Q with Tom Power

Back in the 1990s and early 2000s, there was no one cooler than Chloë Sevigny. After being discovered on the streets of New York, she became the ultimate It Girl. She was an in-demand model and actor known for her unique eye for fashion as well as for starring in indie films that are now considered cult classics. Last September, Chloë sat down with Tom to talk about the different phases of her career and her new film, "Bonjour Tristesse.” If you enjoy this conversation, take a listen to Tom’s chat with actor Josh Hartnett on how he escaped the heartthrob label.

July Talk’s Peter Dreimanis just made his big screen debut playing a singing vampire in Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” — and it all happened because of a Creedence Clearwater Revival cover song he released. Peter sits down with Tom Power to tell us the story behind his first major film role, plus, a little bit about his debut solo album under the name Peter Dreams, which he wrote while waiting for his newborn baby to arrive.

The Canadian content creator Jasmeet Raina, also known as Jus Reign, is back with Season 2 of “Late Bloomer” — his half-hour comedy series inspired by his own life as a turban-wearing Punjabi Canadian millennial. Jasmeet sits down with Tom Power to talk about the two episodes he wrote and directed this season: one that sheds light on anti-Sikh racism after the Sept. 11 attacks, and one that takes us into the lives of international students in Canada who work as food couriers. If you want to hear more from Jasmeet, search for his 2024 interview with Tom.

For her sixth studio album, “The Truth We Hold,” folk singer Amanda Rheaume dug deep into her Métis heritage by interviewing elders in communities across the country. What she learned came as a surprise, even to her. Amanda sits down with Tom Power to talk about the album and the ups and downs surrounding its release, including having to cancel a show at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

As a kid growing up in Nipissing, Ont., Christian Allaire dreamed of being part of the glamorous world that he saw in his mother’s Vogue magazines. Now, he’s the senior fashion and style writer at Vogue in New York. Christian writes about that incredible journey in his new memoir, “From the Rez to the Runway.” He sits down with Tom Power to talk about how powwow regalia and jingle dance dresses were his first exposure to the fashion world, the racism he encountered throughout his time in the fashion industry, and how he embraced his Ojibwe identity as his cool factor. If you like this conversation, you’ll probably also enjoy Tom’s interview with fashion designer Anna Sui.

The Canadian actor and comedian Mark McKinney (Superstore, The Kids in the Hall) isn't necessarily known for political comedy, but now he’s playing Prime Minister Mark Carney on “This Hour Has 22 Minutes.” Mark drops by our studio to chat with Tom Power about his portrayal of the Liberal leader and how he landed the role. If you like this conversation, check out Tom’s latest interview with “22 Minutes” star Mark Critch on his year-end interview with Justin Trudeau.

Pop-punk trailblazer Mark Hoppus is the bassist, co-founder and co-lead vocalist for Blink-182. In his new memoir, “Fahrenheit-182,” he shares his life story, from his parents’ divorce, to being inspired to pick up the bass guitar, to his instant connection with his Blink-182 bandmate Tom DeLonge. Mark joins Tom Power to reflect on his journey with the band, why their break-up felt like a divorce, and how his cancer diagnosis brought them back together for good. If you like this chat, check out Tom’s conversation with musician Dan Wilson of Semisonic on his massive hit “Closing Time.”

The Grammy-winning Japanese jazz composer and pianist Hiromi has always challenged expectations with her music. Now, she and her group Hiromi’s Sonicwonder have released a new album, “Out There.” Hiromi joins Tom Power to talk about the record, why ramen is so important to her life and how she kind of became pen pals with the late Canadian jazz legend Oscar Peterson. Plus, she sets up her song “Yes! Ramen!!”

The new sitcom “North of North” follows a young Inuk mother named Siaja who’s on a journey to reclaim her life while living in the fictional Arctic community of Ice Cove — a town where everybody knows your business. Co-creators Stacey Aglok MacDonald and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril say they made the place up to represent all Inuit communities across the North. Back in January, they joined Tom Power to talk about shooting the series in Iqaluit (where they both live) and how they’re changing the conversation around Inuit representation on-screen.

