Q with Tom Power

Latest Episodes:

Waxahatchee: Her DIY punk roots, foray into Americana & new album Tigers Blood Jul 08, 2024

Show notes

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

Quick Q: Maggie Andrew on her debut EP Day Job Jul 08, 2024

Show notes

Maggie Andrew is a singer-songwriter from Nova Scotia who decided to leave behind her life in Canada to pursue music in Los Angeles. Her new EP, “Day Job,” is partially inspired by that experience as well as the relationships she's had along the way. Maggie joins Tom to set up a song from the EP and tells us what pushed her to bet on herself and her art.

Tom Green: His comedy career, surviving cancer & coming back to Canada Jul 05, 2024

Show notes

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

Quick Q: How Fawn Parker’s poetry explores the complexity of grief Jul 05, 2024

Show notes

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

William Stanford Davis: His 40-year path to Abbott Elementary Jul 04, 2024

Show notes

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

Old Man Luedecke: His banjo-free album & lessons from scallop fishing Jul 04, 2024

Show notes

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

Green Day: Dookie, American Idiot, and why their album Saviors is the best they’ve ever recorded Jul 03, 2024

Show notes

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

Kapwani Kiwanga: Combining history and art at the Venice Biennale Jul 03, 2024

Show notes

Visual artist Kapwani Kiwanga represents Canada at this year’s Venice Biennale, the Olympics of visual art. Her installation, “Trinket,” uses seven million conteria — small glass beads from Venice — to not only shimmer, but to interrogate a deep history of labour, cultural exchange and class dynamics. She joins guest host Talia Schlanger to discuss how she uses small beads to tell a big story and the motivation behind her Biennale artwork.

June Squibb: On starring in her first leading film role at 94 Jul 02, 2024

Show notes

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

Alexandra Stréliski: Fighting cynicism, burnout & hearing her music at the Oscars Jul 02, 2024

Show notes

The Montreal pianist Alexandra Stréliski was working at an ad agency when the late director Jean-Marc Vallée discovered her music and started using it in his work. That gave her the push she needed to quit her job and pursue music full-time. This year, Alexandra was nominated for album of the year at the Junos. Just before that, she joined Tom to talk about the nomination and chasing her dreams.

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