Q with Tom Power

World-renowned fashion designer Prabal Gurung grew up in a turbulent household, with an abusive father at home and bullies at school who teased him for being too feminine. It was only when he moved to New York City to work with designers like Donna Karan and Cynthia Rowley that Prabal began to embrace the things that made him different. His new memoir, “Walk Like a Girl,” is a tribute to the women who made him the fashion designer he is today, from Anna Wintour, who championed his work, to longtime clients like Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, Kamala Harris and Kate Middleton.

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. At last year’s Toronto International Film Festival, Cate sat down with Tom Power 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.

Heather and Arizona O'Neill are more than just mother and daughter — they're creative partners, storytellers and travel companions. Their latest collaboration, a novel called “Valentine in Montreal,” is already an instant bestseller. Heather wrote the book, which was first published in weekly installments in the Montreal Gazette, and Arizona illustrated it. The mother-daughter duo join Tom Power to tell us what it's like working together and why the Montreal subway system plays a special role in their relationship.

Brian Tyree Henry (Atlanta, Causeway, The Book of Mormon) has become one of Hollywood's busiest actors. On the new series “Dope Thief,” he plays Ray Driscoll — a complex character who’s dealing with generational trauma, addiction and grief. Back in April, Brian joined Tom Power to talk about the role, the epiphany he had that reframed the way he looks at his career, and how he put his imposter syndrome in the rearview mirror.

Mo Amer's comedy career couldn't be going any better right now. His semi-autobiographical TV show “Mo” is a big success and he’s currently on a massive stand-up tour. But even though his professional life is thriving, certain things in his personal life are a bit more complicated. Mo joins Tom Power to talk about the pressure he’s feeling as a Palestinian American comedian, the emotional conversations he's been having with his fans, and how his life in comedy all got started.

Multi-Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Angélique Kidjo is now the first Black African performer to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This past March, she joined Tom Power from our Montreal studio to talk about her incredible career in music. Angélique reflected on her childhood in Benin, how she fled to France to escape her home country’s strict military dictatorship, 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.

Bestselling author Ruth Ware doesn’t do sequels, or so she’s said. After nine standalone psychological thrillers, the British novelist has released “The Woman in Suite 11,” which is a follow-up to her hit 2016 book, “The Woman in Cabin 10.” Ruth sits down with guest host Ali Hassan to tell us how her readers persuaded her to take another look at her character Lo Blacklock — a travel journalist who seems to find herself on the deadly end of luxury excursions. Plus, Ruth explains how maternity leave put her on the path to becoming a professional writer.

Comedian Robby Hoffman is having a big year. She was just nominated for an Emmy for her role in the hit HBO show “Hacks,” where she plays a character based on her own experiences. Plus, her Just For Laughs show in Montreal this summer is sold out. But Robby hasn’t had a conventional path into comedy. From leaving an ultra-Orthodox Hasidic community in Brooklyn as a kid to living in Montreal with her nine siblings, Robby tells Tom Power about how she forged her own path.

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. Back in March, Yves joined 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.

Yesterday, Ozzy Osbourne passed away at age 76. The Black Sabbath frontman will be remembered for his music, his antics on stage and his family’s reality television show, “The Osbournes.” In 2022, Tom Power sat down with the Prince of Darkness himself to discuss his new album at the time, “Patient Number 9.” But they also spoke about the legacy that Osbourne hopes to leave behind, his love for his wife, Sharon, and how he survived his addictions to drugs and alcohol.

Acclaimed music video director Joseph Kahn has worked with everyone from the Backstreet Boys to Taylor Swift, but in 2004, he expanded into feature films. His latest creature feature “Ick” is a horror-comedy that just had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Back in September, Joseph joined Tom to talk about the movie, what inspired it, and his prolific career directing music videos.

Blake Shelton is back with his first new album in nearly four years, “For Recreational Use Only.” The country star joins Tom Power to talk about retiring from the hit TV show “The Voice” after 23 seasons, feeling burned out, and being unsure about whether he would ever release a new record. Plus, Blake shares how an unexpected collaboration with Post Malone helped him fall back in love with music. If you like this conversation, check out Tom’s interview with Gwen Stefani from last year.

