The Current
897 episodes · showing the newest 200
24 min
In the depths of the pandemic, CBC reporter Justin McElroy hatched a plan to see as much of the world as possible. He ended up visiting 52 countries in 52 weeks, and shares some of the amazing things he saw — and ate! — and what he learned by stepping out of his comfort zone.
24 min
A Senate bill would have banned zoos in Canada from bringing in or breeding any new elephants. But the legislation died when Parliament was prorogued in January 2025. Now animal activists are calling for it to be brought back. Filmmaker Fern Levitt describes what she learned making a documentary about Lucy, the only elephant at the Edmonton Valley Zoo. Then Scott Blais describes how his experience at African Lion Safari in Ontario motivated him to create elephant sanctuaries.
19 min
The relationship between an elderly Toronto woman and her tenants is at the center of the Fifth Estate’s most recent investigation. Within months of the tenants moving in, the woman signed a will leaving everything to the two virtual strangers. They say they were her caregivers, but her family calls them predators.
15 min
Jessica Rosval was 15 years old when she started working in a restaurant in Montreal. Now she's based in Italy where she runs a Michelin star restaurant, having earned the reputation of one of the world's best. Last week she was named the Best Female Chef of 2026.
19 min
A $52 billion data centre near Regina, Saskatchewan is being met with fierce opposition from its community. We hear from a reporter on the ground about what it means for Sherwood, Saskatchewan, and what we need to consider about building Canadian made AI infrastructure.
11 min
Former Canadian Senator and Public Policy fellow Ratna Omidvar says scaling up assessments of internationally trained doctors could revitalize Canada’s healthcare system, with each doctor taking on 1500 patients. So what’s stopping the provinces?
24 min
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich spent 16 months inside Russia’s Lefortovo prison after being arrested on espionage charges. He was eventually released as part of a high-profile prisoner swap. His new memoir, “This Cursed Beautiful Land” reflects on his relationship with Russia and its people.
24 min
This Remembrance Day, CBC’s Robyn Bresnahan has a documentary about a veteran's fight for benefits, as he lives with a rare, aggressive terminal cancer he believes results from his time in service overseas. If he were an American soldier, the law would back him up, so why isn’t he getting the help he needs?
19 min
Last week’s federal budget included an ambitious plan to end homelessness within a decade. But is it possible? Some parts of the country are already making headway, with Ontario city St. Thomas driving down homelessness, and Manitoba pledging to end chronic homelessness by 2031. What we can learn from those jurisdictions, and why this is an issue worth billions of dollars of investment.
18 min
Across the country, in small towns and big cities, people are getting fed up with open drug use in parks and on sidewalks. Even though it's against the law, police are charging fewer people with the crime. The intent is to treat addiction as a health issue. CBC reporter Ariana Kelland brings us the story from Atlantic Canada, and Police chief Fiona Wilson in Victoria, BC, tells us why there are no easy solutions.
24 min
Sportswriter Chris Jones's life blew up in one night when he found out his wife was having an affair. In his new memoir 'Legs Hearts Minds: Loss and Its Remedies' he recounts how he wrestled with his own responsibility for the end of his marriage, how he picked himself up and figured out how to be a better man, and why an unlikely underdog of a soccer team helped him throughout it all.
15 min
Physician and founder of War Child Canada, Samantha Nutt has just returned after being in Sudan for three weeks. She describes the magnitude of the humanitarian crisis people are facing and what Canada, and the rest of the world can do to help.
8 min
Jensen Huang, the head of Nvidia, has admitted to an affair with a woman accused of spying for China. Washington Post reporter Ian Duncan breaks down who's involved, why it's causing such a stir, and what it could mean for the AI industry.
14 min
Earlier this year a report from the Future of Sport in Canada commission laid out in stark detail how the country’s sport system is - in its words - broken. This week, national leaders are gathering at the Playground to Podium Summit to figure out what the future of sport should look like. CBC Sports reporter Karissa Donkin has been looking at whether Australia can be an example of where to go from here.
43 min
On stage at the Ottawa International Writers Festival, Jeremy Hansen talks about realizing his childhood dream of going to space. He tells Matt Galloway about the harrowing moments, feeling moon joy, and why his journey around the moon restored his faith in humanity.
12 min
Silicon Valley leaders like Elon Musk, Jensen Huang and Mark Zuckerberg got cozy with Donald Trump and got mostly free reign in return. Democrats now control Congress. Adi Robertson of The Verge argues it's time for Washington to hold Big Tech accountable for its actions.
20 min
The federal finance minister Francois-Philippe Champagne joins Matt Galloway the morning after the federal budget. Plus analysis from CBC's chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton.
22 min
After being open for nearly a year, Nova Scotia's PACE clinic is helping more people get access to primary care in their communities, thanks to foreign-trained doctors. So what does it mean for the physicians and their patients, and could it work for other parts of Canada? We hear from a panel of doctors who have those answers.
