Today an estimated 35,000 Canadians are behind bars in a provincial or federal prison. But what happens to people once they get out?

Transitioning back into society can be challenging, with barriers around housing, employment, and the stigma of a criminal record. According to one study, around 70 per cent of inmates with addiction or mental health issues end up back in prison within three years.

So what does it take to rebuild your life after incarceration? On this episode, meet former and current inmates doing the hard work of repairing relationships, finding a job, and staying sober.

Yassir Kassam spent the last 30 years in and out of jail, drawing his family into his cycle of addiction and deception. Today, seven months out, Yassir sits down with his younger brother Omer for an honest conversation about the impacts of his actions on both of them, and what it takes to trust and move forward.

When Darcy Beardy got released from prison last August, he had a hard time finding a job — until he met Sean Rayland-Boubar. Sean knows first-hand the challenges of turning your life around after prison, so he created Red Rebel Armour, an Indigenous streetwear company with the mission of giving a second chance to men just out of prison. Darcy and Sean talk mentorship, responsibility, and what it takes to "walk the good path."

“I’ll either be doing life in prison, or I’ll be dead.” That’s what former foster kid and current gang member Devon Henderson told Now or Never producer Bridget Forbes this summer, after picking up a gun for the first time in his life. But when they first met five years ago, Devon’s future looked hopeful. So what happened? And is there any way Devon can see a third option? Bridget goes behind bars for a face-to-face conversation with Devon.

As more Gen Z and Millennial daters turn away from dating apps and report ‘swipe fatigue,’ people are looking to find love in the wild again. The problem is, we’re a little rusty. So on this episode, Now or Never takes you into some real-life dating stories as people take the first tentative steps to find love IRL.

What better way to boost your dating profile than having your friends hype you up to a crowd of fellow singles? That's the idea behind Pitch-a-Friend nights, where people pitch what makes their single besties so awesome in a five-minute PowerPoint presentation. We crash a Pitch-a-Friend night in Edmonton to find out if any real-life connections are made.

When Lisa Cordileone’s marriage ended 11 years ago, she headed online looking for connection, but apps proved a bust. Trying to date in her small-town in northern Manitoba also made things tough. So last year, she moved to Winnipeg hoping to expand her dating pool. Now, for the first time, she’s putting herself out there at a singles event at a Winnipeg pool hall, and we get to tag along.

Stella Isaac is embracing solo dating. She's open to partnership, but the online and in-person experiences she's had as a dark skinned Black woman in Toronto have made that difficult. Stella invites us along for one of her solo date nights to talk about why these dates have served as the best form of self-care.

Single dad 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 at a speed-dating event in Vancouver this weekend. So Ify does a few practice runs with Richard on his opening lines, and finds out why it's so important for him to disclose everything on a first date.

After struggling on the dating apps, 29-year-old investment advisor Kyle Long is breaking out of his shell and trying to find love on the dance floor at salsa class – despite being a self-described introvert with two left feet.

And an update with Krista Nugent, the real estate agent in Victoria who made headlines last year for a dating application she posted on her Instagram that said, like any realtor, she was open to referrals. Did she end up finding the one?

At some point we all feel the squeeze of the clock. On this episode, every story is a race against time.

If you get lost in B.C.'s wilderness, search and rescue volunteer Evan Johnson jumps into action, knowing he's in a race against time that can mean the difference between life and death. As an Afghanistan vet, Evan’s seen what no one should. So why would someone with PTSD volunteer to do this job?

When Zeda Ali isn’t counting out beats for her students on the steel pan, she’s counting down the days to what could be the biggest moment of her career: the 55th Juno Awards. Zeda is one of five teachers from across the country nominated for the music teacher of the year award. She tells us what a win – and a substantial cash prize – would mean to her students in Brampton, Ont.

While most people his age are looking to the future, 26-year-old Zach Dunn is working to preserve the past.

For the last five years he's traveled the country recording stories from WWII veterans, before it's too late. And that's because Zach knows from personal experience what it feels like to miss out on the chance to hear these stories first-hand.

Amy Cameron and Joe Ross had plans to spend their retirement years biking, traveling and living life to the fullest. But when Amy was suddenly diagnosed with early onset dementia, they realized that their future was going to look different. Now the two are living life together knowing that at some point, the brain disorder will fully take over.