Podcast appearances and mentions of Tom Power

When Emmy, Tony and Golden Globe winner Sarah Paulson (American Horror Story) was offered the lead role in the new family drama Closing Night, she was terrified. Directed by her American Horror Story co-star Cody Fern, the film follows an internationally renowned movie star who's navigating a life-changing event while also trying to reconnect with her estranged family on the opening night of her Broadway play. Sarah sits down with Tom Power to talk about the film, why acting is her way to the truth, why winning the Emmy was one of the loneliest nights of her life, and her love of Oscar acceptance speeches.

Acclaimed Toronto pianist Stewart Goodyear has been described as one of the finest pianists of his generation. This week, he opens the Calgary Symphony Orchestra's Classics season with Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto in A Minor. Ahead of the performance, Stewart sits down with Tom Power at the piano in the Q studio to talk about what first sparked his love of the instrument, why he considers Beethoven his therapist, and why classical music was, in his words, the “wildest music” he had ever heard.

Gary Oldman returns as Jackson Lamb for Season 6 of the hit spy thriller Slow Horses. The Oscar-winning actor joins Tom Power to talk about the secret to playing a crude, flatulent and brilliant MI5 agent — and why he's relishing the chance to settle into a long-term role. He also shares the research behind some of his most iconic characters, from Commissioner Gordon in Batman Begins and George Smiley in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy to Sirius Black in the Harry Potter franchise.

Ins Choi, the creator of Kim's Convenience, is back with a new play — and this time he's getting even more personal. It's called Son of a Preacherman and it's about the Canadian playwright's childhood as a “PK” (preacher's kid), and how theatre and the arts took him away from becoming a man of the cloth. Ins joins Tom Power in the Q studio to talk about the production and how it all kind of came about by chance.

Zorga Qaunaq is a visual artist, a traditional Inuit tattoo artist, and an Inuktitut language educator — but she didn't become an actor until just a few years ago. It took five rounds of auditions for her to land the part of Millie Maktana on the CBC sitcom North of North. Now, she's attending the Toronto International Film Festival with two films making their world premieres: In the Heart of the South and In Alaska. From her very first acting role to two films at TIFF, Zorga sits down with Q's Tom Power to talk about navigating imposter syndrome, tackling the heavy pressure to be a "digestible" representation of her culture, and how she realized her people-pleasing tendencies were going to ruin her burgeoning career.

Philip Akin has been telling stories on Canadian stages for decades, and mentoring some of this country's best theatre artists for just as long. In 2000, he co-founded the Obsidian Theatre Company, which trains, produces and showcases Black talent across the country. Now, he's directing a new production of Ohio State Murders at the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Philip joins Tom Power to talk about the play, how he takes theatre to the precipice, and why he thinks Black artists are too polite. Plus, he shares how he's feeling after being appointed a Member of the Order of Canada earlier this year.

Singer Caity Gyorgy and pianist Mark Limacher have been making waves in the Canadian jazz scene with their duo and orchestral recordings. Now, they're back with their third duo album, You Irritate Me So, which is a tribute to the late, great songwriter Cole Porter. Caity and Mark join Tom Power in the Q studio to talk about the secret to their creative partnership, how Caity likes to “rage bait” Mark on stage, and how they're helping build an exciting pops orchestra scene in Calgary.

Kathleen Robertson is no stranger to hit TV. She's starred on hugely popular shows like Boss, Tracker and the '90s cultural phenomenon Beverly Hills, 90210, where she played Clare Arnold. Now, she's going toe-to-toe with Alan Ritchson on Reacher. Kathleen joins Tom Power to talk about her role on the hit action crime series, what it was like growing up as a child actor in Hamilton, Ont., and how being Canadian helped keep her grounded.