21 min
Canadian cheese has been winning big prizes and flying off American store shelves, but a 50 percent tariff is threatening that momentum. American cheese importer James Hanly and Ontario goat cheese maker Mark Anderson on how the trade war is hurting them – and the farmers who supply the milk.
19 min
The federal government is considering a bill to regulate online sports gaming. CBC senior reporter, Dave Seglins, describes what he and his team have revealed in their series on the negative impacts, and Matthew Young explains why Canada needs a lot more data to really understand the scope of the problem.
14 min
As Palestinians try to gather olives during peak harvest season in the occupied West Bank, the UN says the number of Israeli settler attacks are the highest they've ever seen in 20 years. Margaret Evans, CBC’s senior international correspondent, has just returned and shares what she saw.
8 min
We are in the midst of a Super El-Niño. Chris Fletcher is chair of the Department of Geography and Environmental Management at the University of Waterloo, unpacks what that could mean for Canadian winters.
16 min
Deep in the old growth forests on Vancouver Island, a group of citizen scientists, birders and artists gathered this summer to try to catch a glimpse of the secretive Marbled Murrelet, known to some as the “potato bird.” Royann Petrell, Co-Founder of Old Growth Birders and BioBlitzers, talks about her work to document the bird and try to stop the destruction of its habitat.
10 min
Prime Minister Mark Carney has said Russian players will not be able to compete in next month's World Juniors in Alberta, despite an international court ruling to allow Russia to compete in international hockey tournaments. Russia has been banned since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Chris Johnston, senior writer at The Athletic, and host of the podcast, the Chris Johnston Show, takes us through how the decision could play out in Canada, and around the world.
9 min
Canada and tariffs became a key election issue. Trump has upended America's relationship with Canada. What difference will new faces in Washington make? Former Conservative cabinet minister Lisa Raitt weighs in.
23 min
Venture capitalist Tenzin Seldon believes that investing in climate solutions is the right bet — for the planet and the bottom line. She explains why measuring regeneration is a better measure of economic success than GDP.
15 min
The midterms shifted the balance of power in Washington. What will it mean for Donald Trump and his MAGA movement? Will Democrats be able to get anything done? As both parties look ahead to 2028, we speak with Democratic strategist Michael Hardaway and Republican strategist John Feehery.
19 min
Political reporters Molly Ball, David Graham and Jim Newell break down the results, what they say about how Americans are feeling in this moment and where the country is headed.
24 min
Edward Burtynsky is world famous for his monumental photographs that reveal in overwhelming detail the impact that human beings have had on planet earth. He has travelled all over the world documenting mines, quarries, recycling yards, tailings pods, refineries and factories — places that are essential to the modern world but few of us get to see. We talk about how his working class upbringing in St. Catharines, Ontario, working at General Motors, and in gold mines of northern Ontario shapes his art and how he wants Canadians to weigh the cost of industrial development at a time when major projects are under consideration.
19 min
After supermarket chains in at least seven European countries have had their freezers hacked, security experts around the world are trying to figure out who did it and how to protect their clients. We speak with security expert Stephanie Sabatini, founder and owner of Astria Cybersecurity, and Evan Fraser, director of the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph about how vulnerable Canada's food systems are to hackers.
24 min
Recently medical experts agreed on the first consensus medical guidelines on stuttering. It's a step forward for a condition that affects more 400,000 Canadians. Alexandra D’Agostino-Seguin has lived with a stutter since she was in elementary school and talks about how that experience has shaped her. Her mother, Eeva Stierwalt, is a National Coordinator at the Canadian Stuttering Association and reflects on what it was like to raise a child who stutters. Dr. Gerald Maguire, founder of the Stuttering Research and Treatment Society, talks about his hopes for better treatment for the condition.
19 min
Canada is a key issue in several key midterm elections — especially in border states where the tariffs are hitting hard. We speak to two journalists in Maine and Michigan about how the trade war is shaping the election. Lauren Gibbons is the senior political editor at Bridge Michigan, and Kirby Wilson is politics editor for the Portland Press Herald.
13 min
On November 1st, half of Canada's clocks rolled back an hour, but the other half didn't, as many of the Western provinces are ditching seasonal time changes in favour of permanent daylight saving time. And we can't forget that some provinces and territories have multiple time zones and some are just naming their own - like Alberta, who announced they will now be following permanent "Alberta Time." So what time is it, and why — and what time should it be? We speak with Patricia Lakin-Thomas, a chronobiologist at York University, about why time in Canada is getting so confusing — and why she's concerned most of the province is making the wrong choice.
11 min
With neither Benjamin Netanyahu nor Gadi Eisenkot able to form the government, the Israeli election result remains in a stalemate. Emily Rose, a correspondent for Reuters in Jerusalem, explains what this means and if there is an expectation that a coalition will be pulled from this or if another election is necessary.
