Best john rooney Podcasts (2025)

1
Dan Stevens watched hours of MAGA podcasts to play a conspiracy provocateur 23:03

8h ago23:03

23:03

In Netflix’s new political thriller “Zero Day,” Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey, Legion) plays Evan Green, a brash, outspoken and wildly popular political commentator who streams his government conspiracies to millions of viewers. Evan’s number one target is the country's former president, played by Robert De Niro. The British actor joins Tom Power to t…

1
This might make you appreciate your dad’s music taste more 21:56

5h ago21:56

21:56

When the Canadian singer-songwriter Basia Bulat was a kid, she felt embarrassed by the Polish disco music her dad listened to. But now that she’s a parent herself, she’s found a new appreciation for her parents’ taste in music. It even inspired a tune on her latest album, “Basia's Palace.” Basia joins Tom Power to talk about the album, the Polish m…

1
Yiyun Li Reads “Techniques and Idiosyncrasies” 44:47

1d ago44:47

44:47

Yiyun Li reads her story, “Techniques and Idiosyncrasies,” from the March 17, 2025, issue of the magazine. Li is the author of eight books of fiction, including the novels “Must I Go” and “The Book of Goose,” and the story collection “Wednesday’s Child,” which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2024. A new nonfiction book, “Things in Nature M…

1
Spring Preview: A Few Books We're Excited For 31:48

4d ago31:48

31:48

Every season brings its share of books to look forward to, and this spring is no different. Host Gilbert Cruz is joined by Book Review editor Joumana Khatib to talk about a dozen or so titles that sound interesting in the months ahead. Books discussed on this episode: "Dream Count," by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie "Sunrise on the Reaping," by Suzanne C…

1
Bong Joon Ho is back with Mickey 17 19:23

3d ago19:23

19:23

After his huge success with “Parasite” in 2019, Oscar-winning director Bong Joon Ho is back with a new film, “Mickey 17.” The title character, Mickey (played by Robert Pattinson), is an “expendable” — a disposable crew member on a space colony who undertakes dangerous missions and laboratory tests. Whenever he dies, his body and memories can simply…

1
Don’t call Jan Lisiecki a child prodigy 21:07

3d ago21:07

21:07

Calgary’s Jan Lisiecki was only nine when made his orchestral debut as a classical pianist. While most of us were still figuring out cursive, he was playing sold-out recitals — so, of course, he was called a child prodigy. But Jan has complicated feelings about that term. He joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about his new album, “Preludes,” …

1
Amanda Seyfried had something to prove after Mean Girls 20:06

4d ago20:06

20:06

Amanda Seyfried was 17 when she landed her breakthrough role as Karen Smith in “Mean Girls.” But as fun as the movie was, she didn’t want to get pigeonholed as “the ditzy blonde” forever. Amanda says her first true departure was her starring role in Atom Egoyan’s erotic thriller “Chloe,” which established her as a serious actor who was willing to t…

1
How a chance encounter at a truck stop got AHI into songwriting 15:59

4d ago15:59

15:59

You never know who you might meet at a Canadian gas station. AHI sits down with Tom Power to tell us how a chance encounter at a truck stop in Thunder Bay inspired him to pursue music full-time. He also sets up a song off his new album, “The Light Behind the Sun.”

1
Unlocking Rooftop Solar: Allume Energy’s Solution for Apartment Renters 24:45

6d ago24:45

24:45

In this episode of Alternative Power Plays, hosts Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis engage in a conversation with Aliya Bagewadi, the U.S. Director of Strategy Partnerships at Allume Energy. She discusses how Allume Energy is transforming solar access for apartment renters. Aliya shares more about the company’s origins in Australia and its mission t…

1
Comedian Mae Martin moves into music 28:48

5d ago28:48

28:48

You may know the Canadian comedian and actor Mae Martin from their hit stand-up special “SAP,” their semi-autobiographical comedy series “Feel Good,” or their popular “Handsome” podcast, which they co-host with Tig Notaro and Fortune Feimster. But what you might not know is that Mae is also a musician. Mae drops by our studio to talk to Tom Power a…

