Best She Did The Best She Could With What She Had Podcasts (2025)

1
How Mustafa kept his faith through devastating loss 42:32

1h ago42:32

42:32

A few years ago, Mustafa released his critically acclaimed EP, “When Smoke Rises,” which chronicled the deaths of loved ones from his community of Regent Park in Toronto. So when he sat down to write his debut album, “Dunya,” the Juno-winning musician and poet wanted to explore other things, like love, faith and his relationship with God. Then his …

1
How grief changed Nick Cave forever 34:38

1h ago34:38

34:38

When Nick Cave was in his early band The Birthday Party, he was angry and antagonistic toward his audience. The legendary Australian musician, writer and actor eventually grew out of his youthful contempt, but he remained consumed by his work, always putting it first before anything else. Then he lost two of his sons. In this wide-ranging conversat…

1
Casper Skulls made their best record amid major life changes 8:59

1h ago8:59

8:59

When the Canadian indie rock band Casper Skulls got their start about 10 years ago, things were a little different. Firstly, band members Melanie St-Pierre-Bednis and Neil Bednis weren’t married at the time, and now they’re husband and wife. Secondly, they hadn’t moved back to their hometown of Sudbury, Ont., and they didn’t have a baby yet. Melani…

1
Why Lights walked away from religion 31:39

1d ago31:39

31:39

The Canadian singer-songwriter Lights grew up in a missionary family in Timmins, Ont., believing that her musical ability was both a gift and a responsibility. Some of her earliest work was Christian music. When Lights was just a teenager, she started posting her songs on Myspace, which ultimately set her career into motion. But during that time, s…

1
Dallas Green risked it all going solo 19:14

1d ago19:14

19:14

Twenty years ago, Dallas Green and his band Alexisonfire were making post-hardcore music when Dallas decided to release a soft acoustic album under the name City and Colour. It was a big risk, but that debut solo album, “Sometimes,” went on to receive critical acclaim and a Juno Award. It was also the catalyst for Dallas to start his own independen…

1
Djo on his viral hit End of Beginning 33:51

2d ago33:51

33:51

The actor and musician Joe Keery, also known as Djo, is best known for playing Steve Harrington on the hit Netflix show “Stranger Things.” But after his song “End of Beginning” went viral on TikTok last year, a huge spotlight was shone on his music. Joe sits down with Tom Power to talk about his new album, “The Crux,” and his breakthrough role in “…

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Rose Cousins on why staying in love is so hard 17:03

2d ago17:03

17:03

On her latest record, “Conditions of Love Vol. 1,” Rose Cousins digs into all the complicated feelings that come with love, from falling in love, to keeping the romance going, to maintaining friendships. It also finds the Canadian singer-songwriter reuniting with one of her most important companions: the piano. Rose sits down with Tom Power to talk…

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Family Is So Much More Than Biology with Guest Lifestyle Journalist and Author, Randee Dawn 27:55

4d ago27:55

27:55

Randee and her mom are very close. They have a wonderful relationship and Randee says "she's my best cheerleader." A lot of that has to do with the honesty and open communication that they had from the very beginning-"adoption was normal, not a stigma, not a tragedy." Also, Randee learned at a young age that just because you are blood related doesn…

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Canadian playwright Bob Martin is a Broadway hitmaker 24:32

3d ago24:32

24:32

Bob Martin is a Canadian actor and writer who first made his name working in Canadian TV, but now he’s one of Broadway’s most in-demand playwrights. How in demand? Well, two of his new musicals (“Boop!” and “Smash”) recently premiered on Broadway in the same week. Bob joins Tom Power to discuss that achievement and his Tony Award-winning career. In…

1
This play is an adaptation of the longest poem ever written 25:02

3d ago25:02

25:02

The longest poem ever written is a 4,000-year-old Sanskrit epic called the “Mahabharata,” which clocks in at roughly 1.8 million words. But the poem’s daunting length didn’t stop Toronto’s Why Not Theatre from adapting it into a large-scale play of the same name. Miriam Fernandes, the co-creator and star of the show, joins Tom Power to tell us exac…

