DNTO from CBC Radio (Highlights)

Do you have a challenge that you don't feel quite up to facing? On this live episode of Now or Never, get the pep talk you need.

Hosts Trevor Dineen and Ify Chiwetelu, along with some very special guests - and team of literal cheerleaders - are here to pep you up. From an aspiring comedian who needs a confidence boost to a lifelong teacher on the cusp of retirement, listen along as people get some help tackling their own Now or Never moments.

For better and for worse, teenagers today are growing up with the world at their fingertips.

They're able to connect with their friends - and their bullies - 24/7 on social media. And they are more vocal and politically active than ever before. Earlier this year, thousands of students across North America staged walk-outs in protest of gun violence.

All this while still dealing with the pressures of figuring out who you are, who you want to be, and what is important to you.

From the pressure of being the best 13-year-old basketball player in the country, to the stress of keeping a secret that you know your family won't accept, hear from teens all across Canada who are ready to speak out about their experiences.

What's so funny? On this Now or Never, meet women who are storming the stand-up stage for the very first time.

Sit in the audience for a performance that was 10 years in the making. Listen as a seasoned comic rediscovers her voice after transitioning. Meet a group of young women trying to transform the Iqaluit comedy scene. Plus, hear Ify Chiwetelu's attempt to connect with her comedy idol.

The blink of an eye - that's how fast life can be turned upside down. And there's no going back, no matter how much you may want to.

A daughter shows up on her biological Dad's doorstep.

A couple struggles to adjust to their new normal after a split-second accident.

Two families find themselves sharing one home - and one shower - only months after meeting online.

On this Now or Never, meet people who are navigating the highs and lows of life after it changed in an instant.

Whether you have perfect pitch or are painfully off-key, singing music makes a lot of us feel vulnerable.

But singing can also lead to unexpected joys and life lessons. On this Now or Never, meet people who are singing for some very personal reasons... even if they don't all sound like Celine.

Ify and Trevor crash a restaurant with a pop-up karaoke machine and try to convince strangers to sing. We talk to a star about to make his debut in the hit musical Come From Away, even though he's never taken a voice lesson in his life. And find out what's compelling an Inuit artist to belt out Rhianna songs in Inuktitut.

This Now or Never is all about Canadians who are shouting, "Out with the old! In with the new!" - even if it sparks conflict between friends or family members.

A wife who tells her husband it's time to let go of his comic book collection.

Sisters who are fighting over mom's old garden gnomes.

A young woman who is using Indigenous ceremony to release her shame.

Not to mention all of us who desperately need to do a social media purge and unfriend all those deadbeat Facebook pals. Trevor and Ify will pressure, or at least encourage, you to lighten your load this summer.

In Canada, one in every 68 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. It is the fastest growing and most commonly diagnosed neurological disorder in the country - but not many people truly understand what it is.

There's a common saying in the autism community: "If you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism."

On this Now or Never, you'll learn about autism from people who are surviving and thriving with the disorder in their own unique ways. And you'll discover the challenges people with autism are tackling head on.

Who's one person you need to reconnect with?

We've all had the experience of losing touch with somebody important to us. And often, it's easier to just stay apart rather than reach out.

But on this Now or Never, you'll meet Canadians who have taken a risk and reconnected with somebody from their past - from a young man who needs a pep talk from his old high school teacher, to two brothers ripped apart by war, and a woman who wants to thank the lifeguard who saved her life.

It's not easy pounding the pavement to find a job. It's even harder when something keeps getting in your way.

This Now or Never, follow Canadians as they hustle to find employment and find out how they're turning challenges into opportunities.

We're featuring true stories as they unfold, including a woman who's using vocal tics to her advantage in job interviews and an ex-con who's petitioning to overhaul the justice system so that he can chase his dream career.

Summer is here, and it's up to you to make the most of it. On this Now or Never, get inspired by people who are motivated to cross big items off their summer bucket list.

A woman with terminal cancer spends what could be her last summer doing what she loves - performing on stage.

A two-spirit traditional dancer attends his first LGBTTQ powwow.

A young runner with autism prepares for the Special Olympics.

And Trevor and Ify take the ultimate Now or Never road trip!

Passing down your knowledge is important, whether it's teaching your kids how to cook a traditional dish or training potential athletes.