1
Why aren't there more love songs about friendship? 12:16

5d ago12:16

12:16

There are countless songs about romantic love, but when Georgia Harmer sat down to write her new single, “Can We Be Still,” she had platonic love on her mind. Georgia says the song is an ode to friendship that she wrote for an old friend as they began to drift apart. The Canadian singer-songwriter joins Tom Power to tell us more about “Can We Be St…

1
225. 3 Secrets to Bring More JOY to Your Day 14:39

6d ago14:39

14:39

Hey Mumma, today on the podcast I am sharing 3 simple things that I do every day to bring in more joy. Motherhood can be chaotic; there's laundry and dishes and nappies and mopping and errands and all the things but I don't want you to let the mundane of motherhood get you down. So join me in this episode and let's cultivate more JOY together!…

1
Josh Gad has complicated feelings about tough love 33:26

6d ago33:26

33:26

Josh Gad (Frozen, The Book of Mormon) has made a huge name for himself on the stage and screen, but he says he’s struggled with anxiety and body image issues throughout his career. The award-winning actor, singer and comedian has just released a new memoir, “In Gad We Trust: A Tell-Some,” that sheds some light on those obstacles. Josh joins Tom Pow…

1
Derek Chan wants you to snack during his new play 12:38

6d ago12:38

12:38

“A Taste of Hong Kong” is a new play that combines theatre and food to tell a story that’s not often seen on stage. Described as a “snack-sized tasting class,” the show invites audiences to try some of Hong Kong’s famous street foods (including pineapple buns, curry fish balls and siu mai) as they watch the performance. The story follows actor Dere…

1
Víkingur Ólafsson: The billion-stream pianist 32:47

7d ago32:47

32:47

Víkingur Ólafsson is one of the world’s most in-demand classical pianists right now. The Icelandic musician just picked up a Grammy for his “Goldberg Variations” album, and he recently reached one billion streams for his music. Before playing a few shows in Canada, Víkingur dropped by our studio and sat down at Glenn Gould’s rehearsal piano that li…

1
T. Thomason is taking his Dirty Thoughts on the road 18:47

7d ago18:47

18:47

T. Thomason is a Canadian singer-songwriter who recently released an album called “Tenderness.” Now, he’s taking it on the road with his Dirty Thoughts tour. The tour is a collaboration with sex educators and workers, queer and trans small business owners and queer spaces. T. joins Tom Power to talk about the tour and how he hopes it will create an…

1
Colm Tóibín Reads “Five Bridges” 44:51

8d ago44:51

44:51

Colm Tóibín reads his story “Five Bridges,” from the March 10, 2025, issue of the magazine. Tóibín, a winner of the Folio Prize and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, among others, has published eleven novels, including “Brooklyn,” “The Magician,” and “Long Island,” which came out last year. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices…

1
Book Club: Let's Talk About "Orbital," by Samantha Harvey 41:51

11d ago41:51

41:51

Samantha Harvey’s novel “Orbital,” which won the Booker Prize last year, has a tight, poetic frame: We follow one day in the lives of six people working on a space station above Earth, orbiting the planet 16 times every 24 hours. But this is not a saga of adventure or exploration. It’s a quiet meditation on what it means to be human, prompted by a …

1
Why Molly Parker loves playing complex characters who’ve “lost everything” 25:50

10d ago25:50

25:50

The Canadian actor Molly Parker (Kissed, Six Feet Under, Deadwood) has become known for playing complex characters with really compelling stories. In her new series, “Doc,” she stars as a brilliant doctor who’s struggling with amnesia. Molly joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about the show, her journey as an actor, and why she loves playing …

1
Peter Fernandes was told he’d never do Shakespeare. Now he stars in Fat Ham 22:17

10d ago22:17

22:17

When Peter Fernandes was just starting out as an actor in Edmonton, he was told he didn't have the right stuff to do Shakespeare. In fact, he was told he could never do Shakespeare. Today, he’s one of the most celebrated theatre actors in the country with a starring role in a new production of “Fat Ham” — James Ijames’s Pulitzer Prize-winning adapt…

