Podcast appearances and mentions of Tom Power

About a decade ago, Anjulie found huge success writing catchy pop songs that were all over Canadian radio and MuchMusic. She won a Juno Award, she was writing songs for the likes of Lady Gaga and Kelly Clarkson, and there was a bidding war between some of the biggest labels in the world who were desperate to sign her. But then, at the height of her success, Anjulie walked away from music to focus on healing some internal wounds she'd been avoiding. Now, she's re-emerged as a more centered version of herself — and with that comes a new sound and a hit single. Earlier this year, Anjulie sat down with Tom Power to share her story.

You never know who you might meet at a Canadian gas station. Back in March, AHI sat down with Tom Power to tell us how a chance encounter at a truck stop in Thunder Bay inspired him to pursue music full-time. He also sets up a song off his new album, “The Light Behind the Sun.”

The hit series “Severance” managed to knock “Ted Lasso” out of its place as the most-watched show on Apple TV+. That's partly due to its unique premise, which explores a nightmarish experiment to enforce work-life balance by splitting a person's consciousness into two. There's the you that goes into work (your “innie”) and the you that lives outside of work (your “outie”). A few months ago, actors Tramell Tillman and Zach Cherry — also known as their characters Mr. Milchick and Dylan G. — sat down with Tom Power to discuss all things “Severance.”

Back in 2023, Debby Friday won the prestigious Polaris Music Prize for her debut album, “Good Luck.” When she sat down to write her next record, it would've been easy to stick with what worked the first time, but instead, Debby made a conscious decision to do things differently. The result is her most ambitious album yet, “The Starrr Of The Queen Of Life.” From dance floor bangers to intimate ballads, Debby joins Tom Power to take us inside the emotional and artistic journey behind her new record.

When Canadian musician Charlie Houston was a student at NYU a few years ago, she took a weed edible that gave her a really bad trip. It was so bad that she quit music, dropped out of school and moved back in with her parents in Toronto. Earlier this year, Charlie released her debut album, “Big After I Die,” which explores the precarious and often surreal experience of transitioning between phases of life. She sat down with Tom Power to tell us the story of the edible that changed her life and how she got back into music. Plus, she sets up a track from her new album.

Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth, The Aviator, Tár) is one of the most respected actors of our time. She's an on-screen chameleon who transforms into whatever role she plays, taking on whatever accent is required of her — so much so that she says it's easy to forget what she actually sounds like. At last year's Toronto International Film Festival, Cate sat down with Tom Power for a thoughtful conversation about two of her most recent projects (the unique political satire “Rumours” and the psychological thriller series “Disclaimer”), plus, her voice work.

Brian Tyree Henry (Atlanta, Causeway, The Book of Mormon) has become one of Hollywood's busiest actors. On the new series “Dope Thief,” he plays Ray Driscoll — a complex character who's dealing with generational trauma, addiction and grief. Back in April, Brian joined Tom Power to talk about the role, the epiphany he had that reframed the way he looks at his career, and how he put his imposter syndrome in the rearview mirror.

Heather and Arizona O'Neill are more than just mother and daughter — they're creative partners, storytellers and travel companions. Their latest collaboration, a novel called “Valentine in Montreal,” is already an instant bestseller. Heather wrote the book, which was first published in weekly installments in the Montreal Gazette, and Arizona illustrated it. The mother-daughter duo join Tom Power to tell us what it's like working together and why the Montreal subway system plays a special role in their relationship.

Mo Amer's comedy career couldn't be going any better right now. His semi-autobiographical TV show “Mo” is a big success and he's currently on a massive stand-up tour. But even though his professional life is thriving, certain things in his personal life are a bit more complicated. Mo joins Tom Power to talk about the pressure he's feeling as a Palestinian American comedian, the emotional conversations he's been having with his fans, and how his life in comedy all got started.

Multi-Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Angélique Kidjo is now the first Black African performer to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This past March, she joined Tom Power from our Montreal studio to talk about her incredible career in music. Angélique reflected on her childhood in Benin, how she fled to France to escape her home country's strict military dictatorship, and what that experience taught her about freedom of all kinds. Plus, she tells Tom why percussion has to come first when she's making music.

Comedian Robby Hoffman is having a big year. She was just nominated for an Emmy for her role in the hit HBO show “Hacks,” where she plays a character based on her own experiences. Plus, her Just For Laughs show in Montreal this summer is sold out. But Robby hasn't had a conventional path into comedy. From leaving an ultra-Orthodox Hasidic community in Brooklyn as a kid to living in Montreal with her nine siblings, Robby tells Tom Power about how she forged her own path.

