Q with Tom Power

Emma Higgins is a Vancouver-based filmmaker who first cut her teeth making music videos. In 2021, she won a Juno for her work with Jessie Reyez on the track No One's In The Room. Now, she’s released her feature directorial debut, Sweetness, which follows a 16-year-old girl who kidnaps her rockstar idol in an attempt to “help” him recover from addiction. Emma drops by the Q studio to talk to guest host Garvia Bailey about the film and why teenage fandom was perfect fodder for a horror movie.

Ashton James is quickly becoming one of Canada’s most exciting rising actors. His latest leading role is in the film Youngblood, a remake of the 1986 hockey drama of the same name. Ashton sits down with guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about hitting the ice with purpose, learning how to skate like a pro, and how his grandmother in St. Lucia helped inspire his journey into acting. Plus, he shares his memories of the late Canadian filmmaker Charles Officer.

Chris Lavis is the Montreal-based writer, director and animator behind the Oscar-nominated stop-motion film The Girl Who Cried Pearls. The 17-minute animated short is a modern-day fable about a poor boy in Montreal who finds himself caught between love and greed after falling for a girl who cries pearls. In this conversation with guest host Garvia Bailey, Chris talks about representing Canada and the NFB at this year’s Academy Awards, the painstaking craft behind the film’s intricate stop-motion animation, and what it was like to find out that his hero, Steven Spielberg, is a fan of the movie.

After a life-altering attack that nearly killed him when he was 16, Cole Stevenson, also known as Merkules, set out to become one of the biggest rappers on Canada’s West Coast. Growing up, he had pictures of Snoop Dogg on his bedroom wall. So years later, when Snoop’s label Death Row Records came calling, Merkules almost hung up the phone. Today, he’s the only Canadian artist to ever be signed to the iconic label. Merkules sits down with guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about his debut for Death Row, Survivor's Guilt, which is a statement album about his life, career, and the obstacles he’s overcome along the way.

Paul Grimstad is a Yale professor and music composer who just so happens to be in two of this year’s most talked-about films: One Battle After Another and Marty Supreme. Paul talks to guest host Talia Schlanger about how he landed the roles without an agent or recent acting credits, the advice he got from actor Leonardo DiCaprio, and what he means when he says “experimenting is a lot like experiencing.”

Ian Thornley has been at the helm of the rock band Big Wreck for the better part of 30 years — but he didn’t always see himself as a frontman. With encouragement from his bandmates, he stepped into the role and Big Wreck went on to become bona fide Canadian hitmakers. The band’s latest album, The Rest of the Story, is out now, and they’re currently on tour across Canada. Ian stops by the Q studio to talk with guest host Garvia Bailey about returning to the spotlight, the highs and lows of life on the road, and how his longtime friend Chad Kroeger helped him write his first solo record.

Julia Dault is an acclaimed Canadian abstract painter and sculptor whose work can be found in the Guggenheim Museum, Miami’s Pérez Art Museum, the National Gallery of Canada, and many other notable galleries around the world. But after a midlife crisis, Julia shifted her focus away from international exhibits and toward the hyper-local. She sits down with guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about that change, and why she decided to open a community art studio in Toronto called Hot Pizza, built around a simple motto: art for everyone.

After a decade away from music, Hilary Duff is back with Luck… or Something — a new album that dives into the messy, vulnerable and raw parts of life she’s now navigating in her late 30s. Hilary sits down with guest host Garvia Bailey in the Q studio to discuss her comeback album, child stardom, and her complicated relationship with Lizzie McGuire. 

Jully Black, Canada’s Queen of R&B Soul, is currently on tour, but not the kind of tour we’re used to. She’s performing at small venues across the country for what she’s calling the Jully Black Live Experience. Guest host Garvia Bailey catches up with the R&B powerhouse to talk about why she wanted to get up close and personal with her fans. Plus, Jully reflects on how a song she recorded more than 25 years ago has earned her a new Juno nomination — and a spot at Q Live at the Junos, taking place in Hamilton on March 26.

Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett — the architects of the Grammy-winning, multi-platinum band Gorillaz — are back with their ninth studio record, The Mountain. It might be the group’s most personal record yet, as it follows a fictional story inspired by real events. After Damon and Jamie both lost their fathers, they decided to travel to India where they gained a new understanding of death and family. The Mountain was the result of that journey. Damon and Jamie join guest host Talia Schlanger to open up about the album and the personal loss that fuelled it.

The Montreal hip-hop trio Muzion were pioneers of the Quebec rap scene in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The group was known for bringing their Haitian roots to the world stage, mixing French, English and Haitian Creole into their music. For Black History Month, Canada Post recently unveiled special edition postage stamps to honour Muzion and other Canadian hip-hop artists that have helped shape the genre. Two of the members of Muzion — siblings Jenny Salgado and Stanley Salgado (better known as Imposs) — join guest host Garvia Bailey to tell us why this moment means so much to them, and to talk about Muzion’s enduring influence.

Candi Staton has been a gospel prodigy, a Southern soul powerhouse and a disco icon. Now, at 85, she’s back in the spotlight with her Grammy-nominated album Back to My Roots, which marks her return to the gospel music where it all began. From segregated Alabama churches to ’90s dance floors, her career includes timeless hits like Young Hearts Run Free and You Got the Love. But it’s also a journey marked by hardship, heartbreak and long stretches of being overlooked. Candi joins guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about finally getting her flowers — and what it means to keep singing after seven decades in music.

