Best Blockbuster Babies Podcasts (2024)

51
Bridgerton is back, and why no one seems to like the Amy Winehouse movie 28:19

1h ago28:19

28:19

Culture critics Leila Latif, Louise Bruton and Jael Richardson weigh in on the first half of Bridgerton season 3, and the Amy Winehouse biopic 'Back to Black.'

1
Can Oprah make amends for her role in popularizing diet culture, and the new X-men '97 adaptation 25:11

10h ago25:11

25:11

Oprah Winfrey is back and she wants to talk about losing weight. Again. She’s hosted a series of specials on the topic, stepping up to acknowledge the role she's played in creating a toxic diet culture. But she's also thinner, thanks to weight loss drugs she admits to taking. Elamin is joined by writers Scaachi Koul and Gianluca Russo to talk about…

1
Remembering Alice Munro 25:15

11h ago25:15

25:15

Alice Munro, Canadian master of the short story and Nobel winner, has died at 92 years of age. Her longtime publisher Douglas Gibson, and writers Heather O’Neill and Madeleine Thien join Elamin to talk about her life and legacy.

1
A Mad Max Saga – 6 lesser-known facts about George Miller’s post-apocalyptic action thriller 4:06

1d ago4:06

4:06

Legendary Australian filmmaker George Miller is back with his latest entry to the iconic Mad Max franchise – Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. The action-thriller stars Anya Taylor-Joy as the titular character, with Chris Hemsworth playing the villain Dementus. Just going by the trailer, one is assured that the film promises groundbreaking action sequences,…

1
What needs to change when the WNBA comes to Canada, and soap operas done TikTok style 25:11

4d ago25:11

25:11

With the news that Canada has won the bid to have its first WNBA team, Elamin is joined by sports journalist Shireen Ahmed (who broke the story) and sports fan and culture critic Andrea Williams to react to the news and the moment the WNBA has been having this year. Plus, Elamin is joined by Rolling Stone journalist EJ Dickson to talk about vertica…

1
The most political Eurovision in recent memory, and Randy Travis's AI song 24:53

9h ago24:53

24:53

Eurovision was the most political it’s ever been this year because of the war between Israel and Hamas. Elamin speaks with Commotion Eurovision correspondent Karen Fricker about what happened. Then, it was a devastating blow to country music when legendary singer Randy Travis lost his voice to a stroke in 2013. With the assistance of artificial int…

1
Baby Reindeer's real Martha speaks, and that Apple ad 27:50

5h ago27:50

27:50

The Commotion Friday Group chat convenes to talk about this week’s top stories in the world of arts and entertainment. This week, Elamin is joined by pop culture experts Leila Latif, Vikram Murthi, and Paul Myers to talk about the latest twist in the ‘Baby Reindeer’ saga; the new high-energy reboot of Doctor Who starring Ncuti Gatwa, and the angry …

1
TÁR with Phil Iscove 2:11:19

8h ago2:11:19

2:11:19

Jordan and Brooke are rejoined by Phil Iscove (Podcast Like It's 1992) for 2022's absolute masterclass in filmmaking (and, surprisingly, memes?). We dig into Lydia's gender presentation in a male-dominated industry (is she actually...a girlboss?), the thrills and humor Todd Field manages to layer here, pretend pretension and why basically everyone …

1
Misogynoir underscores the Drake and Kendrick beef, and John Mulaney Presents: Everybody's in L.A. 25:11

2d ago25:11

25:11

Elamin is joined by rap culture critics Clarkisha Kent and Charles Holmes to unpack the latest developments in the Kendrick Lamar and Drake rap feud, and the way gender and misogyny have intersected with this feud and across rap music history. Plus, Elamin speaks with Kathryn VanArendonk about John Mulaney's Netflix show, Everybody's in L.A., and h…

1
The Fall Guy: 6 lesser-known facts about the action film starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt 4:03

18m ago4:03

4:03

Barbie star Ryan Gosling and Oppenheimer star Emily Blunt unite for David Leictch’s action comedy film The Fall Guy. The plot follows a retired stuntman named Colt Seavers, who returns to work when the lead actor of a film goes missing. Colt decides to investigate the mystery of the disappearance, but soon becomes caught in the web of a dark conspi…

