The Current

Host David Ridgen joins victims' family members as they investigate cold cases, tracking down leads, speaking to suspects and searching for answers. In the highly-anticipated 8th season of Someone Knows Something, award-winning investigator David Ridgen delves into a cold case that has haunted Whitehorse for more than 15 years. Angel Carlick was a vibrant youth worker, nicknamed ‘Happy-Go-Lucky’ by her loved ones. She had plans after graduation to become legal guardian of her brother and work to support struggling youth at her local resource centre. But just days before she was set to graduate in 2007, at age 18, Angel disappeared. Months later, her remains were found in a remote area in the Canadian north. As David works alongside Angel's family, friends, and community, he uncovers details surrounding her death and strives to bring her justice, while honouring the legacy of her late mother, Wendy. More episodes are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/QwOW-UNC

Canada has lost more trees to wildfires this year than in any other year on record. It’s led some tree planters to question if their methods of the past have contributed to the fires of today. Guest host Nora Young speaks with two tree planters, and John Innes, the forest renewal B.C. chair in forest management.

It’s been a year since post-tropical storm Fiona ripped entire homes into the sea in Channel-Port aux Basques, N.L. Earlier this summer, Matt Galloway travelled there to meet residents still picking up the pieces and grappling with whether they can ever feel safe again, living so close to the ocean.

The shortest family medicine residency program in Canada is two years, but there’s now a plan to increase those to a minimum of three years. However, some practitioners are concerned the extra year will steer new doctors away from family medicine. Guest host Nora Young discusses the impact with Dr. Mike Green, head of family medicine at Queens University and the incoming president of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, and Dr. Sarah Lespérance, a family doctor and the president of Society of Rural Physicians of Canada.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the Canadian parliament last week. But after he spoke, House Speaker Anthony Rota introduced World War Two veteran Yaroslav Hunka — to a standing ovation. It has since emerged that Hunka fought in a Nazi unit. Matt Galloway speaks with John Paul Tasker, a senior reporter with CBC's parliamentary bureau, about how this happened, and gets an update on the war in Ukraine.

Mike St. Amour, the mayor of Enterprise, N.W.T., on rebuilding the hamlet near Hay River following the destructive August wildfires.

Manitoba’s provincial election is just over a week away. Our national affairs panel discusses healthcare, homelessness and the power of Indigenous voters in that province.

Behavioural scientist Dan Ariely has spent years trying to understand why people believe in wild conspiracies. He shares his thoughts in his new book, Misbelief: What Makes Rational People Believe Irrational Things.

It’s the elephant in the room for Canadian Sikhs — but now is the time to talk about the Khalistan separatist movement, says Satwinder Bains, an expert on the South Asian diaspora. "Maybe this is the point at which we say, 'The hell with it,' and have these conversations." The diplomatic crisis between Canada and India over the killing of a Khalistan advocate has put the push for a Sikh homeland back in the headlines. Bains thinks it’s time for the community to face the divisive issue, whether they support, oppose or are ambivalent towards Khalistan. Matt Galloway also speaks with Salimah Shivji, CBC's South Asia correspondent, to share the view from India — where some headlines are calling the Canadian prime minister a "guardian of gangsters."

Surfboards are an important part of life in Hawaii — a way for people to connect to the waves and their culture. After many boards burned up in last month’s wildfires, surfboard shaper Jud Lau has been making and donating replacements to help survivors find healing.

Thousands across Canada rallied against how schools teach about sexuality and gender identity on Wednesday. They were met by thousands of counter-protesters, who said they were defending LGBTQ students and families, and the schools that support them. Matt Galloway speaks with people on both sides of the protest.

Some grieving Canadians are using artificial intelligence to create digital versions of the dead, in the hopes of re-connecting with people they’ve loved and lost. What will technology like this mean for how we grieve?

Jonathan Menjivar’s podcast Classy brings tricky conversations about class out into the open. He talks to Matt Galloway about feeling uncomfortable in fancy restaurants, dealing with “classholes,” and the hidden barriers that can hold people back.

Many questions remain after the bombshell accusation that India had a role in the killing of a Canadian. Matt Galloway asks Minister Harjit Sajjan whether the evidence behind the allegation will be made public, and discusses the fallout for Indo-Canadian relations.

Two new studies show a significant pandemic increase in ER visits and hospitalizations for teenagers due to self-harm or suicidal ideation. Experts say better mental health supports are needed — and a model for cancer care could be the path to providing them.

