Welcome back to another episode of the Couple Casuals Podcast!

In this episode, Stefano sits down once again with Mario (4TheNorth) — one of Canada’s most influential political commentators — for a wide-ranging, no-nonsense conversation about where the country is heading and why so many Canadians feel left behind.

Mario breaks down how Canada reached this moment: unchecked government spending, distorted economic data, unsustainable immigration levels, and a political system that increasingly avoids accountability. From youth unemployment and part-time job manipulation, to food bank usage hitting record highs, he explains why the official narrative no longer matches everyday reality.

In this conversation, Stefano and Mario dig into:

• why Canadians across all backgrounds feel “cheated” by the system

• how immigration policy is straining housing, healthcare, and wages

• why economic “job growth” isn’t what it appears to be

• how government spending is being reclassified to mask massive deficits

• why political trust is collapsing — and why independent voices are growing

• Mark Carney’s leadership, continuity from Trudeau, and what may come next

Mario also explains why he has no interest in becoming a politician, despite massive influence — and why speaking freely outside the system may be more powerful than holding office inside it.

This episode is candid, fact-driven, and grounded in lived reality — a must-watch for anyone trying to understand Canadian politics beyond headlines and spin.

Grab a casual, lock in, and let’s get into it.

Host: Stefano (stefo)

Instagram: @drstefo

https://www.instagram.com/drstefo?igs...

Guest: Mario Zelaya

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mario4thenorth?igsh=MXc2YTNlNmRta2N2NA==

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@officialmariozelaya?_r=1&_t=ZS-92JJpiCu5si

X: https://x.com/mario4thenorth?s=21&t=Cgz_58zASW84g-pj2PUNtw

This episode is brought to you by Canada First — secure your home with Canada’s best home fortification.

Visit https://canadafirst.com/ to learn more.

CHAPTERS

00:00:00 Intro

00:00:30 Welcome + Sponsor

00:01:46 Why Mario does pods

00:03:55 TikTok growth story

00:05:11 Fame feels weird

00:08:53 Immigrants relate

00:11:29 Security checks

00:13:08 Politics wake-up

00:20:50 PPC + party shifts

00:23:07 Bots & fake accounts

00:23:53 Jobs stats breakdown

00:25:13 Food bank reality

00:30:28 Carney takes over

00:32:40 $100B deficit talk

00:35:00 Modular homes plan

00:36:08 Trump card strategy

00:36:48 Crime language spin

00:38:13 Bill C-75 mentioned

00:42:18 Budget “surpluses”

00:46:36 Refugees & system

00:52:30 Visa mills & scams

00:55:07 Sentencing & citizenship

00:58:38 Land claims worry

01:01:47 Crime & Castle law

01:08:27 Safety motions blocked

01:09:24 Prison overcrowding

01:11:31 Gun buyback waste

01:14:03 Pipelines + politics

01:16:06 Danielle Smith future

01:19:15 Uncomfortable truth

01:20:43 Routine & discipline

01:24:41 Final mindset