Rebecca Black is moving past your memes. More than a decade after the release of her infamous viral hit "Friday," she talks about returning to the spotlight and making music on her own terms.

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

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

The voice of Deborah Cox is one of the greatest to ever come out of Canada. Last year, just as she was being inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, she joined Tom for a career-spanning conversation about her biggest hits and what she thinks has kept her in the long game.

Angie Thomas’s 2017 novel “The Hate U Give” was a game changer, addressing racism and police brutality for young readers. It also sold millions of copies — and faced multiple book bans. Angie’s gone on to write a bunch of bestselling YA books, and she talks about why shifting to fantasy is a whole new way to talk to kids about racism.

Sam Smith is one of the biggest artists in the world. They made a name for themself in 2014 with devastating songs about love and loss, which earned them four Grammys. Now, Sam is trying something new: focusing on joy in their life and music. Sam opens up to Tom about their latest record, “Gloria,” why focusing on queer joy is the most radical thing they can do, and the highs and lows of finding their identity.

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

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

Peter Berg, the creator of the hit TV show “Friday Night Lights,” is back with his latest series “Painkiller,” a gut-wrenching and relentless look at the opioid crisis and the role of Purdue Pharma, the makers of OxyContin. Peter breaks down the path from drugs made in labs to marketers, to doctors, to patients, and why he decided to feature actual testimonials from the families of overdose victims in the series.

A decade after changing the face of stand-up with his bilingual tour “You're Gonna Rire,” Montreal comedian Sugar Sammy brings his multicultural humour back with a new tour, “You’re Gonna Rire 2.” He shares why raising eyebrows in this hotly political time is more fun — and more important — for him than ever.

At 70 years old, the calypso and soca legend sits down with Tom for a career-spanning chat about his rise as an artist, his Parkinson’s diagnosis and the evolution of the music he helped take to the global stage.

Eight-time Grammy-winning bassist Christian McBride tells Tom what happened when he met his hero James Brown, and why he wanted to write a suite for four civil rights legends: Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali and Rosa Parks.

Fifteen-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, actor, producer and activist Alicia Keys tells Tom how an appearance on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” changed her life, what happened when she asked Prince’s permission to perform one of his songs, and what she learned about herself when writing her memoir “More Myself.”

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

Grammy-winning rapper and producer Wyclef Jean (Fugees) joins Tom Power to reflect on his career and the big hits he’s produced for some of the most influential artists of the last three decades.

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

In a Canadian exclusive interview, Bruce Springsteen talks about his latest album of '60s and '70s soul covers, “Only the Strong Survive,” and how soul music shaped him as a performer and a songwriter.

In “Bystanders,” Halifax filmmaker Koumbie looks at what happens to a close-knit group of friends when one of them faces sexual assault allegations. She tells Tom the story behind the film and what it’s like being one of the first trained intimacy coordinators in Atlantic Canada.

After winning album of the year at last year's Juno Awards, singer Charlotte Cardin is ready to drop her new album, “99 Nights.” She tells Tom about what happens when your debut album wins such a prestigious award and what was on her mind while writing her sophomore record. Plus, Charlotte gives a stripped back performance of her new song “Confetti.”

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

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

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

James Reese Europe has been called “the Martin Luther King of music,” because of his influence on ragtime and early jazz. The acclaimed pianist Jason Moran’s latest work is a tribute album to the late composer. Jason tells Tom why James should be seen as a “big bang” in Black music.

Debby Friday’s debut album, “Good Luck,” has been shortlisted for Canada’s prestigious Polaris Music Prize. She talks to Tom about the record, the influence that Montreal’s club culture had on her, and how sobriety changed her life and art.

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

In her new film, “Midnight at the Paradise,” Canadian director Vanessa Matsui pays tribute to how movies — and the places we see them — become important touchstones in our lives. She sits down with Tom to reflect on the films that have inspired her, and the line between affection and nostalgia.

In 2015, Misty Copeland became the first Black woman to become principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre. Her heartfelt memoir “The Wind at My Back” pays tribute to her mentor and fellow dance pioneer Raven Wilkinson, who performed in the segregated South as a member of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in the 1950s. Copeland joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about Wilkinson's incredible life and legacy.

Niall Horan opens up to Tom about his new album, “The Show,” the lessons he’s learned before his 30th birthday, and how he looks back on being in One Direction.

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

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

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

As the frontman for the band Sigur Rós, Jónsi has spent decades making atmospheric, monumental music. But he also has a life as a visual artist. Jónsi shares the experience of putting together his new, volcanic, multi-sensory installation for the Art Gallery of Ontario, and tells Tom about Sigur Rós’s first new album in 10 years.

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

The feminist punk icon Kathleen Hanna once called her band Le Tigre “the dance party after the protest.” Now, almost 25 years after the band's inception, they’re back on tour. Band members Kathleen Hanna and JD Samson talk to guest host Talia Schlanger about what it’s like to resurrect Le Tigre, how a Bikini Kill and Le Tigre show differ, and why they think their music brings together people of all ages and communities.

Scottish Canadian country musician Johnny Reid pays tribute to his grandmother in a new musical called “Maggie” that’s headlining the Charlottetown Festival this summer. Johnny tells Tom why this story about a feisty school cleaner in post-war Scotland means so much to him. Plus, Mali Obomsawin tells you the story behind her song “Wawasint8da” off her new album, “Sweet Tooth.”

Actor and comedian Rakhee Morzaria (Run The Burbs) talks about her comedy, the tension of being both a writer and actor on the same show, and what she thinks Tom should say to internet trolls.

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

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

Canadian actor Henry Czerny makes his return to the “Mission: Impossible” universe in the new film “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.” He reprises his role as Eugene Kittridge, the former head of the IMF who’s now CIA director. Henry talks to guest host Talia Schlanger about the film, working with Tom Cruise and why he almost said no to “Mission: Impossible” the first time around.

Haviah Mighty is an award-winning Canadian rapper known for calling out injustice in her rhymes. She’s just released a new album, "Crying Crystals," but instead of looking outward for inspiration, she decided to look inward. Haviah sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger to share what that experience has been like for her.

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

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

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

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

Vancouver writer Kevin Chong is back with his seventh book. This time, he’s written a metafiction about a comic book writer struggling to come to terms with a past trauma. Kevin talks to Tom about the story, what inspired him to write his darkest ever book and his memories of being with his grandmother in Vancouver's Chinatown.

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

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

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

Over the years, Pamela Anderson’s story has seemingly been told by everyone but herself. Earlier this year, she decided to take back authorship of her life with a memoir (“Love, Pamela”) and Netflix documentary (“Pamela, A Love Story”). Pam sat down with Tom in studio to share her story in her own words and set the record straight.

When her novel “Pure Colour” won the Governor General’s Award for English-language fiction late last year, Sheila Heti was finally recognized in Canada after being included in best-of lists the world over. She talks to Tom about death, grief and the inspiration behind her novel. Plus, the musician Nyssa has been getting noticed for her powerful voice and energetic music that delves into nature, mysticism and even witchcraft. Nyssa chats with Tom Power about what drives her music and opens up about her new song, “Breakup Party.”

