Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth, The Aviator, Tr) is one of the most respected actors of our time. She's an onscreen chameleon who transforms into whatever role she plays, taking on whatever accent is required of her, so much so that she says its easy to forget what she actually sounds like. Cate sits down with Tom for a thoughtful conversation about two of her most recent projects the unique political satire Rumours and the psychological thriller series Disclaimer plus, her voice work and how she chooses her roles.

Amanda Peters is a Nova Scotian writer of Mikmaq and European ancestry whose debut novel, The Berry Pickers, became one of the most talked about books in North America last year. Now, shes back with a collection of short stories, titled Waiting for the Long Night Moon. The book touches on heavy topics like residential schools, the fight for the right to clean water, systemic racism and abuse, as well as intimate stories based on her own life as a white-passing Indigenous woman. Amanda sits down with Tom to talk about her literary success, the heaviness and joy in her new collection, and why she calls these stories her training wheels.

Tobias Jesso Jr. is a Grammy-winning Canadian musician from Vancouver whos written pop hits for superstars like Adele, Harry Styles, Dua Lipa, and Florence and the Machine. Last month, he was honoured with the international achievement award at the SOCAN Awards. In a rare interview, Tobias tells Tom about striking out in L.A. early in his career, stepping away from the spotlight after releasing one of the most talked about debut albums of 2015, and how he got his first session as a professional songwriter working with Adele.

Unlike a lot of other gold medallists at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Phil Wizard didn't grow up dreaming of becoming an Olympian. The Vancouver-based breakdancer sits down with Tom to reflect on his big win and why his personal motto is to think like an artist, but train like an athlete.

Its Oct. 11, 1975, and the cast and crew of Saturday Night Live are scrambling to get the very first episode on the air. Director Jason Reitman (Juno, Up in the Air, Ghostbusters: Afterlife) chronicles those chaotic 90 minutes in his new movie, Saturday Night. He sits down with Tom to talk about how spending a week writing for SNL inspired the film, what it took to capture the excitement and tension of that night, and how truly revolutionary SNL was for its time.

You know that old quote about how the road to hell is paved with good intentions? That pretty much sums up The Thanksgiving Play by Larissa FastHorse. Its a cringe comedy that follows a group of well-meaning white theatre nerds as they desperately try to create a politically correct Thanksgiving show, without the guidance of an Indigenous person. Larissa joins Tom to talk about the inspiration for the play, performative activism in the theatre world, and how wanting to be seen as doing the right thing isnt actually the same as doing the right thing. 

As a self-described image architect, Law Roach is single-handedly responsible for styling Zendayas daring looks, as well as Celine Dion and Lindsay Lohans career comeback transformations. While he has no formal training, Law managed to become one of the most influential stylists in the world through sheer grit and instinct. Now, hes released a new book, How to Build a Fashion Icon, which is both a memoir and a manual. Law joins Tom to tell us how thrifting with his grandmother helped him cultivate his style, how he rigged the Who Wore It Best? columns to put Zendaya on the map, and why he decided to announce his retirement at the height of his success.

Janelle Niles is a Black, Mi'kmaw, two-spirited comedian whos been bringing her sharp humour to stages around Canada for the past few years. Now, shes one of eight comedians featured in Rez Comedy, the first stand-up comedy film featuring all Indigenous Canadian comics. Janelle sits down with Tom to talk about the film and her life in comedy, from being the class clown in school to becoming a progressive edgelord on stage.

The Canadian actor Victor Garber (Titanic, Legally Blonde, Alias) has enjoyed an incredible career on stage and screen. This month, hell be honoured with a lifetime achievement award from the Forest City Film Festival but theres still at least one more thing he wants to accomplish. Victor sits down with Tom for a career-spanning chat about his time in the successful sunshine pop group The Sugar Shoppe, his starring role as Jesus Christ in the legendary Canadian production of Godspell, his iconic supporting role in James Camerons Titanic, and why he hopes his big film break is yet to come.

When the Montreal singer-songwriter Patrick Watson was tapped to write music for So Long, Marianne a new scripted series about the romance between Leonard Cohen and Marianne Ihlen he had to find a way to channel Leonards music without imitating his sound. Patrick ended up writing the theme song for the series and his involvement didnt end there. He joins Tom to talk about his work on So Long, Marianne and his relationship with the late Canadian icon. 

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 thats now in its second season. But Kelseys 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 didnt always feel welcomed on Cheers, and how he ended up voicing Sideshow Bob on The Simpsons.

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 thats 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.

Lead singer Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend has been called a generational voice in indie rock. From the bands 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 its like having Quincy Jones for a father-in-law.

Torontos Dylan Sinclair is a rising star on the Canadian R&B scene. Last year, he and singer Savannah R won a Juno for their collaboration, "Last One." Now, hes 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. 

