Now Or Never

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Think before you drink

As the holidays approach, it can be hard not to get swept up in the festive spirit and have a drink. People turn to alcohol for so many reasons: to celebrate, to unwind, to mark big occasions. But people can also drink because of peer pressure, because of loneliness, or to cover up feelings they don't want to feel. Regardless of the reason, how often have you stopped and thought about the role alcohol is playing... for you? Today on Now or Never, pull up a seat at the bar with people who are in the middle of renegotiating their relationship with alcohol.

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Do something big with your birthday

Birthdays aren't just about marking the passage of time — they can also be an opportunity to change, to reflect, and to consider what you want from life. On this Now or Never, we're blowing out candles and slicing up cake with people who are using their birthday to do something big. Meet Pat Colborne, an 100-year-old woman who celebrated her milestone birthday by lacing up her shoes and going bowling. Being born on December 25th has meant Lauren Bosc has never been able to celebrate her birthday on the actual day — but she's determined to make this year different. Kakeka Thundersky has been a permanent ward of Manitoba's child and family services since she was 14. Drop in on her 21st birthday party, which marks the moment she's no longer in care. Not all birthdays are celebrated with smiles and streamers. For Christa Couture, they can be a yearly reminder of the children she's lost.

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I did it for love

Despite how the sappy songs and cheesy movies make it seem, finding love and holding onto it takes work. Today on Now or Never, we're meeting people who are putting in overtime in the name of love. Trying to find a date in Whitehorse has Lori Fox going pretty far for love - literally driving hundreds of kilometres for a Tinder match. Kevin Harding is determined to learn Cantonese to better connect with his girlfriend, Alex Tse, and her family. But does he have the courage to call up her grandmother and ask her a question? After a hard break-up destroyed her confidence, Gabriella Goutam is determined to no longer let her lifelong battle with being plus-size hold her back from looking for love. Now or Never helps her get over her fears with the help of a body confidence advocate. Armed with roses and a romantic playlist, Trevor and Ify try to create romance for unsuspecting couples in a Winnipeg food court. And as Eddie Gajdel says, "any good contract should be revisited on a regular basis". Eddie and Djanka Gajdel have had three weddings in their 35 years of marriage, and are planning number four. They walk us through each of their weddings, and the ups and downs of married life, one song at a time.

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How do you commemorate the painful moments from your past?

When you reminisce about your life, it's easy to focus on the moments of joy and happiness. Birthdays. Weddings. Anniversaries. Vacations. But what about those moments of pain, and sadness and heartbreak. What do you do with those? Do you try to forget about them? Or can those struggles and those hardships teach us a little more about who we are and how far we've come? Today on Now or Never, we're jumping in with people finding the courage to commemorate the most painful moments from their past. Katie Combaluzier's life was turned upside down in one deafening moment, when an avalanche swept her off the side of a mountain. Why she's choosing to mark the one-year anniversary by going back to the mountain - this time, in her wheelchair. A young girl honours her brother's dying wish - by taking his friendly black mutt and transforming him into a therapy dog. And a 94-year-old grandmother - who's never recovered from the death of her son, killed in the line of duty almost half a century ago - visits his memorial for the first time.

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How to have a healthier relationship with your phone

Do you talk to Siri more than your own family? Do you find yourself mindlessly scrolling Instagram into the wee hours of the morning? Then you, my friend, may be in need of a digital detox. Today on Now or Never, we're encouraging you to find ways to have a healthier relationship with your phone. Meet a Calgary dad so desperate to reconnect with his 18-year old son, he took him to one of the most remote places in the world for a month - without their cellphones. And a guy who's vowed to break up with all 650 of his Facebook friends....in person. Plus, hosts Ify and Trevor are forced to hand over their phones and go on a city-wide scavenger hunt - can they do it without Googling?

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What does it take to be a first responder?

Those who run toward disaster to help when everyone else is backing away are often labelled as "brave" or "strong" or "heroes". But who are the responders who are present for some of life's most dangerous and heartbreaking moments? They're not always who you think. Many responders are people who want to protect the communities they love. Hear how Ottawa's funeral workers are banding together to get serious about their mental health. Why one Haisla man is patrolling Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, searching for members of his Nation. How a small-town B.C. fire department got started with nothing but enthusiasm and a famous fire truck. And more stories of the unexpected things it takes to be a first responder.

