Q with Tom Power

Last week, the world said goodbye to Sir Patrick Stewart — the British stage and screen actor best known for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men film franchise. In memory of Patrick, we revisit his 2023 conversation with Tom Power, where he looked back on his extraordinary six-decade career.

For more than 50 years, Marina Abramović has used her own body to push the boundaries of performance art. Now, as she approaches her 80th birthday, she’s preparing to stage her most ambitious — and most autobiographical — work yet, Balkan Erotic Epic. The bold new performance piece draws on ancient Balkan folk rituals to explore sexuality, spirituality, fertility and death. In this candid conversation with Tom Power, Marina details how the project has allowed her to achieve emotional liberation from her childhood in former Yugoslavia, her difficult relationship with her strict mother, and the past she’s still trying to make peace with.

Damhnait Doyle thought her days of making music were behind her. But after facing some personal hardships, an urge to reconnect with her authentic self led her back to songwriting. Now, the Juno-nominated musician and host of CBC Music’s Mornings is embracing the “weird kid” she was 30 years ago when she first broke onto the Canadian music scene with her hit song A List of Things. Damhnait joins Tom Power to talk about her new EP, Bird in Flames, and her simple message for middle-aged women: it’s never too late to get back to yourself.

Holland Taylor (Legally Blonde, Two and a Half Men) has had incredible success acting in hit movies and TV shows — but her transition to the screen was originally intended to bolster her theatre career. In this conversation with Tom Power, Holland shares how she honed her craft under legendary acting teacher Stella Adler, how having ADHD has helped her channel focus into her most intense roles, and why she chose not to meet Matthew McConaughey's mother before portraying her in the new series Brothers.

Documentary filmmaker John Wilson has a very particular way of seeing the world. For his acclaimed HBO series How To With John Wilson, he wandered the streets of New York City with a camera, following his curiosity into some bizarre and unexpectedly moving encounters with ordinary people. Now, he’s released his first feature documentary, The History of Concrete, using a similarly unconventional approach. John talks to Tom Power about how the camera has helped him connect with people in ways he never thought possible, why it was so hard to fund a movie about cement, and how a mundane material led to an unexpectedly spiritual reflection on impermanence.

Ten years after Leonard Cohen’s death, his songs are as alive as ever. In a special remote interview at Hotel2Tango in Montreal — the studio where he helped produce his father’s final albums — Juno-nominated musician Adam Cohen sits down with Tom Power to discuss bringing Leonard’s songs back to the stage on a new tribute tour featuring his 19-year-old son, Cassius. Adam opens up about grief, legacy and the complicated business of remembering someone who never had much time for nostalgia.

In 1989, a young singer from New Brunswick sparked an international frenzy across Quebec and Europe known as "Rochmania." That singer was Roch Voisine, who skyrocketed to fame overnight with his breakthrough hit, Hélène. While the craze was initially written off as short-lived pop hype, Roch has sustained a career in both official languages for nearly four decades. Fresh off his induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, he joins Tom Power to look back on surviving teen-idol stardom, staying grounded through his family life, and why he’s now honouring the legendary Gordon Lightfoot with his latest project, The Lightfoot Sessions.

Saskatchewan’s Tara Gereaux is the author of the novel Wild People Quiet, which was recently shortlisted for the Giller Prize — Canada's most prestigious literary award for fiction. Set in 1946, the book follows a secretary in a small prairie town who’s sacrificed everything to hide her Métis identity and pass as white. Tara joins Tom Power in the Q studio to talk about the book and how it was inspired by her own family history.

For more than five decades, Jayne Eastwood has been one of the most recognizable and beloved faces in Canadian comedy, film and television — from Goin’ Down the Road and SCTV to My Big Fat Greek Wedding. In 1972, she joined the iconic Toronto stage production of Godspell alongside a powerhouse cast including Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin and Gilda Radner. Now, a new documentary, You Had To Be There, looks back at that legendary production, the friendships that came out of it and the extraordinary generation of Canadian comedy that followed. Jayne joins Tom Power to reflect on her time in Godspell, why she chose to build her career in Canada, and why she remains as brave as ever.

Since winning an Emmy for his role as Lenny Bruce on the hit series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Canadian actor Luke Kirby hasn’t slowed down. He talks to Tom Power about his new leading role as Detective Sergeant John Darcy on Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent, how his early days working with Canadian theatre legends felt like making it to the big leagues, and how back in high school, he actually predicted he’d one day play Lenny Bruce.

For decades, lyricist Bernie Taupin has partnered with Elton John to write some of popular music’s most iconic hits, including Tiny Dancer, Rocket Man and Bennie and the Jets. Now, at 76, he’s stepping into his own spotlight with The Sea Has No Mercy — his first solo album in nearly 40 years, and the first written entirely by and for himself. Bernie joins Tom Power to reflect on his 57 years with Elton, the evolution of his songwriting, and why he calls this new album the most satisfying record he’s ever made. 

How do you take the songs of one of Canada’s most beloved bands and weave them into a story about exile, identity and starting over? Creators and performers Ahmed Moneka and Jesse LaVercombe join Tom Power to talk about their new musical, It’s a Good Life If You Don’t Weaken, inspired by the iconic music of The Tragically Hip. Set in 2002 in The Hip’s hometown of Kingston, Ont., the show follows an exiled Iraqi journalist who’s rebuilding his life in Canada. Ahmed and Jesse discuss the creative weight of representing Gord Downie’s legacy on the stage, their unlikely creative partnership, and how their own life journeys worked their way into the musical.

