Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

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.

Guests Niko Stratis, a culture critic, Rad Simonpillai, a freelance film critic, and filmmaker Sonya Ballantyne dive into Val Kilmer’s rich legacy, spotlighting his iconic roles and the emotional weight of his appearances. They also discuss the animated film 'Flow', highlighting its artistic storytelling and recent Oscar win. The group humorously critiques the upcoming Minecraft movie, questioning its anti-capitalist themes juxtaposed with blockbuster budget. Plus, they share thoughts on the evolving narrative of The Beatles in film.

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?

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.