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Q with Tom Power

English, Society/Show business/Gossip, 1 season, 747 episodes, 1 day, 17 hours, 36 minutes
About
Get ready to meet the artists you're talking about, and the ones you'll soon love. Whatever you're into — be it music, TV, film, visual art, theatre or comedy — q is there. Expect deep insight, and big surprises. Because on q, arts and entertainment get personal.
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Seth Rogen: writing comedies, Superbad, and where cannabis legalization went wrong in Canada

Seth Rogen (Superbad, Pineapple Express, Knocked Up) talks to Tom about his debut book, “Yearbook,” which features a collection of hilarious personal essays about his early life in Canada and his adventures in Hollywood.
1/1/139 minutes, 44 seconds
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Rufus Wainwright on growing up in a family of famous folk musicians and his latest album “Folkocracy”

Given his operatic, maximalist and pop-centered career, you’d be forgiven for forgetting that Rufus Wainwright comes from one of the royal families of folk music. On his latest album, “Folkocracy,” Rufus takes a look back at his folk roots. He tells guest host Talia Schlanger about his earliest musical memories and shares the story behind his new album.
1/1/122 minutes, 6 seconds
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On his debut album “When It Blooms,” Nonso Amadi finds harmony between Afrobeat and R&B

Nonso Amadi is the Nigerian Canadian musician making waves globally for his music that fuses Afrobeat and R&B. He’s performed all over the world and has racked up millions of streams, all before the release of his debut album. Nonso tells guest host Talia Schlanger about his unique sound, how watching his sisters dance to MTV made him fall in love with music, and how he made the jump from chemical engineering student to releasing his debut record, “When It Blooms.”
1/1/118 minutes, 48 seconds
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Denis Villeneuve: How adapting “Dune” was a lifelong dream come true

It takes an experienced director like Denis Villeneuve (Blade Runner 2049, Arrival, Prisoners) to tackle a project like the sci-fi epic “Dune.” Denis joined Tom to discuss his lifelong love of Frank Herbert’s classic sci-fi novel, and what it’s like to adapt a book that’s long been considered "unfilmable.”
1/1/124 minutes, 2 seconds
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Paul Simon: faith, the dream that inspired “Seven Psalms,” and coming to terms with hearing loss

One night in 2019, Paul Simon had a dream telling him to work on a new album called “Seven Psalms.” That led him to contemplating big existential questions about his beliefs. Tom visited Paul at the legendary musician’s home near Austin, Texas — in the studio where he recorded “Seven Psalms” — for a rare sit-down chat about the album.
1/1/124 minutes, 59 seconds
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Richard Linklater: Growing up with NASA in your backyard, having a “free-range” childhood and “Apollo 10½”

Richard Linklater (Dazed and Confused, Slacker, School of Rock) takes you back to the space race era with his film, “Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood.” It's an animated period piece that's steeped in ‘60s nostalgia, but also speaks to our world today. He joined Tom when the film first came out to talk about growing up by the NASA space station, what it meant to have a “free-range” childhood, and how it inspired “Apollo 10½.”
1/1/119 minutes, 4 seconds
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The Blind Boys of Alabama's Jimmy Carter: Gospel, touring during Jim Crow and singing for Obama

Jimmy Carter (NOT the 39th U.S. president) is a legendary gospel singer and co-founder of The Blind Boys of Alabama. The group has been around for decades and they’ve just released their first album in six years, “Echoes of the South,” which is also the title of the first radio show they ever appeared on in the mid-1940s. Jimmy tells Tom about his love of gospel, what it was like touring in the south during segregation, and the advice he’d give to young musicians as he’s just retired at 91 years old.
1/1/123 minutes, 32 seconds
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Bahamas: Making a “country” record, staying off your phone, and the problem with perfection

Afie Jurvanen, also known as Bahamas, talks to Tom about his new album, “Bootcut,” how he makes time to be creative, and the story behind his song, “Nothing Blows My Mind.”
1/1/117 minutes, 7 seconds
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Marcia Griffiths: The early days of reggae, creating the electric slide, and almost getting killed touring with Bob Marley

For 60 years, Marcia Griffiths has left an indelible mark on Jamaican music, often being called the Queen of Reggae. She sat down with Tom to talk about her incredible career in music, being one of Bob Marley’s I-Threes, and how she’s feeling about being honoured with the Order of Jamaica.
1/1/134 minutes, 10 seconds
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Mick Jagger: More than 60 years of the Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are back with “Hackney Diamonds,” the band’s first album of original material in 18 years. In a Canadian exclusive interview, frontman Mick Jagger talks to Tom about the record, the changing music industry and losing their drummer Charlie Watts.
1/1/139 minutes, 41 seconds
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Leslie Jones: “SNL,” lessons on failure and getting her first big break in her 40s

When Leslie Jones was in her late 40s, her brother — the last remaining member of her nuclear family — died. Leslie says that experience taught her to stop caring about whether or not people laughed at her jokes, and inspired her to become a more daring comic. In her new memoir, “Leslie F*cking Jones,” she details her journey to becoming a household name — the early days growing up in Memphis, the sense of identity she discovered in comedy, and her time as a writer and cast member on Saturday Night Live. She joined Tom to talk about the stories in her memoir, the advice she got from Jamie Foxx that changed her comedy career, and how she ended up on Saturday Night Live.
1/1/134 minutes, 14 seconds
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Bernie Taupin: Writing hit songs with Elton John, avoiding the limelight, and why he’s telling his story now

Bernie Taupin, who wrote lyrics for Elton John’s biggest hits, has never chased the limelight. But in his new memoir, “Scattershot,” the Grammy-winning songwriter opens up. Bernie joins Tom to share how his love of music started, his memories of working with Elton, and what he credits for their unbreakable bond.
1/1/138 minutes, 45 seconds
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Jillian & Mariko Tamaki: Re-inventing yourself, being cousins and collaborators, and their new graphic novel

Creators and cousins Mariko and Jillian Tamaki return this fall for their third publication together — a graphic novel called “Roaming,” which centres around three friends on a trip to New York in 2009. Tom speaks with Mariko and Jillian about illustrating the city that never sleeps, how they went from rarely seeing each other as kids to becoming successful collaborators, and what inspired their latest project.
1/1/118 minutes, 56 seconds
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Nicole Byer: The reality of competition shows and how ADHD can help your comedy

Nicole Byer has made a living talking to people and being funny. She’s so good at it, she’s got three podcasts, two TV shows and a current Emmy nomination for hosting the reality show “Nailed It!” Now, somehow, Nicole has also found the time to take her stand-up on the road. She talks to Tom about growing up as a hyperactive kid, how having ADHD has helped her comedy career, and what you can expect at her show at this year's Just For Laughs.
1/1/132 minutes, 54 seconds
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Alison Leiby’s new show “Oh God, A Show About Abortion” + Karkwa is back after 13 years

Some of Alison Leiby’s most popular and transformational comedy has stemmed from an unwanted pregnancy. She tells Tom why she wanted to write about her experience with abortion in her one-woman show, “Oh God, A Show About Abortion,” which is currently at Just For Laughs in Toronto. Plus, Polaris Prize-winning Quebecois band Karkwa disappeared for 13 years. Now, they’ve decided it’s time to make new music and have just released a new album “Dans la seconde.” Keyboardist and songwriter François Lafontaine tells Tom where they’ve been and why they’ve decided to come back.
1/1/127 minutes, 6 seconds
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Elisapie: How translating pop songs to Inuktitut helped her heal

Elisapie was jogging and listening to ABBA when she got the idea for her latest project, “Inuktitut.” It's a 10-track covers album of notable rock and pop hits that each represent a special childhood memory for Elisapie. She joins Tom to talk about the “healing journey” she's been on by reclaiming some of her most painful childhood memories through song.
1/1/125 minutes, 38 seconds
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Talking Heads: The early days, “Stop Making Sense,” the story behind the big suit

It’s been 40 years since Talking Heads’ seminal concert film “Stop Making Sense” was released. Now, the film has been entirely restored and re-released in theatres. In a rare conversation, all four members of Talking Heads join Tom in studio to share some stories from the making of the film, what drew them together in the early days, and where the idea for the famous “big suit” came from.
1/1/138 minutes, 54 seconds
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Slipknot’s Corey Taylor: Sobriety, his new solo album, and what’s kept the band together for nearly 30 years

Few vocalists in heavy metal are as recognizable as Corey Taylor, the lead singer of the band Slipknot. Corey talks to Tom about his brand new solo album, “CMF2,” what he credits for Slipknot’s longevity, and what the band members’ terrifying masks gave to them as artists.
1/1/135 minutes, 45 seconds
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Craig Gillespie: “Dumb Money,” Reddit's GameStop uprising, crafting films from real-life stories

At the height of lockdown there was a titanic struggle between power brokers on Wall Street and little retail investors — a battle that could be summed up in one word: GameStop. Director Craig Gillespie tells the story behind the infamous scandal in his new film, “Dumb Money.” He joins Tom to talk about his personal connection with it and why it felt urgent to get this story out now.
1/1/119 minutes, 48 seconds
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Marie Clements: Why talking about residential schools in “Bones of Crows” is sacred work

The new CBC miniseries “Bones of Crows” tells the multi-generational story of one family’s experience with Canada’s residential school system and their quest for justice. Tom speaks with writer, producer and director Marie Clements about adapting the series from the 2022 film of the same name, how nearly everyone on the cast and crew has a relative that went to residential school, and why telling this story feels like “sacred work.”
1/1/123 minutes, 43 seconds
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Jonathan Lawrence on queer platonic love + How Jayli Wolf's “ego death” led to her new EP

A few years ago, Canadian filmmaker Jonathan Lawrence spent some time researching the world of conversion therapy, and what he discovered became the backdrop for his first television series, “Alter Boys.” Jonathan tells Tom how he wants the series to be an examination of queer friendships, love and community.Plus, Jayli Wolf tells the story behind her song “Welcome Child” off her new EP, “God is an Endless Mirror.”
1/1/122 minutes, 30 seconds
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The Beaches: How everything needed to fall apart for everything to come together

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.
1/1/122 minutes, 25 seconds
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Elizabeth Acevedo: Living wakes, family secrets, and why she’s been planning her own funeral since she was a kid

New York Times bestselling YA author and champion slam poet Elizabeth Acevedo has written her first novel for adult readers, “Family Lore.” The story follows one Dominican-American family, as told through the voices of its women, as they await a gathering that will forever change their lives. Elizabeth talks to Tom about the book, how her family inspired the story, and how being a teacher influences her work as a writer.
1/1/123 minutes, 16 seconds
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Esi Edugyan: Lost socks, her first children’s book, and what ‘exquirologist’ means

Following the success of her award-winning novels “Half-Blood Blues” and “Washington Black,” acclaimed writer Esi Edugyan is back with her first children's book, “Garden of Lost Socks.” Esi tells Tom the laundry-related story that inspired her book, how it feels to write for kids after writing two research-heavy novels, and how she looks back on the childhood she had in comparison to her children’s.
1/1/116 minutes, 37 seconds
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Neve Campbell: “Swan Song,” honouring her idol Karen Kain, and dancing with Prince Harry

You might know Neve Campbell from films like “Scream” and TV shows like “Party of Five,” but before Hollywood, her first love was ballet. Now, Neve is the executive producer for a documentary called “Swan Song” about legendary ballet dancer Karen Kain’s final performance. Neve joins Tom to talk about her love of dance, what it was like to meet and celebrate one of her first idols, and what makes ballet a great form of storytelling.
1/1/125 minutes, 26 seconds
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Hozier on “Take Me to Church” and his new album + How Fawn Parker writes about grief

For his latest album, “Unreal Unearth,” Irish singer-songwriter Hozier looked to the nine circles of hell for inspiration. More specifically, “Dante’s Inferno.” Hozier talks to Tom about the new record and the resonance of his biggest hit, “Take Me to Church,” in 2023.Plus, Fawn Parker is a writer whose novel “What We Both Know” was longlisted for the Giller Prize in 2022. Now, she returns with her debut poetry collection, “Soft Inheritance.” Fawn tells Tom how her mother’s journey with cancer inspired the collection of poems. She also reads one of her poems, “Woof.”
1/1/146 minutes, 48 seconds
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[Full episode] Edward Burtynsky, Alan Doyle

Photographer Edward Burtynsky discusses his biggest project yet, In the Wake of Progress, which highlights the ways humanity impacts the planet. Musician Alan Doyle talks about his new musical, Tell Tale Harbour, and the Quebecois film it's based on.
1/1/11 hour, 3 minutes, 17 seconds
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John Carney: Once, Flora and Son and convincing Bono’s daughter Eve Hewson to sing in his new film

Director John Carney (Sing Street, Once) talks to Tom about his new film, “Flora and Son,” what that moment feels like when you know you’re ‘creating something great,’ and how his best instincts paid off when he came up with the idea for his film “Once.”
1/1/132 minutes, 2 seconds
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David Ruben Piqtoukun: Sculpture as a form of storytelling, his residential school experience, and his exhibition “Radical Remembrance”

David Ruben Piqtoukun is a Governor General's Award-winning Inuvialuk sculptor whose work channels the stories he's heard from Inuit elders and others in his community. His major exhibition “Radical Remembrance” highlights 50 pieces in honour of the 50 years he’s spent sculpting and stone carving. David talks to Tom about the exhibition, sculpting as a form of storytelling, and how his residential school experience felt like an “education in forgetting.”
1/1/120 minutes, 27 seconds
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James Ungalaq: Inuktitut heavy metal, Northern Haze, and why his first solo album is also his last

James Ungalaq’s ground-breaking band Northern Haze is widely known for recording the first Indigenous-language rock album in North America back in 1985. Now in his late 50s, James is releasing his first ever solo album. James tells Tom what it was like making music in the remote hamlet of Igloolik, the bands he listened to growing up, and how he feels about retiring.
1/1/117 minutes, 47 seconds
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Jennifer Podemski: Indigenous authenticity, finding inspiration in her family history, and the new series ‘Little Bird’

Early in her career, Jennifer Podemski set out to tell stories that felt honest to the lives of Indigenous people. More than 30 years later, the veteran actor and filmmaker is delivering on that promise with her new series “Little Bird.” She tells Tom how the story resonates with her own family history, about making a production company that tells Indigenous stories with authenticity, and why she calls her work “cycle-breaking.”
1/1/129 minutes, 11 seconds
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Grant Singer: Music videos, being drawn to deception, and his first feature film Reptile

Grant Singer has directed music videos for everyone from Sam Smith to The Weeknd to Lorde. Now, Grant’s first feature film, “Reptile,” starring Benicio del Toro and Justin Timberlake, is available on Netflix. Grant joins Tom to talk about his greatest influences, how shooting a music video is like writing a short story, and the “fun” of deception in his new film.
1/1/120 minutes, 19 seconds
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Emma Donoghue: Anne Lister, young queer love, and her new novel Learned By Heart

Emma Donoghue’s new novel has been decades in the making. “Learned by Heart” tells the story of two young teenagers, Anne Lister and Eliza Raine, who fall in love at their boarding school in England in 1805. Except these characters aren’t that of fiction — they actually existed. Emma tells Tom about when she first discovered the story, how Anne Lister changed her life, and how it feels to finally finish this novel.
1/1/125 minutes, 36 seconds
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Carolyn Taylor: Figure skating, Olympic athletes, and following your dreams

Carolyn Taylor is a Canadian actor, comedian, writer and director. She’s not, however, a choreographer or figure skater. But that didn’t stop her on her quest to choreograph a full-length pairs figure skating routine to “I Have Nothing” by Whitney Houston. In Carolyn’s new series of the same name, she sets out to make her dream come true with the help of some of Canada’s most celebrated Olympic figure skaters. Carolyn talks to Tom about the moment she came up with the idea, pursuing your dreams (regardless of the pushback), and facing fear head-on.
1/1/122 minutes, 55 seconds
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Anil Kapoor: From Bollywood to Hollywood, Thank You for Coming, and Slumdog Millionaire

Anil Kapoor is the producer of the new Hindi sex-positive comedy “Thank You for Coming,” which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last month. The acclaimed Indian actor drops by to tell Tom about the challenges of working with family, the differences between Bollywood and Hollywood, and how Slumdog Millionaire changed the course of his acting career.
1/1/124 minutes, 17 seconds
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Patrick Stewart: Star Trek, Shakespeare, and losing his Yorkshire accent

When Patrick Stewart was first cast as Captain Jean-Luc Picard on the hit TV series “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” the Los Angeles Times referred to him as “an unknown British Shakespearean actor.” But it didn’t take long for him to become a household name. Sir Patrick has just released a memoir, “Making It So,” about his life in acting. He joins Tom to talk about it and share stories from his career.
1/1/135 minutes, 30 seconds
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Sophie Dupuis: Drag queens, queer authenticity, and finding a sense of belonging

At this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, the best Canadian feature film award went to “Solo,” directed by Sophie Dupuis. Sophie tells Tom why she chose to tell a coming-of-age story in Montreal’s vibrant drag scene, and how building a queer community around the film's creation helped it not only be more authentic, but also helped her find confidence in her queer identity.
1/1/116 minutes, 44 seconds
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Tom Hanks: The magic behind moviemaking

Two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump, Philadelphia, A League of Their Own) on his debut novel “The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece,” the insecurities he’s felt throughout his career, and what drives his passion for filmmaking when it feels like “the odds are stacked against you.”
1/1/151 minutes, 20 seconds
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Lisa Moore: The Ocean Ranger tragedy, opera, and the complexity of grief

Lisa Moore’s novel “February” received international acclaim when it came out in 2009, earning nominations for both the Giller and Man Booker Prize. The novel is based on the tragic sinking of the Ocean Ranger oil rig off the coast of Newfoundland in 1982, with the loss of all 84 aboard. Now, Lisa has reimagined her book as an opera. Just before the world premiere of “February” the opera, she joined Tom in St. John’s, Newfoundland to talk about writing the novel, what she remembers about that fateful day in 1982, and what it’s like to retell the story as an opera.
1/1/122 minutes, 36 seconds
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Pedro Almodóvar: Spanish cinema, creative freedom, and making movies under a dictatorship

Pedro Almodóvar (The Skin I Live In, Parallel Mothers) helped cement Spain’s place in cinematic history with bold films that are colourful, provocative and full of dramatic plot twists. But his defiant spirit and transgressive filmmaking style was hard-earned. Fresh off his second English-language project, “Strange Way of Life,” Pedro shares how growing up under a dictatorship shaped him as an artist, what it felt like to finally be “free” in his creative expression, and what he loves about working with actors like Antonio Banderas and Penélope Cruz.
1/1/134 minutes, 37 seconds
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Craig Shreve: The fascinating true story of Yasuke, the mysterious African samurai

Not much is known about Yasuke — an enslaved Black man from Africa who ended up working as a samurai in some of Japan’s most notable houses — but that didn’t stop Craig Shreve from writing about him in his new novel, “The African Samurai.” Craig tells Tom why he was drawn to the 16th-century story and the challenges he faced turning this forgotten history into a novel.
1/1/116 minutes, 55 seconds
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Ed Robertson: The story behind Barenaked Ladies hit song One Week

It’s been 25 years since Barenaked Ladies’ hit song “One Week” came out and topped charts all over the world. Frontman Ed Robertson tells Tom the stories behind some of the song's lyrics, what he remembers about “One Week” going to no. 1 in several countries (except in the band’s home country of Canada) and how they wrote it in a four-minute, freestyle session.
1/1/116 minutes, 26 seconds
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Joan Baez: Folk music, “Bobby” Dylan, and what it means to have an honest legacy

Few voices in folk music captured a time and place quite like Joan Baez’s. Now, her incredible life is on display in the new documentary “Joan Baez I Am a Noise.” It follows her career as she became one of the definitive singers of her generation, and reveals an intimate look at her life, loves, and traumas through diary entries, recordings and performances. She talks to Tom about her career, what it means to leave behind an honest legacy, and what she’s most proud of.
1/1/129 minutes, 51 seconds
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Jeremy Dutcher: Motewolonuwok, the sound of grief, and the intersection between queerness and Indigeneity

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.
1/1/135 minutes, 15 seconds
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Bob & Erin Odenkirk: Creativity, writing a children’s book together, and what a Zilot is

When the Emmy award-winning actor and bestselling writer Bob Odenkirk (Mr. Show, Better Call Saul, Breaking Bad) was raising his kids, he wanted them to know they could do and create anything — and one of the ways he taught them that was by getting them to write a poem every time they read a book together. Now, years later, those collections of poems are available in a children’s book called “Zilot & Other Important Rhymes,” illustrated by Bob’s own daughter, Erin Odenkirk. Bob and Erin join Tom to talk about the importance of flexing your creativity as a young person, and the difference it makes as you become an adult.
1/1/117 minutes, 3 seconds
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Paw Patrol’s Ron Pardo + new music from Laur Elle

Ron Pardo may not be a household name, but kids around the world will certainly recognize his voice. The Canadian voice actor and comedian plays Cap'n Turbot and Mayor Humdinger in “Paw Patrol,” one of the most popular franchises on childrens’ television. As another film in the franchise hits theatres, Ron talks to Tom about “Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie” and his unexpected journey to kids entertainment. Plus, before her career in music, Alberta-born pop singer Laur Elle competed internationally as a professional gymnast. After being forced to retire at age 16, she threw herself into songwriting with the same discipline she applied to her sport. Laur Elle talks to Tom about her switch from athlete to artist, and tells the story behind one of her latest singles, “Easy Way Out.”
1/1/127 minutes, 4 seconds
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Jada Pinkett Smith: Feeling unworthy, her friendship with Tupac, and the infamous Oscar slap

In her new memoir, “Worthy,” Jada Pinkett Smith opens up about her early days growing up as a drug dealer in Baltimore, her relationship with the late rapper Tupac Shakur, and her complex marriage with the actor Will Smith. Jada joins Tom to share how having parents who struggled with addiction impacted her self-worth, plus some other stories from her incredible life and career.
1/1/125 minutes, 31 seconds
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Chappell Roan: The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, perseverance, and the freedom of drag

When she was just 17, Chappell Roan signed her first record deal with a major label and moved to Los Angeles. But when the deal fell through, she returned home to Missouri where she began soul searching and trying to figure out her next steps. Chappell talks to Tom about being discovered on YouTube, how she responded when she was dropped from her record label in 2020, and what inspired her critically acclaimed debut album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.”
1/1/117 minutes, 41 seconds
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George Clinton: Funkadelic, James Brown and Kendrick Lamar

Ever since telling people to “Free Your Mind... and Your Ass Will Follow” in the late ‘60s, George Clinton’s P-Funk sound has influenced countless artists, including the likes of Prince, Snoop Dogg and Janelle Monáe. George is the mastermind behind groups like Funkadelic and Parliament, and he’s carved out a massive career in his own right. George Clinton, Dr. Funkenstein himself, joins Tom to talk about his life in music.
1/1/133 minutes, 41 seconds
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James Ehnes: Violin, the reality of being a child prodigy and why a great violinist should stay away from basketball

Grammy-winning violinist James Ehnes is one of the most sought-after musicians in the world. Ahead of his shows with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Order of Canada member violinist drops by the studio to tell Tom about his life in music and what it was like growing up as a child prodigy in Brandon, Manitoba.
1/1/139 minutes
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Tatiana Maslany: Butterfly Tale, voice acting, and the actors’ strike

Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black, She-Hulk, Stronger) has been keeping busy during the Hollywood actors’ strike, starring in a play and lending her voice to a new Canadian animated film called “Butterfly Tale.” Tatiana talks to Tom about her love of voice acting, why she wanted to get into acting in the first place, and what’s been on her mind during the strike.
1/1/123 minutes
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Alanis Morissette: Jagged Little Pill, music as medicine, and what she thinks happens when we die

In 2020, Alanis Morissette celebrated the 25th anniversary of her massive hit record “Jagged Little Pill.” She joined Tom to reflect on her evolution from her 21-year-old self to the mother of three she is today, and how her changing approach to writing about topics like anger and abuse can be heard on her album “Such Pretty Forks in the Road.”
1/1/139 minutes, 37 seconds
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Vivek Shraya: How to Fail as a Popstar, the pursuit of fame, and self-compassion

Vivek Shraya’s coming-of-age play and book “How to Fail as a Popstar” has been turned into a new series for CBC Gem. Vivek talks to Tom about adapting her autobiographical play for the screen, the power of failure, and how she still hopes this show will make her famous.
1/1/122 minutes, 52 seconds
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Julia Fox: Being a dominatrix, Uncut Gems, and feeling “born ready” to be famous

Julia Fox is the artist, actor and fashion icon who shot to fame after starring alongside Adam Sandler in “Uncut Gems.” Now, she’s sharing her story in her memoir, “Down the Drain,” which is a candid retelling of her journey with addiction, abuse and fame. Julia tells Tom about her childhood, how becoming a dominatrix changed her life for the better, and why being famous feels natural to her.
1/1/136 minutes, 5 seconds
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Sam Roberts: His new alias, the 20th anniversary of We Were Born in a Flame, and new music

Sam Roberts tells Tom about his new album, “The Adventures of Ben Blank,” and reflects on the 20th anniversary of his hit debut record, “We Were Born in a Flame.”
1/1/113 minutes, 42 seconds
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Iain Reid: Foe, film adaptations of his books, and writing about relationships

The Canadian author Iain Reid writes electrifying, if unsettling, novels about what happens inside relationships. His first novel, “I’m Thinking of Ending Things,” was adapted for the screen by Charlie Kaufman. Now, his second novel, “Foe,” is coming out as a film, starring Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal. Iain wrote the screenplay himself. He talks to Tom about turning his dystopian novel into a movie filled with emotion, what it’s like to write novels that get adapted for the screen, and what draws him to writing about relationships.
1/1/124 minutes, 47 seconds
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Bobby Rush: Touring during segregation, B.B. King, and winning his first Grammy at 83

Bobby Rush grew up in the cotton fields of Louisiana, going on to play the blues alongside the likes of Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and B.B. King. Despite writing big hits like “Chicken Heads” and putting out music for decades, he only got his first Grammy at age 83. Now, at 89, Bobby is back with a new record, “All My Love For You.” He tells Tom about growing up in the South during segregation, playing alongside some of the greatest blues players of all time, and how it felt to finally win a Grammy in his 80s.
1/1/126 minutes, 42 seconds
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Steve Albini on Nirvana’s In Utero + Caroline Brooks of Good Lovelies

This month is the 30th anniversary of Nirvana’s multi-platinum final album, “In Utero.” Released months before the death of lead singer Kurt Cobain, “In Utero” was the last musical statement from one of the biggest bands in the world at the time. The producer of the album was Steve Albini, who was sought out by Kurt himself as Nirvana wanted the record to be the opposite of their biggest album, “Nevermind.” Steve tells Tom about recording the album and reflects on his iconoclastic career as one of the most divisive producers in rock. Plus, Caroline Brooks of Good Lovelies calls in from a parking lot in Winnipeg to tell Tom about the group’s brand new song, “Tip to Toe.”
1/1/147 minutes, 47 seconds
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Justine Triet: Anatomy of a Fall, being the third woman to win a Palme d’Or, and the future of French cinema

Acclaimed French director Justine Triet joins Tom to discuss her new film, “Anatomy of a Fall,” which was this year’s Palme d’Or winner. 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.
1/1/122 minutes, 44 seconds
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Iconic drag queen Sasha Velour + Rêve on her new song Saturn Return

After an unforgettable final lip sync to Whitney Houston’s “So Emotional” in 2017, Sasha Velour was crowned the Season 9 winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” That performance went down in drag history and was even parodied on “SNL” two years later. Sasha’s latest book, “The Big Reveal: An Illustrated Manifesto of Drag,” chronicles drag’s history, interwoven with her own personal story. She tells Tom about her grandmother’s that encouraged her drag as a child, the moment she won “Drag Race” and how her mother’s battle with cancer inspired her signature bald look. Plus, Rêve burst onto the scene with her dance hit “CTRL+ALT+DEL” in 2021, winning her dance recording of the year at this year’s Juno Awards. Now, Reve’s just released her debut studio album, “Saturn Return,” inspired by the major astrological event that marks a transformative time in one's life. Rêve tells Tom the story behind the album’s title track.
1/1/148 minutes, 33 seconds
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Remembering Matthew Perry

“Friends” star Matthew Perry, the Emmy-nominated actor whose sarcastic but lovable character Chandler Bing was among the most famous and most quotable on television, has died at 54. Last year, he joined Tom for a live on-stage interview to talk about his memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.” Matthew shared his incredible story of survival and why he wanted to help others going through similar struggles.
1/1/135 minutes, 33 seconds
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Sasha Leigh Henry: Why Bria Mack Gets A Life is a weird Canadian TV show

Sasha Leigh Henry is a Canadian director and producer whose new comedy series, “Bria Mack Gets A Life,” follows the story of a 25-year-old Black woman who is navigating adulthood in a predominantly white world. Sasha talks to Tom about writing a show partly based on her own life experiences and making “weird” Canadian comedy.
1/1/120 minutes, 50 seconds
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Canadian supermodel Linda Evangelista + Celina SpookyBoo’s thrilling new audio series

At the height of her fame in the 1990s, Canadian supermodel Linda Evangelista was one of the most famous women on the planet. Now, a new book called “Linda Evangelista Photographed by Steven Meisel” documents her incredible career. Linda speaks with guest host Talia Schlanger about her decades-long collaboration with the American photographer Steven Meisel, what it’s like to have one of the most iconic and recognizable faces in the world, and her recent journey with breast cancer. Plus, Canadian social media star Celina SpookyBoo has 27.5 million followers on TikTok, and now she’s bringing her love for all things spooky to Audible with a new series called “SpookyBoo’s Night Frights.” Celina speaks with Tom Power about how her love of scary stories started, and we’ll hear a clip from her new show… just in time for Halloween!
1/1/141 minutes, 59 seconds
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Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody + Poet and illustrator Hana Shafi

Diablo Cody was only 29 when she won an Oscar for her first screenplay, “Juno”, catapulting her to celebrity status as a Hollywood screenwriter. Now, she’s adapted the Alanis Morissette album “Jagged Little Pill” for the stage. Diablo Cody speaks with Tom Power about why that album works so well as a musical theatre show, and how the music of Alanis Morissette has soundtracked her own life. Hana Shafi is an illustrator, essayist and poet whose new book “People You Know, Places You’ve Been” takes us on a journey from public transportation to antique stores to waiting rooms, looking at the connections we create with total strangers as we go through our daily lives. She speaks with Talia Schlanger about the book and the power of those seemingly mundane interactions. Plus, she reads a poem from her book.
1/1/142 minutes, 6 seconds
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Rick Mercer: Highlights from his hit TV show, imposter syndrome, and his new memoir

Canadian comedian and television personality Rick Mercer is back with the highly anticipated follow-up to his first memoir, “Talking to Canadians.” Rick’s new memoir is called “The Road Years” and it features stories and behind-the-scenes moments from some of the most iconic episodes of the hit CBC show “Rick Mercer Report.” Rick speaks with Tom Power about some of the highlights from “Rick Mercer Report,” imposter syndrome, and why writing a second memoir is easier than the first.
1/1/127 minutes, 29 seconds
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TALK: Opening for Shania Twain, his hit debut single, and the pressures that come with viral success

Musician TALK has been called one of the most exciting new voices to come out of Canada in a long time. He’s currently on tour with Shania Twain, and is about to release his debut album, “Lord of the Flies & Birds & Bees.” Ahead of that release, he joins Talia Schlanger in studio to speak about the runaway success of his debut single “Run Away to Mars,” and how he uses his platform to lift others up.
1/1/116 minutes, 43 seconds
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Reneé Rapp: The relationship between confidence and self-doubt, why music has always been her passion, and her album Snow Angel

While dreaming of pop stardom, Reneé Rapp built a resume that most performers dream of. She made her Broadway debut at nineteen in the Mean Girls musical, and starred in Mindy Kaling’s HBO series “The Sex Lives of College Girls.” But these days, she’s bringing her focus back to her original passion: music. Reneé speaks with guest host Talia Schlanger about her first full-length album, “Snow Angel”, and building an online following of millions.
1/1/117 minutes, 47 seconds
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Kevin Drew: Broken Social Scene, his early days in Toronto, and his new album Aging

Broken Social Scene’s co-founder Kevin Drew has just released his third solo record, “Aging” – a project all about love, loss and grief. Kevin joins Tom Power to reflect on his early days in Toronto, how he looks back on the success of Broken Social Scene, and what inspired him to dedicate an entire record to aging.
1/1/132 minutes, 12 seconds
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[Full episode] Greg Kinnear, Big Sean, Cedella Marley

Actor Greg Kinnear talks about his latest role in the new Apple TV+ series Black Bird, plus the twists and turns his career has taken in show business. Rapper Big Sean opens up about his struggle with depression, how he rediscovered his passion through therapy and meditation, and why Detroit 2 is his most honest album yet. Three-time Grammy winner Cedella Marley reflects on the legacy of her father, Bob Marley, as an immersive exhibit exploring his life opens in Toronto.
1/1/159 minutes, 21 seconds
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[Full episode] Matty Matheson, Maren Morris, Ke Huy Quan

Canada's punk rock chef Matty Matheson talks about embracing his passions and how a health scare inspired him to get the most out of life. In a career-spanning interview, country music superstar Maren Morris reflects on everything from her start in Nashville to her latest album, Humble Quest. Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom star Ke Huy Quan explains where he's been for the past few decades and how he was enticed back into acting by the film Everything Everywhere All at Once.
1/1/11 hour, 12 minutes, 35 seconds
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[Full episode] Uzo Aduba, Jonathon Adams, Yusuf Saadi, Elton John

Emmy-winning actress Uzo Aduba (known as Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren on Orange Is the New Black) talks about taking on her first lead role in HBO's reboot of In Treatment. Cree-Métis baritone Jonathon Adams shares what they discovered when they began delving into the history of Indigenous music and how it was brutally suppressed by Canada's residential school system. Griffin Poetry Prize finalist Yusuf Saadi reads his poem Mile End from his debut poetry collection, Pluviophile. Elton John opens up about his "rollercoaster life," how having children changed everything for him and why he's now saying goodbye to life on the road.
1/1/158 minutes, 32 seconds
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[Full episode] Lenny Kravitz, Tyler Mitchell, Margaret Atwood

Four-time Grammy winner Lenny Kravitz talks about his memoir, Let Love Rule, in which he writes about the first 25 years of his life, from his upbringing in New York to the release of his debut album in 1989. Photographer Tyler Mitchell reflects on what it was like to become the first Black photographer to land an image on the cover of Vogue, and why he's now on a mission to show more Black folks experiencing joy. Writer Margaret Atwood discusses her poetry collection, Dearly, plus, alien invasions, rare curse words and why reading poetry isn't like eating Cracker Jack.
1/1/11 hour, 2 minutes, 46 seconds
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[Full episode] Director X, Judy Blume, Amil Niazi, Teri Hart, Rad Simonpillai

On the occasion of his induction into Canada's Walk of Fame, filmmaker Director X reflects on his groundbreaking career as Canada's foremost hip hop cinematic auteur. Author Judy Blume talks about breaking taboos when writing for kids and why she's finally allowing Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret to be adapted for the screen. Our panel of film experts — Amil Niazi, Teri Hart and Rad Simonpillai — discuss the explosion of new Christmas movies, telling us which ones hit like hot cocoa and which ones leave you with a lump of coal.
1/1/11 hour, 9 minutes, 24 seconds
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Why Roy Wood Jr. doesn't want to be host of The Daily Show + Classified shares new music

You might know Roy Wood Jr. from his time as a correspondent on “The Daily Show.” But for years, Roy has honed his comedy as a travelling stand-up comic. This month, he headlines the Just for Laughs Comedy Tour, with shows across Canada from St. John’s to Victoria. Roy drops by the studio to talk to Tom about his life in comedy, why it was time for him to leave “The Daily Show,” and what he thinks is in store for late-night TV. Plus, the Canadian rapper Classified tells the story behind his latest single, "People."
1/1/146 minutes, 37 seconds
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Broadway legend Patti LuPone + British singer-songwriter Jorja Smith

Patti LuPone is one of the most decorated Broadway performers of our time. Ahead of bringing her show “Don’t Monkey with Broadway” to Toronto, she joins Tom Power for a career-spanning interview that ranges from her early years to the state of Broadway today. British singer-songwriter Jorja Smith is back with her sophomore album, “Falling or Flying.” She joins Tom Power to discuss growing up in the spotlight, moving back home to the town she grew up in, and the key events in her life that inspired her new record.
1/1/150 minutes, 28 seconds
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[Full episode] Yolanda Bonnell, Céline Dion, Mike Payette, Patrick Haggerty

Playwright Yolanda Bonnell discusses her new play, My Sister's Rage, and why she wanted to explore the joy and laughter that can come with grief. Canadian music icon Céline Dion opens up about her latest album, Courage, and how she coped after the passing of her late husband, René Angélil. Mike Payette, the artistic director of the Tarragon Theatre, talks about directing Tarell Alvin McCraney's play Choir Boy for Canadian Stage, and how it changed his outlook on life. Musician Patrick Haggerty of Lavender Country discusses the role he's had in a budding queer country scene and what it's like releasing a sophomore album in his late 70s.
1/1/11 hour, 3 minutes, 45 seconds
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The Glorious Sons: Glory, proving the music industry wrong, and writing songs about real people

In just a handful of years, The Glorious Sons have gone from playing dirty rock clubs to sold out arenas all across Canada. Band members and brothers Brett and Jay Emmons tell Tom about their latest album, “Glory,” how the band came to be, and how criticism can be motivating.
1/1/122 minutes, 10 seconds
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Sandra Caldwell: Running away from home at 13, the New York ballroom scene, and living openly as a trans woman

“The Guide to Being Fabulous” is the new play created by and starring the stage and screen actor Sandra Caldwell. It follows her journey, including the glamorous and gritty parts that led her to becoming the successful artist she is today. But within Sandra’s story of artistry is her fear that her identity as a trans woman would be discovered. She joins Tom in studio to talk about her life and work – and what it’s like to finally openly talk about her true identity.
1/1/136 minutes, 21 seconds
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DJ Shadow: Endtroducing....., Action Adventure, and the joy of digging for records

Since the ‘90s, DJ Shadow has been known for his scratching, sampling and crowd-inciting beats. The musician and producer’s 1996 debut album, “Endtroducing.....” is considered one of the best albums of all time. Now, nearly 30 years later, he’s releasing a new album, called “Action Adventure.” DJ Shadow talks to Tom about what it felt like to put out “Endtroducing.....,” how his views on sampling have changed over the years, and what’s required to make compelling instrumental music.
1/1/131 minutes, 27 seconds
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Aaron Jackson & Josh Sharp: Dicks: The Musical, writing lyrics for Megan Thee Stallion, and absurdity in queer cinema

Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp are the creators and stars of the most absurd and raunchy movie to hit theatres this year, “Dicks: The Musical.” It’s a profane spoof of the movie “The Parent Trap,” based on a show that Aaron and Josh created while they were young improv comedians with the Upright Citizens Brigade in New York. They talk to Tom about coming up with the idea, getting Megan Thee Stallion to be in their movie, and why it’s time for queer cinema to embrace more absurdity.
1/1/120 minutes, 2 seconds
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Majid Jordan: Good People, writing a hit with Drake, and the importance of staying grounded

The duo Majid Jordan met while studying at the University of Toronto and quickly realised they had a creative kinship. Not long after, the two were signed to Drake’s record label OVO Sound and started touring the world, touted as the next big thing. Majid Jordan’s new album, “Good People,” is out now. They joined Tom to talk about writing a hit song with Drake, their creative process, and why surrounding yourself with Good People is so important.
1/1/131 minutes, 46 seconds
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Elliot Page on his memoir + Charlotte Cardin performs in the Q studio

Elliot Page (Juno, Inception, The Umbrella Academy) sits down with Tom to talk about his memoir, “Pageboy,” how finally writing his story helped him heal from years of having to hide his true self, and what brings him joy now that he’s living openly as a trans man. Plus, Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter Charlotte Cardin tells Tom what happens when your debut album wins a prestigious prize, and what was on her mind while writing her sophomore record, “99 Nights.” Charlotte also gives a stripped back performance of one of her latest songs “Confetti.”
1/1/147 minutes, 57 seconds
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Jeff Tweedy: Cousin, writing songs about tragedy, and how Wilco’s creative process is an act of discovery

The beloved alt-rock band Wilco has just released their latest record, “Cousin.” Frontman Jeff Tweedy talks to Tom about his creative process, why he doesn’t want to perform a song he wrote about mass shootings in front of an audience, and why he doesn’t feel beholden to his past music when writing new songs.
1/1/125 minutes, 32 seconds
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Metric: Finding their sound, performing with Lou Reed, and Formentera II

Twenty years ago, Metric burst onto the scene with an undeniably infectious album called “Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?” Metric’s Emily Haines and Jimmy Shaw tell Tom about the early days of the band, their unlikely hit that changed everything, and their new album, “Formentera II.”
1/1/134 minutes, 29 seconds
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Anne Michaels: Held, how she knows she’s finished writing a book, and the unexpected reason she’s so private

Anne Michaels is an award-winning Canadian poet and novelist who just published her long-awaited third novel, “Held.” The story spans 115 years and deals in themes familiar to her work: history, grief and the power of love. Anne tells Tom why it took nearly 15 years to write the novel, why she’s so interested in writing about war, and why she chooses to live an intensely private life.
1/1/132 minutes, 30 seconds
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d4vd: his new EP, making music in a closet, and how the first concert he went to was his own

In just a few years, d4vd went from making music in his sister’s closet to performing in arenas around the world. d4vd talks to Tom about growing up homeschooled, how a copyright strike led to him making his own music, and how the first concert he’d ever gone to was his own.
1/1/119 minutes, 28 seconds
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Geddy Lee: His 'effin' life' and the Rush show he'll never forget

Rush frontman and bassist Geddy Lee talks to Tom about his memoir, “My Effin’ Life.” He discusses his experience as the son of Holocaust survivors, dropping out of high school, and what he remembers about the late Neil Peart’s audition to be the band’s drummer.Watch us on YouTube
1/1/142 minutes, 54 seconds
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Edgar Wright: Scott Pilgrim, his love for Canada, and his best advice for filmmakers

Edgar Wright (Baby Driver, Shaun of the Dead) talks to Tom about “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off,” a new animated spin-off of his beloved film “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.” Plus, he tells us what it’s been like to watch the cast of that movie go on to build massive careers, and where he draws his directorial inspiration from.
1/1/132 minutes, 36 seconds
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Bobbi Summers: I Hate People, People Hate Me, dark comedy, and feeling like an outsider

