Best Mark Combs Author Podcasts (2025)

1
Trump: If Ceasefire Doesn't Happen, "I Just Back Away" 47:19

6h ago47:19

47:19

President Trump's phone calls with Putin and Zelensky were supposed to jumpstart the peace process and ultimately end the war, but now the president is signaling he could completely back away. Plus, CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta, on former President Biden's shocking cancer diagnosis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

1
Wildfire season is almost here. What can Canada expect? 19:28

17h ago19:28

19:28

Wildfire season hasn’t officially started, but Manitoba has already declared a state of emergency after a deadly blaze in Lac du Bonnet. Guest host Mark Kelley breaks down the fire forecast and top-of-mind questions with Ed Struzik, author of The Future of Fire, and climatologist emeritus David Phillips.…

1
What it’s like growing up as a ‘restaurant kid’ 24:57

17h ago24:57

24:57

Rachel Phan was three years old when her parents opened a restaurant in Kingsville, Ont., a venture that quickly ate up most of their time and energy. In a conversation from last month, the Chinese-Canadian author discusses her new memoir, Restaurant Kid, and why she felt like the restaurant had stolen her parents away from her.…

1
CAT-alogues & DOG-alogues: Pet Marketing 27:14

2d ago27:14

27:14

This week, we talk about Pet Marketing. The pet products industry is worth about $150 billion dollars. And when you love a pet, money is no object. We’ll listen to a pet food campaign that had dogs conduct a symphony orchestra. We’ll flip through IKEA’s CAT-alogues and DOG-alogues. And we’ll explore Dolly Parton’s “Doggy Parton” fashion line. -----…

1
Several Inmates On The Run After 10 Escaped From New Orleans Jail 46:54

3d ago46:54

46:54

New video released tonight of a daring jail break in New Orleans. Authorities say the inmates should be considered "armed and dangerous," and that they might have had help from a guard or someone in law enforcement. Plus, a photo of the numbers "86 47", in seashells, and why President Trump is saying they add up to a call for his assassination by f…

1
U.S. border towns lose tourism dollars as Canadians stay home 19:26

4d ago19:26

19:26

Canadian tourists were once regular shoppers at Ali Hayton’s grocery store in Washington state, but these days she’s more likely to get “nasty emails” from Canadians angry about U.S. tariffs. Guest host Mark Kelley talks to business owners about the sharp drop in Canadians travelling to the U.S., and the impact on border communities who rely on tou…

1
Menendez brothers are eligible for parole. Will they walk free? 11:52

4d ago11:52

11:52

After 35 years behind bars for murdering their parents, Erik and Lyle Menendez will now have a chance at parole. Investigative journalist Robert Rand has covered this story since the 1989 murders of Jose and Kitty Menendez, even uncovering new evidence along the way.

1
The top 10 vacation spots in Canada — voted by you! 17:04

4d ago17:04

17:04

Where’s the best place to visit in Canada? For weeks, listeners have been voting for the vacation spots they love across this big, beautiful country to build The Current’s travel bucket list. Rick Mercer joined Matt Galloway earlier this month to reveal the top 10. Did your favourite place make the list?…

1
Why the ban on nudity at Cannes red carpet is ‘hypocritical’ 12:13

4d ago12:13

12:13

Halle Berry had an emergency outfit change at the Cannes Film Festival this week, after organizers implemented a new dress code that bans nudity and “voluminous outfits,” especially those with large trains. Fashion critic Katharine Zarrella says the new rules are hypocritical: demanding women cover up on the red carpet, while celebrating and commer…

1
Jury Views Graphic Texts Between Seam “Diddy” Combs & Cassie Ventura 47:18

4d ago47:18

47:18

Sean “Diddy” Combs's attorneys' question his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura under oath. A look at what his legal team wanted to accomplish and what she actually said. Plus, if you've ever dreamed of quitting your job and taking off on an adventure you'll want to hear from Oliver Widger. He didn't know much about sailing but he cashed in his 401K, got…

1
Visiting a Mennonite community where measles is spreading 19:26

5d ago19:26

19:26

A Mennonite community at the centre of Ontario’s measles outbreak, one woman says she trusts remedies made from dandelions and strawberries more than modern medicine. The Current’s James Chaarani went there to speak with community members, and found a deep distrust of vaccines and the medicine system.…

1
Making friends as an adult is hard. Here are some tips 16:06

5d ago16:06

16:06

We all know that making friends as an adult is difficult. Everyone’s busy with their families and careers, while time online and remote work is leaving some people increasingly isolated. We meet some young adults finding creative new ways to meet potential new friends in the real world, from dinner with perfect strangers to making conversation at a…

