Best Tom Murphy Jr Podcasts (2025)

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How losing his voice made Patrick Watson a better singer 28:39

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2h ago28:39

28:39

What happens when you build a career being a singer-songwriter and then you permanently lose your voice? That’s what happened to acclaimed musician Patrick Watson, whose life was completely upended for months due to that traumatic surprise. Without being able to sing his own music, Patrick turned his attention to writing and composing music for oth…

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Why Sebastian Gaskin started embracing his Indigeneity in his music 18:29

2h ago18:29

18:29

Sebastian Gaskin is a musician from Tataskweyak Cree Nation in Manitoba who fuses his culture with R&B, rock and pop music. Earlier this year, he joined Tom Power to talk about his debut album, “Lovechild,” how he came around to embrace his Indigenous identity in his art, and why writing joyful and hopeful songs is just as important to him as writi…

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Adam Kinzinger: We Can’t Be Intimidated 51:28

3d ago51:28

51:28

President Trump’s quest for revenge escalates, as a grand jury indicts former FBI Director James Comey days after Trump forced out a prosecutor who refused to bring charges against his political enemies. Trump, meanwhile, is cheerleading the indictment and publicly encouraging prosecutors to go after more Democrats and left-leaning organizations. A…

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Scarlett Johansson was “humbled” directing Holocaust survivors 32:07

3d ago32:07

32:07

What does the title of “highest-grossing actor of all time” actually mean for a Hollywood star? For Scarlett Johansson, who currently holds that position, it means directing her first feature film without any pressure of achieving box office success. In her directorial debut, “Eleanor The Great,” there’s not an explosion or sex scene in sight, and …

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“Having the space to fumble" shaped Hanorah’s music 12:21

3d ago12:21

12:21

Hanorah is a singer-songwriter from Montreal who’s opened for Mavis Staples, and grew up listening to Etta James and Joss Stone. But on her latest EP, “Closer Than Hell,” Hanorah moves beyond her early soul influences and explores a new voice. Earlier this year, she joined Tom Power to tell us how she started songwriting, why she’s happy she didn’t…

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Ezra Klein: Protecting People Means Winning Power 1:13:21

4d ago1:13:21

1:13:21

The White House readies plans for mass firings in the federal government as Democrats weigh the stakes of forcing a government shutdown. The Justice Department prepares to seek an indictment for former FBI Director James Comey as President Trump hunts for revenge against his political enemies. Ezra Klein of The New York Times joins Tim to discuss w…

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Sterlin Harjo was roasted for being a genius 23:55

4d ago23:55

23:55

As a recipient of the MacArthur Fellowship (also known as the MacArthur Genius Grant), you could say filmmaker Sterlin Harjo is a certified genius. He’s responsible for creating the groundbreaking series “Reservation Dogs,” which follows the lives of four Indigenous teenagers in rural Oklahoma. Now, Sterlin is back with a new series called “The Low…

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Amy Millan had to break up with her guitar 23:56

4d ago23:56

23:56

“It’s not you, it’s me.” That’s the line Amy Millan used to break up with her guitar. The Canadian singer-songwriter had lost the love she had for her instrument and wasn’t sure it would come back. But after taking a break from her band Stars, she found herself working on her first solo album in 15 years. It’s called “I Went To Find You” and it cam…

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Angie Craig and Glenn Thrush: Don’t Be Called Weak Sauce 1:00:04

5d ago1:00:04

1:00:04

A government shutdown creeps closer as President Trump cancels a meeting with Democratic leaders. Former Vice President Kamala Harris embarks on a press tour to promote a score settling book about her campaign. Plus, Trump taps one of his former personal lawyers to replace a U.S. attorney he dismissed for not targeting his political enemies after p…

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Brett Goldstein is obsessed with love stories 22:09

5d ago22:09

22:09

If you could take a test that told you who your soulmate was, would you do it? Would you trust it? That’s the premise of the new movie “All of You,” starring and written by English actor Brett Goldstein (best known for his role as Roy Kent on “Ted Lasso”). Set in the near future, the story follows two best friends who are torn apart when one takes …

