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
Jun 26, 2025 • 28min
Tanika Charles confronts her complicated family relationships
You can’t choose your family. Even if they bring you joy or comfort, there’s almost always complexity too. On her new album, “Reasons to Stay,” Canadian R&B singer Tanika Charles explores all the hard conversations she’s wanted to have with her mom, dad and brother. The resulting record is raw, emotional, powerful and uplifting. Tanika sits down with guest host Gill Deacon to share some of the deeply personal stories that inspired the album, and how she’s still working on healing from past hurts.
Jun 25, 2025 • 33min
How to Train Your Dragon author Cressida Cowell
“How to Train Your Dragon” is one of the most successful children's franchises of all time. A new live-action remake just hit the big screen and author Cressida Cowell, the creator of the original book series, has just released a new spin-off novel, “How To Train Your Dragon School: Doom of the Darkwing.” Cressida joins guest host Gill Deacon to tell us how the fantastical story was partly inspired by her own real-life childhood experiences involving Scotland, a lobster pot and a giant eel, and a 1970s approach to parenting.
Jun 25, 2025 • 16min
How Refused’s New Noise became a global hit after the band broke up
It’s been more than 25 years since the Swedish hardcore punk band Refused released their seminal album, “The Shape of Punk to Come.” Their most famous song from that album, “New Noise,” has been called a political anthem and a protest song. It’s been used in the Palme d'Or'-winning film “Triangle of Sadness” as well as in the hit show “The Bear.” Last year, frontman Dennis Lyxzén of Refused joined Tom Power to tell us how “New Noise” became a global hit after the band had already called it quits.
Jun 24, 2025 • 32min
Misty Copeland honours trailblazing Black ballet dancer Raven Wilkinson
In 2015, Misty Copeland became the first Black woman to become principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre. Her heartfelt memoir “The Wind at My Back” pays tribute to her mentor and fellow dance pioneer Raven Wilkinson, who performed in the segregated South as a member of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in the 1950s. A few years back, Misty joined guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about Raven's incredible life and legacy.
Jun 24, 2025 • 16min
Ribbon Skirt found inspiration in renewing her antiquated “Indian” status card
The Montreal band Ribbon Skirt just released their debut album, “Bite Down.” Lead singer Tashiina Buswa joins Tom Power to tell us how the record was inspired by grief and reconnecting with her Indigeneity, how her first exposure to music was in the church, and the difference between knowing you’re free and actually feeling free. Plus, she tells the story behind her new song, “Off Rez.”
Jun 23, 2025 • 25min
Why the director of Materialists quit her past job as a matchmaker
Acclaimed Canadian filmmaker Celine Song (Past Lives, Materialists) is back with a new movie that takes a candid look at the inhumanity of matchmaking and modern dating. As it turns out, Celine used to be a matchmaker herself. She sits down with guest host Gill Deacon to talk about her experiences in the field, why she says her “drug of choice is people,” and how our weight, height, salaries and hairlines all contribute to the blunt math of dating.
Jun 23, 2025 • 27min
Lido Pimienta and Owen Pallett march to their own beat
It’s been five years since the Grammy-nominated musician Lido Pimienta made waves with her breakout album, “Miss Colombia.” Now, she’s back with “La Belleza,” which takes an entirely new musical direction. Canadian composer Owen Pallett co-produced the album, which was recorded with help from the Medellín Philharmonic Orchestra. Lido and Owen sit down with guest host Gill Deacon to talk about their collaboration, and how in the process of making “La Belleza,” Lido ended up learning that classical music is not her enemy.
Jun 20, 2025 • 25min
For Tantoo Cardinal, there’s no turning back
For more than five decades, Canadian acting legend Tantoo Cardinal (Dances with Wolves, Killers of the Flower Moon) has worked tirelessly to bring nuanced Indigenous stories to the stage and screen — and she says there’s no turning back. The renowned actor was recently honoured with the Equity in Entertainment Award at The Hollywood Reporter's Women in Entertainment Canada gala in Toronto. She joins Tom Power to reflect on her remarkable career, and why she’ll never stop advocating for authenticity and accuracy when it comes to Indigenous representation. In case you missed it, you might also enjoy Tom’s interview with Canadian icon Graham Greene, whom Tantoo shared the screen with in “Dances with Wolves.”
Jun 20, 2025 • 16min
This driving school sitcom is a celebration of Black culture in Nova Scotia
Steve Lawrence and Alexandra MacLean are the stars and co-creators of the Bell Fibe series “0-60 Driving Academy.” They speak to guest host Talia Schlanger about creating a show based on Steve’s real-life experiences running a driving school, and why they wanted to see a Black Nova Scotian family on the screen.
Jun 19, 2025 • 19min
Domee Shi on Elio, aliens and one-dimensional moms
The Oscar-winning Canadian animator and director Domee Shi (Bao, Turning Red) is back with a new Disney-Pixar movie, “Elio.” It’s about an 11-year-old who’s obsessed with getting abducted by aliens. Domee joins guest host Talia Schlanger to share how her own childhood inspired aspects of the film, why the theme of alien abduction is a great way to explore loneliness, and why it’s nearly impossible for her to write a one-dimensional mother figure. If you enjoy this conversation, make sure to check out Tom Power’s interview with Domee about her last film, “Turning Red.”