The Montreal musician Yves Jarvis spent a year listening only to Frank Sinatra when he wrote his sixth and latest album, “All Cylinders.” He says it's the least contrived thing he's ever done. Not only did he produce the record, but he also plays every instrument on it, blending genres like bluegrass, jazz, folk and even yacht-rock in unexpected ways. Back in March, Yves joined Tom Power to tell us how his songwriting evolved in the process, and how he concussed himself while having too much fun in the studio.

Yesterday, Ozzy Osbourne passed away at age 76. The Black Sabbath frontman will be remembered for his music, his antics on stage and his family's reality television show, “The Osbournes.” In 2022, Tom Power sat down with the Prince of Darkness himself to discuss his new album at the time, “Patient Number 9.” But they also spoke about the legacy that Osbourne hopes to leave behind, his love for his wife, Sharon, and how he survived his addictions to drugs and alcohol.

Saya Gray might have just released her debut album earlier this year, but it's far from her first foray into music. She's been gigging since she was a teen, performing alongside much older musicians at Toronto jazz clubs where she had to use a fake ID to get in. Eventually, she started touring with the likes of Daniel Caesar and Willow Smith. Now, her debut album, “Saya,” has just been shortlisted for the 2025 Polaris Prize. Back in February, Saya sat down with Tom Power to tell us what it's like to learn to play music before learning to speak, what making experimental music means to her, and where she's going next in her music career.

Blake Shelton is back with his first new album in nearly four years, “For Recreational Use Only.” The country star joins Tom Power to talk about retiring from the hit TV show “The Voice” after 23 seasons, feeling burned out, and being unsure about whether he would ever release a new record. Plus, Blake shares how an unexpected collaboration with Post Malone helped him fall back in love with music. If you like this conversation, check out Tom's interview with Gwen Stefani from last year.

When Jessica B. Hill was a kid, she saw a play at the Stratford Festival that she found so inspirational she wrote the word “Stratford” on a piece of paper and put it on her ceiling. Now, she's an award-winning actor and playwright who's appearing in three plays at Stratford this season: “As You Like It,” “Sense and Sensibility” and “Dangerous Liaisons.” Jessica sits down with Tom Power to talk about her life in theatre, her meaty new roles, and her own play about Shakespeare's alleged muse and collaborator, Emilia Bassano.

When Rhys Darby (Flight of the Conchords, Our Flag Means Death) started to notice the way AI had sunk its teeth into Hollywood, he decided to speak up. In his new stand-up show, “The Legend Returns,” the New Zealand actor and comedian sets out to prove that robots could never do what he's doing live on stage. Rhys joins Tom Power to tell us what's been on his mind when it comes to AI in the arts, plus, how he got his start on “Flight of the Conchords.”

Last summer, Queens of the Stone Age became the first-ever band to perform inside the Catacombs of Paris, where the remains of six million people are kept. That performance was captured in a new concert film and live five-song EP, “Alive in the Catacombs.” Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme joins Tom Power to talk about the project, his lifelong fascination with death, and how performing inside the Paris Catacombs made him think about his own life in new ways.

After 16 years as a stay-at-home mom, Zarna Garg felt like she needed to reinvent herself. She tried a few different business ventures (disposable toothbrushes, vegan chilli and matchmaking), but none of them stuck. Then she decided to give comedy a go and everything changed. Now, Zarna has released a new stand-up special, "Practical People Win,” which highlights her unlikely journey into comedy. She joins Tom Power to talk about her business-oriented approach to her work, and how it sometimes pays off to take big risks when life tells you to play it safe.

In his new book, “Richard Manuel: His Life and Music, from the Hawks and Bob Dylan to The Band,” renowned music archivist and podcaster Stephen T. Lewis explores the life and legacy of Richard Manuel, one of Canada's most talented and influential musicians. Stephen joins Tom Power to tell why he was so enthralled by the story of a self-taught musician from Stratford, Ont., who became a rock and roll legend.

Little Simz is one of the most acclaimed rappers in the world right now. In 2022, she won the prestigious Mercury Prize for her album “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert.” But after falling out with her longtime producer and collaborator, the British rapper started thinking maybe music wasn't for her anymore. Little Simz joins Tom Power to tell us why and how she turned that around to create her latest studio album, “Lotus.”

