Best Commotion Podcasts (2024)

1
Like many of her characters, Alice Munro betrayed her own daughter 25:09

1d ago25:09

25:09

Andrea Robin Skinner, Alice Munro's youngest daughter, bravely revealed she'd been abused by her stepfather as a child and her late famous mother chose to forgive him. Michelle Dean, Michelle Cyca and Zoe Whittall join Elamin to talk about how Andrea's devastating story changes how they read the Nobel laureate's intimate stories about the inner …

1
How Despicable Me became a juggernaut franchise, and Emma Stone's freak era continues in Kinds of Kindness 24:10

2d ago24:10

24:10

Culture critics Rad Simonpillai, Teri Hart and Sam Adams talk about how Despicable Me 4 became the biggest animated franchise in film history and weigh in on director Yorgos Lanthimos and actor Emma Stone's latest film Kinds of Kindness.

1
Why some artists are turning to OnlyFans 25:11

4d ago25:11

25:11

OnlyFans has become a popular marketplace for sex work, and recently artists have joined the platform to sell their own explicit content. Andrea Werhun and Reanna Cruz join Elamin to talk about what this trend tells us about how viable it is to be an artist today, and what it means for sex workers. Plus, the son of the richest man in Asia is get…

1
The year in music so far, and what is the song of the summer? 28:58

7d ago28:58

28:58

Music experts Suzy Exposito, Rosie Long Decter, and Carl Wilson join the Commotion Group Chat to deliver their Mid-Year Music Report, highlighting which artists have held our attention in a highly competitive year for blockbuster pop releases, and which single deserves to be crowned 2024’s Song of the Summer.…

1
Is Will Smith's comeback complete? 25:11

8d ago25:11

25:11

Since the Oscars slap, Will Smith's been on a redemption tour. This summer he stars in a new Bad Boys movie and performed a new song at the BET Awards. Entertainment writer Jackson Weaver and radio personality Marlon Palmer talk to Elamin about how the movie star's comeback is going. Plus, culture critic Laura Kipnis discusses the upcoming AI re…

1
Why Fancy Dance is a turning point for Indigenous cinema 25:09

8d ago25:09

25:09

The new film Fancy Dance, starring Lily Gladstone and directed by Erica Tremblay, is set on a reservation in Oklahoma – not far from where Killers of the Flower Moon was set. Angela Sterritt and Marek Tyler talk about how the two films are in conversation with each other – and why they agree, it’s Lily Gladstone’s most important role to date.

1
Kanye gutted a house by a famous architect, and The Last Timbit musical 23:00

10d ago23:00

23:00

Architect and journalist Naomi Pollock discusses the ethics of subjecting rare, artistically unique homes to radical renovations – as Kanye West recently did to a Malibu beach house designed by legendary Japanese architect Tadao Ando. Plus, Elamin chats with CBC Entertainment writer Jackson Weaver about “The Last Timbit” and whether a show about…

1
Carley Fortune brings out Canada's romantic side 25:27

10d ago25:27

25:27

When Carley Fortune released her latest novel 'This Summer Will be Different,' it shot to the top of The New York Times Best Seller list. It's a romance novel, set on Prince Edward Island. Elamin is joined by culture writer Kathleen Newman-Bremang, author Farah Heron, and Book Influencer Alicia Foshay to talk about why romance novels are having …

1
The Bear is back, what does it tell us about friendship? 27:38

13d ago27:38

27:38

Rad Simonpillai, Jackson Weaver and Hanna Flint join Elamin to talk about the week's big arts and pop culture stories, starting with The Bear's highly anticipated return for a third season, and how the new movie The Bikeriders explores the rise of the Outlaws motorcycle gang.

1
How Slave Play changed the conversation around theatre, and Céline Dion's new doc 25:12

14d ago25:12

25:12

With the release of the doc ‘Slave Play. Not a Film. A Play’ - Elamin is joined by culture critic Kathleen Newman-Bremang and award-winning playwright Amanda Parris to discuss the controversial stage production that inspired it, and its creator Jeremoy O Harris’ provocative approach to mining U.S. slavery, interracial relationships and anti-Blac…

1
How Joni Mitchell shaped how we talk about music 27:30

15d ago27:30

27:30

Music critic Ann Powers journeys through the life of Joni Mitchell in her unauthorized biography 'Traveling'.

