Best Michaela Ray Podcasts (2025)

1
Rebellious and reflective, Billy Idol looks back on a life in music 34:08

8h ago34:08

34:08

Turning 70 this year, legendary punk-rocker turned MTV Icon Billy Idol is back with his ninth studio album. “Dream Into It” reflects his life and career, with songs documenting his early days, his massive breakthrough, his drug addiction, and finally his rebirth. He tells Tom Power about why he’s looking back now. Fill out our listener survey here.…

1
Dawn Macdonald on the mess and beauty of growing up in the Canadian North 18:39

8h ago18:39

18:39

Dawn Macdonald is a poet based in Whitehorse, Yukon whose 2024 debut poetry collection “Northerny” takes an honest, raw and unsentimental look at growing up and living in Canada’s North. Now, “Northerny” is the winner of this year’s Griffin Poetry Prize, Canadian First Book Prize. Dawn tells Tom Power about growing up off the grid without running w…

1
Losing her voice taught Melanie Fiona to speak up for herself 21:43

1d ago21:43

21:43

After over a decade away from the spotlight, Canadian singer Melanie Fiona is back with an EP. “Say Yes” is her first record since she won two Grammys in 2012. She tells guest host Talia Schlanger how her intense burnout led to her spiritual awakening, and why she’s saying yes to singing again.

1
The wrestling saga at the heart of The Halluci Nation’s new EP 20:28

1d ago20:28

20:28

When Bear Witness and Tim “2oolman” Hill of The Halluci Nation watched wrestling as kids, they had to look past stereotypes and tropes to find Indigenous heroes in the ring. Now, their new EP “Path of The Baby Face” uses wrestling to tell a more empowering story. The music duo tell guest host Talia Schlanger about their collaboration with wrestling…

1
Wiz Khalifa found peace in not needing praise 25:29

4d ago25:29

25:29

Wiz Khalifa just dropped his latest album ‘Kush + Orange Juice 2,’ the sequel to his 2010 mixtape that introduced him to the world. Khalifa joins Tom to talk about his early days as a hip-hop artist, why he’s never cared about being a celebrity, and what important lessons he learned from Snoop Dogg.

1
Sister Ray trades rejection for joy on their new album Believer 24:00

4d ago24:00

24:00

The Alberta folk singer-songwriter Sister Ray is known for writing songs about heartbreak and sadness. But they decided to try something different with their new album “Believer”— their latest record is all about love and connection. Ella Coyes of Sister Ray tells Tom Power about how “freeing” it is to write about joy, how growing up around Métis a…

1
Why Sook-Yin Lee adapted her ex’s memoir about paying for sex 24:46

5d ago24:46

24:46

In Sook-Yin Lee’s film, “Paying For It,” a couple whose romantic attraction is waning decide to open up their relationship. While Sonny explores dating, her introverted boyfriend, Chester, opts to hire sex workers. The story is based on Sook-Yin’s real-life former relationship with Canadian cartoonist Chester Brown, who released a bestselling graph…

1
Amy Millan realized grief didn’t need to be a secret, so she wrote an album about it 24:57

5d ago24:57

24:57

Amy Millan from the band Stars is back with her first solo record in fifteen years. Millan tells Tom how her album “I Went To Find You” was inspired by the loss of her father at five years old. Plus, she tells the story behind her new song “Make Way for Waves.”

1
Justice’s best advice for artists: revel in your mistakes 24:22

6d ago24:22

24:22

You might not remember every song on the radio from 2007, but if you were anywhere near a club or dancefloor, you might remember the electronic duo Justice. Their debut album, with that glowing cross on the front, was impossible to ignore. Justice redefined electronic music for a new generation, and became one of the most influential acts of their …

1
This choreographer thinks of her work as “painting” on dancers 15:16

6d ago15:16

15:16

Jennifer Archibald is one of North America’s busiest and most in-demand choreographers. At the end of May, she’ll debut her first piece for the National Ballet of Canada called “Kings Fall,” one of nine world premieres that she’ll go on this season. Archibald tells Tom Power about the commonality between chess and her journey in choreography and th…

