowing full well it might turn some fans away, frontman Ken Casey has been speaking out from the stage. Following the release of the band’s 13th studio album, “For the People,” Ken joins Tom Power to talk about the history of Dropkick Murphys, their longevity and why he refuses to stay quiet.Fill out our listener survey here. We appreciate your input!
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Comments (14)

Scott wachter

cancon be damned, never talk about Drake.

Mar 13th
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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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