Saya Gray might have just released her debut album earlier this year, but it’s far from her first foray into music. She’s been gigging since she was a teen, performing alongside much older musicians at Toronto jazz clubs where she had to use a fake ID to get in. Eventually, she started touring with the likes of Daniel Caesar and Willow Smith. Now, her debut album, “Saya,” has just been shortlisted for the 2025 Polaris Prize. Back in February, Saya sat down with Tom Power to tell us what it’s like to learn to play music before learning to speak, what making experimental music means to her, and where she’s going next in her music career.

When Rhys Darby (Flight of the Conchords, Our Flag Means Death) started to notice the way AI had sunk its teeth into Hollywood, he decided to speak up. In his new stand-up show, “The Legend Returns,” the New Zealand actor and comedian sets out to prove that robots could never do what he’s doing live on stage. Rhys joins Tom Power to tell us what’s been on his mind when it comes to AI in the arts, plus, how he got his start on “Flight of the Conchords.”

When Jessica B. Hill was a kid, she saw a play at the Stratford Festival that she found so inspirational she wrote the word “Stratford” on a piece of paper and put it on her ceiling. Now, she’s an award-winning actor and playwright who’s appearing in three plays at Stratford this season: “As You Like It,” “Sense and Sensibility” and “Dangerous Liaisons.” Jessica sits down with Tom Power to talk about her life in theatre, her meaty new roles, and her own play about Shakespeare’s alleged muse and collaborator, Emilia Bassano.

After 16 years as a stay-at-home mom, Zarna Garg felt like she needed to reinvent herself. She tried a few different business ventures (disposable toothbrushes, vegan chilli and matchmaking), but none of them stuck. Then she decided to give comedy a go and everything changed. Now, Zarna has released a new stand-up special, "Practical People Win,” which highlights her unlikely journey into comedy. She joins Tom Power to talk about her business-oriented approach to her work, and how it sometimes pays off to take big risks when life tells you to play it safe.

Last summer, Queens of the Stone Age became the first-ever band to perform inside the Catacombs of Paris, where the remains of six million people are kept. That performance was captured in a new concert film and live five-song EP, “Alive in the Catacombs.” Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme joins Tom Power to talk about the project, his lifelong fascination with death, and how performing inside the Paris Catacombs made him think about his own life in new ways.

Little Simz is one of the most acclaimed rappers in the world right now. In 2022, she won the prestigious Mercury Prize for her album “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert.” But after falling out with her longtime producer and collaborator, the British rapper started thinking maybe music wasn’t for her anymore. Little Simz joins Tom Power to tell us why and how she turned that around to create her latest studio album, “Lotus.”

In his new book, “Richard Manuel: His Life and Music, from the Hawks and Bob Dylan to The Band,” renowned music archivist and podcaster Stephen T. Lewis explores the life and legacy of Richard Manuel, one of Canada’s most talented and influential musicians. Stephen joins Tom Power to tell why he was so enthralled by the story of a self-taught musician from Stratford, Ont., who became a rock and roll legend.

When actor Nathan Fillion (Firefly, Castle, The Rookie) was growing up as a quiet comic book kid in Edmonton, he never imagined he would one day be up on the big screen with Superman. Now, he’s living out his childhood dream with his latest role as Guy Gardner — one of the characters known as Green Lantern — in the new “Superman” movie. Nathan joins Tom Power to talk about his path leading up to this pinch-me moment, how he got over his shyness, and why his advice to emerging actors is to “pretend to be bold.”

What if the bad guy in your nightmare didn’t chase you, but tried to tickle you to death? That’s just one of the Inuit legends reimagined by the Inuit throat singing duo PIQSIQ on their haunting new album, “Legends.” Sisters Tiffany Ayalik and Inuksuk Mackay of PIQSIQ join Tom Power to talk about the record and why they’re embracing Inuit traditions in non-traditional ways. Plus, they set up their new song, “Mahaha: Tickling Demon.”

For nearly three decades, Simple Plan has been one of the most successful bands to come out of Canada, selling more than 10 million albums worldwide. Now, a new documentary, “Simple Plan: The Kids in the Crowd” offers a look into the band's journey from playing basement shows in Montreal to achieving global stardom. Simple Plan’s Pierre Bouvier and Chuck Comeau sit down with Tom Power to talk about their perseverance in the pop-punk genre, the brotherhood behind the band, and how beautiful and fragile that creative bond can be. In case you missed it, you might also like Tom’s interview with Blink-182's Mark Hoppus.

