Now or Never

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Society & Culture
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In a world that can feel pretty scary, it’s easy to get stuck. This is a show that celebrates what it takes to try. To take the risk. To have the talk. To rock the speedo. Because making even the tiniest change takes courage, and hosts Ify and Trevor are here to remind you that you’re not alone when you do. New episodes every Thursday.

21 hr ago

Calling it quits: what happens after you say goodbye?

Saying goodbye can be hard — whether it's to a relationship, a job, or the place you call home. This week, we revisit an episode from the past and hear how people knew it was time to say goodbye, and what happened after they walked away. Ify pops in for one last visit to the Imperial Pub, an iconic neighborhood bar in Toronto that's closing its doors after 81 years. Long-time owner Fred Newman reflects on the end of an era, while regulars raise their glasses for one last toast. After Donald Trump was elected back to the Oval Office in 2024, Anthony and Dominic Sposato became increasingly uneasy about living in America as a married gay couple with a 10-year-old son. They decided to pack their life into boxes and sell their home in New Jersey, with dreams of moving to Edmonton. But they aren’t yet sure if their application to immigrate across the border will be accepted. For 21 years, Sam Corbett was the drummer in The Sheepdogs, one of Canada's most successful rock bands. But last month, he decided to call it quits to focus on being a stay-at-home dad. He tells us what it was like to break up with a band he's known since high school, how he's adjusting to life without thousands of adoring fans, and the moment he knew he had to put down his drum sticks for good. How do you know when it’s time to say goodbye to your marriage? We sit down with Kristen Clancy and Robbie Gruenbauer, who just got divorced a few weeks ago, for a real conversation about what went wrong in their 12 year marriage, and how they managed to stay friendly through the breakup.
16 Jul

What happens when your biggest fear comes true?

There's nothing scary about wanting to re-air one of our favourite Now or Never episodes of this past year so if you are letting fear hold you back, here are a few people that are scared out-of-their-minds about something, but still trying to do it anyway The last time Mike Bahuaud ran a half-marathon, he went into cardiac arrest and collapsed at the finish line, where his heart stopped beating for nearly five minutes. One year later, he's determined to run the exact same marathon, to finish what nearly ended him. It was a regular Friday afternoon in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland when Shem Evans was randomly attacked and beaten by seven teenagers while picking up his kids from school. After the attack, fear rocked his family and the community. But when his wife Bailey Rempel didn’t see enough change, she took a leap and ran for city council to try to make things safer for everyone. Lynn Sainté has a deep fear of throwing a party where no one shows up. But she also really wants to relive her church choir days, so she's booked a venue, hired some musicians, and sent out the invitations. When Ify checks in, she's only sold three tickets with a week to go. So will anyone show up? Ify joins her friend Lynn on the night of the event, to find out if all the nerves and stress are worth it. After a traumatic swimming lesson as a child, Aaliyah Hall then discovered two of her family members died from drowning. She's been terrified of the water ever since. But now, she’s part of a group of Black women in Hamilton who are learning how to float without fear. “Everything that mattered to me in my life, was stripped.” In a matter of months Judi Rees learned of the sexual abuse her children experienced, became dangerously ill, and ended her 30-year marriage. After living through a season of terrifying events, Judi shares what she’s learned from the other side.
9 Jul

Is there a simple solution to your big problem?

It can feel easier than ever to point out what's wrong, but making things better....now that's a challenge. So this week we are cracking open the Now or Never vault to share an episode about people who stopped complaining and decided to do something about it. Retired social worker Paul Jenkinson is out to fix loneliness with two folding chairs and a homemade sign. He gave up the lease on his home in Nova Scotia to jump in his car and pop up in parking lots, parks and sidewalks across Canada with a simple offer: to listen to strangers, about anything. Trevor tags along. Wikipedia is the internet’s encyclopedia - but its entries are incomplete, with only one in every five entries featuring a woman. That’s where Toronto journalist Takara Small comes in: trying to fix the world’s most-read encyclopedia, one entry at a time. Krista Nugent has been single for five years. She's gone on dates and has had her fair share of conversations on the apps, but hasn't had much luck finding something that lasts. Refusing to leave her dating life up to chance, the Victoria-based realtor is doing what she knows works for getting houses sold - marketing herself. Ruth Hasman operates on stuffed toys for a living. The Vancouver-based teddy bear doctor has patched up hundreds upon hundreds of stuffed toys from across the country over the past three decades. At 82 years old, repairing people’s beloved furry keepsakes still brings her joy, and she hopes to carry on her legacy and pass on her skills to a new generation of tinkerers. When Melissa Porter decided to collect used clothing donations for a family whose house burned down in Sudbury, she and her husband Drew never expected that simple fix would take over their house, and their lives. How a clothes drive grew into a non-profit organization with a team of nearly 100 volunteers from around the world.
2 Jul

It’s time to talk about debt (and how to handle it)

