Q with Tom Power

Sleepy Jean is a Canadian musician who’s digging into her family history on her latest album, “Shoot Me in a Dream.” In the 1970s, her father was forced to flee his home country of Uganda and was never able to return due to political persecution. Sleepy Jean joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about channelling her father’s experience.

You probably recognize Amanda Marshall for songs like “Birmingham," “Dark Horse,” or “Everybody's Got A Story.” Amanda’s music has been inescapable on Canadian radio for more than 20 years, but during that time, she sort of … disappeared. This year, Amanda came back with her long-awaited album, “Heavy Lifting.” She tells Tom why she’s been gone so long, what it was like to have Elton John talk abo...

You might know Shane Ghostkeeper as part of the band Ghostkeeper, whose album “Multidimensional Culture” was just nominated for this year's Polaris Music Prize. Now, Shane’s released his debut solo country record, “Songs for My People.” He talks to guest host Talia Schlanger about why he felt compelled to honour his family with a country record, and he sets up his deeply personal song “Hunger Stri...

Jon Klassen is a big name in the world of children’s picture books. His bestselling works include “I Want My Hat Back” and “This Is Not My Hat.” To celebrate the release of his latest book, "The Skull" he opens up to Tom... about his early influences, when he first realized he could draw, and how he created his signature style that defined his illustration career.

It’s been 25 years since Barenaked Ladies’ hit song “One Week” came out and topped charts all over the world. Frontman Ed Robertson tells Tom the stories behind some of the song's lyrics, what he remembers about “One Week” going to No. 1 in several countries (except in the band’s home country of Canada), and how they wrote it in a four-minute freestyle session.

Buddha Stretch has left an indelible mark on hip-hop dance since “breakin'” (get it?) onto the scene decades ago. He's worked with everyone from Eric B. & Rakim to Will Smith, and pop legends like Mariah Carey and Michael Jackson. Buddha Stretch talks to Tom about his life in dance, how he approaches hip-hop from a Buddhist standpoint of balance, and what keeps him so passionate for the craft afte...

Elisapie was jogging and listening to ABBA when she got the idea for her latest project, “Inuktitut.” It's a 10-track covers album of notable rock and pop hits that each represent a special childhood memory for her. Elisapie joins Tom to talk about the “healing journey” she's been on by reclaiming some of her most painful childhood memories through song.

Veteran hip-hop choreographer Fatima Robinson talks about her legendary career, from working with Michael Jackson, Aaliyah and Dr. Dre, to choreographing two Super Bowls, and her latest project — choreographing the dance numbers in the film “The Color Purple.”

Sabrina Benaim became a viral success when her spoken word poem “Explaining My Depression to My Mother” went viral online. After a world tour and two bestselling books, the Canadian poet is ready to show you a different side of herself. In her latest audio-exclusive poetry collection, “Chaotic Good,” Sabrina embraces levity and joy. She tells Tom what it was like being called “that depression girl...

Jeremy Allen White (The Bear, Shameless) talks to Tom about the challenges of playing a real-life person in the new film “The Iron Claw,” how he learned that wrestling has much more to do with storytelling than he thought, and the similarities between himself and the character he plays on “The Bear.”

“Nesting” is a new series on Crave about two best friends, Anna and Rosa — inspired by the show's stars and creators, Anna Hardwick and Rosa Labordé — who decide to get pregnant at the same time and co-parent together, without spouses. Anna and Rosa tell Tom how the series was inspired by their own lives and friendship, how they separate themselves from their characters despite having the same nam...

Comedian Mae Martin (Feel Good, Baroness von Sketch Show) talks about their latest Netflix special, “SAP,” dropping out of high school to pursue comedy, and the significance behind their oatmeal tattoo. Plus, Bruce Dern (Coming Home, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?) tells Tom about being trained in the esteemed Actors Studio in New York, his method of acting called a...

Guerilla filmmaker-turned-Hollywood-darling Matt Johnson talks to Tom about his critically acclaimed film “BlackBerry,” which is now available as a TV series on CBC Gem, how he’s dealing with mainstream success, and why his mission in life is to inspire young filmmakers to stay in Canada and make great films.

