The Current: Recent Episodes
CBC Radio
CBC Radio's The Current is a meeting place of perspectives with a fresh take on issues that affect Canadians today.
Last month the Assembly of First Nations voted down a draft agreement with the federal government on child welfare reform, worth $47.8 billion. Matt Galloway talks to Chief Derek Nepinak, who says his community needed this agreement; and advocate Cindy Blackstock, who says the goal isn’t a perfect deal, but a just one.
Christine Harron, a book-loving teenager from Hanover, Ontario, leaves for school in the spring of 1993 and is never seen again. A suspect emerges, confessing to her murder, but the case falls apart and Christine's family are left without answers.
In Season 9 of the award winning podcast Someone Knows Something, David Ridgen, along with Christine's mother, reopen the investigation and come face to face with the man who said he killed Chrissy.
Someone Knows Something is the investigative true crime series by award-winning documentarian David Ridgen. Each season tackles an unsolved case, uncovering details and bringing closure to families.
More episodes of Someone Knows Something are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/Agj3dQwc
Ten Indigenous people have been killed during interactions with police since August, prompting calls for a national inquiry. Matt Galloway talks to Nadalie Saddleback, whose 15-year-old grandson Hoss Lightning was fatally shot by the RCMP three months ago.
Jas Arora’s life was turned upside down by phone calls from strangers demanding money and threatening violence if he didn’t pay up. He’s not alone. The CBC documentary Our House explores threats and extortion targeting members of the South Asian community in Canada, and why the RCMP alleges the criminals have links to India’s government.
At 91, the great Willie Nelson has released his 153rd album — and shows no signs of slowing down. Music journalist John Spong has ranked all 153 of those records and explores the artist’s story in the podcast, One By Willie.
The COP29 climate summit begins today, with uncertainty about the impact U.S. president-elect Donald Trump will have on climate change policy. Matt Galloway talks to a panel of climate experts about what could happen if the U.S. retreats from the fight, and what roles the international community should take on.
Sonia and Guy d'Artois were part of a secret force that parachuted into occupied France to help fight Nazis during the Second World War. In May, Nahlah Ayed told the story of their love affair — and their mission behind enemy lines — in her book, The War We Won Apart.
About 30 veterans have graduated so far from Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in Ottawa, thanks to a Veterans Affairs Canada education and training benefit. Graduates Frank Ouellette and Melissa Paris share how cooking has helped them heal, find purpose and move forward after their military service.
Some Ontario mayors are asking Premier Doug Ford to invoke the notwithstanding clause so they can clear homeless encampments in their cities. Matt Galloway talks to Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, who signed the letter; and Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, who says the solution lies elsewhere.
There have been violent confrontations between Sikh separatists and Hindu nationalists outside temples in B.C. and Ontario. We look at what's behind the protests, how the diaspora here is responding and what it will take to turn down the temperature.
What is it about air travel that prompts so many people to behave so badly? As one airline tries measures to shame passengers who jump the boarding queue, we ask an etiquette expert about the dos, don’ts and absolutely nots of air travel.
Younger men voted for Donald Trump in big numbers, perhaps influenced by endorsements from ultra-popular podcasters like Joe Rogan and Lex Fridman. Journalist Rebecca Jennings explains how podcasters and influencers are shaking up the political ecosystem — and eclipsing mainstream media.
A new audio project gathers the sounds of human migration, from the rhythm of a baby’s heartbeat to the sizzle of refugees cooking food, in a land far from home. Stuart Fowkes says his project aims to highlight the humanity in one of the most polarizing topics of our time.
What does Donald Trump’s victory tell us about the state of the United States, and its future? Matt Galloway talks to historians Carol Anderson and Jill Lepore about how the economy, class, race and gender played into this election — and where things go from here.
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has promised an America-first approach to trade, with huge tariffs to back it up. What can Ottawa do to protect Canada’s economy?
Political scientist Robert Spitzer talks us through the ongoing criminal cases facing Trump, and whether he will use his presidential powers to go after his “enemies.”
What might the next four years hold? We talk to Connecticut Republican Party chairman Ben Proto and Keneisha Grant, an associate professor of political science at Howard University.
Tracey Danka is a staunch Trump supporter; her husband Ed voted for Kamala Harris. They tell us about the mood in their house the day after the election. And we check back in with voters we met in Michigan: Audrey Lance, an obstetrician who campaigned for Kamala Harris on reproductive rights; and Brian Pannebecker, founder of Auto Workers for Trump.
Donald Trump will be the 47th president of the United States, and in the end it wasn’t even close. Matt Galloway talks to political analysts about why voters weren’t put off by Trump’s criminal convictions and inflammatory rhetoric — and what Democrats misread about the mood of the electorate.
Anishinaabe senator and renowned lawyer Murray Sinclair died Monday, aged 73. Matt Galloway talks to Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew and Indigenous advocate Cindy Blackstock about the man they knew, and his legacy.
The world has “become incapable of making peace,” says UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi, allowing escalating conflicts to force more than 120 million people from their homes in places like Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan and Mexico. Grandi talks to Matt Galloway about the plight of those refugees and why he thinks the United Nations is failing to protect the victims of war.
As election day finally arrives in the U.S., we check back in with three undecided voters in crucial swing states that could decide whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris become the country’s next president. What helped them make up their minds?
Sandra Demontigny was in her 30s when she was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's, a disease she watched eat away at her father and grandmother. Demontigny wants to one day access medical assistance in dying and has been fighting for people in her position to consent to the procedure in advance, while they still can. Now, the Quebec government has agreed to the change — we hear what that means to Demontigny and her fight for a good death.
Céline Dion returned to the global stage this summer after a rare illness forced her out of the spotlight and threatened her decades-long career. The new CBC podcast Celine: Understood explores her ascent from a small-town Quebec singer to a global pop icon.
Donald Trump has been ramping up his unfounded claims of election fraud, fuelling fears that this week’s U.S. presidential election could be contested or even become violent. We look at the brewing battle over casting those votes — and counting them fairly.
Ruaridh Nicoll, Cuba correspondent with The Guardian, tells guest host Susan Ormiston how the island’s multiple power shutdowns point to the overall decline of the government’s services — it has few true allies, is financially strapped and is at risk of becoming a failed state.
Food bank usage has surged in recent years, with a new report from Food Banks Canada indicating over two million visits in March 2024 alone. Experts suggest that income support and making healthy food more affordable through price controls could help Canadians.
In her new book Going to Seed, Kate J. Neville reflects on the value of being idle. In September, she talked about the importance of escaping the busyness that builds up around family, work and social demands.
Fatbergs are causing costly plumbing issues and sewage overflow in Metro Vancouver. These rock-like masses of waste form when fat, oil and grease are mixed with non-biodegradable items like wet wipes – which is why wastewater experts want us to think twice about what we put down the toilet and drain.
Israel’s government passed a law on Monday to ban the UN’s Palestinian relief agency (UNRWA), the main source of aid for Palestinians. A spokesperson for the organization says it will cause deadly consequences for Palestinians who are already suffering.
As days get shorter and temperatures drop, flu season is upon us. Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist at Toronto General Hospital, tells guest host Susan Ormiston about what to expect this year.
Sarah Smarsh grew up on a wheat farm in Kansas, and in her new essay collection Bone of the Bone: Essays on America by a Daughter of the Working Class, she tackles the narrative that people from the heartland are just “backwards, bigoted, terrible folks.”
They needed certainty. They got chaos. For over a decade, countless people from at least five different countries put their trust in a company offering prenatal paternity tests. It promised clients “99.9% accuracy” — but then routinely, for over a decade, identified the wrong biological fathers.
Investigative journalists Jorge Barrera and Rachel Houlihan track down the people whose lives were torn apart by these bad results, the shattered families and acrimonious court cases that followed, and the story behind the company that continues to stand by its testing and is still operating today.
About Uncover: Crime. Investigation. Revelation. Uncover brings you explosive, high-caliber true crime year-round. From CIA mind control to serial abuse, mysterious disappearances to wrongful imprisonment. Each season features a new host who is deeply connected to the story, committed to tracking down the truth. With new episodes weekly, and over twenty seasons to choose from, Uncover represents the best in true crime.
More episodes of Uncover are available at: https://lnk.to/bYdQKYS0
For over a decade, countless people’s lives were turned upside down when a Canadian company knowingly issued incorrect paternity tests — despite promising “99.9 per cent accuracy.” Investigative journalists Jorge Barrera and Rachel Houlihan tell this story in Bad Results, the latest season of CBC’s true crime podcast, Uncover.
It's been three years since Indigenous leaders in Kamloops, Cowessess and other First Nations revealed there were hundreds of unmarked graves on the sites of former residential schools. Kimberly Murray, who was appointed special independent interlocutor for missing children and unmarked graves and burial sites associated with Indian Residential Schools, talks about her new report — and the 42 obligations Canadian institutions must meet.
Conservation advocates at the UN’s biological diversity convention propose that fungi be categorized separately from animals and plants, as they can play a significant role in protecting the environment.
In response to Canadians struggling to afford housing, the Conservative leader has pledged to remove the GST on newly-built homes sold for less than a million dollars. Economist Mike Moffatt likes the idea, but says that it needs to go further by building more homes.
Ukraine says more than 19,000 children have been taken into Russia since the war began — and most have not returned. Guest host Susan Ormiston talks to Mykola Kuleba, Ukraine’s former children’s ombudsman, who is urging the international community to help bring those children home.
New Brunswick chose change, the Saskatchewan Party won a fifth straight majority, and the B.C. result was so close it took days to decide. Our national affairs panel looks at what these provincial results might mean for the next federal election — and whether “turbulence is all but guaranteed.”
In the face of human-made climate change, philosopher Todd May asks whether we even deserve to inhabit this planet in his book, Should We Go Extinct? In September, he told Matt Galloway that the question could force us to consider how to be better stewards of the Earth.
Historian Timothy Snyder says thinking about freedom as “me against the system” is actually a trap that stops people from being truly free. The best-selling author of On Tyranny spoke with Matt Galloway at the Vancouver Writers Fest about his new book On Freedom, and why he’s now “100 per cent convinced” that there will be violence around the looming U.S. election.
When journalist Tanya Talaga's great uncle requested government documents about his mother, he was told she didn't exist. In her book The Knowing, Talaga digs into how her family’s Indigenous identity was erased, and what that tells us about Canadian history.
Journalist Bob Woodward's new book, War, takes us inside the White House to explore how the presidencies of Joe Biden and Donald Trump tackled global conflicts, from Ukraine to the Middle East to the fight for the American presidency itself.
Canadian billionaire Frank Stronach is facing allegations of sexual assault from 13 women, spanning decades. The Fifth Estate’s Mark Kelley spoke to some of those women, and put the allegations to Stronach in exclusive one-on-one interviews.
Mats Sundin captained the Toronto Maple Leafs for 11 seasons, and still has more career goals, overtime goals, and points than any other Leafs player. He reflects on his NHL career — and the importance of family at every twist and turn — in his new memoir Home and Away.
Pauline Nickerson says it would be a miserable world without music. She and her husband Arnold, both in their 90s, host weekly kitchen parties in Nova Scotia, bringing music and joy to a faithful crowd of seniors who never miss a week.
The Blue Bird Inn on Detroit’s west side was the birthplace of bebop jazz and a hub for the city’s working-class Black community. Michelle Jahra McKinney gives us a tour of the venue, which closed 20 years ago but is now being revitalized as a music venue and archive.
Arab-American residents of Dearborn, Mich., have usually voted Democrat. But anger over the war in the Middle East is prompting many voters to turn away from Kamala Harris, and consider a protest vote for Donald Trump. In this crucial swing state, could that anger decide the outcome of this entire election?
Abortion is top of mind for many U.S. voters following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. We talk to women in Michigan about what the issue means to them, and what this election means for health care and reproductive rights across the whole country.
Michigan has been called the state that put the world on wheels, but after weathering decades of decline the state’s auto industry is now reckoning with the transition to electric vehicles. We hear why one retired auto worker is backing Donald Trump, despite what he said about Detroit.
Rumble may be a lesser-known social media site, but it’s been gaining momentum as a platform for content creators banned by bigger sites. Nora Young, from the CBC’s Visual Investigations Unit, digs into the Canadian-founded video platform’s soaring popularity.
The new documentary All Too Clear explores the darkest depths of the Great Lakes, and finds a vast carpet of invasive quagga mussels, numbering in the quadrillions. Guest host Peter Armstrong talks to filmmakers Zach Melnick and Yvonne Drebert about their deep dive into that ecological damage — and the century-old shipwreck they discovered along the way.
The Bank of Canada has slashed its key interest rate to 3.75 per cent, the biggest drop since the start of the pandemic. We look at how long it will take for this to reach the wallets of cash-strapped Canadians — and the tightrope the Bank is walking when it comes to inflation.
Elon Musk is giving away $1 million US every day to someone who signs his petition to support “freedom of speech and the right to bear arms,” as long as they’re a registered voter in a swing state. Critics say it’s an attempt to sway votes for Donald Trump — and could be illegal.
Céline Dion is having a moment. It’s not her first, and millions of fans are hoping it won’t be her last. While Céline’s international stardom seems obvious now, it was all so unlikely.
Now, as a rare illness threatens to retire Celine’s more-than-four-decade long career, in Céline: Understood culture writer Thomas Leblanc reveals the surprising cultural, political and business alchemy that created one of the most enduring superstars the planet has ever seen.
Understood is an anthology podcast that takes you out of the daily news cycle and inside the events, people, and cultural moments you want to know more about. Over a handful of episodes, each season unfolds as a story, hosted by a well-connected reporter, and rooted in journalism you can trust. Driven by insight and fueled by curiosity…The stories of our time: Understood.
More episodes of Understood are available at: https://lnk.to/CelineUnderstood
Google has signed a first-of-its-kind deal to fuel its AI data centres with nuclear power, from next-generation small modular reactors that are yet to be built. We look at AI’s enormous appetite for power — and whether it could drive growth in the alternative energy sector.
We know music can soothe the soul, but neuroscientist Daniel Levitin says it could also help heal the body and brain. Last month, he spoke with Matt Galloway about the power of music as medicine — and how it helped his friend, Joni Mitchell, recover from a brain aneurysm.
Justin Trudeau could face calls to resign from his own “revolting caucus” Wednesday, while Pierre Poilievre is under increased scrutiny for refusing to get security clearance. Guest host Peter Armstrong unpacks the politics with the CBC’s Catherine Cullen, the Globe and Mail's Stephanie Levitz and the National Post’s Christopher Nardi.
In the dead of night, charity workers head into the Arizona desert, with food and water for migrants trying to cross into the U.S. Not far away, a rancher says the people he sees constantly crossing his land are criminals. And an undocumented family shares what life is like for them, from running a small business to getting their kids into college, without immigration status. Matt Galloway travels to Arizona to meet these people and other voters, and learn why the border has become a flashpoint in this swing state — one that could decide who wins the looming U.S. election.
At 18 years old, Nima Rinji Sherpa has become the youngest person to climb the world’s 14 tallest mountains, including Everest. He joins us from his home in Kathmandu to share what he saw at the top of the world.
Donald Trump has suggested God has chosen him to lead the U.S., an idea that is striking a chord with white Christian nationalists. Author and religious scholar Bradley Onishi explains the role that group plays in shaping U.S. politics — and the looming election.
Many women experiencing a miscarriage end up in the ER, where they can face long wait times and a lack of compassion. A report published this week is calling for investments in early pregnancy care in Canada, arguing it would reduce the substantial suffering of pregnancy loss.
Israel says its soldiers killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in a firefight Thursday. What will his death mean for the escalating conflict in the region, the Israeli hostages still held by Hamas, and the plight of Palestinian civilians under assault from Israel in Gaza?
Acclaimed Montreal chef Chuck Hughes never really cooked at home before he had kids — but now he's conjuring up recipes like hotdog french toast with his 8 and 10-year-old sous-chefs. He shares some recipes that your kids might love in his new book Home Cooking: Family Favourite Recipes From My Kitchen To Yours.
New figures show a sharp drop in overdose deaths in the U.S., offering a rare glimmer of hope in the opioid crisis. Guest host Rebecca Zandbergen digs into what could be driving that decrease, whether it’s a blip — and what it all means for saving lives here in Canada.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he has the names of Conservative parliamentarians involved in foreign interference, but Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has refused the security screening that would give him access to those names. In response, Poilievre said the prime minister is lying and should name names. National security expert Wesley Wark unpacks Trudeau’s explosive testimony to the foreign interference inquiry Wednesday.
We received a lot of mail about Nova Scotia’s plan to fast-track licensing for foreign-trained doctors who come to Canada, reducing the time from 18 months to 12 weeks in some cases. Dr. Michelle Morros, a family physician in Alberta, shares her thoughts.
Ottawa expelled six Indian diplomats this week, following RCMP allegations that Indian officials in Canada have been involved in a wide range of criminal activities. The CBC’s Salimah Shivji joins us from Delhi to discuss the allegations — and how they’ve been received in India.
Journalist Elizabeth Renzetti says the fight for women's rights is far from over, from persistent wage inequality to a global backlash over reproductive rights. She tells us about her new book What She Said: Conversations About Equality — and why she thinks the pop star Taylor Swift represents the strange dichotomy that so many young women are trapped in today.
A Canadian soldier fighting in Ukraine had a recent brush with death after being badly wounded in an attack from Russian forces. The CBC’s David Common brings us a rare window into the war through the eyes of this Canadian fighter, known as Shadow.
Donald Trump says he’ll slap tariffs on global imports if he wins the White House, which could spell trouble for Canadian business. But Kirsten Hillman, Canada's ambassador to the U.S., says these protectionist tendencies aren’t new — and her team is already pushing back.
The CBC’s Katie Nicholson was reporting live from the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot when she was swarmed by Trump supporters and forced off air. In her new documentary she tracks down one of the people who harassed her — a woman who still firmly believes the 2020 U.S. election was stolen, and is married to a lifelong Democrat who does not.
DeMar DeRozan changed the conversation around mental health in basketball, starting with a single tweet about his own struggles with depression. In September, the former Toronto Raptor spoke to Matt Galloway about why he now sees vulnerability as a form of strength — and why he “couldn't stand” Kyle Lowry when they first met.
Gaza has become a graveyard for the world’s humanity, says Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha. He fled the enclave with his wife and children when Israel invaded last year, in a military campaign that has since killed 31 members of his extended family. He talks to Matt Galloway about watching that violence from afar, and writing poetry amid unimaginable loss.
Arielle Johnson says knowing the basic building blocks of taste — on a molecular level — can help any cook create something delicious. In a conversation from May, she talks to Matt Galloway about the science of flavour and her book, Flavorama.
Over the past year, more than 4,000 visits to ERs in Toronto were made by a small group of 100 unhoused people. Now, the city’s University Health Network is supporting Dunn House, a project offering homes to people in that group, with onsite medical and social supports.
Canadian Shane Gross has just won the Wildlife Photo of the Year award, for a picture that might change how you think about tadpoles. He tells us about the time he spends underwater and what he wants people on dry land to know about the world below the surface.
Journalist Will Doig says there’s reasons for hope in even the darkest topics. As editor of the online magazine Reasons to be Cheerful — launched by David Byrne of the Talking Heads — Doig searches for stories that embody change and remind us of what’s good in the world.
Last month Matt Galloway visited the islands of Haida Gwaii, to hear about a historic agreement that recognizes the Haida Nation’s title over the land. We revisit his conversation with renowned Haida artist Christian White — about preserving and celebrating his nation’s ancient traditions — and hear about the return of sea otters to the archipelago’s ecosystem.
Julie Hosack’s son Cole is one of several people who have gone missing in Dawson Creek, a picturesque B.C. town that has become a hotbed for drugs and violent crime. The Fifth Estate went there to investigate the sudden spike in deadly crime, and found a community on edge and deeply frustrated with the RCMP.
It takes 18 months for a foreign-trained doctor to be licensed to work in Canada, but a new plan in Nova Scotia aims to cut that time to just 12 weeks. Experts hope that getting these physicians to work faster can help the millions of Canadians who don’t have a family doctor.
Last week’s conversation about pension hikes and generational fairness sparked an avalanche of mail from listeners. We hear your thoughts, and reconvene our panel to discuss how to create policies that benefit all Canadians, without pitting generations against each other.
Hurricane Milton tore through Florida overnight, ripping the roof off the Tampa Bay Rays’ home stadium and leaving millions without power and facing extensive flooding. The CBC's Katie Simpson brings us the latest from Orlando, where people are just stepping outside to assess the damage.
Chef Yotam Ottolenghi’s new cookbook, Ottolenghi Comfort, focuses on recipes that bring us warmth when we need it most, from curries and noodles to a simple chocolate mousse. He talks to Matt Galloway about how what we cook — and who we eat it with — can bring comfort in uncomfortable times.
Hurricane season has collided with an election campaign in the U.S., and politicians like Donald Trump are using the moment to spread disinformation about relief efforts. The CBC's Nora Young helps us disentangle the facts from the deepfakes.
U.S. marines killed 24 unarmed Iraqi men, women and children in 2005, in what became known as the Haditha Massacre. Investigative journalist Madeleine Baran, host of the podcast In the Dark, looks at what happened that day — and why no one was ever held accountable.
Hurricane Milton is bearing down on Florida, just weeks after the destruction of Hurricane Helene. Jaina Thatch has already been evacuated. She says facing two monster storms back-to-back is unimaginable, she just hopes she’ll have a home to go back to.
A Toronto hospital is using human placentas to treat complex burns and wounds. We look at how it works — and why doctors are urging women to donate rather than dump the organ.
What role will the “man-o-sphere” and “childless cat ladies” play in a tight U.S. presidential election? We look at how Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are campaigning along gender lines — and whether the result will come down to whether men will vote for a female president.
Fashion journalist Jeanne Beker pulls some wild stories out of her closet in her new book, Heart on My Sleeve, from chatting to famous musicians in the bath to walking out on an interview with Iggy Pop. She shows Matt Galloway how the items in her closet tell her story, from a yellow bikini top to a boxy Chanel dress.
Research shows teens in Canada are becoming less likely to use a condom. We look at how educators are taking a different approach to talking about sexual health — and what’s at stake.
The Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel unleashed a year of bloodshed and trauma, in the Middle East and beyond. Matt Galloway talks to two people about how their lives were turned upside down — and whether they have any hope for a lasting peace.
Some Canadians deal with spells of dizziness that can last hours or even days. But experts say there’s a lack of understanding about the underlying causes — and millions aren’t getting the treatment they need.
Israel intensified airstrikes in Lebanon this weekend and announced “a new phase” in its offensive in Gaza. Matt Galloway talks to the CBC’s Margaret Evans in Beirut; and discusses a year of conflict and political failure with policy experts Janice Stein and Khaled Elgindy.
Ahmad Araji has been trying unsuccessfully to book a flight out of Beirut, and says it doesn’t make sense that flights are leaving for Canada with hundreds of empty seats. The Lebanese-Canadian man tells us what he’s seeing as Israel continues its airstrikes and ground invasion of Lebanon, displacing more than one million people and risking a humanitarian crisis.
Idris Elba is best known for his acting, but he’s also a passionate musician and DJ. He talks to Matt Galloway about what music means to his life, and his new docu-series, Paid In Full, which looks at the history of Black musicians being exploited by the music industry.
Parents know their kids need to regularly visit the dentist, but don’t think about seeing an optician in the same way, says Dr. Debbie Jones. As new research suggests 1 in 3 children globally suffer from myopia, Jones explains why getting outside, away from screens, can help.
Hundreds of people are still unaccounted for after Hurricane Helene ripped through the southeast U.S. last week. We hear from people who lived through the storm’s destruction, and are now banding together to tackle the aftermath.
Iran fired missiles at Israel Tuesday, hours after Israel began a ground incursion in Lebanon. We look at Iran’s role in the region’s escalating conflict — and the risk of all-out war.
Canada recorded its lowest fertility rate for the second year in a row in 2023. Economist Armine Yalnizyan tells us what’s at stake for countries with a low birth rate, and what kind of supports would help struggling young Canadians embrace parenthood.
A TV crew offers 12 ordinary people the chance to take part in the adventure of a lifetime. But there’s a catch. The audience knows everything but the contestants are kept in the dark. As the cameras roll, no questions are allowed. Split Screen: Thrill Seekers is a new 6 part series that exposes how a TV show left contestants struggling to trust what’s actually real.
Host Nick van der Kolk (Love + Radio) asks: does reality TV only succeed when it exploits those involved? He talks to the set designers, crew, and the contestants themselves to learn what it took to permanently distort their sense of reality.
Welcome to Split Screen, an examination of the utterly captivating, sometimes unsettling world of entertainment and pop culture. From reality TV gone awry, to the cult of celebrity, each season of Split Screen takes listeners on an evocative journey inside the world of showbiz. Ex-contestants, producers, and cultural critics uncover complicated truths behind TV’s carefully curated facades, and question what our entertainment reveals about us. Split Screen: sometimes reality is twisted.
More episodes are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/BjPe7eqq
Some Quebec politicians are calling for a ban on new basement apartments in flood-prone areas. Some critics say the move doesn’t go far enough in the face of a changing climate.
7,000 Albertans have applied to the province’s new wildlife management program, which would allow selected citizens to hunt “problem” animals, including grizzly bears. Critics and proponents of the program discuss its potential — and if there might be better alternatives.
Poutine might be the closest thing Canada has to a national dish, but how do you pronounce it? Where did it come from — and what separates a great poutine from a great pretender? Justin Giovannetti Lamothe explores all these questions in his new book Poutine: A Deep-Fried Road Trip of Discovery.
Is it time to rethink the ways parents raise money for their children’s classroom? Matt Henderson, superintendent of the Winnipeg School Division, says relying on parents fundraising might mean lower-income neighbourhoods get left behind.
Hip-hop mogul Sean (Diddy) Combs has been indicted around allegations he coerced and sexually abused women for years, while using blackmail and violence to keep victims from speaking out. The CBC’s Elamin Abdelmahmoud takes a closer look at the case against him.
Former U.S. secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton says she’s scared about what might happen under a second Trump presidency — and she’ll do everything she can to help Kamala Harris win in November. In a Canadian-exclusive interview, Clinton talks to Matt Galloway about what’s at stake, from abortion rights to the rule of law, and where U.S. politics goes from here.
Bob Rae, Canada's ambassador to the UN, discusses Canada’s stance on pressing global conflicts, including fears of all-out war in the Middle East, the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war and gang violence in Haiti.
B.C.’s provincial election campaign has officially kicked off. Matt Galloway discusses what’s at stake with Katie De Rosa, B.C. provincial affairs reporter for CBC, and Les Leyne, legislative reporter for the Victoria Times Colonist.
Former Spark host Nora Young is part of CBC’s new Visual Investigations unit, a team that aims to publish stories examining disinformation, like AI deepfakes. With fabricated content becoming more sophisticated, she talks to Matt Galloway about the methods available to debunk them — including open source intelligence.
In the face of human-made climate change, philosopher Todd May calls us to reflect on whether we deserve to inhabit this planet in his new book, Should We Go Extinct? The question, he says, can force us to consider how to be better stewards of the Earth.
Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov says doctors shouldn’t just focus on diseases or sick body parts, but get to know the person behind the patient. He talks to Matt Galloway about his mission to improve the doctor-patient experience for all of us.
Trees can richly improve the quality of life in a city, but not all neighbourhoods have them. Advocates of “tree equity” say everyone deserves access to that shade and sense of beauty.
More than 500 people have been killed by Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon. Matt Galloway talks to people on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border about growing fears of all-out war.
Yves-François Blanchet says the Bloc Québécois won’t vote with the Conservatives to bring down the Liberal government — this time. We look at what Blanchet wants in return, and how the balance of power has shifted in Ottawa.
Thousands of Canadians make a living volunteering to test out new drugs in clinical trials, even if those drugs can have dangerous, unpredictable side-effects. Habiba Nosheen explores the ethical questions about that work in her new documentary, Bodies for Rent.
We know music has the power to soothe the soul, but neuroscientist Daniel Levitin says it could also help heal the body and brain. Levitin talks to Matt Galloway about the power of music as medicine — and how it helped his friend, Joni Mitchell, recover from a brain aneurysm.
Over 50 years, Dungeons & Dragons has run the gamut from being decried as Satanism to going mainstream in hit shows like Stranger Things. Professional Dungeon Master John Dempsey takes Matt Galloway, a.k.a. Elrick Nightbreeze, into the ruins to battle some goblins.
A new report says at least $1.5 billion in public funds was paid to for-profit agencies supplying nurses to the public system last year. We hear why nurses are choosing to work for private agencies — and what it all means for the staffing crisis in the health-care system.
Tupperware has filed for bankruptcy. We hear how an iconic brand and its groundbreaking sales tactics fell out of fashion.
A treaty land agreement in Saskatchewan 30 years ago was supposed to benefit everyone in the Piapot First Nation. Instead, it generated profit for just a few dozen private citizens. The CBC’s Geoff Leo explores how that happened in his new documentary.
Why are humans intelligent enough to send people to the moon, but seemingly unable to solve our problems here on Earth? Historian and bestselling author Yuval Noah Harari thinks he has the answer. He spoke to Matt Galloway about his new book Nexus — and how our information networks have both helped and hindered humanity, from the stone age to the dawn of AI.
This is an extended podcast version of a conversation recorded in front of a live audience at the Toronto International Festival of Authors, and originally aired on CBC Radio’s The Current.
Journalist Jane Arraf takes us inside Beirut, where people are reeling from the attacks that killed dozens and wounded thousands — and sparked fears of all-out war with Israel.
Some parents are using AirTags and apps to track everything from precisely where their children are, to how fast the car they're riding in is going. We look at the rise of surveillance parenting and the impact it has on kids — and parents.
Matt Galloway talks to three undecided voters in the crucial swing states that could decide whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris become the next president of the United States.
More than 50 men are on trial in France for the mass rape of Gisèle Pelicot, whose husband is accused of drugging her and recruiting men to sexually assault her over a decade. By waiving her anonymity, Pelicot has become a powerful figure in what advocates say is an overdue national conversation about sexual violence and rape culture in France.
Agnes Spicer was a tough Russian immigrant to Canada who fought the Nazis in Ukraine and survived years in their captivity — but kept her secrets close in later life. Her daughter, journalist Roxana Spicer, tells Agnes’ incredible story in her book The Traitor’s Daughter.
Jennifer Brady lives with debilitating and painful lymphedema, but her home province of Nova Scotia refuses to fund a surgery — available in Quebec — that could improve her quality of life. After years of fighting to get that out-of-province care, Brady has now applied for medical assistance in dying. The CBC’s Angela McIvor brings us her story.
Iraq’s government has reached a tentative deal for U.S. troops to leave, 20 years after the invasion. Three Iraqis share their hopes for the future and offer a glimpse of life in their country now, once again on the precipice of change.
Hailstones the size of baseballs smashed car windows and even an airport roof in Alberta last month, causing $2.8 billion in insurance claims. We hear more about life in “hail alley,” and how people living there can guard against this kind of sudden destruction.
The internet is filled with videos of dogs using soundboards to communicate with their humans — but have they just been trained on which buttons to push? A new study suggests dogs can understand the meaning behind specific words and respond appropriately.
Hundreds of handheld pagers exploded across Lebanon on Tuesday, injuring nearly 3,000 people and killing twelve, including two children. Hezbollah has blamed Israel for the attack, sparking fears of an escalation of violence in the wider region.
Polls show that a rising number of U.S. citizens believe violence is a valid means to achieve their political goals, with a second apparent attempt on Donald Trump’s life just the latest in a long list of attacks targeting politicians on both sides of the aisle.
Every day, two women on opposite sides of the Atlantic share a single word with each other — a kind of lexicon ping-pong that helps to sustain their long-distance, 40-year friendship. Alisa Siegel brings us their story in her documentary, One Word.
The Bloc Québécois have taken what was thought to be a safe Liberal seat in Montreal, in the second surprise byelection loss for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in three months. Le Devoir columnist Emilie Nicolas gauges the mood among voters — and what this means for Trudeau’s leadership.
DeMar DeRozan changed the conversation around mental health in basketball, starting with a single tweet about his own struggles with depression. The former Toronto Raptor talks to Matt Galloway about why he now sees vulnerability as a form of strength — and why he “couldn't stand” Kyle Lowry when they first met.
Pierre Lemay and his wife were in the late stages of adopting a young boy from China when the country suddenly ended its international adoption program — halting all applications. Lemay says he wants the federal government to intervene to help his family and the little boy they’ve formed a connection with.
The Quebec government wants tips to be calculated on the price before taxes, in a move aimed at reducing the pressure on consumers. Tipping culture expert Bruce McAdams explains how “tip-flation” has increased the price you pay — and what those tips mean to workers.
Quirks and Quarks host Bob McDonald says people are often surprised to learn he’s a university dropout — a fact that’s contributed to the impostor syndrome he’s felt his whole life. In his new memoir Just Say Yes, Bob McDonald charts his path from an unhappy and sometimes abusive home to Canada's foremost explainer of all things scientific.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre says he’ll trigger a non-confidence vote on the Liberal government — but do the other opposition parties want an election? As parliament resumes Monday, we look at the rocky road ahead with the CBC’s Rosemary Barton, the Globe and Mail's Stephanie Levitz and the National Post’s Ryan Tumilty.
Cree filmmaker Tasha Hubbard’s documentary Singing Back The Buffalo explores how Indigenous nations are working to bring back buffalo across North America.
Amira Elghawaby has been visiting campuses across Canada to examine a rise in Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian and anti-Arab racism since the Oct. 7 attacks and Israel’s military assault on Gaza. She tells Matt Galloway what she’s hearing from students and staff, in her role as Canada's special representative on combatting Islamophobia.
Ukraine launched its largest drone strike on Moscow earlier this week, and may soon receive U.S. approval to use long-range missiles to strike targets inside Russia. What might this mean for a war that is heading into its third winter, with no sign of resolution?
Flights could be cancelled this weekend if an Air Canada pilot strike goes ahead. We look at what you can do if you have tickets, and what this all means for flying in Canada.
Renowned Haida artist Christian White takes us into his carving studio, where he and his team are putting the final touches to a 50-foot canoe, crafted from a giant red cedar. He tells us about the process and importance of bringing ancient traditions to life, by hand.
Kamala Harris repeatedly knocked Donald Trump off topic in Tuesday’s debate, leaving Trump looking “undisciplined, unfocused and at times unhinged” according to Republican strategist Matthew Bartlett. What impact will each candidate’s performance have on a presidential race that’s so far been too close to call?
Janis Hughes suffered from debilitating anxiety after receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis — and what helped her through it was a trip on magic mushrooms. We hear why patients and advocates are calling on the government to ease access to psychedelic drugs like psilocybin for palliative care patients.
Sea otters have returned to Haida Gwaii. We hear what that means for rebalancing the archipelago’s ecosystem — and a terrifying tale of an encounter with their cousin: the river otter.
A museum on Haida Gwaii is bringing home Indigenous artifacts held by collectors around the world — reclaimed treasures that are helping to revive ancient Haida traditions.
Long-time hostage negotiator Mickey Bergman says the U.S. could now bypass Israel and make its own deal to free the American hostages held by Hamas. He talks to Matt Galloway about what such a deal might look like, and how Israel might respond.
Brian Cornforth is sifting through the ashes in Jasper, hoping to find his mother’s wedding rings in the wreckage of her house. The CBC’s Allison Dempster met Cornforth in the fire-ravaged town, where people who have lost everything are taking the first steps on the road to recovery.
Many people living with an iron deficiency don’t even realize it’s the reason they’re struggling with fatigue, anxiety and a lack of concentration. Ontario is changing guidelines on recognizing iron deficiencies — and experts say the move will change lives.
Generations of Indigenous people have fought to protect the land and culture of Haida Gwaii, and this year the Haida Nation has reclaimed stewardship of that land in a historic agreement. Matt Galloway went there to hear what this means for the archipelago’s future — from uncertainty over property rights to hopes that colonization will be a “a blip” in Haida Gwaii’s history.
In her new book Going to Seed, Kate J. Neville reflects on the value of being idle, and the importance of escaping the busyness that builds up around family, work and social demands.
Atiba Hutchinson grew up playing soccer on a patchy field behind his school in Brampton, Ont. — a long way from captaining the Canadian men’s team at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Hutchinson shares the highs and lows of that journey in his new memoir, The Beautiful Dream.
Ottawa slapped big tariffs on Chinese-made EVs last month, and now Beijing has announced an anti-dumping probe of Canadian canola. Guest host Rebecca Zandbergen looks at what this all means for Canadian producers — and the country’s already fraught relationship with China.
The NDP has ripped up its supply-and-confidence deal with the Liberals, raising questions of whether an election may be imminent. Parliamentary reporters Stephanie Levitz and Ryan Tumilty unpack what prompted the surprise decision, and what happens next.
Three CBC Radio shows are teaming up to investigate how rising temperatures affect our lives and the world around us. We talk to Quirks and Quarks’ Bob McDonald, White Coat Black Art’s Brian Goldman and What On Earth’s Laura Lynch about their special series Overheated.
Musician and CBC host Nantali Indongo shares her excitement about rejoining the hip-hop supergroup Nomadic Massive for their 20th anniversary later this month.
Liberal MP Anthony Housefather discusses the NDP’s surprise decision to rip up the supply-and-confidence deal with his party, and how the conflict in the Middle East is fuelling divisions here in Canada.
Yoshua Bengio helped to create artificial intelligence, and now he wishes he’d included an off switch. The Montreal computer scientist explains why he’s worried about the rapidly developing technology, and how it could be reined in.
Montreal officials are planning “nocturnal zones” where bars, restaurants and theatres could remain open until 6 a.m., but the move to extend nightlife hours is getting a mixed reaction.
New Brunswick’s schools are scrambling to keep up with dramatic population growth, with some resorting to turning cafeterias and libraries into classrooms. We talk to parents about the impact on their kids’ education.
The housing crisis for post-secondary students is so bad that some are paying double rent or turning living rooms into bedrooms just to ensure they have somewhere to live. We hear about the frustration and anxiety for students across the country.
How does a population boom play into provincial politics? As New Brunswick heads to the polls next month, the CBC’s Jacques Poitras brings us the stories of newcomers, and how they’re shaping the debate on everything from housing and healthcare to pronouns in schools.
P.E.I. is getting its first medical school, but critics say staffing it could mean fewer physicians serving the local community. We hear about the plan to invest in young doctors who might make P.E.I. their home — and the impact on an already stretched health-care system.
This year would have been the 150th birthday of Lucy Maud Montgomery, the famed P.E.I. author of Anne of Green Gables. We talk to some islanders and “Anne fangirls” who are excited to celebrate both the author and her creations.
Comedian Patrick Ledwell says P.E.I. can stand for Privacy Ends Immediately. He talks to Matt Galloway about comedy in Canada's tiniest province, where everyone knows everyone.
Several provinces are rethinking how they teach kids to read, with a “back-to-basics” focus that includes phonics. We hear about long-running disagreements over the best way to teach literacy, and why many Canadian kids are struggling.
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. In an interview from April, the physician and former health minister tells Matt Galloway about her pitch for a Primary Care Act, and what’s stopping politicians from rebuilding a health-care system that Canadians can be proud of.
Then, educators say there aren’t enough accommodations for post-secondary students with complex needs. University of Toronto lecturer Simon Lewsen and Seanna Takacs with the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services discuss what needs to happen next.
New regulations for gig workers in British Columbia, which include a minimum wage of $20.88 an hour, take effect on Tuesday. And while businesses worry this will hurt their bottom line, gig workers say it does not go far enough.
When the U.S. military withdrew from Afghanistan three years ago, the Taliban quickly seized control, implementing restrictions on women’s education and what they can wear and do. Now the Taliban has imposed further restrictions on what women can wear, and how they can use their voice. Afghans living in Canada say the international community needs to step in and protect the women of Afghanistan.
The 2024 Paralympic Games are officially underway. Canada has 126 athletes competing in 18 different sports, and some are already winning medals. Canadian Paralympians hope their performances in Paris will help inspire others.
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. In an interview from April, 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.
When journalist Tanya Talaga's great uncle requested government documents about his mother, he was told she didn't exist. In her new book The Knowing, Talaga digs into how her family’s Indigenous identity was erased, and what that tells us about Canadian history.
Betty Brussel broke three swimming world records earlier this year, a few months before her 100th birthday. In a January conversation from our series Well Founded, we talk to researchers and older Canadians about the importance of staying active in your golden years.
The two astronauts stranded on the International Space Station won’t return to Earth until next year. Retired Canadian astronaut Dave Williams tells us how the astronauts may be coping with their extended stay in space — and what it all means for the burgeoning field of space tourism.
Israel’s recent exchange of heavy fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon has fuelled fears that the country’s assault on Gaza could expand into an all-out war in the wider region. We discuss those tensions, and the sticking points in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire negotiations.
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has reportedly been arrested in France, on allegations that the messaging app facilitates crimes including child sexual abuse and drug trafficking. Journalist Darren Loucaides explains why the Russian billionaire's arrest has free speech advocates up in arms.
What happens when a French teacher is suddenly asked to teach a math class? Or take over the metal workshop? Three teachers tell us about the pressures of being at the front of the class when some provinces are short thousands of educators.
Donald Trump says he’ll scrap many renewable energy policies if he’s elected U.S. president in November, but some Republicans are pushing back. Guest host Susan Ormiston looks at the future of green jobs and clean energy investments south of the border.
The Democrats’ shift to Kamala Harris has rejuvenated the party’s election prospects. Will the Liberals be thinking about that — and Justin Trudeau’s leadership — as they meet for a cabinet retreat? And what’s Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre been up to this summer? Guest host Susan Ormiston talks to our national affairs panel: CBC’s Catherine Cullen, the Toronto Star’s Stephanie Levitz and the National Post’s Ryan Tumilty.
Growing up as a young Black man, Matthew R. Morris felt hemmed in by expectations around race, masculinity and how people thought he should fit into Canadian society. In January, he talked to Matt Galloway about his journey from a difficult student with something to prove, to an educator and role model for Black youth.
More than half of Ontario’s supervised drug consumption sites are slated to close, with the province promising to instead invest in new hubs focused on treatment and recovery. But many advocates say it shouldn’t be an either/or, and this move may lead to preventable deaths.
Kamala Harris took centre stage to close the Democratic National Convention Thursday night, after a week of celebrity appearances, high-profile speeches and attacks on Donald Trump. The CBC’s Katie Simpson breaks down what was said and what lies ahead.
The Africa United Youth Orchestra made their debut in late July — and performed at Carnegie Hall less than a week later. We hear how this new orchestra made a dream come true for young musicians from all over the continent.
Goalball involves blindfolded athletes trying to physically block a ball with bells in it, something Amy Burk found “unbelievably insane” when she first tried it. But now she’s Canada’s team captain at her fifth Paralympics, with some advice for young athletes about taking risks.
CN Rail says that the Teamsters showed no desire or urgency to reach a deal before rail workers were locked out Thursday, but the union says that’s just not true. Guest host Connie Walker asks both sides what it will take to resolve this unprecedented shutdown.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is making a dramatic u-turn towards wind power, after tearing up hundreds of renewable energy deals when he was first elected in 2018. We look at how Canada’s conservatives — both provincially and federally — are figuring out how climate change and green policies fit with their governments, their platforms and their voters.
(Spoiler: no, it was not.) This week Donald Trump shared fake AI-generated images of the musician backing him for president, prompting an angry response from many a Swiftie. Wired reporter David Gilbert explains the role artificial intelligence is playing in this election.
Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland shares what it's been like for his community to return home after a monster wildfire devoured about a third of their town, leaving some parts of it unrecognizable.
Dr. Liz Touzel explains how an innovative model of primary care is attracting family physicians to her community in Napanee, Ont., and improving healthcare access.
Democratic National Convention kicks off today in Chicago. Kamala Harris’s nomination makes her the first Black woman and the first Asian American to lead a majority party into a U.S. election. Her supporters hope she will show that anyone can hold the highest office in the country.
Countries across Africa are struggling with an outbreak of mpox. Now, the World Health Organization is calling for international support. It's estimated at least 17,000 people have been infected by a new strain of the virus this year, and more than 500 people have died. But the new strain hasn’t been detected in Canada.
Ashley Casciato says juggling life as a single parent is like being a duck: calm and serene on the surface, but paddling frantically underneath. In an interview from April, 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 solo parents.
Alisa Siegel’s documentary Let it Shine tells the story of the University of Toronto’s first-ever course in Black gospel music, where you can hear the joy and community of a newly formed choir.
Canada had a historic 2024 Olympics in Paris. Canadians took home 27 medals, which is the most ever for Canada in a non-boycotted Olympic Games. Guest host Susan Bonner speaks with three Canadians who scored gold for Canada.
A UN report says Canada’s temporary foreign worker program is a "breeding ground for contemporary forms of slavery." Guest host Susan Bonner hears about the increasing criticism of the low-wage program, and what it means for vulnerable workers.
Dianne Whelan was at a turning point in her life when she decided to travel across Canada — by bike, canoe and snowshoe — along the Trans Canada Trail. In February she spoke to Matt Galloway about what she learned and her documentary, 500 Days in the Wild.
Ukraine says it now controls dozens of towns and villages in Russia’s Kursk region, following a surprising incursion. We hear what this might mean for the course of this relentless war — from Ukrainian morale to Russia’s likely response.
British Columbia is looking for lighthouse keepers — the perfect job if you like rugged coastlines, working with your hands and lots of time by yourself. In January, Matt Galloway spoke to former lighthouse keepers Caroline Woodward and Barry Porter about a life that’s all about isolation, wild weather and saving lives.
Organized crime groups have stopped importing fentanyl and started making the deadly opioid here on Canadian soil instead. We hear what’s being done to tackle these "superlabs."
Mike Day says his home is now just a “smouldering hole in the ground” after wildfires ripped through Jasper, Alta. Guest host Susan Bonner talks to Day as he gets ready to return to his community, and hears what can be done to help relieve the anguish of lost homes and businesses.
Signing bonuses of $100,000, a free car, free gym memberships — municipalities are offering perks like these to doctors willing to move to their communities. But while some towns say the offers are working, some critics call it a race to the bottom.
What is it about a hug that can feel so special? Why can some human touch, even from a stranger, make such a difference to your day? In January, Matt Galloway spoke to Michael Banissy, who tries to answer those questions in his book Touch Matters.
After a week of far-right rioting in the U.K., counter protesters took to the streets to protect asylum seekers and immigration centres. We hear from a store owner caught up in the violence, and look at the politics that fuelled it.
Why can you remember your high school locker combination — but not where you left your keys? And can you be sure your memories are accurate? Neuroscientist Charan Ranganath spoke to Matt Galloway in March about why we remember certain things and struggle with others.
“Backyard astronomer” Gary Boyle shares some tips on getting the best view of the Perseid meteor shower, which is meant to be extra special when it peaks in the coming days.
Israel’s continued bombardment of Gaza has left children facing disease, malnutrition and the hidden wounds of psychological trauma. We talk to two people on the ground trying to help: UNICEF’s Salim Oweis; and Dr. Mohammed Abu Mughaisib, deputy medical co-ordinator for Doctors Without Borders in Gaza.
When Fred Trump III asked his uncle Donald Trump for money to help with his disabled son’s medical care, he says the former U.S. president suggested letting the young man die instead. Fred talks to guest host Susan Bonner about the incident and his new book All in the Family: The Trumps and How We Got This Way.
Bangladesh’s prime minister fled the country after weeks of violent unrest, with Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus appointed to oversee an interim government. Human rights advocate Saad Hammadi talks to guest host Susan Bonner about what might happen next.
Google has violated antitrust law and created an illegal monopoly over online searches, a U.S. federal judge ruled this week. What might this mean for the tech giant, and the way we search?
A landslide that blocked the Chilcotin River for days in northern B.C. has burst, to send a massive gush of water and debris down the Fraser River. Research scientist Brian Menounos tells us what he saw when that dam breached, and what it means for the local community.
Mayor of South Yorkshire Oliver Coppard says he’s embarrassed and ashamed of an attempt to set fire to a hotel housing asylum seekers on Sunday, as well as the wider anti-immigration riots that have flared up across the U.K. We hear what happened, and how online hate and disinformation about a recent mass stabbing have fuelled the violence.
Kamala Harris has chosen Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, three weeks after Donald Trump chose Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance. Guest host Susan Bonner discusses the pivotal role that these potential vice presidents will play in the race for the White House.
Ed Yong has “birder derangement syndrome,” a condition that’s entirely made up but may be familiar to other birding enthusiasts. In a conversation from May, the science writer tells Matt Galloway how the joy of birding saved him from pandemic burnout and radically changed how he interacts with nature.
Just over a week after a devastating wildfire tore through Jasper, Alta., the community is starting to rebuild — and residents are looking at how other communities have overcome similar devastation.
In a conversation with Matt Galloway in March, TED curator Chris Anderson talks about how he 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.
While Canadian athletes deal with the pressure of competing at the Olympic Games, their parents are just as nervous, or even more. Guest host Juanita Taylor talks to some of the parents who raised Olympic athletes and are now cheering them on in Paris.
With hundreds of wildfires burning across Western Canada, many communities are taking steps to become more fire resilient. In Yukon, authorities have built a fuel break around Whitehorse. And Bakerville, a historic B.C. town, is set to reopen after a sprinkler system was able to protect a majority of the buildings from wildfire.
Storm chasing has seen a resurgence because of the success of the summer blockbuster Twisters. Meteorologist Sean Waugh was a consultant on the new film. He tells us about doing everything from designing props, advising on the science, and taking the cast on a storm chase.
William Beveridge has been working for over two decades to build the Nunavut Inuit Heritage Centre that would house Inuit art and artifacts in Iqaluit, which are currently in museums and galleries in Canada and around the world.
Protests have erupted across Venezuela over the results of the country’s recent presidential election. The country’s electoral authority declared President Nicolás Maduro won Sunday’s election, but the opposition says its candidate had more than twice as many votes as Maduro.
Top Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is dead. Hamas says he was assassinated in Tehran and is blaming Israel for the attack. Israel has yet to officially comment on Haniyeh's death, but Egypt, Qatar and Turkey are warning this could incite further violence, and Iran's supreme leader is promising vengeance.
Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation in northern Manitoba has just three nurses caring for more than 3,000 people. And it’s not just Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation. Nursing stations in remote First Nations communities in the province faced a 67 per cent vacancy rate in the last fiscal year, according to government data.
The Canadian women’s soccer team is fighting to keep the Olympic dream alive amid controversy. A team analyst was caught using a drone to spy on New Zealand's practices before the start of the Olympics, leading to FIFA banning three coaches and docking the team six points in the competition, the equivalent of two wins.
People are starting to get a better picture of the devastation caused by wildfire in the town of Jasper. It has people considering their next steps, and across Canada, communities are thinking about how to make their own areas more resilient to wildfire.
In a conversation from April, Jasmin Paris tells The Current’s Matt Galloway about becoming the first woman to complete the Barkley Marathons in Tennessee, one of the most gruelling ultramarathons in the world.
Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro and the opposition party both claimed they won the country’s presidential election on Sunday. Freelance journalist Manuel Rueda says a lack of transparency is to blame, and it won’t be an easy mess to untangle.
Brett Broadfoot of London, Ont., is mourning the death of his daughter after she was stabbed and killed by her boyfriend of eight months. Police say the situation is linked to intimate partner violence, which the City of London declared an epidemic last year.
Demonstrations over a job quota system in Bangladesh have ballooned into nationwide protests calling for the country’s prime minister to resign. Nearly 200 people have been killed and more than 2,000 protesters have been arrested.
Officials say the wildfire in Jasper, Alta., has destroyed 30 to 50 per cent of the town’s buildings and grown to 36,000 hectares. Fire crews from across the world are now arriving in Jasper to help fight the blaze.
