CBC Radio's The Current is a meeting place of perspectives with a fresh take on issues that affect Canadians today.

For the past four decades, world renowned biologist Nalini Nadkarni has risked her life studying trees. In 2015, she fell from a 50-foot bigleaf maple tree in the Olympic Peninsula. She tells The Current host Matt Galloway what her recovery from that catastrophic fall taught her about resilience and trees.

These are unnerving times, sitting here at the beginning of September in 2026. The US-Iran war continues… Ukraine is heading into its fifth winter of a full-scale war with Russia. Under Donald Trump, the United States has taken a hammer to norms and institutions at home and abroad. Margaret MacMillan says a new world order is coming, why we aren't ready for it and how we can adapt.

There's no getting around it - life is more expensive as a single person than it is when you're in a couple. With singles in Canada now making up almost 40% of the population, The Current producer Cece Armstrong looked into the so-called singles 'tax' and how it's hitting people's wallets and life choices.

“Hands Off Our Great Lakes” is the name of a new bill from Democratic Congressman, Tim Kennedy who represents Buffalo and Niagara Falls. The bill aims to undo Trump's renaming of Lake Ontario to Lake America.

While the trade war continues to heat up, the Made-in-Canada movement is surging. We speak with former CBC broadcaster and social media influencer, Tod Maffin, about his online Canadian marketplace, Main Street Canada. We also speak with Jacquelyn Corbett, owner of the Toronto-based children' s clothing brand, Mini Mioche, and Ashley Chapman, the COO of Chapman's icecream, about the challenges ahead, and how they are shifting away from their American customers and suppliers.

The new book “London Falling” tells the true story of Zac Brettler, a 19-year-old Londoner who falls to his death in the Thames after living a double life pretending to be the son of a wealthy Russian oligarch. We speak with bestselling author Patrick Radden Keefe about mystery, money and police inaction as he searches for answers about Zac's death.

More than a week after the U.S.-Canada talks collapsed, our national affairs panel —the CBC's Rosemary Barton, the Toronto Star's Ryan Tumilty, and Joël-Denis Bellavance of La Presse— unravels what we know about what happened, how the Carney government has responded, and how all this might affect the Conservatives' fortunes, the Quebec election, and the federal byelections happening Monday.

Hundreds are dead and thousands are missing in Nepal, including 30 Canadians and permanent residents, after catastrophic flash floods struck the Nepal-Tibet border region on Wednesday. Climate scientists say as global warming continues to melt glaciers in the Himalayas, disasters like this in the mountainous region are increasing in scale and frequency. We speak with a local aid worker on the ground to get the latest on what support is needed, and a climate scientist on how the flooding started. Then, we hear from a Nepalese Canadian who is trying to get in touch with missing friends in Nepal, and find out what support the diaspora in Canada needs

Meta, the owner of Instagram and Facebook, will pay up to $18 billion US in a landmark U.S. case. The tech giant will also make big changes to how youth use its platforms, including time limits. What does this settlement mean for the future of social media, and the effort to keep kids safe? We're joined by Clare Duffy, a tech reporter for CNN Business who breaks down the settlement, Taylor Owen, the Beaverbrook Chair in Ethics, Media and Communications at McGill University, who sat on the government's advisory panel on online safety, looks at what this could mean for social media users in Canada, and Ben Waldman, the Co-founder and CEO of Gander Social, a new Canadian social media network, talks about the challenges of making a safe and ethical social media platform.

Princeton professor Thomas Levin has collected the world's only collection of 'voice letters' — small records that could be recorded on-the-spot in the 1930s, 40s and 50s, and then sent through the mail to friends and loved ones. From passionate love notes, to messages home from soldiers, to tourist diaries from world travellers...these notes allowed many people to record their voices for the first time ever. Thomas Levin explains how he searches through online auctions and flea markets to uncover these voices from the past, and what we can learn from them.

As the tariff disputes between Canada and the U.S. reverberate across both countries, we check in with three Americans for their perspectives on the trade fight. We'll hear from a retired autoworker who agrees with Trump, a former trade negotiator who thinks U.S. tariffs are necessary, and a professor who says the U.S. tariffs are 'galactically stupid'.

Baby puffins, also known adorably as pufflings, are leaving their nests for the first time and heading out to sea… but artificial lights can send them off track. We'll find out how the Puffin Patrol is steering them right.

The federal government announced their response to the new U.S. tariffs on Canada. We'll hear from the Mayor of Sarnia about the impact this escalating trade war will have on the city, former Alberta Premier Jason Kenney on the politics of this war, and what he wants to see from his province. And Randall Bartlett, the deputy chief economist at Desjardins Group, joins us to talk about the possible fallout for the Canadian economy.

