Serj Tankian: System of a Down, raising awareness of the Armenian genocide, and his new memoir

Sarah Polley explains why laughter was key to adapting Women Talking + new music from Celeigh Cardinal: Sarah Polley’s Oscar-winning film “Women Talking” is a powerful story about three generations of women who sit down to debate their future after realizing they and their daughters have been regularly drugged and sexually assaulted by the men in their colony. Sarah tells Tom about her approach to adapting works of fiction, what it was like stepping back from the film industry after a concussion, and how she used her experience as a child actor to create the best environment possible for the children on the set of “Women Talking.” Plus, Celeigh Cardinal is a Juno-winning singer-songwriter who’s been praised for her soulful torch songs tinged with blues and R&B. She tells guest host Talia Schlanger the story behind her new song “Over Before It Began.” by Q with Tom Power

49 min listen

Tate McRae: Performing on SNL, her hit song Greedy, and not being judgmental of your art: Tate McRae’s wildest dreams are coming true. She recently performed at the Billboard Music Awards, she was the musical guest on “Saturday Night Live,” and her song “Greedy” just reached the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10. Calgary’s Tate McRae talks to Tom about this pivotal time in her career, how she never wants to write a song with the intention of it being big on TikTok, and how her hit song “Greedy,” initially scared her. by Q with Tom Power

30 min listen

Tim McGraw on sobriety, meeting his dad in his teens, Taylor Swift and his new album: Tim McGraw, one of the biggest country stars on earth, is back with his 16th studio album, “Standing Room Only.” Tim talks to Tom about his career, meeting his dad for the first time as a teenager, and how he knew Taylor Swift was going to be big the first time he met her. by Q with Tom Power

36 min listen

Steve Albini on Nirvana’s In Utero + Caroline Brooks of Good Lovelies: This month is the 30th anniversary of Nirvana’s multi-platinum final album, “In Utero.” Released months before the death of lead singer Kurt Cobain, “In Utero” was the last musical statement from one of the biggest bands in the world at the time. The producer of the album was Steve Albini, who was sought out by Kurt himself as Nirvana wanted the record to be the opposite of their biggest album, “Nevermind.” Steve tells Tom about recording the album and reflects on his iconoclastic career as one of the most divisive producers in rock. Plus, Caroline Brooks of Good Lovelies calls in from a parking lot in Winnipeg to tell Tom about the group’s brand new song, “Tip to Toe.” by Q with Tom Power

48 min listen

Rick Mercer: Highlights from his hit TV show, imposter syndrome, and his new memoir: Canadian comedian and television personality Rick Mercer is back with the highly anticipated follow-up to his first memoir, “Talking to Canadians.” Rick’s new memoir is called “The Road Years” and it features stories and behind-the-scenes moments from some of the most iconic episodes of the hit CBC show “Rick Mercer Report.” Rick speaks with Tom Power about some of the highlights from “Rick Mercer Report,” imposter syndrome, and why writing a second memoir is easier than the first. by Q with Tom Power

27 min listen

Shania Twain on the moments that made her + King Kruff’s new music and having Bob Marley as your grandfather: For decades, Shania Twain has been inspiring fans with empowering anthems like “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” and “That Don’t Impress Me Much.” Tom spoke with Shania back when the documentary about her life, “Not Just a Girl,” came out on Netflix. Shania talks about her humble beginnings in Timmins, Ontario, and the hard lessons she's learned about life and love. Plus, it’s hard to pin down King Cruff’s music as it seamlessly blends hip-hop, dancehall, Afrobeats and reggae. London, Ontario’s King Cruff will tell you about his hit single “Soufflé” and how his grandfather, reggae legend Bob Marley, has influenced his approach to music and life. by Q with Tom Power

48 min listen

Tom Hanks: The magic behind moviemaking: Two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump, Philadelphia, A League of Their Own) on his debut novel “The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece,” the insecurities he’s felt throughout his career, and what drives his passion for filmmaking when it feels like “the odds are stacked against you.” by Q with Tom Power

