Q with Tom Power
CBC
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 31, 2026 • 25min
Why electronic band Holy F believes you can make music out of anything
Graham Walsh, electronic musician and producer who shapes Holy F’s generative, restriction-driven sound, and Brian Borcherdt, experimental maker who builds songs from toys and thrifted gear, talk touring and their new record. They discuss embracing restrictions, resurrecting old jams for Event Beat, happy accidents in sound design, live collective interplay, and worries about AI and volume while touring.
Mar 31, 2026 • 16min
Playwright Marlene Ginader wants to diversify serial killing
Marlene Ginader, a Vancouver-based actor and playwright, wrote and stars in the satirical solo show Canadian Psycho. She explains why she set out to 'diversify' the serial killer narrative. She examines the model minority myth and representation in media. She discusses using dark comedy, songs from true crime interviews, and solo-performance routines to spark conversations.
Mar 30, 2026 • 34min
How leaving finance for acting changed Sterling K. Brown’s life
Sterling K. Brown, Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated actor known for This Is Us, explains his leap from Stanford economics to acting. He recalls the first spark in high school, losing roles that clarified his path, and shaping complex characters like Randall and Christopher Darden. He also discusses Paradise’s hopeful post-apocalypse, fan theories, and the weight of representation.
Mar 27, 2026 • 47min
Q Live at the Junos
Renata Fast, Olympic silver medalist and Team Canada defender, reflects on Milan 2026 and the growth of professional women’s hockey. Jully Black, trailblazing R&B singer-songwriter, recounts the origins of a sampled classic and champions support for legacy Black artists. TOBi, Brampton-born hip-hop/R&B artist, performs his Juno-nominated single and discusses its live collaboration with Jully Black and Saukrates.
Mar 26, 2026 • 24min
Is there anything Mae Martin can’t do?
Mae Martin, comedian, actor, writer, musician and podcast host, chats about preparing to host the 2026 Juno Awards and bringing a party vibe to live TV. They discuss creating the Netflix thriller Wayward and how real-life consulting shaped the story. Mae also talks about touring, self-funded music, and using painting as therapy.
Mar 26, 2026 • 25min
A.C. Newman reflects on endings after a sobering year for The New Pornographers
A.C. Newman, frontman and songwriter for The New Pornographers, reflects on songwriting, loss and a turbulent year for the band. He talks about writing songs as short stories, the inspiration behind tracks like 'Spooky Action' and nostalgic tales such as the last payphone. He also discusses a painful band rupture, re-recording with Charlie Drayton, and learning to slow down and savor moments.
Mar 25, 2026 • 41min
Melissa Auf der Maur on Hole’s chaos — and its genius
In her new memoir, Even the Good Girls Will Cry, Canadian musician Melissa Auf der Maur pulls back the curtain on the alternative and grunge scene of the ’90s. She tells Tom Power about the chaotic, often destructive dynamics within Hole — and how, through it all, frontwoman Courtney Love emerged as one of rock’s most powerful feminist voices. With both her bass and her camera as constant companions, Melissa made it through the decade not only intact, but stronger. The Montreal-born musician and artist joins Tom Power to share the whirlwind story of how it all came to be.
Mar 24, 2026 • 25min
This dad turned his toddler’s stories into viral hits
Stephen Spencer, a composer and music professor who turned his three-year-old’s spoken stories into viral songs. He describes how he captures spontaneous toddler phrasing and arranges it at the piano. They laugh over surprising lines and discuss preserving unpolished childhood voice. He reflects on creative innocence, why listeners respond emotionally, and plans for more music as the family grows.
Mar 24, 2026 • 25min
How Good Kid built a band with the internet — and what AI means for music
Jacob Tsafatinos, songwriter and community-builder for Toronto indie band Good Kid. Nick Frosst, Cohere co-founder and band frontman who bridges AI and music. They discuss building a massive online following via gaming streams and Discord. They recount recording an album in LA amid wildfires and how confinement shaped songs. They debate AI’s role as augmentation in the creative process.
Mar 23, 2026 • 14min
Tedy is unapologetic about money and ambition
Many artists won’t talk openly about money and ambition, but Haitian Canadian singer-songwriter Tedy says the quiet part out loud. In 2025, he released his debut album, Scandalous. One of the album’s standout tracks, Rich, is blunt, catchy and unapologetic — a song about not wanting to work hard, just wanting to be rich. The irony is that Tedy is working harder than ever right now. He sits down with guest host Garvia Bailey in the Q studio to talk about his rising music career.