Canadian alt-comic Bobbi Summers is the star and creator of the new CBC series “I Hate People, People Hate Me.” The show follows best friends Jovi and Tabitha as they struggle to find purpose in their lives. Bobbi talks to guest host Saroja Coelho about how his own life inspired the series, how he went from being a recording artist in L.A. to making his own Canadian TV show, and why he thinks being considered “weird” is a good thing.
1/1/115 minutes, 49 seconds
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Good Kid: Making music as computer programmers, the life changing power of Fortnite, and how to navigate music in 2023

Good Kid are a band of computer programmers who are changing the way fans communicate online. Nick Frosst and Jacob Tsafatinos from the band join Tom to talk about the intersection between computer programming and music, creating a community with their fans on Discord, and making their music available to use royalty free on Twitch.
1/1/119 minutes, 47 seconds
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Zabrina Douglas: Being a comic and an ER nurse, getting that first big laugh, and coping with anxiety

Zabrina Douglas is a full-time nurse and mother of five who started doing stand-up comedy to help with her intense anxiety. She talks to guest host Saroja Coelho about the shock of being nominated for comedy album of the year at the 2023 Juno Awards, and what she did to prepare for her newest live comedy special, “Nurse on Nights.”
1/1/116 minutes, 6 seconds
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Dan Wilson: Closing Time, Semisonic, and learning to be himself again

After writing songs for the likes of Adele and The Chicks, Dan Wilson has returned to his band Semisonic to make their first album in more than 20 years. Dan tells Tom about Semisonic’s breakout hit “Closing Time,” how it felt to get the band back together, and what it’s been like to write smash hits for other artists.
1/1/135 minutes, 11 seconds
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Tim Meadows: Saturday Night Live, Dream Scenario, and memories of Norm Macdonald

Tim Meadows (Mean Girls, The Ladies Man, The Goldbergs) is an actor, comedian and writer who was on "Saturday Night Live" from 1991-2000, making him one of the show's longest-running cast members. Tim tells Tom about his latest project, “Dream Scenario,” co-starring alongside Nicolas Cage, and some of his favourite memories of working on “SNL.” Plus, he recalls memories of his late friends Chris Farley and Norm Macdonald.
1/1/134 minutes, 8 seconds
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Tarralik Duffy: Pop art, finding beauty in unexpected places, and Gasoline Rainbows

Jerry cans, bottles of soy sauce, and canned meats — these are just some of the everyday objects portrayed in Tarralik Duffy’s latest exhibit, “Gasoline Rainbows.” The multidisciplinary Inuk artist tells guest host Saroja Coelho about finding beauty in everyday objects, the unexpected ways we remember “home,” and how her art connects her to her ancestors.
1/1/119 minutes, 18 seconds
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Linton Kwesi Johnson: Dub poetry, the Black Panther Party, and poetry as a ‘cultural weapon’

Linton Kwesi Johnson is one of the greatest poets of the modern era. His uncompromising political verse infused with reggae has influenced many people, and helped chronicle the lived experience of Black Britain for decades. This year, Linton has published a selection of his prose from the 1970s to 2021, titled “Time Come.” He joins Tom to talk about his life in words, poetry and music.
1/1/124 minutes, 41 seconds
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How Taika Waititi finds comedy in the mundane + new hip-hop out of Nova Scotia with Kayo

New Zealand’s Taika Waititi is prolific if nothing else. As an actor, he’s played roles from an endearing vampire in “What We Do in the Shadows,” to Adolf Hitler in his film “Jojo Rabbit.” Taika’s new film, “Next Goal Wins,” takes you to American Samoa and the attempt to turn the worst team in soccer around. Tom talks to Taika about what drew him to this “underdog” story, why he finds humour in the mundane, and why he thinks New Zealand humour translates across the world. Plus, the Nova Scotia rapper Kayo tells the story behind a new song off his EP “Trip.”
1/1/137 minutes, 31 seconds
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How Blue Rodeo got big by going small on Five Days in July + why you have Drake to thank for new k-os music

On the 30th anniversary of Blue Rodeo’s best selling album “Five Days in July,” bandmates Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor join Tom to recall how they found refuge in Greg’s Ontario farmhouse to create a Canadian masterpiece. Plus, k-os celebrates the 17th anniversary of his hit album “Atlantis: Hymns for Disco” by releasing a brand new song to add to his catalogue. The Canadian rapper, singer-songwriter and producer joins Tom to premiere the song, titled “Invulnerable.”
1/1/150 minutes, 15 seconds
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Jinkx Monsoon and BenDeLaCreme: The art of drag, their creative collaboration, and creating a sense of community at their shows

Drag superstars Jinkx Monsoon and BenDeLaCreme are in the middle of a tour for their internationally acclaimed “The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show.” Ahead of their stop in Toronto, Jinkx and DeLa join Tom in studio to talk about the holiday specials that inspired them, how they build a sense of safety and community at their shows, and what keeps them coming back to collaborate with one another every year.
1/1/131 minutes, 17 seconds
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Hilario Durán: Cuban music, playing with some of the most influential figures in jazz, and his new big band album

Hilario Durán, the Juno-winning and National Jazz Award-winning pianist and bandleader, is back with his first big band record in 17 years. Hilario joins Tom in the Q studio to talk about the new album, titled “Cry Me a River”. He also tells Tom about his musical journey from growing up in Havana to playing with some of the most influential figures in Cuban music, and what brought him to Canada in the late 1990s.
1/1/118 minutes, 47 seconds
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Dolly Parton enters her “Rockstar” era + Alam Khan on building musical bridges

After building an empire as one of the most successful country artists of all time, Dolly Parton has released her first-ever album of rock songs. She talks to Tom about the inspiration behind her new album “Rockstar,” earning a place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and why she’s never scared to try something new. Plus, Alam Khan talks about following in the footsteps of his father — the great sarod player Ali Akbar Khan — and blending Indian ragas with Western classical traditions on his new record, “The Resonance Between.”
1/1/147 minutes, 54 seconds
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Meghan Fandrich: Devastating wildfires, moving forward after tragedy, and healing through poetry

When a wildfire ripped through Lytton, B.C. in June of 2021, the town burnt almost entirely to the ground. Meghan Fandrich lost her small business — the Klowa Art Café – to the fire, and turned to writing poetry for the first time in her life to help her cope with the loss. The result is her first collection of poetry, ‘Burning Sage: Poems from the Lytton Fire’.
1/1/117 minutes, 19 seconds
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Jann Arden: Confronting family history, writing through hardship, and her first novel The Bittlemores

Most know Jann Arden as one of Canada's most successful singer-songwriters, who captured the hearts of fans with her smooth voice and landmark record “Living Under June.” But for more than a decade, she's been following another dream – writing a novel. That dream has finally been realised in her first book of fiction, “The Bittlemores.”
1/1/121 minutes, 36 seconds
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Danis Goulet: Endangered languages on screen, drawing inspiration from the horror genre, and the end of Reservation Dogs

What's it like working on a show with near universal acclaim? Danis Goulet is a Cree-Métis film and television maker who has first-hand experience with that after working on the beloved series “Reservation Dogs.” She talks about the show’s place in her career, watching it end on its own terms, and the wider legacy it leaves behind.
1/1/124 minutes, 58 seconds
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Jani Lauzon: Secrets of a working artist, puppeteering for Jim Henson, and why she can't stop creating

Jani Lauzon is a Métis multidisciplinary artist who says she can’t stop creating. Over the years, she’s eked out a living as a rock and roll singer, an actor on stage and screen, and a puppeteer for Jim Henson, among other things. She talks to Tom about turning to art as a way to cope with a turbulent childhood, and how all her talents collide in the new play “Prophecy Fog.”
1/1/132 minutes, 26 seconds
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Romeo Candido: How a viral video inspired the musical Prison Dancer

Back in 2007, a video featuring 1,500 inmates in a Filipino prison dancing to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” was uploaded to YouTube, quickly becoming one of the internet’s first viral videos. The footage inspired a new Filipino-Canadian musical called “Prison Dancer,” created by Romeo Candido and Carmen De Jesus. Guest host Talia Schlanger speaks to Romeo about the production, and travelling to the Philippines to meet the real dancing inmates.
1/1/117 minutes, 21 seconds
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Matt Rogers: Finding a voice in comedy, Christmas albums, and Las Culturistas

Comedian Matt Rogers is one-half of the hugely popular podcast “Las Culturistas.” He talks to Tom about finding his confidence in comedy through podcasting, and competing for a job on “Saturday Night Live” against his friend. He also chats about his debut album “Have you Heard of Christmas?” and his ongoing quest to be crowned the “Prince of Christmas” by the queen, Mariah Carey.
1/1/134 minutes, 28 seconds
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Tonya Williams: The Young and the Restless, Reelworld Film Festival, and her barrier-breaking work

The 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 to lift up other racialized actors and filmmakers. Now, she’s being honoured with the Changemaker Award from the Canadian Screen Awards in recognition of her barrier-breaking work. Tonya joins Tom to look back on her career, the festival, and how playing a doctor on TV leads to a lot of oversharing from fans.
1/1/135 minutes, 3 seconds
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Lily Gladstone: Working with Scorsese, breaking into Hollywood, and Killers of the Flower Moon

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 drops by Q to talk about the role of a lifetime, and the challenges in telling stories about murder and colonialism.
1/1/123 minutes, 32 seconds
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Leslie Odom Jr.: Embracing imperfection, returning to Broadway, and his new album When a Crooner Dies

When Tony and Grammy Award winner Leslie Odom Jr. takes on a project, he puts everything he’s got into it. Admittedly a bit of a perfectionist, he’s tried to embrace imperfection on his new album of original songs, “When a Crooner Dies.” He chats with Tom about the album and reveals what it’s like to return to Broadway for the first time since his starring role in “Hamilton.”
1/1/121 minutes, 50 seconds
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Stephen Sanchez: Writing a megahit, tackling imposter syndrome, and his 1960s crooner sound

Stephen Sanchez’s hit song “Until I Found You” is approaching two billion streams, has been certified platinum five times, and made Elton John a fan —all before the release of his debut album. Stephen speaks with Tom about following up a once in a lifetime hit, his 1960s crooner sound, and tackling imposter syndrome.
1/1/133 minutes, 57 seconds
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Jason Hopley and Jamie Shannon: Nanalan’s viral TikTok success, the show’s legacy, and bringing the puppets back to life

“Nanalan,” a Canadian children’s show from the 1990s has had a resurgence recently thanks to its growing popularity on TikTok. Clips from the show are getting millions of views, and the puppeteers have even revived the character for online skits. The creators of “Nanalan,” Jason Hopley and Jamie Shannon, drop by Q to talk about the viral success almost 25 years later and what that says about the show. Plus, they bring the puppets that started it all.
1/1/123 minutes, 31 seconds
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Michael McMillan: What we learn about class and race from a home's front room

Back in 2005, the artist Michael McMillan created his critically acclaimed installation “The Front Room.” It was a life-size imagining of the front room of a house belonging to Caribbean migrants to Britain in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Since then, Michael has recreated front rooms in places like The Netherlands, South Africa, Curacao, and France. Now, it’s Canada’s turn. Michael joins Tom to talk about his latest front room creation “The Front Room: Inna Toronto/6ix.” and what material things in the home can tell us about the migrant experience.
1/1/119 minutes, 23 seconds
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James L. Brooks: The Simpsons, comedy with heart, and the feminism of The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Legendary writer and producer James L. Brooks transformed the types of stories you see on television, from “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” to “The Simpsons.” He then applied his same winning formula — character-driven stories with heart — to the world of film. James L. Brooks tells Tom about writing and creating some of the most successful comedies on TV, the secret behind “The Simpsons” success, and his latest project, “Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.”
1/1/134 minutes, 37 seconds
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Brenda Lee: Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, being backstage with The Beatles, and having Elvis on her front step

Brenda Lee is the voice of the iconic holiday song “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” which turns 65 this year. Brenda tells Tom about recording that song at just 13 years old, how having the song in “Home Alone” changed its popularity, and what it was like knowing The Beatles before their massive fame.
1/1/121 minutes, 50 seconds
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Bradley Peters: Sonnets from a Cell, solitary confinement, and why the sonnet is the perfect way to write about prison

When the poet Bradley Peters discovered sonnets while studying poetry and creative writing, he knew it was the perfect form to write about his experience with incarceration as a teenager and young adult. Bradley talks to Tom about his new poetry collection, “Sonnets from a Cell,” what it felt like to be in solitary confinement, and how he “held on to his humanity” in prison.
1/1/124 minutes, 7 seconds
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Tate McRae: Performing on SNL, her hit song Greedy, and not being judgmental of your art

Tate McRae’s wildest dreams are coming true. She recently performed at the Billboard Music Awards, she was the musical guest on “Saturday Night Live,” and her song “Greedy” just reached the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10. Calgary’s Tate McRae talks to Tom about this pivotal time in her career, how she never wants to write a song with the intention of it being big on TikTok, and how her hit song “Greedy,” initially scared her.
1/1/129 minutes, 59 seconds
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Amanda Peters: The Berry Pickers, the complexity of trauma and guilt, and writing flawed characters

Amanda Peters's debut novel “The Berry Pickers” has been getting rave reviews. She tells Tom how a road trip to Maine with her dad inspired the story, the complexity of writing about trauma, and how being a storyteller has helped her find a better sense of community.
1/1/118 minutes, 39 seconds
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Daniel MacIvor: Writing a play before ever seeing one, advice for young actors, and the best gift theatre has given him

One of the first times Daniel MacIvor ever felt confident in his writing was in the eighth grade when he saw the words “you have talent” written on a short story he wrote. Now, decades into his career as a playwright, Daniel's two renowned one-person shows, “Monster” and “Here Lies Henry,” are playing at Toronto’s Factory Theatre. Daniel tells Tom about his love of theatre, how his late friend and collaborator Daniel Brooks came to him in a dream and told him the title of his upcoming work, and what he thinks the greatest gift theatre has ever given him is.
1/1/133 minutes, 52 seconds
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Ziwe: confrontation in comedy, Stephen Colbert, and her new book of essays Black Friend

Internet sensation Ziwe tells Tom about getting her first joke on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 20 years old, why she started asking her guests, “How many Black friends do you have?” and how she had to look inward to write her new book of essays, “Black Friend.”
1/1/130 minutes, 14 seconds
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Donald Sutherland: Why, after an incredible career in film, he’s most proud of being commemorated on a stamp

For over six decades, the legendary Canadian actor Donald Sutherland has been a staple of film and television. Donald tells Tom about the enormous honour of being commemorated on a Canadian stamp, why he doesn’t want dual citizenship between Canada and the U.S., and why it relates to his sense of humour.
1/1/117 minutes, 46 seconds
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How finding a gun at 16 changed Michael Connelly’s life + Gavin Matts on the anatomy of a joke

Bestselling crime writer Michael Connelly has published dozens of books and sold millions of copies worldwide. His work has also inspired popular TV shows like “Bosch” and “The Lincoln Lawyer.” Michael joins Tom to talk about the latest book in his "Lincoln Lawyer" series, titled “Resurrection Walk.” He also discusses the moment he found a gun at 16 and how it changed his life forever, and why he thinks the true crime genre has become so popular. Plus, comedian Gavin Matts joins Tom for Q’s inaugural segment of “Anatomy of a Joke,” where he explains how an idea turns into a full fledged joke for his latest stand-up special “Progression.”
1/1/140 minutes, 46 seconds
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Kurt & Wyatt Russell: Being pro athletes before acting, playing the same character in the new Godzilla series, and acting as father and son

Beloved action star Kurt Russell practically grew up on movie sets, acting alongside his famous father, Bing Russell. In recent years, Kurt’s own son, Wyatt, has also embraced the family industry. In the new show “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,” the father-son duo play older and younger versions of the same character. Kurt and Wyatt join Tom to share what it’s like working together, how they both pursued professional sports before considering acting as a career, and what it was like growing up with the famous Russell name.
1/1/123 minutes, 34 seconds
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Jeremy Larter: Who's Yer Father?, filmmaking on Prince Edward Island, and how the specific is universal

Jeremy Larter has done what few other Prince Edward Islanders have been able to do — he made a feature film on the Island, about the Island, that was so popular that it beat Taylor Swift’s movie at the Island box office on opening weekend. Jeremy tells Tom about the film, titled “Who’s Yer Father?”, how his experience as a lobster fisherman helped him write the story, and what he hopes for the future of P.E.I. filmmakers on the Island.
1/1/119 minutes, 52 seconds
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Trans-Canada Highwaymen: Members of Sloan, Odds, Barenaked Ladies, and The Pursuit of Happiness create their own supergroup

Trans-Canada Highwaymen is a supergroup born out of four bands who were all over Canadian rock radio in the ‘90s. On their new album, “Explosive Hits Vol. 1,” they pay tribute to their favourite songs, covering classics from 1969 to 1975. Chris Murphy (Sloan), Craig Northey (Odds), Stephen Page (formerly of Barenaked Ladies) and Moe Berg (The Pursuit of Happiness) tell Tom how K-tel ads from the ‘70s inspired the band to make their supergroup, why they chose the songs they did, and what it’s like playing each other's music.
1/1/118 minutes, 17 seconds
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Megan Follows: Playing Anne in Anne of Green Gables and bringing the story to a new generation

Few Canadian performances are as iconic or celebrated as Megan Follows as Anne Shirley in the 1985 miniseries “Anne of Green Gables.” Now, Megan has revisited Lucy Maud Montgomery’s beloved story in a new audiobook for Audible, which stars esteemed Canadian actors like Catherine O’Hara, Victor Garber and Sandra Oh. Megan talks to Tom about her role in the original series, bringing the story back to life nearly 40 years later, and how portraying Anne changed her life.
1/1/134 minutes, 46 seconds
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Jonathan Glazer: Shooting his film at Auschwitz, the humanness of evil, and why he always knew he’d create a film about the Holocaust

In his new film, “The Zone of Interest,” director Jonathan Glazer (Sexy Beast, Birth, Under the Skin) gives audiences a horrifying look at a German commandant and his family living just outside the walls of Auschwitz. Jonathan tells Tom why he wanted to shoot a film about the Holocaust at the site of an actual concentration camp, what he wanted to say about evil and humanity, and how the use of sound in this film told a whole other story.
1/1/119 minutes, 59 seconds
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Richard Thomas: To Kill a Mockingbird, why it’s still radical as ever, and the legacy of his role as John-boy on The Waltons

Richard Thomas is best known for playing John-Boy in the ‘70s drama series “The Waltons.” Now, he’s taking on one of literature and film’s most beloved characters, Atticus Finch, in Aaron Sorkin’s touring production of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Richard talks to Tom about taking on this much-loved role, how the play differs from the renowned book and film, and the legacy of his role as John-boy.
1/1/132 minutes, 18 seconds
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Matt Johnson: BlackBerry, what happens when an outsider filmmaker goes mainstream, and the future of Canadian film

Guerilla filmmaker-turned-Hollywood-darling Matt Johnson talks to Tom about his critically acclaimed film “BlackBerry,” which is now available as a TV series on CBC Gem, how he’s dealing with mainstream success, and why his mission in life is to inspire young filmmakers to stay in Canada and make great films.
1/1/133 minutes, 4 seconds
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Paris Zarcilla: The horror of rage and how his experience as an immigrant inspired his new film Raging Grace

British Filipino director Paris Zarcilla’s new horror film, “Raging Grace,” tells the story of Joy, a young mother and undocumented immigrant from the Philippines who cleans houses and struggles to save money for a visa. The film also shows her experience with racism, which comes in the form of indignities and microaggressions. Paris tells Tom about how his mother inspired the main character, how he didn’t intend for the film to be a horror when he first started writing it, and why he doesn’t want to teach anyone a lesson with this story.
1/1/119 minutes, 30 seconds
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Mae Martin on their comedy special SAP + Bruce Dern’s revolutionary acting method

Comedian Mae Martin (Feel Good, Baroness von Sketch Show) talks about their latest Netflix special, “SAP,” dropping out of high school to pursue comedy, and the significance behind their oatmeal tattoo. Plus, Bruce Dern (Coming Home, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?) tells Tom about being trained in the esteemed Actors Studio in New York, his method of acting called a Dernsie, and the time he pulled a Dernsie in a scene with Brad Pitt.
1/1/147 minutes, 1 second
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Anna Hardwick & Rosa Labordé: Fertility, dismantling the “marriage industrial complex,” and their new show Nesting

“Nesting” is a new series on Crave about two best friends, Anna and Rosa — inspired by the show's stars and creators, Anna Hardwick and Rosa Labordé — who decide to get pregnant at the same time and co-parent together, without spouses. Anna and Rosa tell Tom how the series was inspired by their own lives and friendship, how they separate themselves from their characters despite having the same names, and why they talk about pain through comedy.
1/1/117 minutes, 22 seconds
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Jeremy Allen White: The Iron Claw, relating to Carmy on The Bear, and the fear of playing a real person

Jeremy Allen White (The Bear, Shameless) talks to Tom about the challenges of playing a real-life person in the new film “The Iron Claw,” how he learned that wrestling has much more to do with storytelling than he thought, and the similarities between himself and the character he plays on “The Bear.”
1/1/127 minutes, 32 seconds
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Fatima Robinson: Choreographing Beyoncé, bringing hip-hop dance to the mainstream, and The Color Purple

Veteran hip-hop choreographer Fatima Robinson talks about her legendary career, from working with Michael Jackson, Aaliyah and Dr. Dre, to choreographing two Super Bowls, and her latest project — choreographing the dance numbers in the film “The Color Purple.”
1/1/123 minutes, 9 seconds
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Sabrina Benaim: Being that “depression girl,” breaking expectations, and writing about joy

Sabrina Benaim became a viral success when her spoken word poem “Explaining My Depression to My Mother” went viral online. After a world tour and two bestselling books, the Canadian poet is ready to show you a different side of herself. In her latest audio-exclusive poetry collection, “Chaotic Good,” Sabrina embraces levity and joy. She tells Tom what it was like being called “that depression girl,” how she started to care less about what people thought of her, and what inspired her latest book.
1/1/120 minutes, 6 seconds
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Elisapie: How translating pop songs to Inuktitut helped her heal

Elisapie was jogging and listening to ABBA when she got the idea for her latest project, “Inuktitut.” It's a 10-track covers album of notable rock and pop hits that each represent a special childhood memory for her. Elisapie joins Tom to talk about the “healing journey” she's been on by reclaiming some of her most painful childhood memories through song.
1/1/119 minutes, 36 seconds
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Buddha Stretch: The evolution of hip-hop dance, how Buddhism influences his choreography, and what’s behind his passion

Buddha Stretch has left an indelible mark on hip-hop dance since “breakin'” (get it?) onto the scene decades ago. He's worked with everyone from Eric B. & Rakim to Will Smith, and pop legends like Mariah Carey and Michael Jackson. Buddha Stretch talks to Tom about his life in dance, how he approaches hip-hop from a Buddhist standpoint of balance, and what keeps him so passionate for the craft after all these years.
1/1/131 minutes, 51 seconds
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Jon Klassen: Illustrating children’s books, early influences, and when he realized he could draw

Jon Klassen is a big name in the world of children’s picture books. His bestselling works include “I Want My Hat Back” and “This Is Not My Hat.” To celebrate the release of his latest book, "The Skull" he opens up to Tom... about his early influences, when he first realized he could draw, and how he created his signature style that defined his illustration career.
1/1/127 minutes, 27 seconds
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Ed Robertson: The story behind Barenaked Ladies’ hit song One Week

It’s been 25 years since Barenaked Ladies’ hit song “One Week” came out and topped charts all over the world. Frontman Ed Robertson tells Tom the stories behind some of the song's lyrics, what he remembers about “One Week” going to No. 1 in several countries (except in the band’s home country of Canada), and how they wrote it in a four-minute freestyle session.
1/1/115 minutes, 59 seconds
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Amanda Marshall: Where she’s been, having Elton John as a fan, and her latest album Heavy Lifting

You probably recognize Amanda Marshall for songs like “Birmingham," “Dark Horse,” or “Everybody's Got A Story.” Amanda’s music has been inescapable on Canadian radio for more than 20 years, but during that time, she sort of … disappeared. This year, Amanda came back with her long-awaited album, “Heavy Lifting.” She tells Tom why she’s been gone so long, what it was like to have Elton John talk about her music on TV in the early days of her career, and what it’s been like to be mixed race in the music industry.
1/1/133 minutes, 22 seconds
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Shane Ghostkeeper: His first country album, honouring his family, and the story behind his song Hunger Strike

You might know Shane Ghostkeeper as part of the band Ghostkeeper, whose album “Multidimensional Culture” was just nominated for this year's Polaris Music Prize. Now, Shane’s released his debut solo country record, “Songs for My People.” He talks to guest host Talia Schlanger about why he felt compelled to honour his family with a country record, and he sets up his deeply personal song “Hunger Strike.”
1/1/115 minutes, 30 seconds
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Robbie Robertson: What The Band was, what it could have been, and why it ended

Robbie Robertson, the string-bending guitarist and principal songwriter of The Band, died at 80 earlier this year. Today, we revisit Tom’s 2019 conversation with the late Canadian musician.
1/1/139 minutes, 53 seconds
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Sleepy Jean: Blending the personal and professional on her latest album Shoot Me in a Dream

Sleepy Jean is a Canadian musician who’s digging into her family history on her latest album, “Shoot Me in a Dream.” In the 1970s, her father was forced to flee his home country of Uganda and was never able to return due to political persecution. Sleepy Jean joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about channelling her father’s experience.
1/1/111 minutes, 42 seconds
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Mick Jagger: The Rolling Stones, Charlie Watts, and the future of music

The Rolling Stones are back with “Hackney Diamonds,” the band’s first album of original material in 18 years. In a Canadian exclusive interview, frontman Mick Jagger talks to Tom about the record, the changing music industry, and losing their drummer Charlie Watts.
1/1/134 minutes, 55 seconds
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Elizabeth Acevedo: Living wakes, family secrets, and why she’s been planning her own funeral since she was a kid

New York Times bestselling YA author and champion slam poet Elizabeth Acevedo has written her first novel for adult readers, “Family Lore.” The story follows one Dominican-American family, as told through the voices of its women, as they await a gathering that will forever change their lives. Elizabeth talks to Tom about the book, how her family inspired the story, and how being a teacher influences her writing.
1/1/118 minutes, 1 second
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Cynthia Nixon: The legacy of Sex and the City and the evolution of Miranda

“Sex and the City” turned 25 last year, and for the first time since the show ended, it’s back in the form of a new revival series, called “And Just Like That.” Cynthia Nixon, a.k.a. Miranda Hobbes, tells Tom about the show's legacy, how she wanted the series to evolve, and what’s changed for her character more than two decades after the original series ended.
1/1/133 minutes, 16 seconds
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Nick Green: How he’s helping destigmatize HIV/AIDS with his play Casey and Diana

In 1991, a visit from Princess Diana to the Casey House in Toronto changed the way many in society looked at people dying of AIDS. That’s the story that inspired Nick Green to write his latest play, “Casey and Diana,” which had its premiere at the Stratford Festival. Nick tells Tom about the remarkable true story and why he felt compelled to put it on the stage.
1/1/121 minutes, 30 seconds
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Aurora James: Making AOC’s Tax The Rich dress, her memoir Wildflower, and using fashion as a tool for activism

New York-based Canadian fashion designer Aurora James tells Tom about founding her label Brother Vellies, her memoir “Wildflower,” and the story behind creating Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s famous “tax the rich'' dress she wore at the 2021 Met Gala.
1/1/122 minutes, 59 seconds
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Dan Levy: Good Grief, living with self-doubt, and breaking expectations after Schitt's Creek

Dan Levy’s (Schitt’s Creek) debut feature film he wrote and directed is a story all about grief, aptly titled, “Good Grief.” Dan tells Tom about the self-doubt he felt creating his first feature-length film, the real-life grief that inspired him to write it, and how he went from the hilarious David Rose of “Schitt’s Creek” to his mournful character Marc in “Good Grief.”
1/1/141 minutes, 32 seconds
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Jeffrey Wright on his connection to American Fiction & Jean-Michel Basquiat + Jordan Alexander's new song

The actor Jeffrey Wright has transformed himself into dozens of characters over the years, from Jean-Michel Basquiat in the movie about the late artist’s life, to a conflicted programmer in “Westworld,” and now a disillusioned novelist in the new movie “American Fiction.” Jeffrey sits down with Tom to talk about his personal connection to his character in the film, his journey into acting, and what it was like to be friends with David Bowie. Plus, the Canadian actor and singer Jordan Alexander has had a big few years: she's become a model for Fenty, she's one of the stars of HBO’s “Gossip Girl,” and now she’s gearing up to release her debut album. Jordan tells Tom about the heartbreak that inspired her latest single, “Leaving Toronto.”
1/1/143 minutes, 30 seconds
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Colman Domingo’s journey from clown to playing civil rights leader Bayard Rustin + Kaia Kater’s new song The Internet

After decades stealing scenes as a supporting actor, Colman Domingo is now generating Oscar buzz for his first lead role in the Obama-backed Netflix film “Rustin.” He tells Tom about playing the underappreciated civil rights leader Bayard Rustin, what he learned about vulnerability when he was a professional clown, and why acting is a form of service to the public. Plus, Kaia Kater tells the story behind her new song, “The Internet,” and how a funny song can be just as meaningful as a serious one.
1/1/146 minutes, 41 seconds
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Marcel Dzama: The fire that destroyed his early work, Group of Seven, and being drawn to nature in his new show

For decades, the visual artist Marcel Dzama has been attracting attention for everything from his root beer ink drawings of bears, bats and flapper girls enduring the Winnipeg winter of his youth, to his wild films, sculptures and installations. Now, the Brooklyn-based artist has his first major Canadian exhibition in almost a decade at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Ontario called “Ghosts of Canoe Lake.” Marcel talks to Tom about growing up in Winnipeg, how losing his earliest work in a fire allowed him to feel more freedom as an artist, and his new-found love for Tom Thomson.
1/1/122 minutes, 10 seconds
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Deantha Edmunds: The first Inuk professional opera singer, the Order of Canada, and the classical music of Labrador Inuit

Deantha Edmunds, Canada’s first Inuk professional opera singer, was just made a member of the Order of Canada. She sits down with Tom in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador to talk about her journey to classical music, what it feels like to bring Inuktitut to the world of classical music, and how finding out she was becoming a member of the Order of Canada felt like an “out of body experience.”
1/1/134 minutes, 1 second
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Bruce Liu: The only Canadian to win the prestigious International Chopin Piano Competition

Bruce Liu is one of the world’s most exciting young pianists. In 2021, he gained worldwide recognition for winning the prestigious International Chopin Piano Competition, making him the only Canadian to ever do so. Now, he’s released his debut studio album, “Waves: Music by Rameau, Ravel, Alkan.” Bruce talks to Tom about this new record, and also reflects on winning the Chopin piano competition and why he didn’t start taking piano seriously until he won.
1/1/121 minutes, 35 seconds
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Sydney Freeland: Echo, Marvel’s first “deaf Native American badass,” and the importance of getting a Chocktaw story right

The new Marvel miniseries “Echo” is one of the first of its kind. The story focuses on a deaf Native American character named Maya Lopez, a.k.a. Echo. Sydney Freeland, the series director, tells Tom about the kind of comic books she read growing up on the Navajo reservation in New Mexico, the challenges of depicting action through the silent perspective of Maya, and how building a relationship with the Choctaw Nation helped bring the story to life.
1/1/124 minutes, 59 seconds
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Nicole Byer on how ADHD can help your comedy + Mark Critch pays tribute to his dad by impersonating him

Nicole Byer has made a living talking to people and being funny. She’s so good at it that she's got multiple podcasts and TV shows, and now multiple Emmy nominations for hosting the amateur bake-off show “Nailed It!” Nicole tells Tom about growing up as a hyperactive kid, how she initially wanted to be a dramatic actor and how having ADHD has helped her comedy career. Plus, Season 3 of “Son of Critch” premieres this week. Mark Critch, the show's creator and namesake, stops by to share the real-life story from his past that inspired a pivotal scene in the new season.
1/1/146 minutes, 42 seconds
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Geoff McFetridge: Beastie Boys, skateboarding in Calgary, and designing for brands like Apple and Nike

Geoff McFetridge has been called “the most famous Canadian artist you’ve never heard of.” As a graphic artist and painter, he’s collaborated with directors such as Spike Jonze and Sofia Coppola, designed for brands like Nike and Apple, and created huge murals for Ottawa’s transit system. In a rare interview, Geoff tells Tom how the DIY culture of skateboarding in Calgary influenced him to get into art, how he ended up designing the Beastie Boys’ Grand Royal magazine, and how he keeps one foot in the world of art galleries, and one foot in the world of corporate design.
1/1/133 minutes, 40 seconds
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D.J. Demers: How growing up hard of hearing and working in a used sporting good store inspired his new sitcom

D.J. Demers is a hard of hearing comedian who’s performed on some of the most famous stages in comedy, such as “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “Conan,” and The Comedy Store in Los Angeles. Now, the Canadian comedian is out with his new CBC workplace comedy, titled “One More Time,” which follows a semi-fictionalized version of himself who is a manager of a used sporting goods store and is also hard of hearing. D.J.tells Tom about writing a show based on his personal experience, why he wanted to write a sitcom steeped in Canadiana and nostalgia, and what it means to him to have people who are hard of hearing at his shows.
1/1/118 minutes, 19 seconds
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Vanessa Morgan: Riverdale, Wild Cards, and receiving death threats for her character's actions

Vanessa Morgan (Riverdale, My Babysitter’s a Vampire) stars in the new series "Wild Cards.” She tells Tom how playing highschoolers for so many years kept her young, what she remembers about her last day of shooting for the CW series “Riverdale,” and why she feels so ready to take on this new role.
1/1/117 minutes, 37 seconds
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R.L. Stine: Goosebumps, writing advice, and how he stumbled into writing horror for kids

R.L. Stine is one of the best-selling children's authors in history, made famous by his “Goosebumps” and “Fear Street” books. For decades, he’s kept a strict writing schedule, pumping out around 2,000 words (roughly 10 pages) each morning. More than 350 books later, he’s sharing what he knows with a new book of writing advice called “There’s Something Strange About My Brain: Writing Horror for Kids.” R.L. Stine joins Tom to talk about how growing up feeling like a fearful outsider inspired him to retreat in his room and write, how he accidentally ended up writing horror books for kids, and what his best advice is for young writers.
1/1/132 minutes, 12 seconds
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Hayley Williams: Getting Paramore back together, being a woman in the pop-punk scene, and why she’s “addicted to a survival narrative”

If you grew up in the mid-to-late 2000s, there's a good chance you know the band Paramore. Hayley Williams has fronted the pop-punk band for 20 years. She tells Tom about the band's history, the advice she’d give her younger self and what inspired Paramore’s latest album, “This Is Why.”
1/1/120 minutes, 58 seconds
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Ibrahim Maalouf: Pushing the boundaries of the trumpet, his father’s influence, and how music became a refuge to him

Ibrahim Maalouf is no stranger to defying genre. The acclaimed trumpeter’s latest album, “Capacity to Love,” blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B, classical and Arabic music to create a unique record that sees him collaborate with the likes of Gregory Porter, De La Soul and even Sharon Stone. Ibrahim talks to Tom about his life in music, escaping war-torn Lebanon, and how music became a refuge for him as a child. Plus, he opens up about why he’s so interested in pushing the boundaries of the trumpet and why he doesn’t feel bound to the traditions he was schooled in.
1/1/136 minutes, 25 seconds
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Jasmeet Raina: Overnight internet fame, misunderstandings about his Sikh faith, and his new show Late Bloomer

From 2009 to 2018, Jasmeet Raina was known online as Jus Reign. His viral videos about being a first generation Indo-Canadian millennial amassed more than 160 million views on YouTube and more than a million fans on Facebook. But one day, with no explanation, Jasmeet decided to walk away from the spotlight. Now, he’s back with a comedy series on Crave called “Late Bloomer.” Jasmeet talks to Tom about his hiatus, representing his Punjabi Sikh culture and faith on screen, and what his relationship with the internet is like now.
1/1/133 minutes, 58 seconds
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Nikki Giovanni: Poetry, influencing the birth of hip-hop, and why being talented means being lonely

Considered one of the world’s greatest living poets, Nikki Giovanni carved out a revolutionary legacy during the civil rights era with poems that uplifted the experiences of Black Americans. Decades later, Nikki’s writing and interviews have grown increasingly personal – offering insight into her childhood, health struggles and thoughts on growing older. She shares her story in the new documentary, “Going To Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project.” Nikki tells Tom about being involved in the birth of hip-hop, why artists should go to space, and how she packed a club of 100 people, including guests like Morgan Freeman and Nina Simone.
1/1/134 minutes, 13 seconds
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Matty Matheson: The Bear, his passionate Emmys speech, and bringing his kitchen experience to the show

This week, Matty Matheson made a memorable acceptance speech at the 75th Emmys where “The Bear” swept up several awards, including best comedy series. Matty joins Tom to talk about bringing authenticity to the kitchen environment in the series, what it was like kissing his co-star Ebon Moss-Bachrach on stage, and why he thanked the hospitality industry in his speech.
1/1/123 minutes, 42 seconds
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Venus: The first Indigenous winner of Canada’s Drag Race

Fresh off her win of Season 4 of “Canada’s Drag Race,” Venus tells Tom about the surreal moment she won, what it means to her as a Metis person, and why she wanted to give her mom “her flowers” on the show.
1/1/117 minutes, 1 second
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Green Day: Dookie, American Idiot, and why their new album Saviors is the best they’ve ever recorded

When a band kicks off their career with a hit single about getting stoned and watching TV, it might be surprising to see them 30 years later as one of the biggest bands on the planet. Green Day has beat those long odds. All three members — Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool — talk to Tom about the 30th anniversary of their breakthrough record “Dookie,” how they wanted to create a monumental record when writing “American Idiot,” and why they think their brand new album “Saviors” could be that next era of Green Day.
1/1/132 minutes, 39 seconds
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June Clark: Unrequited Love, her relationship with the American flag, and the artistic appeal of rust

In the late ‘60s, the visual artist June Clark fled the United States to Canada so her husband could escape the Vietnam draft. She wasn’t an artist when she settled in Toronto, but that huge change in her life kind of put her on the path to art. Since then, she’s used her work to reflect on her relationship with her homeland and what she left behind. The Art Gallery of Ontario and Toronto's Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery are now reshowing June’s striking exhibit “Unrequited Love” this year. It’s a collection of nine pieces, made over a period of decades, that incorporate the Stars and Stripes. June sits down with Tom to talk about her work and her path to becoming an artist.
1/1/120 minutes, 35 seconds
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Sleater-Kinney: Little Rope, coping with grief, and the 30th anniversary of the band

The feminist punk band Sleater-Kinney was a huge part of the post-riot grrrl movement. After the sudden death of one of the member’s parents turned their lives upside down, the duo used music to get through it. Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker of Sleater-Kinney join Tom to talk about grief, getting by, and their new album “Little Rope.”
1/1/12 hours, 5 minutes, 6 seconds
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Ava DuVernay on her new film Origin + Amelia Curran pays tribute to influential songwriter Ron Hynes

The latest film from director Ava DuVernay (Selma, 13th, A Wrinkle in Time) is called “Origin.” It follows writer Isabel Wilkerson as she writes the bestselling book “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents,” published in 2020. Ava tells Tom what drew her to adapt a book that seemed unadaptable, how she shot the film in under 40 days without the help of a major studio, and how she got her start in the business of filmmaking. A few years ago, Canada lost one of its greatest songwriters — Newfoundland and Labrador's Ron Hynes. Amelia Curran, a fellow Newfoundland songwriter, is now part of a new compilation record that pays tribute to Ron. Amelia talks about the skill that went into his songs, the significance of his music to the province of Newfoundland and Labrador and the country at large. Plus, you’ll hear her cover of one of his songs, “Dark River.”
1/1/146 minutes, 40 seconds
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Jake Johnson on Self Reliance, getting fired, and New Girl + LU KALA has Nothing But Love

Jake Johnson (New Girl, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Jurassic World) has a new film out called “Self Reliance” that he directed, wrote, and stars in. Jake joins Tom to talk about making a weird comedy, how he never felt like a particularly talented or handsome actor so he opted to be a funny one, and how he influenced the direction of his character Nick Miller in “New Girl.” Plus, the Canadian artist LU KALA has had a huge year – millions of streams of her music, Billboard hits, and touring the world. She tells Tom about venturing into more vulnerable songwriting on her new single, “Nothing But Love.”
1/1/149 minutes, 33 seconds
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David Yee: How his “fascination of what’s difficult” helped him change the face of Canadian theatre

Last month, Canadian playwright David Yee was awarded the Siminovitch Prize, Canada’s most valuable theatre award, which is given each year to an artist whose groundbreaking work has transformed Canada’s theatre scene. David talks to Tom about why his writing career started out of necessity, his theatre company Fu-GEN, and changing the game for the next generation of Asian Canadian playwrights.
1/1/125 minutes, 28 seconds
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Tanya Tagaq: True Detective, the brilliance of Jodie Foster, and creating the series’ score

What started as a meeting about Tanya Tagaq creating the score for the new season of “True Detective” ended with her being cast in her first acting role, alongside Jodie Foster. The Polaris Prize-winning singer and artist joins Tom to share that story, how she approached making the score for the series, and what it means to her to see Inuit representation in a mainstream show.
1/1/120 minutes, 52 seconds
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How Kim Thúy was transported to her childhood for the filming of Ru + New music from Tafari Anthony

Kim Thúy's bestselling novel “Ru” has received a Governor General's Award for Fiction, been shortlisted for the Giller Prize, and won Canada Reads. Now, “Ru” has been made into a film, which tells the story of a woman born in Saigon during the Tet Offensive, her time in a refugee camp in Malaysia, and her subsequent life in Quebec. Kim speaks with Tom about how “Ru” is based on her own life story, why she felt a responsibility to say yes when she was asked if it could be adapted for film, and how she was transported back to her childhood during the filming of “Ru.” Plus, Toronto-based singer Tafari Anthony tells Tom how a new experience with polyamory and the loss of a friend inspired his new song “Evermore” off his latest album, “When I Met Your Girlfriend.”
1/1/146 minutes, 57 seconds
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Darius Rucker on Hootie & the Blowfish and his new country record + New music from Liza

In the ‘90s, during a time when grunge music reigned supreme, an unlikely album went platinum: “Cracked Rear View” from Hootie & the Blowfish. Since then, Hootie’s frontman Darius Rucker has continued making music, transitioning from alt-rock to country. Darius’s latest record is called “Carolyn’s Boy.” He joins Tom to talk about the massive success of “Cracked Rear View,” what he thinks about the band’s decline in popularity, and why he still pursued country music after being told the fanbase wouldn’t listen to a Black country artist. Plus, Toronto R&B singer Liza tells Tom about making the leap from nurse to full-time songwriter and tells the story behind her new song, “In The End.”
1/1/145 minutes, 33 seconds
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Celine Song: Past Lives, rejecting clichés in modern love stories, and writing a story inspired by her life