It's hard to afford things these days with the cost of just about everything going up and up. So today we're revisiting a previous episode of Now or Never that won't make you feel so alone when you look at your bank account.
30 Jun

Happy Summer! Here's the plan

It's time to go on adventures and have a summer full of discovery so we can come back full of stories for you in September. We'd never leave you without a plan to keep you inspired and entertained while we recharge. Watch for our favourite episodes that deserve a second listen (or a share!) coming to your podcast feed every Thursday between now and September 10th.
25 Jun

Yes you can! How to surprise yourself

When was the last time you surprised yourself? Pushed past a personal best? Achieved something you didn’t think possible? We’re celebrating that hustle today on Now or Never by introducing you to people challenging themselves to go beyond their limits. After a devastating loss, a group of Winnipeg women form the “Try New Things Club” to honour their loved ones by embracing life one new challenge at a time. A bittersweet story of the power of friendship to overcome grief. At 20 years old Connor Shaw is learning to live on his own in an off-grid Saskatchewan cabin without running water or electricity, that’s a 15 minute drive away from the nearest town. But is it a good idea? A few years ago Toronto’s Elizabeth Arbour couldn’t walk down the street or take her kids upstairs to bed because of debilitating chronic pain. Now she’s attempting to hike up steep peaks. Find out what changed. Everytime Zack Mykula hits the stage with his band Pup, the drummer is filled with anxiety, even after 15 years. So what’s he doing to make sure he doesn’t black out on stage as he’s about to leave on an international tour? When Yukoner Casey Kemble was diagnosed with stage four esophageal cancer, the doctors gave him a year and a half to live. Now he’s celebrating surprising the doctors and making it past that “best before date” with an “I should be dead” birthday party.
18 Jun

Lessons from dad

Our dads teach us all kinds of things, whether they intended to or not. So on this Father's Day weekend, we're sharing stories of all the hilarious, heartfelt and heartbreaking lessons your dad passed down to you, that continue to show up in your life today. Trevor heads to a Winnipeg brewpub for "Beers & Braids," an event where dads get a crash-course on how to style their daughters' hair. Amongst all the mannequin heads and synthetic hair, these dads get real about the lessons from their own dads that stuck with them the most. Jada Yee is a tall, suit-wearing businessman with a wife and four kids. But when he puts on a rainbow wig and sparkly gown, he transforms into drag queen, Chyna B. Deadly. It began as a way to stand up for his kids, but it’s turned into something much bigger for him and his community. For decades, Richard Bales would share stories of his late father's beloved motorcycle with his children and grandchildren, until a chance connection finally brought the bike back home…to his dining room. As a kid, Tara Weir and her dad Brad bonded over long bike rides. When she moved away from home as an adult, those moments together were harder to come by. But Tara and Brad recently reunited to take on their biggest ride yet, to a place north of the Arctic Circle, that means a lot to them. And how do you follow in your father's footsteps when your dad is the Chief? For Hayden Mercredi, lessons from his dad meant leaving school to attend high-level political meetings when he was just a kid. Trevor Mercredi, Grand Chief of Treaty 8, and his son Hayden share the lessons they're learning, and why Trevor first had mixed feelings about Hayden's political ambitions.
11 Jun

Feeling Stuck? A little whimsy goes a long way

What happens when you lean into your curiosity, notice the little joys, and get playful? Today on Now or Never, Ify Chiwetlu and Trevor Dineen find out why intentional whimsy might just be necessary. After feeling stuck, Toronto’s Chara Ho decided she didn’t want life passing her by. She’s now on a mission to find her spark again, by challenging herself to do something new every day. Ify Chiwetelu joins her on her latest adventure. He was rescued from a pile of parts, became a Nanaimo neighbourhood celebrity, survived a mysterious disappearance, and even found love. Meet Gunner, the mannequin draped across Brian and Terry Neevay’s fence, who proves small acts of joy can have a big impact. “To have whimsy you need safety and silliness,” said Eddie Ayoub, artistic director of Art City, a non-profit community centre run by artists in Winnipeg’s West Broadway neighbourhood. Imagine a place full of paint, fabric,and art supplies where everyone is welcome to come and create. Today they’re preparing for their annual parade that injects whimsy into a community that needs it. When a mysterious orange line of paint showed up in his Toronto neighbourhood one day, Pete Morey and his 7-year-old daughter set off on an adventure to follow the line, and try to solve the mystery of who's behind it.

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Trailer

Happy Summer! Here's the plan

It's time to go on adventures and have a summer full of discovery so we can come back full of stories for you in September. We'd never leave you without a plan to keep you inspired and entertained while we recharge. Watch for our favourite episodes that deserve a second listen (or a share!) coming to your podcast feed every Thursday between now and September 10th.

In a world that can feel pretty scary, it’s easy to get stuck. This is a show that celebrates what it takes to try. To take the risk. To have the talk. To rock the speedo. Because making even the tiniest change takes courage, and hosts Ify and Trevor are here to remind you that you’re not alone when you do. New episodes every Thursday.