The Current

Across the country, families are dealing with households full of stuff that no one wants to inherit. This is causing stress between generations as young people often don't have room for that full dining room set, the silverware, or antique hutch, to the chagrin of older generations. We dig into how to cope with all that inherited stuff and make a plan.

While we focus on success or fulfillment as the path to happiness, author Ian Bogost thinks we are overlooking a whole category of life experiences — delightful, small moments of sensory gratification — that can make our lives better. In his new book, The Small Stuff, Bogost says modern life, including our work life, has disconnected us from the physical world, but we'd all feel better if we found a way to rediscover that connection.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky struck a positive tone after his meeting this week with U.S. President Donald Trump. Francis Farrell, a senior reporter at the Kyiv Independent, talks about why Ukraine's gains on the battlefield could be behind the shift in the leaders' relationship, and Maria Popova, Associate Professor of Political Science at McGill University, discusses what Zelensky's request to reinvigorate the diplomatic process could look like.

Fewer adults and kids are reading for pleasure, prompting some experts to say we're in the midst of a literacy crisis. But what do we lose if we're not reading? And what you can do to get kids to pick up a book.

More Republicans in the US have joined President Donald Trump in criticizing and threatening Canada, with a barrage of insults after wildfire smoke moved south of the border. Robert C. Rowland, professor of rhetoric and political communication at the University of Kansas, tells us what's behind it, and Maryscott Greenwood, founder of Ottawa Street Strategy, on how Canada can fight back.

U.S. President Donald Trump hosted the Israeli Prime Minister at the White House on Tuesday for the first time in five months. We'll talk to Politico's diplomatic correspondent, Felicia Schwartz, about the recent signs of strain in what has always been a close relationship between the two countries — and how U.S. public opinion on support for Israel and its policies has shifted recently.

.Out of control wildfires in southeastern B.C. have forced hundreds of people to evacuate, with some losing everything they have in the blaze. We hear from Lori Daniels, the co-director of the Centre for Wildfire Coexistence at the University of British Columbia, on how this summer's wildfires compare to fires in the past, and how now more than ever, more investment is needed from the province to make communities, homes, and eco-systems more fire-resilient.

When children with disabilities become adults, they often lose the services they've come to rely on. A decade ago, two young people in Manitoba decided to try to change the system. Now the province has completed a pilot project that improved access. But will it create lasting results?

In Canada, France, Spain and elsewhere, people are fleeing from wildfires. As climate emergencies increase, prediction markets are taking wagers on fires, smoke, hurricanes and heatwaves. Is it desensitizing people? Or could it help raise engagement with the climate crisis?

The Pear Lake and Fiftynine Creek fires were already roaring out of control near Clinton, British Columbia. But over the weekend, they merged, threatening communities northwest of Kamloops.We speak with Bernice Weihs-Anderson, a longtime resident of Clinton, B.C., and a former member of the village's volunteer fire department about her evacuation on Friday, and what her community needs right now.

A multi-billion dollar bridge between Canada and the U.S. was supposed to strengthen North American supply chains and ease bottlenecks on the nearby Ambassador Bridge and Detroit-Windsor tunnel. We hear from mayors on both sides of the Detroit River about whether tariffs are putting that investment at risk.

While being in an ER is tough for patients and their families, it's no easier for doctors. A new study reveals that Canadian ER doctors are at their limits with burn out, stress, and fatigue. Many are leaving the profession altogether. We speak with three doctors who have worked in ER, including the lead author of the study, to hear what they're experiencing and what needs to change.

Natural bodies of water are embedded in many Canadian cities, but are we taking full advantage of them? We speak with Neil Egsgard, President of the Alberta Surfing Association, about a proposed redevelopment at Calgary's Bow River, and Larissa Holman, Director of Science and Policy with Ottawa Riverkeepers, about the importance of swimmable waters in our cities. And Ian Young, an associate professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, about what municipalities have been getting right when it comes to urban beaches.

More and more adults are heading back to summer camp, hoping to disconnect from their phones and responsibilities and recreate childhood summer magic. These camps come in all shapes and sizes, from a retreat in a chateau in the south of France to a book club camp in Maine. Shelby Sanford, the co-founder of Camp Rewind in the East Kootenays, B.C, talks about why she thinks people are increasingly searching for this kind of childhood fun.

Tens of thousands of young people in India are on the streets protesting as part of the country's “cockroach” movement. They're calling for education reform, and a bigger system change after recent university entrance exam leaks forced millions of students into rewrites — and led to several suicides. We talk to Shourya Kumar, who's been at the protests every day this week in Delhi, and Amrit Dhillon, a freelance journalist based in New Delhi, explains what this moment means for the country.

