Q with Tom Power

Years ago, when Rachel Reid finished her first manuscript, she didn’t tell anyone she was submitting it for publication. But that was before the runaway success of her queer hockey romance book, Heated Rivalry. Now, the Nova Scotia author is finding it harder to work quietly. She joins guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about the complex hockey fandom that inspired Heated Rivalry, the TV adaptation that turned into a global phenomenon, and her progress on Unrivaled — the next book in the series. If you like this conversation, check out Tom Power’s interview with Heated Rivalry creator Jacob Tierney on the joy of gay, smutty TV.

Back in 2005, Hubert Davis became the very first Black Canadian to be nominated for an Academy Award. It was for his personal, moving documentary, Hardwood, which tells the story of his relationship with his father, Mel Davis, a former Harlem Globetrotter. Now, more than 20 years into his documentary filmmaking career, Hubert is making his first foray into narrative storytelling with his fictional feature debut, The Well. It’s an eco-thriller that follows a family who are living in isolation and hiding a “secret supply of fresh water.” Their safety and relationships become tested when a wounded man arrives unexpectedly and discovers their resource. Hubert tells guest host Garvia Bailey why he wanted to tell this story. Plus, he reflects on two decades in Canada’s film industry. 

Canadian theatre legend Louise Pitre is back on stage in Canada in the Tony Award-winning musical Kimberly Akimbo. It tells the story of a teenage girl who has a rare genetic condition that ages her four times as fast as her classmates. Recognized as Canada's first lady of musical theatre, Louise has led productions of Les Misérables, Piaf, Sweeney Todd, and she originated the part of Donna in Mamma Mia! on Broadway, but she says Kimberly might be the most perfect part for her right now. She sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger to tell us why as she reflects on her acclaimed stage career. 

Last year, Iranian director Jafar Panahi won the Palme d'Or at Cannes for his extraordinary film It Was Just an Accident, which he shot secretly in Tehran under great risk of serious harm. Jafar has been in prison twice on charges of “anti-government propaganda” and for protesting the imprisonment of other filmmakers. At the Toronto International Film Festival back in September, he joined Tom Power to tell us how It Was Just an Accident was shaped by his two experiences in Tehran’s Evin Prison.

Elle Fanning (A Complete Unknown, The Neon Demon) is an A-list actor who calls herself a "nepo sibling.” When she was just two years old, she played a younger version of her sister Dakota Fanning’s character in I Am Sam. But for someone who’s been famous for nearly her entire life, there’s a bit of mystery surrounding Elle — and that’s intentional. During the Toronto International Film Festival last September, she sat down with Tom Power to talk about her latest film, Sentimental Value, which broke applause records when it premiered in Cannes earlier this year.

When Tobias Forge was a kid growing up in Sweden, he had no intention of having the biggest album in the world. But this year, his band Ghost hit No. 1 for the very first time. For many years, the identities of Ghost’s band members were a total mystery. There were even rumours that musicians like Dave Grohl played in the band. But as Ghost got more popular, staying anonymous got more difficult. Tobias joins Tom Power to talk about their chart-topping success and what the hardest part of being anonymous in a famous band was.

Mona Fastvold is the director of the buzzy new movie musical The Testament of Ann Lee, which is based on the true story of Ann Lee, the charismatic religious leader who brought the Shaker sect from England to the American colonies in the 18th century. The Testament of Ann Lee is getting rave reviews for Amanda Seyfried’s performance as Ann, and critics are saying the film is redefining what a musical can be. Mona joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the process of making this film, how it upends expectations, and how she got this very “unsexy” movie made.

Wesli is a Montreal-based Haitian singer, guitarist and producer who recently released his seventh studio album, Makaya. On this album, Haitian music takes centre stage while elements from other musical traditions are blended in to create a truly global and uniquely uplifting sound. Wesli joins guest host Talia Schlanger over Zoom to set up a song from the album, titled Ayayay.

Jennette McCurdy has followed up her bestselling memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died, with a harrowing debut novel called Half His Age. Written in the voice of a 17-year-old Alaskan girl named Waldo, it tells the story of her dark relationship with her high school writing teacher, a married man in his 30s. Jennette joins guest host Talia Schlanger to tell us how anger from a past relationship informed this novel, and why she hopes Waldo’s story will help readers find compassion and forgiveness for their past selves.