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. Last year, the actor joined Tom Power to talk about playing a dad desperate to save his child, what it’s like to do a scene with an Oscar winner when you can tell she’s not sure about you, and why he wrote a letter to Tom Cruise when he booked “Reacher.”

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. Last year, Cate sat down with Tom 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 and how she chooses her roles.

They say never meet your heroes, but don't tell that to Brandi Carlile. The 11-time Grammy winner has teamed up with Elton John on a new album, “Who Believes in Angels?” The record’s title track is all about the realities of working with someone you admire. Earlier this year, Brandi joined Tom Power to introduce us to the song and tell us more about her collaboration with Elton.

The award-winning Canadian filmmaker and screenwriter Deepa Mehta has reshaped and redefined both Canadian and Indian cinema with her bold and groundbreaking films. Now, she’s being honoured with a career retrospective called “Through the Fire: The Films of Deepa Mehta” at TIFF in Toronto. It features screenings of 10 of her most prominent films of the past 35 years. Deepa sits down with Tom Power for a career-spanning conversation about her life and work, the backlash to some of her films in India, and why the last thing she wants to be called is a “controversial” filmmaker. If you enjoy this conversation, take a listen to Tom’s interviews with Canadian filmmakers Sarah Polley, Denis Villeneuve or James Cameron.

For 40 years, Dream Theater has been one of the biggest progressive rock bands in the world, if not the biggest. The driving force behind their music has been legendary drummer Mike Portnoy, but for more than a decade, he and the band were split. That all changed last year when Mike rejoined the band and they recorded their latest album, “Parasomnia.” He sits down with Tom Power to talk about reuniting with Dream Theater and Rush’s influence on the band. If you like this conversation, you’ll probably also enjoy Tom’s interviews with Geddy Lee or Alex Lifeson.

For years, the Toronto painter Gordon Shadrach has been making stunning oil portraits that investigate the way Black men are represented in society. But in his new exhibit, “the earth is always shifting, the light is always changing,” Gordon unpacks his cancer diagnosis and the year of isolation that followed it. He sits down with Tom Power to tell us how illness and recovery affected him and his art. You can check out a selection of Gordon’s paintings on our Instagram (@cbcq). If you’re interested in hearing more conversations with artists, take a listen to Tom’s interviews with Hangama Amiri, Wanda Koop or Geoff McFetridge.

Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza’s harrowing new film “Warfare” takes a realistic look at a platoon of Navy SEALs on a mission gone wrong in Iraq in 2006. It’s based on Ray's experiences as a real-life Navy SEAL, and it’s dedicated to his platoon member, Elliott Miller, who lost a leg and suffered a traumatic brain injury during the mission. Ray set out to make the film to help Elliott remember what they went through that day. In this conversation with Tom Power, Ray and the Canadian actor who plays him, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, talk about “Warfare” and why it was important to tell this story as true to life as possible. If you like this conversation, listen to Tom Power’s interview with Alex Garland on “Civil War.”

Craig Mazin is the showrunner behind HBO’s hit post-apocalyptic series “The Last of Us” — but he didn’t always write TV dramas. Much of his career was spent working on big comedy film franchises like “Scary Movie” and “The Hangover.” In this conversation with guest host Garvia Bailey, Craig breaks down why it takes a smart person to write dumb comedy, plus, what you can expect from Season 2 of “The Last of Us.” If you enjoy this conversation, check out Tom Power’s chat with director and producer Barry Sonnenfeld.

