q: The Podcast from CBC Radio

Megan Park (Sterling Point, My Old Ass, The Fallout) is a Canadian writer and director who got her start in front of the camera, starring in teen dramas like Life with Derek and The Secret Life of the American Teenager. But something about those early jobs never felt quite right. The roles often lacked authenticity, and there was little room for collaboration on set. Now, Megan has made it her mission to tell more honest and nuanced stories about young people. Her new series, Sterling Point, is one of the most anticipated releases of the summer. She joins Q guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about the show, how her experiences as a young actor inspired her to take on the YA genre, and what she hopes to do differently for the next generation of viewers.

The indie rock band Kiwi Jr. has been rocking, rolling and riffing for more than a decade. In Q's recurring New Music segment, lead singer Jeremy Gaudet joins guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about their latest single, Photos Of The Reenactment, which was inspired by true crime podcasts. The band's new album, Blowin' Up, comes out on Aug. 14.

Candi Staton has been a gospel prodigy, a Southern soul powerhouse and a disco icon. Now in her 80s, she's back in the spotlight with her Grammy-nominated album Back to My Roots, which marks her return to the gospel music where it all began. From segregated Alabama churches to '90s dance floors, her career includes timeless hits like Young Hearts Run Free and You Got the Love. But it's also a journey marked by hardship, heartbreak and long stretches of being overlooked. Earlier this year, Candi joined Q guest host Garvia Bailey to reflect on a remarkable seven decades in music — and what it means to still be singing, creating and finding her place in the spotlight.

Samar Hejazi is a Palestinian Canadian artist whose multidisciplinary work spans sculpture, textiles and printmaking, challenging traditional perceptions of reality. After spending years in Toronto, she now lives and works in Dubai. She's one of the primary contributors to the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute's latest exhibit, Costume Art, which debuted at the Met Gala in New York. Samar tells Q guest host Garvia Bailey how she was recruited for the exhibit and why she chose to honour Arab designers on fashion's biggest night.

In her new memoir, Even the Good Girls Will Cry, Montreal-born musician Melissa Auf der Maur pulls back the curtain on the alternative rock and grunge scene of the '90s. Earlier this year, she joined Tom Power to talk 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.

Les Louanges (a.k.a. Vincent Roberge) is one of the defining francophone artists of his generation in Québec, and yet he's almost entirely unknown to anglophone Canada. He's got two Juno Awards for francophone album of the year, and now his latest album, Alouette!, has been shortlisted for the prestigious Polaris Music Prize. Les Louanges joins Q guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about the stories that inspired his critically acclaimed new album, how listening to Leonard Cohen helped him write concise songs, and how taking care of his dying father-in-law helped him find his identity.

Grammy-nominated neo soul singer Glenn Lewis is considered one of the forefathers of R&B in Canada. Born in Kitchener and raised in Toronto, he broke through in the early 2000s with his debut album, World Outside My Window. Now he's back with his first new album in more than a decade, Overture. Glenn joins Q guest host Garvia Bailey to look back on the early days of his career, reflect on his relationship with his father and their shared love of Stevie Wonder, and tell the unforgettable story of meeting his musical hero for the first time.

From an early age, violinist Vijay Gupta seemed destined for classical music greatness. He performed at Carnegie Hall at just eight years old, studied at Juilliard and Yale, and joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic at 19. But behind his success, he was struggling with anxiety, addiction and burnout. In his new memoir, Restrung, Vijay reflects on how an experience on Skid Row in Los Angeles changed his life, and why music's true purpose is human connection — not technical perfection.

DerRic Starlight is best known for his puppetry, taking his “Nuppets” (Native puppets) across Canada, mostly to Indigenous communities. But about a decade ago, he set his puppets aside to embark on a different kind of storytelling project: writing a book about homeless communities in Alberta in an effort to explore the root causes of Indigenous homelessness. DerRic tells Q guest host Gill Deacon why he chose an immersive approach, living alongside the people whose stories he wanted to understand and share. His memoir, See-Me Street: My Indigenous Homeless Journey, is out now.