If you were a fan of MuchMusic in the '90s and early 2000s, you'll remember Rick Campanelli, better known as “Rick the Temp.” The bubbly, charming VJ was a mainstay on Canada's answer to MTV, having won a temp gig that he successfully turned into an on-air job. In his new memoir, Tempted, Rick chronicles how a shy Italian Canadian kid from Hamilton, Ont., became one of this country's most beloved VJs through sheer grit and positivity. But he also shares a revelation about the serious gambling addiction that was haunting him behind the scenes. Rick joins Tom Power in the Q studio to reflect on his early career at MuchMusic, how his love of winning evolved into a devastating addiction to sports betting, and the long road to recovery. He also explains why, after years of keeping this part of his life private, he felt now was the right time to share his story.

English actor Benjamin Evan Ainsworth practically grew up on the set of Son of a Critch. The CBC sitcom, based on Canadian actor and comedian Mark Critch's memoir of the same name, stars Benjamin as a young, fictionalized version of Mark. Benjamin joins Tom Power to talk about the fifth and final season of the series, what he's learned about his craft from his co-star Malcolm McDowell, and what it's like to say goodbye to a show that's been such a big part of his life. Plus, he plays a little game of “Getting to Know Q.”

Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs, The Father, The Remains of the Day) is best known as an Oscar-winning actor, but his first love was music. He's just released a new album of his own compositions, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel with London's Philharmonia Orchestra. Anthony joins Tom Power to talk about his lifelong connection to music, why this latest album was decades in the making, and why he says we should all stop thinking so much. His new record, Life is a Dream, is out everywhere now.

Andrea Martin is known for her work in Godspell (1972), SCTV, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and her Tony-winning performances in Pippin and My Favourite Year. A few months ago, she was honoured with the ICON Award from The Hollywood Reporter Women in Entertainment Canada. She joined Tom Power in the Q studio to look back on her long career.

Last year, Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul, Breaking Bad, Mr. Show) sat down with Tom Power to tell us how embarrassment has fueled some of the best decisions in his life and career. He reflects on chasing the things that scared him most — from early improv and groundbreaking sketch comedy to becoming an Emmy-nominated dramatic actor. But his biggest risk yet? Becoming an action star in his 60s.

Michaela Slinger is a Canadian singer-songwriter based in Vancouver who had an epiphany while listening to Q with Tom Power on CBC. She joins guest host Garvia Bailey to tell us how our show inspired her new album, Green and Trying.

Yesterday, the world lost one of country music's greatest legends, Dolly Parton, who died at age 80 in Nashville. A few years ago, Dolly spoke with Tom Power about her extraordinary career, how growing up in a family of 12 kids turned her into a country icon, and the stories behind her best-loved songs, like Jolene, I Will Always Love You and Coat of Many Colors. In memory of Dolly Parton, we revisit that conversation.

Music · Tom Power

It's been 10 years since the iconic Canadian band The Tragically Hip performed together for the last time with their fearless frontman and friend, Gord Downie. To commemorate the anniversary, the band is releasing a live album documenting the group's final tour, alongside a CBC re-broadcast of their historic 2016 farewell concert in their hometown of Kingston, Ont. The Hip band members Rob Baker and Paul Langlois join Tom Power to reflect on that final concert, what they miss most about playing with Gord, and how they remember him now, 10 years on.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Mae Martin has made us laugh with their stand-up comedy, made us cry in shows like Feel Good, and now they're being honoured with the Creative Voice Award at the Banff World Media Festival. Before the big honour, Mae sat down with Tom Power for a fast-paced round of Getting to Know Q, answering everything from Banff-inspired hiking questions to their karaoke pick and which Canadian TV show they'd reboot.

Carole Pope is one of Canada's first queer female rock stars. In the '70s and '80s, Carole's band Rough Trade was known for their political outspokenness, sexually charged lyrics and bold live performances. Rough Trade broke new ground and faced both censorship and acclaim. Now, a new documentary traces Carole's story from shy, bookish adolescent to international queer icon. Carole tells Tom Power about her early days performing with Rough Trade in Toronto, their hit song High School Confidential, paving the way for artists like k.d. lang and Peaches, and why she's so outspoken about the challenges of being an artist today.