On the hit series The Bear, Liza Coln-Zayas plays a middle-aged line cook named Tina whos challenged by her mentors to learn new skills as a sous-chef. In some ways, her characters 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.

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 Jungs Memories, Dreams, Reflections. 

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.

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 Nemahs conversation with Tom where she explains exactly what happened in her own words.

Dr. Shirley Cheechoo is one of Canadas 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 Canadas 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 cant do when it comes to healing.

As a filmmaker, Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather, Apocalypse Now) is legendary for his vision, drive and propensity to risk it all. Now, hes 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 doesnt 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.

Marek Tyler of the indie rock band nhiyawak has just released his debut solo album, Asko. He joins Tom to talk about his process of using traditional nhiyaw ceremony to make the record, what he learned by slowing down and shedding his ego, and the story behind his new single whkhtowin.

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 its 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.

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, theyve 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.

The Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh (Erin Brockovich, Ocean's Eleven, Magic Mike) is shaking up the horror genre with his latest film, Presence. Its a paranormal thriller with a twist in that its 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.

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 Crows 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.

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 whos 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.

The Canadian actor and singer Maisy Stella stars alongside Aubrey Plaza in My Old Ass. Its 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 its like playing someone going through a major transition, and how she manifested her role in this movie.

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, Whos 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 industrys double standard.

Stephan Moccio is a Los Angeles-based Canadian pianist and songwriter whos co-written tracks for artists like Miley Cyrus, the Weeknd and Celine Dion. Now, hes 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. 

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 Guadagninos film Queer, and launching a new hot sauce.

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, which forced the band to finally rehearse. Plus, he sets up a new song, titled Whos There, from his latest project, Combinations.

Acclaimed music video director Joseph Kahn has worked with everyone from the Backstreet Boys to Taylor Swift, but in 2004, he expanded into feature films. His 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.

Forty years ago, director Mick Jackson released a film titled Threads thats 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.

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 the state she grew up in. 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.

T. Thomason is a singer-songwriter from Nova Scotia who has a lot to say about how the music industry treats trans artists. Now, hes 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 its opened up new conversations and made him feel empowered.

Kathryn Hahn got her start in film playing memorable supporting roles in comedies like Anchorman, Step Brothers 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.

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.

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 Minghellas 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.

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.

Whats the cost of being cool? Back in the 90s and early 00s there was no one cooler than Chlo 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. Chlo 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 years Toronto International Film Festival. 

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. Its set in an alternate version of Winnipeg where Canadas 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.

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. Its directed by filmmaker Mike Downie, whos the older brother of The Hips 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.

Caity Gyorgy is a Juno-winning jazz singer whos 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 love of scatting, plus, she sets up a song for us.

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. 

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.

Yann Martels Booker Prize-winning novel Life of Pi has been adapted into a Tony award-winning play thats 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.

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, hes back with his much-anticipated fourth solo album, Manning Fireworks. MJ joins Tom to talk about the record and what its like to deal with the heightened expectations that come with success.

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 werent 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.

Though shes been called Canadas 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 didnt 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.

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 films 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.

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 films 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.

Dame Evelyn Glennie is the only deaf musician to ever win a Grammy (which shes 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, whos also deaf. Evelyn talks to Tom about the record, how she learned to listen with her whole body, and why its her life mission to teach the world to listen.

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 shed give her younger self.

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 didnt initially think of himself as a composer, RZA has leaned into the title in recent years, scoring movies like Quentin Tarantinos 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.

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.

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 Toms conversation with Ethan and Maya about their collaboration.

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. Valleys 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.

For his debut feature film, Dan Levy wrote and directed a story about grief, aptly titled Good Grief. We revisit Toms conversation with Dan about the real-life grief that inspired the film and how he pushed through the negative voice in his head.

You may know Priyanka as the winner of Canadas Drag Race Season 1 or, if you grew up in Canada, you may remember her as kids show host Mark Suki on YTVs The Zone. Priyanka has just released her debut full-length album, Devastatia, which she calls a love letter to anyone who feels like they dont fit in. She sits down with guest host Vivek Shraya to talk about the record and learning to believe in herself.

We revisit Toms 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.

A woman whos 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.

We revisit Toms 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.

The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb is back with her latest childrens 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 its inspired by her own childhood, plus, 30 years of the song that first put her on the map Stay (I Missed You).

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.

Theres a new podcast and radio show coming to CBC Books. Its called Bookends and its 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 theyre most looking forward to, plus, the correct strategy for wagering on a Daily Double.

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.

Bibi Club is the musical project of Adle 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. Adle 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. 

Tom Selleck has been on Hollywoods 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, hes 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.  

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.

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.

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, shes 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.

