The Current

Nov 11/2023

A long-running feud between rappers Drake and Kendrick Lamar has spiralled into accusations of pedophilia and sex trafficking. We unpack the beef — and the speculation about whether a shooting at Drake’s Toronto mansion this week is related.
TD Bank Group is being investigated in the U.S. over allegations that its services were used to launder millions of dollars in fentanyl money. Finance reporter Christine Dobby tells us more.
The Reddit forum “Am I The Asshole” has become a hugely popular place for people to share their real-life conflicts, asking other users to be the judge. Social psychologist Daniel Yudkin says AITA offers us valuable insight into modern morality — and challenges some of what traditional philosophy tells us about right and wrong.
Jim and Sue Waddington took their first whitewater canoe trip in their 70s, in order to reach the real-life location of a painting by J.E.H. MacDonald. The couple has spent decades following clues all over Canada to find the vistas that inspired iconic works from the Group of Seven.
A Vancouver hospital recently brought in a top chef to overhaul the meals that one patient described as “anonymous mush.” We hear why healthier, tastier food can be a vital part of recovery.
Matt Galloway talks to political journalist Paul Wells about his new book Justin Trudeau On The Ropes, which explores the prime minister’s fight for power — and why he might be facing his toughest odds yet.
Hamas accepted a ceasefire deal Monday, but Israel rejected the proposal and escalated its bombardment in Rafah. We look at what happens next, as negotiations continue.
The Trans Mountain pipeline expansion is finally up and running. Matt Galloway talks to Trans Mountain Corp. CEO Dawn Farrell about the $34 billion price tag, how environmental concerns should be addressed, and who might take it off the federal government’s hands.
For the first time, an orangutan has been documented using medicinal plants to treat its own wound. We talk to one of the scientists who observed the great ape’s fascinating behaviour.
A new CBC podcast unpacks the 2015 scandal that rocked the genteel sport of curling. Comedian and former competitive curler John Cullen hosts Broomgate: A Curling Scandal.
Statistics show women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with a mood disorder. In her new book, All In Her Head, Misty Pratt explores the gender gap in mental health and argues the system is failing women.
The poet Molly Peacock turned to her art after the death of her husband. Alisa Siegel's documentary, What Can a Widow Be?, explores how Peacock found a way to not only cope but find a sense of freedom in her grief. Credit: The Widow’s Crayon Box by Molly Peacock. Copyright (c) 2024 by Molly Peacock.[...]
The CBC’s Sarah Leavitt brings us the latest from the pro-Palestinian encampment at McGill University, where a rival Israeli protest was held Thursday; public opinion researcher Dahlia Scheindlin explains the political mood inside Israel; and the WHO’s Nyka Alexander describes the dire conditions in Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians fled to escape Israel’s[...]
Four people were killed, including an infant and two grandparents, after police chased a suspect at high speed against traffic on an Ontario highway this week. We look at what goes into police decisions to engage in high-speed pursuits like this.
In recent weeks, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has been kicked out of question period for calling the prime minister a “wacko,” hinted at using the notwithstanding clause to crack down on criminals, and visited a controversial convoy-style camp protesting the carbon tax. How are these events playing with voters? We ask our national affairs panel:[...]
Arielle Johnson has a PhD in the science of flavour and says knowing the basic building blocks of taste can help any cook create something delicious. She talks to Matt Galloway about her new book, Flavorama.
A Fifth Estate documentary, Whose Police?, investigates a special RCMP unit created to police protests around natural resource projects in B.C. Critics say this public force is protecting the interests of private industry.
Ben Johnson maintains he was the victim of sabotage after a positive doping test stripped him of his Olympic gold medal in 1988. Matt Galloway talks to Johnson and Mary Ormbsy — author of World's Fastest Man* — about why they think the runner was mistreated as the scandal unfolded.
A Loblaws boycott kicks off Wednesday, led by consumers angry about high food prices. Matt Galloway asks an organizer what she hopes the boycott will achieve; and looks at what Canada could do to encourage greater competition and a better deal for consumers.
Calgary is in the throes of a contentious public hearing on new zoning rules, which has pitted the rights of property owners against the push to create much-needed housing. The CBC’s Scott Dippel talks us through what’s become a charged and emotional debate.
A new study has looked at 600 conservation efforts around the world — and found that nature conservation is working. We talk to the study’s co-author, Stephen Woodley, about finding hope in these efforts to protect biodiversity.
Lucy Lawless high-kicked her way to fame in ‘90s cult show Xena: Warrior Princess, but her new documentary Never Look Away focuses on photojournalist Margaret Moth, a “warrior princess in real life.” Lawless talks to Matt Galloway about the globetrotting war correspondent’s life of sex, drugs and punk music — and whether she’d ever sign[...]
The Current visits a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of British Columbia, one of several that have sprung up at universities across Canada and the U.S.
B.C. is recriminalizing the use of drugs in public places, a year into a pilot project that allowed possession of small amounts of illicit drugs. We look at what that means in an opioid crisis that has claimed more than 14,000 lives in the province.
A new scientific declaration argues that bees, snakes and a broad array of animals experience consciousness. We talk to the declaration’s co-author Kristin Andrews about what that means, from our relationship with nature to what's for dinner.
A Quebec road development threatens the habitat of the tiny western chorus frog — but now, scientists at Montreal's Biodome are hoping they have a solution.
IUDs are a common form of contraception, but women say the extreme discomfort of having one inserted — without any sedative — is often downplayed or dismissed. Some women are filming and sharing that procedure on social media, in a call for better pain management.
The Trans Mountain pipeline is expected to begin expanded operations this week, after years of tension between environmentalists and the oil and gas sector — a conflict that played out in communities along the pipeline’s route. The CBC’s Erin Collins travelled along TMX to find out how people living there feel about it now.
Ottawa is hosting negotiations to hammer out a global treaty on plastic pollution, which is showing up in every corner of the earth — and even in human blood and breastmilk. Guest host Mark Kelley asks Nestle’s Jodie Roussell what her company is doing to curb the problem; and talks to scientist Pete Myers about[...]
Ontario will bar employers from asking staff for sick notes, in an effort to decrease the administrative burden on doctors and give them more time with patients. Dr. Cathy Risdon says doctors face a lot of paperwork that’s necessary but doesn’t do much to help patients.
The UN human rights office has called for an investigation into possible war crimes by Israeli forces in Gaza, following the discovery of hundreds of bodies in mass graves at two hospitals. We talk to UNHCR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani.
