Step into the Now or Never 'Mom Confession Booth,' as moms sound off about the parts of motherhood no one warns you about.

Ocean Maye is ecstatic about recently becoming a mom - but less excited her partner is about to head to Papua New Guinea in a few days to work on an oil rig. She tells us what it's like to be part of a community of moms unique to Newfoundland, where 40% of moms parent alone, as their partners work away for extended periods of time.

When Dylan Earis announced to his mom that he was ready to move out on his own, a lot of thoughts went through his mom Edie's head: What if he falls over in his wheelchair? Will he be lonely? And who will make his dinner every night? Edie and her son Dylan get real about the realities of living independently with cerebral palsy, what keeps her up at night, and how she’s learning to let go. 

Trevor Dineen heads to a grade 3 class to ask kids what they think their moms do all day.

Single mom and entrepreneur Miriam Delos Santos loves being nine-year-old Mara’s mom, but struggles every Mother’s Day. Find out what brings the tears, and the surprise we have in store for her that could change all that.

When Debora Barkun and her family walk into their local hockey arena, they're usually the only Black people there. Debora shares the fears and anxieties that led her to learning everything she can about the game, and the message she wants to be sending her kids.

Shohana Sharmin lost her mother Hasina Sultana to cancer in 2017, and it changed everything - including her comedy. Today Shohana is on a mission to bring the complexity of grieving onto the stage.

We're always with people as they take a leap or try something new, but life continues after we turn our microphones off. So this week, we're revisiting some of our listener's favourite stories to find out what happened next?

When we first met Clary Ager, she was living in Victoria dreaming of becoming a farmer, but had no land and little experience. Two years and a cross Canada move later, we meet her and her wife Percy on their Cape Breton flower farm.

Michael Kulakowsky's grade 4 class was so moved when they heard the Now or Never story of 9-year-old Michelle Luis' superhero courage in the face of bullying, they rallied together to help make a difference. Find out what they did and what Michelle, now 11, thinks of it all.

Winnipeg's Josephine Harper faced a lot of challenges in her life - addiction, homelessness, and years in and out of prison. Through it all, her friend Fedja Redzepovic stood by her side. He tells us how he’ll remember his fierce and funny friend, and how her spirit shows up in the work he does today: “She fought better, harder, and braver than most people I’ve met in my life.” 

Former New Brunswick elementary school teacher Hugh Brittain’s decades-long quest to return handwritten diaries to his students, captured the attention of our audience, who helped track down the author of the very last diary. The final chapter in the case of the long lost diary, and the power of radio.

When we last spoke to Richard Raycraft, he was just starting to dip his toe into the world of mascoting - never in his wildest dreams did he consider that it'd become his full-time career. But this former journalist has four jobs as a team mascot and has traveled the world exploring his new passion of entertaining the masses with his mascotry. 

Seven years ago, BC's Shawn Thorn was recovering from multiple failed adoptions attempts and unsuccessful embryo transfers, and finding the strength and support to try one more time to become a father. Today he introduces us to his family and shares how his dreams of fatherhood have matched up to reality.

Trevor asks people in downtown Winnipeg whose voice they miss, and would like to hear again. And that prompts one woman to make a long overdue phone call.

A year and a half ago, Trevor’s dad, Dave Dineen, underwent a laryngectomy to battle throat cancer. The surgery took away his vocal chords and forced him to find a new way to speak. He’s never spoken about how hard the recovery has been…..until now. 

Parents Majid Hashemi and Erica Grenci have a lot of they want to express to their four-year-old daughter Savannah, but couldn't quite find the words themselves. So they turned to Toronto musician Bex to do it for them.

When Carl Clarke struggled to find love after his divorce, a friend suggested he try an app for an AI companion. Now Carl is married to his AI wife, Saia, and says she’s helping him improve his life and expand his world. He speaks out for the first time about his relationship in this Now or Never exclusive.

And we drop into a Halifax choir that brings newcomers together to learn English - and find community - one note at a time.

