CBC Music correspondent Natalie Harmsen, Exclaim editor Megan LaPierre, and culture writer Joan Summers join Elamin Abdelmahmoud for a group chat digging into the highly anticipated new albums from the queen of Canadian country – Shania Twain, pop provocateur Charli XCX, and indie-sleaze icons The Strokes!

Climate change isn't a new subject for Canadian musicians to sing about, going back to Neil Young and Bruce Cockburn all the way up to Tanya Tagaq, The Weather Station, Kaeley Jade and many others. In the face of forest fires raging across the country, what is the place of music right now? Culture critic Riley Yesno and musician Tamara Lindeman AKA The Weather Station join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to discuss.

Esther Perel has built an empire around helping people navigate relationships through her podcast and bestselling books. She recently served as a consultant on Olivia Wilde's couple's comedy The Invite, and was even a major inspiration for Penelope Cruz's character in the film. Culture writers Rebecca Jennings and Marisa Meltzer join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to discuss how a couple's therapist infiltrated pop culture and why her ideas are resonating so widely today.

Director Clement Virgo says his latest film Steal Away is his most ambitious yet. Film critic Sarah-Tai Black talks about how the movie applies many different genre lenses -- Afrofuturism, horror and political allegory -- on a story rooted in Black Canadian history.

Thanks to popular social-media accounts like Track Star, to be a music fan online these days is to be inundated with quick-hit clips of musicians being quizzed on their music knowledge, or being asked to name their Top 10 albums. Music critics Emilie Hanskamp and Rollie Pemberton a.k.a. Cadence Weapon chat about the rise of this content with Elamin Abdelmahmoud.

Plus, Variety TV critic Aramide Tinubu shares her thoughts on Anya Taylor Joy's new thriller ‘Lucky’ on Apple TV. Based on a bestselling novel by Toronto author Marissa Stapley, the show follows the highly resourceful con-woman Lucky who is constantly on the run from FBI agents, mob bosses and her father's criminal legacy.

The 2026 World Cup is over. It took over five weeks, 48 countries and we finally have a winner! Who were the heroes and villains of this World Cup? And what kind of legacy does this tournament leave for Canadian soccer? CBC Sports contributors Shireen Ahmed and Morgan Campbell, and culture critic Matt Amha join Elamin Abdelmahmoud for a look back at this year’s World Cup.

Film critics Hanna Flint, David Ehrlich and Radheyan Simonpillai join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to review Christopher Nolan’s epic adaptation of The Odyssey.

Wildfires, heatwaves, and flood risks are becoming increasingly more common across Canada, and many arts and culture festivals are being forced to adapt and prepare for multi-level climate emergencies. Festival organizers Julie Fowler, Troy Greencorn and Adi Winterbourne join Elamin to describe the challenges festivals are facing, and the types of changes they’ve had to make.

Canadian actor Brittany Allen gave one of The Pitt’s most heart-wrenching performances of season 2 as the terminally ill mother Roxie Hamler. So when HBO decided not to submit her for Emmy consideration, Brittany submitted herself and is now a nominee in the category of Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series. Brittany joins Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about her performance and why she decided to submit herself for Emmy consideration. Plus - Canadian music has a brand new prize .. and it was announced at the same time as the Polaris prize revealed its shortlist for this year. But unlike the Polaris – the Meridian prize is ONLY open to artists from the North and Western Canada. Elamim Abdelmahmoud talks with CBC music journalist Natalie Harmsen

The World Cup has a way of bringing us together, but also highlighting our divisions and the colonial histories that brought us to this moment. CBC Sports’ Shireen Ahmed joins Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about the racism called out at this year’s tournament, and how people are responding to it. Plus, "Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass” is the latest comedy from David Wain, who also directed the classic “Wet Hot American Summer.” Vulture writer Fran Hoepfner chats with Elamin Abdelmahmoud about why this film is best appreciated in a movie theatre, with an audience.

The wait for the movie adaptation of the bestselling YA novel, Children of Blood and Bone, is nearly over. But the author and co-screenwriter, Tomi Adeyemi, says she will not be watching when it comes out in January 2027. Authors Jael Richardson and Catherine Hernandez talk to Elamin Abdelmahmoud about the story. Plus, with Jay-Z kicking off his ‘Jay-Z-30’ tour at Yankee Stadium in New York City to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his debut album ‘Reasonable Doubt’ - Elamin is joined by culture critic Ian Kamau, who attended two of the three NYC shows - to discuss the importance of Jay-Z’s debut album and this moment in Jay-Z’s touring history, as he officially transitions from touring to promote new material to touring to celebrate his legacy.