At 13, Nell Smith made headlines for releasing an album of Nick Cave covers with one of her favourite bands, The Flaming Lips. After that, the promising young singer from Fernie, B.C., started working on her debut solo album, “Anxious.” But this past October, at 17, Nell’s life was tragically cut short by a car accident. Now, her record has been released posthumously. Sage McBride and Tim Newton of the Fernie-based indie band Shred Kelly helped Nell write some of the music on the album. They join Tom Power to share their memories of her

The actor Jonathan Roumie is most famous for playing the role of Jesus Christ in the smash hit TV show, “The Chosen.” He joins guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about the show’s massive global impact, the unique pressures that come with the role, and why centuries later, there remains a great fascination with the life that Jesus lived. If you enjoy this conversation, check out Tom Power’s interview with Canadian actor Victor Garber, who made his film debut as Jesus in the movie “Godspell.”

The singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman made her voice heard in 1988 when she performed her song “Fast Car” for 90,000 people at a Free Nelson Mandela concert at Wembley Stadium. That song was off her self-titled debut album, which went on to win three Grammys and solidify her as an important American voice. Now, 35 years later, it’s still making an impact and it’s just been re-issued on vinyl. Tracy joins guest host Garvia Bailey to share her memories of making that record, why she thinks “Fast Car” means so much to so many, and how the years she spent busking on street corners taught her how to hold a crowd’s attention with just her voice and a guitar.

Next week, the Halifax singer-songwriter Joel Plaskett celebrates his 50th birthday. As a special surprise, 22 of his musical friends have come together to make a tribute album, “Songs from the Gang.” One of those friends, Sloan’s Chris Murphy, sits down with Tom Power to talk about his cover of Joel’s classic song “I Love This Town.”

For years, Rachid Badouri has been one of Quebec's biggest comedy stars. His shows have sold millions of tickets around the world, he has a Netflix stand-up special called “Les fleurs du tapis,” and he’s also a judge on “Quel talent!” (Quebec’s version of “Canada’s Got Talent”). But now, Rachid is ready to make a name for himself in the English-speaking world. He sits down with guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about his journey in comedy, what it’s like translating his French jokes into English, and how stand-up has helped him embrace his Moroccan heritage. If you like this conversation, check out Tom Power’s interview with Montreal comedian Sugar Sammy.

What do you think you know about Yoko Ono? That she broke up the Beatles? That she was just there, always in the background? David Sheff wants to set the record straight with his new biography, “Yoko.” He was the last journalist to interview John Lennon and Yoko before John’s murder in 1980, and after that tragedy, he stayed close with the Japanese artist. David joins Tom Power to share Yoko’s real story, her impact on modern art, and why he thinks instead of blaming her for breaking up the Beatles, we should be thanking her for keeping the Beatles together longer.

The new film “The Ballad of Wallis Island” tells the story of Charles, an eccentric lottery winner who uses his money to hold a private concert on the remote Welsh island where he lives. The band he hires is his favourite group of all time: the fictional folk rock duo McGwyer Mortimer. The only problem is they haven’t spoken in years — and the concert is just for Charles. British poet and comedian Tim Key stars as Charles and co-wrote the movie, which is based on a short film he made in 2007. He joins Tom Power to talk about the project and why it took 18 years to turn his short into a feature. Plus, he reveals how he persuaded Hollywood A-lister Carey Mulligan to get on board. If you like this conversation, listen to Tom’s interview with director Bong Joon Ho on “Mickey 17.”

In Karen Chapman's debut feature film, “Village Keeper,” a grieving single mother who’s grappling with violence in her past learns how to put herself first. Karen sits down with guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about the stigmas and stereotypes she aimed to challenge with this film, how she made “Village Keeper” in only 12 days while eight months pregnant, and why she feels that what happens behind the camera shows up on screen. If you’re looking for more conversations with Canadian filmmakers, check out guest host Talia Schlanger’s interview with “Morningside” director Ron Dias.

When Anoushka Shankar was in Goa two years ago, she wrote down four words: “Three chapters, three geographies.” That note has been the inspiration for a trilogy of mini-albums. With the release of the latest and final album, “Chapter III: We Return To Light,” the acclaimed sitar player sits down with Tom Power to tell us what was driving her creatively, how she wants to change perceptions of her instrument, and how she navigates her career in the shadow cast by her famous father, Ravi Shankar.

