The Current

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Chokepoints: the new global warfare Apr 27, 2026

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As the Strait of Hormuz is being used to choke off nearly 20 per cent of the world's oil exports and influence global markets in the US-Israel and Iran war, Edward Fishman explains what makes a chokepoint powerful and how other governments are identifying their own chokepoints as the world moves into an era of economic warfare.

You can thrive as you age. Positivity may be key. Apr 27, 2026

Show notes

New research from Yale shows that people are just as likely to improve as they age as decline — and a positive outlook can make a difference. At 84, marathoner Carol Wright says running is more than just exercise. It connects her to others and gives her goals. Two doctors say even if you aren't as fit as Carol, you can thrive too, but we also need a societal rethink of aging.

A picture says a thousand words: documenting ICE Apr 24, 2026

Show notes

Carol Guzy's World Press Photo of the Year image shows two daughters clinging to their father as ICE agents detain him at his immigration hearing. The renowned photojournalist says she hopes her work can cut through today's media noise and make people feel for others.

The rural-urban divide over high-speed rail Apr 24, 2026

Show notes

The federal government wants to build a high-speed rail line from Toronto to Quebec City. Rural land-owners along the proposed corridor are concerned the major project will carve into their farms. City-dwelling proponents are worried the dream of cutting travel time between Toronto and Montreal may never be realized. We hear from both sides about what this project means and the risk of sowing division between rural and urban Canadians.

Ditching the 9-5 for a career behind the bar Apr 24, 2026

Show notes

As entry-level office jobs seem to be vanishing and people are prioritizing mental health and work-life balance over corporate hustle culture, some young people are looking at the service industry as a viable career path despite being trained or having gone to school for different jobs.

Ottawa dads vs the Elsa braid Apr 24, 2026

Show notes

How good are your braiding skills? The answer from some Ottawa dads was: not great. We talk to Chris Hughes, a single father of twin girls, who created the workshop Braids and Beers to help fellow dads in the area keep up with their kids’ hair styling demands.

Could mRNA vaccines cure cancer? Apr 23, 2026

Show notes

Six years ago, Donna Gustafson was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer one of the deadliest cancers. Today, she's cancer-free. She’'s one of 16 patients in an early clinical trial testing a personalized mRNA cancer vaccine designed to train the immune system to recognize and fight cancer.We hear from Donna and from the doctor leading the research, Dr. Vinod Balachandran, about what these early — but encouraging — results could mean. And we speak to Dr. Ramy Saleh, Associate Professor at McGill University, on how similar research is taking shape in Canada.

Negotiating CUSMA – what’s at stake? Apr 23, 2026

Show notes

We hear from two members of the Prime Minister’s advisory council chosen to help on CUSMA negotiations in July. Former conservative cabinet member Lisa Raitt and the president of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Denis Darby take us through what’s at stake for Canadians.

Got an idea for a new emoji? What it takes to make the cut Apr 23, 2026

Show notes

Unicode is taking pitches for emojis. Graphic designer Jennifer Daniel helps decide which ones make it. She says a successful emoji should have multiple meanings. Sorry aerial tramway ;)

Testimony of residential school survivors is about to be destroyed Apr 23, 2026

Show notes

The most comprehensive archive of what happened at Canadian residential schools is about to be destroyed after a 2017 Supreme Court ruling to protect survivors privacy. Now Pulitzer and Peabody-winning journalist Connie Walker is creating a new public archive to preserve survivor accounts.

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