Josh Ramsay is the lead singer of the Juno-winning band Marianas Trench (one of Canadas 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 Jepsens massive hit Call Me Maybe.

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 Londons 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.

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, shes released a new album, Nobodys 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.

Keysha Freshh has been a trailblazer in the Canadian hip-hop scene for 15 years, which is impressive considering shes only 31. The Canadian rapper is a solo artist as well as a part of the all-female rap group The Sorority. Now, shes 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.

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 youre 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.

Lucky Daye is typically classified as an R&B musician, but one look at his wide-ranging discography shows that he isnt so easily defined by genre. The Grammy winner is sought after by some of the biggest names in music, but his path to success wasnt easy. He grew up in a strict religious household that didnt 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.

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.

Sean Wang is an Oscar-nominated filmmaker whos just released his debut feature film, Ddi. Its 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.

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. Theyve 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.

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 Jackies house after she passed.

Every time a new movie in the Alien franchise is released, theres a ton of anticipation. The Uruguayan filmmaker Fede lvarez 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.

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 whos 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.

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. 

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 theres nothing glamorous about sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll.

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 its like to interview famous people without any preparation.

Ruby Waters is a Canadian singer-songwriter whos just released her debut full-length album, Whats the Point. She joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the record and sets up a song, titled Bucket.

Elin Hilderbrand is a bestselling romance author whos been writing about summers on Nantucket for the last two decades. Now, after 30 books, shes 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 shes now calling it quits sort of.

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.

Clarence Maclin spent 15 years as an inmate in Sing Sing Correctional Facility, one of Americas 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.

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 doesnt 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).

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.

Newfoundlands own Alan Doyle is one of Canadas 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.

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 shes so interested in writing about war, and why she chooses to live an intensely private life.

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 Loc Calatayud joins Tom to share the story behind the song that's kind of become the soundtrack to our show.

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.

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 shes fascinated by the themes of language and displacement, and how her writing was deeply influenced by the 1947 Partition of India and Pakistan.

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, hes 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.

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.

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, hes 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 Shyamalans new action-packed thriller, Trap.

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 1989s 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. Elijahs 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.

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, shell 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 shes cool.

Whats 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.

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 Miville, one of the most prolific speculative fiction authors in the world, and convinced him to collaborate. Now, theyve 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.

The Canadian actor Qasim Khan has taken on the coveted role of Hamlet for Canadian Stages 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 Shakespeares most famous tragedy does a bit differently.

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, its 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.

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.

Jelly Rolls origin story isnt 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, hes gone from rapping to singing, ultimately finding a home in country music. Jelly Roll sits down with Tom to share his incredible story.

The acclaimed Canadian troubadour Donovan Woods is back with a brand new album, Things Were Never Good If Theyre 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).

Noah Kahan is one of the most successful singer-songwriters in the world right now, but it wasnt 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, hes 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 hes protected his mental health while on this crazy ride. 

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 Ontarios 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.

Chromeos 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?

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 clichs about the experience of immigrating to Canada, and what it was like getting Spike Lees hand-written notes as a film student at NYU.

Brittany Howards 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.

After finding Martha Baillies 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.

Maya Rudolph has been a comedy staple on our screens for decades. Shes impersonated everyone from Donatella Versace to Beyonc as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, and shes 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. 

When Will Butler left his band Arcade Fire, he didnt know what would happen next. With a Grammy on his shelf and an Oscar nomination for his musical score on Spike Jonzes Her, it seemed like he could do anything why not Broadway? Now, hes 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 bands relationships influence their art, and why it was good he didnt know anything about 70s rock music.

The multi-platinum rapper G-Eazy rose to stardom in 2015 with his hit song Me, Myself & I (featuring Bebe Rexha). Since then, hes 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, hes 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.

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.

On the hit series The Bear, Liza Coln-Zayas plays a middle-aged line cook named Tina whos challenged by her mentors to learn new skills as a sous-chef. In some ways, her characters story mirrors her own journey as an actor. Liza joins Tom to talk about the scarcity and struggle shes 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.

Luke Gilford is a photographer and filmmaker who grew up in a professional rodeo family in Colorado. But it wasnt until he discovered Americas thriving subculture of queer rodeo that he truly felt at home with cowboy culture. Now, hes released his feature directorial debut, National Anthem, inspired by his famous photo series of Americas 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.

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.

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.

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.

More than 20 years after Johnny Cashs death, were getting new music from the legendary country music star. His only son, John Carter Cash, joins Tom to talk about finding his dads old demos from the 90s, and why he decided to release these songs in the form of a new album, Songwriter.

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 into the mind of a killer. Stephen joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the book, his love of slashers, and why he thinks its the job of horror writers to walk into the darkness as far as they can and then take two steps more.  