Diego Luna (Rogue One, Y Tu Mamá También) has been acting since he was a child, starting out in Mexican cinema before taking on Hollywood blockbusters and some of television’s biggest shows. This year, he returned to the Toronto International Film Festival as a director with his latest film, Ashes. Diego sits down with Tom Power in the Q studio to talk about the choices that have shaped his career, what it was like coming face-to-face with Darth Vader on the set of Rogue One, and what he’s still searching for as a storyteller.

Long before she stepped into her role as the intimidating, impeccably dressed host of The Traitors Canada and Les Traîtres, Karine Vanasse co-produced and starred in Polytechnique. Directed by Denis Villeneuve, the harrowing film fundamentally changed the national conversation around the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre, cementing it as an act of gender-based violence. Karine joins Tom Power to reflect on the fraught making of the film, its lasting real-world impact and why she ignored a teacher’s advice to quit acting.

Tracey Emin is one of Britain’s most provocative artists. She’s known for turning sex, trauma and heartbreak into boundary-breaking art. But after surviving aggressive bladder cancer and major surgery in 2020, her relationship with her body — and her art — fundamentally shifted. Spanning nearly 40 years of work from My Bed to her latest paintings, her retrospective, A Second Life, marks a profound new chapter. Tracey joins guest host Gill Deacon to talk about survival, healing through art and what it means to get a second shot at life.

As a kid in Montreal, Emily Hampshire (Schitt's Creek) was so self-conscious about performing that she’d only sing and dance inside her closet. She’s since gone on to become a six-time Canadian Screen Award winner best known for her role as Stevie Budd on the hit CBC comedy series Schitt’s Creek. Now, she’s joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the new series VisionQuest, playing an AI avatar tasked with teaching an android superhero about fun. Emily stops by the Q studio to talk about her new role, growing up as a theatre kid, and why she thinks Canadian storytelling is having such a massive global moment right now.

So Faint’s Hannah Georgas and Lyn Heinemann have known each other for nearly two decades, but they only recently became creative collaborators. Hannah is a multi-Juno-nominated artist (including two nods for songwriter of the year) and a member of Broken Social Scene, while Lyn is a newer face in the music industry who wrote her own music while working in health care. They join Tom Power to talk about the first time they met, how their paths diverged and what finally brought them together as a duo.

From Tommy Lee to Donald Trump to the Winter Soldier, Sebastian Stan isn’t afraid of disappearing into a role. In his new film, Fjord, he plays a Romanian father in Norway fighting to regain custody of his children. Sebastian joins Tom Power to discuss acting in his native language for the first time, drawing on his own immigrant roots, and how the role reshaped his perspective as a new dad.

Alyssa Martin is an award-winning Canadian choreographer known for blending modern dance with humour, surrealism and absurdity. Her new full-length piece, Landslide, makes its world premiere this month at Toronto’s Fall for Dance North Festival, where she’s this year’s artist-in-residence. Alyssa joins Tom Power to share her “elevator pitch” for modern dance, the punk ethos behind her dance company Rock Bottom Movement, and how her humorous approach to choreography has helped her make sense of some of life’s biggest questions.

Bestselling author Robert Harris (Conclave, Fatherland) has sold millions of books, many of which have been adapted into films. But Robert never actually planned to become a novelist. He joins Tom Power in the Q studio to discuss his new historical novel, Agrippa, which follows the Roman general and statesman Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa — the right-hand man of the Emperor Augustus. Robert shares how he accidentally stumbled into a fiction writing career, why the fall of ancient Rome reflects today’s political climate, and how rare Vatican access inspired Conclave.

Sometimes you have to give flowers to those who came before you. On her new album, So Delighted, Juno-winning jazz guitarist Jocelyn Gould is doing just that. The Winnipeg musician joins Tom Power to talk about honouring the legends who shaped her as an artist — from Wes Montgomery to Grant Green — and why the great organ trios of the '50s and '60s continue to inspire her. Plus, she sets up a track from the new record.

Edmonton’s Stacey Tookey is one of the most successful dance artists. She’s worked with legends like Bette Midler and Céline Dion. But Stacey really gained attention as a choreographer for So You Think You Can Dance Canada and its American counterpart. Now, Stacey is back directing and choreographing a new musical, Dancer, all about the first Canadian-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby. Stacey joins Tom Power in the Q studio to tell him all about her lifelong journey in dance and how she’s turning dancers into horses.

Back in July, Canadian musicians Haley Blais and Sam Lynch came on Q to discuss why they decided to unite as True Mountain Laurel, a supergroup born from late-night harmonies, voice memos, and friendship. They joined Tom Power in studio to discuss their debut single, Angel So Bad, which is an ode to the moral trials associated with that oldest of human hobbies: gossiping.

The artist Kent Monkman is known for challenging the way Indigenous people have been represented over the centuries in Western art – often flipping the script so that Indigenous stories are front and centre. Now, Kent is unveiling his very first public art installation. It’s a 15-foot high sculpture called The Colony, and it was just unveiled as part of the Lassonde Art Trail in Toronto. The Colony features a group of larger-than-life beavers, who are singing, dancing, and celebrating. Kent speaks to Tom Power about the significance of having his first public art exhibition, why he chose beavers as the subject, and the humour he brings to dark subjects. 

Canadian actor Rohan Campbell talks about his experience shooting the new Netflix suspense mini-series, Below, in Newfoundland alongside Josh Hartnett. Rohan sits down for our segment Getting to Know Q, answering a series of fast-paced questions covering everything from his Tim Hortons order to how he ended up in a Sabrina Carpenter video.

