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.

17 hr ago

Under pressure: stories of racing against time

At some point we all feel the squeeze of the clock. On this episode, from the Now or Never archives, every story is a race against time. If you get lost in B.C.'s wilderness, search and rescue volunteer Evan Johnson jumps into action, knowing he's in a race against time that can mean the difference between life and death. As an Afghanistan vet, Evan’s seen what no one should. So why would someone with PTSD volunteer to do this job? When Zeda Ali isn’t counting out beats for her students on the steel pan, she’s counting down the days to what could be the biggest moment of her career: the 55th Juno Awards. Zeda is one of five teachers from across the country nominated for the music teacher of the year award. She tells us what a win – and a substantial cash prize – would mean to her students in Brampton, Ont. While most people his age are looking to the future, 26-year-old Zach Dunn is working to preserve the past. For the last five years he's traveled the country recording stories from WWII veterans, before it's too late. And that's because Zach knows from personal experience what it feels like to miss out on the chance to hear these stories first-hand. Amy Cameron and Joe Ross had plans to spend their retirement years biking, traveling and living life to the fullest. But when Amy was suddenly diagnosed with early onset dementia, they realized that their future was going to look different. Now the two are living life together knowing that at some point, the brain disorder will fully take over.
30 Jul

Giving it up: renouncing wealth, religion and technology

There is a power in publicly declaring you no longer own, support, or believe in something. Meet five Canadians doing just that. This week, an episode from the Now or Never archives. Jess Klaassen-Wright is part of a small but growing movement of young people in Canada renouncing their generational wealth. And right now, Jess is grappling with what to do with an unexpected $300,000 inheritance. Jess tells us why it’s important to talk more openly about money, including how much you have, where it came from, and asking yourself how much you really need. Since Dominique Gené was a kid, religion and her relationship to God have been her anchor. She spent a good chunk of her life in church. Until 2024, when she decided to permanently part ways with her faith. Two years ago, Gavin MacNeil said goodbye to his smartphone and social media accounts for good. Now at 18, and months away from moving away from home for the first time, can he hang on to his commitment? When Franklin Fontaine ended up in jail, it derailed his up-and-coming rap career. While he was inside he decided to renounce the drugs and gangs that had messed up his life. Now he’s using his story to try to help kids not make the same mistakes. And remember "Elbows Up," when thousands of outraged Canadians vowed to stop buying U.S products after Trump's 51st state comments? We check in with Mike Robitaille, a guy who took this boycott to the extreme, to see if he's still going strong almost a year later.
23 Jul

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.

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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.