Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Storylines

Alan is an entrepreneur of sorts. Ten years into a public health emergency in British Columbia, most deaths from toxic drugs are happening behind closed doors. Men at home alone. This is where Alan comes in. For a fee, he injects users with their drugs and watches them for signs of an overdose. To those who employ him, he’s known as “The Doctor,” but he’s not a physician and his work is illegal.

Sharlene Rochard was 16 when she left Ontario for the bright lights of New York City and Los Angeles to pursue a modelling career. She was booking multiple jobs a week and starting to make a go of it when she met Jeffrey Epstein. For decades she stayed quiet about what happened to her —  but now she’s speaking up. She’s testifying at committees and knocking on politicians’ doors, demanding justice for her and the women she calls her survivor sisters. She’s the only Canadian to come forward but has joined dozens of other women on the campaign to hold the powerful accountable for what happened to them.

The milkman model is simple. Bottles are filled, dropped off, emptied and picked up over and over again. That system got a Canadian entrepreneur thinking. In this day and age of mountains of plastic waste — why not re-use containers? His system, called Loop, was launched in 2019 at Davos Switzerland — to great fanfare. Environmentalists welcomed it and big corporations signed on to be part of the re-use movement. This documentary explores what happened to that grand plan and why North American consumers and companies aren’t ready for a 21st century milkman model.

When Loretta Zaluski found the skeleton of a dead horse near her home she was a little scared, and worried. But she wasn’t as confused as some might be. She knows some people in the Yukon aren't pleased with her, so Loretta believes someone deposited these horse remains to make a point

Loretta is part of a group called The Yukon Wild Horse Society, which is deeply concerned about the wellbeing of what they call “wild horses” that roam the wild spaces of the Yukon.

But some in the Yukon haven't been enjoying their tactics to protect the feral animals, and wonder if this group of horse enthusiasts wandering the Yukon wilderness are more in need of management than the horses. 

Andrew Hynes tries to get to the bottom of just who, or what, might be responsible for this horse death, and how it came to be that the Yukon Wild Horse Society feels they MUST look out for Yukon's wild horses, because they believe no one else will. 

Backcountry skier Hannah Hughes realized she couldn’t fight the wall of snow when it hit her. She survived but the experience has her rethinking her relationship with risk, and she isn’t alone. The 2025-2026 ski season has been a brutal year for avalanche-related deaths in many parts of the world. Some scientists say climate change is now one more factor to consider when heading out into the backcountry. Molly Segal explores how climate is colliding with the increasingly popular sport of backcountry skiing.

Online sports betting and casino games in Canada generated $12.5 billion in revenue last year. But more than half that money ends up offshore, where there are no Canadian taxes, and little to no consumer protections. That's why the province of Ontario opened up its online gambling market to private operators four years ago, and why Alberta is following suit later this year. But for a small but growing number of people, all this gambling has led to financial hardship... or worse.  A recent study suggests the rate of young men contacting Ontario's mental health helpline for gambling-related problems has increased by more than 300 per cent. In this documentary, John Chipman explores the true cost of the rise in online gambling.

Sarah Essiambre was determined to give birth to her third baby at home. But, she said doctors told her she’d never have a vaginal birth after her first C-section. She decided to ignore their advice and instead went online to get information. 

She’s not alone. Doctors and midwives are reporting an increased interest in giving birth with little to no medical help at all. Some even choose freebirth which means there are no prenatal tests or licensed practitioners at the birth. But doctors say giving birth alone is like flying a plane after reading a manual and warn it’s a terrible idea.

For five months, people pushing for Alberta separatism have been travelling the province gathering signatures. Now it’s up to the province and the courts to decide if there will be a referendum on separation in the fall. This documentary explores why people want to leave, what they think they’ll get out of it, and why many are pushing back.

Some people struggling with opioid addiction are turning to a powerful psychedelic called ibogaine. The drug is derived from the bark of an African rainforest shrub, and its proponents believe it sends people on a transformative journey that can free them from addiction. 

