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Q with Tom Power

CBC Podcasts & Radio On-Demand

Five days a week acclaimed interviewer Tom Power sits down with the artists, writers, actors and musicians who define pop culture. 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.

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Location:

Canada, ON

Description:

Five days a week acclaimed interviewer Tom Power sits down with the artists, writers, actors and musicians who define pop culture. 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.

Twitter:

@CBCRadioQ

Language:

English

Contact:

416-205-3700

Email:

q@cbc.ca

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Episodes

Sabrina Benaim + Ravi Jain

3/22/2023
Poet Sabrina Benaim on being “that depression girl,” breaking expectations and her new audio-exclusive poetry collection, “Chaotic Good.” Plus, director Ravi Jain (26:37) on adapting a 4,000-year-old Sanskrit poem for the stage, pushing the boundaries of theatre and the pressures of making an ancient story speak to modern life.

Duration:00:49:13

Clement Virgo + Kim Thúy

3/21/2023
Writer and director Clement Virgo (The Wire, The Book of Negroes, Brother) on maturing as a filmmaker, how art reflects back your own humanity and working on hit TV shows like “The Wire.” Plus, author Kim Thúy (32:21) on the haunting photograph that inspired her latest novel, “Em,” the endurance of love amongst misery and her own immigration story.

Duration:00:50:50

Steve Reich + Priyanka

3/20/2023
Composer Steve Reich on his influences, his reverence for the voices of Holocaust survivors in his piece “Different Trains,” and what music sounds like when you’re considering your own mortality. Drag queen Priyanka (34:40) on being the first winner of Canada’s Drag Race, her journey to drag and the advice she’d give to her 14-year-old self.

Duration:00:47:38

Anthony Shim + Aryana Sayeed & Fazila Amiri

3/17/2023
Filmmaker Anthony Shim on his award-winning film “Riceboy Sleeps,” the line between comedy and tragedy and how he just wants to make his parents proud. Plus, Afghan-Canadian filmmaker Fazila Amiri and singer Aryana Sayeed (34:04) on their documentary, “And I Still Sing,” which tells the story of how the reality singing show, "Afghan Star" made history when two courageous female contestants defied death threats to continue singing.

Duration:00:48:08

Adele Bertei + Tien Tran

3/16/2023
The Bloods frontwoman Adele Bertei on being in the first all-girl, openly queer rock band, the music that saved her, and what it feels like to forgive an abusive parent. Plus, Tien Tran (How I Met Your Father) (33:56) on queer joy on TV, the improv scenes that sent her into an ‘existential spiral,’ and finding community.

Duration:00:49:45

k.d. lang + Patrick J. Adams

3/15/2023
Singer-songwriter k.d. lang (Constant Craving, Miss Chatelaine) on feeling like public property, her love of Roy Orbison and why she has no plans to write another record. Plus, actor Patrick J. Adams (Suits, Plan B) (32:47) on being present, online scrutiny and what playing toxic characters teaches him about the person he wants to be.

Duration:00:50:38

Alexander Skarsgård + Sheila Heti

3/14/2023
Actor Alexander Skarsgård (True Blood, Big Little Lies, Infinity Pool) on the eclectic roles he’s taken on, nepotism and stories behind HBO’s “Succession.” Plus, author Sheila Heti (24:43) on death, grief and the inspiration behind her Governor General’s Award-winning novel, “Pure Colour.” Bonus: Author Lindsay Wong (38:00) on the stigma around mental illness, growing up with “ghosts,” and what inspired her new book of short stories, “Tell Me Pleasant Things About Immortality.”

Duration:00:48:34

Nickelback + Avril Lavigne

3/13/2023
Nickelback on their early days, being parodied and the evolution of the band’s identity. Plus, Avril Lavigne (36:36) on getting her first big break, her debut album “Let Go,” and her friendship with Olivia Rodrigo.

Duration:00:48:22

Banx & Ranx + Courtney Gilmour

3/10/2023
Music producers Banx & Ranx (Dua Lipa, Sean Paul, Sia) on their biggest hits, making Canada into the new capital of pop music and how they’re fostering new talent in the country. Plus, comedian Courtney Gilmour (25:20) on joking about being a congenital amputee, awkward situations with folks who are able-bodied and what it feels like to be Juno-nominated for her debut comedy album, “Let Me Hold Your Baby.” Bonus: Tenille Townes, one of the fastest rising country music stars in North America,...