Maddy Kelly is a Canadian-born stand-up comedian, writer, actor and producer based in New York City. Named a “Rising Star” by Toronto's Future of Film Showcase, she's built a successful career performing in comedy clubs across North America and recently made her late-night debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. She's also written for the political satire series This Hour Has 22 Minutes. Following her keynote appearances at the Future of Film Showcase and Just For Laughs, Maddy joins Q guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about comedy, growing up in Vancouver, and what sets Canadian humour apart.

If you don't know Dawoud Bey's name, chances are you've seen his work. One of the most influential photographers working today, Dawoud rose to prominence through his powerful portraits of Black Americans and young people. In 2017, he shifted his focus from portraiture to landscape photography, exploring the history and legacy of African Americans in the Southern United States. Ahead of his new solo exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario, Dawoud joins Q guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about his artistic practice, his fascination with history, and the stories embedded in the landscapes he photographs.

When Meegwun Fairbrother first got wind of Netflix's Little House on the Prairie reboot, the Ojibwe Scottish actor initially wasn't hopeful. In his experience, historical dramas didn't have room for mixed-heritage Indigenous characters who looked like him. Plus, the original series erased the Indigenous perspective entirely. But Meegwun quickly realized this production was doing something different. He tells Q guest host Garvia Bailey about his character, William Mitchell (an Osage family man, homesteader, and the bridge between two communities), and the deep pride he felt in working with Osage cultural consultants to finally get the story right.

Canadian actor, writer and musician Rebecca Auerbach has turned her acclaimed one-woman show into a new CBC podcast called Discount Dave (and the Fix). Based on a true-ish story, it starts with a chance encounter with a man claiming to be Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth, before spiraling into a deeper story about addiction, trauma and recovery. Rebecca sits down with Q guest host Gill Deacon to talk about blending memoir with fiction, and why telling this story was essential to her healing. Episode 1 of Discount Dave (and the Fix) is an official selection of the 2026 Tribeca Audio Festival.

Reneltta Arluk grew up on a trapline in the Northwest Territories, living off the land with her grandmother and the legendary Arctic dog team guide Archie Larocque. Those nomadic early years shaped a career that took her from founding the first professional theatre company in the Northwest Territories to becoming the first Indigenous woman to direct at the Stratford Festival. Now a leader at the National Gallery of Canada, she joins guest host Gill Deacon to talk about carrying stories forward from the trapline to gallery walls.

When Sarah Leavitt's mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, she began documenting everything she could through drawings and writing. Those records became Tangles, her acclaimed 2010 graphic memoir, which was the first graphic narrative to be named a finalist for the Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction. Now, more than 15 years later, Tangles has been adapted into a film starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Seinfeld, Veep), Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Abbi Jacobson (Broad City) and Wanda Sykes (The New Adventures of Old Christine). Sarah co-wrote the screenplay, and the film premiered at this year's Cannes Film Festival, where it received a lengthy standing ovation. Q guest host Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe caught up with Sarah to talk about it.

Common is an award-winning rapper, actor and activist known for his socially conscious lyrics and roles in films like Selma and the TV show Silo. Common joins Tom Power to talk about season three of Silo, growing up in Chicago, and what it was like to be a ball boy for the Chicago Bulls as a kid and witness Michael Jordan's first season in the NBA.

Winnipeg's sundayclub introduces their song, Blue Wave, in Q's recurring New Music segment. Their self-titled debut album is out now.

Constance Wu stars in a new sci-fi thriller, The Outer Threat, filmed right here in Canada. Constance is most recognizable for her role in Crazy Rich Asians, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination. She's also the bestselling author of her memoir, Making a Scene. She joins guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about the new film, her craft, and her memoir.

Halifax-based duo Moira & Claire introduce their song, no hesitation, in Q's recurring New Music segment. Their new album, it's all a mess!, is out now.

What's in the perfect party lunch? What movie was bad enough to make you walk out of a theatre? And would you DJ your own afterparty? Filmmaker D.W. Waterson answers these very important questions — and more — in a rapid-fire round of Getting to Know Q with Tom Power.