Alexander “Sandy” Carson is a Canadian filmmaker whose new movie, Alberta Number One, takes a look at more than 60 single-topic museums, monuments and roadside attractions that dot the province of Alberta. This includes places such as the Museum of Miniatures and the Gopher Hole Museum. Alexander joins guest host Talia Schlanger to tell us why these roadside curios captured his imagination, and what they can reveal to us about who we are.

Jodie Foster has played many roles in her career, including an FBI trainee, an astronomer, a fixer in a bank heist, an Alaskan police chief, and a long-distance swimming coach. But now, she’s doing something she’s never done before: taking on the lead role in a French-language film. It’s called A Private Life and it follows the Oscar and Emmy winner as Lilian Steiner, a French-speaking American psychiatrist in Paris who suspects the death of one of her patients is not what it seems. Jodie joins Tom Power to tell us why she feels like a different actor when she’s performing in French. Plus, she talks about the freedom she’s found after turning 60.

Saskatoon’s Katie Tupper has just released her debut album, Greyhound, which reflects on her life, where she comes from, her relationships, and the unhealthy cycles she realized she was caught in. Katie sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger to tell us what she learned while making the record and how the Prairies have shaped her sound.

George Takei is one of America’s most beloved actors and activists, known best for playing Hikaru Sulu in the Star Trek franchise. Last year, he released his second graphic memoir, It Rhymes with Takei, which unpacks his experience living as a closeted gay man for most of his life. Around the time the book was released, he joined guest host Talia Schlanger to tell us why he didn’t come out until he was 68, and how his involvement with LGBTQ+ advocacy work has shaped who he is today.

Fashion designer Spencer Badu is known for making structured, genderless garments that have been worn by the likes of A$AP Rocky and Kendrick Lamar. Equally drawing from his family roots in Ghana and his childhood in and around Toronto, Spencer has managed to make a name for himself at fashion weeks in New York, London and Paris — but it’s his home country of Canada that grounds him. Now, he’s serving as a judge on Project Runway Canada, which recently returned after more than 15 years off the air. Spencer sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about his early creative dreams and inspirations, and what wisdom he can impart on Canada’s next generation of talented designers.

Actor and musician siblings Nat Wolff (Paper Towns, The Fault in Our Stars) and Alex Wolff (Hereditary, Old) have been living and breathing music nearly their entire lives. As kids, they wrote and performed their own songs on their hit Nickelodeon show The Naked Brothers Band before eventually forming their aptly named pop rock duo Nat & Alex Wolff. Now, the brothers are back with their third studio album. Nat and Alex join guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about their unusual childhoods and experiences with early fame, how they’ve evolved as collaborators while keeping a strong brotherly bond, and why now was the right time to start writing music again. 

In her new film, Measures for a Funeral, director Sofia Bohdanowicz blends fiction with documentary to tell the forgotten true story of Canadian violin prodigy Kathleen Parlow, often billed as “The Lady of the Golden Bow” or “The Canadian Violinist.” The film explores how easily we lose cultural icons to history. Sofia sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about Kathleen’s life, legacy and the once-lost opus that was composed for her.

Sally Wainwright, the acclaimed British TV creator behind shows like Happy Valley and Last Tango in Halifax, is back with a new series called Riot Women. It’s about a group of women who cope with aging and the chaos of menopause by starting a punk band. Sally joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the show, why she challenged herself to learn the drums while working on it, and how she finds it harder to write as she gets older.

Back in the 1980s, Edmonton birthed one of the most influential Canadian punk bands of all time: SNFU. For most of its existence, twin brothers Marc and Brent Belke wrote and played all the guitar for the band. With a new exhibit on now at the Punk Rock Museum in Las Vegas, they join guest host Talia Schlanger to reflect on the highs and lows of SNFU, their memories of the band’s late frontman Mr. Chi Pig, and the big cultural explosion when punk suddenly went from counter-culture to mainstream.

Stan Douglas, one of Canada’s most internationally renowned artists, is widely known for “remixing history” — restaging and reframing social and political events through films, videos and photographs. In support of his new exhibition, Tales of Empire, Stan joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about his ongoing fascination with the past and how art can help imagine alternatives to the status quo.

