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Artwork for Commotion

Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

CBC
Social Media
Artificial Intelligence
Heated Rivalry
Canada
Geese
Drake
Golden Globes
The Pitt
2016
Music
Juno Awards
Toronto
Hollywood
Mariah Carey
Culture
Instagram
Survivor
Sex Work
Authenticity
Oscars

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.

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PublishesDailyEpisodes681Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Artwork for Commotion

Latest Episodes

Film critics Adam Nayman, Hanna Flint, and Kaiya Shunyata join guest host Rad Simonpillai to discuss the new Tom Cruise political satire ‘Digger,’ the erotic thriller ‘Verity’ starring Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson, and Netflix’s new miniseries ad... more

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The new animated film Forgotten Island follows a pair of best friends who, right as they’re about to begin the next chapter of their lives post-high school, find themselves pulled into a mythical world full of monsters. Set in the Philippines in the ... more

We're seeing new public works from Indigenous artists pop up all over Canada. They're big, outdoor installations from artists like Cheyenne Rain LeGrande, Brain Jungen and Kent Monkman. Celina Yellowbird and Reneltta Arluk join host Elamin Abdelmahmo... more

YouTube

Media giant Black Entertainment Television has deleted all of its digital articles from its website as part of its move to prioritize video content. Journalist Dalton Higgins and hip-hop broadcaster Jay Smooth join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to react to the... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
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Recent Guests

Sara Yasin
Editor-in-chief of The Key, Palestine Festival of Literature
The Key / Palestine Festival of Literature
Episode: Ed Sheeran, Macklemore, and the cost of staying silent
Joe Coscarelli
Cultural reporter for the New York Times
New York Times
Episode: The plagiarism claims against Stella Lefty, and Earle Meets World
Emma Hunter
Comedian
Unknown/Comedian
Episode: The moment Celine Dion's comeback concert had us holding our breath
Alice Moran
Comedian
Unknown/Comedian
Episode: The moment Celine Dion's comeback concert had us holding our breath
Chris Siddiqui
Comedian
Unknown/Comedian
Episode: The moment Celine Dion's comeback concert had us holding our breath
Sarah Hagi
Culture critic
Scamfluencers podcast
Episode: Weekly Wrap: Toronto International Film Festival, and remembering 9/11
Atom Egoyan
Filmmaker
Independent
Episode: Weekly Wrap: Toronto International Film Festival, and remembering 9/11
Radheyan Simonpillai
Film critic and commentator
CTV/Global Mail/Commotion
Episode: The backlash over the Ali G movie, and the Raygun documentary
Elizabeth Renzetti
Culture writer and journalist
Toronto Star
Episode: Gloria Steinem -- a trailblazing feminist, and how Canadians are rallying around Lake Ontario

Hosts

Amil Niazi
Host of Commotion, CBC Podcasts
Elamin Abdelmahmoud
Host of Commotion, CBC Podcasts

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • Bad

    You can clearly see it’s just a bunch of people agreeing with each other putting others down

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    DDBurn
    Canadaa month ago
  • Nothing against the host

    I just can’t get behind a taxpayer bailed out state media monopoly telling us about ‘culture’. The host is a cool dude and should separate from CBC and be free of the social subversion. I’m sure he can easily find success free of the state media monopoly.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Walperstyle
    Canadaa month ago
  • Great pod

    Really miss Elamin, he’s so thoughtful and smart. A variety of substitute hosts would be great!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    xtineAAA
    Canada2 months ago
  • Lindy episode ignores …

    It’s not the limits of feminist lit: this pattern of memoir promising conclusion and tidiness is the problem of CONFESSIONAL lit in general. It’s happened since DeQuincey 200 years ago. The writer promises articulate perfection, is put on a pedestal and falls off, a pattern as inevitable as the tides. Your discussion was a bit too narrow.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Analyticeye
    Canada6 months ago
  • My favourite podcast

    The conversations are thoughtful and challenges me to check out works of art that I wouldn’t have been aware of. Also, there are moments of pure joy in the episodes (eg I kept on listening to the interview between Elamin and Samantha Irby)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Christine Sonja
    Canada9 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the host's facilitation and deep-dive depth across topics.
Hosts are consistently insightful and bring diverse viewpoints.
Guests bring breadth from journalism, criticism, and the arts.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#105
Canada/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The plagiarism claims against Stella Lefty, and Earle Meets World
Q: Who is Stella Lefty and why is she a focal point of this conversation?
She is a young, Chicago-area artist whose breakout single Boston catapulted her into the national spotlight, generating debate about authenticity, lineage, and how much industry influence shapes a rising star.
TV has us falling in love by Canadian lakes
Q: Kathryn, what do you make of that? This idea, do you see an overall shift this year in American's willingness to just watch a show set in Canada?
She notes that Heated Rivalry has shifted perception by proving audiences are open to Canadian-set romances, signaling a broader willingness to watch content from Canada and see Canadian settings as legitimate backdrops for romance.
The inevitability of SubwayTakes, and the Chinese indie film that became a surprise box office hit
Q: What did Kareem Rahma say about booking guests on SubwayTakes, and how does that reflect on the show's identity?
Kareem Rahma suggests the audience wants interviews with regular people who have something to promote, yet the show still leans on celebrities or famous figures to drive episodes, creating a balance between authenticity and promotional content.
The inevitability of SubwayTakes, and the Chinese indie film that became a surprise box office hit
Q: What is the appeal of SubwayTakes to viewers, and why does it work as a format?
The hosts explain that the show taps into a primal appeal of debate and social interaction, presenting low-stakes, humorous exchanges that feel relatable and accessible rather than aggressively contentious.
A verdict in the Tupac Shakur murder trial, and Cleo Sol's new album
Q: Could you explain how Cleo Sol's music fits into the current cultural landscape and why it resonates so deeply with listeners?
Her music offers a private, healing space that feels intimate and timeless, drawing on classic 70s soul influences while maintaining a fresh, personal sensibility that invites listeners to bring their own experiences to the music, which helps it connect beyond traditional press cycles.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Commotion

What is Commotion about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Thoughtful, fast-paced pop culture discussions featuring a rotating slate of journalists, critics, artists, and scholars. Episodes center on current arts and entertainment stories—from influencer culture and music trends to film, TV, and museum tech—often layering cultural analysis with sharp questions about ethics, representation, and industry dynamics. A notable strength is the diverse, well-connected guest slate and a host who guides conversations with curiosity and wit, making complex cultural conversations accessible in about 30 minutes. The show frequently weaves Canadian perspectives into global culture moments, offering unique angles on familiar topics and timely debates about technology, media, and identity.

Where can I find podcast stats for Commotion?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Commotion. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Commotion and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Commotion get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Commotion, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Commotion?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Commotion, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Commotion have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Commotion has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Commotion?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Commotion:

1. Q with Tom Power
2. Front Burner
3. The Current
4. Ideas
5. Because News

How many episodes of Commotion are there?

Commotion launched 6 years ago and published 681 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Commotion?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Commotion?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Commotion from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Commotion?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Commotion. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Commotion?

Recent guests on Commotion include:

1. Sara Yasin
2. Joe Coscarelli
3. Emma Hunter
4. Alice Moran
5. Chris Siddiqui
6. Sarah Hagi
7. Atom Egoyan
8. Radheyan Simonpillai

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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