Uzma Jalaluddin’s latest novel, “Much Ado About Nada,” tells the story of Nada Syed, a young Muslim woman who’s approaching 30 and being pressured to find a husband by her mother. When she’s forced to attend a Muslim convention, she runs the risk of revealing a secret past she’s kept buried for years. Uzma tells Tom how female ambition inspired the novel, how she goes about writing a great romantic story, and what it’s like having her books being optioned for film.

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

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

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

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

You might know Tom Holland best as the web-slinging superhero in Marvel's “Spider-Man,” but now he’s taken on a new role in hopes of showing audiences a different side of himself. Tom talks to Tom Power about starring in the intense new miniseries "The Crowded Room," how he never meant to become an actor, and the unimaginable fame that comes with the role of Spider-Man.

After skyrocketing to fame with his first few albums, Canadian R&B singer Daniel Caesar took a break from the spotlight to reassess his life. His latest record “Never Enough” is a reflection on success and what happens after all your dreams come true.

Robbie Robertson, the string-bending guitarist and principal songwriter of The Band, has died at 80. Today, we revisit Tom’s 2019 conversation with Robbie.

Elliot Page (Juno, Inception, The Umbrella Academy) sits down with Tom to talk about his new memoir, “Pageboy,” how finally writing his story helped him heal from years of having to hide his true self, and what brings him joy now that he’s living openly as an out trans man.

John Legend is back with a new double album, Legend. He joined Tom Power for a feature interview about the record, his musical roots and what keeps him creating.

Legendary singer Dionne Warwick joins Tom Power to talk about her incredible life, decades-spanning music career and new-found social media fame.

Renee Rosnes is one of the biggest names in Canadian jazz. This year, her record “Kinds of Love” picked up the Juno for best solo jazz album — and on top of that, her supergroup Artemis has also just released their sophomore album, “In Real Time.” Renee tells Tom about falling in love with the piano at three years old, meeting one of her greatest inspirations, Oscar Peterson, and how the movie “Alien” played a big part in her musical evolution.

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

Filmmaker Sally Potter built her reputation as a highly respected auteur who launched Tilda Swinton’s career in the Oscar-nominated film “Orlando.” Now in her 70’s, she’s kickstarting a music career with her debut record, “Pink Bikini.”

This year, Samara Joy took home two Grammys, including best jazz vocal album and best new artist. Ahead of her performance at the Montreal Jazz Festival, Samara talks to Tom about her music and why she thinks her classic jazz sound is resonating with so many people in 2023.

Zarna Garg first reinvented herself as a teenager after leaving India to avoid an arranged marriage. Now, after several different transformations as a big city lawyer and a stay-at-home mom, she’s reinvented herself yet again. Zarna tells guest host Talia Schlanger about her unlikely path to comedy and the fateful night at a comedy club that launched her latest career.

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

Growing up, the actor Laysla De Oliveira was drawn to on-screen portrayals of tough women who reminded her of her mother. She now gets to play one in the new series "Special Ops: Lioness" alongside some of her acting heroes. Plus, an oral history of “Northern Touch,” one of Canada’s most iconic rap songs.

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

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

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

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

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

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

More than 40 years after her band The Go-Go’s rose from the L.A. punk scene to take over the charts – making history as the most popular girl group of all time – Belinda Carlisle is making a pop music comeback. She talks about the chance encounter with the legendary songwriter Diane Warren that led to her new EP, “Kismet.”

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

“Sex and the City” turns 25 this month, and for the first time since the show ended, it’s back in the form of a new revival series, called “And Just Like That.” Cynthia Nixon, a.k.a. Miranda Hobbes, tells Tom about the show's legacy, how she wanted the series to evolve, and what’s changed for her character 25 years after the original series ended.

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

Canadian DJ Rezz is a star in the world of electronic music, racking up millions of streams and performing at festivals like Coachella and Lollapalooza. But her rise in EDM came at a steep cost to her physical and mental health. She spoke with Tom Power about finding a sustainable lifestyle in a profession that involves grueling tour schedules and performing all night into the early hours of the morning.

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

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

DJ Ron Nelson is considered to be the godfather of hip-hop radio in Toronto. Now, at the age of 60, he’s released his first rap album. Ron joins Tom Power for a look back at his journey as a pioneering hip-hop radio host and concert promoter, and explains why it was the right time to put out a rap album.

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

The famous ragtime composer Scott Joplin penned an opera titled “Treemonisha” in 1911, but he never lived to see it performed. After his death, the work was considered a ‘lost opera,’ but now, a century after his passing, it’s being performed in Toronto. Writer, producer and podcast host Leah-Simone Bowen has reimagined “Treemonisha” for 2023. She tells Tom why Joplin’s opera was innovative for its time, and how she decided to adapt it for a modern audience.

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

For years, the artist Meryl McMaster has been tapping into her mixed ancestry to make epic large-scale photographs. Now, a new exhibition of her work, “Meryl McMaster: Bloodline,” is traveling the country. The exhibition takes you from some of Meryl’s early work when she was still in school, to a new body of work that’s based on a recent discovery — a diary and letter written by her great-grandmother, living in Red Pheasant Cree Nation in Saskatchewan. Meryl tells guest host Talia Schlanger what it feels like to have a retrospective of her career in her 30s, what taking self-portraits has taught her about herself, and how she’s telling her family's story through her work.

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

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

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

When she hit the scene two decades ago, Pink was hit with a chorus of naysayers who compared her relentlessly to other pop stars of her generation. She tells Tom about her bold march to music stardom, and finding longevity in a notoriously tough industry.

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

In 2011, the Canadian artist and writer Ian Kamau had just lost a job and an important relationship, and processing that grief led to a deep artistic journey into his own family history. Ian shares with Q guest host Vivek Shraya how sadness can quietly ripple through generations, and how togetherness in that grief led to his new live show, Loss.

Saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin talks to guest host Talia Schlanger about playing for revered artists (Missy Elliott, Stevie Wonder), the time she snuck her way past security to play sax at a Prince concert and how a near-death experience inspired her new record, “Phoenix.”

Over his 45-year career in standup, Jerry Seinfeld had amassed tons of jokes jotted down on paper. He talks to Tom about compiling them into a book, called “Is This Anything?” — and along the way, they chat about how he got his start in comedy, the legacy of “Seinfeld,” and whether there’s an actual difference between day cereal and night cereal.

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

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

Yung Gravy and bbno$’s friendship all started with a SoundCloud DM, and now the viral rappers are headlining major festivals together around the world. They sit down with Tom to talk about their humble beginnings, supporting each other from day one, and their third studio album, “Baby Gravy 3.”

Cherie Dimaline is an award-winning author who seems to move effortlessly between labels like “young adult” and “literary fiction.” She talks to Tom about finding inspiration everywhere — from cemeteries to Pinterest boards — and mining some of her own experiences for her latest YA novel, “Funeral Songs for Dying Girls.”