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Bakari Sellers: The Danger of RFK Jr. 55:15

6d ago55:15

55:15

The injecting-bleach president is getting some super-strong pseudoscientific information to scare mothers and blame them for autism while conveniently ignoring the role geriatric sperm may play in neurodivergence. Meanwhile, Kimmel may be coming back, but confusion remains about why his show was pulled to begin with—given the jokes Trump, his son, …

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Akinola Davies Jr. turned a childhood memory into an acclaimed film 24:09

6d ago24:09

24:09

Earlier this year, a new movie called “My Father’s Shadow” made history when it became the first Nigerian film to be officially selected for the Cannes Film Festival. Set over the course of a single day in Lagos in 1993 (a day that happens to be one of the most catastrophic in Nigerian history), the film follows two young boys who join their father…

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Rachel Bobbitt’s debut album is an emotional homecoming 15:50

6d ago15:50

15:50

Rachel Bobbitt is a Nova Scotian singer-songwriter who currently lives in Toronto, makes music in Los Angeles, and tours all around with bands like Men I Trust and Blonde Redhead — but her debut album is a homecoming of sorts. It’s called "Swimming Towards the Sand” and it takes a sweeping and introspective look at the emotional landscape of the pl…

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Bill Kristol: Where Is the $50,000? 42:55

7d ago42:55

42:55

We thought Tom Homan was just an extreme border hawk and ideologue. Now we know this powerful law enforcement official, who's depriving immigrants of their freedom, may also be a corrupt law-breaker—after he was reportedly recorded taking a $50,000 cash bribe during an FBI sting operation. And MAGA die-hards, like Megyn Kelly, have made clear they …

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Mark Ronson looks back at his rise in the ’90s DJ scene 42:39

7d ago42:39

42:39

Nine-time Grammy winner Mark Ronson is responsible for producing some of the biggest pop songs of the last few decades. He’s worked with the likes of Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa and Amy Winehouse. Now, he’s released a new memoir, “Night People,” which traces his early years working as a DJ in nightclubs around New York City. Mark joins Tom Pow…

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Thomas Chatterton Williams: How MAGA Learned to Love Cancel Culture 1:00:39

10d ago1:00:39

1:00:39

Cancel culture lives on, but it's taken new turns, especially among some of the loudest opponents of woke culture who simply can not abide one word of criticism about Charlie Kirk or Israel. Meanwhile, the vice president of the United States is actively encouraging his kind of Americans to rat out their neighbors. Plus, how authoritarianism and cor…

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Toni Collette acted her way into appendix surgery as a kid 24:46

10d ago24:46

24:46

Toni Collette (Hereditary, Little Miss Sunshine) is known as one the most dynamic and versatile actors of her generation. From her star-making turn in the Australian comedy “Muriel’s Wedding” to her Oscar-nominated role as a struggling mom in “The Sixth Sense,” she’s famous for playing visceral characters with big, messy emotions. In this candid in…

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How Joan Shelley found inspiration in Toronto’s frigid winter 16:09

10d ago16:09

16:09

American singer-songwriter Joan Shelley is back with a new album, titled “Real Warmth.” She joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about recording it in Toronto (in the dead of winter during a blizzard, no less) with producer Ben Whiteley. Plus, she sets up a track called “New Anthem.”