Steve Burgess loves to travel, but he also sees how tourists are taking a toll on the places they visit. He joins us to discuss his new book, Reservations: The Pleasures and Perils of Travel.
Neuroscientist John Kounios has been studying the brains of jazz musicians, hoping to better understand the concept of flow. He tells us what he learned about flow, the state where a person becomes so immersed in an activity that time and complexity melt away.
NASA’s Voyager 1 started sending gibberish back to Earth a few months ago, after almost 50 years of communication from deep space. This week the space agency announced they’d fixed an error — at a distance of 24 billion kilometres. Astronaut Chris Hadfield talks to Matt Galloway about how they did it and what Voyager[...]
More and more municipal politicians are leaving their jobs because of the abuse they face and the toll it takes. Matt Galloway talks to Waterloo, Ont., city councillor Jen Vasic; Calgary city councillor Jasmine Mian; and Montreal borough councillor Younes Boukala.
The federal government’s buyback program for assault-style firearms has hit a snag: Canada Post is refusing to collect the banned guns, citing safety concerns for its employees. We look at what Ottawa can learn from countries like Australia, which implemented a large-scale gun buyback program after a mass shooting in the 1990s.
A bird flu virus, H5N1, has infected cattle in the U.S. It’s raising fears it could jump to other species like humans. We ask experts how concerned they are about the virus and whether it poses the risk of a fresh pandemic.
Dr. Christopher Kerr has spent years interviewing dying patients about the dreams they have as the end of life gets closer. He tells Matt Galloway those dreams and visions can be profound for both the patient and their loved ones.
Artificial intelligence has its roots in Canadian research, but some experts worry the country risks being left behind as AI accelerates. David Skok, editor and CEO of The Logic, explores how to seize this moment in the new book, Superintelligence: Is Canada Ready for AI?
Sophie Grégoire Trudeau says family life can get messy since her separation from the prime minister — but they’ve still got each other's backs. She tells Matt Galloway about her new book, Closer Together, and why she wants to help Canadians build the emotional literacy needed to cope with the stresses of modern life.
Elections are underway in India, with almost one billion people registered to cast their votes at a million polling stations. We discuss how Narendra Modi has shaped the country over his decade as prime minister and what’s at stake as he seeks a third term.
Defence lawyer Nader Hasan alleges three police officers committed perjury when they testified at the murder trial of Umar Zameer. The Toronto man was found not guilty Sunday in the death of Toronto police officer Det.-Const. Jeffrey Northrup, but Hasan says he’s not sure any criminal charges would ever have been laid if the victim[...]
The climate is changing. So are we. On What On Earth, you’ll explore a world of solutions with host Laura Lynch and our team of journalists. In 1970, 20 million people showed up to fight for the environment on the first Earth Day. More than five decades later, is it time for this much tamer[...]
The writer Gary Shteyngart spent seven days on the largest cruise ship in the world, and hated it. He compares being on the Icon of the Seas — a ship twenty decks high with up to 10,000 people on board — to being trapped in a giant mall, adrift in the Caribbean.
Some Olympic winners will receive almost $70,000 on top of their gold medals this summer. But the move has sparked criticism for undermining Olympic values and favouring track and field over other sports.
The U.S. has introduced regulations to keep chemicals called PFAS out of drinking water. We look at what Canada is doing to deal with these “forever chemicals,” which are used in all kinds of consumer products but linger in our air, water and soil.
Sikh separatists in Canada and the U.S. allege that the Indian government is attempting to assassinate its critics in other countries — people India considers terrorists. We hear about a Fifth Estate investigation into those allegations.
The U.S. has approved billions in aid for Ukraine after months of congressional debate. Chris York, a news editor for Kyiv Independent, tells us what that money will mean for the country and a war that shows no sign of ending.
Work is underway on a new Canadian dictionary, which will be the first major update of the country’s lexicon in two decades. Editor-in-chief John Chew talks us through what makes a word truly Canadian.
The federal government says changes to the capital gains tax will only affect the very wealthiest, but tax expert John Oakey says the middle class may also be impacted in some circumstances.
African scientists are genetically re-engineering mosquitoes in hopes of eradicating malaria from the continent — but there are concerns about releasing those modified mosquitoes back into the wild. Matt Galloway talks to Abdoulaye Diabaté from Target Malaria Burkina Faso.
Jenna Doak heard a lot of comments about her weight when she was growing up. She says it took years as an adult to “unbrainwash” herself and learn to love her body. Doak’s not alone: a new study suggests that comments about a child’s weight can have a lifelong impact.
Professional boxer Claire Hafner gets tested every year for signs of head trauma, by researchers studying hits to the head and long-term degenerative brain conditions. But there’s a personal factor for Hafner: she says if there’s evidence of decline, she’ll retire. The CBC’s Katie Nicholson went with Hafner for this year’s testing — and the[...]
A Quebec class action lawsuit is looking to hold 16 pharmaceutical companies responsible for their alleged role in the opioid epidemic. Matt Galloway talks to the lawyer leading the case and asks a pain doctor about how opioids are prescribed now.
Jasmin Paris tells us about becoming the first woman to complete the Barkley Marathons in Tennessee, one of the most gruelling ultramarathons in the world.
Author Salman Rushdie was attacked with a knife on a New York stage in 2022, suffering severe injuries and losing his eye. He tells Matt Galloway about the book he’s written to move past the attack and what he intends to do with his “second chance” at life.
The show Bluey is ostensibly for kids, but it’s gained a significant following among adults for the way it handles moments like death and infertility — like in its recent season finale, in which Bluey and her family processed tough emotions about a potential move. Meryl Alper, an associate professor in communication studies at Northeastern[...]
Our national affairs panel convenes to break down the federal government’s 2024 budget, which proposes $52.9 billion in new spending over five years.
Former U.S. president Donald Trump is accused of falsifying business records in attempts to cover up an affair with adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The presumed Republican presidential candidate also faces three other indictments. Washington Post columnist Philip Bump tells us more.
Former Thunder Bay, Ont., police chief Sylvie Hauth is facing charges of obstruction and breach of trust. Guest host Rebecca Zandbergen speaks with Willow Fiddler, a reporter for the Globe and Mail in Thunder Bay; and Thunder Bay Police Chief Darcy Fleury.
Jacob Opwapo, a humanitarian worker with Islamic Relief, gives us the latest on the civil war in Sudan that broke out about a year ago and has killed an estimated 14,000 people while displacing roughly eight million.
The drug Trikafta has changed the lives of many Canadians living with cystic fibrosis. But in many other parts of the world, the drug is either not available — or if it is, it costs hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. That’s why Cheri Nel, who is based in Johannesburg, is suing American pharmaceutical[...]