Canadian rapper Alexander Gumuchian, better known as bbno$, is up for three Junos next month. A few years ago, he sat down with Tom Power in the Q studio to talk about his unconventional path to success, from a bored college kid making music for fun to a viral TikTok star and mainstream hitmaker.

Leroy Sibbles is one of the biggest names in reggae history. Known as the undisputed king of the reggae bassline, Leroy first rose to fame as the lead singer of The Heptones. He 

was also an integral part of Jamaica's Studio One record label, which is often described as “the Motown of Jamaica.” In the early ’70s, Leroy left Jamaica for Canada, where he helped build Toronto’s fledgling reggae scene. In this conversation with guest host Garvia Bailey, he talks about his incredible life and career.

When artist Jesse Mockrin looks at Renaissance paintings, she can't help but see the gender-based violence in them. Her new exhibit, Echo, at the Art Gallery of Ontario, reimagines these works from a feminist perspective — shifting focus to the women whose stories have long been overlooked or erased in historical art. Jesse joins guest host Garvia Bailey to discuss the inspirations behind her work, why she often crops her paintings, and her fascination with hands.

Oliver Laxe is the director of the Oscar-nominated film Sirāt, which is up for best international feature (representing Spain) and best sound at this year’s Academy Awards. Set against vast stretches of desert, the film follows a father searching for his missing daughter after she disappears at a rave deep in the mountains of southern Morocco. Oliver spent more than a decade making Sirāt, paring the script down to just 50 pages and letting its deep techno score, movement and imagery drive the story. In this conversation with guest host Garvia Bailey, he talks about his singular approach to storytelling, and the surprising role the dance floor played in his own healing.

After years working behind the scenes as a songwriter and producer, followed by a nearly decade-long hiatus in the corporate world, Koladae made the decision to finally release his own music. But then, a little over a year ago, he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. He wrote his latest single, Keep Rolling, just two weeks before his surgery. Koladae talks to guest host Garvia Bailey about what this difficult experience taught him about life, and about making music. 

Suzy Eddie Izzard is a Tony-nominated actor, stand-up comedian, multi-marathon runner and one-time political candidate. Now, she’s performing a solo adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet at the CAA Theatre in Toronto, in which she plays all 23 characters. Suzy joins guest host Garvia Bailey to tell us about the challenges of doing Hamlet solo, why she was especially keen to breathe new life into Shakespeare's female characters, and why conventional beauty is like winning the acting lottery.

Zochi is a Regina-based, Nigerian-born artist who’s just released a new single called What You Want. It showcases her smooth vocals and vulnerable storytelling, diving into feelings of unrequited love. She joins guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about being honest in her music, how moving to Canada changed her life, and why she’s never giving up on love.

If you’re shocked by a few songs full of dirty words, try watching the news — that’s the challenge laid out by Peaches on her first album in more than 10 years, No Lube So Rude. On the new record, the Canadian electro-punk legend uses her brand of raunchy wordplay and danceable beats to sound off on everything from the reversal of Roe v. Wade to Elon Musk’s Starlink. Peaches joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the spirit of joyful rebellion behind her confrontational lyrics, what she learned performing for kids, and how aging has transformed her as an artist. 

Actor and writer Scott Turner Schofield has spent his career quietly reshaping what transgender visibility looks like on screen. He was the first openly trans actor on daytime television with The Bold and the Beautiful, the first openly trans man nominated for an Emmy, and a consultant on HBO’s Euphoria. Now, after moving to Canada amid rising anti-trans legislation in the U.S., Scott is telling his own story in an autobiographical film called Becoming a Man in 127 Easy Steps. Captured over years and across different stages of his transition, the film blends humour and memory to reflect on what it means to keep becoming yourself. Scott sits down with guest host Garvia Bailey to tell us more.

Canadian comedian Dave Foley (The Kids in the Hall) is a lifelong Toronto Maple Leafs fan. He’s always had a love of the game — even when it felt like the game didn’t love him back. Now, he’s hosting a new docuseries, Hockey Fanatics, which explores hockey fandom across North America. In the show, Dave visits NHL teams and their biggest and most notable fans, including Wynonna Judd (a Nashville Predators fan), Party of Five star Scott Wolf (a Utah Mammoth fan), and Canada’s own Jay Baruchel (a Montreal Canadiens fan). Dave drops by the Q studio to talk to guest host Garvia Bailey about all things hockey. Plus, he shares some exclusive knowledge about the origin of Canada’s latest catchphrase, “elbows up.”

Winnipeg-based musician Liam Duncan, also known as Boy Golden, is back with a new record, Best of Our Possible Lives, which can only be described as a balm for the uncertain times we’re living in. He sits down with guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about the record, the power of having an alter ego, and why he thinks softness and vulnerability are the countermeasures to grief and suffering.

Award-winning composer Kris Bowers is the man behind the musical scores for films like Green Book, King Richard, The Color Purple, and The Wild Robot, as well as TV series like Bridgerton, Mrs. America, and Dear White People. His latest score is for the new animated movie Goat, which follows a small goat named Will who has big dreams about joining the pros to play roarball — a high-intensity sport that’s a lot like basketball. Kris joins guest host Garvia Bailey to tell us how he brought some advice from the late Kobe Bryant to the project, why he wasn’t worried about writing “serious film music,” and how this movie helped him honour his family roots.

Canadian jazz singer and pianist Laila Biali recently caused a stir after her album Wintersongs received a Grammy nomination for best traditional pop vocal album, alongside Lady Gaga, Jennifer Hudson, Brandi Carlile and Elton John, Laufey, and Barbra Streisand. She sits down with guest host Garvia Bailey to tell us about the unexpected recognition, and what it was like to go to the Grammys ceremony in Los Angeles.