For the past 30 years, on the last Sunday of every month, Yuk Yuk’s in Toronto has hosted the Nubian Comedy Revue — one of the top showcases for Black and racialized comedians in Canada. Over the years, the show has been blessed by numerous appearances by top talent like Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart and Russell Peters. Comedian Kenny Robinson has been producing the show since founding it back in the ‘90s. Now, a new documentary, “People of Comedy,” is celebrating the show’s 30-year history. Kenny sits down with guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about the Nubian Show’s legacy, how Canadian comedy is defined by our multiculturalism, and what sets Canadian comics apart from American comics. If you enjoy this conversation, you might also like Tom Power’s interviews with comedians Sugar Sammy or Hassan Phills.

Mike Hadreas, better known as Perfume Genius, has been making music since 2010, when he released his debut album, “Learning.” Since then, he’s become known for writing vulnerable songs that still feel incredibly powerful and danceable. While the cliché is that artists make their best work when they’re struggling — or even under the influence of drugs or alcohol — that was not the case at all for Perfume Genius. He joins Tom Power to chat about his new album, “Glory,” which he says feels like a “culmination” of everything he’s learned in the years since he got sober and started making music. If you enjoy this conversation, check out Tom’s 2023 interview with singer-songwriter Sam Smith on their album, “Gloria.”

Though the influential punk band Hüsker Dü has long been disbanded, its co-founder Bob Mould has never stopped making music. Back in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, Hüsker Dü cut a path for countless indie bands to follow, like Nirvana, Pixies and Green Day. But before all that, Bob was — as he describes it — a precocious kid growing up in a small farming town near the Canadian border. On the heels of releasing his 15th solo album, “Here We Go Crazy,” Bob joins guest host Garvia Bailey to look back on his life in music. He tells us about his childhood years, how Montreal helped shape him as an artist, and how a Ramones show changed everything for him. In case you missed it, you might also enjoy Tom Power’s conversation with Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson, or his interview with Green Day from 2024.

Mitch Wood is a Toronto-based actor and content creator who’s gone viral for his impressions of people in the theatre industry. He sits down with guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about navigating his newfound internet fame, plus, his one-man show “My Impression of a Show,” which heads to London, England next week. If you like this conversation, check out Tom Power’s interview with sketch comic Laura Ramoso, who went viral for impersonating her parents.

Britta Johnson is a Canadian composer and playwright whose award-winning musical “Life After” follows a 16-year-old girl grappling with the death of her father. Loosely inspired by her own experiences, the show originally debuted at the Toronto Fringe Festival in 2016, but later this month, it will return to Toronto at the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre. Britta sits down with guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about the massive success of “Life After” and what it means to bring the show back to the city where it all began. If you enjoy this conversation, check out Tom Power’s chat with playwright Katori Hall on “The Tina Turner Musical.”

Canadian horror actors Luke Hutchie and Matthew Finlan are the co-hosts of the CBC series “Ghosting,” which just began its second season. In each episode, Luke, Matthew and a celebrity guest test their tolerance for the paranormal by spending time inside a Canadian place with an eerie legacy. Along the way, they decide whether or not it’s truly haunted. Luke and Matthew sit down with guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about the new season of the show and some of their ghostly encounters. If you’re looking for more conversations about the paranormal, check out Tom’s interview with musician Brittany Howard, who says she used to practice music in a haunted house.

After finding success on the critically acclaimed show “Atlanta,” Brian Tyree Henry (The Book of Mormon, Causeway) has become one of Hollywood's busiest actors. His latest role is on the new series “Dope Thief” as Ray Driscoll — a complex character who’s dealing with generational trauma, addiction and grief. Brian joins Tom Power to talk about “Dope Thief,” his life on the stage and screen, and how he’s been drawn to acting since childhood. In case you missed it, check out Tom’s interview with actor Josh Gad, whom Brian shared the stage with in the musical “The Book of Mormon.”

