Q with Tom Power

By CBCSociety & Culture

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Q with Tom Power episodes

September 05, 2023 How a complicated relationship with his dad inspired Raymond Antrobus's new poem
The poet Raymond Antrobus is back with his second spoken word album, “An Investigator (of Missing Sounds).” Raymond tells Tom about how being a new dad affected his ability to write, and how his own relationship with his father made it onto the album. He also sets up one of his new poems, “The Perseverance.”
15 min
September 04, 2023 Pamela Anderson on taking her story back
Over the years, Pamela Anderson’s story has seemingly been told by everyone but herself. Earlier this year, she decided to take back authorship of her life with a memoir (“Love, Pamela”) and Netflix documentary (“Pamela, A Love Story”). Pam sat down with Tom in studio to share her story in her own words and set the record straight.
36 min
September 04, 2023 How working in the world of magic made bestselling author Cherie Dimaline a better writer
Cherie Dimaline is an award-winning author who seems to move effortlessly between labels like “young adult” and “literary fiction.” She talks to Tom about finding inspiration everywhere — from cemeteries to Pinterest boards — and mining some of her own experiences for her latest YA novel, “Funeral Songs for Dying Girls.”
19 min
September 01, 2023 Why Debby Friday had to get sober to make her best work
Debby Friday’s debut album, “Good Luck,” has been shortlisted for Canada’s prestigious Polaris Music Prize. She talks to Tom about the record, the influence that Montreal’s club culture had on her, and how sobriety changed her life and art.
24 min
September 01, 2023 From anonymity to playing arenas: Tony Wolski on the mystery of The Armed
For years, The Armed has been a highly acclaimed band that’s somehow kept their individual identities a secret. For the first time ever, they’ve come clean about who’s actually in the band, which turns out to have included more than 100 artists over the years. The big reveal is accompanied by the release of a new album, “Perfect Saviors.” Creative director and singer Tony Wolski talks to Tom about why now was the right time to unmask the group and release the arena rock record of the year.
29 min
August 31, 2023 Shania Twain on the moments that made her + King Cruff’s new music and having Bob Marley as your grandfather
For decades, Shania Twain has been inspiring fans with empowering anthems like “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” and “That Don’t Impress Me Much.” Tom spoke with Shania back when the documentary about her life, “Not Just a Girl,” came out on Netflix. Shania talks about her humble beginnings in Timmins, Ontario, and the hard lessons she's learned about life and love.
Plus, it’s hard to pin down King Cruff’s music as it seamlessly blends hip-hop, dancehall, Afrobeats and reggae. London, Ontario’s King Cruff will tell you about his hit single “Soufflé” and how his grandfather, reggae legend Bob Marley, has influenced his approach to music and life.
48 min
August 30, 2023 Why Peter Berg made a TV show about OxyContin
Peter Berg, the creator of the hit TV show “Friday Night Lights,” is back with his latest series “Painkiller,” a gut-wrenching and relentless look at the opioid crisis and the role of Purdue Pharma, the makers of OxyContin. Peter breaks down the path from drugs made in labs to marketers, to doctors, to patients, and why he decided to feature actual testimonials from the families of overdose victims in the series.
31 min
August 29, 2023 Tim McGraw on sobriety, meeting his dad in his teens, Taylor Swift and his new album
Tim McGraw, one of the biggest country stars on earth, is back with his 16th studio album, “Standing Room Only.” Tim talks to Tom about his career, meeting his dad for the first time as a teenager, and how he knew Taylor Swift was going to be big the first time he met her.
37 min
August 28, 2023 Feist on Multitudes, motherhood & memories + Charlotte Cardin performs “Next To You”
Singer-songwriter Feist on her latest album, “Multitudes,” what it was like becoming a new mom during the pandemic, and how her life changed after her song “1234” was featured in an iPod commercial in 2007.
Plus, Charlotte Cardin performs “Next to You” off her Juno-winning sophomore album, “99 Nights.”
40 min
August 25, 2023 Hip-Hop Week: Saweetie doesn't care about making a hit song
Saweetie (Icy Grl, Best Friend, My Type) is one of the biggest rappers in the world with three consecutive No. 1 songs, a Grammy nomination and a new album on the way. She tells Tom about growing up surrounded by hip-hop, how she rejected job offers to pursue her dreams and why, despite a great track record, she never enters the recording studio in pursuit of a hit.
22 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.