The Current

CBC

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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156 episodes
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English

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Yesterday · 9 min
3-2-1 Blast Off! Miniature organs in space
Miniature organs have landed at the International Space Station. Scientists sent them there to better understand the disease of aging. David Sachs, assistant professor of surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York on how the lack of gravity in space accelerates aging and how scientists can use it to better understand heart disease and Alzheimer’s.
Yesterday · 34 min
Alberta chooses to stay in Canada. What’s next?
Final results aren't in yet, but at this point, results show that about three quarters of Alberta voters chose the option to stay in the country. With us, Alberta's top political watchers break down the results of the Alberta referendum vote, and what comes next. Plus we hear from leaders on both the pro-independence and pro-unity side. We’ll speak with independent pollster Janet Brown, veteran political journalist Kathleen Petty, unity campaigner Stephen Carter and pro-independence campaigne
Yesterday · 24 min
Buddhist nuns taught chef Eric Ripert about mindful cooking
Celebrity chef Eric Ripert's latest cookbook, "Mindful Cooking: Simple Recipes for Nurturing Body and Soul" explores why we cook and teaches mindfulness and gratitude in the kitchen. We speak with the owner of the three-Michelin star New York restaurant, Le Bernardin, about the way Buddhism has shaped his life and how cooking with love and compassion makes the food we eat taste better.
Monday · 27 min
Deadly fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta
Flags across all federal buildings are flying at half-mast today following a deadly fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta on Saturday. Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed yesterday that four people are dead and dozens more seriously wounded. At least 19 are in critical condition. We speak CBC’s Stephanie Cram, on the ground in Wainwright about what happened, Mayor of Wainwright Bruce Pugh about how his community is navigating through this tragic incident, and Retired Major-Gener
Monday · 24 min
Alberta votes
Our National Affairs Panel talks about Alberta politics — and whatever the outcome, what it means for the federation and Alberta's relationship with Ottawa. Plus, the US mid-terms and how they could impact trade talks.
Monday · 18 min
What it means for women to leave the Italian mafia
Piera Aiello’s husband was murdered in a Sicilian Mafia hit. Three days later, she decided to testify against the Cosa Nostra, then she fled her home — spending the next three decades under a new identity.Her story reveals a side of Italy’s fight against organized crime we rarely hear about: what happens after people take a stand. Now, a new Italian law aims to protect children and adults trying to break free from the Mafia. We speak with CBC’s Italy correspondent Megan Williams, who has been
Friday · 27 min
Will Alberta be better off staying in or leaving Canada?
Constitutional lawyer Keith Wilson has become a leading voice in the Alberta separatist movement. He’s the co-chair of Let Alberta Decide and leads the Alberta Transition Council. We speak to him about why he thinks even federalists should choose Option 2 and why independence is the best choice for Alberta. Plus, Monte Solberg held several cabinet posts under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and independent senator Paula Simons represents Alberta in the Senate of Canada. They explain why Albert
Friday · 1 hr 13 min
Will Alberta stay in Canada?
Matt Galloway is on the ground in Alberta as voting gets underway in a referendum on whether to start the legal process to leave Canada. Hear from voters and organizers on both sides of the debate about the impact on communities. Plus hear from Chief Samuel Crowfoot of Siksika Nation and Alberta newcomers worried about the immigration questions also on the ballot.
Thursday · 16 min
Is the U.S. sliding into competitive authoritarianism?
Ever since U.S. President Donald Trump took office for the second time, he's been criticized for eroding democracy and the rule of law. Now, political scientist Lucan Way, argues that the United States has definitively crossed the line into a system of what he calls competitive authoritarianism. Lucan Way, a Distinguished Professor of Democracy in the Department of Political Science at the University of Toronto, explains what that looks like, and whether it can be reversed.
Thursday · 17 min
Black Hawk down
The CBC has learned that the federal government has quietly put a pause on buying more American-made Black Hawk helicopters. That decision is getting mixed reviews as some analysts say it's the right call while others believe the Black Hawk is best suited for Canada's air force. We speak with the CBC's Murray Brewster and with University of Ottawa professor Peter Jones.
