Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

After the death of Pope Francis, cardinals from around the world will gather in the Vatican to choose the next pontiff. And if there's one film on people's minds right now it's Conclave. The Academy award winning film explores the secretive process of electing the next Pope. Elamin chats with film critic Radheyan Simonpillai, comedian and podcast host Ashley Ray, and entertainment reporter Teri Hart about how Pope Francis, and the Papacy, is portrayed in film and TV, and what it says about this moment.  

Let's be honest: we all love to gossip. But we don't necessarily like owning up to how much we love gossip. So why do we still do it, and what does our penchant for gossip mean for our relationship to truth? Today on Commotion, author and podcaster Kelsey McKinney joins host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about how we as a society think about gossip — and why that thinking might need to evolve.

Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Jackson Weaver and Rollie Pemberton join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about Ryan Coogler’s new film 'Sinners.'

Montreal singer-songwriter Bells Larsen joins Elamin to talk about why he was forced to cancel an upcoming U.S. tour due to Trump-administration visa policies that directly target trans people. His upcoming album 'Blurring Time' is out April 25.  Plus, 'Art of Dancehall,' is a new book by Major Lazer's Walshy Fire, and it documents the genre’s rise from the streets of Jamaica to the global stage through the flyers and posters used to promote local dancehall club nights and street parties. Elamin speaks with one of the book's contributors, Toronto-based dancehall archivist Sheldon Bruce, AKA Muscle.

To commemorate National Canadian Film Day, Elamin is joined by Jesse Wente, Sarah-Tai Black and Nathalie Younglai to discuss the state of Canadian filmmaking in 2025 and how our current political moment is shaping our sense of Canadian film culture.

The adaptation of Margaret’s Atwood dystopian novel - The Handmaid’s Tale – is into its sixth and final season. It’s been described as a window into the future when it comes to reproductive rights and women' s autonomy, but it also has a lot to say about the dynamic between Canada and its neighbour to the south. Elamin speaks with Arizona O’Neill and Moira Donegan about the latest season. 

Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal are back as Ellie and Joel trying to survive in a fledgling civilization while the rest of the world succumbs to a fungal outbreak that turns people into zombies. Season 2 of The Last Of Us debuts on Sunday – the morning after, Elamin talks with TV critic Alison Herman and die-hard fan Mel Woods, about why HBO’s post-apocalyptic show is meeting the moment. Plus, culture writer Lucy Ford talks about NCT Mark’s new album ‘The Firstfruit’ and why fans have been eagerly waiting for the Korean Canadian k-pop star’s debut solo record.

Jovanté Anderson, Siddhant Adlakha and Jael Richardson join guest host Rad Simonpillai to talk about Viola Davis’s new action thriller G20, the romantic comedy A Nice Indian Boy, and the very public spat between The White Lotus’s creator and music composer.

For more than four decades, hockey legend Wayne Gretzky has been celebrated as a national hero across Canada. However, Gretzky hanging out with U.S. President Donald Trump, in the middle of Trump’s trade war against Canada, and all the annexation threats, has caused many fans to disown ‘the Great One.’ Karl Subban, author and father of hockey player P.K Subban, sportscaster Tara Slone, and podcaster Paul Myers join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to reflect on what happens when our relationship changes to a Canadian cultural icon.

Netflix's ‘Pulse’ is the latest in the batch of medical dramas out now. What do doctors and nurses get from watching medical dramas? Elamin Abdelmahmoud chats with Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng an Intensive Care doctor and Amie Archibald Varley, a former ER and labour and delivery nurse, to get their takes. And film critic Sarah-Tai Black talks with Elamin Abdelmahmoud about ‘Village Keeper’ - the feature directorial debut by Canadian filmmaker Karen Chapman.

On the eve of the first new Bon Iver album in six years, music critics Emilie Hanskamp and Matthew Ismael Ruiz chat with Elamin about how Justin Vernon transcended underground folk hero status to become one of the most important artists of the 21st century. And columnist Marsha Lederman, also a mom to a teenage boy, says if you have kids, Netflix's Adolescence should be required watching.

With the season three finale of The White Lotus out now, Elamin Abdelmahmoud is joined by CBC entertainment reporter Jackson Weaver and culture critic Michelle Cho to discuss who died and who survived, and whether this slow season lived up to their expectations. And futurist and former model Sinead Bovell reacts to the news that H&M, the popular Swedish fashion retailer, is working with artificial intelligence to create “digital twins” of 30 models.