1
What will Trump’s pledge to lift sanctions mean for Syria? 22:26

5d ago22:26

22:26

U.S. President Donald Trump surprised the world by pledging to lift crippling sanctions on Syria this week. We dig into what this means for rebuilding the country after the fall of Assad, both for Syrians who have grown up in the brutality of the civil war, and those who fled and are longing to return home.…

1
Inside the courtroom at Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial 10:26

5d ago10:26

10:26

Sean (Diddy) Combs is facing life in prison over sex trafficking and racketeering charges, related to elaborate sex parties called "freak-offs” that were allegedly laced with violence and abuse. Combs, also known as Puff Daddy, has pleaded not guilty. Reuters journalist Jack Queen takes us inside the New York courtroom, where Combs’ ex-girlfriend, …

1
Trump Supporters, Critics Unite Against Plane Deal 47:24

5d ago47:24

47:24

President Trump meets with Qatar's emir who's giving him a 747 and talks at length about why he needs it now. John Bolton, his former national security adviser has some thoughts on that and joins 360° tonight. Plus, Sean “Diddy” Combs's ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, back on the stand in his federal trial, delivering explicit testimony. CNN anchor …

1
Carney unveils his cabinet. Is it the change Canadians want? 19:49

6d ago19:49

19:49

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet has two dozen new faces, but Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says the presence of some Trudeau-era ministers looks like “more of the same.” Can Carney reassure Canadians that he’s bringing the change they voted for? Matt Galloway takes the political pulse with the CBC’s Rosemary Barton and Kathleen Petty an…

1
Will AI make us better writers? Or kill our critical thinking? 24:17

6d ago24:17

24:17

If you’ve tried to write an email or opened a blank document recently, some kind of AI assistant has likely offered to polish your words — or even write whole sentences for you. Some advocates argue that generative AI could open up a new frontier in writing, but others warn it’s dulling our creativity and critical thinking for the sake of efficienc…

1
Are you an explorer? Alex Hutchinson says we all are 24:59

6d ago24:59

24:59

Alex Hutchinson knows all about the thrill of discovery, having ventured deep into the wilderness of far-flung places like Tasmania. In his new book, The Explorer's Gene, the journalist argues that we’re hardwired with that desire to embrace uncertainty and the unknown — and looks at what happens if we stop.…

1
Plane Expensive 47:03

6d ago47:03

47:03

Breaking news on that free plane from Qatar. It may cost three-quarters of a billion dollars or more, to retrofit it for the President. Plus, what a Los Angeles judge ruled in the case of Erik and Lyle Menendez, who are seeking freedom decades after they were convicted of murdering their parents in 1989. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podc…

1
How politics bleeds into the UFC and mixed martial arts 24:15

7d ago24:15

24:15

Mixed martial arts can count some big-name politicians among its millions of fans, with Donald Trump and Pierre Poilievre attending recent Ultimate Fighting Championship bouts. We dig into the sport’s intersection with politics, and the corners of the sport that seem to be embracing the manosphere, toxic masculinity and, in some cases, far-right fi…

1
Alberta separatists unveil ballot question, call for 2025 referendum 20:09

7d ago20:09

20:09

"Do you agree that the province shall become a sovereign country and cease to be a province of Canada?" That’s the ballot question proposed by the Alberta Prosperity Project, a group pushing for a referendum on Alberta leaving Canada by the end of the year. We look at support for independence in the province — and why the APP says they’re confident…

1
Adulting 101: How Gen Z fell behind on basic life skills 24:09

7d ago24:09

24:09

Some schools are offering so-called adulting 101 courses, teaching Gen Zers basic skills like cooking, cleaning or changing a tire. Some social scientists call it “delayed adulthood,” the phenomenon of younger people lacking life skills that past generations took for granted.

1
Israeli-American Hostage Edan Alexander Released By Hamas 47:20

7d ago47:20

47:20

Edan Alexander, the last known living American hostage in Gaza, was released by Hamas and reunited with his family on Monday, ending a 19-month ordeal that began with the militant group’s October 7 attack. Plus, a group of White South Africans are the first people granted refugee status since President Trump signed an executive order effectively st…

1
Bird populations are in steep decline, study suggests 9:16

8d ago9:16

9:16

Bird populations across North America have fallen by billions over the last 50 years, according to a staggering report from Cornell University. Researcher Amanda Rodewald explains what’s happening, and why common birds like sparrows, blackbirds and finches are suffering the greatest losses.

