Q with Tom Power

We revisit Tom’s conversation with “Blackberry” director Matt Johnson. He talks about his path from guerilla filmmaker to Hollywood darling, why the story of Blackberry is so Canadian, and why his mission in life is to inspire young filmmakers to stay in Canada and make great films.

The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb is back with her latest children’s album, “That's What It's All About,” which is a collaboration with the family-friendly folk band The Hollow Trees. Lisa joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the record, how it’s inspired by her own childhood, plus, 30 years of the song that first put her on the map — “Stay (I Missed You).”

Ten years after immigrating to Canada from India, the rapper and singer Karan Aujla made history as the first Punjabi artist to ever win a Juno Award. But he was a global superstar well before then, topping the charts with his blend of Punjabi music over hip-hop and trap beats. Now, Karan has dropped his latest EP, “Four Me,” and Apple Music has named him the latest addition to its global Up Next program. Karan talks to Tom about his rise to fame, why Canada is a hub for Punjabi hip-hop, and the childhood losses that pushed him towards songwriting.

There’s a new podcast and radio show coming to CBC Books. It’s called “Bookends” and it’s hosted by Mattea Roach, the Canadian “Jeopardy!” champion who held a 23-game winning streak a few years ago. They sit down with Tom to talk about the new show and what they’re most looking forward to, plus, the correct strategy for wagering on a Daily Double.

Sheryl Crow has sold more than 50 million albums, won nine Grammy Awards, and inspired countless songwriters and artists to follow in her footsteps. Earlier this year, she released her 11th studio album, “Evolution.” Sheryl joins Tom to share her concerns around artificial intelligence and how they inspired the title track on her new album, why she uses her music to raise awareness for global issues, and the story behind her massive hit “All I Wanna Do.”

Bibi Club is the musical project of Adèle Trottier-Rivard and Nic Basque, who are partners in life and music. Their first album, “Le soleil et la mer,” was longlisted for the 2023 Polaris Prize. Now, they're back with a new record, “Feu de garde.” Adèle and Nic join Tom to talk about their partnership and what their band name has to do with the three kids they have running around their house. 

Tom Selleck has been on Hollywood’s A-list since bursting onto “Magnum, P.I.” in the early ‘80s. By the end of that decade, he had reached a whole new level of fame with massive box office hits like “Three Men and a Baby.” More recently, he’s become known for his role as NYPD commissioner Frank Reagan on “Blue Bloods.” Now, Tom has released a new memoir called “You Never Know.” He joins Tom Power to talk about his journey in acting, the hurdles he faced and the lessons he learned on his way to stardom.  

In 1983, in the midst of the Cold War, Arthur Miller went to China to direct a Mandarin version of his famous play “Death of a Salesman.” Despite some hurdles, the production ended up being a touchstone moment in Chinese-American cultural relations. Now, a new play called "Salesman in China" tells the story of the American playwright's incredibly high-stakes collaboration with the Chinese artist Ying Ruocheng. Jovanni Sy, the director and co-writer of "Salesman in China," joins guest host Talia Schlanger to tell us more.

Anna Marie Tendler is a multidisciplinary artist known for her evocative self-portraits that explore grief and isolation. In 2021, following her high-profile divorce with comedian John Mulaney, Anna checked herself into a psychiatric facility, seeking treatment for self-harm and suicidal ideation. She details that experience in her new memoir, “Men Have Called Her Crazy,” which is her reintroduction to the world as an artist on her own terms. Anna joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about her mental health journey, how photography kept her grounded and why she chose to leave her ex-husband out of the book.

Luna Li is a Canadian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who found fame during lockdown when videos of her bedroom jam sessions went viral. Now, she’s back with her second album, “When A Thought Grows Wings,” which tells the story of a transitional moment in her life. Luna joins guest host Talia Schlanger to reflect on her career, her latest record and what it was like performing on “Saturday Night Live.”