The mayor of the remote town of Norman Wells in the Northwest Territories is worried about the cost of living in his community. Frank Pope says the community is struggling after lower water levels have meant barges haven’t been able to get key supplies across the Mackenzie River.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed U.S. Congress yesterday, and while he received cheers inside, thousands of people in Washington, D.C., protested the war in Gaza.
As wildfire rips through Jasper, residents are starting to learn of the damage that’s been done. The fire has destroyed multiple buildings, including the Maligne Lodge hotel and the grounds of the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.
There’s been drama and excitement ahead of the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games. The CBC’s Chief Correspondent Adrienne Arsenault tells us what we can expect in Paris.
At least 25,000 people have been forced to evacuate the community of Jasper, Alta., and Jasper National Park because of an encroaching wildfire. Now people are waiting to hear if their property is lost, and when they’ll be allowed back.
Oysters in P.E.I are at risk. A disease known as multinuclear sphere X (MSX) has been discovered in oysters from Bedeque Bay. If there’s a mass outbreak, there’s concern from those in the industry that the oyster population could take a long time to recover.
One of the biggest music genres is experimenting with the power of artificial intelligence. The K-pop group Seventeen used AI to help promote the music video for its single Maestro. But it’s far from the only way AI is seeping its way into the industry. And while some people say it’s a useful tool, others believe it doesn’t have a place in K-pop.
Medical experts say the number of ticks, which can carry dangerous pathogens, are on the rise. Ticks can carry Lyme disease, as well as anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and Powassan virus. Experts say people need to be informed about these diseases and what they can do to prevent them.
Supervised consumption sites have been around for decades in provinces across Canada. The sites give drug users a supervised space to consume drugs, get their supply tested and receive clean equipment. But Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has called on the federal government to shut down some of these programs, citing concerns that they attract drug dealing and other crime, making them part of the problem, not the solution.
U.S. President Joe Biden announced he was stepping down from the presidential race on Sunday. He said that the decision was best for the party and country, and that he would endorse Vice-President Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee. So what’s next for the presidential election and the Democratic Party?
Donald Trump has officially accepted his third nomination for president at the Republican National Convention on Thursday night. Guest host Duncan McCue speaks with the CBC’s Katie Simpson and international politics professor Daniel Drezner about how we got here, and what a Trump presidency might look like.
The Canadian Pediatric Society says "risky play" is good for kids’ mental, physical and social health — even if it might result in injury. In an interview from January, we hear what’s behind this new advice, why ”incredibly boring playgrounds” are part of the problem, and why parents might need to just take a deep breath.
The wildfires that destroyed Lahaina in Hawaii last year have led to something of an ecological reset. For decades, the area was drained dry by sugar plantations and developers, but now water has returned. That’s sparking hope for the restoration of Lahaina’s ancient and sacred wetlands.
As provincial premiers gather for their annual summer meetings in Halifax this week, there’s a focus on the provinces’ relationship with the federal government. Guest host Duncan McCue speaks with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew about what needs to change.
As political drama continues to heat up south of the border, former U.S. ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman is concerned about both presidential candidates and their fitness to serve. He says American democracy is at stake in the coming election, and each choice comes with its pitfalls.
The numbers show that youth unemployment is at an all-time high. Statistics Canada shows that unemployment rates among youth aged 15 to 24 are the highest they’ve been since 2014, excluding during parts of the pandemic. That means young people are struggling to earn enough to get by and aren’t developing much-needed skills.
Jacob the three-legged lion has survived poachers and a death-defying swim across crocodile-infested waters. We talk to a biologist who's been tracking him to find out what Jacob’s story tells us about the human impact on lion populations in Africa.
South Africa has run out of the injection pens that deliver insulin to diabetics, with some critics arguing that it’s a ripple effect of the popularity of drugs like Ozempic in the west. Guest host Duncan McCue talks to Stephanie Nolen, a global health reporter for the New York Times.
An assassination attempt on former U.S. president Donald Trump has inflamed fears of political violence south of the border. How might it change the campaign for the presidency — and the U.S. political landscape?
There’s a lot of history tucked into the pockets of our clothing, including a long-standing frustration that women’s clothes tend not to have them. In a conversation from December, design expert Hannah Carlson digs into the patriarchy folded into what we wear every day.
Workers at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario are striking over fears for their jobs, sparked by Premier Doug Ford’s plan to allow alcohol sales at convenience and grocery stores. Guest host Mark Kelley looks at what the LCBO offers the province right now, and what opening up competition might mean.
Dating apps were once touted as a technological breakthrough in human connection, but more people are growing weary of swipe culture. We hear why things like “ghosting” are driving frustrated singles back to the real world, and how they can make the apps work for them again.
Is there any water in Africa? Are there houses? Those are the kinds of questions that Nigerian influencer Charity Ekezie was getting on her TikTok videos, so she decided to reply — with a healthy dose of sarcasm.
The hotter things get, the more people blast the air conditioning — but more AC means more emissions warming the planet. Guest host Mark Kelley teases out this tricky conundrum, and asks why the technology that keeps us cool isn’t more energy efficient.
Canada lost to Argentina in the Copa America semifinals Tuesday. But soccer journalist John Molinaro says even getting that far is “a big shot in the arm” for the sport’s fortunes in this country, and the fans who love it.
Canadian sprinter Christopher Morales Williams set a 400-metre world record earlier this year, but a technicality meant it wasn’t ratified. Unfazed, the 19-year-old says it’s motivated him to go and break that record all over again. He talks to guest host Mark Kelley about taking that determination to the Paris Olympics, and how he combats nerves and nausea before a big race.
A left-wing alliance has beaten Marine Le Pen’s far-right party into third place in France’s snap election, according to exit polls. But with no party winning a majority and the prospect of a hung parliament, what turbulence lies ahead?
Andrea Robin Skinner, daughter of Canadian author Alice Munro, told the Toronto Star she was sexually abused by her stepfather as a child, but her mother chose to support her husband. Guest host Mark Kelley talks to Star reporter Deborah Dundas; and Maria Barcelos, who works with survivors of sexual abuse.
Earlier this year, more than a trillion cicadas from two separate broods emerged together for the first time since 1803. In May, we spoke to one very excited entomologist — and heard the love song he wrote to the insects.
The Labour Party has won a landslide victory in the U.K., ending 14 years of Conservative rule. Can new Prime Minister Keir Starmer bring about the change the electorate has demanded?
Boeing's Starliner test mission reached the International Space Station a month ago — but its return has been delayed indefinitely. We hear why NASA insists its astronauts aren’t stranded, and what it’s going to take to bring them back to Earth.
Apple is getting ready to incorporate a slate of AI tools into its devices. We hear how it could revolutionize not just how you use your phone, but how you communicate.
Two orcas, Wikie and Keijo, could soon retire from a French marine park to become the first residents of a proposed whale sanctuary in Port Hilford, N.S. Guest host Nahlah Ayed hears about the logistics of building a first-of-its-kind, 40-hectare enclosure in the open bay — and why critics worry Nova Scotia’s harsher weather might make it too difficult to maintain.
Dangerous misinformation about sunscreen is spreading on social media, even as rates of skin cancer continue to rise. Dermatologist Dr. Sunil Kalia applies the facts about SPF.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that presidents are entitled to immunity with some limits, but one dissenting justice warns the decision makes the president “a king above the law." Guest host Nahlah Ayed talks to law professor and Supreme Court expert Eric Segall.
Hurricane Beryl is barrelling toward Jamaica after wreaking havoc on St. Vincent and the Grenadines. How can small island nations be protected from the threat of extreme weather and climate change — and how much responsibility lies with larger nations?
Women fleeing civil war in Sudan are falling victim to sexual and gender-based violence, even as they seek refuge in neighbouring Chad. The Current's Elizabeth Hoath brings us the stories of four women — and the staggering challenge for aid workers trying to help.
The Ontario Science Centre closed its doors for the last time on June 21 due to structural issues. The building is one of Canada’s centennial projects, erected in 1967 to celebrate the country’s 100-year anniversary. Toronto Metropolitan University’s Colin Ripley discusses the current state of other centennial projects across the nation.
The U.S. government is suing software company Adobe, saying the company deliberately makes its subscriptions difficult to cancel. A professor of marketing explains how deceptive design keeps you locked into subscriptions — and how to avoid tricky cancellation policies.
Fears that missile fire between Israel and militant group Hezbollah could lead to a full-scale war in Lebanon are growing. Close to 500 people have been killed in the hostilities so far and several countries have urged their citizens in the country to leave. Dahlia Scheindlin and Hussein Ibish join guest host Nahlah Ayed to discuss what might lead to all-out war, and what needs to be done to de-escalate tensions.
After 40 years as a broadcaster for CBC Sports, Scott Russell will retire from hosting duties following the Olympics and Paralympics in Paris this summer. Russell spoke with Matt Galloway about his long career, and what comes next.
In her new book, Cue the Sun!, TV writer Emily Nussbaum explores the history and influence of reality TV, from bug eating in the jungle to getting Donald Trump elected president.
Inside a refugee camp in Chad, we speak with two men whose lives have been uprooted by Sudan’s civil war. They share their stories of fleeing violence, trying to protect and provide for their families — and whether they have any hope of one day getting to go home.
Alberta MLA Shannon Phillips is quitting politics, calling out what she says is a toxic environment that is driving women out of elected office. She talks to Matt Galloway about being snooped on by Lethbridge police officers, and why she refuses to be a victim.
Ruth Whippman says young boys today are told to be strong — but also told that masculinity itself is toxic. In her new book BoyMom, the mother of three sons argues we’re failing young boys and need to change how we nurture them into better men.
We visit a refugee camp in Chad where water is desperately scarce in 40-degree heat — and talk to a Calgary geophysicist who went there to help find water buried deep in the desert.
Two indie bookstore owners share their recommendations for the best books this summer, from a road trip novel — without a road trip — to a book about how to age disgracefully.
Samantha O'Neill chose medical assistance in dying last year, facing terminal cervical cancer and excruciating pain. But her Catholic hospital in B.C. opposes MAID and refuses to provide it, forcing O’Neill to be transferred elsewhere. Her father Jim O'Neill is now suing the hospital’s operator and the province, saying Samantha’s transfer caused unnecessary pain and denied his daughter a dignified death.
We head to Edmonton where excited Oilers fans say they’re pinching themselves ahead of Monday night’s game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals — and the chance to bring the cup back to Canada.
At the Chad border, there’s a steady stream of donkeys pulling carts piled high with people’s belongings, everything they’ve been able to carry as they flee the brutal conflict in Sudan. The Current’s Liz Hoath went there to speak with refugees, and the aid workers struggling to help.
Sam Anderson gets eye-to-eye with manatees, pufflings and even an eruption of bats in his new podcast, Animal. He explains why we’ve never been more distant from the creatures all around us — and what it might mean to get closer.
Canada’s men’s soccer team played their first ever game at the Copa America tournament on Thursday — and lost 2-0 to world champions Argentina. Soccer journalist John Molinaro explains why that’s still something to be proud of.
Close calls and mental fatigue are pushing B.C.’s experienced wildfire fighters to quit, right as fire seasons get longer and harsher. In her documentary The Burn, Joan Webber looks at what that means for the less experienced workers who replace them — and the communities they’re trying to protect.
Hundreds of residents were hastily evacuated as a wildfire threatened Churchill Falls, N.L., on Wednesday. Matt Galloway gets the latest from John Gaudi, guest host of Labrador Morning.
Climate expert Blair Feltmate says governments need to treat cooling as a human right, especially as summer heat waves intensify. If they don’t, he warns that the death toll from events like heat domes could rise into the thousands.
Olympic gold medallist Maggie Mac Neil has accomplished everything she wanted to in swimming, and now wants to make room for other things in her life. She talks to Matt Galloway about the weight of expectations as she heads to compete in Paris, and what comes next.
The Edmonton Oilers have battled their way back into contention for the Stanley Cup. As they face a do-or-die game 7 on Friday, we check in with a city craving a championship.
Politicians in Ottawa take their summer break, our national affairs panel dissects a session preoccupied with foreign interference — and accusations on all sides. Matt Galloway talks to the CBC’s Rosemary Barton, the Toronto Star’s Stephanie Levitz and the National Post’s Ryan Tumilty.
Nora Young knew technology was inherently political when she created Spark in 2007, mere months after the iPhone was unveiled. As the CBC Radio show ends its 17-year run, she says we should be demanding more from the technologies that shape our lives.
The U.S. surgeon general is calling for a warning label on social media, citing mental health risks for teens. Would warnings similar to the ones on cigarettes make a difference?
More great white sharks are appearing off Canada's east coast. We hear why that’s a win for conservation — and what it means for humans heading down to the beach.
People are living much longer these days, but economics professor Andrew Scott says our society isn’t set up to support that. His new book The Longevity Imperative looks at the major overhauls needed to make a longer life rewarding, from employment to health care.
The water main that failed in Calgary was a prestressed concrete cylinder pipeline, a type of infrastructure that has ruptured in other places, too. What other Canadian cities rely on these pipes?
Many people think cigarette butts are biodegradable, but in reality they stick around for years, leaking chemicals and microplastics into the environment. We hear about a push to educate smokers and hold big tobacco companies responsible for their products.
Sebastian Junger felt the pull of a deep black void as he lay bleeding to death in a hospital trauma room in 2020. The war correspondent and lifelong atheist tells Matt Galloway how close he came to death in that moment, and how it forced him to reconsider the idea of an afterlife.
Earl Moberg was 81 and had advanced dementia when he went missing last year. He was never found. Matt Galloway talks to his daughter Britt Moberg about the changes she wants to see in senior care to stop this happening to other families.
New research shows that discarded pharmaceutical drugs are having an alarming impact on wildlife — even causing sex reversals in some species. We talk to researcher Karen Kidd.
The war in Ukraine has been the subject of a flurry of conferences this week, from a peace summit in Switzerland — without Russia — to the G7 summit in Italy. Will all these talks bring the country any closer to peace?
Olympian Malindi Elmore retired from track running in 2012. Now at 44, she’s back and competing in the marathon at the Paris Olympics. She talks to Matt Galloway about losing her passion for racing, and how she got it back.
From the Kennedy assassination to the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, U.S. presidents tackle their pressing crises in the Situation Room. Former White House staffer George Stephanopoulos takes us inside that bunker — and some defining moments in history.
It’s been a week since a “catastrophic” main break forced people in Calgary to limit their water use — thinking twice about everything from doing laundry to flushing the toilet. Guest host Duncan McCue checks in with Calgarians, and asks what we can learn from this crisis.
Many workers just don’t head out for a sit-down lunch with colleagues anymore, opting instead to eat quickly at their desks. What does our midday meal say about our modern lives?
Junaid Khan is one of a growing number of non-Indigenous people in Canada learning Indigenous languages. We listen back to Duncan McCue’s 2023 documentary about the swell of interest in Indigenous languages across Canada.
Traditional wisdom suggests your rent shouldn’t exceed 30 per cent of your pay, but some Canadians could be forking out twice that much. We ask people to try a new interactive CBC tool that tells you what your rent should be based on your income — and look at how it impacts your financial future.
An Ontario hospital has paused all tonsil and adenoid surgeries for minors after two children died following surgery. We talk to ear, nose and throat specialist Dr. Blake Papsin about what parents need to know.
Drip pricing involves extra fees that show up at checkout, hiking the advertised cost of things such as movie tickets. It’s been banned by the Competition Bureau, but it’s still happening.
As negotiations for an Israel-Hamas ceasefire continue, discussions are slowly beginning to focus on what happens next — and what a future Palestinian state might look like.
Kara Swisher isn’t afraid to ask tough questions, or hold the men who lead big tech companies to account. The tech journalist talks to Matt Galloway about what she thinks of tech innovators like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk — and why she said no to job offers at every single one of the big tech companies.
Quebec Premier Francois Legault says an "explosion" of temporary immigration has strained healthcare, education and housing in his province. But some business leaders and advocates say Quebec needs more newcomers, not fewer.
A new national security report alleges that unnamed MPs and senators knowingly helped foreign governments meddle in Canadian politics. The allegation has prompted heated debate about whether their identities should be made public, and what consequences they might face.
Calgarians have been told to cut back on water use or risk running out entirely, as the city struggles to repair a huge water main break. Matt Galloway talks to city councillor Sonya Sharp.
Far-right populist parties made major gains in EU parliamentary elections on the weekend, even triggering a snap general election in France. The CBC's Susan Ormiston brings us the latest from Brussels.
A decade ago, a group of primarily Indigenous children from Saskatchewan were part of a brainwave experiment that hoped to heal trauma. Now some are saying the study itself was traumatic and unethical. Geoff Leo explores the controversy in his documentary, Brain School
Race walker Evan Dunfee was literally bumped out of a medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, but went on to win bronze five years later. Now he’s gearing up for Paris with a new definition of success, in a sport he describes as “running with rules.”
Alisa Siegel’s documentary Let it Shine tells the story of the University of Toronto’s first-ever course in Black gospel music, where you can hear the joy and community of a newly formed choir.
The Current's Liz Hoath takes us inside an overcrowded and under-resourced refugee camp in Chad, where more than a million people have fled the war in neighbouring Sudan.
Catastrophic floods devastated B.C.’s Sumas Prairie in 2021, but now researchers want to avoid future disasters by flooding the area permanently, turning it back into the lake it once was. We hear from those who support a managed retreat — and those who would be forced out.
The Bank of Canada lowered its key interest rate to 4.75 per cent, offering some relief to Canadians struggling to make ends meet. What will it mean for you and your money, and are further cuts on the horizon?
Children’s drawings have been unearthed in the ruins of Pompeii, showing violent scenes of gladiators and the harsh lives of slaves. We explore how these youngest Romans saw their world before it was buried in the ash and lava of Mount Vesuvius.
More Canadians are socializing without alcohol, prompting bars and businesses to up their game when it comes to mocktails and non-alcoholic beers. We hear what it's like to go on a non-alcoholic pub crawl through the bars of Montreal.
Author Salman Rushdie was attacked with a knife on a New York stage in 2022, suffering severe injuries and losing his eye. In a conversation from April, he tells Matt Galloway about writing to move past the attack and what he intends to do with his “second chance” at life.
U.K. voters go to the polls next month after 14 years of Conservative rule marked by austerity, Brexit, the pandemic — and three prime ministers in just four years. We hear about the public mood, and what it might mean at the ballot box.
Matt Galloway takes a trip to McMaster University in Hamilton where a team of exercise researchers puts him through his paces. They explain how everyone can build fitness into their daily routine — even if all you have time for is an “exercise snack.”
Colleen Derkatch, author of Why Wellness Sells, explains why we’re drawn to the promise of wellness, and why it always seems just out of reach
Allison Hill says jogging during the pandemic gave her a mental health boost every day. So she started the Hill Run Club, a body-positive, size-inclusive and culturally sensitive running group that aims to help Black women take care of themselves.
We join a forest bathing club in Toronto to learn about the mental wellness benefits of being in nature. Neuroscientist Norman Farb explains how “sense foraging” and tuning in to everyday sensations can help to calm your mind, or even get you out of a mental rut.
Canadians who suffer with back pain often try to avoid any kind of exertion that might make it worse. But Shawn Beaudette, a professor of kinesiology at Brock University in St. Catherines, Ont., says our spines are designed to move — and a diversity of movement might be just the thing you need.
We look at the science of gut health as part of our series Well Founded, and learn about the gut microbiome’s important role in your overall physical and mental well-being.
Claudia Sheinbaumb has won a landslide victory to become Mexico’s first female president, after a violent election in which 38 candidates were killed. We discuss the challenges she faces in confronting that bloodshed, and how her win could affect the U.S. election this fall.
A solar storm pushed the aurora borealis south last month to parts of the country that don't usually get to see the northern lights. We hear why these storms are becoming more common, and why researchers are both delighted and concerned.
The Competition Bureau wants to hear from Canadians about issues like lost luggage, long delays and rising fares ahead of a study into air travel in this country. Matt Galloway asks the bureau’s Anthony Durocher what can be done to get a better deal for passengers.
The weight loss medication Wegovy is now available in Canada, at a cost of about $400 a month, indefinitely. Some advocates say the drug should be covered by provincial pharmacare plans — but not everyone thinks that’s a good idea.
A new study suggests crows can count out loud, adding to research that shows they can make tools, remember faces and even hold funerals. What else might they be capable of?
India is wrapping up its mammoth election amid a brutal heatwave, with record temperatures reaching 52.9 C. We look at what people are doing to stay cool, and whether the heat might have affected voter turnout.
Donald Trump is the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a crime. What happens next, and what might that verdict mean for November’s election?
Would you pay $1,000 for a pair of jeans that look like you had a bathroom accident? Or wear jundies or janties — jeans so short and tight they look like underwear? We hear why trends in denim are having a weird moment, and what that tells us about work, class and style.
Nelson Mandela led the African National Congress to power in 1994, but the party’s 30-year majority could come to an end in a historic election this week. We hear why economic inequality has eroded loyalty for the party that many say freed South Africa from apartheid.
Josh Gibson is now Major League Baseball’s all-time best hitter, after the MLB integrated stats from the previously excluded Negro Leagues — where Gibson played from 1930 to 1946. Matt Galloway talks to his great grandson Sean Gibson about what that recognition means.
An entire herd of about 75 Black Angus cattle was stolen from a farm in Quebec last week. Geoff Morrison, creator of TV series Farm Crime, talks us through how criminals could even pull off a heist that big — and where those cattle might go.
Catheryne Langford spent 165 days sailing around the world — in a race that didn’t allow GPS. The Quebecer shares what it was like to rough it on the open sea, showering in buckets of seawater and relying on an old-fashioned sextant for navigation.
A new study suggests that hospitals with at least 35 per cent female surgeons and anesthesiologists had better patient outcomes, including fewer deaths, following surgery.
We talk to a surgeon and an anesthesiologist about getting more women in the operating room.
Dozens of Palestinians were killed by an Israeli airstrike on Rafah Sunday, just days after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to halt its military offensive there. Matt Galloway talks to Ahmad Abualjedian, who has family in Rafah; and asks Bob Rae, Canada's ambassador to the UN, where global diplomacy goes from here.
The jury is set to deliberate in Donald Trump's hush money trial. The Washington Post’s Devlin Barrett takes us inside a wild trial that is already having political ramifications.
Tech writer Shira Ovide says that Google’s new AI-powered search tool has returned some laughably inaccurate results, including instructions to drink plenty of urine if you’re trying to pass a kidney stone. She explains what the push for AI means for finding reliable information online.
Sonia and Guy d'Artois were part of a hidden force that parachuted into occupied France to help fight the Nazis during the Second World War. Nahlah Ayed tells the story of their love affair — and their mission behind enemy lines — in her new book The War We Won Apart.
Howard Cohen ran in the first Ottawa marathon in 1975 — and has completed every single marathon since. The 74-year-old doctor tells us about keeping up his streak, even after a long night spent delivering a baby.
Mairlyn Smith has had four concussions and struggled with each recovery. But things changed when her most recent injury brought new medical advice. We hear about the evolving science around concussions, and why traditional advice may have actually hurt patients.
Will a public service strike derail your vacation plans? Matt Galloway talks about the looming strike, the carbon tax and foreign interference with our national affairs panel: CBC’s Catherine Cullen, the Toronto Star’s Stephanie Levitz and the National Post’s Ryan Tumilty.
The remains of an unknown soldier have been returned to Newfoundland from France, more than 100 years after the First World War. We talk to veteran Berkley Lawrence and historian Frank Gogos about why it means so much to bring him home.
The U.S. Justice Department is suing Ticketmaster and its parent company LiveNation, alleging that the company has created a monopoly that drives up ticket prices and hurts artists.
The newest online sensation is walking backwards, but does moving in reverse push people towards better health? As part of our series Well Founded, Galloway speaks with bio-mechanist Janet Dufek, who has been studying this type of exercise for more than two decades.
Gangs have controlled most of Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince for three months, pushing thousands out of their homes. Matt Galloway speaks with the CBC’s Paul Hunter, who just returned from the country; and Martine St. Victor, a Haitian in Montreal.
Have you ever responded to those spam texts offering jobs? Toronto Star reporter Alex Boyd did — she tells us what happened next.
Four years after the murder of George Floyd, his uncle Selwyn Jones talks about his continuing fight for racial justice.
Many seniors are turning to cannabis for recreational or medicinal use — but a new study suggests some are ending up in the ER with accidental cannabis poisoning. Matt Galloway speaks with Dr. Nathan Stall about how to help seniors reduce the risk and enjoy the benefits.
The Fifth Estate’s Mark Kelley explores Jennifer Hillier-Penney’s mysterious disappearance from Saint Anthony, N.L., in the documentary Finding Jennifer.
An international court has unanimously agreed that excessive greenhouse gases can cause irreversible harm to small island nations. Payam Akhavan, lead counsel representing the island states, explains the significance of this ruling.
Writer Claire Cameron loves being outdoors, but a skin cancer diagnosis changed her relationship with life outside. She tells us how her relationship with the outdoors changed after doctors told her the ideal exposure to the sun would be none.
An investigation has found that 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for a banned substance before the 2021 Olympics — but were still cleared to compete by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Several of those swimmers went on to win medals, and that’s not sitting well with some competitors heading into the 2024 Paris Olympics. Matt Galloway speaks with Travis Tygart, the CEO of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, and Ross Wenzel, the general counsel for WADA.
We talk to Heather Hansen, co-author of Solitude: The Science and Power of Being Alone, about what can be gained from finding positivity in solitude.
A shooting that injured Slovakia's pro-Russia Prime Minister Robert Fico has highlighted the divide in Europe over the Ukraine war. Political economist Sona Muzikarovaexplains the rift between east and west.
One person died after extreme turbulence caused a Singapore Airlines flight to drop 6,000 feet in a single minute. Atmospheric scientist Paul Williams explains why turbulence is becoming more severe — and why climate change is playing a role.
The International Criminal Court has requested arrest warrants for top Israeli and Hamas officials. We ask Brian Finucane, a former advisor to the U.S. government, what this means for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the ongoing violence in Gaza.
Scientists have been using tiny sensors to track animals as they migrate and interact, to learn more about the natural world. This network of communication is helping scientists uncover the hidden world of animals.
Canadian hockey legend Cassie Campbell-Pascall looks back at the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s inaugural season, as the puck drops on the first ever Walter Cup final.
Skin cancer rates are rising in Canada, but a shortage of dermatologists means some don’t see specialists for months. Matt Galloway speaks to Dr. Christian Murray, an associate professor in dermatology at the University of Toronto; and medical student Madeleine Crawford, who led a study to see if AI can accurately screen for skin cancer.
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. With permission of the publisher, W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. All rights reserved.
Some scientists are asking if bioengineering endangered animals’ genes could save them from extinction. Guest host Rebecca Zandbergen hears more about genetic rescue efforts to bring endangered species back from the brink.
Extreme climate change — consecutive years of drought, floods and cold winters — is taking a heavy toll on farmers’ crops. We hear how farmers are adapting to these devastating challenges.
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.
Foreign workers are protesting Prince Edward Island’s plan to reduce the number of immigrants it nominates for permanent residency, a change the province says is necessary to reduce pressures on housing and health care. Guest host Rebecca Zandbergen speaks to one of the protestors and Dan Kutcher, mayor of Summerside, P.E.I.
The U.S. plans to slap 100 per cent tariffs on electric vehicles imported from China — and some want Canada to follow suit. We hear why North American automakers are concerned — and what it all means for consumers.
Ontario is planning tougher penalties for impaired drivers, up to a lifetime licence suspension for incidents involving death. We look at the devastating impact of impaired driving, which increased 16 per cent in the province last year.
When Manitoba farmers realized they had a massive surplus of potatoes, they decided to give them away — all 5.4 million kilograms of them. We hear about the incredible logistics of moving that much food, and what it meant to the people who need it at food banks and charities.
Some Alberta farmers are turning to water trading in the face of devastating droughts. The CBC’s Joel Dryden explores the secretive market where water rights are bought and sold.
Being told you have cancer is traumatic enough, but imagine getting that news in the hallway of a crowded ER department, or over the phone from a doctor you don’t know. It’s a scenario some doctors say is becoming more common.
A creeping wildfire forced Marina Barnes to evacuate Fort McMurray, Alta., on Tuesday, days after starting a new job in the city. She tells us what it was like to be forced to flee.
Canadian short story writer Alice Munro has died, aged 92. Matt Galloway talks to those who knew the Nobel Prize winner both as a friend and a master of her craft.
Fancy some oysters with kiwi? Cauliflower and grapes, seasoned with nutmeg? Chefs are experimenting with AI to find unusual flavour combinations. But do the results pass the taste test?
Massive wildfires are already forcing people from their homes across Canada, in part fuelled by “zombie fires” that have been simmering under the snow all winter. Matt Galloway asks what this season might hold, and whether Canadians must learn to live with a new normal.
Scientists say they’ve discovered a kind of phonetic alphabet used by sperm whales, bringing us a step closer to understanding the building blocks of whale communication.
Women's professional basketball is coming to Toronto, with a new team expected to start play in 2026. We talk to former professional player Christine Hyde and 15-year-old player Amaya Robinson about what this means for the sport and the next generation of players.
Apple’s new iPad ad has gotten a bruising backlash. Author David Sax explains why creative people in particular are outraged.
Narendra Modi is expected to win a third term as India’s prime minister, even as allegations swirl that his government played a role in assassination plots around the world. The CBC's Salimah Shivji explores what’s at stake in her new podcast, Modi’s India: Understood.
Health-care workers face immense pressure in Canada’s understaffed and overcrowded emergency rooms. But while they care for us, who cares for them? Matt Galloway visits a Toronto hospital to hear how staff are supporting each other through often traumatic work.
For years, players have been too afraid to talk about it. But now, the truth about a broom that almost destroyed curling is finally coming out. In Broomgate: A Curling Scandal, semi-professional curler and fully professional comedian John Cullen (Blocked Party) is exposing the unbelievable, never-before-told scandal that rocked the sport of curling. Yes, curling. More episodes are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/AFwEGvQC
Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert says Israelis should take to the streets to stop a ground invasion of Rafah, and argues that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is more interested in protecting his own government than saving the lives of the hostages.
When writer Jia Tolentino was pregnant, she tried to hide the news from her phone — hoping to stop eavesdropping apps from alerting companies that would try to sell her stuff. She tells Matt Galloway how that went, and how you too can try to escape the surveillance economy.
Jonathan Eig’s biography of Martin Luther King Jr. has won a Pulitzer Prize. Eig spoke to Matt Galloway last year about telling the story of a complicated man, from his incredible successes to his deep personal struggles.
The CBC’s Brittany Greenslade brings us the latest from the trial of Jeremy Skibicki, who has admitted to killing four Indigenous women in Winnipeg.
More than a trillion cicadas from two separate broods are emerging together for the first time since 1803. The noisy insects will blanket parts of the U.S. for months — and entomologists are pretty excited.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was sworn in again this week, adding a fifth term to his 24 years in power. We look at Putin’s vision for Russia and the wider region, and how the Kremlin's disinformation strategy tries to influence opinion around the world.
A council in northern England is ditching apostrophes from street signs, to avoid problems with computer systems. Matt Galloway talks to punctuation expert Florence Hazrat about the uproar from locals and our ever-evolving grammar.
Researchers say choking and rough sex are being normalized for teenagers, and parents can’t assume their kids haven’t been exposed to the risks. Experts say many teens are getting their sex education from pop culture, memes and hashtags like #ChokeMeDaddy.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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. With permission of the publisher, W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. All rights reserved.
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.
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 airstrikes but now face a possible ground incursion.
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.
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: the CBC’s Catherine Cullen, the Toronto Star’s Stephanie Levitz, and the National Post’s Ryan Tumilty.
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.
Ben Johnson maintains he was the victim of sabotage after a positive doping test stripped him of his Olympic gold medal in 1988. 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.
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.
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 up for a Xena reboot.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 what role consumers can play.
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.
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 means to us here on this pale blue dot.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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 had not been a police officer.
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.
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 global event to return to its radical roots?
OG organizer Denis Hayes recounts how – amidst other counterculture movements at the time – his team persuaded roughly one in ten Americans to take to the streets. As he approaches 80, Denis offers his singular piece of advice to the next generation of climate leaders. Then, environmental warriors Maria Blancas and Axcelle Campana share ideas on what a reinspired Earth Day could look like – including making it a public holiday.
More episodes of What On Earth are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/rtraABEv
We love to hear from our listeners and regularly feature them on the show. Have a question or idea? Email Earth@cbc.ca
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 results.
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.
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.
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 University in the U.S., tells us more about this charming blue heeler dog.
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.
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.
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 company Vertex over its patent and price tag.
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.
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?
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.
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 our series Well Founded.
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.
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.
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 into care homes not of their choosing.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 face every day via social media.
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 a health-care system that Canadians can be proud of.
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.
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.
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 role of the owner and what some see as a sense of entitlement in the culture of dog ownership.
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 Exoplanets at the Université de Montréal; and Laurie Rousseau-Nepton, a professor of astronomy at the University of Toronto.
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.
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.
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 parents.
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.
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.
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 view of his leadership and what it would take to change his mind on the carbon tax.
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 careers in STEM.
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.
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.
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 Benjamin Jamieson went to Norman Wells to learn more about how climate change is reshaping life in the North; and host Matt Galloway speaks about managing the effects of climate change with Charlotte Menacho, an elder in Tulita in the North, and N.W.T. Premier R.J. Simpson.
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.
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.
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 Vancouver activist Ward Reddick did to help her get home again. Correction: In this episode, we reported that Mary couldn't afford the bus fare to bring her daughter home, implying that they were living apart. In fact, after completing her reporting, journalist Jazzmin Jiwa drove Mary to meet with Ahdia and bring her home.
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.
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 joy in being alive.
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.
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 food culture — anyone fancy a Fat Boy burger?
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.
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.
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 talented.
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.
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.
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 of Nurses: Stories of Grit from the Front Lines.
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.
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.
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 treatments against a patient's quality of life.
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.
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 about the challenges facing the government.
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.
‘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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. Hosted by journalist Samantha Cole (How Sex Changed the Internet and the Internet Changed Sex). About Understood: Know more, now. From the fall of Sam Bankman-Fried, to the rise of Pornhub, Understood is an anthology podcast that takes you out of the daily news cycle and inside the events, people, and cultural moments you want to know more about. Over a handful of episodes, each season unfolds as a story, hosted by a well-connected reporter, and rooted in journalism you can trust. Driven by insight and fueled by curiosity…The stories of our time: Understood. More episodes are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/Z6-BQXWc
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.
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.
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 communities and culture.
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 slow down cars by redesigning roads.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 crisis.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 about what Canadians expect of the country’s military spending.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 it.
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.
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 about how they were coping and finding joy every day.
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.
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 could mean for the November election.
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.
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.
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.
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 families living in fear in Pakistan and those still waiting to come to Canada.
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.
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 Indigenous communities thriving, not just surviving.
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.
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 The Current’s Matt Galloway.
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 for accountability.
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 Alberta.
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, 500 Days in the Wild.
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 about why she believes her father’s experience is emblematic of the way Canada’s health-care system fails seniors.
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 it comes to building more homes.
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 for what their products do.
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 and plantlife.
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 and online hate.
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.
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 whether we actually want to hear each other anymore.
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 Angels, CBC’s Katie Nicholson visits Sault Ste. Marie to hear calls for changes to how cases of intimate partner violence are treated.
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 students thrive.
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 Afzaal family; and Jessica Davis, president of Insight Threat Intelligence and a former CSIS Analyst.
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.
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 whether or not Canadians actually apologize any more than anyone else. The full episode and many more are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/pZDNzU2h
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.
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.
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 they need from all levels of government.
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 be taking a firmer line to dissuade Israel from invading Rafah.
Rec hockey player Ike Werner was sliced in the neck by a fellow player’s skate. He tells Matt Galloway about the experience.
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 time.
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 family to Rafah, about the situation in the southern Gaza Strip city; and asks Israel’s Ambassador to Canada Ido Moed what evidence exists to support Israel’s accusations against UNRWA workers.
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.
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 to conserve those species is crucial.
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.
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.
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 the joy of embracing winter and eating well — anyone for a Fat Boy burger?
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; and Edward Lennard Busch, executive director of the First Nations Chief of Police Association.
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 for his documentary Navalny.
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 reverberates to this day. It’s the story of how Tinseltown became an ideological battleground. The toll of the fight was enormous – reputations, careers and families were torn apart by the campaign to drive communists from the movie business. More episodes are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/B7rMdDYT
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.
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 she wants us to think about in a time where it feels like we’re all being watched by our own devices.
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.
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.
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 still an honour to come home to perform in Winnipeg, even as he sells out shows across Canada and beyond.
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 in Canada’s future. Plus we talk to Indigenous leaders and innovators about a transformation happening in Winnipeg.
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 does for our health and longevity.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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 women.
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?
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.
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.
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 been a year since an earthquake killed nearly 60,000 people in Turkey and Syria, but hundreds of thousands of survivors are still sleeping in tents, shipping containers or on the street. Victoria Craig, a reporter based in Turkey, brings us the view from a still-devastated country.
Our national affairs panel discusses a new poll that suggests Canadians' support for Ukraine has begun to fade; and an NDP ultimatum to the Liberals on pharmacare. Matt Galloway talks to President of the Angus Reid Institute Shachi Kurl, the Toronto Star's Stephanie Levitz, and the National Post’s Ryan Tumilty.
Some Cape Bretoners are still trying to dig themselves out after almost 5 feet of snow fell this week, with reports that older people in particular are missing medical appointments and running low on food. We talk to people on the Nova Scotian island about the scramble to get supplies to the vulnerable — by snowshoe, if necessary.
Five former Canadian world junior hockey players were charged with sexual assault this week, including four current NHL players. Matt Galloway discusses the state of hockey culture and what needs to change with Ron MacLean, host of Hockey Night in Canada.
Donald Trump wasn’t on the ballot in Nevada’s Republican primary on Tuesday, but his main rival Nikki Haley lost to an option that let voters pick “none of these candidates.” The Globe and Mail’s Nathan Vanderklippe brings us the latest on the presidential race and Trump’s ongoing legal troubles.
Are you dealing with a nagging cough that just won’t go away? Respirologist Dr. Nicholas Vozoris says if you’ve been sick recently, it could just be a post-infectious cough. He explains what you can do to ease the annoyance — and when to check if it’s something more serious.
A Montreal program offers struggling Canadians a cash boost to help them avoid falling into homelessness — at an average cost of $11,000. Welcome Hall Mission CEO Samuel Watts tells Matt Galloway why that’s money well spent to get people back on their feet, and discusses how it could be scaled up to tackle the homelessness crisis in other parts of the country.
After a teenage girl was raped in India, her family went on a quest for justice. Their story is the subject of To Kill a Tiger, a film by Canadian director Nisha Pahuja that has now been nominated in the Best Documentary Feature category at the Oscars. We revisit her conversation with Galloway from Sept. 2022.
A Toronto man was able to track his stolen truck to a rail yard, but neither police nor the rail company were able to help retrieve it. He tells Matt Galloway how he tracked his vehicle as it was moved around the world, and why he’s still determined to get it back — and experts weigh up what can be done to stop the spate of car thefts across Canada.
Kimberly Taylor grew up believing she was an orphan, until a CBC investigation last year revealed that thousands of children adopted from South Korea had been lied to. Taylor set out to reunite with a family she never knew she had, who had been searching for her for decades.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is back in the Middle East, pushing Washington’s call for “a sustained pause in hostilities” as the Israel-Hamas war enters its fifth month. The CBC's Chris Brown brings us the latest from Jerusalem.
Sheikha Latifa was born into incredible privilege as the daughter of the leader of Dubai, but she and her sister risked everything to escape years of alleged abuse at the hands of their father. Heidi Blake explores the story in her new podcast The Runaway Princesses.
A health centre in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., is dropping 10,000 patients due to a doctor shortage. Matt Galloway talks to some of the people left scrambling to find primary care, and asks what’s driving the shortage of family doctors across the entire country.
As part of our series Well Founded, Jonathan Jarry explains how to spot some of the pseudoscience you see online, and separate wellness myths from what can actually help you. Jarry is a science communicator at McGill University's Office for Science and Society, and co-hosts the podcast The Body of Evidence.
And many Canadians turn to alternative lenders when money gets tight, but those lenders can charge up to 47 per cent interest. The federal government is taking steps to cap that interest rate at 35 per cent — but critics say the move won’t address why people turn to alternative lenders in the first place.
Explorers think they might have finally found the wreckage of Amelia Earhart's plane. Is this the end of an 87-year mystery?
Insurance company Manulife says its coverage of certain drugs will only apply at Loblaws-owned pharmacies. We unpack what the change means for you and your access to health care.
The 2013 collapse of the Rana Plaza garment factory killed 1,134 people and sparked a global outcry around the high human cost of making cheap clothes. The Fifth Estate's Mark Kelley returned to Bangladesh, where he found that promises to improve wages and safety have backslid, including by some Canadian companies.
A transgender teen in Alberta says Premier Danielle Smith’s new policies amount to forcing teenagers out of the closet via government regulation. The premier’s sweeping changes, unveiled this week, will affect how transgender teens are treated in schools and their access to what experts say is life-saving health care.
The inquest into the stabbing massacre at James Smith Cree Nation has shared recommendations to help prevent similar tragedies in the future. The CBC’s Sam Samson explains what the inquest found and how families have reacted.
Ontario intends to refurbish the Pickering nuclear plant as part of wider plans to expand the province’s nuclear sector. We talk to environmentalists who say that despite the cost and concerns around toxic waste, nuclear power is a crucial part of the push to reach net zero.
Thousands of men have fled Ukraine to avoid being drafted into the war with Russia, with many crossing into neighbouring Moldova and claiming asylum. CBC correspondent Briar Stewart takes us to the Ukraine-Moldova border to meet some of the men refusing to fight.
Kate Manne had never gone swimming until recently because she didn’t want to be seen in a bathing suit. Her new book, Unshrinking: How to Face Fatphobia, explores how her body has been received, from the workplace to the doctor's office — and why she thinks fatphobia is such a persistent form of discrimination.
Veteran crime reporter Kim Bolan has just returned from a worldwide trip to investigate Canada’s place in the global drug trade — and found that the gangs in charge see Vancouver's port as a safe haven to operate from. She tells Matt Galloway what she’s uncovered in her latest investigative series Lethal Exports, published in the Vancouver Sun.
The Canadian Pediatric Society says "risky play" is good for kids’ mental, physical and social health — even if it might result in injury. We hear what’s behind this new advice, why ”incredibly boring playgrounds” are part of the problem, and why parents might need to just take a deep breath.
John Scully says he feels betrayed by the government’s decision to delay expanding medical assistance in dying to the mentally ill. The 82-year-old says he’s tried everything to treat his complex mental illness and without MAID, he’s left with “the horror of suicide.” Matt Galloway talks to Dr. Sonu Gaind, who testified in parliament about the need for a delay; and Dr. Jean Marmoreo, a MAID provider who says the delay is intolerable and cowardly.
Scotland began vaccinating teenage girls against HPV in 2008. Now, a new study shows no one in that cohort has developed cervical cancer in the years since. Matt Galloway talks to the study’s author Dr. Tim Palmer about whether it’s possible to make cervical cancer an exceedingly rare disease; and asks Dr. Gina Ogilvie about at-home screening and vaccination efforts here in Canada.
What does a dog see when it looks at a peacock feather? Or a bee, when it looks at a flower? Scientists have developed a camera system to show how various species perceive colour as they navigate their habitats — biologist Daniel Hanley tells us how it works.
Explicit AI-generated images of Taylor Swift flooded social media last weekend, just weeks after deepfake nudes of Canadian teens were found circulating in a Winnipeg school. Experts say more needs to be done to address this abusive use of technology, from the playground to the boardroom.
War Child Canada founder Samantha Nutt recently travelled to South Sudan, where she met refugees who feel forgotten by the wider world. She talks to Matt Galloway about what she saw in the unfolding humanitarian crisis and where she finds the will to keep working in the face of great suffering.
The highly anticipated public inquiry into foreign electoral interference begins Monday. It will start by deciding what it can — and can’t — talk about publicly. We discuss what to watch for as the inquiry unfolds and what it might mean for Canada’s relations with China, Russia and India.
Tinnitus can sound like a ringing in your ears or a whooshing in your head — and can be constant and disruptive for the people who live with it. We hear how scientists are trying to treat the problem, including a way to retrain the brain to silence the ringing.
Alyssa Ages explores strongman and strongwoman culture in her new book, Secrets of Giants: A Journey to Uncover the True Meaning of Strength.
The Washington Post’s Michelle Lee breaks down a recent face-to-face meeting between Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un.
Thousands of people are dead and missing in Libya after two dam breaches triggered floods that washed away entire neighbourhoods. Galloway hears how the impact of those floods are part of a decades-long neglect on the part of the country's leaders.
In Calgary, 264 children have confirmed cases of E. coli — potentially the worst outbreak of E. coli in Canada. The source is still not confirmed, but it may be connected to a commercial kitchen with numerous health infractions that was hired by Calgary daycares. Matt Galloway speaks with a mother of a four-year-old who was hospitalized.
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Colson Whitehead tells Matt Galloway about his new novel, Crook Manifesto. It’s a story about crime and redemption in 1970s Harlem, packed with characters unable to stay out of trouble.
Jen Markowitz's new documentary Summer Qamp follows a group of trans and queer kids at a summer camp in Alberta that's just for them — a safer space where they can have fun and make friends. Markowitz and two campers discuss the importance of a place where you can be yourself, away from political debate about your own identity.
Thousands of Filipino nurses come to Canada every year, easing this country’s nursing shortage while also earning money to send back home. But that recruitment pipeline robs the Philippines of qualified nurses and splits Filipino families apart. The CBC’s Stephanie Dubois travelled to the Philippines to explore the impact there.
Michael Crummey’s new book The Adversary explores his familiar themes around life at the ocean's edge. Matt Galloway sat down with the author at the Woody Point Writers Festival in Newfoundland to discuss isolation, vulgarity and the responsibility that comes with telling the stories of home.
Your car is gathering an alarming amount of data about you, including your genetic information and sexual activity, according to a new report from privacy experts. What are carmakers doing with that data?
A powerful earthquake has killed more than 2,400 people in Morocco, with rescuers racing against time to reach survivors in remote villages. Matt Galloway talks to one woman who says “my teeth were shaking in my head” when the quake hit her home in Marrakesh.
Researchers in Newfoundland are using high-tech tools like sonar and remotely operated vehicles to retrieve lost fishing gear from the bottom of the ocean floor. Matt Galloway took a boat trip to see what “ghost gear” lurks beneath the surface.
Google turns 25 this month. BBC technology editor Zoe Kleinman talks us through how it grew from a humble search engine to the company powering so many aspects of our everyday lives.
Canadian architect Raymond Moriyama died last week, leaving a legacy that includes the National War Museum and the Toronto Reference Library. His friend and fellow architect Bruce Kuwabara tells us about Moriyama’s childhood experience in a Japanese internment camp, and how it led him to make buildings that bring people together.
The Conservative Party’s policy convention is underway in Quebec City. Matt Galloway asks Sen. Denise Batters how her party intends to tackle the big issues facing Canadians; and our national affairs panel weighs up what’s at stake for Pierre Poilievre in his first convention as Conservative leader.
Young people in China are graduating into an economic slump, unsure if they’ll enjoy the same prosperity that their parents’ generation enjoyed. We hear about mounting anxiety across the contracting economy — and what it might mean for Canada.
For decades, Inuit women in northern Quebec had to travel south to give birth, far from family and support. That started to change in 1986 when the North’s first midwifery clinic opened in Puvirnituq. Duncan McCue takes us into that maternity centre with his documentary, Hands of a Midwife.
Matt Galloway asks what we can expect from the trial of two key organizers of the truck convoy that paralyzed downtown Ottawa in 2022; and dissects a new report that says polarization is rife in Canada, but younger people in particular are rejecting “bloodsport politics.”
Ann Johnson was left paralyzed and unable to speak after a massive stroke at age 30. But now, a team of researchers has used artificial intelligence to give the Regina woman her voice back, allowing her and her husband to have their first real-time conversation in 18 years.
People in B.C. are starting to count the cost of recent wildfires, with some describing “the nothingness” they’re facing as flames die down. The CBC’s Chris Walker spoke to people about what they’ve lost and what comes next.
The Bank of Canada has raised interest rates 10 times in the past 18 months, leaving homeowner Sarah Dueck struggling with a monthly $6,300 bill. Have the hikes done enough to tackle inflation? When can Canadians feeling the squeeze expect some relief?
Bill Vigars was in the van with Terry Fox on his Marathon of Hope in 1980. His new book, Terry & Me, shares little-known stories about Fox.
It’s been a year since post-tropical storm Fiona ripped entire homes into the sea in Channel-Port aux Basques, N.L. Matt Galloway travelled there to meet residents still picking up the pieces and grappling with whether they can ever feel safe again, living so close to the ocean.
Yellowknife residents can return home on Wednesday, three weeks after forest fires forced virtually everyone in the N.W.T. city to evacuate. We talk to a Yellowknifer nervous about returning, and hear about the logistics of getting an evacuated city back up and running.
This has been the worst fire season on record. Lives have been lost, homes destroyed, communities evacuated — and fires are still burning across Canada. Matt Galloway speaks with Susan Ormiston, the CBC’s international climate correspondent, about the effects of this forest fire season.
AI-powered programs like ChatGPT have the potential to transform society, but they’ve also made it much easier to cheat. As students get ready to return to school, what is the role of AI in the classroom?
Margaret Atwood’s new book, Old Babes in the Wood, is a collection of short stories that may be her most personal work yet. Earlier this year, Galloway spoke with her about those old babes, grief and loss, censorship, and whether she thinks artificial intelligence could ever replicate her writing.
postpartum brain fog is familiar for many mothers — sometimes dismissively called “mommy brain.” But research now suggests it's actually a time when women's brains are rewiring themselves to learn new skills, multi-task and even have better memory later in life.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has faced sharp criticism for opening up protected Greenbelt land for housing development. Ford says it’s a necessary move to tackle the housing crisis, but the plan has prompted damning reports from watchdogs, a high-level staff resignation and a possible RCMP investigation.
Hurricane Idalia slammed into Florida this week, leaving chaos in its wake. Guest host Susan Bonner hears why warming oceans are making hurricane season more destructive — and how communities in their path can adapt.
In her new book, Laughter in The Dark: Egypt To The Tune of Change, Yasmine El Rashidi charts the powerful role music has played in shifting societal norms in Egypt, from the Arab Spring to today.
In a conversation from June, Jonathan Eig discusses his biography of Martin Luther King Jr., which aims to tell the whole story of a complicated man.
Some parents are turning to charities for help with back-to-school supplies, as inflation drives the cost into hundreds of dollars. Guest host Susan Bonner hears why bargains are getting harder to find, as parents try to bargain with kids’ expectations.
International students who come to Canada are learning hard lessons about the housing crisis, as well as promises of jobs and immigration opportunities that don’t materialize. Guest host Susan Bonner asks how the system could be reformed — and who’s responsible.
One hundred years ago, fishermen routinely threw bluefin tuna back into the sea. But now, the fish is the basis of a multi-billion dollar food industry. Karen Pinchin tells the story of what changed in her new book Kings of Their Own Ocean, and explores how one particular fish nicknamed Amelia Earhart was key to conservation efforts.
A shortage of more than 8,000 teachers has prompted Quebec to open up the jobs to people without training or experience — alarming some parents. Guest host Susan Bonner asks what’s driving the staffing shortage and what might solve it.