Celine Song's first feature film “Past Lives” was just nominated for best picture at this year's Oscars. Celine joined Tom back when the film first premiered at Sundance and talked about capturing love in an honest and ordinary way, how her own experience inspired the film's story, and what the mystery is in the heart of her film.
1/1/119 minutes, 30 seconds
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Daisy Ridley: Sometimes I Think About Dying and landing her first big role as Rey in Star Wars

Daisy Ridley’s first major role was in the multi-million dollar “Star Wars” franchise with “The Force Awakens.” Now that her time in the “Star Wars” universe is over, Daisy is pursuing projects that speak to her creativity, no matter the size. Her latest role is as a socially anxious office worker in the indie film “Sometimes I Think About Dying.” Daisy joins Tom to talk about her connection to the protagonist Fran, her journey into acting, and what it was like to be cast in a “Star Wars” film as her first lead role.
1/1/124 minutes, 34 seconds
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Terrace Martin on his influences, Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly, and how music changed his life + bludnymph's cathartic toxic girl anthem

Terrace Martin is a rapper, singer, musician and highly sought after producer who’s worked with everyone from Snoop Dogg to Travis Scott to Herbie Hancock. Ahead of the Grammys, where he’s nominated for best progressive R&B album, Terrace joins Tom to talk about the artists who shaped him over the years, how music led him away from gang culture while growing up in South Central Los Angeles, and his work on one of hip-hop’s greatest albums ever: Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp a Butterfly.” Plus, rising Canadian artist bludnymph tells Tom about the inspiration behind her new single, “The Things I Do For Love” — an unhinged dark-pop song about obsessive love and jealousy.
1/1/145 minutes, 2 seconds
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Daniel Schlusser and Scott Price: How their play draws parallels between the future of AI and the neurodivergent experience

Back to Back Theatre is an Australian theatre company that's driven by an ensemble of actors who are neurodiverse. Now, they're bringing their production of “The Shadow Whose Prey the Hunter Becomes” to this year's PuSh International Performing Arts Festival in Vancouver. At the heart of the play is the question: when artificial intelligence overtakes human intelligence, how will people be treated? Tom speaks to tour director Daniel Schlusser and actor Scott Price about the future of artificial intelligence and disability activism, and Back to Back's model of equality and diversity.
1/1/116 minutes, 25 seconds
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Ronan Bennett: Top Boy, how Drake saved the gritty British drama, and his new novel based on the series

The show “Top Boy” has had an interesting life. The gritty British drama about drug dealers on a low-income housing estate was originally cancelled in 2014 — until an unlikely saviour stepped in. Turns out, Drake was a big fan of “Top Boy” and he was able to get the show back on the air for three more seasons. Now, the drama is back again, but in a different form: a novel. “Top Boy” creator and showrunner Ronan Bennett joins Tom to talk about the history of the series, and why he wanted to write a book based on the show.
1/1/136 minutes, 23 seconds
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Spiritbox: Heavy metal, their first Grammy nomination, and collaborating with Megan Thee Stallion

Last year was a big one for Spiritbox. Dubbed the hottest new thing in heavy metal, the Canadian band scored a collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion and a Grammy nomination for best metal performance. Lead singer Courtney LaPlante talks to Tom about Spiritbox’s success and what this kind of recognition means to them.
1/1/119 minutes, 52 seconds
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Bob Geldof: Live Aid, staying hopeful, and the power of music to effect change

You might know Bob Geldof as an activist and one of the organizers of Live Aid — the epic 1985 benefit concert to raise funds for Ethiopia famine relief — but first and foremost, he’s a musician. Bob is the lead singer-songwriter of the Irish rock band The Boomtown Rats, which is largely remembered for their 1979 hit “I Don't Like Mondays.” When The Boomtown Rats had a new album out a few years ago, Tom had a chance to talk to Bob about his music, his memories of Live Aid, how he’s used his platform to effect political change, and his concerns about the world today.
1/1/124 minutes, 5 seconds
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Domee Shi: Turning Red, normalizing puberty, and creating the first Pixar film set in Canada

The Canadian director Domee Shi won an Oscar in 2018 for her animated short film “Bao.” For her debut feature, “Turning Red,” she mined her childhood in Toronto to create the first Pixar film set in Canada. A few years ago, around the time of its release on Disney+, Domee talked to Tom about making “Turning Red,” how she drew inspiration from her family life, and what it was like reliving the awkwardness of adolescence. Now, for the first time, audiences can see “Turning Red” on the big screen as it hits theatres this month.
1/1/119 minutes, 1 second
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Ilana Glazer: Life after Broad City, stand-up comedy, and making peace with her 30s

Ilana Glazer is the actor and comedian who co-created and co-starred in the hilariously raunchy and unabashedly feminist comedy series “Broad City.” While she travels for a new stand-up comedy tour, she joins Tom to reflect on her life in comedy, her friendship with her “Broad City” co-creator Abbi Jacobson, and why she thinks stand-up can be a useful tool to ease anxiety.
1/1/132 minutes, 27 seconds
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Kathy Griffin: My Life on the PTSD-List, getting blacklisted by Hollywood, and starting a new chapter of her career

Kathy Griffin has been doing stand-up for decades, but it hasn’t always been a smooth road. In 2017, she posted a photo of herself with a bloody mask of Donald Trump, which launched a massive controversy, a Department of Justice investigation, and fears about the future of her career. Things only got worse after that. Kathy’s mother died, her sister died, she lost half of her left lung to cancer, she got divorced, and she was diagnosed with PTSD. Now, after six years, she’s finally embarking on a new tour called “My Life on the PTSD-List.” Kathy joins Tom to talk about this new chapter of her career, the intense backlash she faced, and whether Trump is still part of her material.
1/1/124 minutes, 34 seconds
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Supinder Wraich: Allegiance, Sort Of, and acting through Craigslist

In the new crime drama series “Allegiance,” Supinder Wraich plays a rookie cop who’s grappling with her job and the justice system as she fights to exonerate her politician father. It’s the first North American police procedural to focus on a Sikh Punjabi officer. Supinder sits down with Tom to talk about what that means — and how her character struggles to balance her job, her culture and her family.
1/1/118 minutes, 29 seconds
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Introducing: Q with Tom Power

If you want to hear your favourite artists as they truly are, like Billie Eilish, Denzel Washington or Seth Rogen, listen to Q with Tom Power. Five days a week, Tom has deep, funny, and insightful conversations with actors, musicians, and authors. Essentially, if they make great art, you'll hear them on Q with Tom Power.
1/1/12 minutes, 37 seconds
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Molly Ringwald: ‘80s fame, why she took a step back, and her new role in Feud: Capote vs. The Swans

The actor Molly Ringwald (Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink) has been a familiar face since the 1980s. After starring in some seminal John Hughes movies as a teenager, Molly’s fame sent her into the stratosphere. But growing up in the public eye wasn’t always easy. Molly tells Tom about what it was like being a child star, how she handled losing her privacy, and why she wanted to take on her latest role as Joanne Carson in the new series “Feud: Capote vs. The Swans.”
1/1/134 minutes
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Cole Sprouse on Lisa Frankenstein, child stardom, and death threats + New music from The Strumbellas

Cole Sprouse (Riverdale, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody) started acting when he was just a baby. As a kid, he got his big break when he and his twin brother Dylan landed a Disney show called “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.” At 18, Cole decided to retire from acting — but he later returned to star in the massively popular teen drama series “Riverdale.” Now, at age 31, he’s one of the biggest celebrities in the world and taking on his most challenging role yet as a zombie in the new Diablo Cody film “Lisa Frankenstein.” Cole tells Tom why he was happy to get a role where he doesn’t have to speak, what he remembers from his time as a child actor, and why getting death threats doesn't faze him anymore. Plus, if a band loses its lead singer, that usually means the end of the band — but not for The Strumbellas. Dave and Jimmy from the band drop by to introduce a song off their new album, “Part Time Believer,” and chat with Tom about keeping an act alive when the frontman changes.
1/1/145 minutes, 5 seconds
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Keyon Harrold: Jazz trumpet, star-studded collaborations, and his new album

Keyon Harrold is one of the most sought after trumpet players in music right now. He’s played with everyone from Beyoncé to Mary J. Blige and Rihanna. On his new album, “Foreverland,” he reflects on empowerment and vulnerability, while also processing a racial assault that he and his son suffered back in 2020. Keyon joins Tom to talk about the record and how he’s using music to find his peace.
1/1/126 minutes, 52 seconds
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Pablo Schreiber: Halo, being Canadian, and sleeping in for his first day on The Wire

The Canadian actor Pablo Schreiber (The Wire, Orange Is the New Black) stars as the cybernetically enhanced super-soldier Master Chief in “Halo” — the TV adaption of the massively popular video game of the same name. He sits down with Tom to chat about that character and some of his other iconic roles, including Nick Sobotka on “The Wire” and George ‘Pornstache’ Mendez on “Orange Is the New Black.”
1/1/125 minutes, 49 seconds
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Sunny Drake: CHILD-ish, listening to kids, and hope for the future

Sunny Drake is an award-winning Australian-Canadian TV and theatre creator who interviewed more than 40 children about all manner of topics, from beauty to climate change. In his new theatre work, “CHILD-ish,” adult actors voice what the kids told him. Sunny joins Tom to share what he learned, how these kids’ words can help adults, and why this project gave him a sense of hope.
1/1/116 minutes, 37 seconds
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Zach Woods: Public radio, The Office, and making fun of yourself

In his new series “In the Know,” Zach Woods (Silicon Valley, The Office) plays an insufferable public radio host who interviews artists and celebrities. His character also happens to be a stop motion puppet, but the guests he talks to are very real. Zach chats with Tom about the project, public radio stereotypes, and why it’s important to make fun of yourself and the things you love.
1/1/136 minutes, 57 seconds
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How Amanda Parris lost and found her way back to art + Turning the frustration of finding child care into music

Amanda Parris is the type of artist who believes in sharing the spotlight. As an award-winning playwright, writer, TV producer and broadcaster, she’s used her success to amplify the work of other Black artists throughout her career. Amanda sits down with Tom to talk about the lightbulb moment that pushed her toward writing, how she convinced an Oscar-winning actor to drop a few bars on stage, and why her latest project has her reconsidering the direction of her life. Plus, Amy Nostbakken and Norah Sadava run a theatre company called Quote Unquote Collective where they create theatre that examines issues through a feminist lens. Their new production, “Universal Child Care,” is an eight-person a capella show that’s part theatre piece and part concert. Amy chats with Tom about how the show came to be and sets up a song from it.
1/1/145 minutes, 26 seconds
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Reinaldo Marcus Green: One Love, what we get wrong about Bob Marley, and why being a pitcher makes you a better filmmaker

“Bob Marley: One Love” is a new biopic about Bob Marley in the late ‘70s — a time when Jamaica was in political turmoil and Bob was conflicted about the direction of his music. Director Reinaldo Marcus Green (King Richard, Joe Bell) is no stranger to dramatizing the stories of real-life people. He tells Tom what a feature film brings to Bob’s story that a documentary could never do, why he casted a non-Jamaican and non-musician to play Bob, and how being a high-level baseball pitcher set him up as a filmmaker.
1/1/137 minutes, 59 seconds
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Vince Staples: His new Netflix show, repping Long Beach, and luring Kawhi Leonard away from the Raptors

The rapper Vince Staples can kind of do it all, even if he doesn’t see himself as any sort of celebrity. “The Vince Staples Show,” which Vince wrote and stars in, just might change that. It's a funny and honest semi-autobiographical story about a guy named Vince Staples who’s navigating fame while also rubbing up against his past life in Compton and Long Beach. Vince tells Tom all about it.
1/1/114 minutes, 28 seconds
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Paul Giamatti: The Holdovers, his Oscar nom, and reuniting with Alexander Payne 20 years after Sideways

The actor Paul Giamatti (Sideways, Private Parts) has reunited with “Sideways” director Alexander Payne for the new film “The Holdovers” — and now he’s nominated for best actor at the Oscars. Paul talks to Tom about the nomination, growing up in an academic world like his character in the film, and what sets Alexander apart from other directors.
1/1/133 minutes, 50 seconds
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Alan Doyle: Welcome Home, Great Big Sea’s early days, and his 30 years as a working musician

Newfoundland’s own Alan Doyle is one of Canada’s great songwriters. He sits down with Tom to celebrate the release of his 20th album, titled “Welcome Home,” and reflects on the early days of his band, Great Big Sea.
1/1/126 minutes, 59 seconds
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Seth Rogen: His love of pottery, The Great Canadian Pottery Throw Down, and judging other artists’ work

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.
1/1/123 minutes, 59 seconds
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Daniel Caesar: Never Enough, the myth of success, and collaborating with Justin Bieber

Daniel Caesar talks about his major-label debut “Never Enough,” the reality of fame, and collaborating with Justin Bieber on the song “Peaches.”
1/1/136 minutes, 4 seconds
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The Beaches: How everything needed to fall apart for everything to come together

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.
1/1/115 minutes, 53 seconds
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Chromeo: Adult Contemporary, growing up, and what it means to be funky as you approach middle age

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?
1/1/129 minutes, 8 seconds
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Diane Flacks: Funneling her guilt into art and mining it for comedy

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.
1/1/115 minutes, 57 seconds
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Shea Couleé: The Love Ball, their dance record, and life after Drag Race

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.
1/1/121 minutes, 59 seconds
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Adam Beach: Exile, Smoke Signals, and his journey to acting

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.”
1/1/123 minutes, 31 seconds
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Brittany Howard on leaving Alabama Shakes, What Now, and growing up in poverty + New music from Mumford & Sons

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.
1/1/148 minutes, 38 seconds
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Kablusiak: The winner of the Sobey Art Award, one of Canada’s most prestigious visual arts prizes

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.
1/1/115 minutes, 59 seconds
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Marlon Wayans: From Scary Movie and White Chicks to his new life as a stand-up

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.
1/1/131 minutes, 15 seconds
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Pam Grier: How she became the queen of Blaxploitation film and Hollywood’s first female action hero

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.”
1/1/131 minutes, 49 seconds
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Alexandra Billings: Queen Tut, chosen family, and the evolution of trans representation in film and TV

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.
1/1/119 minutes, 12 seconds
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Alan Ritchson on Reacher, Ordinary Angels, and living with bipolar disorder + Meredith Hama-Brown on her film Seagrass

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.
1/1/147 minutes, 41 seconds
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Karen Robinson: Law & Order Toronto, moving from Jamaica to rural Alberta, and naming her character after family

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.
1/1/125 minutes, 18 seconds
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Adrian Glynn: Why it's important to know your grandparents' story

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.
1/1/118 minutes, 14 seconds
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Kōji Yakusho: Finding happiness in simplicity, Perfect Days, and working with Wim Wenders

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.
1/1/122 minutes, 56 seconds
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Measha Brueggergosman-Lee on collaborating with Margaret Atwood to create Zombie Blizzard

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.
1/1/120 minutes, 32 seconds
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Jacob Collier is tired of making music on his own + Emily Austin reads from Gay Girl Prayers

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.”
1/1/151 minutes, 24 seconds
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Jeremy Dutcher on the sound of grief + New music from Elliott Brood

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.”
1/1/141 minutes, 42 seconds
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Corb Lund: Remembering Ian Tyson, The Grand Ole Opry, and El Viejo

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.
1/1/118 minutes, 38 seconds
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Tate McRae: Performing on SNL, her hit song Greedy, and not being judgmental of your art

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.
1/1/127 minutes, 38 seconds
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Lily Gladstone: Working with Scorsese, breaking into Hollywood, and Killers of the Flower Moon

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.
1/1/117 minutes, 59 seconds
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Mark Seliger: Oscar Party portraits, capturing someone's essence, and the stories behind his most iconic celebrity photos

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.
1/1/130 minutes
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Chelsea Peretti: Her debut film, women in comedy, and Hollywood's reaction to #MeToo

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.
1/1/121 minutes, 24 seconds
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Chloé Robichaud & Yannick Nézet-Séguin: Days of Happiness, toxic family relationships, and making conducting believable on screen

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.
1/1/125 minutes, 18 seconds
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Olufikayo Ziki Adeola: Calling out Disney, Iwájú, and showing Lagos in the future

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.
1/1/121 minutes, 16 seconds
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Shana Carroll: How to see circus as an art form

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.
1/1/125 minutes, 14 seconds
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Kim Gordon: Sonic Youth, TikTok, and her new solo album

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.
1/1/120 minutes, 21 seconds
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Denis Villeneuve: Dune 2, his vision for the sci-fi epic, and how the film reflects issues in the world today

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.
1/1/124 minutes, 4 seconds
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Steve Patterson: The Debaters, what happens when a comedian becomes a dad, and why he’s making soap

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.
1/1/118 minutes, 2 seconds
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Bill T. Jones: Working with Keith Haring, athletic sweat versus poetic sweat, and his incredible life in dance

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.”
1/1/135 minutes, 47 seconds
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Allison Au: Migrations, her family history, and what we mean by the idea of home

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.
1/1/118 minutes, 27 seconds
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Diana Lee Inosanto: Ahsoka, transitioning from stunt performer to actor, and her connection to Bruce Lee

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.
1/1/125 minutes, 5 seconds
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Q Introduces: Who Replaced Avril Lavigne?

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
1/1/133 minutes, 23 seconds
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Quick Q: Cadence Weapon on his new album Rollercoaster

In the three years since Cadence Weapon won the Polaris Music Prize, the Canadian rapper has been working on his new album, "Rollercoaster,” which comes out today. For this record, he was thinking about renegotiating our relationship with the internet and our phones. Cadence Weapon (a.k.a. Rollie Pemberton) chats with Tom about “Rollercoaster” and why he’s decided to adjust his screen time.
1/1/111 minutes, 30 seconds
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Noah Kahan: Stick Season, authenticity, TikTok, and lying to therapists

Noah Kahan is one of the most successful singer-songwriters in the world right now, but it wasn’t that long ago that he was writing his latest album, “Stick Season,” while isolated on a Vermont farm during the peak of the pandemic. Now, he’s considered the next big thing in music. Noah joins Tom in studio for a conversation about writing the album that would change his life, the power of tapping into his authentic self, and how he’s protected his mental health while on this crazy ride. 
1/1/141 minutes, 50 seconds
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Maestro Fresh Wes: His journey to becoming the godfather of Canadian hip-hop

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.
1/1/116 minutes, 35 seconds
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Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan: Merry and Pippin, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and their decades-long friendship

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.
1/1/129 minutes, 52 seconds
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Michael Keaton: Knox Goes Away, getting Al Pacino to star in his film, and what Mister Rogers was really like

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.
1/1/118 minutes, 19 seconds
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Cody Lightning: From being a child actor in Smoke Signals to making a spinoff mockumentary about it

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.
1/1/122 minutes, 52 seconds
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How Es Devlin creates concert spectacles on stage + DJ Karaba on how giving up on one dream can open the door to another

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.
1/1/151 minutes, 33 seconds
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Fawzia Mirza: The Queen of My Dreams, Bollywood, and why loving herself makes her a better filmmaker

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.”
1/1/116 minutes, 46 seconds
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Justine Triet: Anatomy of a Fall, a marriage on trial, and the future of French cinema

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.
1/1/122 minutes, 10 seconds
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Emma Portner: How her latest choreography in Islands is subverting ballet gender norms

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.
1/1/123 minutes, 30 seconds
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Évelyne Brochu: French Girl, what she learned from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, and working with Denis Villeneuve

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.
1/1/125 minutes, 37 seconds
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Carol Burnett: Climbing the Hollywood sign, getting her first laugh, and how having fun is still a priority at 90 years old

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.
1/1/133 minutes, 7 seconds
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Alexandra Streliski: Fighting cynicism, hearing her music at the Oscars, and being transformed by burnout

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.
1/1/121 minutes, 26 seconds
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Nelly Furtado: Getting a record deal at 20, writing her biggest hits, and her big comeback

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.
1/1/131 minutes, 8 seconds
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Kelvin Redvers: Making his thriller Cold Road, the future of Indigenous film, and getting kicked off the Cannes red carpet

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.
1/1/122 minutes, 11 seconds
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Josh Homme: Queens of The Stone Age, Taylor Hawkins, and his debt to polka

Queens of the Stone Age’s latest album, “In Times New Roman,” is their most raw and personal record to date. It chronicles lead singer Josh Homme's public divorce and custody battle with the singer Brody Dalle, and he lost several close friends, and had surgery to remove cancer. He tells Tom about how his first guitar teacher taught him polka, why he wanted to play Let's Dance at Taylor Hawkins tribute concert, and how he reflects on his spirituality after facing so many hardships.
1/1/125 minutes, 28 seconds
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Stephen Tayo: Shooting street style in Lagos and his photography philosophy

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.
1/1/118 minutes, 9 seconds
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Regina King: Playing Shirley Chisholm, almost becoming a dentist, and the meaning of success

For three decades, Regina King (One Night in Miami, If Beale Street Could Talk) has captivated audiences on screen, cementing herself as a Hollywood legend. The Oscar and four-time Emmy-winning actor and director joins Tom to talk about some of her most iconic characters and why she wanted to take on her latest role as Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress, in the new Netflix biopic “Shirley.”
1/1/131 minutes, 10 seconds
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Zelda Williams: On grief, directing the camp comedy Lisa Frankenstein and embracing the unusual

Zelda Williams just made her directorial debut with the film Lisa Frankenstein. She joins Tom to talk about growing up on the movie sets of her father, the late comedian and actor Robin Williams, and what motivated her to start making her own movies.
1/1/123 minutes, 21 seconds
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Clement Virgo: Adapting Brother, directing The Wire and maturing as a filmmaker

Canadian writer and director Clement Virgo has worked on some of the most critically acclaimed television shows of the 2000s — from The Wire and The Book of Negroes to Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. But his latest project, the film Brother, feels like his most personal yet. He sits down with Tom to talk about returning to his hometown to film a story of familial love and grief, and how art reflects back your own humanity.
1/1/118 minutes, 4 seconds
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The Last Dinner Party: Opening for The Rolling Stones, starting out as a live act and their viral hit Nothing Matters

The Last Dinner Party have had a huge year with a viral moment on TikTok, a number-one album, and winning both BBC Radio 1's Sound Of 2024 contest and the rising star award at the BRITs. Abigail Morris and Georgia Davies of the band join guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about their big year, the origins of the band and taking a non-traditional route into the industry.
1/1/124 minutes, 23 seconds
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James Ehnes on the reality of being a child prodigy + How Caroline Rose found healing through their most vulnerable music to date

Grammy-winning violinist James Ehnes is one of the most sought-after musicians in the world. The Order of Canada member violinist drops by the studio to tell Tom about his life in music and what it was like growing up as a child prodigy in Brandon, Manitoba. The musician Caroline Rose had an incredible 2023 - they released their album “The Art of Forgetting,” picked up a Grammy nomination and went on an international tour. But that tour wasn’t an easy one. It was often sad, emotionally exhausting, and Caroline didn’t think they’d want to get out on the road again for a long time. They tell Tom about why they’ve decided to get back on the bus and create a new tour that brings joy to their audience — and to them.
1/1/149 minutes, 51 seconds
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Sheryl Crow: How AI is crushing the spirit of music, her new album Evolution, and speaking up through song

Sheryl Crow has sold over 50 million albums, won nine Grammy Awards, and inspired countless songwriters and artists to follow in her footsteps. Now, over 30 years into her career, she’s releasing her 11th studio album, “Evolution.” Sheryl joins Tom to talk about how concerns around artificial intelligence inspired the title track on this album, why she uses her music to speak out, and what advice she gave to Olivia Rodrigo when they performed together at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
1/1/136 minutes, 36 seconds
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Roy Wood Jr.: Why he left The Daily Show and where late-night TV is headed

You might know Roy Wood Jr. from his time as a correspondent on “The Daily Show.” But for years, Roy has honed his comedy as a traveling stand-up comic. Roy spoke with Tom when he was touring his stand-up in Canada and explained why it was time for him to leave “The Daily Show.”
1/1/134 minutes, 53 seconds
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Shakira on the resilience behind her new album + Zehra Naqvi on her debut poetry collection

Shakira is back with her first new album in seven years, “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran,” which details her tumultuous breakup with her ex-partner and the father of her two children. She sits down with Tom for a revealing interview about vulnerability, survival and what really matters in her life.Plus, the Canadian writer Zehra Naqvi is about to release her debut poetry collection, “The Knot of My Tongue.” She tells guest host Talia Schlanger about her work, why she’s fascinated by the themes of language and displacement, and how her writing was deeply influenced by the 1947 Partition of India and Pakistan.
1/1/141 minutes, 48 seconds
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Katy O'Brian: From bodybuilding to starring alongside Kristen Stewart in the queer erotic thriller Love Lies Bleeding

There’s been a lot of buzz around the new film Love Lies Bleeding, starring actors Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian, which has been called an “erotic thriller on steroids.” Katy chats with Q guest host Talia Schlanger about what the film means to her, how coming up in the competitive bodybuilding world prepared her for this role, and why this movie matters to queer audiences.
1/1/125 minutes, 10 seconds
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Adaline: Making her EP Hymnal, and reconciling her queerness with her evangelical upbringing

Canadian singer-songwriter Adaline has written an EP called Hymnal, all about reconciling her queerness with the religion she was raised in. She joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the catharsis of writing the album and finding community outside her religion.
1/1/126 minutes, 22 seconds
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Ani DiFranco: Hadestown and her new chapter on Broadway

When Ani DiFranco was first setting out as an artist, she felt like she had two paths in front of her. There was the one she actually took — the path of an independent punk feminist singer-songwriter — and the one she didn't take as an actor and dancer. Now, she’s made her Broadway debut in “Hadestown” as Persephone, the reluctant wife of Hades. Ani tells Tom how it feels to revisit her old dreams, why landing the role was a full circle moment, and how you can keep fighting for change even when it feels completely hopeless.
1/1/131 minutes, 17 seconds
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Mary Elizabeth Winstead: A Gentleman in Moscow, Ahsoka, and Scott Pilgrim

The actor Mary Elizabeth Winstead always grounds her performances in reality, no matter if the role is a character from a comic book, an alien in “Star Wars,” or a glamorous movie star like the one she plays in the new drama series, “A Gentleman in Moscow.” Mary joins guest host Talia Schlanger in studio to talk about the show, what it was like acting opposite her real-life husband (Ewan McGregor), and her memories of starring in one of the most iconic Canadian films of all time: “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.”
1/1/121 minutes, 50 seconds
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Guillaume Côté on retiring from the National Ballet of Canada + TOBi on his big Junos wins

After 26 years dancing with the National Ballet of Canada, Guillaume Côté will be retiring following the 2024-2025 season. The Canadian dancer and choreographer joins Tom in studio to tell us why it’s the right time to move on, why he’s starting his own dance company with a new production of “Hamlet,” and how ballet dancers are expected not just to dance through intense pain, but to look graceful while doing it.Plus, TOBi had a big weekend at this year’s Junos in Halifax, taking home two awards: rap album of the year and rap single of the year. He sits down with Tom to talk about the experience and share one of the tracks off his Juno-winning record, “Panic.”
1/1/151 minutes, 18 seconds
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'I went to hell and came back from it': Shakira on the strength and resilience behind her new album

Shakira is back with her first new album in seven years, “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran,” which details her tumultuous breakup with her ex-partner and the father of her two children. She sits down with Tom for a revealing interview about vulnerability, survival and what really matters in her life.Read the Spanish transcription of this interview here.
1/1/129 minutes, 58 seconds
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Joan Baez: Folk music, “Bobby” Dylan, and what it means to have an honest legacy

Few voices in folk music have captured a time and place quite like Joan Baez’s. Her incredible life is on display in the documentary “Joan Baez I Am a Noise,” which follows her career as she becomes one of the definitive singers of her generation. The film also gives an intimate look at her life, loves and traumas through diary entries, recordings and performances. Joan talks to Tom about her career, what it means to leave behind an honest legacy, and what she’s most proud of.
1/1/125 minutes, 41 seconds
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Brendan Healy: The Inheritance, learning from the past, and how to stage an epic seven-hour play

The Canadian director Brendan Healy has taken on an epic project: a new production of Matthew López's seven-hour play “The Inheritance,” which has been called the most important play of the 21st century. Brendan sits down with Tom to tell us how the play represents a conversation between generations of gay men, what happens when you don't learn about the past, and how that conversation played out in real life at rehearsals.
1/1/126 minutes
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Dawn Landes: The Liberated Women’s Songbook and the history of women’s activism through music

The singer-songwriter Dawn Landes has just released her new album, “The Liberated Woman's Songbook.” It was inspired by a 1971 book of the same name that chronicles the women’s liberation movement through a collection of songs from the 1800s to early 1970. Dawn talks to guest host Talia Schlanger about the power of music as a tool for activism, finding solace and inspiration through the voices of women throughout American history, and why these songs still serve as a map for survival today.
1/1/123 minutes, 27 seconds
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Rudy Mancuso: Música and what it’s like living with synesthesia

The musician and actor Rudy Mancuso lives with synesthesia, which in his case means hearing everyday noises as musical patterns. In his first feature film, “Música,” he gives us a look into the life of a young man who experiences the world through sound. Rudy chats with guest host Talia Schlanger about depicting his form of synesthesia on screen — and why hearing music in everything can be both a blessing and a curse.
1/1/124 minutes, 14 seconds
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Ian Williams on courageous conversations, cancel culture and taking risks + Magdalene Odundo on her life in clay

The award-winning Canadian writer and professor Ian Williams has been named this year’s Massey lecturer. Since 1961, the Massey Lectures have invited distinguished writers, thinkers and scholars to present their ideas in a five-part lecture series across Canada. Ian sits down with Tom to tell us why he’s chosen the topic of conversations for his cross-country lecture series, how listening can be a courageous act, and why he believes it’s important to have difficult conversations, even at the risk of offending people.Plus, the Kenyan British artist Magdalene Odundo is one of the world’s greatest living ceramicists. She joins Tom to talk about her life in clay, her new exhibit at the Gardiner Museum, and why the inside of her pieces are perhaps even more important than the outside.
1/1/145 minutes, 34 seconds
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Mike Post on writing some of TV’s greatest theme songs + Joel Plaskett’s new spoken word piece

Mike Post is the multi-Grammy-winning composer behind some of the most recognizable TV theme songs of all time, from “The A-Team” and “Magnum, P.I.” to “Doogie Howser, M.D.” and “Law & Order.” Now, Mike is back with new music — but not for the small screen. He’s released a bluegrass and blues record, titled “Message from the Mountains & Echoes of the Delta.” He chats with Tom about the record and his incredible career in music, including how he came up with the famous dun-dun sound on “Law & Order.”Plus, the singer-songwriter Joel Plaskett is breaking some new ground with his latest release: a spoken word performance of a poem called “The New Joys.” He tells us the story behind the piece and what made him want to explore poetry.
1/1/151 minutes, 29 seconds
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iskwē: The ‘gut-wrenching roller coaster ride’ of making her new album

The Cree Métis singer-songwriter iskwē is back with her first solo album since 2019, “nīna.” On the record, she channels her feelings of heartbreak, remorse, self-doubt, isolation and resilience. iskwē joins Tom to share how an extended trip to Mexico served as much-needed creative inspiration, what it was like working with Grammy-nominated producer Damian Taylor, and why she feels that this record is a journey back to herself.
1/1/122 minutes, 37 seconds
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Kyle MacLachlan: Fallout, David Lynch, and how he really feels about Dune

After making his name in series like “Twin Peaks” and “Sex and the City,” Kyle MacLachlan is now back on the small screen as the star of the new Amazon Prime series “Fallout.” The show is based on the hit video game series of the same name. Kyle joins Tom to chat about the show and look back at his career, including his starring role as Paul Atreides in David Lynch’s 1984 adaptation of “Dune.”
1/1/125 minutes, 21 seconds
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Alex Garland on his new film Civil War + Hamza Haq on how Transplant saved his career

Alex Garland’s latest film “Civil War” is unsettling even in its premise — maybe because of how real it feels. Set in a dystopian future America, the film follows a team of journalists who travel across the country during a rapidly escalating second American civil war. Alex joins Tom in studio for a conversation about his feelings on journalism and media, what inspired the film, and why it’s not just a warning about conflict, but the loss of a collective truth.Plus, the Canadian medical drama “Transplant” became a surprise hit during the pandemic that completely changed the life of its star, Hamza Haq. On the heels of the series finale, Hamza talks to Tom about his groundbreaking character, saying goodbye to the show, and his latest film “With Love and a Major Organ.”
1/1/146 minutes, 43 seconds
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Leanne Toshiko Simpson: Why the rom-com is the perfect format to discuss mental illness

Leanne Toshiko Simpson is looking at romantic comedy through a new lens. The fourth-generation Japanese Canadian writer has just released her debut novel, “Never Been Better,” which tells a love story set at a psychiatric facility. Leanne lives with bipolar disorder and has spent time in a psych ward herself. She joins Tom to tell us why she wanted to use the rom-com format to talk about mental illness.
1/1/124 minutes, 9 seconds
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Deryck Whibley: Why Sum 41 is disbanding after 27 years

After three decades, the Canadian pop-punk band Sum 41 is calling it quits. But when frontman Deryck Whibley started writing the group’s latest album, “Heaven :x: Hell,” he didn’t realize it would be their last. He joins Tom to explain how the writing process helped him reach a decision he’s been debating for years, and how he told the band he was ending things.
1/1/121 minutes, 25 seconds
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Mick Jagger: Hackney Diamonds and more than 60 years of the Rolling Stones

Tom’s conversation with Mick Jagger has won gold for best interview at this year’s New York Festivals Radio Awards! The Rolling Stones frontman sat down with Tom in London last year ahead of the release of “Hackney Diamonds” — the band’s first album of original material in 18 years. Mick reflects on six decades of the Stones, the changing music industry, and the loss of their drummer, Charlie Watts.
1/1/132 minutes, 19 seconds
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Fred Nguyen Khan: The Sympathizer, training with Shaolin monks, and acting in Vietnamese for the first time

Fred Nguyen Khan is a trilingual actor and stunt performer from Montreal who’s been studying martial arts since he was four. That resume helped him beat out countless actors in a worldwide casting call for his latest role on the new HBO miniseries “The Sympathizer,” which is based on the Pulitzer-winning novel of the same name. Fred talks to Tom about the series, shooting fight scenes with a legendary action director, and mastering kung-fu at the Shaolin Temple in China.
1/1/122 minutes, 58 seconds
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Jay Baruchel: Existential dread, optimism, and why he stayed in Canada

After more than two years since the series debut of “We're All Gonna Die (Even Jay Baruchel),” the Canadian actor, writer and director Jay Baruchel is still worrying about humanity’s demise. Ahead of the Season 2 premiere of the award-winning docuseries, Jay joins Tom in studio to talk about his fear of death, how a children’s bible made him cry, and why he’s always loved Canada.
1/1/136 minutes, 46 seconds
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Alexandre Hamel: Why he’s out to prove that ice skating is an art

Alexandre Hamel is a French Canadian former international-level figure skater and one of the artists with Le Patin Libre (Free Skate) — the world’s first and only contemporary ice skating collective. He talks to Tom about forming the Montreal-based collective as a place for rebel skaters to explore the idea of ice skating as art, and why he wants to push the boundaries of ice skating outside of a competitive environment.
1/1/117 minutes, 20 seconds
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Zarrar Kahn: How his debut film depicts the horror of living in a patriarchal society

For his debut feature film, “In Flames,” the Pakistani Canadian filmmaker Zarrar Kahn pulls inspiration from his experience living in Karachi as a child. The film is about a mother and daughter who are trying to survive in Karachi as they deal with the challenging reality — and often horror — of living in a patriarchal society. Zarrar speaks with Tom about the film, what it was like confronting his childhood memories, and where his idea for the story originally came from.
1/1/117 minutes, 37 seconds
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Nikki Giovanni: Poetry, the birth of hip-hop, and why she genuinely wants to go to Mars

Considered one of the world’s greatest living poets, Nikki Giovanni carved out a revolutionary legacy during the civil rights era with poems that uplifted the experiences of Black Americans. Decades later, Nikki’s writing and interviews have grown increasingly personal, offering insight into her childhood, health struggles and thoughts on growing older. She shares her story in the new documentary, “Going To Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project.” Nikki tells Tom about being involved in the birth of hip-hop, why artists should go to space, and how she packed a club of 100 people, including guests like Morgan Freeman and Nina Simone.
1/1/136 minutes, 1 second
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Jimbo: Clowning, Drag Race, and winning for weirdos around the world

Jimbo the Drag Clown got a taste of revenge last year. After getting eliminated from the first season of “Canada's Drag Race,” she returned to win Season 8 of “RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.” In the midst of her North American tour, Jimbo sits down with Tom to tell us about her drag beginnings, how she uses her training as a clown to take her performances to the next level, and why everything she does is for the “unseen, beautiful weirdos” who relate to her.
1/1/131 minutes, 42 seconds
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Sophie Nélisse: Irena’s Vow and what training as a gymnast gives her as an actor

The Canadian actor Sophie Nélisse (Yellowjackets) stars in the new film “Irena’s Vow,” which tells the story of Irena Gut, a Polish nurse during World War II. Irena becomes a German army major's housekeeper and risks her life to hide a dozen Jewish people within the major's home. Sophie joins Tom in studio to talk about the film, what it means to her, and what her training as an elite gymnast gives her as an actor.
1/1/118 minutes, 43 seconds
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Maya Rudolph: Loot, SNL, Bridesmaids, and her cool parents

Maya Rudolph has been a comedy staple on our screens for decades. She’s impersonated everyone from Donatella Versace to Beyoncé as a cast member on “Saturday Night Live,” and she’s played memorable characters in comedies like “Bridesmaids” and “Sisters.” Now, Maya is back as the divorced billionaire Molly Wells in the second season of her hit Apple TV+ show “Loot.” Maya tells Tom why she was interested in the world of the mega-rich, how she ended up on “SNL” even though her agent told her not to audition, and why she says comedy and music are cousins.
1/1/125 minutes, 32 seconds
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Michael Mabbott and Lucah Rosenberg-Lee: Jackie Shane’s fascinating story

Michael Mabbott and Lucah Rosenberg-Lee are the directors of a new documentary about the late American R&B singer Jackie Shane. Jackie was a Black trans woman who became popular in Canada after moving to Toronto in the 1960s. She released a single called “Any Other Way” that charted across the country, but in the 1970s, she became a recluse and disappeared from the public eye. Michael and Lucah join Tom to discuss their film “Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story” and how an unreleased song was discovered in Jackie’s house after she passed.
1/1/121 minutes, 10 seconds
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Caitlin Cronenberg: Her eco-catastrophe film, photography, and her famous last name

Caitlin Cronenberg established herself as a photographer, but now she’s following in the footsteps of her famous father, David Cronenberg, by directing her first feature film. “Humane” is a darkly comedic horror thriller that takes a dystopian look at eco-catastrophe — and in keeping with the family tradition, it involves a lot of blood. Caitlin joins Tom to talk about the film, her career in photography, and how she’s been addressing the elephant in the room: her last name.
1/1/120 minutes, 54 seconds
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St. Vincent: All Born Screaming, oversharing, and working with Dave Grohl

The Grammy-winning musician St. Vincent, also known as Annie Clark, is back with a new album, “All Born Screaming.” Her last album, “Daddy’s Home,” was a wild trip through the ‘70s that explored her relationship with her father after his release from prison. But with “All Born Screaming,” she says she’s ready to let the music speak for itself. St. Vincent talks to Tom about the record, working with Dave Grohl, and where she’s at in her continuing evolution.
1/1/122 minutes, 41 seconds
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Justin Peck: Adapting Sufjan Stevens’s album Illinois into a Broadway musical

Justin Peck is a celebrated choreographer who loves Sufjan Stevens’s music. He loves it so much that he’s collaborated with the musician twice. Their latest project is a Broadway dance musical called “Illinoise,” which is based on Sufjan’s seminal album “Illinois.” Justin joins guest host Talia Schlanger to tell us what the album means to him and how he transformed it into a theatre-dance production.
1/1/124 minutes, 5 seconds
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Richard Thomas: To Kill a Mockingbird and playing John-Boy on The Waltons

Richard Thomas is best known for playing John-Boy on the ‘70s drama series “The Waltons.” Now, he’s playing one of literature and film’s most beloved characters, Atticus Finch, in Aaron Sorkin’s touring production of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Richard talks to Tom about taking on this much-loved role, why he thinks the story is so timeless, and why he doesn't mind if you shout out “Goodnight, John-Boy” at curtain call.
1/1/124 minutes, 36 seconds
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Laura Ramoso: On going viral for doing impressions of her parents

The Toronto-based sketch comic Laura Ramoso has amassed more than one million followers on TikTok and Instagram for her hilarious impressions of her German mom and Italian dad. Laura talks to Tom about her audition to Juilliard as a dramatic actor, how she found sketch comedy, and the joy of returning to the stage in her new one-woman show, “Frances.”
1/1/122 minutes, 29 seconds
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Hangama Amiri: Using textiles to stitch together her memories of home

The textile artist Hangama Amiri is known around the world for making masterpieces out of fabric. A lot of that fabric is from a home she was forced to leave. Hangama was seven years old when the Taliban seized control of Kabul in 1996. Years later, after fleeing Afghanistan and settling in Canada with her family, she started stitching together her memories of home. Hangama talks to Tom about her work, the Afghan store where she buys her materials, and what home means to her these days.
1/1/123 minutes, 11 seconds
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Christian Sparkes: The King Tide and the darker side of Newfoundland and Labrador

In Christian Sparkes’s new psychological thriller, “The King Tide,” a young girl with mysterious powers washes ashore a remote island community in Newfoundland. But after her powers go dormant, the once peaceful community devolves into violence. Christian joins Tom to talk about the film and why he was interested in exploring the darker side of his home province.
1/1/117 minutes, 46 seconds
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Emily Henry: Bringing the romance novel into the age of dating apps and TikTok

Emily Henry is an internationally bestselling author credited with cracking the modern romance novel, especially for Gen Z and millennials. Three of her books, including her breakout hit “Beach Read,” are being turned into movies. But these stories aren’t your stereotypical bodice rippers. Emily joins Tom to share her recipe for the perfect love story, why she’s tired of people looking down on the romance genre, and why she still believes in love.
1/1/133 minutes, 15 seconds
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Quick Q: Mark Clennon on his new film, HIV stigma, and the underbelly of Toronto

Mark Clennon is a Jamaican Canadian actor and musician who stars in the powerful new film “I Don't Know Who You Are.” The story follows a Toronto musician named Benjamin who must pull together the money for the HIV-preventive PEP treatment following a sexual assault. What ensues is an emotional weekend as he races against time to get the medication within 72 hours. Mark talks to Tom about the film and how it made him reflect differently on his home of Jamaica.
1/1/112 minutes, 50 seconds
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Dua Lipa: Radical Optimism, leaving bad relationships, and music as a mantra

