Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

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 behind-the-scenes exclusives.

Recent Episodes
  • Should you watch it: Materialists, Boxcutter and How to Train Your Dragon
    Jun 13, 2025 – 00:28:34
  • A tribute to Brian Wilson, and why Endless Cookie is delighting audiences
    Jun 12, 2025 – 00:25:41
  • The intense fandom of the Oilers, and remembering Sly Stone and MuchMusic VJ Juliette Powell
    Jun 11, 2025 – 00:36:50
  • HBO's Mountainhead tells us something about Trump, Musk, and the L.A. protests
    Jun 10, 2025 – 00:23:29
  • Malcolm X at 100: how his legacy has been celebrated and co-opted in pop culture
    Jun 9, 2025 – 00:34:00
  • The summer of Addison Rae is here
    Jun 6, 2025 – 00:27:33
  • Guillaume Côté takes his final bow with the National Ballet, and why TikTokers are pretending to be AI
    Jun 5, 2025 – 00:25:22
  • What is considered 'age appropriate' in school libraries, and the sitcom Adults
    Jun 4, 2025 – 00:25:00
  • What should be allowed to count as CanCon?
    Jun 3, 2025 – 00:39:23
  • How NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts became a hub for Black pop
    Jun 2, 2025 – 00:24:36
  • Karate Kid: Legends, and the summer movies we're excited to see
    May 30, 2025 – 00:27:13
  • The reaction to Ms. Rachel posting about children in Gaza
    May 29, 2025 – 00:25:28
  • Judy Blume's Forever gets a TV series, and what's with all the Bella Ramsey hate?
    May 28, 2025 – 00:28:08
  • The buzz around the TV show Overcompensating, and the comedy series 0-60 Driving Academy
    May 27, 2025 – 00:24:34
  • Welcome to Wrexham's success, and why Andy Shauf's songwriting connects
    May 26, 2025 – 00:24:37
  • Is this really the last Mission: Impossible?
    May 23, 2025 – 00:25:55
  • The Diddy trial so far, and the new dark comedy Friendship
    May 22, 2025 – 00:31:32
  • Late Bloomer comes into its own in season 2, and Lido Pimienta's new album La Belleza
    May 21, 2025 – 00:25:11
  • The best films and biggest flops at Cannes 2025, and Austria upsets Sweden for Eurovision win
    May 20, 2025 – 00:25:22
  • How riot grrls were replaced with girl power you could buy
    May 19, 2025 – 00:25:35
  • Morgan Wallen and Maren Morris return, Lana Del Rey gone country
    May 16, 2025 – 00:39:49
  • Emily Henry's wild popularity, and the Hudson's Bay Company's art collection
    May 15, 2025 – 00:25:09
  • Is Andor the best thing to come out of the Star Wars universe, and Black fans are breaking up with K-pop
    May 14, 2025 – 00:29:50
  • How did 6ixBuzz get so influential, and Atlantic Canada gets its first Indigenous music label
    May 13, 2025 – 00:26:27
  • Are fans ready for Arcade Fire's big return, and the Golden Globes honour podcasting
    May 12, 2025 – 00:25:11
  • The internet is going wild for the new pope, and the popularity of 'Italian brain rot'
    May 9, 2025 – 00:26:47
  • Do we still need gendered awards categories, and Maple Leaf Pro wrestling is back
    May 8, 2025 – 00:23:52
  • From The Archives: A searching conversation with Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha
    May 8, 2025 – 00:21:43
  • Canadian film creators respond to Trump's tariff threats, and Scaachi Koul's AI generated biography
    May 7, 2025 – 00:28:08
  • Highlights of the 2025 Met Gala, and Niko Stratis's new book
    May 6, 2025 – 00:33:13
  • The Rehearsal, and how Nathan Fielder leans into the absurd
    May 5, 2025 – 00:39:41
  • The new PUP album, and the legacy of Canadian pop-punk
    May 2, 2025 – 00:26:56
  • Love on the Spectrum, and how Down With Webster went viral
    May 1, 2025 – 00:24:58
  • Does nice reality TV make for good TV? And Juilliard plans to go tuition-free
    Apr 30, 2025 – 00:24:31
  • What does the election tell us about Canadian culture right now?
    Apr 29, 2025 – 00:34:14
  • Was the 4chan hack a good thing for the internet, and the FOLD turns 10
    Apr 28, 2025 – 00:25:15
  • Cronenberg's film The Shrouds, and the obsession about box office numbers for Sinners
    Apr 25, 2025 – 00:27:38
  • BONUS: The second and final season of Andor is here
    Apr 24, 2025 – 00:18:22
  • How this Canadian election is playing out in online media
    Apr 24, 2025 – 00:37:03
  • The return of Black Mirror, and will Meta have to sell Instagram?
    Apr 23, 2025 – 00:25:30
  • Conclave, The Two Popes, and how the Pope shows up in pop culture
    Apr 22, 2025 – 00:30:41
  • Why we love to gossip — and why that's not a bad thing
    Apr 21, 2025 – 00:22:22
  • Ryan Coogler's Sinners is a masterpiece, period
    Apr 18, 2025 – 00:27:15
  • Is it safe for trans artists to tour the U.S., and Canada's contribution to dancehall
    Apr 17, 2025 – 00:27:09
  • Canadian movies are better than ever. Why can't you find them easily?
    Apr 16, 2025 – 00:27:20
  • Does The Handmaid's Tale still meet the moment?