More and more people are forming friendships and even romantic relationships with AI chatbots, prompting concerns among experts who study the ethics around the rapidly evolving technology. In a conversation from June, Matt Galloway explores the world of artificial intelligence companions.
Fighting the wildfires in the Northwest Territories has been complicated by gaps in travel and communication infrastructure — problems that Premier Caroline Cochrane says the federal government should have fixed years ago. She tells guest host Susan Bonner why she’s angry about “pleading and begging to have the same infrastructure that people in the south take for granted”; and federal Minister of Emergency Preparedness Harjit Sajjan responds.
Cosmologist Thomas Gertog was a long-time close collaborator of Stephen Hawking, the physicist who explored the origins of the universe in A Brief History of Time. In a conversation from April, Gertog tells Matt Galloway about the moment that Hawking revealed he had second thoughts about some of his biggest ideas.
In her new book Eight Bears: Mythic Past and Imperiled Future, Gloria Dickie explores the creature’s special place in many cultures and societies — and asks why humanity’s history with bears is often draped in cruelty.
Frontrunner Donald Trump skipped the first Republican presidential primary debate Wednesday, but his opponents didn’t spend much time talking about him. Our political pundits lay out the winners and losers in a rowdy debate, and discuss what to expect as Trump surrenders to officials in Georgia over charges that he conspired to steal the 2020 election.
Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin is presumed to have died in a plane crash Wednesday, two months after he led a brief armed rebellion against President Vladimir Putin. What does his death mean for the war in Ukraine and dissent in Russia?
More and more Canadians are losing their homes and businesses to fires and floods — and then facing a battle with their insurance companies. Guest host Susan Bonner delves into how insurance is changing in the face of climate change; whether homes in high-risk areas could simply become uninsurable; and if extreme weather could push up rates for everyone.
A highly mutated variant of COVID-19 has emerged in a handful of cases, sparking fears of a potential spike in cases this fall. Infectious diseases doctor Isaac Bogoch answers questions from listeners about BA.2.86.
British nurse Lucy Letby has been convicted of murdering seven babies in her care, and the attempted murder of six more. Sunday Times Shaun Lintern explains the case, and why the country’s health-care system now faces questions about how Letby was able to kill repeatedly, even though staff around her raised concerns.
Developers in Montreal were told to include affordable housing in their projects or face fines — so they’re paying the fines. Guest host Susan Bonner digs into Canada’s housing crisis and asks what it will take to get some affordable housing built.
People who must work outside are grappling with extreme heat, as climate change drives temperatures higher. What is being done to protect workers under the glaring sun?
Spi7uwe Sqalemc poured his blood, sweat and tears into building his family’s dream home in B.C.’s interior — only to watch it burn last week in the wildfires ravaging the province. He tells us about his family’s shock and disbelief, as the loss sinks in.
Wildfires have forced thousands to leave their homes in British Columbia and the Northwest Territories. Guest host Susan Bonner speaks with people grappling with that threat to their communities, and asks federal Minister of Emergency Preparedness Harjit Sajjan what the government is doing to help.
Some birds and animals are named after historical figures, but there’s a growing awareness of the atrocities some of those figures committed. In a conversation from June, science writer Ed Yong tells Matt Galloway about the push to rename some species — and why it's harder than you might think.
This summer’s record-breaking fire season is just the beginning of a “massive reckoning” tied to climate change, says John Vaillant, author of Fire Weather. He argues that wildfires have entered a new age of intensity, which we will wrestle with for the rest of our lives.
Then, as England and Spain get set to face off in Sunday’s final, we look back at what has been a memorable 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup — and why it may be a watershed moment for women’s soccer.
Yellowknife residents have until noon today to evacuate the city. Guest host Catherine Cullen speaks with some of those who are leaving their homes behind; and Mike Westwick, the fire information officer for Yellowknife.
Born in Nazi-occupied Norway, Dag Aabye became one of the world's first extreme skiers, a Hollywood stuntman, a logger and eventually, an ultra-marathoner. Now 82, he lives in a bus in the B.C. bush, running two to six hours a day and occasionally befriending bears. We talk to Aabye and journalist Brett Popplewell, who has written about Aabye’s extraordinary life in Outsider: An Old Man, A Mountain and the Search for a Hidden Past.
The wildfire situation in the Northwest Territories has reached new extremes, to the point that people in Yellowknife have been ordered to evacuate their homes by noon tomorrow. Guest host Catherine Cullen speaks with people who have evacuated or are preparing to evacuate; and N.W.T Environment Minister Shane Thompson, who called the evacuation order.
Russia and India currently have lunar landing craft hurtling toward the moon, while China, the U.S. and Canada all have their own plans for lunar landings. We hear why the international space race is heating up again.
A wildfire burning northwest of Yellowknife is inching closer toward the city, prompting the declaration of a local state of emergency. Yellowknife Mayor Rebecca Alty tells us more about the wildfire and the risk it’s posing to the city.
A report released yesterday by New Brunswick’s child and youth advocate concluded that changes to gender identity policy for N.B. schools violate provincial law and the charter rights of children. Guest host Catherine Cullen speaks with Kelly Lamrock about his concerns and recommendations to change Policy 713; and the father of a trans teen who spoke to Lamrock as part of the consultations ahead of the report.
Along with campfires and sing-alongs, mental health supports are becoming an important part of some summer camps. We discuss why the trend is on the rise — and what it means for kids who are struggling.
As aid and recovery work in Hawaii continues, locals want to make sure they are leading the next steps. Guest host Catherine Cullen hears from two Hawaiians helping their community while fighting their own grief, and from the president of the non-profit charity, the Maui United Way.
Marjorie Taft has dementia and sometimes struggles to stay engaged with the world around her. Her daughter, Beverly Taft, works hard to keep her participating in life. This includes taking Marjorie to her weekly piano performances with Recollectiv, a Toronto group for musicians with memory challenges. We hear their story in Alisa Siegel’s documentary, The Person She’s Always Been.
It has been two years since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan. Since then, more than a million Afghans have fled the country — some to Canada. But for many of those who stayed, life under the Taliban has become desperate. Guest host Catherine Cullen hears about Afghans’ struggle to survive; and speaks with an Afghan woman who has started a new life here in Canada.
Sixteen bison were reintroduced to Banff National Park in 2017. That number will swell to around 100 after this year's calving season. In May, Matt Galloway visited Tsuut'ina Nation in Alberta to hear about bringing back beasts that once roamed Canada in the millions.
Devastation in Hawaii after hellish and lethal fires swept through Maui. Hawaii is in a state of emergency, with at least 55 people dead and thousands others forced from their homes. We hear from Hawaiians recovering from the destruction.
Thousands of new moms suffer from postpartum depression without effective treatment. But a new postpartum depression drug approved in the U.S. — Zuranolone — could offer some hope. Two clinical trials found it effective and fast-acting. Guest host Anthony Germain speaks with a mom who participated in one of the trials and that trial’s principal investigator; and discusses the interest the drug is getting on our side of the border with Dr. Tuong Vi Nguyen, a reproductive psychiatrist at the McGill University Health Centre.
Canadian musician Robbie Robertson has died at the age of 80, after a long illness. Music writer and broadcaster Alan Cross tells us about Robertson’s legacy.
When Taylor Swift's Eras tour finally rolls into Toronto in November 2024, fan expectations will be high — but so will the expectations of an economic boost. Guest host Anthony Germain speaks with two experts about the business of mega-concerts; and a Taylor Swift fan trying to get tickets.
in his new recipe book Cook It Wild, food writer and former restaurant critic Chris Nuttall-Smith aims to elevate campfire cooking from baked beans and hotdogs to dishes like paella and risotto.
Canadian news media organizations — including CBC — have filed a complaint with the Competition Bureau, accusing the social media giant Meta of abusing its dominant market position. To unpack what this means for the regulation of technology companies, guest host Anthony Germain speaks with journalist Cory Doctorow, a special advisor to the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Jennifer Quaid, an associate professor at the University of Ottawa specializing in competition law.
Journalist Jake Tapper has spent years covering U.S. politics. This work has inspired his latest novel, All the Demons Are Here: A Thriller. He tells us how truth can be just as strange as fiction.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and many people hunkered down at home, author Peggy Orenstein decided to embark on a more ambitious project: shearing sheep and making a sweater. She talks with us about that experience and her new book, Unraveling: What I Learned About Life While Shearing Sheep, Dyeing Wool and Making the World's Ugliest Sweater.
Out-of-control wildfires have sent smoke billowing across North America this year, and will set a record for devastation in Canadian forests — particularly in British Columbia and Quebec. But even under fire, nature is resilient. Guest host Anthony Germain looks at rebuilding and regeneration — and the hope that some Indigenous ways and new science will help our forests rise from the ashes.
In an effort to help cannabis retailers, the Ontario Cannabis Store announced they’ll be lowering their wholesale prices this fall. But there are concerns it won’t be enough to keep some struggling shops afloat — and retailers in other provinces want help too. Guest host Anthony Germain hears about the over-saturated market from two Canadian cannabis store owners and Michael Armstrong, an associate professor of operations research at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont.
Movie star Andrew McCarthy wanted to spend some time with his 19-year-old son Sam, so the pair walked 800 kilometres along Spain's Camino de Santiago. McCarthy talks to us about fatherhood, fame and how walking can help solve some of life's biggest problems.
Darren Calabrese was working as an award-winning photojournalist in Toronto — far from his New Brunswick roots. But when a family tragedy struck, he felt a pull to return home. He tells us about his new book, Leaving Good Things Behind: Photographs of Atlantic Canada.
A coup has thrown Niger into turmoil. Now, the ousted president is calling on the international community to restore order. Guest host Catherine Cullen hears the latest from in Niger, and speaks with two experts about why countries — including Canada — are watching with deep concern.
Amanda Zurawski was told around 18 weeks into her pregnancy that it would result in the loss of her daughter, Willow. She says it took a near-death experience before doctors could operate. Now she is the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against the state of Texas over its abortion access laws. Guest host Catherine Cullen speaks with Zurawski, as well as the legislative director of Texas Right to Life and a maternal fetal medicine physician.
New Health Canada regulations will require warning labels on individual cigarettes. Guest host Catherine Cullen hears about what this means for Canada — and what the current state of smoking is worldwide.
A heatwave has caused areas between the Florida Keys to heat up. A race is on to save coral species from what could be mass die-off. Cullen hears from two scientists in the Florida Keys.
The Canada Emergency Business Account repayment deadline is looming, but some small businesses say they need more time to pay the loans back. Guest host Catherine Cullen speaks with one jewelry wholesaler in Toronto; Dan Kelly, president and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business; and Franco Terrazzano of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
About 3,700 workers at Metro grocery stores are on strike across the greater Toronto area, asking for better pay and improved working conditions. Guest host Catherine Cullen talks to one striking Metro working; and discusses the rise of a more empowered labour movement with Barry Eidlin, an associate professor at McGill University.
Journalist Roy MacGregor covered many of Canada’s most significant moments. He tells us about his life in print journalism — and his new book, Paper Trails: From the Backwoods to the Front Page, a Life in Stories.
In an era of texting, voice memos and email, some people are pushing to revive the handwritten word. Hetty Roessingh, professor emeritus at the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary, talks about that push.
More than 700 homes in Osoyoos, B.C., had to be evacuated after a wildfire jumped the U.S.-Canada border on the weekend. More than 2,000 other properties are on evacuation alert. We hear how the wildfire has affected residents.
New numbers from Statistics Canada show that Canadians lost $530 million to fraud in 2021 — 40 per cent more than the year before. Guest host Catherine Cullen hears from a Regina woman who was almost taken in by a scammer pretending to be her grandson; and two experts about protecting against scams.
Former U.S. president Donald Trump faces new charges over classified documents, as well as a potential indictment for alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Philip Bump, national columnist for the Washington Post, unpacks what that means for Trump’s bid for re-election.
Baseball player Shohei Ohtani has been breaking records with the Los Angeles Angels, prompting some to speculate that he might be the best player the game has ever seen. John Thorn, official historian for Major League Baseball, breaks down why Ohtani might be as good as the legendary Babe Ruth, and whether that’s even a fair comparison.
Inuit diagnosed with tuberculosis in the 1950s and ’60s were removed from their homes and families in the North, and brought to sanatoriums in southern Canada, where they endured years of isolation and sometimes abuse. This week, a group of Inuit elders visited the site of a former sanatorium in Hamilton, Ont., in a search for healing and closure.
A self-styled whistleblower has told U.S. lawmakers that the Pentagon is concealing knowledge of UFOs and aliens — something the government denies. We ask Seth Shostak, a senior astronomer at the SETI Institute, what an encounter with aliens might look like.
Going on vacation these days can involve glitchy apps and hard-to-scan QR codes — and fewer actual humans to talk to when you run into a problem. We hear why some frustrated holidaymakers are choosing tech-free travel.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet shuffle offered some surprises and several new faces. Guest host Kathleen Goldhar breaks down the changes with our national affairs panel: host of CBC Radio’s The House Catherine Cullen; National Post parliamentary reporter Ryan Tumilty and Le Devoir columnist Emilie Nicolas.
Most salons and barbershops send the hair they’ve cut to landfills — but what if it could be recycled instead? We hear about how hair clippings can be given a new lease on life, from creating bioplastic to mopping up oil spills.
If you’re a big meat eater, cutting back could be the same as taking 8 million cars off the road, according to a new Oxford University study. Guest host Kathleen Goldhar hears about efforts to reduce carbon emissions and why it’s important to look at the food production system as a whole.
Protests continue in Israel after the country’s parliament approved a key part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's divisive plan for judicial reform. Ronen Bergman, a staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, tells us more about the deepening rift.
A U.S. soldier bolted across the heavily-fortified North Korean border last week — and hasn’t been heard from since. Guest host Kathleen Goldhar talks to two experts about the soldier’s fate, as well as ongoing missile launches and fears of widespread famine in the region.
The Chatham Coloured All-Stars were an all-Black baseball team from Ontario that won big back in 1934. In a conversation from June, Matt Galloway talks to the sons of two players, Don Tabron and Blake Harding; and Heidi L.M. Jacobs, author of the book 1934: The Chatham Coloured All-Stars’ Barrier-Breaking Year.
We hear about the devastating floods that hit Nova Scotia over the weekend — and the difficult clean-up ahead.
Celebrity chef and cookbook author Ricardo Larrivée has been called the Martha Stewart of French Canada. We revisit his conversation with Matt Galloway from April, when Larrivée left his TV kitchen after 21 seasons and nearly 3,000 episodes.
Three firefighters have died in what is already one of Canada’s worst wildfire seasons on record. Guest host Kathleen Goldhar discusses the impact of those deaths with a firefighter on the front lines and a trainee ready to join the fray.
A blockbuster biopic of J. Robert Oppenheimer hits cinemas today. We talk to a historian about the physicist’s role in the creation of the world's first atomic bomb — and why his legacy continues to shape the world.
Wood carving is sometimes seen as a hobby for older men, but carvers say more young people and women are getting involved. We visit the Canadian National Wildfowl Carving Championship to hear why whittling is winning over a new generation of artists.
A new birth control pill will be available over the counter without prescription next year in the U.S. But in Canada, access can depend on where you live, whether you have a family doctor and if you have the money to pay for it. Guest host Rosemary Barton speaks to two doctors about why caring for women's reproductive health is still a challenge.
The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup kicked off in Australia and New Zealand, with high hopes for Canada — despite the team’s ongoing labour dispute with its own governing body. Andi Petrillo, host of CBC Sports' Soccer North, tells us what to expect.
Scorching temperatures are pummeling parts of Europe and the U.S., breaking records and prompting spikes in heat-related illnesses, injuries and even deaths. Guest host Rosemary Barton hears how people are coping in Arizona, and asks the UN's Global Chief Heat Officer Eleni Myrivili how the world should adapt to heat waves and climate change.
As the much-hyped Barbie movie finally hits theatres, we take a look at how the doll became a cultural icon — and a magnet for criticism.
Refugee claimants and asylum seekers have been sleeping on Toronto’s streets for weeks, due to a lack of housing and an overwhelmed shelter system. While the federal government has pledged new funding to provide housing, some churches and organizations have felt forced to fill the gap by providing direct assistance. Guest host Rosemary Barton speaks to two refugee advocates about how things got so bad — and what needs to be fixed long term.
Canadian cuisine can be hard to define, which is why Gabby Peyton looked at 150 restaurants to examine our country’s dining. She tells that story in her new book, Where We Ate: A Field Guide to Canada's Restaurants, Past and Present.
Actors have joined writers in Hollywood strike, bringing film and TV production to a halt. Guest host Rosemary Barton hears about union concerns around pay and artificial intelligence — and the potential impact on tens of thousands of workers in Canada’s film industry.
Clinical trials for a new Alzheimer's drug, donanemab, suggests it can slow the disease’s progress for some people — but comes with some risks. We ask neurologist Dr. Sandra Black how the drug works, and where we stand in the fight to make Alzheimer's a treatable disease.
Young people from Mayan communities in Guatemala often migrate north to the U.S., fleeing poverty and a lack of opportunity. But a UN-supported boarding school outside Puerto Barrios is offering training and education in the hopes of giving them a chance to stay.
The Bank of Canada raised its key interest rate again last week, with the aim of pushing down inflation; but already-struggling Canadians are starting to question whether the strategy is working. Guest host Rosemary Barton talks to economists Armine Yalnizyan and Pedro Antunes.
Not everyone enjoys making small talk with strangers, but research shows it can be good for your health. In a conversation from January, Matt Galloway hears about a U.K. project encouraging people on public transport to take the leap and say hello.
Online shoppers are embracing “dupes,” products that look exactly like big brand-name items but are much cheaper. We hear from consumers who say they shouldn’t be made to feel ashamed for wanting something more affordable, and designers and small businesses who say the knock-offs hurt their bottom line.
Manitoba’s provincial government is saying it’s too dangerous to search a landfill north of Winnipeg, which is suspected to hold the remains of two murdered Indigenous women. Guest host Robyn Bresnahan talks to a family member about why they’re demanding the province change that decision.
The American Medical Association has advised doctors to exercise caution around using Body Mass Index to assess a patient’s health. We talk to Dr. Sonia Anand about the limitations and alternatives.
A Canadian company says that deep-sea mining could yield valuable minerals used in battery production, which could help the switchover to electric vehicles. But, environmentalists warn of irrevocable damage to sea life. Guest host Robyn Bresnahan and the CBC's Susan Ormiston discuss the balance of curbing climate change without causing further harm to the environment.
Will Shortz has been The New York Times’ crossword editor for 30 years. He tells us about why puzzles mean so much to people — and how to keep them relevant for a new generation.
E-bikes and e-scooters are taking cities by storm, sparking safety concerns and calls for clarity around who goes where on roads and bike paths. Guest host Robyn Bresnahan hears about a changing urban landscape — and how these new modes of transport can be integrated safely.
A team of researchers in Senegal has developed an artificial intelligence tool to predict possible growing conditions — and help farmers across Africa adapt to a changing climate. We hear about how it works, and who it might help.
The origins of pinball date back almost a century, but the tactile game is enjoying a resurgence among Canadians. In a conversation from January, producer Alison Masemann meets some pinball fanatics.
Ukraine’s bid for NATO membership will be discussed at the organization’s annual summit in Lithuania this week. Robyn Bresnahan hosts a panel discussion about what countries can do to support Ukraine in the face of Russia’s invasion — and how Moscow might respond.
A stabbing at a University of Waterloo gender studies class has alarmed educators and students across Canada. Guest host Robyn Bresnahan talks to three academics about threats they’ve faced for what they teach, and how universities need to do to make staff and students feel safe.
Stéphane Breitwieser and Anne-Catherine Kleinklaus stole hundreds of pieces of valuable art — but they did it out of a love for beautiful things, not monetary gain. Author Michael Finkel tells their story in the new book, The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime and a Dangerous Obsession.
Facebook's parent company Meta has launched Threads, a new app pitched as a friendly alternative to Twitter. Guest host Robyn Bresnahan talks to two experts about the increasing fragmentation of social media, and the consequences of losing platforms once viewed as the internet’s “public square.”
Eleanor Wachtel has retired after 33 years as host of the CBC’s Writers & Company. She spoke with Matt Galloway about her career — and the art of an interview — in front of a live audience last month.
It’s been ten years since a runaway train carrying crude oil exploded in Lac-Mégantic, Que., killing 47 people. The CBC’s Alison Northcott visits a town rebuilt after the disaster and meets a community still grappling with grief.
A new study says nearly 40 per cent of young women and girls are iron deficient. Guest host Robyn Bresnahan learns more about the symptoms and why the problem is often missed.
A recent viral video shows a 28-year-old chimpanzee named Vanilla seeing the sky for the first time, after spending her early years in a laboratory. We talk to the group that helped to rehabilitate Vanilla — and learn about the research that still relies on non-human primates.
In 1973 a conservation project brought Newfoundland puffins to Maine, where the species had been nearly wiped out by hunting. We hear about an ecological success story and how the descendants of those puffins are doing, 50 years later.
As summer camps kick off across Canada, organizers are grappling with how to keep children safe from extreme heat and lingering wildfire smoke. Guest host Robyn Bresnahan hears about the efforts to keep camp fun, while also mitigating the health risks.
Pickleball’s popularity continues to grow among older people — but injuries are stopping play for some. We hear about the joy people find in the sport and some of the perils.
Children in Ukraine have had their lives turned upside down by Russia’s invasion. Guest host Robyn Bresnahan hears about the ways they’re coping with the trauma and why psychologists fear the long-term impacts could be devastating.
Emergency rooms across Canada are closing due to staff shortages, and those who work in small towns say they're worried about the months ahead. Guest host Robyn Bresnahan hears from an advocate and a doctor about what could be another difficult summer.
Orcas have been ramming yachts and fishing boats off the coast of southwest Europe for months — in some cases terrifying their crews and captains. Guest host Susan Ormiston explores the mystery behind this so-called “orca uprising,” and learns why we should avoid projecting human psychology onto these complex creatures.
Rising sea levels pose an existential threat to islands around the world, forcing millions to confront their future as their homes lose ground to climate change. We talk to two islanders about why preserving island culture, from the Seychelles to Puerto Rico, is so important.
Record-setting temperatures in the southern U.S. are forcing people to stay inside and crank up the air-conditioning. Guest host Susan Ormiston hears about the pressure that’s putting on the power grid, and whether rising temperatures in Canada could lead to power shortages.
Josef Lewkowicz survived several camps during the Holocaust — and brought some of those responsible to justice. Now in his nineties, he’s telling his story in a memoir, The Survivor: How I Survived Six Concentration Camps and Became a Nazi Hunter.
Ontario is hoping that a renewed focus on phonics can help kids catch up on literacy after the pandemic. We hear more about the benefits of sounding out each letter and the long-running disagreements over the best way to teach kids to read.
Firefighters from around the world have come to help tackle the wildfires blazing across Canada. Guest host Susan Ormiston talks to General Eric Flores from France and Antoinette Jini from South Africa about why this wildfire season is among the worst they’ve seen.
From the host that brought you The Band Played On, The Banned Teacher is a new investigation, in a different city. He says it was consensual sex. She says it was rape. He was her music teacher. She was a teen. And it wasn't just once, with one girl. He had sex with students in closets, classrooms, and cars. The Banned Teacher begins with one victim's search for justice but turns into a full investigation by host Julie Ireton. Warning: This series contains graphic descriptions of sexual assault. More episodes are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/b6nsN90u
Historian and author Anne Applebaum dissects the short-lived Wagner revolt in Russia and what it might mean for President Vladimir Putin’s future.
A new CBC podcast investigation has found 15 women who say they were harassed, propositioned or sexually assaulted by the same Toronto-area high school teacher when they were teenagers. Guest host Susan Ormiston talks to Julie Ireton, host of The Banned Teacher.
Deep in the Amazon rainforest there’s a tree as tall as the Statue of Liberty. Forest engineer Eric Bastos Görgens tells us why he and his team braved dense jungle, spider bites and deadly snakes to find it.
Child abuse and neglect cases have made headlines in New Brunswick over the last three decades, prompting promises of change in the child protection system. But the union representing front-line child welfare staff says things are getting worse. Karissa Donkin, who’s with the CBC's Atlantic investigative unit, tells us more.
It was a chaotic and confusing weekend in Russia, after the Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin vowed to topple the military leaders in Russia. But after a deal was brokered by Belarus, he agreed to turn his mercenaries back from their move toward Moscow. Guest host Susan Ormiston speaks with experts and a reporter about the region’s intense weekend.
Titanic historian Craig Sopin was friends with Paul-Henri Nargeolet, one of five people lost aboard the Titan submersible. He tells Matt Galloway about what Nargeolet was like and what the disaster could mean for future exploration of the Titanic shipwreck.
Two years after wildfires razed much of Lytton, B.C., we return to the area to learn about the challenges facing those hoping to rebuild, the new mayor trying to lead the charge and why some have chosen to start new somewhere else.
Hot and dry weather has helped fuel the wildfires we have been hearing about. But the heat and lack of moisture have also had a serious impact on farmers' crops. Last week, the county of Stettler in northern Alberta declared an agricultural disaster. We hear from grain and cattle farmer JD Johnson and Stephen Vanderwalk, vice president of the Wheat Growers Association, about how the drought is affecting their farms and livelihoods.
Many students overcome big challenges to reach their graduation day. Danita Algar's son Ben started a carpentry program at Durham College in 2020. But last week, she was the one to finish it. For Tyrell Bird, one teacher had such an impact it made him want to become an educator himself.
The term ultra-processed foods may bring to mind sugary drinks or snacks, but chances are it fits more of the stuff in your fridge than you think. In a conversation from May, Mark Kelley talks to physician Chris van Tulleken about the health impacts.
The town of Norwich, Ont., passed a by-law against flying anything other than official government flags on municipal property — a change that critics say targets LGBT Pride flags. The CBC’s Katie Nicholson brings us her documentary about a town divided.
Dozens of people died and hundreds are still missing after a boat carrying as many as 750 migrants capsized in the Mediterranean last week. Megan Williams travelled to Greece to talk with survivors, and anxious families awaiting news of loved ones.
Online influencer and self-proclaimed misogynist Andrew Tate has been charged with rape and human trafficking in Romania. We unpack his enormous impact on boys and young men, here in Canada and abroad.
Jonathan Eig’s new biography of Martin Luther King Jr. aims to tell the whole story of a complicated man, from his incredible successes to his deep personal struggles.
Matt Galloway talks to three budding Indigenous journalists — Tchadas Leo, Sara Kae and Tanner Isaac — about the role they want to play in sharing what's really happening in their communities.
The diabetes drug Ozempic doubles as a weight loss drug by killing food cravings, but some Canadians take it in secret due to stigma and shame. Matt Galloway talks to people about what taking the drug has meant for them — and a woman who has refused her doctor’s repeated suggestions she take it.
Gender-based violence in Honduras often forces women to flee for a safer life elsewhere. The Current’s Liz Hoath brings us the story of how some women in a gang-controlled neighbourhood have stayed to help prevent that abuse.
A submersible taking people down to view the wreck of the Titanic has gone missing in the Atlantic. We talk to journalist David Pogue, who was on that vessel last year.
Earlier this month, Montreal Chief of Police Fady Dagher spent five days living on the streets, sleeping in shelters and visiting community groups. He’s mandating that new recruits get four weeks of “immersion training” in the communities they will serve — but not everyone is convinced.
The community in Dauphin, Man., is grappling with grief after 15 seniors were killed in a bus crash last week. We speak with those helping their neighbours navigate this tragedy.
Matt Galloway talks to former Conservative leader Erin O’Toole, who has left public life and used his final speech in the House of Commons to warn MPs about social media and “performance politics.”
Amid a rising number of hate-related incidents, particularly targeting trans people, Pride feels different for many in the LGBTQ community this year. We talk to three people about their anxiety — and determination — in the face of hate.
We hear about a tragedy in Manitoba, where at least 15 seniors were killed Thursday when their bus collided with a semi-trailer near Carberry, Man.
Two months after conflict flared up in Sudan, young people are grappling with what their future might hold. We talk to Alaa Mustafa, a young mother who is still in Sudan but recently had to flee her home in Khartoum.
Historian Judith Tschann explores the twisted roots of the words we use to describe food, from bibimbap to cocktails, in her book Romaine Wasn't Built In A Day: The Delightful History of Food Language.
Photojournalist Dustin Patar ventured to Canada’s far north with scientists studying the aftermath of the collapse of the Milne Ice Shelf. He discusses the award-winning images he captured, and how a crack in the ice tells the story of a changing climate.
Our national affairs panel discusses Erin O’Toole’s final House of Commons speech and the political fallout from the prison transfer of convicted serial killer Paul Bernardo. Matt Galloway talks to Toronto Star reporter Stephanie Levitz; the National Post’s Ryan Tumilty; and Catherine Cullen, host of CBC Radio’s The House.
Doctors are raising concerns about the increased use of melatonin as a sleep aid for children. They’re pointing to a spike in calls to poison control centres and a lack of clarity about what's actually in those gummies kids are gobbling up.
Lyzanka Garcia and her family fled Honduras for the U.S. when she was just a teenager, fearing violence in her home country. Now she's back in Honduras, helping women who are seeking a better life, especially those threatened by gender-based violence. The Current’s Liz Hoath brings us her story.
Hockey legend Henri Richard died in 2020, but his family has now revealed that he had CTE, the brain disease linked to repeated traumatic brain injuries. Matt Galloway talks to his friend and teammate Ken Dryden, and cognitive neurologist Dr. Matthew Burke.
A B.C. teacher says she’s seen improved grades after banning cellphones in the classroom. We talk to educators and students about whether the devices are a distraction or an important tool for learning and safety.
Martinus Evans has run several marathons — at his own gloriously slow pace — and started the Slow AF Run Club to inspire other plus-sized people to lace up their running shoes. He tells us about challenging what society might think an athlete looks like — and why it’s not about being the fastest.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paid a surprise visit to Ukraine over the weekend, confirming $500 million in new funding for military assistance. The CBC’s Margaret Evans tells us what she’s seeing on the ground in Ukraine; and Matt Galloway discusses how that money will be spent with international relations expert Alexander Lanoszka.
Canadian officials recently attended a classified Pentagon meeting about unidentified flying objects — amid separate claims that the U.S. is in possession of several alien spacecraft. We hear about efforts to better understand these mysterious objects, and why NASA is slowly making its investigations public.
We read audience letters responding to the shortage of volunteer firefighters, and talk to Nadine Setzer and Finn Setzer, a mother-and-son firefighting team on Denman Island, B.C.
We hear about four children, aged from 12 months to 13 years, who survived alone in the Colombian jungle for 40 days, after a plane crash that killed their mother.
Former U.S. president Donald Trump will be arraigned in Miami Tuesday, amid fears of violence outside the courthouse and beyond. Matt Galloway talks to a reporter at the scene; and an author who has spent time with Trump’s supporters, learning about what fuels their loyalty.
Winemakers are grappling with the impact of climate change, from extreme temperatures in B.C. to catastrophic flooding in Italy. We hear why grape growing might be the “canary in the coalmine” when it comes to tackling climate change, and how vintners might adapt.
Hundreds of international students from India have been threatened with deportation after their original offers to study in Canada turned out to be fake. We discuss what might happen next, and what needs to happen to protect students from immigration scams.
B.C. golfer Nick Taylor won the RBC Canadian Open on Sunday, becoming the first Canadian to do so in 69 years. Sports reporter John Chidley-Hill was there; he tells Matt Galloway how Taylor broke “the curse.”
At Sheshatshiu Innu School in Labrador, a new high school basketball team is changing how students feel about their education. The CBC’s John Gaudi introduces us to the Sheshatshiu Eagles in his documentary, The Joy of Basketball.
Wildfires and smoky skies have prompted feelings of grief and anxiety for many, as they watch their home environment change around them in real time. There’s a word for that feeling: solastalgia.
Around 70 per cent of firefighters in Canada are volunteers, but growing demand and high risk mean it's getting harder to recruit people for the job. Matt Galloway talks to volunteers about the work they do, and hears about the risks posed by the shortage.
After a fire swept through a former monastery in Montreal last month, staff were surprised to find two items had survived: an antique harpsichord and a grand piano. Oliver Esmonde-White has cared for that piano for 28 years; he tells us what it was like to find it largely unscathed.
A new report says car thefts across Canada are reaching national crisis levels. We take a look inside the crime rings taking your ride, and ask what you can do to stop your car from being stolen.
The Chatham Coloured All-Stars were an all-Black baseball team from Ontario that won big back in 1934. We talk to the sons of two players, Donald Tabron and Blake Harding; and Heidi L.M. Jacobs, author of the new book 1934: The Chatham Coloured All-Stars’ Barrier-Breaking Year.
The Bank of Canada raised its key interest rate again Wednesday. Matt Galloway talks to people who were already struggling and now find themselves in an even tighter bind. Plus, an economist dissects whether the bank’s approach will work to bring down inflation or disproportionately hurt lower-income Canadians.
The PGA Tour will merge with Saudi Arabia’s LIV Golf, a breakaway league financed by the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund. Although it brings pro golfers back under one roof, the deal reignited debates about money in sport, and concerns about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record just five years after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Chinatowns across Canada have long been a vital community resource, but development and changing cultural patterns have put them under threat. We hear about the documentary Big Fight In Little Chinatown, which looks at a new generation’s efforts to save them.
Thousands have fled flooding after a massive dam breach in the Russian-controlled town of Nova Kakhovka in southern Ukraine. We discuss what is and isn't known about the explosion, and the Dnipro River’s role in the lives of those in the region.
Tipping is now commonplace in all sorts of Canadian businesses, with take-out restaurants and even retail stores presenting customers with a tip screen starting at 18 per cent. We discuss that shift in tipping culture, and how the technology employed can play on our desire to seem generous.
In the face of a growing housing crisis, some Canadians are pushing back against rising rents. Matt Galloway talks to tenants forming unions to engage in collective bargaining with landlords, and others who are on strike, refusing to pay their rent.
Wildfires have created smoky skies across much of Canada, with air quality and smog warnings in various parts of the country. Matt Galloway talks to a doctor and a meteorologist about the health risks, and whether climate change means these hazy skies are the new normal.
While a cure for cancer still seems like a long way off, there are remarkable advancements in tackling the disease in the lungs, pancreas and cervix. We hear about some of those breakthroughs, including a study that suggests a daily pill can significantly cut lung cancer mortality.
Born in Nazi-occupied Norway, Dag Aabye became one of the world's first extreme skiers, a Hollywood stuntman, a logger and eventually, an ultra-marathoner. Now 82, he lives in a bus in the B.C. bush, running two to six hours a day and occasionally befriending bears. We talk to Aabye and journalist Brett Popplewell, who has written about Aabye’s extraordinary life in Outsider: An Old Man, A Mountain and the Search for a Hidden Past.
Our national affairs panel unpacks the latest in Canadian politics, from foreign interference to a new leader in the West. Matt Galloway talks to the CBC’s Catherine Cullen; National Post parliamentary reporter Catherine Lévesque; and Globe and Mail reporter Carrie Tait.
At the Guatemala-Honduras border, a drop-in centre offers migrants and refugees a chance to rest and regroup — and perhaps consider staying in Central America instead of continuing the dangerous journey north. The Current's Liz Hoath takes us to the border in her documentary Can’t Go Back.
One day, the fish you eat might not come from the sea, but from a 3D printer. We hear about a company getting rave reviews for their fillets — printed using real fish cells grown in a laboratory — and discuss what the technology might mean for the fight against hunger.
Some birds and animals are named after historical figures, but there is a growing awareness of the atrocities some of those figures committed. Science writer Ed Yong tells us about the push to rename some species — and why it's harder to change them than you might think.
When Russia invaded Ukraine, former Canadian army reservist Brandon Mitchell went to the frontlines. He tells us why he went to fight a war in a country he has no connection to; and the Globe and Mail's Mark MacKinnon brings us the latest from Kyiv.
Wildfires have displaced thousands of Nova Scotians this week, but stories of kindness have emerged from the devastation. Matt Galloway brings us tales of strangers helping strangers.
Health Canada is looking to include natural health products in the Protecting Canadians from Unsafe Drugs Act, also known as Vanessa’s Law. The Act requires the reporting of serious adverse effects of medications. Matt Galloway talks to an ER doctor and a naturopath about the natural health products that many Canadians are regularly taking.
The fallout from recent elections in Kosovo has raised the spectre of renewed violence in the country. We hear how the situation escalated to this point — and how bloodshed can be avoided.
More people are forming friendships and even romantic relationships with AI chatbots, prompting concerns among experts who study the ethics around the rapidly evolving technology.
A dozen horses have died in the past month at Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby. Hundreds of thoroughbreds die at race tracks every year, raising questions about whether profits are being put ahead of animal welfare.
Referees will wear body cameras as part of an Ontario Soccer pilot program to protect them from abusive parents, coaches and players. We discuss what’s behind the aggression, and its mental health impact on and off the pitch.
As wildfires spread through Nova Scotia last weekend, Lisa Parsons ran through the bush to rescue 18 dogs trapped in an overnight kennel. She tells us why she did it, and how she’s helping to reunite other rescued animals with their owners.
The remains of a Black sailor from the 1800s — now known as WH — were discovered on the coast of Labrador in 1987. Now, scientists and artists are coming together to solve the mystery of who he was. Alisa Siegel explores his story in her documentary The Excavation of WH.
Ontario farmers are rallying against provincial proposals that would allow housing to be built on prime farmland. The proposals aim to alleviate the housing crisis, but farmers argue the loss of land could put Canada's food security at risk.
The United Conservative Party has won Alberta’s provincial election, giving Danielle Smith four more years as premier. Matt Galloway discusses what the result means for the province and Canada, with former Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi; former city councillor Jeromy Farkas; and Michael Solberg, a staffer in the government of former prime minister Stephen Harper.
At Surrey Memorial Hospital in B.C., emergency room physicians say understaffing and overcrowding are putting patients at risk — but local health officials are not being transparent about the crisis. We talk to Dr. Urbain Ip, one of the physicians who signed an open letter calling out health officials for ignoring their concerns.
Derek Gee was the only Canadian cyclist competing in this year’s Giro D'Italia, winning an army of fans for his grit and tenacity. He tells us what it takes to ride up Italian mountains with the best in the world.
Thousands remain homeless after the deadly earthquakes that struck Turkey in February. The CBC's Briar Stewart takes us to the city of Antakya, where reconstruction is slow, and there is a burning anger around accusations that fraud and corruption fuelled the disaster.
Scientists have used artificial intelligence to find a treatment for a deadly superbug that, until now, was resistant to antibiotics. We talk to one of the researchers responsible, and discuss the benefits and possible consequences of implementing AI in health care.
Thousands of people have been evacuated after a fast-moving wildfire got out of control northwest of Halifax on Sunday, destroying several homes. Matt Galloway talks with people who have fled the fire, and hears about efforts to contain it.
Teenagers living with depression in Canada often go undiagnosed and untreated. We hear about a mental health crisis exacerbated by the pandemic, and the role family doctors could play in providing the care those teens need.
The Halifax Declaration lists demands and expectations for improving the lives of Black Canadians. Matt Galloway talks to former governor general Michaëlle Jean, whose foundation spearheaded the document’s creation; and one of its authors, the activist and poet El Jones.
Russia’s Wagner Group says they have taken the city of Bakhmut, but Ukraine says that’s not true. We talk to a photojournalist in Ukraine who has covered the long and bloody battle for Bakhmut, and discuss what it says about the course of a war that continues to grind on.
Sixteen bison were reintroduced to Banff National Park in 2017. That number will swell to around 100 after this year's calving season. Matt Galloway visits Tsuut'ina Nation in Alberta to hear about bringing back beasts that once roamed Canada in the millions.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has made headlines for his action on anti-abortion bills, book banning and a high-profile feud with Disney. Now, he’s announced his U.S. presidential bid. We talk to a journalist and a Republican strategist about his campaign and what it means in the race against Donald Trump.
The Seine in Paris may be an iconic landmark, but it’s also polluted with pathogens from sewage waste. But, with the 2024 Summer Olympics coming up — and Paris hosting — there are plans to clean the river and make it safe for swimming. We hear from one scientist who’s part of the clean-up process and a freshwater ecosystems researcher about Canada’s attempts to clean its own waterways.
Josef Lewkowicz survived several camps during the Holocaust. Now 96, he’s telling his story in a new memoir, The Survivor: How I Survived Six Concentration Camps and Became a Nazi Hunter.
Special rapporteur David Johnston has recommended against a public inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian politics, but highlighted “serious shortcomings” in how security agencies communicate intelligence to the government. Matt Galloway discusses Johnston’s findings with Tonda MacCharles, Ottawa bureau chief for the Toronto Star; and Dick Fadden, former director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.
Three U.S. states have reached a landmark deal to draw less water from the Colorado River, which is at risk of drying up due to drought and chronic overuse. We hear how that deal will affect agriculture and some of the food that reaches Canadian plates.
Quebec Sen. Patrick Brazeau has often spoken about his struggles with alcohol and his path to sobriety. Now, he wants Canadians to think about their own relationship with drinking. He tells us why he’s pushing for health warning labels on alcoholic beverages.
In his new recipe book Cook It Wild, food writer and former restaurant critic Chris Nuttall-Smith aims to elevate campfire cooking from baked beans and hotdogs to dishes like paella and risotto.
New data shows that the number of Canadian teens regularly using e-cigarettes is among the highest in the world. Matt Galloway talks to a teenager trying to kick the habit, and discusses the health risks with two researchers who have worked on youth vaping.
AM radio has long kept drivers company with sports coverage, music and call-in shows, but some automakers are dropping AM receivers in their new models. We hear about the history and influence of AM radio, and ask what might be lost if it disappears from the dashboard.
In his new book Just Once, No More, author Charles Foran writes about getting to know his dad at the end of his life — and what that taught him about his own mortality.
The unprecedented burnout in the medical profession isn’t just for doctors and nurses who treat humans, but people who care for animals too. We hear about the impact the veterinarian shortage is having on people and their pets, both large and small.
Ann Thurlow’s cookbook focused on the humble cabbage has grown into a boon for a women's shelter in Charlottetown, P.E.I. We hear from Thurlow about how her pandemic project turned into a runaway publishing success; and Liz Corney, co-founder and director of Blooming House, which recently received a $12,000 cheque from Thurlow.
As firefighters rush toward the wildfires spreading across Alberta, some will be exposed to carcinogens and mental health pressures that surface long after the fires are out. In this special podcast, Matt Galloway talks to two firefighters about the risk of cancer in their work, and how they’ve gotten better at talking about mental health.
Matt Galloway takes a train ride through Calgary to get the lay of the political landscape with former mayor Naheed Nenshi, former city councillor Jeromy Farkas, and former political staffer Michael Solberg. And four voters, from all walks of life, discuss what might sway their ballots as Alberta’s provincial election draws near.
Some experts say a perfectly manicured lawn is a biodiversity killer, and growing plants native to your region instead can create a vital home for bees, butterflies and birds. But, local regulations don’t always recognize that value. We hear from a London, Ont., woman who came home from vacation to find local officials had destroyed her pollinator garden.
A new campaign from the YWCA in Vancouver is highlighting a hidden epidemic: women suffering from concussions after being physically assaulted by their partners. Guest host Mark Kelley talks to a woman who suffered such a concussion, and an advocate trying to help survivors of intimate partner violence.
Junaid Khan is one of a growing number of non-Indigenous people in Canada learning Indigenous languages. In this documentary from March, Duncan McCue brings us Khan’s story and looks at the recent swell of interest in Indigenous languages in Canada.
Lorne Miller is confident his cancer was linked to his work as a firefighter — and he’s pleased that Alberta has now expanded workplace compensation coverage for the disease. We talk to Miller and Aaron Bowers, another firefighter in the province, about the strains of their work and how they’ve gotten better at talking about mental health.
Thousands have fled the wildfires threatening their homes and communities in Alberta. Matt Galloway talks to those in temporary shelter, left in limbo as the fires drag on; and author Edward Struzik discusses the climate conditions that are fuelling the catastrophe.
Services are stretched razor-thin at the hospital in Red Deer, Alta., with an upgraded facility promised for 2030. But with a provincial election looming, locals say they can’t wait that long. They tell us why a transition plan is needed to ensure patients get the care they need.
In Calgary, a key battleground in Alberta’s provincial election, Matt Galloway takes the CTrain that criss-crosses the city with three resident political pundits: former Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi; former city councillor Jeromy Farkas; and Michael Solberg, a former staffer in the government of former prime minister Stephen Harper.
It’s been an early and particularly devastating start to wildfire season in Alberta. We hear about the first responders battling the blazes, the people forced to flee and the communities giving them refuge.
Matt Galloway sits down with four voters, from all walks of life, to find out what might sway their ballots as Alberta’s provincial election draws near.
The Current will broadcast live from Alberta later this week, where a provincial election is playing out against the backdrop of devastating wildfires. Matt Galloway tells us what we’ll hear.
New research says British Columbia’s rate of no-fault evictions — where a tenant is forced out through no fault of their own — is more than twice the national average. Guest host Mark Kelley talks to a renter who has been evicted three times in 15 years; and hears from an advocate and an economist about the impact of renovictions on Canada’s rental market.
Ultra-processed foods may sound like sugary drinks or snacks, but chances are the description fits more of the stuff in your fridge than you might think. Physician Chris van Tulleken tells us about his new book Ultra-Processed People and the health impacts of what’s lurking in our cupboards.
Content moderators weed out a lot of violence and hate from social media feeds and AI tools like ChatGPT — but are paid very little in some places. We talk to a worker in Kenya involved in unionization efforts; and hear how workers could be better protected from disturbing content.
A controversial 2002 study reported a small increased risk of heart disease and breast cancer in women who used hormone therapy to treat the symptoms of menopause. We hear about a new clinical review that weighs the benefits against the risks — and suggests more women should discuss HRT with their doctors.
Turkey is heading for a run-off election, with no presidential candidate reaching the 50 per cent required for an outright win. Guest host Mark Kelley talks to voters and observers within the country about what’s at stake.
Noise pollution is a pervasive problem, making it hard to find a truly quiet space anymore. We talk to Jonathan Kawchuk, the Canadian representative for Quiet Parks International, an organization trying to preserve and revive quiet spaces, for our health and for the betterment of the natural world.
Canadian writer John Vaillant says climate change is creating the perfect conditions for devastating wildfires, like the ones ravaging parts of Alberta right now. He talks to Matt Galloway about his new book Fire Weather: The Making of a Beast.
Scientists have unveiled a pangenome, based on genetic sequences from 47 people of diverse ethnic backgrounds. We hear whether this more accurate and inclusive edition of our genetic code could be a step towards personalized medicine, treatments tailored specifically to you and your precise health needs.
The federal government has announced measures to tackle poor governance at Canada’s national sport organizations, but those measures do not include a public inquiry into abuse in amateur sports. Matt Galloway talks to Adam van Koeverden, parliamentary secretary to Minister of Sport Pascale St-Onge.
Anishinaabe chef Gerry Brandon wanted to bring Indigenous, English and French flavours together in his northern Ontario restaurant L'Autochtone Taverne Américaine. But now he’s selling up after losing his sense of smell to COVID-19.
The pandemic-era policy Title 42 allows border patrol to expel migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border immediately after they cross, without asylum hearings. As the policy expires, authorities, migrants and communities along the border are braced for what comes next. Matt Galloway talks to The Current’s Liz Hoath, who has been reporting in Guatemala this week; El Paso, Texas, pastor Timothy Perea, whose church has been helping migrants who reach his community; and Michelle Hackman, who covers U.S. immigration policy for The Wall Street Journal.
Heart disease remains the global leading cause of death for both men and women, but women have long been underrepresented in cardiovascular disease research. We talk to Dr. Susanna Mak, who is aiming to help close that research gap with a study at Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital; and Dr. Véronique Roger, a cardiologist and senior investigator with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Scientists are using gene-editing tools to make vegetables like brussels sprouts and kale taste better — and perhaps seem more attractive to picky eaters. We talk to Michael Wolf, founder of the food tech publication The Spoon, who has tasted these new vegetables himself; and Antony John, an organic farmer and co-owner of the farm Soiled Reputation in Sebringville, Ont.
We talk to Bette Cosar, who is retiring after a 50-year career with the Vancouver Opera.
Tensions are escalating between Canada and China, posing diplomatic and economic risks. Matt Galloway talks with Dennis Kwok, founder and chair of the China Strategic Risks Institute; and David Fung, a prominent business leader and vice-chair of the Canada China Business Council.
Cree journalist Connie Walker won both a Pulitzer Prize and a Peabody Award for her podcast Stolen: Surviving St Michael's this week. It’s a story of the residential school her father was forced to attend. She tells us about the importance of telling Indigenous stories.
Celebrities like Snoop Dogg, Ryan Reynolds and The Weeknd have been linked to bids to buy the Ottawa Senators. We discuss what that means for the team and the game of hockey, with Globe and Mail business reporter Andrew Willis.
Wildfires continue to ravage Alberta. We talk to Adam Norris, who lost his home in Drayton Valley, Alta., but returned to help put out the remaining fires.
The famed Montreal deli The Main has closed after 50 years. We discuss its legacy with Bill Brownstein, a columnist for the Montreal Gazette and the author of Schwartz's Hebrew Delicatessen: The Story.
The polio epidemic in the last century led to the invention of new technology — including ventilators — that would not just save lives, but revolutionize modern medical care. Critical care physician Dr. Hannah Wunsch tells the story in her new book, The Autumn Ghost: How the Battle Against A Polio Epidemic Revolutionized Modern Medical Care.
Many Canadians who escaped fighting in Sudan are taking refuge in neighbouring countries, waiting for what comes next. Matt Galloway talks to the CBC’s David Common, who was in Kenya last week; and Pierre Honnorat, the World Food Program’s country director in Chad.
A new report calls for a publicly funded insurance system for long-term care. Canadians would pay into the system during their working lives, and access that safety net in retirement. We talk to Shannon Lee Simmons, a certified financial planner and the founder of the New School of Finance; Dr. Samir Sinha, one of the authors of the study and director of geriatrics at Sinai Health and the University Health Network in Toronto; and Réjean Hébert, a professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Montreal and the health minister of Quebec from 2012 to 2014.
Wildfires have displaced almost 30,000 people in Alberta, and it’s unclear when they’ll be able to return home. Matt Galloway talks to Rebekah Batterink and Aleasha Bourque, who were evacuated from their homes in Drayton Valley, Alta.; and Jen Beverly, a former firefighter and team leader of the wildfire analytics research team at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.
'80s movie star Andrew McCarthy wanted to spend some time with his 19-year-old son Sam, so the pair walked 800 kilometres along Spain's Camino de Santiago. McCarthy talks to us about fatherhood, fame and how walking can help solve some of life's biggest problems.
After Nova Scotia man Liam Dee died from a rare cancer in November, he was declined as a tissue donor because he was gay. We talk to Liam’s mother Cindy Gates-Dee and his husband Jacob MacDonald, who want a change in policies that reject gay men as organ and tissue donors; and Murdoch Leeies, an organ donor specialist in Winnipeg.
Alberta’s provincial election campaign officially kicked off this week. Matt Galloway discusses what’s at stake with Elise Von Scheel, provincial affairs reporter for CBC Calgary; Carrie Tait, the Calgary reporter for the Globe and Mail; and Josh Aldrich, business reporter for the Calgary Herald.
A police crackdown on the notorious Italian mafia organization 'Ndrangheta has led to more than 100 arrests this week, related to drug offences, money laundering, bribery and violence. We talk to Antonio Nicaso, the author of numerous books about organized crime.
Climate change is threatening arabica and robusta, the two varieties of beans that make up the majority of coffee sales. But researchers suggest a more resilient but less popular bean, liberica, could offer a solution for farmers and coffee lovers alike. We discuss the difference with Matt Reynolds, a senior writer for Wired; and Jeremy LeClair, the owner of LeClair Organics, a coffee roasting company in Saskatoon.