Evanescence has released their sixth studio album, Sanctuary, and some fans are calling it their best work since their breakthrough record in 2003. Evanescence frontwoman Amy Lee tells Tom Power about finding new creative energy within the band, taking artistic risks at this point in her life, and learning to fall in love again with the music that changed everything for her 23 years ago.

Gail Maurice wrote and directed her latest film, Blood Lines, with her hometown of Beauval, Saskatchewan, in mind. Some of the film's dialogue is spoken in Michif — a Métis language spoken fluently by fewer than 2,000 people — so Gail cast family and friends from her 700-person village, creating a deeply personal portrayal of her culture. She joins Tom Power in studio to discuss what it was like working in her language and casting her own mother to act alongside her.

Jack Innanen has tapped into the zeitgeist with his viral TikTok sketches, earning him the title of “the internet's boyfriend.” His millions of followers have since watched him make the leap into acting with roles in comedies like Adults and Big Mistakes. As Jack tells Tom Power in a special interview in Banff, Alberta, it's collaborating with fellow Canadians on projects with deeper meaning that brings him the greatest personal satisfaction.

Anna Lambe almost walked away from acting before landing her starring role in North of North. She had headed to Ottawa to study international development, deciding to focus less on acting and more on her activism for Indigenous rights. But it was the pull of North of North's characters — with their genuine depth and nuance of Indigenous experiences — that finally brought her back to the screen. And as she explains to Tom Power in a special interview from Banff, none of her projects have felt more personal than this show and its current success.

In November, we took the show on the road all the way to Tom Power's hometown of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador! This special live taping of Q took place at the historic St. John's Arts and Culture Centre, featuring performances and interviews with musician Alan Doyle formerly of Great Big Sea, opera singer Deantha Edmunds, comedian Rick Mercer, actors Allan Hawco and Joséphine Jobert, and many more.

Vancouver's bbno$ has racked up millions of followers across platforms for his funny raps and witty commentary on internet culture today. After going viral in 2019, he's managed to keep the success going with a string of hits that have landed him two Juno Awards, a slot on Jimmy Kimmel Live and the ability to tour the world. bbno$ joins Tom Power in studio to talk about how a rugby injury led to him starting his music career, the cost of being online all the time, and why he thinks his work resonates with audiences.

Deborah Cox is one of the most celebrated voices in music, with a career that spans chart-topping hits, Grammy nominations, acclaimed performances on screen and on stage. She's back on Broadway in the Tony-nominated hit Titaníque, playing the Unsinkable Molly Brown. The story is a funny retelling of James Cameron's Titanic, told through the perspective and music of Céline Dion. Deborah joins Tom Power to talk about why the role is a full circle moment — from singing backup for Céline in the early '90s, to singing one of her most powerful hits, All by Myself, on stage.

The Canadian comedian Tom Green has been a huge presence in the comedy world for decades — from his cable-access days doing The Tom Green Show, to his almost 20 years in Los Angeles with his late-night at-home talk show, to his many stand-up tours and his movie Freddy Got Fingered. Now, Tom has a new series on Crave called The Tom Green Farm, where he interviews guests on his farm in rural Ontario. Tom (Green) joins Tom (Power) in the Q studio to talk about his long love of talk shows, getting back into skateboarding in his 50s, and what it takes to gain a mule's trust.

Tillie Walden is a prolific and award-winning American graphic novelist. Her 2017 graphic memoir, Spinning, won the prestigious Eisner Award. Now, she's back with her 15th publication, Charity and Sylvia, which takes readers into rural Vermont in the early and mid-1800s to tell the story of one of the oldest documented queer relationships in America. Tillie tells Tom Power about the true love story of Charity Bryant and Sylvia Drake, how their story made her reflect on her own life, and what it's like to draw 240 pages in just eight months.

Carley Fortune says she had one firm line when it came to the Amazon Prime adaptation of her debut novel: it had to stay in Canada. In the end, the series Every Year After stayed rooted in the same country as her books. In a special interview from Banff, Alberta, Tom Power sits down with the bestselling author behind Every Summer After and Our Perfect Storm to talk about why setting is never just backdrop in her love stories, and what it's like watching the worlds she imagined on the page come to life on screen.