51 min listen

[Full episode] Uzo Aduba, Jonathon Adams, Yusuf Saadi, Elton John: Emmy-winning actress Uzo Aduba (known as Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren on Orange Is the New Black) talks about taking on her first lead role in HBO's reboot of In Treatment. Cree-Métis baritone Jonathon Adams shares what they discovered when they began delving into the history of Indigenous music and how it was brutally suppressed by Canada's residential school system. Griffin Poetry Prize finalist Yusuf Saadi reads his poem Mile End from his debut poetry collection, Pluviophile. Elton John opens up about his "rollercoaster life," how having children changed everything for him and why he's now saying goodbye to life on the road. by Q with Tom Power

59 min listen

Talking Heads: The early days, “Stop Making Sense,” the story behind the big suit: It’s been 40 years since Talking Heads’ seminal concert film “Stop Making Sense” was released. Now, the film has been entirely restored and re-released in theatres. In a rare conversation, all four members of Talking Heads join Tom in studio to share some stories from the making of the film, what drew them together in the early days, and where the idea for the famous “big suit” came from. by Q with Tom Power

39 min listen

Hozier on “Take Me to Church” and his new album + How Fawn Parker writes about grief: For his latest album, “Unreal Unearth,” Irish singer-songwriter Hozier looked to the nine circles of hell for inspiration. More specifically, “Dante’s Inferno.” Hozier talks to Tom about the new record and the resonance of his biggest hit, “Take Me to Church,” in 2023. Plus, Fawn Parker is a writer whose novel “What We Both Know” was longlisted for the Giller Prize in 2022. Now, she returns with her debut poetry collection, “Soft Inheritance.” Fawn tells Tom how her mother’s journey with cancer inspired the collection of poems. She also reads one of her poems, “Woof.” by Q with Tom Power

47 min listen

Megan Follows: Playing Anne in Anne of Green Gables and bringing the story to a new generation: Few Canadian performances are as iconic or celebrated as Megan Follows as Anne Shirley in the 1985 miniseries “Anne of Green Gables.” Now, Megan has revisited Lucy Maud Montgomery’s beloved story in a new audiobook for Audible, which stars esteemed Canadian actors like Catherine O’Hara, Victor Garber and Sandra Oh. Megan talks to Tom about her role in the original series, bringing the story back to life nearly 40 years later, and how portraying Anne changed her life. by Q with Tom Power

35 min listen

Nicole Byer: The reality of competition shows and how ADHD can help your comedy: Nicole Byer has made a living talking to people and being funny. She’s so good at it, she’s got three podcasts, two TV shows and a current Emmy nomination for hosting the reality show “Nailed It!” Now, somehow, Nicole has also found the time to take her stand-up on the road. She talks to Tom about growing up as a hyperactive kid, how having ADHD has helped her comedy career, and what you can expect at her show at this year's Just For Laughs. by Q with Tom Power

33 min listen

James Ehnes: Violin, the reality of being a child prodigy and why a great violinist should stay away from basketball: Grammy-winning violinist James Ehnes is one of the most sought-after musicians in the world. Ahead of his shows with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Order of Canada member violinist drops by the studio to tell Tom about his life in music and what it was like growing up as a child prodigy in Brandon, Manitoba. by Q with Tom Power

39 min listen

Introducing: Q with Tom Power: If you want to hear your favourite artists as they truly are, like Billie Eilish, Denzel Washington or Seth Rogen, listen to Q with Tom Power. Five days a week, Tom has deep, funny, and insightful conversations with actors, musicians, and authors. Essentially, if they make great art, you'll hear them on Q with Tom Power. by Q with Tom Power

3 min listen

Mick Jagger: More than 60 years of the Rolling Stones: The Rolling Stones are back with “Hackney Diamonds,” the band’s first album of original material in 18 years. In a Canadian exclusive interview, frontman Mick Jagger talks to Tom about the record, the changing music industry and losing their drummer Charlie Watts. by Q with Tom Power