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Brian Stelter and Jonathan V. Last: Worst Case Scenario 1:07:06

11d ago1:07:06

1:07:06

The administration wants people to believe that Jimmy Kimmel was pulled off the air because he supposedly crossed a red line when it came to Charlie Kirk—yet at the same time, somehow totally ignore that this is naked government coercion of critics who embrace the time-honored tradition of skewering presidents. And because this is the Trump adminis…

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Zosia Mamet was in a Nyquil-induced haze when she auditioned for Girls 25:40

11d ago25:40

25:40

Actor and writer Zosia Mamet is best known for playing the role of Shoshanna Shapiro on the hit HBO series “Girls.” But there’s a lot more to Zosia’s story that you may not know. In her new book of personal essays, “Does This Make Me Funny?” she writes about being bullied as a child, her experience with an eating disorder, and the ups and downs of …

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This musical is a digital detox for our brains 26:20

11d ago26:20

26:20

Are we all addicted to the internet? Digital technology feels like something we can’t live without, but with all the physical and mental health issues it's creating, it’s also starting to feel like something we can’t live with. A new production of the musical “Octet” is looking at this dilemma. One of its stars, the Dora Award-winning stage and mus…

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Susan Rice: A Cancer in the Body Politic 47:54

12d ago47:54

47:54

This country has been dealing with an increase in political violence for nearly a decade, and leaders from across the spectrum need to do everything they can to get us off this terrible path. Declaring 'free speech for me and not for thee,' or getting random people fired for not saying nice things about Charlie Kirk isn't helping to tamp things dow…

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Sarah McLachlan on the legacy of Lilith Fair (Live) 50:59

12d ago50:59

50:59

Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan didn’t just make some of her generation’s greatest songs, she started a movement. In this special episode, Sarah sits down with Tom Power in front of a live audience to reflect on the challenges and joys of creating Lilith Fair — the groundbreaking, all-female music festival that changed the face of the mu…

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Joe Manchin: The Man in the Middle 58:48

13d ago58:48

58:48

The former senator and former Dem has some not-very-nice things to say about Schumer and Obama—as well as progressives—who he blames for hounding Biden to move left and diminishing his will to fight. And while he's proud he helped protect the filibuster while he was in the Senate, Republicans just invoked the nuclear option to get Trump's nominees …

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Why Blair Underwood leads with his humanity 27:51

13d ago27:51

27:51

Throughout his 40-year acting career, Blair Underwood (L.A. Law, Longlegs) has always made it a priority to lead with his humanity. In the ‘80s and ‘90s, he came up against the stereotypical roles Black actors faced at that time, and his breakout role on “L.A. Law” stirred up some strong reactions in South Africa, where he was both loved and hated.…

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Bill Kristol: What Does 'They' Mean? 1:04:47

14d ago1:04:47

1:04:47

The administration is threatening to take away money and power—and maybe even freedom—from some vague Trump opponents because of the Kirk assassination. It doesn't seem to matter that elected Democrats have roundly condemned his murder. And it doesn't matter that Trump himself largely ignored the recent political assassination of Minnesota Democrat…

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Euphoria’s Barbie Ferreira on becoming an indie cinema darling 25:39

14d ago25:39

25:39

Barbie Ferreira got her start as a model before landing her big break starring on the gritty teen drama “Euphoria.” Since leaving the show, she’s decided to pursue more creatively fulfilling work in indie film. Her latest project, “Mile End Kicks,” just premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. It was written and directed by Canadian fi…

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How Tim Key got Carey Mulligan in The Ballad of Wallis Island 24:27

14d ago24:27

24:27

The 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 concert …

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David Frum: Leveraging Violence as a Tool of Power 1:01:53

17d ago1:01:53

1:01:53

Trump and the people around him want to use the Kirk assassination to suppress their political opposition. And Trump is clearly laying the groundwork for cracking down on people he doesn't like—peaceful protesters, Dem fundraisers—while also offering rhetorical comfort to potential vigilantes on the right. Meanwhile, we are witnessing the danger of…

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Bob Odenkirk says embarrassment is sometimes a good thing 29:03

17d ago29:03

29:03

In his new film “Normal,” actor and writer Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul, Breaking Bad, Mr. Show) plays a small town sheriff who discovers a big secret. At this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, he sat down with Tom Power to tell us how the feeling of embarrassment has actually fueled some of the best decisions in his life and career. Bo…

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Basia Bulat found inspiration in video games and Polish disco music 21:59

17d ago21:59

21:59

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.” Earlier this year, Basia joined Tom Power to talk about the…