1
Sarah Harmer uses her voice for something bigger than music 47:56

6d ago47:56

47:56

For more than 35 years, Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah Harmer has used her voice to make award-winning, critically acclaimed music — but that’s not all. She’s also been a vocal advocate for important environmental and humanitarian causes, both in this country and abroad. At the Juno Awards in Vancouver earlier this year, Sarah was honoured with t…

1
Max Kerman is reclaiming the term “try hard” 26:21

7d ago26:21

26:21

Arkells frontman Max Kerman is taking back the term “try hard” with his first book, “Try Hard: Creative Work in Progress.” It peels back the curtain on the band’s creative process, offering a framework for how to bring more creativity into your life, but it’s also a defence of striving and wanting to be a better artist. In this conversation with To…

1
Why Bells Larsen decided to sing duets with his past self 25:35

7d ago25:35

25:35

On Bells Larsen’s stunning new album, “Blurring Time,” the Canadian singer-songwriter has an unlikely collaborator — himself. Bells is a trans man and he first recorded the album in his pre-transition voice with the intent of revisiting the songs after he started hormone therapy. The result is a unique self-collaboration, in which he harmonizes wit…

1
Why Stellan Skarsgård doesn’t give his kids acting advice 23:52

8d ago23:52

23:52

In “Andor” — the latest series in the “Star Wars” franchise — actor Stellan Skarsgård (Dune, Nymphomaniac, Mamma Mia!) plays Luthen Rael, a charming but ruthless rebel leader who fronts as an antiques dealer. Stellan sits down with Tom Power to talk about the new season of “Andor” and why he’s drawn to morally complex characters. Plus, he shares a …

1
Ambur Braid is starring in the opera that changed her life 22:02

9d ago22:02

22:02

Ambur Braid is a Canadian soprano who’s taken on some of the most coveted roles in opera. But it wasn’t until she saw Alban Berg’s “Wozzeck” as an undergraduate student that she knew opera would be her life. Now, Ambur is playing Marie in a new production of “Wozzeck” at the Canadian Opera Company. She sits down with Tom Power to talk about this fu…

1
Anjulie’s pop star dream had to die so she could start again 25:38

9d ago25:38

25:38

About a decade ago, Anjulie had huge success writing catchy pop songs that were all over Canadian radio and MuchMusic. She won a Juno Award, she was writing songs for the likes of Lady Gaga and Kelly Clarkson, and there was a bidding war between some of the biggest labels in the world who were desperate to sign her. But then, at the height of her s…

1
Laura Reznek turned to music to process a family tragedy 16:44

9d ago16:44

16:44

Laura Reznek is a British Columbia-born musician and singer-songwriter who’s just released her new album, “The Sewing Room.” She made the record to help her process a family tragedy: her father’s death by suicide. Laura joins Tom Power to set up her song “Endeavours,” which explores her experience with grief.…

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Within Chaos, She Brings Inner Calm and Peace with Guest Pianist and Co-Founder of MuseFlow, Patrick Boylan 30:20

11d ago30:20

30:20

Patrick shares stories of his mother and her ability to light up a room whenever she walks in. "She's always herself," beams Patrick. Patrick attributes, her sense of humor to her brothers and he says "she's a little butch, not too feminine." And all of that and more makes him love his mother even more. "She unadulterated herself. She never code sw…

1
Bob the Drag Queen knew he’d win Drag Race 23:38

10d ago23:38

23:38

When Bob the Drag Queen landed his debut book deal, his publisher asked him if he wanted to write a memoir — but he had something different in mind. The drag superstar’s new book, “Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert,” imagines the famed abolitionist in the present day as she sets out to make a hip-hop album. Bob joins Tom Power to talk about his new c…

1
What’s poetry’s role in the housing crisis? 16:45

10d ago16:45

16:45

In her latest poetry collection, “Wellwater,” the Canadian poet Karen Solie takes a hard look at climate grief and economic anxiety. Her opening poem, “Basement Suite,” was inspired by short-term rentals and precarious living arrangements. But for Karen, the role of poetry isn’t about finding the answers to big questions — it's about honouring our …