What if the bad guy in your nightmare didn't chase you, but tried to tickle you to death? That's just one of the Inuit legends reimagined by the Inuit throat singing duo PIQSIQ on their haunting new album, “Legends.” Sisters Tiffany Ayalik and Inuksuk Mackay of PIQSIQ join Tom Power to talk about the record and why they're embracing Inuit traditions in non-traditional ways. Plus, they set up their new song, “Mahaha: Tickling Demon.”

When actor Nathan Fillion (Firefly, Castle, The Rookie) was growing up as a quiet comic book kid in Edmonton, he never imagined he would one day be up on the big screen with Superman. Now, he's living out his childhood dream with his latest role as Guy Gardner — one of the characters known as Green Lantern — in the new “Superman” movie. Nathan joins Tom Power to talk about his path leading up to this pinch-me moment, how he got over his shyness, and why his advice to emerging actors is to “pretend to be bold.”

For nearly three decades, Simple Plan has been one of the most successful bands to come out of Canada, selling more than 10 million albums worldwide. Now, a new documentary, “Simple Plan: The Kids in the Crowd” offers a look into the band's journey from playing basement shows in Montreal to achieving global stardom. Simple Plan's Pierre Bouvier and Chuck Comeau sit down with Tom Power to talk about their perseverance in the pop-punk genre, the brotherhood behind the band, and how beautiful and fragile that creative bond can be. In case you missed it, you might also like Tom's interview with Blink-182's Mark Hoppus.

Five days a week acclaimed interviewer Tom Power sits down with the artists, writers, actors and musicians who define pop culture. In this episode, Tom chats with the cartoonist and writer Gabrielle Drolet. A few years ago, Gabrielle developed a condition that made her unable to use her hands. It kept getting worse over time, and as Gabrielle searched for a diagnosis, she also had to find new ways to make art. Her new memoir “Look Ma, No Hands” is the story of an artist coming to terms with disability, adapting to the unexpected, and ultimately learning to express herself again. Gabrielle joins Tom to talk about those experiences that informed her memoir. More episodes of Q with Tom Power are available here: https://link.mgln.ai/qwtp

Deantha Edmunds is Canada's first Inuk professional opera singer. Last year, she was appointed to the Order of Canada, and earlier this month, she was honoured at the Canada Day ceremony in Ottawa. In this conversation with Tom Power from 2024, Deantha talks about the forgotten classical music tradition of the Labrador Inuit, as well as her own journey in music.

Twenty years ago, Canadian singer-songwriter Daniel Powter wrote the song “Bad Day,” which quickly became one of the biggest hits of 2005. It earned him a Grammy nomination, sold millions of copies and launched his career as an artist. But when “Bad Day” got bigger than anyone could have ever imagined, Daniel's mental health started to decline, leading to addiction and substance abuse. On the song's 20th anniversary, Daniel joins Tom Power to share the dark side of writing a life-changing hit, and what his relationship to making music is like today.

Award-winning Irish Canadian novelist, screenwriter and playwright Emma Donoghue (Room, The Wonder) is back with her first musical, “The Wind Coming Over The Sea.” It's based on the true story of Henry and Jane Johnson, a young married couple who left Ireland in the 1840s in search of a better life in Canada. Emma joins Tom Power to talk about what inspired the production, the traditional Irish folk music she used to tell the tale, and why this historical story about the immigrant experience still resonates today.

At age 12, Canadian actor Finn Wolfhard shot to fame after landing the role of a lifetime on “Stranger Things.” But growing up in the spotlight wasn't always easy. Finn often felt like he didn't have control over his public identity or his artistic life. Now, as his tenure on “Stranger Things” comes to a close, he's launched a music career with the release of his debut solo album, “Happy Birthday.” Tom Power sat down with Finn in his hometown of Vancouver to talk about the record, how he found his voice in music, and how “Stranger Things” changed his life. If you enjoy this conversation, check out Tom's interview with Finn's “Stranger Things” co-star Joe Keery (a.k.a. Djo) on his viral hit “End of Beginning.”

When actor and comedian Jason Mantzoukas (The Good Place, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Parks and Recreation) finally got the chance to appear on his favourite TV show — the weird and hilarious British game show “Taskmaster” — he didn't want to play along normally. He wanted to be the ugly American villain who creates chaos. Jason joins Tom Power to tell us what actually happened when he stepped onto set, what it was like going from superfan to contestant, and why he thinks that beloved British shows like “Taskmaster” have never fully taken off in North America.

The longest poem ever written is a 4,000-year-old Sanskrit epic called the “Mahabharata,” which clocks in at roughly 1.8 million words. But the poem's daunting length didn't stop Toronto's Why Not Theatre from adapting it into a large-scale play of the same name. A few months ago, Miriam Fernandes, the co-creator and star of the show, joined Tom Power to tell us exactly what it took to bring this ancient Sanskrit epic to the stage, and why the story still feels urgent and deeply relevant today.

