COMMONS

4.2 (81)
DOCUMENTARY
BIWEEKLY SERIES

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COMMONS is a documentary podcast that proves Canada is anything but boring. Each season, host Arshy Mann guides you through the country’s dark underbelly, bringing you stories about crime, corruption and all manner of misdeeds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EPISODE 1

Inside Kabul Ep. 1 - August: stay or go?

INSIDE KABUL is a multi-award winning series by journalist Caroline Gillet that follows the daily life of two young Afghan women, Marwa and Raha. Both have been recording their daily lives since the arrival of the Taliban in August 2021. Should they stay? Leave? And when they leave, what does exile look like? Raha and Marwa record voice notes on their phones each day which they send to Caroline in Paris. They record to feel less isolated, to share the horror, to share the sounds of their new reality. They refuse to give up. Raha and Marwa record for themselves to remember, and also for us – so that we know and don't forget them. By Caroline Gillet with Marwa and Raha. The original podcast broadcast on France INTER / RADIO FRANCE © RADIO FRANCE. Canadaland is proud to premiere the English-language adaptation of this urgent and intimate podcast, building on Commons' crucial season that told the story of Canada’s role in the War in Afghanistan. COMMONS is brought to you by: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Max Collins (Production Manager), Karyn Pugliese (Editor in Chief) Shows like this cannot get made without you. Become a supporter and binge the entire season now, ad-free. Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Douglas: Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today at Douglas.ca/Canadaland. Betterhelp: For 10% off your first month, visit BetterHelp.com/InsideKabul. You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

32 min
EPISODE 2

Inside Kabul Ep. 2 - September: Relearning Everyday Life

Marwa and Raha are relearning daily life. Raha seeks comfort in anything that has not changed since the arrival of the Taliban, in the few dwindling spaces of freedom that remain. While Marwa discovers new things in the Abu Dhabi refugee camp. By Caroline Gillet with Marwa and Raha. The original podcast broadcast on France INTER / RADIO FRANCE © RADIO FRANCE. Canadaland is proud to premiere the English-language adaptation of this urgent and intimate podcast, building on Commons' crucial season that told the story of Canada’s role in the War in Afghanistan. COMMONS is brought to you by: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Max Collins (Production Manager), Karyn Pugliese (Editor in Chief) Shows like this cannot get made without you. Become a supporter and binge the entire season now, ad-free. Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Douglas: Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today at Douglas.ca/Canadaland. BetterHelp: Canadaland listeners head to https://betterhelp.com/canadaland to get started today and enjoy 10% off your first month. Discount code “canadaland” will be automatically applied. You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

26 min
EPISODE 3

Inside Kabul Ep. 3 - October: Take Back Control

It has been three months since the Taliban returned to power. Raha and Marwa regularly receive reminders from Instagram of what their lives used to be – at a birthday, at a party, surrounded by friends. They send screenshots with their voice notes to Caroline Gillet. For Caroline, she sees evidence of daily lives that had been so much closer to her own than she would have imagined. The images make Caroline more aware of the scale and speed of the upheavals over recent weeks. While Raha endures the economic crisis and the multiplication of power cuts in Kabul, Marwa becomes familiar with the refugee camp, but the uncertainty and waiting weigh down. Marwa dreams of the future. By Caroline Gillet with Marwa and Raha. The original podcast broadcast on France INTER / RADIO FRANCE © RADIO FRANCE. Canadaland is proud to premiere the English-language adaptation of this urgent and intimate podcast, building on Commons' crucial season that told the story of Canada’s role in the War in Afghanistan. COMMONS is brought to you by: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Max Collins (Production Manager), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief) Shows like this cannot get made without you. Become a supporter and binge the entire season now, ad-free. Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Betterhelp: For 10% off your first month, visit BetterHelp.com/InsideKabul. You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

28 min
EPISODE 4

Inside Kabul Ep. 4 - December/January: "Vampire Diaries"

With the media’s attention turned away from Afghanistan and snow beginning to fall, Raha and Marwa continue to endure the daily realities of their new lives – finding simple pleasures that help them get through the day. While Raha finally finds a new job opportunity and a glimmer of hope, Marwa begins to go out at night in the camp and creates a new family to help her quench her desire for home. By Caroline Gillet with Marwa and Raha. The original podcast broadcast on France INTER / RADIO FRANCE © RADIO FRANCE. Canadaland is proud to premiere the English-language adaptation of this urgent and intimate podcast, building on Commons' crucial season that told the story of Canada’s role in the War in Afghanistan. COMMONS is brought to you by: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Max Collins (Production Manager), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief) Shows like this cannot get made without you. Become a supporter and binge the entire season now, ad-free. Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Article: Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim, visit ARTICLE.COM/COMMONS. You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

