CBC exclusive: Grandmother of missing Nova Scotia children
Lily and Jack Sullivan have been missing for nine months. For the first time their maternal grandmother is speaking in a CBC exclusive interview.
Feb 04, 2026•20 min
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 and Burnaby BC. And shows to come in Oshawa and the 905, Red Deer, Alberta, Quebec City and Halifax.
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Episodes
Homelessness in Canada's smaller communities
The number of homeless people in smaller cities, towns and in rural communities is climbing. We hear from two mayors who are grappling with the surge in people experiencing homelessness. We'll also hear from Tim Richter, the founder of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, and the co-chair of the National Housing Council that's advising the federal Housing Minister, on what the solutions he's pushing for.
Feb 04, 2026•24 min
Latest Epstein files show ties to powerful men
Files released by The U.S. Department of Justice show that many high-profile figures who've tried to distance themselves from Jeffrey Epstein were chummy with the convicted sex offender. Journalist Molly Jong-Fast says there should be some kind of accountability for those who enabled him.
Feb 03, 2026•13 min
How fungi could save the planet
“The future is fungal,” says Toby Kiers. She has won the "green Nobel" for her work studying mycorrhizal fungi — the vast underground network that acts as the soil's circulatory system. In fact, she may be the fungi's greatest champion. She explains why she loves these fungi — and why you should too.
Feb 03, 2026•25 min
More young people being diagnosed with psychotic disorders
New research from the Canadian Medical Association Journal has found that more people aged 14-20 are being diagnosed with psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia, than previous generations. We talk to study co-author Dr. Marco Solmi about his findings, and some of the possible reasons behind it. Plus, psychiatrist Dr. Oyedeji Ayonrinde on why early intervention matters, and why cannabis use can't be ignored as a potential factor in this rise.
Feb 03, 2026•20 min
China's influence filling the gap of the “American Dream”
From Ne Zha 2, to the video game Black Myth, Labubu, Chinese culture is becoming more aspirational. We hear from Tianyu Fang, a PhD student at Harvard who focuses on Chinese history, technology and culture about the shifting perceptions of China, the rise of soft power and what that could mean for future international relations.
Feb 03, 2026•11 min
How to feel human in a tech world
Media theorist Douglas Rushkoff sees potential in the disruption that's come along with AI. He says it's an opportunity for us to reclaim our humanity and our connection to each other — and even build a better world.
Feb 02, 2026•22 min
Artemis II: Humanity’s Return to the Moon
NASA’s Artemis II mission is about to send a crew farther from Earth than any human has ever gone. The mission marks the first crewed lunar flight since 1972. We speak with Gordon Osinski, a planetary geologist at Western University who has helped train astronauts, including Canadian Jeremy Hansen, about why this mission is such a critical milestone for Canada’s role in deep-space exploration. Plus, Michelle Hanlon, a space law professor, on what the return to the Moon raises about ownership, co...
Feb 02, 2026•19 min
Are you reading?
Everywhere you turn, there's a distraction, and the evidence suggests we're all reading fewer books. Some have described it as a "crisis". We speak to one young Canadian who's turning that around, BookTok and podcast host, Morgann Book. We'll also speak with Gregor Campbell, a long-time English professor at the University of Guelph on what he has observed in the classroom, and Jonathan Jarry, a science communicator with McGill University's Office for Society and Science who puts the "reading cri...
Feb 02, 2026•25 min
Poilievre prepares for leadership vote at Conservative convention
The Conservative Party convention is underway in Calgary, and Pierre Poilievre will face a leadership review tonight. Jason Kenney, the former premier of Alberta, along with Monte Solberg, former cabinet minister under Stephen Harper, tell us what to expect to come out of this convention, and can Pierre Poilievre stay as the leader of the Conservative Party?
Jan 30, 2026•19 min
One step closer: Jeremy Hansen on orbiting the moon
The Artemis II mission will send four astronauts, including Canadian Jeremy Hansen, on a 10-day trip around the moon and back. It’s the first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years, testing what it really takes for humans and their spacecraft to survive deep space, and setting the stage for the next big leap.
Jan 30, 2026•12 min
Roller derby doc that looks at the community is changing lives
Sport is for many a part of their national identity. So what if your nation doesn’t fall within one country’s specific borders? That’s the genesis of the roller derby team Indigenous Rising, which is the focus of the new documentary Rising Through The Fray. Filmmaker Courtney Montour and player Sour Cherry tell us about the roller derby community and how it's changed lives.
Jan 30, 2026•23 min
The world has entered its water bankruptcy era
According to the UN, the world is entering an era of “water bankruptcy,” a term scientists are using to describe what happens when water use outpaces nature’s ability to recover. In this conversation, we unpack what that actually means, and why many water systems are no longer bouncing back even after rains return. We hear from Kaveh Madani, the author of a new UN report, and the Director of the Institute for Water, Environment and Health at United Nations University.
Jan 30, 2026•14 min
Why the world is in a ‘gold rush’
The price of gold hit another record high this week. People see the precious metal as a safe haven during unstable times. But there are other reasons we have coveted gold since the dawn of civilization, not all of them rational. We'll hear from Douglas Porter, Chief Economist at BMO Financial Group and Globe and Mail columnist, John Rapley, about the allure of gold and what's drawn people to it over centuries.
Jan 29, 2026•19 min
Canada weighs social media ban for kids under 14
Australia has banned social media for young people under 16. The UK is looking to do the same, and France announced its plans to ban the platforms for kids under 15. But as Canada considers a ban, experts question if a ban is the right approach.