1
Is the music industry built for mothers? 23:05

9d ago23:05

23:05

When Lily Allen opened up about being a mom recently, her comments went viral. She said that in terms of pop stardom, having kids ruined her career. Guest host Amil Niazi is joined by musician Amy Millan and psychotherapist Tamsin Embleton to talk about the realities of juggling a career as an artist and being a mom.…

1
The 2024 Met Gala highlights and Luxe Listings Toronto 25:12

10d ago25:12

25:12

The annual Met Gala isn’t just about who’s wearing what, it’s when fashion truly becomes art. This year’s theme is “the garden of time.” The morning after, Elamin talks with Danya Issawi and Gianlucca Russo about who won the red carpet. Plus, reality shows about luxury real estate have been streaming powerhouses for years, and Toronto’s finally ent…

1
The Fall Guy and the future of the blockbuster 25:01

10d ago25:01

25:01

Elamin is joined by film critics Barry Hertz and Teri Hart to talk about the new Ryan Gosling/Emily Blunt film ‘The Fall Guy.’ Plus, artist and poet Ian Kamau discusses the legacy of his late father Roger McTair, one of Canada’s first Black filmmakers.

1
Anne Hathaway's Idea of You, and Dua Lipa's star moment 28:27

3d ago28:27

28:27

This week on the group chat, how much does Dua Lipa reveal about herself on her new album, Radical Optimism? And in the movie The Idea of You, one of the characters is rumoured to be based on Harry Styles. But will this film satisfy audiences hungry for romance? Elamin Abdelmahmoud sits down with Suzy Exposito, Kathleen Newman-Bremang and Jennifer …

1
Did Kendrick win the beef? And Seinfeld says the 'extreme left' killed comedy 25:29

4d ago25:29

25:29

Commotion regulars Dalton Higgins and David Dennis Jr. join Elamin with reaction to Kendrick Lamar’s latest diss response to Drake - ‘Euphoria’ - and the criticisms the track lobs at Drake and his credibility. Plus, Jerry Seinfeld turned 70 this week, and he's blaming wokeness for the death of comedy and bemoaning the end of the movie business, jus…

1
MAILBAG: The Tortured Poets Department and this moment in Taylor Swift 54:48

5d ago54:48

54:48

For Commotion's inaugural mailbag episode, host Elamin Abdelmahmoud sits down with fellow Swifties Emma Godmere and Amelia Eqbal to answer questions from listeners about everything we've learned after listening to The Tortured Poets Department on repeat for a week, and what the album says about this moment in time for the current biggest artist in …

1
What happens to TikTok now? And the new Bon Jovi docu-series 25:11

16d ago25:11

25:11

Elamin is joined by music critics Niko Stratis and Maura Johnston to talk about the new docu-series "Thank you, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story," and whether it does justice to the band's legacy. Plus, Elamin speaks with culture writer Ana Diaz of Polygon about the so-called Tik Tok “ban” and what it means for the future of the hugely popular app.…

1
Why Burton Cummings is trying to stop his old band from playing his songs 24:20

14d ago24:20

24:20

Elamin sits down with Burton Cummings, the former frontman of The Guess Who, to talk about the legal action he's taking against his old band. It's aimed at preventing the current version of The Guess Who from performing the classic songs that Burton wrote while they're out on the road. Burton Cummings explains why he's taking these unprecended meas…

1
Why people can't stop thinking about Baby Reindeer, and the plight of Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi 25:11

9d ago25:11

25:11

Stand-up comedians Ashley Ray and James Mullinger talk about the hit Netflix show Baby Reindeer, which is based on star Richard Gadd's real experiences of being stalked early in his career. Plus, Samira Mohyeddin shares the powerful story of Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi, who was recently sentenced to death by the Iranian regime.…

1
Tombstone with Phil Tice 2:32:10

10d ago2:32:10

2:32:10

Jordan and Brooke are joined by author & writer Phil Tice for 1993's sincere take on the Western epics. Phil goes deep and analyzes Doc and Wyatt's incredibly intimate conversations, Brooke laments the terribly underwritten women of this film, and Jordan marvels at the fact that two podcasters could get this excited about gunslinging. Follow us on …

1
Weinstein's court win, and Zendaya's moment in Challengers 28:06

11d ago28:06

28:06

Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Jackson Weaver, and Hanna Flint respond to news that Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction was overturned by a New York appeals court and what that says about the #MeToo movement today. They also discuss the moment Zendaya is having with her brand new film Challengers.