Thousands of migrants crossed the Mediterranean to reach the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa last week, doubling the island’s population. Megan Williams went there to find out how the locals — and the newcomers — are coping.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has accused India’s government of involvement in the killing of Canadian Sikh community leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot in B.C. in June. Matt Galloway talks to NDP leader Jagmeet Singh about the reaction in his community; and former CSIS director Richard Fadden about what happens next.

The Tablelands is a patch of barren landscape — largely devoid of life — in Newfoundland’s Gros Morne National Park. But scientists have discovered a type of bacteria there that could teach us about the possibility of life in another inhospitable environment: Mars.

Guillaume Vermette has entertained traumatized children across the globe as Yahoo the humanitarian clown. But his recent trip to Ukraine was his first work in an active war zone.

A strike deadline is looming for Canadian autoworkers, whose U.S. counterparts are already on the picket line. We look at what a strike would mean for a sector still recovering from the pandemic and facing upheaval in the transition to electric vehicles.

The Conservatives are surging in the polls and there's discontent in the Liberal ranks. Our national affairs panel breaks down what to expect as parliament returns for the fall session.

Dismayed by the state of today’s food systems, Montreal author Taras Grescoe travelled the world to dig into the agricultural practices of the past. He tells us what he found — and about his new book, The Lost Supper: Searching for the Future of Food in the Flavours of the Past.

The death of Mahsa Amini in police custody sparked waves of protests in Iran. One year on, activist Masih Alinejad looks at the push for change and what, if anything, is different now.

Steve Jobs and Serena Williams are titans in spite of their perfectionism, not because of it, says Thomas Curran. The author of The Perfection Trap says socially prescribed perfectionism is an epidemic, and our fantasies about it are hurting rather than helping us. “It’s like a bottomless pit, or chasing the horizon.” Instead, the self-described recovering perfectionist says it's time we all embrace being good enough.

Starting on Fridays this September, you’ll notice something different about our podcast feed. We’re bringing you one drop you can’t miss. Our best stuff that day. Chosen by us for you. All in about 30 minutes.

A proposed wind-hydrogen megaproject has divided people on the Port au Port Peninsula in western Newfoundland. Matt Galloway went there to hear from those concerned about the impact of building 164 enormous turbines — and those who think their communities can’t survive without this kind of economic opportunity.

Health officials across the country are grappling with how to talk to the public about things like masks and COVID-19 booster vaccines, even as case numbers rise heading into the fall and winter. After three-and-a-half pandemic years, are people willing to listen?

A new documentary explores the life and career of Ernie Coombs, better known to generations of Canadians as Mr. Dressup. Matt Galloway talks to director Rob McCallum; and Judith Lawrence, the creator, voice and puppeteer behind the beloved Casey and Finnegan.

The Washington Post’s Michelle Lee breaks down a recent face-to-face meeting between Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un.

Thousands of people are dead and missing in Libya after two dam breaches triggered floods that washed away entire neighbourhoods. Galloway hears how the impact of those floods are part of a decades-long neglect on the part of the country's leaders.

In Calgary, 264 children have confirmed cases of E. coli — potentially the worst outbreak of E. coli in Canada. The source is still not confirmed, but it may be connected to a commercial kitchen with numerous health infractions that was hired by Calgary daycares. Matt Galloway speaks with a mother of a four-year-old who was hospitalized.

Alyssa Ages explores strongman and strongwoman culture in her new book, Secrets of Giants: A Journey to Uncover the True Meaning of Strength.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Colson Whitehead tells Matt Galloway about his new novel, Crook Manifesto. It’s a story about crime and redemption in 1970s Harlem, packed with characters unable to stay out of trouble.

Jen Markowitz's new documentary Summer Qamp follows a group of trans and queer kids at a summer camp in Alberta that's just for them — a safer space where they can have fun and make friends. Markowitz and two campers discuss the importance of a place where you can be yourself, away from political debate about your own identity.

Thousands of Filipino nurses come to Canada every year, easing this country’s nursing shortage while also earning money to send back home. But that recruitment pipeline robs the Philippines of qualified nurses and splits Filipino families apart. The CBC’s Stephanie Dubois travelled to the Philippines to explore the impact there.

A powerful earthquake has killed more than 2,400 people in Morocco, with rescuers racing against time to reach survivors in remote villages. Matt Galloway talks to one woman who says “my teeth were shaking in my head” when the quake hit her home in Marrakesh.

Michael Crummey’s new book The Adversary explores his familiar themes around life at the ocean's edge. Matt Galloway sat down with the author at the Woody Point Writers Festival in Newfoundland to discuss isolation, vulgarity and the responsibility that comes with telling the stories of home.

