Q with Tom Power
CBC Podcasts & Radio On-Demand
Five days a week, Tom Power brings you candid conversations with the artists shaping our culture. Whether he’s chatting with A-listers or rising stars, his disarming warmth and meticulous research always gets below the surface, bringing us deeper into the art and lives of today's most compelling musicians, writers, actors and filmmakers.
As a Canadian institution, Q has attracted the biggest names in the world. But it's never been about the fame. It's always been about the art.
Since becoming the host of Q in October 2016, listeners have come to know Tom for his in-depth interviewing style (asking founding Wu-Tang Clan member RZA what was inside his teenage notebooks), his mischievous sense of humour (jokingly chiding actor Catherine O'Hara for her parenting skills in Home Alone), and his genuine enthusiasm and fearlessness (singing a duet with Mavis Staples).
You’re just as likely to hear from celebrities and cultural icons as you are to hear from emerging artists at the beginning of their career. Tom gives each and every artist the space to tell their story in their own words. He also has a track record for interviewing artists on the precipice of stardom, like Lizzo, Billie Eilish and Daniel Caesar, who appeared on Q well before they hit the mainstream.
On Q, we cover arts and culture in all its forms, including music, movies, film, TV, comedy, painting, photography, theatre, cinema, Broadway, fashion, dance, opera, documentaries, books, fiction and memoirs.
Look to our archives to hear some of Tom’s award-winning artist interviews, including his moving and insightful conversation with the Canadian actor Michael J. Fox, which was awarded the prestigious gold medal for best interview at the 2021 New York Festivals Radio Awards.
In 2022, Tom spoke with Friends star Matthew Perry in front of a live audience. Their warm and frank conversation about the actor's struggles with substance abuse struck a chord, leading to millions views on TikTok and Instagram, while also being picked up by news outlets internationally, including Vanity Fair and CNN.
Tom’s impactful discussions with top talent have included Adele, Bono, Chappell Roan, Pamela Anderson, Cate Blanchett, Dua Lipa, Cher, Denzel Washington, Mick Jagger, Florence Pugh, Francis Ford Coppola, Kristen Stewart, Emma Stone, Jim Carrey, Billy Porter, Tom Hanks, Jerry Seinfeld, Tyler Perry, Alicia Keys, Alan Moore, Bruce Springsteen, Dolly Parton, Barbra Streisand, Darren Aronofsky, Harry Styles, Simu Liu, Sean Penn, Sandra Bullock, Michaela Coel, Ryan Reynolds, Katy Perry, Neil Young, Shakira, George Clooney, Ava DuVernay, Omar Apollo, Trixie Mattel, Orville Peck, Big Sean, Anil Kapoor, Jane Fonda, Robert DeNiro, Antonio Banderas, Elton John, Celine Dion, Kerry Washington, Chuck D, Steven Soderbergh, Mikey Madison, Cillian Murphy, Sean Baker, Steve McQueen, Paris Hilton, Taylor Tomlinson, Gwen Stefani, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Kylie Minogue, Stanley Tucci, Rufus Wainwright, Caroline Polachek, Hans Zimmer, Denis Villeneuve, Alex Garland, Alan Ritchson, Britt Lower, Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, David Blaine, Brian Tyree Henry, Perfume Genius, Deepa Mehta, Tracy Chapman, Chloë Sevigny, Josh Hartnett and many more.
