Q with Tom Power

CBC
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May 27, 2024 • 26min

Alexander Stewart: His pop music journey, the devastating moment his voice changed, and his debut album

After blowing up on TikTok, the rising Canadian pop star Alexander Stewart has now released his debut album, “bleeding heart.” He sits down with Tom to discuss his journey, writing songs about eating disorders and body dysmorphia, how devastated he was when his voice changed, and how Shawn Mendes’s singing coach took him under his wing.
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5 snips
May 24, 2024 • 32min

George Miller: Furiosa, what Mad Max is really about, and his early career as an ER doctor

George Miller, the visionary Australian director behind the iconic 'Mad Max' trilogy, shares insights into his career and the latest film, 'Furiosa.' He delves into the unique storytelling that prioritizes action over dialogue while discussing Furiosa's origin. Miller also reflects on his transformation from an ER doctor to a filmmaker, revealing how high-pressure medical experiences shape his narrative style. Plus, he explores themes of dystopia and resilience present in the franchise, highlighting their relevance to modern societal challenges.
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May 24, 2024 • 24min

Jane Schoenbrun: I Saw the TV Glow, the trans experience, and their ‘90s TV obsessions

The director Jane Schoenbrun first became known for their 2021 movie “We're All Going to the World's Fair,” which tapped into a teenaged fascination with the culture of viral memes. Now, Jane has made a new film called “I Saw the TV Glow,” which follows two suburban teens who get emotionally enmeshed in a fictional ‘90s TV show called The Pink Opaque. The result is a moody investigation of identity, growing up and making decisions about who you want to be. Jane talks to Tom about how this film relates to transness, why ‘90s TV has a special place in the film, and their own experience getting intertwined in TV shows as they grew up.
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May 23, 2024 • 26min

Ethan and Maya Hawke: On Wildcat and their love of Flannery O'Connor

The father-daughter duo Ethan and Maya Hawke have teamed up for the new film called “Wildcat,” which follows the life of Flannery O'Connor while she was struggling to publish her first novel. Ethan and Maya join Tom to talk about their collaboration and why O’Connor’s work connected with them so deeply.
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May 23, 2024 • 27min

Zainab Johnson: How some big plot twists in her life led to a career in comedy

The comedian Zainab Johnson had dreams of being a professional basketball player until she got hit by a truck and started reevaluating her life. Now, more than a decade deep into her career as a comedian and an actor, Zainab has released one of the most talked about specials of the year, “Hijabs Off.” She talks to Tom about pulling through personal chaos, from growing up with 12 siblings to switching careers.
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May 22, 2024 • 35min

Harlan Coben: After 80 million copies sold, the bestselling author still suffers from self-doubt

Harlan Coben is one of the most successful writers out there today with more than 80 million books in print, published in 46 languages. In recent years, several of his books have been turned into series for streaming giants, including "Shelter," "The Stranger," “The Innocent,” “Gone for Good,” and the number one global Netflix hit “Fool Me Once.” And yet, despite his success, Harlan still suffers from imposter syndrome. He talks to Tom about his process, the tragic loss of his parents at a young age, and some of the secrets to his success.
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May 22, 2024 • 13min

Quick Q: Canadian saxophonist and composer Christine Jensen on her new song Fantasy on Blue

The Canadian jazz musician Christine Jensen is back with her third jazz orchestra album, “Harbour.” She tells Tom about a track called “Fantasy On Blue,” which was inspired by Miles Davis’s famous jazz album “Kind of Blue.”
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May 21, 2024 • 25min

Joyner Lucas: On his new album Not Now I'm Busy

Joyner Lucas is a rapper who has millions of streams and two Grammy nominations. He tackles big subjects in his music, from self-harm and addiction to police brutality. Joyner joins Tom in studio to talk about his new album, “Not Now I'm Busy,” and the sacrifices he's made to find success.
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May 21, 2024 • 28min

Alana Yorke: Her near-death experience and new album

After a near-death scuba diving accident that left her with PTSD, the Nova Scotia singer-songwriter Alana Yorke released the biggest album of her career, “Dream Magic.” But that’s not the end of the story. One morning in 2022, Alana woke up to find that she couldn’t move the left side of her body due to a stroke. Following a long recovery, she started recording her latest album, “Destroyer,” which is out now. Alana sits down with Tom to talk about the record and share her experience.
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May 17, 2024 • 26min

Laurie Anderson: AI and art, O Superman, and her prolific career

The artist, musician and filmmaker Laurie Anderson has been prolific for decades. With a career that’s been called uncategorizable, she’s worked in performance art, music, film, sculpture and painting. You might recognize her voice best in its computerized form from the 1981 song “O Superman.” Now, Laurie is being awarded an honourary degree by the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Halifax. She joins Tom Power for a conversation about her long career, what she sees in the next generation of artists, and her surprising thoughts on AI.

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