Jerry cans, bottles of soy sauce and canned meats — these are just some of the everyday objects portrayed in Tarralik Duffy’s exhibit, “Gasoline Rainbows.” Back in 2023, the multidisciplinary Inuk artist joined guest host Saroja Coelho to talk about finding beauty in everyday objects, the unexpected ways we remember home, and how her art connects her to her ancestors. If you want to see some examples of Tarralik’s work, visit our website at cbc.ca/q.

Toronto-born comedian Steph Tolev has been described as "gross,” "dirty” and "painfully real.” She’s built an entire career on raunchy jokes about everything from bad dates to bathroom humour. Now, she’s releasing her first Netflix special, "Filth Queen.” Steph joins guest host Talia Schlanger to tell us how she developed her niche, why she had to leave Canada to get her big break, and why she wants women to feel comfortable farting in front of people.

Deantha Edmunds is Canada’s first Inuk professional opera singer. Last year, she was appointed to the Order of Canada, and earlier this month, she was honoured at the Canada Day ceremony in Ottawa. In this conversation with Tom Power from 2024, Deantha talks about the forgotten classical music tradition of the Labrador Inuit, as well as her own journey in music. 

Award-winning Irish Canadian novelist, screenwriter and playwright Emma Donoghue (Room, The Wonder) is back with her first musical, “The Wind Coming Over The Sea.” It’s based on the true story of Henry and Jane Johnson, a young married couple who left Ireland in the 1840s in search of a better life in Canada. Emma joins Tom Power to talk about what inspired the production, the traditional Irish folk music she used to tell the tale, and why this historical story about the immigrant experience still resonates today.

Twenty years ago, Canadian singer-songwriter Daniel Powter wrote the song “Bad Day,” which quickly became one of the biggest hits of 2005. It earned him a Grammy nomination, sold millions of copies and launched his career as an artist. But when “Bad Day” got bigger than anyone could have ever imagined, Daniel’s mental health started to decline, leading to addiction and substance abuse. On the song’s 20th anniversary, Daniel joins Tom Power to share the dark side of writing a life-changing hit, and what his relationship to making music is like today.

At age 12, Canadian actor Finn Wolfhard shot to fame after landing the role of a lifetime on “Stranger Things.” But growing up in the spotlight wasn’t always easy. Finn often felt like he didn’t have control over his public identity or his artistic life. Now, as his tenure on “Stranger Things” comes to a close, he’s launched a music career with the release of his debut solo album, “Happy Birthday.” Tom Power sat down with Finn in his hometown of Vancouver to talk about the record, how he found his voice in music, and how “Stranger Things” changed his life. If you enjoy this conversation, check out Tom’s interview with Finn’s “Stranger Things” co-star Joe Keery (a.k.a. Djo) on his viral hit “End of Beginning.”

When actor and comedian Jason Mantzoukas (The Good Place, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Parks and Recreation) finally got the chance to appear on his favourite TV show — the weird and hilarious British game show “Taskmaster” — he didn’t want to play along normally. He wanted to be the ugly American villain who creates chaos. Jason joins Tom Power to tell us what actually happened when he stepped onto set, what it was like going from superfan to contestant, and why he thinks that beloved British shows like “Taskmaster” have never fully taken off in North America.

When Evan Redsky sat down to write a song about his culture, he thought about three things: the movie “Interstellar,” the movie “Contact” with Jodie Foster, and the Ojibwe word that essentially means "see you later" (because there is no word for goodbye in Ojibwe). In this chat with guest host Talia Schlanger, Evan tells us how these elements make up his new single, “Cosmic Carousel.”

Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka is able to make the most difficult life experiences seem funny. In her new stand-up special, “Father,” she takes a look at her complex childhood growing up undocumented in the U.S. (she was technically kidnapped by her own grandma, though she doesn’t see it that way). Atsuko joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about turning those early experiences into comedy, and how she dives into her past with empathy and humour.

