CBC
The Current
Three stories to expand your worldview, delivered daily. Matt Galloway cuts through a sea of choice to bring you stories that transcend the news cycle. Conversations with big thinkers, household names, and people living the news. An antidote to algorithms that cater to what you already know — and a meeting place for diverse perspectives. In its 20 years, the Current has become a go-to place for stories that shape and entertain us. Released daily, Monday to Friday. The Current is produced in Toronto, Ontario, Canada — and has recently recorded live shows about the Canadian election in Surrey an...
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Episodes
Mandy Rennehan on her Order of Canada 15.01.2026 13:09
Mandy Rennehan started her construction company Freshco as a teenager in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. At the time, she couldn't imagine it would grow into the multimillion-dollar business it has become. Now, she’s been appointed to the Order of Canada. We talk to her about how she got here, and became a champion of the trades and women in the trades.
Country star Terri Clark's biggest honour yet 15.01.2026 12:28
She's a member of the Grand Ole Opry and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, but for Terri Clark, being inducted into the Order of Canada is extra special. We talk to the Canadian country star about her roots in Medicine Hat, and why she proudly wears the maple leaf tattooed on her arm.
1.4 million work permits expire in 2026. What’s next? 14.01.2026 19:37
We speak with 25-year-old Abhishek Parmar, who has his work permit expiring in March, and is working hard to ensure he can stay in Canada. We also speak with Mireille Paquet, director of the Concordia University Institute for Research on Migration and Society, and economist Mikal Skuterud on Canada’s changing policies and views on immigration.
Climbing Canada’s melting glaciers 14.01.2026 21:15
New research has found the amount of glacier ice lost in western Canada just in 2025 was 30 gigatonnes. That loss of ice isn’t just changing what the mountains look like, it’s also changing how dangerous they are. Professional mountain guides see the changes first-hand. We speak with Mike Adolph, the Technical Director of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, and Tim Ricci, the Director of...
Quebec Premier François Legault resigns. What happens now? 14.01.2026 6:36
Provincial politics in Quebec have been in turmoil for months. Now the premier Francois Legault has announced that he is resigning, as soon as his party finds a leader to replace him. We speak with Emilie Nicolas, a columnist for Le Devoir in Montreal about what this means for the province, and the rest of Canada.
Why is non-alcoholic wine so bad? 14.01.2026 10:32
While it's easy to find a hops-forward IPA or a crisp lager that fools even the best beer connoisseur… de-alcoholized wines leave something to be desired. They are often too bitter, too sweet, or too watery, tasting more like something you would serve at a kids' party than an adult beverage. So we speak with Wes Pearson, a senior research scientist and sensory group manager at the Australian Wine...
How GEEZER magazine is reclaiming aging 14.01.2026 15:23
We speak to Laura LeBleu, the founding editor of GEEZER. It is a print-only magazine focused on the Gen X aging experience. LeBleu reflects on reaching midlife and realizing the stories we’re told about aging do not quite match how it actually feels. She talks about uncertainty. About pressure. About humour. And about what it means to reach this stage of life without a clear script.
What's next for Iran? 13.01.2026 19:48
Amid reports of a bloody crackdown on protests in Iran, the White House says many options are on the table -- from air strikes to diplomacy. An Iranian exile tells us what she's hearing from inside the country about the deaths of protesters. And we get an expert view on Donald Trump's options and what might come next.
What drives people to pursue impossible goals 13.01.2026 20:09
From hunting for a mythical treasure, to solving the mystery of life in the universe -- why some people are driven to dedicate their lives to unachievable goals, and what that commitment to optimism means to the rest of us.
Margaret MacMillan on the shifting international order 13.01.2026 24:45
Canadian historian Margaret MacMillan talks about what’s at stake when power rules. As the US intervenes in foreign states, and starts alienating long-trusted allies, what message does it send about what could happen in Ukraine, Taiwan and Greenland. MacMillan says warnings from history show we may be on the cusp of a new world order.
Mr Carney goes to Beijing 12.01.2026 19:22
We check in with the National Affairs Panel on the eve of the Prime Minister's visit to China. After a dramatic week when the U.S. captured the leader of Venezuela and made a series of threats against countries across the Western Hemisphere, should Canada risk warmer ties with authoritarian regimes?
Learning in secret: An Afghan teacher’s quiet resistance 12.01.2026 24:48
When the Taliban banned girls from attending school beyond Grade 6, Hazrat Wahriz knew what was coming and quietly began preparing. A former Afghan diplomat and educator now living in Canada, Wahriz helped launch Daricha, a network of underground schools run from homes and supported by local communities across Afghanistan. In this conversation, he talks about teaching under constant risk, why real...