Dolly Parton's death on Tuesday left a hole in the hearts of adoring fans worldwide. The country music legend is being remembered for her songs and unmistakable voice, but also for her philanthropy. Through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library initiative, she put books in the hands of more than 130 million children. We speak with the director of Infant and Early Mental Health Promotion at SickKids Hospital in Toronto, Chaya Kulkarni, who was on the initiative's book selection committee for Canada about Dolly's legacy.

Canada's plans to respond to the new 50 per cent U.S. tariffs are out. Today, federal ministers announced dollar-for-dollar counter-tariffs on $27.6 billion worth of U.S. goods. They also announced plans to support businesses and workers with an additional $7.5 billion as this trade war continues. We speak with CBC's Catherine Cullen, former Conservative cabinet minister Lisa Raitt, and small business owner Ben Eadie about what this deal includes, and whether it's enough to help workers and businesses in Canada.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has vowed dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs as the United States' latest 50 per cent levy on a swath of Canadian goods has come into effect following the collapse of trade negotiations between Ottawa and Washington. New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt offers her perspective on the road ahead, and a pair of small business owners lay out the economic reality before them.

Lindsay Clancy has admitted to killing her three young children. She's pleading not guilty by reason of insanity, saying she was experiencing postpartum psychosis. As her trial enters its fifth week, we look at the global conversation this tragedy has sparked about postpartum mental health care and education.

50 per cent U.S. tariffs are on for all kinds of Canadian products - despite all signs pointing to a deal last week. So what happened? Guest host Susan Ormiston speaks to our national affairs panel to make sense of it all.

The 50 per cent U.S. tariffs are going to hit Canada hard. But just how hard? Guest host Susan Ormiston speaks to Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association, and Carlo Dade, the Director of International Policy and the New North America Initiative at the University of Calgary's School of Public Policy, to find out.

Lee Marten can control things with his mind -- yes, really. After the former Vancouver police officer was diagnosed with ALS in 2025, he became one of the first Canadians, and just the 26th person in the world, to receive Elon Musk's Neuralink brain implant. It allows him to control a computer using just his brain. We speak with Lee and his wife, Lisa, about what this technology has meant for their family as his disease progresses.

David Sedaris wrote many essays that featured his long-time boyfriend, Hugh. But in his new collection of essays "The Land and Its People,” he reveals the couple has been secretly married for a decade. He speaks with Matt Galloway about why he decided to keep it a secret and why now was the right time to tell the world.

We hear from Loui Ridi who travelled from Ohio to the village of Qusra in the West Bank to help his brother and nephew who have been trapped in their home, after Israeli settlers surrounded their house last week. Then political analyst, Dahlia Scheindlin, on what this situation means in the larger context of surging Israeli settler violence towards Palestinians in the West Bank, and where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government stands on the issue.

As Canada and the US come to an agreement on tariffs, we'll hear from three specialists on whether this is a good deal. Flavio Volpe is the President of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association. Carlo Dade is the Director of International Policy and the New North America Initiative, at the University of Calgary School of Public Policy. Laura Dawson is the Executive Director of the Canada US Future Borders Coalition.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced a three day pause of tariffs on Canadian goods late Tuesday night. We speak with industry leaders in lumber and auto -- two major sticking points in the ongoing trade negotiations. Then, we hear from former Minister Richard Goodale, who sits on the federal government's Advisory Committee on Canada-- U.S. Economic Relations.

If you're planning to go for a dip off the Atlantic coast in Canada you should keep your eyes out for sharks. A teen in New Brunswick even rescued one on Saturday. But even though that sounds a bit intimidating, researchers say we need to learn to live with the endangered species, who really can't be bothered with humans.

A landmark trial is underway in California against the tech giant Meta. The case was brought by 29 states who allege that Meta - which owns Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp - intentionally designed its platforms to get young people addicted. CNN tech reporter Clare Duffy explains why the trial is being called the biggest test yet of social media's effect on kids – and why some analysts say the outcome could reshape social media.

Actor Ben McKenzie takes us through his new documentary about cryptocurrency. It looks at why so many people are invested, why President Donald Trump changed his tune, and what kind of regulations are needed so the average person is protected.

As Alberta prepares for its referendum on October 19th, new research shows that foreign players are paying attention and trying to affect the vote. Brian McQuinn with the Centre for Artificial Intelligence, Data and Conflict at the University of Regina tells us what his research has found. And Patrick Lennox, security consultant and a former director of intelligence with the RCMP and Liberal MP candidate, tells us why that's important.

For 25 years, residents of St. Mary's, N.L., have lived with the smell of an abandoned fish sauce plant that never got cleaned up after it closed. Now, that could finally change, as plans are underway to haul the remaining waste to a landfill. CBC's Mary-Catherine McIntosh looks into where those loads are headed, how the sauce came to be in her documentary: Fish Sauce.