Location:
Canada, ON
Networks:
CBC Podcasts & Radio On-Demand
Description:
Five days a week, Tom Power brings you candid conversations with the artists shaping our culture. Whether he’s chatting with A-listers or rising stars, his disarming warmth and meticulous research always gets below the surface, bringing us deeper into the art and lives of today's most compelling musicians, writers, actors and filmmakers. As a Canadian institution, Q has attracted the biggest names in the world. But it's never been about the fame. It's always been about the art. Since becoming the host of Q in October 2016, listeners have come to know Tom for his in-depth interviewing style (asking founding Wu-Tang Clan member RZA what was inside his teenage notebooks), his mischievous sense of humour (jokingly chiding actor Catherine O'Hara for her parenting skills in Home Alone), and his genuine enthusiasm and fearlessness (singing a duet with Mavis Staples). You’re just as likely to hear from celebrities and cultural icons as you are to hear from emerging artists at the beginning of their career. Tom gives each and every artist the space to tell their story in their own words. He also has a track record for interviewing artists on the precipice of stardom, like Lizzo, Billie Eilish and Daniel Caesar, who appeared on Q well before they hit the mainstream. On Q, we cover arts and culture in all its forms, including music, movies, film, TV, comedy, painting, photography, theatre, cinema, Broadway, fashion, dance, opera, documentaries, books, fiction and memoirs. Look to our archives to hear some of Tom’s award-winning artist interviews, including his moving and insightful conversation with the Canadian actor Michael J. Fox, which was awarded the prestigious gold medal for best interview at the 2021 New York Festivals Radio Awards. In 2022, Tom spoke with Friends star Matthew Perry in front of a live audience. Their warm and frank conversation about the actor's struggles with substance abuse struck a chord, leading to millions views on TikTok and Instagram, while also being picked up by news outlets internationally, including Vanity Fair and CNN. Tom’s impactful discussions with top talent have included Adele, Bono, Chappell Roan, Pamela Anderson, Cate Blanchett, Dua Lipa, Cher, Denzel Washington, Mick Jagger, Florence Pugh, Francis Ford Coppola, Kristen Stewart, Emma Stone, Jim Carrey, Billy Porter, Tom Hanks, Jerry Seinfeld, Tyler Perry, Alicia Keys, Alan Moore, Bruce Springsteen, Dolly Parton, Barbra Streisand, Darren Aronofsky, Harry Styles, Simu Liu, Sean Penn, Sandra Bullock, Michaela Coel, Ryan Reynolds, Katy Perry, Neil Young, Shakira, George Clooney, Ava DuVernay, Omar Apollo, Trixie Mattel, Orville Peck, Big Sean, Anil Kapoor, Jane Fonda, Robert DeNiro, Antonio Banderas, Elton John, Celine Dion, Kerry Washington, Chuck D, Steven Soderbergh, Mikey Madison, Cillian Murphy, Sean Baker, Steve McQueen, Paris Hilton, Taylor Tomlinson, Gwen Stefani, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Kylie Minogue, Stanley Tucci, Rufus Wainwright, Caroline Polachek, Hans Zimmer, Denis Villeneuve, Alex Garland, Alan Ritchson, Britt Lower, Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, David Blaine, Brian Tyree Henry, Perfume Genius, Deepa Mehta, Tracy Chapman, Chloë Sevigny, Josh Hartnett and many more.
Twitter:
@CBCRadioQ
Language:
English
Contact:
416-205-3700
Website:
http://www.cbc.ca/q/
Email:
q@cbc.ca
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Episodes
Q Live!
11/14/2025
Last week, we took the show on the road all the way to Tom Power’s hometown of St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador! This special live taping of “Q” took place at the historic St. John’s Arts and Culture Centre, featuring performances and interviews with musician Alan Doyle formerly of Great Big Sea, opera singer Deantha Edmunds, comedian Rick Mercer, actors Allan Hawco and Joséphine Jobert, and many more. Here’s a sample of some of the funny, heartfelt and wonderful moments that happened that night. Next week, we’ll share more from Q Live in St. John’s, including conversations with comedian Mark Critch and award-winning drag queens Tara Nova and Gravy, plus an incredible stand-up performance by comedian Trent McClellan of “This Hour Has 22 Minutes.”
Duration:00:52:09
Elle Fanning calls herself a "nepo sister”
11/13/2025
Elle Fanning is an A-list actor who calls herself a "nepo sister.” When she was just two years old, she appeared in her sister Dakota Fanning’s movie “I Am Sam,” playing a younger version of her character, Lucy. 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 in 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. She discusses the movie, her start in acting and why she wants to maintain some mystery around who she is.
Duration:00:21:39
Amaarae’s new album is dedicated to kids who don’t fit in
11/13/2025
Amaarae is one of the biggest new voices in music with a sound that blends Afrobeats, pop, house and rap. In the past few years, she’s gone viral on TikTok, she’s performed at Coachella, and she’s opened for Sabrina Carpenter and Childish Gambino. Amaarae joins Tom Power to talk about her new album, “Black Star,” how she got her start in music, and how a trip to Ghana led her to reconnect with her roots.
Duration:00:15:39
Before acting, Sydney Sweeney considered becoming a professional boxer
11/12/2025
Sydney Sweeney is one of this generation's biggest stars. Her new film “Christy” tells the story of the trailblazing boxer Christy Martin, who broke into the male dominated world of 1990s prizefighting and became one of the biggest stars in boxing. It may not seem like Sydney — star of the hit teen show “Euphoria” and rom-com “Anyone But You” — would have much in common with Christy. But they both come from small towns, broke into their respective industries without connections, and have backgrounds in combat arts. Sydney joins Tom Power to talk about taking on the role of Christy, the physical transformation she underwent, and how her own background in martial arts influences her life and career.
