Q with Tom Power
CBC Podcasts & Radio On-Demand
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.
Location:
Canada, ON
Networks:
CBC Podcasts & Radio On-Demand
Description:
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.
Twitter:
@CBCRadioQ
Language:
English
Contact:
416-205-3700
Website:
http://www.cbc.ca/q/
Email:
q@cbc.ca
Listen on a live station
Episodes
Blood Orange’s Dev Hynes on being an outsider
9/3/2025
Dev Hynes has felt like an outsider since he was a kid. But as a singer-songwriter and producer, he’s been able to transform that sense of otherness into some of the most acclaimed and interesting music of the last decade. For the last few years, Dev questioned if he would ever return to his solo project Blood Orange, but after losing his mom, he was called back to it. Now, he’s released his fifth album as Blood Orange, “Essex Honey.” Dev joins Tom Power to talk about his journey and how being an outsider has not only shaped his own music, but also the sound of some of the biggest artists in the world.
Duration:00:30:24
How Kathleen Edwards learned to tell hard truths
9/2/2025
Kathleen Edwards is a Canadian singer-songwriter whose lyrics are full of straight talk and sharp comebacks. But it took a while for her to get comfortable with having tough conversations. On her latest record, “Billionnaire,” Kathleen reflects on the last five years in which she sold a business, got married and moved twice. She tells Tom Power how these major life changes have made her more courageous, why she’s choosing to not be self-deprecating anymore, and how working with Jason Isbell taught her to stop overthinking her music.
Duration:00:33:19
Caity Gyorgy breaks down her approach to scatting
9/2/2025
Caity Gyorgy is a Juno-winning jazz singer who’s originally from Calgary. She’s just released a brand new album, “Caity Gyrogy With Strings,” but Tom Power caught up with her during her last album cycle for “Hello! How Are You?” She joined him to talk about her influences and her love of scatting.
Duration:00:15:26
What made Graham Greene an icon? Talent, discipline and luck
9/2/2025
We’re remembering Canadian icon Graham Greene (Dances With Wolves, The Green Mile, Wind River), who died yesterday at the age of 73. Graham was one of the most recognizable Indigenous actors in North America. He was recently honoured with a Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award from the Governor General's Awards, which recognized his prolific career on stage and screen. In this career-spanning interview from June of this year, Graham spoke with Tom Power about the incredible work ethic he developed during his early days as a roadie, how he learned Lakota for “Dances With Wolves,” his Oscar nomination and his advice to up-and-coming actors.
Duration:00:32:26
Why Stellan Skarsgård doesn’t give his kids acting advice
9/1/2025
In “Andor” — the latest series in the “Star Wars” franchise — actor Stellan Skarsgård (Dune, Nymphomaniac, Mamma Mia!) plays Luthen Rael, a charming but ruthless rebel leader who fronts as an antiques dealer. Earlier this year, Stellan sat down with Tom Power to talk about the new season of “Andor” and why he’s drawn to morally complex characters. Plus, he shared a beautiful story about his time working with Robin Williams in Toronto on “Good Will Hunting.”
Duration:00:23:43
Gabrielle Drolet is finding new ways to create with chronic hand pain
9/1/2025
A few years ago, cartoonist and writer Gabrielle Drolet developed a condition that made her unable to use her hands. It kept getting worse over time, and as Gabrielle searched for a diagnosis, she also had to find new ways to make art. She joined Tom Power to talk about her new memoir, “Look Ma, No Hands,” which tells the story of an artist coming to terms with disability, adapting to the unexpected, and ultimately learning to express herself again.
Duration:00:24:39
The Beaches are embracing their messier side
8/29/2025
A few years ago, the Toronto band The Beaches were dropped from their record label at around the same time that the band’s lead singer, Jordan Miller, was dumped by her boyfriend. After rallying around each other, The Beaches came out the other side with a life-changing hit, “Blame Brett,” which propelled them into the spotlight. What they didn’t anticipate was the feeling of impostor syndrome that resulted from their fans putting them on a pedestal. Now, The Beaches are back with their follow-up album, “No Hard Feelings,” which embraces the messier sides of their lives. Jordan and Leandra Earl of The Beaches join Tom Power in studio to tell us about it.
Duration:00:35:09
At the height of her career, Melanie Fiona lost her voice
8/28/2025
After more than a decade away from the spotlight, Melanie Fiona is back with a new EP, “Say Yes.” It’s the Canadian singer’s first major release since 2012, when she won two Grammys for her work on CeeLo Green’s song “Fool for You.” Melanie tells guest host Talia Schlanger how intense burnout led to a spiritual awakening, how losing her voice taught her to speak up for herself, and why she’s saying yes to singing again.
Duration:00:21:39
Alana Bridgewater on playing jazz icon Ella Fitzgerald
8/28/2025
In 1956, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong released “Ella and Louis” — the first of three classic albums the two jazz greats would record together. Now, a Canadian production is paying tribute to these records and these artists with a new stage show called “Ella and Louis,” which is running at this season’s Shaw Festival. The award-winning Toronto singer and actor Alana Bridgewater co-created the show and also plays Fitzgerald. She joins guest host Gill Deacon to talk about the legacy of these albums and what it’s like to step into the shoes of a music legend.
Duration:00:17:40
The creator of BoJack Horseman is back with a new series
8/27/2025
Raphael Bob-Waksberg has a way of conjuring up big feelings, sometimes even when you’re least expecting it. His acclaimed animated series “BoJack Horseman” (about an anthropomorphic horse who happens to be a washed up sitcom actor trying to make his comeback in Hollywood) was an emotional gut punch. Now, Raphael is back with a new Netflix series, “Long Story Short,” which is about the joys and losses of the Schwoopers — a Jewish family made up of three very different siblings. The story follows the family through their joys, wins and losses, jumping back and forth in time to reveal how their past shapes their present. Raphael joins guest host Gill Deacon to talk about the new show, why laughing through pain doesn’t cheapen it, and how he went from doing theatre to making adult animation.
