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
Episodes
Mark Ronson looks back at his rise in the ’90s DJ scene
1/2/2026
Nine-time Grammy winner Mark Ronson is responsible for producing some of the biggest pop songs of the last few decades. He’s worked with the likes of Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa and Amy Winehouse. Back in September, he released a new memoir, Night People, which traces his early years working as a DJ in nightclubs around New York City. Mark joined Tom Power to tell us how that laid the groundwork for his acclaimed career as a producer, and how it also taught him what it takes to make a crowd dance.
Duration:00:42:54
Phil Rosenthal is the luckiest person in the world
1/1/2026
Phil Rosenthal is the creator, writer and executive producer of Everybody Loves Raymond, one of the most successful sitcoms of all time. But after the show wrapped in 2005, it took nearly 10 years for him to get his next dream project off the ground. Now, Phil’s food and travel show Somebody Feed Phil is in its eighth season on Netflix. Last summer, he joined Tom Power live on-stage at the Banff World Media Festival to talk about betting on himself, having the courage to stay positive, and why cynicism is a waste of time.
Duration:00:30:46
Atsuko Okatsuka was technically kidnapped by her grandma
1/1/2026
Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka is able to make the most difficult life experiences seem funny. In her latest stand-up special, Father, she takes a look at her complex childhood growing up undocumented in the U.S. (she was technically kidnapped by her own grandma, though she doesn’t see it that way). Last July, Atsuko joined guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about turning those early experiences into comedy, and how she dives into her past with empathy and humour.
Duration:00:23:18
Sandra Oh wants to know what you’d sacrifice to save the planet
12/31/2025
This year, Sandra Oh (Killing Eve, Grey’s Anatomy) received critical acclaim for her role in the Canadian indie film “Can I Get a Witness?” It’s set in a not-too-distant future when climate change has been solved. But there’s a catch: all humans are required by law to end their life at age 50. Back in March, the Ottawa-born actor joined Tom Power to talk about the movie and why it spoke to her. She also reflected on her journey as an actor, from finding her passion at eight years old to becoming one of Hollywood’s most accomplished stars.
Duration:00:29:42
The pressure of being a Palestinian American comedian
12/30/2025
Mo Amer is a Palestinian American comedian who puts himself at the heart of his work, using his own lived experiences to fuel his comedy. But with the situation in Gaza and the Israeli occupied West Bank right now, that’s getting harder to do. This past summer, Mo joined Tom Power to talk about the pressure he’s feeling as a Palestinian American comedian, the emotional conversations he's been having with his fans, and how his life in comedy all got started
Duration:00:40:15
Why Anne Murray said no to Hollywood
12/29/2025
Anne Murray definitely got her flowers in 2025. This past September, the Canadian icon returned with her 33rd studio album, “Here You Are,” which features 11 unreleased songs she recorded back in the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s. She sat down with Tom Power in Vancouver to tell us how a fan got her to revisit those old songs, why she purposely stayed out the U.S. for her whole career, and how her royalties spiked after her appearance on “Family Guy.”
Duration:00:30:34
Yanic Truesdale was told he spoke too quickly after Gilmore Girls
12/29/2025
Montreal’s own Yanic Truesdale has become a beloved actor all around the world, particularly for his role as Stars Hollow’s passive aggressive hotel concierge, Michel, on the hit show “Gilmore Girls.” Earlier this year, Yanic joined Tom Power to talk about his early days as an actor, his life-changing audition for the show that put him on the map, and why he didn't want to have a French accent for his new role in “Étoile” — the latest series from “Gilmore Girls” creator Amy Sherman-Palladino.
Duration:00:18:05
For Deepa Mehta, the whole point of filmmaking is to “start a dialogue”
12/26/2025
The award-winning Canadian filmmaker and screenwriter Deepa Mehta has redefined both Canadian and Indian cinema with her bold and groundbreaking films. Earlier this year, she was honoured with a career retrospective at TIFF in Toronto, featuring screenings of 10 of her most prominent films of the past 35 years. Deepa sat down with Tom Power for a career-spanning conversation about her life and work, the backlash to some of her films in India, and why the last thing she wants to be called is a “controversial” filmmaker.
Duration:00:44:38
Josh Safdie on Marty Supreme and the loneliness of chasing success
12/24/2025
After the success of “Uncut Gems,” director Josh Safdie is back with “Marty Supreme” — his first film without his creative partner and brother, Benny. The film is already generating significant buzz, particularly for Timothée Chalamet's performance as a charismatic but arrogant table tennis prodigy. Josh joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the film and what made Timothée perfect for the role. Plus, he reflects on the loneliness he felt while making “Uncut Gems,” what it really means to pursue your dreams, and whether the sacrifice is worth it. If you like this interview, check out Tom Power’s conversation with Benny Safdie about his film “The Smashing Machine.”
Duration:00:20:49
Sacha on her Grand Ole Opry debut
12/24/2025
For the rising Canadian country music star Sacha, 2025 has been a very big year. She released her incredible debut record, “Woman in the Mirror,” she got three nominations at the Canadian Country Music Awards, and she put out a brand new Christmas song, “Where Are You Christmas.” But perhaps her biggest moment was making her debut on the hallowed stage of the Grand Ole Opry. Sacha joins Tom Power to talk about that moment and she plays her new Christmas single for us.