Some dietitians online have adopted anti-diet messaging, pushing back against shaming people for the food they eat. But a Washington Post investigation suggests food manufacturers have co-opted that messaging and are sponsoring dietitian influencers to promote products like sugary cereal. We discuss what to watch for when you seek dietary advice online, as part of[...]
A new report suggests there’s an “urgent” need to improve training for truck drivers, and that new drivers who have not received adequate training are making Canada's roads less safe.
Some survivors of sexual assault, like Marlee Liss, are coming face-to-face with their assailants — not in court, but in rooms focused on something called restorative justice. The CBC documentary Marlee’s Circle explores that process, which emphasizes accountability and healing over punishment.
Iran fired more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel over the weekend, in retaliation for Israel’s bombing of Iran’s embassy in Syria on April 1. Matt Galloway asks international affairs expert Thomas Juneau: what comes next?
Tamara Moir says her 93-year-old father-in-law was billed $5,200 after a hospital stay last year because he refused to move to a long-term care home that his family felt was too far away. The $400-a-day charge is allowed under a controversial Ontario law designed to free up hospital beds, but criticized for forcing older Canadians[...]
Dan Pashman wants people to get inventive with how they cook pasta. The Sporkful podcast host and author of Anything's PASTAble tells Matt Galloway about inventing a new pasta shape, cascatelli, and bringing in influences beyond Italy.
More than 140 BMO customers say $1.5 million was transferred out of their accounts by hackers — but the bank is refusing to reimburse that money. Cybersecurity specialist John Wunderlich talks us through how to prevent this from happening to you.
O.J. Simpson died this week at age 76. We look at the cultural impact and racial tensions around his trial and acquittal for double murder in the 1990s — and how it foreshadowed celebrity culture, the 24-hour news cycle and reality TV.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified Wednesday at the public inquiry into foreign interference, which is looking into claims that China in particular meddled in Canada's past two elections. The Toronto Star’s Stephanie Levitz and former Conservative leader Erin O’Toole dissect what the prime minister said, and what’s needed to protect Canadian democracy.
How might climate change affect conditions like multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's or epilepsy? We talk to researchers looking into how rising temperatures could impact our brains, in an emerging area of study called climatological neuroepidemiology.
Ed Yong has “birder derangement syndrome,” a condition that’s entirely made up but may be familiar to other birding enthusiasts. The science writer tells Matt Galloway how the joy of birding saved him from pandemic burnout and radically changed how he interacts with nature.
Record-breaking wildfires devastated much of Canada last year, but there are warnings that this coming fire season could be equally catastrophic. We ask climate change expert Blair Feltmate how bad it might get and what should be done to protect Canadians.
The parents of a Michigan teen who shot and killed four classmates in 2021 have been sentenced to at least 10 years after being convicted of manslaughter. The convictions are the first of their kind. Could they act as a deterrent to future school shootings?
Scott Galloway says we need to shift how we think about masculinity, because loneliness is pushing young men into extreme belief systems. The business leader and podcaster tells Matt Galloway (no relation) that the problem is partly fuelled by young people's exclusion from the prosperity of previous generations, and having that prosperity shoved in their[...]
The federal government has pledged more money for Arctic defence, including new support hubs that would allow a year-round military presence. We hear about the threats to Arctic sovereignty driving this investment, and what Inuit communities want officials down south to understand about their home.
Cardiologist Ethan Weiss has long advocated for intermittent fasting, the diet where people restrict eating to specific times during the day in an effort to lose weight. But when Weiss decided to conduct his own study on the benefits, the results surprised him.
A DNA laboratory in Toronto knew its paternity tests were identifying the wrong dads — but it kept selling them, a CBC News investigation has found. Investigative reporter Jorge Barrera explains how those inaccurate results led to heartbreak, court battles and lives turned upside down.
The Whitehorse Star has announced it will cease publication next month, after 124 years of chronicling the news in the North. Longtime editor Jim Butler tells us about some of the biggest stories over his 43 years at the newspaper — and breaking news about a last-minute chance to save it.
Jane Philpott says every Canadian should have a legal right to a family doctor and primary health care, in the same way that every Canadian child has a right to an education. The physician and former health minister tells Matt Galloway about her pitch for a Primary Care Act, and what’s stopping politicians from rebuilding[...]
Many in Eastern Canada will be eagerly checking the skies this afternoon to catch a glimpse of the moon eclipsing the sun. This eclipse is, without a doubt, the astronomical event of the year and even perhaps of a lifetime. Matt Galloway speaks with Nathalie Ouellette, deputy director of the Trottier Institute for Research on[...]
A visit with his father ended in tragedy for Kendrah Wong's son when the 11-year-old boy was attacked and killed in the Edmonton home by two large dogs. The story is again raising questions about how to protect people from dangerous dogs. Another woman tells her story of being attacked; and we hear about the[...]
Wellness influencers online are increasingly encouraging women to stop using contraceptives like the pill or IUDs in favour of menstrual cycle tracking apps. As part of our series on wellness, we hear why doctors are alarmed and are pointing to a wider anti-contraception movement, online and beyond.
Canadian eye surgeon Dr. Yasser Khan recently returned from a medical mission to Gaza. He shares an audio diary of what he experienced during that time, as he worked to save people’s sight against a backdrop of falling bombs.
A group of key leaders in Canada’s real estate sector has released a report calling for greater innovation to tackle the country’s housing crisis. REALPAC CEO Michael Brooks and R-LABS CEO George Carras discuss rethinking what and how we're building.
Ashley Casciato says juggling life as a single parent is like being a duck: calm and serene on the surface, but paddling madly underneath. Matt Galloway talks to single parents about navigating systems that were designed for two-parent families, how better government support could help their families thrive, and the stigma that persists around lone[...]
Israel’s killing of seven aid workers this week has left humanitarian organizations weighing the risks of delivering the help that Gaza desperately needs. Matt Galloway talks to aid workers Saddam Sayyaleh and Karyn Beattie about their fears for their safety, amid ongoing violence that has already claimed the lives of nearly 200 humanitarian workers.
Researchers have noticed some surprising behaviour from animals during previous eclipses, from galloping giraffes to mating tortoises. Biologist Adam Hartstone-Rose tells us why he’ll be watching how the natural world reacts to Monday’s eclipse.
Several Ontario school boards are taking the world's largest social media platforms to court, accusing them of damaging the mental health of children. We look at the concerns over kids using apps like TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat — and ask what kind of change the schools want.