Dua Lipa is back with her third studio album, “Radical Optimism.” The Grammy-winning pop superstar sits down with Tom in New York for an in-depth conversation about the record, shifting her sound and her mindset, and what she loves about clubbing.
1/1/140 minutes, 39 seconds
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Ari Kinarthy: On scoring his own legacy

The Canadian composer Ari Kinarthy always dreamed of scoring a film, but he never expected it to be a film about his own life. The new documentary “Ari’s Theme” unfolds his remarkable story as someone living with type two spinal muscular atrophy — a rare genetic condition that progressively weakens the muscles in the body. Ari talks to Tom about the music he made for the film and why he wants it to be his legacy.
1/1/122 minutes, 44 seconds
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Charlotte Day Wilson: Cyan Blue, choosing music over hockey, and Patti Smith

The acclaimed Toronto singer-songwriter Charlotte Day Wilson is back with her second studio album, “Cyan Blue.” She sits down with Tom to talk about the record and how she almost became a professional hockey player before she decided to pursue music instead.
1/1/123 minutes, 29 seconds
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Carley Fortune: On leaving journalism to become a romance novelist

Carley Fortune is the Canadian author behind the New York Times bestselling novels “Every Summer After” and “Meet Me at the Lake” (the latter of which is being adapted for Netflix by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle). Carley talks to Tom about her new book “This Summer Will Be Different,” leaving journalism to pursue being a novelist, and why the romance genre is having a moment right now.
1/1/124 minutes, 11 seconds
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Kuperman Brothers: On making their Broadway debut with The Outsiders

Rick and Jeff Kuperman (a.k.a. the Kuperman Brothers) are Canadian directors and choreographers whose work spans film, TV, music videos, concerts and stage shows. Now, they’ve made their Broadway debut as the choreographers of “The Outsiders” — a new musical based on S. E. Hinton’s seminal novel of the same name. The Kuperman Brothers join Tom to talk about “The Outsiders” and how being dragged to martial arts classes as kids helped them find their path.
1/1/118 minutes, 53 seconds
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Béla Fleck: On tackling George Gershwin’s masterpiece Rhapsody In Blue

George Gershwin’s iconic concerto “Rhapsody In Blue” turns 100 this year. To mark the occasion, Béla Fleck, one of the world’s greatest living banjo players, has released an album of his takes on the American classic. Béla joins Tom to tell us what inspired this project and how he arranged one of the 20th century’s most famous orchestral pieces for a bluegrass band.
1/1/124 minutes, 55 seconds
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Quick Q: Softcult on their new EP Heaven

The Canadian twin siblings Phoenix and Mercedes Arn-Horn went from playing in the super successful band Courage My Love to moving in an entirely different direction as Softcult. They sit down with Tom to set up a song from their new EP, “Heaven.”
1/1/115 minutes, 33 seconds
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MacKenzie Porter: On the heartbreak of trying to make it in Nashville

The Canadian country singer MacKenzie Porter grew up on a cattle and bison ranch near Medicine Hat, Alberta. When her brother Kalan won “Canadian Idol” in 2004, she learned a lot about the good and bad of the music industry. She’s just released a new album, “Nobody’s Born with a Broken Heart,” which explores her struggle to make it in Nashville. MacKenzie sits down with Tom in studio to talk about the record and some of the hard-won lessons she learned in the Music City.
1/1/133 minutes, 42 seconds
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Jerry Seinfeld: Unfrosted, turning 70, and the Seinfeld finale

Few names are as instantly recognizable as Jerry Seinfeld. After nearly 50 years in comedy, TV and film, he’s now flexing his directorial muscles with “Unfrosted” — a new movie all about the creation of Pop-Tarts. Jerry chats with Tom about the film, his early days on Johnny Carson, his relationship with Larry David, and how he really feels about the “Seinfeld” finale.
1/1/125 minutes, 6 seconds
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Ryusuke Hamaguchi: How the music for Evil Does Not Exist came before the film

When the Oscar-winning director Ryusuke Hamaguchi set out to make his latest film “Evil Does Not Exist,” the music kind of came before the idea. The film tells the story of a close-knit rural community in Japan and the city folk who have plans to build a glamping site in their hamlet. Hamaguchi joins Tom to tell us how the film was largely inspired by the music of his composer, Eiko Ishibashi.
1/1/116 minutes, 47 seconds
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Remembering Steve Albini

Steve Albini, the musician and legendary producer, died on Tuesday, May 7 from a heart attack. He was 61 years old. Today we revisit Tom’s conversation with Steve, back when the most famous record he ever produced, Nirvana’s “In Utero,” turned 30 last fall.
1/1/137 minutes, 39 seconds
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Laufey: On being called Gen Z’s jazz icon

Iceland’s top streaming artist isn’t Björk or Sigur Rós — it’s Laufey. The 25-year-old singer-songwriter is redefining jazz for Gen Z, and this year, she won the Grammy for best traditional pop vocal album. Laufey sits down with Tom in studio to talk about her meteoric rise, falling in love with the cello, and what it’s like being called Gen Z’s jazz icon.
1/1/131 minutes, 53 seconds
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Ncuti Gatwa: On becoming the first Black queer Doctor Who

Ncuti Gatwa is the new Doctor Who — the time and space-travelling lead in the BBC's hit show of the same name. Ahead of the season premiere, Ncuti joins Tom to tell us what it was like taking the reins on this British pop culture institution, and what he wanted to bring to the show as the first Black queer Doctor.
1/1/123 minutes, 3 seconds
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Evany Rosen: On her new show Davey & Jonesie's Locker

Evany Rosen is one of the funniest people in Canadian television. She’s the creator of the new comedy series “Davey & Jonesie's Locker,” which follows two oddball high school best friends as they travel through the multiverse via a portal in their locker. Evany joins Tom to talk about the show and what inspired it.
1/1/118 minutes, 12 seconds
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Moya O'Connell: On directing Hedda Gabler — one of theatre’s most complex roles

The critically acclaimed Canadian theatre director and actor Moya O’Connell is directing a new production of Henrik Ibsen’s 1891 masterpiece “Hedda Gabler.” The play follows a woman named Hedda who’s trapped in a loveless marriage as she struggles with the realities of domestic life. When her old flame comes back to town, she’s driven to commit some manipulative and disturbing acts. Moya sits down with Tom to tell us more about the play, what makes Hedda such a timeless character, and her own experience of playing the iconic role in 2012.
1/1/119 minutes, 4 seconds
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Kevin Durand: On Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and going to “ape school”

Canada’s own Kevin Durand plays the tyrannical bonobo Proximus Caesar in “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” — the latest installment in the long-running “Planet of the Apes” franchise. Kevin sits down with Tom to talk about the film, what it was like going to “ape school” in preparation for his role, and his path to becoming one of the busiest Canadian actors in Hollywood.
1/1/125 minutes, 16 seconds
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Quick Q: Billianne shares how one comment from Taylor Swift changed her life

Billianne is a Canadian singer-songwriter who recently premiered her new single “Daydream” live on “The Today Show.” She sits down with Tom to discuss the song, her big network debut, and what it was like to get Taylor Swift’s seal of approval on TikTok.
1/1/112 minutes, 43 seconds
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Serj Tankian: System of a Down, raising awareness of the Armenian genocide, and his new memoir

System of a Down’s Serj Tankian grew up hearing stories about his family members who died during the Armenian genocide, many years before he was born. In his new memoir “Down With the System,” he shares his family’s story and looks back on his career through the lens of his Armenian heritage. Serj joins Tom to talk about the origins of his activism, how System of a Down got on the radio, and whether or not you’ll ever hear new music from the band.
1/1/136 minutes, 17 seconds
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Quick Q: Don McKay on receiving the Griffin Poetry Prize’s Lifetime Recognition Award

The Newfoundland-based writer Don McKay has been publishing poems about the natural world since the ‘80s. This year, he was honoured with the Lifetime Recognition Award from the Griffin Poetry Prize. In celebration of the honour, Don reads two poems that are particularly meaningful to him and chats with Tom about the themes that run through his work.
1/1/115 minutes, 47 seconds
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Remembering Alice Munro

Alice Munro, a Canadian author who was revered worldwide as master of the short story and who won the Nobel Prize for Literature, has died at the age of 92. Tom goes into the CBC archives to bring you Peter Gzowki’s 1996 interview with the late author.
1/1/156 minutes, 39 seconds
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Kathleen Hanna: Bikini Kill, the feminism of riot grrrl, and her new memoir

Kathleen Hanna is a punk icon, a pioneer of the riot grrrl movement, and one of the most influential feminists of the ‘90s. As the frontwoman of Bikini Kill, Le Tigre and The Julie Ruin, she’s empowered women to feel liberated over their bodies and minds. Now, she’s released a gripping new memoir, “Rebel Girl,” in which she details the abuse she endured by men throughout her life, the terror she often felt on stage, and her path to becoming a champion of women. Kathleen joins Tom to look back on her life and career.
1/1/137 minutes, 53 seconds
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Tom Selleck: His “accidental” acting career, Magnum, P.I., and his new memoir

Tom Selleck has been on Hollywood’s A-list since bursting onto screens in the TV show “Magnum, P.I.” in the early ‘80s. By the end of that decade, he had reached a whole new level of fame with massive box office hits like “Three Men and a Baby.” More recently, he’s become known for his role as NYPD commissioner Frank Reagan on the hugely successful crime drama series “Blue Bloods.” Now, the actor has released a new memoir called “You Never Know.” He joins Tom Power to talk about his journey in acting, the hurdles he faced, and the lessons he learned on his way to stardom. 
1/1/125 minutes, 6 seconds
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Matthew Macfadyen: Playing desperate people and the success of Succession

Matthew Macfadyen (Succession, Pride & Prejudice) stars in the miniseries “Stonehouse,” which tells the story of the disgraced British MP John Stonehouse who faked his own death after allegedly being recruited as a spy. Last year, Matthew joined Tom to talk about the show and the parallels he sees between his roles on “Stonehouse” and “Succession.”
1/1/119 minutes, 34 seconds
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Laurie Anderson: AI and art, O Superman, and her prolific career

The artist, musician and filmmaker Laurie Anderson has been prolific for decades. With a career that’s been called uncategorizable, she’s worked in performance art, music, film, sculpture and painting. You might recognize her voice best in its computerized form from the 1981 song “O Superman.” Now, Laurie is being awarded an honourary degree by the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Halifax. She joins Tom Power for a conversation about her long career, what she sees in the next generation of artists, and her surprising thoughts on AI.
1/1/125 minutes, 37 seconds
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Kaia Kater: Strange Medicine and the Black origins of the banjo

The Canadian folk singer Kaia Kater is back with a new album, “Strange Medicine.” She sits down with Tom to talk about the record, why she fell out of love with the banjo for a while, and her journey back to it.
1/1/126 minutes, 22 seconds
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Alana Yorke: Her near-death experience and new album

After a near-death scuba diving accident that left her with PTSD, the Nova Scotia singer-songwriter Alana Yorke released the biggest album of her career, “Dream Magic.” But that’s not the end of the story. One morning in 2022, Alana woke up to find that she couldn’t move the left side of her body due to a stroke. Following a long recovery, she started recording her latest album, “Destroyer,” which is out now. Alana sits down with Tom to talk about the record and share her experience.
1/1/128 minutes, 8 seconds
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Joyner Lucas: On his new album Not Now I'm Busy

Joyner Lucas is a rapper who has millions of streams and two Grammy nominations. He tackles big subjects in his music, from self-harm and addiction to police brutality. Joyner joins Tom in studio to talk about his new album, “Not Now I'm Busy,” and the sacrifices he's made to find success.
1/1/124 minutes, 46 seconds
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Quick Q: Canadian saxophonist and composer Christine Jensen on her new song Fantasy on Blue

The Canadian jazz musician Christine Jensen is back with her third album “Harbour.” She tells Tom about a track called “Fantasy on Blue," a piece inspired by Miles Davis famous jazz album “Kind of Blue.”
1/1/112 minutes, 46 seconds
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Harlan Coben: After 80 million copies sold, the best selling author still suffers from self doubt

Harlan Coben is one of the most successful writers out there today. He has written over thirty suspense novels that have sold over 80 million copies worldwide. In recent years, Harlan’s books have been turned into series for streaming giants, including "Shelter," "The Stranger," “The Innocent,” “Gone for Good,” and the number one global Netflix hit “Fool Me Once.” Despite all this success, Harlan still suffers from imposter syndrome. Tom talked to Harlan Coben about his process, the tragic loss of his parents at a young age, and some of the secrets to his success.
1/1/134 minutes, 56 seconds
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Ethan and Maya Hawke: On Wildcat and their love of Flannery O'Connor

The father-daughter duo Ethan and Maya Hawke have teamed up for the new film called “Wildcat,” which follows the life of Flannery O'Connor while she was struggling to publish her first novel. Ethan and Maya join Tom to talk about their collaboration and why O’Connor’s work connected with them so deeply.
1/1/126 minutes, 18 seconds
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Zainab Johnson: How some big plot twists in her life led to a career in comedy

The comedian Zainab Johnson had dreams of being a professional basketball player until she got hit by a truck and started reevaluating her life. Now, more than a decade deep into her career as a comedian and an actor, Zainab has released one of the most talked about specials of the year, “Hijabs Off.” She talks to Tom about pulling through personal chaos, from growing up with 12 siblings to switching careers.
1/1/126 minutes, 55 seconds
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George Miller: Furiosa, what Mad Max is really about, and his early career as an ER doctor

The Australian director George Miller made his name with the post-apocalyptic “Mad Max” film trilogy that he launched 45 years ago. In 2015, he revived the franchise with a fourth film, “Fury Road,” which won six Oscars and introduced the character of Furiosa. Now, George has created a new film in the franchise that focuses on Furiosa’s origin story. He sits down with Tom to discuss “Furiosa” and his evolution as a filmmaker through the entire “Mad Max” franchise. 
1/1/131 minutes, 35 seconds
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Jane Schoenbrun: I Saw the TV Glow, the trans experience, and their ‘90s TV obsessions

The director Jane Schoenbrun first became known for their 2021 movie “We're All Going to the World's Fair,” which tapped into a teenaged fascination with the culture of viral memes. Now, Jane has made a new film called “I Saw the TV Glow,” which follows two suburban teens who get emotionally enmeshed in a fictional ‘90s TV show called The Pink Opaque. The result is a moody investigation of identity, growing up and making decisions about who you want to be. Jane talks to Tom about how this film relates to transness, why ‘90s TV has a special place in the film, and their own experience getting intertwined in TV shows as they grew up.
1/1/123 minutes, 39 seconds
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Tarsem Singh: On Dear Jassi and the real-life tragedy that inspired the film

The director Tarsem Singh first made a name for himself in the ‘90s making iconic music videos for bands like R.E.M. and Dream Warriors. In 2000, he captured moviegoers' imaginations with the sci-fi thriller, “The Cell,” starring Jennifer Lopez. His latest movie, “Dear Jassi,” is based on the real-life story of Jassi Sidhu, a young Sikh woman from Vancouver who was kidnapped and murdered while visiting the man she secretly married against the wishes of her family. Tarsem sits down with Tom to talk about this tragic love story, and why it was also pretty personal to him.
1/1/124 minutes, 51 seconds
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Alexander Stewart: His pop music journey, the devastating moment his voice changed, and his debut album

After blowing up on TikTok, the rising Canadian pop star Alexander Stewart has now released his debut album, “bleeding heart.” He sits down with Tom to discuss his journey, writing songs about eating disorders and body dysmorphia, how devastated he was when his voice changed, and how Shawn Mendes’s singing coach took him under his wing.
1/1/125 minutes, 45 seconds
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Geoff McFetridge: Beastie Boys, skateboarding in Calgary, and designing for brands like Apple and Nike

Geoff McFetridge has been called “the most famous Canadian artist you’ve never heard of.” As a graphic artist and painter, he’s collaborated with directors such as Spike Jonze and Sofia Coppola, designed for brands like Nike and Apple, and created huge murals for Ottawa’s transit system. In a rare interview, Geoff tells Tom how the DIY culture of skateboarding in Calgary influenced him to get into art, how he ended up designing the Beastie Boys’ Grand Royal magazine, and how he keeps one foot in the world of art galleries and one foot in the world of corporate design. 
1/1/135 minutes, 10 seconds
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Aminder Dhaliwal: A Witch’s Guide to Burning, burnout, and protecting your creativity

After working at some of the biggest animation studios in the world and breaking out with her own art, the Canadian cartoonist Aminder Dhaliwal is reflecting on what it means to protect your creativity (and your sanity) in a world that’s always demanding that we work harder and faster. The result is her new graphic novel, “A Witch’s Guide to Burning,” which tells a fairy tale-like story about how to find your magic again when you’re feeling burnt out. Aminder talks to Tom about the book and what burnout feels like to her.
1/1/119 minutes, 26 seconds
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Quick Q: Nelly Furtado on her creative reset, why she took a break from music, and what brought her back

The Canadian icon Nelly Furtado is back with a new single as she puts the finishing touches on her upcoming seventh studio album. We revisit Tom’s conversation with Nelly from a few months ago, where she explains why she took a break from the spotlight and what inspired her to get back to making music.
1/1/111 minutes, 45 seconds
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Siphesihle November: His journey in dance and the changes he's seen in ballet

Siphesihle November is a principal dancer with the National Ballet of Canada. This June, he’ll be dancing lead roles in the company’s productions of “Don Quixote” and “Jewels” by George Balanchine. Siphesihle sits down with Tom in studio to talk about his journey from South Africa to Canada to pursue dance, his quick rise to the coveted role of principal dancer, and what keeps him inspired and focused.
1/1/137 minutes, 39 seconds
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Ilana Glazer: Motherhood, loss, and her new film Babes

The comedian Ilana Glazer (Broad City) is back with a new film, “Babes,” which looks at the messy realities of female friendship and motherhood. She joins Tom in studio to tell us how her own pregnancy inspired the film, her most surprising observations about having a baby, and why she’ll be telling stories that centre female friendships for the rest of her career.
1/1/124 minutes, 45 seconds
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Lamar Johnson: The Last of Us, Brother, and being honoured at this year’s Canadian Screen Awards

The Canadian actor Lamar Johnson has been having a moment, from his acclaimed performance in Clement Virgo’s film “Brother” to his Emmy nomination for his emotional role in the hit post-apocalyptic drama “The Last of Us.” At this year’s Canadian Screen Awards, Lamar will receive the Radius Award, which is presented to a Canadian whose work is making waves globally. He chats with Tom about the award, learning ASL for his role on “The Last of Us,” and what all of this success means to him.
1/1/121 minutes, 49 seconds
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Patricia Field: Costume design, her NYC boutique, and dressing Sarah Jessica Parker

Patricia Field is a legendary costume designer and stylist whose credits include “Sex and the City,” “The Devil Wears Prada” and “Emily in Paris.” A new documentary about her life, “Happy Clothes: A Film About Patricia Field,” details Patricia’s creative journey as one of fashion’s great visionaries, from opening her iconic boutique in New York City, to creating some of the most memorable on-screen outfits of the last few decades. She joins Tom to talk about her vision for “Sex and the City,” how a great actor wears clothes like a human and not a mannequin, and opening a boutique that became the hub for art and fashion in New York in the ‘80s.
1/1/131 minutes, 47 seconds
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Quick Q: Frank Walker on his debut album Origin and putting a new spin on EDM

The Canadian musician Frank Walker is one of the new generation of electronic dance music DJs who’s taken inspiration from the past and put their own spin on it. Frank joins Tom to talk about his debut album, Origin, and how he incorporates different genres of music into the traditional EDM sound.
1/1/115 minutes, 8 seconds
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Denis Villeneuve: Dune 2, his vision for the sci-fi epic, and how the film reflects issues in the world today

This past weekend, Denis Villeneuve received the Icon Award at the Canadian Screen Awards, naming him as one of the premier filmmakers working today. He spoke with Tom about “Dune: Part Two” when he was in Montreal for the film’s Canadian premiere earlier this year. In this conversation, Denis discusses 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.
1/1/124 minutes, 11 seconds
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Matt Johnson: BlackBerry, what happens when an outsider filmmaker goes mainstream, and the future of Canadian film

The big winner at this past weekend's Canadian Screen Awards was the film “Blackberry,” which you can watch now as a series on CBC Gem. We revisit Tom’s conversation with director Matt Johnson about his path from guerilla filmmaker to Hollywood darling, how the story of Blackberry is the story of Canada, and why his mission in life is to inspire young filmmakers to stay in Canada and make great films. 
1/1/131 minutes, 23 seconds
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Billy-Ray Belcourt: His debut short story collection and writing about queer, Indigenous love

The award-winning Canadian writer Billy-Ray Belcourt is back with his fifth book and first collection of short stories, “Coexistence.” Following characters with gently intersecting lives, the stories deal with themes of love, loneliness and belonging. Billy-Ray sits down with Tom to talk about putting Indigenous, queer love at the centre of this book, and the freedom that comes when you don't have to explain everything to a non-Indigenous audience.
1/1/125 minutes, 11 seconds
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Dan Brown: His journey from failed musician to bestselling author of The Da Vinci Code

Before he became known as the massively successful writer of “The Da Vinci Code” and other novels, Dan Brown dreamed of being a singer-songwriter. He moved to Los Angeles and landed a record deal, but ultimately his music career didn’t work out. Now, music is back in his life as he prepares to perform with a youth orchestra in New Brunswick later this month. Dan joins Tom to share his story of failure, his relationship with music, and the wisdom he’d like to impart to young people.
1/1/123 minutes, 17 seconds
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Devery Jacobs: Her path to acting, storytelling as activism, and her grueling years as a gymnast

Devery Jacobs (Reservation Dogs, Blood Quantum) always dreamed of being an actor, but it never seemed possible. Now, she’s built a successful career as an actor, director and producer, with starring roles in several acclaimed movies and TV series. Recently, Devery was honoured with the Radius Award from the Canadian Screen Awards in recognition of her global impact. She sits down with Tom to talk about her journey to this moment, plus her new film “Backspot,” which is about a gymnast who’s fighting her body and mind as she takes her place in an elite cheer squad.
1/1/124 minutes, 20 seconds
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Arooj Aftab: The allure of the night, pioneering Pakistan’s DIY music movement, and her new album

When the singer and composer Arooj Aftab released her 2021 album “Vulture Prince,” she gained fans like Barack Obama, Elvis Costello and Caroline Polachek. That album also earned her a Grammy for best global music performance. Now, Arooj is back with her fourth studio album, “Night Reign.” She joins Tom to tell us about her journey in music, her fascination with the night, and what it was like going viral before that was really a thing.
1/1/125 minutes, 50 seconds
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Huey Lewis: How to make a radio hit, hearing loss, and his new Broadway musical

The singer-songwriter Huey Lewis is one of the most iconic voices of the ‘80s. With his band Huey Lewis and the News, he made mega hits like "The Power of Love" and “If This is It.” Now, the band’s music will be featured in a new Broadway musical called “The Heart of Rock and Roll.” Huey joins Tom to tell us what it takes to write countless radio hits, why he had to teach himself a new way to write a song, and how he feels watching someone else singing his music.
1/1/127 minutes, 1 second
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Quick Q: Bibi Club on their creative and romantic partnership

Bibi Club is the musical project of Adèle Trottier-Rivard and Nic Basque, who are partners in life and music. Their first album, “Le soleil et la mer,” was longlisted for the 2023 Polaris Prize and now they're back with a new record, “Feu de garde.” Adèle and Nic join Tom to talk about their partnership and what their band name has to do with the three kids they have running around their house.
1/1/111 minutes, 56 seconds
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Kiesza: Her massive hit Hideaway and the traumatic brain injury that halted her career

Kiesza is the Canadian singer behind the massive dance hit “Hideaway,” which launched her career back in 2014. That song took her from being an unknown artist to performing at London’s Wembley Stadium, appearing on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” and winning three Juno Awards. But everything came to a halt in 2017 when Kiesza was in a car accident that left her with a traumatic brain injury. She joins Tom in studio to tell us the story behind “Hideaway” and how she learned to make music again after her accident.
1/1/122 minutes, 42 seconds
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Jessi Cruickshank: Why getting real about motherhood is good for some laughs

The Canadian comedian Jessi Cruickshank first rose to prominence as the co-host of MTV Canada’s “The Hills: The After Show.” Now, she’s releasing her first one-hour comedy special, “Minivan Money,” which explores her experience raising three kids. Jessi joins Tom to tell us how comedy helped her cope with some of the toughest parts of motherhood, why she asked her audience to throw their old bras at her, and why she made the decision to pump breast milk on stage.
1/1/127 minutes, 42 seconds
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Haley McGee: How hospices, mystics and trips to the cemetery inspired her new solo show

Sometime in her 30s, the award-winning Canadian theatre actor and writer Haley McGee started thinking about death. Was she making the best use of her time on Earth? And could being more aware of death help her live life to the fullest? Haley sits down with Tom to talk about her acclaimed new solo show, “Age is a Feeling,” which sets out to answer those questions.
1/1/119 minutes, 31 seconds
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George Clinton: Funkadelic, James Brown and Kendrick Lamar

Ever since telling people to “Free Your Mind... and Your Ass Will Follow” in the late ‘60s, George Clinton’s P-Funk sound has influenced countless artists, including the likes of Prince, Snoop Dogg and Janelle Monáe. George is the mastermind behind groups like Funkadelic and Parliament, and he’s carved out a massive career in his own right. Last fall, Tom got to talk to George about his life in music, his influence on modern hip-hop, and how he hasn't been fairly compensated for that influence.
1/1/130 minutes, 2 seconds
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Sin Wai Kin: How sci-fi and drag changed their art and helped them realize their true identity

The Canadian artist Sin Wai Kin draws on their interests in sci-fi, drag culture and boy bands to make videos that seem to be set in a different universe. Their film “A Dream of Wholeness in Parts” was nominated for the 2022 Turner Prize (one of the most prestigious art awards in the world) and now the Museum of Contemporary Art in Toronto is presenting the piece as a part of its new show, “Greater Toronto Art 2024.” Wai Kin joins Tom to discuss their work and how drag and sci-fi have become important tools for them both artistically and personally.
1/1/119 minutes, 20 seconds
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deadmau5: His accidental EDM career, 25 years in music, and why he wears a giant mouse helmet

The Canadian electronic musician Joel Zimmerman, better known as deadmau5, is the latest inductee into Canadian Music Week's Music Industry Hall of Fame. He sits down with Tom for a career-spanning chat that covers his early life in Niagara Falls, how Tears for Fears introduced him to electronic dance music, why his early gig as a studio engineer was so influential on him, and when he thinks he might stop.
1/1/135 minutes, 21 seconds
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Ahmed Moneka: His debut album, Afro Sufi music, and the death threat that forced him to seek asylum in Canada

Nine years ago, the multidisciplinary artist Ahmed Moneka was forced to seek asylum in Toronto after his life was threatened in his hometown of Baghdad. Separated from his family and his heritage, he used music to remember his roots and bridge the language gap he faced in Canada. Ahmed sits down with Tom to talk about his debut album, “Kanzafula,” and how performing his Afro Sufi music helps him remember where he came from.
1/1/115 minutes, 47 seconds
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Kamasi Washington: Fearless Movement, fatherhood, and his biggest jazz influences

The award-winning jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington is back with a new album, “Fearless Movement.” His distinct sound has captured the imagination of many listeners outside of the traditional jazz audience, including a younger crowd. Kamasi grabbed people's attention after collaborating on Kendrick Lamar’s groundbreaking record “To Pimp a Butterfly,” and releasing his own three-hour long opus, “The Epic,” just a few months later. He even scored Michelle Obama’s documentary “Becoming.” Kamasi joins Tom to talk about his life in music, his new album, and how being a father has limited his time but expanded his approach.
1/1/136 minutes, 43 seconds
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Ally Pankiw: Comedy and tragedy, depression snacks, and her new film I Used to Be Funny

The Canadian director Ally Pankiw is no stranger to working with funny people. She’s directed comedian Mae Martin in their series “Feel Good” as well as comedy actor Annie Murphy in the dark satire “Black Mirror.” Now, she’s released her debut feature film, “I Used to Be Funny,” which stars real-life comedian Rachel Sennott as a stand-up comedian who’s struggling with PTSD. Ally joins Tom in studio to discuss the film and why she wanted the story to capture the coexistence of joy and despair.
1/1/122 minutes, 35 seconds
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George McWhirter: The art of translation and his Griffin Poetry Prize win

The Griffin Poetry Prize is the world’s largest prize for poetry written or translated in English. This year, it went to “Self-Portrait in the Zone of Silence,” which was written in Spanish by the Mexican poet Homero Aridjis and translated into English by the Canadian poet George McWhirter. Tom catches up with George to talk about his big win, his collaboration with Homero, and the art of translation.
1/1/116 minutes, 12 seconds
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Remembering Françoise Hardy

This week, the singer-songwriter and French cultural icon Françoise Hardy died at 80 years old. Back in 2018, she spoke with Tom about her memoir, “The Despair of Monkeys and Other Trifles.” It was a rare English interview that looked back on her decades-long career and her early doubtful days, as well as some incredible stories about Bob Dylan and Iggy Pop. Today, we revisit Françoise's conversation with Tom in honour of her passing.
1/1/119 minutes, 49 seconds
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Julia Louis-Dreyfus: Stretching into dramatic work, therapy with her mom, and her new film Tuesday

Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Seinfeld, Veep) is best known for her quick wit, physical comedy and — when it comes to her character Elaine Benes — her dance moves. But in her new film, “Tuesday,” the Emmy-winning actor flexes her dramatic chops. Julia joins Tom to discuss the film, why she’s more comfortable talking about death these days, and what happens to your comedy when you get mentally healthy.
1/1/125 minutes, 7 seconds
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Walter Scott: Why he’s saying goodbye to Wendy, his most famous creation

How do you step away from your most famous creation? Mohawk artist Walter Scott is about to find out. More than a decade after creating his beloved “Wendy” series of graphic novels, Walter is taking a long hiatus from his cartoon alter-ego. He joins Tom to tell us how he came up with Wendy — a neurotic young party girl who’s trying to make it as an artist — and why his latest book, “The Wendy Award,” is going to be her final adventure for now.
1/1/124 minutes, 3 seconds
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Katori Hall: Telling Tina Turner’s story in The Tina Turner Musical

When the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Katori Hall was approached to write a musical about Tina Turner, she got to fly to Switzerland to spend some one-on-one time with Tina herself. Katori joins Tom to discuss the concerns the late music icon had about the way her story would be told, what they learned they have in common, and why it’s important to look at our favourite musicians and artists as people — not as myths.
1/1/125 minutes, 41 seconds
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Dallas Smith: His switch from rock to country, his old band Default, and why he hasn’t moved to Nashville

Dallas Smith was the lead singer of the Canadian band Default, which had a big hit called “Wasting My Time.” But after a long, lonely time on the road, Dallas decided to make a career change that took him from rock stardom to country music dominance. He sits down with Tom to talk about the risk that comes with that decision, why he stayed in British Columbia instead of moving to Nashville, and how you actually pronounce the name of his old band.
1/1/124 minutes, 22 seconds
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Chappell Roan: The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, perseverance, and the freedom of drag

When she was just 17, Chappell Roan signed her first record deal with a major label and moved to Los Angeles. But when the deal fell through, she returned home to Missouri where she began soul searching and trying to figure out her next steps. Chappell talks to Tom about being discovered on YouTube, how she responded when she was dropped from her record label in 2020, and what inspired her critically acclaimed debut album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.”
1/1/120 minutes, 28 seconds
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Miles Greenberg: Working with flesh, Marina Abramović, and his physical journey in art

The Canadian artist Miles Greenberg says flesh is his medium. He’s no stranger to pushing his body to the extreme for his art. Some of the things Miles has done include standing on a plinth dripping in fake blood, embracing a stranger while naked and blind, and walking on a conveyor belt all day. For his latest work, “Respawn,” he wrestles and stabs versions of himself in front of a live audience for nine hours straight — and if you’re asking why, Miles has a very good answer. He sits down with Tom to shed light on the piece and his journey in art.
1/1/126 minutes, 5 seconds
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Quick Q: Weyni Mengesha on updating A Streetcar Named Desire for 2024

Weyni Mengesha is an award-winning Canadian theatre maker and the artistic director of Toronto’s Soulpepper Theatre Company. Five years ago, she reworked Tennessee Williams’s historic play “A Streetcar Named Desire,” which was a resounding hit for Canadian theatre. Now, Soulpepper has remounted the production. Weyni joins Tom to talk about the changes she made to “A Streetcar Named Desire,” its legacy, and why it still matters today.
1/1/115 minutes, 8 seconds
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Paul Scheer: Joyful Recollections of Trauma, the cycle of abuse, and how improv saved his life

The comedian Paul Scheer has had roles on some of the biggest sitcoms ever, including “30 Rock,” “Parks and Recreation” and “The League.” He also co-hosts one of the most popular podcasts in the world, “How Did This Get Made,” which takes on the worst movies of all time. But in his new memoir, “Joyful Recollections of Trauma,” Paul writes about the abuse he and his mom suffered at the hands of his stepfather. He joins Tom to share how he escaped the cycle of abuse, why pain often leads to humour, and how he found a community in improv comedy.
1/1/131 minutes, 45 seconds
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Elisapie: How translating pop and rock hits into Inuktitut helped her heal

Elisapie was jogging and listening to ABBA when she got the idea for her latest project, “Inuktitut.” It’s a 10-track covers album of classic pop and rock hits that each represent a special childhood memory for the Inuk singer-songwriter. What makes the album unique is that each song is translated into Inuktitut. Elisapie joins Tom to talk about the project and how reclaiming some of her most painful childhood memories through song started her on a healing journey.
1/1/126 minutes, 16 seconds
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Remembering Donald Sutherland

The legendary Canadian actor Donald Sutherland has died at age 88. Over the course of his six-decade career, he was in more than 150 films and TV series, and more recently he was honoured with his very own Canadian stamp. Today, we revisit Tom’s conversation with Donald about his stamp, his early days as an actor, and why he didn’t want dual Canadian and American citizenship.
1/1/118 minutes, 39 seconds
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Lily Gladstone: Life post-Killers of the Flower Moon & her new film Fancy Dance

Lily Gladstone is having an incredible year. She was nominated for an Oscar for her starring role opposite Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro in Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” and she became the first Indigenous actor to win a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild award. In her latest film, “Fancy Dance,” Lily brings another Indigenous character to screen. She joins Tom to talk about her post-“Killers of the Flower Moon” fame, the importance of preserving endangered Indigenous languages, and what kinds of projects she wishes to be involved with moving forward.
1/1/123 minutes, 13 seconds
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Dr. Shirley Cheechoo: Why overcoming the residential school legacy is the job of warriors

Dr. Shirley Cheechoo is one of Canada’s most prominent voices in Indigenous film and theatre. At this year’s annual Weengushk International Film Festival, Dr. Cheechoo is giving back to her community with a special event called Blanket of Stars: A Tribute to Resilience, which is dedicated to Canada’s residential school survivors — or as she calls them, residential school warriors. Dr. Cheechoo joins Tom to talk about her life on stage and screen, and what art can and can’t do when it comes to healing.
1/1/138 minutes, 29 seconds
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Gracie Abrams: The Secret of Us, overcoming stage fright, and working with Taylor Swift

Last year was a big one for Gracie Abrams. The singer-songwriter released her debut album, got nominated for best new artist at the Grammys, and opened for Taylor Swift on the Eras Tour. Now, she’s released her sophomore album, “The Secret of Us,” which she co-wrote with her best friend. Gracie joins Tom in studio to talk about the record, getting over her fear of performing, and what it’s like working with Taylor.
1/1/132 minutes, 53 seconds
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Quick Q: Dominique Fils-Aimé on releasing her first song in French

The Montreal singer-songwriter Dominique Fils-Aimé is back with a new single, “Moi je t'aime.” It’s the Juno-winning artist’s first song in French, despite French being her first language. Dominique joins Tom to set up the track and explain what singing in French gives her as an artist.
1/1/111 minutes, 57 seconds
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Jodie Comer: The Bikeriders, accent training, and her path to acting

Jodie Comer is an Emmy and Tony Award-winning actor who you may know as the assassin Villanelle on the show “Killing Eve.” Though she’s been acting since childhood, Jodie treats every role with the intense work ethic of someone who’s still gunning for their big break. In her new film, “The Bikeriders,” she stars opposite Austin Butler, Tom Hardy and Michael Shannon as a woman who married into a biker gang. The film was inspired by an actual Midwestern motorcycle club that started in the ‘60s. Jodie joins Tom to talk about the film, learning a new accent for the project, and the incredible work ethic that’s gotten her this far in her acting career.
1/1/122 minutes, 15 seconds
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Jamie Fine: Her new EP, starting fresh as a solo artist, and blowing up in South Africa

The Canadian musician Jamie Fine first found success with the duo Elijah Woods x Jamie Fine after they won the singing competition show “The Launch” in 2018. But after realizing something wasn’t sitting right with her, Jamie decided to start fresh with a solo career. Now, she’s released her sophomore EP, “if this is it.” Jamie sits down with Tom to share some hard-earned wisdom from her journey in music, why she wishes it took longer for her to have found success, and how she became a superstar in South Africa.
1/1/133 minutes, 30 seconds
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Brendan Healy: The Inheritance, learning from the past, and how to stage an epic 7-hour play

The Canadian director Brendan Healy has taken on an epic project: a new production of Matthew López's seven-hour play “The Inheritance,” which has been called the most important play of the 21st century. Brendan sits down with Tom to tell us how the play represents a conversation between generations of gay men, what happens when you don't learn about the past, and how that conversation played out in real life at rehearsals.
1/1/126 minutes, 1 second
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E.R. Fightmaster: Grey’s Anatomy fame and their new EP

You might know E.R. Fightmaster from their groundbreaking role as Dr. Kai Bartley on “Grey's Anatomy” or you may be familiar with their music. Earlier this month, the actor and musician released their second EP, “Bloodshed Baby” under their stage name Fightmaster. E.R. joins Tom to set up a song off the record and shares what it was like being cast as the first non-binary doctor on “Grey's Anatomy.”
1/1/115 minutes, 59 seconds
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Karan Aujla: How he overcame tragedy to become a history-making global superstar

Ten years after immigrating to Canada from India, the rapper and singer Karan Aujla made history as the first Punjabi artist to ever win a Juno Award. But he was a global superstar well before then, topping the charts with his blend of Punjabi music over hip-hop and trap beats. Now, Karan is the latest Global Apple Music Up Next Artist, which makes him the first Punjabi artist to join the initiative geared towards identifying, showcasing and elevating rising talent. Karan talks to Tom about why Canada is a hub for Punjabi hip-hop, and the childhood losses that pushed him towards songwriting.
1/1/131 minutes, 35 seconds
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Quick Q: Jennifer Castle shares how her song got featured on Season 3 of The Bear

Before making her name as a singer-songwriter, Jennifer Castle worked at a restaurant in Toronto with celebrity chef and restaurateur Matty Matheson. Now, nearly 20 years later, Matty is an executive producer and actor on the hit series “The Bear” and Jennifer has a song featured in the new season. She joins Tom to set up the song, titled “Blowing Kisses.”
1/1/115 minutes, 20 seconds
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Sam Smith: Gloria, self-love & why queer joy can feel radical

Last summer, Sam Smith joined Tom to talk about the release of their latest album, “Gloria.” Since then, the singer-songwriter has announced the re-release of their debut album, “In the Lonely Hour,” which earned them four Grammys when it came out a decade ago. We revisit Tom’s 2023 chat with Sam about their start in music, learning to centre joy in their life, and the highs and lows of finding their identity.
1/1/134 minutes, 48 seconds
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Carol Burnett: Climbing the Hollywood sign, getting her first laugh & having fun at 90

Carol Burnett is one of the most adored comedians of all time. In 1967, she broke up the boys club that was network television with her freewheeling variety hour, “The Carol Burnett Show.” Now, 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 sits down with Tom to reminisce about the hard-won lessons and chance encounters that helped her become a star.
1/1/133 minutes, 49 seconds
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Meghan Fandrich: Devastating wildfires, moving forward after tragedy & healing through poetry

When a wildfire ripped through Lytton, B.C., in June 2021, the town burnt almost entirely to the ground. Meghan Fandrich lost her small business, the Klowa Art Café, and turned to writing poetry for the first time in her life to help her cope with the loss. The result is her first collection of poetry, “Burning Sage: Poems from the Lytton Fire.” She joins Tom to talk about it and read a poem from the collection.
1/1/116 minutes, 24 seconds
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Alexandra Stréliski: Fighting cynicism, burnout & hearing her music at the Oscars

The Montreal pianist Alexandra Stréliski was working at an ad agency when the late director Jean-Marc Vallée discovered her music and started using it in his work. That gave her the push she needed to quit her job and pursue music full-time. This year, Alexandra was nominated for album of the year at the Junos. Just before that, she joined Tom to talk about the nomination and chasing her dreams.
1/1/121 minutes, 35 seconds
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June Squibb: On starring in her first leading film role at 94

The Oscar-nominated actor June Squibb is living her dream at 94 years young. Decades into her career as a character actor, June is now enjoying her first leading role in the action-comedy movie “Thelma.” She joins guest host Talia Schlanger to reflect on the passage of time, the benefits of being an older actor, and why sometimes you need to have a little patience to reap the rewards of your hard work.
1/1/124 minutes, 3 seconds
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Kapwani Kiwanga: Combining history and art at the Venice Biennale

Visual artist Kapwani Kiwanga represents Canada at this year’s Venice Biennale, the Olympics of visual art. Her installation, “Trinket,” uses seven million conteria — small glass beads from Venice — to not only shimmer, but to interrogate a deep history of labour, cultural exchange and class dynamics. She joins guest host Talia Schlanger to discuss how she uses small beads to tell a big story and the motivation behind her Biennale artwork.
1/1/116 minutes
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Green Day: Dookie, American Idiot, and why their album Saviors is the best they’ve ever recorded

When a band kicks off their career with a hit single about getting stoned and watching TV, it might be surprising to see them 30 years later as one of the biggest bands on the planet. Green Day has beat those long odds. All three members — Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool — talk to Tom about the 30th anniversary of their breakthrough record “Dookie,” how they wanted to create a monumental record when writing “American Idiot,” and why they think their latest album “Saviors” could be that next era of Green Day.
1/1/131 minutes, 18 seconds
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Old Man Luedecke: His banjo-free album & lessons from scallop fishing

Old Man Luedecke is one of Canada's most beloved folk musicians. The two-time Juno winner became known for playing the banjo, but on his latest album, “She Told Me Where to Go,” he puts the banjo away. Old Man Luedecke talks to Tom about his decision to trade the five-string for the six-string, how it changed his approach to making music, and what working on a scallop boat during the pandemic taught him about his life choices.
1/1/120 minutes, 10 seconds
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William Stanford Davis: His 40-year path to Abbott Elementary

