The Current

New research from the Canadian Medical Association Journal has found that more people aged 14-20 are being diagnosed with psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia, than previous generations. We talk to study co-author Dr. Marco Solmi about his findings, and some of the possible reasons behind it. Plus, psychiatrist Dr. Oyedeji Ayonrinde on why early intervention matters, and why cannabis use can't be ignored as a potential factor in this rise.

Duration:00:19:49

Latest Epstein files show ties to powerful men

Files released by The U.S. Department of Justice show that many high-profile figures who've tried to distance themselves from Jeffrey Epstein were chummy with the convicted sex offender. Journalist Molly Jong-Fast says there should be some kind of accountability for those who enabled him.

Duration:00:13:20

How fungi could save the planet

“The future is fungal,” says Toby Kiers. She has won the "green Nobel" for her work studying mycorrhizal fungi — the vast underground network that acts as the soil's circulatory system. In fact, she may be the fungi's greatest champion. She explains why she loves these fungi — and why you should too.

Duration:00:25:19

China's influence filling the gap of the “American Dream”

From Ne Zha 2, to the video game Black Myth, Labubu, Chinese culture is becoming more aspirational. We hear from Tianyu Fang, a PhD student at Harvard who focuses on Chinese history, technology and culture about the shifting perceptions of China, the rise of soft power and what that could mean for future international relations.

Duration:00:11:16

Artemis II: Humanity’s Return to the Moon

2/2/2026

NASA’s Artemis II mission is about to send a crew farther from Earth than any human has ever gone. The mission marks the first crewed lunar flight since 1972. We speak with Gordon Osinski, a planetary geologist at Western University who has helped train astronauts, including Canadian Jeremy Hansen, about why this mission is such a critical milestone for Canada’s role in deep-space exploration. Plus, Michelle Hanlon, a space law professor, on what the return to the Moon raises about ownership, cooperation, and the law that will govern this new era of space exploration

Duration:00:19:19

How to feel human in a tech world

2/2/2026

Media theorist Douglas Rushkoff sees potential in the disruption that's come along with AI. He says it's an opportunity for us to reclaim our humanity and our connection to each other — and even build a better world.

Duration:00:21:34

Are you reading?

2/2/2026

Everywhere you turn, there's a distraction, and the evidence suggests we're all reading fewer books. Some have described it as a "crisis". We speak to one young Canadian who's turning that around, BookTok and podcast host, Morgann Book. We'll also speak with Gregor Campbell, a long-time English professor at the University of Guelph on what he has observed in the classroom, and Jonathan Jarry, a science communicator with McGill University's Office for Society and Science who puts the "reading crisis" in perspective.

Duration:00:24:44

Roller derby doc that looks at the community is changing lives

Sport is for many a part of their national identity. So what if your nation doesn’t fall within one country’s specific borders? That’s the genesis of the roller derby team Indigenous Rising, which is the focus of the new documentary Rising Through The Fray. Filmmaker Courtney Montour and player Sour Cherry tell us about the roller derby community and how it's changed lives.

Duration:00:23:18

One step closer: Jeremy Hansen on orbiting the moon

The Artemis II mission will send four astronauts, including Canadian Jeremy Hansen, on a 10-day trip around the moon and back. It’s the first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years, testing what it really takes for humans and their spacecraft to survive deep space, and setting the stage for the next big leap.

Duration:00:11:31

The world has entered its water bankruptcy era

According to the UN, the world is entering an era of “water bankruptcy,” a term scientists are using to describe what happens when water use outpaces nature’s ability to recover. In this conversation, we unpack what that actually means, and why many water systems are no longer bouncing back even after rains return. We hear from Kaveh Madani, the author of a new UN report, and the Director of the Institute for Water, Environment and Health at United Nations University.

Duration:00:13:38

Poilievre prepares for leadership vote at Conservative convention

The Conservative Party convention is underway in Calgary, and Pierre Poilievre will face a leadership review tonight. Jason Kenney, the former premier of Alberta, along with Monte Solberg, former cabinet minister under Stephen Harper, tell us what to expect to come out of this convention, and can Pierre Poilievre stay as the leader of the Conservative Party?

Duration:00:18:36

Canada weighs social media ban for kids under 14

Australia has banned social media for young people under 16. The UK is looking to do the same, and France announced its plans to ban the platforms for kids under 15. But as Canada considers a ban, experts question if a ban is the right approach.

Duration:00:19:31

Spider monkeys share “insider knowledge” to find the best food

New research from Mexico and the UK is shining a light on how spider monkeys work together to let each other know where the best food in their habitat is and when it’ll ripen. We hear from Gabriel Ramos Fernandez at the National Autonomous University of Mexico about what humans can learn from this behaviour.

Duration:00:10:49

Elly Gotz on surviving the Holocaust, and why hate is pointless

At 97 years of age, Elly Gotz still speaks about his experience as a survivor of the Holocaust. While he wants people to understand the cruelty he lived through at the hands of the Nazis, he also wants to spread the word that hatred is pointless. He is hoping that with each speech he gives, someone will be affected and will learn not to hate.

Duration:00:14:32

Why the world is in a ‘gold rush’

The price of gold hit another record high this week. People see the precious metal as a safe haven during unstable times. But there are other reasons we have coveted gold since the dawn of civilization, not all of them rational. We'll hear from Douglas Porter, Chief Economist at BMO Financial Group and Globe and Mail columnist, John Rapley, about the allure of gold and what's drawn people to it over centuries.

Duration:00:18:54

Premier Wab Kinew says ‘stop listening to naysayers’ think big

As the 13 premiers meet in Ottawa today, Manitoba's Premier, Wab Kinew, weighs in on tensions between the leaders and on why Churchill deserves truckloads of money to beef up its port.

Duration:00:19:03

Nardwuar “blown away” by Order of Canada nod

Nardwuar The Human Serviette has been behind the mic for four decades, from campus radio to Much Music to his YouTube channel and Instagram, millions of devoted followers are drawn to his celebrity interviews. We speak with Nardwuar about the power of independent media, the value of research and why stars like Snoop Dogg, Billie Eilish andTimothée Chalamet want to be interviewed by him.

Duration:00:16:52

Do you call dibs on your street parking spot in the snow?

As much of Canada is still digging itself out after record snowfall, we take a look at how drivers are trying to stake their claim on dug out street parking spots. We hear from The Globe and Mail Columnist and Humber College Comedy Program director Andrew Clark about whether Canadians should be more ruthless about calling dibs.

Duration:00:08:52

How violent ICE crackdowns changed life in Minnesota