Canadian filmmaker Chandler Levack’s debut film I Like Movies was a huge hit, earning praise from folks like Adam Sandler and establishing Chandler as one to watch. This year, Chandler released her second film, called Mile End Kicks, that taps into her real-life story as a young music journalist coming up in Montreal. Back in April, Chandler joined Tom Power in the Q studio to talk about mining her own life for art, depicting 2011's Montreal, and working with Adam Sandler on her next film.

When Mahershala Ali was growing up, he was caught between two different passions: faith and creativity. His mother was a Baptist minister and his dad was a dancer. Mahershala decided to pursue acting, and is now an award-winning American actor with two Oscars, thanks to his roles in films like Moonlight and Green Book. But his latest role brings back his interest in faith. In Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother, he plays a hitman who is trying to balance his work with his faith and fatherly duties. Mahershala speaks with Tom Power about his latest role, what he was like growing up, and the connection between his faith and his creativity. 

From his favourite Rush song to his go-to coffee order, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith answers some very important questions in a rapid-fire round of Getting to Know Q with Tom Power.

Josh Hartnett became one of Hollywood’s biggest stars in his early 20s, but instead of chasing fame, he started questioning what he actually wanted from his career. These days, he’s drawn to roles that surprise him — and might surprise the audience too. His latest role is no exception. In the new Netflix series, Below, Josh plays Calvin Penney, a fisherman from Newfoundland dealing with an unknown threat lurking beneath the water. He joined Tom Power to talk about falling in love with Newfoundland, mastering the accent and growing up in Minnesota with a musician father who taught him that family matters more than a job.

Cybèle Young has made a name for herself with her miniature paper sculptures. But in a new exhibition, Kamiphony, the Governor General’s Award-winning artist and author is putting a new twist on her work, building kinetic paper machines. Cybèle joins Tom Power to talk about how menopause and changes in her own body inspired this new project, and how her life as an artist completely changed when she discovered Japanese paper. 

Before the gold medals, three-time Olympic champion ice dancer Tessa Virtue was just a nine-year-old girl trying to decide between ballet and skating. Now, years after retiring from competition, she’s stepping off the ice and onto the stage, performing without skates for the first time in her professional career. This month, at the Fall for Dance North Festival in Toronto, the Olympian will perform a brand new solo choreographed by Alyssa Martin. Tessa joins Tom Power to tell us what it means to return to dance on entirely different terms, what she’s discovered about life after the Olympics, and where she’s headed next. 

If you’re a fan of rock music living in the Maritimes, things are looking good. That’s because there’s a deep lineage of incredible rock bands that came out of the East Coast back in the ’90s — and their influence is still felt today. Enter Gizmo, a new rock band out of Charlottetown, fronted by Julien Kitson. He grew up listening to ’90s slacker rock and Halifax groups like Thrush Hermit, Sloan and The Super Friendz. Not to mention, his dad fronted the Celtic rock band Rawlins Cross. Julien joins Tom Power to tell us why he wanted to incorporate East Coast influences into Gizmo’s debut album, All Your Worships. Plus, he sets up the record’s lead single, Antiques Roadshow.

Jordan Tannahill, the Giller Prize-shortlisted and Governor General's Award-winning playwright, director and novelist, has long used his work to shine a light on queer culture. His latest novel, The Living Realm, is no exception, but this time, there’s a ghostly twist. Set in Teufelssee — a famous cruising spot in Berlin’s Grunewald forest — the story follows an aging British archaeologist who’s convinced he’s seeing his deceased ex-lovers. Jordan joins Tom Power to discuss his own experiences in Teufelssee, why cruising makes him look at time differently, and how he embraces the spirit of the "eternal amateur."

Reality TV star Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi of Jersey Shore fame has traded New Jersey boardwalks for ghost-hunting in Ontario. She’s the star of the new Crave series Snooki: The Paranormal Rookie, which follows her to some of the province's most haunted locations as she learns paranormal investigation alongside a psychic medium. Snooki joins Q guest host Gill Deacon to discuss her lifelong interest in “ghosties” and aliens, her own experience with UFOs, and how she looks back on her time on Jersey Shore.

Juno Award-winning blues guitarist Colin James is opening up about his life and legacy in a new memoir, Playing the Changes. The book traces his journey from growing up in Regina through the ’60s and ’70s to the edge of superstardom just before his breakout 1988 self-titled debut. Packed with road stories and encounters with legends like Joni Mitchell, John Hammond, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, it’s an intimate look at an iconic Canadian career. Colin joins Tom Power to talk about his Saskatchewan roots, discovering his passion for the guitar, and the invaluable lessons he learned from his musical heroes.

Getting older can mean caring a little less about what you’re supposed to do, and a little more about what makes you happy. For Canadian musicians James Bryan and Jay Levine, that means bringing their iconic animated duo Prozzäk back to life. More than 25 years after their cartoon alter egos, Simon and Milo, became unlikely pop stars, James and Jay join Tom Power to reflect on their legacy, returning to the stage and hitting the road with the Vengaboys.

Though she may not be a household name, Darlene Love is a true musical icon. You know her voice from the timeless holiday anthem Christmas (Baby Please Come Home), but her legendary vocals also power classic hits like Monster Mash, Monday, Monday, Frank Sinatra's That’s Life, and Sam Cooke's Chain Gang. For years, Darlene provided uncredited lead and background vocals while under contract to Phil Spector — the famously abusive producer who systematically kept her from getting her due. A new documentary, Darlene Love: I Know Where I've Been, takes a look at her extraordinary life and career in music. Darlene sits down with Tom Power to share her remarkable story, reflect on decades behind the microphone, and reveal how she overcame the obstacles in her path to claim her spotlight.

