Q with Tom Power

Five days a week, Tom Power brings you candid conversations with the artists shaping our culture. Whether he’s chatting with A-listers or rising stars, his disarming warmth and meticulous research always gets below the surface, bringing us deeper into the art and lives of today's most compelling musicians, writers, actors and filmmakers. As a Canadian institution, Q has attracted the biggest names in the world. But it's never been about the fame. It's always been about the art. Since becoming the host of Q in October 2016, listeners have come to know Tom for his in-depth interviewing style (asking founding Wu-Tang Clan member RZA what was inside his teenage notebooks), his mischievous sense of humour (jokingly chiding actor Catherine O'Hara for her parenting skills in Home Alone), and his genuine enthusiasm and fearlessness (singing a duet with Mavis Staples). You’re just as likely to hear from celebrities and cultural icons as you

Q with Tom Power is a society podcast hosted by CBC, with 1,000 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

CBC hosts Q with Tom Power, a society show with 1,000 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Q with Tom Power

  Philip Akin isn’t here to mentor you, he’s here to radicalize you

  Sep 11, 202638 min

  Philip Akin has been telling stories on Canadian stages for decades, and mentoring some of this country’s best theatre artists for just as long. In 2000, he co-founded the Obsidian Theatre Company, which trains, produces and showcases Black talent across the country. Now, he’s directing a new production of Ohio State Murders at the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Philip joins Tom Power to talk about the play, how he takes theatre to the precipice, and why he thinks Black artists are too polite. Plus, he shares how he’s feeling after being appointed a Member of the Order of Canada earlier this year.

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  Q with Tom Power

  Why Caity Gyorgy likes to “rage bait” her pianist Mark Limacher

  Sep 10, 202628 min

  Singer Caity Gyorgy and pianist Mark Limacher have been making waves in the Canadian jazz scene with their duo and orchestral recordings. Now, they’re back with their third duo album, You Irritate Me So, which is a tribute to the late, great songwriter Cole Porter. Caity and Mark join Tom Power in the Q studio to talk about the secret to their creative partnership, how Caity likes to “rage bait” Mark on stage, and how they’re helping build an exciting pops orchestra scene in Calgary.

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  Q with Tom Power

  Rick Campanelli on MuchMusic, his gambling addiction and recovery

  Sep 9, 202644 min

  If you were a fan of MuchMusic in the ’90s and early 2000s, you’ll remember Rick Campanelli, better known as “Rick the Temp.” The bubbly, charming VJ was a mainstay on Canada’s answer to MTV, having won a temp gig that he successfully turned into an on-air job. In his new memoir, Tempted, Rick chronicles how a shy Italian Canadian kid from Hamilton, Ont., became one of this country’s most beloved VJs through sheer grit and positivity. But he also shares a revelation about the serious gambling addiction that was haunting him behind the scenes. Rick joins Tom Power in the Q studio to reflect on his early career at MuchMusic, how his love of winning evolved into a devastating addiction to sports betting, and the long road to recovery. He also explains why, after years of keeping this part of his life private, he felt now was the right time to share his story.

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  Q with Tom Power

  Anthony Hopkins thinks we all think too much

  Sep 8, 202625 min

  Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs, The Father, The Remains of the Day) is best known as an Oscar-winning actor, but his first love was music. He’s just released a new album of his own compositions, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel with London’s Philharmonia Orchestra. Anthony joins Tom Power to talk about his lifelong connection to music, why this latest album was decades in the making, and why he says we should all stop thinking so much. His new record, Life is a Dream, is out everywhere now.

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  Q with Tom Power

  Benjamin Evan Ainsworth grew up on Son of a Critch. Now it’s time to say goodbye

  Sep 8, 202622 min

  English actor Benjamin Evan Ainsworth practically grew up on the set of Son of a Critch. The CBC sitcom, based on Canadian actor and comedian Mark Critch’s memoir of the same name, stars Benjamin as a young, fictionalized version of Mark. Benjamin joins Tom Power to talk about the fifth and final season of the series, what he’s learned about his craft from his co-star Malcolm McDowell, and what it’s like to say goodbye to a show that’s been such a big part of his life. Plus, he plays a little game of “Getting to Know Q.”

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