1
Jay Douglas: The reggae legend on Toronto’s almost forgotten Jamaican music scene 25:48

11d ago25:48

25:48

Jay Douglas has been making reggae music in Canada for decades. First as the frontman of The Cougars, a popular group in Toronto and Montreal’s Caribbean nightclub scenes, and then as a solo artist. A new documentary, “Play It Loud,” tells Jay’s story and the story of reggae in Toronto. He sits down with Tom Power in our studio to talk about the fi…

1
Nish Kumar: The political comedian on getting death threats from the far-right 27:50

11d ago27:50

27:50

Nish Kumar is a British stand-up comedian who isn’t afraid to ruffle feathers with his political comedy. But when he started getting death threats, it seriously impacted his mental health. Ahead of his new North American tour, Nish drops by our studio to chat with guest host Talia Schlanger about his comedy, the death threats he's received from the…

1
Deryck Whibley: The Sum 41 frontman looks back on his life through heaven and hell 37:16

12d ago37:16

37:16

For nearly 30 years, Sum 41 has been one of Canada’s most beloved and successful rock bands. This year, they’re saying their final goodbye, and lead singer Deryck Whibley has decided to share his story in a new memoir, “Walking Disaster: My Life Through Heaven and Hell.” He joins Tom Power to look back on his life and career, which saw him reach th…

1
Quick Q: How a soccer injury led Nia Nadurata to songwriting 13:23

12d ago13:23

13:23

Nia Nadurata is an up-and-coming singer-songwriter from Toronto who just released her first EP, “Still Living With My Parents.” It captures the thoughts and emotions of a young artist who’s at an important intersection in her life as she starts on a new path as an adult. Nia joins Tom Power in our studio to talk about her music and set up a song of…

1
224. Rhythms for Intentional Home Discipleship with Lyndsey Mimnagh 28:45

13d ago28:45

28:45

Hey Mumma, Today on the podcast I am joined by Lyndsey Mimnagh from Treehouse Schoolhouse to chat around intentional rhythms and family discipleship. We discuss the impact our home environment has on our children, including their spiritual formation, what family discipleship looks like in day to day life of a busy home, daily and weekly rhythms eve…

1
Enrico Colantoni: Why the actor credits his “working class mentality” for his success 22:10

13d ago22:10

22:10

Enrico Colantoni (Galaxy Quest, Flashpoint, Veronica Mars) is one of Canada’s most successful actors with more than 100 TV and film credits to his name. He joins Tom Power to look back on his career, from his early days as a struggling actor, to getting his first big break playing John Belushi in an episode of “A Current Affair,” to developing his …

1
Saya Gray: Her debut album, heartbreak & gigging as a teen with a fake ID 18:16

13d ago18:16

18:16

The Toronto-born artist Saya Gray has just released her debut album, “Saya,” but it isn’t her first foray into music by a long stretch. Saya grew up in a piano studio, surrounded by some of the best musicians in the country. She’s been gigging seriously since she was a teenager, playing in bands with much older musicians at clubs where she had to u…

1
Meredith MacNeill & Jennifer Whalen: Tackling menopause with fearless humour 23:12

14d ago23:12

23:12

In the new sitcom “Small Achievable Goals,” co-creators Meredith MacNeill and Jennifer Whalen star as two women who are navigating menopause while also working in the podcast world. You might recognize the duo from the wildly funny all-female Canadian sketch comedy show “Baroness Von Sketch Show.” Meredith and Jennifer sit down with guest host Tali…

1
Ron Dias: How growing up in Scarborough inspired his new film Morningside 25:50

14d ago25:50

25:50

The Canadian director Ron Dias describes his new film “Morningside” as a love letter to Scarborough — the district of Toronto where he grew up. The film follows a group of Scarborough residents as they grapple with violence in their community, a rapidly changing city, and the loss of their local community centre to gentrification. Ron sits down wit…

1
Joseph O'Neill Reads “Keuka Lake” 38:39

15d ago38:39

38:39

Joseph O’Neill reads his story “Keuka Lake,” from the March 3rd, 2025, issue of the magazine. O’Neill is the author of one story collection and five novels, including “Netherland,” which won the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction in 2009, “The Dog,” and “Godwin,” which was published last year. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices…