Imagine taking your favourite family memories and spinning them into a full-length movie. That’s exactly what the Toronto filmmaker Seth Scriver has done with Endless Cookie, an animated documentary he created over nine years with his half-brother Peter. Though Seth and Peter lead radically different lives — separated by age, culture and geography — they say making a movie brought them closer together. Last summer, they joined guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about it.

María Zardoya is the lead vocalist of the band The Marías, which broke through last year to become an indie pop phenomenon. With more than 35 million monthly listeners on Spotify, a viral song on TikTok and a Grammy nomination for best new artist, the band has gone from cult favourite to playing arenas all over the world. María joins Tom Power to talk about her journey in music, how a breakup led to a creative breakthrough, and what it’s like striking out on her own with her new solo project, Not for Radio.

Acclaimed actor Lee Byung-hun (Squid Game, KPop Demon Hunters) has done a lot to pave the way for Korean films in Hollywood — but he never set out to be a performer. Now, he’s reunited with director Park Chan-wook for the satirical drama No Other Choice. The film follows an honest labourer named Man-soo who struggles to find employment after being laid off from the paper mill where he’s worked for the last 25 years. As his family makes sacrifices, Man-soo grows frustrated by the crowded job market and his methods for securing employment grow darker alongside his desperation. During the Toronto International Film Festival, Byung-hun sat down with Tom Power to reflect on his role in No Other Choice as well as his superstar career.

Before cementing her status as a bonafide comedic talent, Rose Byrne (Bridesmaids, Neighbors) was known for dramatic roles. The Australian actor combines those skills in the tense comedy-drama, If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, for which she just won a Golden Globe. During last year’s Toronto International Film Festival, Rose sat down with Tom Power to discuss the film and what it was like co-starring with Conan O'Brien in his first serious acting role. She also told us how she broke out of her shell as a shy kid, how she and Heath Ledger helped each other out as young Australians in Hollywood, and what she thinks about her one line from Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones.

Juno-winning Canadian singer-songwriter Jessie Reyez blew up nearly 10 years ago with a song called Figures. With her powerful voice, she eventually achieved worldwide success — something she’d dreamt about since she was a kid — but she soon discovered that the reality of fame wasn’t what she expected it to be. On her new album, Paid In Memories, Jessie chronicles how she learned that true happiness doesn’t come from money or stardom, but rather the memories we make with loved ones. She sits down with Tom Power to tell us what happens when you achieve your dreams and the view from the top isn’t exactly sunshine and rainbows.

Canadian singer Jane Siberry is a free spirit in every sense. From distributing her own music to touring fans’ living rooms, she’s spent four decades doing things her own way. This year, Jane is being rewarded with honours from the Polaris Heritage Prize and the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. She joins Tom Power to talk about following her muses and having the courage to be sensitive.

Film legend Zacharias Kunuk (Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner) has made more than 30 films and documentaries over his career — almost entirely in Inuktitut. His latest film, Uiksaringitara (Wrong Husband), is an epic historical drama set 4,000 years ago in what we now call Nunavut, where supernatural forces threaten the promised marriage of lovers Kaujak and Sapa. Zacharias joins guest host Talia Schlanger to discuss the traditional Inuit stories that inspired the film, what he says John Wayne movies have in common with Inuit storytelling, and why he’s hoping audiences a century from now will still be studying his acclaimed body of work.

On Bells Larsen’s stunning album Blurring Time he has an unlikely collaborator — himself. Bells is a trans man and he first recorded the album in his pre-transition voice with the intent of revisiting the songs after he started hormone therapy. The result is a unique self-collaboration, in which he harmonizes with himself. Last year, the Canadian singer-songwriter sat down with Tom Power to talk about the record and having to cancel his U.S. tour.

When Elizabeth Gilbert published her memoir Eat, Pray, Love 20 years ago, she set off a tourism boom of solo travellers inspired by her search for self-worth and fulfillment. But if the book Eat, Pray, Love is an inspirational tale, then her latest memoir, All the Way to the River, is a cautionary one, detailing what happens when we look for validation in the arms of other people. In this candid interview with Tom Power, Elizabeth shares what she’s learned about love and why it’s a memoirist’s responsibility to tell the whole, messy truth. 

