Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

Harry Styles’ ‘Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally’ and BLACKPINK’s ‘Deadline’ are beckoning us back to the club with two very different takes on dance music. Culture critics Lucy Ford, Louise Bruton, and Michelle Cho share their thoughts with Elamin Abdelmahmoud.

Rap Essentials was a series of Canadian compilation albums released in the late '90s and early 2000s. The series gave fans access to new music, and inspired so many artists. Rap Essentials 2001 was particularly influential. To mark the 25th anniversary of that album, Elamin Abdelmahmoud is joined by Canadian music industry insider Craig "Big C" Mannix and journalist/publicist Dalton Higgins, to dig into the Rap Essentials series, and how it shaped culture. And Vulture’s Fran Hoepfner talks about what’s drawing people to the Benny Blanco and Lil Dicky’s talk show Friends Keep Secrets.

The Nova Scotia government announced they're making massive cuts to grants to arts and culture programs in the province. And for some artists and organizations these cuts will be catastrophic. Poet and culture critic El Jones and novelist Stephanie Domet join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to explain what’s on the line. And Scream 7 is the number one movie at the box office right now. Film critic Teri Hart shares her thoughts on the franchise’s latest entry and some of the controversy around the film.

Bruno Mars is one of those artists who produces hit after hit. He's the king of collabs and now he's back with a solo album 'The Romantic.' Culture critic Pablo The Don and musician/tv producer Romeo Candido dive into it and his pop legacy with Elamin Abdelmahmoud. And the Netflix documentary series ‘Formula 1: Drive to Survive’ has returned for its eighth season, taking viewers behind the scenes of Formula 1 racing. Producer and show super-fan Michelle Jobin explains why this show has kept audiences intrigued, particularly viewers who wouldn’t otherwise care about car racing.

Barry Hertz, Globe and Mail film critic who breaks down Telefilm’s report. Chris Murphy, culture critic dissecting Industry’s final-season twists. Roxana Hadadi, critic who interprets the show’s themes. They debate Industry’s toxic appeal, the finale’s relationship-driven stakes, the pivotal ‘take my hand’ confrontation, and why Canadian films flounder at the box office due to visibility and marketing.

Ashley Ray, comedian and new Survivor fan, brings fresh pop-culture takes. Omar Zaheer, former Survivor player, offers inside strategy and production stories. Jael Richardson, writer and longtime fan, traces the show’s history and social meanings. They trade memories of iconic moments, discuss the social dynamics and hardships of competing, ponder representation and why the series still captivates viewers.

André Alexis, award-winning Canadian novelist and essayist, offers literary context for Stan Douglas’s work. Riley Yesno, Anishinaabe scholar and cultural critic, probes colonial themes and staged histories. Alyssa Mercante, tech and culture reporter, breaks down the Los Angeles trial over social media design and youth harm. They discuss colonial narratives, reconstructed histories, platform liability, and what the trial might change.

Meghan O’Keefe, culture critic who dissects TV and fandom, discusses A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and why Dunk and Egg’s humble heroism resonates. Dr James Maskalyk, emergency physician and writer on dying, and Sandra Marche, Toronto palliative care nurse, explore recorded final messages and how public reckonings with death open conversations. The conversation shifts between tender goodbyes and Westeros storytelling.

Syrus Marcus Ware, visual artist and activist focused on racial equity and disability justice, discusses the BAFTA slur, accessibility failures, and public responses. Kira Hall, puppeteer for children’s TV, and David Moscrop, political commentator, chat about Puppet Regime, why puppets satirize global leaders effectively, and how comedy meets serious political critique.

Rachel Ho, film editor and critic, offers a take on Kid Koala’s silent animated Space Cadet. Mel Woods, culture critic and senior editor from Vancouver, riffs on pop culture moments and Olympic spectacle. Shereen Ahmed, sports journalist and CBC contributor, reviews Olympic hockey highs, politicized moments and standout athletes. They discuss viral sporting clips, closing ceremony flair, and why Space Cadet works without dialogue.