Q with Tom Power

By CBCSociety & Culture

Favorites
579
Followers
Typical duration
24 min
per episode
If it hooks
72%
finish an episode

Based on Podcast App listening data

Q with Tom Power episodes

August 01, 2023 How Deanna Bowen’s two-storey mural blends the history of anti-Black racism in North America with her own family’s history
Growing up, the award-winning artist Deanna Bowen heard dramatic stories of how her ancestors — early Black settlers — tried to build a life on the Canadian Prairies. She shares those stories in a gigantic new mural for the National Gallery of Canada, titled “The Black Canadians (after Cooke),” which traces the history of her family and the country itself. Deanna tells guest host Talia Schlanger about her ambitious new mural and the stories within it.
20 min
July 31, 2023 Sam Smith talks Gloria, self-love and why queer joy can feel “radical”
Sam Smith is one of the biggest artists in the world. They made a name for themself in 2014 with devastating songs about love and loss, which earned them four Grammys. Now, Sam is trying something new: focusing on joy in their life and music. Sam opens up to Tom about their latest record, “Gloria,” why focusing on queer joy is the most radical thing they can do, and the highs and lows of finding their identity.
36 min
July 31, 2023 Nathan Lee Graham on starring in the Tony-winning musical “Hadestown”
Nathan Lee Graham (The Wild Bunch, Zoolander, Hitch) stars as the narrator Hermes in the Tony Award-winning musical “Hadestown.” As the show continues its national tour, Nathan joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the challenges and joys of starring in “Hadestown,” how being visible as a Black, gay actor is part of his activism, and how the advice he got from an acting coach changed his approach to the rest of his career.
17 min
July 28, 2023 Why Misty Copeland honours the trailblazing Black ballet dancer Raven Wilkinson in her memoir
In 2015, Misty Copeland became the first Black woman to become principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre. Her heartfelt memoir “The Wind at My Back” pays tribute to her mentor and fellow dance pioneer Raven Wilkinson, who performed in the segregated South as a member of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in the 1950s. Copeland joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about Wilkinson's incredible life and legacy.
32 min
July 28, 2023 YouTube stars turned filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou on their new A24 horror film “Talk To Me”
You might recognize twin brothers Danny and Michael Philippou from their wildly popular YouTube channel “RackaRacka” where they post videos that include wild and sometimes dangerous stunts, fights, special effects and horror plotlines. Now, the Philippou brothers have just released “Talk to Me,” their debut feature film about a party game that involves short-term possession, driven by a mysterious disembodied hand. Danny and Michael tell guest host Talia Schlanger about how they went from being YouTubers to creating their first feature film, what it’s like having masters of the horror genre like Stephen King and Jordan Peele compliment their work, and what the tender message is at the heart of their terrifying new film.
22 min
July 27, 2023 Remembering Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad O'Connor, the Irish singer who rose to fame in the 1990s with a hit recording of Prince's “Nothing Compares 2 U,” and became known for her outspoken political activism and mental health struggles, has died at 56. Tom spoke with Sinéad when she released her memoir “Rememberings: Scenes from My Complicated Life” in 2021.
22 min
July 27, 2023 “The energy is unhinged” — what you can expect at Marc Rebillet’s “one-man improvised meltdown” at Just For Laughs
You might recognize the musician Marc Rebillet from his viral videos on YouTube, where he pairs funk and hip-hop electronic music with hilarious improvisational lyrics. Now, Marc is taking his unpredictable performances on the road with a stop at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. Marc talks to guest host Talia Schlanger about his musical influences (Leslie Nielsen, Robin Williams, Reggie Watts), what people can expect at his “unhinged” live show, and how he “makes friends with terror” to find the courage to get on stage.
20 min
July 26, 2023 John Legend on his double album “Legend” and the joy of making music
John Legend is back with a new double album, Legend. He joined Tom Power for a feature interview about the record, his musical roots and what keeps him creating.
33 min
July 26, 2023 How Meryl McMaster’s self-portraits shine a light on untold Indigenous stories
For years, the artist Meryl McMaster has been tapping into her mixed ancestry to make epic large-scale photographs. Now, a new exhibition of her work, “Meryl McMaster: Bloodline,” is traveling the country. The exhibition takes you from some of Meryl’s early work when she was still in school, to a new body of work that’s based on a recent discovery — a diary and letter written by her great-grandmother, living in Red Pheasant Cree Nation in Saskatchewan. Meryl tells guest host Talia Schlanger what it feels like to have a retrospective of her career in her 30s, what taking self-portraits has taught her about herself, and how she’s telling her family's story through her work.
20 min
July 25, 2023 Alicia Keys talks her first big hit, self-worth and her memoir “More Myself”
Fifteen-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, actor, producer and activist Alicia Keys tells Tom how an appearance on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” changed her life, what happened when she asked Prince’s permission to perform one of his songs, and what she learned about herself when writing her memoir “More Myself.”
24 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.