Canadian stand-up comedian Phil Hanley has lived with severe dyslexia for so long he can’t see life any other way. But what once held him back as a child has now become his greatest superpower, as he’s been able to find the humour in his diagnosis to great success. That’s something he writes about in his new memoir, Spellbound: My Life as a Dyslexic Wordsmith. Phil sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about his fascinating life (including a brief modelling career in the ’90s) and how comedy gave him the confidence to overcome his shame.

When Anoushka Shankar was in Goa a few years ago, she wrote down four words: “Three chapters, three geographies.” That note has been the inspiration for a trilogy of mini-albums. Last year, around the release of the final album in the trilogy, Chapter III: We Return To Light, the acclaimed sitar player sat down with Tom Power to talk about 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.

Sixty years into their career and one intense legal battle later, Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman of the Guess Who have finally won back the rights to their name. To celebrate, the two Canadian music legends are getting the band back together for a tour across their home country. Burton and Randy join Tom Power to talk about their new chapter and tour, their songwriting partnership, and how they wrote some of their biggest hits. 

Nine-time Grammy winner Mark Ronson is responsible for producing some of the biggest pop songs of the last few decades. He’s worked with the likes of Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa and Amy Winehouse. Back in September, he released a new memoir, Night People, which traces his early years working as a DJ in nightclubs around New York City. Mark joined Tom Power to tell us how that laid the groundwork for his acclaimed career as a producer, and how it also taught him what it takes to make a crowd dance.

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. Last summer, he joined 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. 

Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka is able to make the most difficult life experiences seem funny. In her latest 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). Last July, Atsuko joined guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about turning those early experiences into comedy, and how she dives into her past with empathy and humour.

This year, Sandra Oh (Killing Eve, Grey’s Anatomy) received critical acclaim for her role in the Canadian indie film “Can I Get a Witness?” It’s set in a not-too-distant future when climate change has been solved. But there’s a catch: all humans are required by law to end their life at age 50. Back in March, the Ottawa-born actor joined Tom Power to talk about the movie and why it spoke to her. She also reflected on her journey as an actor, from finding her passion at eight years old to becoming one of Hollywood’s most accomplished stars.

Mo Amer is a Palestinian American comedian who puts himself at the heart of his work, using his own lived experiences to fuel his comedy. But with the situation in Gaza and the Israeli occupied West Bank right now, that’s getting harder to do. This past summer, Mo joined 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

Anne Murray definitely got her flowers in 2025. This past September, the Canadian icon returned with her 33rd studio album, “Here You Are,” which features 11 unreleased songs she recorded back in the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s. She sat down with Tom Power in Vancouver to tell us how a fan got her to revisit those old songs, why she purposely stayed out the U.S. for her whole career, and how her royalties spiked after her appearance on “Family Guy.”

Montreal’s own Yanic Truesdale has become a beloved actor all around the world, particularly for his role as Stars Hollow’s passive aggressive hotel concierge, Michel, on the hit show “Gilmore Girls.” Earlier this year, Yanic joined Tom Power to talk about his early days as an actor, his life-changing audition for the show that put him on the map, and why he didn't want to have a French accent for his new role in “Étoile” — the latest series from “Gilmore Girls” creator Amy Sherman-Palladino.

The award-winning Canadian filmmaker and screenwriter Deepa Mehta has redefined both Canadian and Indian cinema with her bold and groundbreaking films. Earlier this year, she was honoured with a career retrospective at TIFF in Toronto, featuring screenings of 10 of her most prominent films of the past 35 years. Deepa sat 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.

After the success of “Uncut Gems,” director Josh Safdie is back with “Marty Supreme” — his first film without his creative partner and brother, Benny. The film is already generating significant buzz, particularly for Timothée Chalamet's performance as a charismatic but arrogant table tennis prodigy. Josh joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the film and what made Timothée perfect for the role. Plus, he reflects on the loneliness he felt while making “Uncut Gems,” what it really means to pursue your dreams, and whether the sacrifice is worth it. If you like this interview, check out Tom Power’s conversation with Benny Safdie about his film “The Smashing Machine.”