Diljit Dosanjh has become the face of a global Punjabi music wave. From the Met Gala to the Billboard charts, he's taking the language, culture, and sound of Punjab to the biggest stages in the world. In a rare English conversation, Diljit joined Tom Power to reflect on his journey from singing hymns at his local gurdwara in Punjab to becoming the first Punjabi artist to sell out Madison Square Gardens. They talk about his ambition, faith, and how he always knew he'd be famous.

Klô has gone through some big changes since being shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize in 2021. She wrote her latest album, Abracadabra, after becoming a mother for the first time, which completely changed her relationship to music and the world. Klô joins Tom Power to discuss how she's rediscovering herself as an artist. Plus, she sets up a song, Lettre à une jeune poète, and talks about the challenges of being a francophone musician in Canada.

After 20 years on Broadway, Caissie Levy has finally won her first Tony Award. The Canadian actor and singer has made a name for herself both in New York and on the West End after starring in productions such as Frozen, Ghost, and Next to Normal. Fresh off her big win, she joins Tom Power to talk about her award-winning performance in Ragtime, and what it felt like to finally achieve a lifelong dream.

Lara St. John was sexually assaulted by her aged instructor when she was a teenager at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. After she went public in 2019, Lara was inundated with messages from others who said they had suffered similar abuse in the classical music world. Now she's telling their stories in a new documentary, Dear Lara. She joined Tom Power in the Q studio to talk about this darker side of classical music and the changes she hopes her film can help make.

Jack Antonoff is one of the most successful producers working today. Known for his work with Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, Lorde and Sabrina Carpenter, he has crafted some of the biggest songs of the 21st century. As his career gets bigger and bigger, Jack has felt the need to chronicle his origin story to keep track of where he came from. Everyone for Ten Minutes is the new album from his band, Bleachers, that looks at his lineage and how leaving home at 15 to tour the country in a van impacted him. Jack joins Tom Power in the studio to talk about the new album and his production work.

After 45 years together, the Canadian band Rheostatics decided they needed a new challenge. So they enlisted the help of Rush's Alex Lifeson, who joined them for four hours as they improvised music and spoken word pieces inspired by the Great Lakes. The only problem is they forgot to hit record. Dave Bidini and Kevin Hearn of Rheostatics sat down with Tom Power back in December to tell us what happened next, and how it all led to their new album, The Great Lakes Suite.

One night, Jenn Harper had the most vivid dream of three smiling Indigenous girls covered in colourful lip glosses. That dream, along with her newfound sobriety, led her to launch the company Cheekbone Beauty, which aims to bring positive representation of Indigenous folks into the beauty space. Lauded as a trailblazer in both sustainability and diversity, Jenn is now one of the cosmetics industry's most influential Canadians, and her groundbreaking beauty brand is sold in Sephora locations across the country. Back in December, Jenn sat down with Tom Power to talk about her long, hard road to success, why Indigenous joy is the cornerstone of her business, and why representation is at the forefront of everything she does.

Mexican singer-songwriter Natalia Lafourcade is one of the most influential voices in modern Latin music. She tells Tom Power about the life-changing moments that shaped her career — from the robbery that led her to pick up a guitar, her time living in Canada, and how a song she wrote a decade ago became an anthem for anti-ICE protesters.

You might not know the name Annie Mumolo but chances are you have seen her work. She's co-written films with Kristen Wiig, including Bridesmaids and Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. Annie has been writing and performing all her life, but it's her latest breakout role in the HBO show Rooster that's got people talking. Annie sat down with Tom Power to talk about how much fun she had making that show, what it's like to act with Steve Carell, and her thoughts on the Bridesmaids phenomenon.

Country music legend Vince Gill had more than a hundred unreleased songs stock-piled. When the Country Music Hall of Fame star realized that it's been 50 years since he began his career, it felt like the perfect time to share this music with his fans. Now, he's in the middle of a year-long project called 50 Years From Home, which involves releasing a new EP every month. He joins Tom Power to talk about what it's been like to reminisce as all these songs are put out into the world.