Stay ConnectedBig 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 behind-the-scenes exclusives.
Copyright: Copyright © CBC 2024
Teri Hart and David Rider join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about 'Trainwreck: Mayor of Mayhem,' a new Netflix documentary about Toronto Mayor Rob Ford and the media circus that erupted when a video of him smoking crack cocaine was leaked to reporters in 2013.
Plus, Thomas Leblanc reviews Crave's brilliant new dramedy 'Empathie,' set in a Montreal psychiatric institution for criminals.
Elamin Abdelmahmoud chats with Liz Duff and Rebecca Jennings about the new Disney+ docuseries ‘Call Her Alex,’ which explores how Alex Cooper turned her DIY-style sex podcast ‘Call Her Daddy' into one of the biggest celebrity interview shows in the world.
With Kendrick Lamar and SZA touching down in Toronto last week for their Grand National Tour, Elamin is joined by Matt Amha and Rad Simonpillai to discuss the Toronto shows and what the local debates around whether Toronto fans should attend or not at a time when Canadian identity politics are top of mind for many.
Music critics Vish Khanna, Carl Wilson, and Rosie Long Decter join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to weigh in on the new album from Canadian rock legend Neil Young, the polarizing popularity of pop phenom Benson Boone, and the controversy over Sabrina Carpenter’s provocative new album cover.
Elamin Abdelmahmoud is joined by CBC entertainment reporter Jackson Weaver, and film critics Sarah-Tai Black and Rachel Ho to review the new live action remake of ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ - plus two new Canadian films in theaters this week: ‘Materialists’ from director Celine Song, and the feature film debut from Reza Dahya with ‘Boxcutter’.
Sloan's Jay Ferguson joins Elamin Abdelmahmoud to remember the architect of the Beach Boys, the poet laureate of summer, Brian Wilson, who died at the age of 82.
Plus, 'Endless Cookie' is finally coming to theatres after charming audiences at festivals all over North America. Elamin chats with Sonya Ballantyne and David A. Robertson about the animated Canadian documentary, which is about the relationship between two half-brothers, one Indigenous, the other white.
As the Edmonton Oilers square off against the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Finals for the second year in a row, CBC Edmonton’s Min Dhariwal and professor Judith Ellen Brunton discuss how the intensity of Oilers fandom in Edmonton transcends mere hometown boosterism to resemble something more like a religion. Plus, Michael Williams joins Elamin to talk about Sly Stone’s enormous legacy. The music legend, and hitmaker died this week at 82. Michael also remembers Juliette Powell, former MuchMusic VJ and host of Electric Circus who died this week.
The plot of Mountainhead – Succession creator Jesse Armstrong’s new satire of the world’s most powerful billionaires – offers insight into the feud between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Culture writers Vinson Cunningham and Mike Isaac talk about how it illuminates the the drama between the world’s most powerful man and the richest person on the planet.
Malcolm X would’ve turned 100 years old this year. To commemorate his life, Elamin Abdelmahmoud is joined by Professor Mark Anthony Neal, Sandy Hudson and Matt Amha for a brief look at the commercialization of Malcolm X’s legacy over the decades and how it has or hasn’t aligned with his actual mission and message.
Culture writer Joan Summers, music journalist Maura Johnston, and rapper and author Rollie Pemberton join Elamin Abdelmahmoud for the Friday Group Chat to share their thoughts on new releases from Addison Rae, Turnstile, and Lorde.
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