Duration:00:48:23

Logic + Preston Pablo

3/9/2023
Grammy-nominated rapper Logic (Everybody, College Park) on finding his passion for music, early retirement and fatherhood. Plus, first-time JUNO nominee Preston Pablo (35:40) on figuring out what it means to be an “up and coming artist,” self criticism and learning how to trust yourself.

Duration:00:49:44

Sarah Silverman + Chandler Levack

3/8/2023
Emmy winning comedian Sarah Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Podcast, History of The World, Part II, Wreck-It Ralph) on Saturday Night Live, antisemitism and her comedic inspirations. Plus, filmmaker Chandler Levack (I Like Movies) (23:44) on film school snobs, video stores and nostalgia.

Duration:00:48:54

Catherine Hernandez + M. M. Keeravaani

3/7/2023
Award-winning author Catherine Hernandez (Scarborough) on writing a book that feels like love, being a conduit for her ancestors and the eye-opening research that went into her latest novel, “The Story of Us.” Plus, composer M.M. Keeravaani (RRR) (26:26) on making history at this year's Oscars with his song “Naatu Naatu” — the first song from an Indian movie to be nominated for best original song.

Duration:00:50:44

Chris Williams + Gabriel Luna

3/6/2023
Director Chris Williams (Lilo and Stitch, Big Hero 6, Bolt) on turning your passion into your career, the challenges of animation and what inspired his Oscar-nominated film “The Sea Beast.” Plus, the actor Gabriel Luna (26:35) on starring as Tommy in the hit HBO show “The Last of Us,” his love of video games and how filming in Calgary was the perfect place for a show about the apocalypse. Bonus: Singer-songwriter Faouzia (41:42) tells us about her song “RIP, Love.”

Duration:00:47:37

Christian McBride + Tate McRae

3/3/2023
Eight-time Grammy-winning bassist Christian McBride on what happened when he met his hero James Brown, and why he wanted to write a suite for four civil rights legends: Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali and Rosa Parks. Plus, singer-songwriter Tate McRae (40:27) sets up a song for us off her debut album “i used to think i could fly.”

Duration:00:47:36

Rick Rubin + Barbara Brandon-Croft

3/2/2023
Prolific music producer Rick Rubin (Beastie Boys, Lady Gaga, Johnny Cash, Run-DMC) on staying true to yourself, his musical inspirations and what it was like working with Johnny Cash in the ‘90s. Plus, cartoonist Barbara Brandon-Croft (33:18) on rejection, growing up with a famous cartoonist father and how she’s breaking barriers with her comic strip “Where I’m Coming From.”

Duration:00:47:24

Ali Hassan + SYML

3/1/2023
Comedian Ali Hassan on being a late bloomer, rebelling with pepperoni pizza and how 9/11 changed the trajectory of his life. Plus, SYML (37:30) on losing his father and how that experience shaped his record “The Day My Father Died.”

Duration:00:53:51

David Harrington + Rakhee Morzaria

2/28/2023
David Harrington on 50 years of making music with The Kronos Quartet, receiving an overdue apology and his love for Sesame Street. Plus, actor and comedian Rakhee Morzaria (Run The Burbs) (37:21) on her comedy, the tension of being both a writer and actor on the same show, and what she thinks Tom should say to internet trolls.

Duration:00:52:00

Lakecia Benjamin + Lindsay Wong

2/27/2023
Saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin on playing for revered artists (Missy Eilliot, Stevie Wonder), the time she snuck her way past security to play sax at a Prince concert and how a near-death experience inspired her latest album, “Phoenix.” Plus, author Lindsay Wong (32:55) on the stigma around mental illness, growing up with “ghosts,” and what inspired her new book of short stories, “Tell Me Pleasant Things About Immortality.”

Duration:00:51:30

Remembering Gordon Pinsent

2/27/2023
Gordon Pinsent, one of Canada's most prolific and iconic actors, has died. He was 92. We revisit Tom's conversation with the legendary actor from 2017.

Duration:00:18:19

Jay Ellis + Adrien Morot

2/24/2023
Jay Ellis (Insecure, Top Gun: Maverick) on his career, his favourite rom-coms and why he started a podcast about racism in the U.S. criminal justice system. Plus, the critically acclaimed film “The Whale” stars Brendan Fraser as a 600-pound man. Canadian makeup artist and prosthetic designer Adrien Morot (26:34) created the prosthetics that transformed the actor and made his performance so believable. He tells Tom about the challenge and how it feels to receive an Oscar-nomination for his...

Duration:00:48:51

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