The Current

When wildfires rip through towns, the smoke may eventually clear, but the trauma lingers. This morning, we hear from two women whose lives were upended by wildfires. Brooke Kindel lost her home in Denare Beach, Saskatchewan just weeks before giving birth. Meghan Fandrich lived through the fire that destroyed most of Lytton, B.C. in 2021 including her small business. Together, they reflect on loss, survival, and what comes after disaster.

The Calgary Stampede is making history. For the first time in 45 years, a new event has been added: ladies breakaway roping. We speak with world champion Shelby Boisjoli-Meged about what it means to compete on her home turf, and why equal pay and representation in rodeo matter more than ever.

Two long-serving Canadian diplomats — Don Campbell and Alex Bugailiskis — have been named to the Order of Canada. Campbell helped negotiate the first North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), while Bugailiskis served as ambassador to countries including Syria, Cuba and Italy, and played a key role in the resettlement of Syrian refugees. They reflect on their decades of diplomatic service — and how Canada’s role in the world has changed.

Two members of the Canadian Armed Forces are among four men facing charges over a plot to violently seize land in Quebec. The RCMP has laid terrorism-related charges alleging that the men amassed a large cache of weapons, motivated by anti-government ideology. We speak to Jessica Davis, a former CSIS analyst, about what we know so far — and what questions remain. Then, researcher Amarnath Amarasingam discusses what this case reveals about ideological extremism in Canada’s military, and how experts say the Armed Forces should respond.

Tuberculosis is entirely curable and yet also the deadliest infectious disease in the world. That paradox has fascinated John Green, the popular YouTuber and author of The Fault in Our Stars, ever since he met a boy called Henry at a TB hospital in Sierra Leone. Green's new book, Everything is Tuberculosis, tells Henry’s story and asks why this disease still kills more people every year than homicide, war, and malaria combined.

As calls for Alberta to separate from Canada get louder, pro-Canada forces are pushing back. Former Alberta Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk has launched a referendum campaign against separatism – asking Albertans: “Do you agree Alberta should remain in Canada?” We speak with him about why Alberta should stay part of Canada. Then, political scientist Barry Cooper explains why he thinks Alberta would be better off going it alone.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in Washington this week and U.S. President Donald Trump says a Gaza ceasefire could be just days away. Meanwhile on the ground, aid workers say urgent action is needed to address the humanitarian crisis. We hear from Akram Saeed, a father living in a refugee camp in Khan Younis, who says every day is a struggle to survive. And Shaima Al-Obaidi with Save the Children says people in Gaza are being forced to risk their lives just to eat. And from Tel Aviv, political analyst Dahlia Scheindlin explains the political pressure the Israeli Prime Minister is facing at home and abroad to end the war.

Two Canadians honoured for a lifetime of service. Cheryl Forchuk is a mental health nurse and researcher whose work has changed how Canada understands homelessness, tracing its roots to system failures and pushing for solutions grounded in dignity and data. Mike Stevens is a renowned harmonica player whose music has taken him to remote Indigenous communities, where he’s spent decades helping young people find hope and healing through the power of song. Both have been named to the Order of Canada.

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.

Farmers on both sides of the border are watching closely as Canada and the U.S. continue trade talks. With Canada backing off its digital services tax, some are asking: is supply management next? That’s the system that controls how much milk, eggs and poultry Canadian farmers can produce and guarantees a set price for what they sell. We hear from a dairy farmer in New York who says U.S. producers still don’t have the access they were promised under USMCA, and an egg farmer in B.C. who says supply management helped her farm survive. Plus, a food economist walks us through how the system works — and what might happen if it’s put back on the table.

It’s the Fourth of July, but for some people with ties to both Canada and the U.S., the day feels more conflicted than celebratory. As relations between the two countries sour, dual citizens and cross-border families are finding it harder to navigate their identities. We speak to three people who share what it’s like to live between two countries that no longer feel so friendly. Sarah Doué grew up in Texas and now lives in Nova Scotia and has considered giving up her U.S. citizenship. Bryce McNeil says being Canadian in America has never felt more complicated. And Georganne Burke is planning on moving back to Florida, saying a rise in anti-American sentiment has made her feel unwelcome in Canada.

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.

