Q with Tom Power

by CBC
145

Five days a week, Tom Power brings you candid conversations with some of the most exciting artists of our time. The conversation is informal, playful and allows musicians, writers, actors and filmmakers to explore their art and the contexts that have shaped them throughout their career.


Whether he’s ribbing Adele, singing a boy band classic with Simu Liu, or dissecting faith with U2 frontman Bono, Tom brings the same curiosity, respect and meticulous preparation into every conversation. He also has a track record for interviewing artists on the precipice of stardom, like Lizzo, Billie Eilish and Daniel Caesar, who appeared on Q well before they hit the mainstream.


Q covers arts and culture in all its forms, including music, movies, film, cinema, TV, comedy, painting, photography, theatre, Broadway, fashion, dance, opera, documentaries, books, fiction, memoirs and so much more. Tom gives each and every artist the space to tell their story in their own words. You’re just as likely to hear from celebrities and cultural icons as you are to hear from emerging artists at the beginning of their career.


Since becoming the host of Q in October 2016, listeners have come to know Tom for his in-depth interviewing style (asking founding Wu-Tang Clan member RZA what was inside his teenage notebooks), his mischievous sense of humour (jokingly chiding actor Catherine O'Hara for her parenting skills in Home Alone), and his genuine enthusiasm and fearlessness (singing a duet with Mavis Staples).


Look to our archives to hear some of Tom’s award-winning artist interviews, including his moving and insightful conversation with the Canadian actor Michael J. Fox, which was awarded the prestigious gold medal for best interview at the 2021 New York Festivals Radio Awards.


In 2022, Tom spoke with Friends star Matthew Perry in front of a live audience. Their warm and frank conversation about the actor's struggles with substance abuse struck a chord, leading to millions views on TikTok and Instagram, while also being picked up by news outlets internationally, including Vanity Fair and CNN.


Tom’s impactful discussions with top talent have included Chappell Roan, Pamela Anderson, Cate Blanchett, Dua Lipa, Cher, Denzel Washington, Mick Jagger, Florence Pugh, Francis Ford Coppola, Kristen Stewart, Emma Stone, Jim Carrey, Billy Porter, Tom Hanks, Jerry Seinfeld, Tyler Perry, Alicia Keys, Alan Moore, Bruce Springsteen, Dolly Parton, Barbra Streisand, Darren Aronofsky, Harry Styles, Sean Penn, Sandra Bullock, Michaela Coel, Ryan Reynolds, Katy Perry, Neil Young, Shakira, George Clooney, Ava DuVernay, Omar Apollo, Trixie Mattel, Orville Peck, Big Sean, Anil Kapoor, Jane Fonda, Robert DeNiro, Antonio Banderas, Elton John, Celine Dion, Kerry Washington, Chuck D, Steven Soderbergh, Mikey Madison, Cillian Murphy, Sean Baker, Steve McQueen, Paris Hilton, Taylor Tomlinson, Gwen Stefani, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Kylie Minogue, Stanley Tucci, Rufus Wainwright, Caroline Polachek and Hans Zimmer.