Researchers are tracking and identifying ticks in Canada because of concerns that climate change is allowing the disease-carrying parasites to spread further north. We talk to Robert Colautti, an associate professor in the department of biology at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont., and a member of the Canadian Lyme Disease Research Network; and Jade Savage, a professor in the department of biological sciences at Bishop’s University in Sherbrooke, Que., who runs a tick-tracking website and app called eTick.
A recent study says the Mackenzie River Delta in the N.W.T. is home to the world's biggest known cumulative logjam — and it stores a huge amount of carbon that could be released as temperatures rise. We talk to Alicia Sendrowski, lead author on the study.
Allegations emerged this week that Conservative MP Michael Chong and his family were targetted by a Chinese diplomat living in Canada, prompting questions about when the prime minister knew about the allegations, and what should happen now. Matt Galloway talks to Gloria Fung, co-ordinator of Canadian Coalition for a Foreign Influence Registry, and the president of the non-profit Canada-Hong Kong Link; and Dick Fadden, former director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.
Acclaimed food writer and restaurant critic Ruth Reichl tells us about her new documentary, Food and Country, which explores the food system and the pandemic’s impact on independent producers and restaurants.
This spring the northern lights have been reported as far south as New Mexico. We discuss what’s behind the aurora eruption with photographer and storm chaser Matt Melnyk; and Kathyrn McWilliams, a professor of physics and engineering physics at the University of Saskatchewan.
The invasion of Ukraine has jeopardized scientific research in Russia’s Arctic territory. We talk to Chris Burn, president of the International Permafrost Association; and former U.S. diplomat Evan Bloom, a senior fellow with the Wilson Center, a Washington-based think tank.
Excited delirium is a medical condition sometimes cited as a cause of death during police interactions, but coroners are starting to question it as an explanation for these sudden deaths. Matt Galloway talks to Melissa Gray, whose brother Myles Gray died after a violent encounter with Vancouver police in 2015; Dr. Alfredo Walker, a forensic pathologist and coroner for eastern Ontario; and Dr. Michael Freeman, an associate professor of forensic medicine and epidemiology at Maastricht University in the Netherlands.
A new documentary, Unsyncable, dives into the world of synchronized swimming and the athletes who compete well into their senior years. We talk to the documentary’s director Megan Wennberg; world champion Sue Baross Nesbitt; and Ellen Scott, a masters' level synchro swimmer from Kitchener, Ont.
Two Canadian men, Kyle Porter and Cole Zelenco, have been killed in the fight for the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. Matt Galloway talks to Paul Hughes, a Canadian humanitarian worker who is helping to transport Porter’s remains; Walter Wood, a retired Canadian Armed Forces officer who spent time fighting in Ukraine last year; and Michael Bociurkiw, a global affairs analyst based in Odesa, Ukraine.
Canadian folk music legend Gordon Lightfoot has died, aged 84. We remember the man and the musical icon, with Blue Rodeo frontman Jim Cuddy; and Lightfoot’s friend and biographer Nicholas Jennings.
The Inuk lawyer and activist Aaju Peter has spent her life fighting for Inuit rights, from protecting languages to defending the seal hunt. Her work is now the subject of the documentary Twice Colonized.
We talk to Lori Turnbull, director of Dalhousie University's School of Public Administration, about the tentative deal between the federal government and the Public Service Alliance of Canada.
If laughter really was the best medicine, Gavin Crawford would have cured his mother of Alzheimer’s disease. As a son, his mother’s dementia has been devastating. As a comedian though… it’s been sort of funny. Honestly, how do you respond when your mom confuses you with her teenage crush and wants you to take her to the high-school dance? Well, you laugh. Because it’s the only thing you can do. In this seven-part series, Gavin tells the story of losing his mother — his best friend and the inspiration for a lot of his comedy — to a disease that can be as hilarious as it is heartbreaking. He’s joined by comedian friends who share their experience caring for family members with dementia. The result is a cross between an improv act and a support group. Part memoir, part stand-up, part meditation on grief and loss, Let’s Not Be Kidding is a dose of the very best medicine for anyone dealing with hard times. More episodes are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/_QQKz4bR
Comedian and CBC host Gavin Crawford lost his mother Donna to Alzheimer’s — and learned that coping with the disease sometimes meant finding the funny moments. He tells their story in his new CBC podcast Let’s Not Be Kidding; which also features actor and comedian Aurora Browne, who cared for her father during his dementia.
A quiche recipe has been announced as the signature dish for the coronation of King Charles III, provoking a mixed reaction in the U.K. We talk to Rachel Rich, a food historian at Leeds Beckett University in the U.K., who specializes in the history of royal dining in Georgian England.
Violence has resumed in Sudan, and rival factions blaming each other for violating a ceasefire agreement. Guest host Robyn Bresnahan talks to Safia Mustafa, who fled with her mother and grandmother on one of Canada's evacuation flights; Elsadig Elnour, the Sudan country director for the aid group Islamic Relief; and Sami Hamdi, director of the global risk and intelligence organization International Interest.
While many cars come equipped with screens, there’s a push to bring back buttons and knobs. We hear from Paris Marx, a tech writer and author of Road to Nowhere: What Silicon Valley Gets Wrong about the Future of Transportation, and John Neff, Editor-at-large at Motor One.
Philippe Falardeau says not enough has changed in the wake of the Lac-Megantic train explosion in 2013 that killed 47 people. We hear from Falardeau about his documentary series Lac-Megantic: This Is Not An Accident, and Isabelle Boulanger, who lost her son in the disaster.
Amateur athletes in Canada are calling for a national inquiry into abuse in sports. Matt Galloway speaks with former national soccer player Ciara McCormack and former fencer Emily Mason about their experiences. We also hear from former federal minister of sport, Kirsty Duncan, about what she wants to see happen.
The struggle for abducted Nigerian women and girls kidnapped by terrorist group Boko Haram doesn’t end when they escape. Canadian journalist Mellissa Fung, who was kidnapped by armed men in Afghanistan in 2008, connected with those girls for her new book. We hear from Fung, as well as Dr. Fatima Akilu, who is working to improve mental health care in Nigeria.
Musician Terry Uyarak just finished the Nunavut Quest, a dogsled race covering 500 kilometres from Igloolik to Arctic Bay. He says the nine-day journey helps keep the traditional trade routes and history of his ancestors alive. He talks to Matt Galloway about the race and its importance.
Scientists say now is the time to talk about space sex. Amid a push for space tourism, David Cullen says that, eventually, someone is going to do it in space. Matt Galloway speaks with Cullen, a professor of Astrobiology and Space Biotechnology at Cranfield University, about the implications of sex in space.
In an effort to boost lagging police recruitment, the Ontario government is eliminating the requirement for applicants to have a post-secondary education. Matt Galloway speaks with Jeff McGuire, executive director of Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, and Julius Haag, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Toronto.
During the pandemic, women’s shelters in Canada received millions of dollars in emergency funding, but that money is set to end in September. We discuss what it will take to keep the lights on in these shelters, with Dawn Ferris, executive director of Cumberland County Transition House Association in Amherst, N.S.; and Danica Hoffart, executive director at the Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter in Red Deer, Alberta.
Popular performer and activist Harry Belafonte died at the age of 96 on Tuesday. We hear about his impact from Yoruba Richen, director of a documentary about Belafonte hosting The Tonight Show for a week in 1968; and Cuban-Canadian musician Alex Cuba.
Cartoon characters and flashing graphics are key components used to advertise junk food to children, but Health Canada wants that to change. We discuss whether restricting junk food ads targeting children will actually help in the fight against obesity, with Dr. Tom Warshawski, a pediatrician and chair of the Childhood Obesity Foundation.
More than 100 refugees have been offered jobs as continuing care assistants in Nova Scotia under a new federal program. But, two years since being accepted into the program, some of those refugees are still waiting in Kenya. CBC senior reporter Kayla Hounsell brings Matt Galloway the story; and Bahati Maganjo, one of the first refugees to come to Canada from Kenya through the program, tells us her journey.
After more than a week of fighting, a 72-hour ceasefire is in effect in Sudan. At least 400 people have been killed in the conflict, and thousands more are injured. Canada has removed its diplomats from the country, but more than 1,400 Canadians have registered as being there. Matt Galloway speaks with Saydah Mustafa, a Sudanese-Canadian trying to flee; Hisham Mohamed, who was in Sudan visiting family when fighting erupted and is now in Egypt; and former diplomat Nicholas Coghlan, who oversaw an evacuation from South Sudan in 2013.
Duncan McCue has spent his career making sure the stories of Indigenous people in Canada are told with the community's voices front and centre. This week, McCue will be leaving the public broadcaster to help train the next generation of Indigenous journalists. He reflects on lessons learned and the role of journalism in reconciliation.
Canada was captivated by news of a gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport. A container with $20 million in gold and other valuables was off-loaded from a plane and just vanished. Geoff Siskind is the executive producer of True North Heists, a podcast about capers on Canadian soil. He tells us why people are so taken by heist stories.
India and other parts of Asia are experiencing one of the worst April heatwaves in the continent’s history. We hear from Pranami Garg, who lives in the Indian state of Maharashtra and recently suffered from heat exhaustion; and Ronita Bardhan, co-author of a new study that suggests we don't know the full extent of damage caused by extreme heat waves in India.
The San Diego Zoo’s rat ambassador is hoping to give the rodent a rebrand. We hear about the rats’ serious skills from Cari Inserra, the lead wildlife care specialist at the San Diego Zoo
Volkswagen announced plans to build an electric-vehicle battery plant in St. Thomas, Ont. — the first electric battery plant in North America. It’s backed by $13 billion in subsidies over the next decade by the federal government, and Volkswagen said it will invest $7 billion. Matt Galloway speaks with Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association; and Ekta Bibra, a senior policy advisor focused on clean transportation with Clean Energy Canada.
Generations of kids have grown up reading the writing of Judy Blume, who wrote about puberty and bullying in a way that felt like she was speaking directly to the reader. We hear from Davina Pardo and Leah Wolchok, the directors of a new documentary about Blume, how those books changed lives, and why they’re still being banned today.
Our national affairs panel gathers to discuss unprocessed passports, the PSAC strike and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s leaked comments about NATO. We hear from Rosemary Barton, CBC's Chief Political Correspondent; Catherine Levesque, a parliamentary reporter for the National Post; and Steven Chase, a senior parliamentary reporter for the Globe & Mail.
Ghana is the first country in the world to approve the R21/Matrix-M from Oxford University, which could be a game-changer in the fight against malaria. Matt Galloway speaks with Adrian Hill, who led the design and clinical development of the vaccine; and Dr. Fred Aboagye-Antwi, a medical entomologist and parasitologist who works with the NGO Target Malaria.
Tens of thousands of Public Service Alliance of Canada workers are striking across Canada over wages and a better work-life balance. That includes wanting more flexible remote working arrangements. Matt Galloway speaks with Alex Silas, the PSAC regional executive vice-president for the National Capital Region; Michael Wernick, the University of Ottawa’s Jarislowsky Chair in public sector management; and Alexandra Samuel, co-author of Remote, Inc.: How to Thrive at Work . . . Wherever You Are.
After 21 seasons and nearly 3,000 episodes, Ricardo Larrivée is leaving the TV kitchen. The Canadian chef tells us about getting out of the kitchen and the good that can come from being around the table with friends and family.
Sports betting ads featuring celebrities and athletes such as Connor McDavid and Wayne Gretzky are everywhere you look. But there are calls to ban them over concerns that they're drawing in too many young people. We hear from Brian Masse, the NDP MP for Windsor West in Ontario. His federal sports betting bill paved the way for legal online gambling in Canada. We also hear from Paul Burns, the president and CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association, and lecturer Raffaello Rossi, who studied how young people interact with gambling ads.
A new UN report is urging governments not to focus on fertility numbers when dealing with population anxiety, but instead to reframe the issue entirely and focus on women's rights and choices. We hear more from Dr. Natalia Kanem, the executive director of the United Nations Population Fund.
Farming is facing a crisis in Canada. Around 40 per cent of Canadian farmers are set to retire next decade, and many don’t have a succession plan. We discuss if immigration is the awnser with Evan Fraser, the director of the Arrell Food Institute and co-author of a new report about the future of farming in Canada; Allan Millican, co-owner of Covered Bridge Haskap Orchards in Head of Millstream, N.B.; and Marcel Smellink, who came to Canada from the Netherlands in 1980s and nows runs a farm in Iroquois, Ont.
A Brazilian mosquito factory is planning to release 5 billion modified mosquitos a year to help combat dengue fever. We hear more from Scott O’Neill, a microbiologist at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, and CEO of the World Mosquito Program.
One hundred and fifty thousand public servants are going on strike. The strike could impact a range of services, from income tax processing to passport and immigration files. Matt Galloway speaks with Catherine Cullen, host of CBC Radio's The House; Jasmin Guénette, vice-president of national affairs for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business; and Tamara Mosher-Kuczer, founder and senior immigration lawyer with Lighthouse Immigration Law.
Kent Roach, a law professor at the University of Toronto, profiles dozens of cases of wrongful conviction in his new book, Wrongfully Convicted: Guilty Pleas, Imagined Crimes, and What Canada Must Do to Safeguard Justice. He talks about the steps being taken by the Canadian government to address miscarriages of justice. We also hear from Maria Shepherd, who was wrongfully convicted after the death of her stepdaughter in 1992, and acquitted in 2016.
Sudan’s capital Khartoum erupted in violence this weekend. We discuss spreading fears of a civil war with Dr. Alaaeldin Nogoud, a surgeon who lives and works in Khartoum; and Khalid Medani, the chair of African studies and an associate professor of political science at McGill.
Michael J. Fox has been one of the most prominent people with Parkinson’s Disease, and his foundation has invested hundreds of millions of dollars into research. Research backed by his investment has been released — and it could lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Ronald Postuma, a neurologist with the Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital at McGill University, tells us more.
This year’s Banking on Climate Chaos report shows RBC has overtaken JP Morgan Chase as the world’s largest investor in fossil fuels. The report is produced by a coalition of environmental groups, and several Canadian banks are also in the top 20. But environmentalists warn that these investments are contributing to climate disasters, and some investors are taking action. Matt Galloway speaks with Matt Price, executive director of the shareholder advocacy group Investors for Paris Compliance; and Warren Mabee, director of the Queen’s Institute for Energy and Environmental Policy.
Crab was king in Newfoundland and Labrador last year, but things have taken a turn this season. The Association of Seafood Producers has set the price of snow crab at $2.20 per pound — the lowest price in almost a decade. In response, some crabbers are refusing to set their pots. Matt Galloway speaks with Keith Boland, a skipper and snowcrab fisherman; and Alison Coffin, a professor of economics at Memorial University in St. John's
osCmologist Thomas Gertog was Stephen Hawking’s closest collaborator for years. That’s why when Hawking realized the theory at the heart of his bestseller A Brief History of Time was wrong, he turned to Hertog to correct him. We hear from Hertog about rethinking the origins of the universe.
a movement in the United States that started with book bans has shifted to a call to defund public libraries. We discuss how librarians are fighting back with Katie Hill Earnhart, the library director of The Cape Giradeau Public Library in the state of Missouri; Mary Grahame, youth services librarian at Ferndale Area district Library, just north of Detroit; and Jonathan Friedman, the director of free expression and education programs for PEN America.
Sheima Benembarek’s new book, Halal Sex: The Intimate Lives of Muslim Women in North America, features the stories of six people pushing against cultural norms around sexuality and autonomy. We talk to Benembarek and Eman El-Husseini, one of the women featured in the book.
Many low-income Canadians don’t file taxes and miss out on refunds they’re entitled to. But now, a pilot program would automatically file those taxes — and could put cash in their pockets. We talk to Rebekah Smylie, the manager of financial empowerment at West Neighbourhood House, a non-profit in Toronto; and Jennifer Robson, an associate professor at Carleton University in Ottawa, who has been studying automatic tax filing.
The prime minister's chief of staff, Katie Telford, will testify before a parliamentary committee Friday about the extent of Chinese interference in Canadian elections. Matt Galloway discusses what to expect, with our national affairs panel: Catherine Cullen, host of CBC Radio's The House; Kelly Cryderman, a political reporter for the Globe and Mail; and Ryan Tumilty, a parliamentary reporter for the National Post.
Some comedians and scientists are using laughs to raise the alarm about climate change. We talk to Ben Carey, founder and the creative director of the Utopia Bureau, which describes itself as a "climate communications lab”; and Aaron Sachs, author of Stay Cool: Why Dark Comedy Matters in the Fight Against Climate Change.
A U.S. legal fight over the abortion drug mifepristone is prompting concern that the courts could set a precedent around access to other drugs. Matt Galloway talks to Elizabeth Janiak, an assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology at Harvard Medical School; and Alice Ollstein, a health care reporter on Capitol Hill for Politico.
Journalist Kara Swisher has been covering the tech industry since the earliest days of the internet. She joins us to discuss Twitter under Elon Musk, the rise of artificial intelligence, and weighing the good and bad of the internet.
The federal government’s $10-a-day child care plan is rolling out across the country, but many parents are frustrated that there simply aren’t enough daycare spots available — at any price. Matt Galloway talks to Hannah Johnson and Sheree Rieger, two mothers who can’t find child care in Saskatchewan; and Susan Prentice, the Duff Roblin Professor of Government at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, who specializes in child care policy.
Transplant scientists say storing donated lungs at a higher temperature keeps them viable for longer and could boost the number of organ transplants. We talk to Rick Collins, who received a transplant of “warmer” lungs in 2021; and Dr. Shaf Keshavjee, a thoracic surgeon at Toronto’s University Health Network, whose team is using this method.
A new study has found climate change could be responsible for an increase in home runs in baseball. Justin Mankin, a senior author of the study, tells us more.
King Charles III has said he will support new research into the British monarchy's historical connections with slavery. We talk to Trevor Burnard, director of the Wilberforce Institute for the Study of Slavery and Emancipation at the University of Hull; and Niambi Hall-Campbell Dean, chair of the Bahamas National Reparations Committee.
The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating a major leak of top secret intelligence, including documents about the war in Ukraine, Russian intelligence and information about Canada. We talk to Stephanie Carvin, an associate professor at Ottawa’s Carleton University and a former national security analyst.
In an era of texting, voice memos and email, some people are pushing to revive good penmanship and the handwritten word. We talk to Hetty Roessingh, professor emeritus at the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary.
A group of women who say they endured an abusive relationship with the same man have banded together to warn others. We hear their story in the documentary Ex-Wives Club. We also discuss how the system can fail to protect women — and what needs to change — with Pamela Cross, a lawyer and advocate for women's issues; and Marci Ien, the federal minister for women and gender equality and youth.
With his new book, Psych: The Story of the Human Mind, Canadian psychologist Paul Bloom probes the difference between the brain and the mind, the mystery of consciousness, and whether artificial intelligence will ever match human thought. We revisit our conversation with him from last month.
A record-size mass of sargassum is coming ashore in parts of the Caribbean, Mexico and Florida. We discuss why it’s a problem and what efforts are underway to deal with it, with Brian Lapointe, a research professor at Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute; and Ajit Subramaniam, a biological oceanographer at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
Damien Tomsett was hit by a car while crossing at a crosswalk in Halifax a few weeks ago. The driver of that vehicle was 89 years old — and his case has renewed a debate about whether more testing and regulations of senior drivers would improve safety on the road. Matt Galloway hears from Dr. Shawn Marshall, the division head of physician medicine and rehabilitation with the Ottawa Hospital, who’s studied the driving abilities of seniors; and Bill VanGorder, the chief operating officer and chief of advocacy of the Canadian Association for Retired Persons.
Canadian director Daniel Roher talks to Matt Galloway about winning an Oscar for his documentary Navalny, and the man at the heart of the film: imprisoned Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. This podcast is a longer version of the conversation that aired on The Current this week.
25 years after the Good Friday Agreement, some say “ceasefire babies” have inherited a fragile place with not much prosperity. We discuss what life is like for young people in Northern Ireland, with Belfast city councillor Séamas de Faoite and lawyer Sarah Creighton, two members of the ceasefire generation; and Siobhan McAlister, a researcher at Queen’s University Belfast, who’s researched the impacts of conflict legacy on children and young people in Northern Ireland and the border regions of Ireland.
Police have cleared a homeless encampment in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside after city officials deemed it unsafe. Advocates say the removal, and others like it, will only further isolate vulnerable people. We talk to Nicole Mucci, communications manager at Union Gospel Mission, which provides food and shelter in the area.
Last month, Canadian director Daniel Roher won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, for his film Navalny. He talks to Matt Galloway about using his documentary to speak out against authoritarianism — and the ongoing imprisonment of its subject, anti-Putin critic Alexei Navalny.
Elephants in Africa can do enormous damage to farmers’ fields, but researchers are exploring whether bees could keep the enormous animals at bay and reduce elephant-human conflict. We talk to Dr. Lucy King, head of the human-elephant co-existence program with Save the Elephants; and Purity Milgo, a research officer with that organization.
We hear from The World At Six host Susan Bonner in Israel, where weeks of mass protests have led to a pause on proposed reforms that would allow parliament to overturn decisions made by the Supreme Court.
Donald Trump has become the first sitting or former U.S. president to face criminal charges, but history shows that leaders have faced trial in other established democracies without shaking trust in those institutions. Matt Galloway talks to Azi Paybarah, a breaking politics reporter with the Washington Post; and Jay Krehbiel, an associate professor of political science at Western Virginia University.
The rapid development of artificial intelligence has prompted an open letter calling for a six-month pause to allow safety protocols to be established and adopted. We discuss the technology’s potential and pitfalls, with Nick Frosst, co-founder of the AI company Cohere; Sinead Bovell, founder of the tech education company WAYE, who sits on the United Nations ITU Generation Connect Visionaries Board; and Neil Sahota, an IBM Master Inventor and the UN artificial intelligence advisor.
Canadian swimmers have been breaking records in the pool, and observers say it's the result of a program implemented a decade ago. We talk to former Olympic swimmer Byron MacDonald, currently the head coach of the University of Toronto’s Varsity Blues swimming program.
Researchers published the first Canadian standard for managing pain in children and adolescents. One of those researchers, clinical psychologist Katie Birnie, tells us why pediatric pain is often overlooked — and what needs to be done about that.
Eight people, including two small children, died in the St. Lawrence River near the Mohawk Territory of Akwesasne last week, while trying to cross from Canada into the U.S. Matt Galloway talks to Marjorie Skidders, editor of the Indian Time Newspaper in Akwesasne; and François Crépeau, a professor at McGill University's Faculty of Law, who served as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants from 2011 to 2017.
People can sometimes feel older or younger than they actually are — and researchers are exploring what that can mean for their quality of life. We talk to Steven Mock, an associate professor in the department of recreation and leisure studies at the University of Waterloo in Ontario; and Richard Eibach, an associate professor in the department of psychology, also at the University of Waterloo.
Canadian Jeremy Hansen has been named as one of four astronauts on the crew of Artemis II, a mission that will orbit the moon. In doing so, Hansen will become the first Canadian to orbit the moon. Hansen tells us why he thinks all Canadians should be proud of his achievement; and we learn more about moon exploration with Gordon Osinski, a professor at Western University's Institute for Earth and Space Exploration and the scientific lead for Canada's lunar rover project.
The Vatican recently announced the repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery, which was instrumental in the conquering of Indigenous land during the colonization of North America. Matt Galloway talks to Natan Obed, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the national representational organization for Inuit in Canada; and lawyer Bruce McIvor, author of Standoff: Why Reconciliation Fails Indigenous People and How to Fix It.
Two months after deadly earthquakes in Syria and Turkey, the United Nations is warning of a looming mental health crisis in the regions. We talk to Mehmet Ali Akil, the child protection co-ordinator with Save The Children, Turkey; and Nebras Haj Hamdan, the Syria area co-ordinator with the Ireland-based NGO Goal Global.
Marjorie Taft has dementia and sometimes struggles to stay engaged with the world around her. Her daughter, Beverly Taft, works hard to keep her participating in life. This includes taking Marjorie to her weekly piano performances with Recollectiv, a Toronto group for musicians with memory challenges. We hear their story in Alisa Siegel’s documentary, The Person She’s Always Been.
If an emperor penguin took on a wolverine, who would win? A mongoose versus a java mouse-deer? You might find out in March Mammal Madness, an imagined tournament that pits critters against each other in the hopes of teaching humans more about the natural world. Katie Hinde, a biological anthropologist at Arizona State University, tells us more.
The Mass Casualty Commission’s report calls for sweeping reform to the RCMP, and says intimate partner violence needs to be treated as a public health emergency in Canada. We hear from Michael MacDonald, chair of the Nova Scotia Mass Casualty Commission; and Dennis Daley, assistant commissioner and commanding officer for the Nova Scotia RCMP.
North Atlantic right whales are one of the most endangered mammals on the planet, and many of them spend their time off the coast of the Maritimes or in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Delphine Durette-Morin, an assistant scientist with the Canadian Whale Institute, tells us how she’s using sound recordings of the whales to better protect the species.
For nearly three years, Nova Scotians have been waiting for answers surrounding the 2020 mass shootings in Portapique. On Thursday, they got some of them from a long-awaited public inquiry’s report. Matt Galloway speaks with Darcy Dobson, whose mother, Heather O’Brien, was killed that day; and Michael Scott, a lawyer representing Dobson and others who lost family members in the attacks.
When Grace Tompkins crocheted a Maud Lewis painting onto a sweater, she didn't expect it to go viral on social media, or to get a message from one of the famed painter's living relatives. She tells us about the sweater people went crazy for — and why it’s not for sale.
Ahead of the Mass Casualty Commission’s final report on the 2020 mass shooting, we talk to CBC journalist Angela McIvor, who has been covering the story for three years.
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. The couple tell us how they’re coping, and why they’re determined to find joy every day.
The Mass Casualty Commission will publish its final report Thursday, after an inquiry into the 2020 mass shooting that left 22 people dead in Nova Scotia. We visit Portapique, N.S., where a new community hall is under construction; and Matt Galloway speaks with grief specialist Serena Lewis, about the long-term supports that the community might need.
Novelist Ami McKay recently discovered a century-old seal press at an antique market — bringing to life a tale of mobsters, rum running and tragedy.
The Current comes to you from Nova Scotia this morning, where the cost of rent is driving people out of their homes. We hear from people experiencing homelessness — and those trying to help. Also, Matt Galloway speaks with Susan Leblanc, the NDP MLA for Dartmouth North.
In light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the International Olympic Committee is facing increased pressure to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. We talk to Ukrainian athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych; retired Canadian Olympian Perdita Felicien; and David Wallechinsky, a historian and executive board member of the International Society of Olympic Historians.
Matt Galloway talks to Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland about Tuesday’s federal budget, and looks at the fine detail with Tonda MacCharles, parliamentary reporter for the Toronto Star; and Nojoud Al Mallees, economics reporter for Canadian Press.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a pause on judicial reform after widespread protests. We talk to Washington Post reporter Steve Hendrix; Ronen Bergman, a Tel Aviv-based staff writer for The New York Times Magazine; and Michael Koplow, chief policy officer of the Israel Policy Forum, an NGO based in Washington.
The animal tranquillizer Xylazine is showing up in illicit street drugs, putting drug users’ lives at even greater risk. We discuss the rise of ‘tranq dope’ with Dayn Kent, co-ordinator of the consumption and treatment service at the Regent Park Community Health Centre; and Dr. Aamir Bharmal, medical director of the Public Health Response Division at the BC Centre for Disease Control.
An endovascular thrombectomy has proven to be an effective treatment for stroke patients. In some cases, they’ve allowed patients to walk out of the hospital mere days after being admitted in life-threatening conditions. Matt Galloway talks to Marleen Conacher, who was treated using EVT for a stroke in 2021; and discusses calls to make the procedure more widely available with stroke physician Dr. Michael Hill.
Australia's constitution has never acknowledged its Indigenous people as the country's original inhabitants, but a referendum to change that could give Indigenous people a bigger say in the country's parliament and laws. We talk to Sana Nakata, a Torres Strait Islander and principal research fellow at James Cook University’s Indigenous Education and Research Centre.
Some NHL teams and players have refused to participate in events tied to LGBTQ representation and Pride, prompting questions about the league's commitment to inclusion. We talk to David Palumbo, a board member of the You Can Play Project.
U.S. President Joe Biden’s visit to Ottawa is expected to include talks around modernizing NORAD, the U.S.-Canada aerospace defence organization. There are calls for northern communities to be part of any redevelopment and see tangible benefits from any new infrastructure. Matt Galloway talks to Andrea Charron, director of the Centre for Defence and Security Studies at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg; and Clint Davis, CEO of Nunasi, an Inuit-owned development corporation with headquarters in Iqaluit.
The drug kingpin Pablo Escobar smuggled four hippos into his compound in Colombia, but they escaped into the wild after he was killed. Their population has now ballooned to around 140, leaving authorities grappling with a very big invasive species. We hear more from Luke Taylor, a freelance journalist in Bogotá, Colombia; and Gina Paola Serna, a veterinarian who has been helping track and sterilize the animals.
A new Nature Of Things documentary looks at the science of friendship — in both humans and animals — and the role it plays in our mental and physical health. We talk to filmmaker Judith Pyke; and Beverley Fehr, a social psychologist at the University of Winnipeg.
Millions of people in the Indian state of Punjab have had their mobile internet shut off by the government, as police search for Sikh separatist leader Amritpal Singh. Reuters India reporter Krishn Kaushik tells us more.
U.S. President Joe Biden arrives in Canada Thursday to discuss cross-border trade, instability in Haiti, the war in Ukraine and allegations of Chinese election interference. Matt Galloway talks to Tonda MacCharles, senior reporter in the Toronto Star's Ottawa bureau; and Amanda Coletta, the Canada correspondent for the Washington Post.
Junaid Khan is one of a growing number of non-Indigenous people in Canada learning Indigenous languages. Duncan McCue brings us Khan’s story in his documentary about the recent swell of interest in Indigenous languages in Canada.
Uganda’s parliament has passed anti-gay laws that include making it illegal to identify as gay or transgender. The laws carry penalties such as lengthy jail time or even a death sentence. We hear from human rights advocates and a member of the country’s LGBTQ community.
In her new book Saving Time: Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock, author and artist Jenny Odell explores society’s relationship with time, how we measure it, and whether nature can give us a different way to appreciate the passing moments.
When U.S. President Joe Biden visits Canada this week, he’s expected to urge Ottawa to lead an international intervention effort in Haiti, where criminal gangs control more than half of the country and a cholera outbreak is worsening. We talk to Louis-Henri Mars, director of the Haitian peacebuilding organization, Lakou Lapè; Renata Segura, deputy director for Latin America and the Caribbean with the International Crisis Group; and Tom Lawson, a former chief of the defence staff with the Canadian Armed Forces.
Six months after 11 people were killed in a stabbing attack in James Smith Cree Nation, the community in Saskatchewan is still figuring out how to keep itself safe. A new security patrol has been set up to deal with violence, but it’s unarmed, with no formal training or official authority. CBC reporter Olivia Stefanovich spent time there; she tells Matt Galloway what she’s heard about the First Nation’s search for safety.
A new podcast called Humans of the House offers a rare look at the people behind the politics in Ottawa, from how they entered public life to why they ultimately left. We talk to podcast host Sabreena Delhon, executive director of The Samara Centre for Democracy; Romeo Saganash, a former NDP MP and Cree lawyer; and Scott Brison, a former Progressive Conservative, then Liberal MP, and now vice-chair with BMO Wealth Management.
A new UN report has issued a “final warning” that the Earth will hit a critical threshold for global warming in the next decade. Canadian climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe discusses what needs to happen now and whether the world is likely to respond.
China's President Xi Jinping visits Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss peace with Ukraine this week. Observers say this is the latest effort by Beijing to become a global power broker — at the expense of the United States. We talk to Bessma Momani, a professor of political science at the University of Waterloo; and Ava Shen, an expert on Chinese foreign policy with the Eurasia Group.
One person died and six others remain missing after a fire last week, in a Montreal building that housed several Airbnb units. Matt Galloway discusses calls for a closer look at short-term rentals in the city with CBC reporter Sarah Leavitt; and David Wachsmuth, an associate professor at McGill University and the Canada Research Chair in Urban Governance.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and many people hunkered down at home, author Peggy Orenstein decided to embark on a more ambitious project: shearing sheep and making a sweater. She talks with us about that experience and her new book, Unraveling: What I Learned About Life While Shearing Sheep, Dyeing Wool, and Making the World's Ugliest Sweater.
It’s been 20 years since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. It was done on the promise of freedom, but the country is still mired in political violence and corruption two decades later. Matt Galloway speaks with Louisa Loveluck, the Washington Post's Baghdad bureau chief. He also discusses the impact the war had on Iraqis, with Ghaith Abdul-Ahad, an Iraqi journalist and author of the new book, A Stranger in Your Own City; and Nadje Al-Ali, the director of the Center for Middle East Studies at Brown University and author of What Kind of Liberation?: Women and the Occupation of Iraq.
The Colorado River system provides critical drinking and irrigation supply for seven U.S. states — but water levels on the river have dropped in recent years. CBC News’ Susan Ormiston has been travelling along the river for the past week. She tells us more.
Two U.S. banks collapsed in less than a week, while in Europe, Credit Suisse teetered on the brink of failure before Switzerland's central bank stepped in with a loan. Are there implications for Canada’s banking sector? Matt Galloway talks to Eric Reguly, European bureau chief for The Globe and Mail; and Kenneth Rogoff, a professor of economics at Harvard University and former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund.
Many international medical students left Ukraine when Russia invaded, but they’re now being told to return for their final exam. We hear from a student who feels it’s not safe to return to a war zone; and Kostyantyn Rybachuk, who’s with the department of Ukraine's Ministry of Health, which oversees the exam.
A judge in Texas is considering whether to overturn federal regulatory approval of Mifepristone, a commonly used abortion pill. New York Times health and science writer Pam Belluck tells us more.
Public libraries have seen an increase in violent incidents, with some installing metal detectors and security personnel. We discuss the balance of providing a public, yet safe, space for patrons and staff with three librarians: Paul Burry, director of the Prince George Public Library in B.C.; Pam Ryan, director of service, development and innovation at the Toronto Public Library; and Pilar Martinez, CEO of the Edmonton Public Library and the chair of the Canadian Urban Libraries Council’s safety and security working group.
A conservative Catholic organization in the U.S. has spent millions on data from dating and hook-up apps, and used that data to track and publicly out gay priests. We talk to Michelle Boorstein, a religion reporter for the Washington Post; and discuss how your data could be harvested and used with Teresa Scassa, a professor and the Canada Research Chair in Information Law and Policy at the University of Ottawa.
Cyclone Freddy has claimed hundreds of lives in Malawi, a country already dealing with a cholera outbreak. We talk to Felix Washon, working with the Malawi Red Cross Society in the country’s second largest city, Blantyre.
Renowned Canadian architect Phyllis Lambert has always been a passionate advocate for design that puts people first. She talks to Matt Galloway about how to build better cities, being engaged well into her 90s, and her new photography book Observation Is a Constant That Underlies All Approaches.
Garbage is piling up in Paris as sanitation workers strike over government plans to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. Matt Galloway talks to Ben Barnier, a senior correspondent with France Télévisions; and Elena Bassoli, a health economist at the Paris School of Economics.
Researchers have mapped the brain of a fruit fly. It’s a scientific first that could help us understand our own brains in the future. Marta Zlatic, a neuroscientist who worked on the mapping, tells us more.
Two people died and nine others were injured when a pickup truck ran into pedestrians in Amqui, Que., on Monday. We hear more from CBC Quebec reporter Émilie Warren.
After a recent U.K. trial of a four-day work week, over 90 per cent of the participating companies decided to stick to the 32-hour week. We talk to John Trougakos, an advisor at the Work Time Reduction Center of Excellence; and Amanda Watson, a lecturer specializing in labour and capitalism at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C.
The federal government has pledged $75.9 million to address the backlog of passenger complaints related to lost luggage and delayed or cancelled flights. Guest host Mark Kelley discusses how to address the root problems with Christine Waugh, who has filed three small court claims against WestJet; Tom Oommen, director general of the analysis and outreach branch of the Canadian Transportation Agency; and John Gradek, an aviation management professor at McGill University and a former Air Canada executive.
Off the coast of Iceland, an adult female orca was spotted with a baby pilot whale — likely not more than a month old. The unusual scenario has surprised experts; we hear why from Elizabeth Zwamborn, a PhD candidate at Dalhousie University in Halifax.
The collapse of California-based Silicon Valley Bank has sent companies scrambling in the U.S. and Canada. Guest host Mark Kelley talks to Anya Klimbovskaia, co-founder of Toronto-based startup Diversio, which had deposits at Silicon Valley Bank; and Claire Brownell, a digital currencies reporter for The Logic.
Parents who overshare pictures and videos of their kids online are sometimes accused of “sharenting” — using cute or embarrassing moments to boost views, likes and sometimes income. But there are growing concerns about the impact on children’s privacy. We talk to Sarah Adams, who runs Mom.Uncharted, a TikTok account about the dangers of “sharenting”; Alana Kayfetz, a content creator and founder of Mom Halo, a network of millennial moms in Canada; and Leah Plunkett, author of Sharenthood: Why We Should Think Before We Talk about Our Kids Online.
Collagen is getting celebrity endorsements as a hair and skincare product — but the billion-dollar industry has been linked to deforestation in the Amazon, and the large-scale slaughter of donkeys and other livestock in Africa. We talk to Andrew Wasley, food and agriculture reporter for the Bureau of Investigative Journalism; Sian Edwards, campaigns manager at The Donkey Sanctuary in the U.K.; and Michael White, a pharmacist and distinguished professor at the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy.
A new CBC podcast explores the collapse of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange, and the man at its centre: Sam Bankman-Fried. We talk to Jacob Silverman, host of The Naked Emperor.
In a stretched health-care system, some Canadians are turning to private clinics that charge fees for virtual appointments. Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos says the clinics are at odds with Canada’s pledges on universal health care, but advocates say they ensure timely access for patients. Guest host Mark Kelley talks to Dr. Brett Belchetz, co-founder and CEO of Maple, which offers telephone and online visits; and André Picard, a health reporter and columnist with The Globe and Mail.
It was a big night at the Oscars for several Canadian stars, but most of the films they were involved with were actually American. We discuss the challenges facing the Canadian film industry with Sami Khan, whose documentary short St. Louis Superman was nominated for an Oscar in 2020.
Syphilis infections are surging across Canada, including cases of babies born with congenital syphilis. We talk to Dr. Darrell Tan, an infectious disease specialist at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto; and Caroline Cameron, a professor in the department of biochemistry and microbiology at the University of Victoria in B.C.
The federal government is considering expansions to medical assistance in dying, which could include advanced consent, and access for those diagnosed with mental illness. In this special podcast, Matt Galloway talks to Dr. Catherine Ferrier and Dr. Sonu Gaind, physicians who have concerns about the changes that might be coming; and Graeme Bayliss, who lives with clinical depression, and has been calling for the expansion of MAID for years.
P.E.I. resident Ann Thurlow used pandemic lockdown time to create a recipe book all about cabbage. It’s a project that’s brought her community together, and got a surprise shoutout in The New York Times.
Three years after the World Health Organization declared a global COVID-19 pandemic, some Canadians are still living under the shadow of long COVID. Matt Galloway talks to Janine Hopkins, who is living with the condition in Thunder Bay, Ont.; and Dr. Kieran Quinn, a clinician scientist at Sinai Health System and co-lead of the Long COVID Web, a national research network.
The CEOs of Canada's top grocery chains appeared on Parliament Hill yesterday. They denied allegations that they’re profiteering from high inflation. We talk to Calgary-based economist Todd Hirsch about why inflation may be slowing, but grocery bills are still high.
Ottawa has put a one-year delay on plans to expand medical assistance in dying to those with mental illness. Matt Galloway talks to Graeme Bayliss, who lives with clinical depression and has been calling for the expansion of MAID for years.
One million Rohingya refugees live in a camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. After a reduction in food rations and a recent fire, the refugees say the world has forgotten them. We talk to Cox’s Bazar resident Enam Uddin, an 18-year-old who fled his home in Myanmar six years ago; and Domenico Scalpelli, the country director for the World Food Programme in Bangladesh.
Margaret Atwood’s new book, Old Babes in the Wood, is a collection of short stories that may be her most personal work yet. Galloway spoke with her about those old babes, grief and loss, censorship, and whether she thinks artificial intelligence could ever replicate her writing.
New galaxies discovered using the James Webb telescope are raising questions about how a galaxy is formed. We talk to Erica Nelson, an astrophysicist with the University of Colorado and part of the team that discovered these new galaxies.
A group of physicians, lawyers and ethicists have published a letter in opposition to recommendations to expand access to medical assistance in dying. Matt Galloway talks to two people who signed it: Dr. Sonu Gaind, chief of psychiatry at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto; and Dr. Catherine Ferrier, who works in the division of geriatrics at Montreal General Hospital.
The prime minister has announced multiple investigations and the appointment of an independent special rapporteur to look into claims that China interfered in Canadian elections. Matt Galloway talks to Globe and Mail's Ottawa bureau chief Robert Fife.
A new treaty to protect oceans and conserve marine life has been agreed upon at the United Nations. We talk to Jeremy Raguain, the climate change and ocean adviser for Seychelles Permanent Mission to the United Nations; and Susanna Fuller, vice-president of operations and projects for the environmental group Oceans North.
Hundreds of schoolgirls have been poisoned in their classrooms in Iran, but it’s unclear who the culprits behind the attacks are. We talk to Azadeh Pourzand, a human rights researcher and writer.
Some scientists believe the key to living longer and aging better lies in a phenomenon called cell senescence, also known as “zombie cells.” We discuss that research with Daniel Durocher, a senior investigator at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute at Sinai Health in Toronto.
Lowering carbon emissions remains a key part of fighting climate change, but scientists are exploring other options. The United Nations Environment Program is calling for more research into solar geoengineering to reflect some of the sun's light away from the Earth. We talk to Daniel Schrag, director of the Harvard University Center for the Environment; Andrea Hinwood, an environmental scientist with the UN Environment Programme; and Tero Mustonen, an adjunct professor in the University of Eastern Finland’s department of geographical and historical studies.
Matt Galloway talks to Alex Pourbaix, CEO of Cenovus Energy, about carbon capture technology and his company’s efforts to get to net zero.
A dozen people in British Columbia have died from avalanches this year. We speak with Ken Wylie, who was caught in a deadly snowslide 20 years ago, about what it’s like to be buried in snow, and why he thinks we need to rethink our tolerance for risk.
We hear your responses to last week’s conversation with Sandra Demontigny, a 43-year-old living with early onset Alzheimer’s who is fighting for advanced consent for medical assistance in dying.
A new project takes recordings from the Arctic and Antarctic — whales, cracking ice and everything in between — and turns them over to musicians. We talk to Stuart Fowkes, a sound artist who curates a global database of sounds called Cities and Memory; and Geraint Rhys Whittaker, an artist-researcher at the Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity and the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research.
Sandra Demontigny is 43 years old, and has early onset Alzheimer’s. She watched her father and grandmother suffer with the same disease, and wants to one day access medical assistance in dying. But to do that, she needs a change in the law, to allow advanced consent for people with forms of neurocognitive impairment.
The push to electrify our vehicles is driving a scramble for cobalt, which is almost exclusively mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We talk to Siddharth Kara, author of Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers our Lives.
Postpartum brain fog is familiar for many mothers — sometimes dismissively called “mommy brain.” New research suggests it's actually a time when women's brains are rewiring themselves to learn new skills, multi-task and even have better memory later in life. We talk to Clare McCormack, an assistant professor in child and adolescent psychiatry at New York University's Grossman School of Medicine; and Liisa Galea, the Treliving Family Chair in Women's Mental Health and senior scientist at CAMH.
Ontario trauma surgeon Dr. Anas Al-Kassem travelled to Syria after last month’s devastating earthquakes. He tells Matt Galloway what he saw and what Canada can do to help the survivors.
The European Space Agency wants the moon to have its own time zone. We talk to Nisha Gaind, the European bureau chief for the journal Nature.
With his new book, Psych: The Story of the Human Mind, Canadian psychologist Paul Bloom probes the difference between the brain and the mind, the mystery of consciousness, and whether artificial intelligence will ever match human thought.
Our national affairs panel discusses allegations of Chinese government interference in Canadian elections. Matt Galloway talks to Catherine Cullen, host of CBC Radio’s The House; Emilie Nicolas, a columnist with Le Devoir; and Joanna Chiu, a reporter with the Toronto Star and author of China Unbound: A New World Disorder.
Investigative reporter Hannah Dreier takes us inside a shocking New York Times exposé into migrant children arriving unaccompanied in the U.S. and getting exploited for cheap labour.
Every year, thousands of international students come to Canada to study, forking over big money in tuition fees. In his documentary The Dreams of My Father, Kiran Singh explores why many of those students don’t get what they pay for.
Sandra Demontigny is 43 years old and has early onset Alzheimer’s. She watched her father and grandmother suffer with the same disease, and wants to one day access medical assistance in dying. To do that, she has been pushing the Quebec government to allow advanced consent for people with forms of neurocognitive impairment. Matt Galloway talks to Demontigny about her fight for a good death; and also speaks with Dr. Judes Poirier, deputy director of the Centre for the Studies on the Prevention of Alzheimer’s at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute in Montreal.
The federal government has banned TikTok on all of its mobile devices over privacy concerns. We talk to Vass Bednar, executive director of the master of public policy in digital society program at McMaster University; and Clothilde Goujard, a technology reporter for Politico Europe.
Thousands of asylum seekers enter Canada through Roxham Road in Quebec each year, but calls to close the unofficial border crossing are growing. Matt Galloway talks to Lovejoyce Amavi, a refugee and author who crossed at Roxham Road in 2017; Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, immigration critic for the Bloc Québécois; and Warda Shazadi Meighen, an immigration and refugee lawyer.
In his new book On The Ravine, award-winning author and physician Dr. Vincent Lam uses fiction to explore different approaches to the opioid crisis. The addiction specialist joins us to discuss the concept of the safe supply of illicit drugs, and blurring the line between fact and fiction.
Parts of Europe are in the midst of a winter drought, hot on the heels of last summer’s record-breaking dry weather. We discuss the impact with Andrea Toreti, co-ordinator at the European Drought Observatory.
An initiative in Alberta is working on making hydrogen part of Canada’s strategy to reach net-zero emissions, though some experts warn the fuel has drawbacks. Matt Galloway talks to Alanna Hnatiw, chair of the Edmonton Region Hydrogen HUB; David Layzell, a research director at the Transition Accelerator; and Julia Levin, associate director of national climate at Environmental Defence.
Actor Mark Critch remembers his friend Gordon Pinsent, the Canadian actor and national treasure who died this weekend at the age of 92.
The federal government is proposing an emergency order to protect the only three northern spotted owls known to be living wild in B.C.’s old-growth forests. We discuss what that means for the owls and local logging industry with Joe Foy, protected areas campaigner for the Wilderness Committee; and Nathan Cullen, B.C.'s minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.
Big projects can mean big headaches, whether it’s a home renovation or building a new transit line. Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner talk to us about their book How Big Things Get Done, which looks at how ambitious projects can go off the rails.
We hear from a woman in Lviv who is balancing the budgets. On one hand, she is working at a big accounting agency. At the same time, she is running a non-profit and collecting donations to support the war effort.
Canada’s spy agency has evidence China interfered in the last federal election, a new report from the Globe and Mail has revealed. The House of Commons procedure and house affairs committee unanimously agreed to dig deeper into the matter. We hear more from Robert Fife, the Globe and Mail’s Ottawa Bureau Chief and part of the team behind this story; Mitch Heimpel, the director of campaigns and government relations at Enterprise Canada; and Richard Fadden, the former director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Services and a current fellow with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.
The Russia-Ukraine war has changed the lives of thousands of ordinary Ukrainians, from teachers to chefs to lawyers. Roman Hasko was a data analyst before he started tending to the wounded on the front lines. Freelance reporter and producer Sarah Lawrynuik brings us his story in her documentary, Part of our Souls.
On the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Matt Galloway speaks with historian Margaret MacMillan about how this war ends and the long-term geopolitics that follow.
We hear the Russian perspective of the war from Denis Volkov, director of the Moscow-based think tank Levada Center; Inna Berezkina, a Russian anti-war activist and international advisor to Democracy Without Borders; and Ksenia, who left Russia for Canada after the invasion began.
Air travel can be stressful for anyone, but for passengers with disabilities there are extra challenges. We hear about calls to make airlines more accessible with Maayan Ziv, the founder and CEO of AccessNow, whose wheelchair was damaged on a flight last year; David Lyons-Black, a travel agent with FlightCentre; and Wendy Porch, the executive director of the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto.
It’s been nearly a year since Russia invaded Ukraine. Matt Galloway speaks with the CBC’s Margaret Evans, who is in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia to check in with residents she spoke with a year ago.
In her latest Oscar-nominated documentary All The Beauty And The Bloodshed, filmmaker Laura Poitras tells the story of the renowned photographer Nan Goldin — and her takedown of the Sackler family.
When the convoy protests rolled into downtown Ottawa a year ago, the city’s then-police chief Peter Sloly took much of the blame for not moving it out. The Emergencies Act was invoked and Sloly subsequently resigned from his post. We hear from Sloly about the mistakes made and whether Canada is any better prepared for the next threat.
We go inside a rehab hospital in Lviv that is teaching Ukrainians to be unbroken in the face of war. Matt Galloway speaks with Dr. Hnat Herych, the chief of the surgery department at the Multidisciplinary Clinical Hospital of Emergency and Intensive Care.
CBC news anchor Harry Forestell was 53 years old when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. It has no known cures, but there are some life-changing treatments — and Forestell went through one of those last fall. He talks with us about his diagnosis and the remarkable impact of deep brain stimulation.
Peter Herrndorf, an influential Canadian journalist and news programmer, died last Saturday at the age of 82. We hear about his life and passion for the arts from his friend Mark Starowicz, the former executive producer of The Journal.
A year after the convoy protests occupied Ottawa and the federal government invoked the Emergencies Act, Justice Rouleau’s report finds Justin Trudeau justified. But not everyone agrees with the findings. Matt Galloways speaks with Cara Zwibel, director of the Fundamental Freedoms Program for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association; and Vincent Rigby, former National Security and Intelligence Advisor to Trudeau and a visiting professor at McGill University’s Max Bell School of Public Policy.
Russian-Canadian Katya Sundukova has hosted 15 families from Ukraine in her Ontario home over the past year. We hear how and why she’s helped so many families settle into Canada.
The family of former U.S. president Jimmy Carter announced over the weekend that he is now in hospice care at home. We speak with Canadian author and historian Arthur Milnes about how Carter was a president ahead of his time.
2017 reverberated around the world. Five years later, with no arrests and little news from the police, their deaths remain shrouded in mystery and conspiracy theories, with too many lingering questions. Not just who killed them, but what kind of life do you have to live that when you’re found dead, there are multiple theories, including some involving your own family? That’s the question journalist Kathleen Goldhar set out to discover, in The No Good, Terribly Kind, Wonderful Lives and Tragic Deaths of Barry and Honey Sherman, as she explores who the Shermans really were and why too much money might have been what killed them in the end. More episodes are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/DC-pNF-H
When Toronto billionaires Barry and Honey Sherman were found dead in their home in 2017, the case baffled police and set off a string of theories about what happened to them. We speak with Kathleen Goldhar, the host of a new podcast co-produced by the CBC: The No Good, Very Kind, Wonderful Lives and Tragic Deaths of Barry and Honey Sherman.