Degrassi co-creator Linda Schuyler tells guest host Talia Schlanger about her memoir, “The Mother Of All Degrassi,” which tells the story of how she went from being a Toronto high school teacher to an award-winning television producer. Plus, on the heels of Jessy Lanza’s new album “Love Hallucination,” Jessy tells Talia the story behind her new song, “Limbo.”

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

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

Tim McGraw, one of the biggest country stars on earth, is back with his 16th studio album, “Standing Room Only.” Tim talks to Tom about his career, meeting his dad for the first time as a teenager, and how he knew Taylor Swift was going to be big the first time he met her.

The Canadian actor Saara Chaudry is having a blast in the new “The Muppets Mayhem” TV series. She talks about what it’s like to hang out with the whole Muppet gang when the cameras stop rolling… and what it was like to share the screen with fellow Canadian Lilly Singh.

When the pandemic hit, many artists looked inward for inspiration – but Jenn Grant opened up her laptop and enlisted some of her most famous friends for a new album of duets called “Champagne Problems.” The singer-songwriter sets up a song from the album and tells Tom about some of her fascinating collaborations.

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

After more than 20 years, acclaimed Canadian actor Paul Gross has returned to the Stratford Festival to tackle the iconic role of King Lear. Paul tells Tom about his lifelong love of the Shakespeare tragedy, how he feels about finally inhabiting the role, and what it’s like to step back onto the Stratford stage after his two-decade absence.

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

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

Singer-songwriter Feist on her latest album, “Multitudes,” what it was like becoming a new mom during the pandemic, and how her life changed after her song “1234” was featured in an iPod commercial in 2007. Plus, Charlotte Cardin performs “Next to You” off her Juno-winning sophomore album, “99 Nights.”

In Lina Rodriguez’s new film, “So Much Tenderness,” an environmental lawyer flees Colombia after the murder of her husband, and ends up in Toronto where she rebuilds her life with her daughter. It’s a personal project for Lina, who’s also Colombian and came to Canada to study. She talks to Tom about the film and how it explores the feeling of being in between cultures, languages and geographical spaces.

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

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

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

When Nickelback released its 10th studio album, “Get Rollin',” lead singer Chad Kroeger and guitarist Ryan Peake sat down with Tom to talk about the band's induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the people who backed them from day one, and the song that launched a thousand memes: “Photograph.”

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

Seth Rogen (Superbad, Pineapple Express, Knocked Up) talks to Tom about his debut book, “Yearbook,” which features a collection of hilarious personal essays about his early life in Canada and his adventures in Hollywood.

It takes an experienced director like Denis Villeneuve (Blade Runner 2049, Arrival, Prisoners) to tackle a project like the sci-fi epic “Dune.” Denis joined Tom to discuss his lifelong love of Frank Herbert’s classic sci-fi novel, and what it’s like to adapt a book that’s long been considered "unfilmable.”

Given his operatic, maximalist and pop-centered career, you’d be forgiven for forgetting that Rufus Wainwright comes from one of the royal families of folk music. On his latest album, “Folkocracy,” Rufus takes a look back at his folk roots. He tells guest host Talia Schlanger about his earliest musical memories and shares the story behind his new album.

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

One night in 2019, Paul Simon had a dream telling him to work on a new album called “Seven Psalms.” That led him to contemplating big existential questions about his beliefs. Tom visited Paul at the legendary musician’s home near Austin, Texas — in the studio where he recorded “Seven Psalms” — for a rare sit-down chat about the album.

Afie Jurvanen, also known as Bahamas, talks to Tom about his new album, “Bootcut,” how he makes time to be creative, and the story behind his song, “Nothing Blows My Mind.”

Richard Linklater (Dazed and Confused, Slacker, School of Rock) takes you back to the space race era with his film, “Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood.” It's an animated period piece that's steeped in ‘60s nostalgia, but also speaks to our world today. He joined Tom when the film first came out to talk about growing up by the NASA space station, what it meant to have a “free-range” childhood, and how it inspired “Apollo 10½.”

For 60 years, Marcia Griffiths has left an indelible mark on Jamaican music, often being called the Queen of Reggae. She sat down with Tom to talk about her incredible career in music, being one of Bob Marley’s I-Threes, and how she’s feeling about being honoured with the Order of Jamaica.

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

When Leslie Jones was in her late 40s, her brother — the last remaining member of her nuclear family — died. Leslie says that experience taught her to stop caring about whether or not people laughed at her jokes, and inspired her to become a more daring comic. In her new memoir, “Leslie F*cking Jones,” she details her journey to becoming a household name — the early days growing up in Memphis, the sense of identity she discovered in comedy, and her time as a writer and cast member on Saturday Night Live. She joined Tom to talk about the stories in her memoir, the advice she got from Jamie Foxx that changed her comedy career, and how she ended up on Saturday Night Live.

The Rolling Stones are back with “Hackney Diamonds,” the band’s first album of original material in 18 years. In a Canadian exclusive interview, frontman Mick Jagger talks to Tom about the record, the changing music industry and losing their drummer Charlie Watts.

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

Bernie Taupin, who wrote lyrics for Elton John’s biggest hits, has never chased the limelight. But in his new memoir, “Scattershot,” the Grammy-winning songwriter opens up. Bernie joins Tom to share how his love of music started, his memories of working with Elton, and what he credits for their unbreakable bond.

Elisapie was jogging and listening to ABBA when she got the idea for her latest project, “Inuktitut.” It's a 10-track covers album of notable rock and pop hits that each represent a special childhood memory for Elisapie. She joins Tom to talk about the “healing journey” she's been on by reclaiming some of her most painful childhood memories through song.

Creators and cousins Mariko and Jillian Tamaki return this fall for their third publication together — a graphic novel called “Roaming,” which centres around three friends on a trip to New York in 2009. Tom speaks with Mariko and Jillian about illustrating the city that never sleeps, how they went from rarely seeing each other as kids to becoming successful collaborators, and what inspired their latest project.

Nicole Byer has made a living talking to people and being funny. She’s so good at it, she’s got three podcasts, two TV shows and a current Emmy nomination for hosting the reality show “Nailed It!” Now, somehow, Nicole has also found the time to take her stand-up on the road. She talks to Tom about growing up as a hyperactive kid, how having ADHD has helped her comedy career, and what you can expect at her show at this year's Just For Laughs.

Few vocalists in heavy metal are as recognizable as Corey Taylor, the lead singer of the band Slipknot. Corey talks to Tom about his brand new solo album, “CMF2,” what he credits for Slipknot’s longevity, and what the band members’ terrifying masks gave to them as artists.

At the height of lockdown there was a titanic struggle between power brokers on Wall Street and little retail investors — a battle that could be summed up in one word: GameStop. Director Craig Gillespie tells the story behind the infamous scandal in his new film, “Dumb Money.” He joins Tom to talk about his personal connection with it and why it felt urgent to get this story out now.

