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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.


Some of the topics we’ve covered recently, include: the results of the Canadian Federal election — a minority Liberal government — and Canada’s new Prime Minister-elect Mark Carney. Also, Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservative party, who lost his seat in the Ottawa riding of Carleton but also boosted Conservative popular vote share. Meanwhile, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, who also lost his seat, has resigned following historically low results for his party, which lost official party status in the House. Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet kept his seat in Beloeil–Chambly, but lost about a third of its seats. Elizabeth May’s Green Party held on to her seat but she also lost her co-leader Jonathan Pedneault.


Also on our radar: Heather McPherson, the NDP’s re-elected MP for Edmonton Strathcona, who some observers are saying could be the NDP’s next leader. What Conservatives are thinking now about their leader Pierre Poilievre and the path forward for their party. And how Liberal Leader Mark Carney will govern for all Canadians in a politically divided country facing threats from U.S. President Donald Trump.


We’re still keeping an eye on: annexation and “51st state” threats, tariffs impacting Canadian jobs, especially farmers, truckers, auto workers, energy sector workers, construction workers and steel and aluminum workers; raising the cost of living, inflation, and unemployment in Canada; straining cross-border relationships, including the historic friendship between Windsor and Detroit. We also discuss “Team Canada,” interprovincial trade, and the rise of “elbows up” Canadian patriotism; Canadian sovereignty and backlash to ‘51st state’ threats; on the world stage, including our relationship with China, Ukraine, India; security and our status in the Five Eyes spy network, NATO and NORAD, and shifting global alliances in general.


Other recent topics include: Filipino community reeling after Lapu Lapu street festival killings; “Grey divorce” and the rise of separation in late life; Canadians’ top vacation spots; migrants affected by Trump’s deportation push; the death of Pope Francis; landmark antitrust trials against Meta and Google; the sexual assault trial of five ex-world junior hockey players; the liquidation of Hudson’s Bay; the surge in measles cases, hair loss drug finasteride, extremist network 764, protests against Elon Musk and Tesla; Starlink and the rural internet; the turmoil around Israel and Gaza’s ceasefire; more adults with ADHD, Blue Ghost on the moon, genetically modified pig organs; aging well, wellness, dementia and long term care, as well as cancer and “commonsense oncology,” Greenland and Arctic sovereignty, cuts to USAID; Canada’s critical minerals; inflation; mortgages; opioids and Fentanyl, parenting, Canada’s best vacation spots, teens ditching social media; crypto power brokers in the White House; NASA’s new telescope and the making of a 3D map of the universe.


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

In a small Alaskan town, the Canada-U.S. fight feels personal

The small Alaskan town of Skagway usually welcomes plenty of visitors from neighbouring Yukon, but this year Canadians aren’t coming because of tensions with the U.S. The CBC’s Julia Pagel went to Skagway, where people say that the financial hit to tourism is bad, but what really hurts is watching years of friendship break down before their eyes.

Apr 24, 202524 min

Could Mark Zuckerberg be forced to sell Instagram and Whatsapp?

Meta and Google have been hit with landmark antitrust trials recently, centred on allegations of operating illegal monopolies. The CBC’s Nora Young breaks down what this might mean for the power of major tech companies, and the people who use their platforms every day.

Apr 24, 20258 min

Sexual assault trial of 5 ex-world junior hockey players begins

The trial of five former world junior hockey players accused of sexual assault has begun in London, Ont., with the Crown telling jurors that the case will centre on what constitutes consent — and what does not. Matt Galloway talks to The Globe and Mail’s Robyn Doolittle, who is at the trial; and Landon Kenney, an educator who teaches hockey players about consent.

Apr 24, 202520 min

The Current's ultimate travel list: Atlantic Canada edition

Four more listeners make the case for their favourite vacation spots, hoping to win a place on The Current ’s list of great Canadian travel destinations. Sandra Trask says that Cape Breton Island, N.S., is a place for everyone and every season; Lana Gauthier explains why her family fell in love with Basin Head Provincial Park, P.E.I.; Lisa Proulx shares what’s so special about Gros Morne National Park, N.L.; and Annette Barclay says you just have to visit Kouchibouguac National Park, N.B. You ca...

Apr 23, 202524 min

Fishing industry and housing costs fire up Halifax voters

Matt Galloway travels to Halifax to hear what’s on voters’ minds, in the final stop of The Current ’s election road show Crossroads: Coast to Coast with Canadian Voters . First up, the sea is both a livelihood and a way of life in Nova Scotia, flowing into how many people will vote. Galloway talks to a fisherman fed up with how his industry is being treated by the federal government, a restaurant owner serving up haddock with a side of national pride and a seaweed exporter worried about U.S. Pre...