Long before they were directing television, J Stevens was convinced they were going to be the next Serena Williams. But when they picked up a camcorder in high school, everything changed. Today, J is an award-winning filmmaker and one of the first openly non-binary filmmakers in the Directors Guild of Canada. They’re also one of the co-creators of Slo Pitch — a mockumentary series about a “loveable, queer, beer league softball team” that grew from a web series into a half-hour show on Crave. J sits down with Tom Power to talk about the show, how they’re telling queer stories with universal appeal, and the power of the camera in comedy.

Ed Helms (The Office, The Hangover) is an actor, comedian, musician, writer and podcaster. This year, he stars in two Canadian films that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival: Smudge the Blades and The Stunt Driver. While in town for TIFF, Ed joined Tom Power to talk about playing a hot-headed hockey coach in Smudge the Blades — a fresh take on the underdog sports genre centring on an Indigenous hockey team in Northern Alberta. He explains why playing a “mean” character doesn’t come naturally to him, and how a deep heartbreak over the state of the world shaped his portrayal of one of his best-known characters, Andy Bernard. Plus, he shares stories about meeting the legendary George Carlin and chartering a jet straight from The Hangover set to make his call time for The Office.

Emma Pennell has come a long way as a singer. When they were a kid, the trees of Northern Ontario were their audience. Now, the two-spirit Indigenous soprano is singing for thousands with the Canadian Opera Company in a new production of Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata. Emma joins Tom Power to discuss their journey in opera, the hurdles they’ve overcome along the way, and why they see music as medicine.

Anna Lambe almost walked away from acting before landing her starring role on North of North. She had headed to Ottawa to study international development, deciding to focus less on acting and more on her activism for Indigenous rights. But it was the pull of North of North’s characters — with their genuine depth and nuance of Indigenous experiences — that finally brought her back to the screen. Earlier this year, she joined Tom Power for a special interview in Banff, and shared why none of her projects have felt more personal than this show and its current success.

In just four years since Aysanabee left his day job to pursue music, he’s played more than 400 shows, toured all over the world and was shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize. He also made history as the first Indigenous artist to win Juno awards for both alternative album of the year and songwriter of the year. This past spring, Aysanabee joined Tom Power in the Q studio to talk about his new EP, Timelines, his recent Juno wins, and the moment that made him quit his day job and pursue a career in music.

The Canadian duo Majid Jordan is best known as one of the pillars of Toronto’s R&B sound. This past August, they released their fifth studio album, Two Roads. On the day of their hometown stop in the 6ix, Majid Al Maskati and Jordan Ullman joined Tom Power to talk about some of the first music they ever loved, what they think the best song they’ve ever written is, and the secret behind what’s kept them working together for 15 years. 

A new box set celebrates the late Canadian jazz icon Oscar Peterson. It’s called Oscar Peterson: World Tour, and it features live concert recordings from around the globe spanning 1969 to 1996. Oscar’s wife, Kelly, and daughter, Céline, join Tom Power to recount stories from the road with the legendary Montreal pianist — from his quiet vulnerability to his reputation as a prankster. Plus, they share some of his personal poetry.

Kardinal Offishall is back with Firestarter Vol. 2: Everyday, Sometimes — the long-awaited follow-up to one of Canadian hip-hop's most iconic records of the early 2000s. He joins Tom Power to reflect on why now was the right moment for the sequel, what it was like collaborating with Idris Elba, and what continues to drive his creativity more than 30 years into his legendary career.

Being a teenager comes with serious pressure to make big decisions about the future. That’s something Violet Bruneel, Lola Good, and Clara Magnan of the teen rock trio Thunder Queens know all about. Their latest album, Deep Below, gets into the realities of growing up, from navigating major life shifts to learning how to let go. Thunder Queens join Tom Power to share what life is like when you’re both a high school student and a professional musician. Plus, they set up a song called Falling Rain off the new record.

Last year, Curry Barker’s debut feature Obsession made movie history at the Toronto International Film Festival. After its midnight premiere, it was bought by Focus Features for roughly $15 million — one of the largest festival acquisitions ever. Since then, the sleeper hit has grossed more than $500 million worldwide, bringing the 27-year-old director back to TIFF this year for a special fan screening. Curry joins Tom Power in the Q studio to talk about his whirlwind rise, why staying grounded fuels his creativity and how a single year completely transformed his life.

Back in the ’70s, Canadian stuntman Ken Carter attempted to execute the boldest maneuver of his career: launching a rocket-powered car one mile across the St. Lawrence River from Ontario into New York State. It was a stunt rife with challenges and setbacks. Ken’s story is now the inspiration behind the new film The Stunt Driver, which recently made its world premiere at this year's Toronto International Film Festival. Director Michael Dowse (FUBAR, Goon) joins Tom Power to unpack Ken’s legacy and why he considers this film his “white whale.”

Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network, A Real Pain) drew on his own roots in community theatre to write and direct his latest movie, The Debut. Starring Julianne Moore as a shy housewife-turned-actor and Paul Giamatti as a director pushing her to her limits, the film is inspired by the many unproduced musicals Jesse has penned over the years. He joins Tom Power in the Q studio to discuss The Debut, the relationship between art and anxiety, why some people hate musicals, and the role truth plays in entertainment. 

Choosing to pursue a single passion can feel like a calling — until the reality of the grind hits. Albertan singer-songwriter Mariel Buckley explores the highs and lows of going after your dreams on her Juno-winning album, Strange Trip Ahead. She joins Tom Power in the Q studio to discuss a song off the album, how she went to culinary school before becoming a musician, and how k.d. lang took a chance on her when she was just starting out.