The acclaimed Canadian pianist and conductor Gregory Oh knows all about classical musics 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. 

Before becoming an actor, Jennifer Esposito lived on Staten Island where she grew up around organized crime. Now, shes 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.

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.

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.

Nanalan is a Canadian childrens 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 shows viral success and legacy. Plus, they bring the puppets that started it all.

Wanda Koop is one of Canadas 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 familys 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.

After spending nearly half of her life as a touring pop star, Camila Cabello feels like shes 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.

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 familys home of Jericho in the West Bank.

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, Hooties frontman Darius Rucker has continued making music, transitioning from alt-rock to country. Dariuss latest record is called Carolyns Boy. He joins Tom to talk about the massive success of Cracked Rear View, what he thinks about the bands decline in popularity, and why he still pursued country music after being told the fanbase wouldnt listen to a Black country artist.

Waxahatchee is the solo project of the American singer-songwriter Katie Crutchfield. Now, shes 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.

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.

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, hes been honoured with this years 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.

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 years 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.

William Stanford Davis is a veteran actor who waited 40 years until his dream of becoming a series regular finally became a reality. Hes the breakout star of the hit sitcom Abbott Elementary, on which he plays the schools 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.

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.

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 Tr 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.

Visual artist Kapwani Kiwanga represents Canada at this years 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.

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.

The Montreal pianist Alexandra Strliski 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 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.

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, shes 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.

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 Caf, 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.

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 Toms 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.

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.

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.

Jodie Comer is an Emmy and Tony Award-winning actor who you may know as the assassin Villanelle on the show Killing Eve. Though shes been acting since childhood, Jodie treats every role with the intense work ethic of someone whos 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 thats gotten her this far in her acting career.

The Canadian director Brendan Healy has taken on an epic project: a new production of Matthew Lpez'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.

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 wasnt sitting right with her, Jamie decided to start fresh with a solo career. Now, shes 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.

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.

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, shes 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 its like working with Taylor.

The Montreal singer-songwriter Dominique Fils-Aim is back with a new single, Moi je t'aime. Its the Juno-winning artists 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.

Dr. Shirley Cheechoo is one of Canadas most prominent voices in Indigenous film and theatre. At this years 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 Canadas 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 cant do when it comes to healing.

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 Toms conversation with Donald about his stamp, his early days as an actor, and why he didnt want dual Canadian and American citizenship.

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 Scorseses 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.

Elisapie was jogging and listening to ABBA when she got the idea for her latest project, Inuktitut. Its 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.

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.

Weyni Mengesha is an award-winning Canadian theatre maker and the artistic director of Torontos Soulpepper Theatre Company. Five years ago, she reworked Tennessee Williamss 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.

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.

The Canadian artist Miles Greenberg says flesh is his medium. Hes 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 youre asking why, Miles has a very good answer. He sits down with Tom to shed light on the piece and his journey in art.

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.

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 its important to look at our favourite musicians and artists as people not as myths.

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 shes more comfortable talking about death these days, and what happens to your comedy when you get mentally healthy.

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 whos trying to make it as an artist and why his latest book, The Wendy Award, is going to be her final adventure for now.

The Canadian director Ally Pankiw is no stranger to working with funny people. Shes directed comedian Mae Martin in their series Feel Good as well as comedy actor Annie Murphy in the dark satire Black Mirror. Now, shes released her debut feature film, I Used to Be Funny, which stars real-life comedian Rachel Sennott as a stand-up comedian whos 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.

The Griffin Poetry Prize is the worlds 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.

This week, the singer-songwriter and French cultural icon Franoise 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 Franoise's conversation with Tom in honour of her passing.

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 Lamars 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 Obamas 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.

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.

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.

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.

Ever since telling people to Free Your Mind... and Your Ass Will Follow in the late 60s, George Clintons P-Funk sound has influenced countless artists, including the likes of Prince, Snoop Dogg and Janelle Mone. George is the mastermind behind groups like Funkadelic and Parliament, and hes 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.

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.

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 Londons 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.

The Canadian comedian Jessi Cruickshank first rose to prominence as the co-host of MTV Canadas The Hills: The After Show. Now, shes 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.

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 bands 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.

Bibi Club is the musical project of Adle 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. Adle 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.

Devery Jacobs (Reservation Dogs, Blood Quantum) always dreamed of being an actor, but it never seemed possible. Now, shes 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 whos fighting her body and mind as she takes her place in an elite cheer squad.

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.

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 didnt 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 hed like to impart to young people.

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.

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 films 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.

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 Toms 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. 

The Canadian musician Frank Walker is one of the new generation of electronic dance music DJs whos 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.

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 Patricias creative journey as one of fashions 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.

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 shell be telling stories that centre female friendships for the rest of her career.