It’s been 40 years since Talking Heads’ seminal concert film “Stop Making Sense” was released. Now, the film has been entirely restored and re-released in theatres. In a rare conversation, all four members of Talking Heads join Tom in studio to share some stories from the making of the film, what drew them together in the early days, and where the idea for the famous Big Suit came from.

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

A few years ago, Canadian filmmaker Jonathan Lawrence spent some time researching the world of conversion therapy, and what he discovered became the backdrop for his first television series, “Alter Boys.” Jonathan tells Tom how he wants the series to be an examination of queer friendships, love and community.Plus, Jayli Wolf tells the story behind her song “Welcome Child” off her new EP, “God is an Endless Mirror.”

The new CBC miniseries “Bones of Crows” tells the multi-generational story of one family’s experience with Canada’s residential school system and their quest for justice. Tom speaks with writer, producer and director Marie Clements about adapting the series from the 2022 film of the same name, how nearly everyone on the cast and crew has a relative that went to residential school, and why telling this story feels like “sacred work.”

New York Times bestselling YA author and champion slam poet Elizabeth Acevedo has written her first novel for adult readers, “Family Lore.” The story follows one Dominican-American family, as told through the voices of its women, as they await a gathering that will forever change their lives. Elizabeth talks to Tom about the book, how her family inspired the story, and how being a teacher influences her work as a writer.

You might know Neve Campbell from films like “Scream” and TV shows like “Party of Five,” but before Hollywood, her first love was ballet. Now, Neve is the executive producer for a documentary called “Swan Song” about legendary ballet dancer Karen Kain’s final performance. Neve joins Tom to talk about her love of dance, what it was like to meet and celebrate one of her first idols, and what makes ballet a great form of storytelling.

Following the success of her award-winning novels “Half-Blood Blues” and “Washington Black,” acclaimed writer Esi Edugyan is back with her first children's book, “Garden of Lost Socks.” Esi tells Tom the laundry-related story that inspired her book, how it feels to write for kids after writing two research-heavy novels, and how she looks back on the childhood she had in comparison to her children’s.

David Ruben Piqtoukun is a Governor General's Award-winning Inuvialuk sculptor whose work channels the stories he's heard from Inuit elders and others in his community. His major exhibition “Radical Remembrance” highlights 50 pieces in honour of the 50 years he’s spent sculpting and stone carving. David talks to Tom about the exhibition, sculpting as a form of storytelling, and how his residential school experience felt like an “education in forgetting.”

Early in her career, Jennifer Podemski set out to tell stories that felt honest to the lives of Indigenous people. More than 30 years later, the veteran actor and filmmaker is delivering on that promise with her new series “Little Bird.” She tells Tom how the story resonates with her own family history, about making a production company that tells Indigenous stories with authenticity, and why she calls her work “cycle-breaking.”

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

James Ungalaq’s ground-breaking band Northern Haze is widely known for recording the first Indigenous-language rock album in North America back in 1985. Now in his late 50s, James is releasing his first ever solo album. James tells Tom what it was like making music in the remote hamlet of Igloolik, the bands he listened to growing up, and how he feels about retiring.

Photographer Edward Burtynsky discusses his biggest project yet, In the Wake of Progress, which highlights the ways humanity impacts the planet. Musician Alan Doyle talks about his new musical, Tell Tale Harbour, and the Quebecois film it's based on.

Director John Carney (Sing Street, Once) talks to Tom about his new film, “Flora and Son,” what that moment feels like when you know you’re ‘creating something great,’ and how his best instincts paid off when he came up with the idea for his film “Once.”

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

Grant Singer has directed music videos for everyone from Sam Smith to The Weeknd to Lorde. Now, Grant’s first feature film, “Reptile,” starring Benicio del Toro and Justin Timberlake, is available on Netflix. Grant joins Tom to talk about his greatest influences, how shooting a music video is like writing a short story, and the “fun” of deception in his new film.

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

Anil Kapoor is the producer of the new Hindi sex-positive comedy “Thank You for Coming,” which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last month. The acclaimed Indian actor drops by to tell Tom about the challenges of working with family, the differences between Bollywood and Hollywood, and how Slumdog Millionaire changed the course of his acting career.

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

Two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump, Philadelphia, A League of Their Own) on his debut novel “The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece,” the insecurities he’s felt throughout his career, and what drives his passion for filmmaking when it feels like “the odds are stacked against you.”

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

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

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

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

It’s been 25 years since Barenaked Ladies’ hit song “One Week” came out and topped charts all over the world. Frontman Ed Robertson tells Tom the stories behind some of the song's lyrics, what he remembers about “One Week” going to no. 1 in several countries (except in the band’s home country of Canada) and how they wrote it in a four-minute, freestyle session.

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

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

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

Ever since telling people to “Free Your Mind... and Your Ass Will Follow” in the late ‘60s, George Clinton’s P-Funk sound has influenced countless artists, including the likes of Prince, Snoop Dogg and Janelle Monáe. George is the mastermind behind groups like Funkadelic and Parliament, and he’s carved out a massive career in his own right. George Clinton, Dr. Funkenstein himself, joins Tom to talk about his life in music.

In her new memoir, “Worthy,” Jada Pinkett Smith opens up about her early days growing up as a drug dealer in Baltimore, her relationship with the late rapper Tupac Shakur, and her complex marriage with the actor Will Smith. Jada joins Tom to share how having parents who struggled with addiction impacted her self-worth, plus some other stories from her incredible life and career.

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.”

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

In 2020, Alanis Morissette celebrated the 25th anniversary of her massive hit record “Jagged Little Pill.” She joined Tom to reflect on her evolution from her 21-year-old self to the mother of three she is today, and how her changing approach to writing about topics like anger and abuse can be heard on her album “Such Pretty Forks in the Road.”

Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black, She-Hulk, Stronger) has been keeping busy during the Hollywood actors’ strike, starring in a play and lending her voice to a new Canadian animated film called “Butterfly Tale.” Tatiana talks to Tom about her love of voice acting, why she wanted to get into acting in the first place, and what’s been on her mind during the strike.

Grammy-winning violinist James Ehnes is one of the most sought-after musicians in the world. Ahead of his shows with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Order of Canada member violinist drops by the studio to tell Tom about his life in music and what it was like growing up as a child prodigy in Brandon, Manitoba.

Sam Roberts tells Tom about his new album, “The Adventures of Ben Blank,” and reflects on the 20th anniversary of his hit debut record, “We Were Born in a Flame.”

Julia Fox is the artist, actor and fashion icon who shot to fame after starring alongside Adam Sandler in “Uncut Gems.” Now, she’s sharing her story in her memoir, “Down the Drain,” which is a candid retelling of her journey with addiction, abuse and fame. Julia tells Tom about her childhood, how becoming a dominatrix changed her life for the better, and why being famous feels natural to her.

Vivek Shraya’s coming-of-age play and book “How to Fail as a Popstar” has been turned into a new series for CBC Gem. Vivek talks to Tom about adapting her autobiographical play for the screen, the power of failure, and how she still hopes this show will make her famous.

