Q: The Podcast From Cbc Radio

Sometime between starring in action movies and touring with his band Dogstar, Keanu Reeves created a comic book series called “BRZRKR.” But he wanted to take the story further, so he called up China Miéville, one of the most prolific speculative fiction authors in the world, and convinced him to collaborate. Now, they’ve released their new novel, “The Book of Elsewhere,” which is based on the series. In this Canadian broadcast exclusive interview, Tom chats with Keanu and China about the book and how they felt about stepping outside of their creative comfort zones.

The Canadian actor Qasim Khan has taken on the coveted role of Hamlet for Canadian Stage’s annual Dream in High Park, which sees him performing in an outdoor amphitheatre to an audience of a thousand people, six times a week. Qasim sits down with Tom to talk about the part, his complicated relationship with the iconic “To be, or not to be” soliloquy, and what this production of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy does a bit differently.

For more than 30 years, “Law & Order” has taken viewers inside a dramatized version of the American justice system. While the franchise is most notably associated with New York, it’s now come to Toronto with the Canadian spinoff series “Law and Order Toronto: Criminal Intent.” Actor Karen Robinson talks to Tom about her starring role on the show, her love of telling complex stories, and how it feels making her dad proud.

Two Canadian visual artists, Marigold Santos and Rajni Perera, have come together to create an epic exhibit called “Efflorescence/The Way We Wake” at Montreal's Fondation Phi. The four-floor show includes work by both artists separately as well as pieces they made together. It explores topics like diasporic identity and motherhood through the lens of science fiction and folklore. Marigold and Rajni join guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the exhibit and the trust between them that made it possible.

Jelly Roll’s origin story isn’t that of the average country singer-songwriter. While growing up in Nashville's Antioch neighbourhood in the ‘90s, Jelly Roll developed an interest in hip-hop music and learned to rap. But from 14 to 25, he began cycling in and out of prison for various offences, including felony charges. In the years since getting out, he’s gone from rapping to singing, ultimately finding a home in country music. Jelly Roll sits down with Tom to share his incredible story.

The acclaimed Canadian troubadour Donovan Woods is back with a brand new album, “Things Were Never Good If They’re Not Good Now.” He sits down with guest host Talia Schlanger to set up a new song called “When Our Friends Come Over” (featuring Madi Diaz).

Noah Kahan is one of the most successful singer-songwriters in the world right now, but it wasn’t that long ago that he was writing his latest album, “Stick Season,” while isolated on a Vermont farm during the peak of the pandemic. Now, he’s considered the next big thing in music. Noah joins Tom in studio for a conversation about writing the album that would change his life, the power of tapping into his authentic self, and how he’s protected his mental health while on this crazy ride. 

The Summer Olympics in Paris kick off today and right before the opening ceremonies, viewers will be treated to a spoken word piece written by Ontario’s first poet laureate, Randell Adjei. He sits down with Tom in studio to talk about collaborating on the piece with former three-time Olympian Phylicia George, and shares the lessons he thinks everyone can learn from Olympians — even if you plan on spending the summer on your couch.

Chromeo’s Dave 1 and P-Thugg started out as high school best friends making weird music in Montreal basements 20 years ago. They never could have guessed that their interest in electro-funk and ‘80s synths would take them to festival stages and earn them a Grammy nod along the way. Chromeo drops by to chat with Tom about their new album, “Adult Contemporary,” which poses the question: what does it mean to be funky as you approach middle age?

Ian Harnarine is an award-winning Canadian filmmaker who found inspiration for his debut feature film, “Doubles,” in the delicious Trinidadian snack of the same name. The story follows an estranged father and son who are brought back together by difficult circumstances. Ian joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about drawing on his own experiences with his father to make the film, how it challenges clichés about the experience of immigrating to Canada, and what it was like getting Spike Lee’s hand-written notes as a film student at NYU.

Brittany Howard’s new album “What Now” is her second solo release since taking a hiatus with her band Alabama Shakes. Now more than ever, the singer-songwriter is exploring the potential of her famous raspy voice by pairing it with surprisingly poppy songs about love and heartbreak. Brittany sits down with Tom to talk about the record and finding the courage to step into new musical territory.