The Canadian actor Lamar Johnson has been having a moment, from his acclaimed performance in Clement Virgos film Brother to his Emmy nomination for his emotional role in the hit post-apocalyptic drama The Last of Us. At this years 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.

Siphesihle November is a principal dancer with the National Ballet of Canada. This June, hell be dancing lead roles in the companys 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.

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 Toms 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.

Geoff McFetridge has been called the most famous Canadian artist youve never heard of. As a graphic artist and painter, hes collaborated with directors such as Spike Jonze and Sofia Coppola, designed for brands like Nike and Apple, and created huge murals for Ottawas 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. 

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 thats always demanding that we work harder and faster. The result is her new graphic novel, A Witchs Guide to Burning, which tells a fairy tale-like story about how to find your magic again when youre feeling burnt out. Aminder talks to Tom about the book and what burnout feels like to her.

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.

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 Mendess singing coach took him under his wing.

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 Furiosas origin story. He sits down with Tom to discuss Furiosa and his evolution as a filmmaker through the entire Mad Max franchise. 

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.

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 OConnors work connected with them so deeply.

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.

Harlan Coben is one of the most successful writers out there today with more than 80 million books in print, published in 46 languages. In recent years, several of his 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. And yet, despite his success, Harlan still suffers from imposter syndrome. He talks to Tom about his process, the tragic loss of his parents at a young age, and some of the secrets to his success.

The Canadian jazz musician Christine Jensen is back with her third jazz orchestra album, Harbour. She tells Tom about a track called Fantasy On Blue, which was inspired by Miles Daviss famous jazz album Kind of Blue.

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.

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 thats not the end of the story. One morning in 2022, Alana woke up to find that she couldnt 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.

The artist, musician and filmmaker Laurie Anderson has been prolific for decades. With a career thats been called uncategorizable, shes 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.

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.

Tom Selleck has been on Hollywoods 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, hes 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. 

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.

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, shes empowered women to feel liberated over their bodies and minds. Now, shes 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.

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.

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 Gzowkis 1996 interview with the late author.

System of a Downs 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 familys 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 youll ever hear new music from the band.

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 Swifts seal of approval on TikTok.

Canadas 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.

The critically acclaimed Canadian theatre director and actor Moya OConnell is directing a new production of Henrik Ibsens 1891 masterpiece Hedda Gabler. The play follows a woman named Hedda whos trapped in a loveless marriage as she struggles with the realities of domestic life. When her old flame comes back to town, shes 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.

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.

Evany Rosen is one of the funniest people in Canadian television. Shes 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.

Steve Albini, the musician and legendary producer, died on Tuesday, May 7 from a heart attack. He was 61 years old. Today we revisit Toms conversation with Steve, back when the most famous record he ever produced, Nirvanas In Utero, turned 30 last fall.

Icelands top streaming artist isnt Bjrk or Sigur Rs its 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 its like being called Gen Zs jazz icon.

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.

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. Shes just released a new album, Nobodys 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.

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, theyve made their Broadway debut as the choreographers of The Outsiders a new musical based on S. E. Hintons 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.

Few names are as instantly recognizable as Jerry Seinfeld. After nearly 50 years in comedy, TV and film, hes 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.

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.

George Gershwins iconic concerto Rhapsody In Blue turns 100 this year. To mark the occasion, Bla Fleck, one of the worlds greatest living banjo players, has released an album of his takes on the American classic. Bla joins Tom to tell us what inspired this project and how he arranged one of the 20th centurys most famous orchestral pieces for a bluegrass band.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Aris 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.

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 arent your stereotypical bodice rippers. Emily joins Tom to share her recipe for the perfect love story, why shes tired of people looking down on the romance genre, and why she still believes in love.

In Christian Sparkess 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.

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.

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.

Richard Thomas is best known for playing John-Boy on the 70s drama series The Waltons. Now, hes playing one of literature and films most beloved characters, Atticus Finch, in Aaron Sorkins 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.

Justin Peck is a celebrated choreographer who loves Sufjan Stevenss music. He loves it so much that hes collaborated with the musician twice. Their latest project is a Broadway dance musical called Illinoise, which is based on Sufjans 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.

The Grammy-winning musician St. Vincent, also known as Annie Clark, is back with a new album, All Born Screaming. Her last album, Daddys 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 shes ready to let the music speak for itself. St. Vincent talks to Tom about the record, working with Dave Grohl, and where shes at in her continuing evolution.

Caitlin Cronenberg established herself as a photographer, but now shes 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 shes been addressing the elephant in the room: her last name.

Maya Rudolph has been a comedy staple on our screens for decades. Shes impersonated everyone from Donatella Versace to Beyonc as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, and shes 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.

