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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 13, 2026 • 22min
Could Russia return to the Olympics?
Bruce Berglund, historian of Russia and author who studies sport as statecraft, and Georgi Konchev, Wall Street Journal foreign correspondent reporting from Milan. They discuss the IOC signaling a Russian return under its flag. They cover vetting of athletes, nationality switches, political pressure on sports bodies, money and history behind reintegration, and whether competitions suffer without Russia.
Feb 13, 2026 • 20min
How one Tumbler Ridge teacher kept his students safe
Wade Deisman, criminologist and associate dean offering expert analysis on policing and firearms. Jarbas Noronha, Tumbler Ridge mechanical shop teacher who led students through a lockdown and evacuation. They recount barricading the shop, planning an escape, staying calm under incoming messages, police interactions, firearms permits and investigatory challenges. The conversation focuses on safety, procedure and community impact.
Feb 12, 2026 • 23min
From the Titanic to the North Pole: a life of exploration
Joe MacInnis, Canadian physician and deep-sea explorer who dove under the North Pole and to wrecks like the Titanic, recounts a life chasing ‘sea fever.’ He describes the wonder of polar dives, the eerie scale of shipwrecks, close calls that taught the value of backup and teamwork, and why leadership and reverence for the ocean matter amid climate concerns.
Feb 12, 2026 • 43min
Trying to make sense of the tragedy in Tumbler Ridge
Dwayne Bowers, a trauma counsellor who supported La Loche; Julie Kaplow, clinical psychologist leading a trauma and grief centre; Robert St. Pierre, former La Loche mayor who guided recovery; Amanda Maggs, Tumbler Ridge community leader; and Brian Labby, on-the-ground reporter. They discuss community vigils, local supports and counselling, timelines and weapons found, small-town grief and visibility, and lessons for long-term recovery and protecting children.
Feb 11, 2026 • 25min
Canadians desperate for information about friends and family in Iran
Nima Golcini, a Toronto-based relative of an Iranian doctor, shares his cousin’s arrest and release. Leila Afshari, an Iranian-Canadian artist, recounts her brother’s disappearance and death. Liz Hoath, a CBC journalist, reports on Canadians desperate for news amid Iran’s communications blackout. They discuss clinic raids, arrests of medical staff, protests by exiled communities, and efforts to locate and free detainees.
Feb 11, 2026 • 45min
What we know about the deadly shootings in Tumbler Ridge, BC
Dr. Shimi Kang, psychiatrist and UBC clinical associate professor, offers guidance on talking to kids about school violence. Daryl Krakalka, mayor of Tumbler Ridge, describes the town’s close-knit needs and response. George Rowe, local pastor and former substitute teacher, reflects on community grief and support. Tanya Fletcher, CBC reporter, provides on-the-ground reporting of the shooting and unfolding facts.
Feb 10, 2026 • 20min
Rafah crossing is open but few people are getting through
Asma Baroud, a 29-year-old humanitarian accepted to UK postgraduate programs, worries that limited Rafah crossings could derail her studies. Dr. Mohamed Kazeez, a pediatrician recently working in Gaza, describes dire hospital conditions, evacuation backlogs and struggles to transfer critically ill children. They discuss the slow, restricted movement through Rafah and the human cost of limited medical exits.
Feb 10, 2026 • 25min
Throwing shade on those super bright headlights
Daniel Stern, vehicle lighting researcher and editor of Driving Vision News, explains how regulations lag behind LED tech. Rachael Berger, Saskatoon optometrist, describes rising night-driving complaints and how blue-rich LEDs affect vision. They discuss why LEDs cause intense glare, who is most affected, aim and aftermarket issues, and possible technical and policy fixes.
Feb 10, 2026 • 20min
How popular is Alberta’s separatism movement?
Keith McLaughlin, political strategist and former chief of staff in Rachel Notley’s NDP government, offers strategic perspective. Ian Brody, political scientist and former Harper chief of staff, traces historical and political dynamics. Shachi Kurl, president of the Angus Reid Institute, explains polling on Albertans’ support for separation. They discuss rally turnout, poll breakdowns, persuadable groups, party divisions and political risks.
Feb 9, 2026 • 25min
Why men are travelling to Turkey for hair transplants
Glen Jankowski, a psychology researcher on men's body image and author of Branding Baldness, and John Paul Brammer, a Brooklyn writer who shared his own transplant story in GQ. They explore why Turkey became a hair-transplant hub. Topics include medical tourism, consult culture and clinic experiences, the history and marketing of baldness, risks and regulation, and the social pressures pushing men toward cosmetic fixes.
