Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

Ahead of National Indigenous People’s Day, Cree radio producer Kaitlyn Swan, nêhiyaw musician Marek Tyler, and Anishinaabe writer Riley Yesno join the Group Chat to talk about the new album from Anishinaabe artist Zoon, and the Indigenous indie-rock artists experimenting with the noisy-yet-soothing sounds of 'moccasin gaze.' The group chat also shares their thoughts on the recently revealed Polaris Music Prize long list, and reflect on this week's passing of alt-pop star Oliver Tree and the bizarre conspiracy theories that have proliferated on the internet.

After the New York Knicks won its first NBA championship in 53 years the city will celebrate on Thursday with a massive parade. Elamin Abdelmahmoud is joined by culture critic and New Yorker Jay Smooth to talk about what this win means to him as a fan. But also, the moment this win is landing in. Jay talks about the current political climate surrounding these big ticket sporting events, including the FIFA World Cup.

Also, the finale for one of the buzziest shows on TV right now drops on Wednesday (June 17). Film & TV critic Eric Marchen talks about the first season of 'Widow's Bay,' and why audiences are so drawn to a comedy that's packed with terrifying scenes.

Founder of the Griffin Poetry Prize Scott Griffin joins Elamin Abdelmahmoud in-studio for a feature conversation – about recent changes to the prize, elevating Canadian poets and the power of poetry at a time when writers are struggling to find an audience.

Also, the CBC just announced it's getting out of the business of broadcasting NHL games. That's after the CBC was unable to agree on a new sublicensing deal with Rogers Sportsnet. The Globe and Mail's Simon Houpt talks to Elamin about the end of an era and what this new direction means for the CBC and the future of sports broadcasting in Canada.

Rezervations for Two, hosted by Kairyn Potts and Scott Wabano, is the first ever reality dating show exclusively for Indigenous folks. With the first season set in Winnipeg and kicking off this month, culture critics Riley Yesno and Sonya Ballantyne join guest host Radheyan Simonpillai to share their thoughts on the show’s unique (read: less toxic) approach to love and dating on reality TV.

Also, at a recent punk concert in Toronto, a fan wearing a banana suit found himself swarmed by fellow moshers trying to rip off his costume. They were encouraged to do this by the band onstage, who were annoyed by his presence. This odd incident sparked a widespread debate in music circles between those who believe costumes at shows are a distraction that’s disrespectful to the artists onstage, and those who believe the concertgoer was subjected to an unprovoked assault. Exclaim magazine editor Megan LaPierre talks about why the Banana Man controversy went viral -- and what this tension tells us about dressing up at shows.

Olivia Rodrigo’s third album, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love, begins with a love story, and ends with a break up. Music critics Melissa Vincent and Niko Stratis join guest host Amil Niazi to dig into the new record, which includes a rare feature from The Cure’s Robert Smith.

Plus, Elamin is joined by culture critic and publicist Dalton Higgins to look back on the legacy of Monica Lewis aka ‘The Matriarch of Eglinton West’ and how Monica’s Beauty Supply became a culture hub in Toronto’s Little Jamaica neighbourhood, while making Canadian hip-hop history in the process.