The White House is days away from implementing 50 per cent tariffs on a range of Canadian goods. As Canadian and American negotiators have ramped up meetings, and as officials get closer to presenting President Trump and Prime Minister Carney with options, what do next steps look like? Former acting U.S. Trade Representative Stephen Vaughn and Laura Dawson of the Canada-U.S. Future Borders Coalition weigh in.

E-scooter injuries are on the rise in Canada -- and they're becoming increasingly common among kids under 18. A new survey released by the Canadian Pediatric Association found ten children died in the last year after an e-scooter collision, and the number of severe injuries has also increased. We speak with Dr. Daniel Rosenfield, a pediatric emergency physician at SickKids hospital in Toronto, about why these injuries are becoming more common year after year, what he's seen in his own ER, and what can be done to prevent more collisions.

Through yoga nights, karaoke and affordable dinners, Legion branches across the country are making a big play to welcome new members in its 100th year — not only to fill needs in the community and provide third spaces for a younger generation, but also to ensure they can continue surviving.

UK Reform leader Nigel Farage beat an independent candidate who wears a garbage can on his head in a by-election. While it is a win for Farage, support for his party has been waning. We have a conversation with Adam Fleming, host of the BBC podcast Newscast, about the political future of one of the UK's most divisive figures.

Calling all Canadian singles! Netflix has just announced casting is now open for Love is Blind Canada. The hit reality dating TV sees singles date -- and some, even go on to get engaged -- all without ever knowing what the other person looks like. We speak with the Globe and Mail's television critic, J. Kelly Nestruck, about what the upcoming Canadian spin-off means following the success of Heated Rivalry, whether Canada is having a pop culture moment, and why this isn't necessarily a good thing for the Canadian film and TV industry.

The federal government is mapping out news deserts across Canada to find the gaps in local news coverage. We speak to a panel of journalists from across the country who are working hard to deliver community news to discuss the challenge of delivering high quality content in a time of algorithms and misinformation.

Ontario has been dealing with record rainfall over the past few weeks, flooding homes and businesses and wreaking havoc on local farms. We check in with a local vegetable farmer just south of Ottawa and a winegrower in Niagara about what the floods have meant for their crops and what can be salvaged.

The Mile Zero Murders investigates the baffling wave of disappearances and murders in the small town of Dawson Creek, B.C., a community struggling with a deadly local drug trade. Host Timothy Sawa explores missing person cases like that of Cole Hosack and Renee Didier, pursuing leads from grieving families, reluctant authorities and the drug dealers themselves. The question that drives this series is the same one that haunts this community: where is the justice?About UNCOVER: Crime. Investigation. Revelation. Uncover brings you explosive, high-caliber true crime year-round. From CIA mind control to serial abuse, mysterious disappearances to wrongful imprisonment. Each season features a new host who is deeply connected to the story, committed to tracking down the truth. With over 30 seasons to choose from, Uncover represents the best in true crime.More episodes of The Mile Zero Murders are available wherever you get your podcasts, and here: https://link.mgln.ai/MZMxTheCurrent

With the legalization of sports betting in Canada, and much of the United States, watching your favourite team has changed. If you don't partake, you're bombarded with ads, and if you do, it's likely to change the way you view and cheer on your team. But it's changed the game for players, officials, and sports journalists too. Author Danny Funt on his new book Everyone Loses, The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling.

Punishing American tariffs will kick in on August 19, unless Prime Minister Mark Carney's team strikes a trade compromise with Washington. Our National Affairs Panel -- The Globe and Mail's Stephanie Levitz and the Toronto Star's Ryan Tumilty -- on what's at stake.

Canadians may not want to drink American booze, but some say bringing it back to Canadian shelves could be the bargaining chip needed in negotiations with the U.S. over tariffs.

Erin Carlson, her family and farm workers escaped the Bald Range fire -- some by helicopter. She says the tightknit Summerland community will band together to rebuild. But she worries that if climate change fuels more intense blazes, there will be more disasters to come. Plus, with clear skies in the weather forecast, wildfire expert Mathieu Bourbonnais says rain is needed to help control the fires.

The small northern BC town of Dawson Creek is hijacked by a wave of drug-fuelled violence - 15 murders in five years. The CBC's Fifth Estate Estate and CBC Podcasts spent two years digging into this story, speaking with the loved-ones of the missing and murdered, and cultivating relationships with key figures in the drug trade. We speak with investigative journalist and host, Timothy Sawa, about his new podcast, "The Mile Zero Murders", a series that explores who's behind the violence and why it was so hard to make arrests.