Matt & Nik catch up with James Butler and Patrice Rene, two key players on the field and in the community. Along with looking ahead to a big 2026 season, the fellas talk about the importance of being community ambassadors and about the specific school programs they take part in, including Be More Than A Bystander sponsored by BCMEA. We also continue to hype up Touchdown Kelowna and some of the big Lion free agent additions of the last few weeks. We wrap things up with Canadian Super Bowl trivia and Go For It Or Punt.

TIMESTAMPS: ⁣

0:00 - intro

5:25 - Touchdown Kelowna news

10:21 - BC Lions signings

24:13 - BC Lions school visits

27:28 - James Butler interview

42:06 - Patrice Rene interview

54:46 - Kowalski's Lions trivia

1:02:11 - Go for it or Punt

With Kowalski on assignment at Super Bowl XL in the Bay Area, Baker is flying solo on this special weekend edition of 1st and Now. General manager Ryan Rigmaiden joins the show to discuss a variety of topics with our football team, including the re-signing of a few key veterans, the backup quarterback position, the pending departures of Jarell Broxton and Ayden Eberhardt, and a timeline for naming this year’s coaching staff. Riggs also talks about the steps taken in 2025 and how the organisation has something special to build on in its quest to bring a Grey Cup back to British Columbia.

0:00- Intro 4:28- Ryan Rigmaiden Interview 26:47- Extro and Lion recent signings

It’s a great time of the year for CFL talk! Matt and Nik break down Nathan Rourke’s multi-year contract extension and what it means for both the Lions franchise and quarterback record books. With the free agency period less than two weeks away, we discuss a busy time for key transactions and speak with Adam Konar, Chris Schleuger and Jonah Tavai on their respective new deals. And as always, we wrap things up with ‘Go For It or Punt.’

TIMESTAMPS: ⁣

0:00 - intro

0:59 - Nathan Rourke extension

9:53 - BC Lions signings

16:56 - Free agency

20:32 - Adam Konar interview

30:02 - Chris Schleuger interview

39:46 - Jonah Tavai interview

53:38 - Go for it or Punt

Matt and Nik are back for another year of fun and hard-hitting BC Lions talk! On our maiden voyage of 2026, we recap Holiday activities and a busy couple of weeks of signings. TSN analyst and Canada Flag Football head coach Paul LaPolice stops by to talk about his Lions outlook for this season and how the squad is looking to build off of a solid bounce-back campaign. Lapo also gives an update on Canada’s quest to qualify for the Flag Football event at the 2028 Summer Olympic Games. We wrap things up with trivia and our always fun ‘Go For It Or Punt’ segment.

TIMESTAMPS: ⁣

0:00 - intro ⁣

5:14 - CFL Winter Meetings⁣

8:47 - BC Lions signings⁣

20:41 - Paul LaPolice interview ⁣

41:19 - Kowalski's BC Lions trivia ⁣

49:16 - Go for it or Punt

It was an early Holiday present for BC Lions and CFL fans, as the 2026 schedule was dropped this week! In their finale of 2025, Matt and Nik break down some of the more exciting games of our 72nd season filled with big matchups. Justin Dunk from 3DownNation stops by to talk schedule, the Lions hanging on to Keon Hatcher Sr. and his website’s exciting news of the past week. To wrap it up, we have some Lions trivia, our Go For It Or Punt segment and some Holiday wishes. Thanks to all of our listeners for tuning in and we can’t wait to bring your even more next year. Go Lions!

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - intro

1:46 - 2026 schedule breakdown

22:45 - Justin Dunk interview

54:16 - BC Lions signings, Keon Hatcher Sr. extension

1:00:01 - Kowalski's BC Lions trivia

1:04:33 - Go for it or Punt

Matt and Nik are back on what has been an exciting couple of days in Lions land. The fellas recap Monday’s Touchdown Kelowna announcements and look ahead to the two pivotal matchups with Calgary and Edmonton next summer. Jacob Bond knows a thing or two about the Apple Bowl from his time with the Okanagan Sun, The fullback recaps his rookie season and looks ahead to year two with the squad, which includes a return to Kelowna. We also bring back ‘Go For It Or Punt’ where Nik is excited about a new possible celebrity power couple and Matt educates people on how the NFL schedule works. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts!

0:00 - intro

0:56 - Touchdown Kelowna news

4:22 - Grey Cup week recap

10:57 - BC Lions free agent list

14:47 - Jacob Bond interview

34:27 - Kowalski's BC Lions trivia

38:34 - Go for it or Punt

47:38 - off-season show schedule

The boys welcome in the dynamic duo of The Moj & Giulio for a post-mortem on the Lions’ 2025 season and Western Final loss at Saskatchewan. While the ending wasn’t what we wanted, the fellas all agree that the future is bright with Buck Pierce and Nathan Rourke at the helm. They also discuss what needs to be done this off-season to get over the hump. Matt and Nik also look ahead to both Rourke’s and Mathieu Betts’ quest to come away with CFL hardware this week, plus break down who could be some potential candidates to represent Canada in Flag Football at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - Intro

0:24 - Western Final recap

12:21 - Moj & Giulio roundtbale

34:27 - CFL Awards

44:34 - 2028 Olympics Flag Football

The BC Lions have one last obstacle in front of them for the 112th Grey Cup. On this week’s episode of 1st and Now, Matt, MOJ & Nik zero in on the key areas to focus on against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The boys also re-hash a thrilling and sometimes stressful win over Calgary in the Western Semi-Final and salute the awesome Lions fans for being noisy and making it fun.

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - Intro

0:36 - Western Semi-Final recap

17:55 - Western Final preview - storylines

30:58- Western Final preview - matchups

38:51 - Kowalski’s BC Lions Trivia

47:50- Between the Lines with PlayNow

Playoffs? Talking about Playoffs?! The boys are back to break down all you need to know about Saturday’s Western Semi-Final. We have no shortage of storylines, as the Lions look to take down Calgary in November for a third time in four seasons. What key areas are most important? We have you covered. To cap it all, Nik’s famous trivia takes a look at the storied playoff history between these two Western rivals.

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - Intro

2:38 - Week 21 at Saskatchewan recap

9:58 - BC Lions season in review

16;25 - Western Semi-Final preview - storylines

30:46 - Western Semi-Final preview - matchups

40:59 - Kowalski’s BC Lions Trivia

49:09- Between the Lines with PlayNow

Saskatchewan week! The Lions look for a sixth straight win and home field advantage in the Western Semi-Final, but will face a test against the league-leading Roughriders. TSN’s Matthew Scianitti joins the show to help preview this matchup and give some insight on the race for CFL Most Outstanding Player. Trivia takes us down crossover memory lane and the boys wrap it up with Cam Tucker from BCLC for a look at some of the lines to watch for in week 21.

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - Intro

5:00 - Week 20 vs. Edmonton recap

13:53 - Matthew Scianitti Interview

30:06 - BC Lions awards nominees

35:26 - Week 21 at Saskatchewan preview

40:11 - Kowalski’s BC Lions Trivia

47:46 - Between the Lines with PlayNow