Cats have been studied less than dogs, but new research suggests that there may be more to our feline friends than we once thought. In a repeat segment from January, we spoke with longtime veterinarian Bruce Kornreich, the director of the Cornell Feline Health Centre; and archivist Jennifer Parrucci, co-author of Cats: From the Archives of The New York Times.
Today, a community celebrates the return of a totem pole from the Royal B.C. Museum in Victoria to Nuxalk territory. Matt Galloway talks with Nuxalk Hereditary Chief Snuxyaltwa (Deric Snow), who led the charge to bring the totem pole back; and Heather George, the president of the board of the Canadian Museums Association.
Fritznel Richard, a Haitian migrant, died attempting to cross into the United States from Quebec in late December. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has pledged more than $20 million in new humanitarian aid and support for migrants in Haiti, but some worry that money won't help victims of a broken system like Fritznel. The CBC’s Verity Stevenson brings us her documentary.
A pilot project called the Liability Management Incentive program is attempting to clean up abandoned oil wells by giving oil and gas companies a break on royalties in return for clean up; but not everyone is convinced it will work. For more, host Matt Galloway speaks with Daryl Bennett, the director of the Action Surface Rights Association; and Andrew Leach, an energy and environmental economist at the University of Alberta.
Yesterday, new legislation was introduced to create an independent commission to review possible cases of miscarriage of justice. We hear from Innocence Canada co-president Ron Dalton, who spent eight years in prison after being wrongfully convicted; Tamara Levy, a lawyer whose worked on many cases of wrongful conviction; and David Lametti, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.
The Emergencies Act inquiry saw dozens of witnesses testify over six weeks — from protesters and the people affected, to police and politicians — all giving their side of how the self-styled "Freedom Convoy" came to take hold and why the government ultimately used the Act’s extraordinary powers to dislodge them. The CBC’s Janyce McGregor followed every day of the inquiry and on this special edition of The House, walks through the moments that mattered most.
Celebrated architect Marina Tabassum is using her skills to address some crises facing her native Bangladesh, from climate change to the global refugee crisis. She tells us about designing homes for an uncertain future, and the place of beauty in a refugee camp.
Alberta is shifting its approach to drug addiction and substance abuse, away from harm reduction and towards a focus on treatment and recovery. Matt Galloway talks with CBC Alberta host Judy Aldous.
For decades, the death of the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda was attributed to prostate cancer, despite allegations he was actually poisoned. Now researchers say they’ve found new clues; we hear more from Debi Poinar, a researcher at McMaster’s University's Ancient DNA Centre.
The federal government has announced it will stop funding research that involves Chinese military and state security institutions, over fears around national security. We speak with Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, a senior fellow at the Institute for Science, Society and Policy at the University of Ottawa; and Joseph Wong, a professor at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy.
The high cost of food has renewed the push for a national school lunch program in Canada. Matt Galloway talks with Celina Stoyles, executive director of the Kids Eat Smart Foundation in Newfoundland and Labrador; and Debbie Field, co-ordinator of the Coalition for Healthy School Food Canada.
Anger is growing over why so many buildings collapsed when earthquakes struck parts of Syria and Turkey last week. We look into alleged construction corruption with David Alexander, a professor of emergency planning and management at University College London; and Aslı Aydıntaşbaş, a former journalist and now a fellow at the U.S.-based think tank, Brookings Institution.
The hit TV show The Last of Us envisions a fungal infection that turns humans into zombie-like creatures intent on infecting others. It’s science fiction, but experts warn there are real threats posed by fungi. We talk with Leah Cowen, co-director of the fungal kingdom program at the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research; and Bryan Yipp, a physician-scientist and assistant professor in the department of critical care medicine at the University of Calgary.
Advocates say Bill C-11 will protect Canadian content in the era of online streaming, but critics argue it will restrict the internet and could close the door to vital global markets. We talk to Mickey Djuric, a federal politics reporter with The Canadian Press; Brad Danks, CEO of OutTV; and Matt Hatfield, campaigns director for OpenMedia.
Fifty years ago, Indigenous leaders from Yukon arrived in Ottawa to present then prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau the “Together Today for our Children Tomorrow” plan. This plan set the groundwork for land claim negotiations and self-governance. Matt Galloway talks with Grand Chief of the Council of Yukon First Nations Peter Johnston; former chief of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations Steve Smith; and David Newhouse, a professor at Trent University’s Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies.
Quebec’s Pier-Alexis Soulière recently competed at the World's Best Sommelier competition in France. We hear his story in the documentary A Canadian Sommelier in Paris.
A series of unidentified objects have been shot down over North America, amid concerns over their origins and surveillance capabilities. We discuss the heightened concern over spy technology with Robert Huebert, a professor of political science at the University of Calgary.
Toronto Mayor John Tory resigned on Friday, after news that he had a months-long relationship with a former member of his staff. We talk to Edward Keenan, a city columnist at the Toronto Star.
Psychologist Carole Peterson is a Canadian pioneer in the science of childhood memory. Her research has shown that very young children have more reliable recollections than previously thought. She tells us about the impact her research might have on the criminal justice system.
Canadians with ties to Turkey and Syria have watched in horror as the earthquakes’ death toll climbs into tens of thousands. Matt Galloway talks to Winnipeg man Allan Emre, who lost family members in the Turkish city of Adiyaman; and Turkey’s Ambassador to Canada Kerim Uras.
Matt Galloway hosts a public forum in Victoria, B.C., about the shortage of family doctors and the impact on both patients and the wider health-care system. We talk to Canadians facing serious health issues without primary care, and some of the people working to find solutions. This special podcast brings you the highlights; audio of the full public forum is available on cbc.ca/thecurrent
In 1985, police dropped a bomb in a Philadelphia neighbourhood to target a family of Black radicals known as MOVE. The story is the subject of the new CBC podcast The Africas VS. America. We talk to the podcast’s host Matthew Amha; and Mike Africa Jr., a member of MOVE.
Parts of Syria were devastated by this week’s earthquake, but getting aid to those regions is complicated by the country’s civil war. Matt Galloway talks to Dr. Osama Salloum, who is trying to help survivors at Bab Al-Hawa Hospital in Idlib; freelance journalist Omar Al-Bam who is also in Idlib; and Kim Ghattas, a political analyst and contributing writer for The Atlantic.
We talk to Tracie Risling, an associate professor in the University of Calgary’s faculty of nursing, about calls for more Canadians to be able to access their own health records electronically.
In 1985, at the height of the Black Power era, police dropped a bomb in a Philadelphia neighborhood. Their target? A family of Black radicals known as ‘MOVE,’ who found themselves ensnared in a city — and nation’s — domestic war on Black Liberation. Over seven episodes, host Matthew Amha investigates the events that culminated in the MOVE bombing, and the long afterlife of a forgotten American tragedy. More episodes are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/Nyn53U8z
We hear from listeners about our public forum on the shortage of family doctors; and talk to Basoz Mohammed, a family doctor who immigrated to Canada from Iraq, and has spent years trying to meet the qualifications to open a practice here.
As part of our Reasons for Optimism series, we speak with physician and epidemiologist Dr. Larry Brilliant. He was part of the World Health Organization campaign to eradicate smallpox in the 1970s, and he’s now the CEO of Pandefense, which advises governments, businesses and non-profits on responding to pandemics.
Roxham Road, an unofficial crossing between Quebec and the United States, has seen increased traffic in recent years. Nearly 40,000 asylum seekers and migrants crossed into Canada through that point just last year. For more on the need to support asylum seekers on both sides of the border crossing, Matt Galloway speaks with Jean-Sébastien Patrice, the general director of food security organization MultiCaf, and Mireille Paquet, an associate professor of political science at Concordia University in Montreal and the Concordia Research Chair on the politics of immigration.
It’s been two years since a military coup in Myanmar deposed democratically elected members of the country's ruling party — but protestors have not let up. We speak with Thinzar Shunlei Yi, a pro-democracy activist from Myanmar; and Bob Rae, Canada’s former special envoy to Myanmar and the current Canadian ambassador to the United Nations.
CBC’s Sarah Leavitt gives us an update on the bus crash that killed two children in a Laval daycare and led to the driver getting charged.
Thousands have died in massive earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, but rescuers are still scrambling to free survivors and help the displaced. We talk to CBC’s Chris Brown in Adana, southern Turkey; Ismail Alabdullah, a member of Syrian Civil Defence in Sarmada, Syria; and Bessma Momani, a professor of political science at the University of Waterloo.
The federal government has proposed a 10-year health-care deal, totalling $196.1 billion in spending — but the reaction from provincial leaders has been mixed. Guest host Duncan McCue talks to Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos; and Globe and Mail health columnist André Picard.
Companies in Canada are stepping up to meet the growing demand for lithium — a key component in battery technology. But there are questions about extracting it in an environmentally responsible way. We talk to Chris Doornbos, CEO of E3 Lithium; Juli Rohl, director of the Impact Studio at the Energy Futures Lab; and Teresa Kramarz, a professor at the School of the Environment and the co-director of the Environmental Governance Lab at the University of Toronto.
Millions of Canadians don't have a family physician or any primary care provider. People spend months searching for care, often without success. Many turn to walk-in clinics, virtual care and emergency rooms to get the help they need. These problems are felt across the country, but the shortage is particularly acute in Victoria, B.C. The Current’s Matt Galloway hosted a public forum there to hear from the people affected, and explore the solutions that could help all Canadians.
We discuss the challenges of accessing health care in remote, rural communities with Dr. Alex Nataros, a physician in Port Hardy, B.C.; Jude Kornelson, co-director of UBC’s Centre For Rural Health Research; and Tanille Johnston, the Vancouver Island manager of primary care for the First Nations Health Authority.
The documentary Part of the Pack features several British Columbians who have connections to wolves — either in the wild, or by keeping part-dog, part-wolf breeds as pets. We talk to filmmaker Isabelle Groc; and Gary Allan, a wolf educator who has owned six wolfdogs over the past 20 years.
It is no longer a criminal offence to possess small amounts of certain illicit drugs in B.C., as part of a three-year pilot project aimed at tackling the opioid crisis. Matt Galloway talks to Inspector Conor King, an illicit drug specialist with the Victoria Police Department; and B.C.’s Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe.
New research shows that 6.5 million Canadians don’t have a family doctor. It also explores what “trade-offs” people might accept for better access. We discuss the data with Dr. Tara Kiran, a family physician at St. Michael's Hospital, and the Fidani Chair in Improvement and Innovation at the University of Toronto.
A CBC investigation shows that Canada is spending millions to protect amateur athletes from abuse — but those resources aren't reaching local sports groups. We talk to CBC reporter Jamie Strashin; and Paul Sir, executive director of the Alberta Basketball Association.
Thirteen provincial and territorial premiers have urged the federal government to tighten up Canada's bail system — a call echoed by police associations across the country. Matt Galloway talks to John Cerasuolo, president and CEO of the Ontario Provincial Police Association; Anne-Marie McElroy, a criminal defence attorney in Ottawa; and John Rudin, program director of Aboriginal Legal Services in Toronto.
Clara Ford, a Black woman, was accused of murdering Frank Westwood, the son of a wealthy Toronto family, in 1894. She defended herself in court — and won. Carolyn Whitzman tells the story of race and justice in her new book, Clara at the Door with a Revolver: The Scandalous Black Suspect, the Exemplary White Son, and the Murder That Shocked Toronto.
A House of Commons committee is probing the federal government’s decisions to grant multimillion-dollar contracts to the consulting firm McKinsey & Company. Matt Galloway talks to Amanda Clarke, an associate professor of public administration at Carleton University; and Michael Forsythe, an investigative reporter with the New York Times and co-author of When Mckinsey Comes to Town: The Hidden Influence of the World's Most Powerful Consulting Firm.
A new investigation by Radio-Canada’s Enquête, in partnership with CBC’s The Fifth Estate, explores allegations that Quebec billionaire Robert G. Miller paid minors for sexual favours — allegations that Miller denies. We talk to Enquête’s Brigitte Noël.
We talk to the UN's High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi about the war in Ukraine, the question of talking to the Taliban, and how political polarization has made his job and the lives of refugees harder.
New voluntary guidelines for long-term care homes were published on Tuesday, but some experts warn that they won’t make life better for residents unless they’re adopted in full. Matt Galloway talks to Janice Keefe, a member of the Health Standards Organization, which published the guidelines; and Mary Oko, former chair of the family council at Copernicus Lodge, a long-term care home in Toronto.
The U.S. is building a program to privately sponsor refugees, modelled on the one Canada created in the 1970s. We discuss the new program — and what needs to be done to strengthen our own sponsorships — with Mark Hetfield, president and CEO of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society in Silver Spring, Md.; Brian Dyck, the national migration and resettlement program co-ordinator for Mennonite Central Committee Canada; and Ratna Omidvar, an independent senator for Ontario.
We talk to three energy workers in Alberta about what a “just transition” means to them — and what they think their jobs could look like in a net-zero future: Chad Miller, a pipeline facilities consultant and founder of the Facebook group Oilfield Dads; Ken Wallace, a geologist who recently returned to the oil and gas industry; and Amanda Hall, a geophysicist who left the industry to create her own lithium company, Summit Nanotech.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's biggest critic, Alexei Navalny, remains in prison, facing years behind bars and deteriorating health. We talk to Washington Post reporter Catherine Belton about concerns for his well-being; and listen back to an April 2022 conversation with Daniel Roher, Canadian director of the Oscar-nominated documentary Navalny.
Yazidi communities in northern Iraq faced a genocidal campaign at the hands of ISIS almost a decade ago. Now, Yazidi refugees in Canada are dismayed at the prospect of Canadians suspected of ISIS membership being repatriated from detention camps in Syria. Matt Galloway talks to Jamileh Naso, president of the Canadian Yazidi Association; and Mubin Shaikh, a professor of public safety at Seneca College and a former undercover operative for CSIS and the RCMP.
The House of Commons is back after a six-week break. We discuss what lies ahead with CBC’s chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton; Globe and Mail reporter Carrie Tait; and National Post parliamentary reporter Catherine Lévesque.
Big tech companies have laid off thousands of workers in recent weeks, after a pandemic hiring boom. We talk to Erika Weber, who was recently laid off as a project manager with Shopify; technology reporter Shruti Shekar; and Daniel Tsai, a lecturer on technology and business at University of Toronto and Toronto Metropolitan University.
Great strides have been made in the battle against HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, but there are fears that one group is being left behind: children. We talk to Stephanie Nolen, a global health reporter with The New York Times; and Dr. Judith Kose, director for pediatric and adolescent services with the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
Protests erupted in the U.S. after the release of video showing Memphis police beating Tyre Nichols, who died three days later. Matt Galloway talks to vice-chair of the Memphis City Council JB Smiley Jr.; and Ricky L. Jones, a professor and chair of the University of Louisville's Department of Pan-African Studies.
Love, Janessa is a new true crime podcast seeking to find the woman whose image has been used as bait in countless catfishings around the world. We talk to producer Katrina Onstad and host Hannah Ajala.
The federal government is advancing a motion to ban cosmetic testing on animals. We talk to Camille Labchuk, executive director of the organization Animal Justice, which advocates for legal protections for animals; Charu Chandrasekera, executive director of the Canadian Centre for Alternatives to Animal Methods; and Michael Brunt, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College.
Toronto commuters are on edge after a recent spate of violent attacks on public transit. Matt Galloway talks to the Toronto Star’s transportation reporter Lex Harvey; and John Di Nino, national president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Canada.
We continue our Reasons for Optimism series with Canadian author and journalist Carl Honoré. He says if we’re to take one lesson from the pandemic, it should be to take our foot off the accelerator and enjoy a slower pace in life.
A UN delegation to Afghanistan has urged the Taliban to reverse restrictions on women working or receiving an education. Matt Galloway talks to the BBC's chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet; and Nargis Nehan, a human rights advocate and a former acting minister in Afghanistan’s government.
Pope Francis has said that being gay is not a crime, but still referred to homosexuality in terms of “sin.” We discuss the significance of his statement with Father James Martin, a Jesuit priest and editor-at-large of America Media; Sister Jeannine Gramick, co-founder of the New Ways Ministry, which supports LGBTQ rights; and Mark Guevarra, a PhD student at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, Calif.
We continue our Reasons for Optimism series with Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist Paul Salopek, who is travelling through China on foot. The National Geographic fellow has spent ten years walking the 35,000-kilometre route of ancestral human migration, from Africa to the southern tip of South America.
A recent shift at a hospital in St John's was unusual in one particular ward: all the nurses were men. We discuss why male nurses are still in the minority with Brandon Smith and Ryan Spear, who were on that shift; and Peter Kellett, a registered nurse and an assistant professor in nursing at the University of Lethbridge.
A corruption scandal in Ukraine has forced several key government officials to resign or be dismissed, amid allegations of profiteering off the war. Matt Galloway talks to Politico Europe reporter Veronika Melkozerova; and Tymofiy Mylovanov, former Ukrainian minister of economic development and now president of the Kyiv School of Economics.
Cats have been studied less than dogs, but new research suggests that there may be more to our feline friends than we once thought. We talk to longtime veterinarian Bruce Kornreich, the director of the Cornell Feline Health Centre; and archivist Jennifer Parrucci, co-author of Cats: From the Archives of The New York Times.
The federal government has agreed to repatriate 19 women and children from detention camps for suspected ISIS members in Syria, while a judge has also ordered that four men be brought back. We discuss what happens next with Leah West, a national security expert and assistant professor at Carleton University; and BBC journalist Josh Baker, whose new podcast looks at the story of Shamima Begum, a British teenager who went to Syria to join ISIS in 2015.
Some of Canada's leading experts have contributed to a new report, Taking Back Health Care, focused on fixing a system in crisis. Matt Galloway talks to two of its authors: Dr. Jane Philpott, a former federal health minister and now dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Queen's University; and Dr. Alika Lafontaine is president of the Canadian Medical Association.
We continue our Reasons for Optimism series with environmental activist Clayton Thomas-Müller. He is a member of Mathias Colomb Cree Nation in northern Manitoba and the author of Life in the City of Dirty Water: A Memoir of Healing.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says there may soon be “positive” news about a health-care deal between the provinces and the federal government. Matt Galloway talks to Tonda MacCharles, a parliamentary reporter with the Toronto Star; Emilie Nicolas, a columnist for Le Devoir and the Montreal Gazette; and André Picard, health columnist for the Globe and Mail.
Technology used to bring us joy, but tech philosopher Shannon Vallor says it now takes more than it gives. She wants that to change so that we can fall in love with tech all over again.
World news, local voices. Nothing is Foreign is a weekly trip to where the story is unfolding. Hosted by Tamara Khandaker. Since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021, there has been a crackdown on the rights and freedoms of women in the country. This episode of Nothing is Foreign shares the courageous story of a teacher in Afghanistan and her students — a secret class of girls between grades 7-12 in Kabul — who are defying Taliban laws that prevent girls and women from getting an education. More episodes are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/-ERj1MpM
A program at the English National Opera uses singing techniques to help long COVID patients breathe a little easier. We talk to Suzi Zumpe, creative director of the English National Opera's Breathe program; and participant Joanna Herman.
Dozens of defence ministers are meeting in Germany today to discuss what weapons they're willing to supply to Ukraine. Matt Galloway talks to Constanze Stelzenmüller, the Fritz Stern Chair and director of the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution; and Richard Shimooka, a senior fellow at the MacDonald-Laurier Institute and an expert on defence procurement.
A new Canadian documentary, Backlash: Misogyny in the Digital Age, explores the online hate that women and girls face now — and how authorities are sometimes ill-equipped to deal with it. We talk to co-director Guylaine Maroist; and Laurence Gratton, a school teacher featured in the film.
We continue our Reasons for Optimism series with Michael McCain, the CEO of Maple Leaf Foods, one of Canada's largest food producers.
Proposed judicial reform in Israel has prompted thousands to take to the streets in protest. We talk to Dahlia Scheindlin, a political analyst and fellow at the think tank The Century Foundation; Eli Lipshitz, the spokesperson and first secretary for public diplomacy for the Embassy of Israel in Canada; and Diana Buttu, a lawyer and former adviser to the negotiating team of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine globally impacted energy supplies, prompting many countries to explore more options around nuclear power. Matt Galloway talks to Mark Hibbs, an expert on the European nuclear industry; Canadian Nuclear Laboratories President and CEO Joe McBrearty; and Susan O'Donnell, adjunct research professor for the environment and society program at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, N.B.
A new report calls for cancer warning labels on alcohol and suggests Canadians stick to two drinks per week to minimize health risks. Matt Galloway talks to Dr. Alexander Caudarella, CEO of the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction; and Dan Malleck, a health sciences professor and medical historian who specializes in alcohol and drug policy.
An app called Gas allows high school students to send each other anonymous compliments — but its popularity is raising concerns about the impact on teens’ self-esteem. Mitchell Cait-Goldenthal, a Grade 11 student in Toronto, tells us how the app works; and technology journalist Alexandra Samuel discusses what teens and parents should consider.
Then, former Afghan MP Mursal Nabizada was killed by gunmen in her Kabul home on the weekend, prompting calls for Canada to help relocate other women who served in Afghanistan's parliament before the Taliban takeover. We talk to former Afghan MP Shinkai Karokhail, who served as Afghanistan's ambassador to Canada from 2016 to 2018.
Ontario plans to permanently move some surgeries to privately run clinics to tackle a large backlog and long wait times — but critics warn the move will drain staff from public facilities, and could lead to a two-tiered health-care system. We talk to Kevin Smith, president and CEO of University Health Network; and family and emergency physician Dr. Bernard Ho, executive member of Canadian Doctors for Medicare.
Matt Galloway talks to former finance minister Bill Morneau about his new book Where To From Here: A Path to Canadian Prosperity, which details his rocky relationship with the prime minister — and the big challenges facing Canada.
The origins of pinball date back almost a century, but the tactile game is enjoying a resurgence among Canadians. The Current producer Alison Masemann meets some pinball fanatics.
The diabetes drug Ozempic has been hailed as an effective treatment for obesity, but there are concerns about whether publicity around the drug fuels harmful ideas around weight loss and diet culture. Matt Galloway talks to Dr. Ali Zentner, an internal medicine, diabetes and obesity specialist with Revolution Medical Clinic in Vancouver; and Eva Pila, an assistant professor and principal investigator at Western University's Body Image and Health Research Lab.
We continue our Reasons for Optimism series with Steven Pinker, an author and a professor of cognitive psychology at Harvard University.
The next UN climate conference will be chaired by the CEO of an oil company, sparking concern among climate scientists and activists. We talk to Catherine Abreu, founder of the climate advocacy group Destination Zero and a member of the Net Zero Advisory Body, which provides independent advice to the Canadian government.
Star Blanket Cree Nation plans to investigate thousands of "anomalies" found under the ground in Saskatchewan, at the site of one of the country's longest running residential schools. We talk to Sheldon Poitras, director of operations for the First Nation’s ground search project team.
Travel chaos left hundreds of Canadians stranded over the holiday period, missing out on precious time with loved ones. Matt Galloway discusses what went wrong — and what needs to be done about it — with Andrew Gibbons, vice president of external affairs at WestJet; and George Chahall, Liberal MP for Calgary Skyview and a member of the Transport Committee.
We continue our Reasons for Optimism series with Bill McKibben, an environmentalist and the founder of Third Act — a group that organizes seniors to take climate action.
Allison Holthoff, 37, died on New Year's Eve after waiting hours to be seen in the emergency department of her local Nova Scotia hospital. We talk to her husband Gunter Holthoff, who is calling for change in the health-care system; as well as Robert Martel, a former emergency doctor in Nova Scotia; and Catherine Little, a registered nurse at an ER in New Brunswick, and the unit representative for all hospital nurses in that province.
Not everyone enjoys making small talk with strangers, but research shows it can be good for your health. We talk to Gillian Sandstrom, a psychologist and senior lecturer in the psychology of kindness at the University of Sussex; and Pete Bombaci, founder of The GenWell Project in Toronto.
We continue our Reasons for Optimism series with Samantha Nutt, founder of War Child Canada, and Alfred Okech, the country director for Uganda for War Child Canada. They reflect on supporting young people affected by conflict, how progress can be made in dark circumstances and the power of defiance in the face of oppression.
Five years ago, Seán Binder was among volunteers helping asylum seekers as they arrived on the Greek island of Lesbos, after they had crossed the Mediterranean by boat. Binder and 23 other volunteers were arrested, and are now on trial in Greece on charges of espionage, forgery, trafficking and being part of a criminal organization. Matt Galloway talks to Binder about the case, and discusses the increasing restrictions on NGOs trying to help migrants and refugees with Caroline Willemen, deputy head of mission for search and rescue with Médecins Sans Frontières; and Giulia Tranchina, a researcher with Human Rights Watch.
Rana Ayyub is a prominent journalist uncovering corruption and injustice in India, for which she faces death threats, harassment and now criminal charges. She tells us why her work has drawn the ire of authorities, and why independent journalism is worth fighting for.
We conclude our Order of Canada series with Laurence Gray, a Canadian scientist whose work helped us understand how quickly Arctic sea ice is melting. He has been honoured for his contributions to radar technology and polar science as a researcher, scientist and educator.
Chlorofluorocarbons were banned decades ago to help protect the ozone layer, but in recent years an uptick in emissions suggests someone was violating restrictions. We hear what happened next from Stephen Montzka, a scientist with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The federal government has finalized the purchase of 88 F-35 jet fighters, at a cost of $19 billion. Matt Galloway discusses the warplanes, and whether Canada needs them, with CBC senior parliamentary defence reporter Murray Brewster; Alan Williams, who was the assistant deputy minister of materiel for the Department of National Defence; and Stephen Saideman, director of the Canadian defence and security network.
Haiti is grappling with political instability, gang violence and a growing hunger crisis — prompting an open letter from past and current heads of state urging action. Matt Galloway talks to one of the signatories, former governor general Michaëlle Jean, about Canada's responsibility to Haiti.
Supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro stormed Brazil's government buildings on the weekend, smashing windows, destroying art and protesting what they claimed was a stolen election. We talk to Washington Post correspondent Mac Margolis; and Guilherme Casarões, a professor of political science at Fundação Getulio Vargas University in São Paulo.
We continue our series looking at the contributions of people appointed to the Order of Canada. Eli Rubenstein is the religious leader of Congregation Habonim and the longtime National Director of the March of the Living. He has been honoured for his significant contributions to Holocaust education.
The arrest of alleged drug trafficker and senior Mexican cartel member Ovidio Guzman sparked an outburst of violence in Mexico last week, shutting down roads and airports. Matt Galloway talks to Mexico-based journalist Ioan Grillo, author of the El Narco trilogy; Canada-based journalist Luis Horacio Nájera, co-author of The Wolfpack: The Millennial Mobsters Who Brought Chaos and the Cartels to the Canadian Underworld.
In a new series called Reasons for Optimism, we look at where to find hope and promise in the sometimes grim world around us. We start with Donna Strickland, who won the 2018 Nobel Prize in physics for her research on lasers, and is now launching a new project aimed at restoring trust in science.
Nova Scotia folk artist Maud Lewis once sold her paintings for just a few dollars, but now they sell for tens of thousands. In a conversation from October, we hear how price tags have increased, and so have concerns about forgeries.
Then, cigarette butts are filled with microplastics — and are one of the most common forms of litter in Canada. We speak to Cynthia Callard, executive director of Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada, about calls to bill tobacco companies for the cleanup.
As the war in Ukraine rages on, zoologist Anton Vlashenko is leading a team working to rescue and shelter thousands of bats. He tells us why he feels a responsibility for the creatures, even in the face of war.
Reliable, high-speed internet remains out of reach for many rural communities in Canada, despite our ever-increasing reliance on the web in many aspects of life. Matt Galloway discusses equitable internet access with Helen Hambly, project leader of the regional and rural broadband project at the University of Guelph; and Alfred Loon, president of Eeyou Communications Network, a not-for-profit broadband network in northern Quebec.
Dozens of Russian soldiers were killed by a Ukrainian missile strike on the weekend. The Kremlin has blamed the slaughtered troops for using their cellphones, allowing Ukrainian forces to target them — but admits the attack was Russia’s worst military loss since the start of the war. Matt Galloway talks to Francis Farrell, a reporter with the Kyiv Independent; and global affairs analyst Michael Bociurkiw, a senior fellow with the Atlantic Council.
We continue our series looking at the contributions of people appointed to the Order of Canada. Armand Doucet is an award-winning educator in New Brunswick, and part of an international advisory group on how the pandemic disrupted learning. He tells us about the power of public education and what his students have taught him.
In a conversation from October, Calgary emergency room physician Dr. Heather Patterson tells us about her photography book, Shadows and Light: A Physician's Lens on COVID. Her images document what was happening inside hospitals during the pandemic.
In a conversation from last month, author and artist Diane Borsato discusses her book Mushrooming: The Joy of the Quiet Hunt. She tells us about the best ways to forage for fungi — and how it offers us a chance to slow down and look around.
As Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is laid to rest in Rome, there are questions about whether retirement could become the norm for aging pontiffs, and what that might mean for Vatican politics and the Catholic Church’s global influence and unity. Matt Galloway talks to John Allen, editor of Crux; and David Gibson, director of the Center on Religion and Culture at Fordham University.
We continue our series looking at the contributions of people appointed to the Order of Canada. Simon Keith is an advocate for organ donations, and runs a foundation supporting young people who receive life-saving transplants; and pediatric transplant cardiologist Dr. Lori West has received the honour for her research in infant heart transplantation, and her leadership in that field.
In a conversation from September, novelist Ian McEwan, director Deepa Mehta and publisher and editor Louise Dennys about the state of free speech in today's world, in light of last year’s attack on Salman Rushdie.
We continue our series about the contributions of people recently appointed to the Order of Canada. Dr. Ivar Mendez has been recognized for his groundbreaking work in robotics and remote healthcare; and Patricia Ningewance received the award for her decades of work in preserving the Ojibway language.
Matt Galloway talks to Canadian tennis player Felix Auger-Aliassime about his rise through the global rankings, and that win against the legendary Rafael Nadal.
We're ushering in the new year with some of the newest appointees to the Order of Canada — Canadians who've dedicated their lives to the pursuit of extraordinary things. Matt Galloway talks to health economist Evelyn Forget, who has advanced anti-poverty policies across Canada and around the world; Michael Schmidt, a photographer and geophysicist who worked on the beginnings of our current GPS systems; and Kevin Blackmore, Wayne Chaulk, and Raymond Johnson, who make up the musical comedy trio Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers.
Wes Hall was raised by his grandmother in a tin-roof shack in Saint Thomas, Jamaica, before moving to Canada as a teenager and working to become one of the country’s most successful corporate leaders. In a conversation from October, he tells us about his memoir, No Bootstraps When You're Barefoot: My Rise from a Jamaican Plantation Shack to the Boardrooms of Bay Street.
In an extended podcast of their radio interview, Canada’s Ambassador to the United Nations Bob Rae talks to guest host Mark Kelley about global tensions and the role of diplomacy, from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, to protests in Iran and instability in Haiti.
Shoes were originally worn to protect our feet. But now, there are shoes for every occasion, from sandals and sneakers to dress shoes and high heels. A new exhibit at the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto looks at the shifting place of shoes in our lives. Elizabeth Semmelhack, the museum’s director and senior curator, gave us a tour.
With convoy protests shutting down Ottawa, a papal apology to residential school survivors, and Alberta’s push for sovereignty, 2022 was a busy political year. Guest host Paul Hunter reviews what happened with CBC News Chief Political Correspondent Rosemary Barton, Globe and Mail reporter Carrie Tait, and Emilie Nicolas, a columnist with Le Devoir and the Montreal Gazette, and host of Canadaland's French-language podcast Detours.
Canada and the United States are grappling with the aftermath of heavy winter storms. And Chris St. Clair says recent weather events should make people think seriously about the impacts of climate change. For 27 years, he was on the frontline of Canada's biggest weather stories as a presenter for The Weather Network. He shares some of those stories in his new book Weather Permitting.
From baby pictures of some of the universe’s earliest galaxies to AI bots that can write your college essay, 2022 was a monumental year in the fields of science and technology. We hear from Alanna Mitchell, a science journalist and author in Toronto, and Murad Hemmadi, a technology reporter with The Logic.
In an interview from October, Matt Galloway speaks with award-winning architect Moshe Safdie about the power of architecture to change the world — and reflects on his new memoir If Walls Could Speak: My Life in Architecture.
The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a controversial immigration policy from the Donald Trump era that blocks thousands of people from crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. Guest host Paul Hunter speaks with Armando Velez, the editor of the Spanish-language newspaper El Diario de El Paso. We also hear from Dr. Sondra S. Crosby, a professor of medicine at Boston University and faculty member of the Health Law, Bioethics, and Human Rights department at the Boston University School of Public Health.
Most teenagers are social animals. After being isolated during the pandemic, many seem to be making up for lost time. But Robert Coplan believes we tend to overlook the benefits of having alone time. He is a Developmental Psychology Professor at Carleton University, and he studies the costs and benefits of solitude in children, adolescents and young adults.
Buffalo faced its worst winter storm in decades over the Christmas weekend. At least 27 people have died, and the city's services and infrastructure have been crippled. The death toll is raising questions about how a major U.S. city, used to getting snow, could see this scale of catastrophe. We hear from Nicholas Rajkovich, an Associate Professor with the Department of Architecture at the University at Buffalo.
The Taliban has banned women from working at humanitarian organizations in Afghanistan, and some NGOs are now suspending their operations in the country as a form of protest. Samira Syed Rahman is worried about what might come next. Samira Syed Rahman, a humanitarian worker with the International Rescue Committee in Kabul, speaks with guest host Paul Hunter. We also hear from Shaheen Chughtai, the regional advocacy and campaigns director for Save the Children Asia.
And in an interview from October, NHL Hall of Famer Bryan Trottier discusses his leap from small-town Saskatchewan to the big leagues — and how the lessons of his Indigenous community played into his journey.
In Canso, N.S., construction has begun on Canada’s first commercial spaceport, which will launch rockets carrying communications satellites into orbit. But not everyone in the community is convinced the spaceport is a good idea. CBC Radio’s John Chipman visited the community in October; he tells us what he found.
China is suffering a surge in COVID-19 infections, being watched closely by health experts around the world. Guest host Paul Hunter talks to James Griffiths, Asia correspondent at the Globe and Mail; and epidemiologist Jennifer Bouey, the Tang Chair in China Policy Studies at the RAND Corporation.
A group of parents in Quebec allege their children are addicted to the video game Fortnite, and are bringing forward a class action lawsuit against its makers, Epic Games. We talk to Cam Adair, founder of Game Quitters, an organization to help those struggling with video game addiction; professor of psychology Jeffery Derevensky, who worked to classify video game addiction as an official disorder for The World Health Organization; and professor of psychology Chris Ferguson, co-author of Moral Combat: Why the War on Video Games Is Wrong.
A photograph of Argentine footballer Lionel Messi — taken in the moments after his team won the World Cup — has become the most liked image on Instagram. We talk to Getty Images sports photographer Shaun Botterill, who took the picture.
The pandemic saw a drop in airline greenhouse gas emissions. But as travellers return to the skies, advocates are calling for greater focus on decarbonizing air travel. Guest host Mark Kelley discusses the various ways to do that with Michel Chornet from Enerkem, a company that looks at developing sustainable aviation fuel; Suzanne Kearns, director of the Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics at the University of Waterloo; and Gideon Forman, the climate change and transportation policy analyst at the David Suzuki Foundation.
Culinary historian Michael Twitty's book, Koshersoul: The Faith and Food Journey of an African American Jew, explores his experience being Black and Jewish, and how he brought his different identities together in the kitchen. This conversation first aired in September.
Canada’s Ambassador to the United Nations Bob Rae talks to guest host Mark Kelley about global tensions and the role of diplomacy, from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, to protests in Iran and instability in Haiti.
In his new book The Great Canadian Art Fraud Case: The Group of Seven and Tom Thomson Forgeries, Jon S. Dellandrea takes us back to the 1960s — and a flood of forgeries of Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven that might still be hanging on Canadian walls today.
The sweet bread panettone is a more common addition to the Canadian Christmas, but recipes with things like chocolate or pistachios may not pass muster with Italian traditionalists. CBC’s Italy correspondent Megan Williams took us on a deep dive into the doughy world of panettone.
Temperatures are dropping across Canada, leaving many homeless people to grapple with a difficult decision: risk injuries by starting a fire to stay warm — or get frostbite. Guest host Mark Kelley talks to Nicole Mucci, spokesperson for the Union Gospel Mission in Vancouver; and Sarah Rehou, senior research co-ordinator at the burn unit at Hamilton Health Sciences.
Heavy snowfall delayed and cancelled many flights at Vancouver International Airport Tuesday, leaving passengers sleeping in the terminal or stranded on the tarmac. We talk to Corey Malone and Seham Asfar, who were stuck on planes for hours; passenger advocate Gábor Lukács, founder of Air Passengers Rights; and David Phillips, a senior climatologist for Environment Canada.
After months of controversy over its handling of sexual assault allegations, Hockey Canada has new leadership — will that be enough to usher in a culture change? We talk to the new chair of Hockey Canada's board of directors, retired judge Hugh Fraser; and Robyn Doolittle, a Globe and Mail investigative reporter who has been covering the story.
In her book The Miracle of Salt: Recipes and Techniques to Preserve, Ferment, and Transform Your Food, food writer Naomi Duguid turns her curiosity to the most basic of ingredients. In a conversation from October, she tells us about salt’s deep history, versatility and range.
The UN biodiversity summit in Montreal has concluded with an ambitious agreement to protect 30 per cent of the planet’s land, freshwater and marine areas by 2030. We discuss the hard work that lies ahead with Radio-Canada environment reporter Etienne Leblanc; and Megan Leslie, president and chief executive officer of World Wildlife Fund Canada.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith recently apologized for comparing Ottawa’s treatment of Albertans to the treatment of Indigenous people under the Indian Act. Author Bob Joseph joins us to discuss what many Canadians still misunderstand about the Act.
We talk to Toronto Star crime reporter Jennifer Pagliaro about Sunday’s mass shooting at a condominium complex in Vaughan, Ont., in which five residents were killed. The alleged gunman, 73-year-old Francesco Villi, also lived in the building and was killed by police at the scene.
Author Neil Pasricha has spent more than a decade cataloging minor moments of joy and gratitude. He joins us to talk about his new work, Our Book of Awesome: A Celebration of the Small Joys That Bring Us Together — and why his goal isn't to be perfectly happy, just better than before.
At least 25 people have been killed in protests in Peru, which erupted after the impeachment and arrest of then-president Pedro Castillo. We talk to Dan Collyns, a freelance journalist in Peru.
Argentina won the World Cup on Sunday, after a campaign of great soccer that culminated in a nail-biting final against France. But the tournament has also shone a light on human rights violations in host nation Qatar and allegations of corruption. We talk to Simone Foxman, a Middle East correspondent for Bloomberg News, about how the tournament will be remembered.
As a young journalist, Richard Stengel ghostwrote Nelson Mandela’s memoir, Long Walk to Freedom, published in 1994. Now, in the new podcast Mandela: The Lost Tapes, he shares their recorded conversations — and an intimate, rarely seen side of the South African freedom fighter.
Canada's health-care system is in crisis. Staff are at a breaking point, patients are facing delays in care, and there’s a disagreement between federal and provincial officials about injecting more money into the system. Matt Galloway discusses the roots of the crisis and what changes are needed with Dr. Danielle Martin, a family doctor and chair of the University of Toronto’s Department of Family and Community Medicine; and Katherine Fierlbeck, a professor of political science at Dalhousie University.
As negotiators hammer out a deal at the UN biodiversity summit in Montreal, we bring you a special podcast about Indigenous communities working to protect wild spaces and the natural world.We visit Maajiigin Gumig, a greenhouse and seed orchard on Aamjiwnaang First Nation. The plants they grow held significance for Indigenous peoples before colonization, and offer a connection to that traditional knowledge. Plus, Matt Galloway discusses guardianship of the land with Valérie Courtois, director of the Indigenous Leadership Initiative; and Dolcy Meness, a land guardian from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation, near Maniwaki, Que.
Brazil led a walkout from COP15 negotiations earlier this week, where delegates from dozens of developing countries left the table. We talk to Ambassador Leonardo Cleaver de Athayde, lead climate negotiator in Brazil’s foreign ministry and the head of his country's delegation in Montreal.
The UN Biodiversity Conference, COP15, is underway in Montreal, with negotiators from around the world hammering out fresh targets to protect biodiversity globally. Radio-Canada environment reporter Etienne Leblanc tells us what’s happened at the summit so far and what progress has been made.
Three lead negotiators at COP15 once held their governments to account in climate science and advocacy, and are now working on the inside. Matt Galloway talks to Canada's Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault; the U.K.’s Minister for International Environment and Climate Zac Goldsmith; and Chile’s Minister of the Environment Maisa Rojas.
Indigenous-led conservation aims to secure a future for nature by reconnecting with traditional knowledge. We talk to Valérie Courtois, director of the Indigenous Leadership Initiative; and Dolcy Meness, a land guardian from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation, near Maniwaki, Que.
The Great Barrier Reef is being severely impacted by climate change, but the Australian government is resisting a push to add it to UNESCO’s list of endangered World Heritage sites. We discuss why with Richard Leck, World Wildlife Fund Australia's head of oceans and sustainable development; and Lynn Meskell, an expert on how UNESCO functions and a professor at the University of Pennsylvania.
At least four people died when their boat sank in the English Channel this week, a route taken by tens of thousands of migrants and refugees trying to reach the U.K. Matt Galloway discusses these perilous journeys and the lack of legal routes for some nationalities, with Nando Sigona, chair of international migration and forced displacement at the University of Birmingham; and Christa Rottensteiner, chief of mission with the International Organization for Migration in the U.K., a United Nations agency.
Disability rights advocates warn that poverty and a lack of support are leading Canadians with disabilities to consider choosing medical assistance in dying. We talk to Jacquie Holyoak, who struggles to live on disability support payments and has been talking to her doctor about MAID; Rabia Khedr, national director of Disability Without Poverty; and Trudo Lemmens, professor of health law and policy at the University of Toronto.
U.S. scientists say they’ve made a breakthrough in harnessing fusion energy, the process that powers the sun. We discuss what that could mean in the push for clean power with Robbie Scott, a senior plasma physicist in the Central Laser Facility’s Rutherford Appleton Laboratory; and Greg Twinney, the CEO of General Fusion, a Vancouver-based fusion company.
Millions of people have tried out ChatGPT, a new online artificial intelligence tool trained to mimic human responses. It can respond to questions, craft poems or plays, and even write the introduction to a radio show. We discuss its potential and the pitfalls with University of Pennsylvania professor Ethan Mollick; and Oxford University professor Michael Wooldridge, author of A Brief History Of Artificial Intelligence: What It Is, Where We Are, and Where We Are Going.
Ottawa's plan to tackle sexual misconduct within Canada’s armed forces has been met with skepticism. Matt Galloway talks to Minister of National Defense Anita Anand, and Stéfanie von Hlatky, the Canada Research Chair on Gender, Security and the Armed Forces.
We discuss grassroots efforts to protect biodiversity in Canada with Andrew Gonzalez, a professor of biology at McGill University and the founding director of the Quebec Centre for Biodiversity Science.
An advocacy group in B.C. is calling on the provincial government to make prescription contraception free for everyone. We discuss the impact that might have with Dr. Wendy Norman, the Family Planning Public Health Research Chair with the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
Ottawa is planning to update anti-terror legislation to make it easier for aid agencies to tackle the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, without changing the Taliban’s designation as a terrorist organization. But some aid groups say the change should have come much sooner. Matt Galloway talks to Samira Sayed-Rahman, a humanitarian worker with the International Rescue Committee; and Martin Fischer, director of policy for World Vision Canada.
Iran has begun to execute protesters involved in recent demonstrations, after what human rights groups are calling “sham trials.” We talk to Amir Bajehkian, an Iranian-Canadian activist in Vancouver, whose cousin was recently arrested in Tehran.
The latest outbreak of avian flu is affecting birds from Europe to South America to Canada — and it’s not only impacting poultry supply, but it’s also killing seabirds. For more on why things are so bad this year, Matt Galloways speaks with Amanda Brittain, chief information officer for the BC Poultry Association; Alastair MacGrugan, who works with the Scottish nature agency NatureScot; and Shayan Sharif, a professor of immunology at the University of Guelph in Ontario.
Some Canadian communities that rely on diesel are struggling to switch to alternatives, as the process is both complicated and expensive. We hear more from CBC business reporter Kyle Bakx; and Dave Lovekin, the director of the Pembina Institute's Renewables in Remote Communities program.
The COVID-19 pandemic has injected new energy into scientists’ efforts to restore people’s sense of smell. We speak with Kerri Wall, who lost her sense of smell more than four years ago; Dr. Leigh Sowerby, an assistant professor of otolaryngology at Western University in London, Ont.; and Richard Costanzo, a physiologist and cofounder of the Smell and Taste Disorders Center at Virginia Commonwealth University.
As energy prices soar, people in parts of Europe are getting creative to fend off freezing temperatures. We talk to Sverre Eikeland, who is facing record-high energy bills in his home of Kristiansand, Norway; Kahina Rabahi, the policy and advocacy coordinator at the European Anti-Poverty Network; and Emily Rauhala, the Washington Post's Brussels bureau chief.
The first phase of the federal government’s dental health benefits is now in effect. We discuss whether the plans go far enough, with B.C. pediatric dentist Dr. Hasnain Dewji; associate professor at Ottawa’s Carleton University Jennifer Robson, who teaches political management and policy; and Dr. Carlos Quiñonez, vice dean and director of dentistry at Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry in London, Ont.
The Assembly of First Nations agreed this week to set differences aside and demand compensation from Canada for families discriminated against by the child welfare system. Matt Galloway talks to lawyer Carolyn Buffalo, whose family is part of the class action lawsuit seeking compensation for people harmed by the on-reserve child-welfare system; and Manitoba Regional Chief Cindy Woodhouse.
Evgeny Mezhevoy was trying to flee the war in Ukraine but ended up in a jail in Russian-occupied Donetsk, while his children were sent more than a thousand kilometres away to Moscow. CBC correspondent Briar Stewart brings us their story.
In a conversation from October, we discussed research into the steep decline in global bird populations with Lucy Haskell, a science officer with BirdLife International.
The Bank of Canada has raised its benchmark interest rate to 4.25 per cent, aimed at bringing down the high inflation rate. The seventh hike this year is causing economic anxiety for many Canadians with mortgages or debt — is it the right approach? Matt Galloway talks to Armine Yalnizyan, an economist and Atkinson Fellow on the Future of Workers; and Derek Holt, vice president and head of capital markets economics at Scotiabank.
The Alberta Sovereignty Act passed in the early hours of Thursday morning, giving Premier Danielle Smith the authority to redress any federal policy, law or program that her cabinet deems harmful to Alberta. We discuss Alberta’s relationship to Ottawa with Globe and Mail reporter Carrie Tait; University of Calgary political science professor Barry Cooper; and Opposition and Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley.
China is using extensive surveillance technology to crack down on demonstrators who recently protested against COVID-19 restrictions. We hear more from Cate Cadell, a Washington Post national security reporter covering China.
In her new book Mushrooming: The Joy of the Quiet Hunt, author and artist Diane Borsato explores the best ways to forage for fungi — and how it offers us a chance to slow down and look around.
Canada will have a professional women's soccer league in 2025, with plans for eight teams across the country. Matt Galloway talks with Diana Matheson, a former Canadian soccer player and one of the founders of the new league; and Katrina Galas, founder and CEO of In Common Consulting, which specializes in women's sports strategy.
Claudia Zamorano spent the pandemic working as a housekeeper in a COVID-19 ward in a B.C. hospital — but now she and her family face deportation to Mexico within weeks. She tells Matt Galloway her story; and we hear more about the government’s backlog of immigration cases from Warda Shazadi Meighen, a partner at Landings LLP and an adjunct professor of refugee law at the University of Toronto.
Wait times for cervical cancer screening results have gone from six weeks to six months in some jurisdictions. We hear about the toll that delay is taking on one patient in B.C.; and discuss the broader implications with Dr. Diane Francoeur, the CEO of The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada.
Rising food prices are making it harder for charities that run food programs to help those in need. We pay a visit to the Scott Mission, a charity in Toronto; and talk to Ron Dunn, chief development officer at Souls Harbour Rescue Mission in Halifax; and Gisèle Yasmeen, a senior fellow who researches food security at the University of British Columbia's School of Public Policy and Global Affairs.
The murders of Indigenous women in Manitoba have renewed pleas for action on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Matt Galloway talks to Kyra Wilson, chief of Long Plain First Nation in Manitoba; and Sandra DeLaronde, project lead of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls implementation project in Manitoba.
Alexa and other voice-activated assistants were seen as the future of technology a few years back — but now, companies are losing billions on the devices. We talk to Eugene Kim, chief tech correspondent at Business Insider; and Cosmin Munteanu, associate professor and Schlegel Research Chair in Technology for Healthy Aging at the University of Waterloo.
Many new mothers have been prescribed the drug Domperidone to help with breastfeeding, but no country has approved the drug as a lactation aid. We hear about a CBC investigation into those prescriptions — and the alarming side effects many women are reporting.
In this special podcast, Matt Galloway visits Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children to hear how staff are coping with a surge of respiratory viruses — leading to long wait times, shortages in beds and staff, and in some cases the cancellation of pediatric surgeries. Plus, we talk to Rachel Armstrong, whose son’s heart surgery has been cancelled twice recently.
Russian attacks have damaged large swaths of Ukraine’s electricity grid, leaving people without reliable power, light and heating. Matt Galloway talks to Ukrainians dealing with these blackouts, with a determination that life continues.
32-year-old disability rights advocate Vicky Levack has lived in a nursing home for years, due to a lack of housing for people with disabilities in Nova Scotia. Now, she’s finally in her own home. She tells us what her newfound freedom feels like.
A major UN conference on biodiversity begins next week in Montreal, with governments aiming to sign a new agreement to address the loss of wildlife globally. We talk to Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, a lawyer and the executive secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, about how we can heal our relationship with nature.
After three games, three losses and two goals scored, Canada's World Cup is over in Qatar. We talk to Joshua Kloke, staff writer at The Athletic, about what the tournament revealed about Team Canada — and what needs to be done before Canada co-hosts the next men's World Cup in four years.
The artisanal baguette has been recognized as an “intangible heritage of humanity” by UNESCO. We talk to chef Marc Thuet about what makes the perfect baguette.
Legislation to protect same-sex and interracial marriages passed in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday — but the bill does not require all states to allow same-sex marriage, and allows religious exceptions. We discuss the fine print of the Respect for Marriage Act with Megan Tullock, director of programs and advocacy for Northwest Arkansas Equality.
Some Canadian scholars have said they’re Indigenous, when it turns out they’re not. We discuss the damage this does and how academic institutions should approach verification, with Indigenous rights lawyer Jean Teillet; and Kim TallBear, a professor of Native Studies at the University of Alberta.
Millions of people in Somalia are facing drought and chronic hunger, and children in particular are bearing the brunt of this crisis. The CBC’s Margaret Evans has been reporting from Somalia; she tells us what she’s seen.
Children’s hospitals across Canada are facing a tripledemic surge of flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases — leading to long wait times, shortages in beds and staff, and in some cases the cancellation of pediatric surgeries. Matt Galloway visited Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children to hear how staff are coping in a strained system. Plus, we talk to Rachel Armstrong, whose son’s heart surgery has been cancelled twice recently; and discuss how the problems got this bad with Alex Munter, president and CEO of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa.