Duration:00:19:10
Vince Gilligan is over anti-heroes
12/23/2025
Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul) is back with a new show, “Pluribus,” which he describes as a post-apocalyptic zombie tale with a twist. But in this story, an alien virus transforms all of humankind into one peaceful, happy hive mind — except for 13 people in the world who are somehow immune. Vince joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the show, what draws him to post-apocalyptic stories, and why he thinks we need to move on from anti-heroes and start telling more stories about good guys.
Duration:00:25:06
Sterlin Harjo was roasted for being a genius
12/23/2025
As a recipient of the MacArthur Fellowship (also known as the MacArthur Genius Grant), you could say filmmaker Sterlin Harjo is a certified genius. He’s responsible for creating the groundbreaking series “Reservation Dogs,” which follows the lives of four Indigenous teenagers in rural Oklahoma. Now, Sterlin is back with a new series called “The Lowdown,” starring Ethan Hawke as a rough-and-tumble bookstore owner and "truthstorian" in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He sat down with Tom Power during this year’s Toronto International Film Festival to talk about his career — and how being a genius really just means your friends will give you a hard time about it.
Duration:00:24:44
James Cameron says AI will never replace actors and artists in his films
12/22/2025
For three decades, director James Cameron (Titanic, The Terminator) has dedicated much of his creative life to the “Avatar” franchise. Now, he’s back with the third installment, “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” James sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about his fascination with both nature and technology, writing characters he wants to understand, and how he may explore using generative AI in future projects.
Duration:00:28:15
David Soren is ready to draw his “invisible” disease
12/22/2025
David Soren is a Canadian director and story artist who’s worked on beloved animated films like “Shrek,” “Chicken Run,” and the “Captain Underpants” movie. But while bringing these stories to life, David was living with a debilitating condition. Now, for the first time, he’s opening up about his struggles with Crohn’s disease in a semi-autobiographical novel for kids called “Invisible: The (Sort Of) True Story of Me and My Hidden Disease.” David sits down with Tom Power to tell us about it.
Duration:00:23:57
Will Arnett always intended to be a dramatic actor
12/19/2025
Art imitates life for Canadian actor Will Arnett (Arrested Development, BoJack Horseman) in “Is This Thing On?” — a new film about a middle-aged man at a crossroads. Will left Toronto for New York City right after school to pursue a career in acting. Instead of doing stand-up or sketch comedy, he studied the craft in hopes of becoming a dramatic actor. But then his obvious comedic ability steered him in a different direction. Will joins Tom Power to talk about circling back to that dream with his latest film, and why he tells director and co-star Bradley Cooper he loves him every day.
Duration:00:31:12
Before music, Alan Doyle was a tour guide in Newfoundland
12/19/2025
Before he was the frontman of Great Big Sea, Alan Doyle spent a decade working as a tour guide in Newfoundland and Labrador. Now, after years as a musical ambassador for his home province, he’s returning to that guide role in his latest book, “The Smiling Land,” in which he gives a tour through Newfoundland and Labrador as he sees it. Alan joins Tom Power to talk about the book and why he felt the need to rediscover his home.
Duration:00:17:42
Wagner Moura wants to cure Brazil’s political “amnesia”
12/18/2025
Already a household name in his home country of Brazil, Wagner Moura (Narcos, Civil War) is building an international profile as a politically engaged actor who’s drawn to movies with a message. Most recently, he won best actor at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival for “The Secret Agent.” Set during the waning days of Brazil’s repressive military dictatorship, the movie is a deeply personal one for Wagner who was born at the tail end of the regime. He joins Tom Power to talk about “The Secret Agent,” how movies can help the self-esteem of a country, and why some politicians are afraid of artists.
Duration:00:30:35
Rachel Cousins is letting go of pop perfection
12/18/2025
Rachel Cousins has always had a voice that could stop you in your tracks, but on her new album, “What Hasn’t Killed Me,” the St. John’s singer-songwriter turns that power inward. Working with Grammy-winning producer Greg Wells, Rachel steps away from pop perfection and into something raw and real — music about growing up, learning to ask for help, and finding beauty in the mess. She sits down with Tom Power to talk about baring her soul on this album and why the song “To Fail” means so much to her.
Duration:00:17:39
Paul Anka on My Way, giving the Beatles advice & seeing the Rat Pack naked
12/17/2025
After 70 years in the music industry, Paul Anka has more than 900 songs to his credit. The prolific Canadian songwriter is also the only artist in history to have a song on the Billboard Top 100 during seven consecutive decades. In the new HBO documentary “Paul Anka: His Way,” Paul recounts his life as a teen idol in the ’50s, writing some of the most memorable songs for artists like Buddy Holly and Frank Sinatra, and how he’s managed to evolve through the trends of each passing decade. Paul joins Tom Power to talk about his life in music, having a good cry after he wrote "My Way,” and meeting the Beatles back when they were a cover band.
Duration:00:39:59
Nicole Ariana’s latest song is “a warm hug” to her past self
12/17/2025
If you looked at Nicole Ariana’s career, you might be surprised to hear that she was feeling a bit like an imposter. Nicole was traveling all over the world as an award-winning songwriter and collaborating with big names in the music industry, but deep down she was facing a lot of self-doubt. So she wrote a song about the moment she decided to face her inner demons. Nicole joins Tom Power to talk about her new song, “Return to Sender.”
Duration:00:11:39