1
Celebrating 100 Years of Edward Gorey 35:22

18d ago35:22

35:22

You’re familiar with Edward Gorey, whether you know it or not. The prolific author and illustrator, who was born 100 years ago this week, was ubiquitous for a time in the 1970s and 1980s, and his elaborate black-and-white line drawings — often depicting delightfully grim neo-Victorian themes and settings — graced everything from book jackets to the…

1
Tate McRae: Learning how to stay present at the height of pop superstardom 23:27

17d ago23:27

23:27

Calgary's Tate McRae is back with five Juno nominations and a brand new album, “So Close To What.” The reigning Canadian pop princess talks to Tom Power about her skyrocketing career, growing up on social media, and how she’s learning to slow down and appreciate the present moment.

1
Sebastian Gaskin: Why he started embracing his Indigeneity in his music 19:20

17d ago19:20

19:20

Sebastian Gaskin is a musician from Tataskweyak Cree Nation in Manitoba who fuses his culture with R&B, rock and pop music. Now, he’s released his debut album, “Lovechild.” Sebastian joins Tom Power to talk about his path in music, how he came around to embrace his Indigenous identity in his art, and why writing joyful and hopeful songs is just as …

1
Will Oldham: How he ended up conducting Johnny Cash in the recording booth 24:59

18d ago24:59

24:59

The musician Will Oldham, also known as Bonnie "Prince" Billy, is more than 30 years into his career with no sign of slowing down. With the release of his new album, “The Purple Bird,” Will joins Tom Power to reflect on his life and music. He tells us about the time he met Johnny Cash, how he ended up conducting Cash’s cover of his song “I See a Da…

1
Matt Wright makes the case for silliness + Vivian Chong opens up about dating 26:32

18d ago26:32

26:32

Matt Wright is a Canadian comedian from Newfoundland and Labrador who’s just released his first stand-up special, "Live at the Majestic.” He drops by our studio to chat with Tom Power about his life in comedy and why he says it's his human right to be a goof. Plus, Vivian Chong is a Dora-nominated performer who’s blind in both eyes. She lost her vi…

1
Climate Leadership in Pennsylvania: A Conversation with PA Rep. Greg Vitali 39:55

20d ago39:55

39:55

In this episode of Alternative Power Plays, hosts Alan Seltzer and Elizabeth Rosentel, a senior advisor in Buchanan's state government relations group, interview Pennsylvania State House Representative Greg Vitali, who has dedicated decades to environmental and energy issues. As the first legislator in Pennsylvania to introduce climate change legis…

1
Inside the Making of ‘Wicked’ 26:38

20d ago26:38

26:38

One day, several decades ago, the writer Winnie Holzman was shopping in a Manhattan bookstore where a particular cover caught her eye. It showed a woman with a green face, a black hat pulled down over her eyes. The book was “Wicked” by Gregory Maguire, a retelling of L. Frank Baum’s “Oz” stories from the perspective of the Wicked Witch of the West.…

1
Matthew Rankin: Universal Language and his surreal vision of an alternate Winnipeg 24:48

19d ago24:48

24:48

Matthew Rankin is the Canadian director and star of the film “Universal Language.” It’s an absurdist comedy set in an alternate version of Winnipeg with two official languages: Farsi and French. During the Toronto International Film Festival last fall, Matthew dropped by to chat with Tom Power about his vision for this film and why he wanted to col…

1
Quick Q: How an edible changed Charlie Houston’s entire life and career 13:53

19d ago13:53

13:53

When the Canadian musician Charlie Houston was a student at NYU a few years ago, she took an edible that gave her a really bad trip. It was so bad that she quit music, dropped out of school and moved back in with her parents in Toronto. Now, she’s released her debut album, “Big After I Die,” which explores the precarious and often surreal experienc…

1
223. Being Diligent in Keeping Home & Honouring your Capacity 15:00

20d ago15:00

15:00

Hey Mumma! Welcome to the first episode of Christian Motherhood Conversations! In this episode I am sharing about my break and looking at our capacity in seasons - and honouring the changes when they come. I also discuss a lesson I learnt from a clothes peg in listening to the voice of God, having a perspective check and being diligent in my homema…

1
Jann Arden: The ‘90s are back on her new album Mixtape 20:09

20d ago20:09

20:09

The Canadian singer-songwriter Jann Arden joins Tom Power to talk about her new covers album “Mixtape,” the time she was called a one-hit wonder, and why she thinks the ‘90s are making a resurgence in 2025.