Your car is gathering an alarming amount of data about you, including your genetic information and sexual activity, according to a new report from privacy experts. What are carmakers doing with that data?

Google turns 25 this month. BBC technology editor Zoe Kleinman talks us through how it grew from a humble search engine to the company powering so many aspects of our everyday lives.

Canadian architect Raymond Moriyama died last week, leaving a legacy that includes the National War Museum and the Toronto Reference Library. His friend and fellow architect Bruce Kuwabara tells us about Moriyama’s childhood experience in a Japanese internment camp, and how it led him to make buildings that bring people together.

Researchers in Newfoundland are using high-tech tools like sonar and remotely operated vehicles to retrieve lost fishing gear from the bottom of the ocean floor. Matt Galloway took a boat trip to see what “ghost gear” lurks beneath the surface.

The Conservative Party’s policy convention is underway in Quebec City. Matt Galloway asks Sen. Denise Batters how her party intends to tackle the big issues facing Canadians; and our national affairs panel weighs up what’s at stake for Pierre Poilievre in his first convention as Conservative leader.

Matt Galloway asks what we can expect from the trial of two key organizers of the truck convoy that paralyzed downtown Ottawa in 2022; and dissects a new report that says polarization is rife in Canada, but younger people in particular are rejecting “bloodsport politics.”

Young people in China are graduating into an economic slump, unsure if they’ll enjoy the same prosperity that their parents’ generation enjoyed. We hear about mounting anxiety across the contracting economy — and what it might mean for Canada.

For decades, Inuit women in northern Quebec had to travel south to give birth, far from family and support. That started to change in 1986 when the North’s first midwifery clinic opened in Puvirnituq. Duncan McCue takes us into that maternity centre with his documentary, Hands of a Midwife.

The Bank of Canada has raised interest rates 10 times in the past 18 months, leaving homeowner Sarah Dueck struggling with a monthly $6,300 bill. Have the hikes done enough to tackle inflation? When can Canadians feeling the squeeze expect some relief?

Ann Johnson was left paralyzed and unable to speak after a massive stroke at age 30. But now, a team of researchers has used artificial intelligence to give the Regina woman her voice back, allowing her and her husband to have their first real-time conversation in 18 years.

People in B.C. are starting to count the cost of recent wildfires, with some describing “the nothingness” they’re facing as flames die down. The CBC’s Chris Walker spoke to people about what they’ve lost and what comes next.

It’s been a year since post-tropical storm Fiona ripped entire homes into the sea in Channel-Port aux Basques, N.L. Matt Galloway travelled there to meet residents still picking up the pieces and grappling with whether they can ever feel safe again, living so close to the ocean.

Bill Vigars was in the van with Terry Fox on his Marathon of Hope in 1980. His new book, Terry & Me, shares little-known stories about Fox.

Yellowknife residents can return home on Wednesday, three weeks after forest fires forced virtually everyone in the N.W.T. city to evacuate. We talk to a Yellowknifer nervous about returning, and hear about the logistics of getting an evacuated city back up and running.

This has been the worst fire season on record. Lives have been lost, homes destroyed, communities evacuated — and fires are still burning across Canada. Matt Galloway speaks with Susan Ormiston, the CBC’s international climate correspondent, about the effects of this forest fire season.

Margaret Atwood’s new book, Old Babes in the Wood, is a collection of short stories that may be her most personal work yet. Earlier this year, Galloway spoke with her about those old babes, grief and loss, censorship, and whether she thinks artificial intelligence could ever replicate her writing.

AI-powered programs like ChatGPT have the potential to transform society, but they’ve also made it much easier to cheat. As students get ready to return to school, what is the role of AI in the classroom?

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has faced sharp criticism for opening up protected Greenbelt land for housing development. Ford says it’s a necessary move to tackle the housing crisis, but the plan has prompted damning reports from watchdogs, a high-level staff resignation and a possible RCMP investigation.

postpartum brain fog is familiar for many mothers — sometimes dismissively called “mommy brain.” But research now suggests it's actually a time when women's brains are rewiring themselves to learn new skills, multi-task and even have better memory later in life.

Hurricane Idalia slammed into Florida this week, leaving chaos in its wake. Guest host Susan Bonner hears why warming oceans are making hurricane season more destructive — and how communities in their path can adapt.

Some parents are turning to charities for help with back-to-school supplies, as inflation drives the cost into hundreds of dollars. Guest host Susan Bonner hears why bargains are getting harder to find, as parents try to bargain with kids’ expectations.