On the hit series “The Bear,” Liza Colón-Zayas plays a middle-aged line cook named Tina who's challenged by her mentors to learn new skills as a sous-chef. In some ways, her character's story mirrors her own journey as an actor. With Season 4 of “The Bear” out now, we revisit Liza's conversation with Tom Power about the scarcity and struggle she had to overcome on her path to success, her experience in a strict religious group that forced her to surrender all her wages to them, and how her setbacks continue to shape her as an artist. If you like this conversation, you should also check out Tom's interview with Matty Matheson.

Canadian actor Tonya Williams spent two decades playing Dr. Olivia Winters on “The Young and the Restless,” which made her one of the first Black actors to star on a soap opera. In 2001, she founded the Reelworld Film Festival, which champions diverse Canadian talent in the TV and film industry. Now, she's been named an Officer of the Order of Canada. We revisit Tonya's conversation with Tom Power about her groundbreaking career and how her soap opera character actually helped increase the number of Black women doctors in the U.S.

In his directorial debut, “40 Acres,” Canadian filmmaker R.T. Thorne imagines a post-apocalyptic world where food is scarce, society is in ruins and your family is under threat. It's an intense movie about fighting for survival, but it also explores the complicated relationship between a mother and a son. R.T. joins Tom Power to share how his mother's experiences as a Trinidadian immigrant in Canada shaped the mother-son relationship in the film, and how his background making music videos still informs his work today.

Phil Rosenthal is the creator, writer and executive producer of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” one of the most successful sitcoms of all time. But after the show wrapped in 2005, it took nearly 10 years for him to get his next dream project off the ground. Now, Phil's food and travel show “Somebody Feed Phil” is in its eighth season on Netflix. He joins Tom Power live on-stage at the Banff World Media Festival to talk about betting on himself, having the courage to stay positive, and why cynicism is a waste of time.

Born and raised in Scarborough, actor Stephan James has defied the odds and climbed the ranks in Hollywood. He's made a name for himself by playing major historical figures like runner Jesse Owens in “Race,” and civil rights activist John Lewis in Ava DuVernay's film “Selma.” After working with legends like Julia Roberts and Laurence Fishburne, Stephan wants to come back to his community in Canada and share his success. Tom Power spoke with Stephan in front of a live audience, after he received the Canadian Award of Distinction at the Banff World Media Festival, to talk about his career and his plans to uplift young Black creatives.

Jully Black is a powerhouse singer-songwriter from Toronto who's often called Canada's queen of R&B soul. Earlier this year, Jully sat down with Tom Power to tell us how singing in church at age six put her on her artistic path, why she feels speaking out is always the right thing to do, and why her mother is her biggest influence.

It's been more than 25 years since the Swedish hardcore punk band Refused released their seminal album, “The Shape of Punk to Come.” Their most famous song from that album, “New Noise,” has been called a political anthem and a protest song. It's been used in the Palme d'Or'-winning film “Triangle of Sadness” as well as in the hit show “The Bear.” Last year, frontman Dennis Lyxzén of Refused joined Tom Power to tell us how “New Noise” became a global hit after the band had already called it quits.

The Montreal band Ribbon Skirt just released their debut album, “Bite Down.” Lead singer Tashiina Buswa joins Tom Power to tell us how the record was inspired by grief and reconnecting with her Indigeneity, how her first exposure to music was in the church, and the difference between knowing you're free and actually feeling free. Plus, she tells the story behind her new song, “Off Rez.”

For more than five decades, Canadian acting legend Tantoo Cardinal (Dances with Wolves, Killers of the Flower Moon) has worked tirelessly to bring nuanced Indigenous stories to the stage and screen — and she says there's no turning back. The renowned actor was recently honoured with the Equity in Entertainment Award at The Hollywood Reporter's Women in Entertainment Canada gala in Toronto. She joins Tom Power to reflect on her remarkable career, and why she'll never stop advocating for authenticity and accuracy when it comes to Indigenous representation. In case you missed it, you might also enjoy Tom's interview with Canadian icon Graham Greene, whom Tantoo shared the screen with in “Dances with Wolves.”

