Now or Never

Luck is the ultimate wild card. When you feel like it’s on your side, it can push you to unbelievable heights. But if you push your luck too far, it can sometimes lead to disaster. Five stories of people taking big risks and hoping their luck doesn’t run out. Akshay Sapra made more than $1.7 million betting on stocks and then watched it all disappear. Even after losing hundreds of thousands more t...

The relationship we have with our bodies - and specific body parts - is always changing, as we navigate aging, illness and injury. So when your body changes in ways you aren't expecting, what do you do about it? On this episode, five people show you how it’s done. Welcome to "Paint Your Own Booty!" night, where artist Emmy Tran teaches people to paint their own behinds in a body-positive environme...

Today Now or Never digs into four mysteries that are keeping people up at night, and forcing them into action.  When air cadet trainer pilot Brian Renaud was flying with a student, he saw something in the sky he couldn’t explain. Not once…twice. Now he searches the sky above Gimli, Manitoba — 24 hours a day, seven days a week — looking for other unidentified flying objects trying to figure ou...

What does it take to come through overwhelming odds, discover your passion, and get to the top of your game? Today on Now or Never the answer is: the right mentor. Meet three people taking stock of how far they’ve come, turning to the person who helped get them there and saying thank you.  As a kid in Winnipeg’s inner city, Dale Turcotte III had to grow up fast. His biological dad was in jail...

If you're feeling sticker shock every time you fill up for gas or go to the grocery store, you're not alone. So what are you supposed to do when everything feels more expensive? Meet people finding outside-the-box ways to make their money stretch further. When magician Brian Glow sits down to a meal at Winnipeg’s Bistro on Notre Dame, he won’t pay his bill with money. He’ll use the local barter ba...

We’re more divided than ever and sometimes, it feels like meanness is winning. So this week, Now or Never is going all in on kindness, with five totally unexpected stories on the kindness of strangers that will hopefully nudge you to be a little kinder, too. Two weeks ago, Ben Shannon got a call at work that every parent fears: his 12-year-old daughter, Sumire , was alone, at one of Toronto's busi...

When the Canada-U.S. trade negotiations broke down in spectacular fashion last month, that got us thinking about the tough negotiations playing out in our own lives right now. Whether you're battling your kid over screen time or negotiating a pay raise, how do you find a middle ground when you don't see eye-to-eye? So on this episode of Now or Never, we're bringing you stories of people on opposit...

Now or Never celebrates ten years of diving in with people as they gather the courage to take a leap into the unknown, with a live show from Winnipeg's Gas Station Arts Centre! There are always surprises in a Now or Never story, and this live show is no exception. Secret guests, a pop-up choir, confetti cannons and one hilariously unfiltered kookum who you don't want to miss. Winnipeg couple...

An estimated four million Canadians currently live abroad. So what compels someone to ditch their life in Canada and start over somewhere new? From Bogotá to Tokyo, Cape Town to València, Now or Never crisscrosses the globe with expats living out some big, bold adventures right now. Joshua Will dreamed of living in Japan since he was 14-years-old, so when he got a job with the Japan Exchange and T...

In a world full of dating apps you might be wondering, “Does anyone meet in real life anymore?” Today we're revisiting a previous episode of Now or Never about people looking for love without the swiping because as more Gen Z and Millennial daters turn away from dating apps and report ‘swipe fatigue,’ people are looking to find love in the wild again. The problem is, we’re a little rusty. So on th...

Roommates. They can be great, they can save you money....and they can also make your life a living hell. Roommate households are the fastest growing living arrangement in Canada, so we wanted to know, how are people making it work? (or not) Here are five stories from our Now or Never archives of people navigating some tricky real-life moments with their roommates. Deb King never thought she’d need...

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...

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 inheritan...

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 ref...

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 fo...

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...

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.

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.

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...

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. Am...

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 Chi...

Amid growing geopolitical uncertainty, escalating wars and threats to Canadian sovereignty, the Canadian government is committing to the biggest boost in military spending since WWII. So who’s signing up to join the armed forces today? On this episode of Now or Never, meet Canadians who are answering the call. Would you volunteer five days a year to learn how to shoot a gun, drive a truck and fly...

What happens after you learn something so shocking, so unbelievable, about a person you thought you knew? On this episode, four people knocked sideways by a revelation that changed how they see themselves, and the world around them. Brian Petersen spent most of his life believing he was white, an only child, and had been put up for adoption by a mom who didn’t want him. Then one day Brian got a le...

We're uncovering hidden talents, finding out what it really takes to excel, and exploring what happens when your ability doesn't match up with your dreams, on this encore presentation of Now or Never. When Rick Ammazzini sees a locked safe without a key, he doesn’t see an impenetrable door, he sees an opportunity to test his skills as an amateur safe cracker. For Rick, it's not about dis...

Now or Never kicks off your May Long Weekend with an episode that will convince you to put down your screen and get outside to soak up the benefits of being in nature.  Your kids don’t want to? We’ve got a story for that. Don’t think you need it? Meet a doctor who says otherwise. Feel intimidated? Get inspired by a mom who once hailed a cab during a canoe trip, but now spends weeks in the wil...