Now or Never

As many as 12 per cent of all workers in Canada are on the clock after midnight. And that can have an impact on your health, your relationships, and your home life. Today we hear from some of the people who work while the rest of the country sleeps, including long-haul truckers, health-care aids and DJs.

Trucker Leah Gorham regularly goes on long-haul treks with her boyfriend Roland Bereczki, where they trade off shifts so they can be on the move 24 hours a day. They tell us how they maintain a relationship when your bodies are on opposite clocks - while doing one of the most dangerous jobs out there.

For the last four years, health-care aid Tes has been working the night shift at a personal care home in Aldergrove, BC. And not all those nights are peaceful.

Sam Stratigeas has always loved the night, and pumping up nightclub crowds as his alter ego DJ Sammm. But it wasn’t until his divorce and coming out that he took it more seriously, and now at 62 he can be found spinning at venues across Toronto’s gay village. 

Some people say nothing good ever happens at 2 am, but don’t tell that to the overnight staff at the WE24 Safe Space For Youth in Winnipeg. Every night, they open up their doors to provide food, laundry and a safe sleeping area for vulnerable youth in the neighborhood. And more importantly, they offer hope.

When Binita Lamsal needed a second job to make ends meet, she asked Deepak Kumar for work at his overnight cleaning business. They tell us how their friendship bloomed into a romance on the night shift, and what they're dreaming of next.

We all feel stuck sometimes - in habits, relationships, or just general middle-age malaise. So how do you get "unstuck?" On this episode, hear from people in the thick of it - and what they're doing to get their lives back on track.

Emily Baadsvik is stuck between an idealism of what she thinks she should have accomplished by age 41, and the realities of her life today. She tells Ify why she feels like she's slowly unravelling, 10 years after she was on the Canadian Olympic bobsled team, dreaming big.

Musician Boy Golden is currently stuck in a van while on tour, so we decided to call him up for his best stories from the road.

Chet Breau was stuck in behaviours that were going to kill him, until a moment that turned everything around. How he overcame addictions to food and alcohol and helped save his own life.

Dominique Robichaud swears being stuck on an island together with her partner is the best thing for their relationship. 

And after fleeing Gaza on foot, Marilyn Kasken’s brothers Talal and Fahed have been stuck for months in Egypt, waiting to join their sisters in Newfoundland.

At 15, Bee Bertrand's life was changed when he went to a Bif Naked concert. Finally, he was able to see "weirdos" just like him: queer people living loudly and proudly. And for decades, her music got him through the highs and lows of life. But after a late-night DM, Bee went from Bif's fan to one of her best friends.

It's always bugged Toronto journalist Adrian Ma that there is *another* Adrian Ma out there, a journalist and podcast host who is more famous, more accomplished, and “approximately 20% better looking" than him. So this summer, Adrian reached out to his doppelganger, and flew down to Washington, D.C. to meet him in person. The surreal moment when Adrian Ma meets Adrian Ma.

Plus, Trevor talks to an old-school matchmaker with some unusual methods of scouting for singles.

And what happens when 60 strangers dressed up in mumus and curly orange wigs get together to channel their inner Mrs Roper? We crash a "Mrs. Roper Romp" to find out how the wise-cracking landlady from 70s sitcom Three's Company is bringing people together in unexpected ways. 

At 15, Bee Bertrand’s world changed when he saw a Bif Naked concert: it was the first place he felt a sense of belonging as a queer person. And for decades, Bif’s music was the soundtrack to the highs and lows of Bee’s life. But now, thanks to a late-night DM, Bee and Bif have connected IRL - and are building a life-changing friendship. 

All summer long, we're sharing some of our favourite Now or Never stories. When Carl Clarke struggled to find love after his divorce, a friend suggested he try an app for an AI companion. Now Clarke says he is in a committed relationship with Saia and says she’s helping him improve his life and expand his world.

All summer long, we're sharing some of our favourite Now or Never stories!

Richard Kemick is looking to dip his toe into the dating world again. There’s just one problem. His living situation is a little…..complicated. And tough to sum up in the six minutes he has to make a good first impression during speed-dating.

All summer long, we're sharing some of our favourite Now or Never stories. A year and a half ago, Trevor’s dad, Dave Dineen, underwent a laryngectomy to battle throat cancer. The surgery took away his vocal cords and forced him to find a new way to speak. He’s never spoken about how hard the recovery has been...until now.

All summer long we're sharing some of our favourite Now or Never stories, and this one is fun! What happens when you put CBC Radio hosts Paul Haavardsrud, Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe and Piya Chattopadhyay on the hot seat? Ify and Trevor ask nosy questions to find out how much personal information they're willing to reveal...on air.

All summer long, we're sharing some of our favourite Now or Never stories. This is one that was part of our "Lost and Found" episode.

When Chuck the parrot escaped, the Porte family didn't know if they would ever see their pet again. But days later and six kilometers away, Trevor Van Huit noticed a yellow bird land in his backyard. And then it started talking...

All summer long, we're sharing some of our favourite Now or Never stories. Here is one from our "Around The World" episode.

Lima Al-Azzeh may live in Canada, but her heart is in Gaza. This intensely personal interview shines a light on the lasting imprint of family, home, and when being 'on the run' is baked into your DNA.