In countries like Mexico, ibogaine use is unregulated, so resort-like clinics are offering what they consider treatment for addiction, by sending people on powerful psychedelic trips. 

Some say the drug has changed their lives but there have also been tragic consequences, like the Canadian man who died on an ibogaine trip in South Africa. 

Have you ever sat staring at your screen wondering – swipe left or right? If so, you’re in the company of millions of people who use online dating apps like Tinder, Bumble and Hinge.

But since their peak in popularity during Covid, a growing number of Gen Z and millennials are beginning to turn away from the apps. According to a Forbes Health survey in 2025, 78 per cent of users were feeling emotionally, mentally or physically exhausted by dating apps at least some of the time.

So now, some daters are choosing to go old school, and meeting people in person.

Being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – or ALS – is a death sentence. There are about 3,000 ALS patients in Canada at any one time, and every year, 1,000 more Canadians are diagnosed. About 1,000 people die from the condition every year.

In Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan there is a scientist who claims to have discovered the secret to stopping the disease in its tracks, and setting sufferers on a path to recovery. His claims have attracted both the attention of desperate patients — and the scrutiny of government regulators.

In this documentary, senior investigative reporter Geoff Leo uncovers the financial, physical and emotional lengths ALS patients are willing to go to, for hope.  

Country star Corb Lund spent decades building a musical career without wading into politics. But when a longstanding coal policy was reversed in Alberta in 2020, the musician put his career second to lead a fight to keep coal mining exploration and development out of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains. Years into being the voice of the issue, Corb opens up about the toll it has taken on him personally, from his music to his wellbeing. Producer Molly Segal visited him in southern Alberta to find out why he keeps pushing himself further into the spotlight.

Eddy Garcia never thought his family would leave their homeland. But after months of no work, school closures, and skyrocketing food prices, he and his wife and kids made the excruciating decision to leave their life in Cuba and move to the Dominican Republic. 

Eddy drove a cab for tourists in Cuba, but he also helped deliver aid for a Canadian charity called Together for Cuba. A charity solely run by Jennifer Raymer. She has been sending  medical aid to the country for years. It’s grassroots aid, which has become essential for many medical facilities across the country. 

Many Canadians and Cubans have deep ties going back to post revolutionary Cuba. That long-standing relationship has some asking: is the Canadian government doing enough to help Cubans in crisis?

It was a late summer evening when James Blacksmith was travelling along a prairie highway. The Manitoba man saw nothing out of the ordinary, save for a black cloud right above him. Suddenly, a massive wind kicked up and he was forced to pull off the road. Then a tornado struck. 

What follows is a story of survival and discovery. And while scientists aren’t sure yet what role climate change plays when it comes to tornados - they are observing changes. In Canada, researchers say these shifts, along with a growing population, are making people more vulnerable. Leading some to ask: is the country doing enough to warn Canadians of the risks? 

People in B.C. were caught by surprise when, in August 2025, a Supreme Court declared Aboriginal title on some privately held land, not far outside Metro Vancouver. 

Incredibly, most of the people that live inside the claim area weren’t told about the unprecedented case, until the decision came out. 

In this documentary, the CBC’s Georgie Smyth tells the stories of the Canadians tangled together by history, who now find themselves fighting for the same thing.

It’s the summer of 2019, and a flight bound for Australia has just experienced some extreme turbulence. One passenger thought the plane was going down, another said it felt like King Kong grabbed the plane and shook it. Their plane recovered, and those with injuries were taken to hospital. When the incident was analyzed, a representative from Air Canada said the terrifying moment was a result of clear air turbulence. A form of Turbulence that is on the rise because of climate change. Julia Pagel tells us why that is, and what, if anything, can be done about it.

When Dr. Jadah Johnson first met Nora Scott, she thought she was going to die. The woman from High River, Alberta was a patient at the psychiatric unit where the young psychiatrist worked. Four years earlier, Nora had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She recovered, but had now relapsed. Her family described all the expected symptoms: depression, mania, psychosis. But the diagnosis didn’t sit right with Dr. Johnson because Nora had other non-psychiatric symptoms too. 