Ottawa says it’s done its part in removing federal exceptions to make interprovincial trade easier. But with most of the barriers still in provincial hands, we speak to Ryan Mallough from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, about the federal government’s actions and whether they’re enough and Ryan Manucha, a research fellow at the CD Howe Institute, on why reducing interprovincial trade barriers remains complicated and what Canada can learn from other countries that have tackled similar challenges.

This summer, some parents are opting out of the packed schedules, the summer camps, and little leagues and instead are saying yes to slower days at home. Amil Niazi, a columnist for The Cut, shares how she’s embracing an unscheduled, unstructured summer — sometimes called “kidrotting.” And child psychologist Janine Hubbard explains why letting kids be bored might actually be good for them.

More young Canadians are out of work than at any point in decades–excluding during the COVID-19 pandemic. The youth unemployment rate is now more than 14 per cent and for students returning to school this fall the anxiety of the world to come after school is daunting. We hear from two Gen Z job seekers about the emotional toll of a stagnant job market, and a labour expert on what this might signal about Canada’s economy.

Divorce is costly — legally, emotionally, and financially. That’s why more people are using divorce registries – a list of things your friends and families can buy to help you start your post-divorce life. We talk to a woman who turned to friends and family to furnish a new life after splitting with her partner, and hear from the co-founder of a divorce registry helping others do the same. Plus, a certified financial divorce specialist lays out the cost of divorce.

Quirks and Quarks host Bob McDonald says people are often surprised to learn he’s a university dropout — a fact that’s contributed to the impostor syndrome he’s felt for a large part of his life. In his memoir Just Say Yes, Bob McDonald charts his path from an unhappy and sometimes abusive home to Canada's foremost explainer of all things scientific.

Farmers' livelihoods are at stake in Saskatchewan in the middle of a historic drought. It’s been a while since Saskatchewan saw steady rainfall – and conditions are pushing some farmers to the edge. Ranchers are facing choices about whether to sell off cattle or take on more debt. We hear from two prairie farmers about the impact drought is having on their farms, and how they’re coping amidst climate extremes. We also speak to an expert on what it will take to make farming more resilient in the face of climate change.

Yoga pants and stolen goods. Court documents obtained by CBC reveal a suspected organized crime ring behind a wave of high-value thefts from Lululemon stores across British Columbia. CBC journalist Jason Proctor breaks down how police tracked down the suspects.

Jeff Bezos is getting married in Venice, but not everyone is celebrating. As A-list guests gather, activists and locals are protesting what they see as a city being rented out to the ultra-wealthy. We hear from a protester with “No Space for Bezos,” and from a former luxury wedding planner who now writes about class and culture.

Fluoride is returning to Calgary’s drinking water. The city removed it more than a decade ago, but after a public vote and years of planning, it's back. A city councilor who once voted against fluoride explains why he’s changed his mind.

Rick Steves had his first puff of a joint in Afghanistan while he was travelling the Hippie Trail in 1978, the overland route from Istanbul to Kathmandu. The travel writer and entrepreneur talks to Matt Galloway about how that trip made him think about the world differently — and why he says others should seek out mind-expanding travel, too.

A fragile ceasefire is in place between Israel and Iran — but where does this leave Iran’s nuclear program? U.S. President Donald Trump is confident the program is destroyed but some intelligence reports suggest only setbacks. We speak with nuclear policy expert James Acton about what happens now.

Defending Canada will require new strategies, investments in new equipment, and more recruits, according to Gen. Jennie Carignan, chief of the defence staff of the Canadian Armed Forces. The country’s top soldier tells guest host Susan Ormiston about her priorities for the military, and what a new five per cent NATO defence spending target would mean for Canada.

As the climate warms, ticks are finding more places to call home within Canada — and spreading more diseases to people wherever they go. A doctor talks about why Lyme disease isn’t the only infection you can catch from ticks, and how to protect yourself against the bugs.

The Kamutik W ferry, which delivers critical items like food and toilet paper to remote communities in Labrador, has finally set sail after being delayed for more than a week. The delay has left people in those communities running low on supplies, and some advocates calling for a better solution.

NATO leaders are meeting for a historic summit. The gathering comes as conflicts continue in Ukraine and Gaza, and as a ceasefire between Iran and Israel remains fragile. We talk to former Canadian ambassador Kerry Buck, and former U.S. ambassador to NATO, Douglas Lute, about what’s on the agenda – and what’s at stake. And what Prime Minister Mark Carney needs to do to call the meeting a success.