Recent Episodes
  • North of North is a groundbreaking Inuit comedy
    Apr 21, 2025 – 00:25:37
  • Alan Ritchson had to prove himself to Hilary Swank
    Apr 21, 2025 – 00:27:29
  • Cate Blanchett forgot the sound of her real voice
    Apr 18, 2025 – 00:26:02
  • Brandi Carlile on collaborating with her hero Elton John
    Apr 18, 2025 – 00:13:34
  • Deepa Mehta on Water, backlash & re-watching her films in 2025
    Apr 17, 2025 – 00:43:58
  • Iconic drummer Mike Portnoy says he owes it all to Rush
    Apr 16, 2025 – 00:37:13
  • How portraiture helped Gordon Shadrach tell his cancer story
    Apr 16, 2025 – 00:18:29
  • Warfare was made for a real-life Navy SEAL who lost his memory
    Apr 15, 2025 – 00:21:59
  • Writing Scary Movie 3 was “vastly harder” than writing Chernobyl
    Apr 15, 2025 – 00:23:13
  • Remembering Nell Smith
    Apr 14, 2025 – 00:24:09
  • Jonathan Roumie on the pressures of playing Jesus
    Apr 14, 2025 – 00:19:05
  • In just one night, Tracy Chapman wrote a life-changing hit
    Apr 11, 2025 – 00:25:09
  • A special tribute to Joel Plaskett on his 50th birthday
    Apr 11, 2025 – 00:14:43
  • This Quebecois comedian is taking on anglo audiences now
    Apr 10, 2025 – 00:23:49
  • Did Yoko Ono actually break up the Beatles?
    Apr 10, 2025 – 00:28:55
  • How Tim Key got Carey Mulligan in The Ballad of Wallis Island
    Apr 9, 2025 – 00:24:22
  • Village Keeper is a mother’s tale of grief, survival and healing
    Apr 9, 2025 – 00:20:40
  • Anoushka Shankar wants you to hear the sitar differently
    Apr 8, 2025 – 00:25:52
  • Kenny Robinson is “elbows up” for Canadian comedians
    Apr 7, 2025 – 00:23:29
  • Perfume Genius’s creativity was sparked by sobriety
    Apr 7, 2025 – 00:22:19
  • Bob Mould recalls the night everything clicked at a Ramones show
    Apr 4, 2025 – 00:24:25
  • Mitch Wood went viral for his hilarious theatre impressions
    Apr 4, 2025 – 00:14:38
  • Britta Johnson turned her teenage grief into an acclaimed musical
    Apr 3, 2025 – 00:21:17
  • These amateur ghost hunters explore Canada’s most haunted places
    Apr 3, 2025 – 00:14:14
  • Brian Tyree Henry’s first role? Santa Claus
    Apr 2, 2025 – 00:29:39
  • Salin on her journey from Thai metal to Afrobeat and soul
    Apr 2, 2025 – 00:12:08
  • David Blaine gets his mind blown by magic too
    Apr 1, 2025 – 00:25:18
  • Drake is a fan of this Canadian TikTok comedian
    Apr 1, 2025 – 00:20:39
  • Michelle Buteau’s plus-size comedy is sexy, joyful and real
    Mar 31, 2025 – 00:22:54
  • Role Model's life changed when Mac Miller discovered his EP
    Mar 31, 2025 – 00:24:39
  • Britt Lower on Severance, the circus and libraries
    Mar 28, 2025 – 00:21:28
  • Sum 41 is going out with a bang
    Mar 28, 2025 – 00:20:09
  • Michael Bublé was told it was never going to happen
    Mar 27, 2025 – 00:34:49
  • How much money is the planet worth?
    Mar 27, 2025 – 00:14:54
  • Alex Lifeson's unexpected second act after Rush
    Mar 26, 2025 – 00:42:59
  • Angélique Kidjo’s life and work is defined by one thing — freedom
    Mar 25, 2025 – 00:38:08
  • young friend explores the big feels that come with your 20s
    Mar 25, 2025 – 00:11:00
  • What history books leave out about the 1947 Partition
    Mar 24, 2025 – 00:25:39
  • Yves Jarvis gave himself a concussion making music
    Mar 24, 2025 – 00:15:39
  • Severance stars Tramell Tillman & Zach Cherry
    Mar 21, 2025 – 00:34:17
  • A24’s new horror film about our obsession with fame
    Mar 21, 2025 – 00:20:16
  • Orville Peck isn’t putting on a character
    Mar 20, 2025 – 00:36:35
  • Charlotte Le Bon’s French Canadian-ness helped her career
    Mar 20, 2025 – 00:13:25
  • Hans Zimmer can't hide behind the screen anymore
    Mar 19, 2025 – 00:38:43
  • Nobro is one of Canada’s best punk bands
    Mar 19, 2025 – 00:12:29
  • Leif Vollebekk literally dreamt up his latest album
    Mar 18, 2025 – 00:22:54
  • The nearly forgotten story of Calgary blues legend Ellen McIlwaine
    Mar 18, 2025 – 00:22:39
  • Emma Portner is subverting ballet’s gender norms
    Mar 17, 2025 – 00:23:22
  • What if Hamlet was set in Grand Theft Auto?
    Mar 17, 2025 – 00:20:49
  • Sandra Oh wants to know what you’d sacrifice to save the planet
    Mar 14, 2025 – 00:31:27
Recent Reviews
  • joannececilia
    michelle buteau interview was
    amazing and NECessary for our times. more women of Color and in their 40s who are addressing the Chaos we find ourselves Please!
  • Bluerootsradio
    The spice of life
    The variety of guest and subjects covered are top notch!
  • Deebskid
    So interesting…
    A breath of fresh air among the smog of media coverage. Tom has a natural ability to put his guests at ease and, in turn, they open up and share candidly about themselves. Nearly every guest has commented on enjoying their guest experience. That’s a testament of Tom’s skillfulness. Bravo! Listen, subscribe and share this podcast with your friends.
  • Kfschr
    SHERYL CROW
    Tom your recent interview with Sheryl Crow was Most Enlightening and Engaging with an singer songwriter that has made such an inpac with her lyrics and music. I definitely learned there’s more to that book than just a good looking cover. Thank you Tom for Your excellent interview. KHF-Big Fan Albuquerque,NM
  • zxxcb.
    Real Canadian Award Rocker
    Tom, you’ve got to have Cory Hart (Sunglasses cool) comeback new album & tour on with your Q magic. I’m getting use to new format. BIG Fan KHf-Albuquerque, NM
  • Janna L.S.
    The Best
    Tom Power is the best interviewer on radio. I’m so glad I discovered him on KUOW.
  • montrealannn