The psychiatrist believed Nora had a rare autoimmune condition attacking her brain that was mimicking a mental disorder. Dr. Johnson’s colleagues told her repeatedly that she was wrong, but she wouldn’t let it go. In the end, she was right. 

In this documentary, CBC producer John Chipman visits an Alberta family whose life was turned upside down by a rare medical condition that’s challenging psychiatrists the world over.

Rachel Collishaw is looking for a better way to live. She wants more connection, strong community, and support as she ages. She found a group in Ottawa wanting the same thing, and the excitement is palpable. 

They want to build something called Cohousing, where homes get built with the intention of spending more time with your neighbours, sharing meals, and support for young and old. 

As Julia Pagel follows the group, she hears stories of how cohousing can mean beautiful mountain homes with children running freely, but also stories of community tension, money lost, and for Rachel a price tag that might be too high to manage.

Leila Afshari’s brother went missing in January when he joined protestors filling the streets of Iran. They were calling for regime change but instead were met with bullets. Thousands were killed and many more arrested. The internet was shut down and Iranian Canadians were left in the dark, not knowing what had happened to their loved ones. This documentary traces their efforts to search for the truth of what is going on in Iran.

As rat populations spike across North America, scientists search for new ways to curb the critters.

It’s a pressing task, as scientists warn climate change is contributing to a perfect storm of rat-friendly conditions. And there’s a lot at stake. One rat expert calls them klepto parasites because they steal from us. Our health, our safety and our peace of mind.

It’s why in an alleyway in Chicago, an experiment led by a Canadian scientist is looking at an innovative way to reduce rat numbers using birth control. 

A nine-year-old Haitian girl just wants to go to school, but her family is too scared to let her outside.

They haven’t left the house in a while, fearing one of them will be detained by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers currently patrolling the streets of Minneapolis-St.Paul. In fact, the family is so worried they’re hiding at a fellow Haitian’s home in the Twin Cities.

An act of “humanity”, according to their host, in the face of so much fear. 

People in Minneapolis-St. Paul are gathering food, standing in the streets, patrolling their neighborhoods, to protect their neighbours from the threat of being detained. 

Julia Pagel and Alison Masemann wondered what this moment feels like for the residents of these cities. These are the stories they found. 

You run. We will Shoot. 

And if you survive you can go.

That’s what women were told by fighters in Sudan. They ran and somehow made it to a refugee camp in neighbouring Chad. 

There are about a million people from Sudan now in Chad, who escaped a brutal civil war that has raged for almost three years. Humanitarian groups are struggling to provide shelter, food and water while the world mostly looks away from what’s being called the world’s worst humanitarian disaster. 

In this documentary, Surviving Sudan, journalist and filmmaker Michelle Shephard shares the stories of some of the people who made it out. 

Inmates recall seeing feces on the walls and using tampons for earplugs to drown out the constant screaming of other prisoners. 

Today in Ontario, thousands more people are behind bars than just a few years ago. But the number of cells remains the same.

Reports of violence, lockdowns and inadequate healthcare are on the rise. Most inmates haven’t been tried yet and this is all happening while federal and provincial politicians debate new bail reform bills — legislation that could lead to even more accused people being incarcerated.

Julie Ireton brings us this documentary called “Catch 22” 

Laura and Nick Bordignon fell in love with their daughter before she was born. They named her Makayla. They decorated her nursery. Nick snuggled up to Laura's stomach and read to her at night. 

But seven months into the pregnancy Laura stopped feeling Makayla's movements, and doctors confirmed the worst. Makayla is one of about 3-thousand stillborn babies delivered every year in Canada. And despite the devastation that comes with that experience – stillbirth is seldom talked about. For many it’s still taboo. This is one family's story of confronting that taboo and advocating for better medical care for those who experience it.

