Q: The Podcast From Cbc Radio

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.”

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.”

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.

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.

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 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.”

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.