Laura Ramoso is bringing her most personal material yet to her new comedy tour. It’s called The Calm Down Tour, and she’s launching it this month at Just For Laughs Vancouver. Laura is best known for the viral character impressions she posts on social media. Some of her most popular characters — including “German Mom,” “Italian Dad,” and an airline worker named Chiara — have racked up millions of views online. That success has led to sold-out shows around the world and opening slots for the likes of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. Ahead of her first show in Vancouver, Laura joins guest host Garvia Bailey in the Q studio to tell us what it’s like sharing the stage with comedy legends, what her earliest comedic influences were, and why her new material is her most personal yet.

Canadian actor and playwright Natasha Mumba has described her debut play, Copperbelt, as an “African Succession.” It centres on the Kasubas, a wealthy Zambian mining family. After the family patriarch falls ill, he summons his adult children home to help run the business. But long-simmering tensions rise and relationships fracture, forcing the family to confront its legacy — and its future. Natasha sits down with guest host Garvia Bailey in the Q studio to tell us more about the play and why she wants to change how theatre tells African stories.

Natalie MacMaster is a virtuoso Canadian fiddle player from Cape Breton who’s brought traditional East Coast music to the rest of the world. She was nine when she got her first fiddle, but she felt like she already had nine years of experience at that point because she had been surrounded by fiddle music from the time she was born. Now, Natalie has released a new memoir, I Have a Love Story, which traces her incredible life in music. Last fall, she sat down with Tom Power to talk about her first fiddle, the advice Santana gave her when she broke a string on stage, and how to get your kids to practice music at home (she has seven children herself).

Lifelong best friends and creative partners Jay McCarrol and Matt Johnson began their careers making the viral web series-turned-TV show Nirvanna the Band the Show. Now, they’ve adapted that project into a feature film, fittingly titled Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie. During the Toronto International Film Festival back in September, Jay and Matt sat down with Tom Power to discuss the film, their friendship, the perils of fame and how they convincingly staged a wild stunt to jump off the CN Tower and parachute into the SkyDome.

Veteran actor Joan Chen (The Last Emperor, Twin Peaks) has entered a new phase of her career, earning acclaim for her recent performances in the drama Dìdi and the comedy The Wedding Banquet. In her latest film, Montréal, ma belle, she plays an immigrant woman who represses her sexuality for the sake of her husband and children. Joan joins guest host Garvia Bailey to tell us what drew her to the role, what it was like being “discovered” during the Chinese Cultural Revolution, and how she feels about media outlets declaring a “Joan Chen renaissance.”

Wally Baram isn’t afraid to overshare. That’s how she carved out a successful career in stand-up comedy, TV writing (What We Do in the Shadows, Shrinking), and acting (Overcompensating) all before turning 30. Now, she’s back on the road doing stand-up with a stop at Just For Laughs Vancouver. Wally joins guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about her early days as a stand-up comedian, what it was like being raised by eccentric parents in a Mexican-Syrian household, and what really goes on in a Hollywood writers’ room.

This week, Canadian R&B musician Aquakultre (a.k.a. Lance Sampson) releases his new album, 1783. The title refers to a pivotal year for Afro-Nova Scotians: after the American War of Independence ended, thousands of Black Loyalists arrived in Nova Scotia seeking new homes. Lance traces his own family lineage back to those early settlers. He joins guest host Garvia Bailey to discuss the stories behind the record — and how that history continues to reverberate today.

About a decade ago, Canadian musician Teagan Johnston was just getting her start in Toronto’s music scene. As her career began to gain momentum and her circle of musician friends grew, she found herself wrestling with some unexpected emotions. She was thrilled to see her peers succeed, but she also started to wonder whether she truly belonged, and if it would ever be her turn. Those conflicting feelings became the inspiration for her latest single, Neon Schoolgirl. Teagan joins guest host Garvia Bailey in the Q studio to tell us how writing the song helped her confront and overcome her imposter syndrome.

After more than 30 years on screen, Katherine LaNasa is finally having a breakout moment with her Emmy-winning role on The Pitt. But the road wasn't easy. As she was preparing to take on the hit medical drama, she was also undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Katherine sits down with guest host Garvia Bailey in the Q studio to talk about that health scare, her hard-fought early years as an actor, and what it means to reach a new level of recognition at this stage of her career.

On his new album Pray for Me, Toronto-based R&B singer RAAHiiM straddles the line between his religious upbringing and a musical style that feels true to who he is. He talks to guest host Garvia Bailey about the breakout year he’s had since being named Apple Music Canada’s Up Next Artist, and how he honours both his family roots and his creative identity through his music.

Last year, a movie called My Father’s Shadow made history when it became the first Nigerian film to be officially selected for the Cannes Film Festival. Set over the course of a single day in Lagos in 1993 (a day that happens to be one of the most catastrophic in Nigerian history), the film follows two young boys who join their father on a trip to the city so he can collect his paycheck. The story is semi-autobiographical, based on director Akinola Davies Jr.’s own family experiences. During the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, Akinola sat down with Tom Power to talk about memory, Nigeria’s lesser known history, and the stuff you learn about your parents after they're gone.