Swedish actor Noomi Rapace has built a career playing deeply complex characters, starting with her breakout role as Lisbeth Salander in 2009’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. In her new film, In Alaska, she plays an FBI agent searching for a suicidal Inuk teen who accidentally pierces an oil pipeline with a bullet. Noomi joins Tom Power to talk about the film, her acting career, and how movies became her escape, her oxygen and her link to the world.

Dillan King, also known as DillanPonders, is a Canadian rapper from Toronto. After surviving addiction and homelessness nearly a decade ago, he found a path to recovery and became an avid mental health advocate. Since then, he’s set a Guinness World Record by releasing an original single every week for 138 consecutive weeks, ran 100 marathons in 100 days for men’s mental health, and ran the length of Toronto’s Yonge Street (more than a double marathon) to raise funds for homelessness. Dillan sits down with guest host Garvia Bailey to share his incredible story and how music helped him turn his life around.

Neil Peart is one of the most celebrated and influential drummers of all time. In the new documentary Neil Peart: No One’s Disciple, his life and legacy are honoured by his Rush bandmates, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson. Along with Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, they join Tom Power in the Q studio to discuss the film and share stories about their late friend, bandmate and musical legend.

As a solo artist in the 2010s, Kalle Mattson either won or was nominated for every major music prize in Canada. During the pandemic, he formed the band summersets with his childhood friend Andrew Sowka to explore Everly Brothers harmonies and to alleviate the weight of being a solo artist. Now, summersets has released a new album, Pine Trees in a Perfect Row, written “to be a (complicated) love letter to Northern Ontario and small town Canadian identity.” Kalle joins Q guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about the album and to set up a new song called Canada.

Earlier this week, the hit horror-comedy series Widow's Bay made Emmys history with a record-breaking 14 wins, including best series. Katie Dippold, the show’s creator and showrunner, comes from a comedy background, having written the Ghostbusters remake and The Heat, as well as for Parks and Recreation. A few months ago, she joined Tom Power to talk about Widow's Bay, how she’s always been a fan of horror and how her comedy roots helped her write a scary show. 

Canadian singer-songwriter Ruth B first found fame writing songs in her childhood bedroom in Edmonton. Since breaking onto the charts in 2013, she’s gone on to amass nearly 10 billion streams. Now, five years after her last project, she’s returned with a new album, Peace To Make. Largely written in the aftermath of a breakup, the album finds Ruth looking back at her past while discovering new parts of herself in the process. She joins Tom Power to talk about Peace To Make, the vulnerability behind the record, and why she considers it her most honest work yet.

When Emmy, Tony and Golden Globe winner Sarah Paulson (American Horror Story) was offered the lead role in the new family drama Closing Night, she was terrified. Directed by her American Horror Story co-star Cody Fern, the film follows an internationally renowned movie star who’s navigating a life-changing event while also trying to reconnect with her estranged family on the opening night of her Broadway play. Sarah sits down with Tom Power to talk about the film, why acting is her way to the truth, why winning the Emmy was one of the loneliest nights of her life, and her love of Oscar acceptance speeches.

For more than a decade, the British band Jungle have been making music that gets people moving. What started with childhood friends Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland has grown into a band with a global audience, a Brit Award and a new third member, Lydia Kitto. With Jungle's new record Sunshine out now, Josh, Tom and Lydia join Q guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about friendship, how the band has grown and why they’ve always preferred to let the music do the talking.

Acclaimed Toronto pianist Stewart Goodyear has been described as one of the finest pianists of his generation. This week, he opens the Calgary Symphony Orchestra’s Classics season with Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A Minor. Ahead of the performance, Stewart sits down with Tom Power at the piano in the Q studio to talk about what first sparked his love of the instrument, why he considers Beethoven his therapist, and why classical music was, in his words, the “wildest music” he had ever heard.

On CJ Wiley’s debut EP, Just Can’t Quit, the non-binary singer-songwriter chronicles the life cycle of a relationship, from crush to falling in love to commitment to breakup. They sit down with guest host Ali Hassan to talk about the record’s concept and what inspired them to examine, as they put it, “the masochistic ritual of love.”

Gary Oldman returns as Jackson Lamb for Season 6 of the hit spy thriller Slow Horses. The Oscar-winning actor joins Tom Power to talk about the secret to playing a crude, flatulent and brilliant MI5 agent — and why he’s relishing the chance to settle into a long-term role. He also shares the research behind some of his most iconic characters, from Commissioner Gordon in Batman Begins and George Smiley in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy to Sirius Black in the Harry Potter franchise.

Canadian folk musician and singer-songwriter Le Ren (a.k.a. Lauren Spear) has toured the world with Jeff Tweedy and Andy Shauf, and earned co-signs from artists like Orville Peck. On her new album, Don’t Be Funny Without Me, she unpacks the chaos of her 20s and comes out on the other side with a new perspective on life and her career. Le Ren joins guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about the new album, finding humour in pain, and navigating the public-facing realities of being a performer.

Ins Choi, the creator of Kim’s Convenience, is back with a new play — and this time he’s getting even more personal. It’s called Son of a Preacherman and it’s about the Canadian playwright’s childhood as a “PK” (preacher’s kid), and how theatre and the arts took him away from becoming a man of the cloth. Ins joins Tom Power in the Q studio to talk about the production and how it all kind of came about by chance.