Thursday · 7 min
What time is it in Canada?
Times and time zones in Canada are changing. November 1st much of the country will remain in daylight savings for the first time not turning their clocks back for the winter months. Joseph De Koninck is Emeritus Professor at the School of Psychology at the University of Ottawa on what that means for our health and why the optimal calculation of time is impossible to achieve in Canada.
Thursday · 24 min
Basking in the "Small Stuff" can make a big difference
While we focus on success or fulfillment as the path to happiness, author Ian Bogost thinks we are overlooking a whole category of life experiences — delightful, small moments of sensory gratification — that can make our lives better. In his new book, The Small Stuff, Bogost says modern life, including our work life, has disconnected us from the physical world, but we'd all feel better if we found a way to rediscover that connection.
October 14 · 19 min
Is President Trump’s diesel deal reshaping the Ukraine war?
U.S. President Donald Trump says a deal with Russia will see 300,000 tonnes of Russian diesel released to the global markets this month, in an effort to lower prices for Americans. Simon Shuster, staff writer at The Atlantic and author of “The Showman,” describes how the deal is shaping the dynamics of the conflict.
October 14 · 9 min
IPCC battle over climate science report
The world's leading climate scientists with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change are convening in Addis Ababa to discuss the timeline to publish the latest climate science, ahead of COP 33 in 2028. But the IPCC is facing intense pressure from some member states to delay the key climate report. We speak with Chris Derksen, the director of Climate Research at Environment and Climate Change Canada, and part of the Canadian delegation attending the meetings in Addis Ababa.
October 14 · 24 min
Mastering “The Art of Fighting”
Bestselling author and conflict facilitator Priya Parker says most of us are not very good at fighting: either we avoid it, or we escalate it until it becomes explosive. In her new book, The Art of Fighting, she advocates for something called "healthy heat," what we can learn about conflict from the TV show The Bear, and when a conflict might signal that a relationship should end.
October 14 · 14 min
Why Jane Doe's lawyer fears for her safety
It has been just a few weeks since a woman known as Jane Doe filed a civil lawsuit against Cornell University and seven men she alleges sexually assaulted her at a campus fraternity in 2024. Her name and her story have sparked a global conversation about misogyny, sexual assault, and accountability, and there has been an outpouring of online support for her and survivors of sexual assault. But her attorney says amidst this attention, there have been attempts made to find out and publicize her
October 13 · 19 min
B.C. Premier gambles on a snap election
Voters in B.C. have a busy two weeks ahead with back to back municipal and provincial elections, after Premier David Eby called a snap election two years into his mandate. Katie DeRosa, CBC Legislative Reporter, and Rob Shaw, Check News Political Correspondent, talk about how a new leader of the Conservative Party changed the race and what’s at stake as voters head to the polls.
October 13 · 24 min
Are lithium-ion batteries a fire risk?
They power everything from phones to vapes to electric bikes. But lithium-ion batteries can also be highly combustible and dangerous. Brenda Dennis learned that when a lamp in her garden caught fire. Her pets died in the blaze, and her house will have to be completely rebuilt. Toronto Fire Chief Jim Jessop says his crews are also at risk and the government needs to step up safety measures.
October 13 · 27 min
The Current is in Prince Edward Island
This season of The Current kicked off with a road trip in the Maritimes. From that visit, we’ll bring you some highlights from Prince Edward Island. We’re talking about PEI's oyster industry and how farmers and fishers say government help hasn't been enough. We also get a preview of the ambitious new restoration of Province House in Charlottetown, and a sexy new romance novel by Carley Fortune has been drawing a new generation of fans to Prince Edward Island, and now it's about to become a Ne
October 12 · 34 min
Princess Diana book not about ‘settling scores’: Charles Spencer
Almost 30 years after the death of Princess Diana, her brother Charles Spencer has written a new memoir about her life, her struggles, and the Royal institutions that played a role in both. He sits down with Matt Galloway to discuss the book Swan Song: Diana, my sister, and her legacy.

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