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
Nov 27, 2025 • 26min
The joy of gay, smutty TV
After helping make some of the most successful TV shows out of Canada ever — “Letterkenny” and “Shoresy” — Jacob Tierney figured he was done telling stories about hockey. But then he read a steamy romance novel about two hockey players who fall in love, and he realized that was the story he needed to tell. His new show, “Heated Rivalry,” comes out tomorrow. Jacob sits down with Tom Power to tell us why he thinks so many bestselling romance novels are about hockey players, and how he managed to get a “joyfully smutty” TV show greenlit.
Nov 27, 2025 • 20min
Meadowlarks is a family drama about the ’60s Scoop
In the new film “Meadowlarks,” four Cree siblings separated at birth as a result of the Sixties Scoop reunite for a week in Banff, Alberta. Tasha Hubbard, the award-winning director behind the film, joins Tom Power to tell us about the real-life family that inspired the story, and her own experience as a Sixties Scoop survivor.
Nov 26, 2025 • 25min
Why Nia DaCosta wants to see Black women behaving badly on-screen
When the filmmaker Nia DaCosta (Candyman, The Marvels, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple) was growing up, she says she only saw Black women portrayed in one of two ways: either as harmful stereotypes or as noble figures who became one-dimensional in their wisdom and perfection. Nia has dedicated her career to presenting complex and nuanced portrayals of Black women on-screen. Her new movie, “Hedda,” is loosely based on Henrik Ibsen’s classic 1891 play “Hedda Gabler,” which features one of literature’s most controversial characters. But in this new adaptation, the title character is reimagined as a biracial and bisexual woman in 1950s England. Nia joins Tom Power to talk about the film and what happens when we let people be imperfect.
Nov 26, 2025 • 17min
The Barr Brothers had to get honest with themselves
The Barr Brothers are a Montreal band who are back with their first new album in eight years, “Let it Hiss.” Brad Barr joins Tom Power to share how getting sober gave him a new perspective on his life and career, and how that led to their most honest record yet. He also sets up a song called “Naturally.”
Nov 25, 2025 • 34min
Joe Hill’s new novel is in conversation with dad Stephen King’s work
Acclaimed bestselling horror writer Joe Hill (Heart-Shaped Box, NOS4A2, Locke & Key) is back with his first novel in nearly a decade, “King Sorrow.” He sits down with Tom Power to talk about writing scary stories, creating characters who are on different ends of the political spectrum, and what happened after fans figured out that his dad is Stephen King.
Nov 24, 2025 • 28min
Remembering Jimmy Cliff
Today, we’re remembering Jamaican musician and trailblazer Jimmy Cliff, who has died at age 81. A few years ago, the Grammy-winning reggae legend joined Tom Power to talk about his incredible journey in music, what inspired his song “Many Rivers to Cross,” and why he thought reggae was able to find an audience around the world.
Nov 24, 2025 • 22min
Gerry Dee’s dad was obsessed with serial killers
Gerry Dee was a Toronto high school teacher when he started moonlighting as a comedian more than a decade ago. Now, he’s the host of “Family Feud Canada,” he has a recurring role on the Fox sitcom “Animal Control,” and he’s just released a brand new Netflix stand-up special called “Funny You Should Say That.” Gerry sits down with Tom Power to talk about his journey in comedy, why his father is a main character in his act, and the key difference between being a “celebrity” and being a “Canadian celebrity.”
Nov 24, 2025 • 24min
Meredith Moon found her voice busking
When she’s up on stage, Meredith Moon comes across as a confident, powerful performer. But when she was growing up, she struggled with stage fright. The Canadian singer-songwriter conquered her fear by busking on sidewalks from Halifax to Vancouver. Now, she’s released her third and latest album, “From Here to the Sea.” Meredith joins Tom Power to tell us about the record, and how it's the first without her late father and mentor, a Canadian music legend.
Nov 21, 2025 • 33min
William Prince on Neil Young, the Opry and all things Winnipeg
On his latest album, “Further From the Country,” William Prince moves away from his usual country sound into new sonic territory. Known for his intimate acoustic songs, the smooth-voiced Manitoban singer-songwriter from Peguis First Nation has now decided to add a rollicking band behind him. William sits down with Tom Power to discuss his bold new album and his performance at the Grand Ole Opry. Plus, he ranks iconic Winnipeg things, from slurpees to steakhouses to the Winnipeg Jets.
Nov 21, 2025 • 19min
Tom Allen’s new book is an almanac for classical music lovers
For decades, Tom Allen has been boosting the nation's knowledge of classical music. He’s the host of the CBC music show “About Time,” as well as a musician and concert host. But now, Tom has turned his attention to a new format: the almanac. His book “Tom Allen's Classical Musick Almynack” takes a look at classical music over the course of a calendar year, including key dates, facts and stories for each month, along with recipes, quizzes and musical activities. Tom sits down with Tom Power to tell us why he wanted to embrace this old calendar form, and why he’s so keen to spread the word when it comes to classical music.