Culture critics Niko Stratis, Rad Simonpillai and Sonya Ballantyne join Elamin Abdelmahmoud for a group chat on Val Kilmer’s most memorable roles and the films Flow, now streaming on Crave, and A Minecraft Movie opening in theatres.

Based on a true story, Dying for Sex asks us to think hard about what we’d do if we only had months or years to live. Elamin Abdelmahmoud talks about some surprising truths of a terminal cancer diagnosis the comedy gets right with Jen Pogue and Sophie Kohn. They share their experiences - Jen as a patient, and Sophie as a caregiver. Jen was featured on the Women On Screen Out Loud podcast about coming to terms with her diagnosis.

CBC reporter Jonathan Ore checks in from the Nintendo Direct event in New York City, where the videogame giant unveiled its latest console, the Nintendo Switch 2. Is this highly anticipated upgrade worth the wait?

With the passing of Canadian rap legend Bishop Brigante after a long battle with cancer, Elamin Abdelmahmoud is joined by Juno-award winning artist Choclair and ‘Views B4 The 6’ podcast host Big Tweeze to look back on the decades long legacy of the Scarborough native. And Steven Zeitchik, Senior Editor for Technology and Politics at The Hollywood Reporter, about the recent update to ChatGPT that's made it made it possible for people to create images in the style of different animators, including Hayo Miyazaki.

Elamin is joined by New York Times theatre critic Michael Paulson, longtime theatre critic Glenn Sumi, and CBC entertainment reporter Jackson Weaver to discuss U.S. President Trump’s takeover of The Kennedy Center and what it could signal for the culture of theatre in that country, and Denzel Washington in ‘Othello’ becoming the highest grossing non-musical Broadway show ever and what its high ticket prices says about the future of accessible productions in that world. 

The Juno Awards were held in Vancouver last night at a time when national pride is surging. So did last night’s show make us proud to be Canadian? Elamin is joined by music journalist Lisa Christiansen.

On the eve of a U.S. tour, Tamara Lindeman – a.k.a. indie-folk artist The Weather Station – talks about traveling to the States in this tense political moment, and why Canadian musicians can’t so easily participate in cultural boycotts when so much of their livelihood is dependent on U.S. touring. Then, musician and author Dave Bidini talks about how Canadian musicians can navigate these turbulent times by refocusing their efforts back home. 

With the Canadian government proposing additional counter-tariffs on U.S. goods that could potentially include U.S. books coming into Canada, Elamin is joined by reporter Josh O’Kane to explain why this has Canadian book stakeholders concerned. Plus, Anne Murray gets a Juno for Lifetime Achievement on Sunday. More than a decade ago, Family Guy aired an episode where baby Stewie becomes obsessed with Anne Murray, and it introduced a new generation of fans to her music. Elamin speaks with one of them – the music journalist Tony Le Calvez.

Book lovers Arizona O’Neill and Lu Aburawi talk about the new Hunger Games prequel, 'Sunrise on the Reaping,' and the cultural impact of Suzanne Collins’ popular series. Plus, Elamin talks to Matt Carey, documentary editor at Deadline.com, about the latest headlines involving this year’s Oscar winner for best documentary feature ‘No Other Land’ - including the recent detainment and release of co-director Hamdan Ballal by the Israeli military. 

TV critic Angie Han and entertainment reporter Teri Hart discuss Seth Rogen’s new Apple TV+, ‘The Studio,' a satirical look at the inner workings of the movie industry and the perpetual tension between art and commerce in Hollywood. Plus, The Cut’s Emily Gould reviews the bestselling memoir, 'The Tell' by Amy Griffin, where the businesswoman shares her path to healing after MDMA-assisted therapy unearthed a long-hidden childhood trauma.

TV critics Kathryn VanArendonk and Jackson Weaver join Elamin to talk about the season finale of Severance, the genius of The White Lotus and how character actors on both shows are becoming the talk of the town.

Culture critics Cristina Escobar and Adam Nayman join guest host Rad Simonpillai to discuss the live action remake of Disney’s Snow White, from its rocky production, to the casting of Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, and why the film has sparked so much debate.Plus, the winners of Canada Reads 2025, champion Shayla Stonechild and author Ma-Nee Chacaby, join Elamin Abdelmahmoud for an interview about their victory.

The Bay’s days may be numbered as Canada's oldest company looks to close its stores as early as this week. Mark Harrison, Mosha Lundström Halbert and Teri Hart join Elamin to talk about the Hudson Bay Company’s complicated history.