Longer, warmer summers mean those tiny, blood-sucking arachnids are spreading throughout southern Canada, hitting Ontario and Nova Scotia especially hard. We hear about emerging illnesses, and speak with emergency physician Dr. Raghu Venugopal about the symptoms to look out for and how to protect yourself.

Iran-aligned Houthis have threatened to blockade the Red Sea, raising concerns about global oil supply and a broadening of the Iran War. Gregg Carlstrom, The Economist's Middle East Correspondent, talks about how we got to this point. Thomas Juneau, an Associate Professor at the University of Ottawa's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, discusses why the Houthis are engaging in this maritime blockade.

New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt joins us from PEI where provincial and territorial leaders have put aside their annual meeting agenda to focus on the threat of new 50 per cent tariffs from the US. She tells us how this could impact her province and what leaders will ask of the Prime Minister as they set to meet with him later today.

More and more young Canadians want to play soccer after watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup. But is there enough room on the field for all of them? Soccer was already the fastest growing youth sport in the country, and local club organizers say interest has only grown since hosting the World Cup — and in some cases, resources were already stretched thin. We speak with two Canadians who organize local soccer clubs about how the World Cup is transforming their communities, and then take a look at the future of the sport on a national level with Mark Cohon, the Board Chair of the Northern Super League .

With youth unemployment on the rise in Canada, is a national service year the answer to get young people working? A growing number of Canadians say yes, but what does that look like in practice and who will pay for it?

As almost 2,000 people in Ontario flee wildfires, the U.S. president repeated his tariff threat against Canada. Ontario Premier Doug Ford called Trump's comments “rubbish.” Wildfire experts say the U.S. criticism is unfair, but some are urging leaders here to mitigate wildfires.

Monday afternoon, Donald Trump announced a long list of Canadian goods that will be slapped with a 50 percent tariff as of August 19th. We talk to Katie Simpson, CBC's foreign correspondent based in Washington, DC, about what's going on.

The Royal Canadian Geographic Society along with a crew of researchers have been on a voyage in the Labrador Sea to investigate two shipwrecks of the last Antarctic explorers dating back 100 years. CBC's Peter Cowan has been on board the research ship for the last few weeks and tells us about what they found.

Hundreds of residents have been evacuated from over a dozen communities in northern Ontario over the past week, as nearly 200 wildfires continue to burn. We speak with Chief Lawrence Wanakamik of the Whitesand First Nation about what support his community needs, and why some say the Ontario government hasn't done enough to help.

US and Mexican trade officials are meeting this week in Mexico City, and Canadian negotiators are not at the table. We hear from Mexican journalist Eduardo Garcia about what's at stake for Mexico, and from Goldy Hyder of the Business Council of Canada about how to approach negotiations now that the US says it does not want to extend the agreement as it is now.

In a primetime address, the U.S. president claims the American voting system is deeply flawed. CBC Washington correspondent Paul Hunter and Atlantic magazine writer David Graham discuss why Trump keeps hammering that message and how it might play as the U.S. midterms loom.

Canada is on track for a historic tornado season, both when it comes to funnel clouds making land fall, and the number of warnings sent out to Canadians. Dave Sills of the Northern Tornado Project explains what's causing the summer storms, and what needs to change to make tracking them more accurate.

The Odyssey hits theatres today and we've got you covered. Christopher Nolan's widely anticipated adaptation of the 3000 year old text is selling out cinemas. Guest host Piya Chattopadhyay gets the Odyssey 101 from Thom Roach, a professor of History and Literature, and hears why the epic story's themes resonate today.

Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated adaptation of The Odyssey is expected to bring audiences to movie theatres this weekend. We revisit a conversation with The Current Producer Meli Gumus on the magic of cinema and what we should be watching together.

Parts of southern Ontario are blanketed in thick wildfire smoke with air quality warnings in place. In the northwest of the province, dozens of wildfires are burning forcing many people to evacuate. Courtney Howard, an emergency physician and Chair of the Global Climate and Health Alliance, talks about how to stay safe from the smoke. Ed Struzik, a fellow at the Institute for Energy and Environmental Policy at Queen's University, talks about what the rest of the wildfire season could look like.