Apr 23, 202536 min

What did Joel Plaskett get for his 50th? His own music

Nova Scotia musician Joel Plaskett got a special surprise for his 50th birthday, a cover album of his own songs — secretly recorded by his friends and some of the biggest names in Canadian music, including Sloan and Arkells. Plaskett talks to Matt Galloway in Halifax about the album, Songs from the Gang , and why it was so fascinating to hear what other people hear in his music.

Apr 23, 20258 min

Why Pope Francis was ‘a shepherd who smells like the sheep’

Pope Francis worked to be close to people right up to the final day of his life, says Jesuit priest and journalist Father Sam Sawyer. We look at how that focus on human dignity has shaped his papacy, from speaking out for refugees and the marginalized, to his apology for the conduct of some members of the Catholic Church in Canada's residential school system.

Apr 22, 202519 min

What are voters thinking across Atlantic Canada?

The first wins and losses of next week’s federal election will be announced in Atlantic Canada, where the political landscape has shifted dramatically in recent months. Matt Galloway heads to Halifax to talk to CBC reporters Silas Brown, Peter Cowan and Taryn Grant about what voters want, as part of Crossroads: Coast to Coast with Canadian Voters .

Apr 22, 202520 min

The dirty work of preserving a blue whale skeleton

The bones of a massive blue whale will soon hang at Dalhousie University. Veterinarian Chris Harvey-Clark tells us what it took to salvage the whale that washed up outside Halifax, and what we still don't understand about the largest mammal on earth.

Apr 22, 202525 min

In this election, what do middle-class Canadians want?

Ashley Casciato from Innisfil, Ont., says she’s struggling to make ends meet, yet still sees herself as middle class — and she’s not alone. With the federal election just a week away, many Canadians are feeling the pressure of a rising cost of living that’s putting homeownership and the traditional middle-class lifestyle increasingly out of reach. We explore how the definition of “middle class” is changing and what party leaders should do to make life more affordable.

Apr 21, 202525 min

Pope Francis remembered for bringing the church closer to the people it serves

Pope Francis, leader of the Catholic Church since 2013, has died at the age of 88. Widely regarded as a progressive reformer, he sought to modernize the church and steer it away from rigid doctrine — making it more inclusive to the needs of the marginalized. Guest host Dave Seglins spoke to CBC’s Megan Williams and Christopher White of the National Catholic Reporter about the legacy Francis leaves behind — including his historic apology for Canada’s residential school system.

Apr 21, 202520 min

What ‘attention capitalism’ is doing to our minds — and our politics

Journalist Chris Hayes says “attention capitalism” demands we pay heed to everything at once, from social media doomscrolling to the relentless pace of the 24-hour news cycle. In a conversation from March, the MSNBC host spoke with Matt Galloway about his new book, The Siren’s Call , which explores what living under constant information overload means for our lives and politics — and explains why he thinks U.S. President Donald Trump’s attention-grabbing antics are “a kind of feral instinct.”...

Apr 18, 202524 min

Parties square off in the final leaders’ debate. What are the key takeaways?

With election day fast approaching and advance polls opening today, the race for leadership has reached a critical moment. Matt Galloway talks to CBC’s Rosemary Barton, the Toronto Star’s Ryan Tumilty and the Globe and Mail’s Stephanie Levitz — and unpacks how Liberal Mark Carney, Conservative Pierre Poilievre, the NDP's Jagmeet Singh and the Bloc’s Yves-François Blanchet fared in the campaign’s only English-language debate on Thursday night.

Apr 18, 202523 min

Building a ‘giant underground radiator’ in Germany

Deep in the forests of Germany, a Canadian company is drilling deep into the earth to tap into geothermal energy, aiming to pump clean power into the electricity grid. The CBC’s Paula Duhatschek explains how it works — and whether geothermal energy could be harnessed in Canada.

Apr 17, 202513 min

Advocate welcomes new tools to manage childhood obesity

Al Martin has lived with obesity since his teens. He says new guidelines for treating childhood obesity will offer new tools to help kids, but some approaches — like weight loss surgery — shouldn’t be taken lightly. Matt Galloway discusses the stigma around weight with Martin, an advocate with Obesity Matters, and Dr. Stasia Hadjiyannakis, one of the guidelines’ authors.

Apr 17, 202519 min

Were francophone voters wooed by leaders in French debate?

Radio-Canada parliamentary reporter Laurence Martin breaks down what was said at the French federal election debate Wednesday night, where Liberal Mark Carney, Conservative Pierre Poilievre, the NDP's Jagmeet Singh and Bloc Québécois’s Yves-François Blanchet fought it out for francophone votes.

Apr 17, 202512 min

Why isn’t ‘enough’ spelled ‘enuf’? The absurdity of English spelling

Everyone has certain words they struggle to spell, whether it’s stumbling on silent letters in words like “doubt,” or words like “fuchsia,” that just look very different from how they sound. In his new book Enough is Enuf: Our Failed Attempts to Make English Eezier to Spell , Gabe Henry looks at how spelling reformers have long tried — and failed — to simplify English spelling.