Thirty years ago, a modest Canadian documentary called Project Grizzly turned into an unlikely cult classic, winning over high-profile admirers such as Quentin Tarantino. Directed by Peter Lynch, the film follows Troy Hurtubise — an unconventional metalworker and amateur inventor who survived a near-fatal grizzly bear attack as a young man. Determined to face a grizzly again, Troy sets out to build a bear-proof suit of armour from a mix of scrap metal, rubber, hockey equipment and duct tape. But what Peter ultimately captures on film is something more complicated: a portrait of a man whose bold dream slowly becomes an all-consuming obsession. Three decades later, Peter sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger in the Q studio to look back on the film and its enduring legacy.

Award-winning actor Tantoo Cardinal (Dances with Wolves, Killers of the Flower Moon) is returning to the stage in a new theatre production called Witch. It follows a woman named Elizabeth who’s ostracized by her community after being branded a witch. But when the devil comes to town looking for souls, it’s Elizabeth who refuses to be bought while others give in right away. Tantoo sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the play, its theme of resilience, and the connection she feels to her character.

The 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympic Games start today and Canadian figure skater Elladj Baldé is representing Canada in a new way — as a special contributor on CBC. Elladj started skating at age six and, like many budding athletes, grew up dreaming of Olympic glory. But as a young Black man, he didn’t always see himself reflected in the world of figure skating, and that started to impact how he felt about the sport and even himself. In this conversation with guest host Garvia Bailey, Elladj talks about the crushing disappointment he experienced after he narrowly missed qualifying for the Sochi Olympics, how a trip to Guinea, West Africa changed his relationship with skating, and how he found a new sense of purpose on the ice.

For years, Tanya Tagaq has dazzled the Canadian music scene with a blend of sounds that span throat singing, trip-hop, dance, rock and classical music. But back in 2018, she surprised us with a different type of project: a novel called Split Tooth. Now, Tanya is reimagining parts of that novel in a new stage show called Split Tooth: Saputjiji. Not only that, she’s mashing it up with a new album set to be released in March. Ahead of the world premiere of Split Tooth: Saputjiji in Vancouver, Tanya joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the production, and what she gets from being on stage and performing. 

Marina Zenovich is a two-time Emmy Award-winning documentarian who’s built a career taking on some of pop culture’s most complex and controversial figures. From Roman Polanski to Lance Armstrong to Robin Williams to Richard Pryor, her specialty is getting past tricky, evasive subjects to uncover something real. Marina joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about her latest CNN documentary, I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not, and how she cuts through celebrity myth to find the human underneath. 

In a very short amount of time, Bruce Liu has gone from playing piano just for the joy of it, to winning an international competition and becoming one of Canada’s most acclaimed pianists. He has a unique way of putting music into words, describing classical pieces as if they were desserts. Ahead of concert dates in Toronto, Bruce sits down with guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about his career in music and how he stays grounded. Plus, he tells us which Mozart piece is like a mille-feuille and why.

Last month, one of this country’s greatest sculptors, David Ruben Piqtoukun, died at age 76. For the renowned Inuvialuk artist from Paulatuk, N.W.T., sculpting was a form of storytelling — a way of sharing stories from his community, as well as making sense of his own story as a residential school survivor. In 2022, he won the Governor General's Award in visual and media arts, and the following year, he joined Tom Power to reflect on his 50-year career. Today, we’re revisiting that conversation in his memory.

For nearly 60 years, the Canadian singer, composer and transgender activist Beverly Glenn-Copeland has been on a journey of music, art, community and spirituality. From his iconic work on the CBC Television show Mr. Dressup to his seminal 1986 synth-folk album Keyboard Fantasies, Glenn is now regarded as a Canadian icon — and his wife and creative collaborator, Elizabeth, has been there for much of his journey. Now, Glenn is releasing a new album called Laughter In Summer. Glenn and Elizabeth sit down with guest host Talia Schlanger in the Q studio to talk about creativity and spirituality, Glenn’s 2023 diagnosis of major cognitive disorder, and why they see this new album as a love letter to one another.

Today, we’re remembering Canadian comedy legend Catherine O’Hara, who died last week at 71. Over the years, we’ve been fortunate to have had her on the show many times. First, you’ll hear guest host Talia Schlanger’s 2024 interview with Catherine, when the long-awaited sequel to Beetlejuice came out. Then, you’ll hear Tom Power’s 2016 conversation with the Schitt’s Creek star about how coming from a big family helped shape her comedy.

As a founding member of the legendary sketch comedy troupe The Kids in the Hall, Bruce McCulloch is widely considered to be one of this country’s most celebrated comedic performers. Though his career has evolved over the years to working more behind the camera as a director, he’s currently preparing to take the stage once again with a new one-man theatre show. It’s called Dark Purple Slice and it uses music, stand-up and storytelling to journey into the darker side of life. Ahead of the show, Bruce drops by the Q studio to tell guest host Talia Schlanger where the title came from, why it’s important to laugh about the darkness, and why he says dark humour is the most human thing you can embrace.

Phoenix and Mercedes Arn-Horn are the twin siblings behind the Juno-nominated shoegaze duo Softcult. While Softcult has been celebrated all over North America, opening for bands like Muse and Incubus, they’re only just releasing their debut album today. It’s called When A Flower Doesn't Grow and it’s a record that’s been years in the making. Phoenix and Mercedes join guest host Talia Schlanger to discuss life outside the major label model, why they decided to call out the abuse they faced in their life and in the music industry, and how they see their role in supporting abused and marginalized people.

James Acaster is one of Britain’s top comedy exports right now. But for many years, he had a problem that just wouldn’t go away — his audience. James would get so frustrated and enraged by some of the people who came to see him, he almost quit comedy (plot spoiler: he didn’t). In the middle of his North American tour, James drops by our studio to tell guest host Talia Schlanger why he used to get so angry with his audience, and the journey he took when he realised maybe they weren’t the problem.

