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
Nov 6, 2025 • 20min
Canada's debt is getting larger. Does it matter?
Join Peter Armstrong, CBC's senior business reporter, Armin Yalnysian, an economist focusing on workers' futures, and Trevor Toome, an economics professor, as they dissect Canada's growing debt. They explore what a government deficit really means, compare Canada's fiscal health with other nations, and delve into the budget's investment strategy amid trade tensions. The guests debate the implications of abandoning traditional fiscal anchors and the risks of rapid budget cuts, raising questions about the burden on future generations.
Nov 6, 2025 • 38min
It’s finally time for Margaret Atwood to tell her own story
Margaret Atwood, the acclaimed Canadian novelist known for The Handmaid's Tale, shares her experiences in her new memoir, Book of Lives. She reflects on her early writing, from childhood poems to her literary ambitions in high school. Atwood humorously reveals the inspiration behind her characters and discusses the evolving relevance of her work in today's political climate. She also offers an impromptu palm reading, adding a playful touch to her profound insights on aging, creativity, and navigating life's challenges.
Nov 5, 2025 • 16min
What Zohran Mamdani’s win means for the Democratic Party
Zohran Mamdani is mayor-elect of New York City. But this win reflects only one part of a wider Democratic Party civil war. New York Magazine writer Simon van Zuylen-Wood believes that the Democratic Party is in the middle of picking a new path — but is it through Mamdani, or is it something else?
Nov 5, 2025 • 21min
What does it take to find a future hockey star?
Hockey scouts live a vagabond life — driving from rink to rink, watching minor hockey games in big and small towns across Canada. Their job is to find a diamond in the rough...a young player who might have what it takes to make it to the big leagues. We talk to Sportsnet anchor Ken Reid about his new book, the Next One, pulling back the curtain on how scouts work, and what makes them tick.
Nov 5, 2025 • 20min
The 2025 budget: what's in it for you?
Our national affairs panel weighs in on the biggest political stories of the day. Prime Minister Mark Carney released his first federal budget. Presented as a "generational" budget that is pro-growth -we look at where the Liberals say they are making new investments, and where they’re making cuts. We break it all down with CBC's Chief Political Correspondent Rosemary Barton, Stephanie Levitz of the Globe and Mail and Ryan Tumilty of the Toronto Star.
Nov 5, 2025 • 10min
Why did this robot vacuum have an emotional breakdown?
What happens if you cross ChatGPT with a Roomba vacuum? Turns out it spins into a comedic doom spiral and then rhymes to the lyrics to musicals. Researchers at a startup in San Francisco recently did an experiment where they gave a simple task to robots powered by large language models, known as LLM's, like ChatGPT. And let's just say things did not go well. Julie Bort, an editor for the tech publication TechCrunch covered this experiment and explains what went wrong, and what this says about the future of AI powered robots.
Nov 4, 2025 • 25min
Can Aboriginal title and private property rights co-exist?
Tempers flared in a jam-packed meeting in Richmond, BC last week. Mayor Malcolm Brodie held a public information session to answer questions about the potential impact of a BC Supreme court ruling on a Vancouver suburb. We speak to the Cowichan Tribes chief negotiator - and legal experts - about the significance of the decision and whether Aboriginal title and fee simple title can co-exist.
Nov 4, 2025 • 12min
Will the U.S. Supreme Court stop Trump's tariffs?
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court will hear the challenge to Donald Trump's use of emergency tariffs. But Canadians probably shouldn't hold their breath waiting for the court to come to its rescue, says Atlantic writer and lawyer Paul Rosenzweig.
Nov 4, 2025 • 19min
Why are groceries so expensive?
As Prime Minister Mark Carney unveils his much anticipated federal budget, the rising cost of food is top of mind for many Canadians. We'll hear from Canadians struggling to make ends meet and ask a food economist what policy tools the federal government has to control grocery costs.
Nov 4, 2025 • 13min
Stop worrying about using exclamation marks! They’re great!!
Women use exclamation marks way more than men — and worry a lot more about it too! That's according to a new research paper co-authored by Cherly Wakslak of the University of Southern California! She says the results allowed her to fully embrace her love of the punctuation mark!