Words like atom and electromagnetic are common in the fields of science and technology — but deaf academics say there sometimes aren’t specialized ASL signs for key words, which makes communication and collaboration difficult. We learn about efforts to represent that ever-expanding complexity, and how breaking down those barriers could help more Canadians forge successful[...]
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been on a pre-budget charm offensive this week, announcing support for renters, a national school food program and billions for housing and infrastructure. He joins Matt Galloway for a wide-ranging interview about why young Canadians feel like the system is stacked against them, why so many voters have a negative[...]
An orca calf has been stranded — all alone — in a remote lagoon in northern Vancouver Island for the past 10 days. But a rescue team is trying to coax the young calf to swim to open water and reunite with its pod.
Gambling controversies involving baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani and Toronto Raptor Jontay Porter have raised concerns about the depth of sports’ gambling problem. We hear from two sports journalists and Jeremy Luke, president and CEO of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, about these scandals.
In Canada’s North, the affordability crisis hits differently due to climate change. In Norman Wells, N.W.T., the community depends on an ice road and river barges in the summer to bring in food and construction — but a melting road and a low river are impacting shipping and raising prices of goods. The Current’s producer[...]
The federal carbon tax and its rebates went up Monday, after weeks of intensifying political debate and protest. We look beyond the politics to break down what the tax is meant to do — and whether it's hitting that mark yet.
Millions of people fall victim to human traffickers who promise a better life in a new country, but force them into jobs with long hours and little to no pay. In her documentary My Dad Ward, freelance journalist Jazzmin Jiwa brings us the story of a Ugandan mother tricked into moving to Iraq and what[...]
Spring has come early to gardens across Canada, with some plants blooming sooner than expected after a record-breaking warm winter. Matt Galloway talks to experts about how climate change is changing the rules in their backyards, and how amateur gardeners can adapt.
From South Africa to Mexico to western Canada, parts of the world are bracing for extreme drought and water insecurity. Host Matt Galloway speaks with Bart Guyon, a rancher in Brazeau County, Alta., where he also serves as the local reeve; and journalist Erica Gies, author of Water Always Wins.
Journalist Anderson Cooper lost his father when he was 10, and his brother when he was 21 — but it wasn’t until the death of his mother in 2019 that he confronted any of that grief. In a conversation from December, he talked to Galloway about how squaring up to death helped him feel greater[...]
There’s a lot to talk about in Manitoba’s biggest city, including a new wave of leadership and Indigenous-led transformations within the city’s core. In February, Matt Galloway hosted a live show in Winnipeg, with music from singer-songwriter William Prince, and a discussion of the province’s future with Premier Wab Kinew. Plus, we embrace Winnipeg’s unique[...]
Rula Daood and Itamar Avneri are activists with Standing Together, a group of Israelis and Palestinians fighting to build a lasting peace. They talk to Matt Galloway about why that fight is more important now than ever, as bombs continue to fall on Gaza, and hostages remain in the clutches of Hamas.
Cocoa prices have tripled in the last 12 months, driving up the price of chocolate by as much as 40 per cent in some stores. But some researchers are looking into new — and potentially less expensive — ways to make the sweet treat. University of Guelph professor Alejandro Marangoni tells us more.
Last summer a submersible called the Titan imploded during a dive to see the wreck of the Titanic, killing all five people on board, A Fifth Estate investigation has now found that safety warnings went unheeded, and asks why the experimental, uncertified sub was allowed to make that dive in the first place.
Zach Edey grew up in Toronto, stands 7-foot-4 and is dominating the March Madness college basketball tournament. Guest host Duncan McCue talks to his mom, Julia Edey, about her own sporting career, the hard work that got her son to where he is, and what it’s like when people say Zach’s just tall — not[...]
Amie Archibald-Varley says that thinking of nursing as “a calling” makes it harder to speak out against the long hours, burnout and even physical abuse that nurses face. Archibald-Varley and Sara Fung are nurses who have become advocates for better supports in their profession. They talk to Matt Galloway about their new book The Wisdom[...]
Growth in the electric vehicle market is slowing, with some Canadians citing high prices and gaps in infrastructure as stumbling blocks to making the switch. We look at the growing political rhetoric around EVs both in Canada and the Biden-Trump race for the White House, and ask whether the federal government’s 2035 deadline is realistic.
Last week on The Current Canadian Olympic Committee CEO David Shoemaker called for more funding for national sports organizations. Former gymnast Kim Shore has been a long-time advocate against toxicity and abuse in Canadian sport. She joins us to respond to that funding call, and discuss what she believes would actually protect young athletes.
Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun will step down later this year, after a string of incidents renewed concerns about the safety of the company’s planes. Washington Post reporter Lori Aratani walks us through the crisis of confidence shaking the manufacturer.
Alicia Mathlin felt like her body was no longer hers after several rounds of debilitating cancer treatment — so she decided to stop, and focus on living her life. Matt Galloway talks to Mathlin about that decision, and asks medical experts about the push for “common-sense oncology,” which weighs the pros and cons of certain[...]
Some European grocery stores have adopted dynamic pricing — tinkering with food prices hundreds of times in a single day, based on competitor pricing or consumer demand. What would it mean for your wallet if you couldn’t be sure how much your groceries would cost at any given time of the day?
The cold plunge is championed by enthusiasts as physically and mentally rejuvenating — well worth the shock. As part of our series Well Founded, exercise scientist Nick Tiller talks us through the facts behind the frigid dip and other exercise trends.
ISIS-K has claimed responsibility for killing more than 130 people in Moscow Friday, though Russian President Vladimir Putin has pointed the finger of blame at Ukraine. Matt Galloway asks why the extremist group would attack Russia and what threat it poses globally.
An albatross versus a mouse might not sound like a fair fight, but on a remote South African island it’s the mice who are winning. We hear about an ambitious project to eradicate one million invasive mice on Marion Island, where the rodents are slaughtering seabirds at an alarming rate.
A 62-year-old man has become the first human to receive a new kidney from a genetically modified pig. Science writer Megan Molteni tells us how the gene-editing technology CRISPR made this possible, and the potential for xenotransplantation — the transplantation of organs from one species to another.
Amateur sports organizations have faced a reckoning after stories detailing abuse emerged in recent years. David Shoemaker, the CEO of the Canadian Olympic Committee, tells host Matt Galloway a lack of funding is putting safe sports at risk and making it harder for Canadians to excel in international competitions.
TED curator Chris Anderson sees generosity as inherent in all of us. In his new book Infectious Generosity: The Ultimate Idea Worth Spreading, he explores how we can use the internet to change lives for the better.
