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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

Talking about seniors and sex in long-term care homes

Most people don’t like to think about their parents having sex, but their grandparents? Educator Mary Connell helps long-term care workers get comfortable with talking about the sexual needs of seniors, especially when it comes to issues around sexual health, dementia and consent.

May 07, 202527 min

Electing a pope is like The Traitors, says Conclave author Robert Harris

Robert Harris got rare access to the Vatican as he was writing Conclave , the novel that inspired the 2024 film starring Ralph Fiennes. He joins Matt Galloway to dig into what will happen behind closed doors as cardinals convene today to elect the next pope — and explains why the group dynamics aren't that different from a reality TV show.

May 07, 202512 min

What Trump’s 100% tariffs would mean for Canadian film and TV

U.S. President Donald Trump has promised 100 per cent tariffs on movies produced outside the United States — but no one is quite sure what that means. We look at what’s driving film and television productions out of the U.S., and what tariffs would mean for workers here in Canada.

May 07, 202520 min

Why India-Pakistan conflict is ‘last thing the world needs’

Dozens of people were killed when India fired missiles into Pakistan on Wednesday. India says it was targeting alleged militants linked to a terrorist attack in Kashmir last month, but Pakistan has repeatedly denied any involvement in that massacre — and described the missile strikes as an act of war. The CBC’s Salimah Shivji joins us from Mumbai to explain the soaring tensions between these neighbouring nuclear powers.

May 07, 202512 min

Carney meets Trump today. Will it be a repeat of Zelenskyy’s visit?

What kind of reception awaits Prime Minister Mark Carney at the White House? The Liberal leader meets U.S. President Donald Trump this afternoon, but some observers are mindful of the public disparaging that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy endured in the Oval Office earlier this year. Matt Galloway talks to experts who’ve been at these types of meetings to discuss how Carney can manage the risk and make the best case for Canada.

May 06, 202520 min

A rare look inside Iran, where women are pushing back

The CBC’s Margaret Evans recently travelled to Iran on a rare reporting trip, where she saw a striking number of women choosing not to wear headscarves. Evans discusses what's fuelling this act of defiance against the Islamic regime, whether a crackdown is coming, and what the young Iranians she met want for themselves and their nation.

May 06, 202517 min

It’s time to pick a new pope. How does the conclave work?

The conclave to select a new pope starts Wednesday in Rome. Matt Galloway talks to journalist JD Flynn and writer Randy Boyagoda about who the frontrunners are, how long the conclave might be, and how the next pontiff might shape the future of the Catholic Church.

May 06, 202524 min

Will Alberta vote on leaving Canada in 2026?

Premier Danielle Smith says there could be a referendum on Alberta separating from Canada as early as next year, if citizens who want one gather enough signatures. Mike Solberg, a former staffer in Stephen Harper’s Conservative government, digs into the separatist sentiment in the province — and Smith’s list of demands for Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government in Ottawa.

May 06, 202510 min

Voters most worried about tariffs didn’t vote Liberal, analysis suggests

The Canadians most vulnerable to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs voted for the Conservatives in last week’s federal election, according to analysis from Jennifer Robson, a professor of political management at Carleton University. She explains how she crunched the numbers, and what it might mean for how Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney engages with those anxious communities.

May 05, 202511 min

Companies bending knee to Trump will face consequences: union leader

It is “reckless” and “premature” for General Motors to cut roughly 750 jobs at its Oshawa plant in response to U.S. tariffs, says Jeff Gray, Unifor’s local 222 president. He tells Matt Galloway that companies that “bend a knee to Donald Trump” will face consequences as a result.

May 05, 202520 min

More people are running marathons. What does it really take?

Record numbers of people are running marathons around the world, with tens of thousands completing the Toronto and Vancouver marathons this weekend. We dig into the appeal with Professor Fran Garrad-Cole, who oversees a university course on what it takes, both physically and psychologically.

May 05, 202514 min

So many foods have added protein. How much do you actually need?

Food with added protein is big business these days, with companies putting it in everything from candy to water to dog food. We break down how the food industry has capitalized on the protein rush, and ask a dietitian how much of the supplement we actually need — and what’s the best way to get it.

May 05, 202522 min

Can parties work together to make Canada less reliant on U.S.?

Prime Minister Mark Carney has laid out his government’s priorities, from domestic issues like housing and immigration to upcoming negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump. Matt Galloway talks to Conservative MP Jamil Jivani and Liberal Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne about how Canada can become less reliant on the U.S. in the face of a trade war and threats of annexation — and whether their two opposing parties can work together for the good of all Canadians.

May 02, 202520 min

The AI recipe website that told people how to make cocaine

So-called vibecoding can turn anyone into a website creator, by getting AI to do the coding work based on your instructions. But experts are warning about the risks after a cooking website called RecipeNinja.ai suggested recipes for things like cyanide-laced ice cream, cholera-inspired chocolate cake and cocaine.

May 02, 202523 min

Worried about travelling across U.S. border? Listen to this

Canadians travelling to the U.S. have been warned to “expect scrutiny” at the border, including the possibility that border officials may search their electronic devices and detain them for questioning. Matt Galloway talks to immigration lawyer Heather Segal and cybersecurity expert Ron Deibert about what Canadians should think about before travelling, whether you should bring a burner phone — and what your rights are as a visitor to the U.S.

