As It Happens

As It Happens

Nightly news that’s not afraid of fun. Every weeknight hosts Nil Köksal and Chris Howden bring you the 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. Find out why As It Happens is one of Canada’s longest-running and most beloved shows.

Episodes

April 29, 2025 61 mins

Nil speaks with Liberal Patty Hajdu, Conservative Chris D’Entremont and the NDP’s Heather MacPherson about what happens next.

Mark as Played

Plus: A B.C. pilot tells the story of his harrowing crash into the Sea of Cortez near La Paz, Mexico. 


Also: Evidence from an archaeological site in Britain reveals the gnarly death of an ancient gladiator. And yes, there were lions involved.

Mark as Played

According to the Taliban, Manizha Bakhtari no longer represents Afghanistan abroad. But that hasn't stopped the country's one-time top diplomat in Austria from keeping the doors of its embassy in Vienna open and now her efforts are the subject of the new documentary, The Last Ambassador. Nil Köksal sits down with Bakhtari and director Natalie Halla on the eve of three Canadian screenings.

Mark as Played

Plus: Judy Kurtz from The Hill prepares for a White House Correspondents Dinner unlike any other. 

 

Also: Nearly four years after the Lytton wildfire wiped out most of her village, Mayor Denise O'Connor gives a tour of her new home.

Mark as Played

Plus: After scientists created "olo" -- a colour they say no one else can see, artist Stuart Semple created "yolo". And he says it can be yours for a small price. 

 

Also: We remember tireless B.C. drug and addiction advocate Trey Helton. 

Mark as Played

Plus: Nil reaches Nardwuar the Human Serviette, who’s snagged more interviews with Canadian political leaders during this campaign than anyone. 

 

Also: Up until 2015, academics at Oxford drank wine out of a chalice made from the human skull -- likely that of an enslaved woman. Archeologist Dan Hicks uncovered that history and says it's now his goal to make sure this woman is given back her dignity and humanity.

Mark as Played

Plus: How getting stuck in quicksand led to a rom-com worthy love story for a Michigan couple. 

 

Also: Canadian author Robin Stevenson’s book Pride Puppy is at the centre of a Supreme Court decision on 2SLGTBQ+ books in schools. She says she was shocked to hear a Justice repeat the false claim that her alphabet book -- about a puppy at a Pride parade -- included a mention of bondage.

Mark as Played

Plus: Did the search for extraterrestrial life just take a huge leap? We reach Cambridge University’s Nikku Madhusudhan to explore the possibility. 

 

Also: As spring struggles to break through, we bring you the late, great Fireside Al Maitland’s reading of Oscar Wilde’s The Selfish Giant. 

Mark as Played

Plus: Game, Set and Match medieval style. We hear about Australian efforts to revive Real Tennis, a move to bring the sport back to it’s Henry VIII roots.


Also: A special edition of As It Happened, diving into the archives for some “new discoveries”.

Mark as Played

Plus: At the San Diego zoo, elephants go viral when video captures their touching and fascinating reaction to an earthquake. 

 

Also: Filmmaker Sepideh Farsi on the death of her new documentary’s subject: 25 year old Gazan photojournalist Fatima Hassouna, reported killed in an Israeli airstrike.

Mark as Played

Plus: A Michigan bookstore gets a lot of unexpected help moving its entire inventory. 


Also: Ahead of the inaugural game of the new Northern Super League, founder and soccer star Diana Matheson tells Nil it's been years in the making to get to the first professional women's soccer game ever played on Canadian soil. But now that we're here, she knows Canada is ready.

Mark as Played

Plus: Boston Globe reporter Billy Baker investigates a shockingly violent woodpecker terrorizing Rockport, Mass.


Also: It was no surprise that Paige Beuckers was picked first overall at last night's WNBA draft -- least of all to Gary Knox, a dad who just happened to be at the right place at the right time and predict her stardom way back in 2013, when she was in the sixth grade.

Mark as Played

Plus: CBC's Kate McKenna tells us about stumbling onto a story of campaign “dirty tricks” in an Ottawa bar.


Also: Speaking of watering holes, An Edinburgh man embarks on an ambitious project: creating miniature versions of some 300 pubs across the city. And he says attention to detail is the key to his success.

Mark as Played

Plus: Canadian Will Nediger writes his name in the history books -- in pen -- by taking second-place at the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament.


Also: Nil talks to Paul Wells about what the veteran political journalist thinks of the campaign so far, and what he’s looking for in the weeks ahead.

Mark as Played

Plus: A French presidential hopeful says migrants could be deported to Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, islands off the coast of Newfoundland. 


Also: Alasdair Spark says he’s solved the mystery of that deeply creepy (and conspiracy theory-provoking) final scene in The Shining. 

Mark as Played

Plus: We follow up with the starting pitcher for one of two absolutely terrible teams who both ended epic losing streaks this week.  


Also: The mother of an Indigenous woman killed by police in New Brunswick tells us about her efforts to effect change in policing -- and about how one police chief on the other side of the country has responded.

Mark as Played

Plus: A conversation with Fred Armisen about the late, great Blondie Drummer Clem Burke. 


Also: The editor of a low German newspaper tells us about his visit to a measles-afflicted Mennonite community in Texas... and about his efforts to get through to its residents.

Mark as Played

Plus: Baseball YouTuber Dan Sarmiento of Enjoy The Show breaks down an epic match up between two of the worst teams ever.   


Also: Drumheller, Alberta is home to the world's largest replica dinosaur. And its owners say they plan to take it down. But a local food truck owner is launching a rebellion, hoping to save Tyra.

Mark as Played

On the other hand: It's boom time for the maker of Louisville Slugger baseball bats, thanks to a fad that’s taking the sport by storm. 


Also: With Jordan's Principle funding up in the air, the Council for Yukon First Nations is forced to halt crucial community services. And the executive director tells us it's heartbreaking for the people she serves.

Mark as Played

Plus: We'll hear from a pair of nonagenarians who have been exchanging the same birthday card with one another twice a year for eight decades. 


Also: Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey takes us inside the Canadian decision making on a tariff response.

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

    The Joe Rogan Experience

    The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.