The federal government created a temporary visa program for Palestinians with family in Canada. The program aimed to bring 1,000 people to Canada, but only 14 have been approved so far. We hear from a Palestinian Canadian about the difficulty he’s experienced in getting his family to Canada, and from retired Canadian ambassador Gar Pardy[...]
There are more than two million ocean species, but researchers have documented less than 15 per cent of them. Researchers with Ocean Census, a project that aims to identify 100,000 species in the next 10 years, just found 100 more off the coast of New Zealand.
‘Kategate’ has been fodder for group chats as people around the world question Catherine Middleton’s whereabouts. According to her office, the Princess of Wales is recovering from abdominal surgery, but celebrity conspiracies abound.
The World Happiness Report places Canada 15th on the world happiness index, but the global ranking’s data finds people under 30 here and abroad are not feeling so great. One of the report’s lead authors explains what makes us happy — and why it’s not just money.
Fish harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador are protesting restrictions on the sale and processing of their catch. On Wednesday, the province was granted an injunction to stop protesters from blocking the entrance to the provincial legislature. Host Matt Galloway hears what’s behind the demonstrations and the province’s response.
A new UN report says 1.1 million people in the Gaza Strip are experiencing catastrophic food insecurity as Israel limits aid into the region. Now, international governments are airdropping supplies into Gaza. With rare access to an aid flight, CBC’s Adrienne Arsenault describes the crisis from above.
An NDP motion on Gaza has divided some Liberals on Parliament Hill. Meanwhile, the Liberals are defending their signature carbon tax policy as it comes under fire from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. Our national affairs panel discusses the week in Canadian politics.
Parts of Canada will be in the shadow of a solar eclipse on April 8. Host Matt Galloway hears from an eclipse chaser about the emotions that come as the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, and an educator on how to safely look to the sky during the celestial event.
Millions in parts of West and Central Africa have limited or no internet access after the underwater cable connecting the region was damaged earlier this month. We hear how those cables are repaired and the fascinating social history of the digital world.
Montreal-based consulting company Sweet Baby Inc. has become a target of anti-diversity activists claiming it’s trying to radically change the video game industry. We hear what’s behind the backlash as gaming becomes more diverse.
As warmer temperatures threaten ice in the Arctic Ocean, Canada’s boreal forests are creeping further north. Scientists share what the changes could mean and whether we can turn things around.
New research from the U.S., Canada and China has found children cheat less if you show them trust. Kang Lee, a developmental psychologist and a professor at the University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, explains how to Matt Galloway.
With about 100 million visits per day, Pornhub is one of the biggest websites on the planet. This four-part series pulls back the curtain on the scrappy, Montreal-based startup that revolutionized sex on the internet — and the massive scandal that exposed its dark side. The Pornhub Empire, season 2 of Understood, releases March 11.[...]
A series of women in Tennessee were found dead in the 1980s, but police couldn’t crack the case. News of the women faded from headlines — until a Tennessee teacher launched a class project to investigate the cold case. Now, students believe they’ve linked several of the deaths to one killer.
To feel languishing is to not feel alive or present. Four years after a pandemic that upended many lives, it may be a familiar feeling. Sociologist Corey Keyes, author of Languishing: How To Feel Alive Again in a World that Wears Us Down, explains how we can “flourish” amid adversity.
Vladimir Putin won the Russian election in a landslide on Sunday, though international observers quickly pointed out there was no real opposition to the incumbent president. We hear how Russians are feeling a day after the election and why Putin claims so much support in the country.
Members of the Haitian diaspora are calling for a Haitian-led solution as the country’s political situation continues to deteriorate. What that would actually look like as gangs retain control of the capital.
As elders in Nunavut age, many want to stay close to home and family. But few long-term care beds in the territory can mean moving south to facilities in Ottawa. The federal government recently announced more than $35 million in health-care funding. We hear what it means to ensure elders can age in their own[...]
amid concerns over speed-related deaths, intelligent speed assistance — systems that warn a driver when they’re driving too fast, and even limit a car’s top speed — has been discussed in the U.S., and will be mandatory in European cars this summer. Host Matt Galloway explores what it could mean for drivers, and how to[...]
Many turn to the internet for reviews of a product or service — but what happens when some of those reviews are fake? One reviewer speaks with host Matt Galloway about the fake posts she was paid to write and which reviews consumers should trust.
ByteDance, the China-based owner of social media giant TikTok, has been told by U.S. lawmakers to sell the app or have it banned. Politicians and experts say China’s connection poses a risk to national security, but the move to ban the app has raised concerns about censorship.
Aid groups and governments are trying to get food and medicine into Gaza as the humanitarian crisis worsens. Countries are dropping food by air, and a ship carrying 200 tonnes of food is on route from Cyprus. We hear what’s happening on the ground as Israel restricts aid deliveries into the region.
Dr. Daniel Drucker’s research helped create the diabetes drug Ozempic, a medication that has become popular because of its off-label use for weight loss. He speaks with host Matt Galloway about the drug’s future and concerns about its popularity in celebrity culture.
Decisions around medical assistance in dying are often made after difficult conversations with family members and loved ones. But a legal battle between a father and his adult daughter in Alberta is raising questions about who can make those decisions.
MDMA has a reputation as a party drug known as ecstasy, but researchers are calling for governments to more widely approve its use in treating PTSD. We hear from a former police officer who says he’s now on a “path of healing” after using the psychedelic drug alongside therapy.
Neuroscientist Charan Ranganath has spent his career trying to understand why we remember certain things and struggle with others. The author of Why We Remember explains why you can recall your high school locker combination but can’t remember where you left your keys.
Armed gangs now control about 80 per cent of Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince, and both the port and airport have been cut off. Prime Minister Ariel Henry said he’ll resign as soon as a transitional council is in place. Host Matt Galloway speaks with people on the ground and Canada’s ambassador to Haiti about the ongoing[...]
When Oregon voted to decriminalize hard drugs in 2020, it was considered a landmark moment in addressing addiction. Now in the face of fentanyl overdoses and concerns around public safety, the state has reversed course. We discuss what it means to those watching in both the United States and Canada.
PornHub is one of the internet’s biggest websites, with more than 100 million visits per day. We talk to Samantha Cole, host of the new CBC podcast The PornHub Empire, about the adult content site’s rise and the massive scandal that forced it to make huge changes.
Classrooms are increasingly made up of students with complex needs — students with learning disabilities, behavioural issues or newcomers learning to speak English. But teachers and parents say a lack of resources is letting students down. Guest host Rebecca Zandbergen speaks with experts about what’s needed to improve the experience for all students.