1
“Having the space to fumble" shaped Hanorah’s music 13:09

7d ago13:09

13:09

Hanorah is a singer-songwriter from Montreal who’s opened for Mavis Staples, and grew up listening to Etta James and Joss Stone. On her latest EP “Closer Than Hell,” Hanorah moves beyond her early soul influences and explores a new voice. Hanorah tells Tom about surprising herself when she began songwriting, why she’s happy she didn’t win “La Voix”…

1
From CIA to Ohana: Courtney B. Vance stars as Cobra Bubbles in Lilo & Stitch 29:29

7d ago29:29

29:29

Courtney B. Vance is known for playing men of power and purpose — from Johnnie Cochran in “The People v. O.J. Simpson,” to Uncle George Freeman in “Lovecraft Country,” Vance now takes on Cobra Bubbles in the live action remake of Lilo & Stitch. He joins Tom Power to talk about the emotional depth of Bubbles in the new remake, how growing up as a Bl…

1
Sarah Levy on finding her voice after Schitt’s Creek 22:17

8d ago22:17

22:17

Sarah Levy comes from a pretty funny family. Her dad is the comedy legend Eugene Levy, her brother is Dan Levy, and all three of them were on the Emmy-winning show “Schitt's Creek.” But Sarah says the funniest one of them all is her mom, who’s also the person in her family who’s had the biggest influence on her comedy. Sarah joins Tom Power to talk…

1
Dan Mangan’s new album was a surprise even to him 16:59

8d ago16:59

16:59

What happens when you let go? Dan Mangan found out when he stopped trying to make the best record of his career — and he ended up with one of the best records of his career. The Juno-winning singer-songwriter says it all goes to show that surrendering control might be the key to making something great. Dan sits down with Tom Power to tell us how a …

1
Michelle Zauner isn’t afraid to say no anymore 36:29

11d ago36:29

36:29

In 2021, Japanese Breakfast’s Michelle Zauner got everything she’d ever wanted: her memoir “Crying in H Mart” became a surprise New York Times bestseller, and her band’s breakthrough album “Jubilee” received multiple Grammy nominations. But all of that success came at the cost of her mental and physical health, so she moved to Seoul to regroup. Now…

1
How Crystal Shawanda found her peace through song 14:09

11d ago14:09

14:09

What do you do when the world around you is anything but calm? For the Juno-winning Indigenous blues artist Crystal Shawanda, the answer was to go inward. She joins Tom Power to talk about her powerful and deeply personal new track “This Peace,” which channels her family’s strength, her culture and her own journey of self-discovery to find calm in …

1
Yanic Truesdale was told he spoke too quickly after Gilmore Girls 31:29

12d ago31:29

31:29

When Yanic Truesdale was growing up in Quebec, he used to watch American TV with his grandmother — but he didn't speak any English, so she had to translate the whole show to him line by line. When he started getting cast in TV roles, no one was prouder of him than his grandmother. Since then, Yanic has become a beloved actor all over the world, par…

1
The Last of Us star Noah Lamanna on their breakthrough role 19:28

12d ago19:28

19:28

Canadian actor Noah Lamanna stars as Kat in the new season of the hit HBO show “The Last of Us.” Noah joins Tom Power to talk about the moment they found out they’d be on one of the biggest shows on TV, what it’s like working with Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, and how the film and TV industry has evolved for non-binary actors.…

1
Benito Skinner’s life changed when he dropped the golden boy act 23:10

13d ago23:10

23:10

Comedian Benito Skinner grew up attending Catholic school in Idaho, where he didn’t feel safe being an out gay man. Instead, he concealed his sexuality and threw himself into football. Now, Benito is mining that awkward and uncomfortable time in his life for his art. He’s the creator and star of “Overcompensating,” a new comedy show from A24 and Am…

1
How shy kids found the humanity in AI art 28:24

13d ago28:24

28:24

The Canadian indie pop band and filmmaking collective shy kids consists of three multi-hyphenate friends: Matthew Hornick, Walter Woodman and Patrick Cederberg. They’re musicians, but they’re also filmmakers, animators, writers, directors and technology advocates. Matthew, Walter and Patrick sit down with guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about th…