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 Jackies house after she passed.

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.

The Canadian actor Sophie Nlisse (Yellowjackets) stars in the new film Irenas 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.

Considered one of the worlds 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, Nikkis 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.

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.

Its been more than two years since the series debut of We're All Gonna Die (Even Jay Baruchel), and the Canadian actor, writer and director Jay Baruchel is still worrying about humanitys 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 childrens bible made him cry, and where his patriotism comes from.

Alexandre Hamel is a French Canadian former international-level figure skater and one of the artists with Le Patin Libre (Free Skate) the worlds 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.

Noah Kahan is one of the most successful singer-songwriters in the world right now, but it wasnt 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, hes 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 hes protected his mental health while on this crazy ride. 

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 hes decided to adjust his screen time.

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, shes 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.

Toms conversation with Mick Jagger has won gold for best interview at this years 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 bands 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.

Fred Nguyen Khan is a trilingual actor and stunt performer from Montreal whos 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.

After three decades, the Canadian pop-punk band Sum 41 is calling it quits. But when frontman Deryck Whibley started writing the groups latest album, Heaven :x: Hell, he didnt realize it would be their last. He joins Tom to explain how the writing process helped him reach a decision hes been debating for years, and how he told the band he was ending things.

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.

Alex Garlands 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 its 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.

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 Lynchs 1984 adaptation of Dune.

The Cree Mtis singer-songwriter iskw is back with her first solo album since 2019, nna. On the record, she channels her feelings of heartbreak, remorse, self-doubt, isolation and resilience. iskw 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.

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. Hes 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.

The award-winning Canadian writer and professor Ian Williams has been named this years 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 hes chosen the topic of conversations for his cross-country lecture series, how listening can be a courageous act, and why he believes its important to have difficult conversations, even at the risk of offending people.

Plus, the Kenyan British artist Magdalene Odundo is one of the worlds 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.

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, Msica, 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.

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 womens 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.

Few voices in folk music have captured a time and place quite like Joan Baezs. 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 shes most proud of.

The Canadian director Brendan Healy has taken on an epic project: a new production of Matthew Lpez'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.

After 26 years dancing with the National Ballet of Canada, Guillaume Ct will be retiring following the 2024-2025 season. The Canadian dancer and choreographer joins Tom in studio to tell us why its the right time to move on, why hes 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 years 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.

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.

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, shes 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.

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.

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 shes fascinated by the themes of language and displacement, and how her writing was deeply influenced by the 1947 Partition of India and Pakistan.

Theres been a lot of buzz around the new film Love Lies Bleeding, starring actors Kristen Stewart and Katy OBrian, 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.

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.

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, shes 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.

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.

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 wasnt an easy one. It was often sad, emotionally exhausting, and Caroline didnt think theyd want to get out on the road again for a long time. They tell Tom about why theyve decided to get back on the bus and create a new tour that brings joy to their audience and to them.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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, Stephens work is now on display at the Harbourfront Centre. He joins Tom to talk about his journey to becoming an acclaimed photographer and bringing snapshots from Nigeria to audiences around the world.

Kelvin Redvers new thriller Cold Road is something to behold its 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 Canadas North while traveling a lonely highway in hopes of reaching her very ill mother in time to see her before she dies. Throughout the drive, she is threatened by an unknown driver as he uses his large truck to terrorize her. Kelvin joins Tom to talk about his own serious car accident that helped inform the tone of the film, how growing up in the North West Territories inspired the story, and how he felt devastated after being kicked off the prestigious Cannes red carpet for wearing his moccasins.

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

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

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

One of the most adored comedians of all time, Carol Burnett broke up the boys club that was network television with her freewheeling variety hour The Carol Burnett Show. More than half a century later, shes 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.

velyne 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. velyne tells Tom why she sees the film as a love letter to Quebec, what it was like being a fan of, to working alongside Zach Braff, and how The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air helped her learn English.

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

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

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

When Es Devlin was growing up and going to concerts, and looked at the stage, she saw an opportunity for improvement. Its that very aspiration to make concerts look better thats lef her to a groundbreaking career in set design, working with the likes of Adele, Beyonc, and The Rolling Stones. Ed joins Tom to talk about the music that inspired her artistic direction, how experiencing art is multi-sensory, and what it was like designing the set for the 2022 Super Bowl halftime show. 

Plus, DJ Karaba walked away from her lifelong dream at the height of her success she was a backup dancer for artists like Drake, Selena Gomez, and Camilla Cabello. Now, DJ Karaba is pursuing a new dream, making music of her own. DJ Karaba tells Tom about her new Juno nominated song Mad Mess, how her experience as a dancer helps her create dance music, and how she found the courage to start anew in her creative career.