Toronto artist Kofi isn't interested in picking a lane. He’s one of Canada’s top-ranked volleyball players, currently training with the Canadian National Men's Volleyball Team ahead of the next Summer Olympics. At the same time, he’s also building an impressive career as a singer-songwriter and producer. Kofi joins guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about his new album, Phone Home, the discipline behind managing two full-time passions, and how he’s proving you can reach the top in both athletics and music. 

Zorga Qaunaq is a visual artist, a traditional Inuit tattoo artist, and an Inuktitut language educator — but she didn’t become an actor until just a few years ago. It took five rounds of auditions for her to land the part of Millie Maktana on the CBC sitcom North of North. Now, she’s attending the Toronto International Film Festival with two films making their world premieres: In the Heart of the South and In Alaska. From her very first acting role to two films at TIFF, Zorga sits down with Q’s Tom Power to talk about navigating imposter syndrome, tackling the heavy pressure to be a "digestible" representation of her culture, and how she realized her people-pleasing tendencies were going to ruin her burgeoning career.

For most of us, home is a place that we’re from, or a place of safety and comfort. For Canadian country-folk singer Spencer Burton, home took on a whole new meaning when he found himself at his son's bedside in the hospital, while he spent three months recovering from a major surgery. Spencer joins Q guest host Ali Hassan to talk about his new single, Bound for Home, what it was like writing his upcoming self-titled album in a hospital, and how the music became a way for his family to find — and hold onto — hope.

Philip Akin has been telling stories on Canadian stages for decades, and mentoring some of this country’s best theatre artists for just as long. In 2000, he co-founded the Obsidian Theatre Company, which trains, produces and showcases Black talent across the country. Now, he’s directing a new production of Ohio State Murders at the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Philip joins Tom Power to talk about the play, how he takes theatre to the precipice, and why he thinks Black artists are too polite. Plus, he shares how he’s feeling after being appointed a Member of the Order of Canada earlier this year.

Kathleen Robertson is no stranger to hit TV. She’s starred on hugely popular shows like Boss, Tracker and the ’90s cultural phenomenon Beverly Hills, 90210, where she played Clare Arnold. Now, she’s going toe-to-toe with Alan Ritchson on Reacher. Kathleen joins Tom Power to talk about her role on the hit action crime series, what it was like growing up as a child actor in Hamilton, Ont., and how being Canadian helped keep her grounded.

Singer Caity Gyorgy and pianist Mark Limacher have been making waves in the Canadian jazz scene with their duo and orchestral recordings. Now, they’re back with their third duo album, You Irritate Me So, which is a tribute to the late, great songwriter Cole Porter. Caity and Mark join Tom Power in the Q studio to talk about the secret to their creative partnership, how Caity likes to “rage bait” Mark on stage, and how they’re helping build an exciting pops orchestra scene in Calgary.

If you were a fan of MuchMusic in the ’90s and early 2000s, you’ll remember Rick Campanelli, better known as “Rick the Temp.” The bubbly, charming VJ was a mainstay on Canada’s answer to MTV, having won a temp gig that he successfully turned into an on-air job. In his new memoir, Tempted, Rick chronicles how a shy Italian Canadian kid from Hamilton, Ont., became one of this country’s most beloved VJs through sheer grit and positivity. But he also shares a revelation about the serious gambling addiction that was haunting him behind the scenes. Rick joins Tom Power in the Q studio to reflect on his early career at MuchMusic, how his love of winning evolved into a devastating addiction to sports betting, and the long road to recovery. He also explains why, after years of keeping this part of his life private, he felt now was the right time to share his story.

Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs, The Father, The Remains of the Day) is best known as an Oscar-winning actor, but his first love was music. He’s just released a new album of his own compositions, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel with London’s Philharmonia Orchestra. Anthony joins Tom Power to talk about his lifelong connection to music, why this latest album was decades in the making, and why he says we should all stop thinking so much. His new record, Life is a Dream, is out everywhere now.

English actor Benjamin Evan Ainsworth practically grew up on the set of Son of a Critch. The CBC sitcom, based on Canadian actor and comedian Mark Critch’s memoir of the same name, stars Benjamin as a young, fictionalized version of Mark. Benjamin joins Tom Power to talk about the fifth and final season of the series, what he’s learned about his craft from his co-star Malcolm McDowell, and what it’s like to say goodbye to a show that’s been such a big part of his life. Plus, he plays a little game of “Getting to Know Q.”

Andrea Martin is known for her work in Godspell (1972), SCTV, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and her Tony-winning performances in Pippin and My Favourite Year. A few months ago, she was honoured with the ICON Award from The Hollywood Reporter Women in Entertainment Canada. She joined Tom Power in the Q studio to look back on her long career.

Last year, Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul, Breaking Bad, Mr. Show) sat down with Tom Power to tell us how embarrassment has fueled some of the best decisions in his life and career. He reflects on chasing the things that scared him most — from early improv and groundbreaking sketch comedy to becoming an Emmy-nominated dramatic actor. But his biggest risk yet? Becoming an action star in his 60s.

Sanna Wani’s debut poetry collection, My Grief, the Sun, won the 2023 Trillium Book Award for Poetry. Now, she’s returned with her follow-up, Lantern. Sanna sits down with guest host Garvia Bailey in the Q studio to discuss the new book and read one of its poems.

Toronto musician Emily Steinwall grew up on classic rock, but her teenage years brought a new obsession: jazz saxophone. That passion led her to study under the legendary Juno Award-winning saxophonist Kirk MacDonald, who became a lifelong mentor to her. So years later, when it came time to record her latest album, Emily knew exactly who to call. She joins Q guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about her collaboration with Kirk and the enduring power of a musical education. Her new album, But, there’s beauty in the fall from Grace, is out now.