When Arthur Arnold resigned from the Moscow Symphony Orchestra in protest of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, he walked away from one of the world's most prestigious symphony stages. This decision would bring him a world away, to Powell River, British Columbia, a town tucked between the ocean and the mountains with a population of 13,000.

This town is at a crossroads. Two years ago, its economic heart, a massive pulp and paper mill, shut down. The plant closure left residents wondering what would come next.

But some are hoping that the city’s past could help define its future. There’s a deep history of arts and culture that goes back to the very beginnings of Powell River. And now with people like Arthur Arnold bringing in world class musicians and building an arts hub in town - there’s hope that music could help fill the void left by the loss of the pulp and paper industry. 

Produced by Liz Hoath and Joan Webber. 

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit 

(This episode first aired in September, 2025)

In this episode, we step inside a Toronto classroom where some 30 students from diverse backgrounds lift their voices and sing as part of the University of Toronto’s first-ever Black gospel choir class. Led by Professor Darren Hamiliton, the students, many with no background in gospel music, learn that there is more to this musical tradition than they imagined. 

In this documentary, Let it Shine, CBC doc producer Alisa Siegel follows these students over the course of the academic year as they discover a deeper understanding of Black musical tradition and its message of faith, freedom and joy.  

Produced by Alisa Siegel, with thanks to Julia Pagel and Greg Kelly and originally aired on The Current

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit

(This is a repeat epiosde)

Stephanie Azzarello was dying. To survive, doctors told her she needed to find someone willing to donate part of their liver. 

Her story went out on social media and late one night, it reached the phone of a nurse and mother in Portland Oregon. There was something about Stephanie’s story that made Trisha Beard want to help. 

Liz Hoath brings us this story about two women whose lives became intertwined because of an act of generosity. Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit

(This show first aired in Sept. 2025)

In July 2024, seven fishermen from around New-Wes-Valley, Newfoundland set out on their fishing boat in search of turbot.  

While at sea that day a fire broke out near the engine room, before long the bunkroom was full of smoke. The seven sailors had no choice but to abandon ship and before long they were sitting in a small life-raft. 

What followed was a 52-hour ordeal that tested not just their will to survive, but the bonds between them. The situation could not have been more dire, two of the men couldn’t swim, supplies were dwindling and a thick fog hampered rescue efforts.  

In this documentary, 52 Hours Lost at Sea, find out what it was like to spend more than two days adrift in the North Atlantic. 

Produced by Mary-Catherine McIntosh and the Audio documentary unit / the doc originally aired on The Current. 

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit 

(This show first aired on Feb. 2025)

One Yukon community is fighting back against wildfires with an unlikely weapon —trees. The plan seems counterintuitive, using trees to stop a fire, but Aspens are fire-resistant unlike the flammable trees like spruces and pines found around the city.  But growing the almost two million trees to make the firebreak isn’t easy.  It’s going to take a lot of hard work and a lot of little seeds. But if it works, it could be a game changer. 

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit

Complaints are common. Cormorants kill trees. They eat too many fish. Their colonies stink. 

Warren Hoselton has had enough. After three years of watching his beloved trees around his Ontario home be decimated by cormorant poop, he wants action. The birds have to go. 

But not everyone has a hate-on for cormorants. Avian ecologists say it's not fair to fault birds for doing what nature designed them to do. 

The ones living in a park on the edges of Canada’s largest city, reached 20,000 this year, angering locals worried about their impact. In Toronto, they’re trying to relocate them. Elsewhere, hunters shoot them.  

All across North America cormorants make enemies because of the mess  they leave behind.

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit

It was supposed to keep Canada together but a massive 1995 rally nearly did the opposite.

In 1995, Canada was on the verge of breaking up. The province of Quebec was about to vote on whether to become a sovereign nation. Just days before a referendum on that very question, tens of thousands of Canadians from across the country poured into Montreal. Travelling by planes and trains - they gathered for what would become known as the Unity Rally. Carrying flags, singing the national anthem and declaring their love for Quebec – they pleaded for Quebecers to say “no” they would not leave.

Despite this demonstration – many in the Province viewed the gesture as too little too late. 