Lionel Messi is considered one of soccer’s greatest players, but has faced backlash in his home country of Argentina. We discuss his career, why World Cup glory has eluded him, and his relationship to his homeland with Jasmine Garsd, a correspondent with NPR and host of The Last Cup, a podcast about the player.
Alberta's Premier Danielle Smith unveiled the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act Tuesday, but questions about what it will accomplish — both for the province, and for Smith's future as premier. We talk to Lisa Young, a political science professor at the University of Calgary.
Fady Dagher has been appointed to be the next chief of police in Montreal, tasked with tackling racial profiling and systemic discrimination in the force. We discuss the task ahead of him with Alain Babineau, a retired RCMP officer and the director of racial profiling and public safety for the Red Coalition; and Michael Kempa, a professor in criminology at the University of Ottawa.
The government of Japan has launched an inquiry into the power and influence of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification — more colloquially as the Moonies, and sometimes accused of being a cult. We talk to Tokyo Bureau Chief for the Washington Post Michelle Ye Hee Lee; and founder of the Freedom of Mind Resource Center Steven Hassan, who was recruited into the organization as a young man and later left.
Protesters across China have called for an end to COVID-zero restrictions, and for President Xi Jinping to step down. Matt Galloway talks to freelance reporter Shawn Yuan; Haoyu Tong, a research analyst with the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a think tank focused on global security; and investigative reporter Tracy Wen Liu.
Canada's spy agency, CSIS, is investigating what it calls "lethal threats to Canadians” emanating from Iran, while Chinese-Canadians also report being tracked and intimidated, with the RCMP investigating offices in Toronto allegedly run by police from China. Matt Galloway talks to Shaparak Shajarizadeh, a human rights activist from Iran living in Toronto; Akshay Singh, a research associate with Ottawa University's Centre for International Policy Studies; and Michael Chong, the Conservative MP for Wellington-Halton Hills in Ontario.
Educators in Toronto are using virtual reality to help recent immigrants learn English as a second language. We hear more about the high-tech promise of a virtual classroom.
In her new book Newsroom Confidential: Lessons and Worries from an Ink-Stained Life, former New York Times public editor Margaret Sullivan reflects on objectivity, social media and how journalism can regain the public's trust.
Transhumance is the ancient agricultural practice of moving herds from one grazing land to another — sometimes crossing swaths of countryside. CBC correspondent Megan Williams joined some journeys in Italy to learn why the practice is sometimes dismissed as outdated but could hold promise for a sustainable future.
The federal government released Canada's first climate adaptation strategy on Thursday, committing $1.6 billion to help communities adjust to the worst impacts of climate change. Guest host Duncan McCue talks to Sandi Lowther, who has seen the damage of the storms Dorian and Fiona at her business Fairways Cottages in Cavendish, P.E.I.; John Haugen, deputy chief of Lytton First Nation in B.C.; and Blair Feltmate, head of the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo in Ontario.
One of Mexico’s most fearless investigative journalists, Regina Martínez, was found dead in her home just over ten years ago. Journalist Katherine Corcoran investigates what happened to her and why violence against journalists is commonplace in Mexico, in her new book, In the Mouth of the Wolf: A Murder, a Cover-Up, and the True Cost of Silencing the Press.
The minirail was a star of Expo 67 in Montreal, whizzing riders through the futuristic world's fair. As it’s finally demolished, retired professor and Expo 67 historian Roger Laroche looks back at how it became a Canadian classic.
A dedicated loss and damage fund was agreed upon at the COP27 climate summit, pledging cash from richer nations to help poorer countries experiencing the destruction of climate change. Bangladeshi climate scientist Saleemul Huq reflects on what the fund could mean — and what the responsibility of countries like Canada is to nations like his.
The Public Order Emergency Commission heard from cabinet ministers this week. Matt Galloway discusses their testimony with Toronto Star reporter Tonda MacCharles; Richard Fadden, the former director of CSIS and former national security advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; and Cara Zwibel, who is representing the Canadian Civil Liberties Association at the inquiry.
Dozens of men say they were abused as students at two Vancouver private schools. In a proposed class action lawsuit, they link their case to another on the other side of Canada: the abuses at Mount Cashel Orphanage in St. John’s, N.L. CBC’s Ryan Cooke brings us his documentary about the tragic ties that bind dozens of men — and the ramifications for the Catholic Church.
Three parents and a former staff member are speaking out, alleging children were subjected to holds and seclusion at Jack Hulland Elementary School in Whitehorse in the recent past. The Yukon RCMP are investigating.
Some technology companies envision a future where we live increasingly online, but author David Sax argues it’s time to unplug. He tells us about his new book, The Future Is Analog: How to Create a More Human World.
LGBTQ communities are in mourning after five people were killed in a weekend shooting at Club Q, a gay nightclub in Colorado. Matt Galloway talks to Garrett Royer, deputy director of One Colorado, an LGBTQ rights advocacy organization; and Greggor Mattson, a professor and Chair of Sociology at Oberlin College and Conservatory in Ohio, who has studied the role these venues play for queer communities.
In her new CBC podcast Run, Hide, Repeat, Pauline Dakin revisits a childhood spent on the run and in hiding with her family — because of a story that wasn’t true. She tells us about the fiction that threw her life upside down, and why, looking back, she doesn't think she'd change a thing.
The COP27 climate conference in Egypt led to a breakthrough: the creation of a fund for poorer nations to help them pay for the damages of climate change. But some activists see the fingerprints of fossil fuel lobbyists on the final agreement. Matt Galloway speaks with Catherine Abreu, founder of the climate advocacy group Destination Zero; and climate activist Abigael Kima, who was at COP27.
Decades ago, Ottawa promised to decommission the former Innu community of Davis Inlet on Iluikoyak Island — a place of chaos and despair for some, happy memories for others. CBC News digs into the promises made and those still unmet.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup kicked off on Sunday, but fans, activists, journalists and players have expressed concerns about the games being held in Qatar. We speak with Simone Foxman, a Middle East correspondent for Bloomberg; and Rothna Begum, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, who has studied women’s rights in Qatar.
24 Sussex Drive has been officially closed due to health and safety concerns. We hear how the official residence of Canada’s Prime Minister was left to slide into disrepair, from David Jeanes, a retired engineer and a board member of Heritage Ottawa, a group that has been advocating fixing and maintaining the building.
In this special podcast edition of The Current, the show explores the power of photography in telling stories both old and new.
A Dutch court reached a guilty verdict for three men charged with shooting down Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17. Michael Bociurkiw, a global affairs analyst and a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center, tells us more.
Sri Lanka is grappling with its worst economic crisis since independence. We hear more on the ground from Ranjan Weththasinghe, program director at Save The Children Sri Lanka; and Rathindra Kuruwita, news editor of the Sri Lanka-based English newspaper The Island.
Last week, creditors were left in the lurch after FTX exchange, once valued at $32 billion US, filed for bankruptcy. Federal investigators now have the massive task of figuring out what happened. Matt Galloway speaks with David Gerard, author of Attack of the 50 Foot Blockchain: Bitcoin, Blockchain, Ethereum & Smart Contracts; and reporter Claire Brownell, who covers digital currencies for The Logic.
Shoes were originally worn to protect our feet. But now, there are shoes for every occasion, from sandals and sneakers to dress shoes and high heels. A new exhibit at the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto looks at the shifting place of shoes in our lives. Elizabeth Semmelhack, the museum’s director and senior curator, gave us a tour.
In their new book Revolution and Dictatorship: The Violent Origins of Durable Authoritarianism, political scientists Lucan Way and Steven Levitsky explore how dictatorships survive, even in the face of economic crisis, mass discontent and intense external pressure.
The rapid melting of Arctic sea ice has prompted some scientists to take climate action a step further; not just by cutting emissions, but also thinking of ways to reverse the damage. We hear more about climate repair from Cían Sherwin, CEO of Real Ice; Sir David King, founder and chair of the Centre for Climate Repair at the University of Cambridge; and Duncan McLaren, a postdoctoral fellow in environmental law and policy at the University of California, Los Angeles.
In a few days, Canada’s men’s national team will kick off its 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign. It will be the team’s first appearance in a men’s World Cup since 1986, and there are hopes that their performance in Qatar will help grow the sport here at home. Matt Galloway speaks with former Canada national team player Jeff Clarke, who’s currently the technical director and director of operations for Surrey United Soccer Club in B.C.; and Martin Harvey, the former coach of current national team members Atiba Hutchinson and Junior Hoilett.
Social media has been a powerful tool for activists to amplify their voices. But some activists and human rights organizations are concerned that Twitter’s new ownership could make activism more difficult and dangerous. We hear from Mahsa Alimardani, a senior researcher for the freedom of expression organization Article 19; and Ron Deibert, director of the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto.
As world leaders met at the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, Russia launched its biggest barrage of missiles yet. Today, those leaders released a declaration saying they "deplore in the strongest terms" Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Matt Galloway talks with Sviatoslav Yurash, a member of parliament in Ukraine; and Kerry Buck, Canada’s former ambassador to NATO.
Researchers in Halifax are deliberately infecting volunteers with pertussis bacteria, known for causing whooping cough, in the hopes of one day developing better treatments and vaccines. It’s a rare type of research that’s been a decade in the making, and the volunteers will be stuck in isolation for weeks. Lauren Pelley, the CBC’s senior health and medical reporter, shares more about the research and journey.
A Hydro-Québec employee has been charged for allegedly operating as a Chinese spy in Canada. It’s the first time the obtaining trade secrets charge has been laid under Canada’s Security of Information Act. Wesley Wark, a senior fellow at the independent think tank Centre for International Governance Innovation, tells us more.
Robert Rowbotham, also known as Rosie, had a significant impact on Canada’s cannabis scene — and contributed to CBC’s This Morning. But now, he’s dying of cancer. Producer Ira Basen worked with Rosie on that program. He tells us Rosie’s story.
The Taliban has implemented their interpretation of Shariah law in Afghanistan, making the situation on the ground desperate. Matt Galloway speaks with Obaidullah Baheer, a lecturer at the American University of Afghanistan, and Ratna Omidvar, an independent Canadian senator for Ontario, who’s part of a group of senators calling on Ottawa to allow more Afghan nationals into our country.
In his photography book Our America: A Photographic History, American filmmaker Ken Burns tells the story of the United States — both the good and the bad — through a collection of photos.
Pauline Dakin’s childhood was marked by unexplained events, a sense of unseen menace, and secretive moves to new cities with no warning. When Pauline was a young adult, her mother finally told her what they were running from – organized crime, secret police and double lives. It was a story so mind-bending, so disturbing, Pauline’s entire world was turned upside down. Run Hide Repeat is the story of Pauline’s life on the run, her quest for the truth – and her search for forgiveness. Based on the best-selling 2017 memoir, this powerful 5-part journey spans decades and an entire country — and it will leave listeners questioning what’s real and who they can trust. More episodes are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/QICIHUYW
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly unveiled Canada’s new approach to China last week. For more on what Canada’s relationship with China should look like, we hear from Joanna Chiu, a reporter with the Toronto Star and author of China Unbound: A New World Disorder; and David Fung, vice-chair of the Canada China Business Council.
More than 20 million people are facing food insecurity across Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya, and almost half of them are children. Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Lynsey Addario recently visited the region on assignment for National Geographic. She tells us what she saw.
Ontario’s top doctor strongly recommended public masking today but stopped short of a mandate, as emergency rooms across Canada see more patients — many of them children — coming through their doors. Matt Galloway talks with Tammy DeGiovanni, the senior vice president of clinical services and the chief nurse executive at CHEO in Ottawa; Dr. Thomas Piggott, medical officer of health for Peterborough Public Health; and Dr. Joss Reimer, chief medical officer for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.
One in five Canadians — more than six million Canadian adults — do not have a family doctor, according to a poll by the Angus Reid Institute. In this special podcast edition of The Current, we take a look at some possible solutions to the shortage of family care providers across Canada.
Candy Greff’s son, Byron Greff, was killed in Afghanistan in 2011. He was the last of 158 Canadian soldiers killed in the war in Afghanistan. 11 years later, the Royal Canadian Legion has named Candy this year's Silver Cross Mother. She tells Matt Galloway about her son and what being named a Silver Cross Mother means to her.
Catherine McKenna, Canada's former minister of the environment and climate change, was at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. She says some businesses are working hard to meet their net-zero pledges — but for those that aren't, they have to start backing up their talk.
Historian Ted Barris explores how the Canadian navy’s efforts in the Atlantic were vital to defeating Nazi Germany in the Second World War, in his new book Battle of the Atlantic: Gauntlet to Victory.
Ayla Bashir has Pompe disease, a rare genetic condition that is often fatal before your first birthday. But thanks to a new in-utero treatment, Ayla is now a happy 17-month-old baby, hitting all of her milestones. Matt Galloway talks to her parents, Sobia Qureshi and Zahid Bashir, and the family's pediatrician Dr. Pranesh Chakraborty.
Jody Wilson-Raybould says reconciliation can be a four-letter word for Indigenous communities still living with the impact of colonialism. She talks to Matt Galloway about why everyone in Canada has a part to play in overcoming that legacy, and her new book True Reconciliation: How to Be a Force for Change.
The Fifth Estate looks into an FBI ransomware investigation that led to a Canadian government employee in Gatineau, the largest cryptocurrency seizure in Canadian history and hundreds of victims around the world.
As the war in Ukraine rages on, freelance journalist Sarah Lawrynuik takes us to Kharkiv, with her documentary Shadow of a Once Great City. It’s the story of a city devastated by the war but doing everything in its power to rebuild, and keep alive the hope of one day returning to normal.
We discuss the closer-than-expected results in the U.S. midterms, with Morgan Harper, an attorney and former Democratic primary candidate for U.S. Senate; and Geoffrey Kabaservice, vice president for political studies at the Niskanen Center, a centre-right think tank in Washington.
The federal government has pledged $5 million toward tools to help Canadians living with chronic pain. We talk to Sarah Rose Eaman, who has been living with chronic pain since childhood; Maria Hudspith, executive director of Pain BC; and Dr. Norman Buckley, a scientific director of McMaster University’s Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Pain Research and Care.
In his new book Putin's Wars: From Chechnya to Ukraine, political scientist Mark Galeotti explores how Russian President Vladimir Putin might have underestimated Ukraine — and what that means for the president at home.
Italy’s new far-right government has stopped hundreds of migrants and asylum seekers from coming ashore in Sicily, keeping them on the charity-run ships that rescued them at sea. We talk to Till Rummenhohl, head of operations at the charity SOS Humanity, who is on board one of the ships; and Reuters journalist Angelo Amante.
Parents are facing a shortage of pain medication for children and infants, plus a shrinking supply of antibiotics like amoxicillin. Guest host Duncan McCue talks to Neesha Hussain-Shamsy, who couldn’t find medication after her son was bitten by a dog last week; pediatrician Dr. Daniel Flanders, owner and executive director of the Kindercare clinic in Toronto; and Mina Tadrous, an assistant professor at the University of Toronto's Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy.
U.S. businessman Bill Browder has spent years exposing corruption in Russia, drawing the ire of the Kremlin in the process. As the war in Ukraine drags on, Browder discusses what Russian President Vladimir Putin is hoping to achieve — and how this conflict might finally end.
We check in on three key battleground states ahead of Tuesday’s U.S. midterm elections: Michigan, Arizona and North Carolina. Matt Galloway talks to Zoe Clark, political director at Michigan Radio; Jeremy Duda, a politics reporter for Axios in Phoenix; and Irving Joyner, a law professor at North Carolina Central University.
There are calls for nurse practitioners to take on more health-care responsibilities, to support Canadians without a family doctor. We discuss the role they might play — and why some doctors are pushing back — with Susan Prendergast, president of the Nurse Practitioner Association of Alberta; and André Picard, health columnist for the Globe and Mail.
The wild story of how two Black radio hosts, Ramses Ja and Quinton Ward, ended up owning the trademark to the phrase "White Lives Matter" — and how they want to use a saying associated with white supremacists as a force for good.
British Columbia will offer doctors a new payment model in the hopes of recruiting and retaining family doctors in the province. We talk to B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix; and Vancouver family physician Dr. Rita McCracken, an assistant professor at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Medicine.
We talk to Nyombi Morris in Uganda and Abigael Kima in Kenya, two climate activists who have lived through the impacts of the climate crisis — and are demanding change at COP27.
Matt Galloway talks to Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland about Thursday’s fall economic statement, and what the federal government intends to do for Canadians struggling with the rising cost of living. Plus, we discuss what a recession might look like with Sahir Khan, vice president of the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy at the University of Ottawa.
Convoy protest organizers received “a steady stream of information and leaks” from police officers during the Ottawa occupation, the organizers’ lawyer told the Emergencies Act inquiry Wednesday. Matt Galloway discusses the relationship between police and the protesters with the Toronto Star's Tonda MacCharles; and Jessica Davis, a former senior strategic analyst at CSIS, and now president and principal consultant at Insight Threat Intelligence.
A new investigation by Forbes highlights security concerns around the social media platform TikTok and its parent company ByteDance. Forbes technology reporter Emily Baker-White tells us more.
Alex Shprintsen tells us about an investigation from CBC’s The Fifth Estate, which looked into alleged war crimes in Andriivka, a suburb of Ukraine — and connected them to the confession of a Russian soldier.
Then, NDP opposition members were thrown out of the Ontario legislature Wednesday, following heated exchanges over Premier Doug Ford’s plan to use the notwithstanding clause to take away education workers’ right to strike. We talk to the Toronto Star’s Robert Benzie; and Marit Stiles, an NDP member of the provincial parliament in Ontario.
Ontario’s provincial government says it will use the notwithstanding clause to override the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and prevent a strike among education workers. Matt Galloway talks to Rich Appiah, founder and principal of Appiah Law in Toronto; and Margot Young, a professor at the University of British Columbia's Allard School of Law.
The UN climate conference COP27 begins in Egypt this week. We discuss past promises, missed targets and whether this time will be any different, with environmental activist Shakti Ramkumar, who will attend the summit; and Kathryn Harrison, a professor of political science at the University of British Columbia.
Two years into the civil war in Ethiopia, peace talks are taking place between the country’s federal government and representatives from the northern Tigray region. We talk to Samuel Getachew, an Ethiopian-Canadian journalist who's been covering the war; and Kjetil Tronvoll, a professor of peace and conflict studies.
As kids deal with the ongoing threat of COVID-19 and the usual fall colds and flu, hospitals are also reporting an upswing in cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). We talk to pediatrician Dr. Ayisha Kurji about the risks and the signs of strain on pediatric wards.
As Elon Musk takes control of Twitter, some say his controversial vision may be more complicated than he thinks. We talk to Darrell Etherington, managing editor of TechCrunch; and David Nasaw, an emeritus professor of history at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York.
World Cup host nation Qatar is facing growing criticism for its human rights records and the harsh working conditions for the migrant workers who built the tournament’s new stadiums. We talk to Natasha Iskander, author of Does Skill Make Us Human?: Migrant Workers in 21st-Century Qatar and Beyond; and Paul Brannagan, co-author of Qatar and the 2022 FIFA World Cup: Politics, Controversy, Change.
It’s been a year since catastrophic floods hit British Columbia, and some farmers there are worried it could happen again. We talk to Philip and Trina Graham at their dairy farm in Abbotsford, B.C.; and ask Henry Braun, outgoing mayor of Abbotsford, why flood protection measures are taking so long.
Liberal MP Mark Holland says politics has had a devastating toll on his family and his mental health. He talks to Matt Galloway about why he thinks we need a more humane style of politics.
It's been more than a month since post-tropical storm Fiona ripped through Atlantic Canada, wreaking destruction on homes, businesses and infrastructure. We talk to people about their frustrations — and the long and difficult road ahead.
A month after post-tropical storm Fiona washed out entire homes in Newfoundland, Shawn Bath and his team are trying to remove the debris from the water — and finding personal belongings mixed in with lumber and fishing gear.
In a special extended podcast of Wednesday's radio broadcast, we talk to Canadians struggling to make ends meet — and those trying to help them. We also discuss the economic forces at work and the concerns over grocery stores taking advantage of consumers.
Allied prisoners tried tunnels, human catapults and even a glider in their attempts to escape from Colditz, the infamous Nazi prisoner-of-war camp in the Second World War. Historian Ben Macintyre explores some of those incredible tales in his new book, Prisoners of the Castle: An Epic Story of Survival and Escape from Colditz, the Nazis' Fortress Prison.
Brazil selects its new president this weekend, in an election with high stakes for the country and its environment. The CBC's international climate correspondent Susan Ormiston recently travelled to the Amazon; she tells us about the battle between deforestation and conservation.
The public inquiry into the use of the Emergencies Act is painting a picture of police dysfunction in efforts to end last winter’s convoy protests in Ottawa. Matt Galloway talks to Tonda MacCharles, a parliamentary reporter for the Toronto Star; and Mariana Valverde, a professor at the University of Toronto’s Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has used $1 billion it collected for charity in Canada to finance its own private university in the United States, an investigation by CBC’s The Fifth Estate has found. We talk to co-host of The Fifth Estate Mark Kelley; and Nigel Kennett, a Mormon and an accountant from Alberta, who reached out to the CBC after he found out how his church is spending its tithing money.
A Montreal nursing home has welcomed Grace, an interactive humanoid robot that can keep residents company and reduce social isolation. Amid staffing shortages, are robots like this the answer? We talk to Goldie Nejat, a researcher with AGE-WELL, Canada’s technology and aging network; and Dr. Samir Sinha, director of geriatrics at Sinai Health and the University Health Network in Toronto.
Two Canadian women and two children have been repatriated from Syria, where they were being held at a detention camp for ISIS fighters' family members. Matt Galloway discusses what happens next with Amarnath Amarasingam, an assistant professor in the School of Religion and Political Studies at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont.; and Dr. Cécile Rousseau, professor of the Division of Social and Transcultural Psychiatry at McGill University in Montreal.
Archeologists across Canada say they’re in a race against time to preserve archeological sites and artifacts from being disturbed by climate change. We talk to Matthew Betts, curator of eastern archaeology with the Canadian Museum of History, and chair of the climate change committee of the Canadian Archaeological Association; and Mike O'Rourke, climate change archeologist for the Northwest Territories.
With the cost of food skyrocketing, Canadians are being forced to find ways to stretch their budgets or turn to places like food banks for the essentials. In a special edition of The Current, Eating the Costs, we talk to Canadians struggling to make ends meet — and those trying to help them. We also discuss the economic forces at work and the concerns over grocery stores taking advantage of consumers.
NHL Hall of Famer Bryan Trottier discusses his leap from small-town Saskatchewan to the big leagues — and how the lessons of his Indigenous community played into his journey.
Canada Border Services Agency can detain migrants and asylum seekers crossing into Canada in provincial jails for an indefinite period. But now, Manitoba has become the fourth province to say it will stop the practice. Matt Galloway talks to Sara Maria Gomez Lopez, who was detained in a maximum security facility for three months when she sought asylum in Canada in 2012; and Lloyd Axworthy, chair of the World Refugee & Migration Council and the former foreign affairs minister.
The pandemic curbed physical activity among Canada’s kids, and experts are warning about health impacts if they don’t get moving again. We talk to mother-of-two Connie Wanlin-Iskra about how she keeps her own kids moving; and Dr. Mark Tremblay, a senior scientist with the Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute.
The upcoming season of CBC’s The Nature of Things will be David Suzuki’s last as host, as the veteran and sometimes controversial environmentalist prepares to retire. He tells Matt Galloway about a lifetime of advocacy — and how he plans to keep using his voice in the fight against climate change.
In her new book The Miracle of Salt: Recipes and Techniques to Preserve, Ferment, and Transform Your Food, food writer Naomi Duguid turns her curiosity to the most basic of ingredients. She tells us about salt’s deep history, versatility and range.
In Canso, N.S., construction has begun on Canada’s first commercial spaceport, which will launch rockets carrying communications satellites into orbit. But not everyone in the community is convinced the spaceport is a good idea. CBC Radio’s John Chipman visited the community earlier this month; he tells us what he found.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has warned that Canada's economy is headed for a downturn. Matt Galloway talks to Dominique Lapointe, a strategist with Manulife Investment Management; and CBC's chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton.
Egypt is set to host the next United Nations climate conference, COP27, but critics argue the country’s government has a poor record on human rights and the environment. We talk to UBC assistant professor Mohammed Rafi Arefin, who has researched urban environmental politics in the Middle East and North America.
Nova Scotia folk artist Maud Lewis once sold her paintings for just a few dollars, but now they sell for tens of thousands. As price tags have increased, so have concerns about forgeries.
British Prime Minister Liz Truss resigned after just 45 days in office. What’s next for the U.K. Conservative party and a country rocked by political and economic crises? We talk to Nick Pearce, a professor of public policy and director of the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Bath.
On Jan. 19, a family of four, originally from India, died on a frigid night trying to cross the border on foot from Manitoba into the U.S. The CBC’s The Fifth Estate has been investigating what happened to this family — and they’ve learned some exclusive details.
A state of emergency has been declared on B.C.’s Sunshine Coast after a months-long drought. Raquel Kolof, owner of Hough Heritage Farm in Gibsons, B.C., describes the struggles to cope with very limited water; and we hear from Lori Daniels, a forest ecologist and a professor at the University of British Columbia, about what’s causing the drought.
As the war in Ukraine carries on, civilians are emerging from towns under occupation with unspeakable trauma. Matt Galloway discusses recent developments in the war — and how that’s impacting people on the ground — with CBC correspondent Briar Stewart; and Danylo Lubkivsky, former deputy foreign minister of Ukraine and current director of the Kyiv Security Forum.
Outgoing Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson has told the Emergencies Act Inquiry that no one knew the convoy protest would become as big an issue as it did — but not everyone agrees. Matt Galloway talks to Marieke Walsh, a political reporter with the Globe and Mail; and Michael Kempa, an associate professor of criminology at the University of Ottawa.
The scientists at the centre of developing COVID-19 mRNA vaccine technology have suggested a cancer vaccine could be possible by the end of the decade. We hear more from Kelly McNagny, a professor of medical genetics and biomedical engineering at UBC; and Otis Brawley, a professor of oncology and epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.
Mahnaz Afkhami was Iran’s minister of women’s affairs before the Islamic Republic took power in 1979. She tells us about the Iran she grew up in and what’s different about recent protests.
Calls for Northern Ireland and Scotland to leave the United Kingdom have been boosted by Brexit, economic turmoil and political chaos at Westminster. We talk to John Finucane, the Sinn Féin Member of the British Parliament for West Belfast; Michael Keating, a politics professor at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland; and Russell Foster, a lecturer in British and European Politics at King's College London.
Haiti’s Prime Minister says police are outgunned by gangs that have seized control of key areas, against a backdrop of food insecurity and a cholera outbreak. Matt Galloway discusses the crisis and the question of international intervention, with political analyst Ralph Chevry and UNICEF representative Bruno Maes.
Toronto ICU physician Dr. Blair Bigham says that as a society, we have forgotten how to die. In his new book Death Interrupted: How Modern Medicine Is Complicating the Way We Die, he discusses how life-sustaining technology is complicating the inevitable — and how he learned that preventing death isn't the same as saving lives.
CBC journalist Jen White and her husband Neil Hyde chart their challenges with infertility in the new CBC podcast One in Six — a story filled with anxiety and hope, against a backdrop of laughter and medical procedures.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to be reappointed for a precedent-setting third term as leader. Matt Galloway discusses what that means for China and the wider world with Sue-Lin Wong, China correspondent for the Economist; and Lynette Ong, a political science professor at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy.
A report from the World Wildlife Fund suggests global animal populations have plummeted by an average of 69 per cent from 1970 to 2018. We discuss the push to reverse that trend and what might be different if nature had better legal rights and protections, with World Wildlife Fund Canada’s James Snider; Andrea Reid, an assistant professor with the University of British Columbia’s Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries; and Grant Wilson, an environmental lawyer and the executive director of the Earth Law Center.
A public inquiry has begun into the federal government’s decision to invoke the Emergencies Act to end Ottawa convoy protests in February. Matt Galloway talks to Vassy Kapelos, host of CBC’s Power & Politics; Paul Champ, an Ottawa lawyer representing businesses and residents at the inquiry; and Cara Zwibel, director of the Fundamental Freedoms Program at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.
The U.S. House Jan. 6 committee voted unanimously to subpoena former president Donald Trump. Washington Post senior political reporter Aaron Blake tells us what comes next.
People injured in Iran’s protests fear repercussions if they go to the hospital, so doctors thousands of kilometres away are trying to offer help online. We talk to Dr. Kamiar Alaei, who is originally from Iran and now lives in the U.S.
Wes Hall was raised by his grandmother in a tin-roof shack in Saint Thomas, Jamaica, before moving to Canada as a teenager and working to become one of the country’s most successful corporate leaders. He tells the story in his new memoir, No Bootstraps When You're Barefoot: My Rise from a Jamaican Plantation Shack to the Boardrooms of Bay Street.
Some employers use technology to track the productivity of their remote workers — but a new law in Ontario will force companies with more than 25 employees to disclose their electronic monitoring policy to staff. We talk to Lauren Reid, president of The Privacy Pro, a Toronto-based consulting firm.
A CBC investigation has delved into human smuggling networks moving people who are fleeing poverty and violence in Mexico, and using Canada as a pitstop to the American dream. Matt Galloway talks to CBC investigative reporter Jorge Barrera about what he found along a stretch of the Canada-U.S. border.
The book Go Ask Alice taught a generation of teenagers about a young girl's deadly spiral from drug use — but author Rick Emerson says it was more propaganda than a personal memoir. He tells us about his new book, Unmask Alice: LSD, Satanic Panic, and the Imposter Behind the World's Most Notorious Diaries.
We hear how Russians feel about the invasion of Ukraine as the war drags on, with Denis Volkov, director of the Levada Center, an independent public opinion polling group in Moscow.
After Hockey Canada’s CEO and board of directors announced they will step aside, Matt Galloway talks to Bauer Hockey's Vice President of Marketing Mary-Kay Messier about her company’s decision to pause its commitment as the men's teams’ official equipment provider; and discusses what comes next with Laura Misener, director of the School of Kinesiology at Western University, and a sports scholar who focuses on safe sport and good governance.
Award-winning architect Moshe Safdie discusses the power of architecture to change the world — and reflects on his new memoir If Walls Could Speak: My Life in Architecture.
People in Old Crow, Yukon, were shocked to learn that a repeat violent sex offender was being released and sent to their remote community. We talk to Vuntut Gwitchin Chief Dana Tizya-Tramm about his community’s reaction; and discuss wider issues around Indigenous communities and policing with Gina Nagano, founder and president of House of Wolf and Associates.
Russia conducted missile attacks on several Ukrainian cities Monday, killing at least 14 people and damaging key infrastructure. Matt Galloway talks to Yuliya Bidenko, who lives in Kyiv; Alexander Query, a reporter with the Kyiv Independent; and Valerie Hopkins, New York Times correspondent in Moscow.
Flood waters are slowly receding in Pakistan, but the crisis persists for many — in particular pregnant women and new mothers. The CBC’s Europe Correspondent Margaret Evans tells us what she saw on a recent trip to the country’s southeastern Sindh province; and we discuss the challenges around childbirth and health care with Hiba Siddiqui, a humanitarian worker with Islamic Relief.
As cars become more computerized, it’s becoming harder for independent mechanics to conduct repairs where they don’t have full access to a vehicle’s data and software. A private member’s bill is trying to address the problem. We talk to NDP MP Brian Masse; Brian Kingston, president and CEO of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association; and Emily Chung, owner of an automotive repair shop in Markham, Ont., and a professor at Georgian College with the Automotive Business School of Canada.
The discovery of a perfectly preserved baby woolly mammoth in a Yukon gold field made news around the world in June. In a conversation from September, we hear what the find means to the scientists examining it; and why the Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin First Nation wants to take the lead on honouring the animal and how it’s studied going forward.
Several provinces have increased the minimum wage, but some people say it's not enough for workers to cope with the cost of living crisis. Matt Galloway talks to Winnipeg resident Desiree McIvor about her experiences working for minimum wage; and Armine Yalnizyan, Atkinson Fellow on the Future of Workers.
In a conversation from September, Matt Galloway travelled to Yukon to learn about the melting permafrost and the implications of the thaw.
The Toronto Blue Jays open their playoff campaign against the Seattle Mariners Friday. We talk to excited (and nervous) Vancouver resident Usha Tkachyk, who hosted the Jays' ace pitcher Alek Manoah when he played in the minor leagues.
Danielle Smith was chosen as the new leader of the United Conservative Party Thursday night. She is set to become the new premier of Alberta. To talk about what lies ahead for Albertans and all Canadians, Matt Galloway talks to Kathleen Petty, executive producer of CBC News in Calgary; Globe and Mail reporter Carrie Tait; and the Toronto Star’s Heather Scoffield.
Writer Tara McGuire lost her son Holden to the toxic drugs crisis. Her journey to learn more about who he was and what he was going through at the end of his life is documented in her new book, Holden After and Before: Love Letter for a Son Lost to Overdose.
The mafia and the criminal underworld have always been depicted in a macho way, but a new book looks at the women who've left an equally deadly mark on organized crime. Journalist Barbie Latza Nadeau joins us to discuss her book The Godmother: Murder, Vengeance, and the Bloody Struggle of Mafia Women.
Calls for change at Hockey Canada are reaching a crescendo, after months of controversy surrounding what the governing body knew and allegedly did to settle multiple sexual assault claims made against players. Matt Galloway talks to Katie Strang, a senior investigative writer with The Athletic; and Brenda Andress, president of SheIS Sports Network and former commissioner of the now-defunct Canadian Women's Hockey League.
a new report from BirdLife International warns that bird populations are in steep decline — but it also suggests A love of nature is the key to preserving it. We join Brian Pomfret and Carolyn Bennett banding and counting birds during the fall migration in Ruthven Park in southern Ontario. We also discuss the wider problem with Lucy Haskell, a science officer with BirdLife International; and Nicky Koper, a professor at the University of Manitoba’s Natural Resources Institute.
Erosion along Canada’s coasts could worsen with more extreme weather events related to climate change. We discuss efforts to track that erosion and prepare for its impact with Stephanie Arnold, a researcher at the University of Prince Edward Island’s Climate Research Lab; and Ashley Smith, owner and managing director of climate consulting company Fundamental Inc.
Anti-regime demonstrations continue to spread in Iran, despite a violent crackdown by security forces that have resulted in mass arrests and deaths. Matt Galloway talks to Maral Karimi, author of The Iranian Green Movement of 2009: Reverberating Echoes of Resistance; and Karim Sadjadpour, a senior fellow at the international affairs think tank Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
A decade ago, award-winning journalist Michelle Shephard brought the world the story of Ismael Abdulle, a Somali refugee who said his hand and foot had been amputated as punishment for refusing to join the militant group al-Shabab. But in her new documentary The Perfect Story, Shephard reveals how the truth of Abdulle’s story was a little more complicated and involved more than she was initially told.
Calgary emergency room physician Dr. Heather Patterson was allowed to take her camera and document what was happening inside hospitals during the pandemic. She tells us about her new photography book, Shadows and Light: A Physician's Lens on COVID.
The Canadian army now finds itself helping out with things like vaccine rollouts and disaster response — raising questions about whether such tasks distract from the overall readiness of the country’s armed forces. We talk to Stephen Saideman, director of the Canadian Defence and Security Network and a professor at Carleton University; Kerry Buck, former Canadian ambassador to NATO; and David Bercuson, director emeritus of the University of Calgary’s Centre for Military and Strategic Studies.
François Legault and the Coalition Avenir Québec swept into a second term in office, with 90 out of a possible 125 seats. We discuss the result and the campaign with Emilie Nicolas, a columnist at Le Devoir and the Montreal Gazette; and Mireille Paquet, an associate professor of political science and the Research Chair on the Politics of Immigration at Concordia University.
A farmer in the Gaza Strip has uncovered a Byzantine mosaic that offers a window into the past. We hear about the find — and the race to protect it — with Ahmed Zakot, a journalist in Gaza; and Emily L. Spratt, a professor in art history at Sotheby's Institute of Art in New York.
After polling Sunday, Brazil’s former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has pushed incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro into a run-off vote later this month. We hear from Guilherme Casarões, a professor of political science at Fundação Getulio Vargas university in São Paulo.
Maternal health experts say that many deaths related to pregnancy in Canada are preventable, but what’s needed is a reliable system to collect and share information on maternal deaths and close calls. Matt Galloway talks to Tara Carman, a senior reporter with CBC's national investigative unit, about a CBC investigation into the problem.
Uganda is experiencing an Ebola outbreak — a rare variant known as the Sudan strain, which has no vaccine. Robert Keango, the medical coordinator for Doctors Without Borders in Uganda, discusses efforts to contain it.
The destruction left by Hurricane Ian could have a lasting impact on Florida. We talk to Franco Russo, a restaurant owner in Fort Myers; and Maria Ilcheva, a research professor in Florida International University’s international studies department.
In a special extended podcast of Wednesday's radio broadcast, novelist Ian McEwan, director Deepa Mehta and publisher and editor Louise Dennys discuss the state of free speech in the world today, in light of the violent attack on their friend and peer Salman Rushdie.
95-year-old Percy Henry is the last fluent speaker of the Hän language in the Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in First Nation in Yukon. Now, work is underway to capture his knowledge of the language so it’s not forgotten. Matt Galloway discusses those efforts with Georgette McLeod, the First Nation's language administrator and oral historian in Dawson City, Yukon, who’s learning more of the Hän language from Henry. He also speaks with Mskwaankwad Rice, an Anishinaabemowin adult learner who studies linguistics; and Belinda Daniels, an assistant professor of Indigenous education with the University of Victoria, who is Nehiyaw from Sturgeon Lake First Nation in Saskatchewan.
How a small British museum connected with the Haida Gwaii Museum in Skidegate, B.C., to repatriate Indigenous artifacts in their possession — and the growing movement to reclaim artifacts as a form of healing and reconciliation.
Dennis Saddleman was six years old when he was forced to attend the Kamloops Indian Residential School in 1957. He witnessed and experienced extensive physical and sexual abuse during the 11 years he spent there, but found solace in poetry in the decades that followed.
Massive gas leaks off the coast of Denmark stem from two underwater Nord Stream pipelines. Some observers say the leaks are an act of sabotage and an escalation in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. We talk to Mikael Wigell, research director at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs.
A Fifth Estate investigation has found junior hockey players were the subjects of police investigations in at least 15 group sexual assault cases across Canada, dating back decades. Matt Galloway talks to Fifth Estate co-host Bob McKeown, and investigative journalist Laura Robinson, author of Crossing the Line: Violence and Sexual Assault in Canada’s National Sport.
Canadian physician Dr. Gabor Maté says our overall health is on the decline — and he blames the society we live in. He and his son Daniel Maté discuss trauma, the power of a good walk for our mental health, and their new book The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness and Healing in a Toxic Culture.
Immigration and the politics of language have been key flashpoints in Quebec’s election — but what is it like to live in the province these days as a native speaker of a language other than French or English? Montreal journalist Toula Drimonis explores that in her new book, We, the Others: Allophones, Immigrants, and Belonging in Canada.
It has been two years since Joyce Echaquan died in a Quebec hospital after broadcasting online the racist abuse she faced while waiting for treatment. We discuss what has changed — and what hasn’t — with Glenda Sandy, a Naskapi-Cree public health nurse from Kawawachikamach, Que.; Nakuset, executive director of the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal; and Dr. Samir Shaheen-Hussain, a Montreal pediatric emergency physician and assistant professor at McGill University's Faculty of Medicine.
An event at this week’s Toronto International Festival of Authors reflects on the state of free speech in the world, in light of the attack on Salman Rushdie. We speak with three of those who took part: novelist Ian McEwan, director Deepa Mehta and publisher and editor Louise Dennys.
Matt Galloway hears from Nova Scotians who are dealing with the devastation of storm Fiona; and discusses how to tackle the disaster’s emotional impact with family therapist Michael Ungar, director of the Resilience Research Centre at Dalhousie University.
Italy has a new leader, who will form the country’s most far-right government since the Second World War. We talk to Italian journalist Michele Barbero about why Italians voted for a party descended from the remnants of fascism — and why people well beyond that country's borders are paying close attention.
In his new book Survival of the Richest: Escape Fantasies of the Tech Billionaires, tech journalist Douglas Rushkoff explores the billionaires building bunkers to survive a potential apocalypse — and the philosophy that inspires them.
People in Atlantic Canada are just starting to grapple with storm Fiona’s devastating impact. Matt Galloway talks to Port aux Basques, N.L., residents Brian Osmond, who was almost swept out to sea; and Vanessa Farrell, whose home was partially destroyed. We also hear from Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey about what his government is doing to help.
The Khmer Rouge’s four-year rule in Cambodia is estimated to have killed as many as 2 million people. Now, a long tribunal into what happened has wrapped, upholding just three convictions. We discuss what justice looks like, with Youk Chhang, executive director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia and a survivor of the genocide; Robert Petit, the international co-prosecutor for the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia between 2006 and 2009; and Sorpong Peou, a professor in Toronto Metropolitan University’s Department of Politics and Public Administration.
The high seas are beyond the reach of international law – and beyond the beat of most reporters. But Pulitzer-Prize-winner and former New York Times journalist, Ian Urbina, has sailed into uncharted territories. Urbina sets out on a years-long quest to investigate murder at sea, modern slave labour, environmental crimes and quixotic adventurers. Part travelog, part true-crime thriller, this 7-part series takes listeners to places where the laws of the land no longer exist. The Outlaw Ocean is brought to you by CBC Podcasts and the LA Times and produced by The Outlaw Ocean Project. More episodes are available at http://hyperurl.co/theoutlawocean
Matt Galloway talks to people assessing the damage after post-tropical storm Fiona washed away infrastructure and left thousands without power in Atlantic Canada.
Culinary historian Michael Twitty's new book is called Koshersoul: The Faith and Food Journey of an African American Jew. It explores his experience being Black and Jewish, and how he brought his different identities together in the kitchen.
50 years after the declaration of martial law in the Philippines, we hear from survivors and activists about what’s widely considered to be a dark chapter in the country’s history.
The inquiry into Canada's worst mass shooting — where 22 people were killed in Nova Scotia in April 2020 — holds its final hearings on Friday. Matt Galloway talks to CBC reporter Angela MacIvor; and lawyer Michael Scott of Patterson Law, which represents most of the victims' families.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s order for 300,000 reservists to join the war against Ukraine has inflamed an already tense situation — and sent many Russians fleeing to neighbouring countries to avoid the fight. Matt Galloway talks to Hanna Shelest, director of security programmes at the think tank Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism”; Richard Giragosian, founding director of the think tank Regional Studies Center; and Shashank Joshi, defence editor for The Economist.
Former Team Canada goaltender Ken Dryden reflects on the 1972 Summit Series. He explains why it was an opportunity for Canadian NHL players to break the Soviet Union's ice hockey dominance of the 1950s and 1960s.
The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario is about to lose an important specialist to retirement: Mollypenny the therapeutic clown. We talk about how clowning can help sick children with Mollypenny’s creator, registered nurse Ruth Cull; and Melissa Holland, co-founder and co-artistic director of the Dr. Clown Foundation, which places clowns in hospitals and long-term care facilities across Quebec.
A group in B.C. is asking the province to protect the right to hang clothes out on a line to dry — a practice banned in some parts of Canada for being unsightly. We talk to CaroleAnn Leishman, a city councillor in Powell River, B.C.; and Cindy Etter-Turnbull, author of the book Fine Lines: A Celebration of Clothesline Culture.
The pandemic led to kids missing some of their routine immunizations, risking a rise in preventable diseases. We hear about the push to get back on track from Shannon Macdonald, an associate professor in the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Nursing.
Mahsa Amini died after being arrested by Iran's morality police for not adequately covering her hair. We discuss the outrage and protests sparked by her death, with journalist and activist Masih Alinejad; and Shahrzad Mojab, a professor of women's studies and adult education at the University of Toronto.
We discuss the opening of the United Nations General Assembly and the many international crises it seeks to address, with Richard Gowan, UN Director at the International Crisis Group; and Janice Stein, founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called up 300,000 reservists to join the war in Ukraine, while warning the West that Moscow will use all means at its disposal to protect its territory. Guest host Duncan McCue discusses the development with Anna Nemtsova, a correspondent for The Daily Beast.
Brigitte Cleroux worked as a nurse, a teacher, and more — but she was a serial imposter, without qualifications. The CBC's Bethany Lindsay brings us her documentary The Professional, in which the people who came face to face with Cleroux share their stories and confusion about how this could ever have happened.
As Ukraine retakes territory from Russia, investigators have found evidence of torture and a mass grave. Guest host Peter Armstrong discusses the discoveries with Francis Farrell, a reporter with The Kyiv Independent; and the push to restore transportation infrastructure with Alexander Kamyshin, CEO of Ukrainian Railways.
As more people experience anxiety over the climate crisis, mental health professionals are exploring ways to help, including targeted therapy. We talk to climate psychology consultant Leslie Davenport, and Vancouver family physician Dr. Melissa Lem, president-elect of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment.
We talk to aid worker Damary Burgos in Puerto Rico about Hurricane Fiona’s devastating impact.
Investigative journalist Ian Urbina has explored the crimes committed on the world’s lawless seas and oceans — many of which are hard to prove, let alone prosecute. He tells us about his new podcast, The Outlaw Ocean.
Canadians across the country are paying more for almost everything — and it’s starting to add up. We hear from some Canadians making ends meet, and discuss what our leaders say they are doing to help with economist and Atkinson Fellow Armine Yalnizyan; and Andrey Pavlov, a finance professor at Simon Fraser University.
Queen Elizabeth II was laid to rest Monday. Guest host Peter Armstrong talks to Matt Galloway in London, and historian, author and royal commentator Carolyn Harris, who teaches history at the University of Toronto.
Newham is a diverse borough in east London, England, where the challenges of poverty and inequality have been exacerbated by the pandemic and the rising cost of living. But in close-knit communities, locals remember the late Queen Elizabeth II as one of their own.
Canada's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Ralph Goodale remembers the Queen and discusses the future of the monarchy in Canada.
Lester Holloway, editor of British national African-Caribbean newspaper The Voice, discusses what he’d like King Charles III to do for communities of colour during his reign.
Rev. Canon Ann Easter served as one of the Queen’s chaplains. She tells us about the surprise of being appointed and what the monarch meant to those whose lives she touched.
Alan Rusbridger, former editor-in-chief of The Guardian, reflects on the challenges facing the United Kingdom and its new monarch.
The community of James Smith Cree Nation in Saskatchewan is still reeling from the mass stabbing earlier this month. Guest host Nahlah Ayed discusses the process of healing and the search for answers, with Heather Bear, fourth vice chief with the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations; and Cree lawyer Eleanore Sunchild.
Matt Galloway and Margaret Evans give us the latest from London as the United Kingdom says farewell to Queen Elizabeth II.
The Mars rover Opportunity may look like any other robot, but as new documentary Good Night Oppy shows, the “lovable” creature was more than just a vessel to its NASA family and space enthusiasts around the world.
Rachel Zelniker discusses her new CBC podcast, Giant - Murder Underground. In it, she looks back at the 1992 explosion that killed nine people at Giant Mine near Yellowknife — and its lingering impact to this day.
Researchers are exploring whether beavers could offer solutions to the climate crisis, particularly in how their dams can stave off forest fires and droughts. We talk to Emily Fairfax, an assistant professor at California State University Channel Islands; and Glynnis Hood, a professor at the University of Alberta’s Augustana Campus and author of The Beaver Manifesto.
While some in the Commonwealth are mourning the death of Queen Elizabeth II, others are grappling with the violent legacy of British colonialism — and questioning their country’s relationship with the new monarch, King Charles III. To discuss the mood in three Commonwealth countries, guest host Nahlah Ayed speaks with Rosalea Hamilton, coordinator of the Advocates Network in Jamaica; Bizeck Phiri, professor and historian at the University of Zambia; and Cindy McCreery, a historian and senior lecturer at the University of Sydney in Australia.
In his new film Theatre of Thought, filmmaker Werner Herzog explores the intricacies of consciousness — and what the melding of science and art can offer in our quest to understand it.
A new documentary follows surfer Maya Gabeira as she attempts to set a record for the biggest wave surfed by a woman — nearly dying in the process. We talk to Gabeira and director Stephanie Johnes about her journey and the film, Maya and the Wave.
Chinook salmon runs in the Yukon River have been steadily declining, with 2022 marking the smallest run on record. As the fish disappear, Yukon First Nations fear the cultures and traditions built around the salmon over countless generations will too.
Ukraine retook swathes of territory previously captured by Russia. Could this be a turning point in the war? We talk to Globe and Mail reporter Mark MacKinnon; and Evelyn Farkas, executive director of the McCain Institute.
Pierre Poilievre is the new leader of the Conservative Party of Canada. We discuss his landslide victory and where he’ll take the party, with Catherine Cullen, the new host of The House on CBC Radio One; Globe and Mail reporter Shannon Proudfoot; and journalist Jen Gerson, co-founder of commentary website The Line.
As King Charles III takes to the throne, we look at how his reign will affect the path to reconciliation in Canada. Matt Galloway talks to historian and royal watcher Sarah Gristwood; Chief Mi'sel Joe from the Miawpukek First Nation in Newfoundland; and Niigaan Sinclair, professor and acting head of the department of Indigenous Studies at the University of Manitoba.
After a teenage girl was raped in India, her family went on a quest for justice. Their story is the subject of To Kill a Tiger, a new film by Canadian director Nisha Pahuja.
Former governor general Adrienne Clarkson remembers hosting the Queen in Ottawa in 2002, and how curious the monarch was to learn about life in Canada.
The Queen's Plate race is a Canadian tradition that Queen Elizabeth II enjoyed for many years. We hear about her love for horses from Jim Lawson, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment, which runs the Queen's Plate.
We discuss the Queen’s reign and the immense global change she presided over with Margaret MacMillan, emeritus professor of history at Oxford University; and her sister Ann MacMillan, former London Bureau chief of CBC News.
Federal Conservatives are picking a new leader this weekend. We discuss the race and what comes next, with Kerry-Lynne Findlay, co-chair of Pierre Poilievre’s leadership campaign in B.C., and the MP for South Surrey-White Rock; Karen Vecchio, MP for Elgin-Middlesex-London, who supports Jean Charest, who is Poilievre's main challenger; and Conservative strategist Shakir Chambers.
CBC senior correspondent Briar Stewart joins us from London, England, to discuss what to expect in the coming days as the country mourns a monarch.
Joy Suluk lives in Arviat, Nunavut, and had the opportunity to meet the Queen in Rankin Inlet in the late 1980s. She tells us about their meeting and about her collection of royal memorabilia.
In his new book Lifesavers and Body Snatchers: Medical Care and The Struggle for Survival in the Great War, war historian Tim Cook shares a grim story of the fallen soldiers of the First World War — and what happened to some of their bodies.
Yukon’s opioid crisis is among the worst in the country, with per capita deaths more than three times the national average. Matt Galloway travelled to the Yukon to talk to some of the families affected and those trying to help.
The main suspect in the fatal stabbings in Saskatchewan, Myles Sanderson, was arrested yesterday and died after being taken into custody. CBC senior reporter Olivia Stefanovich tells us the latest; and we hear how family members are remembering those they’ve lost.
Eight schools in the Yukon have officially joined the First Nation School Board — the first of its kind in Canada — after a historic referendum vote last January. We hear how the board, now in its inaugural school year, aims to give Indigenous people more say around education and bring cultural knowledge into the classroom.
50 years after the 1972 massacre at the Munich Olympics, German officials have finally reached a settlement with the families of those athletes who were killed. We talk to Abby Hoffman, a Canadian athlete who was at those Olympics; and New York Times Magazine staff writer Ronen Bergman, author of Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel's Targeted Assassinations.