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

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

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

Acclaimed French director Justine Triet joins Tom to discuss her new film, “Anatomy of a Fall,” which was this year’s Palme d’Or winner. Set against the backdrop of a courtroom, the film puts the intimate details of a marriage on trial when a woman is charged with the murder of her husband after he falls to his death in their home.

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

“Friends” star Matthew Perry, the Emmy-nominated actor whose sarcastic but lovable character Chandler Bing was among the most famous and most quotable on television, has died at 54. Last year, he joined Tom for a live on-stage interview to talk about his memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.” Matthew shared his incredible story of survival and why he wanted to help others going through similar struggles.

Sasha Leigh Henry is a Canadian director and producer whose new comedy series, “Bria Mack Gets A Life,” follows the story of a 25-year-old Black woman who is navigating adulthood in a predominantly white world. Sasha talks to Tom about writing a show partly based on her own life experiences and making “weird” Canadian comedy.

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

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

Musician TALK has been called one of the most exciting new voices to come out of Canada in a long time. He’s currently on tour with Shania Twain, and is about to release his debut album, “Lord of the Flies & Birds & Bees.” Ahead of that release, he joins Talia Schlanger in studio to speak about the runaway success of his debut single “Run Away to Mars,” and how he uses his platform to lift others up.

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

Canadian comedian and television personality Rick Mercer is back with the highly anticipated follow-up to his first memoir, “Talking to Canadians.” Rick’s new memoir is called “The Road Years” and it features stories and behind-the-scenes moments from some of the most iconic episodes of the hit CBC show “Rick Mercer Report.” Rick speaks with Tom Power about some of the highlights from “Rick Mercer Report,” imposter syndrome, and why writing a second memoir is easier than the first.

Broken Social Scene’s co-founder Kevin Drew has just released his third solo record, “Aging” – a project all about love, loss and grief. Kevin joins Tom Power to reflect on his early days in Toronto, how he looks back on the success of Broken Social Scene, and what inspired him to dedicate an entire record to aging.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

On the occasion of his induction into Canada's Walk of Fame, filmmaker Director X reflects on his groundbreaking career as Canada's foremost hip hop cinematic auteur. Author Judy Blume talks about breaking taboos when writing for kids and why she's finally allowing Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret to be adapted for the screen. Our panel of film experts — Amil Niazi, Teri Hart and Rad Simonpillai — discuss the explosion of new Christmas movies, telling us which ones hit like hot cocoa and which ones leave you with a lump of coal.

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

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

Two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump, Philadelphia, A League of Their Own) on his new novel “The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece,” the insecurities he’s felt throughout his career, and what drives his passion for filmmaking when it feels like “the odds are stacked against you.”

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

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

Grammy-nominated rapper Logic (Everybody, College Park) on finding his passion for music, early retirement and fatherhood. Plus, first-time JUNO nominee Preston Pablo (35:40) on figuring out what it means to be an “up and coming artist,” self criticism and learning how to trust yourself.

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

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

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

Four-time Grammy winner Lenny Kravitz talks about his memoir, Let Love Rule, in which he writes about the first 25 years of his life, from his upbringing in New York to the release of his debut album in 1989. Photographer Tyler Mitchell reflects on what it was like to become the first Black photographer to land an image on the cover of Vogue, and why he's now on a mission to show more Black folks experiencing joy. Writer Margaret Atwood discusses her poetry collection, Dearly, plus, alien invasions, rare curse words and why reading poetry isn't like eating Cracker Jack.

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

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

Nickelback on their early days, being parodied and the evolution of the band’s identity. Plus, Avril Lavigne (36:36) on getting her first big break, her debut album “Let Go,” and her friendship with Olivia Rodrigo.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In just a handful of years, The Glorious Sons have gone from playing dirty rock clubs to sold out arenas all across Canada. Band members and brothers Brett and Jay Emmons tell Tom about their latest album, “Glory,” how the band came to be, and how criticism can be motivating.

Since the ‘90s, DJ Shadow has been known for his scratching, sampling and crowd-inciting beats. The musician and producer’s 1996 debut album, “Endtroducing.....” is considered one of the best albums of all time. Now, nearly 30 years later, he’s releasing a new album, called “Action Adventure.” DJ Shadow talks to Tom about what it felt like to put out “Endtroducing.....,” how his views on sampling have changed over the years, and what’s required to make compelling instrumental music.

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

The duo Majid Jordan met while studying at the University of Toronto and quickly realised they had a creative kinship. Not long after, the two were signed to Drake’s record label OVO Sound and started touring the world, touted as the next big thing. Majid Jordan’s new album, “Good People,” is out now. They joined Tom to talk about writing a hit song with Drake, their creative process, and why surrounding yourself with Good People is so important.

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

In just a few years, d4vd went from making music in his sister’s closet to performing in arenas around the world. d4vd talks to Tom about growing up homeschooled, how a copyright strike led to him making his own music, and how the first concert he’d ever gone to was his own.

Anne Michaels is an award-winning Canadian poet and novelist who just published her long-awaited third novel, “Held.” The story spans 115 years and deals in themes familiar to her work: history, grief and the power of love. Anne tells Tom why it took nearly 15 years to write the novel, why she’s so interested in writing about war, and why she chooses to live an intensely private life.

The beloved alt-rock band Wilco has just released their latest record, “Cousin.” Frontman Jeff Tweedy talks to Tom about his creative process, why he doesn’t want to perform a song he wrote about mass shootings in front of an audience, and why he doesn’t feel beholden to his past music when writing new songs.

Twenty years ago, Metric burst onto the scene with an undeniably infectious album called “Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?” Metric’s Emily Haines and Jimmy Shaw tell Tom about the early days of the band, their unlikely hit that changed everything, and their new album, “Formentera II.”

Edgar Wright (Baby Driver, Shaun of the Dead) talks to Tom about “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off,” a new animated spin-off of his beloved film “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.” Plus, he tells us what it’s been like to watch the cast of that movie go on to build massive careers, and where he draws his directorial inspiration from.

Rush frontman and bassist Geddy Lee talks to Tom about his memoir, “My Effin’ Life.” He discusses his experience as the son of Holocaust survivors, dropping out of high school, and what he remembers about the late Neil Peart’s audition to be the band’s drummer.Watch us on YouTube

Canadian alt-comic Bobbi Summers is the star and creator of the new CBC series “I Hate People, People Hate Me.” The show follows best friends Jovi and Tabitha as they struggle to find purpose in their lives. Bobbi talks to guest host Saroja Coelho about how his own life inspired the series, how he went from being a recording artist in L.A. to making his own Canadian TV show, and why he thinks being considered “weird” is a good thing.

After writing songs for the likes of Adele and The Chicks, Dan Wilson has returned to his band Semisonic to make their first album in more than 20 years. Dan tells Tom about Semisonic’s breakout hit “Closing Time,” how it felt to get the band back together, and what it’s been like to write smash hits for other artists.