Sanctions have become the go-to tool in global politics — used to punish rogue states, and signal international condemnation. But are they effective? With sanctions piling up against Russia, Iran, and two Israeli cabinet ministers, we ask whether economic punishment actually shapes behavior — or just creates diplomatic noise.

With the US inserting itself into the Iran-Israel war,  dropping bombs on three nuclear sites in Iran, the CBC's Chris Brown reports from Jerusalem on the latest diplomatic efforts and what we know about Iran's nuclear capacity. We also talk to Esfandyar Batmanghelidj,  founder of the Bourse & Bazaar Foundation think tank, on how the war is shaping sentiments inside Iran. Plus, we talk to The Atlantic journalist Isaac Stanley-Becker about the debate inside MAGA about US involvement.

Men are struggling – according to a new study on men’s health. New data from the Movember Institute of Men’s Health shows that nearly half of Canadian men will die prematurely – before the age of 75 – from largely preventable causes. Men also account for three out of every four suicides in the country. Former Health Minister Mark Holland and study author and UBC professor Dr. John Oliffe, discuss the systemic, social, and psychological factors behind these outcomes, and call for a national men’s health strategy.

If staying out dancing until 3 a.m. doesn’t appeal to you like it used to, you’re not alone. Across Canada, daytime dance parties are making space for people who want to move, socialize and still be in bed before midnight. We talk to two daytime party organizers about what it means to dance in the daytime and how it's reshaping nightlife.

45 years ago, Terry Fox set out to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. He made it more than 5,000 kilometres before cancer forced him to stop. This summer, his brother Darrell Fox is cycling coast to coast to honour that journey and raise funds through the Ride of Hope. We speak with Fred Fox, Terry's older brother, about what it means to see that legacy continue.

It’s the first day of summer and Canadian politics is already heating up. Prime Minister Mark Carney is hoping to pass Bill C-5 before the House breaks, but the legislation is drawing serious pushback from Indigenous leaders and others. Meanwhile, the G7 has wrapped — was there any progress on tariffs? Plus, a Conservative Party leadership review and by-elections in Alberta. It all makes for a busy summer in Canadian politics. Our national affairs panel — Rosemary Barton, Stephanie Levitz and Kathleen Petty — join us to break it all down.

Across Canada, final exams are disappearing from high schools. Since the pandemic, some school boards have dropped or reworked them entirely. Supporters say the shift reduces student stress and allows for more meaningful assessments. But critics worry we’re sending teens into adulthood without learning how to cope with pressure. We speak with two educators on opposite sides of the debate: What are we really testing for — and what happens when those tests disappear?

In the conclusion of our series As We Age, we bring together a panel of guests navigating emotional and complex conversations — from how to care for their aging parents, negotiating moves into retirement homes, to what it means to grow old yourself while caring for someone else. It’s an intimate look at the realities many Canadians are quietly managing behind closed doors.

A powerful documentary about a woman breaking the silence around sexual abuse in her family. Robin Heald was abused for years by her stepfather — and her mother stayed with him - even after he pleaded guilty. In It Ends With Me, CBC producer John Chipman follows Robin’s journey back into that past — and how she’s working to stop the cycle for future generations.

Forty years ago, a bomb tore through Air India Flight 182, killing all 329 people on board — the majority of them Canadian. Despite being the worst mass murder in this country’s history, many Canadians still don’t know the story. In a new CBC documentary, families of the victims reflect on the trauma, the justice they feel they never received, and the memories of their loved ones.

mRNA vaccines saved millions of lives during the pandemic. But now, that science is under political attack in the United States. Funding is being pulled, approvals are being delayed, and the science questioned by politicians. Science journalist Elie Dolgin joins us to explain how a technology once hailed as revolutionary is now facing an existential threat — and what that could cost in the fight against diseases.

Nike’s latest collection is making waves — not just for the fashion, but for who’s behind it. The brand has teamed up with the Toronto-born label NorBlack NorWhite in what’s being celebrated as a landmark collaboration. For many in the South Asian community, it’s a rare moment of representation in an industry that often borrows from their culture without credit.