Tania Willard is an artist who wants you to think beyond the white cube — beyond the sterile white walls and polished floors of the typical art gallery space. Last year, she won the Sobey Art Award, one of Canada’s most prestigious contemporary art prizes, and her work is currently on display at the National Gallery of Canada. In this conversation with guest host Talia Schlanger, the artist and curator from Neskonlith First Nation in B.C. reflects on her childhood, ancestry, and the everyday acts that shape Indigenous resurgence — from basket-making to raising her sons on the land.

Years ago, when Rachel Reid finished her first manuscript, she didn’t tell anyone she was submitting it for publication. But that was before the runaway success of her queer hockey romance book, Heated Rivalry. Now, the Nova Scotia author is finding it harder to work quietly. She joins guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about the complex hockey fandom that inspired Heated Rivalry, the TV adaptation that turned into a global phenomenon, and her progress on Unrivaled — the next book in the series. If you like this conversation, check out Tom Power’s interview with Heated Rivalry creator Jacob Tierney on the joy of gay, smutty TV.

Back in 2005, Hubert Davis became the very first Black Canadian to be nominated for an Academy Award. It was for his personal, moving documentary, Hardwood, which tells the story of his relationship with his father, Mel Davis, a former Harlem Globetrotter. Now, more than 20 years into his documentary filmmaking career, Hubert is making his first foray into narrative storytelling with his fictional feature debut, The Well. It’s an eco-thriller that follows a family who are living in isolation and hiding a “secret supply of fresh water.” Their safety and relationships become tested when a wounded man arrives unexpectedly and discovers their resource. Hubert tells guest host Garvia Bailey why he wanted to tell this story. Plus, he reflects on two decades in Canada’s film industry. 

Canadian theatre legend Louise Pitre is back on stage in Canada in the Tony Award-winning musical Kimberly Akimbo. It tells the story of a teenage girl who has a rare genetic condition that ages her four times as fast as her classmates. Recognized as Canada's first lady of musical theatre, Louise has led productions of Les Misérables, Piaf, Sweeney Todd, and she originated the part of Donna in Mamma Mia! on Broadway, but she says Kimberly might be the most perfect part for her right now. She sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger to tell us why as she reflects on her acclaimed stage career. 

Last year, Iranian director Jafar Panahi won the Palme d'Or at Cannes for his extraordinary film It Was Just an Accident, which he shot secretly in Tehran under great risk of serious harm. Jafar has been in prison twice on charges of “anti-government propaganda” and for protesting the imprisonment of other filmmakers. At the Toronto International Film Festival back in September, he joined Tom Power to tell us how It Was Just an Accident was shaped by his two experiences in Tehran’s Evin Prison.

Elle Fanning (A Complete Unknown, The Neon Demon) is an A-list actor who calls herself a "nepo sibling.” When she was just two years old, she played a younger version of her sister Dakota Fanning’s character in I Am Sam. But for someone who’s been famous for nearly her entire life, there’s a bit of mystery surrounding Elle — and that’s intentional. During the Toronto International Film Festival last September, she sat down with Tom Power to talk about her latest film, Sentimental Value, which broke applause records when it premiered in Cannes earlier this year.

When Tobias Forge was a kid growing up in Sweden, he had no intention of having the biggest album in the world. But this year, his band Ghost hit No. 1 for the very first time. For many years, the identities of Ghost’s band members were a total mystery. There were even rumours that musicians like Dave Grohl played in the band. But as Ghost got more popular, staying anonymous got more difficult. Tobias joins Tom Power to talk about their chart-topping success and what the hardest part of being anonymous in a famous band was.

Mona Fastvold is the director of the buzzy new movie musical The Testament of Ann Lee, which is based on the true story of Ann Lee, the charismatic religious leader who brought the Shaker sect from England to the American colonies in the 18th century. The Testament of Ann Lee is getting rave reviews for Amanda Seyfried’s performance as Ann, and critics are saying the film is redefining what a musical can be. Mona joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the process of making this film, how it upends expectations, and how she got this very “unsexy” movie made.

Wesli is a Montreal-based Haitian singer, guitarist and producer who recently released his seventh studio album, Makaya. On this album, Haitian music takes centre stage while elements from other musical traditions are blended in to create a truly global and uniquely uplifting sound. Wesli joins guest host Talia Schlanger over Zoom to set up a song from the album, titled Ayayay.

Jennette McCurdy has followed up her bestselling memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died, with a harrowing debut novel called Half His Age. Written in the voice of a 17-year-old Alaskan girl named Waldo, it tells the story of her dark relationship with her high school writing teacher, a married man in his 30s. Jennette joins guest host Talia Schlanger to tell us how anger from a past relationship informed this novel, and why she hopes Waldo’s story will help readers find compassion and forgiveness for their past selves.

Alexander “Sandy” Carson is a Canadian filmmaker whose new movie, Alberta Number One, takes a look at more than 60 single-topic museums, monuments and roadside attractions that dot the province of Alberta. This includes places such as the Museum of Miniatures and the Gopher Hole Museum. Alexander joins guest host Talia Schlanger to tell us why these roadside curios captured his imagination, and what they can reveal to us about who we are.

Jodie Foster has played many roles in her career, including an FBI trainee, an astronomer, a fixer in a bank heist, an Alaskan police chief, and a long-distance swimming coach. But now, she’s doing something she’s never done before: taking on the lead role in a French-language film. It’s called A Private Life and it follows the Oscar and Emmy winner as Lilian Steiner, a French-speaking American psychiatrist in Paris who suspects the death of one of her patients is not what it seems. Jodie joins Tom Power to tell us why she feels like a different actor when she’s performing in French. Plus, she talks about the freedom she’s found after turning 60.

