Today on The Current: The extraordinary work of four Canadians appointed to the Order of Canada; political scientist Yascha Mounk on the challenges facing democracy today — and how to save it; and a trip to the cottage with Stuart McLean’s Vinyl Cafe.

Today on The Current: Indigenous sisters hope for exoneration three decades after murder conviction; how to tackle growing belief in conspiracy theories; and former NATO Supreme Allied Commander James Stavridis on what makes a great leader.

From the sounds of drive-in church services to a look at repurposing church buildings, how religious practice and its spaces continue to shift during the pandemic.

Science journalist Annie Murphy Paul, author of The Extended Mind, wants to dispel us of our brain fixation. Meanwhile assistant professor Julia Kam, who runs Internal Attention Lab at the University of Calgary, emphasizes how important it is to let the mind wander.

J.B. MacKinnon has travelled the world to try and discover what might be inconceivable to many – what if, one day, the world stops shopping? Thad Russell’s parents built an off grid home, but their plan to live a more modest life wasn’t as nearly simple as they hoped.

Pairing science with psychology, Claudia Hammond wrote the book on rest - and why we need more of it. The previously untold story of Canadian hockey executive Sherry Bassin is recounted in a documentary by NPR's Gary Waleik.

Post-pandemic, design critic Alexandra Lange says we would all benefit from city-wide, street-based events. And it might be worth asking what the kids would want. Meanwhile researcher Adam Mastroianni has found that conversations tend to last a length of time that makes no one happy.

A documentary brings the sounds of nature into an Australian prison, a queer dancer tries to make space for other LGBTQ performers, and what it’s like when your grandfather is revered as a saint by his church.

Daniela Gesundheit is part of indie band Snowblink, and a cantor, the person who leads people in singing and prayer in a synagogue. But while Gesundheit kept those two worlds separate, she felt there were conversations happening within the Jewish tradition that were too big to be confined.

Strange Heart tells the story of a woman who, since receiving a heart transplant six years ago, reports that she hasn’t felt emotion and hasn’t experienced love in quite the same way. And Windhorse follows a couple in Nova Scotia as they give back the land they bought 30 years ago to Indigenous communities.

Julian Barnes’ latest novel, Elizabeth Finch, asks the question, what if civilization took a wrong turn in the 4th Century, by choosing Christianity over Hellenistic and Roman paganism?

Music has been part of the Franciscan tradition for centuries - but Friar Alessandro appears to be the first one with a big record deal.

Music has been part of the Franciscan tradition for centuries - but Friar Alessandro appears to be the first one with a big record deal.

Until now, a lot of forays into genderless fashion have been subdued and shapeless, featuring neutral colours and boxy silhouettes. The author and activist behind the #DeGenderFashion movement says a truly gender-fluid approach to dressing could allow room for a much more expressive wardrobe.

Religion scholar Joseph Laycock says that even though D&D was once a source of a moral panic, there is nothing satanic about it. Tapestry producer Arman Aghbali brings us the story of one player's attempt to resurrect his character and the spiritual challenge that occurred along the way.

Pop culture, and especially science fiction, has played host to several of philosophy’s biggest questions that can trace their origins back thousands of years, according to David Chalmers, philosopher and author of Reality+.

Rabbi Harold Kushner became a household name after he published his bestselling book Why Bad Things Happen to Good People. His signature blend of hard-earned wisdom, compassion and straight-talk have made him one of Tapestry’s most requested guests.

Likening the 100-year-old hospital gown to a prisoner's orange jumpsuit, a prominent British doctor says the "alien, open-at-the-back garment" is in desperate need of a redesign. 

Dr. Kathryn Mannix has had thousands of heart-wrenching conversations over her three-decade career as a palliative care physician, psychotherapist and trainer. She offers five tips for anyone who is faced with leading a challenging conversation.

On Aug. 21, Dr. Alika Lafontaine takes over as president of the Canadian Medical Association, becoming its first Indigenous leader. He spoke with Dr. Brian Goldman about struggling with learning challenges as a child, working as an Indigenous doctor, and how these experiences motivate him.

