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.
Mar 12, 2025•30 min
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.
Mar 11, 2025•25 min
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and Mohawk radio host Kim Wheeler share their reaction to the news that the Juno Awards and Polaris Music Prize have rescinded the awards they’ve given to Buffy Sainte-Marie in light of her recent confirmation that she’s an American citizen.
Mar 10, 2025•25 min
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.
Mar 07, 2025•33 min
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.
Mar 06, 2025•37 min
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.
Mar 05, 2025•25 min
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.
Mar 04, 2025•27 min
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.
Mar 03, 2025•26 min
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.
Feb 28, 2025•27 min
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.
Feb 27, 2025•30 min
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.
Feb 26, 2025•25 min
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.
Feb 25, 2025•25 min
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.
Feb 24, 2025•25 min
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.
Feb 21, 2025•27 min
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.'
Feb 20, 2025•26 min
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.
Feb 19, 2025•24 min
‘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.
Feb 18, 2025•25 min
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.
Feb 17, 2025•25 min
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.’
Feb 14, 2025•27 min
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.
Feb 13, 2025•25 min
'Bam Bam: The Sister Nancy Story' and 'Play It Loud' are two new music docs coming to TV and streaming next week. You'll hear how these two films are celebrating the legacy of Jamaican and Jamaican-Canadian music. Commotion guest host Rad Simonpillai is joined by culture critics Danae Peart and Dalton Higgins. Plus, Richard Trapunski of Billboard Canada runs down the nominations for the upcoming Juno Awards on March 30, and what they tell you about the current moment in Canadian music....
Feb 12, 2025•25 min
Parenting columnist Amil Niazi and author Jen Sookfong Lee join guest host Radheyan Simonpillai to discuss Crave’s 'An Update On Our Family', a three-part docu-series about the rise and fall of an influencer family called the Stauffers. Plus, former MuchMusic veejay Michael Williams shares his thoughts on the new documentary 'Disco's Revenge', which is a deep dive into the genre's history and legacy.
Feb 11, 2025•24 min
Culture critics Marlon Palmer, Matt Amha, and Pablo The Don join guest host Rad Simonpillai to break down Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime performance on Sunday. Also, they look at the legacy of Irv Gotti, the hip-hop producer and DJ who co-founded Murder Inc. Records. Gotti died on February 5. He was 54.
Feb 10, 2025•25 min
This week we’re talking about culture as a form of resistance and power against the backdrop of US tariff threats, and talk that Canada should become the 51st state. Elamin Abdelmahmoud is joined by culture critics Michelle Cho, Louise Bruton & Matt Amha to look at how places like South Korea, Ireland and Nigeria, have resisted American cultural influences, and are now cultural powerhouses exporting their own content to global audiences.
Feb 07, 2025•25 min
Elamin Abdelmahmoud is joined by Dr. Jay De Soca Prince, culture critic Sharine Taylor, and Inuk writer and culture critic Jamesie Fournier to react to two recent song releases from Trinidad Killa (with Nicki Minaj) and Kendrick Lamar that use the same
Feb 06, 2025•25 min
As tariffs still loom and Donald Trump keeps musing about Canada becoming the 51st state, what does cultural resistance look like? It’s a lot easier when you’re talking about shopping to buy Canadian and skip made-in-America. But how are we thinking about the pillars of national cultural identity: the music, movies, and TV we chose to consume? Columnist and chair of the Canada Council for the Arts Jesse Wente has been thinking a lot about this, not just lately, but throughout his entire life....
Feb 05, 2025•28 min
Though the proposed tariffs on Canadian goods that were supposed to take effect on February 3 have been momentarily paused for 30 days, the threat still looms over Canadian industries bracing for their impact. The Globe and Mail’s Film and Deputy Arts Editor Barry Hertz checks in to explain how they could affect the Canadian film and television industries, from production to consumer demand. Plus, culture writers Nicole Froio and Jackson Weaver discuss Fernanda Torres’s Oscar-nominated performan...
Feb 04, 2025•26 min
ulture critic/podcaster Pablo the Don and music journalists Carl Wilson and Rosie Long Decter give us their morning-after reactions to the biggest highlights, surprises, and snubs from last night’s Grammys.
Feb 03, 2025•25 min
Culture writer Reanna Cruz, comedian Marlon Palmer, and arts reporter Jackson Weaver chat with Elamin about the latest controversy around the movie Emilia Pérez and its lead actor, Karla Sofía Gascón, and they discuss The Weeknd’s new album ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow.’
Jan 31, 2025•26 min
Ms. Rachel is moving to Netflix. The YouTube star toddlers love is part of a revolution in kids' TV .. Kathryn VanArendonk and Amil Niazi join Elamin to talk about it. Plus, film critic Hoai-Tran Bui talks about some of her highlights from the Sundance Film Festival, including 'Kiss of the Spider Woman,' and 'The Wedding Banquet.'
Jan 30, 2025•25 min