Jan 29, 2026•20 min
Elly Gotz on surviving the Holocaust, and why hate is pointless
At 97 years of age, Elly Gotz still speaks about his experience as a survivor of the Holocaust. While he wants people to understand the cruelty he lived through at the hands of the Nazis, he also wants to spread the word that hatred is pointless. He is hoping that with each speech he gives, someone will be affected and will learn not to hate.
Jan 29, 2026•15 min
Spider monkeys share “insider knowledge” to find the best food
New research from Mexico and the UK is shining a light on how spider monkeys work together to let each other know where the best food in their habitat is and when it’ll ripen. We hear from Gabriel Ramos Fernandez at the National Autonomous University of Mexico about what humans can learn from this behaviour.
Jan 29, 2026•11 min
Nardwuar “blown away” by Order of Canada nod
Nardwuar The Human Serviette has been behind the mic for four decades, from campus radio to Much Music to his YouTube channel and Instagram, millions of devoted followers are drawn to his celebrity interviews. We speak with Nardwuar about the power of independent media, the value of research and why stars like Snoop Dogg, Billie Eilish andTimothée Chalamet want to be interviewed by him.
Jan 28, 2026•17 min
How violent ICE crackdowns changed life in Minnesota
The fear in Minneapolis is palpable. While President Donald Trump seems to be signalling a change in the violent immigration crackdown that has left two people dead and a city on edge, those caught up in the chaos are not breathing any easier. In our documentary, Turmoil in the Twin Cities, we hear from residents who say they’re still on high alert.
Jan 28, 2026•22 min
Premier Wab Kinew says ‘stop listening to naysayers’ think big
As the 13 premiers meet in Ottawa today, Manitoba's Premier, Wab Kinew, weighs in on tensions between the leaders and on why Churchill deserves truckloads of money to beef up its port.
Jan 28, 2026•19 min
Do you call dibs on your street parking spot in the snow?
As much of Canada is still digging itself out after record snowfall, we take a look at how drivers are trying to stake their claim on dug out street parking spots. We hear from The Globe and Mail Columnist and Humber College Comedy Program director Andrew Clark about whether Canadians should be more ruthless about calling dibs.
Jan 28, 2026•9 min
What will Chinese EVs mean for the Canada’s auto sector and drivers
Chinese EVs are about to hit the Canadian market. Some experts say this is a step in the right direction to diversify our economy and make EVs more affordable for Canadians, but others are worried this will hurt our already struggling auto manufacturing industry. We speak with two experts about what this agreement means for consumers, our auto sector, and how this fits into Carney's larger trade policy.
Jan 27, 2026•20 min
What does it take to free solo climb a skyscraper?
Alex Honnold captivated audiences around the world when he free solo climbed a 1,667 foot skyscraper in Taiwan named Taipei 101. Few people understand what Alex might have been feeling like Dan Goodwin. Forty years ago Dan free solo climbed the CN tower. Now he is talking about what it takes to achieve such a feat.
Jan 27, 2026•12 min
The danger of radon in Canadian homes
When Steve Blake was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, he was shocked. The Calgary man was active and was a non-smoker. Eventually, his search for a cause focused on radon. We talk to CBC’s Lauren Pelley about how an odourless gas found in many homes became the second-highest cause of lung cancer.
Jan 27, 2026•13 min
Is Trump’s Board of Peace a threat to the UN?
U.S. President Donald Trump has ambitious plans for his Board of Peace. He says countries that join him will fix Gaza and then do "pretty much whatever we want to do." Others aren't so sure it's the answer.
Jan 27, 2026•24 min
Another fatal shooting by ICE agents in Minneapolis
On Saturday morning, 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Jeffrey Pretti was shot and killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis. This is the second fatal shooting by a federal agent in that city this month. We speak with the former mayor of Minneapolis R. T. Rybak about what is happening in his city and how the community is coming together to try and protect each other.
Jan 26, 2026•13 min
Parliament is back: What’s at stake for Carney and Canada
It’s been a dramatic few weeks including Prime Minister Mark Carney's whirlwind trip from Beijing to Doha to Davos. Followed by President Donald Trump’s threats of 100 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods. To help make sense of it all, our national affairs panel, Stephanie Levitz, a senior reporter with the Globe and Mail's Ottawa bureau, Ryan Tumilty, a parliamentary reporter with the Toronto Star, and Rosemary Barton, CBC's chief political correspondent join us to talk about what we can expect f...
Jan 26, 2026•20 min
After a decade on the run, Ryan Wedding has been arrested
Ryan Wedding, Canadian Olympian turned FBI’s most wanted has been caught in Mexico after years on the run, and faces charges for his alleged role in a murderous international drug crime network. We speak with CBC's Jorge Barrera, based in Mexico City, about how Wedding managed to evade authorities for so long, and what led to his capture.
Jan 26, 2026•11 min
The push for justice in Iran
In a special session of the UN Human Rights Council on Friday, former UN prosecutor Payam Akhavan said he has no doubt Iran "will have its Nuremberg moment." This comes as there are major discrepancies between the official death toll of people killed and the death toll from NGOs tracking the situation. We speak with Payam Akhavan about the human rights situation in Iran right now and what's at stake for the Iranian people.
Jan 26, 2026•12 min
People who are always late aren't necessarily jerks (but they might be)
We all know people who are always late. Maybe you're one of them. The tardy gets a bad rap. But they aren't all self-centred, says University of Texas time expert Dawna Ballard. Some of them may be time blind. Others simply can't pull themselves away from people they value. Understanding what's behind our time personalities might help us get along better -- and rethink when and why we obey the dictates of the clock.
Jan 26, 2026•14 min
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