William Stanford Davis is a veteran actor who waited 40 years until his dream of becoming a series regular finally became a reality. He’s the breakout star of the hit sitcom “Abbott Elementary,” on which he plays the school’s enigmatic janitor Mr. Johnson. William joins Tom to share how he landed the role at 70, what his story can tell us about persistence, and how he managed to keep the faith for decades while waiting for his big break.
1/1/125 minutes
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Tom Green: His life in comedy, his cancer diagnosis & moving back to Canada

The Canadian comedy legend Tom Green has had an incredible career, from “The Tom Green Show” to “Freddy Got Fingered” to his many stand-up tours. Now, he’s been honoured with this year’s Sir Peter Ustinov Comedy Award from the Banff World Media Festival. Tom Power caught up with Tom live on stage in Banff for a special career-spanning conversation about his journey in comedy, the terrifying cancer diagnosis that changed his perspective on work and ambition, and why he's back in Canada to stay.
1/1/144 minutes, 38 seconds
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Quick Q: How Fawn Parker’s poetry explores the complexity of grief

Fawn Parker is a Canadian writer whose novel “What We Both Know” was longlisted for the Giller Prize in 2022. Now, her debut poetry collection, “Soft Inheritance,” has won The Fiddlehead Poetry Book Prize at this year’s New Brunswick Book Awards. It follows her mother's journey with cancer, from her mastectomy to her chemotherapy to her death in 2019. Fawn joins Tom to talk about the collection and reads a poem from it, titled “Woof.”
1/1/113 minutes, 24 seconds
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Quick Q: Maggie Andrew on her debut EP Day Job

Maggie Andrew is a singer-songwriter from Nova Scotia who decided to leave behind her life in Canada to pursue music in Los Angeles. Her new EP, “Day Job,” is partially inspired by that experience as well as the relationships she's had along the way. Maggie joins Tom to set up a song from the EP and tells us what pushed her to bet on herself and her art.
1/1/113 minutes, 8 seconds
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Waxahatchee: Her DIY punk roots, foray into Americana & new album Tigers Blood

Waxahatchee is the solo project of the American singer-songwriter Katie Crutchfield. Now, she’s back with her sixth record, “Tigers Blood,” which is already being called one of the best albums of the year. Waxahatchee joins Tom to talk about her early days making punk music with her twin sister, how her 2020 album “Saint Cloud” became the soundtrack to the pandemic for many, and how she learned to trust her instincts and lean all the way into her Americana-inspired sound when it came to her latest record.
1/1/131 minutes, 43 seconds
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Darius Rucker: Hootie & the Blowfish and his latest country record

In the ‘90s, during a time when grunge music reigned supreme, an unlikely album went platinum: “Cracked Rear View” from Hootie & the Blowfish. Since then, Hootie’s frontman Darius Rucker has continued making music, transitioning from alt-rock to country. Darius’s latest record is called “Carolyn’s Boy.” He joins Tom to talk about the massive success of “Cracked Rear View,” what he thinks about the band’s decline in popularity, and why he still pursued country music after being told the fanbase wouldn’t listen to a Black country artist.
1/1/137 minutes, 37 seconds
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Camila Cabello: Her new album, DMing Drake & dealing with online comments

After spending nearly half of her life as a touring pop star, Camila Cabello feels like she’s finally stepping into her power as a musician. On her new album, “C,XOXO,” she sharpens her skills as a songwriter and takes sonic swings that some might find surprising. Camila joins Tom to talk about where this record came from, her collaboration with Drake, and how she avoids the worst parts of the internet.
1/1/125 minutes, 12 seconds
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Nemahsis: Her debut album, why her label dropped her & shooting a music video in the West Bank

The Canadian singer-songwriter Nemah Hasan, a.k.a. Nemahsis, is back with two singles in advance of her debut album that will be coming out later this year. She tells Tom why she sat in a car wash with total strangers and asked them to listen to her song “You Wore it Better,” what happened when her label dropped her last fall, and what it was like shooting a music video for her song “Stick of Gum” in her family’s home of Jericho in the West Bank.
1/1/127 minutes, 49 seconds
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Wanda Koop: Her passion for painting, her new exhibit & how to engage with art at a gallery

<p>Wanda Koop is one of Canada’s most accomplished and influential contemporary painters. With a career spanning more than five decades, Wanda draws inspiration from her world travels, the environment, and our relationship with technology. Now, she has a new solo exhibit in Montreal, titled “Who Owns the Moon.” Wanda joins Tom to tell us how her family’s history in Ukraine inspired the exhibit, how painting provided a much-needed avenue for self expression as a young child, and why exploration and travel is central to her art practice.</p>
1/1/136 minutes, 31 seconds
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Trey Anastasio: Phish’s 40-year friendship, the key to improvisation & why we need live music

<p>For more than four decades, the Vermont jam band Phish has cultivated an incredibly successful career, but more importantly, an incredibly successful relationship with their audience. Lead singer and guitarist Trey Anastasio joins Tom to discuss that relationship, the early days of the band, and why it's so important to be best friends with your bandmates.</p>
1/1/141 minutes, 53 seconds
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Jason Hopley & Jamie Shannon: Nanalan’s viral TikTok success

<p>“Nanalan” is a Canadian children’s show from the ‘90s that had a resurgence recently thanks to its growing popularity on TikTok. Clips from the show are getting millions of views, and the puppeteers have even revived the character for online skits. The creators of “Nanalan,” Jason Hopley and Jamie Shannon, join Tom to talk about the show’s viral success and legacy. Plus, they bring the puppets that started it all.</p>
1/1/120 minutes, 25 seconds
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Quick Q: Shy Kids on their new single & winning the Prism Prize’s Hi-Fidelity Award

<p>The Canadian art collective Shy Kids just won the 2024 Hi-Fidelity Award from the Prism Prize in recognition of their innovative music videos. Matthew Hornick of Shy Kids joins Tom to set up a new tune off their upcoming album, “A Gathering of Batteries,” which comes out this fall.</p>
1/1/113 minutes, 19 seconds
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Jennifer Esposito: How her film Fresh Kills brings a new perspective to the mafia genre

<p>Before becoming an actor, Jennifer Esposito lived on Staten Island where she grew up around organized crime. Now, she’s released her directorial debut, “Fresh Kills,” which follows the story of the women behind the men in a mafia family. Jennifer joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the film, her career, and her unique perspective on the world of organized crime.</p>
1/1/122 minutes, 6 seconds
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Stephen Graham Jones: X-raying the slasher genre

The bestselling horror author Stephen Graham Jones is said to have reinvented the slasher genre. His latest novel, “I Was a Teenage Slasher,” puts the reader directly in the mind of a killer. Stephen joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the book, his love of slashers, and why he thinks it’s the job of horror writers to walk into the darkness as far as they can — and then take two steps more.  
1/1/124 minutes, 56 seconds
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Gregory Oh: Celebrating mistakes with Lessons in Failure

The acclaimed Canadian pianist and conductor Gregory Oh knows all about classical music’s quest for perfection. But in that pursuit of excellence, he thinks something else can be lost. Now, Gregory is embracing his own mistakes with his new one-man show, “Lessons in Failure,” which is part recital, part tell-all confessional. He sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger to discuss the show, the failures that have defined his career, and his hopes for classical music. 
1/1/120 minutes, 36 seconds
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Jim Cuddy: His new solo album, relationships & songwriting

The Canadian singer-songwriter Jim Cuddy, best known as the frontman of the iconic roots-rock band Blue Rodeo, is back with his sixth solo album, “All The World Fades Away.” On the record, he paints a portrait of his present life and explores some of his most meaningful relationships, including the relationship he has with his wife and the one he has with his Blue Rodeo bandmate Greg Keelor. Jim sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger in studio to talk about it.
1/1/135 minutes, 26 seconds
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Quick Q: John Carter Cash on his father Johnny Cash's new posthumous album

More than 20 years after Johnny Cash’s death, we’re getting new music from the legendary country music star. His only son, John Carter Cash, joins Tom to talk about finding his dad’s old demos from the ‘90s, and why he decided to release these songs in the form of a new album, “Songwriter.”
1/1/114 minutes, 51 seconds
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PJ Morton: Cape Town to Cairo & the life-changing trip to Africa that inspired it

In addition to touring as the keyboardist in Maroon 5 and producing music for big-name musicians, PJ Morton is also an artist in his own right, often releasing his solo projects on his label, Morton Records. For his latest album, “Cape Town to Cairo,” the five-time Grammy-winning R&B artist set himself a wild creative challenge to write and record it all in just 30 days while traveling through Africa. PJ joins guest host Talia Schlanger to tell us more about his music and the “life-changing” trip that inspired his new record.
1/1/127 minutes, 14 seconds
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Osgood Perkins: Longlegs, Nicolas Cage & making the scariest movie of the year

The actor and director Osgood “Oz” Perkins (Legally Blonde, Nope) recently released his latest horror thriller, “Longlegs,” which some are calling the scariest movie of the year. Harkening back to films like “Silence of the Lambs” and “Se7en,” it co-stars Nicolas Cage as an occultist serial killer. Oz joins Tom to talk about the film, how he developed one of the most bizarre serial killers ever seen on screen, and what his famous parents (“Psycho” actor Anthony Perkins and photographer Berry Berenson) brought to him as a filmmaker.
1/1/125 minutes, 11 seconds
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Liza Colón-Zayas: Finding family and stability on The Bear

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. Liza joins Tom to talk about the scarcity and struggle she’s had to overcome on her path to her breakthrough role, how her setbacks continue to shape her as an artist, and how as an actor you can feel dispensable and invisible as you age.
1/1/123 minutes, 6 seconds
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Luke Gilford: Writing a queer cowboy love story without tragedy

Luke Gilford is a photographer and filmmaker who grew up in a professional rodeo family in Colorado. But it wasn’t until he discovered America’s thriving subculture of queer rodeo that he truly felt at home with cowboy culture. Now, he’s released his feature directorial debut, “National Anthem,” inspired by his famous photo series of America’s gay cowboys and cowgirls. Luke joins Tom to talk about the film, why it was important to him to write a trauma-free queer love story, and how cowboy culture and drag culture overlap.
1/1/121 minutes, 36 seconds
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Allison Au: Migrations, her family history & what we mean by the idea of home

Allison Au is an award-winning saxophonist who decided to step outside her comfort zone to investigate her family history of immigration to Canada. She sits down with Tom to discuss her new record, “Migrations,” and how making music can help you come to peace with your own identity.
1/1/118 minutes, 6 seconds
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G-Eazy: Freak Show, his struggle with fame & losing his mom

The multi-platinum rapper G-Eazy rose to stardom in 2015 with his hit song “Me, Myself & I” (featuring Bebe Rexha). Since then, he’s been a staple on pop radio with a number of chart-topping hits. But after facing mounting burnout and the death of his mother in 2021, G-Eazy decided to step away from the spotlight. Now, he’s back with his first new album in three years, “Freak Show.” G-Eazy joins Tom to talk about the record, his struggle with fame, and his path in the music industry.
1/1/123 minutes, 58 seconds
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Maya Rudolph: Loot, SNL, Bridesmaids & her cool parents

Maya Rudolph has been a comedy staple on our screens for decades. She’s impersonated everyone from Donatella Versace to Beyoncé as a cast member on “Saturday Night Live,” and she’s played memorable characters in comedies like “Bridesmaids” and “Sisters.” Now, Maya is back as the divorced billionaire Molly Wells in the second season of her hit Apple TV+ show “Loot.” Maya tells Tom why she was interested in the world of the mega-rich, how she ended up on “SNL” even though her agent told her not to audition, and why she says comedy and music are cousins. 
1/1/124 minutes, 59 seconds
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Will Butler: Stereophonic, writing ‘70s music & exploring thorny relationships in bands

When Will Butler left his band Arcade Fire, he didn’t know what would happen next. With a Grammy on his shelf and an Oscar nomination for his musical score on Spike Jonze’s “Her,” it seemed like he could do anything — why not Broadway? Now, he’s written and composed the music for “Stereophonic,” a new play that was recently nominated for a record-breaking 13 Tony Awards. Set in the 1970s, it follows a fictional rock band on the cusp of superstardom as they struggle through recording their new album. Will talks to Tom about which moments from the play felt like he was dipping into his own past, how a band’s relationships influence their art, and why it was good he didn’t know anything about ‘70s rock music.
1/1/120 minutes, 42 seconds
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Naomi Jaye: Darkest Miriam & the inner life of a public librarian

After finding Martha Baillie’s Giller Prize-shortlisted novel “The Incident Report” in a Toronto bookstore, Naomi Jaye knew almost instantly that she wanted to adapt it into a film. Now, 14 years later, the award-winning Canadian filmmaker has released her sophomore feature, “Darkest Miriam,” which follows a librarian living through a fog of grief while working in a downtown Toronto Public Library branch. Naomi joins guest host Talia Schlanger to tell us more about the film.
1/1/118 minutes, 50 seconds
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Brittany Howard: Leaving Alabama Shakes, What Now & rehearsing in haunted houses

Brittany Howard’s new album “What Now” is her second solo release since taking a hiatus with her band Alabama Shakes. Now more than ever, the singer-songwriter is 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.
1/1/133 minutes, 44 seconds
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Ian Harnarine: How Trinidadian doubles inspired his film about family legacy

Ian Harnarine is an award-winning Canadian filmmaker who found inspiration for his debut feature film, “Doubles,” in the delicious Trinidadian snack of the same name. The story follows an estranged father and son who are brought back together by difficult circumstances. Ian joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about drawing on his own experiences with his father to make the film, how it challenges clichés about the experience of immigrating to Canada, and what it was like getting Spike Lee’s hand-written notes as a film student at NYU.
1/1/124 minutes, 40 seconds
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Chromeo: Adult Contemporary, growing up & staying funky in your 40s

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 and earn them a Grammy nod along the way. Chromeo drops by to chat with Tom about their new album, “Adult Contemporary,” which poses the question: what does it mean to be funky as you approach middle age?
1/1/124 minutes, 32 seconds
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Quick Q: Randell Adjei on what artists and Olympians share in common

The Summer Olympics in Paris kick off today and right before the opening ceremonies, viewers will be treated to a spoken word piece written by Ontario’s first poet laureate, Randell Adjei. He sits down with Tom in studio to talk about collaborating on the piece with former three-time Olympian Phylicia George, and shares the lessons he thinks everyone can learn from Olympians — even if you plan on spending the summer on your couch.
1/1/111 minutes, 45 seconds
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Noah Kahan: Stick Season, authenticity, TikTok & lying to therapists

Noah Kahan is one of the most successful singer-songwriters in the world right now, but it wasn’t that long ago that he was writing his latest album, “Stick Season,” while isolated on a Vermont farm during the peak of the pandemic. Now, he’s considered the next big thing in music. Noah joins Tom in studio for a conversation about writing the album that would change his life, the power of tapping into his authentic self, and how he’s protected his mental health while on this crazy ride. 
1/1/138 minutes, 39 seconds
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Quick Q: Donovan Woods returns with his 7th studio album

The acclaimed Canadian troubadour Donovan Woods is back with a brand new album, “Things Were Never Good If They’re Not Good Now.” He sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger to set up a new song called “When Our Friends Come Over” (featuring Madi Diaz).
1/1/111 minutes, 59 seconds
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Jelly Roll: From incarceration to country music stardom

Jelly Roll’s origin story isn’t that of the average country singer-songwriter. While growing up in Nashville's Antioch neighbourhood in the ‘90s, Jelly Roll developed an interest in hip-hop music and learned to rap. But from 14 to 25, he began cycling in and out of prison for various offences, including felony charges. In the years since getting out, he’s gone from rapping to singing, ultimately finding a home in country music. Jelly Roll sits down with Tom to share his incredible story.
1/1/140 minutes, 19 seconds
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Karen Robinson: Her starring role on Law & Order Toronto

For more than 30 years, “Law & Order” has taken viewers inside a dramatized version of the American justice system. While the franchise is most notably associated with New York, it’s now come to Toronto with the Canadian spinoff series “Law and Order Toronto: Criminal Intent.” Actor Karen Robinson talks to Tom about her starring role on the show, her love of telling complex stories, and how it feels making her dad proud.
1/1/124 minutes, 56 seconds
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Marigold Santos & Rajni Perera: Their epic new exhibit in Montreal

Two Canadian visual artists, Marigold Santos and Rajni Perera, have come together to create an epic exhibit called “Efflorescence/The Way We Wake” at Montreal's Fondation Phi. The four-floor show includes work by both artists separately as well as pieces they made together. It explores topics like diasporic identity and motherhood through the lens of science fiction and folklore. Marigold and Rajni join guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the exhibit and the trust between them that made it possible.
1/1/117 minutes, 56 seconds
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Keanu Reeves & China Miéville: Their new novel The Book of Elsewhere

Sometime between starring in action movies and touring with his band Dogstar, Keanu Reeves created a comic book series called “BRZRKR.” But he wanted to take the story further, so he called up China Miéville, one of the most prolific speculative fiction authors in the world, and convinced him to collaborate. Now, they’ve released their new novel, “The Book of Elsewhere,” which is based on the series. In this Canadian broadcast exclusive interview, Tom chats with Keanu and China about the book and how they felt about stepping outside of their creative comfort zones.
1/1/122 minutes, 38 seconds
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Qasim Khan: Taking on the role of Hamlet

The Canadian actor Qasim Khan has taken on the coveted role of Hamlet for Canadian Stage’s annual Dream in High Park, which sees him performing in an outdoor amphitheatre to an audience of a thousand people, six times a week. Qasim sits down with Tom to talk about the part, his complicated relationship with the iconic “To be, or not to be” soliloquy, and what this production of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy does a bit differently.
1/1/123 minutes, 55 seconds
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Quick Q: Emily Austin on rewriting parts of the Bible through a queer lens

What’s your relationship like with holy texts? Growing up, the Canadian poet and novelist Emily Austin attended Catholic school and was an altar server, but as she got older, she started questioning how parts of the Bible made her feel as a woman and a queer person. In her new collection of poetry, “Gay Girl Prayers,” she reclaims Catholic prayers and biblical passages by providing alternate versions through a queer and feminist lens. Emily joins Tom to talk about the collection and read a poem from it.
1/1/114 minutes, 4 seconds
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Sarah McLachlan: Fame, stalkers & her biggest hits

Sarah McLachlan is having a big year. Right now, the Grammy-winning Canadian superstar is in the middle of a massive North American tour to celebrate the 30th anniversary of her breakthrough album, “Fumbling Towards Ecstasy.” This September, she’ll also be inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. Sarah joins Tom to talk about being back on the road for the first time in nearly a decade, what she thinks about some of her biggest hits, and why she says her daughters finally think she’s cool.
1/1/136 minutes, 21 seconds
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Elijah Wood: Child stardom & his new movie Bookworm

Elijah Wood has racked up more than 60 TV and film credits over the course of his 35-year career. He made his film debut as a child actor in 1989’s “Back to the Future Part II” and established himself with several lead roles throughout the 1990s. By the early 2000s, he had become a megastar thanks to “The Lord of the Rings” franchise. Elijah’s latest role is in the family-friendly adventure movie “Bookworm,” which follows a washed-up magician who reconnects with his estranged daughter. He tells guest host Talia Schlanger about the film and his past as a child star.
1/1/122 minutes, 3 seconds
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Josh Hartnett: Shedding the heartthrob label

Between 1998 and 2002, Josh Hartnett was an inescapable presence on the big screen. During that time, he became a teen heartthrob with films like “The Virgin Suicides” and “40 Days and 40 Nights,” before catapulting to A-list status in blockbusters like “Pearl Harbor” and “Black Hawk Down.” But then, at the height of his fame, he decided to walk away from Hollywood in search of artistic fulfillment. Now, he’s back in the spotlight with recent roles in “Oppenheimer,” “Black Mirror” and “The Bear.” Josh joins Tom to talk about his relationship with fame and his latest role in M. Night Shyamalan’s new action-packed thriller, “Trap.”
1/1/121 minutes, 8 seconds
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Jasmeet Raina: Overnight internet fame, his Sikh faith & his new show Late Bloomer

From 2009 to 2018, Jasmeet Raina was known online as Jus Reign. His viral videos about being a first generation Indo-Canadian millennial amassed more than 160 million views on YouTube and more than a million fans on Facebook. But one day, with no explanation, Jasmeet decided to walk away from the spotlight. Now, he’s back with a comedy series on Crave called “Late Bloomer.” Jasmeet talks to Tom about his hiatus, representing his Punjabi Sikh culture and faith on screen, and what his relationship with the internet is like now.
1/1/132 minutes, 55 seconds
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Quick Q: Hana Shafi on the power of everyday interactions with strangers

Hana Shafi is a Canadian illustrator, essayist and poet whose new book, “People You Know, Places You've Been,” takes readers on a journey from public transportation to antique stores to waiting rooms, looking at the connections we create with total strangers as we go about our daily lives. Hana speaks with guest host Talia Schlanger about the book and the power of those seemingly mundane interactions. Plus, she reads a poem from the collection.
1/1/112 minutes, 12 seconds
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Quick Q: Zehra Naqvi reads from her debut poetry collection

This past spring, the Canadian writer Zehra Naqvi released her debut poetry collection, “The Knot of My Tongue.” She tells guest host Talia Schlanger about her work, why she’s fascinated by the themes of language and displacement, and how her writing was deeply influenced by the 1947 Partition of India and Pakistan.
1/1/112 minutes, 52 seconds
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Orville Peck: Feeling like an outsider & finding his home in country music

The Canadian country singer Orville Peck has been steadily on the rise since the release of his debut album, “Pony,” in 2019. With the release of his latest album, “Stampede,” Orville sits down with Tom to discuss his career, his decision to take a step back from fame for a bit, and what it was like singing a duet with Willie Nelson.
1/1/133 minutes, 55 seconds
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Quick Q: Bye Parula shares the story behind Q's theme music

If you listen to this podcast regularly, you might be familiar with our theme music. But it's not a track we commissioned for the show, it's actually a song titled “Still Got the Spirit” by the Montreal band Bye Parula. Singer Loïc Calatayud joins Tom to share the story behind the song that's kind of become the soundtrack to our show.
1/1/110 minutes, 13 seconds
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Anne Michaels: Her new novel Held & the unexpected reason she’s so private

Anne Michaels is an award-winning Canadian poet and novelist whose long-awaited third novel, “Held,” has just made the Booker Prize longlist. The story spans 115 years and deals in themes familiar to her work: history, grief and the power of love. Anne tells Tom why it took nearly 15 years to write the novel, why she’s so interested in writing about war, and why she chooses to live an intensely private life.
1/1/132 minutes, 24 seconds
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Alan Doyle: Welcome Home, Great Big Sea’s early days & 30 years in music

Newfoundland’s own Alan Doyle is one of Canada’s great songwriters. He sits down with Tom to celebrate the release of his 20th album, titled “Welcome Home,” and reflects on the early days of his band, Great Big Sea.
1/1/118 minutes, 27 seconds
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Clarence Maclin: From 15 years in Sing Sing to starring in a movie about it

Clarence Maclin spent 15 years as an inmate in Sing Sing Correctional Facility, one of America’s most notorious prisons. Now, he plays himself opposite Colman Domingo and Paul Raci in “Sing Sing,” a new film based on his experience in prison and the transformative theatre program that changed his life. Clarence joins Tom to discuss what it was like stepping back into a prison uniform, how acting helped him find his voice and his purpose, and how he hopes the film will change what you think you know about prisoners.
1/1/121 minutes, 11 seconds
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Shakira: Going to hell and back for her new album

Shakira is back with her first new album in seven years, “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran,” which details her tumultuous breakup with her ex-partner and the father of her two children. She sits down with Tom for a revealing interview about vulnerability, survival and what really matters in her life.
1/1/128 minutes, 43 seconds
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Kenzie Allen: Her complex relationship to figures like Pocahontas

The Haudenosaunee poet Kenzie Allen has a complex relationship to stereotypical Indigenous figures like Tiger Lily and Pocahontas. But in her debut book of poetry, “Cloud Missives,” she doesn’t completely reject these figures outright. Kenzie joins guest host Vivek Shraya to talk about the collection, which is set to come out later this month. She also reads a poem for us, titled “In Which I Become (Tiger Lily).”
1/1/116 minutes, 30 seconds
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Elin Hilderbrand: Why she’s retiring from writing summer beach reads

Elin Hilderbrand is a bestselling romance author who’s been writing about summers on Nantucket for the last two decades. Now, after 30 books, she’s closing this chapter with “Swan Song,” her final novel set on the island. Elin joins Tom to share how her experience going to the most prestigious writing school in North America led her to writing beach reads, how she creates a community through fiction, and why she’s now calling it quits — sort of.
1/1/129 minutes, 52 seconds
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Quick Q: New music from Wild Rivers

The Canadian band Wild Rivers has just released their third album, “Never Better.” Vocalist Devan Glover joins guest host Vivek Shraya to tell us how turning 30 freed her from trying to be cool and shaped the album. Plus, she sets up a song from the record.
1/1/112 minutes, 34 seconds
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Quick Q: New music from Ruby Waters

Ruby Waters is a Canadian singer-songwriter who’s just released her debut full-length album, “What’s the Point.” She joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the record and sets up a song, titled “Bucket.”
1/1/18 minutes, 10 seconds
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Chris Stein: Blondie, his relationship with Debbie Harry & the ugly side of rock 'n' roll

As the co-founder and guitarist of the band Blondie, Chris Stein helped define the sound of American new wave music. But professional success came with serious personal trade-offs. In his new memoir, “Under a Rock,” he shares unvarnished stories about what it was really like to be a rockstar in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Chris joins guest host Talia Schlanger to reflect on that time in his life, from his romance and partnership with Debbie Harry to the sober realization that there’s nothing glamorous about sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll.
1/1/124 minutes, 39 seconds
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Carley Fortune: Leaving journalism to become a romance novelist

Carley Fortune is the Canadian author behind the New York Times bestselling novels “Every Summer After” and “Meet Me at the Lake” (the latter of which is being adapted for Netflix by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle). She talks to Tom about her latest book “This Summer Will Be Different,” what made her leave journalism to pursue being a novelist, and why the romance genre is having a moment right now. 
1/1/124 minutes, 42 seconds
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Tommy Tiernan: Stand-up, Derry Girls & the price of authenticity

The legendary Irish comedian Tommy Tiernan is setting off on a North American tour this fall, with Canadian stops in Toronto, Calgary, Victoria and Vancouver. Ahead of the tour, he joins Tom to talk about his love of stand-up comedy, his role on the hit Netflix show “Derry Girls,” and what it’s like to interview famous people without any preparation.
1/1/136 minutes, 36 seconds
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Vinessa Antoine: Her new role on Plan B

If you could go back in time and change one moment you regret, would you do it? On the new season of the CBC time-travel drama “Plan B,” Canadian actor Vinessa Antoine plays a Montreal police officer who’s faced with that choice. She joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the series and how she took care of herself after telling a pretty dark story.
1/1/119 minutes, 16 seconds
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Michael Mabbott & Lucah Rosenberg-Lee: Jackie Shane’s fascinating story

Michael Mabbott and Lucah Rosenberg-Lee are the directors of a new documentary about the late American R&B singer Jackie Shane. Jackie was a Black trans woman who became popular in Canada after moving to Toronto in the 1960s. She released a single called “Any Other Way” that charted across the country, but in the 1970s, she became a recluse and disappeared from the public eye. Michael and Lucah join Tom to discuss their film “Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story” and how an unreleased song was discovered in Jackie’s house after she passed.
1/1/121 minutes, 54 seconds
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Fede Álvarez: Behind the scenes of Alien: Romulus

Every time a new movie in the “Alien” franchise is released, there’s a ton of anticipation. The Uruguayan filmmaker Fede Álvarez has taken up the gauntlet with his new film, “Alien: Romulus.” Fede sits down with Tom to talk about the legacy of “Alien” and his approach to making this epic sci-fi horror thriller.
1/1/134 minutes, 18 seconds
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Fat Mike: The end of NOFX

Mike Burkett, also known as Fat Mike, is the lead singer and bassist of NOFX, which is not only one of the most influential and successful punk bands of all time, but also one of the longest-serving. They’ve been together for 41 years, but in just a couple months, it will all come to an end when they wrap up the last few shows on their final tour. In this chat with guest host Talia Schlanger, Mike opens up about how it feels to say goodbye, what he regrets, and what he calls his “desperate need for validation.”
1/1/128 minutes, 52 seconds
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Nava Mau: Baby Reindeer, her Emmy nod & her work with LGBTQ+ survivors

You might know Nava Mau as the breakout star of the hit Netflix series “Baby Reindeer,” for which she recently earned an Emmy nomination for outstanding supporting actress. That adds her to a very short list of trans actors to receive an Emmy nod. Nava joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about “Baby Reindeer,” how her work helping LGBTQ+ survivors of violence has made her nomination extra meaningful, and why trans representation is so important.
1/1/123 minutes, 17 seconds
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Sean Wang: How his new film Dìdi puts a spin on the classic coming-of-age story

Sean Wang is an Oscar-nominated filmmaker who’s just released his debut feature film, “Dìdi.” It’s a coming-of-age story in the tradition of movies like “Stand by Me,” but told from the perspective of a young Asian American boy in Northern California. Sean talks to guest host Talia Schlanger about the film, and what he learned about himself and his immigrant mom while making it.
1/1/127 minutes, 45 seconds
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The Beaches: How everything needed to fall apart for everything to come together

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.
1/1/121 minutes, 46 seconds
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Lucky Daye: Pushing the boundaries of R&B

Lucky Daye is typically classified as an R&B musician, but one look at his wide-ranging discography shows that he isn’t so easily defined by genre. The Grammy winner is sought after by some of the biggest names in music, but his path to success wasn’t easy. He grew up in a strict religious household that didn’t allow him to listen to secular music, and at one point, he even ended up homeless. With the release of his new album, “Algorithm,” Lucky joins guest host Talia Schlanger for a career-spanning chat about how his struggles have shaped him as an artist, and how his music intentionally expands the confines of what we expect from R&B musicians.
1/1/124 minutes, 1 second
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MacKenzie Porter: The heartbreak of trying to make it in Nashville

The Canadian country singer MacKenzie Porter grew up on a cattle and bison ranch near Medicine Hat, Alberta. When her brother won “Canadian Idol” in 2004, she learned a lot about the good and bad of the music industry. Now, she’s released a new album, “Nobody’s Born with a Broken Heart,” which explores her struggle to make it in Nashville. MacKenzie sits down with Tom in studio to talk about the record and some of the hard-won lessons she learned in the Music City.
1/1/126 minutes, 2 seconds
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Keysha Freshh: Her new album Pretty Boys Break My Heart

Keysha Freshh has been a trailblazer in the Canadian hip-hop scene for 15 years, which is impressive considering she’s only 31. The Canadian rapper is a solo artist as well as a part of the all-female rap group The Sorority. Now, she’s released her latest solo album, “Pretty Boys Break My Heart,” which examines heartbreak in all its different forms. Keysha sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger to reflect on her career, her new record and what it was like collaborating with her cousin Maestro Fresh Wes.
1/1/124 minutes, 2 seconds
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Josh Ramsay: Marianas Trench, the hero’s journey & Call Me Maybe

Josh Ramsay is the lead singer of the Juno-winning band Marianas Trench (one of Canada’s biggest musical exports during the pop-punk boom of the early aughts). He sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the band's new album, “Haven,” plus, what it was like co-writing Carly Rae Jepsen’s massive hit “Call Me Maybe.”
1/1/124 minutes, 53 seconds
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Kiesza: Her massive hit Hideaway & the traumatic brain injury that halted her career

Kiesza is the Canadian singer behind the massive dance hit “Hideaway,” which launched her career back in 2014. That song took her from being an unknown artist to performing at London’s Wembley Stadium, appearing on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” and winning three Juno Awards. But everything came to a halt in 2017 when Kiesza was in a car accident that left her with a traumatic brain injury. She joins Tom in studio to tell us the story behind “Hideaway” and how she learned to make music again after her accident.
1/1/124 minutes, 37 seconds
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Anna Marie Tendler: Her new memoir & leaving John Mulaney out of it

Anna Marie Tendler is a multidisciplinary artist known for her evocative self-portraits that explore grief and isolation. In 2021, following her high-profile divorce with comedian John Mulaney, Anna checked herself into a psychiatric facility, seeking treatment for self-harm and suicidal ideation. She details that experience in her new memoir, “Men Have Called Her Crazy,” which is her reintroduction to the world as an artist on her own terms. Anna joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about her mental health journey, how photography kept her grounded and why she chose to leave her ex-husband out of the book.
1/1/129 minutes, 7 seconds
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Luna Li: Her dreamy new album When A Thought Grows Wings

Luna Li is a Canadian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who found fame during lockdown when videos of her bedroom jam sessions went viral. Now, she’s back with her second album, “When A Thought Grows Wings,” which tells the story of a transitional moment in her life. Luna joins guest host Talia Schlanger to reflect on her career, her latest record and what it was like performing on “Saturday Night Live.”
1/1/119 minutes, 5 seconds
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Tom Selleck: His “accidental” acting career, Magnum, P.I. & Friends

Tom Selleck has been on Hollywood’s A-list since bursting onto “Magnum, P.I.” in the early ‘80s. By the end of that decade, he had reached a whole new level of fame with massive box office hits like “Three Men and a Baby.” More recently, he’s become known for his role as NYPD commissioner Frank Reagan on “Blue Bloods.” Now, Tom has released a new memoir called “You Never Know.” He joins Tom Power to talk about his journey in acting, the hurdles he faced and the lessons he learned on his way to stardom.  
1/1/125 minutes, 39 seconds
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Jovanni Sy: Revisiting Arthur Miller’s Chinese staging of Death of a Salesman

In 1983, in the midst of the Cold War, Arthur Miller went to China to direct a Mandarin version of his famous play “Death of a Salesman.” Despite some hurdles, the production ended up being a touchstone moment in Chinese-American cultural relations. Now, a new play called "Salesman in China" tells the story of the American playwright's incredibly high-stakes collaboration with the Chinese artist Ying Ruocheng. Jovanni Sy, the director and co-writer of "Salesman in China," joins guest host Talia Schlanger to tell us more.
1/1/125 minutes, 39 seconds
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Quick Q: Bibi Club on their creative and romantic partnership

Bibi Club is the musical project of Adèle Trottier-Rivard and Nic Basque, who are partners in life and music. Their first album, “Le soleil et la mer,” was longlisted for the 2023 Polaris Prize. Now, they're back with a new record, “Feu de garde.” Adèle and Nic join Tom to talk about their partnership and what their band name has to do with the three kids they have running around their house. 
1/1/111 minutes, 47 seconds
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Sheryl Crow: How AI is crushing the spirit of music

Sheryl Crow has sold more than 50 million albums, won nine Grammy Awards, and inspired countless songwriters and artists to follow in her footsteps. Earlier this year, she released her 11th studio album, “Evolution.” Sheryl joins Tom to share her concerns around artificial intelligence and how they inspired the title track on her new album, why she uses her music to raise awareness for global issues, and the story behind her massive hit “All I Wanna Do.”
1/1/136 minutes, 34 seconds
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Karan Aujla: Overcoming tragedy to become a history-making global superstar

Ten years after immigrating to Canada from India, the rapper and singer Karan Aujla made history as the first Punjabi artist to ever win a Juno Award. But he was a global superstar well before then, topping the charts with his blend of Punjabi music over hip-hop and trap beats. Now, Karan has dropped his latest EP, “Four Me,” and Apple Music has named him the latest addition to its global Up Next program. Karan talks to Tom about his rise to fame, why Canada is a hub for Punjabi hip-hop, and the childhood losses that pushed him towards songwriting.
1/1/134 minutes, 22 seconds
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Mattea Roach: Jeopardy! and their new gig as the host of Bookends

There’s a new podcast and radio show coming to CBC Books. It’s called “Bookends” and it’s hosted by Mattea Roach, the Canadian “Jeopardy!” champion who held a 23-game winning streak a few years ago. They sit down with Tom to talk about the new show and what they’re most looking forward to, plus, the correct strategy for wagering on a Daily Double.
1/1/117 minutes, 30 seconds
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Matt Johnson: BlackBerry & the future of Canadian film

We revisit Tom’s conversation with “Blackberry” director Matt Johnson. He talks about his path from guerilla filmmaker to Hollywood darling, why the story of Blackberry is so Canadian, and why his mission in life is to inspire young filmmakers to stay in Canada and make great films.
1/1/125 minutes, 14 seconds
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Lisa Loeb: Her new kids’ album & 30 years of Stay (I Missed You)

The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb is back with her latest children’s album, “That's What It's All About,” which is a collaboration with the family-friendly folk band The Hollow Trees. Lisa joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the record, how it’s inspired by her own childhood, plus, 30 years of the song that first put her on the map — “Stay (I Missed You).”
1/1/125 minutes
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Dua Lipa: Radical Optimism, leaving bad relationships & music as a mantra

We revisit Tom’s conversation with Grammy-winning pop superstar Dua Lipa. A few months ago, he joined her in New York to discuss her latest album, “Radical Optimism.” In this special conversation, Dua talks about shifting her sound and her mindset, music as therapy, and turning bad dates into catchy pop songs.
1/1/135 minutes, 53 seconds
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Nina Lee Aquino: Her haunting new play Snow in Midsummer

A woman who’s been wrongly accused of murder — and is sentenced to be executed — curses the town that did it to her. This is the story told in the play “Snow in Midsummer,” directed by Nina Lee Aquino. Nina joins guest host Vivek Shraya to tell us why she was drawn to this 13th century play and why it still resonates today.
1/1/116 minutes, 8 seconds
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Dan Levy: Living with self-doubt & breaking expectations after Schitt's Creek

For his debut feature film, Dan Levy wrote and directed a story about grief, aptly titled “Good Grief.” We revisit Tom’s conversation with Dan about the real-life grief that inspired the film and how he pushed through the negative voice in his head.
1/1/134 minutes, 45 seconds
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Queen Priyanka: The queen is back with her debut album Devastatia

You may know Priyanka as the winner of “Canada’s Drag Race” Season 1 or, if you grew up in Canada, you may remember her as kids show host Mark Suki on YTV’s “The Zone.” Priyanka has just released her debut full-length album, “Devastatia,” which she calls a love letter to anyone who feels like they don’t fit in. She sits down with guest host Vivek Shraya to talk about the record and learning to believe in herself.
1/1/117 minutes, 19 seconds
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Ethan and Maya Hawke: Flannery O'Connor, ambition & the writer's controversial legacy

Earlier this year, the father-daughter duo Ethan and Maya Hawke teamed up for the film “Wildcat,” which follows the life of writer Flannery O'Connor while she was struggling to publish her first novel. We revisit Tom’s conversation with Ethan and Maya about their collaboration.
1/1/122 minutes, 44 seconds
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Valley: Making their most authentic album yet

The Canadian band Valley has racked up more than a billion streams, a couple Juno nominations and a few viral hits on TikTok. But somewhere along the way, the band started to feel that authenticity was taking a back seat in their music. Valley’s Karah James and Rob Laska sit down with Tom to talk about tapping into their true selves for their latest record, “Water the Flowers, Pray for a Garden.”
1/1/126 minutes, 12 seconds
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RZA: Wu-Tang Clan and his debut classical album

As a founding member of the legendary rap crew Wu-Tang Clan, RZA revolutionized hip-hop with his ear for experimentation — not to mention raw lyricism, grimy beats and countless kung-fu references. Though he didn’t initially think of himself as a composer, RZA has leaned into the title in recent years, scoring movies like Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill” and Jim Jarmusch's “Ghost Dog.” He talks to Tom about his first album of orchestral music, “A Ballet Through Mud,” and gaining the confidence to call himself a composer.
1/1/131 minutes, 44 seconds
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Boman Martinez-Reid: Why he’s testing out every genre of reality TV

Boman Martinez-Reid went viral on TikTok for his funny and pointed parodies of the Kardashians and other reality TV stars, but he always dreamed of being an actor. On his new Crave original series, “Made For TV,” he finally takes a step toward realizing that dream. Each episode sees Boman try out a new genre of reality TV (including dating, drag, cooking and even sports broadcasting) to find out which one fits him. He sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the show and what makes reality TV so memeable.
1/1/121 minutes, 25 seconds
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Amber-Sekowan Daniels: Telling a coming-of-age story through an Indigenous lens

Amber-Sekowan Daniels is the creator of the new Crave series “Don't Even,” which follows two best friends in late ‘90s Winnipeg as they face uncertain futures after high school. Amber joins guest host Vivek Shraya to reminisce about the ‘90s, talk about what inspired the show, and what advice she’d give her younger self.
1/1/117 minutes, 36 seconds
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Dame Evelyn Glennie: Why she wants to teach the world to listen

Dame Evelyn Glennie is the only deaf musician to ever win a Grammy (which she’s done twice) and the first person to create and sustain a full-time career as a solo percussionist. Her new album, “Another Noise,” is a collaboration with the Jamaican British poet Raymond Antrobus, who’s also deaf. Evelyn talks to Tom about the record, how she learned to listen with her whole body, and why it’s her life mission to teach the world to listen.
1/1/135 minutes, 6 seconds
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Tim Burton: Making Beetlejuice’s long-awaited sequel

As a visionary director and self-professed loner, Tim Burton has spent decades channelling the angst and loneliness he felt as a child into hit movies like “Edward Scissorhands” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” But it was his outlandish 1988 movie “Beetlejuice” that set his career into motion and proved to Hollywood that being weird was an asset, not a problem. Now, 36 years after the original “Beetlejuice,” the film’s long-awaited sequel, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” has finally hit theatres. Tim joins guest host Talia Schlanger to discuss the new movie, how it helped him rediscover his love of filmmaking after a creative slump, and his on-again, off-again relationship with Disney.
1/1/120 minutes, 46 seconds
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Catherine O'Hara: Moira Rose and Delia Deetz walk into a room…

Thirty-six years ago, Catherine O'Hara stepped onto a movie set and fell in love with a production designer who would later become her future husband. The movie was a dark fantasy comedy called “Beetlejuice,” directed by a then-fledgling filmmaker named Tim Burton. After the film’s release, both she and Burton became household names. Now, a sequel called “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” has just hit theatres. Catherine joins guest host Talia Schlanger to reflect on how the original film changed her life, what it was like reprising her role as the eccentric Delia Deetz in the new sequel, and the similarities between Delia and her iconic “Schitt's Creek” character Moira Rose.
1/1/120 minutes, 19 seconds
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k.d. lang: How she broke the mold of country music