1
Commotion Introduces: Split Screen: Kid Nation 36:42

13d ago36:42

36:42

The controversial reality TV show known as ‘Kid Nation’, which borrowed its premise from Lord of the Flies, was cancelled shortly after its 2007 debut. Producers took 40 kids into a makeshift desert town to fend for themselves and create their own society. Was the series an opportunity to discover what kids are capable of? Or simply a ploy for rati…

1
Shōgun: 6 lesser-known facts about the critically-acclaimed TV show 3:55

11d ago3:55

3:55

The Shōgun series finale premiered this week. The FX original series garnered universal acclaim for its compelling story, gripping performances, and captivating exploration of Feudal Japan. Fans of the series have called it Game of Thrones meets Ghost of Tsushima and some even feel that it could go on to be the best TV show of 2024! All 10 episodes…

1
The lasting influence of soul artist Jackie Shane 24:54

12d ago24:54

24:54

A new documentary tells the extraordinary story of Jackie Shane, a trailblazing transgender singer from the south, who had a flash of fame in Toronto in the early 1960s. But just as she was about to become a star, she vanished. Rodney Diverlus and Ravyn Ariah Wngz talk about Jackie Shane's legacy, and why she still matters so much today.…

1
Baby Reindeer: Lesser-known facts about Richard Gadd’s hit Netflix series 3:36

23d ago3:36

3:36

The hit Netflix series Baby Reindeer is an intimate exploration of Scottish comedian, writer, and actor Richard Gadd's real-life experience with a stalker. The revealing show delves into the complexities of obsession, power dynamics, and personal boundaries as Gadd turns to the most unsettling period of his life. The series has garnered praise for …

1
Unpacking the Shōgun finale, and can we Scrabble Together? 25:12

20d ago25:12

25:12

As the epic series "Shōgun" airs its final episode on Disney+ this week, TV critics Inkoo Kang and Kaiya Shunyata talk about what sets this adaptation of James Clavell’s novel apart from others before it, and how its emphasis on Japanese dialogue over English enriches our understanding of the story. Plus, Elamin is joined by Slate’s Dan Kois to dis…

1
Monkey Man: 6 lesser-known facts about Dev Patel’s action thriller 3:38

13d ago3:38

3:38

British-Indian actor Dev Patel makes his directorial debut in the action thriller Monkey Man. Patel, who is best known for films such as Hotel Mumbai, The Green Knight, Lion, and the multiple-Oscar winner Slumdog Millionaire, plays the lead in this film, which is being described by some as “John Wick in Mumbai”. The film garnered praise from critic…

1
Do true crime stories help or exploit? And unpacking Drake's new diss track 25:12

25d ago25:12

25:12

It's been ten years since the first episode of the hit podcast Serial came out, and we've been riding this wave of true crime entertainment ever since. Sarah Weinman and Karen K. Ho join Elamin to talk about how the genre has grown over the last decade, and where it still falls short. Plus, David Dennis Jr. reacts to Drake’s latest Kendrick diss tr…

1
How theatres are being tricked by AI, and the dark comedy The Sympathizer comes to TV 24:59

26d ago24:59

24:59

Guest host Ali Hassan speaks with theatre critic Aisling Murphy to talk about her recent article in The Toronto Star where she outlines how some theatre companies have been duped by AI-generated reviews, and what that says about the role of criticism today. Plus, Viet Thanh Nguyen wrote his novel The Sympathizer as a response to movies about the Vi…

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Blockbuster Babies Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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