The Q Interview

Eddie Izzard has got to be one of the bravest comedians out there. Her new stand-up show, Wunderbar, is everyone else’s worst nightmare: performing live on stage in her second, third and fourth languages. Izzard sat down with Tom Power to tell us how she does it, and why her goal is to connect with as many people as possible at a time when we seem to be drifting apart.

Ed Sheeran’s musical success is measured in billions of streams, but he says that kind of fame can mess with your head — and your songwriting. The singer joined Tom Power to tell us how he shook off that baggage when he sat down to write his latest album, Equals.

Alice Cooper says when a hard rock band plays in Detroit, audiences expect a show that will “knock their faces off.” The singer’s love of Detroit — especially the hard rock scene of the ‘60s and ‘70s — is at the core of his latest album, Detroit Stories. In his conversation with Tom Power, Cooper transports us back to that time and place with stories about hanging out with Iggy Pop, The Who and one of his “best buddies,” Jimi Hendrix.

In this award-winning interview, actor Michael J. Fox opened up to Tom Power about the long-term effects of Parkinson's disease and how he found his way back to optimism after experiencing an exceptionally terrible year.

It takes an experienced director like Denis Villeneuve to tackle a project like the sci-fi epic Dune. The Canadian filmmaker — who’s also behind movies like Arrival and Blade Runner 2049 — joined Tom Power to discuss his lifelong love of Frank Herbert’s classic sci-fi novel, and what it’s like to adapt a book that’s long been considered "unfilmable.”

Seth Rogen is known as a comedy titan with a penchant for smoking pot. Now, he's also an author. His debut book, Yearbook, features a collection of hilarious personal essays about his early life in Canada and his adventures in Los Angeles. The Vancouver-born actor, producer, writer and director spoke with Tom Power about the book, his famous use of cannabis and why he thinks comedy is undervalued. Watch this interview on our YouTube channel (Q on CBC)!

As the United States went through political unrest, jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis reflected on the connection between music and social change. The Grammy and Pulitzer Prize winner spoke with Tom Power about his latest album, The Democracy! Suite, and why he thinks jazz is the perfect metaphor for democracy. Watch this interview on our YouTube channel and find more from Q on Twitter (@cbcradioq) and Instagram (@cbcq).

Dolly Parton is one of the most important figures in country music with an appeal that crosses the boundaries of politics and religion. Even people who can’t agree on anything else can agree that she’s a beloved American icon. In her conversation with Tom Power, Parton explained why she wants to build a tent as wide as possible — especially in such a divided society.

Reggae music wouldn’t be what it is today if it weren’t for Jimmy Cliff. He helped popularize the genre globally, particularly with his work starring in and providing music for the groundbreaking Jamaican film The Harder They Come. The Grammy-winning reggae legend joined Tom Power to talk about his latest single, Human Touch, and his incredible lifelong journey in music.

Norm Macdonald died this week at the age of 61. In this special rerelease of his conversation with Tom Power, the beloved Canadian comedian talks about his greatest influences and shares the stories behind some of his best jokes.