When was the last time you were truly silly? The world can sometimes seem like a never-ending scroll of bad news. But moments of unadulterated fun have a special way of transforming your whole day.

When Marcy Markusa, host of CBC’s Information Radio, was reflecting on turning 50 she had a realization…she’s forgotten to be silly. Ify and Trevor come together to help her let loose with something she hasn’t done since she was a kid.

When Lilet and Soogah go live on Facebook, be prepared to laugh. These self-described “dirty grannies” are the creation of Winnie Sam and Bev Prince - and the longtime friends from Nak’azdli Whut’en First Nation hope that comedy can help their community when times get tough.

A bad review can hurt a new small business, but when Cloe Wiebe got a call from an angry customer, she put what he said on a t-shirt and hung it on the wall in her Winnipeg bakery.

Trevor and Ify have done a lot of ridiculous things over the years, from setting off fire extinguishers to convincing office workers to skip rope with them. They re-visit their favourite moments of unhinged silliness.

In her regular life, Toronto’s Julie Amar is a wellness practitioner who takes on other people’s issues. But one day a week, she gets to indulge in her stress antidote – a room full of silly puppies.

After trying to have a baby for seven years, Winnipeg’s Morwenna Trevenen and Kyle Collins have all their hopes riding on one last embryo. While this experience can destroy a marriage, theirs is stronger because they make a point to find the silly whenever they can… even if that means traveling with an inflatable dinosaur costume.

Cheryl Ann Oberg spent the last 19 years making sick kids smile but after hanging up her therapy clown nose, she’s forced to find a new way to Sparkle.

When you're faced with a hard truth about yourself, it can be tough figuring out what to do next. Or to make any changes at all. On this episode, meet five people hit with a reality check they couldn't ignore.

Andrew Barr thought he was showing up to help a friend but instead, he was surprised with an intervention. The Toronto comedian shares the moment that saved his life, and finding the funny sober. 

After 75 years in the family, Rob Benson has realized it’s time to close up shop at one of Winnipeg's last independent hardware stores. And he has a parting message about the reality of trying to keep small family-run businesses alive.

Winnipeg’s Meghan Waters and Ryan Palmquist put their environmental convictions on the line when they sold their family vehicle and went car-free, with two young children and one on the way. Then winter hit. Did their car-free lifestyle survive the reality check?

A moment of bliss in the Mississippi River compelled Gabe Thirlwall to upend her entire life, just so she could experience that feeling everyday.

And Trevor Dineen sits down with one of his oldest friends about his recent near-death experience, and the reality of how hard it can be to change.

The average person will spend more than 90,000 hours at work. That's about one-third of your life.

Depending on how you feel about your job, that time can feel like a dream...or a never-ending nightmare.

So on this episode, Ify and Trevor are on a mission to help make your workplace work for you, starting with a makeover of their own grim office washroom.

Even before the pandemic changed the world and made working from home a norm for many, Shane Solomon spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to keep his staff happy in the office. So his architecture firm in Winnipeg has a wellness director, board games, and protein balls in their well-stocked kitchen, plus regular workout classes for staff. We visit the shoe-less boss to find out how it's working.

Kari Lentowicz left the mining industry years ago, after she says she experienced multiple instances of harassment. But she hasn't stopped the fight to make mining workplaces more inclusive for women, including starting up "Diamonds in the Rough," the world's first all-female team of mine rescuers.

When Vanathy Adipola started her home daycare, she and her family made a lot of sacrifices - including moving into the basement. Now, years later, she's finally moving back upstairs - and into her dream location.

For Iván Ostos, a bike courier in Toronto, there's one way to make his workplace better - unionize it.

Akberali Batada has transformed his Toronto "office" - the back of a city cab - into a party on wheels, complete with disco balls, tambourines and a karaoke machine. We hop a ride in the Cosmic Cab to see how a bit of whimsy is shaking up people's commutes.