1
Worried about money? Our experts answer your questions 20:10

8d ago20:10

20:10

Are you worried about U.S. tariffs squeezing your retirement investments? Anxious about losing your job? Or afraid that inflation will make it harder to put food on the table? With economic uncertainty fuelling fears of recession, Matt Galloway puts your financial questions to economist Armine Yalnizyan and certified financial planner Shannon Lee S…

1
Dyslexia made Phil Hanley feel stupid. He wants kids today to skip that shame 24:17

8d ago24:17

24:17

The comedian Phil Hanley remembers his school teachers calling him lazy and stupid, when in truth he was struggling with dyslexia. In his new memoir Spellbound: My Life as a Dyslexic Wordsmith, Hanley writes about how his mother defended him in an unsympathetic education system, and why he doesn’t want dyslexic kids today to feel the shame he did.…

1
Why Ed Yong thinks birding is ‘quietly radical’ 15:03

8d ago15:03

15:03

Ed Yong has “birder derangement syndrome,” a condition that’s entirely made up but may be familiar to other birding enthusiasts. In a conversation from last spring, the science writer tells Matt Galloway how the joy of birding saved him from pandemic burnout and radically changed how he interacts with nature.…

1
Bookmarks 2025 32:12

10d ago32:12

32:12

This week, it’s our annual “Bookmarks” episode. We read a lot of books to research this show, and often we stumble on great stories that don’t fit our regular episodes. So we save them up for this show. We’ll talk about a new book on SNL producer Lorne Michaels, we’ll take a few notes from a famous songwriter, and we’ll talk about a Bible with a wi…

1
University Student Released After Six Weeks At Louisiana Detention Center 47:50

10d ago47:50

47:50

Video of the Tufts University student's arrest by masked men outside her home drew global attention. Today, a judge freed the Turkish exchange student, saying the government showed no evidence to support its case. Plus, the Trump administration fires the Librarian of Congress, the first women and first black person to hold the job. Hear the justifi…

1
The surprisingly moving tale of Alberta’s gopher museum 12:40

11d ago12:40

12:40

There’s something undeniably special about Alberta’s World Famous Gopher Hole Museum, with its taxidermied rodents kitted out as firefighters, hair stylists, or even enjoying a game of curling. The CBC’s Allison Dempster went to Torrington, Alta., to find out how the town came up with such an unusual tourist attraction — and why it ended up drawing…

1
Fears of empty shelves as U.S. tariffs disrupt supply lines 10:33

11d ago10:33

10:33

Trump’s economic fight with China has already led to a drop in cargo coming into U.S. ports. Supply chain experts are warning that tariffs could soon mean half-empty shelves and higher prices south of the border, which could have a knock-on effect for Canada.

1
The new pope is an American. Here’s why that’s surprising 13:56

11d ago13:56

13:56

Cardinal Robert Prevost is the first American pontiff, choosing the name Pope Leo XIV. Jesuit priest and journalist Father Sam Sawyer explains why that surprised some people, as did the new pope’s social media rebuke, earlier this year, of JD Vance and the Trump administration’s treatment of migrants and asylum seekers.…

1
Putin, Trump, Zelenskyy: What 3 personalities mean for peace in Ukraine 19:49

11d ago19:49

19:49

Hopes for peace in Ukraine rest with three men: the country’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russia’s Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump. Journalists Simon Shuster and Luke Harding have covered this conflict and its characters in depth. They join Matt Galloway to share their insights into each leader’s personalities and motivations.…

1
Drilling into Arctic ice to spy 20,000 years into the past 11:16

11d ago11:16

11:16

A small group of Canadian and Danish scientists have been drilling deep into the ice on Axel Heiberg Island, on the western edge of the Arctic Ocean. Ice core scientist Alison Criscitiello explains why drilling into the ice cap can give us a glimpse into the Earth’s past.

1
Leo XIV Elected First American Pope 47:20

11d ago47:20

47:20

In one of the oldest of old-world ceremonies still in practice, 133 cardinals chose the next leader of the Catholic church. And though he is said to be, in many ways, a natural successor to Pope Francis, Vatican-watchers have long doubted the chances that an American would be elevated to the papacy. But for the first time in history there is an Ame…

1
The Current Introduces | Understood: Who Broke the Internet 38:01

11d ago38:01

38:01

It's not you — the internet really does suck. Novelist, blogger and noted internet commentator Cory Doctorow explains what happened to the internet and why you're tormented by ads, bots, algorithms, AI slop and so many pop-ups. Spoiler alert: it wasn't an accident. In Understood: Who Broke the Internet, Doctorow gets into the decisions made by powe…

1
Remember when the internet was… good? What happened? 15:49

12d ago15:49

15:49

The internet was once a user-friendly place built to connect people, but now it’s rife with bots picking fights, AI fakery and algorithms hellbent on selling you something. In the new CBC podcast Understood: Who Broke the Internet?, tech journalist Cory Doctorow breaks down what he calls the "enshittification" of the internet — and who’s responsibl…

1
Is Israel flouting international law by blocking Gaza aid? 19:20

12d ago19:20

19:20

Israel has blocked any humanitarian aid from entering Gaza for two months, with aid agencies now warning that thousands of children are experiencing severe malnutrition. Matt Galloway talks to lawyer Michael Byers about what Israel’s obligations are under international law, and Moumen al-Natour, a lawyer who has organized public demonstrations agai…

1
The fight to save the axolotl, an ever-smiling salamander 9:55

12d ago9:55

9:55

The axolotl is a salamander that always appears to be smiling, making them popular as aquarium pets or as characters in video games like Minecraft. But the species is endangered in their natural habitat in Mexico, where researchers are working hard to preserve them.

