Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

Today on Commotion, culture writers Sarah Hunter Simanson and Megan Angelo join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about the Amazon Prime Video series that has turned viewers of all generations into fans: 'The Summer I Turned Pretty.' Plus, in recent weeks, the existential threat of climate change has had tangible impacts on the live-music industry—the 2025 edition of Bonnaroo was shut down due to inclement weather, and veteran rocker Steve Miller just cancelled his summer tour due to concerns over extreme heat and storms. Variety reporter Jem Aswad discusses how the industry is adapting to this new normal. 

Vinson Cunningham and Kate Lindsay join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about Substack, and how the online newsletter platform has positioned itself as the future of media. Plus, Syrus Marcus Ware and Alessandra Nacarrato celebrate the legacy of the late Andrea Gibson, the spoken word poet whose work and politics transcended the world of poetry. 

Culture critics Dylan Green, Rad Simonpillai and Alison Willmore join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to react to the news that Stephen Colbert's late night talk show is being cancelled. Plus, the group chat weighs in on Ari Aster's Eddington, a dark comedy western about how the pandemic changed the ways we relate to each other, and the gossip-y reasons a couple at a Coldplay concert went viral.

Culture critics Joshua Chong and Jim Provenzano join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about Luigi: The Musical, the satirical prison show inspired by Luigi Mangione that's on a sold out run in San Francisco.Plus, La Presse reporter Dominic Tardiff talks about why more than half of the albums on this year's Polaris Prize shortlist are by Quebec artists.

Four years after releasing his 2021 blockbuster Justified, Canadian pop star Justin Bieber surprised fans by dropping his new album, Swag, this past weekend mere hours after announcing it. Music journalists Emilie Hanskamp, Natalie Harmsen, and Reanna Cruz explain how the album’s off-the-cuff, experimental sound reflects the recent upheavals in the singer’s life, including new fatherhood, a highly publicized split from manager Scooter Braun, alterations with paparazzi, and his increased openness about his mental health.  

With the release of the latest Superman reboot - Elamin is joined by Siddhant Adlakha and Sonya Ballantyne to discuss how the film holds up against past Superman films, the conservative backlash, and what the movie says about the future of the DC franchise under director James Gunn. And are we at Peak Labubu? Do you know what that means? Internet Culture Journalist Alyssa Mercante joins us to explain its brave new world of status, demonic accusations, and how something so ubiquitous can be so hard to get.

The morning after the season finale of Love Island USA, we get into why it’s bringing people together like nothing else on TV. Etalk senior correspondent Lainey Lui, comedian Marlon Palmer and CBC producer Amelia Eqbal join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to recap an event that’s become the Superbowl of live reality TV.

Clipse, the cult-favourite rap duo, are back with their first album in 16 years. Plus, both Drake and Kanye West are onstage this weekend — for very different reasons. Culture critics Pablo The Don, Huda Hassan, Matt Amha weigh in on all these stories with host Elamin Abdelmahmoud.

Just like 'Girls', Lena Dunham draws on her real life for the new romantic comedy 'Too Much,' this time set in London, U.K. Kathryn Van Arendonk and Hanna Flint join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about this transatlantic comedy, and whether it fixes some of what was wrong with 'Girls.' Plus, Prada recently apologized after its runway models wore sandals that looked like traditional Indian Kolhapuri sandals without acknowledging the footwear’s origins. Joyita Sengupta talks with Elamin Abdelmahmoud about how Prada’s “sandal scandal” reflects a long history of South Asian fashion being appropriated by the west.

This conversation features Michelle Cho, a K-pop expert from the University of Toronto, and Jesse Wente, a cultural critic and storyteller. They delve into the powerful themes of the film '40 Acres,' examining how it addresses intergenerational trauma and resilience within Black and Indigenous communities. They also discuss the surprise hit 'K-pop Demon Hunters,' celebrating its unique cultural fusion and impact on music charts. Tune in for insights on storytelling, representation, and the intersection of art and identity.