As tensions rise between Israel and Iran, a Canadian citizen and her family trapped in Tehran are trying to find a way out — with fuel scarce and borders uncertain. We speak with one family preparing to flee, and hear what it's like on the ground in Jerusalem with CBC’s Margaret Evans.

As thousands of graduates toss their caps in the air, the president of Canada’s largest university is stepping down. Meric Gertler reflects on 12 years at the helm of the University of Toronto — and the future of education and life after the classroom in the age of AI and fewer jobs. 

Dave Burnett started his degree in 1976. Now 49 years later, he is graduating. He talks to Matt Galloway about that moment crossing the stage nearly half a century in the making. The 68-year-old just completed his agriculture degree — and reflects on the long road to graduation — a story of addiction, recovery and achieving long-held dreams. 

Hospital parking is expensive. Add that to the already high cost of being sick. Cancer patients, parents and caregivers can spend thousands on parking and are calling for fees to be reduced or eliminated. But hospitals say they need the money to help pay for healthcare in a stretched system. We hear from one patient about the cost, and why when Nova Scotia recently made parking at hospitals free, it didn't exactly go as planned.

AI is exploding. It’s everywhere. And almost everyone is using it. From writing emails to generating lifelike videos, to booking appointments, artificial intelligence is moving beyond simple prompts and into what experts call “agentic AI” — systems that can act on our behalf. CBC’s Nora Young joins Matt Galloway to talk about this moment in AI. She’s been testing some of the newest tools, including Google's Veo 3 video generator and OpenAI’s latest web-browsing agents.

 As the prime minister eyes a number of “nation-building” projects, the country is in need of tens of thousands more tradespeople to make them happen. We hear from high school students planning to pursue jobs in the trades, while economists Simon Gaudreault and Jim Stanford debate whether lowering standards and encouraging greater immigration could get this country the skilled workers it needs.

A lot is at stake at this week’s G7 summit in Alberta. Prime Minister Mark Carney will be looking for a deal on tariffs, and avoiding the kind of drama that roiled the meeting last time Canada hosted it. CBC journalist JP Tasker walks us through the challenges Carney faces at this meeting, while Peter MacKay and Bessma Momani assess whether world leaders can stay focused on economic issues while the Israel-Iran conflict continues to escalate.

Many small communities across the country are struggling to survive, as people age and their children chase big city life. Powell River, B.C. is trying to keep its own numbers up with the help of a conductor who’s worked with some of the world’s biggest orchestras. In her documentary War and Peace, the CBC’s Liz Hoath hears from locals who say Arthur Arnold is bringing a lot more than music to their town of 13,000 people.

Israel targeted nuclear facilities inside Iran in a major attack against the country, killing top military brass and civilians alike. Iran is already retaliating against what it calls a “declaration of war” by Israel with drone strikes of its own. We hear from a journalist and an Iranian political expert about why the escalation is coming right now, and what it will take to de-escalate from here.

When it comes to treating chronic pain, doctors have few options to reach for aside from opioid prescriptions for their patients. A non-opioid medication recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration stands to change that. A journalist explains how researchers discovered a new way to combat pain with this drug, which a Canadian doctor describes as “almost the holy grail.”

ALS is a death sentence for those diagnosed with it. Now a scientist in Moose Jaw claims he has discovered the secret to stopping the disease in its tracks. CBC’s Geoff Leo investigated the claims of a treatment, which desperate patients are forking over tens of thousands of dollars for, in his documentary Hard to Swallow.

ICE raids in L.A. sparked protests, pushback and stopped traffic in that city — which have been met with military force, as U.S. President Donald Trump sent in the National Guard and Marines earlier this week.  Antonio Gutierrez, co-founder of Organized Communities Against Deportations, says these moves are a threat to American democracy — and a law professor says the deployment risks politicizing the military.

Earlier this month, Remy Siu and his team at Sunset Visitor won a Peabody for their video game 1000xResist. The project was a success, to its own creators' surprise, as they attempted to create a story about mythology for the Asian diaspora. Siu talks about the big win — and a journalist breaks down the context of mass layoffs that are roiling a video game industry that’s facing growing pains.

It’s not always easy to get your kids reading in the summer. Whether it’s Minecraft or going to the swimming pool, kids have plenty of excuses to not pick up a book. Three experts are here with their favourite kids books for the season — and they tell us how you, too, can get the child in your life to keep reading.