Duration:00:23:39
Some might call artist Shirley Moorhouse a late bloomer
8/27/2025
Shirley Moorhouse was 65 when she decided to pursue a Master of Fine Arts. Though she’s been creating art for more than three decades, now, at age 69, she’s finally having her moment. This year, the Labrador-based Inuk artist is on the longlist for the prestigious Sobey Art Award, a major solo exhibit of her work is currently on display in St. John’s, and one of her wall hangings will be shown at the National Gallery of Canada come October. Shirley speaks with guest host Gill Deacon about how her grandmother set her on course to become an observer and a creator when she was just a newborn, the technique behind her wall hangings, and how it feels to be in the prime of her creative life.
Duration:00:21:39
Ikky wants Canadians to open their minds to Punjabi music
8/26/2025
Ikky is a Canadian musician and producer who’s bringing Punjabi music to the world — and putting the spotlight on Canada in the process. The international hitmaker has racked up billions of streams and worked with artists both at home and in India. Now, he’s back with a new single, “Tell Me,” which is a bilingual collaboration between OneRepublic and Karan Aujla. Earlier this year, Ikky sat down with Tom Power to tell us how that track came to be, how his work fuses traditional Indian music with influences from his upbringing in Toronto, and why he feels more Canadians need to open their minds to Punjabi music.
Duration:00:24:39
How music helped Billianne find herself after being a teenage wallflower
8/26/2025
Billianne is a Canadian singer-songwriter who got her start after she posted a viral TikTok cover of Tina Turner’s iconic hit “The Best.” Since then, she’s released an EP, performed on “The Today Show” and “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” and was called a “young Adele” by Rolling Stone. Billianne sits down with guest host Gill Deacon to talk about her blossoming career, her relationship to her family and her new album, “Modes of Transportation.”
Duration:00:24:40
Jon Batiste proves he’s the “king of cold calls”
8/25/2025
The acclaimed musician and composer Jon Batiste is putting his mark on Americana music with his new record, “Big Money.” It looks at capitalism, the power of community and love. It even has a Randy Newman duet, which happened all thanks to a cold call. Jon joins guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about connecting to his creativity, working with Stephen Colbert on “The Late Show” and why he says making music is more than entertainment — it’s a “spiritual practice.”
Duration:00:23:17
Patrick Tarr’s debut novel puts a supernatural spin on WWII history
8/25/2025
For years, TV writer Patrick Tarr has been writing scripts for shows like “Murdoch Mysteries,” “Cardinal” and “Saving Hope” — but his dream was always to write a book. Now, that dream has become a reality. Patrick’s debut novel, “The Guest Children,” is a chilling supernatural tale inspired by real-life history: the evacuation of 6,000 British children to Canada during the Second World War. He joins guest host Gill Deacon to talk about reframing these events as a ghost story.
Duration:00:18:30
John Fogerty reveals the origin of CCR’s Fortunate Son
8/22/2025
John Fogerty is the vocalist, lead guitarist and principal songwriter behind the legendary rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival. With chart-topping hits like "Proud Mary" and "Fortunate Son,” he’s helped shape the sound of American music. But for decades, John didn’t own the rights to his own songs. That changed recently when he decided to re-record new versions of his biggest hits. In this career-spanning conversation with guest host Garvia Bailey, John talks about reclaiming his artistic legacy, and how falling in love with his wife changed everything for him.
Duration:00:33:29
How Crystal Shawanda found her peace through song
8/22/2025
What do you do when the world around you is anything but calm? For the Juno-winning Indigenous blues artist Crystal Shawanda, the answer was to go inward. Back in May, she joined Tom Power to talk about her powerful and deeply personal new track “This Peace,” which channels her family’s strength, her culture and her own journey of self-discovery to find calm in the midst of life’s storms.
Duration:00:13:39
Comedian Andrew Barr takes on the treadmill of addiction — literally
8/21/2025
Andrew Barr is a comedian and recovering addict who’s preparing to record his debut comedy special, “The 13th Hour,” in a packed Toronto comedy club this weekend. But just before that, he plans to push his body to the limit by running on a treadmill for 12-hours straight. The show is a metaphor for how addiction slowly breaks down a person’s body and isolates them from their loved ones. His hope is to raise money for the rehab centre that helped him turn it all around. Andrew joins guest host Gill Deacon to tell us more about the project, and how it’s his way of giving voice to those who struggle with drug and alcohol addiction.
Duration:00:24:24
How theatre helps us feel less alone in our personal muck
8/21/2025
In a chaotic world filled with uncertainty and suffering, what’s the point of giddy musical theatre? Winnipeg's Kimberley Rampersad directs the musical comedy “Anything Goes” at the Shaw Festival this season, and she makes a powerful case for the role of joyful art in hard times. Kimberley joins guest host Gill Deacon to talk about her journey to directing, the importance of theatre’s joyful resistance to the darkness, and how theatre allows us to have conversations with the gloves coming off.
Duration:00:27:43
Why Seán Devlin made a comedy with Typhoon Haiyan survivors
8/20/2025
What happens when a comedian makes a movie about climate change with survivors of the most powerful typhoon ever recorded? Seán Devlin answers that question with his surreal new film “Asog” — a Canadian-Filipino production made with zero trained actors and a guerilla crew of five people. The Vancouver-based comedian and filmmaker sits down with Tom Power to talk about his personal connection to the survivors of Typhoon Haiyan, and why he was so determined to make a movie with them.
Duration:00:34:52