Q with Tom Power

Stephen Tayo is a documentary and fashion photographer whose work celebrates the diversity, vibrancy and rich culture of West Africa — particularly his hometown of Lagos, Nigeria. Presenting in Toronto for the first time, Stephen’s work is now on display at the Harbourfront Centre. He joins Tom to talk about his journey to becoming an acclaimed photographer and bringing snapshots from Nigeria to audiences around the world.

Kelvin Redvers’ new thriller Cold Road is something to behold — it’s straightforward in concept yet audiences are experiencing heightened heart rates and gripping on to one another while watching. Cold Road follows an Indigenous woman in Canada’s North while traveling a lonely highway in hopes of reaching her very ill mother in time to see her before she dies. Throughout the drive, she is threatened by an unknown driver as he uses his large truck to terrorize her. Kelvin joins Tom to talk about his own serious car accident that helped inform the tone of the film, how growing up in the North West Territories inspired the story, and how he felt “devastated” after being kicked off the prestigious Cannes red carpet for wearing his moccasins.

Queens of the Stone Age’s latest album, “In Times New Roman,” is their most raw and personal record to date. It chronicles a series of struggles experienced by the band’s lead singer, Josh Homme, including his public divorce and custody battle, the loss of several close friends, and his surgery to remove cancer. He tells Tom how he reflects on his spirituality after facing so many hardships, how his first guitar teacher taught him polka, and why he wanted to play “Let's Dance” by David Bowie at Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert.

From monster pop hits to surprise folk albums, Canada’s own Nelly Furtado has always charted her own path in music, and done it on her own timeline. After a break from the spotlight, she’s now back in the studio and laying the groundwork for a new chapter in her career. She sits down with Tom to talk about her life over the last 25 years, how working on Maneater made the speakers catch fire, and how she feels about hosting this year's Juno awards.

Alexandra Streliski was working at an ad agency when the late director Jean-Marc Valle discovered her music and started using it in his work. That gave her the push she needed to quit her job and pursue music. Now, she’s nominated for album of the year at the Juno awards. Alexandra joins Tom to talk about the significance of this nomination, the surrealness of seeing Matthew McConaughey acting with her music in the background, and what it was like to receive so much praise for her album, Inscape.

One of the most adored comedians of all time, Carol Burnett broke up the boys club that was network television with her freewheeling variety hour The Carol Burnett Show. More than half a century later, she’s still flexing her quick wit and comedic acting skills on shows like Better Call Saul and Palm Royale. In this special interview from Los Angeles, Carol Burnett sits down with Tom  in the city she grew up in, and reminisces about the hard-won lessons and chance encounters that helped her become a star.

Évelyne Brochu is a French-Canadian actor who has starred in films and television shows both in and out of her home province of Quebec. Her new film “French Girl” is a romantic comedy that features both Hollywood and Quebecois film stars. Évelyne tells Tom why she sees the film as a love letter to Quebec, what it was like being a fan of, to working alongside Zach Braff, and how The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air helped her learn English.

Celebrated dancer and choreographer Emma Portner is gearing up for the North American premiere of her latest work, “Islands,” where she subverts gender expectations: the ballet performance features two women jumping, partnering, and lifting one other. Emma tells Tom about her “backwards” dance career, the limitations of a tutu, and what makes her passionate about evolving the art of ballet.

Acclaimed French director Justine Triet joins Tom to discuss her latest film, “Anatomy of a Fall,” which just won an Oscar for best original screenplay. Set against the backdrop of a courtroom, the film puts the intimate details of a marriage on trial when a woman is charged with the murder of her husband after he falls to his death in their home.

Fawzia Mirza is lawyer turned filmmaker who pulls a lot of inspiration from her experiences as a queer, Pakistani Muslim who grew up in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Fawzia tells guest host Talia Schlanger how growing up watching Bollywood films inspired her debut feature film, “The Queen of My Dreams.”