TV critic Aramide Tinubu and culture writer Amil Niazi discuss the new Netflix miniseries Adolescence, a harrowing portrait of a 13-year-old British boy accused of murdering a female schoolmate, and the online culture of toxic masculinity that’s shaping the worldview of teens today. Plus, the fashion industry is once again shaking things up. Loewe’s creative director Jonathan Anderson is leaving the brand at the height of its success, and designer Demna is leaving Balenciaga to take over the top spot at Gucci. Mosha Lundström Halbert explains why we’re seeing so much change in fashion’s upper echelons.

With tensions between Canada and the U.S. making headlines, Come From Away feels more relevant than ever. Artistic director Jillian Keiley and performer Darrell Morris Jr. join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to discuss the message of unity behind the musical's upcoming production in Gander, N.L.Plus, the new medical drama The Pitt is making headlines for one very realistic birthing scene. Television critic Kathryn VanArendonk talks about why that moment matters and what The Pitt does to the medical drama format in a post-pandemic world.

'Top Chef: Destination Canada' is here and this year, 15 new chefs are cooking up across the country. How will the show represent our country’s cuisine amidst the trade war? And, can the long-standing show, in its 22nd season, remain fresh among new food competition favourites? Elamin chats with Niko Stratis and Ivy Knight about the new season.

Guest host Rad Simonpillai talks to film critics Teri Hart and Barry Hertz about a bunch of new films: Sandra Oh's new sci-fi feature Can I Get a Witness?, Netflix's $320 million gamble The Electric State, and Canadian filmmaker/provocateur Matt Johnson's SXSW entry Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie. Plus, the group chat reflects on the five year anniversary of the pandemic, and asks themselves, are we finally ready to watch pandemic stories?

“Algospeak” is a kind of Internet language where people replace words like porn and suicide with seemingly innocuous words and emojis as a way to avoid being censored by the algorithm. Rebecca Jennings and Noelle Perdue explain this phenomenon and what it means for free speech. Plus, film critic Rachel Ho explains how the Chinese fantasy feature ‘Ne Zha 2’ just surpassed ‘Inside Out 2’ to become the highest-grossing animated film of all time. 

After all the attention Bong Joon Ho received with 'Parasite,' many are curious about the director's latest film 'Mickey 17.' Michelle Cho and Jackson Weaver talk with Elamin Abdelmahmoud about the sci-fi allegory starring Robert Pattinson. Plus, illustrator Michael DeForge looks at how 'Law & Order Toronto' turned real-life encampment evictions and homelessness into crime drama, and what that means or the way these issues are represented.

With Tory Lanez dropping his new album ‘Peterson’ a project he recorded from prison where he is currently serving time for shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the feet, Elamin is joined by culture critics Matt Amha and Pablo Da Don to discuss the album and the ethical questions raised by where and when it was recorded. Plus, Anne Victoria Clark reviews Sid Meier’s Civilization VII, a highly-anticipated update in the video game franchise.

Nêhiyaw drummer Marek Tyler and Anishinaabe and Mohawk radio host Kim Wheeler share their reaction to the news that the Juno Awards and Polaris Music Prize have rescinded the awards they’ve given to Buffy Sainte-Marie in light of her recent confirmation that she’s an American citizen.

Culture writers Joan Summers, Liisa Ladouceur, and Alessa Dominguez join the Group Chat to discuss Lady Gaga’s first new album in five years, Mayhem, and how it holds up against the current generation of pop provocateurs. 

How do we turn this unprecedented moment into something more than cheerleading for Canadian culture? How does that patriotism become a force for good instead of leading us down the darker path we’ve seen come from nationalism in the past? And what is the role of artists right now? Elamin speaks with two people who are making art to meet the moment: Shad Kabango and Jay Baruchel.

Catherine Hernandez and Teri Hart share their thoughts with Elamin Abdelmahmoud about the new CBC Gem sitcom about menopause, ‘Small Achievable Goals’. And BIGBANG’s G-DRAGON returns with a new solo album after 7 years, Bina Lee talks about the k-pop star’s latest comeback.

Meghan Markle’s new cooking/ lifestyle/ talk show 'With Love, Meghan' debuts today, but there’s a ton of backlash. Etalk senior correspondent Lainey Lui and royal watcher Ellie Hall explain to Elamin Abdelmahmoud what all the fuss is about, and whether it’s warranted. And following Anora’s big night at the Oscars, Elamin checks in with writer and sex worker Andrea Werhun about her role as a consultant on the film, and how Anora’s success is changing public perceptions of sex work.

