The Current

Statistics Canada numbers show the economy stalled in July. The trade war is hitting some harder than others, like the Stelco workers in Hamilton, Ontario who got news that part of their steel plant is closing indefinitely. We hear from Ron Wells, one of their union leaders, plus Deloitte Canada's Dawn Desjardins tells us why she sees the country's growth continuing to slow down.

Netflix's new reality show based on the infamous Stanford prison experiment is being met with controversy. The original psychological experiment had to be abandoned prematurely because of the harm it was causing participants. So why is Netflix releasing a reality series based on a troubling psychological experiment? And what could it tell us about what makes people abuse authority? We speak with Jay Van Bavel, Professor of Psychology at New York University and the author of The Power of Us, plus Andy Dehnart, a TV critic, and founder of Reality Blurred. 

Diesel gas prices have spiked, hitting truckers and farmers especially hard. That means prices for things we buy are going up too. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called on the federal government to take action. But energy expert Richard Masson is skeptical about the Conservative proposals. He says prices won't come down until the wars in Iran and Ukraine end, but Ottawa could still offer some relief.

Almost 30 years after the death of Princess Diana, her brother Charles Spencer has written a new memoir about her life, her struggles, and the royal institutions that played a role in both. He sits down with Matt Galloway to discuss the book Swan Song: Diana, my sister, and her legacy. 

We speak with the creators of the series North of North as they launch Season 2 after the show became an international hit. Stacey Aglok MacDonald and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril tell us about what it's like to film a comedy in Iqaluit, about the good things, and the challenges faced by those living in Canada's North.

A new poll done for CBC news shows separatist support is dropping in Alberta, so is the popularity of Premier Danielle Smith and her party. We speak with the independent pollster Janet Brown who conducted the survey about what these findings mean. Plus, Dozie Anyaegbunam, host of The Newcomers Podcast, says he fears the fractures created by all 10 questions, including five about immigration, will linger long after the Oct. 19 results are in.

Jordan Kawchuk has struggled with alcohol use disorder for years. When he's drinking, he says nothing else matters. He's just finished his fifth attempt at treatment, but some doctors and advocates say people like him aren't getting the science-based treatment they need.

Have you heard that same story over and over again from your aging parents?  Mary Ann McColl certainly did.  But instead of just complaining, like the rest of us, she decided to study the stories to see if there was something more there.  Mary Ann is a professor emerita of occupational therapy at Queens University. Her new book is The Ten Stories: What Aging Parents Want Us to Hear. Mary Ann's research might help you find patience with your older loved ones and their stories.

Donald Trump ruled out using military force to annex Canada. The head of US Pacific Command called the idea of attacking Canada "preposterous." But Mark Carney called it an "extreme tail risk" that would be "irresponsible" not to prepare. We unpack the Canadian Prime Minister's eye-catching interview with the New York Times, with Stephen Saideman, a professor of political science at Carleton University’s Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, and Wendy Gilmour, Vice-Chair of the Board of the Conference of Defence Associations Institute.

Dr. Subodh Verma is a cardiac surgeon who has operated on more than 6,000 hearts. We speak with the surgeon-scientist and University of Toronto Professor of Surgery about what it's like to hold the human heart in his hands, and why breakthroughs in medicine and science can only happen through acts of interdependence.