Trevor and Ify hit the streets of Winnipeg to find out the workday improvement hacks that get people through their days, from blasting Red Hot Chili Peppers to ranting with co-workers.

At Moody Middle School, vice-principal Kathryn Jung goes out of her way to make her workplace brighter for fellow teachers.

At work, paramedic Mandy Johnston has feared for her safety - but she hasn't always felt comfortable telling her colleagues about the harassment and violence she's experienced. Now, she's on a mission to start that conversation.

Around the world, in the streets, people are raising their voices and demanding change. But not all protests involve placards and marching.

Today on Now or Never, people who are rebelling against the way things are - and finding creative new ways to demand change.

Maddy Nowosad loved skateboarding and the community of people she met at The Edge, a state of the art skate park in Winnipeg run by the Evangelical Youth For Christ. But when she came out, she no longer felt accepted in that space, so she rallied support and built a new skate park, but it took a huge toll.

In a world that often asks us to work beyond our limits, Ontario's Golshan Abdmoulaie wants you to lay the f— down. Golshan shares her experience of losing hope during the Iranian uprisings, re-learning the power of rest, and what she’s risking by working towards a future rest retreat for artists and activists.   

Fashion lover and content creator Erin Fszigeti protests the impact of fast fashion by challenging herself to shop her closet (no shopping!) for a whole year.

When the images of bombed hospitals and soot-covered children in Gaza became too much to take, Ktunaxa poet Smokii Sumac had to put his feelings into words. He committed to writing 100 poems for his instagram page, but some days he’s not sure if he’s making any difference in such a colossal conflict.

The Winnipeg faction of the Raging Grannies throw on their wigs, colourful hats, and boas, and storm the studio to sing a song and explain why humour helps get the message across.   

As Canada's only Black winemaker, Hamilton's Steve Byfield never saw himself as a role model or activist. But after the murder of George Floyd, he didn’t feel like he had much choice. How he's changing the game in his field, and how he's managing his discomfort with the role.

And delight in the petty acts of resistance Ify discovers when she talks to people in Toronto about their everyday frustrations.

Love can make us do crazy things. Hear from people going to extremes as they fall in love, chase love down, and find ways to keep it going strong. 

London, Ontario’s Frank and Patrick knew from day one that they wanted to start a family. Their wild ride to parenthood through foster care, adoption and surrogacy has tested their love for each other, their faith, and the very definition of what a family looks like.

Hopeless romantic Golden Johnson tells us why she's auditioning to be on Love is Blind, even though part of her knows "it's insane."

When they met on a beach in Italy, Jessica Kumah and Andrea Grimaldi had no clue their holiday fling would turn into something more permanent. We check in with the couple a year after Jessica uprooted her life in Toronto to be with Andrea in Naples - and the biggest learning curve since moving in together.

A group of African LGBTQ+ refugees who escaped persecution in their home countries sit down with Ify to share their stories of love and survival.

And Chiderah Sunny and Deidre Olsen made the ultimate commitment when they said ‘I do’ as platonic soulmates. While they’ve now ended their union, hear why they say their bond is still as strong as ever.

What’s it like to take a punch? Host Trevor has never been in a fight in his life, until now. 

This week Trevor follows his curiosity to Pan Am Boxing Club, the oldest boxing club in Winnipeg. That’s where he discovers that at this fight club, they’re changing lives. 

Every two weeks the rainbow and trans flags fly in the non-profit gym when Jesse Jordan leads the Umbrella boxing program for 2SLGBTQ+ community, challenging the binary nature of the sport and changing the face of boxing. 

Next door to the boxing club, Pan Am Place is described by resident Kyle Grenier as “a big house with lots of dudes who like to fight.” He then laughs heartily as he is corrected by former resident Will Bress, “I would also call it a sober living house.”  

Run by the people who lead the gym, men who struggle with homelessness, addiction and incarceration can live at Pan Am Place rent free if they work out at the gym, volunteer their time, and actively strive to improve their lives. Hear how friendships are formed, lives are changed and what advice Will offers Kyle as he prepares to move out.