Lana Condor (To All the Boys I've Loved Before, X-Men: Apocalypse) isn’t afraid of switching things up and trying something new. Her latest role is in the live-action/animation film Coyote vs. Acme, which takes place in the Looney Tunes cinematic universe. She stars as a young law intern who helps Wile E. Coyote as he sues the Acme Corporation for selling him faulty products. Lana sits down with Q guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about the film, how her parents inspire her as an artist, and how she went from a quiet, rural life in Washington state to one of Hollywood’s busiest stars.

Growing up in Scarborough, Tyrique Clarke, also known as TyriqueOrDie, drew early inspiration from rap heavyweights like Lil Wayne and MF Doom. But after immersing himself in Toronto’s underground rave culture as an adult, his creative trajectory shifted. Today, Tyrique blends sharp rap delivery with high-energy electronic and club influences. He joins Q guest host Garvia Bailey to discuss how MuchMusic and rave culture sparked his musical evolution, and the story behind his latest single, Chanel.

Sami Landri is the proudest Acadian you’ll ever meet. The “trash-chic” Canadian drag queen has reached millions of fans with her Chiac accent and absurdly hilarious TikToks. After becoming a fan favourite on Canada’s Drag Race Season 6, Sami returned to compete as a finalist on Canada’s Drag Race All Stars. She joins Q guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about her Drag Race journey, her approach to drag, and how she’s helping pioneer a new Acadian drag scene in Moncton, New Brunswick.

The Philadelphia band SNACKTIME went from playing free shows in a city park to performing at some of the most coveted music festivals in North America. After selling more than 900 tickets to their first headlining show, the band’s momentum only grew. They’ve performed alongside Lauryn Hill, played a 76ers halftime show, and taken the stage at Lollapalooza, the Newport Folk Festival, South by Southwest and the Winnipeg Folk Festival. Band members Sam Gellerstein and Nico Bryant join Q guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the inspiring ethos behind the band’s creation, their journey from Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square to major stages across North America, and what keeps them moving forward. Plus, they introduce their new single, Can’t Imagine Why You’d Stay.

Amalie Atkins is a multi-disciplinary Saskatchewan-based artist whose first feature documentary, Agatha’s Almanac, is a love letter to “solitude, seeds, and slow living.” It tells the story of Amalie’s now 92-year-old aunt, Agatha Bock, who lives on her ancestral farm in southern Manitoba, where she spends her days cultivating her garden. The film looks at how Agatha lives a fiercely independent and intentional lifestyle that’s both free from modern technology and deeply rooted in nature. Amalie joins Q guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about capturing her aunt’s quietly radical way of life.

Michaela Slinger is a Canadian singer-songwriter based in Vancouver who had an epiphany while listening to Q with Tom Power on CBC. She joins guest host Garvia Bailey to tell us how our show inspired her new album, Green and Trying.

Some artists do their best work alone. Others thrive on collaboration. Grammy-winning bassist, producer and singer-songwriter Thundercat — also known as Stephen Bruner — has always lived in both worlds. But coming from a musical lineage where music feels more like a conversation between artists, collaboration has become central to his creative life. His latest album, Distracted, features collaborations with Willow, A$AP Rocky, Tame Impala and, most importantly, his late friend Mac Miller. Thundercat joins Q guest host Ali Hassan to talk about a song he and Mac recorded together before Mac’s death in 2018, the memories attached to it, and why he felt the time was finally right to share it with the world.

If you’ve watched TV or gone to the movies at any point over the last 25 years, you’ve probably seen Will Forte. The actor and comedian is known for his work on Saturday Night Live, MacGruber, The Last Man on Earth and The Four Seasons. Now, he stars in Coyote vs. Acme, a new Looney Tunes film that follows Wile E. Coyote as he attempts to sue the Acme Corporation for selling him faulty products. Will joins guest host Garvia Bailey in the Q studio to talk about the film’s unlikely journey to the screen, from being shelved indefinitely to being rescued after a passionate fan campaign. Plus, he looks back on some of the most delightfully weird highlights of his career.

Martin Andrijasevic and Hamzah Al-Emad, best known for their YouTube channel Slushy Noobz, have experienced a meteoric rise since beginning their collaboration three years ago. Earlier this summer, they livestreamed their way across Canada, introducing their Gen Z audience to some of the country’s biggest attractions, overlooked destinations and classic tourist locales. Martin and Hamzah sit down with Q guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about their eight-stop Canada tour, their approach to their work, and what they’ve come to realize about this country.

Seven years after her last album, Sara Bareilles is back with Good Grief — a record born out of some of the hardest years of her life. The two-time Grammy winner, actor and Broadway lyricist lost two close friends, went through years of IVF, and found herself asking what we hold on to when the people we love are gone. Now, she’s turned those experiences into songs about memory, friendship, loss and resilience. Sara joins Q guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about finding hope on the other side of grief.

At first glance, punk and folk seem to live in two different worlds. But look below the surface and you’ll find the two genres have more in common than you might think. Nova Scotia folk duo Mama’s Broke (Amy Lou Keeler and Lisa Maria) sit down with Q guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about their new album, Reunion, and the kinship between punk and folk. 

Yesterday, the world lost one of country music’s greatest legends, Dolly Parton, who died at age 80 in Nashville. A few years ago, Dolly spoke with Tom Power about her extraordinary career, how growing up in a family of 12 kids turned her into a country icon, and the stories behind her best-loved songs, like Jolene, I Will Always Love You and Coat of Many Colors. In memory of Dolly Parton, we revisit that conversation.