1
A new podcast about the internet's most viral moments, and why aren't people wearing headphones? 25:00

16d ago25:00

25:00

Writers Niko Stratis and Clare Martin discuss Jamie Loftus’ new podcast on viral internet phenomena, Sixteenth Minute (of Fame), and what it says about how we behave online. Plus, have you noticed people seem to be giving up on headphones? Blaring music on portable speakers, watching the game or scrolling through reels on their phone -- for ever…

1
Living in Charli XCX's Brat world, and how the alt-right is co-opting dance music 25:11

17d ago25:11

25:11

Culture critics Reanna Cruz and Scaachi Koul unpack why popstars are following in Charli XCX's Brat footsteps. Plus, with reports of some alt-right communities co-opting popular dance songs to push their agendas via social media and streaming platforms - digital culture writer Kieran Press-Reynolds joins Elamin to discuss this trend and what it …

1
Bonus: How to celebrate National Indigenous People’s Day all summer long 52:00

19d ago52:00

52:00

Today we have a special bonus episode for you from our sibling show Unreserved, a fearless space for Indigenous voices. Host Rosanna Deerchild is ready to Indigenize your summer with a tastemaker’s guide to the best books, movies, podcasts and more. More episodes of Unreserved are available at:

1
Remembering Donald Sutherland, highlights at the Indspire Awards and the new cheerleading movie Backspot 25:24

21d ago25:24

25:24

Donald Sutherland, Canadian actor and icon, has died at the age of 88. Entertainment reporter Teri Hart joins guest host Amil Niazi for a look back on his legacy. Plus, culture critics Angela Sterritt, Falen Johnson and Marek Tyler review the new cheerleading film Backspot starring Mohawk actor Devery Jacobs and celebrate the latest recipients o…

1
What Hollywood gets wrong about age-gap relationships, and the new Black Barbie documentary 25:11

22d ago25:11

25:11

Age gaps involving older women and younger men are having a moment in Hollywood. Guest host Amil Niazi is joined by Kathleen Newman-Bremang and Sadaf Ahsan to talk about the trend. Plus, culture critic Syrus Marcus Ware discusses Netflix’s new Black Barbie documentary.

1
How Tubi became a streaming giant, and A24's film Tuesday 25:11

22d ago25:11

25:11

The free, ad-supported streaming platform Tubi is currently posting higher viewership numbers than more prestigious subscription services like Paramount+ and Disney+. Culture writers Kaiya Shunyata and Anne T. Donahue join guest host Amil Niazi to explain what’s behind the platform's surprising success – and it’s not just about because it’s free…

1
Celebrating Céline Dion ahead of her upcoming documentary 26:14

23d ago26:14

26:14

With next week’s release of ‘I Am: Celine Dion,' guest host Amil Niazi is joined by Thomas Leblanc, Véronique LeVasseur and Carl Wilson for a brief look back on the singer’s pop career and reaction to her public struggle with Stiff Person’s Syndrome - a condition that has raised questions around Céline Dion's ability to perform again.

1
Getting ready for summer theatre season, and Wu-Tang Clan's rare album finally sees the light 25:01

24d ago25:01

25:01

Theatre critic Aisling Murphy talks about the success of the Stratford Festival, its latest summer season and highlights upcoming shows across Canada. Plus, Jay Connor tells the story of Wu-Tang Clan's controversial album 'Once Upon a Time in Shaolin', the most expensive piece of music that, until recently, few people in the world had ever liste…

1
Does Inside Out 2 make puberty fun? And the new action/comedy Hit Man 25:23

28d ago25:23

25:23

Film critic Rachel Ho, entertainment reporter Teri Hart, and media personality Matt Hart join the Commotion Group Chat to discuss Pixar’s long-awaited sequel to the animated pop-psych masterpiece 'Inside Out', Glen Powell’s star turn in Richard Linklater’s action-comedy 'Hit Man', and Seth Meyers's late-night talk-show band getting laid off.…

1
Presumed Innocent and why everything seems to be getting a reboot 22:54

28d ago22:54

22:54

Film and TV critic Leila Latif joins guest host Amil Niazi to talk about the remake of “Presumed Innocent,” a legal thriller that starred Harrison Ford back in the 90s and now stars Jake Gyllenhaal, and why everything seems to be getting a reboot these days. Plus, Laura Sirikul reviews the latest entry in the Star Wars canon: The Acolyte, starri…

