Barry Blanchard and Chic Scott are two world-renowned mountaineers who have just been appointed to the Order of Canada. They tell us about feeling like they were put on this earth to climb, and surviving a death-defying ascent with an avalanche that continued for 27 minutes.

Across Canada, 71 per cent of the country is abnormally dry or experiencing moderate to severe drought, according to the Canadian Drought Monitor. That includes places like Sunnyside, Newfoundland and Labrador, where the taps ran dry earlier this month. And in Nova Scotia, Farmer Amy Hill in Nova Scotia shares how the dry conditions are straining her farm. John Pomeroy, Director of the Global Water Futures program at the University of Saskatchewan, explains what’s driving these conditions and what Canada must do to prepare for a hotter, drier future.

Knitting isn’t just for grannies anymore. From quilting to pickling to crocheting, “grandma hobbies” are making a comeback, especially among Gen Z. Clinical psychologist and therapeutic knitting instructor Mia Hobbs explains why these old-fashioned pastimes soothe the nervous system, help people unplug, and may even rewire our brains for better mental health.

AI slop is everywhere - and now it’s hitting libraries. AI-generated books are slipping into library catalogues and even landing on physical shelves. Some are so polished that even librarians are fooled. We hear from journalist Emanuel Maiberg on how this industry is exploding, and from Laura Winton, executive director of the Manitoba Library Association, and Jennie Rose Halperin, executive director of Library Futures, on how this could erode trust in libraries – and what readers need to look for.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he’ll crack down on labs using cats and dogs in experiments after revelations that beagles were subjected to heart attack studies at St. Joseph’s Health Care in London, Ontario. The case has ignited debate over the role of animals in science. We hear from animal bioethicist Andrew Fenton, Western University researcher Arthur Brown, and Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Alternatives to Animal Methods, Charu Chandrasekera, who advocates for replacing animal testing with new technologies.

Israel is weighing a ceasefire proposal that could pause nearly two years of war in Gaza, but it’s also preparing to send tens of thousands of troops into Gaza City. Among those waiting anxiously are the Abushbak family, Canadian permanent residents trapped in Gaza. Karim Abushbak shares what daily life is like for his family as they plead for help from Ottawa. Plus, journalist Emmanuelle Elbaz-Phelps joins us from Tel Aviv on the pressures facing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Israelis protest for the release of hostages.

After three days of grounded flights, Air Canada has reached a tentative deal with its 10,000 flight attendants. The agreement includes pay for work done on the ground. Labour studies professor Alison Braley-Rattai joins us to explain why this strike could set a precedent for other workers, and what Ottawa’s quick move to end the walkout says about back-to-work laws.

Four years after the Taliban retook Kabul, Afghan refugees are facing deportation from countries where they sought safety. Ottawa resident Noorullah Hakemi fears his mother could be forced back to Afghanistan, where she was beaten by Taliban guards and left with broken bones. He tells us about his family’s fight to bring her to Canada before it’s too late. Plus, Asma Faizi of the Afghan Women’s Organization explains how deportations from Tajikistan, Pakistan and Iran are putting thousands of women and girls at risk and what she wants Canada to do now.