The Current

CBC Podcasts & Radio On-Demand

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 Canadian Federal election and the party leaders running for Prime Minister; namely current Prime Minister and Liberal leader Mark Carney, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh. Also, how U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs are impacting the Canadian election; tariffs threatening 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: 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. Some of the stand-out guests we’ve had on recently: acclaimed author Salman Rushdie; Basketball star Demar Derozan; comedian Mark Critch; music legend Bob Ezrin; addictions advocate Scott Oake; Sapiens writer Yuval Noah Harari; Liberal candidate Chrystia Freeland Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha; CBC’s new CEO Marie-Philippe Bouchard; Chef Yotam Ottolenghi; best-selling author Louise Penny, Fashion journalist Jeanne Beker; On Tyranny author Timothy Snyder; former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew; Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, author and former spouse of the Prime Minister; MSNBC’s Chris Hayes; Alberta Premier Danielle Smith; Tipping Point author Malcolm Gladwell; godfather of AI Yoshua Bengio; Xena star Lucy Lawless; bestselling author and Prof G Pod host Scott Galloway; Trump nephew and critic Fred Trump III; former prime minister Joe Clark; The Certainty Illusion author Tim Caulfied; Indigenous author Tanya Talaga; tech insider and Pivot podcast host Kara Swisher; and NWT Premier R.J. Simpson. 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.

Location:

Canada, ON

Genres:

Public Radio

Podcasts

Interviews

Networks:

CBC Podcasts & Radio On-Demand

Description:

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 Canadian Federal election and the party leaders running for Prime Minister; namely current Prime Minister and Liberal leader Mark Carney, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh. Also, how U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs are impacting the Canadian election; tariffs threatening 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: 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. Some of the stand-out guests we’ve had on recently: acclaimed author Salman Rushdie; Basketball star Demar Derozan; comedian Mark Critch; music legend Bob Ezrin; addictions advocate Scott Oake; Sapiens writer Yuval Noah Harari; Liberal candidate Chrystia Freeland Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha; CBC’s new CEO Marie-Philippe Bouchard; Chef Yotam Ottolenghi; best-selling author Louise Penny, Fashion journalist Jeanne Beker; On Tyranny author Timothy Snyder; former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew; Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, author and former spouse of the Prime Minister; MSNBC’s Chris Hayes; Alberta Premier Danielle Smith; Tipping Point author Malcolm Gladwell; godfather of AI Yoshua Bengio; Xena star Lucy Lawless; bestselling author and Prof G Pod host Scott Galloway; Trump nephew and critic Fred Trump III; former prime minister Joe Clark; The Certainty Illusion author Tim Caulfied; Indigenous author Tanya Talaga; tech insider and Pivot podcast host Kara Swisher; and NWT Premier R.J. Simpson. 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.

Twitter:

@TheCurrentCBC

Language:

English

Contact:

The Current CBC Radio P.O. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6 (877) 287-7366

Website:

http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent

Email:

thecurrent@cbc.ca

Episodes

Building a ‘giant underground radiator’ in Germany

4/17/2025

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.

Duration:00:13:07

Were francophone voters wooed by leaders in French debate?

4/17/2025

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.

Duration:00:11:56

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

4/17/2025

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.

Duration:00:24:39

Advocate welcomes new tools to manage childhood obesity

4/17/2025

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.

Duration:00:19:08

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

4/16/2025

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.

Duration:01:14:37

Is anyone paying attention to rural voters this election?

4/15/2025

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.

Duration:00:15:16

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

4/15/2025

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.

Duration:00:11:32

Chaos in Colombia fuels deadly cocaine problem in Labrador

4/15/2025

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.

Duration:00:22:41

How a Canadian math prodigy allegedly stole millions in crypto

4/15/2025

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."

Duration:00:13:11

Could this week’s election debates sway crucial votes?

4/14/2025

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.

Duration:00:20:17

Vacation inspiration? Canadians share their favourite spots

4/14/2025

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 for your favorite on cbc.ca/thecurrent.

Duration:00:19:56

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

4/14/2025

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.

Duration:00:24:44

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

4/13/2025

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 in Quebec, Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet took the opposite tack, downplaying separatist sentiment and arguing Canada needs to be united in its response to Donald Trump’s tariffs. So is separatism really a ballot box issue this time around? Catherine Cullen in Ottawa, Jason Markusoff in Calgary and Daniel Thibeault in Montreal try to unite their three solitudes with an answer. Find more episodes of House Party here: https://link.mgln.ai/hpxthecurrent

Duration:00:28:37

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

4/11/2025

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.

Duration:00:19:47

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

4/11/2025

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.

Duration:00:24:02

The joy of dining out — alone

4/11/2025

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.

Duration:00:20:06

Elections can be won or lost in the 905. What do voters there care about?

4/10/2025

Many Canadian elections can be won or lost in the 905, the area that encircles Toronto and has more ridings than some provinces. As part of The Current’s election series, Crossroads: Coast to Coast with Canadian Voters, Matt Galloway travels across this influential region to hear what matters most to voters. In Oshawa, the automotive industry that once generated so much wealth is under fresh threat from U.S. tariffs. Galloway talks to local union president Jeff Gray, as well as people at either end of their careers: students graduating into an uncertain economy, and retired workers who say they won’t take Trump’s tariffs lying down. Further west we visit a warehouse in Mississauga, where tariffs are already affecting the billions in imports and exports that travel through the city every day. Then, a diverse range of immigrant communities make up the 905, with political debates playing out across different cultures — and the local media they consume. We discuss the conversations these communities are having with Yudhvir Jaswal of Y Media, one of the biggest media outlets for South Asians in Canada, and Andrea Chun, host of the Chinese-language radio show A1 Newsbeat. And at the Rainbow Restaurant in Oshawa, Galloway sits down with four voters of different political stripes who all say they’re questioning their traditional loyalties in what they see as a high-stakes election.

Duration:01:08:46

Hospital network pledges millions to attract U.S. talent

4/9/2025

A Toronto hospital network has a plan to recruit the best and brightest medical scientists from the U.S. and around the world, as funding cuts and layoffs put a chill on research south of the border. Matt Galloway discusses what Canada stands to gain with Kevin Smith, president and CEO of University Health Network; and Brad Wouters, UHN’s executive vice-president of science and research.

Duration:00:19:44

Three more Canadians share their favourite vacation spots

4/9/2025

Three listeners make the case for their favourite vacation spots, hoping to win a spot on The Current’s list of great Canadian travel destinations. Amber Jenkins tells us why she loves St. Andrews by-the-Sea, N.B.; Deborah Nixon explains what’s so special about Churchill, Man.; and Rita Komendant shares fond memories of canoeing along Bow River, Alta. with her family. You can see the full shortlist and vote for your favorite on cbc.ca/thecurrent.

Duration:00:19:11

Why run when you can't win? Longshot candidates explain why

4/9/2025

They're sometimes called "paper candidates" or even "sacrificial lambs:" federal election candidates who enter so-called "unwinnable" races. In her 2021 documentary The Longshots, Joan Webber spoke with former candidates from previous elections, to hear what it’s like to be the horse no one’s betting on.

Duration:00:26:16