In a conversation from June, Jonathan Eig discusses his biography of Martin Luther King Jr., which aims to tell the whole story of a complicated man.

International students who come to Canada are learning hard lessons about the housing crisis, as well as promises of jobs and immigration opportunities that don’t materialize. Guest host Susan Bonner asks how the system could be reformed — and who’s responsible.

One hundred years ago, fishermen routinely threw bluefin tuna back into the sea. But now, the fish is the basis of a multi-billion dollar food industry. Karen Pinchin tells the story of what changed in her new book Kings of Their Own Ocean, and explores how one particular fish nicknamed Amelia Earhart was key to conservation efforts.

More and more people are forming friendships and even romantic relationships with AI chatbots, prompting concerns among experts who study the ethics around the rapidly evolving technology. In a conversation from June, Matt Galloway explores the world of artificial intelligence companions.

A shortage of more than 8,000 teachers has prompted Quebec to open up the jobs to people without training or experience — alarming some parents. Guest host Susan Bonner asks what’s driving the staffing shortage and what might solve it.

Fighting the wildfires in the Northwest Territories has been complicated by gaps in travel and communication infrastructure — problems that Premier Caroline Cochrane says the federal government should have fixed years ago. She tells guest host Susan Bonner why she’s angry about “pleading and begging to have the same infrastructure that people in the south take for granted”; and federal Minister of Emergency Preparedness Harjit Sajjan responds.

Cosmologist Thomas Gertog was a long-time close collaborator of Stephen Hawking, the physicist who explored the origins of the universe in A Brief History of Time. In a conversation from April, Gertog tells Matt Galloway about the moment that Hawking revealed he had second thoughts about some of his biggest ideas.

In her new book Eight Bears: Mythic Past and Imperiled Future, Gloria Dickie explores the creature’s special place in many cultures and societies — and asks why humanity’s history with bears is often draped in cruelty.

Frontrunner Donald Trump skipped the first Republican presidential primary debate Wednesday, but his opponents didn’t spend much time talking about him. Our political pundits lay out the winners and losers in a rowdy debate, and discuss what to expect as Trump surrenders to officials in Georgia over charges that he conspired to steal the 2020 election.

Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin is presumed to have died in a plane crash Wednesday, two months after he led a brief armed rebellion against President Vladimir Putin. What does his death mean for the war in Ukraine and dissent in Russia?

More and more Canadians are losing their homes and businesses to fires and floods — and then facing a battle with their insurance companies. Guest host Susan Bonner delves into how insurance is changing in the face of climate change; whether homes in high-risk areas could simply become uninsurable; and if extreme weather could push up rates for everyone.

British nurse Lucy Letby has been convicted of murdering seven babies in her care, and the attempted murder of six more. Sunday Times Shaun Lintern explains the case, and why the country’s health-care system now faces questions about how Letby was able to kill repeatedly, even though staff around her raised concerns.

A highly mutated variant of COVID-19 has emerged in a handful of cases, sparking fears of a potential spike in cases this fall. Infectious diseases doctor Isaac Bogoch answers questions from listeners about BA.2.86.

People who must work outside are grappling with extreme heat, as climate change drives temperatures higher. What is being done to protect workers under the glaring sun?

Developers in Montreal were told to include affordable housing in their projects or face fines — so they’re paying the fines. Guest host Susan Bonner digs into Canada’s housing crisis and asks what it will take to get some affordable housing built.

Spi7uwe Sqalemc poured his blood, sweat and tears into building his family’s dream home in B.C.’s interior — only to watch it burn last week in the wildfires ravaging the province. He tells us about his family’s shock and disbelief, as the loss sinks in.

Some birds and animals are named after historical figures, but there’s a growing awareness of the atrocities some of those figures committed. In a conversation from June, science writer Ed Yong tells Matt Galloway about the push to rename some species — and why it's harder than you might think.

Wildfires have forced thousands to leave their homes in British Columbia and the Northwest Territories. Guest host Susan Bonner speaks with people grappling with that threat to their communities, and asks federal Minister of Emergency Preparedness Harjit Sajjan what the government is doing to help.

This summer’s record-breaking fire season is just the beginning of a “massive reckoning” tied to climate change, says John Vaillant, author of Fire Weather. He argues that wildfires have entered a new age of intensity, which we will wrestle with for the rest of our lives.

Yellowknife residents have until noon today to evacuate the city. Guest host Catherine Cullen speaks with some of those who are leaving their homes behind; and Mike Westwick, the fire information officer for Yellowknife.

