Q with Tom Power

When Chloé Robichaud decided to depict the world of conducting for her new film, “Days of Happiness,” she asked the acclaimed Canadian conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin to help her get it right. The film follows a female conductor looking to break through the glass ceiling of classical music while also breaking away from the control of her abusive father, who’s also her agent. Both Chloé and Yannick...

You may know Chelsea Peretti as Gina Linetti on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” but her career started back in the ‘90s when she was doing improv, interning for Lorne Michaels and guest writing for “Saturday Night Live.” Now, Chelsea has made her debut feature film, titled “First Time Female Director,” which she also wrote, stars in and co-produced with her longtime friend Amy Poehler. It tells the story of...

For the past decade, the renowned photographer Mark Seliger has set up a pop-up studio inside the annual Vanity Fair Oscar Party, where he’s produced iconic portraits of Hollywood actors in the immediate afterglow of their big wins. Those portraits are now presented in a new book, “Vanity Fair: Oscar Night Sessions.” Mark joins Tom to share how he captures the raw emotion of an artist at the peak...

Lily Gladstone had a tough task with her first major Hollywood film: she had to hold her own against Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro — and hold her own she did. Her character, Mollie Burkhart, is being praised as the star-making turn of Martin Scorcese’s latest film, “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Lily talks to Tom about the role of a lifetime, and the challenges in telling stories about murde...

Tate McRae’s wildest dreams are coming true. At the end of 2023, her song “Greedy” topped the charts around the world, she made her “Saturday Night Live” musical guest debut and she performed at the Billboard Music Awards. In the middle of this pivotal time in her career, she talked to Tom about staying grounded, why her biggest hit initially scared her and how she never wants to write a song with...

The Albertan singer-songwriter Corb Lund dedicated his new album, “El Viejo,” to his late friend and hero, Ian Tyson. Corb joins Tom to talk about Ian’s legacy, the time they spent together, and he also sets up the album’s title track for us.

After winning the prestigious Polaris Music Prize back in 2018 for his debut album, “Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa,” Jeremy Dutcher is back with his long-awaited sophomore record, “Motewolonuwok.” Jeremy tells Tom about the pressure of writing your second record when your first was so successful, how he directed his trumpeter to “play grief,” and why he’s decided to sing partly in English on his new...

Six-time Grammy award winner Jacob Collier has worked with everyone from Stormzy to Brandi Carlile to Shawn Mendes. He joins Tom to talk about his new album, “Djesse Vol. 4,” the isolation of being a child prodigy, and why he thinks the human voice is the most profound instrument in the world.  Plus, what’s your relationship like with holy texts? Canadian poet Emily Austin sat down and rewrot...

The Japanese actor Kōji Yakusho is prolific, from his roles in Japanese films to parts in American movies like “Memoirs of a Geisha” and “Babel”. This year, Kōji won the best actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for his role in “Perfect Days,” directed by Wim Wenders. He tells Tom about his rise in film and TV, how working with renowned director Wim Wenders showed him the fun of filmmaking, and...

Two heavyweights of Canadian culture have come together for an exciting new collaboration. Acclaimed soprano Measha Brueggergosman-Lee sings the words of literary giant Margaret Atwood on “Zombie Blizzard,” an album of musical interpretations for seven Atwood poems. Measha joins Tom to talk about the project, why she finds Margaret Atwood such an inspiration, and her own personal attachment to Mar...

For over 30 years, the “Law & Order” franchise has taken viewers inside a dramatized version of the American justice system. And though the series is most notably associated with New York City, the franchise has now come to Toronto. Canadian actor Karen Robinson talks to Tom Power about starring in “Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent,” her love of telling complicated stories, and why sta...

How much do you really know about your grandparents? The Vancouver musician Adrian Glynn recently realized that he didn’t know much, so he went on a deep dive into his grandparents’ journey from refugee camps in Austria to Montreal — and now has a new album about their journey. Adrian joins Tom to explain how learning about your grandparents can help you understand yourself a little better, too.

