Podcast
As It Happens
Hosted by CBC · EN
News that’s not afraid of fun. Meet people at the centre of the day’s most hard-hitting, hilarious and heartbreaking stories — powerful leaders, proud eccentrics and ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. And plenty of puns too. Hosted by Nil Köksal and Chris Howden, find out why As It Happens is one of Canada’s longest-running and most beloved shows. (Ahem, we literally helped make the beaver a national symbol.)
New episodes Monday to Friday by 7:30 pm E.T.
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Is Windsor-Detroit bridge deal compromise or capitulation?
2w ago00:50:08Tap to summarizeThe deal to open the Gordie Howe Bridge at last may not be as good for Canada as the Prime Minister has suggested — and tensions are rising on both sides. A new study finds construction and trade workers make up a disproportionate amount of opioid deaths in Ontario. A former labourer and opioid user tells us what led him and his colleagues to use drugs on and off the job. Donald Trump's new tariff threats target a puzzling range of products from hockey sticks to honey; the founder of an Indigenous-owned cosmetics brand says she was shocked to find lipstick on the list. An archaeologist tells us about rediscovering the remains of five Egyptian princesses — and says she now believes they were talented fighters who wielded the weapons they were buried with. When Luverne, Minnesota needed a tourism boost, a local nonagenarian’s nutcracker collection helped inspire them to build what they believe to be the world’s largest nutcracker. As It Happens, the Wednesday Edition. Radio that takes you back to where it all pecan.
Transcribe →Was Ontario ready for this year’s wildfires?
2w ago00:50:46Tap to summarizeAfter more than a week of catastrophic wildfires across Northwestern Ontario, the province’s minister of emergency preparedness responds to criticism that her government was not prepared for this emergency. A former Alberta representative to Washington says Canada shouldn't meekly give in to Donald Trump's tariffs, or angrily retaliate — but do a third thing, which she'll explain. It took 48 hours before Alberta issued an amber alert in the disappearance of an autistic boy; our guest says that's clear evidence that it's time for new rules about emergency alerts. A political opponent who was once jailed by Daniel Ortega responds to the Nicaraguan President's pledge to end elections in his country, once and for all. Anita LeBrun was shocked to learned her nursing home couldn't serve her alcohol. So she campaigned to get a state law changed — and now the drinks are on her.You can buy a piece of the New Jersey field where the FIFA World Cup final was played — but a local lawmaker thinks the whole deal is a sod state of affairs. "As It Happens," the Tuesday edition. Radio that's a turf act to follow.
Transcribe →Her unique connection with the UK’s new leader
3w ago00:51:32Tap to summarizeAndy Burnham is sworn in as the latest British Prime Minister, and our guest says the way he helped bring her abducted daughter home — is proof that he's the right person to lead her country.A group representing Iranians in the US has filed a new lawsuit alleging the American government worked with the Iranian regime to fast-track the deportation of asylum seekers.Two First Nations in Ontario have been destroyed by wildfires in less than a week. Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler describes the scale of the loss.Ontario Premier Doug Ford responds to new tariff threats by US President Donald Trump over lousy air quality south of the border, because of Canadian wildfires. A nurse in Michigan describes the experience of contracting cyclospora — the parasite that has caused thousands of nasty cases of diarrhea in the US. She tells us it’s unlike anything she’s ever treated — or lived through herself. Researchers ask birdwatchers to stop using technology to "enhance" pictures of their avian discoveries —because it's messing with science. As It Happens, the Monday Edition. Radio that has no time for cheep tricks.
Transcribe →The White House doles out “financial death penalty”
3w ago00:50:14Tap to summarizeThe Trump administration takes aim at the International Criminal Court, and a Canadian judge who works there. One of her friends says she's paying a professional and personal price for doing her job. A wildfire forced them to evacuate this week -- and now, members of Whitesand First Nation are anxiously waiting to hear what's become of their community.After his son died fighting for Ukraine, a New Brunswick is launching an organization to help other families of foreign fighters who've been captured, killed -- or gone missing. In the UK, Labour eagerly turns the page on the disastrous Keir Starmer era by confirming Andy Burnham as the new leader of the party -- and soon, the country. A technology reporter embarks on an investigation of the author who published a biography of her that was written by AI -- a book that's nothing more than a slop in the face. Our guest was overwhelmed to finally see -- and smell -- an elusive monkey that lurks in Congolese rainforests, pursing its bright-orange lips and emitting a unique and unavoidable odour. As It Happens, the Friday Edition. Radio that does the funky monkey.
Transcribe →Was Ontario prepared for a more serious fire season?
3w ago00:42:27Tap to summarizeOntario is asking the federal government to be ready to help with wildfire evacuations -- but a volunteer emergency coordinator says the province should have been more prepared for this level of destruction.A former official with the Ukrainian government tells us why she's joined widespread protests, after Volodymyr Zelensky removes a defence minister who's been pivotal in the war against Russia. Hungarian lawmakers vote to remove the president, previously appointed by Viktor Orban. The former head of Hungary's supreme court says that move is problematic, but necessary. There's been a lot of discussion as the Assembly of First Nations convened for meetings in Ottawa -- and National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak says clean drinking water and wildfires were at the top of the agenda. A TV reporter in Los Angeles was on the air when she felt something with a lot of legs land on her and start climbing; she'll tell us how to stay calm when that something is a giant cockroach.An elderly woman in Florida did not request a license plate with a suggestive combination of letters and numbers -- and she's worried that other drivers might make it a big honking deal.As It Happens, the Thursday Edition. Radio that believes she's got a little too much on her plate.