Apr 17, 202525 min

In Quebec, old priorities take a backseat to Trump’s threats

Quebec is a crucial battleground in this election, with enough seats to give any party a decisive lead. But with U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats and tariffs roiling Canadian politics, some Quebecers only seem sure of what they’re voting against, not for. As part of The Current’s election series, Crossroads: Coast to Coast with Canadian Voters , Matt Galloway went to Quebec City to talk to voters about the decision they have to make.

Apr 16, 20251 hr 15 min

How a Canadian math prodigy allegedly stole millions in crypto

Canadian math prodigy Andean Medjedovic is on the run, after hacking the code of finance platforms and allegedly stealing $65 million US in cryptocurrency. The Globe and Mail’s Alexandra Posadzki explains how he did it, and why he argues he’s entitled to the funds thanks to a controversial cyber philosophy known as “Code is Law."

Apr 15, 202513 min

Chaos in Colombia fuels deadly cocaine problem in Labrador

Cocaine use has exploded in Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation, with deadly consequences for the small community in central Labrador. In his documentary Pure Hell , the CBC’s Ryan Cooke looks at how chaos in Colombia has unleashed an avalanche of unusually pure cocaine, upending the drug trade all the way to Canada’s North.

Apr 15, 202523 min

Is anyone paying attention to rural voters this election?

Party leaders aren’t listening to rural concerns in this election — but that’s nothing new, says Marlene Spruyt from the township of North Frontenac, Ont. She talks to guest host Mark Kelley about what her community is worried about, from health care to internet connectivity.

Apr 15, 202515 min

Will Trump’s tariffs mean the end of cheap online fashion?

Clothing hauls from online stores like Temu and Shein could face a steep price hike next month, as U.S. President Donald Trump plans to remove the de minimis exemption, which excludes packages worth less than $800 US from tariffs. Retail analyst Doug Stephens explains what this rollback means for ultra-cheap fast fashion.

Apr 15, 202512 min

Fashion icon Jeanne Beker has some wild stories buried in her closet

Fashion journalist Jeanne Beker shares some wild stories in her memoir, Heart on My Sleeve, from chatting to famous musicians in the bath to walking out on an interview with Iggy Pop. In an interview from October, she shows Matt Galloway how the items in her closet tell her story, from a yellow bikini top to a boxy Chanel dress.

Apr 14, 202525 min

Vacation inspiration? Canadians share their favourite spots

Four more listeners make the case for their favourite vacation spots, hoping to win a place on The Current’s list of great Canadian travel destinations. Alexandra Esposito tells us why she loves Quebec City; Greer Kelley takes us on a drive from Amherst to Masstown in Nova Scotia; Stef MacDiarmid shares her memories of the Nahanni River in the Northwest Territories; and Dianne Wilson shares what’s so special about Grasslands National Park in Saskatchewan. You can see the full shortlist and vote ...

Apr 14, 202520 min

Could this week’s election debates sway crucial votes?

With two weeks until election day, this week’s English and French debates could be crucial for party leaders to convince voters who are still on the fence. Matt Galloway unpacks what it might take to shift the election story with the CBC’s Rosemary Barton, Toronto Star’s Ryan Tumilty, and the Globe and Mail's Stephanie Levitz.

Apr 14, 202520 min

The Current Introduces: House Party — one big election question, weekly

Today we bring you a bonus episode from our friends at House Party, a pop-up election podcast answering one big, burning question every week. This week: Will this election bring Canada together or tear us apart? The West wants out, Quebec wants in, and Canadian unity turned into a campaign issue this week after former Reform Party and opposition leader Preston Manning claimed increasing numbers of Westerners — particularly Albertans — may see secession as the only option if the Liberals win. Yet...

Apr 13, 202529 min

52 countries in 52 weeks? What one man saw on a whirlwind trip

In the depths of the pandemic, CBC reporter Justin McElroy hatched a plan to see as much of the world as possible. He ended up visiting 52 countries in 52 weeks, and now he’s back to share some of the amazing things he saw — and ate! — and what he learned by stepping out of his comfort zone.

Apr 11, 202524 min

The joy of dining out — alone

Eating dinner by yourself at a restaurant can get you some sideways looks and maybe even pity — but for some people it's also one of life's great joys. We discuss why solo dining can be a gift of solitude in a busy world, and why going it alone doesn't always mean you're lonely.

Apr 11, 202520 min

Who will blink first in Trump's trade war with China?

Yair Reiner says the escalating trade war could kill his U.S.-based kitchen gadget business, which relies on manufacturing in China. We look at what rapidly climbing tariffs mean for the businesses caught in the crossfire, and ask whether Beijing or the White House will blink first.

Apr 11, 202520 min
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