25 min
EPISODE 5

Inside Kabul Ep. 5 - February: Revolt Before Zombieland

Revolt in all its forms – hidden or revealed – is unfolding in Kabul and in the Abu Dhabi camp. From the start, Caroline Gillet asks Marwa and Raha questions, and they answer. Or they send her sounds, or photos, when they want to share something. The reporter never knows what she will discover when she opens a voice note. Sometimes there are long minutes of ambience, or short messages for practical things, or 20 minutes of monologues to tell a story. The reporter learns to recognize false cheerful tones when things are not going well. An episode with a guitar, slogans, French high school students, and feelings of when you are 20 years old. By Caroline Gillet with Marwa and Raha. The original podcast broadcast on France INTER / RADIO FRANCE © RADIO FRANCE. Canadaland is proud to premiere the English-language adaptation of this urgent and intimate podcast, building on Commons' crucial season that told the story of Canada’s role in the War in Afghanistan. COMMONS is brought to you by: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Max Collins (Production Manager), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief) Shows like this cannot get made without you. Become a supporter and binge the entire season now, ad-free. Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Betterhelp: For 10% off your first month, visit BetterHelp.com/InsideKabul. Article: Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim, visit ARTICLE.COM/COMMONS. You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

30 min
EPISODE 6

Inside Kabul Ep. 6 - April: First Ramadan in Kabul

We arrive in April, and it has been eight months since Marwa and Raha began talking about their daily lives with reporter Caroline Gillet. Raha is in Kabul, Marwa in a refugee camp in Abu Dhabi. They say that documenting what they are experiencing and sharing helps to compensate for the immobility. The economic situation in Afghanistan is dramatic following the freezing of international aid which financed nearly 80% of the Afghan budget. Half of the country is threatened by hunger. Aid is conditional on measures promised by the Taliban in favor of human rights and women's rights in particular, such as the return of adolescent girls to school. Marwa and Raha celebrate Ramadan in very new conditions. These religious events are perhaps the last things that connect them. In this episode, their two trajectories will separate radically. While Marwa is far from her family, Raha is surrounded, but explosions make her fear for her mother's life, and push her employers to fire her. Marwa finally has her tickets to go to Germany. By Caroline Gillet with Marwa and Raha. The original podcast broadcast on France INTER / RADIO FRANCE © RADIO FRANCE. Canadaland is proud to premiere the English-language adaptation of this urgent and intimate podcast, building on Commons' crucial season that told the story of Canada’s role in the War in Afghanistan. COMMONS is brought to you by: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Max Collins (Production Manager), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief) Shows like this cannot get made without you. Become a supporter and binge the entire season now, ad-free. Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Article: Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim, visit ARTICLE.COM/COMMONS. You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

22 min
EPISODE 7

Inside Kabul Ep. 7 - April/May: New Spaces

Marwa arrives in Germany and everything surprises her. Raha sends the terrifying sounds of the end of Ramadan. She is increasingly cooped up and angry in Kabul, but she manages to send gifts from there. It always gets harder to talk to Raha. Caroline Gillet doesn't know if it's because of the power cuts, or if Raha can no longer find how to say what she's going through. The end of Ramadan is determined by the stars and in Afghanistan, we observe the decision of the Emirates to announce the start of Eid - El - Fitr. The three-day festival marks the end of the fast. Raha tells Caroline that she slowly starts cleaning the house as tradition dictates at the end of Ramadan and then, one evening, she sends chilling voice messages. By Caroline Gillet with Marwa and Raha. The original podcast broadcast on France INTER / RADIO FRANCE © RADIO FRANCE. Canadaland is proud to premiere the English-language adaptation of this urgent and intimate podcast, building on Commons' crucial season that told the story of Canada’s role in the War in Afghanistan. COMMONS is brought to you by: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Max Collins (Production Manager), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief) Shows like this cannot get made without you. Become a supporter and binge the entire season now, ad-free. Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Douglas: Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today at Douglas.ca/Canadaland. Article: Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim, visit ARTICLE.COM/COMMONS. You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

28 min
EPISODE 8

Inside Kabul Ep. 8 - May: “Wish me luck”

It has been ten months since the arrival of the Taliban. Marwa takes the steps to settle in Germany and takes a step back from her country, its traditions and its history. It is the first time she has been in Europe, and everything in Germany surprises her. In Afghanistan, the Taliban impose full veils on women. Raha is more and more desperate, and plots her escape. By Caroline Gillet with Marwa and Raha. The original podcast broadcast on France INTER / RADIO FRANCE © RADIO FRANCE. Canadaland is proud to premiere the English-language adaptation of this urgent and intimate podcast, building on Commons' crucial season that told the story of Canada’s role in the War in Afghanistan. COMMONS is brought to you by: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Max Collins (Production Manager), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief) Shows like this cannot get made without you. Become a supporter and binge the entire season now, ad-free. Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Douglas: Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today at Douglas.ca/Canadaland. You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