The Oscar-winning Canadian animator and director Domee Shi (Bao, Turning Red) is back with a new Disney-Pixar movie, “Elio.” It's about an 11-year-old who's obsessed with getting abducted by aliens. Domee joins guest host Talia Schlanger to share how her own childhood inspired aspects of the film, why the theme of alien abduction is a great way to explore loneliness, and why it's nearly impossible for her to write a one-dimensional mother figure. If you enjoy this conversation, make sure to check out Tom Power's interview with Domee about her last film, “Turning Red.”

The Calgary-born comedian Malik Elassal has already been getting noticed on the stand-up circuit, but with a starring role on the new FX and Disney+ series “Adults,” a lot more people are going to start hearing about him. Malik sits down with Tom Power in our studio to talk about the show, his journey in stand-up, and why he says you can talk about anything in comedy — as long as the joke is good.

In 1993, Counting Crows' debut album, "August and Everything After,” went multi-platinum, selling more than seven million copies in the U.S. alone. Lead singer Adam Duritz joins Tom Power for a wide-ranging conversation about “Mr. Jones” (the song that started it all), how there's no going back after becoming famous, and what it was like playing his cover of “Big Yellow Taxi” to Joni Mitchell herself. Plus, he shares what was on his mind when he created Counting Crows' latest record, “Butter Miracle, The Complete Sweets!”

Canadian icon Graham Greene (Dances With Wolves, The Green Mile, Wind River) is one of the most recognizable Indigenous actors in North America. Recently, he was honoured with a Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award from the Governor General's Awards, which recognizes his prolific career on stage and screen. In this career-spanning interview, Graham joins Tom Power to talk about the incredible work ethic he developed during his early days as a roadie, how he learned Lakota for “Dances With Wolves,” his Oscar nomination and his advice to up-and-coming actors.

Country artist Robert Adam is Calgary's self-proclaimed “Dream Angel Cowboy.” But they say celebrating queer identity isn't always easy in their home province of Alberta or in Nashville, where they made their upcoming full-length album, “Governed by the Seasons.” Robert joins guest host Gill Deacon to talk about finding their musical community, making country music on their own terms and why their album tour won't include any stops in the U.S. Plus, they set up their bold and totally irresistible new single, “Denim on Denim.” If you like this chat, check out Tom Power's conversation with Canadian singer-songwriter Bells Larsen on why he cancelled his U.S. tour.

Acclaimed Canadian theatre maker Robert Lepage is back at the Stratford Festival with a new take on Shakespeare's “Macbeth.” This new production tells the same classic story of greed, betrayal and murder, but it's set during the brutal Quebec biker wars of the ‘90s. Robert joins Tom Power to talk about putting a new spin on this Shakespearean tragedy, his unique approach to theatre and his incredible decades-long career. If you're looking for more conversations about Canadian theatre, check out Tom's chat with esteemed stage actor Tom Rooney on what it takes to play a dog.

Alessia Cara has a unique talent for capturing the inner life of someone growing up in the digital age as they deal with love, acceptance and rejection. On the Grammy-winning Canadian singer-songwriter's fourth and latest album, “Love & Hyperbole,” she opens up about her feelings of being an introvert in an extrovert's industry. Earlier this year, Alessia sat down with Tom Power to talk about the record and how it reflects her growth as an artist.

Robi Botos is a Juno-winning Canadian jazz pianist who was hugely influenced by the late Oscar Peterson — one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time. He opened for Oscar in Switzerland and he even gave Oscar's daughter piano lessons. In celebration of the Canadian jazz legend's centenary (he would have turned 100 on Aug. 15), Robi sits down with Tom Power to talk about Oscar's musical legacy and what made his piano playing so exceptional. Plus, Robi plays a piece he wrote for his friend and hero.

Alicia Moffet grew up being told she was going to be the next big thing. She was 12 when her covers started going viral on YouTube, 14 when she won the Canadian singing competition show “The Next Star,” and 16 when she placed second on another singing competition show, “La Voix.” But during that time, Alicia learned that if you're not prepared for success, it can disappear just as quickly as it came. Now, she's taking control of her career with her new album, “No, I'm Not Crying.” Alicia joins Tom Power to tell us about her new sound, and what she learned from her experience as a kid who got a lot of exposure at a young age. If you like this conversation, check out Tom's chat with singer-songwriter Charlotte Cardin.

Teddy Swims first won over the internet with his viral YouTube covers of hits like “You're Still The One” by Shania Twain and “I Can't Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt. But his success performing covers left him questioning whether he'd ever be capable of writing original songs that were just as good. Now, Teddy is one of the biggest artists in the world and he's just released his debut album, “I've Tried Everything but Therapy.” Teddy sits down with Tom Power for a career-spanning conversation about how he finally found success when he stopped trying so hard to be relatable.