The Recovery Sessions explores the challenges of Canadians as they deal with collateral damage from the pandemic: anxiety, weight gain and other health effects. We chose three volunteers and paired each with a health professional for coaching sessions on moving forward.

A program pairing a police officer with a mental health worker in Hamilton has reduced the apprehension rate under the Mental Health Act from 75 per cent of calls police respond to for people in crisis to 17 per cent.

Most Canadians are secure knowing that they benefit from universal health care. All you have to do is walk into a clinic or hospital and you will be treated. For an estimated 500,000 people who live and work among us, it’s a different reality.

Some pharmacists say many people have questions about the timing of their annual flu shot, which will coincide with the availability of bivalent COVID-19 vaccines. Here's what we know about this year's flu shot.

Susie Goulding knows what it's like to have long COVID. She's been dealing with symptoms since March 2020 and has been pushing governments to better recognize long COVID.

As a little girl, Jennifer Fotheringham was shushed for asking about cancer. As a grown woman, she was dismissed for asking about a mammogram. Now as a cancer survivor, she knows not to be silenced.

Iain White’s mother says her son and other dietary aides are unsung health-care heroes of the pandemic because they plate, prep and serve food to residents while offering connection and companionship.

Full episode transcript for The Menopause Movement: Part I

Full episode transcript for The Menopause Movement: Part 2

On his 45th wedding anniversary, Ramesh Karnick was at home with his wife when he appeared to lose consciousness; he died a few weeks later. His daughter and CBC host, Sonali Karnick, has spent years trying to answer the question: how did her father die?

Author and activist Morningstar Mercredi is calling for an end to forced and coerced sterilization, in the hopes that women — especially First Nations, Inuit and Métis women — will never suffer the physical and mental trauma it inflicted upon her.

Full Text Transcript

To mark the centenary of the birth of Primo Levi, the British writers join Eleanor Wachtel to reflect on the late Italian author's exceptional writing about the Holocaust, science and humanity.

The American author of Pew spoke with Eleanor Wachtel about writing a novel that examines faith, forgiveness and identity politics.

The British novelist spoke with Eleanor Wachtel in 2022 about his book, The Great Passion, a fictional imagining of J.S. Bach as an ambitious, passionate musician and father.

The South Asian author and winner of the 2017 Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival's Grand Prix spoke with Eleanor Wachtel on stage at the festival in Montreal.

In this 2016 conversation, Eleanor Wachtel speaks with the English poet about her poetry collection Falling Awake — and the enduring inspiration of the natural world.

The British Jamaican author of poetry collection The Perseverance met with Eleanor Wachtel back in 2019 to discuss race, identity and his experience growing up deaf.

Alice Munro died on May 13, 2024 at the age of 92. To commemorate her stunning legacy, Writers & Company looks back at a memorable conversation between Eleanor Wachtel and Munro back in 2004.

Eleanor Wachtel spoke with Kay in 2007, following the publication of her short story collection Wish I Was Here.

The British-Indian novelist and journalist spoke with Eleanor Wachtel in 2017.

The German writer spoke with Eleanor Wachtel, who chaired the International Booker Prize jury, in 2015.

The American musician and storyteller spoke with Eleanor Wachtel about her book All the Things I Lost in the Flood.

The academic and author spoke with Eleanor Wachtel about his provocative new novel, Immigrant, Montana.

Listen to O'Brien's conversation from 2009 with Eleanor Wachtel. O'Brien died on July 27, 2024 at the age of 93.

The American novelist spoke to Eleanor Wachtel in 2018 about her book New People.

Eleanor Wachtel spoke with the Scottish author about her novels, Autumn and Winter, in 2018.

This week features Lisa Moore, Janice Lynn Mather, Daniel Kalla, Jen Sookfong Lee and Brian Francis.

In this episode, Shelagh Rogers speaks with Sarah Raughley, Lauren B. Davis, Shawn Hitchins and Vish Khanna.