1
Chloë Sevigny on the cost of being cool 22:46

13d ago22:46

22:46

Back in the 1990s and early 2000s, there was no one cooler than Chloë Sevigny. After being discovered on the streets of New York, she became the ultimate It Girl. She was an in-demand model and actor known for her unique eye for fashion as well as for starring in indie films that are now considered cult classics. Last September, Chloë sat down with…

1
How a CCR cover landed July Talk’s singer a role in Sinners 22:25

15d ago22:25

22:25

July Talk’s Peter Dreimanis just made his big screen debut playing a singing vampire in Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” — and it all happened because of a Creedence Clearwater Revival cover song he released. Peter sits down with Tom Power to tell us the story behind his first major film role, plus, a little bit about his debut solo album under the name Pe…

1
Jasmeet Raina made Late Bloomer’s 9/11 episode for his younger self 32:39

14d ago32:39

32:39

The Canadian content creator Jasmeet Raina, also known as Jus Reign, is back with Season 2 of “Late Bloomer” — his half-hour comedy series inspired by his own life as a turban-wearing Punjabi Canadian millennial. Jasmeet sits down with Tom Power to talk about the two episodes he wrote and directed this season: one that sheds light on anti-Sikh raci…

1
Even Amanda Rheaume was surprised by her own people’s history 19:49

14d ago19:49

19:49

For her sixth studio album, “The Truth We Hold,” folk singer Amanda Rheaume dug deep into her Métis heritage by interviewing elders in communities across the country. What she learned came as a surprise, even to her. Amanda sits down with Tom Power to talk about the album and the ups and downs surrounding its release, including having to cancel a s…

1
He used to steal his mom’s copies of Vogue — now he works there 31:10

15d ago31:10

31:10

As a kid growing up in Nipissing, Ont., Christian Allaire dreamed of being part of the glamorous world that he saw in his mother’s Vogue magazines. Now, he’s the senior fashion and style writer at Vogue in New York. Christian writes about that incredible journey in his new memoir, “From the Rez to the Runway.” He sits down with Tom Power to talk ab…

1
How Mark McKinney became Mark Carney 15:09

15d ago15:09

15:09

The Canadian actor and comedian Mark McKinney (Superstore, The Kids in the Hall) isn't necessarily known for political comedy, but now he’s playing Prime Minister Mark Carney on “This Hour Has 22 Minutes.” Mark drops by our studio to chat with Tom Power about his portrayal of the Liberal leader and how he landed the role. If you like this conversat…

1
How Mark Hoppus’s cancer diagnosis reunited Blink-182 36:59

16d ago36:59

36:59

Pop-punk trailblazer Mark Hoppus is the bassist, co-founder and co-lead vocalist for Blink-182. In his new memoir, “Fahrenheit-182,” he shares his life story, from his parents’ divorce, to being inspired to pick up the bass guitar, to his instant connection with his Blink-182 bandmate Tom DeLonge. Mark joins Tom Power to reflect on his journey with…

1
Why ramen is so important to Hiromi’s life and music 11:00

16d ago11:00

11:00

The Grammy-winning Japanese jazz composer and pianist Hiromi has always challenged expectations with her music. Now, she and her group Hiromi’s Sonicwonder have released a new album, “Out There.” Hiromi joins Tom Power to talk about the record, why ramen is so important to her life and how she kind of became pen pals with the late Canadian jazz leg…

1
She Made me Feel Loved, Protected and Secure with Guest Award-Winning Children's Book Author Gramps Jeffrey. Looking Back at S3E12 24:13

18d ago24:13

24:13

SHLTMM CAN NOW BE HEARD ON YOUTUBE: YOUTUBE CHANNEL LINK: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoUWxgQECqrMqI1ylVH9Dpw As I mention in the introduction of my show, Gramps Jeffrey, I believe is the first grandfather I've interviewed on SHLTMM, so that's pretty great. I was so happy to hear how engaged he is with his grandchildren. Gramps' mother's name …

1
North of North is a groundbreaking Inuit comedy 25:37

17d ago25:37

25:37

The new sitcom “North of North” follows a young Inuk mother named Siaja who’s on a journey to reclaim her life while living in the fictional Arctic community of Ice Cove — a town where everybody knows your business. Co-creators Stacey Aglok MacDonald and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril say they made the place up to represent all Inuit communities across the …