Matt Galloway visited St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador to talk about the hurdles the province faces, and the conditions there that have produced great artists of all kinds, from authors to comedians. In this special edition of The Current, Galloway heard from some of the people that make the city one of a kind in front of a live audience at The Majestic Theatre.

Authors Michael Crummey and Holly Hogan, who are also a married couple, talk about competing for the same literary prizes and what it means to get “Newfoundland on paper.”

CBC host Jane Adey explains what it’s like wrapping up the sixtieth season of the iconic show, Land and Sea – a program Newfoundlanders have fought to keep on air for decades.

Premier John Hogan talks about taking on the job after the last premier suddenly stepped down, and why he believes that Newfoundland will endure through the tariff threat presented by U.S. president Donald Trump. And Hogan argues Newfoundland’s oil and gas sector has a place, even during a green transition.

Opera singer Deantha Edmunds explains how the natural world inspires her music and the shock that came along with her recent Juno win. 

Comedians Matt Wright, Andy Jones, Bree Parsons discuss one of the province’s most famous exports — laughter. 

Plus, we’ll hear music from homegrown singer-songwriter Tim Baker — and the stories that inspire his songs.

From shore, the ocean looks brilliant, blue and clear. But somewhere out there, pirates, traffickers, slave labourers and migrants navigate the high seas — a place without laws. Ian Urbina shares the incredible stories of squid fishers who haven’t touched solid ground in years and of migrants shot at by Libya’s coastguard in the second season of his podcast The Outlaw Ocean.

As Canada’s relationship with the U.S. shifts, Mark Carney announced yesterday a $9 billion boost to defence spending that would allow the country to meet its NATO spending targets. A reporter explains that Carney is seizing the moment to usher in new investment. Meanwhile, a Canadian Armed Forces veteran hopes the increased spending will end decades of "embarrassment" for soldiers who have been working with decades-old equipment.

Journalist Chris Hayes says “attention capitalism” demands we pay heed to everything at once, from social media doomscrolling to the 24-hour global news cycle. In a conversation with Matt Galloway from March, the MSNBC host explores what that means for our lives and politics — and explains why he thinks Donald Trump’s attention-grabbing antics are “a kind of feral instinct.”

In the past, folks in Newfoundland left the province to find work opportunities elsewhere — but now, immigrants are moving there to build their futures. Matt Galloway hears from business owners and recruiters in St. John’s about what’s drawing newcomers to the province, and the East Coast kindness that makes them want to stay.

Offshore oil is big business in Newfoundland. And with “nation building projects” a priority of the new federal government, some hope the stalled Bay du Nord drilling project might get a boost. An industry expert shares her hopes for the province’s offshore industry, though a researcher argues oil projects aren’t nation building — they’re “nation destroying.”

The only mosque in St. John’s, built in the 1980s, has become so crowded in recent years that worshippers often spill into the kitchen and lawn during Friday prayer. In her documentary The Best of Planners, Caroline Hillier tells the story of the community’s quest for a new place of worship — which they’re now renovating from the remains of a Catholic church, with the help of a generous donation.

The Outlaw Ocean is an anthology podcast that plunges you into the vast and often lawless world of the open seas. Today we feature the first investigation of S2. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ian Urbina traces back the story of a young father and farmer who embarks on a perilous journey across the Mediterranean, only to discover why it’s called "the route of death."

You can find The Outlaw Ocean wherever you get your podcasts: https://link.mgln.ai/oo-tc

Plus, come back Tuesday to hear guest host Catherine Cullen’s conversation with the journalist behind these incredible investigations.

There’s more billionaires in the world now than ever before. And as wealth is concentrated into the hands of a small group of people, the power of those select few is also growing – particularly in the US, where billionaires have been getting more and more access to Donald Trump. The journalist Evan Osnos tells Matt Galloway about the influence and excesses of the .01%, which he charts in his new book, The Haves and the Have Yachts.

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

Fifteen Canadian scientists turned a navy vessel into a research ship this February, and set out to explore Antarctica. The CBC’s international climate correspondent, Susan Ormiston, was along for the ride. Ormiston tells Matt Galloway about being chased by a seal in the planet’s strange, southern continent — and why melting Antarctic ice will impact the rest of the

Canadian cyclist Derek Gee says five years ago, he wouldn’t have believed he’d ever make it to the Giro d’Italia – a gruelling, weeks-long cycling race. Gee tells Matt Galloway about his fourth place finish, and the blessing he received from Pope Leo along the way.