40 min listen

How Blue Rodeo got big by going small on Five Days in July + why you have Drake to thank for new k-os music: On the 30th anniversary of Blue Rodeo’s best selling album “Five Days in July,” bandmates Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor join Tom to recall how they found refuge in Greg’s Ontario farmhouse to create a Canadian masterpiece. Plus, k-os celebrates the 17th anniversary of his hit album “Atlantis: Hymns for Disco” by releasing a brand new song to add to his catalogue. The Canadian rapper, singer-songwriter and producer joins Tom to premiere the song, titled “Invulnerable.” by Q with Tom Power

50 min listen

Feist on Multitudes, motherhood & memories + Charlotte Cardin performs “Next To You”: Singer-songwriter Feist on her latest album, “Multitudes,” what it was like becoming a new mom during the pandemic, and how her life changed after her song “1234” was featured in an iPod commercial in 2007. Plus, Charlotte Cardin performs “Next to You” off her Juno-winning sophomore album, “99 Nights.” by Q with Tom Power

39 min listen

Bernie Taupin: Writing hit songs with Elton John, avoiding the limelight, and why he’s telling his story now: Bernie Taupin, who wrote lyrics for Elton John’s biggest hits, has never chased the limelight. But in his new memoir, “Scattershot,” the Grammy-winning songwriter opens up. Bernie joins Tom to share how his love of music started, his memories of working with Elton, and what he credits for their unbreakable bond. by Q with Tom Power

39 min listen

Leslie Jones: “SNL,” lessons on failure and getting her first big break in her 40s: When Leslie Jones was in her late 40s, her brother — the last remaining member of her nuclear family — died. Leslie says that experience taught her to stop caring about whether or not people laughed at her jokes, and inspired her to become a more daring comic. In her new memoir, “Leslie F*cking Jones,” she details her journey to becoming a household name — the early days growing up in Memphis, the sense of identity she discovered in comedy, and her time as a writer and cast member on Saturday Night Live. She joined Tom to talk about the stories in her memoir, the advice she got from Jamie Foxx that changed her comedy career, and how she ended up on Saturday Night Live. by Q with Tom Power

34 min listen

Pamela Anderson on taking her story back: Over the years, Pamela Anderson’s story has seemingly been told by everyone but herself. Earlier this year, she decided to take back authorship of her life with a memoir (“Love, Pamela”) and Netflix documentary (“Pamela, A Love Story”). Pam sat down with Tom in studio to share her story in her own words and set the record straight. by Q with Tom Power

36 min listen

Brenda Lee: Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, being backstage with The Beatles, and having Elvis on her front step: Brenda Lee is the voice of the iconic holiday song “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” which turns 65 this year. Brenda tells Tom about recording that song at just 13 years old, how having the song in “Home Alone” changed its popularity, and what it was like knowing The Beatles before their massive fame. by Q with Tom Power

22 min listen

Patrick Stewart: Star Trek, Shakespeare, and losing his Yorkshire accent: When Patrick Stewart was first cast as Captain Jean-Luc Picard on the hit TV series “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” the Los Angeles Times referred to him as “an unknown British Shakespearean actor.” But it didn’t take long for him to become a household name. Sir Patrick has just released a memoir, “Making It So,” about his life in acting. He joins Tom to talk about it and share stories from his career. by Q with Tom Power

36 min listen

Hip-Hop Week: Musician, producer and Fugee Wyclef Jean: Grammy-winning rapper and producer Wyclef Jean (Fugees) joins Tom Power to reflect on his career and the big hits he’s produced for some of the most influential artists of the last three decades. by Q with Tom Power

26 min listen

Iconic drag queen Sasha Velour + Rêve on her new song Saturn Return: After an unforgettable final lip sync to Whitney Houston’s “So Emotional” in 2017, Sasha Velour was crowned the Season 9 winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” That performance went down in drag history and was even parodied on “SNL” two years later. Sasha’s latest book, “The Big Reveal: An Illustrated Manifesto of Drag,” chronicles drag’s history, interwoven with her own personal story. She tells Tom about her grandmother’s that encouraged her drag as a child, the moment she won “Drag Race” and how her mother’s battle with cancer inspired her signature bald look. Plus, Rêve burst onto the scene with her dance hit “CTRL+ALT+DEL” in 2021, winning her dance recording of the year at this year’s Juno Awards. Now, Reve’s just released her debut studio album, “Saturn Return,” inspired by the major astrological event that marks a transformative time in one's life. Rêve tells Tom the story behind the album’s title track. by Q with Tom Power

49 min listen

Joan Baez: Folk music, “Bobby” Dylan, and what it means to have an honest legacy: Few voices in folk music captured a time and place quite like Joan Baez’s. Now, her incredible life is on display in the new documentary “Joan Baez I Am a Noise.” It follows her career as she became one of the definitive singers of her generation, and reveals an intimate look at her life, loves, and traumas through diary entries, recordings and performances. She talks to Tom about her career, what it means to leave behind an honest legacy, and what she’s most proud of. by Q with Tom Power

30 min listen

Paris Zarcilla: The horror of rage and how his experience as an immigrant inspired his new film Raging Grace: British Filipino director Paris Zarcilla’s new horror film, “Raging Grace,” tells the story of Joy, a young mother and undocumented immigrant from the Philippines who cleans houses and struggles to save money for a visa. The film also shows her experience with racism, which comes in the form of indignities and microaggressions. Paris tells Tom about how his mother inspired the main character, how he didn’t intend for the film to be a horror when he first started writing it, and why he doesn’t want to teach anyone a lesson with this story. by Q with Tom Power

20 min listen

Julia Fox: Being a dominatrix, Uncut Gems, and feeling “born ready” to be famous: Julia Fox is the artist, actor and fashion icon who shot to fame after starring alongside Adam Sandler in “Uncut Gems.” Now, she’s sharing her story in her memoir, “Down the Drain,” which is a candid retelling of her journey with addiction, abuse and fame. Julia tells Tom about her childhood, how becoming a dominatrix changed her life for the better, and why being famous feels natural to her. by Q with Tom Power

36 min listen

R.L. Stine: Goosebumps, writing advice, and how he stumbled into writing horror for kids: R.L. Stine is one of the best-selling children's authors in history, made famous by his “Goosebumps” and “Fear Street” books. For decades, he’s kept a strict writing schedule, pumping out around 2,000 words (roughly 10 pages) each morning. More than 350 books later, he’s sharing what he knows with a new book of writing advice called “There’s Something Strange About My Brain: Writing Horror for Kids.” R.L. Stine joins Tom to talk about how growing up feeling like a fearful outsider inspired him to retreat in his room and write, how he accidentally ended up writing horror books for kids, and what his best advice is for young writers. by Q with Tom Power

32 min listen

Remembering Matthew Perry: “Friends” star Matthew Perry, the Emmy-nominated actor whose sarcastic but lovable character Chandler Bing was among the most famous and most quotable on television, has died at 54. Last year, he joined Tom for a live on-stage interview to talk about his memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.” Matthew shared his incredible story of survival and why he wanted to help others going through similar struggles. by Q with Tom Power

36 min listen

James L. Brooks: The Simpsons, comedy with heart, and the feminism of The Mary Tyler Moore Show: Legendary writer and producer James L. Brooks transformed the types of stories you see on television, from “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” to “The Simpsons.” He then applied his same winning formula — character-driven stories with heart — to the world of film. James L. Brooks tells Tom about writing and creating some of the most successful comedies on TV, the secret behind “The Simpsons” success, and his latest project, “Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.” by Q with Tom Power

35 min listen

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Serj Tankian: System of a Down, raising awareness of the Armenian genocide, and his new memoir

Serj Tankian: System of a Down, raising awareness of the Armenian genocide, and his new memoir

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