Saskatoon’s Katie Tupper has just released her debut album, Greyhound, which reflects on her life, where she comes from, her relationships, and the unhealthy cycles she realized she was caught in. Katie sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger to tell us what she learned while making the record and how the Prairies have shaped her sound.

George Takei is one of America’s most beloved actors and activists, known best for playing Hikaru Sulu in the Star Trek franchise. Last year, he released his second graphic memoir, It Rhymes with Takei, which unpacks his experience living as a closeted gay man for most of his life. Around the time the book was released, he joined guest host Talia Schlanger to tell us why he didn’t come out until he was 68, and how his involvement with LGBTQ+ advocacy work has shaped who he is today.

Fashion designer Spencer Badu is known for making structured, genderless garments that have been worn by the likes of A$AP Rocky and Kendrick Lamar. Equally drawing from his family roots in Ghana and his childhood in and around Toronto, Spencer has managed to make a name for himself at fashion weeks in New York, London and Paris — but it’s his home country of Canada that grounds him. Now, he’s serving as a judge on Project Runway Canada, which recently returned after more than 15 years off the air. Spencer sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about his early creative dreams and inspirations, and what wisdom he can impart on Canada’s next generation of talented designers.

Actor and musician siblings Nat Wolff (Paper Towns, The Fault in Our Stars) and Alex Wolff (Hereditary, Old) have been living and breathing music nearly their entire lives. As kids, they wrote and performed their own songs on their hit Nickelodeon show The Naked Brothers Band before eventually forming their aptly named pop rock duo Nat & Alex Wolff. Now, the brothers are back with their third studio album. Nat and Alex join guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about their unusual childhoods and experiences with early fame, how they’ve evolved as collaborators while keeping a strong brotherly bond, and why now was the right time to start writing music again. 

In her new film, Measures for a Funeral, director Sofia Bohdanowicz blends fiction with documentary to tell the forgotten true story of Canadian violin prodigy Kathleen Parlow, often billed as “The Lady of the Golden Bow” or “The Canadian Violinist.” The film explores how easily we lose cultural icons to history. Sofia sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about Kathleen’s life, legacy and the once-lost opus that was composed for her.

Sally Wainwright, the acclaimed British TV creator behind shows like Happy Valley and Last Tango in Halifax, is back with a new series called Riot Women. It’s about a group of women who cope with aging and the chaos of menopause by starting a punk band. Sally joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the show, why she challenged herself to learn the drums while working on it, and how she finds it harder to write as she gets older.

Back in the 1980s, Edmonton birthed one of the most influential Canadian punk bands of all time: SNFU. For most of its existence, twin brothers Marc and Brent Belke wrote and played all the guitar for the band. With a new exhibit on now at the Punk Rock Museum in Las Vegas, they join guest host Talia Schlanger to reflect on the highs and lows of SNFU, their memories of the band’s late frontman Mr. Chi Pig, and the big cultural explosion when punk suddenly went from counter-culture to mainstream.

Stan Douglas, one of Canada’s most internationally renowned artists, is widely known for “remixing history” — restaging and reframing social and political events through films, videos and photographs. In support of his new exhibition, Tales of Empire, Stan joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about his ongoing fascination with the past and how art can help imagine alternatives to the status quo.

Imagine taking your favourite family memories and spinning them into a full-length movie. That’s exactly what the Toronto filmmaker Seth Scriver has done with Endless Cookie, an animated documentary he created over nine years with his half-brother Peter. Though Seth and Peter lead radically different lives — separated by age, culture and geography — they say making a movie brought them closer together. Last summer, they joined guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about it.

María Zardoya is the lead vocalist of the band The Marías, which broke through last year to become an indie pop phenomenon. With more than 35 million monthly listeners on Spotify, a viral song on TikTok and a Grammy nomination for best new artist, the band has gone from cult favourite to playing arenas all over the world. María joins Tom Power to talk about her journey in music, how a breakup led to a creative breakthrough, and what it’s like striking out on her own with her new solo project, Not for Radio.

Acclaimed actor Lee Byung-hun (Squid Game, KPop Demon Hunters) has done a lot to pave the way for Korean films in Hollywood — but he never set out to be a performer. Now, he’s reunited with director Park Chan-wook for the satirical drama No Other Choice. The film follows an honest labourer named Man-soo who struggles to find employment after being laid off from the paper mill where he’s worked for the last 25 years. As his family makes sacrifices, Man-soo grows frustrated by the crowded job market and his methods for securing employment grow darker alongside his desperation. During the Toronto International Film Festival, Byung-hun sat down with Tom Power to reflect on his role in No Other Choice as well as his superstar career.

Before cementing her status as a bonafide comedic talent, Rose Byrne (Bridesmaids, Neighbors) was known for dramatic roles. The Australian actor combines those skills in the tense comedy-drama, If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, for which she just won a Golden Globe. During last year’s Toronto International Film Festival, Rose sat down with Tom Power to discuss the film and what it was like co-starring with Conan O'Brien in his first serious acting role. She also told us how she broke out of her shell as a shy kid, how she and Heath Ledger helped each other out as young Australians in Hollywood, and what she thinks about her one line from Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones.

Juno-winning Canadian singer-songwriter Jessie Reyez blew up nearly 10 years ago with a song called Figures. With her powerful voice, she eventually achieved worldwide success — something she’d dreamt about since she was a kid — but she soon discovered that the reality of fame wasn’t what she expected it to be. On her new album, Paid In Memories, Jessie chronicles how she learned that true happiness doesn’t come from money or stardom, but rather the memories we make with loved ones. She sits down with Tom Power to tell us what happens when you achieve your dreams and the view from the top isn’t exactly sunshine and rainbows.

Canadian singer Jane Siberry is a free spirit in every sense. From distributing her own music to touring fans’ living rooms, she’s spent four decades doing things her own way. This year, Jane is being rewarded with honours from the Polaris Heritage Prize and the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. She joins Tom Power to talk about following her muses and having the courage to be sensitive.

Film legend Zacharias Kunuk (Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner) has made more than 30 films and documentaries over his career — almost entirely in Inuktitut. His latest film, Uiksaringitara (Wrong Husband), is an epic historical drama set 4,000 years ago in what we now call Nunavut, where supernatural forces threaten the promised marriage of lovers Kaujak and Sapa. Zacharias joins guest host Talia Schlanger to discuss the traditional Inuit stories that inspired the film, what he says John Wayne movies have in common with Inuit storytelling, and why he’s hoping audiences a century from now will still be studying his acclaimed body of work.

On Bells Larsen’s stunning album Blurring Time he has an unlikely collaborator — himself. Bells is a trans man and he first recorded the album in his pre-transition voice with the intent of revisiting the songs after he started hormone therapy. The result is a unique self-collaboration, in which he harmonizes with himself. Last year, the Canadian singer-songwriter sat down with Tom Power to talk about the record and having to cancel his U.S. tour.

When Elizabeth Gilbert published her memoir Eat, Pray, Love 20 years ago, she set off a tourism boom of solo travellers inspired by her search for self-worth and fulfillment. But if the book Eat, Pray, Love is an inspirational tale, then her latest memoir, All the Way to the River, is a cautionary one, detailing what happens when we look for validation in the arms of other people. In this candid interview with Tom Power, Elizabeth shares what she’s learned about love and why it’s a memoirist’s responsibility to tell the whole, messy truth. 

Canadian stand-up comedian Phil Hanley has lived with severe dyslexia for so long he can’t see life any other way. But what once held him back as a child has now become his greatest superpower, as he’s been able to find the humour in his diagnosis to great success. That’s something he writes about in his new memoir, Spellbound: My Life as a Dyslexic Wordsmith. Phil sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about his fascinating life (including a brief modelling career in the ’90s) and how comedy gave him the confidence to overcome his shame.

When Anoushka Shankar was in Goa a few years ago, she wrote down four words: “Three chapters, three geographies.” That note has been the inspiration for a trilogy of mini-albums. Last year, around the release of the final album in the trilogy, Chapter III: We Return To Light, the acclaimed sitar player sat down with Tom Power to talk about how she wants to change perceptions of her instrument, and how she navigates her career in the shadow cast by her famous father, Ravi Shankar.

Sixty years into their career and one intense legal battle later, Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman of the Guess Who have finally won back the rights to their name. To celebrate, the two Canadian music legends are getting the band back together for a tour across their home country. Burton and Randy join Tom Power to talk about their new chapter and tour, their songwriting partnership, and how they wrote some of their biggest hits. 

Nine-time Grammy winner Mark Ronson is responsible for producing some of the biggest pop songs of the last few decades. He’s worked with the likes of Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa and Amy Winehouse. Back in September, he released a new memoir, Night People, which traces his early years working as a DJ in nightclubs around New York City. Mark joined Tom Power to tell us how that laid the groundwork for his acclaimed career as a producer, and how it also taught him what it takes to make a crowd dance.

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. Last summer, he joined 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. 

Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka is able to make the most difficult life experiences seem funny. In her latest stand-up special, Father, she takes a look at her complex childhood growing up undocumented in the U.S. (she was technically kidnapped by her own grandma, though she doesn’t see it that way). Last July, Atsuko joined guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about turning those early experiences into comedy, and how she dives into her past with empathy and humour.

This year, Sandra Oh (Killing Eve, Grey’s Anatomy) received critical acclaim for her role in the Canadian indie film “Can I Get a Witness?” It’s set in a not-too-distant future when climate change has been solved. But there’s a catch: all humans are required by law to end their life at age 50. Back in March, the Ottawa-born actor joined Tom Power to talk about the movie and why it spoke to her. She also reflected on her journey as an actor, from finding her passion at eight years old to becoming one of Hollywood’s most accomplished stars.

Mo Amer is a Palestinian American comedian who puts himself at the heart of his work, using his own lived experiences to fuel his comedy. But with the situation in Gaza and the Israeli occupied West Bank right now, that’s getting harder to do. This past summer, Mo joined Tom Power to talk about the pressure he’s feeling as a Palestinian American comedian, the emotional conversations he's been having with his fans, and how his life in comedy all got started

Anne Murray definitely got her flowers in 2025. This past September, the Canadian icon returned with her 33rd studio album, “Here You Are,” which features 11 unreleased songs she recorded back in the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s. She sat down with Tom Power in Vancouver to tell us how a fan got her to revisit those old songs, why she purposely stayed out the U.S. for her whole career, and how her royalties spiked after her appearance on “Family Guy.”

Montreal’s own Yanic Truesdale has become a beloved actor all around the world, particularly for his role as Stars Hollow’s passive aggressive hotel concierge, Michel, on the hit show “Gilmore Girls.” Earlier this year, Yanic joined Tom Power to talk about his early days as an actor, his life-changing audition for the show that put him on the map, and why he didn't want to have a French accent for his new role in “Étoile” — the latest series from “Gilmore Girls” creator Amy Sherman-Palladino.