Why is it so hard to stick to a New Year's resolution? 12.01.2026 21:19
Research shows most people give up on their resolution four months into the year -- but experts say, it doesn't have to be like that. We speak with two people who study the science behind setting goals and changing behavior about how we can make our new years resolutions stick. And what's so special about January 1st, anyway?
Why grip strength matters more than you think 09.01.2026 12:21
Grip strength might seem like a small thing, but researchers say it can reveal a lot about how we age. Health and fitness journalist Alyssa Ages explains why grip strength is linked to longevity, what it actually reflects about the body, and how to maintain strength in realistic, everyday ways.
Trump wants to take Greenland by sale or by force. Can he? 09.01.2026 19:42
Amid threats to take over Greenland by force, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to meet with Danish officials next week. He says President Trump wants to buy the Arctic territory. That rattled people in both Greenland and Denmark.
Size matters. Meet the owners of some of Canada's micro restaurants and bars 09.01.2026 22:06
A cocktail bar with what must be the world's smallest dance floor. A locavore restaurant inside the proprietors' farmhouse. An experimental Chinese dining room tucked inside another restaurant. Their owners have embraced tiny because it brings them and their customers joy.
Should school boards be a thing of the past? 09.01.2026 11:58
With Ontario considering getting rid of elected trustees and school boards, questions are being raised about the role of boards. Across Canada, there isn’t a clear answer with some provinces moving to eliminate boards, and others fighting to keep them. We look at the options, and what the research says is the best approach to help kids learn.
Pipe nightmare in Calgary 08.01.2026 19:21
Calgary is dealing with a busted water main… again. One of the city's major water lines recently burst for the second time in 18 months. Crews are scrambling to fix it but it's shone a spotlight on the city's infrastructure issues. Plus Calgary is not alone, other Canadian cities use similar pipes and could be on a clock for a burst of their own.
Xanadu CEO on Canada's quantum future 08.01.2026 24:03
Christian Weedbrook's company Xanadu has announced major breakthroughs in quantum computing and just received $23 million in funding from the federal government to advance their technology. As part of The Current's series speaking to Canadian business leaders, he joins us to discuss the significance of quantum technology for Canada's economic future and why he wanted to build his company here in C...
Heated Rivalry is a hit, but can it change hockey culture? 08.01.2026 24:40
The hit Canadian TV show that follows the secret relationship between hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rosanov is everywhere right now. It's prompting conversations online about LGBTQ love and hockey culture. We speak with Matt Kenny, a former competitive hockey player, who had a similar experience to the fictional characters about why the show is striking such a chord with people. Plus Bro...
When betting odds enter the news 07.01.2026 21:08
And prediction markets, where people bet real money on real-world events are moving into the news itself. CNN and CNBC have struck deals with a company called Kalshi, bringing betting odds into their coverage of politics, the economy, and even war. Reporter Danny Funt explains why this alarms journalists and ethicists, the risks of conflicts of interest and insider trading, and what happens to pub...
The rising cost of being a Canadian Olympian 07.01.2026 19:37
With the Winter Olympics just weeks away, Canadian athletes are speaking out about the rising cost of representing their country. Luger Trinity Ellis says she’s cutting pennies just to stay competitive. Speed skater Hayden Mayeur says even athletes at the top of the funding scale are struggling to cover rent, food, travel, and equipment. We hear from Hayden Mayeur about working part-time and why h...
Why peace still feels out of reach in Ukraine 07.01.2026 23:50
Nearly four years into the war in Ukraine peace is still elusive. What would it take to get there? Matt Galloway speaks with Yevhen Matvienko and Tim Mak about the current state of the war, Zelenskyy's popularity and could Russia end up with part of Ukraine?
2025 in good news stories 06.01.2026 13:36
Last year was a bit of a whirlwind when it came to the news. From ongoing atrocities around the world in places like Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan to stories closer to home like the catastrophic fires that ripped across Canada this summer and the ongoing fallout of the U.S. trade war. Matt Galloway talks to Angus Hervy, the editor of Fix the News, about the good news we might have overlooked and why the...
Alberta doctor says ER system is in “crisis” 06.01.2026 10:16
Dr. Paul Parks is an ER doctor in Medicine Hat, and President-elect of the section of Emergency physicians of the Alberta Medical Association. He describes ERs that simply cannot cope with the number of patients needing care, and says the Smith government's efforts to reform the healthcare system are only creating more chaos.
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