24 min
Zadie Smith talks to Matt on stage at Massey Hall about her most recent book, Dead And Alive, in which she examines art, fiction, social media, the idea of the vanishing public commons, and what makes us human. She also reflects on aging and generational gaps and finding joy in dancing — and what Gen X got wrong (lots) and right (movies).
1 hr 11 min
Can Texas turn blue? Days before the 2026 US midterms, all eyes are on Texas. Matt Galloway talks with supporters of Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico and Beto O’Rourke about whether this Republican stronghold could turn. Beyond the liberal bubble of Austin, voters say immigration and a boom in AI data centres are driving the campaign. From small-town mayors to ranchers, Matt asks Texans what’s shaping their vote.
15 min
Delegates from the EU are in Montreal for a summit to launch negotiations to deepen trade and other partnerships between Canada and the European Union. We hear from former leader of the federal Liberals and former Special Envoy to Europe, Stéphane Dion, and from Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice President for the European Commission, on what this new alliance means for Canada and the EU.
23 min
As CBC TV launches its second season of The Assembly, we hear what it was like to bring celebrities like Hudson Williams, Marie-Philip Poulin and Zach Galifianakis together with a room full of autistic and neurodivergent interviewers. We speak with Executive Producer Sean De Vries, celebrity guest and singer-songwriter Lights, and interviewer Maurgaux Wosk, about the genuine connections and authentic moments that resulted.
11 min
Have you ever been caught in a customer service chatbot doom loop? Last week, NYC's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection proposed new rules to curb companies' use of AI customer service systems. We speak with Commissioner Sam Levine about why AI customer service chatbots are so frustrating — and why the ramifications are much bigger than just annoyingly-slow customer service.
12 min
As voters head to the polls in the U.S. midterms, politicians are sending mixed messages on the economy. Eric Morris, an economist and portfolio manager in Rochester, New York, digs into the mismatch between the hard data and the way voters are feeling — and why the problems may lie beyond the realm of economics.
19 min
New guidance from the WHO says physicians should consider GLP-1s for kids living with obesity. But what do families need to know before trying the medications, and will they work for every child?
24 min
Dr. Joanne Liu was the International President of Medecins Sans Frontiers from 2013 to 2019, and came face to face with the world's biggest humanitarian crises of that time. Since leaving her role at MSF, Dr. Liu has been reflecting on her work, and thinking about how best to provide humanitarian aid in a new world order — as crises continue across the globe. She joins us to talk about her new book, “Ebola, Bombs, and Migrants: Humanitarian Crises in a Security-Obsessed World,” and what still keeps her hopeful.
11 min
Anthropic is about to make its stock market debut in what could be the largest in history, but it comes with significant risks. CNN Reporter Clare Duffy on what this could mean for the future of AI and the economy.
9 min
Taking a stroll isn't just good for your body. It can help you brainstorm ideas. McMaster researcher Alex Thabane says that's more important than ever at a time when people are outsourcing mental work to AI.
18 min
A new survey from Environics Institute for Survey Research shows that the Canadian public is less concerned about the overall level of immigration compared to last year. Andrew Parkin, the Executive Director of Environics Institute for Survey Research, talks about what’s leading to this shift. Mikal Skuterud, Economics Professor at University of Waterloo, talks about why the government looking to immigration to fill labour shortages is the wrong approach, and Dan Kelly, president of the CFIB, tells us about the need for more skilled workers.
15 min
Award-winning journalist and long-time conflict reporter Sally Armstrong talks about her latest trip to Lebanon, where she saw the ways in which the war there is taking a toll on the country’s children.
23 min
There is a growing resistance in Canada to automated license plate readers powered by AI. With ALPR brand Flock coming to Canada there are concerns around mass surveillance and misuse by the police but police insist ALPRs are a necessary tool for fighting crime. We'll hear from both sides of the argument.
19 min
British Columbians voted for change in a big way. The Conservatives won 63 seats. The NDP, 28. And the Greens, 2. It's a dramatic outcome for a party that seemed to have come undone at the seams when the NDP's David Eby called the snap election. Now, Eby has resigned as party leader. And Lorne Doerkson is BC's premier-designate. To break it all down, we’ll speak with Katie DeRosa, CBC’s legislative reporter in British Columbia, and Rob Shaw, a political correspondent for Chek News and host of the podcast, Political Capital.
27 min
Ariel Ekblaw is a space architect looking to solve the problems of life on Earth and beyond. Hear how her designs for a new space habitat could replace the International Space Station, a reality check on data centres in space, and how low-orbit manufacturing could hold the key to curing blindness. This is not science fiction, but is the next step in the space race.
24 min
When actress Christina Applegate found out she didn't have MS after 5 years, she wasn't relieved. The symptoms persist, and now she doesn't have any diagnosis. Studies show that upwards of one in five MS diagnoses are wrong. That's dramatic in a country like Canada, which has some of the world's highest levels of MS. We’ll speak with Jackie Pilon, who describes what it was like to have had her MS diagnosis changed. Then, we’ll speak with Dr. Jiwon Oh who tells us what this means for Canadians.
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