When Es Devlin was growing up and going to concerts, and looked at the stage, she saw an opportunity for improvement. It’s that very aspiration to make concerts look better that’s lef her to a groundbreaking career in set design, working with the likes of Adele, Beyoncé, and The Rolling Stones. Ed joins Tom to talk about the music that inspired her artistic direction, how experiencing art is multi-sensory, and what it was like designing the set for the 2022 Super Bowl halftime show. Plus, DJ Karaba walked away from her lifelong dream at the height of her success —she was a backup dancer for artists like Drake, Selena Gomez, and Camilla Cabello. Now, DJ Karaba is pursuing a new dream, making music of her own. DJ Karaba tells Tom about her new Juno nominated song Mad Mess, how her experience as a dancer helps her create dance music, and how she found the courage to start anew in her creative career.

From Batman to Beetlejuice, Michael Keaton has played iconic roles for four decades. He talks to Tom about directing his new film, “Knox Goes Away,” what he’s learned from working with directors Tim Burton and Steven Soderbergh,  and what it was like working on Mister Rogers Neighborhood early in his career.

25 years after playing “little Victor” in the cult classic 1998 film Smoke Signals, Cody Lightning is all grown up and back with his mockumentary, “Hey Viktor!” which follows a fictionalized version of himself trying to make Smoke Signals 2. Cody joins Tom from Edmonton, Alberta where the movie was shot to talk about making gritty Indigenous comedy, how his idea for the film began as a joke, and how he looks back on growing up as a child actor.

Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan are a creative duo like few others. Their bond formed on the set of “The Lord of the Rings” as two Hobbits, Merry and Pippin, whose on-screen chemistry closely mirrored their real-life friendship. Now, Billy and Dominic are playing another iconic duo in a new production of “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.” They drop by to chat with Tom about the play and their decades-long friendship.

This month marks the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, and you can’t begin to talk about that history without talking about the artist Maestro Fresh Wes. Maestro tells Tom about his journey from writing rhymes at Scarborough’s Parkway Mall to releasing the first hit Canadian hip-hop record.

You can’t begin to talk about the history of hip-hop without talking about Maestro Fresh Wes. Dubbed the godfather of Canadian hip-hop, Maestro became widely known in 1989 for his debut single, “Let Your Backbone Slide,” which was a game-changer for Canadian music. He joins Tom to take us through his journey from writing rhymes at Scarborough’s Parkway Mall to releasing the first hit Canadian hip-hop record.

Avril Lavigne was a punk pop sensation who topped the charts in the early noughties, and she still performs to sold-out crowds today. But what if the Avril we’ve been following all these years is not the same Avril we fell in love with? What if — as a curious theory claims — Avril was replaced by a look-alike at the height of her fame? In 'Who Replaced Avril Lavigne' comedian Joanne McNally searches far and wide — from Avril’s hometown to the underbelly of the internet — to find out if the rumours are true. Along the way, she immerses herself in a mind-bending world of fake celebrity deaths, doppelgangers, conspiracy theories, and downright absurdity. Who Replaced Avril Lavigne? Joanne McNally Investigates is produced by What’s The Story Sounds – for BBC Sounds and CBC. More episodes are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/JSX5gqyS

Diana Lee Inosanto spent years working as a stunt performer while dreaming of being an actor, but now she’s ready for her closeup. She’s joined the biggest franchise in entertainment history with a villainous role on “Ahsoka” — the latest series in the “Star Wars” universe. Diana talks to Tom about her beginnings as a stunt performer, what happens when you get everything you want a little later in life, and what it was like growing up with Bruce Lee as her godfather.

Allison Au is an award-winning saxophonist who decided to step outside of her comfort zone to investigate her family history of immigration to Canada. She sits down with Tom to discuss her new record, titled “Migrations,” and how making music can help you come to peace with your own identity.

Bill T. Jones is a renowned dancer and choreographer whose work looks at race, death, mortality, grief and sexuality. In the late ‘80s, he visited clinics full of terminally ill patients — some of whom were just weeks away from passing — and created compelling dance pieces based on their movements. While he was in Toronto to give a talk at the Art Gallery of Ontario about his work with the late Keith Haring, Bill sat down with Tom to reflect on his incredible life in dance, the power of movement to reflect and question the world we live in, and why he sees himself as "one who has survived.”

Steve Patterson has spent nearly two decades on the road as the host of “The Debaters” — one of the most popular comedy shows in CBC history. With a new comedy album out, he joins Tom to talk about how being a dad has changed his stand-up, how comedy itself has changed over the last few decades, and why he's making soap.