Sometimes the songs just stop coming. Simone Schmidt, the songwriter behind Fiver, found themselves unable to write before finding their way back to song through an unexpected metaphor. Years after a psychic gave them a ritual to clear their apartment of "stuck energy," Simone realized they needed to do the same thing with their mind. They started sorting through old melodies, unfinished songs and ideas to create their latest album, Cleaning House. In this conversation with Q guest host Garvia Bailey, Simone reflects on their creative block, why they reject diaristic songwriting, and how the best songs leave space for listeners to find their own meaning.

Jean-Michel Blais has been a celebrated figure in the post-classical piano world since the release of his critically acclaimed debut album in 2016. This fall, he’s releasing a new concept album, mirador, inspired by his childhood memories and personal journey as a queer person living with Tourette syndrome. Ahead of the album’s release, he joins Q guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about the shift from minimalism to something he calls “generous maximalism," and reflect on how his childhood influenced his new album.

Justine Williamson and Greg Vardy are the Canadian sketch comedy duo behind Tracy and Martina, two fun-loving best friends from Cape Breton. Those characters got their start on YouTube, where their sketches racked up hundreds of thousands of views. Since then, Tracy and Martina have appeared on CBC Comedy, Trailer Park Boys+ (formerly SwearNet), and even landed their own Christmas special. Now, they’re releasing their first movie, Tracy & Martina: Goin’ Out West, which hits streaming services this September. They joined Q guest host Gill Deacon to discuss the origins of Tracy and Martina, how they stumbled into making a feature film, and what it was like to head out West.

It’s been 10 years since the iconic Canadian band The Tragically Hip performed together for the last time with their fearless frontman and friend, Gord Downie. To commemorate the anniversary, the band is releasing a live album documenting the group’s final tour, alongside a CBC re-broadcast of their historic 2016 farewell concert in their hometown of Kingston, Ont. The Hip band members Rob Baker and Paul Langlois join Tom Power to reflect on that final concert, what they miss most about playing with Gord, and how they remember him now, 10 years on.

When acclaimed playwright, actor and theatre director Jovanni Sy went back to school a few years ago, he was told to direct something funny. He originally wanted to take on The Way of the World — William Congreve’s British Restoration comedy from 1700. But over time, that morphed into a modern-day, fast-paced Asian rom-com set in Singapore. It’s called The Tao of the World, and it opens at the Stratford Festival tonight. Jovanni joins guest host Garvia Bailey in the Q studio to explain how and why that all happened.

Not too long ago, Max McNown was sitting on a pier in Southern California. He had just taught himself guitar and was busking for change. Though he grew up singing, he didn’t see himself becoming a professional musician. But busking gave him the confidence to go all in on music, and within a few years, he was performing on some of the biggest stages in the world. Now, he’s releasing his third record, Leave On A Light, which is a love letter to the people who’ve supported him along the way. Max sits down with Q guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about the new record, learning to love his voice, and how he went from a quiet life in Oregon to becoming one of country music’s fastest-rising stars. 

English singer-songwriter Laura Marling has spent years writing songs about imagined futures, family and motherhood. First she wrote the album Song for Our Daughter before she had kids, then Patterns in Repeat after becoming a mom. Now, she's surprised everyone with an entire album of Raffi songs. Laura speaks to Q guest host Garvia Bailey about discovering one of Canada's most beloved musicians, what she learned from his approach to making music for children, and how motherhood has completely changed the way she writes, performs and sees the world.

For 75 years, American Girl in Italy has been one of the world's most famous photographs. The image of a young woman walking through a crowd of men has been interpreted as everything from street harassment to female empowerment. To mark the anniversary, photographer Ruth Orkin's family is releasing a never-before-seen frame captured moments before the iconic shot. Ruth’s daughter, Mary Engel, joins Q guest host Garvia Bailey to share the story behind the image, the photo’s surprising Canadian connection, and why her mother was one of the most influential photographers you’ve probably never heard of. 

Following his 2024 breakout hit, Big Dawgs, Hanumankind has become a global rapper. Born in Kerala, India and growing up all over the world, Hanumankind quickly drew interest at local open mics in India for his Houston rap influences and his ability to freestyle on a whim. In 2023, he signed with Def Jam India and by the next year, he was playing Coachella and working with artists like A$AP Rocky. Earlier this year, he stopped by the Q studio to talk to Q guest host Garvia Bailey about his first North American tour, his album Monsoon Season, and how he continues to put South Indian hip-hop on the map with his own unique sound and aesthetic. 

Skiifall is a Montreal-based rapper and producer whose music exists at the intersection of grime, electronic music, hip-hop and forward-thinking bass culture. His unique sound brought him early success and caught the attention of artists like Drake and the late designer and DJ Virgil Abloh. Known for his distinctive vocal delivery and genre-defying approach, Skiifall continues to carve out a singular space within contemporary music. He joins Q guest host Garvia Bailey to tell us how Abloh became one of his biggest supporters, how he found early inspiration in the teen sitcom Wizards of Waverly Place, and his brand new song, Sun Up. 

Hannah Einbinder is the award-winning actor and comedian known for her breakout role in the HBO series Hacks. On the heels of the show’s series finale, she’s branching out with a new film, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma. On the surface, it’s a bloody slasher, but underneath is a tender story about coming into your true identity and accepting yourself fully. Hannah joins Q guest host Gill Deacon to talk about the film, the final season of Hacks and her start in comedy.