Good Kid are a band of computer programmers who are changing the way fans communicate online. Nick Frosst and Jacob Tsafatinos from the band join Tom to talk about the intersection between computer programming and music, creating a community with their fans on Discord, and making their music available to use royalty free on Twitch.

Zabrina Douglas is a full-time nurse and mother of five who started doing stand-up comedy to help with her intense anxiety. She talks to guest host Saroja Coelho about the shock of being nominated for comedy album of the year at the 2023 Juno Awards, and what she did to prepare for her newest live comedy special, “Nurse on Nights.”

Tim Meadows (Mean Girls, The Ladies Man, The Goldbergs) is an actor, comedian and writer who was on "Saturday Night Live" from 1991-2000, making him one of the show's longest-running cast members. Tim tells Tom about his latest project, “Dream Scenario,” co-starring alongside Nicolas Cage, and some of his favourite memories of working on “SNL.” Plus, he recalls memories of his late friends Chris Farley and Norm Macdonald.

New Zealand’s Taika Waititi is prolific if nothing else. As an actor, he’s played roles from an endearing vampire in “What We Do in the Shadows,” to Adolf Hitler in his film “Jojo Rabbit.” Taika’s new film, “Next Goal Wins,” takes you to American Samoa and the attempt to turn the worst team in soccer around. Tom talks to Taika about what drew him to this “underdog” story, why he finds humour in the mundane, and why he thinks New Zealand humour translates across the world. Plus, the Nova Scotia rapper Kayo tells the story behind a new song off his EP “Trip.”

Linton Kwesi Johnson is one of the greatest poets of the modern era. His uncompromising political verse infused with reggae has influenced many people, and helped chronicle the lived experience of Black Britain for decades. This year, Linton has published a selection of his prose from the 1970s to 2021, titled “Time Come.” He joins Tom to talk about his life in words, poetry and music.

Jerry cans, bottles of soy sauce, and canned meats — these are just some of the everyday objects portrayed in Tarralik Duffy’s latest exhibit, “Gasoline Rainbows.” The multidisciplinary Inuk artist tells guest host Saroja Coelho about finding beauty in everyday objects, the unexpected ways we remember “home,” and how her art connects her to her ancestors.

On the 30th anniversary of Blue Rodeo’s best selling album “Five Days in July,” bandmates Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor join Tom to recall how they found refuge in Greg’s Ontario farmhouse to create a Canadian masterpiece. Plus, k-os celebrates the 17th anniversary of his hit album “Atlantis: Hymns for Disco” by releasing a brand new song to add to his catalogue. The Canadian rapper, singer-songwriter and producer joins Tom to premiere the song, titled “Invulnerable.”

Hilario Durán, the Juno-winning and National Jazz Award-winning pianist and bandleader, is back with his first big band record in 17 years. Hilario joins Tom in the Q studio to talk about the new album, titled “Cry Me a River”. He also tells Tom about his musical journey from growing up in Havana to playing with some of the most influential figures in Cuban music, and what brought him to Canada in the late 1990s.

Drag superstars Jinkx Monsoon and BenDeLaCreme are in the middle of a tour for their internationally acclaimed “The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show.” Ahead of their stop in Toronto, Jinkx and DeLa join Tom in studio to talk about the holiday specials that inspired them, how they build a sense of safety and community at their shows, and what keeps them coming back to collaborate with one another every year.

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

Most know Jann Arden as one of Canada's most successful singer-songwriters, who captured the hearts of fans with her smooth voice and landmark record “Living Under June.” But for more than a decade, she's been following another dream – writing a novel. That dream has finally been realised in her first book of fiction, “The Bittlemores.”

What's it like working on a show with near universal acclaim? Danis Goulet is a Cree-Métis film and television maker who has first-hand experience with that after working on the beloved series “Reservation Dogs.” She talks about the show’s place in her career, watching it end on its own terms, and the wider legacy it leaves behind.

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

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

Comedian Matt Rogers is one-half of the hugely popular podcast “Las Culturistas.” He talks to Tom about finding his confidence in comedy through podcasting, and competing for a job on “Saturday Night Live” against his friend. He also chats about his debut album “Have you Heard of Christmas?” and his ongoing quest to be crowned the “Prince of Christmas” by the queen, Mariah Carey.

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

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

When Tony and Grammy Award winner Leslie Odom Jr. takes on a project, he puts everything he’s got into it. Admittedly a bit of a perfectionist, he’s tried to embrace imperfection on his new album of original songs, “When a Crooner Dies.” He chats with Tom about the album and reveals what it’s like to return to Broadway for the first time since his starring role in “Hamilton.”

Stephen Sanchez’s hit song “Until I Found You” is approaching two billion streams, has been certified platinum five times, and made Elton John a fan —all before the release of his debut album. Stephen speaks with Tom about following up a once in a lifetime hit, his 1960s crooner sound, and tackling imposter syndrome.

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

“Nanalan,” a Canadian children’s show from the 1990s has had a resurgence recently thanks to its growing popularity on TikTok. Clips from the show are getting millions of views, and the puppeteers have even revived the character for online skits. The creators of “Nanalan,” Jason Hopley and Jamie Shannon, drop by Q to talk about the viral success almost 25 years later and what that says about the show. Plus, they bring the puppets that started it all.

Legendary writer and producer James L. Brooks transformed the types of stories you see on television, from “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” to “The Simpsons.” He then applied his same winning formula — character-driven stories with heart — to the world of film. James L. Brooks tells Tom about writing and creating some of the most successful comedies on TV, the secret behind “The Simpsons” success, and his latest project, “Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.”

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

When the poet Bradley Peters discovered sonnets while studying poetry and creative writing, he knew it was the perfect form to write about his experience with incarceration as a teenager and young adult. Bradley talks to Tom about his new poetry collection, “Sonnets from a Cell,” what it felt like to be in solitary confinement, and how he “held on to his humanity” in prison.

Brenda Lee is the voice of the iconic holiday song “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” which turns 65 this year. Brenda tells Tom about recording that song at just 13 years old, how having the song in “Home Alone” changed its popularity, and what it was like knowing The Beatles before their massive fame.

Tate McRae’s wildest dreams are coming true. She recently performed at the Billboard Music Awards, she was the musical guest on “Saturday Night Live,” and her song “Greedy” just reached the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10. Calgary’s Tate McRae talks to Tom about this pivotal time in her career, how she never wants to write a song with the intention of it being big on TikTok, and how her hit song “Greedy,” initially scared her.

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

Amanda Peters's debut novel “The Berry Pickers” has been getting rave reviews. She tells Tom how a road trip to Maine with her dad inspired the story, the complexity of writing about trauma, and how being a storyteller has helped her find a better sense of community.

Internet sensation Ziwe tells Tom about getting her first joke on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 20 years old, why she started asking her guests, “How many Black friends do you have?” and how she had to look inward to write her new book of essays, “Black Friend.”

For over six decades, the legendary Canadian actor Donald Sutherland has been a staple of film and television. Donald tells Tom about the enormous honour of being commemorated on a Canadian stamp, why he doesn’t want dual citizenship between Canada and the U.S., and why it relates to his sense of humour.

