The Current

Latest Episodes:

Pentagon ices a longstanding Canada-US defence pact May 22, 2026

Show notes

The U.S. paused their participation in the US-Canada Permanent Joint Board on Defence this week — something which has been around since 1940. Former Canadian Conservative Leader, Erin O'Toole explains what this was, why this matters and what might come next.

Why are so many people watching videos out loud in public? May 22, 2026

Show notes

Have you noticed more people scrolling through social media in public, oblivious to those around them, with the volume full blast? It is something that Henry Luzzatto has. He wrote about it for a recent article in Slate called “What Kind of Person Would Dare to Watch TikTok Out Loud on Public Transit? I Can Tell You First Hand.” Henry Luzzatto on why he thinks more people are listening to videos out loud in public.

The smells around you are disappearing May 22, 2026

Show notes

Many of the Earth's scents are fading away or disappearing altogether because of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. Journalist Serena Jampel says we'd likely find the loss of memory-evoking smells, like lavender or vanilla, tragic. But some scents under threat, like frankincense, also have deep cultural meaning.

What the backlash against AI looks like in China May 22, 2026

Show notes

There's a growing backlash against AI worldwide. In China this is reflected in daily life by the sense of precarity felt by workers. There's a deep unease at the speed of technological disruption that's reflected in culture, online life, and a collective nostalgia — much of which is likely familiar to many people in North America. We talk to journalist Yi-Ling Liu, the author of the book "The Wall Dancers: Searching for Freedom & Connection on the Chinese Internet" about how people in China are responding to AI — and the parallels between the Chinese and American experience of AI.

Late night says goodbye to Stephen Colbert May 21, 2026

Show notes

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is ending after more than a decade on air. Colbert was known for his jabs at global politics and US President Donald Trump, as well as light-hearted humour sprinkled between conversations about grief and his faith. Matt Galloway speaks with Sophia McClennen, the author of the book “Colbert’s America: Satire and Democracy” and “Trump was a Joke: How Satire Made Sense of a President Who Didn’t.”

Montreal has hit peak hockey May 21, 2026

Show notes

The PWHL Victoire won the Walter Cup, the Habs are in the NHL Eastern Conference finals, and Montreal has Hockey fever! Sport columnist and Montrealer Meeker Guerrier on the sport that’s taken over his city.

FIFA World Cup costing Canadians $1B May 21, 2026

Show notes

New estimates from the federal budget watchdog show that the Canadian government will spend more than a billion dollars to host the World Cup in Toronto and Vancouver. We hear from businesses, sports fans and experts about whether the public money spent will actually give Canadians a fair return.

A new frontier in autism research May 21, 2026

Show notes

A new study out of SickKids is opening a window into how scientists understand autism. Researchers have identified a previously overlooked gene linked specifically to the social interaction and repetitive behavioural traits associated with autism, a discovery they say could help improve genetic testing and eventually lead to more targeted therapies. Dr. Stephen Scherer, senior scientist and chief of research at SickKids, discusses what makes this finding so significant.

Scott Galloway’s operating manual for being a man today May 20, 2026

Show notes

Podcaster, professor and entrepreneur Scott Galloway believes young men are struggling with feelings of alienation, loneliness, and failure. And that's a danger to all of us, especially when they buy into the dangerous rhetoric they hear online. We talk to him about his book, Notes on Being a Man, what he's learned from his own life, and why this is such a passionate mission for him.

Canadians are facing a debt crisis May 20, 2026

Show notes

In the first three months of this year, more than 37,000 people filed for insolvency in Canada — the highest number of consumer insolvencies since during the financial downturn in 2009. We hear from a Canadian on how he fixed his own personal financial crisis.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The Current

Related Podcasts

1

2

3

4

5

6