1
Alan Ritchson had to prove himself to Hilary Swank 27:29

17d ago27:29

27:29

Alan Ritchson is best known for playing Jack Reacher, an ex-military nomad who negotiates suspicious and dangerous situations. But in his new film, “Ordinary Angels,” Alan plays a father whose brawn is of little use in the face of his young daughter’s illness. Last year, the actor joined Tom Power to talk about playing a dad desperate to save his c…

1
Cate Blanchett forgot the sound of her real voice 26:02

20d ago26:02

26:02

Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth, The Aviator, Tár) is one of the most respected actors of our time. She's an on-screen chameleon who transforms into whatever role she plays, taking on whatever accent is required of her — so much so that she says it’s easy to forget what she actually sounds like. Last year, Cate sat down with Tom for a thoughtful conversa…

1
Brandi Carlile on collaborating with her hero Elton John 13:34

20d ago13:34

13:34

They say never meet your heroes, but don't tell that to Brandi Carlile. The 11-time Grammy winner has teamed up with Elton John on a new album, “Who Believes in Angels?” The record’s title track is all about the realities of working with someone you admire. Earlier this year, Brandi joined Tom Power to introduce us to the song and tell us more abou…

1
Deepa Mehta on Water, backlash & re-watching her films in 2025 43:58

21d ago43:58

43:58

The award-winning Canadian filmmaker and screenwriter Deepa Mehta has reshaped and redefined both Canadian and Indian cinema with her bold and groundbreaking films. Now, she’s being honoured with a career retrospective called “Through the Fire: The Films of Deepa Mehta” at TIFF in Toronto. It features screenings of 10 of her most prominent films of…

1
Iconic drummer Mike Portnoy says he owes it all to Rush 37:13

22d ago37:13

37:13

For 40 years, Dream Theater has been one of the biggest progressive rock bands in the world, if not the biggest. The driving force behind their music has been legendary drummer Mike Portnoy, but for more than a decade, he and the band were split. That all changed last year when Mike rejoined the band and they recorded their latest album, “Parasomni…

1
How portraiture helped Gordon Shadrach tell his cancer story 18:29

22d ago18:29

18:29

For years, the Toronto painter Gordon Shadrach has been making stunning oil portraits that investigate the way Black men are represented in society. But in his new exhibit, “the earth is always shifting, the light is always changing,” Gordon unpacks his cancer diagnosis and the year of isolation that followed it. He sits down with Tom Power to tell…

1
Warfare was made for a real-life Navy SEAL who lost his memory 21:59

23d ago21:59

21:59

Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza’s harrowing new film “Warfare” takes a realistic look at a platoon of Navy SEALs on a mission gone wrong in Iraq in 2006. It’s based on Ray's experiences as a real-life Navy SEAL, and it’s dedicated to his platoon member, Elliott Miller, who lost a leg and suffered a traumatic brain injury during the mission. Ray set ou…

1
Writing Scary Movie 3 was “vastly harder” than writing Chernobyl 23:13

23d ago23:13

23:13

Craig Mazin is the showrunner behind HBO’s hit post-apocalyptic series “The Last of Us” — but he didn’t always write TV dramas. Much of his career was spent working on big comedy film franchises like “Scary Movie” and “The Hangover.” In this conversation with guest host Garvia Bailey, Craig breaks down why it takes a smart person to write dumb come…

1
Controlling Me Was More Important Than Loving Me with Guest Psychotherapist and Interior Designer, Dani Gottschalk 31:01

25d ago31:01

31:01

It was such a pleasure to speak with Dani. She's wonderful and has accomplished and overcome quite a bit thus far in her life. And a lot of that has to do with her mother. It took Dani many, many years to figure out what her real connection was with her mother. Was it love? Was it control? Dani was convinced it was love. Even Dani's girlfriends wer…

1
Remembering Nell Smith 24:09

24d ago24:09

24:09

At 13, Nell Smith made headlines for releasing an album of Nick Cave covers with one of her favourite bands, The Flaming Lips. After that, the promising young singer from Fernie, B.C., started working on her debut solo album, “Anxious.” But this past October, at 17, Nell’s life was tragically cut short by a car accident. Now, her record has been re…