For the rising Canadian country music star Sacha, 2025 has been a very big year. She released her incredible debut record, “Woman in the Mirror,” she got three nominations at the Canadian Country Music Awards, and she put out a brand new Christmas song, “Where Are You Christmas.” But perhaps her biggest moment was making her debut on the hallowed stage of the Grand Ole Opry. Sacha joins Tom Power to talk about that moment and she plays her new Christmas single for us.

Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul) is back with a new show, “Pluribus,” which he describes as a post-apocalyptic zombie tale with a twist. But in this story, an alien virus transforms all of humankind into one peaceful, happy hive mind — except for 13 people in the world who are somehow immune. Vince joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the show, what draws him to post-apocalyptic stories, and why he thinks we need to move on from anti-heroes and start telling more stories about good guys.

As a recipient of the MacArthur Fellowship (also known as the MacArthur Genius Grant), you could say filmmaker Sterlin Harjo is a certified genius. He’s responsible for creating the groundbreaking series “Reservation Dogs,” which follows the lives of four Indigenous teenagers in rural Oklahoma. Now, Sterlin is back with a new series called “The Lowdown,” starring Ethan Hawke as a rough-and-tumble bookstore owner and "truthstorian" in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He sat down with Tom Power during this year’s Toronto International Film Festival to talk about his career — and how being a genius really just means your friends will give you a hard time about it.

For three decades, director James Cameron (Titanic, The Terminator) has dedicated much of his creative life to the “Avatar” franchise. Now, he’s back with the third installment, “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” James sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about his fascination with both nature and technology, writing characters he wants to understand, and how he may explore using generative AI in future projects.

David Soren is a Canadian director and story artist who’s worked on beloved animated films like “Shrek,” “Chicken Run,” and the “Captain Underpants” movie. But while bringing these stories to life, David was living with a debilitating condition. Now, for the first time, he’s opening up about his struggles with Crohn’s disease in a semi-autobiographical novel for kids called “Invisible: The (Sort Of) True Story of Me and My Hidden Disease.” David sits down with Tom Power to tell us about it.

Art imitates life for Canadian actor Will Arnett (Arrested Development, BoJack Horseman) in “Is This Thing On?” — a new film about a middle-aged man at a crossroads. Will left Toronto for New York City right after school to pursue a career in acting. Instead of doing stand-up or sketch comedy, he studied the craft in hopes of becoming a dramatic actor. But then his obvious comedic ability steered him in a different direction. Will joins Tom Power to talk about circling back to that dream with his latest film, and why he tells director and co-star Bradley Cooper he loves him every day.

Before he was the frontman of Great Big Sea, Alan Doyle spent a decade working as a tour guide in Newfoundland and Labrador. Now, after years as a musical ambassador for his home province, he’s returning to that guide role in his latest book, “The Smiling Land,” in which he gives a tour through Newfoundland and Labrador as he sees it. Alan joins Tom Power to talk about the book and why he felt the need to rediscover his home.

Already a household name in his home country of Brazil, Wagner Moura (Narcos, Civil War) is building an international profile as a politically engaged actor who’s drawn to movies with a message. Most recently, he won best actor at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival for “The Secret Agent.” Set during the waning days of Brazil’s repressive military dictatorship, the movie is a deeply personal one for Wagner who was born at the tail end of the regime. He joins Tom Power to talk about “The Secret Agent,” how movies can help the self-esteem of a country, and why some politicians are afraid of artists.

Rachel Cousins has always had a voice that could stop you in your tracks, but on her new album, “What Hasn’t Killed Me,” the St. John’s singer-songwriter turns that power inward. Working with Grammy-winning producer Greg Wells, Rachel steps away from pop perfection and into something raw and real — music about growing up, learning to ask for help, and finding beauty in the mess. She sits down with Tom Power to talk about baring her soul on this album and why the song “To Fail” means so much to her.

After 70 years in the music industry, Paul Anka has more than 900 songs to his credit. The prolific Canadian songwriter is also the only artist in history to have a song on the Billboard Top 100 during seven consecutive decades. In the new HBO documentary “Paul Anka: His Way,” Paul recounts his life as a teen idol in the ’50s, writing some of the most memorable songs for artists like Buddy Holly and Frank Sinatra, and how he’s managed to evolve through the trends of each passing decade. Paul joins Tom Power to talk about his life in music, having a good cry after he wrote "My Way,” and meeting the Beatles back when they were a cover band.