1
Does the true crime genre do justice to the story of Reena Virk's murder? 31:41

29d ago31:41

31:41

Guest host Amil Niazi is joined by film/tv critic Rad Simonpillai, culture critic Aparita Bhandari and writer/journalist Angela Sterritt to discuss the new Disney+ series 'Under The Bridge', about the horrific real life murder of 14 year-old Reena Virk in 1997, and whether the true crime format did justice to one of Canada's most harrowing teen …

1
How a lawsuit could change the future of reggaeton, and the new doc How Music Got Free 25:21

1M ago25:21

25:21

Commotion regulars Niko Stratis and Rollie Pemberton join guest host Amil Niazi to talk about the new documentary, “How Music Got Free.” It explores the massive disruption of digital pirating and how it almost ruined the record business, but also kickstarted a digital music revolution. Plus, Ewan Simpson (intellectual property lawyer and chairma…

1
Why are women still underplayed on Canadian radio? And Netflix's Dancing For the Devil 25:18

1M ago25:18

25:18

Sarah Berman and Ashley Ray join Commotion guest host Amil Niazi to talk about the new Netflix series "Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult” - and why is music by women, especially racialized and trans artists, still severely underplayed on commercial Canadian radio? Jada Watson, who authored a recent report on the issue, and Desiree Dorion…

1
Pierce the Veil (of drafting!) 42:55

1M ago42:55

42:55

Send us a Text Message. Finally a new episode of Cast a Commotion, it took me a while to bring this together but im glad i did! Just in time for the competitive season and the new drafting meta were going to be playing in the high level competitive play! In this episode we go over the parsing and how a beginner can approach draft in flesh and blood…

1
New Alec Baldwin reality show and "Wah Gwan Drake?" 27:20

1M ago27:20

27:20

Elamin is joined by Ben Ozakawa, Kevin Bourne and Teri Hart with their takes on a new Alec Baldwin reality show, whether CRTC's new policy that forces streamers like Netflix to boost their Canadian content will actually work, and reaction to Drake's feature on the song 'Wah Gwan Delilah?'

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Commotion Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

CBC

1
Cast a Commotion

Zack

1
Commotion Podcast

Commotion Podcast

1
Motion Commotion

Cynthia

1
Perfect Commotion Podcast

Alan O'Brien, Nick S. Proud, David Barr, Sandy Fok

1
Like many of her characters, Alice Munro betrayed her own daughter 25:09

1
How Despicable Me became a juggernaut franchise, and Emma Stone's freak era continues in Kinds of Kindness 24:10

1
Why some artists are turning to OnlyFans 25:11

1
The year in music so far, and what is the song of the summer? 28:58

1
Is Will Smith's comeback complete? 25:11

1
Why Fancy Dance is a turning point for Indigenous cinema 25:09

1
Kanye gutted a house by a famous architect, and The Last Timbit musical 23:00

1
Carley Fortune brings out Canada's romantic side 25:27

1
The Bear is back, what does it tell us about friendship? 27:38

1
How Slave Play changed the conversation around theatre, and Céline Dion's new doc 25:12

1
How Joni Mitchell shaped how we talk about music 27:30

1
A new podcast about the internet's most viral moments, and why aren't people wearing headphones? 25:00

1
Living in Charli XCX's Brat world, and how the alt-right is co-opting dance music 25:11

1
Bonus: How to celebrate National Indigenous People’s Day all summer long 52:00

1
Remembering Donald Sutherland, highlights at the Indspire Awards and the new cheerleading movie Backspot 25:24

1
What Hollywood gets wrong about age-gap relationships, and the new Black Barbie documentary 25:11

1
How Tubi became a streaming giant, and A24's film Tuesday 25:11

1
Celebrating Céline Dion ahead of her upcoming documentary 26:14

1
Getting ready for summer theatre season, and Wu-Tang Clan's rare album finally sees the light 25:01

1
Does Inside Out 2 make puberty fun? And the new action/comedy Hit Man 25:23

1
Presumed Innocent and why everything seems to be getting a reboot 22:54

1
Does the true crime genre do justice to the story of Reena Virk's murder? 31:41

1
How a lawsuit could change the future of reggaeton, and the new doc How Music Got Free 25:21

1
Why are women still underplayed on Canadian radio? And Netflix's Dancing For the Devil 25:18

1
Pierce the Veil (of drafting!) 42:55

1
New Alec Baldwin reality show and "Wah Gwan Drake?" 27:20

Quick Reference Guide