Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

The new musical 'It’s a Good Life If You Don’t Weaken' uses the Tragically Hip’s songbook to tell the story of an Iraqi immigrant adapting to his new home in Canada in the early 2000s in Kingston, Ontario. Globe and Mail critic Aisling Murphy and theatre historian Karen Fricker chat with Elamin Abdelmahmoud about how the Hip’s songs translate to the musical-theatre format.

The Big Five answers the most pressing question of our time: what are the “Big 5” of any given category? Not the best 5. Not the top 5. Not anyone’s favourite 5. But objectively, the Big 5. In each episode, Donovan Woods, Tom Power, and a celebrity guest tackle new topics and debate things like: what are the Big 5 farm animals? Types of hats? Slang terms for “butt”? Ways to cook a potato? In this episode, Elamin joins in to scrap about the big five sea creatures, guys named John and email sign-offs.

More episodes of The Big Five are available wherever you get your podcasts, and here: https://link.mgln.ai/TB5xCWEA

Half Man, from the creator of Baby Reindeer Richard Gadd, a new adaptation of Lord Of The Flies, and a surprise capsule episode of The Bear are talking about the dark side of masculinity in really interesting ways. Culture critics Hanna Flint, Jackson Weaver and novelist Ben Purkert join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to explain how they illuminate what’s wrong with masculinity right now.

The Toronto Tempo open their season at Coca-Cola Coliseum on Friday, making history as Canada’s first team in the WNBA. Sports journalists Shireen Ahmed and Savanna Hamilton join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to break down the roster and predict who will get the honour of becoming Toronto’s rival team.

Also, in the mid-2000s, the artist M.I.A. was hailed as the ultimate progressive pop star with a forward-thinking, global-spanning sound and pointed messaging about colonialism, racism, and the refugee experience. However, in recent years, her politics have taken a noticeable turn to the right, endorsing Donald Trump and wading into conspiracy theories. This week, Kid Cudi fired M.I.A. from his tour after statements she made onstage. Music journalist Reanna Cruz explains how M.I.A. went from vanguard artist to persona non grata.

If you read headlines saying The Onion wants to take over InfoWars, Alex Jones’ far-right conspiracy talk show, no one would blame you for thinking it was all a big joke. But it’s true: last Friday, the satirical news site released its first parody of the show with new host, Tim Heidecker. The comedian did an uncanny impression of Alex Jones. Journalist Justin Ling and comedian Ashley Ray join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to discuss the ‘new’ InfoWars and whether satire can still speak to this political moment.

Also, Iran just dropped out of the Venice Biennale. That's after the exhibition's entire jury resigned amid tensions over Israel and Russia. Arts reporter Kate Brown unpacks the various controversies swirling around this year's exhibition. She also profiles the artist representing Canada, Abbas Akhavan.