1
Jonathan Roumie on the pressures of playing Jesus 19:05

24d ago19:05

19:05

The actor Jonathan Roumie is most famous for playing the role of Jesus Christ in the smash hit TV show, “The Chosen.” He joins guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about the show’s massive global impact, the unique pressures that come with the role, and why centuries later, there remains a great fascination with the life that Jesus lived. If you enjoy …

1
In just one night, Tracy Chapman wrote a life-changing hit 25:09

27d ago25:09

25:09

The singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman made her voice heard in 1988 when she performed her song “Fast Car” for 90,000 people at a Free Nelson Mandela concert at Wembley Stadium. That song was off her self-titled debut album, which went on to win three Grammys and solidify her as an important American voice. Now, 35 years later, it’s still making an im…

1
A special tribute to Joel Plaskett on his 50th birthday 14:43

27d ago14:43

14:43

Next week, the Halifax singer-songwriter Joel Plaskett celebrates his 50th birthday. As a special surprise, 22 of his musical friends have come together to make a tribute album, “Songs from the Gang.” One of those friends, Sloan’s Chris Murphy, sits down with Tom Power to talk about his cover of Joel’s classic song “I Love This Town.”…

1
This Quebecois comedian is taking on anglo audiences now 23:49

28d ago23:49

23:49

For years, Rachid Badouri has been one of Quebec's biggest comedy stars. His shows have sold millions of tickets around the world, he has a Netflix stand-up special called “Les fleurs du tapis,” and he’s also a judge on “Quel talent!” (Quebec’s version of “Canada’s Got Talent”). But now, Rachid is ready to make a name for himself in the English-spe…

1
Did Yoko Ono actually break up the Beatles? 28:55

28d ago28:55

28:55

What do you think you know about Yoko Ono? That she broke up the Beatles? That she was just there, always in the background? David Sheff wants to set the record straight with his new biography, “Yoko.” He was the last journalist to interview John Lennon and Yoko before John’s murder in 1980, and after that tragedy, he stayed close with the Japanese…

1
How Tim Key got Carey Mulligan in The Ballad of Wallis Island 24:22

29d ago24:22

24:22

The new film “The Ballad of Wallis Island” tells the story of Charles, an eccentric lottery winner who uses his money to hold a private concert on the remote Welsh island where he lives. The band he hires is his favourite group of all time: the fictional folk rock duo McGwyer Mortimer. The only problem is they haven’t spoken in years — and the conc…

1
Village Keeper is a mother’s tale of grief, survival and healing 20:40

29d ago20:40

20:40

In Karen Chapman's debut feature film, “Village Keeper,” a grieving single mother who’s grappling with violence in her past learns how to put herself first. Karen sits down with guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about the stigmas and stereotypes she aimed to challenge with this film, how she made “Village Keeper” in only 12 days while eight months p…

1
Anoushka Shankar wants you to hear the sitar differently 25:52

1M ago25:52

25:52

When Anoushka Shankar was in Goa two years ago, she wrote down four words: “Three chapters, three geographies.” That note has been the inspiration for a trilogy of mini-albums. With the release of the latest and final album, “Chapter III: We Return To Light,” the acclaimed sitar player sits down with Tom Power to tell us what was driving her creati…

1
Finding Comfort in the Similarities Between My Mother and Judy Blume with Guest Bestselling Author Rachelle Bergstein 27:11

1M ago27:11

27:11

"I am my mother's only daughter," explains Bergstein. Both of Rachelle's parents eventually remarried. Her father has two daughters from a subsequent marriage. And Rachelle's mom, has remarried twice. Rachelle's parents were very much in love and married right out of college. At around the age of five years old, her parent's split up and Rachelle l…

1
Kenny Robinson is “elbows up” for Canadian comedians 23:29

1M ago23:29

23:29

For the past 30 years, on the last Sunday of every month, Yuk Yuk’s in Toronto has hosted the Nubian Comedy Revue — one of the top showcases for Black and racialized comedians in Canada. Over the years, the show has been blessed by numerous appearances by top talent like Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart and Russell Peters. Comedian Kenny Robinson has bee…

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