Elamin Abdelmahmoud is joined by film critics Eli Glasner, Sarah-Tai Black & Rad Simonpillai to discuss the wins, snubs, surprises and highlights of the 2025 Oscars. 

With P.K. Subban’s criticisms of the NBA going viral, and Netflix releasing a new documentary and a comedy series - both centered on basketball, guest host Rad Simonpillai is joined by CBC Senior Sports Contributor Morgan Campbell, and culture critics Marlon Palmer and Andrea Williams to discuss these stories and basketball’s place in pop culture right now.

The Washington Post is known for many things, including its slogan: "Democracy Dies in Darkness." But its owner, the billionaire Jeff Bezos, wants to narrow the range of opinions it publishes. Elamin Abdelmahmoud speaks with media studies scholar Siva Vaidhyanathan about the new direction, and why it matters here in Canada. And Hanna Flint and Jovanté Anderson discuss the new period crime drama A Thousand Blows.

Amid the rise of TikTok influencers, changing markets, and microtrends, can the runway keep up? Fashion writers Mosha Lundström Halbert and Joan Summers talk about what they are seeing during Fashion Week season. And Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s teenage son’s foray into the music business is predictably provoking the trolls. But not everyone's a cynic. Music critic Richie Assaly gives us his take.  

Film critics Hanna Flint and Adam Nayman talk about what the Amazon MGM takeover of the James Bond franchise means for the future of the iconic spy with guest host Rad Simonpillai. And University of Toronto professor Michelle Cho talks about the reports that China’s de facto ban on South Korean culture — TV, music, film, etc. — may finally be lifting after 8 years.

Tate McRae is the biggest Canadian pop artist to emerge in the 2020s. Music journalists Reanna Cruz and Rosie Long Decter join guest host Rad Simonpillai to talk about her new album, ‘So Close to What.’ And artist and illustrator Reid Southen talks about an open letter he started with other artists demanding Christie’s rethink its AI-art strategies, after the auction house announced its first all-AI art auction.

Elamin Abdelmahmoud is joined by culture critics Radheyan Simonpillai, Teri Hart, and Jackson Weaver in front of a live audience to talk about the 2025 Oscars, the races that are capturing their attention and the politics of Oscar campaigns.  

For most artists, performing at the Kennedy Center is a career highlight. But after U.S. President Donald Trump fired the board and decided to take over, speakers and performers who were booked are pulling out in protest, including some Canadians. Guest host Rad Simonpillai speaks with Louise Penny and Amanda Rheaume. And culture critic Huda Hassan and filmmaker Catherine Hernandez discuss the new Canadian coming of age film 'Morningside.' 

Comedian Cassie Cao and culture critic Nicole Froio talk about the premiere of The White Lotus, season three, set in Koh Samui, Thailand with guest host Rad Simonpillai. And the fierce hockey rivalry between Canada and the U.S. will be on display tomorrow as tensions between the two countries risk boiling over again on the ice. Musician, writer and hockey player Dave Bidini talks about the symbolism of the Four Nations Final.

‘Captain America: Brave New World’ was supposed to be an exciting new chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Anthony Mackie starring as the first Black Captain America. Podcaster Ashley Ray, and film writers Adam Nayman and Kaiya Shunyata explain why the film is receiving such a harsh response from critics, and why it seemed doomed even before production completed.

Writer and culture critic Amil Niazi and entertainment reporter Teri Hart join Elamin Abelmahmoud to share their thoughts on the new kids' movies Dog Man and Paddington in Peru. And culture critic Jeevan Sangha talks about Lilly Singh's return to YouTube.

Just in time for Valentine’s day, Hanna Flint, Mastermind and Jackson Weaver join guest host Rad Simonpillai to talk about ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’ and Drake and PartyNextDoor's new album, ‘Some Sexy Songs 4 U.’

Music journalist Ian Cohen and writer/rapper Rollie Pemberton (a.k.a. Cadence Weapon) discuss the latest series of extreme publicity stunts and antisemitic provocations from Kanye West, and the media's role in platforming his problematic views. Plus TV critic Saloni Gajjar talks about the series finale of Netflix’s comedy drama Mo, and why it was so powerful to see Mo Amer’s character return to his homeland, Burin, in the West Bank.