Q with Tom Power

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Q with Tom Power episodes

November 02, 2023 Rick Mercer: Highlights from his hit TV show, imposter syndrome, and his new memoir
Canadian comedian and television personality Rick Mercer is back with the highly anticipated follow-up to his first memoir, “Talking to Canadians.” Rick’s new memoir is called “The Road Years” and it features stories and behind-the-scenes moments from some of the most iconic episodes of the hit CBC show “Rick Mercer Report.” Rick speaks with Tom Power about some of the highlights from “Rick Mercer Report,” imposter syndrome, and why writing a second memoir is easier than the first.
28 min
November 02, 2023 TALK: Opening for Shania Twain, his hit debut single, and the pressures that come with viral success
Musician TALK has been called one of the most exciting new voices to come out of Canada in a long time. He’s currently on tour with Shania Twain, and is about to release his debut album, “Lord of the Flies & Birds & Bees.” Ahead of that release, he joins Talia Schlanger in studio to speak about the runaway success of his debut single “Run Away to Mars,” and how he uses his platform to lift others up.
17 min
November 01, 2023 Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody + Poet and illustrator Hana Shafi
Diablo Cody was only 29 when she won an Oscar for her first screenplay, “Juno”, catapulting her to celebrity status as a Hollywood screenwriter. Now, she’s adapted the Alanis Morissette album “Jagged Little Pill” for the stage. Diablo Cody speaks with Tom Power about why that album works so well as a musical theatre show, and how the music of Alanis Morissette has soundtracked her own life.
Hana Shafi is an illustrator, essayist and poet whose new book “People You Know, Places You’ve Been” takes us on a journey from public transportation to antique stores to waiting rooms, looking at the connections we create with total strangers as we go through our daily lives. She speaks with Talia Schlanger about the book and the power of those seemingly mundane interactions. Plus, she reads a poem from her book.
43 min
October 31, 2023 Canadian supermodel Linda Evangelista + Celina SpookyBoo’s thrilling new audio series
At the height of her fame in the 1990s, Canadian supermodel Linda Evangelista was one of the most famous women on the planet. Now, a new book called “Linda Evangelista Photographed by Steven Meisel” documents her incredible career. Linda speaks with guest host Talia Schlanger about her decades-long collaboration with the American photographer Steven Meisel, what it’s like to have one of the most iconic and recognizable faces in the world, and her recent journey with breast cancer.
Plus, Canadian social media star Celina SpookyBoo has 27.5 million followers on TikTok, and now she’s bringing her love for all things spooky to Audible with a new series called “SpookyBoo’s Night Frights.” Celina speaks with Tom Power about how her love of scary stories started, and we’ll hear a clip from her new show… just in time for Halloween!
42 min
October 30, 2023 Remembering Matthew Perry
“Friends” star Matthew Perry, the Emmy-nominated actor whose sarcastic but lovable character Chandler Bing was among the most famous and most quotable on television, has died at 54. Last year, he joined Tom for a live on-stage interview to talk about his memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.” Matthew shared his incredible story of survival and why he wanted to help others going through similar struggles.
36 min
October 30, 2023 Sasha Leigh Henry: Why Bria Mack Gets A Life is a weird Canadian TV show
Sasha Leigh Henry is a Canadian director and producer whose new comedy series, “Bria Mack Gets A Life,” follows the story of a 25-year-old Black woman who is navigating adulthood in a predominantly white world. Sasha talks to Tom about writing a show partly based on her own life experiences and making “weird” Canadian comedy.
21 min
October 27, 2023 Iconic drag queen Sasha Velour + Rêve on her new song Saturn Return
After an unforgettable final lip sync to Whitney Houston’s “So Emotional” in 2017, Sasha Velour was crowned the Season 9 winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” That performance went down in drag history and was even parodied on “SNL” two years later. Sasha’s latest book, “The Big Reveal: An Illustrated Manifesto of Drag,” chronicles drag’s history, interwoven with her own personal story. She tells Tom about her grandmother’s that encouraged her drag as a child, the moment she won “Drag Race” and how her mother’s battle with cancer inspired her signature bald look.
Plus, Rêve burst onto the scene with her dance hit “CTRL+ALT+DEL” in 2021, winning her dance recording of the year at this year’s Juno Awards. Now, Reve’s just released her debut studio album, “Saturn Return,” inspired by the major astrological event that marks a transformative time in one's life. Rêve tells Tom the story behind the album’s title track.
49 min
October 26, 2023 Justine Triet: Anatomy of a Fall, being the third woman to win a Palme d’Or, and the future of French cinema
Acclaimed French director Justine Triet joins Tom to discuss her new film, “Anatomy of a Fall,” which was this year’s Palme d’Or winner. Set against the backdrop of a courtroom, the film puts the intimate details of a marriage on trial when a woman is charged with the murder of her husband after he falls to his death in their home.
23 min
October 26, 2023 Bobby Rush: Touring during segregation, B.B. King, and winning his first Grammy at 83
Bobby Rush grew up in the cotton fields of Louisiana, going on to play the blues alongside the likes of Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and B.B. King. Despite writing big hits like “Chicken Heads” and putting out music for decades, he only got his first Grammy at age 83. Now, at 89, Bobby is back with a new record, “All My Love For You.” He tells Tom about growing up in the South during segregation, playing alongside some of the greatest blues players of all time, and how it felt to finally win a Grammy in his 80s.
27 min
October 25, 2023 Steve Albini on Nirvana’s In Utero + Caroline Brooks of Good Lovelies
This month is the 30th anniversary of Nirvana’s multi-platinum final album, “In Utero.” Released months before the death of lead singer Kurt Cobain, “In Utero” was the last musical statement from one of the biggest bands in the world at the time. The producer of the album was Steve Albini, who was sought out by Kurt himself as Nirvana wanted the record to be the opposite of their biggest album, “Nevermind.” Steve tells Tom about recording the album and reflects on his iconoclastic career as one of the most divisive producers in rock.
Plus, Caroline Brooks of Good Lovelies calls in from a parking lot in Winnipeg to tell Tom about the group’s brand new song, “Tip to Toe.”
48 min

About Q with Tom Power

From the publisher's feed

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.