The Q Interview

We've moved! Please join us over at our new home: Q with Tom Power. Five days a week, acclaimed interviewer Tom Power sits down with the artists, writers, actors and musicians who define this cultural moment in time. Whether he's ribbing Adele, singing a boyband classic with Simu Liu, or dissecting faith with U2 frontman Bono – Tom brings the same curiosity, respect and meticulous preparation into every conversation. He also has a track record for interviewing artists on the precipice of stardom – like Lizzo and Billie Eilish — who appeared on Q well before hitting the mainstream. Hear your favourite artists as they truly are, every weekday with Tom Power.

One trophy away from EGOT-status, there's strong speculation that Hugh Jackman could win the outstanding Oscar for his latest movie, The Son. He talks about his long career on stage and screen. Ann-Marie MacDonald reflects on the curiosity and empathy that continue to inspire her work from the page to the stage as Fall on Your Knees becomes a stage play. Otis Williams, founding member of Motown legends The Temptations, talks about the group's legacy, longevity and why their sound was so impactful during the 60s.

Figurative painter Peter Doig — one of the world's top-selling living artists — talks about his work, his upbringing in Canada and the dark underbelly of the art market. Superstar Canadian conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin reflects on his phenomenal rise to the peak of his profession. Author Mark Sakamoto and playwright Hiro Kanagawa talk about adapting Mark's memoir Forgiveness, about his grandparents' experiences of the Second World War, for the stage.

Legendary singer-songwriter Marianne Faithfull opens up about surviving COVID-19 and recording a new album of classic romantic poems, titled She Walks in Beauty. After hustling for 11 years, Lainey Wilson talks about her acclaimed new record Bell Bottom Country and why it's funny to be called an "overnight sensation." Comedian Margaret Cho discusses her role in Fire Island as a den mother to a chosen family of young gay men, plus, how she feels about becoming a role model for Asian Americans onscreen.

Actor Denzel Washington talks about his turn as Lord Macbeth in the film The Tragedy of Macbeth, and what the legacy of the late Sidney Poitier means to him. Actor and comedian Jenny Slate talks about revisiting Marcel the Shell with Shoes On in a feature-length film based on the viral web series. Bestselling author Miriam Toews discusses her highly anticipated new novel, Fight Night, and what it says about family, resiliency and the fight for mental health.

Actor Regina King talks about directing One Night in Miami, a film that imagines a real conversation between four of the most important Black voices of the 1960s: Sam Cooke, Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X and Jim Brown. Writer Neil Gaiman tells us why his comic book series The Sandman would have made a terrible movie — and why he loved adapting it into a new Netflix series. Acadian singer-songwriter Lisa LeBlanc talks about her decision to put down the banjo and record a disco album.

Nina Hoss co-stars in the new critically-acclaimed film Tár. She shares her process behind preparing for the film, including learning to play the violin, and what it was like playing with a real-life orchestra. Acclaimed sitar player Anoushka Shankar discusses her first live album in more than two decades, her life in music and what it's like having that famous family name. Edmonton director Kyle Edward Ball is making his feature-length debut with the film Skinamarink. He tells us the inspiration behind his horror film, and how he uses sound to evoke the feeling of a nightmare.

Ralph Macchio talks about what it was like reflecting on the legacy of The Karate Kid in his new book Waxing On: The Karate Kid and Me, and why he's "embracing the past in the present" with Cobra Kai. With millions of followers online, Dax has become one of the biggest up-and-coming Canadian rappers today thanks to his honest lyrics. He shares his journey from college basketball to internet phenomenon.

Nearly 20 years after The L Word premiered, there's a sequel to the historic series. Showrunner Marja-Lewis Ryan talks about trying to reflect our changing times in The L Word: Generation Q. After a series of malicious false rumours almost ended his career more than ten years ago, Korean-Canadian rap star and Epik High frontman Tablo is sharing his story about finding his way back to music. Acclaimed pianist Jason Moran shares why he thinks James Reese Europe, a hugely influential Black composer and veteran, should be seen as a "Big Bang in Black music."

Dakota Ray Hebert skewers the document that defines how the Canadian government interacts with First Nations people in her first stand-up comedy album I'll Give You An Indian Act. Troy Kotsur shares how he drew on his own personal experience to play a Deaf father of a hearing child in the Oscar-winning movie CODA. Chris Wilson talks about finding new ways to make people laugh on TikTok, and joining the Canadian comedy institution This Hour Has 22 Minutes as it turns 30.

In a rare career-spanning interview, songwriter and producer Max Martin talks about his first jukebox musical, & Juliet, which weaves his biggest hits into a feminist retelling of Romeo and Juliet. Filmmakers Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis talk about making their new animated film The Flying Sailor, and why they are fascinated by the story of a man who emerged unharmed from the 1917 Halifax explosion.