36 min
EPISODE 9

Inside Kabul Ep. 9 - June: Meeting with Marwa

After months of trading voice memos and messages, Caroline meets Marwa in person in Germany. They talk about the choices they have made, the lessons they have learned, and long for a reunion with Raha. By Caroline Gillet with Marwa and Raha. The original podcast broadcast on France INTER / RADIO FRANCE © RADIO FRANCE. Canadaland is proud to premiere the English-language adaptation of this urgent and intimate podcast, building on Commons' crucial season that told the story of Canada’s role in the War in Afghanistan. COMMONS is brought to you by: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Max Collins (Production Manager), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief) Shows like this cannot get made without you. Become a supporter and binge the entire season now, ad-free. Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Douglas: Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today at Douglas.ca/Canadaland. You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

17 min

See All Season 14 (9)

What do some of the most prominent and successful Indigenous artists, leaders and professors have in common? They aren’t Indigenous. There are hundreds of cases of Indigenous identity fraud that we know about, and likely thousands that we do not. So why do these so-called “pretendians” do it? How do they pull it off? And what happens when they are exposed? In each episode of this riveting new podcast series, co-hosts Robert Jago (Kwantlen First Nation and Nooksack Indian Tribe) and Angel Ellis (Muscogee (Creek) Nation) reveal unbelievable stories of audacious fraudsters and investigate the complex phenomenon of Indigenous identity theft. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4.7 (1495)

TRUE CRIME
Official Selection of the 2024 Tribeca Audio Festival. Selected as one of Apple Podcasts Favourites of 2024 so far. Strap on your binoculars and lace up your boots: A Field Guide to Gay Animals explores sexuality, gender, and joy in the animal world. Hosts Owen Ever and Laine Kaplan-Levenson take you on a quest to see beyond the natural world as we know it and into the natural world as it is: queer as f*ck. Homosexuality has been documented in over 1,500 species of animals. From gay geese and bisexual bison to lesbian elephant love affairs and all-male, all-whale orgies, expressions of same-sex action in the animal queendom are all around us. Owen and Laine are your intrepid guides to investigate this variety of animal behaviors – exploring the depths of the ocean, the heart of the forest, and the bushes in your backyard – to dive deep into nuanced conversations about queerness in the animal world. Cheeky and contemplative, curious and raunchy, Field Guide shows you the natural world is more exuberant, more joyful, and more gay than you could possibly imagine. Coming in June, 2024. Artwork features illustrations by John Megahan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4.1 (453)

RELATIONSHIPS
Celebrities are always talking about their bests. Now hear them at their worst. Join award-winning filmmaker and noted curmudgeon Alan Zweig for refreshingly honest conversations with “notable people” about the worst things in life. Alan has no interest in best-selling books or Hollywood triumphs, and doesn’t know (or care) much about his guests. He’s looking for real conversations that dig deep and get to the worst things: nagging fears, embarrassing secrets and haunting regrets. And he’ll no doubt share a few of his own along the way. Photo credit: Naomi Harris Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4.5 (238)

COMEDY
The highest homicide and hate crime rates in the country. Why does it all happen here? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

5.0 (1)

NEWS
When Vice editor “Slava P” reached out to young journalists with job offers, they thought it was about freelance writing. Instead, he asked them to smuggle nearly $20 million worth of cocaine into Australia. The acclaimed limited series from Canadaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

5.0 (1)

NEWS

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Arshy Mann

Host

4.2

out of 5

81 Ratings

Excellent journalism, lackluster production

11/06/2018

St.Giroux

This season on corruption features the excellent investigative reporting I’ve come to expect from Canadaland and its affiliated shows, however, elements of the production make Commons an aggravating listening experience. Audio packages and soundbites fluctuate from inaudibly quiet (see: Barack Obama in the first minutes of episode 3; many of the bed music interludes), to in-the-red loud at other moments. In one single segment, around 20:00mins in ep. 3, host Arshy Mann’s voice goes from too-quiet to too-loud with no interlude. It’s a fantastic show, but the listening experience both in headphones and external speakers, is poor.
Wannabe Woke

09/06/2023

edge8880

Trying way to hard to be “woke” and only catering to the racial narrative
Laziest journalism ever

07/05/2023

hangel11

Decent narration but you do an episode on fighting in hockey and you choose to rehash the Derek Boogard story?? I believe this case has been well covered, no? A writer for the NY Times wrote a mediocre book about it that was a bestseller. This is a polarizing and exhaustive topic, and one that deserves to be treated with care. Instead we get the one story everybody has heard already. I think the topic, and your audience deserves better. Way to phone it in. Why don’t go out on a limb and cover the Theranos story next episode?
Interesting

02/22/2023

yak blexit

It’s interesting to learn about things in Canada. There is definitely a slant to their reporting. The host is definitely racist as well. If you can wade through his often whiny and very beta male personality and racist views, it’s a fun listen.

COMMONS is a documentary podcast that proves Canada is anything but boring. Each season, host Arshy Mann guides you through the country’s dark underbelly, bringing you stories about crime, corruption and all manner of misdeeds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.