Canadian-Israeli peace activist Vivian Silver dedicated her life to building bridges between Israelis and Palestinians. But her life was cut short when she was killed by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023 — and her son, Yonatan Zeigen, vowed to continue her work. Zeigen tells Matt Galloway why he quit his job to take up the often “dangerous” work of peace.

Diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives have been under fire in the U.S. since Trump came back to the White House — and on this side of the border, some are worried about similar rollbacks. Equity and diversity experts discuss how company values are being “pressure tested,” and what DEI initiatives got wrong.

Whopping 50 per cent tariffs are now in effect on steel and aluminum imports headed to the U.S. — and that’s causing pain for businesses on both sides of the border. We hear from Canadian and American businesses who say they will survive, but at a cost.

Thousands of residents in Manitoba and Saskatchewan have been forced out of their homes by raging wildfires and are now sheltering, in some cases, hundreds of kilometres away. Despite harrowing journeys to safety and what they describe as a lack of support from governments, two evacuees discuss how proud they are of their communities, where neighbours have come together to support each other.

The Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers will go head to head for the Stanley Cup starting tonight – a rematch of last year’s final matchup that saw the Oilers defeated. Will they pull off the win this time? Two superfans say they sure hope so — and they don’t mind welcoming hockey fans of other Canadian teams onto the bandwagon

Price Carter travelled to Switzerland with his mom, Kay Carter, 15 years ago to be with her while she received an assisted death. The process was illegal in Canada at the time — something her kids went on to help change. Now, following a cancer diagnosis, Price has been approved for an assisted death. He spoke with Matt Galloway about the decision to die on his own terms.

What does a reporter do when they receive a cold call from one of the most horrific serial killers in Canadian history?

The killer: Clifford Olson, who murdered at least eleven children in the 1980s. The reporter: Arlene Bynon, who recorded her jailhouse calls with Olson for years.

Alongside legendary journalist Peter Worthington, Arlene spent hundreds of hours on the phone with Olson. It was kept secret from his prison guards; he wasn't allowed to speak to the media.

In Calls From a Killer, from CBC’s Uncover, Arlene unearths secrets that have been buried for decades. 

More episodes of Calls from a Killer are available at: https://link.mgln.ai/vCRoV

The fight to save 400 ostriches from being culled at a B.C. farm where avian flu was detected late last year has attracted international attention — including from some big name supporters, including Dr. Oz and U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. A member of the family that’s owned the ostrich farm for 30 years tells Matt Galloway about why they have fought the cull order, while an immunology expert explains the risk the birds pose to public health.

Ukrainian drones smuggled deep into Russian territory carried out a stunning attack over the weekend — and just this morning, another underwater bombing by Ukraine took out Russia’s bridge to Crimea. A journalist in Kyiv breaks down the military feat, and explains how much its boosted morale among Ukrainians.

Nothing beats a good book, especially at the cottage, by the pool — or even quietly at home with the kids away at camp. We ask two professional book lovers to share their tips for the best books of the summer, from beach reads and blockbusters to novels from Canada’s finest.

Ann Shea, from Mill Street Books in Almonte, Ont., chose One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune, The Alternatives by Caoilinn Hughes, How to Survive a Bear Attack by Claire Cameron, The Mind Mappers by Eric Andrew-Gee and My Friends by Fredrik Backman.

Cassidy Tooley, from Mosaic Books in Kelowna, B.C., chose Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy, Favourite Daughter by Morgan Dick, The Book of Alchemy: A Creative Practice for an Inspired Life by Suleika Jaouad, The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig, and Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Have you read any of these books already? Hit play to hear the conversation and find out why our book lovers think you should!

As limited aid begins to enter Gaza after a months-long blockade, civilians are scrambling to access much-needed food and supplies. Gaza health officials say Israeli forces have killed dozens of Palestinians trying to access aid in the past few days. A representative from Save The Children discusses the struggle to get aid to people who desperately need it — and about the humanitarian situation on the ground, which she says somehow gets worse every day.