The actor Alan Ritchson is best known for playing Jack Reacher, an ex-military nomad who negotiates suspicious and dangerous situations. But in his new film “Ordinary Angels,” Alan plays a father whose brawn is of little use in the face of his young daughter’s illness. He sits down with Tom to talk about playing a dad desperate to save his child, what it’s like to do a scene with an Oscar winner w...

Pam Grier (Coffy, Foxy Brown) is Hollywood’s original female action hero and the undisputed queen of 1970s Blaxploitation movies. This month, the Toronto Black Film Festival is presenting her with a career achievement award in honour of the five decades she’s spent representing Black women on screen. Pam sits down with Tom to talk about her incredible legacy, how she got cast in her very first fil...

Alexandra Billings (Transparent, Never Have I Ever) is a groundbreaking trans actor who’s had some incredible firsts in her career, including playing one of the first openly trans characters on TV in 2005’s “Romy and Michele: In The Beginning.” Now, she stars in the new queer-led Canadian indie film “Queen Tut.” Alexandra joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the emotional reaction she ha...

Marlon Wayans (In Living Color, Scary Movie, White Chicks) has been acting, writing, producing and directing comedy for more than 30 years. With his movies grossing more than $1 billion at the global box office, he’s achieved massive success, but he’s never been one to simply rest on his laurels. Marlon is currently taking his stand-up routine on tour, showing audiences who he really is. He tells...

Last fall, the Calgary-based Inuvialuk artist Kablusiak was recognized with the $100,000 Sobey Art Award, one of the highest honours in the Canadian art world. Now, their work is on display at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa until March 3. Kablusiak talks to Tom about their big win, the power of satire in visual art, and why having their work in the National Gallery makes them feel like a...

Brittany Howard’s new album “What Now” is her second solo release since a hiatus with her band Alabama Shakes. Now more than ever, she’s exploring the potential of her famous raspy voice by pairing it with surprisingly poppy songs about love and heartbreak. Brittany sits down with Tom to talk about the record and finding the courage to step into new musical territory. Plus, the boys from Mumford a...

Adam Beach has been in more than 60 films and TV shows, from Canada’s “North of 60” to the cult classic movie “Smoke Signals,” to Clint Eastwood’s “Flags Of Our Fathers.” Adam tells Tom about how he began acting in Manitoba, how he looks back on his leading role as Victor in “Smoke Signals,” and why he’s drawn to his complicated character in the new film “Exile.”

Shea Couleé is known by many as the winner of “RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars” Season 5. But in the years since their win, Shea has gone on to do some other pretty incredible things, like recording their debut studio album and being cast in the upcoming Marvel series “Ironheart.” Now, they’re set to embark on a tour called “The Love Ball,” which features original music and choreographed performances...

Chromeo’s Dave 1 and P-Thugg started out as high school best friends making weird music in Montreal basements 20 years ago. They never could have guessed that their interest in electro-funk and ‘80s synths would take them to festival stages playing for thousands — and earning a Grammy nod along the way. Chromeo drops by to chat with Tom about their new album, “Adult Contemporary,” which poses the...

Diane Flacks is an Emmy-nominated comedy writer who’s worked on shows like “Workin' Moms” and “Baroness Von Sketch Show.” Her latest project — a one-woman play called “Guilt (A Love Story)” — is a reflection on her divorce and the grief, fear and overwhelming guilt that followed. Diane joins Tom to tell us about the play and what’s funny about going through the worst time of your life.

Daniel Caesar talks about his major-label debut “Never Enough,” the reality of fame, and collaborating with Justin Bieber on the song “Peaches.”

The Beaches are in a season of change. The Toronto-based band left their major label deal, hired a new team, and started embracing social media to reach new audiences. Now, they have a number one single, a viral hit on TikTok, and a brand new album, “Blame My Ex.” Jordan and Kylie Miller of The Beaches talk to Tom about what happens when you’re told “this is your make it or break it album,” how Ti...

About five years ago, Seth Rogen posted a picture on Instagram of seven rudimentary clay objects with the caption: “So maybe I joined a pottery studio so I could start making my own ashtrays.” Now, he’s taken his love for pottery to the next level by signing up as an executive producer for the competition show “The Great Canadian Pottery Throw Down.” He also appears throughout the series as a gues...