1
Avan Jogia: The former Nickelodeon star on the dark reality of being a teen actor 23:44

20d ago23:44

23:44

Avan Jogia is a Canadian actor, author and director who spent his teen years in the spotlight as one of the stars of the hit Nickelodeon series “Victorious.” Now, Avan’s new book of poetry, “Autopsy (of an Ex-Teen Heartthrob),” takes a critical look at the culture of celebrity and the sinister side of fame. Avan tells Tom Power about how starring o…

1
Jason Reynolds: Why he wrote a tender love story from a teen boy’s POV 32:56

21d ago32:56

32:56

When the award-winning author Jason Reynolds was visiting a juvenile detention centre, he asked what kind of books young boys checked out the most. The answer really surprised him: romance novels. Jason realized that young men have a real hunger to learn about love, sensitivity and intimacy. That sparked the idea for his latest book, "Twenty-Four S…

1
Tia Wood: Finding her own sound in her musical family 18:09

21d ago18:09

18:09

A few years ago, the musician Tia Wood moved to Los Angeles from her home of Saddle Lake Cree Nation in Alberta. Though she comes from a musical family (her mom is in a drum group, her sister is a Juno winner, and her dad is a founder of the award-winning group Northern Cree), Tia has managed to find her own sound. Now, she’s the first Indigenous w…

1
Welcome to Christian Motherhood Conversations 3:06

21d ago3:06

3:06

Hey Mumma, Welcome to Christian Motherhood Conversations. This is a show for you, a mumma who wants to raise her kids in the ways of God but also enjoy it and not feel like she's drowning in laundry all the time. In this show we are going to have conversations around parenting, marriage, health, homemaking and everything between. My prayer is that …

1
Adapting the Twists and Turns of ‘Conclave’ 23:05

25d ago23:05

23:05

The screenwriter Peter Straughan has become adept at taking well known — and beloved — books and adapting them for the big and small screens. He was first nominated for an Oscar for his screenplay of the 2011 film “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” based on the classic John le Carré spy novel, and then adapted Hilary Mantel’s “Wolf Hall” trilogy into an …

1
Alessia Cara: Being an introvert in an extrovert’s industry 34:58

24d ago34:58

34:58

The Grammy-winning Canadian singer-songwriter Alessia Cara has a unique talent for capturing the inner life of someone growing up in the digital age as they deal with love, acceptance and rejection. On her fourth and latest album, “Love & Hyperbole,” she opens up about her feelings of being an introvert in an extrovert’s industry. Alessia sits down…

1
Quick Q: Brandi Carlile on collaborating with her hero, Elton John 14:54

24d ago14:54

14:54

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?” Its title track is all about the realities of working with someone you admire. Brandi joins Tom Power to introduce us to the song and tell us more about her collaboration with Elto…

1
Neko Case: Why she says Canada’s music scene is “much healthier” than in the U.S. 34:50

25d ago34:50

34:50

The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Neko Case has written her first memoir, titled “The Harder I Fight The More I Love You.” It traces her upbringing in the Pacific Northwest to moving to Canada and starting her career as a professional musician. Neko sits down with Tom Power to look back on her life, how music (specifically Canadian music) gave…

1
Quick Q: How Aysanabee is giving back to local artists on his new tour 14:52

25d ago14:52

14:52

For his first headline tour from Ontario to Atlantic Canada, the Juno-winning singer-songwriter Aysanabee is shining a light on local First Nations, Métis and Inuit artists in each of the small communities he’s visiting. Aysanabee joins Tom Power to talk about his call out for openers. Plus, he plays us his new single, “Edge Of The Earth.”…

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