Claire Cameron has been obsessed with bears since hearing about a bear attack while she was working in Ontario’s Algonquin Park as a teenager. But when she was diagnosed with cancer, Cameron revisited the details of that attack and the wilderness environment that’s shaped much of her life. In a conversation from March, she told Galloway about her new memoir How to Survive a Bear Attack, and what facing death taught her about how to live.

Mark Carney promised to “build, baby, build” on the campaign trail. Today, he’s meeting with provincial and territorial premiers to discuss his plans to build big projects in this country, including by fast-tracking the processes to get them approved. We’ll talk about balancing the rights of Indigenous nations with the new government’s proposed plans — and why red tape isn’t the only hurdle holding up development.

From climate change to poverty or infant mortality, the world is facing a lot of big problems. And the historian Rutger Bregman says you — yes, you — are the exact right person to solve them. Bregman makes the case to Matt Galloway that today’s workforce should focus on “moral ambition” — channeling their entrepreneurial spirits toward social problems, rather than toiling in meaningless jobs

Thumb pulling, chin tucking, hair transplants…. and on the less extreme side, skin, hair, and eyebrow care — those are just some examples of looksmaxxing, a viral social media trend for young men to improve their looks. Elijah Forcier is a TikToker with advice on how, and Christian Ylagan is an instructor with the Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies at Western University, we talk about what these unrealistic beauty standards mean for young men’s self-esteem — and masculinity in 2025.

The wildfire season is in full effect, and it’s only May. Saskatchewan and Manitoba are in a state of emergency as wildfires burn across the provinces. Thousands of people have evacuated their homes, and many are still finding ways to get out of the fire’s way. First Nations leaders Peter Beatty, Chief of Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation in Saskatchewan and David Monias, Chief of the Pimicikamak Cree Nation in northern Manitoba explain how they are moving their communities out of danger when many exits are closed — and what worries they have for this wildfire season.

There are many statues of Canada’s first Prime Minister across this country — but in recent years statues of John A. Macdonald have been toppled or taken down to protest his role as an architect of the residential schools system and his treatment of Indigenous people. We'll talk about what to do about the statues - and why the plans to clean up and uncover one John A. Mcdonald in Toronto is particularly controversial.

Are you a self-identified “word nerd?” Jacques Bailly is, and he is a bit of a spell-lebrity… What is that you might ask? Well, he is the head pronouncer at the Scripps National Spelling Bee, the Olympics of competitive spelling, and he was a spelling bee champion himself when he was 14. He’ll talk about why spelling is a skill we should preserve in a world of spell check and AI — and put Matt Galloway to the test.

Noelle Drimmie could taste the smoke in the air as she and her family fled the wildfires approaching their home in Flin Flon, Man. She tells Matt Galloway how surreal it felt to drive away under apocalyptic skies, while trying to keep her young kids entertained in the back seat.

Democratic U.S. Senator Peter Welch recently came to Canada to try to mend fences, over what he sees as President Donald Trump’s damaging tariffs and threats to make Canada the 51st state. The Vermont senator talks to Matt Galloway about the Canada-U.S. relationship — and military expert Christian Leuprecht digs into Prime Minister Mark Carney’s plan for a defence deal with the EU, as a way to reduce Canada’s reliance on the U.S.

The first time Laura Bordignon held her daughter Makayla Poppy was also the last. A month after Makayla Poppy was delivered stillborn, Laura and her husband Nick received an invoice for her autopsy. The bill included an itemized list of procedures, but also revealed their daughter’s remains were still in the morgue — weeks after they should have been released. Laura and Nick share their story in Jodie Martinson’s documentary Seven Months with Makayla, in the hopes of highlighting the errors that compound grief for the thousands of Canadian families who experience stillbirth every year.

Oji-Cree musician Aysanabee almost died when he was 19, after falling through the ice on a frozen lake. That experience changed the life of the Juno award winner, pushing him to his career today. A new study shows his experience is a common one among people who have near-death experiences. So why do a brush with death might help people have a better work-life balance — and how do we gain the same attitude without almost dying? Well, that’s the question.

A little elvish toy in a bunny suit with a mischievous smile, that’s a Labubu for you — and she, yes it’s a girl, is taking the world by storm. What made Labubus so popular, and how are they bringing us together when people are fighting to get their hands on one? We have answers.

