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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
Tiktok
CBC
Drake
The Pitt
Race
Slave Play
Margaret Atwood
Hamnet
Chatgpt
Feminism

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 Montreal Canadiens are the last Canadian team left in the NHL playoffs. But before you start calling them “Canada’s team,” let’s be clear, this is Quebec’s team. Elamin Abdelmahmoud talks with Montreal Gazette writer Brendan Kelly who wrote the b... more

The new musical 'It’s a Good Life If You Don’t Weaken' uses the Tragically Hip’s songbook to tell the story of an Iraqi immigrant adapting to his new home in Canada in the early 2000s in Kingston, Ontario. Globe and Mail critic Aisling Murphy and the... more

The Big Five answers the most pressing question of our time: what are the “Big 5” of any given category? Not the best 5. Not the top 5. Not anyone’s favourite 5. But objectively, the Big 5. In each episode, Donovan Woods, Tom Power, and a celebrity g... more

Half Man, from the creator of Baby Reindeer Richard Gadd, a new adaptation of Lord Of The Flies, and a surprise capsule episode of The Bear are talking about the dark side of masculinity in really interesting ways. Culture critics Hanna Flint, Jackso... more

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Recent Guests

Elamin Abdelmahmoud
Sudanese-Canadian writer, culture and politics commentator and broadcaster; hosts Commotion
CBC/Commotion
Episode: Weekend Listen: The Big Five with special guest Elamin
Ben Purkert
Poet and novelist
Episode: Wrap: Masculinity in Half Man, Lord of the Flies and The Bear
Hanna Flint
Film critic and co-host of Fade To Black
Episode: Wrap: Masculinity in Half Man, Lord of the Flies and The Bear
Savanna Hamilton
Sports journalist for CBC
CBC Sports
Episode: Let's go Toronto Tempo! and is M.I.A. a MAGA provocateur or misunderstood?
Reanna Cruz
Freelance music journalist
Los Angeles-based
Episode: Let's go Toronto Tempo! and is M.I.A. a MAGA provocateur or misunderstood?
Kate Brown
Journalist and art critic
Venice Biennale
Episode: The Onion wants to take over InfoWars, and how the Venice Biennale reflects arts and politics
CT Jones
Culture writer for Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Episode: Why is Hollywood afraid of putting rom-coms in theatres? And how local festivals get squeezed by FIFA
Yulin Kuang
Director
Emily Henry's Beach Read (upcoming)
Episode: Why is Hollywood afraid of putting rom-coms in theatres? And how local festivals get squeezed by FIFA
Dominic Lai
Senior Director at Dragon Boat BC
Dragon Boat BC
Episode: Why is Hollywood afraid of putting rom-coms in theatres? And how local festivals get squeezed by FIFA

Hosts

Elamin Abdelmahmoud
Host of Commotion, known for insightful commentary and facilitating vibrant conversations around pop culture.
Amil Niazi
Sitting in for Elamin Abdelmahmoud on several occasions, contributing to discussions on pop culture and current events.

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
    Canadaa month 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
    Canada5 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
    Canada5 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.

Many appreciate the blend of humor and serious discussion, making for both entertaining and educational listening experiences.
Reviewers highlight the diversity of guest perspectives and the quality of commentary from the host.
Listeners praise the podcast for its engaging and thought-provoking dialogues about pop culture.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#60
Canada/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#173
Russia/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
'Famesick' and Lena Dunham's polarizing pop legacy.
Q: What do you think the memoir reveals about the pressures of fame at a young age?
The book shows fame as a force that can both empower and destabilize, exposing the vulnerabilities and complexities of living in the public eye, while also offering a lens on how a creator grows and recalibrates their voice over time.
Euphoria is back! + Justin Bieber returns to Coachella
Q: What was the return like for Justin Bieber's Coachella performance?
The return was surprising yet expected; the minimalist staging emphasized his voice and nostalgia, resonating with fans who grew up with him while signaling a mature, restrained stage presence.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Professions
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Frequently Asked Questions About Commotion

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

This podcast offers engaging and insightful conversations focused on various aspects of contemporary pop culture, including film, music, television, and societal issues. Each episode typically features a mix of journalists, critics, and creators, who provide diverse perspectives on trending topics and cultural narratives, often with a humorous touch. Noteworthy episodes tackle significant controversies, artistic works, and the social dynamics behind popular entertainment, making it a space where listeners can not only laugh but also reflect on deeper cultural matters.

Unique in its approach, this podcast embraces both a Canadian perspective and a broad range of cultural influences, ensuring that discussions remain fresh and relevant. With ... more

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?

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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 577 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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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. Elamin Abdelmahmoud
2. Ben Purkert
3. Hanna Flint
4. Savanna Hamilton
5. Reanna Cruz
6. Kate Brown
7. CT Jones
8. Yulin Kuang

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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