Carisa Hendrix a magician, comedian, fire eater, and the creative force behind the character Lucy Darling, a glamorous socialite who's become an internet sensation. Guest host Gill Deacon speaks with the multi-talented Carisa as she prepares for a performance at Just for Laughs Montreal. She talks about finding a community of magicians in Calgary, breaking into the male-dominated field of magic, and the unlikely journey from sideshows and circus stages to the Guinness World Records and the legendary Magic Castle in Hollywood.

Oliver Jones died this week at the age of 91. In 2024, Tom Power visited the Canadian jazz legend at his home in Montreal to talk about his legacy in Canadian music, his relationship with his hero and role model Oscar Peterson, the time he played for Nelson Mandela, and the secret to playing music into your 90s.

Weird Al Yankovic is a pop culture icon known around the world for his parodies of mega-hits by artists like Madonna, Taylor Swift, and Michael Jackson. His most memorable hits include Amish Paradise, Eat It, and the platinum-selling White & Nerdy. With five Grammy awards and seventeen nominations, he's one of only three artists to chart in the Top 40 Billboard Hot 100 in four consecutive decades — the others being Madonna and Michael Jackson. Weird Al joins guest host Ali Hassan to look back on his illustrious career and discuss his current tour, Bigger & Weirder.

For his latest film, Canadian director Clement Virgo adapted the true story of a teenage girl who escapes the Antebellum South into an Afrofuturist fairytale. The film is called Steal Away and focuses on the relationship between a sheltered teenage girl named Fanny and a Black refugee named Cécile, who's taken in by Fanny's family. As their relationship deepens, obsession and jealousy arises, and picks at themes of class, immigration and womanhood. Clement stops by the Q studio to chat with guest host Garvia Bailey about why he wanted to challenge himself to tap into feminine energy to tell this story.

Ron Funches has built a career turning the things that once made him feel different into his greatest strengths. Once bullied in school for his soft and higher pitched voice, it's now his trademark in standup, and helped launch his voice acting career. Ahead of a performance at Just for Laughs Montreal, Ron reflects on how fatherhood, his son's autism diagnosis, and his own recent autism diagnosis after appearing on The Traitors, have changed his understanding of himself and the unique gifts that shape his comedy.

As an actor and theatre director, Rebecca Northan is all about being alive in the moment. She's known for inviting the audience into her creative process, pulling them on-stage and getting them to improvise with her. Rebecca joins Q guest host Ali Hassan to talk about bringing that spirit of spontaneity to Vancouver's Bard on the Beach festival with two shows, The Merry Wives of Windsor and Goblin: Oedipus. Plus, she talks about the joy of giving up control, trusting the crowd, and how improvisation has made her a “nicer human being.”

Luke Wilson stars in the new Netflix TV series, The Hawk, where he and Will Ferrell play rival pro-golfers. When the two work together, Will usually leads the scenes; but for the Hawk, Luke got to take charge. Q guest host Gill Deacon speaks with Luke about playing a smug pro-golfer on The Hawk and why working with Will Ferrell is both joyful and panic-inducing.

After blending traditional Indigenous perspectives with shoegaze music to create the unique “moccasin gaze” genre, Zoon is back with their third studio album, Happy Thought School. Speaking with guest host Gill Deacon, Zoon talks about how they use their creative expression to process childhood racial trauma and the legacy of the Canadian residential school system.

Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, the actor you might know best as Appa in Kim's Convenience, or perhaps Captain Carson Teva in The Mandalorian, is returning for season two of another massive franchise: the live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Today on Q, he sits down with guest host Gill Deacon to talk about how he got his role, how he adapted a beloved animated character into live action, and how he remains humble.

Vancouver Island pianist and songwriter Elysia Biro introduces her new single, Reignite, in Q's recurring New Music segment.