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

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

This month marks the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, and you cant begin to talk about that history without talking about the artist Maestro Fresh Wes. Maestro tells Tom about his journey from writing rhymes at Scarboroughs Parkway Mall to releasing the first hit Canadian hip-hop record.

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.

You cant 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 Scarboroughs Parkway Mall to releasing the first hit Canadian hip-hop record.

Avril Lavigne was a punk pop sensation who topped the charts in the early noughties, and she still performs to sold-out crowds today. But what if the Avril weve 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 Avrils 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 Whats The Story Sounds for BBC Sounds and CBC. More episodes are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/JSX5gqyS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For the first time in Disneys century-long history, the company is collaborating with an outside animation studio for their new six-part series, Iwj. 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 its like making your hometown the setting for a futuristic sci-fi show, and why calling out Disney works out for the best sometimes.

When Chlo Robichaud decided to depict the world of conducting for her new film, Days of Happiness, she asked the acclaimed Canadian conductor Yannick Nzet-Sguin 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, whos also her agent. Both Chlo and Yannick sit down with Tom to talk about Days of Happiness, the cycle of abuse that can haunt families for decades, and how you can tell when an actor playing a conductor is faking it.

You may know Chelsea Peretti as Gina Linetti on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, but her career started back in the 90s when she was doing improv, interning for Lorne Michaels and guest writing for Saturday Night Live. Now, Chelsea has made her debut feature film, titled First Time Female Director, which she also wrote, stars in and co-produced with her longtime friend Amy Poehler. It tells the story of a woman facing challenges in the entertainment industry. Chelsea talks to Tom about the project, how she drew on her own life for source material, and what she found funny about Hollywood's reaction to #MeToo.

For the past decade, the renowned photographer Mark Seliger has set up a pop-up studio inside the annual Vanity Fair Oscar Party, where hes produced iconic portraits of Hollywood actors in the immediate afterglow of their big wins. Those portraits are now presented in a new book, Vanity Fair: Oscar Night Sessions. Mark joins Tom to share how he captures the raw emotion of an artist at the peak of their success, plus some incredible behind-the-scenes stories from his shoots and his best advice for everyday smartphone photography.

Lily Gladstone had a tough task with her first major Hollywood film: she had to hold her own against Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro and hold her own she did. Her character, Mollie Burkhart, is being praised as the star-making turn of Martin Scorceses latest film, Killers of the Flower Moon. Lily talks to Tom about the role of a lifetime, and the challenges in telling stories about murder and colonialism.

Tate McRaes wildest dreams are coming true. At the end of 2023, her song Greedy topped the charts around the world, she made her Saturday Night Live musical guest debut and she performed at the Billboard Music Awards. In the middle of this pivotal time in her career, she talked to Tom about staying grounded, why her biggest hit initially scared her and how she never wants to write a song with the intention of it going viral on TikTok.

The Albertan singer-songwriter Corb Lund dedicated his new album, El Viejo, to his late friend and hero, Ian Tyson. Corb joins Tom to talk about Ians legacy, the time they spent together, and he also sets up the albums title track for us.

After winning the prestigious Polaris Music Prize back in 2018 for his debut album, Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa, Jeremy Dutcher is back with his long-awaited sophomore record, Motewolonuwok. Jeremy tells Tom about the pressure of writing your second record when your first was so successful, how he directed his trumpeter to play grief, and why hes decided to sing partly in English on his new album. 

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

Six-time Grammy award winner Jacob Collier has worked with everyone from Stormzy to Brandi Carlile to Shawn Mendes. He joins Tom to talk about his new album, Djesse Vol. 4, the isolation of being a child prodigy, and why he thinks the human voice is the most profound instrument in the world. 

Plus, whats your relationship like with holy texts? Canadian poet Emily Austin sat down and rewrote some parts of the bible that didnt sit right with her as a queer woman. She tells Tom what inspired her, and reads a poem from her new collection of poetry, Gay Girl Prayers.

The Japanese actor Kji Yakusho is prolific, from his roles in Japanese films to parts in American movies like Memoirs of a Geisha and Babel. This year, Kji won the best actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for his role in Perfect Days, directed by Wim Wenders. He tells Tom about his rise in film and TV, how working with renowned director Wim Wenders showed him the fun of filmmaking, and what Perfect Days can teach you about happiness.

Two heavyweights of Canadian culture have come together for an exciting new collaboration. Acclaimed soprano Measha Brueggergosman-Lee sings the words of literary giant Margaret Atwood on Zombie Blizzard, an album of musical interpretations for seven Atwood poems. Measha joins Tom to talk about the project, why she finds Margaret Atwood such an inspiration, and her own personal attachment to Margarets poetry.