Donald Trump says Vladimir Putin is "playing with fire," following Russia’s largest air attack of the war on Ukraine, Russia responds with a warning for World War Three. Christopher Miller, the Ukraine correspondent for the Financial Times joins Matt Galloway to talk about what’s on the mind of Ukrainians after months of failed peace talks — and what Volodymyr Zelenskyy told him yesterday.

The search for alien life in space continues, but there is an update. Chinese astronauts discovered a bacteria, and it turns out it can survive the extreme conditions of space. “That’s evolution at work,” says Jamie Foster, a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Cell Science at the University of Florida. What lessons should it teach us, and how can we use it to help us with future space missions, Foster explains.

Running an ultramarathon is hard, but running 100kms six months post-partum and breastfeeding during breaks… Well, that sounds like a scene from an inspirational movie. But, for Stephanie Case, and her baby girl Pepper, it was real life. Why would she do this, and what keeps her running these extreme distances, she shares with Matt Galloway.

Parliament is back and King Charles delivered his throne speech today. What message is the King's speech meant to send to Canadians, and to one American in particular, Donald Trump? What are the new Liberal government's priorities? CBC’s Catherine Cullen, The Globe and Mail’s Stephanie Levitz, and The National Post’s Christopher Nardi join Matt Galloway to talk about all that and more.

Do you speak dolphin? What about marmoset or nightingale? Did you know cuttlefish use a form of sign language to communicate? If your answer was no to all those questions, you should know that scientists are working to turn that into a yes — and AI is playing a key role. How to decode animal communication, and whether that's even a good idea. Three animal communication scientists join us to talk it all through - human to human.

Normally, therapy sessions are totally confidential — but this podcast opens the doors. In this season of Other People’s Problems, Dr. Hillary McBride explores the transformative power of psychedelics in a therapeutic setting.

With her psychological expertise, Dr. Hillary leads her clients through drug-assisted therapy, guiding them to new heights on their healing journeys. Experience these real, unscripted sessions firsthand as they unfold in each episode.

This season offers an unprecedented look at psychedelic psychotherapy, breaking new ground in the podcast space and demystifying this often misunderstood practice as a powerful tool in trauma recovery.

More episodes of Other People’s Problems are available at: https://link.mgln.ai/1RjPLj

The House of Commons returns today after nearly six months, Prime Minister Mark Carney with his new Liberal minority government, and Conservatives without their leader Pierre Poilievre in the Parliament. What’s next? Matt Galloway speaks with Karina Gould, the re-elected Liberal MP; Heather McPherson, the re-elected NDP MP; and Andrew Lawton, the first-time Conservative MP about their parties’ priorities, the challenges ahead — and how they can work together for Canada.

‘It is absolutely an act of compassion,’ says Leonard Krog, the mayor of Nanaimo about the use of involuntary care to deal with B.C.’s mental health crisis — but some experts are worried that forcing someone into treatment is a violation of their rights. Matt Galloway speaks with Mayor Krog; Jonny Morris, the CEO of the B.C. Division of the Canadian Mental Health Association; and Dr. Shimi Kang, a psychiatrist with Future Ready Minds for their insight about how to provide care for mental health while protecting public safety — as Premier David Eby works to review the province’s mental health legislation following the deadly Lapu-Lapu Day festival.

It's grilling season, and Chef on Fire has one thing on his mind: cooking on live fire — and he says you should try it too. Chef Michael Smith, in his new book Wood, Fire and Smoke: Recipes and Techniques for Wood-Fired Cooking, explores how cooking on live fire can bring more than just flavour into your life; lighting a fire for zen and a good time.

“Tourists go home," protesters chant in Spain, and they’re not alone. People in many European countries say they want tourists to stay away — but only the bad ones. So as you plan your next vacation, we get some advice on how to be a better tourist.

“I did not see humanity provided to Mr. Floyd that day,” says Medaria Arradondo, the Minneapolis police chief at the time of George Floyd’s murder. Five years after Floyd was murdered in an interaction with police officers Derek Chauvin, Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng, Matt Galloway talks to former police chief Arradondo and civil rights lawyer and activist Nekima Levy Armstrong about what has or hasn’t changed — and where the Black Lives Matter movement stands in the U.S. today with Donald Trump in the Oval Office.