The acclaimed Quebecois filmmaker Denis Villeneuve is back with “Dune: Part Two” — the highly anticipated sequel to his adaptation of Frank Herbert’s epic sci-fi novel of the same name. Denis joins Tom to discuss his vision for the second installment, the challenges of shooting in the intense heat of the desert, and how politics and religion in Quebec play into the film more than you might think.

Kim Gordon is an alt-rock legend who rose to fame in the ‘80s and ‘90s as the frontwoman of the band Sonic Youth. Now, at age 70, she’s back with her second solo album, “The Collective,” and a whole new generation is discovering her music on TikTok. Kim talks to Tom about her sound, where her inspiration begins, and how she approaches her art.

Shana Carroll has enjoyed a career in contemporary circus arts for more than 30 years. She was recently named a member of Quebec's Order of Arts and Letters for her work establishing the circus as a true art form. Now, her handiwork can be seen in the Broadway musical “Water for Elephants,” which premieres this month in New York. Shana joins Tom to share her story, what Quebec and Canada mean to the circus world, and what it’s like to tell your parents you’re literally joining the circus.

For the first time in Disney’s century-long history, the company is collaborating with an outside animation studio for their new six-part series, “Iwájú.” Set in a futuristic Nigeria, the series follows a young girl and her best friend on their coming-of-age journey. Director and screenwriter Olufikayo Ziki Adeola joins Tom to talk about this incredible moment for African animation, what it’s like making your hometown the setting for a futuristic sci-fi show, and why calling out Disney works out for the best sometimes.

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 sit down with Tom to talk about “Days of Happiness,” the cycle of abuse that can haunt families for decades, and how you can tell when an actor playing a conductor is faking it.

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 a woman facing challenges in the entertainment industry. Chelsea talks to Tom about the project, how she drew on her own life for source material, and what she found funny about Hollywood's reaction to #MeToo.

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 of their success, plus some incredible behind-the-scenes stories from his shoots and his best advice for everyday smartphone photography.

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 murder and colonialism.

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 intention of it going viral on TikTok.

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 album. Plus, the band Elliott Brood is set to release a new album called “Country” — it’s a companion to the album they released last year called “Town.” Tom catches up with Casey Laforet from the band to chat about their latest single, “Wind and Snow.”

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 rewrote some parts of the bible that didn’t sit right with her as a queer woman. She tells Tom what inspired her, and reads a poem from her new collection of poetry, “Gay Girl Prayers.”

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 what “Perfect Days” can teach you about happiness.

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 Margaret’s poetry.

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 starring in a “Law & Order” spinoff series makes her father so proud.

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 when you can tell she’s not sure about you, and why he wrote a letter to Tom Cruise when he booked “Reacher.”Plus, the Canadian film “Seagrass” is getting a lot of attention. Set in British Columbia in the 1990s, it tells the story of a Japanese-Canadian woman named Judith who goes on a retreat with her family in an attempt to mend her marriage with her white husband, Steve. Director Meredith Hama-Brown tells guest host Talia Schlanger what she wanted to explore about the Japanese-Canadian experience and the generational trauma caused by Japanese internment during World War II.

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 film, and how running into Quentin Tarantino in traffic led to her comeback in “Jackie Brown.”

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 had to reading the script and how her own experience as a trans woman informed her performance.

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 Tom where his comedic instincts come from, what it’s like to come from a legendary comedy family, and how he reconciles his box office success with negative reviews.

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 spy.

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 and Sons are back with their first new song since 2019, titled “Good People.” What you might find surprising about the track is that it features and was produced by Pharrell. Marcus Mumford, Ben Lovett and Ted Dwane from the band chat with Tom about the single and what it’s been like moving ahead with the band as a trio.

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. Shea talks to Tom about some of their latest projects, what fans can expect from their tour, and their journey from small-town Illinois to selling out shows around the world.

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 question: how do you stay funky in your 40s?

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 TikTok has expanded their audience, and how writing a breakup record felt like going to therapy with your best friends.

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 guest judge. Seth tells Tom what inspired his love of pottery, if he finds it therapeutic, and how the imagery and design around weed paraphernalia has changed since legalization.