1
How The Lion King musical creator pulled off the “impossible” 35:19

15d ago35:19

35:19

For nearly 30 years, “The Lion King” musical has been captivating audiences, becoming the highest-grossing production of all time, in theatre or in film. But when creator Julie Taymor was approached to make the stage show, she had never seen the original animated Disney movie it's based on. Julie joins Tom Power to tell us the story behind the prod…

1
Iceland’s former first lady Eliza Reid on her debut novel 17:59

14d ago17:59

17:59

Bestselling Canadian writer Eliza Reid has written plenty of non-fiction, but she’s just released her first novel, “Death on the Island.” It’s a murder mystery involving diplomats in Iceland — a place that’s quite familiar to her, considering she served as the country’s first lady from 2016 to 2024. Eliza sits down with Tom Power to talk about her …

1
Dancer Guillaume Côté has reached his “expiration date” 32:00

16d ago32:00

32:00

After 26 years dancing with the National Ballet of Canada, Guillaume Côté will soon retire following his final performance on June 5. Last year, after announcing his decision to move on, the acclaimed Canadian dancer and choreographer sat down with Tom Power to talk about the physical demands of ballet, the “expiration date” that all professional d…

1
Sechile Sedare on their brother-sister collaboration 15:15

15d ago15:15

15:15

When you were growing up, did you get along with your sibling? When Leela and Jay Gilday were growing up in Northwest Territories, their dad wanted them to sing together more, but it wasn’t until decades later that they did. Leela and Jay both have distinguished music careers on their own, but more recently, they’ve come together as the contemporar…

1
Composer Max Richter’s music put dozens of soldiers to sleep 35:09

19d ago35:09

35:09

Award-winning composer Max Richter is arguably the most streamed classical artist in the world. His scores feature in acclaimed films like “Arrival”, “Ad Astra”, “Shutter Island,” and popular series such as “Black Mirror,” “Bridgerton” and “The Leftovers.” Currently on his first world tour, Max drops by our studio to talk with Tom Power about his a…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Michaela Ray Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
LaserHammer

Michaela Ray and Adam Bash

1
Q with Tom Power

CBC

1
Rebellious and reflective, Billy Idol looks back on a life in music 34:08

1
Dawn Macdonald on the mess and beauty of growing up in the Canadian North 18:39

1
Losing her voice taught Melanie Fiona to speak up for herself 21:43

1
The wrestling saga at the heart of The Halluci Nation’s new EP 20:28

1
Wiz Khalifa found peace in not needing praise 25:29

1
Sister Ray trades rejection for joy on their new album Believer 24:00

1
Why Sook-Yin Lee adapted her ex’s memoir about paying for sex 24:46

1
Amy Millan realized grief didn’t need to be a secret, so she wrote an album about it 24:57

1
Justice’s best advice for artists: revel in your mistakes 24:22

1
This choreographer thinks of her work as “painting” on dancers 15:16

1
“Having the space to fumble" shaped Hanorah’s music 13:09

1
From CIA to Ohana: Courtney B. Vance stars as Cobra Bubbles in Lilo & Stitch 29:29

1
Sarah Levy on finding her voice after Schitt’s Creek 22:17

1
Dan Mangan’s new album was a surprise even to him 16:59

1
Michelle Zauner isn’t afraid to say no anymore 36:29

1
How Crystal Shawanda found her peace through song 14:09

1
Yanic Truesdale was told he spoke too quickly after Gilmore Girls 31:29

1
The Last of Us star Noah Lamanna on their breakthrough role 19:28

1
Benito Skinner’s life changed when he dropped the golden boy act 23:10

1
How shy kids found the humanity in AI art 28:24

1
How The Lion King musical creator pulled off the “impossible” 35:19

1
Iceland’s former first lady Eliza Reid on her debut novel 17:59

1
Dancer Guillaume Côté has reached his “expiration date” 32:00

1
Sechile Sedare on their brother-sister collaboration 15:15

1
Composer Max Richter’s music put dozens of soldiers to sleep 35:09