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 3, 2024 • 31min
Matt Johnson: BlackBerry, what happens when an outsider filmmaker goes mainstream, and the future of Canadian film
The big winner at this past weekend's Canadian Screen Awards was the film “Blackberry,” which you can watch now as a series on CBC Gem. We revisit Tom’s conversation with director Matt Johnson about his path from guerilla filmmaker to Hollywood darling, how the story of Blackberry is the story of Canada, and why his mission in life is to inspire young filmmakers to stay in Canada and make great films.
Jun 3, 2024 • 15min
Quick Q: Frank Walker on his debut album Origin and putting a new spin on EDM
The Canadian musician Frank Walker is one of the new generation of electronic dance music DJs who’s taken inspiration from the past and put their own spin on it. Frank joins Tom to talk about his debut album, Origin, and how he incorporates different genres of music into the traditional EDM sound.
May 31, 2024 • 32min
Patricia Field: Costume design, her NYC boutique, and dressing Sarah Jessica Parker
Patricia Field is a legendary costume designer and stylist whose credits include “Sex and the City,” “The Devil Wears Prada” and “Emily in Paris.” A new documentary about her life, “Happy Clothes: A Film About Patricia Field,” details Patricia’s creative journey as one of fashion’s great visionaries, from opening her iconic boutique in New York City, to creating some of the most memorable on-screen outfits of the last few decades. She joins Tom to talk about her vision for “Sex and the City,” how a great actor wears clothes like a human and not a mannequin, and opening a boutique that became the hub for art and fashion in New York in the ‘80s.
May 30, 2024 • 25min
Ilana Glazer: Motherhood, loss, and her new film Babes
The comedian Ilana Glazer (Broad City) is back with a new film, “Babes,” which looks at the messy realities of female friendship and motherhood. She joins Tom in studio to tell us how her own pregnancy inspired the film, her most surprising observations about having a baby, and why she’ll be telling stories that centre female friendships for the rest of her career.
May 30, 2024 • 22min
Lamar Johnson: The Last of Us, Brother, and being honoured at this year’s Canadian Screen Awards
The Canadian actor Lamar Johnson has been having a moment, from his acclaimed performance in Clement Virgo’s film “Brother” to his Emmy nomination for his emotional role in the hit post-apocalyptic drama “The Last of Us.” At this year’s Canadian Screen Awards, Lamar will receive the Radius Award, which is presented to a Canadian whose work is making waves globally. He chats with Tom about the award, learning ASL for his role on “The Last of Us,” and what all of this success means to him.
May 29, 2024 • 38min
Siphesihle November: On following his ballet dreams from South Africa to Canada
Siphesihle November is a principal dancer with the National Ballet of Canada. This June, he’ll be dancing lead roles in the company’s productions of “Don Quixote” and “Jewels” by George Balanchine. Siphesihle sits down with Tom in studio to talk about his journey from South Africa to Canada to pursue dance, his quick rise to the coveted role of principal dancer, and what keeps him inspired and focused.
May 29, 2024 • 12min
Quick Q: Nelly Furtado on why she took a break from music and what brought her back
The Canadian icon Nelly Furtado is back with a new single as she puts the finishing touches on her upcoming seventh studio album. We revisit Tom’s conversation with Nelly from a few months ago, where she explains why she took a break from the spotlight and what inspired her to get back to making music.
May 28, 2024 • 35min
Geoff McFetridge: Beastie Boys, skateboarding in Calgary, and designing for brands like Apple and Nike
Geoff McFetridge has been called “the most famous Canadian artist you’ve never heard of.” As a graphic artist and painter, he’s collaborated with directors such as Spike Jonze and Sofia Coppola, designed for brands like Nike and Apple, and created huge murals for Ottawa’s transit system. In a rare interview, Geoff tells Tom how the DIY culture of skateboarding in Calgary influenced him to get into art, how he ended up designing the Beastie Boys’ Grand Royal magazine, and how he keeps one foot in the world of art galleries and one foot in the world of corporate design.
May 28, 2024 • 19min
Aminder Dhaliwal: A Witch’s Guide to Burning, burnout, and protecting your creativity
After working at some of the biggest animation studios in the world and breaking out with her own art, the Canadian cartoonist Aminder Dhaliwal is reflecting on what it means to protect your creativity (and your sanity) in a world that’s always demanding that we work harder and faster. The result is her new graphic novel, “A Witch’s Guide to Burning,” which tells a fairy tale-like story about how to find your magic again when you’re feeling burnt out. Aminder talks to Tom about the book and what burnout feels like to her.
May 27, 2024 • 25min
Tarsem Singh: On Dear Jassi and the real-life tragedy that inspired the film
The director Tarsem Singh first made a name for himself in the ‘90s making iconic music videos for bands like R.E.M. and Dream Warriors. In 2000, he captured moviegoers' imaginations with the sci-fi thriller, “The Cell,” starring Jennifer Lopez. His latest movie, “Dear Jassi,” is based on the real-life story of Jassi Sidhu, a young Sikh woman from Vancouver who was kidnapped and murdered while visiting the man she secretly married against the wishes of her family. Tarsem sits down with Tom to talk about this tragic love story, and why it was also pretty personal to him.