When you don't impart your wisdom there can be big consequences. Family recipes are forgotten, languages disappear and legacies are lost. So on this Now or Never, we're on a mission to keep those special talents, skills and stories alive by passing them along.

It's pride season in Canada. And now, more than ever, people are having conversations about gender.

And there is a lot to figure out: what society says you can and can't wear; which bathrooms you can use; and just how far you need to go to feel right in your own body.

For many people, those questions don't require much thought. But for the guests on this episode, they're in the middle of challenging their gender identity right now - from a non-binary comedian figuring out how to talk about identity on stage, to a trans teenager's gender reveal party and a class of students studying to become drag queens.

We're right in the middle of the holy month of Ramadan, which means that Muslims around the world are demonstrating their faith by fasting from sunrise to sunset.

Across all religions, there are people whose faith is challenging them right now. Whether it's sacrificing food and water for the day, committing good deeds, or stepping in to ceremonial sweat lodges — belief is something that motivates billions of people every single day.

On this Now or Never, meet folks whose faith has inspired them to take action.

We've all had big — and not so big — things that we've given up on. But on this Now or Never, meet people who have no quit at all. If there's an obstacle, they'll find a away around it. If there's a road block, they'll just go through.

A refugee who lost his fingers trying to cross the Manitoba border, gets a new bionic prosthetic... and debuts a new play inspired by his life.

A life-long smoker takes a drag on his very last cigarette, and tells us what he's doing this time to make it stick.

And a matchmaker who resorts to unusual measures to help young Muslims navigate a challenging dating scene.

In the last few weeks, there have been many tragedies that have rocked the country. From an intersection in rural Saskatchewan, to a busy Toronto sidewalk, to a dirt road in northern Manitoba — Canadians are reeling from devastating and unexpected losses. And they're coming together in surprising ways. Loss inspires so many Now or Never moments. On this episode, meet people who are channelling their grief into action.

If you need some incentive to get off your couch and do one good thing for your health today... listen to this episode of Now or Never!

Meet Canadians from all walks of life who are taking their first, tentative steps to improving their physical and mental health. Meet a life-long smoker taking a drag on his very last cigarette. Try to keep up with a 70-year-old with terminal cancer as she climbs to the top of the CN Tower. Ride along with a veteran as he navigates the difficult road of post-traumatic stress disorder.

When are you going to give me grandchildren? Why don't you call more? Why can't you be more like your sister? The list of family expectations can be long.

And those expectations are often wrapped up in culture, family history and tradition. They can carry some serious emotional weight.

On this Now or Never, you'll meet people who are trying their best to not let their family down by facing their expectations — spoken and unspoken — head on.

If Now or Never were a community centre, it might be something like the Roundhouse. This arts and recreation centre in downtown Vancouver draws people of all ages and walks of life — like a troupe of dancers over 50 and a class of parents teaching their babies sign language.

And it's the perfect place to test-drive our brand new Now or Never list! 11 questions that we've put together to challenge you — and us, too — to think big, do things you've long wanted to do and have the personal moments that you've been needing to have.

We started the season by putting together the Now or Never list, an interactive questionnaire we hoped would motivate you to do things that you may have been putting off — or not even realized that you needed to do.

Whether it's reliving your favourite childhood activities, breaking your bad habits, or even nudging you to reconnect with the people that matter most, the list was designed to help you make changes big and small. We didn't know if it would catch on. But every week, hundreds of people from across the country filled it out.

On this episode, you'll meet some of the Canadians who were nudged by the Now or Never List. From a woman on a quest to meet every single one of her neighbours, to a swimmer who needed to thank the lifeguard who saved her life.

In Canada, one in every 68 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. It is the fastest growing and most commonly diagnosed neurological disorder in the country — but not a lot of people truly understand what it is.

On this Now or Never, you'll learn about autism from people who are surviving and thriving with the disorder in their own unique ways. And you'll discover the challenges people with autism are tackling head on.

For better and for worse, teenagers today are growing up with the world at their fingertips. All this while still dealing with the pressures of figuring out who you are, who you want to be, and what is important to you.

From the pressure of being the best 13-year-old basketball player in the country, to the stress of keeping a secret that you know your family won't accept, hear from teens all across Canada who are ready to speak out about their experiences.