Paul Hughes, a Canadian farmer and military veteran, launched a humanitarian organization in Ukraine after Russia invaded the country two years ago. CBC Radio’s Danny Kerslake caught up with Hughes for his documentary, Mission 300.
Queen conch populations in Florida have dwindled in recent years, thanks in part to overfishing and climate change. Now, scientists are working to grow those populations by playing matchmaker.
An internal report obtained by CBC found that only 58 per cent of the Canadian Armed Forces would be able to respond if called upon in a crisis, and almost half of the military's equipment is “unavailable and unserviceable.” Guest host Duncan McCue speaks with defence experts about Canada’s NATO commitments, and pollster Shachi Kurl[...]
OpenAI’s Sora can generate lifelike videos from text prompts. The process feels “magical” to some, but it’s also raising concerns about the use of AI in disinformation campaigns, particularly as the 2024 U.S. election approaches. Disinformation expert Zeve Sanderson tells us what voters should be watching for.
The federal government has unveiled its long-awaited plan to cover drug costs for all Canadians, starting with diabetes medications and birth control. But as the pharmacare plan rolls out, questions about whether provinces and territories will buy in — and where health-care dollars are spent — are emerging.
For the first time in recorded history, a bald eagle nest has been discovered in Toronto. We discuss what it means for the endangered species.
Following a class-action lawsuit, the federal government reached a $1.47 billion settlement with survivors of the Indian day school system in 2019. Now, survivors are calling on the Supreme Court of Canada to intervene because they say groups behind the agreement have failed to represent their best interests.
After the Taliban was toppled in the wake of 9/11, Dr. Sima Samar was named Afghanistan’s first-ever minister of women's affairs. In her new memoir Outspoken, she reflects on her childhood, her fight for human and women’s rights in Afghanistan and the future of her country.
Films about historical events — like Maestro, Oppenheimer and Killers of the Flower Moon — are leading the pack at the Academy Awards. Kim Nelson, an associate professor of cinema and author of Making History Move, shares with guest host Duncan McCue why filmmakers are drawing from the past — and what we take from[...]
Nikki Haley dropped out of the running for Republican presidential candidate after a crushing defeat to Donald Trump on Super Tuesday. We discuss what the results might mean for the 2024 U.S. election.
Children’s author Sheree Fitch and retired journalist Gilles Plante built their dream home to grow old together in River John, N.S. But in the years that followed, Plante was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He died at home, with medical assistance, on March 2. We revisit The Current host Matt Galloway’s March 2023 conversation with the couple[...]
CBC journalist Gregor Craigie sees the housing crisis as a human crisis. In his new book, Our Crumbling Foundation, the author explores how Canada’s housing crunch affects owners, renters and homeless people — and international solutions that could help solve the problem.
As a member of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot, Masha Alyokhina has loudly protested against President Vladimir Putin. She speaks with The Current’s Matt Galloway about the legacy left by opposition politician Alexei Navalny and why she says she doesn't have time to fear for her own safety.
Scientists are learning more about how whales communicate, and the dangers all the other noises in the sea pose to their survival. We go inside the larynx of a baleen whale, and hear why scientists say it’s time to rethink how we use the ocean in order to protect the gentle giants.
Yuval Noah Harari, Israeli historian and author of Sapiens, is a longtime critic of Benjamin Netanyahu. He discusses why we need to acknowledge difficult facts about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, not ignore them.
With polls signalling a potential rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump in the 2024 U.S. election, reporter Aaron Blake says this Super Tuesday — when the most states will vote in presidential primaries — is less “super” than usual. The Current’s Matt Galloway speaks with Blake and pollster Christine Matthews about what Super Tuesday[...]
Afghan migrants who fled to Pakistan when the Taliban returned to power are fearing for their lives after a deadline to leave the country passed. While many are in hiding, some caught in the sweep say they’re not Afghan at all. CBC 's South Asia correspondent Salimah Shivji speaks with The Current’s Matt Galloway about[...]
Listeners share stories about when elderly loved ones enter hospital care, and some suggestions on what needs to change in Canada’s health-care system as we all get older.
In response to an estimated 30,000 illegal rental units — some housing 10 to 15 residents in unsafe conditions — Brampton, Ont., started a pilot program to require landlords to be licensed. It was put on pause after backlash — but officials are planning to start it up again.
Measles is on the rise abroad and cases are popping up in Canada. Dr. Isaac Bogoch explains why many health experts are concerned as Canadians get set to travel for March Break.
Former prime minister Brian Mulroney — known for brokering a free-trade deal with the United States, introducing the GST and his vocal opposition to apartheid in South Africa — has died. He was 84. Two former colleagues, David Crombie and Perrin Beatty, and former CBC chief correspondent Peter Mansbridge reflect on the politician’s legacy with[...]
Aid agencies are warning of famine in Gaza as Israel continues its siege on the region. As it becomes increasingly difficult to get aid into the Gaza Strip, some countries, including Canada, are now considering dropping food and supplies — from the sky.
Native American novelist Tommy Orange, an enrolled member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, became a sensation with his debut novel, There There. His new book, Wandering Stars, is the story of trauma, triumph and the impact of residential schools in the United States. Why the author says he needs to write about[...]
Dianne Whelan was at a turning point in her life. So she decided she would travel across Canada — by bike, canoe, snow shoe and foot — along the Trans Canada Trail. Whelan shares what she learned about herself and how her faith in the goodness of strangers was restored in a new documentary film,[...]
After a nearly seven-month pause, renewable energy projects are back on the table in Alberta. But those projects come with strict rules — including a buffer zone around wind turbine projects and a ban on renewable energy products on prime agricultural land. We hear about the impact those new rules could have on investment in[...]
Two years into Russia's war with Ukraine, the fighting continues — and so does the healing in villages reclaimed by Ukrainian forces. Allegations of sexual violence, perpetrated against soldiers and civilians, have emerged from the war. Freelance reporter Sarah Lawrynuik visited one of those towns to understand how survivors are now fighting a new battle[...]
Cities need more housing, but federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says municipalities are standing in the way of it being built and is promising to tie funding to homes created. Three Canadian mayors — Halifax’s Mike Savage; Brampton, Ont.’s Patrick Brown; and Surrey, B.C.’s Brenda Locke — discuss the challenges their cities are facing when[...]
The Earth is constantly slowing down, in part due to climate change. That’s why a couple times per year, scientists add a “leap second” to the clock to keep everything in sync. Now, some researchers are advocating to extend that second to a minute.
