Q with Tom Power
CBC
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 9, 2025 • 40min
Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie the Q Interview
Lifelong best friends and creative partners Jay McCarrol and Matt Johnson began their careers making the viral web series-turned-TV show “Nirvanna the Band the Show.” Now, they’ve adapted that project into a buzzy new feature film, fittingly titled “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie.” It just had its Canadian premiere in the Midnight Madness program at the Toronto International Film Festival. Jay and Matt sit down with Tom Power to discuss the film, their friendship, the perils of fame and how they convincingly staged a wild stunt to jump off the CN Tower and parachute into the SkyDome.
Sep 8, 2025 • 23min
Jen Sookfong Lee explores the body horror of motherhood
Growing up in a packed house on Vancouver’s east side with her mother and four sisters, Jen Sookfong Lee became fascinated with female relationships — specifically, the stories and secrets passed down between mothers and daughters. In her new novel, “The Hunger We Pass Down,” Jen turns this fascination into a ghost story that asks the question: can you ever outrun your family history? She joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about it.
Sep 8, 2025 • 23min
Sister Ray trades rejection for joy on their new album Believer
The Alberta folk singer-songwriter Sister Ray is known for writing songs about heartbreak and sadness. But they decided to try something different with their new album, “Believer,” which is all about love and connection. This past spring, Ella Coyes of Sister Ray joined Tom Power to talk about how “freeing” it is to write about joy, how growing up around Métis art influenced their love of music, and why they think the embarrassing parts of being human are what connect us most.
Sep 5, 2025 • 29min
Why Anne Murray said no to Hollywood
Anne Murray never thought she would release a new album — and yet here we are! The Canadian icon is back with her 33rd studio album, “Here You Are,” which features 11 unreleased songs she recorded back in the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s. Anne sits down with Tom Power in Vancouver to tell us how a fan got her to revisit those old songs, why she purposely stayed out the U.S. for her whole career, and how her royalties spiked after her appearance on “Family Guy.”
Sep 5, 2025 • 15min
Catherine Hernandez wants you to ask for help
Childhood cancer can be a really difficult topic to sit with, but it’s something a lot of kids and families face. The new TV series “The Unstoppable Jenny Garcia” is putting that story front and centre. The show is about a young Filipino Canadian named Jenny whose life gets thrown upside down when she’s diagnosed with leukemia. Catherine Hernandez is the showrunner. She’s also an award-winning author and screenwriter. Her debut novel, “Scarborough,” was turned into a film that won eight Canadian Screen Awards, including best picture and best adapted screenplay. Catherine joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the series, why it was important for her to tell a story about childhood cancer, and how it affects different families and communities.
Sep 4, 2025 • 24min
Théodore Pellerin on playing a fame-obsessed lurker
Actor Théodore Pellerin is a familiar face in Quebec, with critically acclaimed performances in films like “Chien de garde” and “Juste la fin du monde.” Now, he’s taken on his first major role in an American movie with the intense psychological thriller “Lurker.” It’s about a fan who plots and manipulates his way into the inner circle of a rising artist on the verge of stardom. Théodore sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about his portrayal of an obsessive fan, how he prepared for the role, and how he shed his dark character after the film wrapped.
Sep 4, 2025 • 25min
Billy Idol should be dead — thankfully he's still alive to tell you his story
Legendary punk rocker turned MTV Icon Billy Idol is back with his ninth studio album, “Dream Into It.” The record reflects his life and career, with songs documenting his early days, his massive breakthrough, his drug addiction and finally his rebirth. This spring, he joined Tom Power in our studio to look back on it all.
Sep 3, 2025 • 30min
Blood Orange’s Dev Hynes on being an outsider
Dev Hynes has felt like an outsider since he was a kid. But as a singer-songwriter and producer, he’s been able to transform that sense of otherness into some of the most acclaimed and interesting music of the last decade. For the last few years, Dev questioned if he would ever return to his solo project Blood Orange, but after losing his mom, he was called back to it. Now, he’s released his fifth album as Blood Orange, “Essex Honey.” Dev joins Tom Power to talk about his journey and how being an outsider has not only shaped his own music, but also the sound of some of the biggest artists in the world.
Sep 2, 2025 • 33min
How Kathleen Edwards learned to tell hard truths
Kathleen Edwards is a Canadian singer-songwriter whose lyrics are full of straight talk and sharp comebacks. But it took a while for her to get comfortable with having tough conversations. On her latest record, “Billionnaire,” Kathleen reflects on the last five years in which she sold a business, got married and moved twice. She tells Tom Power how these major life changes have made her more courageous, why she’s choosing to not be self-deprecating anymore, and how working with Jason Isbell taught her to stop overthinking her music.
Sep 2, 2025 • 15min
Caity Gyorgy breaks down her approach to scatting
Caity Gyorgy is a Juno-winning jazz singer who’s originally from Calgary. She’s just released a brand new album, “Caity Gyrogy With Strings,” but Tom Power caught up with her during her last album cycle for “Hello! How Are You?” She joined him to talk about her influences and her love of scatting.