Duration:00:17:39
Comedian Benny Feldman is his own heckler
11/12/2025
Benny Feldman is a one-liner comedian who’s written thousands of jokes, including ones that poke fun at his own experience with Tourette Syndrome. Over the last few years, his career has been picking up steam after performing on Comedy Central and at the Netflix Is A Joke Festival. Even the great comedian and actor Patton Oswalt is a huge fan, saying that Benny is an “amazing joke writer and even better joke deliverer.” Benny stops by the Q studio to tell Tom Power about his new hour of stand-up “Butterfly Pavilion,” the art of one-liners, and being his “own heckler.”
Duration:00:28:09
How a 2-second clip led to Stephan James's biggest role
11/11/2025
Actor Stephan James (Homecoming, If Beale Street Could Talk) has made a name for himself playing major historical figures like runner Jesse Owens in “Race” and civil rights activist John Lewis in “Selma.” After working with legends like Julia Roberts and Laurence Fishburne, Stephan wanted to come back to his community in Canada and share his success. Earlier this year, Tom Power caught up with Stephan in front of a live audience to talk about his career and his plans to uplift young Black creatives.
Duration:00:40:14
Brendan McLeod honours the soldiers who fought at Vimy Ridge
11/11/2025
A few years ago, the Canadian musician Brendan McLeod and his band The Fugitives wrote a collection of songs inspired by the real-life experiences of soldiers who fought at the Battle of Vimy Ridge during the First World War. Last year, ahead of a performance of those songs in a stage show called “Ridge,” Brendan joined Tom Power to talk about the project and the significance of Canada's sacrifice at Vimy Ridge.
Duration:00:11:59
Alex Cuba’s newest album is a thank you to his ancestors
11/10/2025
Alex Cuba is a Grammy-winning artist known for his joyful, genre-blending sound. But on his new album, “índole,” he taps into sorrow as a creative force. His songs also reflect his Afro-Latin roots, and he wrote his 11th studio album as a thank you to his ancestors and the African diaspora that gave Latin music its heartbeat. He joins Tom Power to talk about finding beauty in pain, gratitude in his ancestors, and the true nature of where his music comes from.
Duration:00:21:09
James Barker Band revisits their hometown in new album One Of Us
11/10/2025
It’s been a big year for the James Barker Band, one of Canada’s biggest country groups. They just celebrated 10 years as a band and won group of the year at the Canadian Country Music Association Awards. Despite all this success, the James Barker Band decided to revisit their hometown on their new album, “One of Us.” The record details the people and places of Woodville, Ontario who have made them the artists they are today. James Barker drops by the studio to talk with Tom Power about the band’s big year, their new album, and why community and showing up for your neighbour is on his mind right now.
Duration:00:21:43
Robert Bateman is one of Canada’s most misunderstood artists
11/7/2025
A new documentary shines light on the early years of the hugely successful Canadian wildlife painter Robert Bateman. “The Art of Adventure” peels back the layers of how the artist fell deeply in love with the natural world and launched a lifelong fight to protect it. Yet, critics often dismiss Robert’s art. He has received the Order of Canada, but has never been invited to show at the National Gallery of Canada. At 95, Robert looks back with Tom Power on an unusually artistic career which has been both celebrated and misunderstood by his home country.
Duration:00:28:49
The Hello Crows on reconnecting with their Indigenous heritage through music
11/7/2025
The Hello Crows have never just been a band. The Indigenous collective from Fredericton, New Brunswick formed after its members connected at an Indigenous songwriters’ circle. Through sharing their stories about their lives and collaborating on stage, the musicians realized that they could form both a band and a safe space for them to re-approach their Indigenous heritage. The Hello Crows members Quinn Bonnell and Dylan Ward join Tom Power to discuss their debut album, how they’re reconnecting to their culture and winning song of the year at the Music New Brunswick Awards.
Duration:00:15:09
Jennifer Lawrence on Die My Love and how Mother! destroyed her
11/6/2025
After reading Ariana Harwicz’s novel “Die, My Love” in his book club, Martin Scorsese sent a copy to Jennifer Lawrence, telling her he imagined her as the main character. Now, the Oscar-winning actor stars alongside Robert Pattinson in a new film adaptation of the novel, directed by Lynne Ramsay. The story follows a young mother struggling with her mental health after the birth of her first child. As a new mother herself, Jennifer decided this was the right project for her to jump back into acting following a break from Hollywood. She joins Tom Power to tell us how she mentally prepared for this harrowing role, how she doesn’t let her teen fame past define her, and why she stepped away from the spotlight after she started feeling more like a celebrity than an actor.
