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Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

CBC
Taylor Swift
Civil War
True Crime
Ruth Patir
Small Press Distribution (SPD)
Publishing Industry
Tony Hinchcliffe
Vera Drew
Stand-Up Comedy
Comedy Industry
Toronto International Film Festival
Superhero Cinema
The People's Joker
Kill Tony
Venice Biennale
Gaza Conflict
The Tortured Poets Department, the Anthology
The Tortured Poets Department
Shōgun
Wrestlemania 40

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

The infamous late-2000s MTV reality show ‘Jersey Shore’ gets a Canuck spin but does the hot-mess spectacle translate north of the border? Culture writers Amil Niazi, Mel Woods, and Hanna Flint join the Group Chat to share their impressions 'Canada Sh... more

The great Canadian book debate is back! The star-studded cast of Canada Reads 2026 is revealed on Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud, along with the five books they think all of Canada should read. The Canada Reads debates take place April 13 to 16.

If Instagram feels like a time-machine right now, you’re not alone. A lot of people are waxing nostalgic for the lives we were living a decade ago. So why are we obsessed with 2016? Culture critics Vinson Cunningham and Madison Malone Kircher talk ab... more

With Penske Media Company’s acquisition of several key publications and award shows, Commotion guest host Radheyan Simonpillai is joined by entertainment media critics Jarrod Jenkins and Teri Hart to discuss the rise of PMC and the impact its acquisi... more

Key Facts

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Podcast Host
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Recent Guests

Alissa Wilkinson
Movie critic with the New York Times
New York Times
Episode: The rise of Penske Media Corporation, and The Testament of Ann Lee
Nicholas Quah
Culture critic at Vulture
Vulture
Episode: The Pitt is back, and A$AP Rocky too
Jeremy Barr
Reporter with The Guardian
The Guardian
Episode: How betting has infiltrated entertainment, and the tumultuous revamping of CBS
Alyssa Mercante
Senior reporter at Digiday
Digiday
Episode: How betting has infiltrated entertainment, and the tumultuous revamping of CBS
Matthew Frank
Associate editor at The Ankler
The Ankler
Episode: How betting has infiltrated entertainment, and the tumultuous revamping of CBS
Dan Kanter
Musical director and multi-instrumentalist, known for working with Justin Bieber and as a friend of Bob Weir
Episode: The Giller jury will be booksellers this year, and remembering Grateful Dead's Bob Weir
Hannah J Davies
Freelance cultural writer and editor based in London, UK
Episode: All the tea on this year's Golden Globes, and S4 of Industry
Liisa Ladouceur
Toronto-based freelance writer
Episode: Are TV writers dumbing down the dialogue we hear on TV? And the CFNY radio doc
Sophie Gilbert
Culture critic at The Atlantic and Pulitzer Prize finalist
The Atlantic
Episode: How riot grrls were replaced with girl power you could buy [2025 HIGHLIGHTS]

Host

Elamin Abdelmahmoud
Elamin Abdelmahmoud is a skilled host known for his engaging interview style and ability to facilitate vibrant discussions. His background in journalism equips him with a keen understanding of pop culture and current affairs, making him an effective communicator who connects with both guests and listeners.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • 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
    Canadaa month 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
    Canada2 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
    Canada2 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
    Canada2 months ago
  • Happy to listen daily

    In a landscape filled with negativity and disturbing news, Commotion stands out for being fun, entertaining and culturally educational. It helps me stay connected to mainstream culture and I even have a few laughs while listening.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Resistthem
    Canada2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Critics highlight the podcast's ability to foster meaningful conversations, enhancing listeners' understanding of entertainment's role in society.
Listeners appreciate the engaging style of the host, who brings enthusiasm and warmth to each episode.
While some listeners wished for a more Canadian focus in discussions, the majority find value in the blend of international narratives and local perspectives.
The podcast receives positive feedback for its insightful takes on contemporary cultural topics, with many praising its depth and diversity of thought.

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 Giller jury will be booksellers this year, and remembering Grateful Dead's Bob Weir
Q: What does Bob's role was as a sort of unique place in The Grateful Dead?
Bob was a unique guitar player, functioning as a rhythm guitar player but with a distinct style, being both a support to Jerry Garcia's lead and a standalone performer.
The Giller jury will be booksellers this year, and remembering Grateful Dead's Bob Weir
Q: What was your initial reaction to the news?
I was completely shocked. I was flummoxed. This is a huge change to how the Giller juries have been announced.
How riot grrls were replaced with girl power you could buy [2025 HIGHLIGHTS]
Q: What do you make of this idea of like maybe the privatization of where power actually resides?
This reflects a shift from a collective understanding of women's power to a more individualistic perspective, emphasizing personal empowerment over collective struggle.
The Geese divide + best new Xmas albums!
Q: What keeps you engaged with Geese's music?
The absurd yet meaningful lyricism and emotional depth keep listeners compelled and curious.
The Geese divide + best new Xmas albums!
Q: How does Cameron Winter's solo record change the band's trajectory?
Cameron Winter's solo record positions him and the band's sound in a new light, emphasizing his vocal style and lyricism.

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?

Conversations about pop culture serve as the cornerstone of this engaging series, which embraces a variety of topics ranging from the latest music trends to cultural critiques and reflections on significant media works. The dialogues often feature a blend of guests, including journalists, critics, and notable figures from the arts and entertainment world, allowing for deep dives into contemporary issues impacting society. Noteworthy discussions explore themes of identity, representation, and the emotional resonance of popular narratives, making it a valuable source for listeners interested in accessing diverse perspectives and ideas in under 30 minutes.

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 three 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. The Sunday Magazine
5. Ideas

How many episodes of Commotion are there?

Commotion launched 5 years ago and published 497 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. Alissa Wilkinson
2. Nicholas Quah
3. Jeremy Barr
4. Alyssa Mercante
5. Matthew Frank
6. Dan Kanter
7. Hannah J Davies
8. Liisa Ladouceur

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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