Then, as England and Spain get set to face off in Sunday’s final, we look back at what has been a memorable 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup — and why it may be a watershed moment for women’s soccer.

Born in Nazi-occupied Norway, Dag Aabye became one of the world's first extreme skiers, a Hollywood stuntman, a logger and eventually, an ultra-marathoner. Now 82, he lives in a bus in the B.C. bush, running two to six hours a day and occasionally befriending bears. We talk to Aabye and journalist Brett Popplewell, who has written about Aabye’s extraordinary life in Outsider: An Old Man, A Mountain and the Search for a Hidden Past.

The wildfire situation in the Northwest Territories has reached new extremes, to the point that people in Yellowknife have been ordered to evacuate their homes by noon tomorrow. Guest host Catherine Cullen speaks with people who have evacuated or are preparing to evacuate; and N.W.T Environment Minister Shane Thompson, who called the evacuation order.

A wildfire burning northwest of Yellowknife is inching closer toward the city, prompting the declaration of a local state of emergency. Yellowknife Mayor Rebecca Alty tells us more about the wildfire and the risk it’s posing to the city.

A report released yesterday by New Brunswick’s child and youth advocate concluded that changes to gender identity policy for N.B. schools violate provincial law and the charter rights of children. Guest host Catherine Cullen speaks with Kelly Lamrock about his concerns and recommendations to change Policy 713; and the father of a trans teen who spoke to Lamrock as part of the consultations ahead of the report.

Russia and India currently have lunar landing craft hurtling toward the moon, while China, the U.S. and Canada all have their own plans for lunar landings. We hear why the international space race is heating up again.

Along with campfires and sing-alongs, mental health supports are becoming an important part of some summer camps. We discuss why the trend is on the rise — and what it means for kids who are struggling.

As aid and recovery work in Hawaii continues, locals want to make sure they are leading the next steps. Guest host Catherine Cullen hears from two Hawaiians helping their community while fighting their own grief, and from the president of the non-profit charity, the Maui United Way.

Marjorie Taft has dementia and sometimes struggles to stay engaged with the world around her. Her daughter, Beverly Taft, works hard to keep her participating in life. This includes taking Marjorie to her weekly piano performances with Recollectiv, a Toronto group for musicians with memory challenges. We hear their story in Alisa Siegel’s documentary, The Person She’s Always Been.

It has been two years since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan. Since then, more than a million Afghans have fled the country — some to Canada. But for many of those who stayed, life under the Taliban has become desperate. Guest host Catherine Cullen hears about Afghans’ struggle to survive; and speaks with an Afghan woman who has started a new life here in Canada.

Devastation in Hawaii after hellish and lethal fires swept through Maui. Hawaii is in a state of emergency, with at least 55 people dead and thousands others forced from their homes. We hear from Hawaiians recovering from the destruction.

Thousands of new moms suffer from postpartum depression without effective treatment. But a new postpartum depression drug approved in the U.S. — Zuranolone — could offer some hope. Two clinical trials found it effective and fast-acting. Guest host Anthony Germain speaks with a mom who participated in one of the trials and that trial’s principal investigator; and discusses the interest the drug is getting on our side of the border with Dr. Tuong Vi Nguyen, a reproductive psychiatrist at the McGill University Health Centre.

Sixteen bison were reintroduced to Banff National Park in 2017. That number will swell to around 100 after this year's calving season. In May, Matt Galloway visited Tsuut'ina Nation in Alberta to hear about bringing back beasts that once roamed Canada in the millions.

When Taylor Swift's Eras tour finally rolls into Toronto in November 2024, fan expectations will be high — but so will the expectations of an economic boost. Guest host Anthony Germain speaks with two experts about the business of mega-concerts; and a Taylor Swift fan trying to get tickets.

Canadian musician Robbie Robertson has died at the age of 80, after a long illness. Music writer and broadcaster Alan Cross tells us about Robertson’s legacy.

in his new recipe book Cook It Wild, food writer and former restaurant critic Chris Nuttall-Smith aims to elevate campfire cooking from baked beans and hotdogs to dishes like paella and risotto.

Canadian news media organizations — including CBC — have filed a complaint with the Competition Bureau, accusing the social media giant Meta of abusing its dominant market position. To unpack what this means for the regulation of technology companies, guest host Anthony Germain speaks with journalist Cory Doctorow, a special advisor to the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Jennifer Quaid, an associate professor at the University of Ottawa specializing in competition law.