The longest poem ever written is a 4,000-year-old Sanskrit epic called the “Mahabharata,” which clocks in at roughly 1.8 million words. But the poem’s daunting length didn’t stop Toronto’s Why Not Theatre from adapting it into a large-scale play of the same name. A few months ago, Miriam Fernandes, the co-creator and star of the show, joined Tom Power to tell us exactly what it took to bring this ancient Sanskrit epic to the stage, and why the story still feels urgent and deeply relevant today.

Canadian actor Tonya Williams spent two decades playing Dr. Olivia Winters on “The Young and the Restless,” which made her one of the first Black actors to star on a soap opera. In 2001, she founded the Reelworld Film Festival, which champions diverse Canadian talent in the TV and film industry. Now, she’s been named an Officer of the Order of Canada. We revisit Tonya’s conversation with Tom Power about her groundbreaking career and how her soap opera character actually helped increase the number of Black women doctors in the U.S.

On the hit series “The Bear,” Liza Colón-Zayas plays a middle-aged line cook named Tina who’s challenged by her mentors to learn new skills as a sous-chef. In some ways, her character’s story mirrors her own journey as an actor. With Season 4 of “The Bear” out now, we revisit Liza’s conversation with Tom Power about the scarcity and struggle she had to overcome on her path to success, her experience in a strict religious group that forced her to surrender all her wages to them, and how her setbacks continue to shape her as an artist. If you like this conversation, you should also check out Tom’s interview with Matty Matheson.

George Takei is one of America’s most beloved actors and activists, known best for playing Hikaru Sulu in the “Star Trek” franchise. In 2019, he released a graphic memoir, “They Called Us Enemy,” which detailed his childhood experience at internment camps during the Second World War. Now, he’s released a follow-up book, “It Rhymes with Takei.” The new graphic memoir unpacks his experience living as a closeted gay man for most of his life. In this conversation with guest host Talia Schlanger, George opens up about fearing punishment for his differences, why he didn’t come out until he was 68, and how his involvement with LGBTQ+ advocacy work has shaped who he is today.

Phil Rosenthal is the creator, writer and executive producer of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” one of the most successful sitcoms of all time. But after the show wrapped in 2005, it took nearly 10 years for him to get his next dream project off the ground. Now, Phil’s food and travel show “Somebody Feed Phil” is in its eighth season on Netflix. He joins Tom Power live on-stage at the Banff World Media Festival to talk about betting on himself, having the courage to stay positive, and why cynicism is a waste of time. 

In R.T. Thorne's directorial debut, “40 Acres,” the Canadian filmmaker imagines a post-apocalyptic world where food is scarce, society is in ruins and your family is under threat. It’s an intense movie about fighting for survival, but it also explores the complicated relationship between a mother and a son. R.T. joins Tom Power to share how his mother’s experiences as a Trinidadian immigrant in Canada shaped the mother-son relationship in the film, and how his background making music videos still informs his work today.

Born and raised in Scarborough, actor Stephan James has defied the odds and climbed the ranks in Hollywood. He’s made a name for himself by playing major historical figures like runner Jesse Owens in “Race,” and civil rights activist John Lewis in Ava DuVernay’s film “Selma.” After working with legends like Julia Roberts and Laurence Fishburne, Stephan wants to come back to his community in Canada and share his success. Tom Power spoke with Stephan in front of a live audience, after he received the Canadian Award of Distinction at the Banff World Media Festival, to talk about his career and his plans to uplift young Black creatives.

Jully Black is a powerhouse singer-songwriter from Toronto who’s often called Canada's queen of R&B soul. Earlier this year, Jully sat down with Tom Power to tell us how singing in church at age six put her on her artistic path, why she feels speaking out is always the right thing to do, and why her mother is her biggest influence.

Calgary’s Jan Lisiecki was only nine when made his orchestral debut as a classical pianist. While most of us were still figuring out cursive, he was playing sold-out recitals — so, of course, he was called a child prodigy. But Jan has complicated feelings about that term. A few months ago, he joined guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about his new album, “Preludes,” and why he doesn’t want to be called a child prodigy.

In just under five years, Eva Victor went from being a viral video comedian to writing, directing and starring in their own feature film, “Sorry, Baby.” The film tells the story of Agnes, a grad school student turned professor whose life was altered by an incident they refer to as “the bad thing.” What follows is a sensitive, fraught and often funny examination of life before and after a sexual assault. Eva drops by our studio to talk to guest host Talia Schlanger about the film, their unique journey in the film industry, and how they bring nuance to the complex and painful experience of trauma.