30 years later Francis Plourde looks at the legacy of the love-in, and the historic vote and what it says about Canada today.

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit

Russian trucks drive across Canada’s arctic. Foreign ships appear along our northern shores. For decades, it’s fallen on Tuktoyaktuk to be Canada’s watchful eyes in the Arctic.

But the recent surge of attention about arctic sovereignty and security from politicians in the south raises a host of concerns for residents. Will promised military funding and federal focus on security solve the local problems of high unemployment and rapidly deteriorating infrastructure? 

CBC documentary producer Julia Pagel traveled to Tuktoyaktuk to see what this conversation about arctic security looks like on the ground.

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit

Stephanie Azzarello was dying. To survive, doctors told her she needed to find someone willing to donate part of their liver. 

Her story went out on social media and late one night, it reached the phone of a nurse and mother in Portland Oregon. There was something about Stephanie’s story that made Trisha Beard want to help. 

Liz Hoath brings us this story about two women whose lives became intertwined because of an act of generosity. Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit

As wind energy continues to grow in Canada, so does the body count for migratory bats.

Biologist Cori Lausen has spent years advocating to help prevent bats from being killed by wind turbines. She even helped inform the rules around wind energy development and bats in Alberta. But she worries it may have been too little too late to prevent some species from going extinct. 

Molly Segal travels from Alberta wind farms to BC’s forests to discover if there’s a way to save bats without disrupting getting renewable energy from turbines. 

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit 

Indigenous communities in South America say mining threatens their water supply. But the world needs lithium for EVs to fight climate change.

In the Salinas Grandes salt flats, which hold significant lithium deposits, some residents are saying no to mining. But towns are divided. Some want the jobs that come with mining while others fear what this lithium extraction will do to the water table.

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit

In Finland, bomb shelters double as playgrounds. 900,000 reservists on standby. In Sweden, millions received war prep pamphlets. Defense spending doubled in four years.

These Nordic nations aren’t taking any chances with Russia’s war in Ukraine raging. They remember what happened in 1939 when the Soviet Union invaded Finland. Both countries also joined NATO, so Canada is bound to defend them too. 

Emma Godmere travels to the Arctic Circle to discover what it means to live next to Russia, and what Canada can learn from its Nordic allies. 

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit

At just 46, Jennifer Brady, a Halifax single mother and professor, made the shocking decision to apply to die. She couldn't get surgery in Nova Scotia for a painful condition called lymphedema. After six years of fighting, she saw medical assistance in dying as her only option. But what happened next set off a chain reaction that would take her case to the courts and the premier’s office.

Angela MacIvor brings us the story of one woman's battle against the bureaucracy of the healthcare system.

Produced by Angela MacIvor and Joan Webber / Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit

When a grizzly bear swam to Texada Island, 5 kilometres off the mainland of BC, it arrived in a place that was known to have no predators. The bear, which soon had the nickname, “Tex,” quickly divided this community of a little more than 1000 people. Some saw a beautiful animal that deserved protection, while others saw a dangerous predator that needed to be removed.

In her documentary, “A Bear Called Tex,” Molly Segal visits Texada Island to find out what happened when a community was forced to answer the complicated question of what to do with an unwanted grizzly bear. 

Produced by Molly Segal and Liz Hoath. 

This documentary originally aired on The Current. 

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit 

Starting when she was two years old, Robin Heald endured years of sexual abuse by her stepfather.  As a young teenager, she told police, child protection services and her mother what was going on, yet little changed. Her mother even chose to stay with the man who was abusing her. 

In the documentary, “It Ends with Me,” Robin takes us on a road trip to visit her mother and sister - a journey to explore their generational trauma, a system’s failure to protect children and Robin’s determination to break their family’s cycle of abuse. 

Warning: This episode contains discussions of childhood sexual abuse. 

Produced and reported by John Chipman with story editing by Julia Pagel and Joan Webber.

This doc first aired on The Current in June of 2025.