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How far would you go to find affordable housing?

The hunt for affordable housing is becoming increasingly difficult in many parts of Canada - and it's a key issue in the upcoming federal election. Today on Now or Never, meet people resorting to desperate (and creative) measures to get a roof over their heads. A group of friends who decided that co-owning is their only way to crack the Toronto housing market. A woman in Tuktoyaktuk fighting to save her home from sliding into the Beaufort Sea. A university student in Kamloops who converted a delivery truck into his home. And a Vancouver family who realized the only way they could afford a home...was to leave.

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How music changed my life

The right song at the right moment can alter your mood, your energy... even your whole life. On this Now or Never, hear the surprising musical moments that change everything. An 11-year-old girl fights back against bullies after a pep talk from none other than Garth Brooks. A Halifax woman plans an unforgettable musical gift for her husband to find after her death. And how a Jay-Z song is inspiring one man to kick his drug addiction and turn his life around. It's Now or Never, the musical!

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How to pop your social bubble

Studies have found about one in five Canadians experience loneliness or social isolation. Some experts have even argued that being lonely for long periods could be more harmful than smoking 15 cigarettes a day. That's why Now or Never is hoping to nudge you to step outside your social bubble — and meet the strangers that are all around.

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Going All In

What does it really take to go "all in?" Today on Now or Never, meet people who are risking their life savings, their relationships, even their health...to chase down an impossible dream. A 39-year old athlete who just quit her job and moved across the country - all for one last-ditch effort to make the Olympics. A woman determined to hike the world's most dangerous and remote trails...even though she lives with a life-threatening condition. And a cautionary tale from a Toronto couple who nearly lost everything after their dream of opening a restaurant....turned into a nightmare.

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Living a 'double life'

We all have sides of ourselves that aren't for everyone to know. In school, you might present a completely different identity than you do at home. Whether it's to fit in, to feel safe, or to protect your secret passion, there are many reasons that people choose to keep their identities separate. On this Now or Never, you'll hear from people who are living what some might call "double lives" — and how they're managing to pull it off. A Punjabi hip-hop superstar... who's completely anonymous in his hometown of Calgary. An investigative reporter who went undercover to infiltrate a neo-Nazi group recruiting across Canada. A queer South Asian drag queen who hasn't come out to his super traditional parents — and has no plans to. And listen in as one woman grills her 70-year-old mom about pot, past loves, and the bad-ass woman she was before kids.

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What's in a name?

We all have a name. Some are chosen for us, others we choose for ourselves. Names can influence our identity or honour our family history, but they can also be a burden that require a lifetime of explanations. So what's in a name? Turns out, a lot more than we may realize.

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Making big dreams come true

Today Now or Never is dreaming big. Shooting for the stars. Punching above their weight. Getting right up alongside Canadians who are chasing a big (seemingly impossible) dream, and overcoming huge obstacles to get there. A 50-year old bodybuilder in Calgary overcomes a troubled past to make one last attempt at becoming Mr. Universe. A First Nations community ends 100 years of isolation when their "Freedom Road" officially opens. And a super-fan gets to meet her childhood hero, figure skating legend Kurt Browning - and ask him a question she's been wondering about for 25 years.

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How prepared are you for your retirement?

Retirement is supposed to be our 'golden years' - a chance to relax, re-invent ourselves, and start the next chapter of our lives. But it can also be filled with uncertainty, poverty and loneliness. Today we're diving in with Canadians facing the challenges of their retirement head on.

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Finding real connections in digital communities

The amount of time we spend glued to our devices can sometimes be overwhelming. Whether it's social media, video games or group chats, why is it so gosh darn hard to peel yourself away? But it would be a mistake to label all of our screen time as negative or harmful. Because there are great things happening online. Beyond the likes and the follows, there are strong communities being built and meaningful relationships being formed. On this Now or Never, meet Canadians who are using their digital connection to create real-life connections.

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