Q with Tom Power

The longest poem ever written is a 4,000-year-old Sanskrit epic called the “Mahabharata,” which clocks in at roughly 1.8 million words. But the poem’s daunting length didn’t stop Toronto’s Why Not Theatre from adapting it into a large-scale play of the same name. A few months ago, Miriam Fernandes, the co-creator and star of the show, joined Tom Power to tell us exactly what it took to bring this ancient Sanskrit epic to the stage, and why the story still feels urgent and deeply relevant today.

Canadian actor Tonya Williams spent two decades playing Dr. Olivia Winters on “The Young and the Restless,” which made her one of the first Black actors to star on a soap opera. In 2001, she founded the Reelworld Film Festival, which champions diverse Canadian talent in the TV and film industry. Now, she’s been named an Officer of the Order of Canada. We revisit Tonya’s conversation with Tom Power about her groundbreaking career and how her soap opera character actually helped increase the number of Black women doctors in the U.S.

On the hit series “The Bear,” Liza Colón-Zayas plays a middle-aged line cook named Tina who’s challenged by her mentors to learn new skills as a sous-chef. In some ways, her character’s story mirrors her own journey as an actor. With Season 4 of “The Bear” out now, we revisit Liza’s conversation with Tom Power about the scarcity and struggle she had to overcome on her path to success, her experience in a strict religious group that forced her to surrender all her wages to them, and how her setbacks continue to shape her as an artist. If you like this conversation, you should also check out Tom’s interview with Matty Matheson.

George Takei is one of America’s most beloved actors and activists, known best for playing Hikaru Sulu in the “Star Trek” franchise. In 2019, he released a graphic memoir, “They Called Us Enemy,” which detailed his childhood experience at internment camps during the Second World War. Now, he’s released a follow-up book, “It Rhymes with Takei.” The new graphic memoir unpacks his experience living as a closeted gay man for most of his life. In this conversation with guest host Talia Schlanger, George opens up about fearing punishment for his differences, why he didn’t come out until he was 68, and how his involvement with LGBTQ+ advocacy work has shaped who he is today.

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. He joins 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. 

In R.T. Thorne's directorial debut, “40 Acres,” the Canadian filmmaker imagines a post-apocalyptic world where food is scarce, society is in ruins and your family is under threat. It’s an intense movie about fighting for survival, but it also explores the complicated relationship between a mother and a son. R.T. joins Tom Power to share how his mother’s experiences as a Trinidadian immigrant in Canada shaped the mother-son relationship in the film, and how his background making music videos still informs his work today.

Born and raised in Scarborough, actor Stephan James has defied the odds and climbed the ranks in Hollywood. He’s made a name for himself by playing major historical figures like runner Jesse Owens in “Race,” and civil rights activist John Lewis in Ava DuVernay’s film “Selma.” After working with legends like Julia Roberts and Laurence Fishburne, Stephan wants to come back to his community in Canada and share his success. Tom Power spoke with Stephan in front of a live audience, after he received the Canadian Award of Distinction at the Banff World Media Festival, to talk about his career and his plans to uplift young Black creatives.

Jully Black is a powerhouse singer-songwriter from Toronto who’s often called Canada's queen of R&B soul. Earlier this year, Jully sat down with Tom Power to tell us how singing in church at age six put her on her artistic path, why she feels speaking out is always the right thing to do, and why her mother is her biggest influence.

Calgary’s Jan Lisiecki was only nine when made his orchestral debut as a classical pianist. While most of us were still figuring out cursive, he was playing sold-out recitals — so, of course, he was called a child prodigy. But Jan has complicated feelings about that term. A few months ago, he joined guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about his new album, “Preludes,” and why he doesn’t want to be called a child prodigy.

In just under five years, Eva Victor went from being a viral video comedian to writing, directing and starring in their own feature film, “Sorry, Baby.” The film tells the story of Agnes, a grad school student turned professor whose life was altered by an incident they refer to as “the bad thing.” What follows is a sensitive, fraught and often funny examination of life before and after a sexual assault. Eva drops by our studio to talk to guest host Talia Schlanger about the film, their unique journey in the film industry, and how they bring nuance to the complex and painful experience of trauma.