For over 30 years, the Law & Order franchise has taken viewers inside a dramatized version of the American justice system. And though the series is most notably associated with New York City, the franchise has now come to Toronto. Canadian actor Karen Robinson talks to Tom Power about starring in Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent, her love of telling complicated stories, and why starring in a Law & Order spinoff series makes her father so proud.

How much do you really know about your grandparents? The Vancouver musician Adrian Glynn recently realized that he didnt know much, so he went on a deep dive into his grandparents journey from refugee camps in Austria to Montreal and now has a new album about their journey. Adrian joins Tom to explain how learning about your grandparents can help you understand yourself a little better, too.

The actor Alan Ritchson is best known for playing Jack Reacher, an ex-military nomad who negotiates suspicious and dangerous situations. But in his new film Ordinary Angels, Alan plays a father whose brawn is of little use in the face of his young daughters illness. He sits down with Tom to talk about playing a dad desperate to save his child, what its like to do a scene with an Oscar winner when you can tell shes not sure about you, and why he wrote a letter to Tom Cruise when he booked Reacher.

Plus, the Canadian film Seagrass is getting a lot of attention. Set in British Columbia in the 1990s, it tells the story of a Japanese-Canadian woman named Judith who goes on a retreat with her family in an attempt to mend her marriage with her white husband, Steve. Director Meredith Hama-Brown tells guest host Talia Schlanger what she wanted to explore about the Japanese-Canadian experience and the generational trauma caused by Japanese internment during World War II.

Pam Grier (Coffy, Foxy Brown) is Hollywoods 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 shes spent representing Black women on screen. Pam sits down with Tom to talk about her incredible legacy, how she got cast in her very first film, and how running into Quentin Tarantino in traffic led to her comeback in Jackie Brown.

Alexandra Billings (Transparent, Never Have I Ever) is a groundbreaking trans actor whos had some incredible firsts in her career, including playing one of the first openly trans characters on TV in 2005s Romy and Michele: In The Beginning. Now, she stars in the new queer-led Canadian indie film Queen Tut. Alexandra joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the emotional reaction she had to reading the script and how her own experience as a trans woman informed her performance.

Marlon Wayans (In Living Color, Scary Movie, White Chicks) has been acting, writing, producing and directing comedy for more than 30 years. With his movies grossing more than $1 billion at the global box office, hes achieved massive success, but hes 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 its like to come from a legendary comedy family, and how he reconciles his box office success with negative reviews.

Last fall, the Calgary-based Inuvialuk artist Kablusiak was recognized with the $100,000 Sobey Art Award, one of the highest honours in the Canadian art world. Now, their work is on display at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa until March 3. Kablusiak talks to Tom about their big win, the power of satire in visual art, and why having their work in the National Gallery makes them feel like a spy.

Brittany Howards new album What Now is her second solo release since a hiatus with her band Alabama Shakes. Now more than ever, shes 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 its been like moving ahead with the band as a trio.

Adam Beach has been in more than 60 films and TV shows, from Canadas North of 60 to the cult classic movie Smoke Signals, to Clint Eastwoods 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 hes drawn to his complicated character in the new film Exile.

Shea Coule 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, theyre 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.

Chromeos Dave 1 and P-Thugg started out as high school best friends making weird music in Montreal basements 20 years ago. They never could have guessed that their interest in electro-funk and 80s synths would take them to festival stages playing for thousands and earning a Grammy nod along the way. Chromeo drops by to chat with Tom about their new album, Adult Contemporary, which poses the question: how do you stay funky in your 40s?

Diane Flacks is an Emmy-nominated comedy writer whos 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 whats funny about going through the worst time of your life.

Daniel Caesar talks about his major-label debut Never Enough, the reality of fame, and collaborating with Justin Bieber on the song Peaches.

The Beaches are in a season of change. The Toronto-based band left their major label deal, hired a new team, and started embracing social media to reach new audiences. Now, they have a number one single, a viral hit on TikTok, and a brand new album, Blame My Ex. Jordan and Kylie Miller of The Beaches talk to Tom about what happens when youre told this is your make it or break it album, how TikTok has expanded their audience, and how writing a breakup record felt like going to therapy with your best friends.

About five years ago, Seth Rogen posted a picture on Instagram of seven rudimentary clay objects with the caption: So maybe I joined a pottery studio so I could start making my own ashtrays. Now, hes 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.

Newfoundlands own Alan Doyle is one of Canadas 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.

The actor Paul Giamatti (Sideways, Private Parts) has reunited with Sideways director Alexander Payne for the new film The Holdovers and now hes 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.

The rapper Vince Staples can kind of do it all, even if he doesnt 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 whos navigating fame while also rubbing up against his past life in Compton and Long Beach. Vince tells Tom all about it.

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.

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 hes decided to sing partly in English on his new album.

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 youre 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.

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.