British Filipino director Paris Zarcilla’s new horror film, “Raging Grace,” tells the story of Joy, a young mother and undocumented immigrant from the Philippines who cleans houses and struggles to save money for a visa. The film also shows her experience with racism, which comes in the form of indignities and microaggressions. Paris tells Tom about how his mother inspired the main character, how...

Richard Thomas is best known for playing John-Boy in the ‘70s drama series “The Waltons.” Now, he’s taking on one of literature and film’s most beloved characters, Atticus Finch, in Aaron Sorkin’s touring production of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Richard talks to Tom about taking on this much-loved role, how the play differs from the renowned book and film, and the legacy of his role as John-boy.

In his new film, “The Zone of Interest,” director Jonathan Glazer (Sexy Beast, Birth, Under the Skin) gives audiences a horrifying look at a German commandant and his family living just outside the walls of Auschwitz. Jonathan tells Tom why he wanted to shoot a film about the Holocaust at the site of an actual concentration camp, what he wanted to say about evil and humanity, and how the use of so...

Few Canadian performances are as iconic or celebrated as Megan Follows as Anne Shirley in the 1985 miniseries “Anne of Green Gables.” Now, Megan has revisited Lucy Maud Montgomery’s beloved story in a new audiobook for Audible, which stars esteemed Canadian actors like Catherine O’Hara, Victor Garber and Sandra Oh. Megan talks to Tom about her role in the original series, bringing the story back t...

For over six decades, the legendary Canadian actor Donald Sutherland has been a staple of film and television. Donald tells Tom about the enormous honour of being commemorated on a Canadian stamp, why he doesn’t want dual citizenship between Canada and the U.S., and why it relates to his sense of humour.

Tate McRae’s wildest dreams are coming true. She recently performed at the Billboard Music Awards, she was the musical guest on “Saturday Night Live,” and her song “Greedy” just reached the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10. Calgary’s Tate McRae talks to Tom about this pivotal time in her career, how she never wants to write a song with the intention of it being big on TikTok, and how her hit song “Greedy,...

Brenda Lee is the voice of the iconic holiday song “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” which turns 65 this year. Brenda tells Tom about recording that song at just 13 years old, how having the song in “Home Alone” changed its popularity, and what it was like knowing The Beatles before their massive fame.

Legendary writer and producer James L. Brooks transformed the types of stories you see on television, from “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” to “The Simpsons.” He then applied his same winning formula — character-driven stories with heart — to the world of film. James L. Brooks tells Tom about writing and creating some of the most successful comedies on TV, the secret behind “The Simpsons” success, and...

On the 30th anniversary of Blue Rodeo’s best selling album “Five Days in July,” bandmates Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor join Tom to recall how they found refuge in Greg’s Ontario farmhouse to create a Canadian masterpiece. Plus, k-os celebrates the 17th anniversary of his hit album “Atlantis: Hymns for Disco” by releasing a brand new song to add to his catalogue. The Canadian rapper, singer-songwriter...

Linton Kwesi Johnson is one of the greatest poets of the modern era. His uncompromising political verse infused with reggae has influenced many people, and helped chronicle the lived experience of Black Britain for decades. This year, Linton has published a selection of his prose from the 1970s to 2021, titled “Time Come.” He joins Tom to talk about his life in words, poetry and music.

Tim Meadows (Mean Girls, The Ladies Man, The Goldbergs) is an actor, comedian and writer who was on "Saturday Night Live" from 1991-2000, making him one of the show's longest-running cast members. Tim tells Tom about his latest project, “Dream Scenario,” co-starring alongside Nicolas Cage, and some of his favourite memories of working on “SNL.” Plus, he recalls memories of his late friends Chris F...

Rush frontman and bassist Geddy Lee talks to Tom about his memoir, “My Effin’ Life.” He discusses his experience as the son of Holocaust survivors, dropping out of high school, and what he remembers about the late Neil Peart’s audition to be the band’s drummer.