Duration:00:23:41
This play looks at how Columbine and 9/11 haunted a generation
11/6/2025
In the groundbreaking play “The Comeuppance” by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, old wounds rise to the surface when a group of friends reunite 20 years after their high school graduation. The Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright wanted to shine a light on the elder millennial demographic — the kids that came of age alongside Columbine and the Sept. 11 attacks. Now, a new Canadian production of “The Comeuppance” is opening at Toronto’s Soulpepper Theatre. Branden joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the play and how it looks back on the events that shaped a generation.
Duration:00:24:23
Bahamas isn’t sure if this is his 2nd last album — but he’s not ruling it out
11/5/2025
Afie Jurvanen, also known as Bahamas, is back with a new record, cheekily titled “My Second Last Album.” Whether or not it’ll live up to its title is still undecided. Afie made it on the fly with his buddy Joshua Van Tassel and nobody else. He sits down with Tom Power to talk about their collaboration and why he says letting go of control makes most things better. Plus, he sets up a song for us.
Duration:00:23:00
Audrey-Anne Bouchard creates theatre performances you’re not supposed to see
11/5/2025
When Audrey-Anne Bouchard was a teenager, she found out she had a rare degenerative eye disease. Now, she creates immersive theatre performances for blind and partially sighted audiences, turning her experience living with a visual impairment into a professional strength. Her latest show, “Fragments: celle qui m'habitait déjà,” engages audience members through all the senses but sight. If you can see, you’re asked to wear an eye-shade during the performance. Audrey-Anne talks to Tom Power about how she approaches storytelling beyond the visual, and how that brings people together in unexpected ways.
Duration:00:23:36
Rochelle Jordan is rewriting her story and reclaiming her power
11/4/2025
Rochelle Jordan is a Canadian singer whose new record, “Through The Wall,” was recently named one of the best new albums by Pitchfork. It explores the roadblocks she’s dealt with in her career after years of self-doubt and insecurity. Rochelle joins Tom Power to talk about bouncing back from that, fighting as a Black artist to make pop music, and how her new album pays tribute to her brother.
Duration:00:20:39
Lee Lai finds her voice in Cannon
11/4/2025
Years before she made a splashy debut with her award-winning graphic novel “Stone Fruit,” the Montreal-based cartoonist Lee Lai spent years working in cafes and restaurants. That experience got her thinking about some big questions, like what does it mean to be of service? What happens when someone is used to giving but never receiving? And when you change your life for the better, will your friends and relationships be able to support your personal growth? Those questions form the core of Lee’s new graphic novel “Cannon,” which follows a line cook who has trouble asserting herself and setting boundaries. She joins Tom Power to talk about it.
Duration:00:21:13
Elijah Woods says don’t be afraid to be cringey on the internet
11/3/2025
Over the last few years, Canadian singer-songwriter Elijah Woods has surpassed one billion streams, been nominated for four Juno Awards, and sold out tours across Canada and Asia — all before the release of his debut album. Elijah joins Tom Power to talk about his early brush with success on a reality music competition show, the dissolution of his band Elijah Woods x Jamie Fine, and starting over with a solo career.
Duration:00:24:25
Begonia is the same flamboyant performer onstage and off
11/3/2025
Winnipeg’s Alexa Dirks, better known by her stage name Begonia, is one of the coolest voices in alt-pop with a bombastic, technicolour sense of style. On her new album, “Fantasy Life,” she pushes the boundaries of her sound, her visuals and, most importantly, her amazing voice. She sits down with Tom Power to talk about the record, her critical acclaim, and the difference between Begonia the flamboyant performer, and Alexa the songwriter (spoiler: they’re not too different at all).
Duration:00:23:49
There’s nothing spooky about Shad’s new album
10/31/2025
Twenty years after the release of his debut album, “When This Is Over,” Shad has firmly cemented himself as one of the great Canadian voices of our time. Now, the beloved Canadian rapper is marking the milestone with a new record, “Start Anew,” which is all about embracing change, facing loss, and moving into uncertainty with hope. He sits down with Tom Power to talk about his journey from being a curious teenager in London, Ontario, to an award-winning broadcaster and one of the best hip-hop artists in the country.
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Duration:00:34:59