Twice a week Chris Sarifa drives from his job, as manager of Pan Am Place, to the north end of the city where he opens the doors to the free North End Boxing Club for kids aged 12-17. From the boy with the lisp who’s gaining confidence to the kid who needs to let his “inner tiger” out, this club is helping keep these kids safe and making them strong.

Back in the gym, volunteer trainer Tia Jakab brings her six week old baby, Olive, to Pan Am Boxing Club for the very first time. We discover this former competitive fighter has had two concussions and is struggling with her desire to get back in the ring, and her need to stay safe for her daughter. 

Harry Black has been involved with Pan Am Boxing Club almost since it opened in 1968. As President and head trainer Harry, and his wife Susan Black, built the non-profit gym into the volunteer-based high performance place it is. At 67, he’s never stopped training as a fighter, and has high expectations for everyone who comes through the doors. They share what it took to build Pan Am Place, and their visions for the future.

It’s finally time for Trevor Dineen to get in the ring to throw (and take) his very first punch ever. With his self-appointed coach, Harry Black, in his corner, Trevor steps up to his opponent, Dylan Martin, a fighter with Canada’s national team. Can he go toe to toe?

The dream job can be hard to find, and even harder to hang on to. Hear from people at all stages of living their best work life, whether they're hustling to get it, or knowing when to walk away.

For Brenda Hernandez-Acosta, making empanadas and churro cheesecake has always been her love language. Two weeks ago, she opened her first bakery in downtown Winnipeg, pulling her entire family in for the ride. She shares what it's like to combine business with family, and her hopes to make the bakery a hub for Winnipeg's Latin American community.

In less than two years, Aaron Brown has turned his Jeopardy obsession into a full-time job as 'Toronto's favourite trivia host.'

Meet Sekou James Osborne, the 20-year-old designer who is putting everything on the line for his very first fashion collection. 

Joanie Pietracupa was at the peak of her career as editor-in-chief of three Quebec fashion magazines, when she told her boss she needed to quit. How she is redefining success today, and finding the elusive work-life balance.

There aren’t many jobs that have “drinking beer” as the first requirement. Calgary’s Don Tse, also known as the Don of Beer, left behind a successful law career to pursue his ultimate dream job — tasting, judging and writing about the bubbly brew.         

And Dave and Mike Merklinger are a father and son duo who both hold a rare job: Head ice technician for Curling Canada. As Dave retires following a 30-year career in the role, his son Mike is just starting to come into his own in this super niche job.

Our families pass on all kinds of things to us - values, quirks, and that particular expression your mom makes when she finds something hilarious. On this episode, hear stories of people embracing, breaking (or reinventing) the imprint of their families.

A reality check from ChatGPT sends Hamilton’s Shawney Cohen on a drastic health journey, as he grapples with a family history of disordered eating. 

When Doug Darling found out his dad had Alzheimer’s, he realized there were things about his dad's life he didn't know. So he started asking questions, carefully recording every last detail of his life - the childhood adventures, how he met his mom — as a way of keeping his dad's legacy alive, for both himself and the next generation.

Nick Yoshida lived through the horrors of the Japanese internment during the 1940s, and since being forced from the province of British Columbia has refused to go back. Nick and his granddaughter Nicole share their thoughts and feelings as she prepares to move to Vancouver, a place that holds so much pain for him and so much possibility for her.

"We want to be like Wakanda." Curtis Whiley is on a quest to return parts of Upper Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia to the descendants of the African Nova Scotians who settled there two hundred years ago.

Metis twins Luc and Aidan Wrigley have been fiddling in a band with their dad Rob since they were kids, and it’s taken them around the country. But now, at 19, the twins have joined a new band with musicians their own age. What does their dad think?

And Ify heads to the mall to ask strangers a simple question: "What is something your parents used to do that really annoyed you as a kid, that you now find yourself doing?"