Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

CBC

Big laughs. Smart takes. Every day. Commotion is where you go for thoughtful and vibrant conversations about all things pop culture. Host Elamin Abdelmahmoud calls on journalists, critics, creators and friends to talk through the biggest arts & entertainment stories of the day, in 30 minutes or less.Subscribe to Sounds Good: CBC's Podcasts newsletter for the finest podcast recommendations and behind-the-scenes exclusives.

  • 25 minutes 36 seconds
    New series Dying for Sex and the surprising truths about a terminal cancer diagnosis

    Based on a true story, Dying for Sex asks us to think hard about what we’d do if we only had months or years to live. Elamin Abdelmahmoud talks about some surprising truths of a terminal cancer diagnosis the comedy gets right with Jen Pogue and Sophie Kohn. They share their experiences - Jen as a patient, and Sophie as a caregiver.


    Jen was featured on the Women On Screen Out Loud podcast about coming to terms with her diagnosis.

    3 April 2025, 4:10 am
  • 8 minutes 5 seconds
    BONUS: Nintendo Switch 2 arrives

    CBC reporter Jonathan Ore checks in from the Nintendo Direct event in New York City, where the videogame giant unveiled its latest console, the Nintendo Switch 2. Is this highly anticipated upgrade worth the wait?

    3 April 2025, 4:10 am
  • 29 minutes 14 seconds
    Remembering Bishop Brigante, and the Studio Ghibli memes made by ChatGPT

    With the passing of Canadian rap legend Bishop Brigante after a long battle with cancer, Elamin Abdelmahmoud is joined by Juno-award winning artist Choclair and ‘Views B4 The 6’ podcast host Big Tweeze to look back on the decades long legacy of the Scarborough native. And Steven Zeitchik, Senior Editor for Technology and Politics at The Hollywood Reporter, about the recent update to ChatGPT that's made it made it possible for people to create images in the style of different animators, including Hayo Miyazaki.

    2 April 2025, 4:10 am
  • 25 minutes 52 seconds
    Trump's Kennedy Center takeover, and why some are paying $1000 to see Denzel Washington in Othello

    Elamin is joined by New York Times theatre critic Michael Paulson, longtime theatre critic Glenn Sumi, and CBC entertainment reporter Jackson Weaver to discuss U.S. President Trump’s takeover of The Kennedy Center and what it could signal for the culture of theatre in that country, and Denzel Washington in ‘Othello’ becoming the highest grossing non-musical Broadway show ever and what its high ticket prices says about the future of accessible productions in that world. 

    1 April 2025, 3:40 pm
  • 24 minutes 22 seconds
    Sum41, Anne Murray, Nemahsis, and Canadian pride at the 2025 Junos

    The Juno Awards were held in Vancouver last night at a time when national pride is surging. So did last night’s show make us proud to be Canadian? Elamin is joined by music journalist Lisa Christiansen.

    31 March 2025, 3:40 pm
  • 25 minutes 13 seconds
    Should Canadian musicians tour in the U.S.?

    On the eve of a U.S. tour, Tamara Lindeman – a.k.a. indie-folk artist The Weather Station – talks about traveling to the States in this tense political moment, and why Canadian musicians can’t so easily participate in cultural boycotts when so much of their livelihood is dependent on U.S. touring. Then, musician and author Dave Bidini talks about how Canadian musicians can navigate these turbulent times by refocusing their efforts back home. 

    28 March 2025, 3:40 pm
  • 23 minutes 26 seconds
    How the trade war could affect Canada's book industry, and Family Guy is a gateway to Anne Murray

    With the Canadian government proposing additional counter-tariffs on U.S. goods that could potentially include U.S. books coming into Canada, Elamin is joined by reporter Josh O’Kane to explain why this has Canadian book stakeholders concerned. Plus, Anne Murray gets a Juno for Lifetime Achievement on Sunday. More than a decade ago, Family Guy aired an episode where baby Stewie becomes obsessed with Anne Murray, and it introduced a new generation of fans to her music. Elamin speaks with one of them – the music journalist Tony Le Calvez.


    27 March 2025, 3:40 pm
  • 31 minutes 14 seconds
    A new Hunger Games novel, and an update on No Other Land

    Book lovers Arizona O’Neill and Lu Aburawi talk about the new Hunger Games prequel, 'Sunrise on the Reaping,' and the cultural impact of Suzanne Collins’ popular series. Plus, Elamin talks to Matt Carey, documentary editor at Deadline.com, about the latest headlines involving this year’s Oscar winner for best documentary feature ‘No Other Land’ - including the recent detainment and release of co-director Hamdan Ballal by the Israeli military. 


    26 March 2025, 3:40 pm
  • 25 minutes 13 seconds
    How The Studio pokes fun at the inner workings of Hollywood, and the new memoir The Tell

    TV critic Angie Han and entertainment reporter Teri Hart discuss Seth Rogen’s new Apple TV+, ‘The Studio,' a satirical look at the inner workings of the movie industry and the perpetual tension between art and commerce in Hollywood. Plus, The Cut’s Emily Gould reviews the bestselling memoir, 'The Tell' by Amy Griffin, where the businesswoman shares her path to healing after MDMA-assisted therapy unearthed a long-hidden childhood trauma.

    25 March 2025, 3:40 pm
  • 25 minutes 38 seconds
    The Severance finale, and why you kind of recognize every actor in The White Lotus

    TV critics Kathryn VanArendonk and Jackson Weaver join Elamin to talk about the season finale of Severance, the genius of The White Lotus and how character actors on both shows are becoming the talk of the town.

    24 March 2025, 3:40 pm
  • 31 minutes 25 seconds
    The whole Snow White controversy explained, and the winners of Canada Reads

    Culture critics Cristina Escobar and Adam Nayman join guest host Rad Simonpillai to discuss the live action remake of Disney’s Snow White, from its rocky production, to the casting of Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, and why the film has sparked so much debate.


    Plus, the winners of Canada Reads 2025, champion Shayla Stonechild and author Ma-Nee Chacaby, join Elamin Abdelmahmoud for an interview about their victory.


    21 March 2025, 4:10 am
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