All around the world, the official Panini FIFA World Cup 2026 stickers are flying off the shelves as fans race to trade and buy more stickers than ever before - over 900 - to complete their albums. Greg Lansdowne, a collectibles expert and the author of "Stuck on You: The Rise & Fall...& Rise of Panini Stickers," talks about what's driving the craze and why this is such an enduring FIFA tradition

If you wake up wanting to smother your partner with a pillow because their snoring or unconscious acrobatic routine kept you awake all night, experts say you might want to consider a sleep divorce -- sleeping separately from your partner so you can get a better night's sleep. Guest host Piya Chattopadhyay talks to two people who've had sleep divorces -- and hears why it's actually helped their marriages. And we hear from a sleep expert about why sleeping apart can be good for your health. We'll hear from some of them about their experience, and speak to a sleep expert about what a sleep divorce is, what it means for your relationship (don't worry, it isn't all doom and gloom), and how to know if you might need one.

There are calls for accountability after men in Florida, Texas and Maine were killed during incidents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents. Peter Mina, a former lawyer at ICE and a former deputy officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties at the Department of Homeland Security, discusses concerns about ICE becoming the highest law enforcement agency in the country.

Do you remember when you first saw Jurassic Park? Actor Sam Neill played the role of paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant – and inspired a generation of dinosaur lovers. Guest host Piya Chattopadhyay talks to François Therrien, a paleontologist and curator at the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller, Alberta, about the legacy of Sam Neill, who died this week.

Who controls the Strait of Hormuz? Escalation continues between the US and Iran with attacks launched on both sides. President Donald Trump says the US will be the "guardians" of the strait and charge tolls. Iran says the US has no role in how the strait is run. Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent for the Economist takes us through the latest. Behrouz Bakhtiari, assistant professor of operations management at the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University, explains the impact on supply chains, and the potential price increases on energy and goods.

The Seal Island lighthouse sits on a remote island of the southwestern tip of Nova Scotia. The lighthouse has served as both a welcome and a warning to mariners who travel along the coastline since 1831. But now its future is uncertain, as a new steel tower is being built to replace it. Chris Mills is a former Seal Island lighthouse keeper. He talks to guest host Piya Chattopadhyay about the fight to save the Seal Island lighthouse.

Toronto's Salsa on St. Clair festival came to an abrupt end on Saturday night, after a shooting that left two people dead and several others injured. Police say there was an "exchange of gunfire" between two suspects. We get the latest from CBC reporter Lorenda Reddekopp who was enjoying the festival on her day off when the chaos erupted.

Scientists at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre are using an emerging blood test technology to look for small traces of cancer in a patient's bloodstream. It will make it easier and faster to detect recurring cancer in its earliest stages but more research needs to be done before it can be used confidently or on people without cancer. Guest host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with Dr. Lillian Siu is a senior scientist at UHN's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and a scientific lead at the Peter Gilgan Centre for Early Cancer Detection Research about the potential of this breakthrough research.

Canada is planning to spend close to half a trillion dollars on weapons and defence infrastructure over the next decade. So where should that investment go? Former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole warns the government may still be stuck in the old way of thinking -- and should be learning lessons from the Ukraine war fast. We also hear from the former Deputy Minister of Defence Jody Thomas about what years leading the bureaucracy taught her about what's wrong with how Canada buys military equipment.

Ukraine is hitting key energy targets inside Russia. And US President Donald Trump says the US will give Ukraine licence to make Patriot missiles, saying Volodomyr Zelenskyy has "done an amazing job", praising his recent attacks inside Russia. Tim Mak, a journalist based in Kyiv and the founder of The Counteroffensive, joins guest host Catherine Cullen, for a look at Ukraine's battlefield gains. And Alexander Titov, a Lecturer in Modern European History, at Queen's University Belfast, who specializes in Russian foreign policy and politics, discusses whether attitudes about the war inside Russia are shifting -- and what it could mean for when and how the war ends.

"POV: you live alone, have no friends, this is how you spend a Friday night". These types of videos have taken off on social media. The creators behind them are called 'loneliness influencers'. Guest host Catherine Cullen speaks with content creator Lana Isa aka @LanaSoloLife about why she makes these videos and with Atlantic writer Faith Hill about what their popularity tells us about the moment we are in.

Hamas announced this week it was ready to dissolve its government after being in charge of Gaza for more than a decade. Israel says it's a trick move because the military group will be in charge as long as it stays armed. Guest host Catherine Cullen speaks with Diana Buttu, Palestinian Canadian lawyer, who tells us what this means for Palestinians. And Aaron David Miller, breaks down the role of the Board of Peace and if there's a way for the stalled peace plan to move forward.