Carly Rae Jepsen talks about embracing loneliness on her new album, The Loneliest Time, and reflects on her relationship with Call Me Maybe after more than a decade. Cartoonist Kate Beaton shares her reaction to finding her graphic memoir Ducks on Barack Obama's list of favorite books of 2022, and everything that happened next. Director Reggie Hudlin talks about his new documentary, Sidney, which highlights how Sidney Poitier's legacy paved the way for Black actors and filmmakers today.

Actor Román Zaragoza tells us about playing a 500-year-old ghost from the Lenape people in the CBS series Ghosts, and how it's given him hope for the future of Indigenous stories on TV. Director Aitch Alberto shares the labour of love that went into bringing Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe to the big screen, and the importance of centering queer and BIPOC stories. Author Mariko Tamaki explains how she approached writing a modern update of L. M. Montgomery's classic novel Anne of Green Gables. Actor and playwright Aaron Craven talks about the real-life story behind his new play Instantaneous Blue, and why he wanted to follow the late Carrie Fisher's advice and turn his broken heart into art.

Hi! So, you may have noticed this feed has gone dark for the past few months…but we've returned to tell you some good news: we're back! And we're moving! You can now find us over at Q with Tom Power – our new and improved podcast. See you over there!

Actor Sheila McCarthy reflects on a career playing unconventional leading ladies and how playing an elder in Sarah Polley's film Women Talking feels like a feminist full-circle moment. Screenwriter and real-life doctor Roshan Sethi talks about how he drew on his medical expertise to direct his debut feature — a pandemic rom-com called 7 Days. Comedian Julie Nolke tells us about her pandemic experience in the wake of her viral YouTube series, plus how she transitioned from behind the scenes to in front of the camera on CBC's Run The Burbs.

Song Kang-ho, the first Korean actor to win the best actor award at Cannes, sits down with Tom Power to talk about his approach to acting. Mark Critch, the star and creator behind the hit comedy series Son of a Critch, talks shooting the second season in Newfoundland and the joy of seeing all his castmates fall in love with his home province. Rosie Perez talks about her starring role in the Apple TV+ series Now & Then, plus, her journey from dancer to Oscar-nominated actor.

Michael J. Fox opens up about the long-term effects of Parkinson's disease and how he found his way back to optimism after experiencing a particularly brutal year. Actor Riz Ahmed discusses the magical realism that runs through his film Mogul Mowgli and why he's taken up the cause of Muslim representation in Hollywood. Plus, we're revisiting our chat with Canadian folk music icon Ian Tyson, who died late last week at the age of 89.

Musicians Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings discuss their special edition box set, Bachman Cummings: The Collection, and the early days of the Guess Who. Ted Lasso star Nick Mohammed explains why in an era of gritty storytelling and anti-heroes, true subversion is about making your audience smile. Pop star Camila Cabello talks about "giving joy" to herself on her new album Familia and how she realized prioritizing her own happiness is the key to her success.

More than 25 years after k.d. lang's platinum record Ingénue was released, the Canadian musician talks about their breakout album and what it's like revisiting the work now. Tal Bachman looks back on his hit song She's So High on its 20th anniversary. Musician, composer and activist Jon Batiste discusses his powerful new album, We Are. Actor Kristen Stewart talks about tackling the "scary and ambitious" role of Princess Diana in the biopic Spencer.

Eddie Izzard talks about touring Canada with her comedy show Wunderbar, and why she performs standup around the world in foreign languages — even if she's not fluent. Canada's Drag Race Season 1 winner Priyanka fills us in on her life after the show, the success of her debut EP and how she feels about headlining Toronto Pride this year. Cassandra Peterson, better known as the campy horror movie host Elvira, talks about sharing her amazing life story in her new memoir, Yours Cruelly, Elvira.

Weird Al Yankovic takes us through his biggest hits and tells us how he made a career of being on the outside and "poking fun at the people on the inside." Legendary producer Linda Perry shares the stories behind some of the huge hits she created with stars like Pink and Christina Aguilera. Hoodo Hersi, one of the comedians featured on the latest season of CBC Gem's The New Wave of Standup, tells us the trick to weaving heavy topics like race and religion into her jokes.

From Pink Floyd to Peter Gabriel, legendary Canadian record producer Bob Ezrin takes us through the highlights of his nearly 50-year career. Legendary backup singer Merry Clayton talks about her first solo album in more than 25 years, Beautiful Scars, which she made in the aftermath of a life-altering car accident.

Mayan Lopez, star of the new NBC series Lopez vs. Lopez, joins Tom Power to talk about her relationship both on-camera and off with her co-star and real-life dad George Lopez, how they reconnected during the pandemic, and why she thought their story would make good TV. Actress Sigourney Weaver discusses her film My Salinger Year and shares why landing her breakthrough role as Ripley in Alien wasn't a dream come true at first. Tom Power and Elamin Abdelmahmoud join Talia Schlanger to share the books, shows and music that made them smile this past year in Q's Best of 2022 panel.

