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.
TV critic Saloni Gajjar and culture critic Nicole Froio join guest host Rad Simonpillai to talk about why this year’s raft of "eat the rich" television is falling short of our expectations from the genre that brought us 'Succession,' 'The White Lotus' and 'Squid Game.'
Plus, Maura Johnston discusses the new album from Kesha, 'Period,' and how it reflects her newfound freedom as an artist. This comes after a decade-long legal bat...
Ten years ago, 'Hamilton' the musical premiered on Broadway — and altered the course of musical theatre history forever. The revolutionary hit show about the founding of America has been wildly successful and lauded around the world, making stars out of many in its original cast. But the show has always had its critics too. Guest host Rad Simonpillai reflects on its legacy with culture critics Jackson Weaver, James McMaster and Kar...
Film critics Rachel Ho, Alison Wilmore, and Jackson Weaver join guest host Rad Simonpillai to discuss Sorry, Baby, the latest instalment in the Jurassic World franchise, and the politically themed Idris Alba and John Cena action comedy Heads of State.
Anna Wintour changed fashion during her almost 40 years at the helm of Vogue Magazine. But she also changed our relationship with celebrity. Anna Wintour’s biographer Amy Odell and fashion writer Danya Issawi join guest host Rad Simonpillai to debate her legacy, what’s next for the magazine, and why this is so much more than a fashion story.
With the verdict in on the Sean "Diddy" Combs case, Commotion guest host Rad Simonpillai is joined by Refinery29 reporter Taryn Finley and NYC culture critic Jay Smooth to react to the news, to the discourse around the case, and what it all might mean for Diddy’s pop legacy moving forward. And Sarah-Tai Black talks about Canadian icon and transgender elder Beverly Glenn-Copeland, who is releasing the pilot of his children’s show, C...
With the public backlash to superstar producer Timbaland’s public support for AI-integrated music, guest host Rad Simonpillai is joined by music journalist Dylan Green and critic Michelle Santosuosso to discuss the backlash and how it might inform the discourse between artists, their audiences, and the music industry, moving forward. And the Globe and Mail’s Barry Hertz joins Rad Simonpillai to talk about whether F1 delivers on its...
What is considered to be a Canadian literary classic? Has that changed? Has it remained the same? Authors Jael Richardson and David A. Robertson, and bookseller and publisher Martha Sharpe chat with Elamin Abdelmahmoud about updating the Can Lit canon.
Culture critics Michelle Cho and Nicholas Quah join guest host Rad Simonpillai to talk about the final season of Squid Game, and whether its satire of capitalism is as potent the third time around. And the new Pixar movie Elio got good reviews when it opened a few weeks ago but it’s bombing at the box office. Teri Hart explains why the problem with Elio is the problem with all original kids movies: kids just don’t want original stu...
Culture writer Niko Stratis, podcaster Vish Khanna, and music journalist Carl Wilson join the Group Chat to discuss the mammoth new seven-disc Bruce Springsteen box set ‘Tracks II: The Lost Albums’, the new intensely personal comeback album from New Zealand pop queen Lorde, and the musical legacy of Quebecois rock legend Serge Fiori, who passed away recently at age 73.
Elamin Abdelmahmoud is joined by real life line cook and tv junkie Grace Onasanya and tv/film critic Rachel Ho to talk about the latest season of ‘The Bear.’ Plus, Mel Woods joins Elamin to talk about their new Xtra podcast, Get Queer, which explores how queer folks turned reality TV into a global phenomenon.
The very real showdown between protesters in LA and immigration agents is being re-enacted in the virtual world. Roblox — a video game used by 85 million people every day — has become a hotbed for virtual political activism among kids. Alyssa Mercante and Kieran Press-Reynolds join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about it.
It takes years of dedication to become a conductor for a world-class orchestra. But this week in Toronto, a wea...
There are two celebrity art shows on right now that are getting a lot of buzz — but not necessarily for the right reasons. Elamin Abdelmahmoud talks to art critics Annie Armstrong and Eddy Frankel about the reaction to, and the quality of, Adrien Brody’s art show in New York City and Robbie Williams’ show in London.
Also, with a new book out, and a tribute album and documentary on the way, the late Toronto new-wave icon Nas...
Culture critics Syrus Marcus Ware and Tobin Ng join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about the new doc 'Parade,' which explores the history of Pride parades — as protest and party — in Canada.
Plus, New Yorker writer Jennifer Wilson learns how to be an intimacy coordinator, a consultant who supervises sex scenes on film sets, in order to understand why there seems to be a backlash to the role in post-#MeToo Hollywood.
Music to clo...
After years in the Internet trenches, Scaachi Koul is no stranger to a good fight — but her latest essay collection is all about knowing when to walk away. In Sucker Punch, Scaachi examines her recent divorce with her signature ruthless humour, picking apart what the end of her marriage made her realize about her self-worth, upbringing and love of conflict. Scaachi joins Bookends host Mattea Roach to talk about divorce in the publi...
SiriusXM host/producer Kim Wheeler, culture writer Riley Yesno and music journalist Emilie Hanskamp join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to discuss new albums from Oji-Cree singer/songwriter Aysanabee, California pop sister act Haim, and Juno Award-winning electronic producer BAMBII.
Elamin Abdelmahmoud is joined by Marek Tyler and Susan Blight to discuss the rise of AI in pop culture and the possibilities and concerns it raises for Indigenous communities.
Plus, it's been over two decades since '28 Days Later,' the horror film that reimagined what a zombie thriller could be. Now, the franchise is back with a third installment – but in a post-Brexit, post-COVID world, are fans ready to return to a survival st...
Teri Hart and David Rider join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about 'Trainwreck: Mayor of Mayhem,' a new Netflix documentary about Toronto Mayor Rob Ford and the media circus that erupted when a video of him smoking crack cocaine was leaked to reporters in 2013.
Plus, Thomas Leblanc reviews Crave's brilliant new dramedy 'Empathie,' set in a Montreal psychiatric institution for criminals.
Elamin Abdelmahmoud chats with Liz Duff and Rebecca Jennings about the new Disney+ docuseries ‘Call Her Alex,’ which explores how Alex Cooper turned her DIY-style sex podcast ‘Call Her Daddy' into one of the biggest celebrity interview shows in the world.
With Kendrick Lamar and SZA touching down in Toronto last week for their Grand National Tour, Elamin is joined by Matt Amha and Rad Simonpillai to discuss the Toronto shows and what the local debates around whether Toronto fans should attend or not at a time when Canadian identity politics are top of mind for many.
Music critics Vish Khanna, Carl Wilson, and Rosie Long Decter join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to weigh in on the new album from Canadian rock legend Neil Young, the polarizing popularity of pop phenom Benson Boone, and the controversy over Sabrina Carpenter’s provocative new album cover.
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
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The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.
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