The award-winning Canadian filmmaker and screenwriter Deepa Mehta has redefined both Canadian and Indian cinema with her bold and groundbreaking films. Earlier this year, she was honoured with a career retrospective at TIFF in Toronto, featuring screenings of 10 of her most prominent films of the past 35 years. Deepa sat down with Tom Power for a career-spanning conversation about her life and work, the backlash to some of her films in India, and why the last thing she wants to be called is a “controversial” filmmaker.

After the success of “Uncut Gems,” director Josh Safdie is back with “Marty Supreme” — his first film without his creative partner and brother, Benny. The film is already generating significant buzz, particularly for Timothée Chalamet's performance as a charismatic but arrogant table tennis prodigy. Josh joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the film and what made Timothée perfect for the role. Plus, he reflects on the loneliness he felt while making “Uncut Gems,” what it really means to pursue your dreams, and whether the sacrifice is worth it. If you like this interview, check out Tom Power’s conversation with Benny Safdie about his film “The Smashing Machine.”

For the rising Canadian country music star Sacha, 2025 has been a very big year. She released her incredible debut record, “Woman in the Mirror,” she got three nominations at the Canadian Country Music Awards, and she put out a brand new Christmas song, “Where Are You Christmas.” But perhaps her biggest moment was making her debut on the hallowed stage of the Grand Ole Opry. Sacha joins Tom Power to talk about that moment and she plays her new Christmas single for us.

Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul) is back with a new show, “Pluribus,” which he describes as a post-apocalyptic zombie tale with a twist. But in this story, an alien virus transforms all of humankind into one peaceful, happy hive mind — except for 13 people in the world who are somehow immune. Vince joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the show, what draws him to post-apocalyptic stories, and why he thinks we need to move on from anti-heroes and start telling more stories about good guys.

As a recipient of the MacArthur Fellowship (also known as the MacArthur Genius Grant), you could say filmmaker Sterlin Harjo is a certified genius. He’s responsible for creating the groundbreaking series “Reservation Dogs,” which follows the lives of four Indigenous teenagers in rural Oklahoma. Now, Sterlin is back with a new series called “The Lowdown,” starring Ethan Hawke as a rough-and-tumble bookstore owner and "truthstorian" in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He sat down with Tom Power during this year’s Toronto International Film Festival to talk about his career — and how being a genius really just means your friends will give you a hard time about it.

For three decades, director James Cameron (Titanic, The Terminator) has dedicated much of his creative life to the “Avatar” franchise. Now, he’s back with the third installment, “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” James sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about his fascination with both nature and technology, writing characters he wants to understand, and how he may explore using generative AI in future projects.

David Soren is a Canadian director and story artist who’s worked on beloved animated films like “Shrek,” “Chicken Run,” and the “Captain Underpants” movie. But while bringing these stories to life, David was living with a debilitating condition. Now, for the first time, he’s opening up about his struggles with Crohn’s disease in a semi-autobiographical novel for kids called “Invisible: The (Sort Of) True Story of Me and My Hidden Disease.” David sits down with Tom Power to tell us about it.

Art imitates life for Canadian actor Will Arnett (Arrested Development, BoJack Horseman) in “Is This Thing On?” — a new film about a middle-aged man at a crossroads. Will left Toronto for New York City right after school to pursue a career in acting. Instead of doing stand-up or sketch comedy, he studied the craft in hopes of becoming a dramatic actor. But then his obvious comedic ability steered him in a different direction. Will joins Tom Power to talk about circling back to that dream with his latest film, and why he tells director and co-star Bradley Cooper he loves him every day.

Before he was the frontman of Great Big Sea, Alan Doyle spent a decade working as a tour guide in Newfoundland and Labrador. Now, after years as a musical ambassador for his home province, he’s returning to that guide role in his latest book, “The Smiling Land,” in which he gives a tour through Newfoundland and Labrador as he sees it. Alan joins Tom Power to talk about the book and why he felt the need to rediscover his home.

Already a household name in his home country of Brazil, Wagner Moura (Narcos, Civil War) is building an international profile as a politically engaged actor who’s drawn to movies with a message. Most recently, he won best actor at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival for “The Secret Agent.” Set during the waning days of Brazil’s repressive military dictatorship, the movie is a deeply personal one for Wagner who was born at the tail end of the regime. He joins Tom Power to talk about “The Secret Agent,” how movies can help the self-esteem of a country, and why some politicians are afraid of artists.

Rachel Cousins has always had a voice that could stop you in your tracks, but on her new album, “What Hasn’t Killed Me,” the St. John’s singer-songwriter turns that power inward. Working with Grammy-winning producer Greg Wells, Rachel steps away from pop perfection and into something raw and real — music about growing up, learning to ask for help, and finding beauty in the mess. She sits down with Tom Power to talk about baring her soul on this album and why the song “To Fail” means so much to her.

After 70 years in the music industry, Paul Anka has more than 900 songs to his credit. The prolific Canadian songwriter is also the only artist in history to have a song on the Billboard Top 100 during seven consecutive decades. In the new HBO documentary “Paul Anka: His Way,” Paul recounts his life as a teen idol in the ’50s, writing some of the most memorable songs for artists like Buddy Holly and Frank Sinatra, and how he’s managed to evolve through the trends of each passing decade. Paul joins Tom Power to talk about his life in music, having a good cry after he wrote "My Way,” and meeting the Beatles back when they were a cover band.