Emmy Award-winning actor Sheryl Lee Ralph joins Tom Power to talk about the road to getting to this moment and why making a Christmas album was on her bucket list. Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat's sisters Lisane Basquiat and Jeanine Herveaux discuss a retrospective book and exhibit about their brother, titled Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure. Singer-songwriter Jah'Mila will tell you how she fell in love with Halifax and found the right musical community to help her launch for her own solo career after touring the world as a back-up singer with reggae legends. Dragonette, a.k.a. Martina Sorbara, drops by Q to unpack the new record Twennies and look back at her career, from playing tiny clubs to headlining festivals around the world.

The producer and multi-instrumentalist Aysanabee drops by Q to discuss his breakthrough album Watin, which has become one of the most buzzed-about Canadian debuts in recent memory. Writer and director Mike White talks about his time as a contestant on the reality-tv staple Survivor and why he wanted to join the surreal world of reality-television. Plus, it's taken 13 years for the sequel to Avatar to arrive in theatres. Panellists Hanna Flint and Rad Simonpillai look at whether it was worth the wait, as well as Will Smith's latest movie Emancipation and the new Harry and Megan docuseries from Netflix.

As he prepares to film the final season of the improvisational game show Whose Line is it Anyway?, Colin Mochrie shares some of his favourite moments in Whose Line? history and reflects on how the show has helped him grow as a performer. Actor Arian Moayed discusses his work on Succession and Inventing Anna, plus how his experience as an Iranian immigrant informs his art and life. Singer-songwriter Fefe Dobson reflects on her experiences of racism in the Canadian pop punk scene, and how she's now staying true to herself and her vision.

Playwright Trey Anthony reflects on the cultural impact of her award-winning play 'da Kink in My Hair on its 20th anniversary. Actor Ethan Hawke discusses his fourth and latest novel, A Bright Ray of Darkness, about a famous actor who makes all the wrong choices. Cape Breton comedy duo Justine Williamson and Greg Vardy, also known as Tracy and Martina, tell us how they're celebrating the holidays with a live wine tasting show. Screen and stage actor Robin de Jesús discusses his role in Netflix's Tick, Tick... Boom! — a film adaptation of Jonathan Larson's musical of the same name.

Director Darren Aronofsky talks about the difficulty of casting the lead in his latest film, The Whale, and why Brendan Fraser was perfect for the part. Actor Alfre Woodard discusses her role in the new CBC/BET+ series The Porter, about Black railway porters and their families in the 1920s. Our panellists Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Craig Seymour and Jen Sookfong Lee look back on the biggest pop culture stories of 2022.

Just for Laughs president Bruce Hills reflects on the Montreal comedy empire's groundbreaking 40-year history on the occasion of its induction into Canada's Walk of Fame. Actor Aubrey Plaza discusses her children's book with creative partner Dan Murphy, The Legend of the Christmas Witch, about Santa Claus's misunderstood twin sister. Pachinko creator and executive producer Soo Hugh talks about adapting Min Jin Lee's bestselling novel of the same name and why the project was so personal for her.

Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro discusses his new film adaptation of Pinocchio, disobedience as a virtue and why death is a beautiful thing. Drag performer Christopher Hunte talks about playing Mother Ginger in his 12th reprisal of the role for Goh Ballet's presentation of The Nutcracker. Grammy-winning musician St. Vincent opens up about her latest album, Daddy's Home, and why she decided to reinvent herself with a '70s sound and aesthetic.

Acclaimed author Lawrence Hill looks back on his career and contributions to Canadian literature 15 years after the release of his lauded third novel, The Book of Negroes. Singer-songwriter Evangeline Gentle discusses their new single, Gay Bar, and why the safety of queer spaces is more important than it's ever been. Rapper and academic Michael McGuire, a director at East of East Atlantic Canadian Hip Hop Archive, talks about the late Pat Stay and what made him a legend in the battle rap scene.

Canadian DJ Rezz talks about finding a sustainable lifestyle in a profession that involves grueling tour schedules and performing all night into the early hours of the morning. Vancouver-based dancer and choreographer Shay Kuebler discusses his latest work, Momentum of Isolation, which was born when he read about the U.K. appointing a minister of loneliness in 2018. Bruce Lee's daughter, Shannon Lee, tells us why she wanted to show a different side of her father in her book Be Water, My Friend: The Teachings of Bruce Lee.