Beloved action star Kurt Russell practically grew up on movie sets, acting alongside his famous father, Bing Russell. In recent years, Kurt’s own son, Wyatt, has also embraced the family industry. In the new show “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,” the father-son duo play older and younger versions of the same character. Kurt and Wyatt join Tom to share what it’s like working together, how they both pursued professional sports before considering acting as a career, and what it was like growing up with the famous Russell name.

Bestselling crime writer Michael Connelly has published dozens of books and sold millions of copies worldwide. His work has also inspired popular TV shows like “Bosch” and “The Lincoln Lawyer.” Michael joins Tom to talk about the latest book in his "Lincoln Lawyer" series, titled “Resurrection Walk.” He also discusses the moment he found a gun at 16 and how it changed his life forever, and why he thinks the true crime genre has become so popular. Plus, comedian Gavin Matts joins Tom for Q’s inaugural segment of “Anatomy of a Joke,” where he explains how an idea turns into a full fledged joke for his latest stand-up special “Progression.”

Jeremy Larter has done what few other Prince Edward Islanders have been able to do — he made a feature film on the Island, about the Island, that was so popular that it beat Taylor Swift’s movie at the Island box office on opening weekend. Jeremy tells Tom about the film, titled “Who’s Yer Father?”, how his experience as a lobster fisherman helped him write the story, and what he hopes for the future of P.E.I. filmmakers on the Island.

Few Canadian performances are as iconic or celebrated as Megan Follows as Anne Shirley in the 1985 miniseries “Anne of Green Gables.” Now, Megan has revisited Lucy Maud Montgomery’s beloved story in a new audiobook for Audible, which stars esteemed Canadian actors like Catherine O’Hara, Victor Garber and Sandra Oh. Megan talks to Tom about her role in the original series, bringing the story back to life nearly 40 years later, and how portraying Anne changed her life.

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

Richard Thomas is best known for playing John-Boy in the ‘70s drama series “The Waltons.” Now, he’s taking on one of literature and film’s most beloved characters, Atticus Finch, in Aaron Sorkin’s touring production of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Richard talks to Tom about taking on this much-loved role, how the play differs from the renowned book and film, and the legacy of his role as John-boy.

In his new film, “The Zone of Interest,” director Jonathan Glazer (Sexy Beast, Birth, Under the Skin) gives audiences a horrifying look at a German commandant and his family living just outside the walls of Auschwitz. Jonathan tells Tom why he wanted to shoot a film about the Holocaust at the site of an actual concentration camp, what he wanted to say about evil and humanity, and how the use of sound in this film told a whole other story.

British Filipino director Paris Zarcilla’s new horror film, “Raging Grace,” tells the story of Joy, a young mother and undocumented immigrant from the Philippines who cleans houses and struggles to save money for a visa. The film also shows her experience with racism, which comes in the form of indignities and microaggressions. Paris tells Tom about how his mother inspired the main character, how he didn’t intend for the film to be a horror when he first started writing it, and why he doesn’t want to teach anyone a lesson with this story.

Guerilla filmmaker-turned-Hollywood-darling Matt Johnson talks to Tom about his critically acclaimed film “BlackBerry,” which is now available as a TV series on CBC Gem, how he’s dealing with mainstream success, and why his mission in life is to inspire young filmmakers to stay in Canada and make great films.

Comedian Mae Martin (Feel Good, Baroness von Sketch Show) talks about their latest Netflix special, “SAP,” dropping out of high school to pursue comedy, and the significance behind their oatmeal tattoo. Plus, Bruce Dern (Coming Home, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?) tells Tom about being trained in the esteemed Actors Studio in New York, his method of acting called a Dernise, and the time he pulled a Dernise in a scene with Brad Pitt.

Jeremy Allen White (The Bear, Shameless) talks to Tom about the challenges of playing a real-life person in the new film “The Iron Claw,” how he learned that wrestling has much more to do with storytelling than he thought, and the similarities between himself and the character he plays on “The Bear.”

“Nesting” is a new series on Crave about two best friends, Anna and Rosa — inspired by the show's stars and creators, Anna Hardwick and Rosa Labordé — who decide to get pregnant at the same time and co-parent together, without spouses. Anna and Rosa tell Tom how the series was inspired by their own lives and friendship, how they separate themselves from their characters despite having the same names, and why they talk about pain through comedy.

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

Veteran hip-hop choreographer Fatima Robinson talks about her legendary career, from working with Michel Jackson, Aaliyah and Dr. Dre, to choreographing two Super Bowls, and her latest project — choreographing the dance numbers in the film “The Color Purple.”

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

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

Elisapie was jogging and listening to ABBA when she got the idea for her latest project, “Inuktitut.” It's a 10-track covers album of notable rock and pop hits that each represent a special childhood memory for her. Elisapie joins Tom to talk about the “healing journey” she's been on by reclaiming some of her most painful childhood memories through song.

Jon Klassen is a big name in the world of children’s picture books. His bestselling works include “I Want My Hat Back” and “This Is Not My Hat.” To celebrate the release of his latest book, "The Skull" he opens up to Tom... about his early influences, when he first realized he could draw, and how he created his signature style that defined his illustration career.

It’s been 25 years since Barenaked Ladies’ hit song “One Week” came out and topped charts all over the world. Frontman Ed Robertson tells Tom the stories behind some of the song's lyrics, what he remembers about “One Week” going to No. 1 in several countries (except in the band’s home country of Canada), and how they wrote it in a four-minute freestyle session.

You might know Shane Ghostkeeper as part of the band Ghostkeeper, whose album “Multidimensional Culture” was just nominated for this year's Polaris Music Prize. Now, Shane’s released his debut solo country record, “Songs for My People.” He talks to guest host Talia Schlanger about why he felt compelled to honour his family with a country record, and he sets up his deeply personal song “Hunger Strike.”

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

Sleepy Jean is a Canadian musician who’s digging into her family history on her latest album, “Shoot Me in a Dream.” In the 1970s, her father was forced to flee his home country of Uganda and was never able to return due to political persecution. Sleepy Jean joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about channelling her father’s experience.

Robbie Robertson, the string-bending guitarist and principal songwriter of The Band, died at 80 earlier this year. Today, we revisit Tom’s 2019 conversation with the late Canadian musician.

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

The Rolling Stones are back with “Hackney Diamonds,” the band’s first album of original material in 18 years. In a Canadian exclusive interview, frontman Mick Jagger talks to Tom about the record, the changing music industry, and losing their drummer Charlie Watts.

“Sex and the City” turned 25 last year, and for the first time since the show ended, it’s back in the form of a new revival series, called “And Just Like That.” Cynthia Nixon, a.k.a. Miranda Hobbes, tells Tom about the show's legacy, how she wanted the series to evolve, and what’s changed for her character more than two decades after the original series ended.

In 1991, a visit from Princess Diana to the Casey House in Toronto changed the way many in society looked at people dying of AIDS. That’s the story that inspired Nick Green to write his latest play, “Casey and Diana,” which had its premiere at the Stratford Festival. Nick tells Tom about the remarkable true story and why he felt compelled to put it on the stage.

