

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
%3BResize%3D(3000).jpg&w=360&h=360&output=jpg)
Oct 1, 2024 • 30min
Nuno Bettencourt: The secret to a great guitar solo
For four decades, Nuno Bettencourt has been the lead guitarist and songwriter for the band Extreme. His style is so distinct that generations of guitar players have tried to sound just like him. In this career-spanning conversation, Nuno talks to Tom about Extreme, why a great guitar solo has nothing to do with how fast you can play or how proficient you are, and why Eddie Van Halen is his hero.
%3BResize%3D(3000).jpg&w=360&h=360&output=jpg)
Oct 1, 2024 • 20min
Nemahsis: Why her label dropped her & her music video in the West Bank
Back in July, the Palestinian Canadian singer-songwriter Nemah Hasan, a.k.a. Nemahsis, sat down with Tom to talk about her forthcoming debut album, “Verbathim.” The record was originally supposed to come out last year, but then she says her label unexpectedly dropped her. Now, with “Verbathim” finally out in the world, we revisit Nemah’s conversation with Tom where she explains exactly what happened in her own words.

Sep 30, 2024 • 38min
Dr. Shirley Cheechoo: Why overcoming the residential school legacy is the job of warriors
Dr. Shirley Cheechoo is one of Canada’s most prominent voices in Indigenous film and theatre. At the annual Weengushk International Film Festival this past July, Dr. Cheechoo gave back to her community with a special event called Blanket of Stars: A Tribute to Resilience, dedicated to Canada’s residential school survivors — or as she calls them, residential school warriors. Dr. Cheechoo joins Tom to talk about her life on stage and screen, and what art can and can’t do when it comes to healing.
%3BResize%3D(3000).jpg&w=360&h=360&output=jpg)
Sep 27, 2024 • 31min
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. Now, he’s put it all on the line once again for his latest film, “Megalopolis” — a Roman epic set against the backdrop of New York City. In this wide-ranging interview, the acclaimed auteur tells us 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.
%3BResize%3D(3000).jpg&w=360&h=360&output=jpg)
Sep 27, 2024 • 19min
Marek Tyler: How his family — past and present — became his musical collaborators
Marek Tyler of the indie rock band nêhiyawak has just released his debut solo album, “Asko.” He joins Tom to talk about his process of using traditional nêhiyaw ceremony to make the record, what he learned by slowing down and shedding his ego, and the story behind his new single “wâhkôhtowin.”
%3BResize%3D(3000).jpg&w=360&h=360&output=jpg)
Sep 26, 2024 • 24min
Liane Moriarty: What would you do if someone predicted your death?
The Australian author Liane Moriarty (Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers) is known for writing bestselling novels that tackle big questions. Her new book, “Here One Moment,” looks at fate and whether it’s something we can change or even avoid. Liane talks to Tom about the cancer scare that shaped her own thoughts on fate, how her dad gave her $1.00 to write her first novel, and how she blocks out the pressure that comes with success.
%3BResize%3D(3000).jpg&w=360&h=360&output=jpg)
Sep 26, 2024 • 20min
Lucius: Why these two best friends re-recorded their breakout album
Lead vocalists Holly Laessig and Jess Wolfe of the indie pop band Lucius are used to being confused for twins. Not only do these inseparable best friends dress alike, but their voices blend together in perfect harmony. Now, they’ve re-recorded their breakout album, “Wildewoman,” to recreate the spark and energy of their early career. Holly and Jess join Tom to talk about the album, their friendship, and what they learned singing backup for Joni Mitchell.
%3BResize%3D(3000).jpg&w=360&h=360&output=jpg)
Sep 25, 2024 • 36min
Steven Soderbergh: Making a haunted house thriller from the ghost’s POV
The Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh (Erin Brockovich, Ocean's Eleven, Magic Mike) is shaking up the horror genre with his latest film, “Presence.” It’s a paranormal thriller with a twist in that it’s shot from the point-of-view of a housebound spirit. In this career-spanning chat, Steven looks back on his filmography and explains how moving into a house with its own spirit influenced his new movie.
%3BResize%3D(3000).jpg&w=360&h=360&output=jpg)
Sep 25, 2024 • 17min
Chris Abraham: Why Rosmersholm — a political drama from 1886 — feels so timely
In the 1886 play “Rosmersholm,” written by the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, an increasingly polarized country leads to an increasingly polarized election that begins to tear a household apart. Now, a critically-acclaimed adaptation, directed by Chris Abraham, is being staged at Crow’s Theatre in Toronto. Chris sits down with Tom to talk about what this politically-charged play can teach us about the upcoming elections in the U.S. and Canada.
%3BResize%3D(3000).jpg&w=360&h=360&output=jpg)
Sep 24, 2024 • 25min
Elliot Page and Dominic Savage: Improvising a film about coming home
The Canadian actor Elliot Page (Inception, Juno, The Umbrella Academy) and the British director Dominic Savage (I Am…) have come together to make “Close to You,” a powerful new drama about a young trans man who’s headed home to see his family for the first time in years. Elliot and Dominic join Tom to talk about the film and why it meant so much to them.