Though she’s been called Canada’s original cowboy punk, k.d. lang has had a long and complex relationship with country music. When she got her start as a singer in Edmonton, she didn’t fit the mold of who people thought a country artist should be. Now, k.d. is being inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. She sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger to reflect on her history with the genre, from her early days channelling Patsy Cline to her thoughts on country music today.
1/1/126 minutes, 10 seconds
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Paula Abdul: Music video history, Janet Jackson & American Idol

In the late ‘80s, Paula Abdul helped define what a pop star could be, from dance to music to performance. If you were watching music videos at that time, you would have seen her on your screen. If you weren’t around for that, you may remember her as one of the original judges on “American Idol” from 2002 to 2009. Paula sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger to reflect on how she was discovered by the Jackson family, what it was like choreographing for some of the biggest superstars in the world while she was still a cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers, and her philosophy as a mentor.
1/1/125 minutes, 13 seconds
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Yann Martel: Life of Pi and the case for being a bit less reasonable

Yann Martel’s Booker Prize-winning novel “Life of Pi” has been adapted into a Tony award-winning play that’s on stage now in Toronto. The bestselling Canadian author joins Tom to reflect on how the story came to be, his discovery about art and religion that brought him “back to life,” and why he wants to push you to be a bit less reasonable.
1/1/125 minutes, 28 seconds
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MJ Lenderman: Blending humour and sadness on his new album

Since releasing his critically acclaimed album “Boat Songs” in 2022, the singer-songwriter MJ Lenderman, also known as Jake Lenderman, has been getting a lot of attention. Now, he’s back with his much-anticipated fourth solo album, “Manning Fireworks.” MJ joins Tom to talk about the record and what it’s like to deal with the heightened expectations that come with success.
1/1/121 minutes, 55 seconds
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Quick Q: Enuka Okuma on her film Out Come the Wolves

In the new film “Out Come the Wolves,” all of our greatest fears about being stranded — and hunted — in the wilderness come to life. The Canadian writer, director and actor Enuka Okuma wrote the screenplay. She joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about tapping into fear to create this movie.
1/1/114 minutes, 47 seconds
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Oliver Jones: A Canadian jazz legend turns 90

The Canadian jazz pianist Oliver Jones turns 90 today. Tom visits Oliver at his home in Montreal to talk about his legacy in Canadian music, his relationship with his hero and role model Oscar Peterson, the time he played for Nelson Mandela, and what the secret is to continuing to play music in your 90s. 
1/1/137 minutes, 43 seconds
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The Tragically Hip: A new doc gives an inside look at the band’s rise to fame

The Tragically Hip have been called the most Canadian band in the world. Now, a new four-part documentary series called “The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal” gives the most extensive look into the band ever put on screen. It’s directed by filmmaker Mike Downie, who’s the older brother of The Hip’s late frontman, Gord Downie. The series kicked off the Toronto International Film Festival in advance of its Prime Video debut next week. Mike along with band members Johnny Fay and Gord Sinclair sit down with Tom to talk about it.
1/1/132 minutes, 54 seconds
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Quick Q: Caity Gyorgy breaks down her approach to scatting

Caity Gyorgy is a Juno-winning jazz singer who’s originally from Calgary. Earlier this month, she released a new album, titled “Hello! How Are You?” Caity joins Tom in the Q studio to talk about the record and her approach to scatting, plus, she sets up a song for us.
1/1/116 minutes, 52 seconds
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Chloë Sevigny: Why she never let her It Girl status define her

What’s the cost of being cool? Back in the ‘90s and early ‘00s there was no one cooler than Chloë Sevigny, the ultimate It Girl. She was an in-demand model and actor who was known for her unique eye for fashion as well as for starring in indie films that are now considered cult classics. Chloë sits down with Tom to talk about that time in her life and how being cool affected her career, plus her latest film, "Bonjour Tristesse,” which just had its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. 
1/1/123 minutes, 49 seconds
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Matthew Rankin: Universal Language combines classic Iranian cinema with Winnipeg

Matthew Rankin is a Canadian director whose new film “Universal Language” has just been selected as Canada's pick for best international feature film at the 2025 Oscars. It’s set in an alternate version of Winnipeg where Canada’s two official languages are French and Farsi, not English. Matthew drops by the Q studio to chat with Tom about his vision for this film that he directed and starred in.
1/1/126 minutes, 55 seconds
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Quick Q: New music from Softcult

The Canadian twin siblings Phoenix and Mercedes Arn-Horn went from playing in the super successful band Courage My Love to moving in an entirely different direction as Softcult. They sit down with Tom to set up a song from their latest EP, “Heaven.”
1/1/113 minutes, 28 seconds
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Kate Hudson: Aging and self-image, Almost Famous & her foray into music

Kate Hudson was raised by Hollywood royalty: Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. When she was growing up, they told her that if she wanted to be an actor it had to be because of something deep inside her — not just for fame and fortune. Her latest role is in Max Minghella’s “Shell,” which is all about the extreme measures actors will take to stay young. Kate sits down with Tom for a conversation about that film, her Hollywood upbringing, her Oscar-nominated role in “Almost Famous,” and why these days she's making music.
1/1/137 minutes, 18 seconds
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Kathryn Hahn: Her path from theatre kid to comedy best friend to Marvel star

Kathryn Hahn got her start in film playing memorable supporting roles in comedies like “Anchorman,” “Stepbrothers” and “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.” Now, she stars in the new Marvel series “Agatha All Along,” which sees her reprise her role as the powerful witch Agatha Harkness from “WandaVision.” Kathryn sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger in the Q studio to talk about that role and her hilarious life as a performer.
1/1/130 minutes, 36 seconds
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Cody Lightning: From being a child actor in Smoke Signals to making a mockumentary about it

Twenty-five years after playing Little Victor in the 1998 coming-of-age drama “Smoke Signals,” Cody Lightning is all grown up and back with his directorial debut. It's a mockumentary, titled “Hey, Viktor!,” which follows a fictionalized version of himself trying to make a sequel to the cult classic film he acted in as a child. Cody joins Tom from Edmonton to talk about his gritty new Indigenous comedy, how his idea for the film began as a running joke with his friends, and how he looks back on his time as a child actor.
1/1/120 minutes, 47 seconds
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Quick Q: T. Thomason is telling his truth and confronting transphobia through song

T. Thomason is a singer-songwriter from Nova Scotia who has a lot to say about how the music industry treats trans artists. Now, he’s opening up with a new single called “True” off his forthcoming album, “Tenderness.” T. sits down with Tom to talk about the song, and how it’s opened up new conversations and made him feel empowered.
1/1/113 minutes, 44 seconds
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Miranda Lambert: Postcards from Texas and why losing is sometimes for the best

After more than 20 years in the music business, country superstar Miranda Lambert is coming home. Her new record, “Postcards from Texas,” is a love letter to where her career started. She joins Tom to talk about the album, her musical homecoming, and why losing the reality singing competition show “Nashville Star” was a blessing in disguise.
1/1/135 minutes, 35 seconds
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Mick Jackson: Threads at 40 — his realistic imagining of nuclear annihilation

Forty years ago, director Mick Jackson released a film titled “Threads” that’s been called the scariest movie ever made. But rather than featuring ghosts and monsters, it realistically and disturbingly portrays what would happen in the event of a nuclear apocalypse. Mick joins guest host Talia Schlanger to discuss the film's legacy, why he wanted to scare his audience with the truth, and how he went on to direct one of the biggest romances in movie history: Whitney Houston's “The Bodyguard.”
1/1/125 minutes, 23 seconds
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Joseph Kahn: Ick, music videos & the magic of ’80s horror flicks

Acclaimed music video director Joseph Kahn has worked with everyone from the Backstreet Boys to Taylor Swift. Now, he’s expanded into feature films. His new creature feature “Ick” is a horror-comedy that just had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Joseph joins Tom to talk about the movie, what inspired it, and his prolific career directing music videos.
1/1/125 minutes, 9 seconds
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Omar Apollo: God Said No, his acting debut & hot sauce

After a crazy few years, Omar Apollo is back with his sophomore album, “God Said No,” which was inspired by a bad breakup. He sits down with Tom for the second time to talk about turning his sadness into music, making his acting debut in Luca Guadagnino’s film “Queer,” and launching a new hot sauce.
1/1/133 minutes, 35 seconds
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Quick Q: Jim Bryson on getting The Tragically Hip to rehearse + his new music

Jim Bryson is one of the most in-demand side musicians in Canada. He joins Tom to share a great story about briefly joining The Tragically Hip and sets up a new song for us, titled “Who’s There.”
1/1/113 minutes, 51 seconds
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Eve: Her new memoir, Ruff Ryders & hip-hop's double standard

At the height of her fame in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, Eve seemed to have it all: stadium tours, a clothing line, and collaborations with the likes of Prince, Missy Elliott and Gwen Stefani. But in her new memoir, “Who’s That Girl?,” she tells the story of what was actually going on behind the scenes. Eve joins Tom to talk about some of the major highlights of her career, the negative side effects of fame, and the hip-hop industry’s double standard.
1/1/125 minutes, 23 seconds
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Stephan Moccio: How isolating in the woods helped him make his best music yet

Stephan Moccio is a Los Angeles-based Canadian pianist and songwriter who’s co-written tracks for artists like Miley Cyrus, the Weeknd and Celine Dion. Now, he’s back in Canada touring his new solo piano album, “Legends, Myths and Lavender.” Stephan drops by the Q studio to talk to Tom about the record, why he chose to make it in rural France, and the value of keeping things simple. 
1/1/128 minutes, 23 seconds
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Maisy Stella: My Old Ass

The Canadian actor and singer Maisy Stella stars alongside Aubrey Plaza in “My Old Ass.” It’s a new coming-of-age movie about a teenager named Elliott who comes face-to-face with her 39-year-old self during a mushroom trip on her 18th birthday. Maisy joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about her big-screen debut, what it’s like playing someone going through a major transition, and how she manifested her role in this movie.
1/1/118 minutes, 57 seconds
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Elliot Page and Dominic Savage: Improvising a film about coming home

The Canadian actor Elliot Page (Inception, Juno, The Umbrella Academy) and the British director Dominic Savage (I Am…) have come together to make “Close to You,” a powerful new drama about a young trans man who’s headed home to see his family for the first time in years. Elliot and Dominic join Tom to talk about the film and why it meant so much to them.
1/1/125 minutes, 13 seconds
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Steven Soderbergh: Making a haunted house thriller from the ghost’s POV

The Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh (Erin Brockovich, Ocean's Eleven, Magic Mike) has taken on the horror genre with his latest film, “Presence.” It’s a paranormal thriller with a twist in that it’s shot from the point-of-view of a housebound spirit. In this career-spanning chat, Steven looks back on his filmography and explains how moving into a house with its own spirit influenced his new movie.
1/1/135 minutes, 55 seconds
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Chris Abraham: Why Rosmersholm — a political drama from 1886 — feels so timely

In the 1886 play “Rosmersholm,” written by the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, an increasingly polarized country leads to an increasingly polarized election that begins to tear a household apart. Now, a critically-acclaimed adaptation, directed by Chris Abraham, is being staged at Crow’s Theatre in Toronto. Chris sits down with Tom to talk about what this politically-charged play can teach us about the upcoming elections in the U.S. and Canada.
1/1/117 minutes, 3 seconds
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Liane Moriarty: What would you do if someone predicted your death?

The Australian author Liane Moriarty (Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers) is known for writing bestselling novels that tackle big questions. Her new book, “Here One Moment,” looks at fate and whether it’s something we can change or even avoid. Liane talks to Tom about the cancer scare that shaped her own thoughts on fate, how her dad gave her $1.00 to write her first novel, and how she blocks out the pressure that comes with success.
1/1/124 minutes, 17 seconds
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Lucius: Why these two best friends re-recorded their breakout album

Lead vocalists Holly Laessig and Jess Wolfe of the indie pop band Lucius are used to being confused for twins. Not only do these inseparable best friends dress alike, but their voices blend together in perfect harmony. Now, they’ve re-recorded their breakout album, “Wildewoman,” to recreate the spark and energy of their early career. Holly and Jess join Tom to talk about the album, their friendship, and what they learned singing backup for Joni Mitchell.
1/1/120 minutes, 26 seconds
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Marek Tyler: How his family — past and present — became his musical collaborators

Marek Tyler of the indie rock band nêhiyawak has just released his debut solo album, “Asko.” He joins Tom to talk about his process of using traditional nêhiyaw ceremony to make the record, what he learned by slowing down and shedding his ego, and the story behind his new single “wâhkôhtowin.”
1/1/119 minutes, 9 seconds
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Francis Ford Coppola: Megalopolis and becoming Michael Corleone

As a filmmaker, Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather, Apocalypse Now) is legendary for his vision, drive and propensity to risk it all. Now, he’s put it all on the line once again for his latest film, “Megalopolis” — a Roman epic set against the backdrop of New York City. In this wide-ranging interview, the acclaimed auteur tells us why he doesn’t want “Megalopolis” to be called a passion project, how making his masterpiece “The Godfather” turned his life upside down, and why he always ends up becoming the characters in his films.
1/1/130 minutes, 53 seconds
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Dr. Shirley Cheechoo: Why overcoming the residential school legacy is the job of warriors

Dr. Shirley Cheechoo is one of Canada’s most prominent voices in Indigenous film and theatre. At the annual Weengushk International Film Festival this past July, Dr. Cheechoo gave back to her community with a special event called Blanket of Stars: A Tribute to Resilience, dedicated to Canada’s residential school survivors — or as she calls them, residential school warriors. Dr. Cheechoo joins Tom to talk about her life on stage and screen, and what art can and can’t do when it comes to healing.
1/1/138 minutes, 4 seconds
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Nemahsis: Why her label dropped her & her music video in the West Bank

Back in July, the Palestinian Canadian singer-songwriter Nemah Hasan, a.k.a. Nemahsis, sat down with Tom to talk about her forthcoming debut album, “Verbathim.” The record was originally supposed to come out last year, but then she says her label unexpectedly dropped her. Now, with “Verbathim” finally out in the world, we revisit Nemah’s conversation with Tom where she explains exactly what happened in her own words.
1/1/120 minutes, 18 seconds
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Nuno Bettencourt: The secret to a great guitar solo

For four decades, Nuno Bettencourt has been the lead guitarist and songwriter for the band Extreme. His style is so distinct that generations of guitar players have tried to sound just like him. In this career-spanning conversation, Nuno talks to Tom about Extreme, why a great guitar solo has nothing to do with how fast you can play or how proficient you are, and why Eddie Van Halen is his hero.
1/1/130 minutes, 29 seconds
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Liza Colón-Zayas: Finding family and stability on The Bear

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. Liza joins Tom to talk about the scarcity and struggle she had to overcome on her path to success, how her setbacks continue to shape her as an artist, and how as an actor you can feel invisible as you age.
1/1/123 minutes, 3 seconds
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Leif Vollebekk: How he literally dreamt up his new album

Back in 2020, the Canadian singer-songwriter Leif Vollebekk found himself with a lot of extra time to think about the direction of his life and music. During that time, he allowed himself the space to dream, both figuratively and literally. Those dreams became the foundation of his new album, “Revelation.” Leif joins Tom to talk about the record and what he learned from reading Carl Jung’s “Memories, Dreams, Reflections.” 
1/1/124 minutes, 6 seconds
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Ezra Koenig: Vampire Weekend is all grown up

Lead singer Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend has been called a generational voice in indie rock. From the band’s iconic first singles “A-Punk” and “Oxford Comma” to their acclaimed follow-up albums “Contra” and “Modern Vampires of the City,” their music defined the mid-‘00s for millions of people. Now, Vampire Weekend is back with their fifth album, “Only God Was Above Us.” Ezra joins Tom in the Q studio to talk about the new record, the early days of the band, and what it’s like having Quincy Jones for a father-in-law.
1/1/134 minutes, 2 seconds
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Quick Q: How meditation helped Dylan Sinclair make his debut album

Toronto’s Dylan Sinclair is a rising star on the Canadian R&B scene. Last year, he and singer Savannah Ré won a Juno for their collaboration, "Last One." Now, he’s released his highly anticipated debut album, “For the Boy In Me,” which is some of his most honest and vulnerable music yet. Dylan sits down with Tom to talk about the record, and how meditation and self-discovery tie into his sound. 
1/1/113 minutes, 9 seconds
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Carrie-Anne Moss: The Matrix and her new movie about a zombie-like pandemic

After years of struggling with auditions, the Canadian actor Carrie-Anne Moss landed the role of a lifetime playing Trinity in “The Matrix.” In her latest movie, “Die Alone,” she plays Mae, a hardened and eccentric survivor of a pandemic that’s caused a zombie-like outbreak. Carrie-Ann talks to Tom about the film, how “The Matrix” changed her life, and how she managed to maneuver fame and the Hollywood system after getting that breakthrough role.
1/1/122 minutes, 39 seconds
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Kelsey Grammer: Why Frasier is more than just his most famous role

For many of his fans, Kelsey Grammer is inseparable from his character Dr. Frasier Crane, who first appeared on “Cheers” and later got his own spin-off, “Frasier.” Last year, the actor reprised the role in a reboot of “Frasier” that’s now in its second season. But Kelsey’s connection to his most famous character runs deeper than simple nostalgia. He opens up about how the cast of “Frasier” became his family after he suffered several personal tragedies, why he didn’t always feel welcomed on “Cheers,” and how he ended up voicing Sideshow Bob on “The Simpsons.”
1/1/124 minutes, 51 seconds
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Nickelback: the band’s early days, being parodied and the evolution of its identity

When Nickelback released its 10th studio album, “Get Rollin',” lead singer Chad Kroeger and guitarist Ryan Peake sat down with Tom to talk about the band's induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the people who backed them from day one, and the song that launched a thousand memes: “Photograph.”
38 minutes, 48 seconds
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How staying true to herself helped Zalika Reid-Benta become an award-winning author

The author Zalika Reid-Benta was only 28 when she took the book industry by storm. Her debut book, “Frying Plantain,” was longlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize. But here’s the thing: Zalika almost didn’t finish that book after some initial feedback deemed the manuscript “too Jamaican” and “too Canadian.” Now, she’s back with her second book and debut novel, “River Mumma” — a fantasy that unequivocally pays homage to her roots. She talks to Tom about her new novel and how her unwavering commitment to her roots paid off.
20 minutes, 28 seconds
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Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie thought her writing was "too dark" for a children's book — here's what changed her mind

Known as one of the most influential writers in the world, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s work has found its way into Beyoncé songs and multiple TED Talks. She’s challenged her readers to reflect on colourism in North America (“Americanah”), equality (“We Should All Be Feminists”), and even death (“Notes on Grief”). Now, she’s reflecting on family in her first children’s book, “Mama’s Sleeping Scarf,”written under the alias Nwa Grace-James. Chimamanda tells Tom how her late parents inspired her new alias, why she thought her style of writing would never make for a good children’s book, and how she’s dealt with rejection in her career.
30 minutes, 50 seconds
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Emma Seligman “just wanted to make a teen sex comedy with queer girls” front and centre

The director Emma Seligman’s “Bottoms” is an unabashedly queer romp starring Ayo Edebiri (The Bear) and Rachel Sennott (Shiva Baby, Bodies Bodies Bodies). They play high school best friends who hatch a scheme to win their cheerleader crushes by starting an all-girl fight club. Emma tells Tom about making the new no holds barred teen comedy.
24 minutes, 51 seconds
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Maria Bamford on her new memoir and why she makes jokes about mental illness

The comic and actor Maria Bamford is well known for taking taboo subjects — like OCD, suicidal ideation and anxiety — and placing them at the heart of her comedy. But the joke isn’t that these things are funny, what’s funny is how she frames her own experience struggling with her mental health. With a new memoir out, Maria joins Tom to talk about her mental health journey, what attracts her to “cults,” and the comfort of having a rigid belief system.
36 minutes, 37 seconds
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How a complicated relationship with his dad inspired Raymond Antrobus's new poem

The poet Raymond Antrobus is back with his second spoken word album, “An Investigator (of Missing Sounds).” Raymond tells Tom about how being a new dad affected his ability to write, and how his own relationship with his father made it onto the album. He also sets up one of his new poems, “The Perseverance.”
14 minutes, 51 seconds
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Pamela Anderson on taking her story back

Over the years, Pamela Anderson’s story has seemingly been told by everyone but herself. Earlier this year, she decided to take back authorship of her life with a memoir (“Love, Pamela”) and Netflix documentary (“Pamela, A Love Story”). Pam sat down with Tom in studio to share her story in her own words and set the record straight.
35 minutes, 40 seconds
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How working in the world of magic made bestselling author Cherie Dimaline a better writer

Cherie Dimaline is an award-winning author who seems to move effortlessly between labels like “young adult” and “literary fiction.” She talks to Tom about finding inspiration everywhere — from cemeteries to Pinterest boards — and mining some of her own experiences for her latest YA novel, “Funeral Songs for Dying Girls.”
18 minutes, 59 seconds
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Why Debby Friday had to get sober to make her best work

Debby Friday’s debut album, “Good Luck,” has been shortlisted for Canada’s prestigious Polaris Music Prize. She talks to Tom about the record, the influence that Montreal’s club culture had on her, and how sobriety changed her life and art.
23 minutes, 19 seconds
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Shania Twain on the moments that made her + King Cruff’s new music and having Bob Marley as your grandfather

For decades, Shania Twain has been inspiring fans with empowering anthems like “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” and “That Don’t Impress Me Much.” Tom spoke with Shania back when the documentary about her life, “Not Just a Girl,” came out on Netflix. Shania talks about her humble beginnings in Timmins, Ontario, and the hard lessons she's learned about life and love. Plus, it’s hard to pin down King Cruff’s music as it seamlessly blends hip-hop, dancehall, Afrobeats and reggae. London, Ontario’s King Cruff will tell you about his hit single “Soufflé” and how his grandfather, reggae legend Bob Marley, has influenced his approach to music and life.
47 minutes, 31 seconds
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From anonymity to playing arenas: Tony Wolski on the mystery of The Armed

For years, The Armed has been a highly acclaimed band that’s somehow kept their individual identities a secret. For the first time ever, they’ve come clean about who’s actually in the band, which turns out to have included more than 100 artists over the years. The big reveal is accompanied by the release of a new album, “Perfect Saviors.” Creative director and singer Tony Wolski talks to Tom about why now was the right time to unmask the group and release the arena rock record of the year.
28 minutes, 31 seconds
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Why Peter Berg made a TV show about OxyContin

Peter Berg, the creator of the hit TV show “Friday Night Lights,” is back with his latest series “Painkiller,” a gut-wrenching and relentless look at the opioid crisis and the role of Purdue Pharma, the makers of OxyContin. Peter breaks down the path from drugs made in labs to marketers, to doctors, to patients, and why he decided to feature actual testimonials from the families of overdose victims in the series.
30 minutes, 16 seconds
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Tim McGraw on sobriety, meeting his dad in his teens, Taylor Swift and his new album

Tim McGraw, one of the biggest country stars on earth, is back with his 16th studio album, “Standing Room Only.” Tim talks to Tom about his career, meeting his dad for the first time as a teenager, and how he knew Taylor Swift was going to be big the first time he met her.
36 minutes, 7 seconds
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Feist on Multitudes, motherhood & memories + Charlotte Cardin performs “Next To You”

Singer-songwriter Feist on her latest album, “Multitudes,” what it was like becoming a new mom during the pandemic, and how her life changed after her song “1234” was featured in an iPod commercial in 2007. Plus, Charlotte Cardin performs “Next to You” off her Juno-winning sophomore album, “99 Nights.”
39 minutes, 22 seconds
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Hip-Hop Week: bbno$ & Yung Gravy a.k.a. Baby Gravy

Yung Gravy and bbno$’s friendship all started with a SoundCloud DM, and now the viral rappers are headlining major festivals together around the world. They sit down with Tom to talk about their humble beginnings, supporting each other from day one, and their third studio album, “Baby Gravy 3.”
18 minutes, 11 seconds
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Hip-Hop Week: Saweetie doesn't care about making a hit song

Saweetie (Icy Grl, Best Friend, My Type) is one of the biggest rappers in the world with three consecutive No. 1 songs, a Grammy nomination and a new album on the way. She tells Tom about growing up surrounded by hip-hop, how she rejected job offers to pursue her dreams and why, despite a great track record, she never enters the recording studio in pursuit of a hit.
21 minutes, 32 seconds
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Hip-Hop Week: Legendary choreographer Buddha Stretch on the evolution of hip-hop dance

Buddha Stretch has left an indelible mark on hip-hop dance since “breakin'” (get it?) onto the scene decades ago. He's worked with everyone from Eric B. & Rakim to Will Smith, and pop legends like Mariah Carey and Michael Jackson. Buddha Stretch talks to Tom about his life in dance, how he approaches hip-hop from a Buddhist standpoint of balance, and what keeps him so passionate for the craft after all these years.
33 minutes, 56 seconds
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Hip-Hop Week: Michie Mee on breaking ground as a woman MC in hip-hop’s early days

Michie Mee's impact on Canadian music and culture can’t be overstated. She was the first Canadian hip-hop artist to get signed to an American record label, which created a gateway for other Canadian rappers to enter the U.S. hip-hop market. In the process, she proved that Canada is a strong contender in the genre. Michie Mee joins Tom to talk about being one of the only woman MCs in hip-hop’s early days, blending her Jamaican roots with her music, and the challenges of creating a hip-hop career in Canada.
15 minutes, 20 seconds
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Hip-Hop Week: Charmaine on her unexpected rap career

When Charmaine wrote her first song, she was living in a run-down Motel 6, crammed into a single room with her parents and three siblings. Now, less than a decade later, Charmaine has her first record deal and has received a Juno Award for rap single of the year for her song “Bold.” Charmaine tells Tom about her early influences, how her family inspired her to pursue a music career, and how she’d never rapped before recording her Juno-winning song.
19 minutes, 12 seconds
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Hip-Hop Week: Maestro Fresh Wes, the godfather of Canadian hip-hop

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.
38 minutes, 4 seconds
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Hip-Hop Week: Musician, producer and Fugee Wyclef Jean

Grammy-winning rapper and producer Wyclef Jean (Fugees) joins Tom Power to reflect on his career and the big hits he’s produced for some of the most influential artists of the last three decades.
25 minutes, 36 seconds
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Hip-Hop Week: Photographer Janette Beckman + hip-hop pioneer Fab 5 Freddy

Janette Beckman is a photographer who’s captured some of the most iconic moments in hip-hop history, from LL Cool J and his boombox, to Flavor Flav’s first clock, to Run-D.M.C. on the streets of Hollis, Queens. Janette’s work has been shown in galleries all over the world, and now her work is part of the permanent collections of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, and currently on exhibit at The Seaport in New York City. She tells Tom Power the stories behind some of her most famous photographs. Plus, legendary graffiti artist, filmmaker and hip-hop pioneer Fab 5 Freddy joins Tom Power for a chat about the movement's early beginnings and the role he played in its evolution.
25 minutes, 45 seconds
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Hip-Hop Week: Ron Nelson on dropping his first rap album at age 60

DJ Ron Nelson is considered to be the godfather of hip-hop radio in Toronto. Now, at the age of 60, he’s released his first rap album. Ron joins Tom Power for a look back at his journey as a pioneering hip-hop radio host and concert promoter, and explains why it was the right time to put out a rap album.
28 minutes, 51 seconds
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Hip-Hop Week: Rapper Haviah Mighty on her “most personal album yet”

Haviah Mighty is an award-winning Canadian rapper known for calling out injustice in her rhymes. She’s just released a new album, "Crying Crystals," but instead of looking outward for inspiration, she decided to look inward. Haviah sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger to share what that experience has been like for her.
18 minutes, 16 seconds
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Phoebe Bridgers thinks we confuse sadness with intelligence + Shane Ghostkeeper's first country album

Phoebe Bridgers has found massive success — including four Grammy nominations for her 2020 album “Punisher” — thanks to her talent for writing sad-girl anthems that are both extremely specific and deeply relatable. Phoebe joins Tom for a career interview that traces her early years in Pasadena, Calif., to becoming one of the most acclaimed singer-songwriters of her time. Plus, you might know Shane Ghostkeeper as part of the band Ghostkeeper, whose album “Multidimensional Culture” was just nominated for this year's Polaris Music Prize. Now, Shane’s released his debut solo country record, “Songs for My People.” Shane talks to guest host Talia Schlanger about why he felt compelled to honour his family with a country record, and he sets up his deeply personal song “Hunger Strike.”
52 minutes, 16 seconds
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Sugar Sammy will make you laugh in more than one language

A decade after changing the face of stand-up with his bilingual tour “You're Gonna Rire,” Montreal comedian Sugar Sammy brings his multicultural humour back with a new tour, “You’re Gonna Rire 2.” He shares why raising eyebrows in this hotly political time is more fun — and more important — for him than ever.
22 minutes, 20 seconds
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Laysla De Oliveira on her role of a lifetime + an oral history of “Northern Touch”

Growing up, the actor Laysla De Oliveira was drawn to on-screen portrayals of tough women who reminded her of her mother. She now gets to play one in the new series "Special Ops: Lioness" alongside some of her acting heroes. Plus, an oral history of “Northern Touch,” one of Canada’s most iconic rap songs.
26 minutes, 49 seconds
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Sarah Polley explains why laughter was key to adapting Women Talking + new music from Celeigh Cardinal

Sarah Polley’s Oscar-winning film “Women Talking” is a powerful story about three generations of women who sit down to debate their future after realizing they and their daughters have been regularly drugged and sexually assaulted by the men in their colony. Sarah tells Tom about her approach to adapting works of fiction, what it was like stepping back from the film industry after a concussion, and how she used her experience as a child actor to create the best environment possible for the children on the set of “Women Talking.” Plus, Celeigh Cardinal is a Juno-winning singer-songwriter who’s been praised for her soulful torch songs tinged with blues and R&B. She tells guest host Talia Schlanger the story behind her new song “Over Before It Began.”
49 minutes, 28 seconds
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How the comedian Zarna Garg blew up her life and started over

Zarna Garg first reinvented herself as a teenager after leaving India to avoid an arranged marriage. Now, after several different transformations as a big city lawyer and a stay-at-home mom, she’s reinvented herself yet again. Zarna tells guest host Talia Schlanger about her unlikely path to comedy and the fateful night at a comedy club that launched her latest career.
32 minutes, 15 seconds
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Dionne Warwick on her music, social media fame and collaborating with Chance the Rapper

Legendary singer Dionne Warwick joins Tom Power to talk about her incredible life, decades-spanning music career and new-found social media fame.
18 minutes, 31 seconds
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Anohni’s musical inspirations and new album + the story behind Noble Oak’s latest song

Anohni, the Mercury Prize-winning singer, has never been shy about speaking up against inequality and oppression or highlighting environmental issues. Now, she’s back with her sixth album, “My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross.” Anohni talks to guest host Talia Schlanger about her new album and what makes it so personal. Plus, in early 2020 Vancouver singer-songwriter Noble Oak had a brand-new album to tour and promote —- but then the COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down. His latest album, “When It Finds You,” is about finding inspiration and an unprecedented honesty when your world collapses. Noble Oak joins Talia Schlanger to introduce the song “Eveningstar” off his new album.
47 minutes, 45 seconds
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Why Jason Guriel wrote his new book entirely in rhyming couplets

Following the success of his critically-acclaimed debut novel, "Forgotten Work," author Jason Guriel is back with a new book called, "The Full-Moon Whaling Chronicles." Like “Forgotten Work,” “Full Moon” is set in a dystopian world many years into the future. Newfoundland has vanished, Tokyo is the new Venice and people are living in hive-like housing due to rising tides. Jason joins guest host Talia Schlanger to discuss the book’s central themes and why he decided to write it in rhyming couplets.
17 minutes, 47 seconds
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Richard E. Grant on his career and love of his life, Joan + New music from Loony

Oscar-nominated actor Richard E. Grant (“Can You Ever Forgive Me?,""Gosford Park”) has kept a diary since he was ten-years-old. His archives cover everything from his early career as a struggling actor to caring for his late wife Joan Washington after she was diagnosed with lung cancer. Richard tells guest host Talia Schlanger about his new memoir “A Pocketful of Happiness,” which chronicles their love story and how Joan – an acclaimed vocal coach for actors – was his most trusted collaborator. Scarborough, Ontario’s Loony talks about the story behind her new single, “Old Friends.”
41 minutes, 12 seconds
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Remembering Robbie Robertson

Robbie Robertson, the string-bending guitarist and principal songwriter of The Band, has died at 80. Today, we revisit Tom’s 2019 conversation with Robbie.
40 minutes, 9 seconds
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“The Mother Of All Degrassi” Linda Schuyler on her memoir + Jessy Lanza’s new song

Degrassi co-creator Linda Schuyler tells guest host Talia Schlanger about her memoir, “The Mother Of All Degrassi,” which tells the story of how she went from being a Toronto high school teacher to an award-winning television producer. Plus, on the heels of Jessy Lanza’s new album “Love Hallucination,” Jessy tells Talia the story behind her new song, “Limbo.”
46 minutes, 49 seconds
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For blues singer Angelique Francis, music is a family affair + New music from Sleepy Jean

Music runs in the family for Canadian blues singer Angelique Francis. On the heels of winning blues album of the year for “Long River” at this year’s Junos, Angelique talks to guest host Talia Schlanger about hitting stages across the country with her band, which includes her dad and two sisters. Plus, Sleepy Jean is a Canadian musician who’s digging into her family history on her new album, “Shoot Me in a Dream.” In the 1970s, her father was forced to flee his home country of Uganda and was never able to return due to political persecution. Sleepy Jean joins Talia to talk about channeling this in her music.
23 minutes, 50 seconds
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Henry Czerny says the new “Mission: Impossible” movie is “gobsmacking good”

Canadian actor Henry Czerny makes his return to the “Mission: Impossible” universe in the new film “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.” He reprises his role as Eugene Kittridge, the former head of the IMF who’s now CIA director. Henry talks to guest host Talia Schlanger about the film, working with Tom Cruise and why he almost said no to “Mission: Impossible” the first time around.
19 minutes, 51 seconds
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For Rakhee Morzaria, playing a suburban mother of two felt like uncharted territory

Actor and comedian Rakhee Morzaria (Run The Burbs) talks about her comedy, the tension of being both a writer and actor on the same show, and what she thinks Tom should say to internet trolls.
15 minutes, 10 seconds
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“This man's a little paranoid”: When Christian McBride met his hero James Brown, this is what happened

Eight-time Grammy-winning bassist Christian McBride tells Tom what happened when he met his hero James Brown, and why he wanted to write a suite for four civil rights legends: Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali and Rosa Parks.
34 minutes, 41 seconds
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“We can inspire healing through song”: Lakecia Benjamin on her latest album “Phoenix”

Saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin talks to guest host Talia Schlanger about playing for revered artists (Missy Elliott, Stevie Wonder), the time she snuck her way past security to play sax at a Prince concert and how a near-death experience inspired her new record, “Phoenix.”
32 minutes, 3 seconds
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What it’s like inside Lisa Cooke Ravensbergen’s immersive audio performance “The Seventh Fire”

Lisa Cooke Ravensbergen’s latest project, “The Seventh Fire,” is an immersive audio performance that draws on Anishinaabe stories to take the audience to an ancestral spiritual world using sound. Lisa tells guest host Talia Schlanger about the inspiration behind “The Seventh Fire,” and how a profound conversation about the future between her and her child ended up at the heart of the performance.
18 minutes
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Calypso and soca legend David Rudder reflects on his career

At 70 years old, the calypso and soca legend sits down with Tom for a career-spanning chat about his rise as an artist, his Parkinson’s diagnosis and the evolution of the music he helped take to the global stage.
25 minutes, 24 seconds
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After burning out, superstar DJ Rezz found her version of work-life balance

Canadian DJ Rezz is a star in the world of electronic music, racking up millions of streams and performing at festivals like Coachella and Lollapalooza. But her rise in EDM came at a steep cost to her physical and mental health. She spoke with Tom Power about finding a sustainable lifestyle in a profession that involves grueling tour schedules and performing all night into the early hours of the morning.
24 minutes, 43 seconds
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How Deanna Bowen’s two-storey mural blends the history of anti-Black racism in North America with her own family’s history

Growing up, the award-winning artist Deanna Bowen heard dramatic stories of how her ancestors — early Black settlers — tried to build a life on the Canadian Prairies. She shares those stories in a gigantic new mural for the National Gallery of Canada, titled “The Black Canadians (after Cooke),” which traces the history of her family and the country itself. Deanna tells guest host Talia Schlanger about her ambitious new mural and the stories within it.
19 minutes, 17 seconds
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How Ramesh Meyyappan’s new play builds a bridge between the deaf and hearing worlds

The play “Lady M” is a new deaf-led adaptation of Shakespeare's “Macbeth” by theatre maker Ramesh Meyyappan, whose work lies at the intersection of the deaf and hearing worlds. He talks to guest host Talia Schlanger about how he’s telling a Shakespearean-inspired story without spoken language, and what he hopes audiences will walk away with after seeing “Lady M.”
18 minutes, 34 seconds
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Jason Segel on growing up and finding laughter through pain

Jason Segel has played a lot of funny characters in turmoil, whether that’s as a young person in the throes of angst in “Freaks and Geeks” or as someone recently dumped while on a Hawaiian vacation in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.” He keeps that trend going in the Apple TV+ series “Shrinking,” where he plays a therapist who’s dealing with his own tragedy. Jason tells Tom about the “magical melancholy” in his roles and why he left L.A. after the massive success of "How I Met Your Mother."
23 minutes, 21 seconds
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Life lessons from Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth

Kristin Chenoweth is a Tony and Emmy Award-winning performer who’s wowed audiences in musicals like “Wicked” and “You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” Now, she's sharing what she's learned over the years in her latest book, “I'm No Philosopher, But I Got Thoughts,” which collects her musings on creativity, love, loss and closure. Kristin talks to Tom about the book, what she learned from millennials about self-care and how a lighting accident on set of “The Good Wife” changed her life.
31 minutes, 45 seconds
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Nathan Lee Graham on starring in the Tony-winning musical “Hadestown”

Nathan Lee Graham (The Wild Bunch, Zoolander, Hitch) stars as the narrator Hermes in the Tony Award-winning musical “Hadestown.” As the show continues its national tour, Nathan joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the challenges and joys of starring in “Hadestown,” how being visible as a Black, gay actor is part of his activism, and how the advice he got from an acting coach changed his approach to the rest of his career.
16 minutes, 41 seconds
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Sam Smith talks Gloria, self-love and why queer joy can feel “radical”

Sam Smith is one of the biggest artists in the world. They made a name for themself in 2014 with devastating songs about love and loss, which earned them four Grammys. Now, Sam is trying something new: focusing on joy in their life and music. Sam opens up to Tom about their latest record, “Gloria,” why focusing on queer joy is the most radical thing they can do, and the highs and lows of finding their identity.
35 minutes, 46 seconds
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YouTube stars turned filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou on their new A24 horror film “Talk To Me”

You might recognize twin brothers Danny and Michael Philippou from their wildly popular YouTube channel “RackaRacka” where they post videos that include wild and sometimes dangerous stunts, fights, special effects and horror plotlines. Now, the Philippou brothers have just released “Talk to Me,” their debut feature film about a party game that involves short-term possession, driven by a mysterious disembodied hand. Danny and Michael tell guest host Talia Schlanger about how they went from being YouTubers to creating their first feature film, what it’s like having masters of the horror genre like Stephen King and Jordan Peele compliment their work, and what the tender message is at the heart of their terrifying new film.
21 minutes, 10 seconds
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Why Misty Copeland honours the trailblazing Black ballet dancer Raven Wilkinson in her memoir

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. Copeland joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about Wilkinson's incredible life and legacy.
31 minutes, 15 seconds
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Remembering Sinéad O'Connor

Sinéad O'Connor, the Irish singer who rose to fame in the 1990s with a hit recording of Prince's “Nothing Compares 2 U,” and became known for her outspoken political activism and mental health struggles, has died at 56. Tom spoke with Sinéad when she released her memoir “Rememberings: Scenes from My Complicated Life” in 2021.
21 minutes, 29 seconds
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John Legend on his double album “Legend” and the joy of making music

John Legend is back with a new double album, Legend. He joined Tom Power for a feature interview about the record, his musical roots and what keeps him creating.
32 minutes, 39 seconds
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“The energy is unhinged” — what you can expect at Marc Rebillet’s “one-man improvised meltdown” at Just For Laughs

You might recognize the musician Marc Rebillet from his viral videos on YouTube, where he pairs funk and hip-hop electronic music with hilarious improvisational lyrics. Now, Marc is taking his unpredictable performances on the road with a stop at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. Marc talks to guest host Talia Schlanger about his musical influences (Leslie Nielsen, Robin Williams, Reggie Watts), what people can expect at his “unhinged” live show, and how he “makes friends with terror” to find the courage to get on stage.
19 minutes, 28 seconds
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How Meryl McMaster’s self-portraits shine a light on untold Indigenous stories

For years, the artist Meryl McMaster has been tapping into her mixed ancestry to make epic large-scale photographs. Now, a new exhibition of her work, “Meryl McMaster: Bloodline,” is traveling the country. The exhibition takes you from some of Meryl’s early work when she was still in school, to a new body of work that’s based on a recent discovery — a diary and letter written by her great-grandmother, living in Red Pheasant Cree Nation in Saskatchewan. Meryl tells guest host Talia Schlanger what it feels like to have a retrospective of her career in her 30s, what taking self-portraits has taught her about herself, and how she’s telling her family's story through her work.
19 minutes, 45 seconds
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While locked up in a U.S. prison, Jesse Krimes secretly created epic works of art + How artist Ekow Nimako uses Lego to imagine new monuments for Black youth

While locked up for five years in a U.S. prison for a non-violent drug offense, Jesse Krimes secretly created epic works of art using bedsheets, hair gel and newspaper. Each piece was smuggled out one-by-one through the prison mail room. Now, nearly a decade after his release, he’s adjusting to life on the outside as one of the world’s most talked-about visual artists. Jesse tells Tom how he used art not only to survive, but to rebuild his entire life. Plus, Ekow Nimako is Ghanaian-Canadian artist who builds sculptures with black Legos, spending hours snapping plastic bricks together to create futuristic, Afrocentric cities. Ekow tells Tom how these sculptures are a part of his mission to build monuments for young Black people who may not see themselves in existing statues and sculptures.
45 minutes, 46 seconds
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Catherine Hernandez on writing a book that feels like love + G.R. Gritt’s queer anthem

Catherine Hernandez, the award-winning author of “Scarborough,” is ready to tell a new tale. Her latest novel, “The Story of Us,” is about a Filipino woman who takes work as an overseas caregiver and develops an unlikely friendship with an elderly patient. Catherine tells Tom about the success of “Scarborough” (including its recent film adaptation), what it feels like to be a conduit for her ancestors, and the eye-opening research that went into writing “The Story of Us.” Plus, G.R. Gritt got their start as part of the Juno Award-winning musical duo Quantum Tangle. These days G.R. is making a name for themself as a solo artist. They join guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the inspiration for their queer anthem “Turnin' It Up” featuring Tessa Balaz.
26 minutes, 4 seconds
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Alicia Keys talks her first big hit, self-worth and her memoir “More Myself”