Health journalist Liz Payne's father was 90, healthy and drove himself around town, until one day when he fell and broke his arm. Soon after he was admitted to hospital, then transferred to rehab and eventually, taken to long-term care where he died the year after his fall. The Current’s Matt Galloway speaks with Payne[...]
Patients in Alabama are reeling after the state’s Supreme Court declared that frozen embryos produced for in-vitro fertilization are people with legal rights. Lawyer AshLeigh Meyer Dunham says the decision could have significant legal implications for people seeking fertility treatments.
The federal government is focusing its sights on big tech with the online harms bill, tabled on Monday. The bill aims to combat hatred and incitements to violence, protect young people online and create a new commission on digital safety. Justice Minister Arif Virani says the proposed legislation is a needed safeguard, amid increasing radicalization[...]
Kara Swisher has been writing about our life online since the beginning of her career. In her new memoir Burn Book, the opinionated tech journalist holds little back about the people who control the technology we use. Swisher speaks with The Current’s Matt Galloway about what it will take to hold tech titans to account[...]
A year after his election, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s government has cracked down on illegal logging in the Amazon rainforest, and made it harder for farmers to raise animals in protected lands. But a new study says the Amazon is still on course to reach a critical tipping point of degraded earth[...]
Last October, five people across two homes in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., were found dead, including Angie Sweeney and her ex — the man who pulled the trigger. Sweeney’s friends and family believe her death could have been prevented if recommendations from an inquest into a similar killing had been implemented. In her documentary Angie’s[...]
School boards across the country are struggling to find — and keep — teachers. Educators are calling it a “crisis,” and they say efforts to get teachers into schools faster may have a negative impact on learning. We hear from teachers and advocates about what’s behind the shortage, and what solutions are needed to help[...]
In the wake of protests over Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel and Israel's ensuing bombardment of Gaza, author and professor Randy Boyagoda has been appointed a special adviser on civil discourse at the University of Toronto. He speaks with The Current’s Matt Galloway about what civility means in the era of social media, and[...]
NASA is looking for volunteers to live in a habitat meant to simulate life on the red planet. Suzanne Bell, NASA’s lead for its Behavioral Health and Performance Laboratory at the Johnson Space Center, tells Galloway what researchers are hoping to learn from this experiment.
At least one third of construction workers struggle with their mental health, according to Statistics Canada. We hear a worker’s story about what he went through privately, what’s preventing workers from talking about how they’re doing — and how that’s slowly changing.
The actions of Nathaniel Veltman, who was convicted of murder and attempted murder after deliberately driving his truck into five members of the Afzaal family in London, Ont., on June 6, 2021, amounted to terrorism under Canadian law, a judge ruled Thursday. Matt Galloway speaks with child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Javeed Sukhera, who knew[...]
The Secret Life of Canada is a podcast about the country you know and the stories you don't. Join hosts Leah-Simone Bowen and Falen Johnson as they reveal the beautiful, terrible and weird histories of this land. In this clip from the brand new episode “Sorry not Sorry” Leah and Falen try to find out[...]
Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s career change — from wise-cracking television star to wartime leader — was an unlikely one, to put it mildly. But Time Magazine’s Simon Shuster watched the transformation up close. He tells us more about it in his new book, The Showman.
As the 2024 Major League Soccer season kicks off, several controversies — from a referee strike to outraged fans in East Asia — have cast a bit of a cloud over the opening matches. Soccer writer John Molinaro walks us through the issues.
Emirates Airlines in Dubai is installing a biometric system that lets passengers through airport security just by showing their face. It’s an idea gaining traction around the world, from Germany to China. We hear about the appeal of — and alarm created by — this technology.
Before his death, Alexei Navalny was the most visible symbol of the opposition to Vladimir Putin in Russia. Now, the opposition is in a precarious state. Matt Galloway speaks with Navalny’s friend and Putin critic Boris Akunin, a celebrated Russian author; and political scientist Jan Matti Dollbaum, co-author of Navalny.
The calls for a ceasefire are growing louder after more than 29,000 Palestinians were killed in Gaza, according to Palestinian officials. But Israel is still threatening to invade Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians have fled for refuge. Matt Galloway asks Bob Rae, Canada's ambassador to the United Nations, if the international community should[...]
Rec hockey player Ike Werner was sliced in the neck by a fellow player’s skate. He tells Matt Galloway about the experience.
When Russia’s invasion of Ukraine started two years ago, Paul Hughes, a Canadian farmer and military veteran, went to Ukraine and launched a humanitarian organization there. CBC Radio’s Danny Kerslake caught up with Hughes for his documentary, Mission 300.
In the span of just 48 hours, there were 23 drug overdoses in Belleville, Ont. — enough to prompt Mayor Neil Ellis to declare a state of emergency. In the days that followed, our producer Amanda Grant went to Belleville to meet some of the people facing the crisis head on and learn what support[...]
The cost of just about everything is going up in Canada, and a growing number of seniors are living with the reality that they can’t afford to retire. We hear from two Canadians who planned to retire at 65 but are still working at 67 — out of necessity.
It took an international agreement in 1919 for a five-day workweek and eight-hour workdays to become a reality — and as Gary Cross, author of Free Time, points out, that is when our idea of free time came to be. He tells Matt Galloway about his book and how fast consumerism is distorting our free[...]
Israel has stepped up military action in Rafah, a city on the border of Egypt where more than a million people in Gaza have taken refuge. It’s still threatening to invade the city, despite those stuck there not having anywhere else to flee. Matt Galloway speaks with aid worker Yousef Hammash, who fled with his[...]
A new report by a United Nations conservation group highlights the challenges migratory species are facing. It says nearly half of the world's migratory species are in decline — and loss of habitat is the biggest threat. But conservationists in Canada say there are ways to work across borders to address this, as working together[...]
In a conversation from January, George Stroumboulopoulos discusses the power of music, the art of listening and the elements that have shaped his lengthy career in the broadcast industry.
We revisit Duncan McCue's Hands of a Midwife documentary, which highlights the decades long struggle for Inuit women to find proper midwife care in northern Quebec. That started to change in 1986 when the north’s first midwifery clinic opened in Puvirnituq, allowing women to stay close to their community, family and support.
There’s a lot to talk about in Manitoba’s biggest city, including a new wave of leadership and Indigenous-led transformations within the city’s core. Matt Galloway hosts a live show at Winnipeg’s West End Cultural Centre, with music from singer-songwriter William Prince, and a discussion of the province’s future with Premier Wab Kinew. Plus, we explore[...]
Lab-grown meat was pitched as the future of protein, with billions invested in the promise of meat without killing. But lab-grown steak and chicken still haven't made it to the dinner table — will they ever?
Jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died Friday, according to Russian prison services. Political activist Bill Browder says Russian President Vladimir Putin saw Navalny as a “mortal threat,” and his death sends a message ahead of elections in the country next month.Plus, we revisit Matt Galloway’s conversation with filmmaker Daniel Roher, who won an Oscar[...]
James Smith Cree Nation has released its own emergency alert system, something that Chief Robert Head says could have saved lives during the mass stabbing attack in September 2022. Matt Galloway discusses First Nations safety and security with Robert Head, chief of Peter Chapman, one of the bands that make up James Smith Cree Nation;[...]
From the BBC World Service and CBC Podcasts comes Hollywood Exiles. Host Oona Chaplin tells the story of the decades-long campaign to root out communism in Hollywood. It’s a campaign that eventually drove her grandfather, Charlie Chaplin, and many others out of tinseltown. Hollywood Exiles is a tale of glamour, duplicity and political intrigue that[...]
Susannah Breslin was enrolled in a psychological experiment from almost the moment she was born. It studied personality traits in children to see whether you could predict the type of adults they’d become. The journalist and author talks about her new book Data Baby, the cost of being a human lab rat — and what[...]
Vancouver non-profit Stand.earth is accusing Lululemon of greenwashing, saying the clothing retailer’s environmental claims and marketing don’t line up with its own sustainability reports. We look at Stand.earth’s call for the Competition Bureau to investigate, and ask how consumers can spot greenwashing if they want to make environmentally friendly choices.
Dagmar Boettcher was one of the first girls to play organized hockey against boys 60 years ago — and this week she’ll be among thousands of fans cheering on players in Canada’s new Professional Women’s Hockey League. She reflects on how hockey shaped her life and what has changed over the past six decades.
Scientists at McMaster University say they’ve discovered a cell that remembers allergic reactions and triggers an immune response. Some experts say the finding could be the key to future treatments for people living with food allergies.
Matt Galloway talks to Winnipeggers about embracing winter in all its glory, whether that’s wandering snowy trails or a game of crokicurl, the Manitoba game that’s sweeping North America. Plus, we take a bite of Manitoba's unique food culture, from nips to Fat Boys to honey dill sauce.
Singer-songwriter William Prince has had a blockbuster year, from Juno nominations to performing at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry. But what’s more important to him is that his son can look back one day and say, “My dad was happy.” The award-winning artist talks about making an intentional choice to stand in joy, and why it’s[...]
Wab Kinew says he never set out to be the first First Nations premier in Canada, but he does intend to be the best premier Manitoba has ever had. He talks to Matt Galloway about the weight of expectations, the tough decisions ahead and why he thinks Manitoba is ready to take a leading role[...]
Daria Zozulia made Winnipeg her home after leaving Russia-occupied Crimea in 2014, and now helps Ukrainians who are escaping Russia’s full-scale invasion. She’s hiring some of those newcomers at the Sausage Makers Delicatessen Meat Market, a Winnipeg deli that has become something of a community hub.
Research suggests five million Canadians have a mental health disorder — but only about half of them receive any professional help. Guest host Rebecca Zandbergen takes a look at the push for universal mental health care and what it’ll take to help struggling Canadians.
Aid worker Yousef Hammash and his family fled south to Rafah as Israel’s military offensive unfolded in Gaza. But after Israel bombed Rafah Sunday night and warned that an incursion is imminent, Hammash says there’s nowhere safe in what he called a “land of rubble.”
Auditor General Karen Hogan has delivered a scathing report about the federal government’s ArriveCan app. She says the cost of the pandemic-era travel app ballooned to an estimated $59.5 million, but poor record-keeping means the true figure is “impossible to determine.”
A sauna feels nice on a cold winter’s day — but what do we know for sure about the physical and social benefits? In a conversation from last month, Matt Galloway talks to filmmaker Anna Hints, whose film about sauna culture is up for an Oscar; and asks Dr. Peter Attia what sweating it out[...]
A growing number of nurses are leaving an overburdened health-care system to work for private agencies — an exodus that is fuelling staffing shortages and driving up costs in the public system. What’s needed to recruit and retain staff, and make nursing sustainable for those already on the brink of burnout?
Manitoba has welcomed 20,000 Ukrainians since Russia invaded their homeland two years ago. We meet three women who left their lives and families behind to start a new life in Winnipeg, in the hopes of helping the war effort at home.
Jordan Stranger’s murals can be seen all over Winnipeg. The Cree artist and graphic designer from Peguis First Nation tells us what it’s like to share his art and culture, and why he hopes commemorating the past can lead to a brighter future.
Manitoba’s new NDP government has promised to search a Winnipeg landfill believed to hold the remains of two murdered Indigenous women, after more than a year of debate and delay. Matt Galloway asks Minister Nahanni Fontaine when the search will happen and what that commitment means to her personally, as a longtime advocate for Indigenous[...]
Winnipeg’s known for frigid winters, but the city has felt warmer temperatures this year. We meet some of the people who embrace all that ‘Winterpeg’ has to offer, and find out how businesses that rely on the cold have been forced to pivot.
When a B.C. teen tried to kill herself, her dad found messages on her phone from an online cult called 764, goading her into self-harm. The Fifth Estate’s Ioanna Roumeliotis talks to Matt Galloway about 764 and other groups that target vulnerable minors online and pressure them into recording or livestreaming self-harm.
Europe has seen a sharp increase in measles, with researchers saying it's only a matter of time before more cases show up here in Canada. Dr. Natasha Crowcroft tells us about the race to catch up on routine vaccinations after a pandemic lull.
Vancouver's SROs, or single-room-occupancy hotels, house thousands of vulnerable people — and are notoriously unsafe spaces. Two recent court rulings are putting pressure on the B.C. government to make this housing option safer, perhaps by buying it.
It’s a barbecue shaped like a giant football. And this Super Bowl weekend, its Quebec inventor Stéphan Genest will use the “ballbecue” to cook for more than 1,000 people in Las Vegas — realizing a dream 15 years in the making.

Three stories to expand your worldview, delivered daily. Matt Galloway cuts through a sea of choice to bring you stories that transcend the news cycle. Conversations with big thinkers, household names, and people living the news. An antidote to algorithms that cater to what you already know ‘ and a meeting place for diverse perspectives. In its 20 years, the Current has become a go-to place for stories that shape and entertain us. Released daily, Monday to Friday.

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