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
Oct 18, 2024 • 17min
Andy Jones: How his deeply personal one-man show helped him grieve his son
In 2014, after a long battle with mental illness, Andy Jones's son Louis died by suicide at age 28. Now, the Newfoundland comedian has created a one-man play about his son and his life navigating the health-care system. He joins Tom to talk about the play, titled “Don't Give Up On Me, Dad,” and why he wanted to shine a light on his son’s mental health struggles.
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Oct 17, 2024 • 20min
Florence Pugh: How making We Live in Time changed the way she lives her life
The new romantic drama “We Live in Time,” starring Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield, is one of the most talked about films of the year. It’s about what it really takes to live a happy and fulfilled life. In this conversation from the Toronto International Film Festival, Florence tells Tom how “We Live in Time” made her rethink life’s big questions — like wanting children — and the surprising lessons she learned while working in a kitchen to prepare for the role.
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Oct 17, 2024 • 25min
Jae and Trey Richards: Their new comedy series The Office Movers
Brothers Jae and Trey Richards are Canadian comedians who got their start making YouTube sketches about their lives. They even managed to catch Drake’s eye, which led to a few collaborations with the Toronto rapper. But when Jae and Trey were younger, before they found success, they had to spend a lot of time helping their dad as office movers at his company. That experience inspired the idea for their new Crave series, “The Office Movers.” Jae and Trey sit down with Tom to talk about the show, their early days as content creators, and how they only achieved massive success after they stopped trying to reach everyone.
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Oct 16, 2024 • 18min
Heather Graham: Chosen Family and her estranged relationship with her parents
Early in her career, Heather Graham (Drugstore Cowboy, Twin Peaks, Boogie Nights) was advised by a publicist not to discuss her estrangement from her parents. Now, she’s had the chance to open up about her family struggles with the release of a new romantic comedy that she wrote, directed and stars in. It’s called “Chosen Family” and it’s about recognizing the people who hold you up in life while setting boundaries with those who don’t. Heather joins Tom to talk about the film and the vulnerability required to make it.
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Oct 16, 2024 • 28min
The Reklaws: Honouring their late mom on their new EP
The Reklaws are a Canadian brother and sister country duo who got their start performing on their family farm as kids. They’re known for making fun party music that can hype you and your friends up before a night on the town. But after losing their mom at the height of their success in 2022, they decided to open up about what was really going on behind the party. Their new EP, “Outliving (For Mom),” is a heartfelt tribute to their mother on what would have been her 60th birthday. Jenna and Stuart Walker of The Reklaws sit down with Tom to talk about honouring their mom’s legacy and finding healing through music.
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Oct 15, 2024 • 39min
Cameron Crowe: His lost Tom Petty film
In 1983, Cameron Crowe (Jerry Maguire, Vanilla Sky, Almost Famous) was an ambitious young music journalist who had just released his debut film: a documentary about Tom Petty, titled “Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party.” It aired once on MTV and was never seen again. Now, that lost documentary is arriving for the first time in cinemas. The Oscar-winning director joins Tom to discuss his first film, his early life as a rock journalist, his upcoming Joni Mitchell biopic, and how Neil Young was originally cast in “Almost Famous.”
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Oct 15, 2024 • 14min
Quick Q: Reuben and the Bullhorn Singers on what happens after truth and reconciliation
The Calgary indie folk group Reuben and the Dark has teamed up with Bullhorn Singers, a drumming and singing group from the Kainai Blood Tribe, to make a new collaborative music project called Reuben and the Bullhorn Singers. They call their music the conversation that happens after truth and reconciliation. Reuben Bullock of Reuben and the Dark and Billy Wadsworth of Bullhorn Singers join Tom to tell us what that means. Plus, they set up their debut single, “Powerful.”
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Oct 14, 2024 • 38min
Jelly Roll: From incarceration to country music stardom
Jelly Roll’s origin story isn’t that of the average country singer-songwriter. While growing up in Nashville's Antioch neighbourhood in the ‘90s, Jelly Roll developed an interest in hip-hop music and learned to rap. But from 14 to 25, he began cycling in and out of prison for various offences, including some felony charges. In the years since getting out, he’s gone from rapping to singing, ultimately finding a home in country music. Jelly Roll sits down with Tom to share his incredible story.
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Oct 14, 2024 • 10min
Quick Q: Tafari Anthony on the heartbreak that inspired his debut album
Last November, the Toronto-based singer Tafari Anthony dropped his debut album, “When I Met Your Girlfriend.” The album’s title was inspired by a new experience he had with polyamory, as well as the loss of a supportive friend. Tafari joins Tom to share his story and to set up a song off the record called “Evermore.”
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Oct 11, 2024 • 25min
Cate Blanchett: Rumours, Disclaimer & forgetting the sound of her real voice
Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth, The Aviator, Tár) is one of the most respected actors of our time. She's an onscreen chameleon who transforms into whatever role she plays, taking on whatever accent is required of her, so much so that she says it’s easy to forget what she actually sounds like. Cate sits down with Tom for a thoughtful conversation about two of her most recent projects — the unique political satire “Rumours” and the psychological thriller series “Disclaimer” — plus, her voice work and how she chooses her roles.