Fifteen-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, actor, producer and activist Alicia Keys tells Tom how an appearance on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” changed her life, what happened when she asked Prince’s permission to perform one of his songs, and what she learned about herself when writing her memoir “More Myself.”
23 minutes, 21 seconds
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Jason Moran on why you should know about the music of James Reese Europe

James Reese Europe has been called “the Martin Luther King of music,” because of his influence on ragtime and early jazz. The acclaimed pianist Jason Moran’s latest work is a tribute album to the late composer. Jason tells Tom why James should be seen as a “big bang” in Black music.
21 minutes, 36 seconds
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Le Tigre is back — Kathleen Hanna and JD Samson reflect on Bikini Kill, ageism and unity at their shows

The feminist punk icon Kathleen Hanna once called her band Le Tigre “the dance party after the protest.” Now, almost 25 years after the band's inception, they’re back on tour. Band members Kathleen Hanna and JD Samson talk to guest host Talia Schlanger about what it’s like to resurrect Le Tigre, how a Bikini Kill and Le Tigre show differ, and why they think their music brings together people of all ages and communities.
23 minutes, 31 seconds
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Pop hitmaker Max Martin on the biggest songs of his career + Erez Zobary on being a highschool teacher by day and musician by night

If you know songs like “I Want It That Way,” “…Baby One More Time,” or “Blinding Lights,” then you’re already familiar with the work of Max Martin. Max is a super producer, known for writing some of the biggest songs of the last three decades. In a rare career-spanning conversation, Max tells Tom about his process for writing a hit song and collaborating with some of the world’s biggest stars, and what it’s like to have his music in the hit Broadway musical “& Juliet.” Plus, when Toronto-based R&B artist Erez Zobary isn’t writing and releasing music, she’s working as a teacher at a local high school. She talks to guest host Talia Schlanger about how she balances being an educator and a musician, and how her two biggest musical inspirations — Stevie Wonder and Amy Winehouse — influenced the sound on her new album, “Healthy Habits!”
49 minutes, 41 seconds
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Carly Rae Jepsen on her latest album and 10 years of “Call Me Maybe” + Bells Larsen’s new song “Ten Hands”

Carly Rae Jepsen is known for her upbeat brand of pop music that looks at love, life's little joys and heartbreak through danceable melodies and catchy hooks. But when the pandemic hit, Carly found herself coping with a type of loneliness that inspired a whole new sound – resulting in her latest album, “The Loneliest Time.” She tells Tom about making the album and reflects on 10 years of her first hit song, “Call Me Maybe.” Plus, Montreal-based singer Bells Larsen is gearing up to release his sophomore album, “If I Was, I Am,” later this month. While it promises to feature the same tender lyricism and intimate sound as his debut, the record is Bells Larsen’s first since transitioning. He’ll preview the song “Ten Hands” off the album and talk about singing with his new baritone voice.
49 minutes, 27 seconds
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Sean Paul on his biggest hits + Shane Cunningham’s new sketch comedy series “The Dessert”

Last year, the dancehall singer Sean Paul joined Tom to talk about 20 years of his massive album “Dutty Rock,” stories behind some of his biggest hits, and what inspired his latest album, “Scorcha.” Plus, Shane Cunningham tells Tom about his new sketch comedy series “The Dessert,” what it’s like to have a comedy hero like Bruce McCulloch (Kids In The Hall) executive produce his show, and where he draws his comedic inspiration from.
44 minutes, 38 seconds
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After 50 years of filmmaking, Sally Potter is making music

Filmmaker Sally Potter built her reputation as a highly respected auteur who launched Tilda Swinton’s career in the Oscar-nominated film “Orlando.” Now in her 70’s, she’s kickstarting a music career with her debut record, “Pink Bikini.”
23 minutes, 56 seconds
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How Pink charted a defiant path to pop stardom

When she hit the scene two decades ago, Pink was hit with a chorus of naysayers who compared her relentlessly to other pop stars of her generation. She tells Tom about her bold march to music stardom, and finding longevity in a notoriously tough industry.
20 minutes, 4 seconds
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Lauren Spencer-Smith on her path to stardom — from "American Idol" to TikTok to her debut album

Canadian singer-songwriter Lauren Spencer-Smith has had a crazy few years — from getting her start on “American Idol,” to going viral on TikTok with her hit “Fingers Crossed,” all while she attended high school on Vancouver Island. Now, she’s releasing her debut album, “Mirror,” which looks back on these experiences. She tells Tom how about going on “American Idol” without the intention of winning, what it was like performing in front of some of the world’s biggest stars in music, and why she thinks her song “Fingers Crossed” became a viral hit on TikTok.
22 minutes, 55 seconds
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Why Anaïs Mitchell devoted nearly 20 years to her new Broadway musical “Hadestown”

Anaïs Mitchell is the first woman in years to have sole credit on a Broadway show and over the course of a decade, her musical has morphed into a Tony-winning sensation. As the show tours Canada, Anaïs tells Tom what it’s like to spend a third of your life working on a passion project, where she drew her inspiration from, and why her confidence in creating the musical never wavered.
24 minutes, 22 seconds
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Vanessa Matsui on her cinematic ode to movies in “Midnight at the Paradise”

In her new film, “Midnight at the Paradise,” Canadian director Vanessa Matsui pays tribute to how movies — and the places we see them — become important touchstones in our lives. She sits down with Tom to reflect on the films that have inspired her, and the line between affection and nostalgia.
14 minutes, 16 seconds
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Rebecca Black is getting down — and getting even — on her latest album “Let Her Burn”

Rebecca Black is moving past your memes. More than a decade after the release of her infamous viral hit "Friday," she talks about returning to the spotlight and making music on her own terms.
23 minutes, 31 seconds
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Luis De Filippis embraces a different kind of trans story + Pantayo bangs the gong

Tired of the same old clichés about transgender characters, Canadian filmmaker Luis De Filippis is ready for a new era of trans representation. She talks about her award-winning film “Something You Said Last Night,” where the main character is neither exoticized nor traumatized. Plus, the band Pantayo is a self-described "supergirl gong group" mixing Filipino percussion instruments with an electric sound. They'll share new music.
26 minutes, 57 seconds
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Daniel Caesar dreamt of music stardom. Now he longs for the simple life

After skyrocketing to fame with his first few albums, Canadian R&B singer Daniel Caesar took a break from the spotlight to reassess his life. His latest record “Never Enough” is a reflection on success and what happens after all your dreams come true.
32 minutes, 51 seconds
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How losing her father changed the course of Sheila Heti’s latest novel + new music from Nyssa

When her novel “Pure Colour” won the Governor General’s Award for English-language fiction late last year, Sheila Heti was finally recognized in Canada after being included in best-of lists the world over. She talks to Tom about death, grief and the inspiration behind her novel. Plus, the musician Nyssa has been getting noticed for her powerful voice and energetic music that delves into nature, mysticism and even witchcraft. Nyssa chats with Tom Power about what drives her music and opens up about her new song, “Breakup Party.”
23 minutes, 35 seconds
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Dennis Lehane’s 14th novel “Small Mercies” is a crime thriller set against a turbulent period in Boston’s history

Dennis Lehane is the award-winning and bestselling author of “Mystic River,” “Gone, Baby, Gone” and “Shutter Island.” His 14th and latest novel, “Small Mercies,” is a crime story set in Boston in the summer of 1974, when a controversial court ruling sought to desegregate the city’s schools. It ordered kids from predominantly white schools to be bused into Black schools and vice versa, leading to violent protests and vitriolic racism. Having grown up in Boston, Dennis tells Tom why these protests were particularly personal for him, and why it was important that the story’s protagonist be a deeply flawed character.
32 minutes, 11 seconds
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How writing about ghosts helped Lindsay Wong examine her family's history of mental illness

Lindsay Wong's bestselling memoir “The Woo-Woo” became a huge hit in 2018 for its darkly funny and honest take on inherited trauma through generations of a Chinese-Canadian family. The titular "woo-woo" is a name for the ghosts that Lindsay's family blamed for their woes, when in reality, they were suffering from mental illness. She talks to Tom about her upbringing and why she decided to create some fictional ghosts of her own in her new book of short stories, “Tell Me Pleasant Things about Immortality.”
16 minutes, 50 seconds
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Bruce Springsteen's latest album of soul classics celebrates the songs that made him a musician

In a Canadian exclusive interview, Bruce Springsteen talks about his latest album of '60s and '70s soul covers, “Only the Strong Survive,” and how soul music shaped him as a performer and a songwriter.
24 minutes, 55 seconds
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Deborah Cox was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame decades after the industry rejected her — here’s how she feels about it

The voice of Deborah Cox is one of the greatest to ever come out of Canada. Last year, just as she was being inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, she joined Tom for a career-spanning conversation about her biggest hits and what she thinks has kept her in the long game.
25 minutes, 59 seconds
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Lina Rodriguez’s new film is a powerful immigrant story about what it means to be settled and unsettled

In Lina Rodriguez’s new film, “So Much Tenderness,” an environmental lawyer flees Colombia after the murder of her husband, and ends up in Toronto where she rebuilds her life with her daughter. It’s a personal project for Lina, who’s also Colombian and came to Canada to study. She talks to Tom about the film and how it explores the feeling of being in between cultures, languages and geographical spaces.
16 minutes, 1 second
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Why Peter Garrett and his band Midnight Oil put environmentalism at the forefront of their music

Lead singer Peter Garrett of Midnight Oil was twice president of the Australian Conservation Foundation and a former minister for the environment of Australia. Last year, Peter joined Tom just as his band’s latest and final record, “Resist,” came out, to look back on his illustrious career with Midnight Oil and how the band has put environmentalism at the forefront of their music from day one.
29 minutes, 27 seconds
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Kwame Alexander on his memoir, “Why Fathers Cry at Night”

In the world of poetry and children’s literature, the author Kwame Alexander is royalty. His books for young readers include “The Undefeated,” which won the prestigious Caldecott prize, and “The Crossover,” which has been adapted into a Disney+ series. Now, Kwame has released his first full-length book for adults. His memoir “Why Fathers Cry At Night” is a window into the life and mind of one of America’s greatest children's authors. Kwame tells Tom about the stories in his memoir and how writing poetry doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a vulnerable person.
24 minutes, 44 seconds
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A rare conversation with children's book author Jon Klassen + New music from Laila Biali

Jon Klassen is a big name in the world of children’s picture books. His bestselling works include “I Want My Hat Back” and “This Is Not My Hat.” Now, as Jon prepares to release his latest book, “The Skull,” he opens up to Tom about his early influences, when he first realized he could draw, and how he created his signature style that defined his illustration career. Plus, the award-winning pianist and singer Laila Biali is back with a new album, “Your Requests.” She tells Tom about why she’s turning to the Great American Songbook for inspiration.
48 minutes, 17 seconds
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Kevin Chong on "The Double Life of Benson Yu" and what happens when you try and fail to write a memoir

Vancouver writer Kevin Chong is back with his seventh book. This time, he’s written a metafiction about a comic book writer struggling to come to terms with a past trauma. Kevin talks to Tom about the story, what inspired him to write his darkest ever book and his memories of being with his grandmother in Vancouver's Chinatown.
13 minutes, 16 seconds
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How Valerine Bertinelli learned she was enough already

Ever since she grew up on TV screens on the Norman Lear sitcom “One Day at a Time,” Valerie Bertinelli has been the kind of star that people think they know. In her memoir, “Enough Already,” Valerie treats her life literally as an open book, including the decades-long obsession with dieting that she’s aiming the book’s title at. Valerie talks to Tom about how the last few years, which included the death of her ex-husband Eddie Van Halen, have made her reassess her priorities and find joy.
37 minutes, 38 seconds
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Johnny Reid pays tribute to his grandmother + Mali Obomsawin’s new song “Wawasint8da”

Scottish Canadian country musician Johnny Reid pays tribute to his grandmother in a new musical called “Maggie” that’s headlining the Charlottetown Festival this summer. Johnny tells Tom why this story about a feisty school cleaner in post-war Scotland means so much to him. Plus, Mali Obomsawin tells you the story behind her song “Wawasint8da” off her new album, “Sweet Tooth.”
27 minutes, 13 seconds
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Tom Holland on his rise to fame: “Billy Elliot,” “Spider-Man” and “The Crowded Room”

You might know Tom Holland best as the web-slinging superhero in Marvel's “Spider-Man,” but now he’s taken on a new role in hopes of showing audiences a different side of himself. Tom talks to Tom Power about starring in the intense new miniseries "The Crowded Room," how he never meant to become an actor, and the unimaginable fame that comes with the role of Spider-Man.
24 minutes, 40 seconds
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Jerry Seinfeld had 45 years of jokes on scraps of paper — so he put them into a book

Over his 45-year career in standup, Jerry Seinfeld had amassed tons of jokes jotted down on paper. He talks to Tom about compiling them into a book, called “Is This Anything?” — and along the way, they chat about how he got his start in comedy, the legacy of “Seinfeld,” and whether there’s an actual difference between day cereal and night cereal.
25 minutes, 45 seconds
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“The Hate U Give” author Angie Thomas on turning to the fantasy genre to help young readers confront racism

Angie Thomas’s 2017 novel “The Hate U Give” was a game changer, addressing racism and police brutality for young readers. It also sold millions of copies — and faced multiple book bans. Angie’s gone on to write a bunch of bestselling YA books, and she talks about why shifting to fantasy is a whole new way to talk to kids about racism.
28 minutes, 15 seconds
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How Samara Joy won two Grammys only five years after learning jazz

This year, Samara Joy took home two Grammys, including best jazz vocal album and best new artist. Ahead of her performance at the Montreal Jazz Festival, Samara talks to Tom about her music and why she thinks her classic jazz sound is resonating with so many people in 2023.
21 minutes, 14 seconds
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Mouraine re-evaluates what’s truly important on his new album, “In Search of Gold”

As a young first-generation immigrant from Sudan, Mouraine began learning English through his insatiable appetite for music. By the time he was 11, he was in the studio, which eventually led him to sharing stages with artists like Mac Miller and J. Cole. Mouraine tells Tom about growing up in Edmonton, how he started to rap while still learning English, and the story behind his new album, “In Search of Gold.”
15 minutes, 21 seconds
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Stephen Winter on “Chocolate Babies,” queer activism and immortalizing those who died of AIDS

In his 1996 film “Chocolate Babies,” Stephen Winter drew on his life as a young Black gay man in New York City to tell the untold story of the AIDS crisis: the fact that it disproportionately affected racialized people. With the film’s new 4K restoration and inclusion into the Criterion Channel, Stephen joins Tom to talk about the legacy of “Chocolate Babies.”
33 minutes, 49 seconds
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Cynthia Nixon on the legacy of “Sex and the City” and the evolution of Miranda

“Sex and the City” turns 25 this month, and for the first time since the show ended, it’s back in the form of a new revival series, called “And Just Like That.” Cynthia Nixon, a.k.a. Miranda Hobbes, tells Tom about the show's legacy, how she wanted the series to evolve, and what’s changed for her character 25 years after the original series ended.
34 minutes, 21 seconds
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Canadian jazz legend Renee Rosnes on her career and new album, “In Real Time”

Renee Rosnes is one of the biggest names in Canadian jazz. This year, her record “Kinds of Love” picked up the Juno for best solo jazz album — and on top of that, her supergroup Artemis has also just released their sophomore album, “In Real Time.” Renee tells Tom about falling in love with the piano at three years old, meeting one of her greatest inspirations, Oscar Peterson, and how the movie “Alien” played a big part in her musical evolution.
24 minutes, 24 seconds
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How being diagnosed with autism as an adult inspired Jackie Khalilieh’s debut novel + Half Moon Run’s new song

Jackie Khalilieh was diagnosed with autism as an adult, which — among other things — led her to look back at her teen years with a new perspective. Now, she’s written a YA novel, “Something More,” which is a teen romance about a protagonist who also happens to be on the spectrum. Jackie tells guest host Vivek Shraya about how her own experience inspired the story. Plus, Devon Portielje of Half Moon Run tells the story behind the band's new song, “9beat,” from their new album, “Salt.”
25 minutes, 51 seconds
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Charlotte Cardin performs her new hit song “Confetti”

After winning album of the year at last year's Juno Awards, singer Charlotte Cardin is ready to drop her new album, “99 Nights.” She tells Tom about what happens when your debut album wins such a prestigious award and what was on her mind while writing her sophomore record. Plus, Charlotte gives a stripped back performance of her new song “Confetti.”
14 minutes, 31 seconds
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Elliot Page couldn't imagine telling his own story – here's why he's sharing it now

Elliot Page (Juno, Inception, The Umbrella Academy) sits down with Tom to talk about his new memoir, “Pageboy,” how finally writing his story helped him heal from years of having to hide his true self, and what brings him joy now that he’s living openly as an out trans man.
34 minutes, 17 seconds
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On his new album “Michael,” Killer Mike is ready to show the man behind the MC

Michael Render, a.k.a. Killer Mike from Run the Jewels, is over 20 years out from his first solo album. Now, he’s released a new one, called “Michael” – for his real name, and it opens up the story of the man behind the rapper. In a personal and emotional interview, Killer Mike talks to Tom about why he decided to tell his own story – and about the family and the city that helped make him who he is.
34 minutes, 12 seconds
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For Jenn Grant, writing a new duets album was the ‘silver lining’ of the pandemic

When the pandemic hit, many artists looked inward for inspiration – but Jenn Grant opened up her laptop and enlisted some of her most famous friends for a new album of duets called “Champagne Problems.” The singer-songwriter sets up a song from the album and tells Tom about some of her fascinating collaborations.
13 minutes, 19 seconds
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Shelagh Rogers looks back on her radio career and tells you the best advice she’s ever received

Shelagh Rogers, a familiar voice to Canadians across the country, recently announced that she’ll be stepping down as host of the CBC Radio show “The Next Chapter,” marking the end of 15 years in the role and a 43-year career in radio. Tom speaks with Shelagh about the moments that defined her career, why “shut up and listen,” was some of the best advice she’s ever received, and what she wants to accomplish during this next chapter of her life.
34 minutes, 43 seconds
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How Jo Nesbø went from stockbroker, to musician, to world-famous crime and thriller writer

Jo Nesbø is one of the world’s most famous crime and thriller writers. His books are published in close to 50 languages with more than 50 million sold. But you might be surprised to find out his writing career is a bit of a fluke. Jo talks to Tom about the many professions he had before becoming an accomplished writer, how he became a novelist in the first place, and why he keeps coming back to the character of Detective Harry Hole.
17 minutes, 17 seconds
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Paul Seesequasis is helping reclaim Indigenous history by finding the stories behind archival photos

Paul Seesequasis began collecting archival images of Indigenous peoples after his mother commented on the negativity that so often surrounded this history in Canada. Paul shares with guest host Vivek Shraya how important it was to find the names and stories behind these photos, and how powerful it is to have the images reclaimed from places like museums and other non-Indigenous archival sources.
14 minutes, 3 seconds
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Singer-songwriter William Prince on finding light and leaving a legacy

The past year has been a standout for Peguis First Nation’s own William Prince. From opening for Willie Nelson, debuting at the Grand Ole Opry to releasing his beautiful new album “Stand in the Joy,” one of Canada’s finest singer-songwriters joins Tom to reflect on what he’s learned so far in his journey about music, family and the deeply meaningful nature of life’s small joys.
34 minutes, 39 seconds
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Paul Simon literally dreamed up his newest album, Seven Psalms

One January night in 2019, Paul Simon had a dream telling him to work on a new album called “Seven Psalms.” What came next were big, existential questions about his own beliefs. Tom Power visits Paul Simon at the legendary musician’s ranch near Austin, Texas – in the studio where Paul recorded “Seven Psalms” – for a rare sit-down chat about the new album and his early days in music.
50 minutes, 13 seconds
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Saara Chaudry on working with the Muppets… and Lilly Singh

The Canadian actor Saara Chaudry is having a blast in the new “The Muppets Mayhem” TV series. She talks about what it’s like to hang out with the whole Muppet gang when the cameras stop rolling… and what it was like to share the screen with fellow Canadian Lilly Singh.
16 minutes, 32 seconds
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Belinda Carlisle on the Go-Go’s punk roots and the sheer fun of making pop again

More than 40 years after her band The Go-Go’s rose from the L.A. punk scene to take over the charts – making history as the most popular girl group of all time – Belinda Carlisle is making a pop music comeback. She talks about the chance encounter with the legendary songwriter Diane Warren that led to her new EP, “Kismet.”
31 minutes, 8 seconds
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Sigur Rós frontman Jonsí takes you inside a volcano for his first-ever museum exhibit

As the frontman for the band Sigur Rós, Jonsí has spent decades making atmospheric, monumental music. But he also has a life as a visual artist. Jonsí shares the experience of putting together his new, volcanic, multi-sensory museum installation for the Art Gallery of Ontario, and tells Tom about Sigur Rós’s first new album in 10 years.
31 minutes, 12 seconds
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How Nick Green is helping fight HIV/AIDS stigma with his new play Casey and Diana

In 1991, a visit from Princess Diana to the Casey House in Toronto changed the way many in society looked at people dying of AIDS. That’s the story that inspired Nick Green to write his new play, “Casey and Diana,” which just had its premiere at the Stratford Festival. Nick tells Tom about the remarkable true story and why he felt compelled to put it on the stage.
20 minutes, 20 seconds
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Bestselling author Uzma Jalaluddin on second chances, chasing your dreams and her new novel

Uzma Jalaluddin’s latest novel, “Much Ado About Nada,” tells the story of Nada Syed, a young Muslim woman who’s approaching 30 and being pressured to find a husband by her mother. When she’s forced to attend a Muslim convention, she runs the risk of revealing a secret past she’s kept buried for years. Uzma tells Tom how female ambition inspired the novel, how she goes about writing a great romantic story, and what it’s like having her books being optioned for film.
22 minutes, 22 seconds
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How Laura Ramoso went from aspiring dramatic actor to one of the most followed comedians on TikTok

The Toronto-based sketch comic Laura Ramoso has amassed more than 700,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram for her hilarious impressions of her German mom and Italian dad. Laura talks to Tom about her audition to Julliard as a dramatic actor, how she found sketch comedy, and the joy of returning to the stage in her new one-woman show, “Frances”
24 minutes, 48 seconds
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Ian Kamau on spinning sadness into the sublime in his new multimedia show

In 2011, the Canadian artist and writer Ian Kamau had just lost a job and an important relationship, and processing that grief led to a deep artistic journey into his own family history. Ian shares with Q guest host Vivek Shraya how sadness can quietly ripple through generations, and how togetherness in that grief led to his new live show, Loss.
16 minutes, 43 seconds
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How “Bones of Crows” helped Grace Dove find healing + Caroline Rose’s new song

You might’ve first seen Grace Dove in the 2015 film “The Revenant” alongside Leonardo DiCaprio. Now, she stars in the film “Bones of Crows,” which follows a Cree code talker who’s dealing with the effects of intergenerational trauma. Grace tells guest host Vivek Shraya about the importance of this project being Indigenous-led, how the film helped her to heal from her own trauma, and what she hopes audiences take away from the story. Plus, Caroline Rose tells Tom the story behind their new song, “The Doldrums.”
26 minutes, 18 seconds
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Niall Horan talks anxiety, how his new album taught him to be more reflective, and One Direction

Niall Horan opens up to Tom about his new album, “The Show,” the lessons he’s learned before his 30th birthday, and how he looks back on being in One Direction.
32 minutes, 56 seconds
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Wynne Neilly: the award-winning photographer Elliott Page trusted with his first portrait after coming out as trans

The 2021 TIME Magazine cover of Elliott Page was a big deal because it was his first big portrait after coming out as trans. Wynne Neilly was the photographer behind the lens that day, and now he’s just won the New Generation Photography Award as part of the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival. Wynne tells Tom how his own vulnerability as a trans man built the trust they needed for the cover shoot, and the difference between a photo of someone and a portrait.
15 minutes, 35 seconds
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The return of Canadian music icon Amanda Marshall: where she’s been, and where she’s going

You probably recognize Amanda Marshall best for songs like “Birmingham," “Dark Horse,” or “Everybody's Got A Story.” Amanda’s music has been inescapable on Canadian radio for over 20 years but during that time, Amanda sort of … disappeared. Now, she’s back with her brand new album, “Heavy Lifting.” She tells Tom about why she’s been gone so long, what it was like to have Elton John talk about her music on TV in the early days of her career, and what it’s been like to be mixed race in the music industry.
35 minutes, 54 seconds
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What happens when someone you love is accused of sexual assault? Koumbie’s new film Bystanders asks just that

In “Bystanders,” Halifax filmmaker Koumbie looks at what happens to a close-knit group of friends when one of them faces sexual assault allegations. She tells Tom the story behind the film and what it’s like being one of the first trained intimacy coordinators in Atlantic Canada.
18 minutes, 13 seconds
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Past Lives director Celine Song + Matt Andersen’s new song What’s on My Mind

After premiering at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, “Past Lives” received rave reviews for its depiction of love, fate and connection. Director and writer Celine Song tells Tom about the real-life moment that inspired the film's nuanced love story Plus, Matt Andersen tells Tom the story behind his song “What’s on My Mind” off his new album, “Matt Andersen and the Big Bottle of Joy.”
25 minutes, 28 seconds
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Leah-Simone Bowen on reviving Scott Joplin’s ‘lost opera’

The famous ragtime composer Scott Joplin penned an opera titled “Treemonisha” in 1911, but he never lived to see it performed. After his death, the work was considered a ‘lost opera,’ but now, a century after his passing, it’s being performed in Toronto. Writer, producer and podcast host Leah-Simone Bowen has reimagined “Treemonisha” for 2023. She tells Tom why Joplin’s opera was innovative for its time, and how she decided to adapt it for a modern audience.
20 minutes, 23 seconds
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Paul Gross returns to the Stratford Festival after more than 20 years — this time, as the great King Lear

After more than 20 years, acclaimed Canadian actor Paul Gross has returned to the Stratford Festival to tackle the iconic role of King Lear. Paul tells Tom about his lifelong love of the Shakespeare tragedy, how he feels about finally inhabiting the role, and what it’s like to step back onto the Stratford stage after his two-decade absence.
25 minutes, 31 seconds
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James Cameron on Titanic turning 25 — and who he thinks spiked his chowder with PCP during filming

James Cameron (Avatar, The Abyss, The Terminator) tells Tom about Titanic's lasting impact, how he got the perfect scene for Jack and Rose’s first kiss and what happened when the cast and crew ate PCP-laced chowder in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
23 minutes, 33 seconds
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‘Outsider poet’ Iman Mersal + Bruce Cockburn releases his 38th album

Iman Mersal is one of Egypt’s most celebrated and groundbreaking poets. Now, a collection of her work translated into English, titled “The Threshold,” is on the shortlist for this year’s Griffin Poetry Prize. Iman tells Tom about the first poem she ever wrote, what it was like going back and reading her poetry from the ‘90s, and why she stopped writing for five years when she moved to Canada. Plus, Bruce Cockburn tells the story behind his song, “To Keep The World We Know,” off his new album, “O Sun O Moon.”
27 minutes, 1 second
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Susan Musgrave talks grief, poetry and her latest book + Vivek Shraya’s new song

With a writing career spanning more than 50 years, Susan Musgrave is currently one of five shortlisted poets for the 2023 Griffin Poetry Prize. She tells Tom how her 19th book of poetry, “Exculpatory Lilies,” helped her grieve the deaths of her husband and daughter. Plus, Vivek Shraya tells the story behind her song “Colonizer,” off her brand new album, “Baby, You’re Projecting.”
41 minutes, 22 seconds
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Ben Kingsley on portraying historical figures, from Salvador Dali to Mahatma Gandhi

Ben Kingsley (Gandhi, Schindler’s List, Shutter Island) tells Tom about starring in the Salvador Dali biopic, “Dalíland,” which paints a portrait of the artist in the final years of his life.
20 minutes, 40 seconds
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How Andy Jones’s deeply personal one-man show has helped him grieve the loss of his son

After a long battle with mental illness, Andy Jones’s son, Louis, died by suicide at age 28. Now, Andy, a veteran of the comedy troupe Codco, has staged a one-man play about his son and his life navigating health-care with a mental illness.
17 minutes, 37 seconds
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Peter Sohn on his stunning new Pixar movie “Elemental”

The animator and voice actor Peter Sohn has spent more than 20 years bringing lovable, hilarious characters to life in Pixar movies like “Finding Nemo,” “Ratatouille” and “The Good Dinosaur.” Peter tells Tom about his new Pixar film, “Elemental,” how his parents’ immigration experience inspired the story, and how he reflects on Pixar’s evolution since he first started with the company back in 2000.
35 minutes, 53 seconds
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Rufus Wainwright on growing up in a family of famous folk musicians and his new album “Folkocracy”

Given his operatic, maximalist and pop-centered career, you’d be forgiven for forgetting that Rufus Wainwright comes from one of the royal families of folk music. On his brand new album, “Folkocracy,” Rufus takes a look back at his folk roots. He tells guest host Talia Schlanger about his earliest musical memories and shares the story behind his new album.
23 minutes, 32 seconds
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How being an ER nurse helped Chloe Van Landschoot’s acting career + Joe Keithley of D.O.A. has a new solo album

In the TV show “From,” Canadian actor Chloe Van Landschoot plays the de facto nurse tending to a community terrorized by mysterious nocturnal monsters. She tells guest host Talia Schlanger how her real-life experience as a Toronto ER nurse made her the perfect fit for the part. Plus, Joe Keithley, frontman of the legendary Canadian punk band D.O.A., talks to Tom about his new solo album, “Stand,” and how the fentanyl crisis inspired his latest single.
28 minutes, 23 seconds
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On his debut album “When It Blooms,” Nonso Amadi finds harmony between Afrobeat and R&B

Nonso Amadi is the Nigerian Canadian musician making waves globally for his music that fuses Afrobeat and R&B. He’s performed all over the world and has racked up millions of streams, all before the release of his debut album. Nonso tells guest host Talia Schlanger about his unique sound, how watching his sisters dance to MTV made him fall in love with music, and how he made the jump from chemical engineering student to releasing his debut record, “When It Blooms.”
18 minutes, 53 seconds
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“I want to be someone who’s part of the solution,” Jennifer Podemski on Indigenous authenticity and her new series Little Bird

Early in her career, Jennifer Podemski set out to tell stories that felt honest to the lives of Indigenous people. More than 30 years later, the veteran actor and filmmaker is delivering on that promise with her new series “Little Bird.” She tells Tom how the story resonates with her own family history, about making a production company that tells Indigenous stories with authenticity, and why she calls her work “cycle-breaking.”
30 minutes, 17 seconds
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Why Mary Harron is drawn to the psychologically extreme + Bye Parula on their song “Still Got The Spirit”

Filmmaker Mary Harron (American Psycho, I Shot Andy Warhol, Charlie Says) talks to Tom about her latest film, “Daliland,” the difficulty of getting to know who Salvador Dali was, and how filmmaking is about knowing what you want. Plus, The band Bye Parula tells Tom the story behind “Still Got The Spirit,” which just so happens to be Q’s theme song.
28 minutes, 9 seconds
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Belly on writing some of the biggest hits of the decade and why this might be his last album

If you know songs like “Blinding Lights” or “Earned It” by The Weeknd, you’re already familiar with Canadian rapper and producer Belly. He’s been making music for almost two decades, and in that time he’s earned a Juno Award, SOCAN songwriter of the year, Grammy nominations and an Oscar nod. Now, Belly’s out with a new album, “Mumble Rap 2.” Belly tells Tom about what it was like growing up in the Ottawa rap scene, his friendship with Jay-Z, the personal stories he writes about on his new album, and how he knew from the start that The Weeknd would make it big.
25 minutes, 24 seconds
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Emma Grove on bad therapists, dissociative identity disorder and her new graphic memoir The Third Person

In her graphic memoir “The Third Person,” Emma Grove documents the therapy sessions that she underwent to be approved for hormone therapy as a trans person. She tells Tom about the life-changing discovery that came from the experience, what made re-visiting these traumatic memories worth it and how she turned her story into a book that's now a Lambda Literary Award finalist.
17 minutes, 42 seconds
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Jacob Tremblay on child stardom, The Little Mermaid and Justin Bieber

As a child actor, Jacob Tremblay became known for punching above his age in mature films like “Room,” “Wonder” and “Good Boys.” Now, at 16 years old, he gets to revisit a classic children’s movie in Disney’s live-action remake of The Little Mermaid. Jacob tells Tom about his very first audition, how he looks back on starring in films with mature subject matter, and what it’s like voicing Flounder in The Little Mermaid remake.
23 minutes, 3 seconds
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Phil Dunster talks Ted Lasso and the evolution of soccer star Jamie Tartt

The TV show “Ted Lasso” has seen many of its characters evolve over its three seasons, but perhaps none quite like the soccer star Jamie Tartt, played by Phil Dunster. Phil joins guest host Talia Schalnger to talk about how the show explores the male ego, what his portrayal of Jamie has taught him as an actor, and what you can expect from the season finale.
20 minutes, 18 seconds
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Why Owen Pallett's biggest regret is making a career out of music

Owen Pallett is a multi-talented violinist who has worked alongside greats like Taylor Swift, Duran Duran and Ed Sheeran. Just as they’ve released a collection of deluxe remastered editions of their early work, Owen tells Tom about how breaking their leg led to a transformative experience, what it felt like to be at one of the lowest and most desperate times in their life, and why their biggest regret is making a career from something they love.
35 minutes, 4 seconds
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‘It's all performance art’: a conversation with k.d. lang

k.d. lang (Constant Craving, Miss Chatelaine) has spent decades upending expectations and defying attempts to define her music. Now, as she prepares to receive the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for lifetime artistic achievement, she looks back on her career — from award show mischief to taking big risks in the name of artistic integrity. k.d. lang tells Tom about the first time she realized her voice was something special, a cherished memory with Roy Orbison, and how she feels about potentially never making another record again.
32 minutes, 28 seconds
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Sarah Goldberg on the final season of Barry and her new show SisterS

Emmy-nominated actor Sarah Goldberg stars as Sally in HBO’s dark comedy, “Barry.” Now, just as the series wraps up its fourth and final season, Sarah joins Tom Power to talk about what she’s loved about playing Sally, her incredible audition story — which includes a lovely interaction with Henry Winkler — and creating her new show, “SisterS.”
24 minutes, 59 seconds
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Witch Prophet’s rare form of epilepsy and why she wrote an album about it

Ayo Leilani, AKA Witch Prophet, opens up about her experience with epilepsy on her latest record, “Gateway Experience.” Witch Prophet tells Tom about what it feels like to have Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and how writing about her experience helped her cope with her fear of death.
19 minutes, 24 seconds
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How Zoon’s latest album allowed them to grieve + Remembering Daniel Brooks

The last couple of years have been pretty exciting for Zoon, aka Daniel Monkman. Daniel had two different albums shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize, and they got to tour and open for Broken Social Scene. Daniel tells Tom about playing with Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth), how their new album felt like a chance to grieve the passing of their father, and the story behind their song “Dodem” from their new album “Bekka Ma'iingan.” Plus, Daniel Brooks, the renowned Canadian theater director, has died at 64. We revisit his and Tom’s conversation.
18 minutes, 50 seconds
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Harpist Brandee Younger + Modern Biology makes music out of mushrooms

Brandee Younger pushes the boundaries of her music by blending the traditional harp sound with hip-hop, jazz, funk and classical. She’s played with everyone from Lauryn Hill, to Common, to Pharoah Sanders. Beyoncé even chose one of her tracks for her documentary “Homecoming.” Now, Brandee is paying tribute to a musician who's been a huge influence on her — the late harpist Dorothy Ashby. Brandee talks to Tom about her new album “Brand New Life,” and why she wanted to celebrate Dorothy Ashby on it. Dorothy Ashby’s influence on popular music - (1:38) The new record, “Brand New Life.” - (5:47) Why Brandee wants you to know who Dorothy is - (8:48) “Being Black in the harp world is one of the most isolating experiences I’ve ever had” - (11:05) How Brandee started playing the harp - (12:39) Plus, the Vancouver musician Modern Biology (19:29), also known as Tarun Nayar, makes music from plugging mushrooms and other organic material into synthesizers. Tarun chats with Tom about the beauty of “playing” mushrooms and tells the story behind his new song, “Turkey Tail.”
28 minutes, 11 seconds
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Charlotte Le Bon’s feature film debut + Hollywood stuntwoman Kimberly Shannon Murphy

Charlotte Le Bon on her first feature film, “Falcon Lake,” why Quebec’s Laurentian Mountains was the perfect setting for this spooky coming-of-age story, and what she thinks it means to be a “real, true artist.” Plus, Kimberly Shannon Murphy (34:32) on her memoir “Glimmer,” stories from her long career as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after stuntwomen, and how the adrenaline rush of stunt work hid her traumatic childhood.
49 minutes, 10 seconds
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Andy Shauf talks sobriety, love and Randy Newman

Andy Shauf is no stranger to a good love song. You can hear songs of love in his critically acclaimed albums like “The Party” and “The Neon Skyline.” But on Andy’s latest record, “Norm,” something’s…off. What at first comes off as a set of tender love songs, later reveals a much more sinister side to his songwriting. Andy tells Tom about how true crime inspired his new album, what draws him to the darker side of love, what sobriety has done for his life and his music, and why he wanted to write from the perspective of God. New album - (1:59) Being drawn to dark themes - (4:02) Randy Newman story - (6:59) Sobriety - (9:22) Writing in the perspective of God - (15:43) Growing up in Saskatchewan and the church - (18:21)
23 minutes, 42 seconds
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Jack White’s reverence for art + the moment Alanis Obomsawin knew she'd be a storyteller

Jack White (The White Stripes, The Raconteurs) on the vinyl revolution, founding Third Man Records, and why his biggest hit was never meant to become one of the most ubiquitous songs in the world. Plus, visionary filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin (44:45) on the painful moment in her childhood that inspired her to become a storyteller.
49 minutes, 38 seconds
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R. F. Kuang’s new novel “Yellowface” + David Ruben Piqtoukun on “Radical Remembrance”

New York Times bestselling author R. F. Kuang on her new novel, “Yellowface,” cultural appropriation in the publishing industry, and the toxicity of expecting authors to have an online personality. Plus, sculptor David Ruben Piqtoukun (26:38) on his exhibition “Radical Remembrance,” how sculpting is a form of storytelling, and how his residential school experience felt like an “education in forgetting.”
46 minutes, 46 seconds
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Rainn Wilson on spirituality and art + Mayumi Lashbrook’s personal new dance piece

Rainn Wilson on playing Dwight Schrute on "The Office," writing about how art and spirituality intersect in his new book, “Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution,” and why he refuses to be cynical. Plus, choreographer Mayumi Lashbrook (26:05) on her new dance piece, “Enemy Lines,” how her grandfather’s experience of being forcibly placed into a Japanese Canadian internment camp inspired the performance, and why telling this story has lifted a sense of burden.
40 minutes, 53 seconds
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Fall Out Boy from start to Stardust + the wonderfully mediocre Fatuma Adar

Pete Wentz and Patrick Stump on how Fall Out Boy came to be, their new album, “So Much (for) Stardust” and the secret to keeping a band together for more than 20 years. Writer Fatuma Adar (26:54) on the pressures of representing your entire community as a racialized artist, why everyone should have the freedom to be mediocre, and her new show, “She’s Not Special.”
52 minutes, 26 seconds
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Benjamin Millepied on his first film and the beauty of dance + Kristi Lane Sinclair’s new song

Dancer and choreographer Benjamin Millepied on his feature film directorial debut, “Carmen,” reimagining the classic opera of the same name, and pushing for change within the institutions of dance. Plus, Kristi Lane Sinclair (36:04) tells you the story behind her song “Break” off her new album, “Super Blood Wolf Moon.”
47 minutes, 52 seconds
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Kid Koala + Possesom Paul & Igor Dobrovolskiy + Jill Barber

Eric San, a.k.a. Kid Koala, on creating his own board game to accompany his new album “Creatures of the Late Afternoon,” why he made the switch from classical music to DJing, and how trying new things means you have to accept the possibility of failure. Possesom Paul and Igor Dobrovolskiy (26:42) on co-directing the new, first-of-its-kind ballet “Pisuwin,” the Wolastoq stories and themes that inspired it, and how they got the Juno-winning artist Jeremy Dutcher to compose the ballet’s music. Jill Barber (42:02) on feeling like she lost momentum in her career during the pandemic, how creating a home for another person is often overlooked and underappreciated, and why on her new album, "Homemaker" she wanted to explore being a (you guessed it) homemaker.
51 minutes, 54 seconds
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Herb Alpert on how art is all about feeling + Doug Paisley’s new song

Eight-time Grammy winner Herb Alpert (Spanish Flea, This Guy’s In Love With You, Ladyfingers) on his successful and expansive career, founding the powerhouse record label A&M records, and his friendship with Karen Carpenter of the Carpenters (whom he signed to his label). Plus, Canadian singer-songwriter Doug Paisley (36:21) tells you the story behind his song “Wide Open Plain” from his new album, “Say What You Like.”
46 minutes, 8 seconds
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Nida Manzoor + Mattmac + Sarah Watts and Mark Slutsky

Writer and director Nida Manzoor on her new film, “Polite Society,” how she depicts the complexities and nuance of being Muslim in her work, and the joy of showing enraged women on screen. Writers and directors Sarah Watts and Mark Slutsky (22:44) on their new film, “You Can Live Forever,” how Sarah’s experience growing up in a remote Jehovah’s Witnesses community informed the film, and why it’s so important to have a film about lesbians that doesn’t end in tragedy. Garden Hill First Nation’s rising star Mattmac (35:45) on growing up in an isolated community, how music helped him cope with his blindness and his new inclusive merch line.
49 minutes, 22 seconds
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Glenn Howerton on Blackberry and It’s Always Sunny + Terence Blanchard’s new boxing opera

Glenn Howerton on starring in the new movie, “Blackberry,” how “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” came to be, and what it’s like to be in the longest-running live action television comedy in U.S. history. Plus, Grammy-winning trumpet player Terence Blanchard (24:30) on how a 1962 welterweight world championship boxing match inspired his latest work for New York’s Metropolitan Opera.
47 minutes, 43 seconds
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Tom Hanks wants you to know the magic behind moviemaking

Two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump, Philadelphia, A League of Their Own) on his new novel “The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece,” the insecurities he’s felt throughout his career, and what drives his passion for filmmaking when it feels like “the odds are stacked against you.”
52 minutes, 37 seconds
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Aurora James on pushing for change through fashion + Ocean Vuong’s poetry

