Q with Tom Power

Latest Episodes:

Allison Au: Migrations, her family history, and what we mean by the idea of home Mar 13, 2024

Show notes

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

Bill T. Jones: Working with Keith Haring, athletic sweat versus poetic sweat, and his incredible life in dance Mar 12, 2024

Show notes

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

Steve Patterson: The Debaters, what happens when a comedian becomes a dad, and why he’s making soap Mar 12, 2024

Show notes

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

Denis Villeneuve: Dune 2, his vision for the sci-fi epic, and how the film reflects issues in the world today Mar 11, 2024

Show notes

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

Kim Gordon: Sonic Youth, TikTok, and her new solo album Mar 11, 2024

Show notes

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

Shana Carroll: How to see circus as an art form Mar 08, 2024

Show notes

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

Olufikayo Ziki Adeola: Calling out Disney, Iwájú, and showing Lagos in the future Mar 08, 2024

Show notes

For the first time in Disney’s century-long history, the company is collaborating with an outside animation studio for their new six-part series, “Iwájú.” Set in a futuristic Nigeria, the series follows a young girl and her best friend on their coming-of-age journey. Director and screenwriter Olufikayo Ziki Adeola joins Tom to talk about this incredible moment for African animation, what it’s like making your hometown the setting for a futuristic sci-fi show, and why calling out Disney works out for the best sometimes.

Chloé Robichaud & Yannick Nézet-Séguin: Days of Happiness, toxic family relationships, and making conducting believable on screen Mar 07, 2024

Show notes

When Chloé Robichaud decided to depict the world of conducting for her new film, “Days of Happiness,” she asked the acclaimed Canadian conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin to help her get it right. The film follows a female conductor looking to break through the glass ceiling of classical music while also breaking away from the control of her abusive father, who’s also her agent. Both Chloé and Yannick sit down with Tom to talk about “Days of Happiness,” the cycle of abuse that can haunt families for decades, and how you can tell when an actor playing a conductor is faking it.

Chelsea Peretti: Her debut film, women in comedy, and Hollywood's reaction to #MeToo Mar 07, 2024

Show notes

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

Mark Seliger: Oscar Party portraits, capturing someone's essence, and the stories behind his most iconic celebrity photos Mar 06, 2024

Show notes

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

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