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Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

CBC
Toronto International Film Festival
Canada
Mariah Carey
John Candy
Social Media
Bad Bunny
Heated Rivalry
Frankenstein
Toronto Blue Jays
Geese
CBC
Drake
The Pitt
Slave Play
Margaret Atwood
Hamnet
Chatgpt
Feminism
Kent Monkman
The Emancipation Of Mimi

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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Artwork for Commotion

Latest Episodes

Heated Rivalry wins big at the Canadian Screen Awards, taking home 16 awards. Elamin is joined by film critic Radheyan Simonpillai and filmmaker/culture critic Sonya Ballantyne to talk about the wins, losses and surprises from the 2026 Canadian Scree... more

The vibe shift around Artificial Intelligence is happening. The Pope released his manifesto warning that AI poses a threat to humanity. Meanwhile, our social feeds are filled with graduates booing mentions of AI at their commencement speeches. And mo... more

t’s happening all over again -- a hockey romance based on a Canadian book series is taking over television. Off Campus is the number one show on Amazon Prime and it’s based on Toronto author Elle Kennedy’s romantic comedy novels. Gillian McKercher an... more

Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed is a new AppleTV comedy-thriller starring Canadian actor Tatiana Maslany. Commotion guest host Amil Niazi is joined by film critic Radheyan Simonpillai and culture critic C.T. Jones to talk about the new series and why it'... more

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Recent Guests

Rania El Mugammar
Artist and organizer based in Toronto
Independent/Canadian
Episode: Talking about revenge in I Love Boosters and Is God Is, and how women are driving F1's popularity
Ben Rosenstock
TV critic in New York, writes for Vulture
Vulture
Episode: The Boys series finale: Did it stick the superhero landing?
Kaiya Shunyata
TV critic in Toronto, writes for rogerebert.com
RogerEbert.com
Episode: The Boys series finale: Did it stick the superhero landing?
Arabelle Raphael
writer, adult actress and content creator (Los Angeles)
Independent/Author
Episode: What TV is getting right — and wrong — about sex work
Justine Smith
Freelance writer based in Montreal
Freelance
Episode: Wrap: Cannes, and The Sheep Detectives
Radheyan Simonpillai
Freelance film critic based in Toronto (in Cannes for the episode)
Freelance
Episode: Wrap: Cannes, and The Sheep Detectives
Nico Stratus
Writer and author of The Dad Rock That Made Me A Woman
Indie writer; Anxiety Shark newsletter
Episode: Who brought the heat to Kevin Hart’s roast? and Hallmark's mahjong whitewashing controversy
Hershal Pandya
Comedy reporter covering film and television for Vulture
Vulture
Episode: Make no mistake, the Canadiens are Quebec's team, and 'Marty, Life is Short'
Brendan Kelly
Writer for the Montreal Gazette; author of Habs Nation
Montreal Gazette
Episode: Make no mistake, the Canadiens are Quebec's team, and 'Marty, Life is Short'

Host

Elamin Abdelmahmoud
Host of Commotion; CBC/Commotion

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • 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
    Canada2 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
    Canada5 months ago
  • A must listen!

    This is my go-to pop culture podcast and I never miss an episode. It's wide-ranging, thoughtful, thought provoking, smart, fun and often laugh out loud funny, deeply insightful... I could go on and on. This show has the best topics and often introduces listeners to interesting people and art that don't get attention elsewhere. It has a fantastic rotation of guest panelists who provide excellent commentary and debate (one of my favourites is Teri Hart, a deeply insightful film critic.) Elamin def... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Binaaaaaaaah
    Canada6 months ago
  • give us an hour!

    I love Elamin and the ways he facilitates smart and thoughtful conversations on pop culture. Please CBC, give Elamin and friends a full hour!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    smalltinytiny
    Canada6 months ago
  • Excellent show!

    The show is the best! Thoughtful, interesting, helps makes sense of our cultural moment. And Elamin is such a gifted host! Highly recommend!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WilliamFrancis
    Canada6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise thoughtful, witty conversations and strong guest lineups.
Some critique requests for broader international topics or tighter advertising disclosures.
Many note the Canadian perspective as a valuable angle in pop culture discussions.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The lore behind Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano's 17-second fight
Q: What's your reaction to a final result like this one? What do you think?
The hosts discuss the surprise of the outcome, the historical significance for women's MMA, and how the fight fits into each fighter's career trajectory, including public perception and future opportunities.
The Boys series finale: Did it stick the superhero landing?
Q: Do you think The Boys stuck that landing?
Ben felt the finale didn't totally stick the landing, citing a final act that felt too sentimental and a sense that much of what was built up over the season didn't fully pay off, while Kaiya had a more nuanced view on the ending's thematic ambitions.
This year’s Met Gala is so polarizing, and why Canadian film 'Blue Heron' is one of the best movies of 2026 so far
Q: What do you love about Blue Heron, and how does it fit into the year so far for Canadian cinema?
Rachel Ho describes the film as deeply personal, intimate, and courageously vulnerable, using memory and sibling dynamics to explore grief, while also recognizing Romvari's craft in shaping two timelines and emotional truth.
A tradwife influencer time travels to 1855 in Yesteryear, and Charli XCX says the dance floor is dead
Q: Charli XCX said the dance floor is over and that rock is going to be her new direction. What do you think is going on here?
The move can be read as both a genuine artistic exploration and a strategic shift, reflecting broader cycles in pop where artists reframe themselves by embracing heavier, more guitar-driven sounds while trying to broaden appeal beyond traditional dance-floor audiences.
'Famesick' and Lena Dunham's polarizing pop legacy.
Q: How does the book address accountability for controversial statements?
The discussion suggests that Dunham attempts to contextualize her past actions and acknowledges missteps, using humility and reflection to navigate criticism while preserving the work that defined a generation.

Audience Metrics

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

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Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Commotion

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

A sharp, culture-forward discussion show featuring a rotating panel of critics, journalists, and creators who untangle the day's biggest arts and entertainment stories. Episodes frequently cover film festivals, TV prestige vs. romance, the business side of media, and pop culture moments, all from a distinctly Canadian perspective. Guests span film critics, writers, theatre and sports commentators, and industry insiders, offering a mix of insider anecdotes, cultural critique, and thoughtful analysis. The format is fast-paced, accessible, and newsy, often layering personal storytelling with broader industry context. A standout is how conversations weave together politics, representation, and audience behavior across cinema, television, gaming... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Commotion?

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How many listeners does Commotion get?

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What are the audience demographics for Commotion?

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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. Bookends with Mattea Roach

How many episodes of Commotion are there?

Commotion launched 6 years ago and published 592 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.

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What guests have appeared on Commotion?

Recent guests on Commotion include:

1. Rania El Mugammar
2. Ben Rosenstock
3. Kaiya Shunyata
4. Arabelle Raphael
5. Justine Smith
6. Radheyan Simonpillai
7. Nico Stratus
8. Hershal Pandya

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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