Salin is a Montreal-based Thai drummer who’s just released her new album, “Rammana.” She got her start as a rock and metal drummer in Bangkok, but after living in Montreal, her sound morphed into a blend of Afrobeat, funk and indigenous Thai instruments. Salin joins Tom Power to talk about her unique journey in music and how she went back to Thailand to get inspiration. Plus, she sets up the title track from her album.

The magician, mentalist and endurance performer David Blaine has been stunning audiences for decades with his card tricks, illusions, and extreme stunts that challenge both his mind and his body. He’s been buried alive, trapped in ice and suspended in the air while sealed inside a box for 44 days. But in his new series, “Do Not Attempt,” David is the one who's left speechless as he travels the world taking in amazing feats by some of the greatest masters alive — and even trying some of them himself. He talks to Tom Power about his career in magic, what he does to manage fear and pain, and how being a dad has changed the way he calculates risk.

Hassan Phills is a comedian from Scarborough, Ont., who turns the mundane details of everyday life into comedy gold. Not only has it earned him millions of views on TikTok, but it’s allowed him to tour across the country. Hassan sits down with Tom Power to tell us why he gave up basketball for comedy, why he thinks even his most local jokes are hitting with folks around the world, and how he got a co-sign from Drake. 

Michelle Buteau has been a working actor and comedian for more than 20 years. In that time, she says it was rare that she’d come across a role that celebrated plus-size women — so she decided to create her own. Her show “Survival of the Thickest” is now back for its second season. Michelle joins Tom Power to tell us why she wanted to create a story about plus-size folks that’s celebratory and joyful. If you like this conversation, take a listen to Tom’s interview with actor and comedian Ilana Glazer from last year.

Tucker Pillsbury, better known as Role Model, has quickly become one of this year's breakout stars with a hit album and a sold-out solo tour. This summer, he’ll be joining musician Gracie Abrams in arenas across North America. He sits down with Tom Power to tell us how homesickness inspired his latest album, “Kansas Anymore (The Longest Goodbye),” and how turning to Americana music helped him get back in touch with himself. If you enjoy this conversation, you might also like Tom’s interview with Gracie Abrams or his chat with The 1975’s Matty Healy.

You might know Britt Lower as Helly R. on the hit series “Severance,” but she makes no less of an impression playing a librarian in the new Canadian indie film “Darkest Miriam.” The actor joins Tom Power to tell us how her love of libraries helped her bring her character Miriam to life and what it took to prepare for her “Severance” role — like studying trapped animals and people under interrogation. She also discusses her 2020 short film, “Circus Person,” and how it kind of comes full circle with her current projects. In case you missed it, last week Tom spoke with “Severance” stars Tramell Tillman and Zach Cherry. You can also check out guest host Talia Schlanger’s conversation with “Darkest Miriam” director Naomi Jaye.

This weekend, Sum 41 will perform one final time at the Junos in Vancouver. The legendary Canadian rockers will also be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Lead singer Deryck Whibley joins Tom Power live onstage at Hollywood Theatre in Vancouver to talk about the band’s journey and their swan song. If you want more Sum 41, check out Tom’s conversations with Deryck from this past February and last April.

Michael Bublé is hosting the 2025 Juno Awards in his hometown of Vancouver. The Canadian crooner and five-time Grammy winner sits down with Tom Power in our studio to tell us his incredible story, including the time the legendary producer David Foster told him it was never going to happen for him. Plus, Michael shares how he really feels about those Christmas memes. If you enjoy this conversation, check out Tom’s interview with Canadian singer-songwriter k.d. lang or his chat with Canada's queen of R&B soul, Jully Black.

