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Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

CBC
Toronto International Film Festival
Canada
Social Media
Mariah Carey
John Candy
Bad Bunny
Heated Rivalry
Frankenstein
Toronto Blue Jays
Geese
Hulk Hogan
Donald Trump
Toronto
Tiktok
The Pitt
Race
Slave Play
CBC
Margaret Atwood
Hamnet

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 be... more

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Artwork for Commotion

Latest Episodes

The memes being lobbed by the U.S. and Iran have been fueled not only by the intensity of their conflict, but also pop culture and AI. James Poniewozik, chief television critic for The New York Times, and Iranian Canadian journalist Samira Mohyeddin ... more

The marketing company Chaotic Good Projects has become a lightning rod of controversy in the music industry in recent weeks, after a viral essay from indie musician Eliza McLamb shed light on their claims that they can manipulate social media algorit... more

Chandler Levack’s second film, Mile End Kicks, is a nostalgic coming-of-age tale set in Montreal’s indie rock scene in 2011. Barbie Ferreira stars as Grace Pine, a Toronto music critic who impulsively moves to Montreal to write a book about Alanis Mo... more

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[SPOILER ALERT]

In the finale of Canada Reads 2026, the win went to the historical novel 'The Cure for Drowning' by Loghan Paylor and championed by Tegan Quin. Set during the Second World War, the novel follows a nonbinary protagonist named Kit as t... more

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Recent Guests

Matthew Ismael Ruiz
Freelance music journalist
-
Episode: Do people really like Geese or is it just marketing? And, Bollywood loses a giant, Asha Bhosle
Steven Hyden
Music critic
IndyCast / Evil Speakers
Episode: Do people really like Geese or is it just marketing? And, Bollywood loses a giant, Asha Bhosle
T'Cha Dunlevy
Culture critic at the Montreal Gazette
Montreal Gazette
Episode: How 'Mile End Kicks' got 2010s Montreal right!
Lux Alptraum
Author of Faking It, the lies women tell about sex and the truth they reveal
Author/Commentator
Episode: How 'Mile End Kicks' got 2010s Montreal right!
Lian McMillan
Drummer of the band Cut Sleeve and co-host of Uncultured 20s Podcast
Musician/Podcaster
Episode: How 'Mile End Kicks' got 2010s Montreal right!
Scaachi Koul
Culture writer, Slate
Slate
Episode: 'Famesick' and Lena Dunham's polarizing pop legacy.
Fran Hoepfner
Senior news writer
Vulture
Episode: 'Famesick' and Lena Dunham's polarizing pop legacy.
Tegan Quin
Member of the pop duo Tegan and Sara
Canada Reads contestant
Episode: And the winner of Canada Reads 2026 is...
Loghan Paylor
Author of The Cure for Drowning
Winner of Canada Reads 2026
Episode: And the winner of Canada Reads 2026 is...

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
  • 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
    Canada4 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
    Canada5 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
    Canada5 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.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

'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.
The Summer House scandal, and a bittersweet K-Pop shakeup
Q: Tell me how you found out that Mark was leaving NCT.
Lucy explains she learned through a fan whisper network and social media chatter, including messages in group chats and the spread of rumors as the announcements approached, highlighting how fans monitor contracts and lineup changes.
Do we care that 'Love Story' blurs fact with fiction? And, the country musical 'Shucked'
Q: Michel, why do you think Love Story has sparked such mixed reviews, and what do you find compelling about its approach?
The discussion suggests admiration for the performances and the way the show uses nostalgia while acknowledging its artificiality, with some tension around how closely it mirrors or deviates from real events.

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?

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?

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 Sunday Magazine
4. The Current
5. Ideas

How many episodes of Commotion are there?

Commotion launched 6 years ago and published 561 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. Matthew Ismael Ruiz
2. Steven Hyden
3. T'Cha Dunlevy
4. Lux Alptraum
5. Lian McMillan
6. Scaachi Koul
7. Fran Hoepfner
8. Tegan Quin

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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