New York-based Canadian fashion designer Aurora James tells Tom about founding her label Brother Vellies, her memoir “Wildflower,” and the story behind creating Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s famous “tax the rich'' dress she wore at the 2021 Met Gala.

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

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

Dan Levy’s (Schitt’s Creek) debut feature film he wrote and directed is a story all about grief, aptly titled, “Good Grief.” Dan tells Tom about the self-doubt he felt creating his first feature-length film, the real-life grief that inspired him to write it, and how he went from the hilarious David Rose of “Schitt’s Creek” to his mournful character Marc in “Good Grief.”

After decades stealing scenes as a supporting actor, Colman Domingo is now generating Oscar buzz for his first lead role in the Obama-backed Netflix film “Rustin.” He tells Tom about playing the underappreciated civil rights leader Bayard Rustin, what he learned about vulnerability when he was a professional clown, and why acting is a form of service to the public. Plus, Kaia Kater tells the story behind her new song, “The Internet,” and how a funny song can be just as meaningful as a serious one.

Deantha Edmunds, Canada’s first Inuk professional opera singer, was just made a member of the Order of Canada. She sits down with Tom in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador to talk about her journey to classical music, what it feels like to bring Inuktitut to the world of classical music, and how finding out she was becoming a member of the Order of Canada felt like an “out of body experience.”

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

Bruce Liu is one of the world’s most exciting young pianists. In 2021, he gained worldwide recognition for winning the prestigious International Chopin Piano Competition, making him the only Canadian to ever do so. Now, he’s released his debut studio album, “Waves: Music by Rameau, Ravel, Alkan.” Bruce talks to Tom about this new record, and also reflects on winning the Chopin piano competition and why he didn’t start taking piano seriously until he won.

The new Marvel miniseries “Echo” is one of the first of its kind. The story focuses on a deaf Native American character named Maya Lopez, a.k.a. Echo. Sydney Freeland, the series director, tells Tom about the kind of comic books she read growing up on the Navajo reservation in New Mexico, the challenges of depicting action through the silent perspective of Maya, and how building a relationship with the Choctaw Nation helped bring the story to life.

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

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

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

This week, Matty Matheson made a memorable acceptance speech at the 75th Emmys where “The Bear” swept up several awards, including best comedy series. Matty joins Tom to talk about bringing authenticity to the kitchen environment in the series, what it was like kissing his co-star Ebon Moss-Bachrach on stage, and why he thanked the hospitality industry in his speech.

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

Vanessa Morgan (Riverdale, My Babysitter’s a Vampire) stars in the new series "Wild Cards.” She tells Tom how playing high schoolers for so many years kept her young, what she remembers about her last day of shooting for the CW series “Riverdale,” and why she feels so ready to take on this new role.

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

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

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

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

If you grew up in the mid-to-late 2000s, there's a good chance you know the band Paramore. Hayley Williams has fronted the pop-punk band for 20 years. She tells Tom about the band's history, the advice she’d give her younger self and what inspired Paramore’s latest album, “This Is Why.”

Fresh off her win of Season 4 of “Canada’s Drag Race,” Venus tells Tom about the surreal moment she won, what it means to her as a Metis person, and why she wanted to give her mom “her flowers” on the show.

The feminist punk band Sleater-Kinney was a huge part of the post-riot grrrl movement. After the sudden death of one of the member’s parents turned their lives upside down, the duo used music to get through it. Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker of Sleater-Kinney join Tom to talk about grief, getting by, and their new album “Little Rope.”

In the late ‘60s, the visual artist June Clark fled the United States to Canada so her husband could escape the Vietnam draft. She wasn’t an artist when she settled in Toronto, but that huge change in her life kind of put her on the path to art. Since then, she’s used her work to reflect on her relationship with her homeland and what she left behind. The Art Gallery of Ontario is now reshowing June’s striking exhibition “Unrequited Love” this year. It’s a collection of nine pieces, made over a period of decades, that incorporate the Stars and Stripes. June sits down with Tom to talk about her work and her path to becoming an artist.

Last month, Canadian playwright David Yee was awarded the Siminovitch Prize, Canada’s most valuable theatre award, which is given each year to an artist whose groundbreaking work has transformed Canada’s theatre scene. David talks to Tom about why his writing career started out of necessity, his theatre company Fu-GEN, and changing the game for the next generation of Asian Canadian playwrights.

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

The latest film from director Ava DuVernay (Selma, 13th, A Wrinkle in Time) is called “Origin.” It follows writer Isabel Wilkerson as she writes the bestselling book “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents,” published in 2020. Ava tells Tom what drew her to adapt a book that seemed unadaptable, how she shot the film in under 40 days without the help of a major studio, and how she got her start in the business of filmmaking. A few years ago, Canada lost one of its greatest songwriters — Newfoundland and Labrador's Ron Hynes. Amelia Curran, a fellow Newfoundland songwriter, is now part of a new compilation record that pays tribute to Ron. Amelia talks about the skill that went into his songs, the significance of his music to the province of Newfoundland and Labrador and the country at large. Plus, you’ll hear her cover of one of his songs, “Dark River.”

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

What started as a meeting about Tanya Tagaq creating the score for the new season of “True Detective” ended with her being cast in her first acting role, alongside Jodie Foster. The Polaris Prize-winning singer and artist joins Tom to share that story, how she approached making the score for the series, and what it means to her to see Inuit representation in a mainstream show.

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

Celine Song's first feature film “Past Lives” was just nominated for best picture at this year's Oscars. Celine joined Tom back when the film first premiered at Sundance and talked about capturing love in an honest and ordinary way, how her own experience inspired the film's story, and what the mystery is in the heart of her film.

Daisy Ridley’s first major role was in the multi-million dollar “Star Wars” franchise with “The Force Awakens.” Now that her time in the “Star Wars” universe is over, Daisy is pursuing projects that speak to her creativity, no matter the size. Her latest role is as a socially anxious office worker in the indie film “Sometimes I Think About Dying.” Daisy joins Tom to talk about her connection to the protagonist Fran, her journey into acting, and what it was like to be cast in a “Star Wars” film as her first lead role.

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

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

Back to Back Theatre is an Australian theatre company that's driven by an ensemble of actors who are neurodiverse. Now, they're bringing their production of “The Shadow Whose Prey the Hunter Becomes” to this year's PuSh International Performing Arts Festival in Vancouver. At the heart of the play is the question: when artificial intelligence overtakes human intelligence, how will people be treated? Tom speaks to tour director Daniel Schlusser and actor Scott Price about the future of artificial intelligence and disability activism, and Back to Back's model of equality and diversity.

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

Last year was a big one for Spiritbox. Dubbed the hottest new thing in heavy metal, the Canadian band scored a collaboration with Megan thee Stallion and a Grammy nomination for best metal performance. Lead singer Courtney LaPlante talks to Tom about Spiritbox’s success and what this kind of recognition means to them.