Farah Ghafoor is an award-winning Canadian poet whose debut poetry collection, “Shadow Price,” is about the climate crisis. She sits down with Tom Power to explain the finance term her book is named after, and how she sees the role of the poet during a crisis. She also reads an excerpt from her book called “The Last Poet in the World.” If you’re looking for more conversations with writers and poets, check out Tom’s chat with Emily Austin on her poetry collection “Gay Girl Prayers,” or guest host Vivek Shraya’s chat with Haudenosaunee poet Kenzie Allen on her complex relationship to Pocahontas.

After Rush ended, Alex Lifeson wasn’t sure if he’d ever make music again. The Canadian guitarist had toured the world with his best friends from high school and changed rock music, so he felt like he had been there and done that. But when Alex heard a young singer named Maiah Wynne, he was transfixed by her voice and lyrics. That led him to form his new band, Envy of None. Alex sits down with Tom Power to talk about how that group came together, the early days of Rush, and how at 17 he decided he was destined for a life of rock and roll. If you enjoy this conversation, you might want to check out Tom’s interview with Rush lead singer Geddy Lee or Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt.

Angélique Kidjo is a legendary Grammy-winning singer, a UNICEF international Goodwill Ambassador and one of the most lauded African artists of our time. She also has one of the most unbelievable stories in music. At the same time that she began finding success as a singer in her homeland of Benin, the country was under a strict military dictatorship. By age 23, she made a very daring and lucky escape to Paris. Angélique joins Tom Power from our Montreal studio to reflect on her childhood in Benin, how she fled to France, 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.

Drew Tarves, also known as young friend, is an emerging artist based in Vancouver who’s getting ready to release his debut album, “motorcycle sound effects.” The album is a “genre-bending fever dream” about the nuances of growing up. young friend joins Tom Power to talk about his music and to set up a song off the record.

When the award-winning actor and playwright Anusree Roy was growing up, her grandmother would tell her stories about the Partition of India in 1947, when British India was divided into the Muslim-majority Pakistan and the Hindu-majority India. Now, decades later, Anusree is performing in a play she wrote about the Partition called “Trident Moon.” It follows nine women and girls over the course of one life-changing night as they try to survive unspeakable danger. Anusree joins Tom Power in our studio to tell us why she wanted the story to feel unsentimental, what history books leave out about the Partition, and why humour serves such a vital role in the play. If you’re looking for more conversations about theatre, check out Tom’s interviews with playwrights Michael Healey or Larissa FastHorse.

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. Yves joins 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.

The hit series “Severance,” which just finished Season 2, managed to knock “Ted Lasso” out of its place as the most-watched show on Apple TV+. That’s partly due to its premise, which explores a nightmarish experiment to enforce work-life balance by splitting your consciousness into two. There’s the you that goes into work (your “innie”) and the you that lives outside of work (your “outie”). Actors Tramell Tillman and Zach Cherry — also known as their characters Mr. Milchick and Dylan G. — sit down with Tom Power to discuss all things “Severance,” including what it’s been like on the inside (eh?) as this show takes over the world, and their famous dance scene from Season 1. If you’re looking for more about “Severance,” keep an eye out for Tom’s upcoming interview with actor Britt Lower.

In Mark Anthony Green’s debut feature, “Opus,” a young journalist (Ayo Edebiri) is invited to the home of a reclusive pop icon (John Malkovich) who mysteriously disappeared 30 years ago. The first-time director drew on his own experience as a former GQ editor who covered celebrity and style for 13 years. He joins Tom Power to talk about the film and how it explores the illusion of celebrity culture from the perspective of a journalist. If you enjoy this conversation, you might also enjoy Tom’s conversation with actor Kate Hudson on her movie “Shell” or actor Chloë Sevigny on the cost of being cool.

Though he's donned a mask since the beginning of his music career, Orville Peck says it’s not so much a disguise as it is a representation of who he truly is. Last year, around the release of his album “Stampede,” Orville joined Tom Power in our studio to talk about his career, how he found a home in country music, and why he walked away from fame at the peak of his success. If you enjoy this conversation, you might also enjoy Tom’s conversations with comedian-turned-musician Mae Martin or “National Anthem” director Luke Gilford.