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit

It’s Friday prayers at the Masjid Al-Noor mosque in St. John's, Newfoundland and the building is packed. Worshippers squeeze into the basement, they spill into the kitchen and lay prayer mats on the lawn. The Muslim community here desperately needs a bigger space. 

Soon they’ll have one because a new mosque, under construction just up the road in a former church.  

The story of how the new mosque was built involves tragedy, faith and an extraordinary act of generosity connected to one of the most gripping news events in recent years, the imploding of the Titan submersible in the North Atlantic. 

In her documentary, The Best of Planners, Caroline Hillier explores how unexpected events can create profound connections between strangers. 

Produced by Caroline Hillier, Joan Webber and Lindsay Bird. 

This documentary first aired on The Current and Atlantic Voice in June, 2025

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit

When tariffs on goods from China reached 145 percent, a cargo ship carrying tens of thousands of dollars worth of dog toys arrived in Los Angeles but was not unloaded. The toys remained on the ship as it sailed to New York City, in the hope that the tariffs would be lifted by the time it arrived. Had that plan failed, the entire cargo might have been destroyed. This was the kind of costly decision businesses have been facing during the trade war.

Behind every one of these desperate business decisions usually stands a customs broker. They're the pros who know how to navigate the maze of international trade rules. But when Trump launched his trade war, their world got turned inside out.

Their job went from filing forms and calculating duties to decoding confusing, exhaustive orders with 24 hours' notice. It also means delivering devastating news to business owners about mind-boggling new tariffs. 

In Julia Pagel's documentary, she talks to customs brokers who have been on the front lines of this evolving trade war.

Produced by Julia Pagel and Joan Webber. 

The documentary first aired on The Sunday Magazine in June of 2025.

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit 

When Arthur Arnold resigned from the Moscow Symphony Orchestra in protest of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, he walked away from one of the world's most prestigious symphony stages. This decision would bring him a world away, to Powell River, British Columbia, a town tucked between the ocean and the mountains with a population of 13,000.

This town is at a crossroads. Two years ago, its economic heart, a massive pulp and paper mill, shut down. The plant closure left residents wondering what would come next.

But some are hoping that the city’s past could help define its future. There’s a deep history of arts and culture that goes back to the very beginnings of Powell River. And now with people like Arthur Arnold bringing in world class musicians and building an arts hub in town - there’s hope that music could help fill the void left by the loss of the pulp and paper industry. 

Produced by Liz Hoath and Joan Webber. 

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit 

Storylines is taking a break for the summer but we'll be back in the fall with a brand new season of audio documentaries. 

Until then, scroll back through our feed to discover a collection of audio stories to keep you company all summer long.

See you in September! 

It’s a little money saving trick Canadians who live near a provincial border know well. They drive to another province to save a bit because products are cheaper there. It’s the kind of thing you’d do without giving it a second thought. However, for Gerard Comeau, driving from New Brunswick to Quebec to buy a case of beer resulted in a ticket and a constitutional challenge that made it all the way to the Supreme Court.  

In her documentary, “A Case of Beer …. and Borders,” CBC producer Jodie Martinson explores how Comeau’s beer run became a high-stakes legal battle over interprovincial trade barriers in Canada. The case pittled those who wanted to maintain provincial control of some industries against others pushing for free trade.  

The documentary was produced by Jodie Martinson, Liz Hoath, and Joan Webber, with assistance from Mary-Catherine McIntosh. The doc originally aired on The Sunday Magazine. This episode of Storylines first aired in March 2025.

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit

In West Sacramento, California, an unlikely team of firefighters is helping save homes from wildfire. They have four legs, love to eat, and bleat when they're happy. If you haven’t guessed already, we’re talking about goats! 

When flames raced toward a condo complex in 2022, the fire suddenly stopped. Residents credit the goats who had recently cleared the area of dry grass and brush. Tim Arrowsmith owns over 4,000 goats that graze across northern California. His herds devour fire fuels that would otherwise help blazes spread.

In his documentary producer John Chipman explores how this novel approach to wildfire prevention works. He also asks why goat grazing isn't more common in Canada, where officials are skeptical of these cute furry firefighters.

Produced John Chipman and Joan Webber with help from Catherin Rolfsen / Originally aired on What on Earth 

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit

In 2014, Shams Erfan was pulled off a bus by members of the Taliban who accused him of being a traitor. A bystander intervened, saving his life, but Shams knew he was no longer safe in Afghanistan. 

This threat set Erfan on a treacherous eight-year journey. He hoped to find a safe haven in Indonesia. Instead, he spent years stuck in a refugee prison camp. When he finally reached Canada, Shams vowed to help bring others like himself to safety — and he found the people who could help him do it. 

On this week's Storylines, Alisa Siegel follows three strangers from vastly different worlds, united in a single mission: to rescue refugees trapped in Indonesia and help them begin new lives. 

Produced by Alisa Siegel and story editing by Liz Hoath.  This program originally aired in March 2024

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit 

For decades, Maria Grazia Filipucci carried on a secret love affair with a Catholic priest. They met as children and became friends, but when he turned 14, his parents sent him off to seminary. They stayed in touch, and as adults began a romantic relationship. Through periods of separation and togetherness, she had to navigate the emotional complexity of loving a man bound by a religious vow of celibacy. 

Filipucci wasn't alone. Over a decade ago, a group of Italian women went public about their secret relationships with priests. They wanted to break their silence to challenge the church's stance on celibacy and expose the emotional toll these hidden affairs have on everyone involved. 

This week on Storylines, "Unfaithful", a doc from CBC’s Rome-based correspondent, Megan Williams, about the heartbreak of falling in love with a priest.

Produced by Megan Williams and Joan Webber / original aired on The Current in 2014

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit

On B.C.'s Sunshine Coast, climate change is changing the region in surprising ways, especially considering it’s nestled in a rainforest.

In five of the last eight summers, the region has experienced drought and severe water restrictions. In 2022 it got so bad, The Sunshine Coast Regional District declared a local state of emergency. It’s the first time that’s been done in Canada because of drought. Politicians were worried that there wouldn’t be enough water for the hospital or to fight fires. Businesses had to shut down, farmers lost crops and the crisis has left deep divisions over who gets the water in times of drought. 

In her documentary, Drought in the Rainforest, CBC docmaker Liz Hoath visits the region to find out about the lasting damage left by the droughts and find out what’s being done to prepare for the dry summers ahead. It’s a story that experts say other parts of the country need to pay attention to because it’s bound to happen again. 

Produced by Liz Hoath and Joan Webber/ originally aired on What on Earth

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit

When a Whitehorse resident wrote a letter to the mayor of a little Alaska border town to say she's boycotting the US and that she's "breaking up with America," it captured a feeling many Canadians have right now. But breakups hurt. And this one cuts deep, upending a tradition of connection between these two northern towns.

In the small port town of Skagway, about two hours from Whitehorse, locals are feeling the loss of their northern neighbors. Some residents are handing out Canadian flags, while Alaska state representatives push resolutions affirming Canada's sovereignty. CBC's Julia Pagel travels to Skagway to hear from business owners, tourism officials, and local politicians about their attempts to heal this division.

Produced by Julia Pagel and Joan Webber / original aired on The Current 

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit 

In the countryside across Cambodia, mass graves known as the killing fields, haunt the landscape. They are reminders of the reign of Pol Pot, one of the 20th century's most violent political leaders. He was the leader of the Khmer Rouge. When they seized power they undertook a radical experiment to create a pure Communist utopia.The plan was called "Year Zero."

Pol Pot's communist utopia led to the murder of approximately two million Cambodians. Cities were emptied and citizens were forced into rural labour camps. Only the lucky survived. 

In Howard Goldenthal's documentary, Year Zero Plus 50, he follows the stories of survivors of that era. For them, the quest for justice remains. 

Produced by Howard Goldenthal and Joan Webber, originally aired on Sunday Magazine.

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit