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