Shania Twain is one of the best-selling artists to ever come out of Canada. Her new album, Little Miss Twain, revisits her early years growing up in Timmins, Ontario, performing in bars, and being managed by her mother. Tom Power travelled to Los Angeles to sit down with Shania in a career-spanning interview that starts in Timmins and traces her path to global stardom. Shania opens up about the difficulties of her childhood, losing both her parents in her early 20s, and why Timmins is still in her no matter where she goes.

When Adam Gontier resigned as the frontman of Three Days Grace back in 2013, he couldn't have imagined coming back to the band — and fronting it with his bandmate Matt Walst. Tom Power speaks to Adam and Matt about their reunion and the band's new lineup, as well as how generations of fans fueled their massive Spotify success.

Not long ago, Misan Harriman was working a job in recruitment that just didn't feel right. But when he picked up a camera and started sharing his photos online, they went viral. Misan is a British photographer and activist, whose photographs of both the Black Lives Matter and Palestine solidarity movements have been seen by millions. Now, there's a new documentary about his work called Shoot the People. Guest host Ali Hassan talks to Misan about the documentary and why capturing these social movements is so important to him.

After 11 years, Alexander Shelley has stepped down as the National Arts Centre Orchestra's music director. Alexander sits down with Tom Power in Ottawa's Southam Hall to talk about how he was able to use music to tell stories that showed so many different sides of the country, as well as how he created performances that reflect the world we live in today.

Fiona Sauder has made a name reimagining classic literature for the stage today. The multi-Dora Award winner is now turning their attention to Kenneth Grahame's novel, The Wind in the Willows. Fiona joins guest host Gill Deacon in the Q studio to talk about her new Shaw Festival production, and why they think kids' worldviews are a superpower that adults need to tap back into.

David Wain is an American comedian, director and actor, best known for the 2001 cult classic film, Wet Hot American Summer. His new movie, Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass, is about a small town girl who travels to Hollywood to settle the score with her fiancé. David speaks with Q guest host Gill Deacon about making this new film, and celebrating the 25th anniversary of Wet Hot American Summer.

In a special Q recording, Tom Power interviewed Jesse Armstrong at the Banff World Media Festival in front of a live audience. Jesse talks about his award-winning writing, directing, and showrunning on hits like Succession, Peep Show, The Thick of It, and Mountainhead. Plus, Jesse opens up about why he left his career in politics for TV, why he is so drawn to writing about power, and why satire isn't the potent weapon some may think.

Montreal-born, Nashville-based Allison Russell is a Grammy- and Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter, actor, and human rights advocate. Her new album is called In the Hour of Chaos, and on it, she taps friends and collaborators to help her make sense of a world in chaos, and to find solace in the joy of creating. Allison joins Tom Power to talk about the album and to look back on performing a tribute to Joni Mitchell at the 2026 Juno Awards.

Michael Cloud Duguay and his collaborators toured rural towns in Newfoundland looking for something very specific to record: old organs in churches that are experiencing dwindling attendance. The result is a haunting album that serves both as rich sound art featuring the remaining organs of Newfoundland, but also as documentation of community, memory and faith — both religious and otherwise.

Zoe Whittall is constantly changing her writing. She's written novels, short story collections, memoir, and TV. And now she's switching genres again — to romance. But her first romance novel, Chasing Summer, comes with another change: her name. Zoe wrote this book under the pseudonym Frankie Scott. Tom Power talks to Zoe about how she's constantly changing her writing style, her name, and even her life.

Andy Hines talks to Tom Power about his feature film Little Lorraine, based on a true story about a drug smuggling ring in 1980s Nova Scotia. He gets into why it was important for his first movie to take place in the Maritimes (where he's from), and how he got Colombian singer J Balvin involved — and all the way to Cape Breton Island.

It's André Sills's biggest season yet at Ontario's Stratford Festival. The award-winning actor is taking on two of Shakespeare's most iconic roles: Oberon, the King of the Fairies in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and the title role in Othello, one of Shakespeare's most powerful and controversial tragedies. André joins Tom to talk about travelling to Italy, Cyprus and Morocco to prepare for Othello, and how a church production first set him on the path to a career in theatre.