1
Air traffic controllers lose sight of planes for 90 seconds 20:41

12d ago20:41

20:41

Air traffic controllers reportedly lost track of planes for 90 seconds at Newark airport recently in a chaotic radar outage that prompted some staff to take stress leave. We look at what led to this nightmare scenario, and what needs to be done to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

1
Federal Judge: Libya Deportation Flight Could Violate Court Order 47:17

12d ago47:17

47:17

The administration appears ready to transport migrants they've arrested in the U.S. and send them to Libya. A federal judge said that deporting migrants to Libya or Saudi Arabia would violate his previous order if they were not provided written notice and an opportunity to contest ahead of time, according to a new filing. Plus, Dr. Sanjay Gupta rep…

1
Electing a pope is like The Traitors, says Conclave author Robert Harris 12:14

13d ago12:14

12:14

Robert Harris got rare access to the Vatican as he was writing Conclave, the novel that inspired the 2024 film starring Ralph Fiennes. He joins Matt Galloway to dig into what will happen behind closed doors as cardinals convene today to elect the next pope — and explains why the group dynamics aren't that different from a reality TV show.…

1
Talking about seniors and sex in long-term care homes 26:39

13d ago26:39

26:39

Most people don’t like to think about their parents having sex, but their grandparents? Educator Mary Connell helps long-term care workers get comfortable with talking about the sexual needs of seniors, especially when it comes to issues around sexual health, dementia and consent.

1
What Trump’s 100% tariffs would mean for Canadian film and TV 19:47

13d ago19:47

19:47

U.S. President Donald Trump has promised 100 per cent tariffs on movies produced outside the United States — but no one is quite sure what that means. We look at what’s driving film and television productions out of the U.S., and what tariffs would mean for workers here in Canada.

1
Why India-Pakistan conflict is ‘last thing the world needs’ 12:17

13d ago12:17

12:17

Dozens of people were killed when India fired missiles into Pakistan on Wednesday. India says it was targeting alleged militants linked to a terrorist attack in Kashmir last month, but Pakistan has repeatedly denied any involvement in that massacre — and described the missile strikes as an act of war. The CBC’s Salimah Shivji joins us from Mumbai t…

1
India Launches Strikes Deep Inside Pakistan 47:16

13d ago47:16

47:16

Two nuclear-armed powers are on the brink of war as India strikes Pakistan and Pakistan promises retaliation. CNN's Nic Robertson is just back from Kashmir. He joins 360° from Pakistan's capital, Islamabad. Plus, we’re just hours away from the start of the conclave at the Vatican. Anderson has details on some of the potential papal front-runners wh…

1
A rare look inside Iran, where women are pushing back 16:37

14d ago16:37

16:37

The CBC’s Margaret Evans recently travelled to Iran on a rare reporting trip, where she saw a striking number of women choosing not to wear headscarves. Evans discusses what's fuelling this act of defiance against the Islamic regime, whether a crackdown is coming, and what the young Iranians she met want for themselves and their nation.…

1
Carney meets Trump today. Will it be a repeat of Zelenskyy’s visit? 20:06

14d ago20:06

20:06

What kind of reception awaits Prime Minister Mark Carney at the White House? The Liberal leader meets U.S. President Donald Trump this afternoon, but some observers are mindful of the public disparaging that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy endured in the Oval Office earlier this year. Matt Galloway talks to experts who’ve been at these type…

1
It’s time to pick a new pope. How does the conclave work? 23:33

14d ago23:33

23:33

The conclave to select a new pope starts Wednesday in Rome. Matt Galloway talks to journalist JD Flynn and writer Randy Boyagoda about who the frontrunners are, how long the conclave might be, and how the next pontiff might shape the future of the Catholic Church.

1
Will Alberta vote on leaving Canada in 2026? 10:09

14d ago10:09

10:09

Premier Danielle Smith says there could be a referendum on Alberta separating from Canada as early as next year, if citizens who want one gather enough signatures. Mike Solberg, a former staffer in Stephen Harper’s Conservative government, digs into the separatist sentiment in the province — and Smith’s list of demands for Prime Minister Mark Carne…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Mark Combs Author Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen