Rephonic
Artwork for Commotion

Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

CBC
Canada
Heated Rivalry
Mariah Carey
Social Media
Bad Bunny
Toronto
Toronto Blue Jays
Geese
Drake
Slave Play
Artificial Intelligence
Kent Monkman
The Emancipation Of Mimi
John Candy
Norval Morrisseau
Race
Slavery
Racial Trauma
Thomas King
R&B

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes622Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Commotion

Latest Episodes

The wait for the movie adaptation of the bestselling YA novel, Children of Blood and Bone, is nearly over. But the author and co-screenwriter, Tomi Adeyemi, says she will not be watching when it comes out in January 2027. Authors Jael Richardson and ... more

Film critics Corey Atad, Sarah-Tai Black, and Justine Smith join the Group Chat to talk about the new Canadian indie horror film Son of Sara: Vol. 1, and why the horror genre seems to be thriving in Canada right now. They’ll also weigh in on the nomi... more

YouTube

Little House on the Prairie has been adapted countless times, and Netflix is adding their modern retelling into the Laura Ingalls Wilder canon. TV critics Johnnie Jae and Kathryn VanArendonk join guest host Radheyan Simonpillai to talk about what Lit... more

Have you ever been to a friend’s house for dinner and suddenly realized they were fighting with their partner right before you walked through the door? That’s where Olivia Wilde’s latest movie, The Invite, begins and the tension never lets up - but d... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Matt Hart
Member of the band The Russian Futurists
The Russian Futurists
Episode: What the Jackass movies teach us about male friendship, and Glenn Lewis' new album
Theodore Ushev
Filmmaker, National Film Board of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
Episode: Why Supergirl crash landed at the box office, and an NFB film collection in France
Syrus Marcus Ware
Visual artist, activist and university professor
McMaster University
Episode: How Siphe November changed ballet in Canada, and a floating convenience store goes viral
Martha Schabas
Ballet critic and contributor to The Globe and Mail
Global News/Globe and Mail
Episode: How Siphe November changed ballet in Canada, and a floating convenience store goes viral
Charlene K. Lau
Art historian and public art curator
Evergreen Brick Works, Toronto
Episode: How Siphe November changed ballet in Canada, and a floating convenience store goes viral
Josh O'Kane
Reporter at The Globe and Mail covering the Factor case
The Globe and Mail
Episode: Canada is locked in on the World Cup, and a strange music heist
Riley Yesno
Anishinaabe scholar from the Mabama Tongue First Nation
CBC
Episode: Weekly Wrap: new Zoon album, Polaris Music Prize, Oliver Tree's death
Marek Tyler
Nehiyah and Scottish musician hailing from Treaty 6 territory
Episode: Weekly Wrap: new Zoon album, Polaris Music Prize, Oliver Tree's death
Kaitlyn Swan
Cree radio producer with CBC and Polaris Music Prize juror
CBC
Episode: Weekly Wrap: new Zoon album, Polaris Music Prize, Oliver Tree's death

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
    Canada3 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
    Canada7 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
    Canada7 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
    Canada7 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
    Canada8 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.

Apple Podcasts
#94
Canada/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What a new Indigenous dating show gets right, and the Banana Man saga
Q: How do you feel about the decision to set the first season in Winnipeg and the move to Toronto in season two?
Sonya explains that Winnipeg offers a strong Indigenous presence and grounded community dynamics, while Toronto presents a broader, faster-paced environment with diverse Indigenous backgrounds that could change the show's texture.
What a new Indigenous dating show gets right, and the Banana Man saga
Q: So Riley, what was your reaction to hearing there would be a dating show for Indigenous folks?
Riley describes a mix of curiosity and optimism, highlighting an earnest, non-toxic approach and a desire for authentic connection over sensational drama.
How the Knicks' win is landing in this political moment, and Widow's Bay
Q: Where do you think Jalen Brunson sits among the great Knicks players' conversation?
Brunson is arguably the greatest Knick of the speaker's lifetime, surpassing even beloved past stars for this particular era due to his leadership, consistency, and willingness to sacrifice with a pay cut to help structure the team.
Canada is locked in on the World Cup, and a strange music heist
Q: What stood out about the Carney speech in the locker room?
The hosts appreciate that Carney acknowledged the players' emotions, highlighted team unity and character, and connected the moment to national identity, while also noting his authentic, sports-savvy delivery.
Canada is locked in on the World Cup, and a strange music heist
Q: Tell me about the vibe in the stadium and the street after the Canada victory.
The guests describe a progression from nervous excitement to unbridled celebration, with the stadium energy spilling into the streets and transforming Vancouver into a full-day party, while also noting the city's ongoing adaptation to hosting a global event.

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?

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?

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. Because News
5. The Sunday Magazine

How many episodes of Commotion are there?

Commotion launched 6 years ago and published 622 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. Matt Hart
2. Theodore Ushev
3. Syrus Marcus Ware
4. Martha Schabas
5. Charlene K. Lau
6. Josh O'Kane
7. Riley Yesno
8. Marek Tyler

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days