According to bestselling horror author Stephen Graham Jones, good stories don’t happen in heaven — they happen in hell. His latest novel, “The Buffalo Hunter Hunter,” is a chilling historical vampire story based on real events that happened to the Blackfeet Nation in the United States. Stephen joins guest host Talia Schlanger to discuss the metaphorical link between vampires and colonialism, and what it really means to be a vampire. Plus, he opens up about his frustrations with the media putting Indigenous stories in a “sacred space,” and the damage that does to storytelling. If you’re looking for more from Stephen, check out Talia’s conversation with him from last year.

Long before he became a bestselling writer, Ocean Vuong sold rotisserie chickens at Boston Market. In his latest novel, The Emperor of Gladness, he explores the meaning that can be found in the daily grind of a fast food restaurant. The book follows a young addict named Hai as he unexpectedly becomes caretaker to an elderly woman and makes unlikely connections at the fast-food restaurant where he works. Ocean tells Mattea Roach about challenging the American Dream, how being raised by women shaped him and why this novel is his most self indulgent yet. When the book ends, the conversation begins. Mattea Roach speaks with writers who have something to say about their work, the world and our place in it. You’ll always walk away with big questions to ponder and new books to read. Find and follow Bookends wherever you get your podcasts. More episodes of Bookends are available at https://link.mgln.ai/Afkvzq

Jerry Bruckheimer is the Hollywood producer behind some of the biggest blockbusters of all time, including “Top Gun,” “Armageddon” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.” Now, he’s back with “F1,” which stars Brad Pitt as an aging Formula One driver who attempts to make a comeback 30 years after his career is derailed by an accident. Jerry joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about some of the incredible feats he’s pulled off as a producer, and how he drew on everything he knows about making action-packed movies to create this new film.

American musician Meg Remy, the creative force behind the Toronto-based experimental pop project U.S. Girls, is back with a new record, “Scratch It.” She sits down with guest host Gill Deacon to talk about the process of recording the album live to tape in a Nashville studio, and why she says this is her first album to come from a place of love and self-acceptance.

Anar Ali was working as a business development executive at Procter & Gamble when she decided to quit her job to become a writer. After publishing her first couple books, she transitioned into working in TV, and now, she’s the creator and executive producer of the hit CBC police procedural “Allegiance,” which was recently renewed for its third season. Anar joins guest host Gill Deacon to talk about trading in her corporate job for a life in the arts, how a cancer diagnosis changed everything, and why she wants “Allegiance” to present a different version of the traditional immigrant story than we typically see on screen.

You can’t choose your family. Even if they bring you joy or comfort, there’s almost always complexity too. On her new album, “Reasons to Stay,” Canadian R&B singer Tanika Charles explores all the hard conversations she’s wanted to have with her mom, dad and brother. The resulting record is raw, emotional, powerful and uplifting. Tanika sits down with guest host Gill Deacon to share some of the deeply personal stories that inspired the album, and how she’s still working on healing from past hurts.

“How to Train Your Dragon” is one of the most successful children's franchises of all time. A new live-action remake just hit the big screen and author Cressida Cowell, the creator of the original book series, has just released a new spin-off novel, “How To Train Your Dragon School: Doom of the Darkwing.” Cressida joins guest host Gill Deacon to tell us how the fantastical story was partly inspired by her own real-life childhood experiences involving Scotland, a lobster pot and a giant eel, and a 1970s approach to parenting. 

It’s been more than 25 years since the Swedish hardcore punk band Refused released their seminal album, “The Shape of Punk to Come.” Their most famous song from that album, “New Noise,” has been called a political anthem and a protest song. It’s been used in the Palme d'Or'-winning film “Triangle of Sadness” as well as in the hit show “The Bear.” Last year, frontman Dennis Lyxzén of Refused joined Tom Power to tell us how “New Noise” became a global hit after the band had already called it quits.

In 2015, Misty Copeland became the first Black woman to become principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre. Her heartfelt memoir “The Wind at My Back” pays tribute to her mentor and fellow dance pioneer Raven Wilkinson, who performed in the segregated South as a member of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in the 1950s. A few years back, Misty joined guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about Raven's incredible life and legacy.