On the occasion of his induction into Canada's Walk of Fame, filmmaker Director X reflects on his groundbreaking career as Canada's foremost hip hop cinematic auteur. Author Judy Blume talks about breaking taboos when writing for kids and why she's finally allowing Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret to be adapted for the screen. Our panel of film experts — Amil Niazi, Teri Hart and Rad Simonpillai — discuss the explosion of new Christmas movies, telling us which ones hit like hot cocoa and which ones leave you with a lump of coal.

Singer-songwriter Omar Apollo talks about his debut album, going viral on TikTok and receiving his first Grammy nomination. Singer-songwriter and photographer Sharon Robinson discusses her new show at the Art Gallery of Ontario, My Time with Leonard Cohen, and why she thinks she and Cohen clicked as writing partners. Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka talks about her comedy journey, finding fame on TikTok and how she's feeling as she prepares to record her first HBO stand-up special.

Actor Cobie Smulders tells us why she thinks her Canadian identity often finds its way into her work, including the sitcom How I Met Your Mother and her latest project, the new Audible Original series Mistletoe Murders. Montreal dancer, choreographer and TikTok star Citron Rose shares what it's like to see herself featured in the 2023 edition of the iconic video game Just Dance. Filmmaker Robert Weide discusses his new documentary about Kurt Vonnegut as well as his decades-long friendship with the celebrated writer.

Actor Gary Oldman talks about his latest role in the spy thriller series Slow Horses and why he's impressed with what he sees on TV these days. Actor and director Sean Penn discusses the state of modern cinema and what it was like to act alongside his daughter in the film Flag Day. Singer-songwriter Amai Kuda talks about collaborating with an animation studio in Nigeria to create a series that brings her music to life in a new way. Voice actor Eric Bauza — the latest voice of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and more — tells us how he came to lend his voice to some of the most recognizable cartoon characters in history.

Hugh Dillon of Headstones talks about the band's latest album, Flight Risk, plus the upcoming second season of his Paramount+ show Mayor of Kingstown. Molly Rankin of Alvvays discusses the band's new album, Blue Rev, and how her writing survived a home invasion and not-so-biblical flood. Pianist and composer Chilly Gonzales dissects Mariah Carey's iconic Christmas anthem All I Want for Christmas Is You. Actor Danny Trejo discusses his memoir Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption, and Hollywood, in which he opens up about surviving incarceration, finding sobriety and landing his first big film role.

Elegance Bratton talks about his remarkable journey from homeless teen to military recruit to critically acclaimed filmmaker, as dramatized in his debut feature, The Inspection. Gabriel LaBelle is the Canadian actor playing one of the biggest figures in cinema, on screen. LaBelle talks about getting to know all about what makes Steven Spielberg tick, being directed by him, and how he brought the Oscar-winning director's story to life in The Fabelmans..The Siminovitch Prize is the most prestigious award in Canadian theatre. Every year, it's given to a director, playwright or designer who stands out for their leadership and innovation. Marie Brassard is this years winner, and she joins Tom power LIVE to talk about her big win. Q fashion Columnist Mosha Lundström Halbert breaks down the controversy at Balenciaga.

Lee Jung-jae won the Emmy for best actor for his role in Squid Game, making history as the first Asian actor to win an Emmy in this category. He sits down with Tom Power to talk about the moment when his name was called at the Emmys, and his directorial debut Hunt, a spy action thriller set in 1980's South Korea. Filmmaker Fazila Amiri and Aryana Sayeed tells the story of how the reality singing show Afghan Star made history when two courageous female contestants defied death threats to keep singing in the documentary And Still I Sing. Bear Grease is an all-Indigenous reimagining of Grease. Co-creators Crystle Lightning and MC Redcloud explain how they turned the 1978 film into a sold-out touring show.

Poet Rupi Kaur talks about her new writing guide, Healing Through Words, plus her own journey with writing and overcoming writer's block. Sea shanty singer Jon Cleave of Fisherman's Friends tells us the incredible story behind the Cornish folk group's rise to fame, which is now the subject of a new musical. Toronto Raptors broadcaster Jack Armstrong talks about his new Christmas album, Hellooo and Happy Holidays.

In a career-spanning interview, Chris Murphy and Jay Ferguson of Sloan talk about starting the group and how they've kept all four original members for three decades. Artist and photographer Zun Lee tells us what inspired his new Art Gallery of Ontario exhibit, What Matters Most: Photographs Of Black Life. Grammy-winning singer and activist Angélique Kidjo discusses her album Mother Nature, which sees her championing young talent from across Africa.

Canada's punk rock chef Matty Matheson talks about embracing his passions and how a health scare inspired him to get the most out of life. In a career-spanning interview, country music superstar Maren Morris reflects on everything from her start in Nashville to her latest album, Humble Quest. Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom star Ke Huy Quan explains where he's been for the past few decades and how he was enticed back into acting by the film Everything Everywhere All at Once.