May 02, 202520 min

Getting older is hard. Does doing it alone have to be worse?

Getting older is difficult, but it can be even harder on your own. As part of our series As We Age, we look at the complications of aging without friends or family nearby — and where people can find the support they need.

May 01, 202527 min

RFK Jr. is dehumanizing autistic people, says writer

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says autistic kids will never hold a job, write a poem or go on a date — but writer and autistic person Sarah Kurchak says that simply isn’t true. She explains why the autistic community is so alarmed by RFK Jr.'s statements, and by his pledge to find a “cause” for autism by September.

May 01, 202524 min

The top 10 vacation spots in Canada — voted by you!

Where’s the best place to visit in Canada? For weeks, listeners have been voting for the vacation spots they love across this big, beautiful country to build The Current ’s travel bucket list. Rick Mercer joins Matt Galloway to reveal the top 10. Did your favourite place make the list?

May 01, 202517 min

Can the Liberals and Conservatives find common ground?

In their election night speeches, Liberal Leader Mark Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre both pledged to find ways to work with other parties to protect Canadians against the threats of tariffs and annexation from U.S. President Donald Trump. Matt Galloway discusses what kind of common ground the parties can find, and whether they’ll differ on things like housing and the energy sector, with two newly re-elected MPs: Conservative Chris d'Entremont and Liberal Dominic LeBlanc.

Apr 30, 202520 min

What this young designer learned, disguised as an 85-year-old

Back in the 1970s, the young designer Patricia Moore travelled the U.S. disguised as an 85-year-old — and experienced the real struggle of navigating the world as an older person. Moore went on to become a leading figure in inclusive design, and finding practical solutions to create a world that doesn't leave seniors behind.

Apr 30, 202513 min

How spirit of bayanihan is helping B.C. Filipinos after tragedy

Four days after 11 people were killed at the Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver, there’s been an outpouring of support and caregiving among the Filipino community. We hear how this tight-knit community is coming together in the spirit of co-operation known as bayanihan, and visit a kitchen where local businesses are preparing food for victims and their families.

Apr 30, 202511 min

What are other countries doing about Trump’s tariffs?

How is the rest of the world responding to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs? We check in with reporters in Japan, South Africa and the EU to see what Canada could learn from negotiations around the globe.

Apr 30, 202520 min

What just happened? Everything you need to know about election night

Liberal Leader Mark Carney will form Canada’s next government, though it remains unclear if he will lead a minority or majority parliament. Matt Galloway digs into what happened overnight, from where the Liberals won and lost, to the collapse of the NDP and Jagmeet Singh’s resignation, to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre losing his seat in the Ottawa riding of Carleton, but insisting he’ll stay on to steer the party. Then, former cabinet minister Sean Fraser said that he wouldn’t seek re-ele...

Apr 29, 20251 hr 10 min

Need vacation ideas? Canadians share their favourite spots

Two 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. Emilie English shares what she loves about the Cariboo-Chilcotin region in B.C., and Tania Millen takes us on a trip to Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta. You can see the full shortlist and vote for your favourite on cbc.ca/thecurrent .

Apr 28, 20258 min

Why Sarajevo is rebuilding its luge track

Sarajevo's luge track was the pride of the city during the 1984 Olympics, but now it’s overgrown with weeds and riddled with bullet holes from the Bosnian war. A new film called The Track , screening at the Hot Docs Film Festival in Toronto, explores how a group of young athletes and their coach are trying to bring this piece of their city's history back to life.

Apr 28, 202519 min

Filipino community reeling after festival killings, says organizer

RJ Aquino sat on the curb and wept Sunday morning, close to the spot where an SUV rammed into the Lapu Lapu street festival in Vancouver the night before, killing 11 people. Aquino, chair of Filipino BC, says his community is grieving and coming together to heal — and he’s been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from people who want to help.

Apr 28, 202521 min

Grey divorce: Why more Canadians are separating later in life

Marnie Wraith had a comfortable life with her husband, but as she got older she started to wonder if good enough was really good enough. Deciding she had more life to live, Wraith became one of an increasing number of Canadians getting a so-called grey divorce — and navigating all the social, personal and financial upheaval that came with it.

Apr 28, 202524 min

Migrants living in fear of Trump’s deportation push

U.S. President Donald Trump is making good on his pledge to conduct the "largest mass deportation in history,” sweeping up both undocumented migrants and people with work permits and legal protections. We discuss the master database that DOGE is building to track and surveil immigrants, and hear what it’s like to live under that shadow.

Apr 25, 202523 min

She found beautiful art in a bargain bin. How’d it get there?

When Sonja Krawesky found a pair of bright and beautiful sculptures in a bargain bin at a Hamilton, Ont. store, she knew there had to be a story behind them. Her quest to find out where they came from led to a new friend — and a lesson about the kindness of strangers.

Apr 25, 202517 min

The election is days away. Do voters have a surprise up their sleeve?

This federal election has had its fair share of surprises, from who’s pulled ahead to how engaged Canadians have been. Matt Galloway discusses what we’ve learned on the campaign trail — and whether tightening polls suggest more surprises in store — with the CBC’s Rosemary Barton, Toronto Star’s Ryan Tumilty and the Globe and Mail's Stephanie Levitz.

Apr 25, 202520 min
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