After finding Martha Baillie’s Giller Prize-shortlisted novel “The Incident Report” in a Toronto bookstore, Naomi Jaye knew almost instantly that she wanted to adapt it into a film. Now, 14 years later, the award-winning Canadian filmmaker has released her sophomore feature, “Darkest Miriam,” which follows a librarian living through a fog of grief while working in a downtown Toronto Public Library branch. Naomi joins guest host Talia Schlanger to tell us more about the film.

Maya Rudolph has been a comedy staple on our screens for decades. She’s impersonated everyone from Donatella Versace to Beyoncé as a cast member on “Saturday Night Live,” and she’s played memorable characters in comedies like “Bridesmaids” and “Sisters.” Now, Maya is back as the divorced billionaire Molly Wells in the second season of her hit Apple TV+ show “Loot.” Maya tells Tom why she was interested in the world of the mega-rich, how she ended up on “SNL” even though her agent told her not to audition, and why she says comedy and music are cousins. 

When Will Butler left his band Arcade Fire, he didn’t know what would happen next. With a Grammy on his shelf and an Oscar nomination for his musical score on Spike Jonze’s “Her,” it seemed like he could do anything — why not Broadway? Now, he’s written and composed the music for “Stereophonic,” a new play that was recently nominated for a record-breaking 13 Tony Awards. Set in the 1970s, it follows a fictional rock band on the cusp of superstardom as they struggle through recording their new album. Will talks to Tom about which moments from the play felt like he was dipping into his own past, how a band’s relationships influence their art, and why it was good he didn’t know anything about ‘70s rock music.

The multi-platinum rapper G-Eazy rose to stardom in 2015 with his hit song “Me, Myself & I” (featuring Bebe Rexha). Since then, he’s been a staple on pop radio with a number of chart-topping hits. But after facing mounting burnout and the death of his mother in 2021, G-Eazy decided to step away from the spotlight. Now, he’s back with his first new album in three years, “Freak Show.” G-Eazy joins Tom to talk about the record, his struggle with fame, and his path in the music industry.

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

On the hit series “The Bear,” Liza Colón-Zayas plays a middle-aged line cook named Tina who’s challenged by her mentors to learn new skills as a sous-chef. In some ways, her character’s story mirrors her own journey as an actor. Liza joins Tom to talk about the scarcity and struggle she’s had to overcome on her path to her breakthrough role, how her setbacks continue to shape her as an artist, and how as an actor you can feel dispensable and invisible as you age.

Luke Gilford is a photographer and filmmaker who grew up in a professional rodeo family in Colorado. But it wasn’t until he discovered America’s thriving subculture of queer rodeo that he truly felt at home with cowboy culture. Now, he’s released his feature directorial debut, “National Anthem,” inspired by his famous photo series of America’s gay cowboys and cowgirls. Luke joins Tom to talk about the film, why it was important to him to write a trauma-free queer love story, and how cowboy culture and drag culture overlap.

The actor and director Osgood “Oz” Perkins (Legally Blonde, Nope) recently released his latest horror thriller, “Longlegs,” which some are calling the scariest movie of the year. Harkening back to films like “Silence of the Lambs” and “Se7en,” it co-stars Nicolas Cage as an occultist serial killer. Oz joins Tom to talk about the film, how he developed one of the most bizarre serial killers ever seen on screen, and what his famous parents (“Psycho” actor Anthony Perkins and photographer Berry Berenson) brought to him as a filmmaker.

In addition to touring as the keyboardist in Maroon 5 and producing music for big-name musicians, PJ Morton is also an artist in his own right, often releasing his solo projects on his label, Morton Records. For his latest album, “Cape Town to Cairo,” the five-time Grammy-winning R&B artist set himself a wild creative challenge to write and record it all in just 30 days while traveling through Africa. PJ joins guest host Talia Schlanger to tell us more about his music and the “life-changing” trip that inspired his new record.