Record-breaking floods have killed hundreds in Pakistan and submerged a third of the country. Matt Galloway discusses relief efforts and what more should be done, with Shazia Marri, Pakistan’s minister for poverty alleviation and social safety; and Ayesha Siddiqi, author of In the Wake of Disaster: Islamists, the State and a Social Contract in Pakistan.
The discovery of a perfectly preserved baby woolly mammoth in a Yukon gold field made news around the world in June. The Current went to Yukon to hear what the find means to the scientists examining it, and why the Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin First Nation wants to take the lead on how the animal is studied and honoured going forward.
One suspect remains at large after 10 people were killed and 18 more injured in the stabbing rampage in Saskatchewan. Matt Galloway discusses the ongoing search with CBC reporter Olivia Stefanovich; and Monique Rollin, former incident commander for the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service, and current vice president and director of training at the police forces crisis trainer Canadian Critical Incident Inc.
Experts recently gathered in Yukon to learn about the rapidly melting permafrost. As part of The Current’s visit to Yukon, Matt Galloway goes on a field trip with Duane Froese to see the melting ice and find out the many implications of the thaw. Froese is a professor in the department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Alberta.
What is it that actually makes a job satisfying and fulfilling — and has the pandemic changed those priorities? As part of Work in Progress from May, we talk to Canadians who used this moment to exchange ambition for job satisfaction.
Stabbings in two different communities over the weekend in Saskatchewan left 10 people dead and another 15 injured. Parts of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta are under an emergency alert as police are searching for two men in connection with the series of stabbings. We got an update from CBC reporter Dan Zakreski.
During the course of the pandemic, a number of Indigo bookstores voted to unionize, including at the Square One store in Mississauga, Ontario. We hear from Jennifer Mitchell, an employee who helped lead that effort. Unions are hoping that successful unionization drives are a sign of things to come. But for Canada's largest private sector union, Unifor, it first has to overcome a big hit to its own reputation earlier this year after president Jerry Dias retired in the midst of a bribery scandal. We hear from new president Lana Payne.
What if employees owned the companies they worked for? In May, our series Work in Progress looked at employee ownership trusts and worker-owned co-operatives, with experts Jon Shell, managing director of Social Capital Partners; and Marcelo Vieta, an associate professor at the University of Toronto. Philip Diceanu, co-owner of food manufacturing company Henry's Tempeh, and Heather Payne, CEO of Juno College of Technology, also told us why they want to hand ownership to their staff.
A school principal is trying to attract new families to small-town Alberta by setting up schools of excellence, focused on agriculture and baseball. In this documentary from June, the CBC's Bryan Labby talks to host Matt Galloway about what’s happening there.
There’s an urgent need for food affecting many parts of Africa and a disproportionate amount of those people who need food are women. Guest host Susan Bonner speaks with Gabrielle Cole, regional head of gender equality and inclusion for Plan International in West and Central Africa. We also hear from Elizabeth Bryan, a senior scientist at the International Food Policy Research Institute and one of the authors of a new article published in the journal Nature. She says a more gender-focused approach to aid is desperately needed to prevent the food insecurity women are facing.
We continue our Work in Progress series, talking to essential workers about their experiences in the pandemic — and what they want to see happen next. In a conversation from January, Matt Galloway speaks with Danielle Turpin, who left her job as a personal support worker and started a co-op for PSWs in her area, and Stephanie Ross, director of the School of Labour Studies at McMaster University.
It's been nearly two years since the start of the conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray region, and there is no resolution in sight. Atrocities have been reported on both sides of the conflict between the federal government and Tigrayan forces. We hear about what the West can do to help from Dr. Fasika Amdeslasie, a surgeon and Dean of the Medical School at Mekele University in Tigray, and Adem Kassie Abebe, a program officer focusing on Ethiopia and Africa with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.
Mikhail Gorbachev, who ended the Cold War but failed to prevent the collapse of the Soviet Union, died on Tuesday at the age of 91. Guest host Susan Bonner speaks with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Anne Applebaum about Mikhail Gorbachev, the breakup of the Soviet Union and how history will remember him. We also hear from Vladislav Zubok, a professor of international history at the London School of Economics.
COVID-19 left Matthew Cardinal on a ventilator last spring. He's now back at work in Regina but living with the debilitating effects of COVID-19. In a conversation from January, he talks to Matt Galloway about the impact the virus had on his life, and how he tries to stay optimistic in the face of uncertainty.
Incidents of harassment like the one in Grande Prairie, Alberta, aimed at Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, are on the rise, according to politicians. We hear from Leah Gazan, NDP MP for Winnipeg Centre, and Liberal MP Pam Damoff about their experiences. And Sabreena Delhon of the Samara Centre for Democracy tells us harassment has now become part of the job.
A new report suggests having more than six drinks per week leads to an increased risk of health issues, including cancer. The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) also found drinking more was even riskier for women. Guest host Susan Bonner talks with Dr. Peter Butt, co-chair of the expert panel developing Canada's new Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines, and Dr. Jennifer Wyman, the medical director of Substance Use Service at Women’s College Hospital.
Are you feeling stressed at work? You're not alone. As part of our series Work in Progress, we discuss the pandemic's psychological fallout, and the risk that mental health issues could become a shadow epidemic in Canadian workplaces. In a conversation from January, Matt Galloway talks to a mother of three who juggled child care with working a full-time job at home; Hassel Aviles, executive director of Not 9 to 5, a non-profit supporting restaurant and food service workers' mental health; and Bill Howatt, founder and CEO of human resources firm Howatt HR.
Flooding in Pakistan is being called a climate catastrophe, as the death toll reaches over a thousand people. Close to half a million people have been forced from their homes and it’s expected to get much worse. Guest host Susan Bonner speaks with Dr. Fyezah Jehan, an infectious disease specialist and the chair of pediatrics and child health at the Aga Khan University, and Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, an independent development specialist for climate change and water resource management in Islamabad.
As part of our Work in Progress series, author and professor Cal Newport discusses how to slow down the pace of work and reduce burnout through his ideas around “slow productivity” and “deep work.”
The Quebec provincial election campaign has begun. We hear from Emilie Nicolas and Mireille Paquet about the issues and personalities shaping this campaign, and how the political landscape in the province has changed. Nicolas is a columnist at Le Devoir and the Montreal Gazette and Paquet is an associate professor of political science at Concordia University.
NASA hopes its Artemis program, named after Apollo’s twin sister, will send humans to the moon and eventually Mars. Ken Podwalski is executive director of Space Exploration and Infrastructure for the Canadian Space Agency. He tells guest host Susan Bonner about the Artemis mission going forward. And John Logsdon, founder of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University, talks about why it’s important for people to explore space.
Women are demanding more from their workplaces after the pressures of the pandemic. As we revisit a conversation from February in our Work In Progress series, career coach and HR consultant Allison Venditti and economist Armine Yalnizyan discuss how the labour market can recover equitably and create better opportunities for women.
After being on the verge of eradication globally, with the last case in Canada nearly 30 years ago, polio is once again making headlines. Cases are emerging in the U.S., Israel and the U.K., and that has health officials on alert. Guest host Nora Young speaks with Safia Ibrahim, a polio survivor and global vaccine advocate. We also hear from Dr. Olakunle Alonge, an associate professor of International Health at Johns Hopkins University, and Dr. Allison McGeer, an infectious disease physician at Sinai Health System in Toronto.
In some parts of the world, temperatures are so high rivers are drying up and lakes are shrinking. In China, parts of the Yangtze and its tributaries are parched, and Germany's Rhine river is at record low levels. Nore Young speaks with Junyan Liu, a climate researcher in China with Greenpeace, Martin Helms, a hydrologist at the German Federal Institute of Hydrology, and Katharine Jacobs, a professor of environmental science at the University of Arizona.
Working single parents have been among the hardest hit by the pandemic in terms of job losses and economic stability — and the slowest to rebound. In a February conversation from our series, Work in Progress, we talk to three women who faced the uncertainty of the pandemic while also juggling family time, childcare and being the sole breadwinner.
When COVID-19 stopped work on a film about the fight to protect Indigenous land in the Amazon, filmmaker Alex Pritz handed the camera over to land defender Tangãi Uru-eu-wau-wa. They tell us about their new documentary, The Territory.
Migrant farm workers who come to Canada have long described facing terrible conditions, and even abuse from employers, with little recourse. Guest host Nora Young discusses what needs to change with Syed Hussan, the executive director of Migrant Workers Alliance for Change; and Eliza MacLauchlin, program coordinator at The Cooper Institute, a non-governmental organization in PEI focused on education and community development
Today marks six months since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and also Independence Day in Ukraine — though celebrations have been banned over fears of a Russian attack. To hear how the day is being marked and how the war is progressing, guest host Nora Young talks to Ukrainian MP Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, and David Marples, distinguished professor of Russian and East European History at the University of Alberta.
New research suggests many of the things we know about spiders might actually be a web of lies. Arachnologist Catherine Scott discusses how misinformation creeps and crawls into our view of spiders.
As food prices surge and the world faces a global hunger crisis, grain giants are reaping record profits, prompting calls for regulation and taxes on excess profits. We talk to Alex Maitland, a senior policy advisor with Oxfam International; and Sylvain Charlebois, a professor in food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University.
In a conversation from February, our series Work in Progress looks at workplace design. Engineers and experts say the pandemic has forced a rethink about what people want from a workspace and how to make it safe, inviting and productive.
Our Work in Progress series takes a look at workplaces experimenting with a four-day work week — and in some cases seeing an increase in productivity and revenue. We visit a Toronto workplace that made the switch; and we hear from Clémentine Van Effenterre, a labour economist and assistant professor at the University of Toronto.
Could Canada’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) be a cleaner option in weaning the world away from coal or would increasing LNG production just increase our reliance on fossil fuels? Guest host Nora Young talks to Edward Greenspon, CEO of an independent think tank called the Public Policy Forum; and Nichole Dusyk, a senior policy advisor for the International Institute for Sustainable Development.
Newfoundland and Labrador is moving ahead with pay equity law, five years after politicians there voted for it — but how does the rest of Canada stack up? Guest host Nora Young talks to Bridget Clarke, the advocacy coordinator for the St. John's Status of Women Council in Newfoundland and Labrador; and Katherine Scott, a senior researcher with the Canadian Centre of Policy Alternatives.
Michelle O'Bonsawin has been nominated as the first Indigenous member of the Supreme Court of Canada. We discuss what her nomination means for reconciliation and the justice system with Val Napoleon, acting dean of the faculty of Law at University of Victoria; Drew Lafond, president of the Indigenous Bar Association, and Bruce McIvor, a partner at First Peoples Law.
In a special podcast edition of our series Afghanistan: A Year Under The Taliban, Michelle Shephard talks to Afghanistan’s former education minister Rangina Hamidi about what the international community needs to do to help women and girls in the country; and Canadian Armed Forces veteran Amanda Moddejonge about the roadblocks to resettling Afghans who worked with the Canadian government.
Arborist Stan Kochanoff tells us about efforts to save some of the trees damaged in a strange hatchet attack at the Halifax Public Garden.
Indra Nooyi became the first South Asian woman to lead a Fortune 500 company when she was named CEO of PepsiCo in 2006. In a conversation with Matt Galloway from Oct. 2021, she discusses that journey, and the challenges women continue to face in the workplace.
Deborah Giles, science and research director at Wild Orca, explains how an oil spill off the Washington State coast could pose problems for the already struggling southern resident killer whales in the area.
A mother and her teenage daughter in Nebraska face felony charges for performing an illegal at-home abortion, with their private Facebook messages being used as evidence. Guest host Michelle Shephard discusses the case’s implications for online privacy and abortion access with Tiffany Burns, spokesperson for No Forced Birth Nebraska; and Dana Sussman, acting executive director of National Advocates for Pregnant Women.
The race is officially on for the next leader of the federal Conservative party. Six candidates have paid the $300,000 registration fee and submitted 500 signatures of support from party members. The party’s options include Patrick Brown, Jean Charest, Leslyn Lewis, Pierre Poilievre, Roman Baber, and Scott Aitchison. Our national affairs panel discusses the race with Matt Galloway. Yudhvir Jaswal is Group Editor and CEO of Y Media, Catherine Levesque is a parliamentary reporter for the National Post in Ottawa, and Jason Markusoff is the opinion and analysis editor at CBC Calgary.
The brand Shein has become a behemoth of ultra-fast fashion. It has now surpassed Amazon as the world's most downloaded shopping app and is worth more than competitors H&M and Zara, combined. It’s all online and it sells its clothes cheap. Timothy Chernyaev is a fashion editor and content creator on TikTok. He says the rise of ultra-fast fashion retailers is a symptom of a bigger problem because of the need on social media to keep up with trends. And Lucy Siegle, an environmental journalist in the U.K., says the trend is waste.
José Andrés made his name as a food innovator in famous restaurants in Spain and the United States, but these days you’re more likely to find him in a disaster zone trying to get food to people who need it. There is a new documentary about him and his organization, World Central Kitchen, being shown at Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in Toronto. Andrés spoke to Matt Galloway about the film We Feed People.
The inquiry into the deadliest mass shooting in Canada's history continues this week. Two years ago, a gunman dressed as an RCMP officer burned down houses and killed 22 people in Nova Scotia. CBC reporter Elizabeth McMillan explains how tracing the story of how the Portapique gunman got his weapons brought her to Houlton, Maine. And retired U.S. federal prosecutor Margaret Groban talks about how Maine is considered a source state for guns.
There is a new wave of book bannings across the United States. Parent groups and local politicians have succeeded in having a number of books removed from school curriculums and libraries. We hear from Angela Wynn, a mother in Sarasota, Florida, who is fighting against book bans. We also hear from Jonathan Zimmerman, a professor of the History of Education at the University of Pennsylvania, and Michelle Arbuckle, co-chair of the Freedom of Expression Committee and Director of Member Engagement & Education at the Ontario Library Association.
Marsha Lederman says the trauma caused by the Holocaust doesn’t just affect those who survived it. In her new memoir, Kiss the Red Stairs: The Holocaust, Once Removed, she explains how intergenerational trauma torments the children of Holocaust survivors, including herself, and how she is triggered by reports of anti-semitic incidences and war.
New census data shows a record one in five working adults is getting close to retirement age. That means businesses and workplaces could soon be struggling to fill positions — but some say it doesn’t need to be this way. Matt Galloway speaks with Helen Hirsh Spence, founder and CEO of Top Sixty Over Sixty; and Donna Wilson, a professor and gerontology researcher at the University of Alberta.
An award-winning documentary by a Toronto filmmaker highlights the life — and attempted assassination — of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny. Daniel Roher talks about his documentary, Navalny, and the extraordinary access he got to Navalny.
When Elon Musk forks over about 44 billion dollars to buy Twitter, he’ll get to make the rules about how hundreds of millions of users interact. Ethan Zuckerman, an associate professor of public policy, communication and information at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, tells us why people should be concerned about allowing private corporations and billionaires to control our public communication infrastructure.
As part of our ongoing coverage of the global refugee crisis, we’re looking at a system turning plastic waste into recycled materials — and making refugees money in the process. Joseph Klatt, the managing director of Precious Plastics, tells us more.
From British Columbia to rural Nova Scotia, Canadians across the country are struggling to find family doctors. Matt Galloway speaks with Camille Currie, who recently lost her family physician, about how she’s dealing with the shortage. We also speak with family physician Dr. Greg Stewart and Dr. Brady Bouchard, president of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, about why there’s a shortage, and what to do about it.
Floods in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal have killed more than 400 people and displaced 40,000 others. We hear more from Phindiwe Mashiloane, whose house was flooded; and Tafadzwa Mabhaudhi, a professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal who specializes in climate change adaptation.
In 2014, Dewayne “Lee” Johnson was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He worked as a groundskeeper and doctors suspected the disease came from the weed killers he used every day. Johnson sued the manufacturer, Monsanto, and won a landmark settlement. His ordeal is told in a powerful new documentary, Into The Weeds, directed by Canadian filmmaker Jennifer Baichwal.
For Canadians still suffering from long COVID, getting specialized medical help can be a frustrating journey. Matt Galloway talks to Elise Cote, who hopes a new clinic in Victoria, B.C., could help her; and long COVID researcher Dr. Angela Cheung.
CBC investigative journalist Erica Johnson travelled to Denmark to see how the country provides elder care — and find out what solutions could be applied in Canada.
As the war in Ukraine drags on, Russia's threats about this conflict escalating into a nuclear war grow louder. Former Canadian Ambassador to NATO Kerry Buck discusses how seriously we should take those threats.
The Hudson's Bay building in downtown Winnipeg is passing into Indigenous hands. We discuss what that means for reconciliation with Niigaan Sinclair, a professor in the Department of Native Studies at the University of Manitoba; and Riley Yesno, an Anishinaabe writer and Fellow at the Yellowhead Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University.
As part of action on climate change, the recent budget pledged $120 million to develop a new type of nuclear technology: small modular reactors. Matt Galloway talks about cost and safety concerns, and what the technology will bring to the climate change fight, with John Gorman, president of the Canadian Nuclear Association; and Susan O'Donnell, adjunct research professor for the environment and society program at St. Thomas University.
Dr. Brian Goldman discusses his new book The Power of Teamwork, why the medical world in particular has been slow to catch on to teamwork’s benefits, and how improv comedy and the pandemic are changing that.
Canadian filmmaker Noura Kevorkian was making a documentary about Syrian migrant workers in Lebanon — but the eruption of the civil war led her on a 10-year odyssey. She tells us about moving into a refugee camp to tell the stories in her film, Batata.
High school students have staged walkouts around the country to push for change around consent education and sexual violence. Matt Galloway talks to Grade 12 student Fechi Onyegbule; Teralyn Phipps, a co-ordinating principal at the Peel District School Board in Ontario; and Farrah Khan, manager of Consent Comes First at Ryerson University in Toronto.
What if employees owned the companies they worked for? Our series Work in Progress looks at employee ownership trusts and worker-owned co-operatives, with experts Jon Shell, managing director of Social Capital Partners; and Marcelo Vieta, an associate professor at the University of Toronto. Philip Diceanu, co-owner of food manufacturing company Henry's Tempeh; and Heather Payne, CEO of Juno College of Technology, also tell us why they want to hand ownership to their staff.
Some migrants who reach the United Kingdom without authorization will be deported to Rwanda under a deal penned by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government. We hear about concerns from people in both countries: Hassan Akkad, a Syrian refugee and activist in the U.K.; Alf Dubs, a member of the House of Lords, the second chamber of U.K. parliament; and Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, leader of Development And Liberty For All, a political party in Rwanda.
Elon Musk’s bid to buy Twitter has sparked heated discussion, and concerns over what that might mean for the power held by big tech companies, and their impact on democracy. We talk to William D. Cohan, bestselling author of a number of books on high finance intrigue; and Shoshana Zuboff, a retired Harvard Business School professor.
Russia is refocusing its military efforts on the Donbas region in Eastern Ukraine. Matt Galloway talks to Kharkiv restaurant owner Michael Chernomorets and his friend Vlad Glabacheck, who are heading east to fight; and discusses the Donbas region’s strategic significance with Marta Dyczok, an associate professor of history and political science at Western University.
Wimbledon has barred Russian and Belarusian players from participating in this year’s tournament. We discuss the move with Alexandr Dolgopolov, a former professional tennis player who is helping with the war effort in Kyiv; and Jon Wertheim, a writer with Sports Illustrated.
Standing tall at five feet three inches, Tyrone ‘Muggsy’ Bogues played 14 years in the NBA. He tells us about his career, and his new book Muggsy: My Life from a Kid in the Projects to the Godfather of Small Ball.
Trains in Ukraine have been a lifeline for people fleeing the war, and for keeping goods and military supplies moving through the country. We talk to Oleksandr Kamyshin, the CEO of Ukrainian Railways.
Former foreign correspondent Graeme Smith has just returned from Afghanistan, where he was working as a senior consultant on Afghanistan for the International Crisis Group. He tells Matt Galloway what he saw and why Canada shouldn’t turn its back on the people there.
Endometriosis can cause chronic and debilitating pain for women — but it can take years to diagnose and is often missed by doctors. We talk to Meghan Thomas, who suffered for more than a decade before her diagnosis; and discuss why women’s pain is often overlooked or misdiagnosed, with obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Alice Pham and family doctor Dr. Sheila Wijayasinghe.
Canadian sportscaster Jonah Keri was sentenced to 21 months in March, for repeated assaults against his ex-wife Amy Kaufman. Anna Maria Tremonti spoke with Kaufman about the judge's ruling and why Kaufman says it offers hope for other survivors.
After the initial trauma of fleeing home and arriving in a new country, refugees face years of complexities. Matt Galloway discusses ideas about home, community, gratitude and identity with two people whose families came to Canada as refugees: Carmen Aguirre, a theatre artist and activist; and Anh Ngo, an assistant professor at Wilfrid Laurier University.
As Ukrainians continue to arrive in Canada, there are concerns about whether they'll be able to access the support they need. We talk to Dr. Christine Gibson, a trauma therapist and family physician at Calgary’s Mosaic Refugee Clinic, who is preparing to welcome Ukrainians into her home; and Aleks Dughman-Manzur, president of the Canadian Council for Refugees.
Some experts say we can't get to net-zero without carbon capture, but does the technology live up to the promise? Matt Galloway talks to Rick Chalaturnyk, a professor of geotechnical engineering at the University of Alberta; and Emily Eaton, a professor of geography and environmental studies at the University of Regina.
As part of our Work in Progress series, author and professor Cal Newport discusses how to slow down the pace of work and reduce burnout, through his ideas around “slow productivity” and “deep work.”
To overcome stigma, some groups supporting people with schizophrenia are taking the name of the illness out of their organization’s name. We talk to advocates and people living with schizophrenia about how that stigma is changing — and yet not changing quickly enough.
Biologist and ecologist Meg Lowman has spent her life climbing trees. Now, she’s sharing her tall tales in her book, The Arbornaut: A Life Discovering the Eighth Continent in the Trees Above Us. We revisit our conversation with her from last year, about why it’s important for the next generation of tree climbers to discover — and save — the treetops.
A photo taken by Edmonton’s Amber Bracken — of multiple unmarked graves near the site of the former Kamloops Residential School — has been named World Press Photo of the Year. Bracken talks to Matt Galloway about the photo and the rights of photojournalists.
In a special podcast edition of this week's radio show on the refugee crisis, displaced journalist Tolossa Asrat takes us inside the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya; Alaa Alakel talks about the pain of bein separated from her family in Syria; and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi discusses what can be done to help refugees worldwide.
Earlier this year, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and New Yorker writer Kathryn Schulz told us why she wrote about the loss of her father in her new book, Lost & Found.
Olia Hercules is Ukrainian, and Alissa Timoshkina is Russian. Together, the two friends and chefs have started the campaign Cook for Ukraine to highlight Ukrainian cuisine. They talk to Matt Galloway about the personal connections they have with Ukrainian food.
As China tackles another COVID-19 wave, frustrated Shanghai residents are sharing stories online of a strict lockdown. We talk to one resident about his experience, as well as sinologist Manya Koetse and Yanzhong Huang, director of the Center for Global Health Studies at Seton Hall University.
The federal government is trying to help Canadians adopt electric vehicles, but what are the roadblocks to consumers making a successful switch? Matt Galloway talks to Connie Blixhavn, who owns an electric vehicle in Killarney-Turtle Mountain, Man.; Joanna Kyriazis, program manager for clean transportation at Clean Energy Canada; and Brian Kingston, president and CEO of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association.
Toronto Rabbi Tina Grimberg left Kyiv in 1979, but the war in Ukraine has drawn her back to help. She tells us about her recent trip to Poland to help displaced Ukrainians with transport, shelter and gifts.
We speak with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi about what can be done to help refugees worldwide, and his fears that the crisis in Ukraine could draw resources further away from where they’re needed.
We bring you the stories of the people caught up in the global refugee crisis.
Displaced journalist Tolossa Asrat takes us inside the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya. The camp was established in 1992 and is now home to more than 160,000 people — but it’s slated to close in June. While conditions at the camp are harsh, refugees who live there say they have nowhere else to go.
Then, we hear from refugees here in Canada. Some have been forced to leave loved ones behind — and they want the Canadian government to do more to help reunite them.
And we speak with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi about what can be done to help refugees worldwide, and his fears that the crisis in Ukraine could draw resources further away from where they’re needed.
Long before Russia faced sanctions for the war in Ukraine, financier Bill Browder found himself in the Kremlin’s crosshairs for his work tracking corruption in the country. He tells us more about the danger he faced, and his new book Freezing Order: A True Story of Money Laundering, Murder, and Surviving Vladimir Putin's Wrath.
Amid a sixth wave of COVID-19 in Canada, could increased access to the antiviral pill Paxlovid help patients? We talk to family physician Dr. Tara Kiran about the pill.
Buyers are paying record prices for lobster, prompting fishers to brave rough seas to cash in. We talk to Gail Atkinson, the captain of the Nellie Row.
In the midst of war, some Ukrainians are returning to Kyiv and other areas to try to get their country moving again. Matt Galloway talks to four people who are trying to help, from reopening businesses to co-ordinating aid and supplies.
The federal government gave the green light to a new deepwater oil development, the Bay du Nord oil project, off the coast of Newfoundland. We discuss the approval and what it means for meeting Canada’s climate targets with Newfoundland and Labrador's Energy Minister Andrew Parsons; pipefitter Steve White; and Angela Carter, a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador government’s Net-Zero Advisory Council.
Russian attacks on eastern Ukraine have forced thousands to flee the area in search of safety. Matt Galloway hears the latest from Ukraine with Oleksiy Sorokin, the political editor for the Kyiv Independent; and discusses calls to hold Russian President Vladimir Putin accountable for alleged war crimes with Carla Del Ponte, who served as chief prosecutor on International Criminal Tribunals for both the former Yugoslavia and for Rwanda.
Co-editors David Hassler and Naomi Shihab Nye discuss a new poetry collection about the pandemic, Dear Vaccine: Global Voices Speak to the Pandemic.
Thursday’s budget promised a legislative review of the "digitalization of money and maintaining financial sector stability and security." We discuss the appeal of cryptocurrency in Canada with former Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz; Jelena Djuric, a co-founder of the Canadian Web 3 Council, a cryptocurrency advocacy group; and Jacob Goldstein author of Money: The True Story of a Made-Up Thing.
Where do you want to be buried? That's the question author Kamal Al-Solaylee wrestled with in his book, Return: Why We Go Back to Where We Come From. Last year, Al-Solaylee discussed his own feelings around the idea of home, and the desire of different communities to return to their homelands.
Our national affairs panel tackles the federal budget, an affordability crisis, and a new offshore oil development in the middle of the climate emergency. Matt Galloway talks to three political veterans: former Conservative MP Lisa Raitt; former NDP MP Libby Davies; and former Liberal MP Wayne Easter.
The great Canadian composer Boris Brott was killed this week in a hit-and-run in Hamilton, Ont. We hear from those who remember him both for his accomplishments, and how he made them feel.
On budget day, we look at how life in Canada has gotten more expensive, from finding a place to live, to getting around, to what we eat.
Inflation is putting seniors under extra pressure as the price of daily necessities skyrockets. We talk to Terri Gilpin, a senior in Ottawa, and Karen McDonald, executive director of Sage Seniors Association.
Then, we look at how ever-increasing rents, a hot market and being priced out of a place you can call home. In Nova Scotia, Dayle Crouse is converting a school bus to live in; while Kevin Simonar and Tina Gentile had to move their young family across the country to find a place they could afford. Brian Doucet, an associate professor in the School of Planning at the University of Waterloo, discusses how governments could help make housing more affordable.
Plus, former Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz looks ahead to today's budget, why it needs to address a new economic reality, and an economic situation that is only going to get more volatile.
And the great Canadian composer Boris Brott was killed this week in a hit-and-run in Hamilton, Ont. We hear from those who remember him both for his accomplishments, and how he made them feel.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has faced criticism for recent meetings with Russian officials. We discuss humanitarian work and the question of neutrality with Robert Mardini, director-general of the International Committee of the Red Cross; and Patricia McIlreavy, president and CEO of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy.
The federal government is expanding Canada's temporary foreign workers program, but critics say conditions for low-wage workers need to improve. Matt Galloway talks to Marie-France MacKinnon, vice-president of public affairs and communications at the Canadian Meat Council; Syed Hussan, executive director of Migrant Workers Alliance for Change; and federal Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Carla Qualtrough.
Author Bill Hayes tells us about his new book Sweat: A History of Exercise, whether gyms are indeed the fast food of exercise, and what he learned about the joy of swimming from his late partner, Oliver Sacks.
The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says the world is headed for catastrophe if we do not drastically cut emissions. We talk to former federal environment minister Catherine McKenna about how to get Canada on track.
Russia faces accusations of war crimes in Ukraine, including allegations that rape is being used as a weapon of war. Matt Galloway talks to Alona Shkrum, a Ukrainian member of parliament; and Christina Lamb, chief foreign correspondent for The Sunday Times and the author of Our Bodies, Their Battleground: What War Does To Women.
Our Work In Progress series takes a look at workplaces experimenting with a four-day work week — and in some cases seeing an increase in productivity and revenue. We visit a Toronto workplace that made the switch; and hear from Clémentine Van Effenterre, a labour economist and assistant professor at the University of Toronto.
Amid growing reports of war crimes committed by Russian forces in Ukraine, Human Rights Watch has released a report documenting allegations of rape, murder and other violent acts against civilians. Matt Galloway talks to Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
Canada’s three Northern premiers met with the prime minister Monday to discuss Arctic security amid Russian aggression in Europe, and northern infrastructure investment. We talk to the Premier of Nunavut P.J. Akeeagok; and Will Greaves, an assistant professor of international relations at the University of Victoria.
David Packer, a listener in Halifax, shares a letter he wrote to The Current about the time he spent as a humanitarian health-care worker during the Bosnian war. His letter was prompted by the recent broadcast of Paolo Pietropaolo’s The Cello’s Tale.
Bogdan Bolkhovetsky, the CEO of Kraina FM, tells us he’s keeping his radio station running from a makeshift studio in order to help the war effort.
The Globe and Mail correspondent Eric Reguly has written a book exploring the incredible life and legacy of his father, the journalist Robert Reguly. He tells us how he learned more about his father by retracing Robert's footsteps all the way into the battlegrounds of the Vietnam War
Public health officials in Peterborough, Ont., have created a tool to help people assess the specific COVID-19 risk in that region and protect themselves against the virus. Dr. Thomas Piggott, the medical officer of health for Peterborough Public Health, explains how the tool works. We also discuss what Canadians should consider as cases rise, with infectious disease specialist Dr. Lisa Barrett, and neuroscientist and science communicator Samantha Yammine.
Dr. Stefanie Green was one of the first doctors to offer medical assistance in dying (MAID) after it was legalized in 2016. She explores the last six years in her new book This is Assisted Dying: A Doctor's Story of Empowering Patients at the End of Life.
Pope Francis has apologized to Indigenous delegates in Rome, for “deplorable” abuses at residential schools. We discuss what the apology means with Phil Fontaine, former Chief of the Assembly of First Nations; and look at the impact of previous papal apologies with Colm O’Gorman, executive director of Amnesty International in Ireland.
A class-action lawsuit in Quebec accuses Canada's largest beef packers of collusion and price-fixing. Matt Galloway discusses the allegations with Sylvain Charlebois, a professor in food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University; and Ambarish Chandra, an associate professor of economics at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management.
Six African countries are working to create their own mRNA vaccines, as part of a World Health Organization initiative. We hear about the increasingly urgent efforts to create vaccines on the continent, for the continent — both for COVID-19 and other diseases.
Can Russia and Ukraine negotiate peace? And can the Kremlin be trusted to stick to a deal? Matt Galloway talks to Inna Sovsun, a member of Ukraine’s Parliament; and Dr. Jenny Mathers, a senior lecturer in the department of international politics at Aberystwyth University in Wales.
Ghyslain Raza was a teenager from Trois-Rivieres, Que., when he became the Star Wars Kid, the unwilling star of an early viral video. In a new documentary he tells the story of his unintended rise to internet fame — and the toll it took on him.
After being shuttered by COVID-19 for two years, Quebec sugar shacks are back open. We hear how the lockdown threatened the tradition of celebrating maple syrup from Daniel Laurin and his daughter Stéphanie Laurin, of the Chalet des Érables in Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines, Que.
Millions have fled war in Ukraine, but many people with disabilities cannot escape, or in some cases can’t quickly reach bomb shelters. We hear from Yulia Klepets in Kyiv, whose daughter has autism and elderly mother uses a wheelchair; and Yulia Gorbunova, a senior researcher for Human Rights Watch, focusing on Ukraine.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has unveiled what he calls an “ambitious and achievable” new plan to tackle climate change — but can Canada break a streak of missing targets like these? Matt Galloway talks to Catherine Abreu, founder and executive director of the advocacy group Destination Zero and a member of Canada's Net Zero Advisory Body; and Mark Jaccard, director of the School of Resource and Environmental Management at Simon Fraser University.
What do we need to navigate the next pandemic? Epidemiologist Dr. Sandro Galea, author of The Contagion Next Time, argues we need to change how we think about health, and pay attention to the structural inequalities that left the world so exposed to COVID-19.
In the face of war, there is a rush to preserve Ukraine's art and cultural artifacts. Matt Galloway talks to Ihor Poshyvailo, co-founder of the Heritage Emergency Response Initiative; and Brian Daniels, advisor to the Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative.
Pope Francis meets with Indigenous delegations in Rome this week to discuss the impact of residential schools. We talk to Calgary Bishop William McGrattan about what action the Church might take; and Taylor Behn-Tsakoza, one of the youth delegates for the Assembly of First Nations delegation to the Vatican.
Author Michael Branch brings us tales of the mythical jackalope, from his book On the Trail of the Jackalope: How a Legend Captured the World's Imagination and Helped Us Cure Cancer.
We talk to Colin Miller, former captain and coach of Canada’s national men's soccer team, about the importance of Canada winning a spot at the World Cup.
The Taliban has broken a promise to allow girls to attend school beyond the sixth grade. We talk to a high school teacher and a grade 12 student in Kabul, and Heather Barr, associate director of the Women’s Rights Division at Human Rights Watch.
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney is fighting to stay on as United Conservative Party leader. We talk to Rob Smith, president of the UCP Constituency Association in Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills; and Mike Solberg, a political strategist, and partner at New West Public Affairs in Calgary.
Pope Francis met with a delegation of Métis residential school survivors Monday, and heard their stories. Métis National Council President Cassidy Caron was there, she tells Matt Galloway what happened.
Thousands of foreign fighters, including Canadians, have joined the war effort in Ukraine. Matt Galloway discusses their role — and the risks they face — with René Provost, a professor of law at McGill University’s Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism; and Asya Metodieva, a researcher at the Institute of International Relations Prague.
Pandemic restrictions are lifting across Canada, but the more transmissible BA.2 subvariant appears to be causing a spike in case numbers. Infectious diseases specialist Dr. Lisa Barrett discusses what precautions Canadians should still be taking.
Fatou ‘Toufah’ Jallow was 18 years old when she alleges she was raped by former Gambian president Yahya Jammeh. She tells us what it was like to speak up, how she fled to Canada and how she used her experience to empower other sexual assault survivors in her homeland.
A recent surge in wild pig populations in the Prairies has raised concerns about the potential impacts. Researcher Ryan Brook and pork farmer Jurgen Preugschas explain what's at stake — and why wild pigs are nothing to snort at.
What will it take to bring down road fatalities and make Canada’s roads safer for all? We talk to Jessica Spieker, who was hit by an SUV in 2015 and is now a spokesperson for Friends and Families for Safe Streets; and Bella Dinh-Zarr, a senior advisor in public health and transportation at the Traffic Injury Research Foundation.
There is no universal cure for sickle cell disease, but experimental therapies are giving patients new hope. Matt Galloway speaks with Revée Agyepong, one of the first adults to be cured of the rare blood disorder in Canada; and Dr. Dhruv Khullar, a physician-researcher at Cornell University’s Weill Cornell Medical College in New York.
We discuss the strategic and symbolic importance of the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol, with Aurel Braun, professor of international relations and political science at the University of Toronto.
Prince William and Kate Middleton’s visit to Jamaica has been met with protests, and an open letter calling for an apology from the monarchy and slavery reparations. We talk to two signatories of that letter: Rosalea Hamilton, founding director of the Institute of Law and Economics, and Mike Henry, one of Jamaica’s longest-serving members of parliament.
The Liberal government has struck a supply-and-confidence agreement with the opposition NDP — but what does that mean for Canadians? Matt Galloway puts that question to three political veterans: former Conservative MP Lisa Raitt, former NDP MP Libby Davies and former Liberal MP Wayne Easter.
Multiple U.S. states have introduced laws that would prevent trans youth from accessing gender-affirming care. We talk to Elijah Baay, a high school student and trans activist in Alabama; pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Hussein Abdul-Latif; and Cathryn Oakley, state legislative director and senior counsel for the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ advocacy group.
Millions of Ukrainian refugees have been welcomed warmly by many nations, which is a stark contrast to how many refugees have been treated in the past. We discuss what some have called a double standard with Michala Clante Bendixen, head of Refugees Welcome Denmark; and Marta Górczyńska, a human rights lawyer, migration researcher and PhD candidate in legal studies at the University of Warsaw.
We speak to Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh, directors of Oscar-nominated documentary Writing with Fire. The film follows the Dalit women who run their own news operation in Uttar Pradesh, India, despite facing social expectations and hostility to journalism.
Can the lessons from history help us make sense of the present? Historian Margaret MacMillan joins Matt Galloway to discuss the challenge Russian President Vladimir Putin poses to international order — and the terrible choice facing NATO.
The war in Yemen has led to a humanitarian crisis, but there’s limited action from the rest of the world. Guest host Mark Kelley talks to Dr. William Cherniak, who is working to get ultrasound machines into Yemen; Radhya Almutawakel, the co-founder and chairperson of Mwatana for Human Rights; and Thomas Juneau, an assistant professor at the University of Ottawa, and author of the book Le Yémen en guerre.
From bombing hospitals to using banned weapons, experts say Russian tactics in Ukraine were previously deployed by President Vladimir Putin in Syria. We hear from Hamza al-Kateab, a Syrian doctor and activist; Natasha Hall, a senior fellow with the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies; and Yassin al-Haj Saleh, a Syrian writer, activist and former political prisoner.
Algorithms play a key role in everything from sports to election campaigns. But in a world where we rely on computers to know everything we don’t, journalist Chris Jones says the good old gut feeling is being shortchanged. He tells us about his book The Eye Test: A Case for Human Creativity in the Age of Analytics.
Artur Shevchenko fled the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol three days ago, as Russian forces closed in. He tells Mark Kelley what the city was like before he left.
We ended Monday’s show with the sound of 94 violinists playing a Ukrainian folk song. After many listeners asked us about the music, we reached out to Kerenza Peacock, the soloist with London's Royal Philharmonic orchestra who brought all of those violinists together. We spoke to her and Canadian fiddler Carly Frey.
We speak with Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly about what more Canada can do to assist Ukraine; plus our foreign affairs panel, comprised of political science experts Aisha Ahmad and Bessma Momani, breaks down what she said and the current geopolitical situation.
Canadian Paralympian Brian McKeever was wearing bib number 16 when he crossed his final Paralympic individual finish line last weekend. It’s the perfect number to mark his historic 16th Paralympic gold medal. He reflects on his record-breaking, 20-year Paralympic career — and the support he received from his brother along the way.
As the world keeps its eyes focused on Ukraine and Russia, one environmentalist says he has a plan to fight Russian President Vladimir Putin and climate change at the same time. Guest host Mark Kelley speaks with Bill McKibben, the founder of the grassroots climate campaign 350.org.
Ukraine’s wheat fields are the breadbasket of more than just Europe — and the world’s food system is being battered by Russia’s bombs. Arif Husain, chief economist of the World Food Programme, warns of the impact of the loss of wheat and other crops from Ukraine on poorer nations; and Scott Reynolds Nelson, the Georgia Athletic Association Professor of history at the University of Georgia and the author of Oceans of Grain: How American Wheat Remade the World, walks us through the history of wheat in Russia and Ukraine.
Calgary’s Euan Thomson blended his brewmaking and microbiologist backgrounds into making hand sanitizers two years ago. Now, he’s using that experience to turn his attention to Alberta’s opioid crisis.
Filmmaker James Jones tells us how his new documentary about the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes, might have lessons about the Russian state’s relationship with the truth.
Guest host Mark Kelley speaks with some of the Canadians who are assisting the victims of the war in Ukraine: Edmonton’s Justin Eisenkirch, a registered nurse who has gone to Ukraine with a team of health-care workers; Wyatt Raitt from Hamilton, Ont., who travelled to the Ukraine-Poland border to try to find a friend’s sister; and Vancouver’s Marta Orellana, who opened a Polish Amazon account to send items in need to her cousin in the country.
Doctors in Montreal are making training videos for physicians in Ukraine, to guide them through specialized procedures as the war pushes their health-care system into crisis. We talk to Dr. Natalie Roberts, an emergency doctor with Médecins Sans Frontières; Dr. Tarek Razek, co-director of the Centre for Global Surgery at McGill University in Montreal; and Dr. Henry Marsh, a neurosurgeon in London who has worked with and trained doctors in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the House of Commons yesterday and urged Canadian politicians to come to his country’s aid against the Russian invasion. Matt Galloway talks to Time Magazine reporter Simon Shuster about Zelensky’s rise from stand-up comedian, to president, to the face of the Ukrainian resistance. Correction: This audio contains a clip attributed to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko. In fact, it is his brother, Wladimir Klitschko.
Some zoos in Canada have begun to vaccinate animals against COVID-19. We talk to epidemiologist Hélène Carabin and microbiologist Samira Mubareka about how researchers are looking at how the virus spreads in animals — and how it helps us better understand where it might go next in humans.
Russia’s war in Ukraine is in part funded by its oil, but weaning Europe off it isn’t straightforward. What can Canada's energy industry do to help, and what are the implications in the process? Matt Galloway talks to Dieter Helm, a professor of economic policy at the University of Oxford; and Jackie Forrest, executive director of the ARC Energy Research Institute in Calgary.
Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Lynsey Addario was in Irpin, Ukraine, last week when four Ukrainians, including a child, were killed by a mortar attack on an evacuation route.
A University of Toronto study found that nail technicians at discount salons are exposed to high levels of hazardous chemicals commonly used as flame retardants and plasticizers. The researchers say this points to the need for better federal government regulation of the products supplied to nail salons.
The war in Ukraine has put international adoptions on hold, leaving Canadian families anxious to be reunited with children now stranded in a war zone. We talk to Alysha Buck, chair of the board of directors for UAS Eastern European Adoption Inc., a private, non-profit adoption agency based in Manitoba that focuses on Ukraine.
Sloths are under threat from deforestation in Costa Rica, but zoologist Rebecca Cliffe is building bridges to help them get between the treetops and avoid danger on the ground.
After two years of dealing with COVID-19 and the pandemic, the Globe and Mail’s health columnist André Picard looks back at the lessons we’ve learned and the ones we haven’t.
Larry Miller climbed from poverty to the top of the sports world, leading Michael Jordan's multi-billion dollar shoe brand and the Portland Trail Blazers. But for 40 years, he kept a dark secret hidden from even his closest friends. He tells us about how his success story also includes a jail sentence for murder.
Ukraine’s former Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze talks to Matt Galloway about ongoing attacks from Russia, why she won’t leave her country, and what her government wants from the international community.
The World Health Organization declared a global pandemic exactly two years ago. We talk to Canadians about what those two years have been like: what they’ve lost, what they’ve learned, and where they found the resilience to keep going.
Russian attacks on Ukraine are intensifying, but so too does local resolve to fight back. Guest host Susan Bonner talks to Viktor Semenov, who left Mariupol a few days ago to join the territorial army in Kyiv; and asks Minister of National Defence Anita Anand about Canada's commitment to Ukraine, and whether sanctions will be enough to end the war.
A new exhibit is commemorating the lives of those who died from COVID-19 in long-term care. We talk to Megan Davies, a health historian and the creator of COVID in the House of Old; and Bernadette Cheung, whose grandmother is memorialized in the exhibit.
Matt Galloway talks to Canada’s Ambassador to Ukraine, Larisa Galadza, about what happens next with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the rush to help refugees fleeing the war.
The UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi says the stories he’s hearing from refugees are a mix of hardship and fear, and other countries must step up to help them if the Russia-Ukraine war drags on.
In the second of two special programs from the Ukraine-Poland border, Matt Galloway talks with refugees still reeling from the shock of war, and meets those trying to help them.
We hear from a young Canadian who has travelled to the border to help a friend find his sister; and discuss what happens next with Canada’s Ambassador to Ukraine, Larisa Galadza, and the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi.
Plus, we hear about the racism and discrimination endured by people of colour as they tried to escape the violence; and three rabbis tell us why they’ve travelled all the way from Montreal to help.
Canadian Wyatt Raitt went to the Ukraine-Poland border to help find a friend’s young sister — even though he has never met her, and is unsure how he’ll find her. While he waits for word of her whereabouts, he intends to volunteer to help the many other refugees in need.
Thousands of people are crossing from Ukraine into Poland every day to flee from Russia’s invasion. In the first of two special programs, Matt Galloway went to the Medyka border crossing, and the nearby Polish town of Przemyśl, to hear from refugees escaping war, the volunteers and organizations trying to help, and people trying to get back into Ukraine to join the fight.
The West has upped the ante on sanctions against Russian oligarchs — but some experts say it won’t be enough to change Vladimir Putin’s mind. Casey Michel, author of American Kleptocracy: How the U.S. Created the World's Greatest Money Laundering Scheme in History, explains why more financial transparency reform is needed.
How do you talk to kids about the war in Ukraine, while making them feel safe? We talk to Constantine Kosyachkov, a Toronto elementary school teacher who has family in Ukraine; and Ane Lemche, a psychologist and child counsellor with Save the Children.
Rodney Stotts is one of the few Black master falconers in North America. He talks to Duncan McCue about his journey to become one — and why access to nature can change lives.
Matt Galloway is in Poland this week, talking to Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion. He talks to guest host Duncan McCue about what he’s seeing and the people travelling long distances to help.
Tuesday marks 100 years since Agnes Macphail took her seat as the first woman elected to the House of Commons. Curator of the House of Commons Johanna Mizgala joins us to discuss Macphail’s career and legacy.
Food rescue apps aim to redistribute edible food that would otherwise end up in landfills. We talk about how it works and why it’s good for the environment, with Lori Nikkel, CEO of Second Harvest, Canada's largest food rescue organization.
In recent years, some people with visual impairments have regained some sight with the help of a “bionic eye.” But now, the company behind the implants have stopped supporting the technology. We hear how that’s left some people in the dark, from Eliza Strickland, senior editor at the tech publication IEEE Spectrum; and Jennifer Chandler, a professor of law at the University of Ottawa’s Centre for Health Law, Policy and Ethics.
Matt Galloway is in Poland to report on the growing refugee crisis, as Ukrainians flee Russia’s invasion and bombardment. He tells guest host Duncan McCue what he’s seen so far. We also talk with Oleksiy Sorokin, the political editor and chief operating officer of the Kyiv Independent.
The ongoing conflict is pushing Ukraine’s health-care system into crisis, with the country’s government issuing an urgent plea for medical supplies and personnel. Alex Wade, an emergency co-ordinator with Doctors Without Borders, tells us about what needs to be done to help.
B.C. tour operator Myrna Arychuk has spent decades running tours of Ukraine for Canadians looking to get in touch with their roots. Now, she’s using her contacts in the country, including long-time friend and colleague Ruslan Cholovskyy, to help Canadians find out if their loved ones in Ukraine are safe.
In her new podcast, The Disappearance of Nuseiba Hasan, Habiba Nosheen investigates what happened to a Hamilton, Ont. woman who vanished in 2006, but was not reported missing to police until nine years later.
What will the war in Europe mean for climate change — and how can the world address both problems at once? We talk to climate scientist Svitlana Krakovska, head of Ukraine's delegation to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
This week at Nova Scotia's Mass Casualty Commission, excerpts from police radio recordings gave an insight into efforts to catch the mass shooter who killed 22 people on April 18 and 19, 2020, in Portapique. Matt Galloway talks to CBC reporter Elizabeth McMillan; MLA for Colchester North Tom Taggart; and Christian Leuprecht, a professor of political science at Royal Military College and Queen's University.
Opposition to the bombardment of Ukraine is growing in Russia, but publicly protesting the invasion carries its own risk. Matt Galloway talks to prominent Russian researcher Sergey Utkin, and Moscow-based freelance journalist Yana Pashaeva.
Steve Fonyo lost a leg to cancer and raised millions to fight the disease by running across Canada. He was awarded the Order of Canada in 1985, only for it to be revoked in 2009 following several criminal convictions. After his death last week, aged 56, his family and friends are calling for his Order of Canada to be posthumously restored.
A narwhal who strayed from his Arctic habitat was taken in by beluga whales, showing up each year since 2016 in the Saint Lawrence River. Now, researchers are watching to see if the unusual pod could produce a baby “narluga” — a cross between a narwhal and a beluga whale. Whale researcher Robert Michaud tells us more.
Refugees of colour have reported racial discrimination as they tried to flee Ukraine. Ghanaian medical student Jesse Michael Gogoe tells us what he faced trying to reach Poland; and Juliana Wahlgren, acting director and senior advocacy officer for the European Network Against Racism, discusses the double standards in attitudes around refugees.
The invasion of Ukraine has in many ways changed how the world has been for decades — Switzerland is no longer neutral, and Germany is overturning a long-held policy by sending weapons to a conflict zone. Our foreign affairs panel discusses the attack on world order, and what comes next.
In a follow-up to our conversation with veteran CBC journalist Anna Maria Tremonti about her new podcast Welcome to Paradise, we talk to intimate partner violence expert Jane Monckton Smith. She tells us about coercive control, why it needs to be better understood, and the danger it presents.
A humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Ukraine, and across Europe, as Russian attacks intensify. Matt Galloway talks to freelance journalist Oz Katerji about what he’s seeing in Kyiv and Kharkiv; UNHCR senior spokesperson Chris Melzer, who is at the Medyka border crossing in Poland; and global affairs analyst and humanitarian Michael Bociurkiw, who is in Lviv.
Addiction psychiatrist Carl Erik Fisher’s new book, The Urge: Our History of Addiction, looks at how society’s understanding of addiction has changed over the centuries, and what that taught him about his own recovery.
Russian President Vladimir Putin put his nuclear deterrent forces on high alert late last week, raising the spectre of nuclear strikes globally. Matt Galloway talks with Ankit Panda, the Stanton Senior Fellow in the nuclear policy program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; and asks David Perry, president of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, whether Putin expected the resistance his forces have met in Ukraine.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine involves an online fight between truth and disinformation. We discuss how to spot lies and propaganda, with Svitlana Matviyenko, an assistant professor of critical media analysis at Simon Fraser University's School of Communication; Jane Lytvynenko, a journalist and senior research fellow at the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University; and Lukas Andriukaitis, associate director of the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab in Belgium.
Ukrainians under siege from Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces are helping any way they can — some are taking up arms, others are getting food and supplies to the army, and others are helping people to safe bunkers. We talk with Inna Sovsun, a member of the Ukrainian parliament, and Anastassia Voronova, a lawyer sheltering in a Kyiv school basement, about those efforts. We also get the view from Russia from Anna Nemtsova, the Moscow correspondent for The Daily Beast.