New York-based Canadian fashion designer Aurora James on founding her label Brother Vellies, her new memoir “Wildflower,” and the story behind creating Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s famous “tax the rich'' dress she wore at the 2021 Met Gala. Plus, poet Ocean Vuong (35:25) on his New York Times bestselling poetry collection “Time Is a Mother,” expressing grief through art, and why he calls death “the truest thing.”
50 minutes, 53 seconds
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Iconic drag queen Sasha Velour + Emm Gryner on her new song

Sasha Velour on the famous lip synch that won her “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 9, her new book, “The Big Reveal: An Illustrated Manifesto of Drag,” and what drag queens are talking about with one another during a time when their livelihoods are being threatened. Plus, Juno-nominated singer-songwriter Emm Gryner on finding love during the pandemic, her fondness of Steely Dan, and the story behind her new song, “Loose Wig.”
52 minutes, 25 seconds
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The Mandalorian’s Paul Sun-Hyung Lee + The National’s Matt Berninger

Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (Kim’s Convenience) on his lifelong love of “Star Wars,” the unusual story behind how he got the role of Captain Carson Teva in “The Mandalorian,” and what the franchise needs to do better when it comes to Asian representation. Plus, Matt Berninger (26:00) on The National’s latest record, why he thought the band would never make a new album again, and their collaboration with Taylor Swift.
51 minutes, 5 seconds
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The Bangles’ Susanna Hoffs + Crown Lands on Rush and their new album

The Bangles co-founder and lead singer Susanna Hoffs on her debut novel, “This Bird Has Flown,” how she looks back on the height of the band's fame, and the story behind her hit song “Eternal Flame.” Plus, the prog-rock duo Crown Lands (35:00) on their new album, “Fearless,” their love of Rush, and how their band name is an act of reclamation for Indigenous sovereignty.
49 minutes, 50 seconds
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Brad Mehldau on The Beatles + Kevin Alves on starring in “Yellowjackets”

Grammy-winning jazz pianist Brad Mehldau on interpreting the music of The Beatles for his new album, “Your Mother Should Know.” Plus, Kevin Alves (26:49) on starring as Travis Martinez on the Emmy-nominated series “Yellowjackets,” how being a professional figure skater helped him as an actor, and what it was like climbing a 40-foot tree for the show.
46 minutes, 7 seconds
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Remembering Gordon Lightfoot

Q’s Tom Power and Commotion’s Elamin Abdelmahmoud co-host this special tribute in remembrance of Gordon Lightfoot (Rainy Day People, Sundown, If You Could Read my Mind). The acclaimed singer-songwriter died on Monday night at age 84, ending a career that spanned more than five decades, and included honours such as the Order of Canada and an induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Tom and Elamin talk to some of his closest friends and listen to his legendary music.
1 hour, 15 minutes, 47 seconds
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Comedian Murray Hill just wants to be himself + Roger Reeves on how poetry is for everyone

Legendary New York comedian Murray Hill on finally getting his primetime moment in the HBO series “Somebody Somewhere,” how he created a version of himself to survive his adolescence, and his best Don Rickles story. Plus, Roger Reeves (37:21) on his 2023 Griffin Poetry Prize shortlisted poetry collection, “Best Barbarian,” how anybody can be a poet, and the lesson he learned about art from his daughter.
50 minutes, 27 seconds
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Caroline Polachek on desire, acid and TikTok + why bison are central to Adrian Stimson’s art

Caroline Polachek on her latest album, “Desire, I Want to Turn Into You,” her song and choreography that went viral on TikTok, and what it was like collaborating with Grimes and Dido. Plus, multi-disciplinary artist Adrian Stimson (40:09) on why the bison has been the central figure of his art practice for more than 20 years, and how he tackles heavy subjects like colonialism with humour and levity.
50 minutes, 48 seconds
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Comedian Hari Kondabolu gets personal + U.S. poet laureate Ada Limón

Hari Kondabolu on his new comedy special, “Vacation Baby,” getting personal after years of political comedy, and developing a relationship with Hank Azaria (voice of Apu on The Simpsons) after his documentary “The Problem with Apu” came out. Plus, U.S. poet laureate Ada Limón (34:48) on her poetry collection “The Hurting Kind,” sending a poem to space and what it’s like being shortlisted for this year's Griffin Poetry Prize.
44 minutes, 32 seconds
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New York Times bestselling author Angie Thomas + Saeed Teebi on his debut novel

Author Angie Thomas (The Hate U Give) on her new novel “Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy,” how showing your kids fantasy books might be the best way to talk to them about racism, and the time Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes from TLC saved her life. Plus, Saeed Teebi’s (37:05) debut story collection, “Her First Palestinian,” is up for the Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize. We revisit Tom’s conversation with Saeed.
51 minutes, 22 seconds
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Ari Aster on Mariah Carey and Beau Is Afraid + Schitt’s Creek’s Emily Hampshire on The End of Sex

Ari Aster (Hereditary, Midsommar) on how Joaquin Phoenix taught him a whole new way to make movies with “Beau Is Afraid,” and the thrill of scoring a pivotal scene to a classic Mariah Carey jam. Plus, Emily Hampshire (23:57) on her buzzy new rom-com “The End of Sex” and the irony of “Schitt’s Creek” really taking off only after it ended.
47 minutes, 7 seconds
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Catherine Hardwicke on her new film “Mafia Mamma” + Queer Eye’s Tan France

Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight, Thirteen) on her new film “Mafia Mamma,” being too creative for a career in architecture, and telling stories about female friendships. Plus, (33:33) Tan France (Queer Eye, Dressing Funny) on his unexpected rise to fame, his memoir “Naturally Tan,” and the taunting he faced growing up brown and Muslim in North England.
47 minutes, 19 seconds
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Mae Martin on their comedy special SAP + Anosh Irani on his new play

Comedian Mae Martin (Feel Good, Baroness von Sketch Show) on their new Netflix special “SAP,” dropping out of high school to pursue comedy and the significance behind their oatmeal tattoo. Plus, Anosh Irani (32:30) on his new play “Behind the Moon,” feeling haunted by his characters, and how no two immigration stories are the same.
47 minutes, 4 seconds
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Ellie Goulding on empathy, anxiety and joy + Hayden’s new album

British singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding (Love Me Like You Do, Lights, Burn) on her new album “Higher Than Heaven,” the anxiety that comes with superstardom, and what it was like hanging out with Canadian icon Joni Mitchell. Canadian singer-songwriter Hayden (27:03) on writing a song a day, doubting your creative instincts, and collaborating with artists like Feist, Matt Berninger and Aaron Dessner on his first new album in eight years, “Are We Good.”
49 minutes, 25 seconds
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Succession’s Nicholas Braun + Ziggy Marley on his dad’s legacy

Actor Nicholas Braun on playing Cousin Greg, the part he almost got in the movie Superbad, and how he feels saying goodbye to “Succession” — the series that earned him his first Emmy nomination. Plus, Ziggy Marley, son of Bob Marley (Redemption Song, No Woman No Cry, Get Up Stand Up) on his father’s legacy.
49 minutes, 45 seconds
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Feist on Multitudes, motherhood & memories + Nico Paulo’s new record

Singer-songwriter Feist on her new album, “Multitudes,” what it was like becoming a new mom during the pandemic, and how her life changed after her song “1234” was featured in an iPod commercial in 2007. Plus, Nico Paulo (42:16) on her new record, the similarities between Portugal and St. John’s, Newfoundland and the story behind her song “The Master.”
49 minutes, 1 second
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Samantha Bee on the future of news satire + Tareq Hadhad & Jonathan Keijser

Samantha Bee (The Daily Show, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee) tells Tom about hosting this year's Canadian Screen Awards, how she got her gig on “The Daily Show,” and what she’s most proud of looking back on her Emmy-winning news satire series “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee.” Tareq Hadhad and filmmaker Jonathan Keijser (36:43) talk about their film “Peace by Chocolate” based on Tareq’s astonishing real-life story of rebuilding a life in Canada as a Syrian refugee.
50 minutes, 11 seconds
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William Prince on ‘standing in the joy’ + Madison Tevlin on breaking barriers

Singer-songwriter William Prince on his brand new album, “Stand in The Joy,” playing the Grand Ole Opry, and the feeling of falling in love. Plus, actor Madison Tevlin (38:00) on the advice she got from her co-star Woody Harrelson, what she has in common with her character in the new movie “Champions,” and what it’s like having her cover of “All of Me” go viral.
49 minutes, 22 seconds
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Kiefer Sutherland on his analog life + visual artist Shary Boyle

Actor Kiefer Sutherland (The Lost Boys, Stand By Me, 24) on his love of playing characters facing insurmountable odds, starring in the new TV series “Rabbit Hole,” and what living without the latest technology has done for his happiness. Plus, visual artist Shary Boyle (25:07) on feeling like an outsider, watching people shriek at her piece called “White Elephant,” and how she wants her latest exhibit, “Outside the Palace of Me,” to start a conversation about white supremacy.
47 minutes, 48 seconds
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Justin Tranter on Grease's new sound + Stephen Williams on Chevalier

Grammy-nominated songwriter Justin Tranter (Good For You, Sorry, Believer) on their love of musical films, the reality of being a hitmaker, and how working on the new “Grease” prequel, “Rise of The Pink Ladies,” brought them back to their roots. Plus, producer and director Stephen Williams (Lost, Westworld, Watchmen) (32:00) on how the story of the underappreciated composer Joseph Bologne inspired his latest film, “Chevalier.”
48 minutes, 13 seconds
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Rebecca Black + Hannah Alissa Richardson

At 13 years old, Rebecca Black became infamous for her viral song, “Friday.” Now, more than a decade later, she’s back with her debut album, “Let Her Burn.” Rebecca joins Tom Power to talk about the infamy of “Friday,” and what it’s like now making music on her own terms. Plus, when Hannah Alissa Richardson (26:16) first saw the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre in Toronto as a young girl, she saw a glimpse into her future. Starting tomorrow, Hannah is dancing in her inaugural season with the company as their 65th anniversary tour kicks off in Toronto. Hannah tells Tom what it feels like when your dream comes true.
45 minutes, 16 seconds
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[Full episode] Rupi Kaur, Vivek Shraya, Darren Aronofsky, Canada Reads

Poet Rupi Kaur talks about her new writing guide, Healing Through Words, plus her own journey with writing and overcoming writer's block. Artist Vivek Shraya shares more about her autobiographical solo stage show How To Fail As A Pop Star, which is focused on the true story of her life in music. Director Darren Aronofsky talks about the difficulty of casting the lead in his latest film, The Whale, and why Brendan Fraser was perfect for the part. Canada Reads is back for another round! Join us as this year's line-up of all-star books are revealed live alongside their all-star champions.
1 hour, 5 minutes, 7 seconds
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[Full episode] Hugh Jackman, Ann-Marie MacDonald, Otis Williams

One trophy away from EGOT-status, there's strong speculation that Hugh Jackman could win the outstanding Oscar for his latest movie, The Son. He talks about his long career on stage and screen. Ann-Marie MacDonald reflects on the curiosity and empathy that continue to inspire her work from the page to the stage as Fall on Your Knees becomes a stage play. Otis Williams, founding member of Motown legends The Temptations, talks about the group's legacy, longevity and why their sound was so impactful during the 60s.
1 hour, 13 minutes, 43 seconds
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Catherine Hernandez + M. M. Keeravaani

Award-winning author Catherine Hernandez (Scarborough) on writing a book that feels like love, being a conduit for her ancestors and the eye-opening research that went into her latest novel, “The Story of Us.” Plus, composer M.M. Keeravaani (RRR) (26:26) on making history at this year's Oscars with his song “Naatu Naatu” — the first song from an Indian movie to be nominated for best original song.
50 minutes, 44 seconds
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Daniel Caesar on the myth of success + Bad Sisters creator Sharon Horgan

Daniel Caesar talks about his major-label debut, “Never Enough,” the reality of fame and collaborating with Justin Bieber on “Peaches.” Plus, Emmy-nominated writer and actor Sharon Horgan (Pulling, Divorce, Bad Sisters) (36:22) on laughing through pain, turkey farming, and the significance of writing women as angry.
51 minutes, 48 seconds
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Nicole Maines + Noah Pink

Actor and advocate Nicole Maines (Supergirl) on “Yellowjackets,” being the first transgender superhero on TV, and how she’s helped move the needle forward on transgender rights. Plus, screenwriter Noah Pink on the unbelievable backstory behind the game Tetris and why he wanted to make a film about it. Bonus: Halifax musician T. Thomason shares the story behind his cover of “Lovers in a Dangerous Time.”
50 minutes, 4 seconds
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James Cameron + Mary Walsh

Titanic celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Canadian director James Cameron tells Tom about the movie's enduring legacy, how he got that perfect scene for Jack and Rose’s first kiss and what it was like eating PCP-laced clam chowder in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Plus, in the new short film, “Dad and the Fridge Box,” Mary Walsh (This Hour Has 22 Minutes) tells a story of a time when people didn’t throw anything away. Mary tells Tom about recreating 1960s Newfoundland, and how her decision to embrace her “third act” in life and art is making way for her happiest times yet.
49 minutes, 32 seconds
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[Full episode] Ruben Östlund, Chloé Hung, Carrie Mae Weems

Director Ruben Östlund discusses his latest Palme d'Or-winning film, Triangle of Sadness, and why he wanted to look at "beauty as a currency." Playwright Chloé Hung discusses her new dark comedic play, Three Women of Swatow, about three generations of Chinese women who discover they are bound by more than blood. Photographer Carrie Mae Weems discusses art, class and culture — and how she feels about being called an artist ahead of her time.
1 hour, 7 minutes, 11 seconds
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[Full episode] Ani DiFranco, Trent McClellan, Bryan Washington

Singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco discusses her new memoir, survival, the boundary-breaking themes in her music and how she feels about the ongoing #MeToo movement. Comedian and This Hour Has 22 Minutes cast member Trent McClellan talks about his upcoming comedy tour, returning to his hometown to perform stand-up, and finding humour in the things that frustrate you. Writer Bryan Washington talks about capturing the quiet moments of modern family life and complicated relationships in his debut novel, Memorial.
1 hour, 12 minutes, 22 seconds
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Banx & Ranx + Courtney Gilmour

Music producers Banx & Ranx (Dua Lipa, Sean Paul, Sia) on their biggest hits, making Canada into the new capital of pop music and how they’re fostering new talent in the country. Plus, comedian Courtney Gilmour (25:20) on joking about being a congenital amputee, awkward situations with folks who are able-bodied and what it feels like to be Juno-nominated for her debut comedy album, “Let Me Hold Your Baby.” Bonus: Tenille Townes, one of the fastest rising country music stars in North America, tells us the story behind her song “The Thing That Wrecks You.”
48 minutes, 23 seconds
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Kate Beaton + Lyndie Greenwood

Graphic novelist Kate Beaton on why she has the world’s best fans, and how working in the Alberta oil sands formed the basis of her Canada Reads-winning memoir “Ducks.” Plus, Lyndie Greenwood (24:34) on public libraries, her sobriety journey and how she had to give up acting to finally land the role of her dreams in the TV series “Shelved.”
48 minutes, 34 seconds
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[Full episode] Peter Doig, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Mark Sakamoto and Hiro Kanagawa

Figurative painter Peter Doig — one of the world's top-selling living artists — talks about his work, his upbringing in Canada and the dark underbelly of the art market. Superstar Canadian conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin reflects on his phenomenal rise to the peak of his profession. Author Mark Sakamoto and playwright Hiro Kanagawa talk about adapting Mark's memoir Forgiveness, about his grandparents' experiences of the Second World War, for the stage.
1 hour, 6 minutes, 13 seconds
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Matty Healy is leaning into sincerity, here’s what he’s got to say about it

Matty Healy, the frontman of the band The 1975, is known for his quippy, observational lyrics about dating, youth culture and technology. But when it comes to his own emotions, he’s typically quite guarded. On The 1975’s new album “Being Funny in a Foreign Language,” he leans into his feelings and shares them with the world. Matty joins Tom Power to talk about being a band for two decades and why their new album is their most sincere yet. Plus, Maria Qamar (a.k.a. Hatecopy) makes South Asian-focused pop art that you can see everywhere, from a giant mural in Montreal to the background of a TV show like “Ms. Marvel” or “The Mindy Project.” Maria’s art is blowing up in a big way as it’s being showcased in prestigious art galleries like New York’s Richard Taittinger Gallery and Toronto’s Museum of Contemporary Art. She joins Tom to talk about her budding art career.
50 minutes, 24 seconds
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[Full episode] Paul Mescal, Christa Couture, Kenya Barris, Elamin Abdelmahmoud, Shamus

Actor Paul Mescal talks about his starring role in Aftersun and the success of his breakout role in the TV adaptation of Sally Rooney's Normal People. Christa Couture's memoir How to Lose Everything is opening the door for other Indigenous artists to share their stories of resilience. Writer, producer and director Kenya Barris talks about his ambitious new animated project with rapper Kid Cudi. Elamin Abdelmahmoud joins Tom to talk about the new show launching next week, Commotion. Plus, Shamus Currie, composer of the original theme for Q with Tom Power, joins Tom to help him say goodbye to the tune.
1 hour, 10 minutes, 57 seconds
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Taye Diggs + Cliff Cardinal

Actor Taye Diggs (The Best Man: The Final Chapters) on his role in the Tony award-winning musical “Rent,” the universality of Black stories and whether or not he’ll return to Broadway. Plus, playwright Cliff Cardinal (21:25) on his confrontational play “The Land Acknowledgement, or As You Like It,” subverting the audience’s expectations and laughing in the face of trauma.
42 minutes, 55 seconds
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David Harrington + Rakhee Morzaria

David Harrington on 50 years of making music with The Kronos Quartet, receiving an overdue apology and his love for Sesame Street. Plus, actor and comedian Rakhee Morzaria (Run The Burbs) (37:21) on her comedy, the tension of being both a writer and actor on the same show, and what she thinks Tom should say to internet trolls.
52 minutes
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Sheku Kanneh-Mason + Monica Heisey

What was it like to play at Harry and Meghan’s royal wedding? The acclaimed cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason knows. You’ll hear him tell Tom Power about that experience and what you can expect from his latest album, “Song.” Plus, last month, the TV writer Monica Heisey (Schitt’s Creek, Baroness Von Sketch Show) released her highly anticipated debut novel, “Really Good, Actually,” which follows the devastating and often absurd journey of a 28-year-old going through the first year of her divorce. Hear Monica open up about navigating divorce at a young age, and how she found humour in heartbreak.
41 minutes, 25 seconds
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Zakir Hussain + Zoe Whittall

Grammy-winning tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain on his favourite collaborations and the life advice he got from the late Beatle George Harrison that changed his whole career. Plus, author Zoe Whittall (36:23) on her new novel “The Fake,” the charm of pathological liars, and her own experience of dating somebody who faked having cancer.
49 minutes, 41 seconds
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Anna Kendrick + André Alexis

During the Toronto International Film Festival, Anna Kendrick sat down with Tom Power to chat about her latest film, “Alice, Darling,” what it was like being trapped in an elevator and how she looks back on some of her most life-changing roles as an actor. Plus, in his award-winning novel “Fifteen Dogs,” André Alexis imagined what would happen if our canine friends were given human consciousness. He tells Tom about the acclaimed stage adaptation of his book, and how dogs can show us what it means to be human.
47 minutes, 23 seconds
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Christian McBride + Tate McRae

Eight-time Grammy-winning bassist Christian McBride on what happened when he met his hero James Brown, and why he wanted to write a suite for four civil rights legends: Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali and Rosa Parks. Plus, singer-songwriter Tate McRae (40:27) sets up a song for us off her debut album “i used to think i could fly.”
47 minutes, 36 seconds
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Tegan and Sara + Sean Towgood

Singer-songwriters Tegan and Sara (The Con, Crybaby) on changing direction in your life and in your art, their frustration with how twins are depicted in the media, and what they think when they look back on their career so far. Plus, Sean Towgood (35:52) on how his show “You’re My Hero” gives a realistic depiction of someone living with cerebral palsy, the absurd things people say to him in grocery stores, and using comedy as a way to cope.
50 minutes, 59 seconds
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Anthony Shim + Aryana Sayeed & Fazila Amiri

Filmmaker Anthony Shim on his award-winning film “Riceboy Sleeps,” the line between comedy and tragedy and how he just wants to make his parents proud. Plus, Afghan-Canadian filmmaker Fazila Amiri and singer Aryana Sayeed (34:04) on their documentary, “And I Still Sing,” which tells the story of how the reality singing show, "Afghan Star" made history when two courageous female contestants defied death threats to continue singing.
48 minutes, 8 seconds
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M. Night Shyamalan + Hannah Epstein

After the release of “The Sixth Sense,” nearly 25 years ago, M. Night Shyamalan earned a reputation as a director with a flair for supernatural horror. Now, he’s back with his latest film, an apocalyptic thriller called “Knock at the Cabin.” He joins Tom for a career-spanning conversation, in which he shares how his spiritual views have influenced his life and work. Plus, mixed-media artist Hannah Epstein tells Tom about her new project “Critbot.AI,” which generates artistic feedback through artificial intelligence.
46 minutes, 18 seconds
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[Full episode] Marja-Lewis Ryan, Tablo, Jason Moran

Nearly 20 years after The L Word premiered, there's a sequel to the historic series. Showrunner Marja-Lewis Ryan talks about trying to reflect our changing times in The L Word: Generation Q. After a series of malicious false rumours almost ended his career more than ten years ago, Korean-Canadian rap star and Epik High frontman Tablo is sharing his story about finding his way back to music. Acclaimed pianist Jason Moran shares why he thinks James Reese Europe, a hugely influential Black composer and veteran, should be seen as a "Big Bang in Black music."
1 hour, 4 minutes, 17 seconds
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Matthew Macfadyen + Sugar Sammy

Matthew Macfadyen has made a name for himself playing the opportunistic Tom Wambsgans on the hit show “Succession.” Now, he stars in “Stonehouse,” a new series about the disgraced British MP John Stonehouse who faked his own death. Matthew talks to Tom about the show and shares a few stories from “Succession.” Plus, a decade after changing the face of stand-up with his bilingual tour “You're Gonna Rire,” Montreal comedian Sugar Sammy brings his truly multicultural humour back to Canada with a new cross-country tour, “You’re Gonna Rire 2.” He shares why raising eyebrows in this hotly political time is more fun — and more important — for him than ever.
47 minutes, 28 seconds
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Hayley Williams + Emma Mackey

If you grew up in the mid-to-late 2000s, there's a good chance you know the band Paramore. Hayley Williams has fronted the pop-punk band for nearly 20 years. She tells Tom Power about the band's history, the advice she’d give her younger self and what inspired Paramore’s new album, “This Is Why.” Emma Mackey (32:38) stars in “Emily,” a film about the life of Wuthering Heights author Emily Brontë — a reclusive, free-spirited woman and an outsider in conservative 19th century England. She sat down with Tom Power during the Toronto International Film Festival to talk about the film.
49 minutes, 5 seconds
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Bill Nye + Begonia

Bill Nye (the Science Guy!) on his late friend Carl Sagan, skepticism, and his gratitude for his Canadian audience. Plus, Juno-nominated singer-songwriter Begonia (23:51) on her start in music, the Coldplay song that made her feel “everything,” and the lessons you learn after releasing your debut record.
47 minutes, 52 seconds
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Neil Young + Da'Vine Joy Randolph

The word uncompromising gets a bad rap. But if Neil Young wasn’t the uncompromising musician he is, you probably wouldn’t know him as the songwriting legend is today. In this career-spanning conversation, Neil tells Tom about making the music industry work for him and his uncompromising values when it comes to fighting climate change — a fight he’s so hellbent on, he may never go on the road again if the touring industry doesn’t become more ecologically sustainable. Plus, Da'Vine Joy Randolph has spent years being called “a breakout star.” Critics have been calling her that since her Tony-nominated performance in the stage production of "Ghost.” Then there was her scene-stealing role opposite Eddie Murphy in "Dolemite Is My Name.” And of course, her critically acclaimed performance in “Only Murders in the Building.” At some point, they have to stop calling her a breakout star... right? Da’Vine tells Tom about this “break out star” phenomenon and her latest movie, “On The Come Up.”
45 minutes, 46 seconds
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Sabrina Benaim + Ravi Jain

Poet Sabrina Benaim on being “that depression girl,” breaking expectations and her new audio-exclusive poetry collection, “Chaotic Good.” Plus, director Ravi Jain (26:37) on adapting a 4,000-year-old Sanskrit poem for the stage, pushing the boundaries of theatre and the pressures of making an ancient story speak to modern life.
49 minutes, 13 seconds
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Ali Hassan + SYML

Comedian Ali Hassan on being a late bloomer, rebelling with pepperoni pizza and how 9/11 changed the trajectory of his life. Plus, SYML (37:30) on losing his father and how that experience shaped his record “The Day My Father Died.”
53 minutes, 51 seconds
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Snotty Nose Rez Kids + Jason Segel

Jason Segel has played a lot of funny characters in turmoil. Whether that’s as a young person in the throes of angst in “Freaks and Geeks,” or as someone recently dumped while on a Hawaiian vacation like in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.” He keeps that trend going in the new Apple TV+ series, “Shrinking,” where he plays a therapist who’s dealing with his own tragedy. Jason tells Tom about the ‘magical melancholy,’ in his roles and why he left L.A. after the massive success of "How I Met Your Mother." On their latest EP, “I'm Good HBU?” West coast rappers Snotty Nose Rez Kids have cemented themselves as one of the buzziest homegrown groups in Canadian hip hop. Snotty Nose Rez Kids break down the EP and look back on how their deep friendship led to a perfect musical partnership.
45 minutes, 39 seconds
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Jesse Krimes + Sasha Mark

While locked up for five years in a U.S. prison for cocaine possession, Jesse Krimes secretly created epic works of art using bedsheets, hair gel and newspaper. Each piece was smuggled out one-by-one through the prison mail room. Now, nearly a decade after his release, he’s adjusting to life on the outside as one of the world’s most talked-about visual artists. Jesse tells Tom how he used art not only to survive, but to rebuild his entire life. Plus, a new TV series is putting Canada’s next generation of queer and racialized stand-up comedians front and centre. It's called “Killjoy Comedy” and each episode profiles a different comic. Sasha Mark (31:45) is a comedian who’s featured in episode one. He talks to Tom about what he hopes this show will accomplish.
49 minutes, 9 seconds
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Melanie C + Aysanabee

Singer-songwriter Melanie Chisholm (a.k.a. Sporty Spice) on the Spice Girls, the challenges that come with international fame, and life after being in one of the biggest pop groups in the world. Plus, singer-songwriter Aysanabee (37:52) on his breakthrough album “Watin” and the significance of including the voice of his grandfather ⁠— a residential school survivor ⁠— in his music.
51 minutes, 26 seconds
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k.d. lang + Patrick J. Adams

Singer-songwriter k.d. lang (Constant Craving, Miss Chatelaine) on feeling like public property, her love of Roy Orbison and why she has no plans to write another record. Plus, actor Patrick J. Adams (Suits, Plan B) (32:47) on being present, online scrutiny and what playing toxic characters teaches him about the person he wants to be.
50 minutes, 38 seconds
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Guillermo del Toro + Jeremy Dutcher

Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth,The Shape of Water, Nightmare Alley) on the darkness within Pinocchio, why he included facism in his retelling of the classic story and the time he may have encountered a ghost. Plus, composer Jeremy Dutcher (35:24) and his mother Lisa Perley-Dutcher on the importance of language preservation and why they want to create the first-ever Wolastoqey immersion school (which is now up and running since they last spoke!!).
49 minutes, 55 seconds
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Dallas Green + Debby Friday

Dallas Green (Alexisonfire, City and Colour) on grief, questioning your faith and the honesty that goes into his songwriting. Plus, Debby Friday (26:11) on feeling rootless, Montreal's club culture, and how sobriety changed her life and art.
46 minutes, 9 seconds
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Sarah Silverman + Chandler Levack

Emmy winning comedian Sarah Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Podcast, History of The World, Part II, Wreck-It Ralph) on Saturday Night Live, antisemitism and her comedic inspirations. Plus, filmmaker Chandler Levack (I Like Movies) (23:44) on film school snobs, video stores and nostalgia.
48 minutes, 54 seconds
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Nickelback + Avril Lavigne

Nickelback on their early days, being parodied and the evolution of the band’s identity. Plus, Avril Lavigne (36:36) on getting her first big break, her debut album “Let Go,” and her friendship with Olivia Rodrigo.
48 minutes, 22 seconds
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Rick Rubin + Barbara Brandon-Croft

Prolific music producer Rick Rubin (Beastie Boys, Lady Gaga, Johnny Cash, Run-DMC) on staying true to yourself, his musical inspirations and what it was like working with Johnny Cash in the ‘90s. Plus, cartoonist Barbara Brandon-Croft (33:18) on rejection, growing up with a famous cartoonist father and how she’s breaking barriers with her comic strip “Where I’m Coming From.”
47 minutes, 24 seconds
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Adele Bertei + Tien Tran

The Bloods frontwoman Adele Bertei on being in the first all-girl, openly queer rock band, the music that saved her, and what it feels like to forgive an abusive parent. Plus, Tien Tran (How I Met Your Father) (33:56) on queer joy on TV, the improv scenes that sent her into an ‘existential spiral,’ and finding community.
49 minutes, 45 seconds
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Jay Ellis + Adrien Morot

Jay Ellis (Insecure, Top Gun: Maverick) on his career, his favourite rom-coms and why he started a podcast about racism in the U.S. criminal justice system. Plus, the critically acclaimed film “The Whale” stars Brendan Fraser as a 600-pound man. Canadian makeup artist and prosthetic designer Adrien Morot (26:34) created the prosthetics that transformed the actor and made his performance so believable. He tells Tom about the challenge and how it feels to receive an Oscar-nomination for his work.
48 minutes, 51 seconds
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Toheeb Jimoh + Cherie Dimaline

Emmy-nominated actor Toheeb Jimoh on his breakout role in Ted Lasso, his audition that got him the part, and how he draws on his own personal experience to play his character Sam Obisanya. Plus, Cherie Dimaline (21:34) on how working in the world of magic made her a better writer, her new young adult novel, “Funeral Songs for Dying Girls,” and how she sneaks social commentary into children's books.
47 minutes, 31 seconds
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Remembering Gordon Pinsent

Gordon Pinsent, one of Canada's most prolific and iconic actors, has died. He was 92. We revisit Tom's conversation with the legendary actor from 2017.
18 minutes, 19 seconds
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Steve Reich + Priyanka

Composer Steve Reich on his influences, his reverence for the voices of Holocaust survivors in his piece “Different Trains,” and what music sounds like when you’re considering your own mortality. Drag queen Priyanka (34:40) on being the first winner of Canada’s Drag Race, her journey to drag and the advice she’d give to her 14-year-old self.
47 minutes, 38 seconds
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[Full episode] Linda Schuyler, Andrew Phung, Bong Joon-ho

Degrassi co-creator Linda Schuyler discusses her new memoir, The Mother Of All Degrassi, which details how she went from being a Toronto high school teacher to an award-winning television producer. Actor and comedian Andrew Phung (best known as the character Kimchee on Kim's Convenience) talks about co-creating and starring in the new CBC comedy series Run the Burbs. Parasite director Bong Joon-ho tells us what inspired him to make a thriller about income inequality, and why wealth can make monsters of us all.
1 hour, 6 minutes, 55 seconds
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[Full episode] Marianne Faithfull, Lainey Wilson, Margaret Cho

Legendary singer-songwriter Marianne Faithfull opens up about surviving COVID-19 and recording a new album of classic romantic poems, titled She Walks in Beauty. After hustling for 11 years, Lainey Wilson talks about her acclaimed new record Bell Bottom Country and why it's funny to be called an "overnight sensation." Comedian Margaret Cho discusses her role in Fire Island as a den mother to a chosen family of young gay men, plus, how she feels about becoming a role model for Asian Americans onscreen.
1 hour, 1 minute, 49 seconds
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Alexander Skarsgård + Sheila Heti

Actor Alexander Skarsgård (True Blood, Big Little Lies, Infinity Pool) on the eclectic roles he’s taken on, nepotism and stories behind HBO’s “Succession.” Plus, author Sheila Heti (24:43) on death, grief and the inspiration behind her Governor General’s Award-winning novel, “Pure Colour.” Bonus: Author Lindsay Wong (38:00) on the stigma around mental illness, growing up with “ghosts,” and what inspired her new book of short stories, “Tell Me Pleasant Things About Immortality.”
48 minutes, 34 seconds
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Sarah Polley on her Oscar-nominated film Women Talking

Sarah Polley’s Oscar-nominated film “Women Talking” is a powerful story about three generations of women who sit down to decide the fate of the women and children of their Mennonite colony. After years of surviving sexual abuse, they have 24 hours to decide: stay and do nothing, stay and fight, or leave. Sarah tells Tom about her film, what it was like stepping back from the film industry after a concussion and how she used her experience as a child actor to create the best environment possible for the children on the set of “Women Talking.” Plus, Vir Das became the first India-born comic with his own Netflix special in 2017. At the same time he's blowing up as this great comic, he's also being labeled a terrorist in his home country for his candid critiques of India’s injustices. His new special is called “Landing.” Vir tells Tom Power his story and the journey to becoming the comic he is today.
49 minutes, 59 seconds
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Pink + Sarah Gadon

Pink never thought her success would last this long. In the 10th grade, she was voted “most likely to be behind bars in 10 years” when in actuality, she became one of the most beloved and enduring pop stars of the 21st century. In this conversation, Pink tells Tom about the highs and lows of her music career, what it took to survive the industry and what inspired her new album, “Trustfall.” Plus, the actor Sarah Gadon (True Detective, A Dangerous Method, Enemy) gravitates toward challenging characters — and her latest role is no exception. Sarah opens up to Tom (22:08) about making her onstage debut in “Yerma,” about a woman’s struggle with infertility, and why she says the character she plays is the “ultimate heroine.”
46 minutes, 42 seconds
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[Full episode] Regina King, Neil Gaiman, Lisa LeBlanc

Actor Regina King talks about directing One Night in Miami, a film that imagines a real conversation between four of the most important Black voices of the 1960s: Sam Cooke, Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X and Jim Brown. Writer Neil Gaiman tells us why his comic book series The Sandman would have made a terrible movie — and why he loved adapting it into a new Netflix series. Acadian singer-songwriter Lisa LeBlanc talks about her decision to put down the banjo and record a disco album.
1 hour, 4 minutes, 52 seconds
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Sheila McCarthy + Vir Das

Actor Sheila McCarthy (Women Talking, I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing) on working with Sarah Polley, meeting Robin Williams, and the best acting advice she’s ever received. Plus, comedian Vir Das (37:35) opens up about being labeled a ‘terrorist,’ turning criticism into comedy, and holding onto love during moments of hate.
50 minutes, 14 seconds
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Logic + Preston Pablo

Grammy-nominated rapper Logic (Everybody, College Park) on finding his passion for music, early retirement and fatherhood. Plus, first-time JUNO nominee Preston Pablo (35:40) on figuring out what it means to be an “up and coming artist,” self criticism and learning how to trust yourself.
49 minutes, 44 seconds
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[Full episode] Denzel Washington, Jenny Slate, Miriam Toews

Actor Denzel Washington talks about his turn as Lord Macbeth in the film The Tragedy of Macbeth, and what the legacy of the late Sidney Poitier means to him. Actor and comedian Jenny Slate talks about revisiting Marcel the Shell with Shoes On in a feature-length film based on the viral web series. Bestselling author Miriam Toews discusses her highly anticipated new novel, Fight Night, and what it says about family, resiliency and the fight for mental health.
1 hour, 18 seconds
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Sam Smith talks about their new album Gloria and learning to love themself

Sam Smith is one of the biggest artists in the world. They made a name for themself in 2014 with devastating songs about love and loss and ended up winning four Grammys because of it. Now, Sam is trying something new: focusing on joy in their life and music. Sam opens up to Tom Power about their new record, “Gloria,” why focusing on queer joy is the most radical thing they can do, and the highs and lows of finding their identity. Plus, the queen of country pop Shania Twain tells you the story behind her new single, “Last Day of Summer.”
49 minutes, 4 seconds
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Kristin Chenoweth + Margo Price

Kristin Chenoweth is a Tony and Emmy-Award winning performer who’s wowed audiences in musicals like “Wicked” and “You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” Now, she's sharing what she's learned over the years in a new book, “I'm No Philosopher, But I Got Thoughts,” which collects her musings on creativity, love, loss and closure. Kristin talks to Tom about the book, what she learned from millennials about self-care and how a lighting accident on set of “The Good Wife” changed her life. Plus, there are few country stars who have stuck to their guns quite like Margo Price. Her uncompromising artistry is on full display with her new album “Strays.” She tells Tom how taking mushrooms and going into the mountains helped her make her best record yet.
43 minutes, 11 seconds
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Lakecia Benjamin + Lindsay Wong

Saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin on playing for revered artists (Missy Eilliot, Stevie Wonder), the time she snuck her way past security to play sax at a Prince concert and how a near-death experience inspired her latest album, “Phoenix.” Plus, author Lindsay Wong (32:55) on the stigma around mental illness, growing up with “ghosts,” and what inspired her new book of short stories, “Tell Me Pleasant Things About Immortality.”
51 minutes, 30 seconds
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[Full episode] Ralph Macchio and Dax

Ralph Macchio talks about what it was like reflecting on the legacy of The Karate Kid in his new book Waxing On: The Karate Kid and Me, and why he's "embracing the past in the present" with Cobra Kai. With millions of followers online, Dax has become one of the biggest up-and-coming Canadian rappers today thanks to his honest lyrics. He shares his journey from college basketball to internet phenomenon.
58 minutes, 27 seconds
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Introducing: Q with Tom Power

Five days a week, acclaimed interviewer Tom Power sits down with the artists, writers, actors and musicians who define this cultural moment in time. Whether he’s ribbing Adele, singing a boyband classic with Simu Liu, or dissecting faith with U2 frontman Bono – Tom brings the same curiosity, respect and meticulous preparation into every conversation. He also has a track record for interviewing artists on the precipice of stardom – like Lizzo and Billie Eilish — who appeared on Q well before hitting the mainstream. Hear your favourite artists as they truly are, every weekday with Tom Power.
2 minutes, 37 seconds
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Ron Nelson + Grace Lynn Kung

Run-D.M.C., Public Enemy, KRS-One — these are just some of the artists who’ve worked with DJ Ron Nelson, the godfather of hip-hop radio in Toronto. Now, at age 60, Ron is releasing his first rap album. He joins Tom Power for a look back at his journey as a pioneering hip-hop radio host and tells us why now was the right time to put out his first rap album. Plus, Grace Lynn Kung (33:18) has had some eclectic roles — from a national security agent to a convict in “Star Trek: Discovery” to having her head blown off in “Cult of Chucky.” Now, Grace has her first lead role in the series “Wong & Winchester.” She tells Tom Power why playing a surly, sarcastic detective is such a dream role.
46 minutes, 9 seconds
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[Full episode] Nina Hoss, Anoushka Shankar, Kyle Edward Ball

Nina Hoss co-stars in the new critically-acclaimed film Tár. She shares her process behind preparing for the film, including learning to play the violin, and what it was like playing with a real-life orchestra. Acclaimed sitar player Anoushka Shankar discusses her first live album in more than two decades, her life in music and what it's like having that famous family name. Edmonton director Kyle Edward Ball is making his feature-length debut with the film Skinamarink. He tells us the inspiration behind his horror film, and how he uses sound to evoke the feeling of a nightmare.
1 hour, 11 minutes, 12 seconds
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How Nineteen85 shaped some of Drake’s biggest songs

Nineteen85 is behind some of Drake’s biggest songs, from “Hotline Bling” to “Hold On We’re Going Home.” And when he’s not putting his Grammy Award-winning touch on other people’s music, he’s making his own as part of the R&B duo DVSN. Nineteen85 talks to Tom about his new album, his love of Jimi Hendrix and what it was like producing some of Drake’s most beloved songs. Plus, Cressida Cowell’s children’s book series “How to Train Your Dragon” has sold more than seven million copies worldwide and has become an award-winning franchise that you’ve probably seen with your kids… or just by yourself because it’s a great movie regardless of how old you are. Cressida tells Tom about the famous franchise and about her newest book, “Which Way to Anywhere.”
50 minutes, 4 seconds
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What Laura Dern thinks about the mental health crisis, nepotism and Jurassic Park

After 40 years working in film, Laura Dern has built a reputation for playing complex women grappling with the messiness of real-life. That legacy continues with her latest movie, “The Son,” in which she plays a divorced parent trying to support her son through depression. Plus, singer-songwriters Tegan and Sara tell Tom about their latest album “Crybaby” and a new Amazon series based on their lives called “High School.”
46 minutes, 15 seconds
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Pamela Anderson + Keshia Cheesman & Bianca Miranda

Pamela Anderson on taking her story back + Two Calgary Playwrights on the ‘other’ F word Pamela Anderson’s story is incredible, but you so rarely get to hear her tell it. For the first time, Pamela shares her story through her new documentary, “Pamela, A Love Story,” and memoir, “Love, Pamela.” Pam joins Tom Power to talk about growing up on Vancouver Island, the freedom that Playboy gave her, and how she’s taking back authorship of her story — one that’s so often been misconstrued by the media. Plus, the playwrights Keshia Cheesman and Bianca Miranda (34:05) want to end the stigma around the word “fat.” Keshia and Bianca tell Tom Power about their new play, “The F word,” and how they each found self acceptance and self-love.
48 minutes, 10 seconds
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Chris Williams + Gabriel Luna

Director Chris Williams (Lilo and Stitch, Big Hero 6, Bolt) on turning your passion into your career, the challenges of animation and what inspired his Oscar-nominated film “The Sea Beast.” Plus, the actor Gabriel Luna (26:35) on starring as Tommy in the hit HBO show “The Last of Us,” his love of video games and how filming in Calgary was the perfect place for a show about the apocalypse. Bonus: Singer-songwriter Faouzia (41:42) tells us about her song “RIP, Love.”
47 minutes, 37 seconds
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Clement Virgo + Kim Thúy

Writer and director Clement Virgo (The Wire, The Book of Negroes, Brother) on maturing as a filmmaker, how art reflects back your own humanity and working on hit TV shows like “The Wire.” Plus, author Kim Thúy (32:21) on the haunting photograph that inspired her latest novel, “Em,” the endurance of love amongst misery and her own immigration story.
50 minutes, 50 seconds
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Bono on U2, being "insufferable," and what it means to surrender

Tom’s conversation with Bono is up for Best Interview at the New York Festivals Radio Awards! Enjoy this extended version of Tom’s conversation with U2’s larger-than-life frontman, Bono.
54 minutes, 21 seconds