Transcribe →Escaping Spain’s deadly wildfires
4w ago00:47:51Tap to summarizeA woman in Spain tells us about the terrifying moment when what appeared to be dust hanging in the air turned out to be flames nearing her doorstep – and the mad rush to get her and her friends to safety.An official in rural Manitoba says she and her colleagues had to knock on people’s doors to warn them of incoming flooding because the cell service in her region is so bad. And she says it’s about time that reality changed.As our guest watched a woman and her car get swallowed up in a slough, he jumped in – and set about trying to get her to safety.The UK offers a posthumous pardon to Ruth Ellis – the last woman ever executed there. Her granddaughter tells us about the long fight to set the record straight.When a B.C. man saw a horse trapped on a bridge, he thought it was dead. But quickly realized there was a chance to save it.As long as Norway stays alive in the FIFA World Cup, Norwegian fans will keep doing their now-famous “viking row” chant. But our guest refuses to – and is downright fed up, saying Vikings did not row across the Atlantic... they sailed.As It Happens, the Friday Edition, radio that admires his ability to respectfully bow out.
Transcribe →Gulf states back in the crosshairs
4w ago00:42:50Tap to summarizeA professor in Doha tells us what the latest escalation between Iran and the US means for him and other civilians in the region -- where American military bases, and the communities that surround them, are under fire again. Two weeks after earthquakes did catastrophic damage to Venezuela, thousands are still unaccounted for. Our guest says he’s doing his best to support survivors through a heartbreaking situation.Donald Trump backtracks on his threat to cut off trade with Spain over its NATO contributions -- but a Spanish politician says people there are still feeling a little defensive. At the NATO summit, Prime Minister Mark Carney gets a surprising gift from Turkey’s president -- and he's afraid it overshadows his offering of maple syrup. Rocker Suzi Quatro remembers her late friend Bonnie Tyler – a larger-than-life performer who eclipsed many of her contemporaries.United Airlines argues that just because you've paid for a window seat doesn't mean you'll have a seat by the window -- but that doesn't sit well with a judge. As It Happens, the Thursday Edition. Radio that assures you: having no window is actually quite paneless.
Transcribe →IOC lifts Russia suspension and Ukrainian athletes respond
Jul 800:47:38Tap to summarizeUkrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych grapples with the IOC's decision to clear the way for the Russian Olympic Committee to make a full return to the Games. With the truce in ashes and the worst exchange of strikes since June, an Iranian-Canadian shares his fears for friends and family, and tells us what he's hearing from them. For 18 months, Israel has detained a Palestinian pediatrician without charge and now the doctor says he believes he'll die in prison. An Israeli advocate tells us about the effort to free him — and more than a dozen other Gazan physicians. Rogers shutters six radio stations across Canada. We'll hear from Calgary Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner who says the stations were integral parts of the community...and transcended politics. Wearing his trademark garbage can on his head, perennial British candidate Count Binface tells us he's no has-bin — and he's ready to kick Nigel Farage to the curb. A new actor arrives on "General Hospital" and British comedian John Oliver is as surprised as anyone to find himself on the classic soap opera, getting slapped.As It Happens, the Wednesday edition. Radio that's tried to get on soaps — but knows it's easier said than dun-dun-dunnnnn.
Transcribe →What Mark Carney can accomplish as NATO meets
Jul 700:52:41Tap to summarizeNATO leaders are meeting in Turkey — and Canada's former NATO ambassador says important priorities are being put on hold, while placating the American President tops the agenda. An Edmonton doctor helped save a life at a basketball game — and wound up getting billed for his trouble. Prominent Democrats pull support for Senate nominee Graham Platner, after an accusation of sexual assault. One former supporter tells us why this was the last straw. After Lionel Messi leads his team to another World Cup victory, a fan in Bangladesh explains why his country is full of hardcore Argentina fans. A team of engineers struggles to get the lid off an enduring mystery: why do pickles glow when they're electrified?The ultra rich are installing "snow rooms" in their homes and yachts — in which snow actually falls from the ceiling. But they're not the only ones who might find that kind of chilling.As It Happens, the Tuesday edition. Radio that will be there when all hail breaks loose.
Transcribe →FIFA and Trump: "The whole world is burning"
Jul 600:43:57Tap to summarizeAfter Donald Trump called the head of FIFA, the soccer body reversed a suspension that would have kept an American star on the bench tonight. A Belgian sports journalist says there's outrage on and off the pitch.After a hard-fought competition, Germany beats out South Korea to win a multi-billion dollar contract to outfit Canada with new submarines. An Oregon teenager tells us about the thrift store find of a lifetime: paying three dollars for a warm-up jacket worn by basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain. 160 acres of Crown land is given back to a Mohawk community in Quebec. Kahnawà:ke Grand Chief Cody Diabo explains the process they're calling "rematriation".English soccer fans visiting the U.S. for the FIFA World Cup discover baseball in Atlanta -- and develop a love for one centerfielder that really comes out of left field. Researchers are stunned, after toiling to prove that a species of bats chows down on birds - only to discover that an artist had revealed that exact truth in a painting from the 17th century.As It Happens, the Monday edition. Radio that knows you can't have a bird with a good batting average -- but you can have a bat with a good birding average.
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