Ukrainian-Canadians have been watching what's happening in Europe with especially heavy hearts. We hear how Father Mykhailo Ozozrovych has been doing his best to support his congregation at the Holy Eucharist Cathedral in New Westminster, B.C.
U.S. physician and public health advocate Dr. Paul Farmer died suddenly last week, aged 62. We hear how he dedicated his life to equity in health care, and advocated for the people left behind by health systems.
Filmmaker Sarah Polley tells us why she's now embracing the things that once kept her up at night — from why she didn't come forward in the trial of Jian Ghomeshi, to the trauma of her career as a child star.
Fighting is underway in Ukraine — not just near the eastern border, but all over the country. As a result, more than 100 Ukrainians have died on the first full day of conflict. For more on how Ukrainians are coping with the violence and casualties, host Matt Galloway talks with lawyer Daniel Bilak, who studied in Canada but has lived in Ukraine for 31 years; and Myron Spolsky, who was born in Canada but moved to Ukraine in the 1980s.
We continue our series Work in Progress, talking to essential workers about their experience in the pandemic — and what they want to see happen next. In this edition of the series, we take a look at how the pandemic has changed our expectations of where and how we work, with Matthew Kobylar, a design director for global design firm Gensler; and Jeffrey Siegel, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Toronto.
The United Nations has estimated that 100,000 people have fled their homes in Ukraine — and millions more could be driven to flee to neighbouring countries. For more on how humanitarian groups are preparing for the influx of refugees, we speak with Loveday Morris, the Berlin bureau chief with the Washington Post; Irina Saghoyan, the Eastern Europe director for the NGO Save the Children; and Félix Krawatzek, a senior researcher at the Centre for East European and International Studies in Berlin.
More than a million people of Ukrainian descent in Canada are watching Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with their worst fears of an imminent invasion confirmed. We hear what the community is feeling — and fearing — with Alexandra Chyczij, the national president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops into Ukraine last night, after weeks of increasing tensions and Russian denials of an imminent attack. For more from on the ground in Ukraine, Matt Galloway is joined by Mark MacKinnon, a reporter for the Globe and Mail who’s currently based in Kyiv.
Putin’s launch of an invasion of Ukraine came just as the United Nations Security Council was meeting to find a last-minute plan for peace. We discuss the implications of those actions with Bob Rae, Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations; and Roland Paris, a professor of international affairs at the University of Ottawa and a former senior advisor on foreign policy to the prime minister of Canada.
Earlier this week, Putin claimed Ukraine is not just a neighbouring country, but also an integral part of Russian history, culture and spiritual continuum. We discuss Ukraine’s roots and the implications of Putin’s address for other former Soviet republics with Paul D’Anieri, a professor of political science at the University of California Riverside — and the author of Ukraine and Russia: From Civilized Divorce to Uncivil War.
CBC producer and documentary maker Alex Shprintsen grew up in Kharkiv, Ukraine, and has covered Russia and Ukraine for decades. He discusses what family and friends in Ukraine and Russia are feeling and seeing.
Canada is among some Western countries that have sanctioned Russia for moving its troops into parts of eastern Ukraine. But will these financial penalties actually work? Matt Galloway discusses that question with Tanya Kozyreva, an investigative journalist whose reporting on sanctions and illicit financial activity earned her a Pulitzer Prize nomination; and Tony Brenton, the former British Ambassador to Russia and former director of the Russo-British Chamber of Commerce.
Some provinces will be lifting mask requirements for kids in the coming months. Those decisions are getting mixed reactions, both inside of schools and elsewhere. For more on the evidence about masking in schools, we spoke with Dr. Kevin Schwartz, an infection prevention and control physician with Public Health Ontario; and Dr. Lynora Saxinger, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of Alberta.
In his new photography book Resilient, Wayne Simpson shares portraits he took of ordinary people with extraordinary stories. He explains what his project taught him about resilience — and his own family story.
Ottawa’s streets are quiet again, but Canada is still coping with the aftermath of an occupation that paralyzed the capital for more than three weeks. Jared Wesley, an associate professor of political science at the University of Alberta, talks to us about the government’s work that’s ahead post-protest; and Bruce Anderson, chairman of Abacus Data and Canadian political veteran, highlights how politicians can address the divide.
Carol Smith and Robin Chapman first met when they were children at a residential school in Kamloops, B.C. After 45 years apart, they’re now healing together — and a quilt Chapman made for Smith is helping with that.
Following his announcement that Russia would recognize the breakaway territories of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his troops into Eastern Ukraine. Putin claims his troops are entering as peacekeepers, but Western leaders say it’s an invasion and against international law. Freelance journalist Neil Hauer updates guest host Duncan McCue from the ground in Ukraine. We also hear from Andrii Bukvych, charge d'affaires with the Ukrainian Embassy in Canada, about how Ukrainians in Canada are feeling; and Alexander Lanoszka, an assistant professor of international relations at the University of Waterloo, about how Western nations should respond to Putin’s actions.
An inquiry into the worst mass shooting in Canadian history is set to begin on Tuesday. Over thirteen hours, a gunman driving a fake RCMP car through rural Nova Scotia shot and killed 22 people. CBC reporter Elizabeth McMillan has been investigating this story. We also hear from Darcy Dobson in Colchester County.
Life begins to return to normal in the nation’s capital. Over the weekend, a police operation cleared the occupation of Ottawa's downtown. They made 191 arrests, laid 389 charges, and towed 79 vehicles. We hear from Scott May, owner of Bar Robo on Queen Street, about the impact on his business. We also hear from Ottawa resident Zexi Li who, along with lawyer Paul Champ, successfully brought an injunction to stop the truck horns from blaring. She discusses what it means to have her city back. And city councillor Mathieu Fleury talks about the lasting impacts of the occupation.
The insect apocalypse is upon us. A world without insects may mean cleaner windshields and no more bug bites, but a world without insects would be dramatically different from the world we know. According to author Oliver Milman, it looks like that is where we're headed. He's an environmental journalist with British newspaper the Guardian. His new book is The Insect Crisis: The Fall of the Tiny Empires That Run the World.
Belgium has announced plans to allow employees to request a four-day work week, working a maximum of 10 hours per day to earn a three-day weekend. We talk to Tim King, a freelance journalist in Brussels, about what's driving the move, and whether other countries are likely to follow suit.
Have political leaders — at all levels, from all parties — failed Canadians in their response to the occupation of downtown Ottawa and connected protests? Matt Galloway puts those questions to our national affairs panel, Vassy Kapelos, host of CBC’s Power and Politics; Kelly Cryderman, a political reporter and columnist with the Globe and Mail; and Fatima Syed, host of the Canadaland podcast The Backbench.
CBC reporter Lisa Xing travelled all the way to China to cover the Winter Olympics, but can’t reunite with her family there due to COVID-19 restrictions. She tells us about the heartache of being “so close yet so, so far.”
Ahead of her final week as host of As It Happens, Carol Off talks to Matt Galloway about the interviews that have stayed with her down the years, and the state of journalism today.
Front Burner from CBC News and CBC Podcasts is your essential daily news podcast taking you deep into the stories shaping Canada and the world. In this special Front Burner evening edition from the ground in Ottawa as police move in on protestors, host Jayme Poisson accompanies Steve Day, former head of the Canadian Armed Forces’ JTF-2 special-operations task force, to the protest site at Parliament and staging sites outside the downtown core to examine the challenges law enforcement could face. And she talks to protesters about why they’re digging in. More episodes are available at hyperurl.co/frontburner
As the bells in the Peace Tower get set to fall silent for five years of renovations, we talk to Dominion Carillonneur Dr. Andrea McCrady about how she came to provide the soundtrack of the nation's capital.
As police signal an intent to step up enforcement around the occupation of Parliament Hill, the CBC’s Ashley Burke brings us the latest from the city — and what might happen next.
Women are demanding more from their workplaces after the pressures of the pandemic. As part of our Work In Progress series, career coach and HR consultant Allison Venditti and economist Armine Yalnizyan discuss how the labour market can recover equitably and create better opportunities for women.
Researchers say they have cured HIV for the third time in history — and in the first mixed-race woman. To discuss how this research could be a breakthrough for helping more diverse populations, Matt Galloway talks to one of the study’s leaders, Dr. Deborah Persaud, a professor of pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Marvelous Muchenje, a doctoral student in social work at the University of Toronto. She also works in community outreach for Viiv Healthcare, a company working on HIV therapies.
As tensions between Ukraine and Russia persist, we talk to Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš about anxiety in his and other neighbouring countries. Also, Janice Stein, founding director of University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs, unpacks Canada’s pledge to supply Ukraine with lethal weapons.
Ottawa's police chief Peter Sloly resigned on Tuesday, amid the ongoing occupation around Parliament Hill. Matt Galloway talks to freelance investigative journalist Justin Ling, who is on the ground at the protest; and Michael Kempa, an associate professor of criminology at the University of Ottawa.
Writer and documentary filmmaker Cheuk Kwan has sought out Chinese restaurants in places like Cuba, Turkey and Outlook, Sask. He tells us what he learned about migration, identity and community from the travels documented in his new book, Have You Eaten Yet?: Stories from Chinese Restaurants Around the World.
Anna Maria Tremonti has been keeping her past a secret for over 40 years. As one of Canada’s most respected journalists, she has a reputation for being fearless. She’s reported from some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones. But there’s one story she’s never made public: when she was 23 years old, she married a man who became physically abusive. This is the first time Anna Maria has told anyone—including family or close friends—the details of what she endured. Working with her therapist, she reveals the intimate details of a past she’s kept to herself for most of her life. If you or someone you know is affected by intimate partner violence, you can find a list of resources at cbc.ca/WTPresources. More episodes are available at: hyperurl.co/welcometoparadise
Ottawa resident Andrea Harden tells us why she and her neighbours decided to confront protesters, amid frustration at what they saw as police inaction.
We talk to Immigration Minister Sean Fraser about Canada’s new immigration targets, and how to clear a backlog that has left some would-be immigrants in limbo for years.
The federal government has invoked the Emergencies Act in a bid to end the protests that have gripped Ottawa and blockaded border crossings. Matt Galloway asks Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair why this step was taken now, and what happens next; and talks to Leah West, an expert on national security law, about whether the legal threshold to invoke the act has been met.
After news that 15-year-old Olympian Kamila Valieva tested positive for a banned substance, senior International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound discusses what to do about Russia and doping in sport.
In her new CBC Podcast Welcome to Paradise, Anna Maria Tremonti opens up about a long-held secret — that she was once married to a man who abused her. She tells us about confronting that past and how it shaped her career as a journalist.
The pandemic has caused an immigration backlog and left people like Arian Ghobadi stuck in administrative limbo. He tells us more. We also discuss the impact on Canada’s competitiveness for skilled newcomers with immigration and refugee lawyers Laura Schemitsch and Warda Shazadi Meighen.
There’s no end in sight to the Ottawa protest, despite Ontario declaring a state of emergency Friday. Matt Galloway discusses the ongoing crisis — and growing frustration with police — with Michael Kempa, associate professor of criminology at the University of Ottawa; and former Attorney General of Canada Allan Rock.
Helene Thiesen was taken from her family in Greenland in the 1950s and sent to school in a residential school-like program in Denmark. She tells us what happened. We also discuss the survivors’ fight for truth with Aaja Chemnitz Larsen, a Danish member of parliament representing Greenland; and Karla Jessen Williamson, an assistant professor at the University of Saskatchewan and a member of the Greenland Reconciliation Commission.
Ukraine is on high alert for a Russian invasion — and that has neighbours in the Baltics alarmed. The Estonian Minister Of Defence Kalle Laanet discusses Russian aggression and what his country is most concerned about.
Canada enacted extra testing for travellers when Omicron hit — but with the variant widespread and cases dropping, some experts say it’s time to rethink those travel rules.
The Beijing Winter Olympics are being held in an area that doesn't usually get much snow. The CBC’s Anthony Germain explores China’s drive to engineer enough fake snow for the Olympics — and its environmental implications. We also talk with Justin Downes, president at Axis Leisure Management, a company that's been helping to grow the Chinese ski industry.
The Ambassador Bridge blockade in Windsor, Ont., has significantly disrupted U.S.-Canada trade, with supply chain issues forcing some manufacturing plants to send workers home. We talk to Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens about efforts to break the blockade; and John D’Agnolo, president of Unifor Local 200 in Windsor.
Working single parents have been among the hardest hit by the pandemic in terms of job losses and economic stability — and the slowest to rebound. As part of our series, Work in Progress, we talk to three women who faced the uncertainty of the pandemic while also juggling family time, childcare and being the sole breadwinner.
P.E.I. piano player Postie Connolly used to entertain seniors in care homes, until pandemic restrictions stopped the music. Now, he’s posting karaoke videos of old tunes online, so seniors can still join the singalong.
Scientists have been trying to harness the extraordinary power of nuclear fusion for years, seeking an almost limitless supply of low-carbon energy. Now, scientists in the U.K. say they’ve had a major breakthrough. We talk to Dennis Whyte, director of the Plasma Science and Fusion Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Our national affairs panel weighs in on protests, blockades and the impact on political fortunes, both provincial and federal. Matt Galloway talks to Paul Wells, a senior writer for Maclean's Magazine; Allison Smith, publisher of Queen’s Park Today; and Kelly Cryderman, a reporter at the Globe and Mail's Calgary bureau.
What are the different groups and perspectives making up the Ottawa protest, and what impact is it having around the world? Matt Galloway talks to Stephanie Carvin, a former national security analyst; and Ruth Ben-Ghiat, an expert on extremist movements.
In his new book Chasing History: A Kid in the Newsroom, legendary journalist Carl Bernstein takes us back to his days as a 16-year-old copy boy in a Washington newsroom. He tells us about his love of newspapers, what he learned from writing obituaries, and going to work on the day John F. Kennedy was killed.
Some provinces are lifting COVID-19 restrictions, including dropping vaccine passports. Shachi Kurl, president of polling company Angus Reid Institute, discusses how Canadians might feel about the moves; and infectious disease experts Dr. Isaac Bogoch and Dr. Alexander Wong weigh in on whether it’s the right approach.
From David Ridgen, the creator of Someone Knows Something, comes the new investigative podcast The Next Call. Tackling unsolved cases through strategic phone calls. In the case of Nadia Atwi, on December 8, 2017, Salwa Atwi arrived at her daughter Nadia’s home in Edmonton as part of their regular carpooling. But Nadia didn’t come outside, and the 32-year-old kindergarten teacher was never seen again. Edmonton’s Muslim and Lebanese communities pulled together to search in the days following. Initial searches seem promising, as Nadia’s car is found in a park with her phone inside, but four years later there is still no sign of her. More episodes are available at: smarturl.it/thenextcall
The stalemate in the nation's capital has now lasted 12 days. Matt Galloway asks Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino how the federal government plans to resolve it; and asks Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson what the city needs to cope.
University of Saskatchewan professor Kathryn McWilliams has studied the aurora borealis for decades, hoping to one day predict the northern lights as accurately as we do the weather, and protect against solar storms. Now, her work has been recognized with a prestigious award from the U.K.'s Royal Astronomical Society.
$228 million in funding has been pledged to help B.C. farmers recover from November’s devastating floods. We talk to Shealynn MacVicar, who owns a family farm in Merritt, B.C.; and Henry Braun, mayor of Abbotsford, B.C.
The Olympics are in full swing, but some activists are urging Canadians not to watch the events as a protest over China’s human rights record. We talk to Mehmet Tohti, executive director of Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project; and Mabel Tung, chair of the Vancouver Society in Support of Democratic Movement.
Protests in Ottawa have entered their second week, with Mayor Jim Watson declaring a state of emergency. Matt Galloway discusses what happens next with Amarnath Amarasingam, an associate fellow at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation; Regina Bateson, an assistant professor in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa; and Michael Kempa, a professor of criminology at the University of Ottawa.
As public health and government officials discuss easing restrictions and learning to live with COVID-19, Canadians with disabilities fear being left behind. We hear from disability advocates Allen Mankewich and Marya Bangash, and University of Toronto assistant professor Hilary Brown, co-author of a new study on the impacts of COVID-19 on people with disabilities.
A group of First Nations in British Columbia have come together to put in a bid for the 2030 Olympics. We talk to Squamish Nation councillor Wilson Williams and Musqueam Chief Wayne Sparrow, who are part of the bid; and University of British Columbia associate professor Robert VanWynsberghe, who led the impact study of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
The fundraising platform GoFundMe has paused more than $10 million in donations for the Ottawa protest. We talk to security specialist Jessica Davis about what the concerns are, who is donating and what will happen to that money.
A new book recently purported to reveal who betrayed Anne Frank to the Nazis. Now, its Dutch publisher has suspended printing over accusations of research errors. We talk to leading Dutch Holocaust historian Johannes Houwink ten Cate about the story.
U.S. musician and traveller Justin Shetler went to the Parvati Valley in India seeking enlightenment — but never returned. He’s one of dozens who have disappeared in the area. Canadian author Harley Rustad explores what happened and his own journey to that part of the world in his book Lost in the Valley of Death: A Story of Obsession and Danger in the Himalayas.
For a week, residents in downtown Ottawa have been living through the noise and disruption of a protest against vaccine mandates and other public health measures. But while locals say they’re exhausted and fed up, protesters say they aren't leaving. The Current heads to the streets of Ottawa to hear what’s happening on the ground, and ask what it will take to break the gridlock.
Just 17 months after he became leader of Canada's Conservative Party, Erin O'Toole was voted out Wednesday. Matt Galloway talks about what comes next for the party, with Tasha Kheiriddin, a principal with the public relations company Navigator and a columnist with Post Media; Shakir Chambers, a principal at Earnscliffe Strategies, who worked in the Prime Minister's Office under Stephen Harper; and Monte Solberg, a former Conservative MP and cabinet minister, and current CEO of New West Public Affairs.
Rates for routine vaccinations have declined during the pandemic — both for childhood inoculations and things like flu shots for seniors. We discuss how Canada can get back on track — and the risks we face if we don't — with public health physician Dr. Jia Hu; and Laura Tamblyn Watts, CEO of CanAge, the national seniors’ advocacy organization.
More than half of all food produced in Canada goes to waste. We discuss where that waste occurs and how to reduce it, with Lori Nikkel, CEO of food rescue organization Second Harvest; and Tammara Soma, research director and co-founder of the Food Systems Lab at Simon Fraser University.
Denmark has dropped all COVID-19 restrictions; what will it take for Canada to safely reach that point? Matt Galloway talks to Michael Bang Petersen, a professor of political science at Aarhus University, who’s advising the Danish government on its COVID-19 response; and Dr. Zain Chagla, an infectious disease physician at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton.
Canadian soccer is having a moment: the women's team are Olympic champions, and the men's team is on the cusp of its first World Cup in more than three decades. We reflect on Canada as a soccer nation — and why it's time for our own professional women's league — with Nick Bontis, the president of Canada Soccer; Diana Matheson, a two-time Olympic medallist with Canada's women's soccer team; and Shireen Ahmed, a senior contributor with CBC Sports and host of the Burn It All Down podcast.
With the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing just days away, the CBC’s Anthony Germain takes us inside the Olympic Village to tell us what he’s seeing — and how it compares to the Beijing Olympics he reported on in 2008.
With the federal Conservatives set to vote on Erin O'Toole's leadership, we discuss what's at stake — both for O'Toole and the party itself.
Earlonne Woods was serving 31-years-to-life in prison when he met Nigel Poor, an artist who taught art to inmates. Together, their podcast Ear Hustle brings listeners inside prison for a personal look at life behind bars. They tell us about their friendship and how the podcast came about.
As part of our series looking at China, we're talking about the trade and investment wrapped up in the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing — and why some Canadian entrepreneurs say China is still a land of opportunity despite human rights concerns and diplomatic tensions. Matt Galloway talks to Constantine Karayannopoulos, CEO of Neo Performance Materials, which operates several rare earth processing plants in China; Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, a senior fellow at the China Institute at the University of Alberta; and Sarah Kutulakos, executive director of the Canada China Business Council.
An escalation in violence in Yemen is sparking fresh concerns over the humanitarian situation in that country — and bringing up questions about Canada’s weapons contract with Saudi Arabia. We talk to Ahmed Mahat, head of mission for Yemen for Médecins Sans Frontières; Thomas Juneau, assistant professor at the University of Ottawa’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, and author of the book Le Yémen en guerre (Yemen at war); and Ardi Imseis, assistant professor of law at Queen’s University, who spent 12 years as a UN official in the Middle East and has helped investigate Yemen's civil war.
A new documentary from an Israeli director points to a mass, unmarked grave of Palestinians, killed in the village of Tantura in 1948. We talk to Alon Schwarz, director of Tantura; Hillel Cohen, a professor of Islamic and Middle Eastern studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and head of the university’s Cherrick Center for the Study of Zionism; and Yara Hawari, a Palestinian writer and senior analyst at Al-Shabaka, The Palestinian Policy Network, and host of the podcast Rethinking Palestine.
Our national affairs panel looks at the trucker rally in Ottawa and what to expect as MPs return to parliament this week. We talk party leadership and priorities with Heather Scoffield, the Ottawa bureau chief and an economics columnist for the Toronto Star; Marieke Walsh, a parliamentary reporter with The Globe and Mail; and Max Fawcett, lead columnist for the National Observer.
On the eve of the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, Matt Galloway talks to former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd about how Canada and its allies should engage with China, as the country vies for a more dominant role on the world stage.
The convoy approaching Ottawa has been described as beginning as a protest against a vaccine mandate for cross-border truck drivers — but there are concerns more extremist views have hitched a ride along the way. Reporter Justin Ling unpacks who’s involved, and what we might see when it reaches the capital this weekend.
B.C.'s provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry talks to Matt Galloway about the province's shift around COVID-19, amidst the highly transmissible Omicron variant.
Draft national standards for long-term care homes were released Thursday, in response to the shortcomings laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic. We talk to Dr. Samir Sinha, who chaired the committee that drafted the proposed standards; and André Picard, a health columnist with the Globe and Mail.
Are you feeling uninspired and uninterested by your social media feeds and internet searches? Author Clive Thompson tells us why "rewilding" your attention can change your relationship with the internet — and introduces us to his "Weird Old Book Finder."
We continue our Work in Progress series, talking to essential workers about their experience in the pandemic — and what they want to see happen next. We talk to Danielle Turpin, who left her job as a personal support worker and started a co-op for PSWs in her area; and Stephanie Ross, director of the School of Labour Studies at McMaster University.
Tensions remain high on the Russia-Ukraine border. The U.S. says an invasion may be imminent, Russia says no such thing is planned, and countries like Canada are sending support to Ukraine. Matt Galloway talks to Russia's Ambassador to Canada Oleg Stepanov; and Roland Paris, a former foreign policy advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
A family of four was found frozen to death in Manitoba last week, after trying to walk across the border into the United States. They are reported to be from Gujarat, a prosperous state in India. Matt Galloway talks to reporter Vaibhav Jha in Gujarat; and discusses the migration policies that give rise to these desperate journeys with Craig Smith, a senior research associate with the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and integration at Ryerson University.
As the global spotlight gets closer to China and the Beijing Winter Olympics, Canadian security experts warn that China is targeting politicians here with disinformation and influence campaigns. We talk to former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu; Sze-Fung Lee, a researcher at McGill University's School of Information Studies; and Richard Fadden, former director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.
In her new book Lost & Found, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and New Yorker writer Kathryn Schulz writes about the loss of her father — and the things in life that bind us all together.
South Africa's bout with Omicron is slowing down — offering other countries a glimpse of what might be coming next in the pandemic. Matt Galloway discusses what Canada might learn, with Dr. Shabir Madhi, a professor of vaccinology at Johannesburg's University of the Witwatersrand; and Jason Kindrachuk, a virologist at the University of Manitoba.
CBC Massey Lectures episode 1: Europe and the Art of Seeing. Black subjects in European art are generally marginal figures, but even as such, they tell a rich tale about cultural assumptions. "To look at a portrait is to be forced to build a human life out of our own imaginations," says Massey lecturer Esi Edugyan. Art can both freeze a narrative and remove ambiguity, but it can also suggest layers of perhaps unintended meaning. More episodes from the CBC Massey Lectures are available at smarturl.it/cbcideas
Cross-border truckers coming into Canada must now be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or face stringent testing requirements and a lengthy quarantine period. The prime minister has defended the policy as a way to keep travel-related infections under control, but critics say it could disrupt the supply chain and lead to empty shelves across the country. Matt Galloway talks to Mike Millian, president of the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada; and Opher Baron, a distinguished professor of operations management at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.
In his new podcast Things Fell Apart: Strange Tales From The Culture Wars, Jon Ronson traces the history of culture wars over issues like religion, gender, and sexuality — and finds some very weird stories along the way.
The online game Wordle has gone viral, with people trying to find the five-letter word and then sharing their efforts with friends and family. We talk to Thi Nguyen, an expert on games and a professor of philosophy at the University of Utah, about what the craze says about our need for games right now.
Washington state Democratic representative Debra Lekanoff is trying to set up an Amber Alert-type system for Native American women who go missing in her state. She tells us more; and we discuss the problem in Canada with Marion Buller, former chief commissioner for the National Inquiry for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
In her six-part CBC Massey Lecture series, Out of the Sun: On Race and Storytelling, Canadian author Esi Edugyan explores issues of representation and belonging in writing, visual art and her own personal history. She talks to us about the stories we don’t tell, from buried histories to ghost stories.
As shelters buckle under the weight of COVID-19, cities across Canada are struggling with how to assist the unhoused. But Canadians don't have to look too far to find a handful of places that are tackling the problem head-on — and winning. Jaime Rogers, the manager of homeless and housing development with the Medicine Hat Community Housing Society, tells us why the city can be a model for the rest of the country. We also talk with Stephen Gaetz, the director of the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness and a professor at the Faculty of Education at York University in Toronto; and Juha Kaakinen, the CEO of Finland's largest social housing enterprise, the Y-Foundation.
There are thousands of Canadians whose surgeries have been postponed because of the strain COVID-19 is putting on health-care. Matt Galloway talks about addressing this health-care issue, with Dr. Jean-François Joncas, an orthopedic surgeon and president of the Association d'orthopédie du Québec; and Dr. Danielle Martin, a family doctor and the chair of family and community medicine at the University of Toronto.
There is a crisis in nursing as people burned out from the pandemic flee from the profession. It’s resulted in some jurisdictions drawing on a previously underutilized resource: internationally-educated nurses. We talk about what needs to change about how internationally-educated nurses are accredited in Canada, with Chandra Kafle, who worked as a nurse in Nepal long before becoming a registered nurse at Toronto’s Sunnybrook Hospital; and Bukola Salami, a nursing researcher and associate professor at the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta.
Jessica Sewell was working as an administrative assistant in Burnaby, B.C., when she contracted COVID-19 last May. She tells Matt Galloway how her unpredictable long COVID-19 symptoms make it impossible to know whether she’ll be able to work as effectively as she was before getting infected. We also hear from Simon Décary, a professor of rehabilitation at the Université de Sherbrooke, who studies the health and long-term care needs of long COVID-19 patients.
The world is on edge watching Russia's actions at the border with Ukraine. We get an update from CBC’s Briar Stewart, who’s back from the Ukrainian city of Donetsk. We also hear from Alexandra Chyczij, National President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, about what Canada’s extensive Ukrainian diaspora wants from the federal government.
When Cristino Bouvette became a priest, he dreaded telling his grandmother — a residential school survivor. But her reaction showed him that reconciliation takes many forms.
COVID-19 left Matthew Cardinal on a ventilator last spring. He’s now back at work in Regina, but living with the debilitating effects of COVID-19. He talks to Matt Galloway about the impact the virus had on his life, and how he tries to stay optimistic in the face of uncertainty.
We hear how Montreal pharmacist Daron Basmadjian set up an ultra-safe vaccine clinic to help the immunocompromised, who are scared to attend bigger clinics.
Remote learning has cut off the school meal programs that are vital for kids from low-income families. We hear how communities stepped in to fill that void, and how the pandemic increased calls for Canada to implement a national school lunch program.
How do you forget your favourite person in the world? Alex remembers everything about the day a speeding police car killed his brother. But his brother, alive? Those memories are lost. And now, 30 years later, Alex wants them back. In this emotional four-part series, Alex unearths his childhood grief — with help from family, friends, and a therapist who witnessed his brother’s death. What happens when trauma and memory collide? Sorry About The Kid is a deeply personal meditation on the losses that define us. Hosted by Alex McKinnon. Produced with Mira Burt-Wintonick (WireTap, Love Me). More episodes are available at hyperurl.co/sorryaboutthekid
When Quadriga CEO Gerald Cotten died suddenly in 2018, the passcodes for his cryptocurrency exchange died with him. His clients were locked out of about $250 million, and investigators later found widespread fraud. Matt Galloway talks to his widow, Jennifer Robertson, about what she did and didn’t know.
Legendary Canadian and Boston Bruins player Willie O'Ree's No. 22 jersey was retired last night. We revisit Matt Galloway’s Nov. 2020 conversation with O’Ree, the first Black player in the NHL, who fought racism in his sport.
The massing of 100,000 Russian troops on Ukraine’s border has prompted fears of an invasion — and global leaders are scrambling to reduce tensions. We discuss what could happen, and Canada’s role, with Illia Ponomarenko, defence reporter with the Kyiv Independent; Aurel Braun, a professor of international relations and political science at the University of Toronto; and Constanze Stelzenmüller, the Fritz Stern Chair on Germany and trans-Atlantic Relations at the Brookings Institution.
This month marks 20 years since the opening of a U.S. prison at Guantánamo Bay, despite repeated U.S. presidential promises to close it. We talk to Ramzi Kassem, a professor of law at the City University of New York, who has also defended 14 detainees at Guantanamo; and Carol Rosenberg, a military affairs reporter for the New York Times and author of Guantánamo Bay: The Pentagon's Alcatraz of the Caribbean.
A new book dives into the riddle of who betrayed Anne Frank and her family to the Nazis. Matt Galloway talks to Rosemary Sullivan, author of The Betrayal of Anne Frank: A Cold Case Investigation.
Pfizer's new COVID-19 drug has been approved for use in Canada, but some experts have their concerns. They say its usefulness may be limited by the testing and timeframe requirements to receive it, and the sheer number of Omicron cases that Canada's public health system is struggling to deal with. We talk with infectious disease expert Dr. Ilan Schwartz.
Michael Dunahee was just four years old when he vanished from a playground in Victoria, B.C. in 1991. We talk to Laura Palmer about her new podcast, Missing Michael, which looks at his disappearance and his family’s search for answers.
Multiple sclerosis has affected millions of people worldwide — but there is now fresh evidence that it’s triggered in part by the Epstein-Barr virus. Matt Galloway talks to Allison Markin, who has been living with MS for almost 20 years; and Dr. Jiwon Oh, medical director of the Barlo Multiple Sclerosis Program at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto.
Two years into pandemic learning, teachers are digging deep for inspiration and creativity to keep kids on track. As students in some parts of Canada head back to the classroom, we talk to Sabrina Jafralie, who teaches ethics and religious culture at Westmount High School in Montreal; Tara Sampson, an elementary school music teacher in Halifax; and Steve Massa, a French immersion teacher at Withrow Avenue Junior Public School in Toronto.
Political legend Alexa McDonough has died. We discuss her legacy with Lisa Raitt, a former deputy leader of the Conservative Party; former NDP MP Libby Davies; and Canada's Minister of National Defence Anita Anand.
Helen Naslund was sentenced to 18 years for killing her abusive husband in Alberta — but this week, a judge cut that sentence in half. Journalist Christina Frangou tells us more about the 27-year abusive marriage. We also discuss this case, and others involving abuse, with Elizabeth Sheehy, a professor emerita of law at the University of Ottawa; and Jan Reimer, executive director of the Alberta Council of Women's Shelters and former mayor of Edmonton.
In an extended version of Thursday's conversation, former Facebook employee-turned-whistleblower Frances Haugen tells Matt Galloway about why she chose to disclose thousands of documents about the social media giant, and why she thinks Canada could lead a coalition of countries to demand change.
A U.S. military plane with 44 people onboard disappeared as it was flying over the Yukon in 1950. It was never seen again. Now, a new documentary is putting a spotlight back on the families’ search for answers. We talk to Andrew Gregg, the director, writer and co-producer of Skymaster Down.
When we first spoke to Shawn Bath about his one-man effort to clean up Newfoundland's harbours, he was doing it in a 15-year-old drysuit that was starting to leak. He now runs a fleet of four clean-up vessels. He tells us about that journey.
Our national affairs panel discusses the provinces' latest COVID-19 measures, and public trust in top medical officials. Matt Galloway talks to Marie Vastel, a parliamentary reporter for Le Devoir; Robert Benzie, the Queen's Park Bureau Chief for the Toronto Star; and Murray Mandryk, political columnist for the Regina Leader-Post.
Have you had trouble sleeping since the pandemic started? London, Ont. woman Veronica Antipolo has, and she’s not alone. We hear how insomnia rates have skyrocketed during COVID-19 — and get tips on how to deal with it — with Dr. Elliott Lee, medical director of the sleep disorder clinic at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre; and Luc Beaudoin, adjunct professor of education and cognitive science at Simon Fraser University.
Former Facebook employee turned whistleblower Frances Haugen made headlines last year after disclosing thousands of documents about the social media giant, and testifying before U.S. senators that it chooses profits over the safety and well-being of its users. She tells Matt Galloway about what she saw over two years inside the company, and why she thinks Canada could lead a coalition of countries to demand change.
The Omicron surge has again highlighted inequality, between those who can work from home and access COVID-19 tests and better masks — and those who cannot. We discuss the challenges faced by low-income and racialized communities with Dr. Andrew Boozary, a physician and the executive director of Social Medicine at the University Health Network in Toronto; Raymond Ngarboui, an organizer with the Community Education Development Association and Rainbow Community Garden in Winnipeg; and Sue Gwynn, acting chair for Poverty Talks!, an advocacy group in Calgary.
Our panel of experts talk to us about Dry January and re-examing the role of alcohol in life and society. Our panel consists of Ivy Knight, a freelance writer, journalist and fixture in Toronto’s restaurant scene; Ariel Ng Bourbonnais, a yoga teacher and research analyst who stopped drinking last year; and Fiona Hepher, the CEO and co-founder of dealcoholized beverage distributor and importer Sansorium.
After months of popular protests calling for social reforms, 155 people have been given the responsibility of drafting Chile’s new constitution. Fernando Atria is one of those people — and he speaks to us about the necessity of drafting a new constitution for the country. We also hear from Guillermo Larrain, an economist and the author of The Stability of the Social Contract in Chile.
The Globe and Mail's Health Columnist André Picard discusses Quebec’s new medical tax on unvaccinated Quebecers.
Last week, the genetically modified heart of a pig was transplanted into the chest of a critically ill man. It was the first time this transplant had ever been done, and its outcome could change the future of transplant medicine.
When Canadian mining companies operate overseas, their work is overseen by local authorities, not by the Canadian government. Some activists want the federal government to regulate those operations in order to protect Indigenous peoples in those countries. We talk to Grahame Russell, co-editor of a new book called Testimonio: Canadian Mining in the Aftermath of Genocides in Guatemala; and Angélica Choc, a leading Indigenous land rights defender in Guatemala.
Canadian author Lawrence Hill tells us about the joy and challenge of writing his new children's book, Beatrice and Croc Harry, and how he tackled big social issues for young readers.
How sick might children get if they catch the Omicron variant? Matt Galloway talks to pediatric infectious disease specialist Dr. Fatima Kakkar about what she’s seeing with her patients; and Michelle Driedger, a professor of community health sciences at the University of Manitoba, discusses how to address vaccine hesitancy among parents.
It’s been two years since Ukrainian Airlines Flight PS752 was shot down by Iranian missiles, killing 176 people, most with ties to Canada. We discuss the next steps in getting justice and accountability for the victims with Hamed Esmaeilion, the spokesperson for the Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims, who had family members on that flight; and Irwin Cotler, former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and international chair of the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights.
Feeling stressed at work? You’re not alone. As part of our series Work in Progress, we discuss the pandemic’s psychological fallout, and the risk that mental health issues could become a shadow epidemic in Canadian workplaces. Matt Galloway talks to a mother of three who juggled child care with working a full-time job at home; Hassel Aviles, executive director of Not 9 to 5, a non-profit supporting restaurant and food service workers' mental health; and Bill Howatt, founder and CEO of human resources firm Howatt HR.
Then, anti-government demonstrations swept across Kazakhstan last week, and they quickly turned violent. We discuss what drove that violence with Isabelle Khurshudyan, a Washington Post foreign correspondent who has been reporting on the unrest; and Canadian diplomat Jeremy Kinsman, who served as ambassador to Russia and Kazakhstan.
Author and science journalist Catherine Price is here to tell us why now is the time for a fun-tervention — and how we can create the conditions to feel joyfully alive. She’s the author of The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again.
Pioneering theatre producer Nina Lee Aquino will be taking over as artistic director of the National Arts Centre’s English Theatre later this year. She joins us to talk about the complex questions surrounding Canadian identity and the role theatre plays in answering them.
Some of our younger listeners might be stuck at home again, but we — and some of our friends — have some ideas to help them have some fun. We’ve got music with Canadian children’s singer Raffi; storytelling with author Emil Sher; and mindfulness exercise with early childhood educator Michelle Candelaria.
The first week of 2022 is over, and there are already political challenges staring down Canada in the coming months. Our panel of Canadian political veterans takes us through the year ahead in national politics. It’s comprised of Anne McLellan, who served as Liberal MP for Edmonton Centre from 1993 to 2006; Libby Davies, former NDP House Leader and who served MP for Vancouver East for 18 years; and Ted Menzies, who served as the Conservative MP for the former riding of Macleod in southern Alberta from 2004 to 2013.
If a U.S. Capitol riot-like attack were to happen on our side of the border, how prepared is Canada to deal with it? We speak with security expert Stephanie Carvin about it. She’s an associate professor at Carleton University and the author of Stand on Guard: Reassessing Threats to Canada's National Security.
Scientists and doctors say that without proper measures to combat airborne transmissions — like N95 masks and ventilation — we’re going to have a hard time fighting Omicron. We speak with Dr. Kashif Pirzada, an emergency room physician and co-founder of the group Masks4Canada, about the necessity of using N95 masks. We also chat with 14-year-old Shiven Taneja, who’s building homemade air purifiers for people in his community.
It’s been a year since thousands of Donald Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol building in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election results. In their new book, The Steal: The Attempt to Overthrow the 2020 Election and the People Who Stopped It, Mark Bowden and Matthew Teague chronicle the conspiracies that led to that violent day.
In their latest investigation, CBC’s The Fifth Estate takes us inside white supremacist group The Base. Show host Gillian Findlay tells us what they found. We also speak with Barbara Perry, director of the Centre on Hate Bias and Extremism at the Ontario Tech University, about the infiltration of the Canadian military by right-wing extremists.
In our new series, Work in Progress, we explore how COVID-19 has changed workplaces and the future of work. Our series debuts with an interview with Jacques Goulet, president of Sun Life Canada, who talks about how his company adapted to the pandemic.
The federal government and First Nations leaders have struck a historic $40 billion agreement-in-principle to compensate young people harmed by Canada’s discriminatory child welfare system. For more on how this agreement-in-principle could set the stage for a truly reformed child welfare system, we speak with Cindy Blackstock, executive director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, and a professor at McGill University’s School of Social Work; and federal Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu. We also speak with Cowessess First Nation Chief Cadmus Delorme about the agreement his nation reached with the Saskatchewan and federal governments last year, which gave them complete decision-making power over their children and youth.
Parents across Canada are once again learning their children won’t be going back to school anytime soon. We discuss the repercussions a lack of in-person learning could have on children with Dr. Tracy Vaillancourt, a professor and Canada Research Chair in Children's Mental Health and Violence Prevention at the University of Ottawa; Dr. Shimi Kang, a child psychiatrist and author of The Tech Solution: Creating Healthy Habits for Kids Growing Up in a Digital World; and Prachi Srivastava, an emergency education expert and associate professor of education and global development at the University of Western Ontario.
A group of ice scientists who’ve been studying the Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica have reported that the glacier is closer to potential collapse than previously thought. Jeff Goodell, who first nicknamed it the “Doomsday Glacier,” tells us about the environmental and societal impacts the glacier’s collapse could have. He’s a journalist and the author of The Water Will Come: Rising Seas, Sinking Cities, and the Remaking of the Civilized World.
Last week, 135 Canadians were honoured with an appointment to the Order of Canada. Among those Canadians were Indigenous trailblazer Gail Cyr and disability activist and humourist David Roche. They spoke with us about their contributions to Canada.
From record-breaking case counts to provincial lockdowns, it’s been an exhausting few weeks for Canadians, especially health-care workers. We speak with three health-care workers across Canada about dealing with Omicron and shutdowns. Dr. Srinivas Murthy is a critical care specialist and Canada’s research chair in pandemic preparedness at the University of British Columbia; Dr. Lisa Salamon is an ER physician at the Scarborough Health Network; and Dr. Matthew Oughto is an attending physician in the division of Infectious Diseases at Montreal’s Jewish General Hospital.
Dieting or losing weight is often at the top of New Year’s resolutions, but stand-up comedian Debra DiGiovanni will make no such promises to herself — or anyone else — this year. She spoke to us about her journey through rehab for an eating disorder.
Musician Tamara Lindeman of The Weather Station often writes songs that lean into deep emotions. This can be seen in her 2021 album, Ignorance, which included songs about love, loss, and feelings around the looming climate crisis. She explains why taking on our feelings can be the best way to handle them.
Fitness goals can dominate New Year’s resolution lists, but two experts tell us why people should take it easy and not put too much strain on their bodies this year. Lou Schuler is the former fitness director at Men’s Health magazine and the author of many fitness books; and Jeff Warren is a meditation teacher, the host of the Do Nothing Project and a former producer for The Current.
We hear from two Black Canadians about making time to care for themselves. Rapper Shad Kabango explains how his song, Black Averageness, is a provocative call to embrace being OK; and Allison Hill, owner of Hill Studio, tells us how her business encourages Black women to find time to care for themselves.
For the better part of two years, COVID-19 has prevented most musicians from holding live concerts. Things seemed to be clearing up when vaccine rates were high and case counts were low, but thanks to Omicron, shows are being cancelled yet again. For more on the year that was — and the year that’s coming — for the Canadian music scene, guest host Paul Hunter speaks with singer-songwriter Alex Cuba; guitarist and singer for Said The Whale, Ben Worcester; and Maya Postepski, DJ and EDM artist who goes by the name Princess Century.
South Africa will come to a standstill tomorrow for Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s funeral. Tutu, who died on Sunday after a long battle with cancer, was a key figure in the fight against apartheid. He also campaigned for human rights internationally, including advocating for LGBT rights and standing up for the rights of Palestinians. To learn more about the late archbishop, we speak with his close friend Father Michael Lapsley, the founder of the Institute for Healing of Memories. We also speak with Prof. Tim Murithi, the head of programme at the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation in South Africa.
Steven Van Zandt is an accomplished singer, songwriter and producer who worked with Bruce Springsteen, and he's even starred in The Sopranos. But as he explained to Matt Galloway earlier this year, his proudest achievement might've been tackling apartheid in South Africa.
Neither Mario Rigby nor Eva Holland grew up knowing much about nature. But by pushing themselves, they conquered their fears — and now they encourage others to do the same. We hear their stories in a repeat of Duncan McCue’s Back to the Land, a four-part series about people who are (re)connecting with nature and the outdoors.
Yesterday 135 people were named to the Order of Canada. Among those honoured is Diane Sowden, the founder of the Children of the Street Society. Since she started the non-profit in 1995, she’s helped educate thousands of people about child sexual exploitation. She talks to us about her non-profit and what being named to the Order of Canada means to her.
Few people can say they’ve had as thrilling of a 2021 as Damian Warner, who won an Olympic gold medal in the decathlon and was named Canada’s top athlete this year. Guest host Paul Hunter speaks with the iconic Canadian athlete about what he’s achieved in his professional and personal lives this year — and what his goals are for 2022.
The town of Cremona in northern Italy has produced the world’s best violins for centuries. The CBC’s Megan Williams takes us to the city to meet a Canadian luthier, Bernard Neumann, who’s considered one of the world's top violin makers and restorers.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Aminah Haghighi faced what she calls her quarter-life crisis and began gardening at her Toronto home. Today, she runs a farm in Prince Edward County, Ont., that sells everything from tomatoes to seedlings at the local farmer's market. But in her journey to launch Raining Gold Farms, Haghighi says she's faced racism from those living in the rural community. Jacqueline Scott, a University of Toronto Ph.D candidate who studies race and the outdoors, says that's not surprising given that nature is often coded as a "white space" — and farmers are often considered to be white men. Earlier this year, we explored their stories in Back to the Land, a four-part series about people who are (re)connecting with nature and the outdoors.
COVID-19 cases are high, public health restrictions are back, and for many Canadians, morale is low. But according to sociologist Zeynep Tufekci, there are reasons for optimism about Omicron. She’s a sociology professor at the University of North Carolina and a New York Times columnist.
American Mildred Harnack-Fish was a key resistance figure in Nazi Germany — she fed secrets to the allies, and was ultimately killed on Adolf Hitler's direct orders. Her Canadian-born great-great niece Rebecca Donner tells the story in her new book, All the Frequent Troubles of Our Days.
Jon Cadang has struggled with his mental health since childhood, but he says spending time in nature proved to be a powerful treatment against his depression. He's not alone, says Vancouver-based physician Dr. Melissa Lem, the director of PaRx, an evidence-based nature prescription program. They talk to Back to the Land host Duncan McCue about getting outside, and why it's so good for us. Back to the Land is a four-part series about people who are (re)connecting with nature and the outdoors.
When Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th U.S. president in January, a new era was supposed to begin in the United States. But Biden's time in the White House has already been marked by chaos and crisis. We talk about Biden's first year as U.S. president with Amy Walter, publisher and editor-in-chief of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter; and Molly Jong-Fast, a contributing writer for the Atlantic.
We revisit Back to the Land, a four-part series about people who are (re)connecting with nature and the outdoors. Earlier this year, Duncan McCue explored the relationship between the land and Indigenous languages.
The pandemic continues to affect every aspect of our lives, including how we eat. From grocery store lineups to rising food prices, COVID-19 has changed our relationship with food. For more on that change and food insecurity, we talk to Joshna Maharaj, a food activist, chef and author; and Miriam Bankey, a food educator and the impact and evaluation specialist at Brown Bagging for Calgary's Kids, a non-profit providing lunches to Calgary kids.
Hard times can bring out the very best in people, as a Baltimore neighbourhood found out last Christmas. Matt Riggs and Kim Morton explain how an act of kindness using Christmas lights started a holiday tradition for their community. We also travel to Port de Grave, Nfld., where Joyce Morgan, co-chair of the Port de Grave Annual Boat Lighting, explains why boats decked out in Christmas lights have lit up the harbour for more than two decades.
Pigeons have been associated with urban decay and disease by some, but there was a point in time when they were a status symbol collected by the rich and powerful. We speak to science writer and cartoonist Rosemary Mosco about why now is the time to reconsider the pigeon — and her book, A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching: Getting to Know the World's Most Misunderstood Bird.
Earlier this year, the CBC’s Margaret Evans took us inside Uganda, where COVID-19 was threatening to undermine decades of work to protect the African nation’s mountain gorillas. We revisit her documentary about what’s being done to keep them safe.
From an explosion of COVID-19 cases to new restrictions and lockdown measures, there’s a lot to be anxious about. But as the Globe and Mail's André Picard tells us, there are some reasons to hope ahead of the holiday season. We also speak to Dr. David Carr, an emergency room physician at the University Health Network and Mackenzie Health Hospital in Toronto, about why he’s tweeting an advent calendar of good COVID-19 news every day until the end of December.
Artist Ai Weiwei shares many similarities with his poet father Ai Qing: from their passion for art, to their experience of persecution at the hands of authoritarian governments. Ai spoke to Matt Galloway in November about the struggles he and his father endured together, and his new memoir 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows.
It’s taken years, billions of dollars and a lot of hope, but the James Webb Space Telescope is finally scheduled to take off. The telescope will be able to see further in space and time than anything ever built, including the Hubble Space Telescope it’s replacing. For more information, we hear from Begoña Vila, the systems lead at NASA for the Fine Guidance Sensor and the Near-Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph; and Natasha Batalha from NASA’s Planetary Systems Branch.
Many of the children growing up in Syria’s al-Hol detention camp never had a formal education. That changed for some Finnish children last year when Finland ran a secret, remote learning program for 24 Finnish kids in al-Hol. We hear from IIona Taimela, one of the teachers running classes; Jussi Tanner, a diplomat and Finland's special envoy dealing with efforts to repatriate Finnish citizens in Syria; and Farida Deif, the director of Human Rights Watch in Canada.
Criminal defence lawyer Marie Henein says she felt compelled to write her new memoir, Nothing But The Truth, because her "two-dimensional" public image isn't the whole story. Earlier this year, she discussed her career, and how the public can sometimes misunderstand the work of a defence lawyer.
This holiday season is feeling a lot like the last one, thanks in large part to skyrocketing COVID-19 cases and a range of restrictions and public health measures. This is tough news for health-care workers who — after a long, exhausting fight — are staring down the barrel of what could be the worst wave of COVID-19 yet. For more on how hospitals are preparing to weather the Omicron variant, we speak to Kevin Smith, president and CEO of the University Health Network in Toronto; and Reanne Booker, a nurse in oncology and the president of the Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology.
It’s been five years since Leonard Cohen died, but the great Canadian poet still looms large over his country through iconic, spiritual songs such as Hallelujah and It Seemed the Better Way. We talk to Harry Freedman, author of Leonard Cohen: The Mystical Roots of Genius, about the mystical roots of some of Cohen’s most enduring works.
COVID-19 cases continue to rise as another calendar year of the pandemic comes to a close. The Omicron variant is part of the reason why — and just ahead of the holidays, it’s making Canadians nervous. We speak to Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam about where we are in the pandemic, what to expect in the near future — and celebrating a safe holiday season.
Where do you want to be buried? That’s the question author Kamal Al-Solaylee wrestled with in his book, Return: Why We Go Back to Where We Come From. Earlier this year, Al-Solaylee discussed his own feelings around the idea of home, and the desire of different communities to return to their homelands.
British Columbia’s Coquihalla Highway was destroyed by mudslides last month, but crews worked around the clock to get it back open. Their hard work paid off, as the highway reopened today ahead of schedule. We speak to Michael Ballingall, senior vice-president of Big White Ski Resort and the chair of the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, about what the highway’s reopening means for the tourism industry. We also talk to Amy Kim, an associate professor of transportation engineering at the University of British Columbia, about making highways like the Coquihalla more resilient to climate change.
The future of the Great Barrier Reef is still in question, but some Australian scientists have not stood idly by. For the last five years, they’ve been trying to heal the reef using a process called Coral IVF. Peter Harrison, a coral ecologist and the founding director of the Marine Ecology Research Centre at Southern Cross University, explains how their work is paying off.
Even before Omicron, Tessa Dupuis was tired of COVID-19 and the negative talk that filled her Saskatchewan salon. She’s been trying to spread positivity and kindness by barring COVID-19, vaccine and political talk within her salon.
The Omicron crisis in the United Kingdom could serve as a warning sign for Canada, its provinces and its politicians. We speak to Dr. Deepti Gurdasani, a clinical epidemiologist at Queen Mary University of London, about the variant's effect on the U.K. health-care system; and Paul Brand, the UK Editor at ITV News, about how this could impact Boris Johnson's leadership.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is dropping the Sackler name from several galleries amid growing frustration over the role the family might have played in the opioid crisis. Earlier this year, we spoke to writer Patrick Radden Keefe about the Sackler family and his book, Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty.