The Current

Edward Burtynsky is world famous for his monumental photographs that reveal in overwhelming detail the impact that human beings have had on planet earth. He has travelled all over the world documenting mines, quarries, recycling yards, tailings pods, refineries and factories — places that are essential to the modern world but few of us get to see. We talk about how his working class upbringing in St. Catharines, Ontario, working at General Motors, and in gold mines of northern Ontario shapes his art and how he wants Canadians to weigh the cost of industrial development at a time when major projects are under consideration.

Recently medical experts agreed on the first consensus medical guidelines on stuttering. It's a step forward for a condition that affects more 400,000 Canadians. Alexandra D’Agostino-Seguin has lived with a stutter since she was in elementary school and talks about how that experience has shaped her. Her mother, Eeva Stierwalt, is a National Coordinator at the Canadian Stuttering Association and reflects on what it was like to raise a child who stutters. Dr. Gerald Maguire, founder of the Stuttering Research and Treatment Society, talks about his hopes for better treatment for the condition.

After supermarket chains in at least seven European countries have had their freezers hacked, security experts around the world are trying to figure out who did it and how to protect their clients. We speak with security expert Stephanie Sabatini, founder and owner of Astria Cybersecurity, and Evan Fraser, director of the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph about how vulnerable Canada's food systems are to hackers.

Canada is a key issue in several key midterm elections — especially in border states where the tariffs are hitting hard. We speak to two journalists in Maine and Michigan about how the trade war is shaping the election. Lauren Gibbons is the senior political editor at Bridge Michigan, and Kirby Wilson is politics editor for the Portland Press Herald.

With neither Benjamin Netanyahu nor Gadi Eisenkot able to form the government, the Israeli election result remains in a stalemate. Emily Rose, a correspondent for Reuters in Jerusalem, explains what this means and if there is an expectation that a coalition will be pulled from this or if another election is necessary.

Zadie Smith talks to Matt on stage at Massey Hall about her most recent book, Dead And Alive, in which she examines art, fiction, social media, the idea of the vanishing public commons, and what makes us human. She also reflects on aging and generational gaps and finding joy in dancing — and what Gen X got wrong (lots) and right (movies).

On November 1st, half of Canada's clocks rolled back an hour, but the other half didn't, as many of the Western provinces are ditching seasonal time changes in favour of permanent daylight saving time. And we can't forget that some provinces and territories have multiple time zones and some are just naming their own - like Alberta, who announced they will now be following permanent "Alberta Time." So what time is it, and why — and what time should it be? We speak with Patricia Lakin-Thomas, a chronobiologist at York University, about why time in Canada is getting so confusing — and why she's concerned most of the province is making the wrong choice.

Can Texas turn blue? Days before the 2026 US midterms, all eyes are on Texas. Matt Galloway talks with supporters of Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico and Beto O’Rourke about whether this Republican stronghold could turn. Beyond the liberal bubble of Austin, voters say immigration and a boom in AI data centres are driving the campaign. From small-town mayors to ranchers, Matt asks Texans what’s shaping their vote.

As CBC TV launches its second season of The Assembly, we hear what it was like to bring celebrities like Hudson Williams, Marie-Philip Poulin and Zach Galifianakis together with a room full of autistic and neurodivergent interviewers. We speak with Executive Producer Sean De Vries, celebrity guest and singer-songwriter Lights, and interviewer Maurgaux Wosk, about the genuine connections and authentic moments that resulted.

Delegates from the EU are in Montreal for a summit to launch negotiations to deepen trade and other partnerships between Canada and the European Union. We hear from former leader of the federal Liberals and former Special Envoy to Europe, Stéphane Dion, and from Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice President for the European Commission, on what this new alliance means for Canada and the EU.

Have you ever been caught in a customer service chatbot doom loop? Last week, NYC's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection proposed new rules to curb companies' use of AI customer service systems. We speak with Commissioner Sam Levine about why AI customer service chatbots are so frustrating — and why the ramifications are much bigger than just annoyingly-slow customer service.

As voters head to the polls in the U.S. midterms, politicians are sending mixed messages on the economy. Eric Morris, an economist and portfolio manager in Rochester, New York, digs into the mismatch between the hard data and the way voters are feeling — and why the problems may lie beyond the realm of economics.

New guidance from the WHO says physicians should consider GLP-1s for kids living with obesity. But what do families need to know before trying the medications, and will they work for every child?

Dr. Joanne Liu was the International President of Medecins Sans Frontiers from 2013 to 2019, and came face to face with the world's biggest humanitarian crises of that time. Since leaving her role at MSF, Dr. Liu has been reflecting on her work, and thinking about how best to provide humanitarian aid in a new world order — as crises continue across the globe. She joins us to talk about her new book, “Ebola, Bombs, and Migrants: Humanitarian Crises in a Security-Obsessed World,” and what still keeps her hopeful.

Anthropic is about to make its stock market debut in what could be the largest in history, but it comes with significant risks. CNN Reporter Clare Duffy on what this could mean for the future of AI and the economy.

A new survey from Environics Institute for Survey Research shows that the Canadian public is less concerned about the overall level of immigration compared to last year. Andrew Parkin, the Executive Director of Environics Institute for Survey Research, talks about what’s leading to this shift. Mikal Skuterud, Economics Professor at University of Waterloo, talks about why the government looking to immigration to fill labour shortages is the wrong approach, and Dan Kelly, president of the CFIB, tells us about the need for more skilled workers.

Award-winning journalist and long-time conflict reporter Sally Armstrong talks about her latest trip to Lebanon, where she saw the ways in which the war there is taking a toll on the country’s children.

Taking a stroll isn't just good for your body. It can help you brainstorm ideas. McMaster researcher Alex Thabane says that's more important than ever at a time when people are outsourcing mental work to AI.

There is a growing resistance in Canada to automated license plate readers powered by AI. With ALPR brand Flock coming to Canada there are concerns around mass surveillance and misuse by the police but police insist ALPRs are a necessary tool for fighting crime. We'll hear from both sides of the argument.

When actress Christina Applegate found out she didn't have MS after 5 years, she wasn't relieved. The symptoms persist, and now she doesn't have any diagnosis. Studies show that upwards of one in five MS diagnoses are wrong. That's dramatic in a country like Canada, which has some of the world's highest levels of MS. We’ll speak with Jackie Pilon, who describes what it was like to have had her MS diagnosis changed. Then, we’ll speak with Dr. Jiwon Oh who tells us what this means for Canadians.