    Q with Tom Power
    I know that Tom requests feedback frequently on his Q podcasts, so I would like to offer mine. I am a Canadian from Montréal living in New Jersey. I spend about 5 months each year in Prince Edward Island. I listen to the podcast version of Q with Tom Power almost each day. He is my connection to Canada's art, music, and culture when I am away from Canada. I love his "The show starts now..." and his "How are ya?" beginnings. He's so wonderfully honest. He'll say to whomever his is interviewing, that he doesn't even know the question he wants to ask, and then he asks the best questions! He is a calm voice among the craziness that I live around. I appreciate him. He is so knowledgeable and he does his research. If he ever left Q, I would just listen to all the podcasts again. Each is special in its own right, but it is listening to him is what I look forward to each day. Thank you! Ann Woodworth New Jersey and Souris, PEI
  • funier
    Best podcast ever
    Please sign up for this podcast. Tom power is a genius and the podcast is spectacular! I’m giving at six out of five stars A+
  • CS 147x
    Smart and Challenging
    Still a great show. I am a US listener and love the diverse global voices. And I enjoy learning more about my Northern neighbor.
  • The Zoop
    Fantastic show
    Tom is an exceptional interviewer, with a natural rapport with and genuine curiosity about his guests. Even when I don’t know any of the guests, I know I’ll always get a lot out of the show, and learn about an interesting artist.
  • raemcc
    Tom Power you rock
    Tom’s interviews are magnificent. He is a creative curious interviewer. His empathic dare I say intuitive interviews are a welcome listen.
  • Krysta D
    Q podcasts are fantastic entertainment
    Listening from the U.S. and loving Tom Power’s conversations. He’s a refreshing, curious host who has a series of fascinating guests for a chat that feels like it’s at the kitchen table with a cup of tea. Love it!
  • TamlynOber
    Change the way you load episodes!
    I would give this podcast 5 stars if they would load one full episode instead of a full episode plus partials of that same episode. This is too much for listeners to keep up with. Make it easy for your listeners! Until then, I’m unsubscribing.
  • kbpease
    Please separate full episode from segments
    Love the podcast, but it's a hassle to download and manage the mix of full episodes with segments. Please consider publishing two separate podcast feeds - one with full episodes only, one with the multiple segments from each day, to allow your listeners to choose which version they want to receive. I listen to the full podcast, and have to delete / mark as played 3-4 entries every day because the segments I've already heard are mixed in with the full episodes.
  • cjprodigy
    Sold on the 1st listen
    Love the Ep. With Nickelback (awesome band), which was my 1st. This show is kind, clear, warm, and informative. I'm glad I found it. Shout out to WBEZ Chicago !!!!
  • thenopasslook
    SHAD K
    That is all
  • senatorwaynedking
    She’s the ONE
    I discovered Q just before Jian blew himself up. At the time I thought it was going to be one of a very few shows that I listened to regularly. Since the meltdown I have listened hoping that someone would reach the level of intellectual gravitas and sensitivity that I believe a first rate show demands. Until today, I had experienced nothing but disappointment. The fill-ins were good but not great. But Thalia or however her name is spelled, is the exception. She had me smiling, crying and nodding but she never overpowered the person she was interviewing. I’m hoping that others will concur with this and we will have a new Q with Thalia. Wayne King
  • iRustin
    Anyone who can make issues in Canada interesting
    Has talent Bravo Jian!
  • jenkitsch
    Hubba Hubba
    Listening since the first show! Has the best musical guests on. Easy on the eyes...
  • FB_Apadana
    Awesome
    Awesome host!
  • LDD14
    Smart and entertaining
    Really interesting and diverse topics and Jian facilitates great interviews!
  • DawnVercher
    Fantastic
    Jian is the best interviewer in the history of interviewers! His questions are thoughtful and genuine. He asks what I want to know. I love how he truly works to make the guest AND listener involved and comfortable with the discussion. Highly recommend!
  • Laocoon
    Excellent.
    Ghomeshi is my new favorite radio host. His interviews are some of the best I've heard: he asks good questions and gives his guests room to answer, yet he'll call them on their BS if necessary. He can also be funny and hip without being smarmy... A rare combination these days. Don't miss this show. Highly recommended.
  • Sabinefrog
    Great show
    Intelligent and upbeat.
  • Olowkow
    hidden gem
    Witty, knowledgable about the topics he engages in, Jian Ghomeshi keeps the conversation going to open my mind to the Canadian viewpoint. A spinkle of science topics will make this podcast even more interesting. Easy to listen to and thoroughly enjoyable. Olowkow
  • TonyOnTheMac
    Jian's the Man
    I've been a fan since stumbling (lucking, really) upon Moxy Fruvous' "You Will Go to the Moon," and through the Q, Jian continues to influence my musical taste. This show will introduce you to great, new music. You'll hear thoughtful, intelligent discussion. It's always worth the time and I hope the Q crew knows that some of us down here in the States really appreciate what you do.
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