Millions of people fall victim to human traffickers who promise a better life in a new country, but force them into jobs with long hours and little to no pay. In her documentary My Dad Ward, freelance journalist Jazzmin Jiwa brings us the story of a Ugandan mother tricked into moving to Iraq and what Vancouver activist Ward Reddick did to help her get home again. Correction: In this episode, we reported that Mary couldn't afford the bus fare to bring her daughter home, implying that they were living apart. In fact, after completing her reporting, journalist Jazzmin Jiwa drove Mary to meet with Ahdia and bring her home.

My Dad Ward: Freeing women from trafficking

Three stories to expand your worldview, delivered daily. Matt Galloway cuts through a sea of choice to bring you stories that transcend the news cycle. Conversations with big thinkers, household names, and people living the news. An antidote to algorithms that cater to what you already know — and a meeting place for diverse perspectives. In its 20 years, the Current has become a go-to place for stories that shape and entertain us. Released daily, Monday to Friday.

News

Russian President Vladimir Putin was sworn in again this week, adding a fifth term to his 24 years in power. We look at Putin’s vision for Russia and the wider region, and how the Kremlin's disinformation strategy tries to influence opinion around the world.

Putin’s plan to make Russia great again

More than a trillion cicadas from two separate broods are emerging together for the first time since 1803. The noisy insects will blanket parts of the U.S. for months — and entomologists are pretty excited. 

A trillion cicadas are about to have a really big party

Researchers say choking and rough sex are being normalized for teenagers, and parents can’t assume their kids haven’t been exposed to the risks. Experts say many teens are getting their sex education from pop culture, memes and hashtags like #ChokeMeDaddy.

Why your teen might think rough sex is the norm

A council in northern England is ditching apostrophes from street signs, to avoid problems with computer systems. Matt Galloway talks to punctuation expert Florence Hazrat about the uproar from locals and our ever-evolving grammar.

A great British apostrophe fight

Jim and Sue Waddington took their first whitewater canoe trip in their 70s, in order to reach the real-life location of a painting by J.E.H. MacDonald. The couple has spent decades following clues all over Canada to find the vistas that inspired iconic works from the Group of Seven.

My Dad Ward: Freeing women from trafficking

Download our free app to listen on your phone