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
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Jan 6, 2025 • 24min
Garfunkel & Garfunkel: Their father-son album & reconciliation with Paul Simon
The legendary singer Art Garfunkel made his name with Paul Simon in the celebrated folk duo Simon & Garfunkel. Now, he and his son, Art Garfunkel Jr., have released their first collaborative album, fittingly titled “Father and Son,” which reimagines some of their favourite songs. Dubbing themselves Garfunkel & Garfunkel, the father-son duo join Tom Power to discuss their collaboration. Plus, Art Sr. opens up about his recent reconciliation with Paul Simon.
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Jan 6, 2025 • 9min
Quick Q: Ombiigizi explore the feeling of shame on their sophomore album
The Canadian indie rock/shoegaze band Ombiigizi is a collaboration between Anishnaabe artists Adam Sturgeon (Status/Non Status) and Daniel Monkman (Zoon). Adam joins Tom Power to break down the title track off their new album, “Shame,” and what they find helpful about embracing and interacting with negative emotions.
Jan 3, 2025 • 31min
Waxahatchee: Tigers Blood, her DIY punk roots and foray into Americana
Waxahatchee is the solo project of the American singer-songwriter Katie Crutchfield. Last year, around the release of her sixth record, “Tigers Blood,” she joined Tom Power to look back on her career and music. She discusses her early days making punk music with her twin sister, how her 2020 album “Saint Cloud” became the soundtrack to the pandemic for many, and how she learned to trust her instincts and lean all the way into her Americana-inspired sound when it came to her latest record.
Jan 3, 2025 • 19min
Haley McGee: How hospices, mystics and trips to the cemetery inspired her work
Sometime in her 30s, the award-winning Canadian theatre actor and writer Haley McGee started thinking about death. Was she making the best use of her time on Earth? And could being more aware of death help her live life to the fullest? Last year, Haley sat down with Tom Power to talk about her acclaimed solo show, “Age is a Feeling,” which sets out to answer those questions.
Jan 2, 2025 • 36min
Bill T. Jones: His incredible life in dance and groundbreaking work with Keith Haring
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. Last year, 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 Power to reflect on his incredible life in dance, the power of movement to reflect and question the world we live in, and why he sees himself as "one who has survived.”
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Jan 2, 2025 • 18min
Phil Wizard: Overcoming self-doubt to win gold at the Olympics
Unlike a lot of other gold medallists at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Phil Wizard didn't grow up dreaming of becoming an Olympian. The Vancouver-based breakdancer sits down with Tom to reflect on his big win and why his personal motto is to “think like an artist, but train like an athlete.”
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Jan 1, 2025 • 29min
Francis Ford Coppola: Megalopolis and becoming Michael Corleone
As a filmmaker, Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather, Apocalypse Now) is legendary for his vision, drive and propensity to risk it all. This year, he put it all on the line once again for his latest film, “Megalopolis” — a Roman epic set against the backdrop of New York City. We revisit Tom Power’s wide-ranging interview with the acclaimed auteur about why he doesn’t want “Megalopolis” to be called a passion project, how making his masterpiece “The Godfather” turned his life upside down, and why he always ends up becoming the characters in his films.
Jan 1, 2025 • 25min
Arooj Aftab: Pioneering Pakistan’s DIY music movement
When the singer and composer Arooj Aftab released her 2021 album “Vulture Prince,” she gained fans like Barack Obama, Elvis Costello and Caroline Polachek. That album also earned her a Grammy for best global music performance. Now, Arooj is back with her fourth studio album, “Night Reign.” She joins Tom to tell us about her journey in music, her fascination with the night, and what it was like going viral before that was really a thing.
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Dec 31, 2024 • 21min
Nava Mau: Baby Reindeer, her Emmy nod & her work with LGBTQ+ survivors
You might know Nava Mau as the breakout star of the hit Netflix series “Baby Reindeer,” for which she earned an Emmy nomination for outstanding supporting actress. That adds her to a very short list of trans actors to receive an Emmy nod. Nava joined guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about “Baby Reindeer,” how her work helping LGBTQ+ survivors of violence has made her nomination extra meaningful, and why trans representation is so important.
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Dec 31, 2024 • 28min
Sean Wang: How his film Dìdi puts a spin on the classic coming-of-age story
Sean Wang is an Oscar-nominated filmmaker who released his debut feature film, “Dìdi,” earlier this year. 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.