    Apr 15, 2025 – 00:27:12
  • The Last of Us S2 is here, and NCT Mark’s solo album finally dropped
    Apr 14, 2025 – 00:25:43
  • Viola Davis as President in G20, and the rom-com A Nice Indian Boy
    Apr 11, 2025 – 00:28:26
  • Is Wayne Gretzky still a Canadian hero?
    Apr 10, 2025 – 00:30:33
  • How doctors and nurses feel about medical dramas, and why Village Keeper became one of this year's most celebrated Canadian movies
    Apr 9, 2025 – 00:24:49
Recent Reviews
  • Design Genius
    Canadians opining on US politics
    Interesting but not great take on Super Bowl and KL performance and saying what he should have done was misguided and not particularly compelling but their Grammy’s discussion re: Beyonce was excellent.
  • Et c'est parti.
    A new favorite
    I listen daily. I’ve appreciated learning about new goings on in the culture and Elamin is a fantastic host.
  • ss2367
    Great conversations about pop culture
    Love this format for discussing pop culture! The guests are insightful and provide diverse viewpoints which keeps it engaging. The episodes covering the Oscars were especially excellent. I wish we had more critique of celebrity in pop culture podcasts, along with all the fandom, and this podcast keeps that in the conversation.
  • mspassell
    7653577 stars!!!
    Need more Sam Sanders in your life? This show feels like Into It. It's great! I'm into it!
  • funier
    Best podcast ever
    The best. Go back and listen to all the previous episodes. The best hosts guests, and culture.
  • CaroleACline
    What happened to sex on TV?
    Are you kidding? Has anyone seen Euphoria? How about Industry? Sex is alive and well on streaming. That said, I enjoy this group and enjoy listening to their take on pop culture.
  • TrayEsq
    Must listen!
    Great podcast with good insight, great guests, and entertaining discussion of entertainment!
  • kyahorahai
    Sad to see you go!
    Loved this show so much and am gonna miss listening to their convos. True to form, the final segment of the final formal show made me cry when Kevin spoke of surviving cancer. Thx for sharing of yourselves.
  • luciagalen
    Don't go! 😣
    This has been one of my top five shows of the past year or two. Full parasocial relationship with these three, and i'll miss having you guys around. Please reunite often!
  • Tanya Bezreh
    Love this show!!
    My favorite gang of people to listen to; I love their chemistry <3 and insights
  • Yelena Alvarez McCoy
    I’m so sad the show ended!
    I didn’t know the show was ending. Got so sad when I heard that at the beginning of the episode today. I looked forward to this show every week. You three made me laugh, cry, rethink things and rejoice in your joys. I will truly miss this show. Good luck in your new projects and please come back from time to time.
  • rabeereviews
    Best Pop Culture podcast
    Incredible summaries of the latest in pop culture, insightful commentary, and a variety recommendations in the group chat!
  • CS 147x
    Smart and Accessible
    As a listener in an older (60+) demographic, this is a great discussion. I started listening so that I could understand pop culture better. I stayed because the hosts are so good at informing without condescending. And even when I totally disagree, I come away with some new insights. Well done!!!
  • 1800walmart
    Arrogant hosts
    The hosts on this show are so arrogant and judgmental they think they are better than everyone else. This podcast takes all the fun out of pop culture. The worst is that Emil Niazi. Keep it light this is awful
  • ftyjiooomkj
    The self-righteousness gets grating.
    The constant sub text of this show is that the general viewing public is stupid, vapid, and occasionally vile. This came through glaringly I the Amber Heard discussions, where anyone who was on Johnny Drop’s side was cast as a villain. Only the hosts are deep enough to appreciate what’s going on, the rest of us are problematic and stupid
  • ChopSusie
    Just Bad
    The post Oscar was the worst.
  • NastKhosh
    Happy but Smart Break from the Doom Scroll
    Amil is hilarious and Kevin is very sharp! Always love his perspective. They always talk about the exact content I’m consuming. Fun listen that always makes me laugh and feel represented. Amil & Kevin should be full time hosts.
  • Mmorri19
    Keeps me in the know!
    I love Pop Chat. The hosts discuss current pop culture in a really nuanced way. They challenge each other and really get into some deep conversations about how we consume media. They are super fun to listen to and always bring an high level of intelligence to each episode.
  • KylieG
    I love Canadians
    I am so happy to hear Canadians talk about pop culture. I sort of feel like all of the American pop culture shows are the same. It’s great to get a fresh take from a diverse group of people. I feel like I’m hanging with a group of my friends just talking about life.
  • angrylf
    Lacks complexity and nuance
    This show demonstrates perfectly why people throw up their hands and walk away from legacy media. Isn’t there even 1 producer that understands the difference between information and dogma??!!?? So frustrating.
  • DecemberKid
    Intelligent Takes on Pop Culture
    It’s tough to find intelligent takes on pop culture because it’s so easy to concentrate on the frivolous and the salacious.I really like the fact that this podcast doesn’t concentrate on who’s dating who, but on how pop culture happenings reflect and inform larger narratives on our culture. The host and guests give intelligent and interesting observations that I don’t get on other podcasts on this topic.
  • An Excellent Reviewer
    Pop culture without the cringe
    Must-listen pop culture commentary. The host and guests avoid the twee of other celebrity news podcasts. Feels like asking your coolest and most honest friends for their opinion about tabloid headlines and current events.
  • zencapopoca
    Arrogant is not cool
    This is one of the worst podcasts I have ever listened to. The host is the kind of person who would have been a bad guy in a 1980's ski movie. He should stop talking.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork on this page are property of the podcast owner, and not endorsed by UP.audio.