Couple Casuals Podcast

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 nextMario 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: @drstefohttps://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-92JJpiCu5siX: https://x.com/mario4thenorth?s=21&t=Cgz_58zASW84g-pj2PUNtwThis 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 Intro00:00:30 Welcome + Sponsor00:01:46 Why Mario does pods00:03:55 TikTok growth story00:05:11 Fame feels weird00:08:53 Immigrants relate00:11:29 Security checks00:13:08 Politics wake-up00:20:50 PPC + party shifts00:23:07 Bots & fake accounts00:23:53 Jobs stats breakdown00:25:13 Food bank reality00:30:28 Carney takes over00:32:40 $100B deficit talk00:35:00 Modular homes plan00:36:08 Trump card strategy00:36:48 Crime language spin00:38:13 Bill C-75 mentioned00:42:18 Budget “surpluses”00:46:36 Refugees & system00:52:30 Visa mills & scams00:55:07 Sentencing & citizenship00:58:38 Land claims worry01:01:47 Crime & Castle law01:08:27 Safety motions blocked01:09:24 Prison overcrowding01:11:31 Gun buyback waste01:14:03 Pipelines + politics01:16:06 Danielle Smith future01:19:15 Uncomfortable truth01:20:43 Routine & discipline01:24:41 Final mindset

Welcome back to another episode of the Couple Casuals Podcast!Today, Stefano sits down with Daniel Foch — real estate analyst, investor, and co-host of The Canadian Real Estate Investor — for one of the most eye-opening breakdowns of Canada’s housing and economic crisis.Over the last few years, Canada created the “perfect storm”: explosive population growth, record-low interest rates, pandemic money, and massive speculation. Now, Canadians are waking up in the hangover — soaring debt, falling prices, cancelled pre-construction projects, and the harsh reality that affordability has collapsed. In this conversation, Stefano and Daniel dig into:• why buyers are waiting, sellers are stressed, and patience is being rewarded• how Canadian households became the most indebted in the world• why pre-constructions are failing at alarming rates• how politics, immigration, and zoning shaped today’s crisis• what the data says about 2026 — and why a slow grind downward is more likely than a crash They also explore personal finance, investor mistakes, the rise of financial illiteracy, and the massive gap between what Canadians earn and what they’re expected to afford.This episode is straightforward, data-backed, and brutally honest — a must-hear for anyone trying to navigate Canada’s housing market right now.Grab a casual, lock in, and let’s get into it.Host: Stefano (stefo)Instagram: @drstefohttps://www.instagram.com/drstefo?igs...Guest: Daniel FochYouTube: @d​⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielfoch/Podcast: The Canadian Real Estate Investor PodcastThis episode is brought to you by Canada First — secure your home with Canada’s best home fortification. Visit https://canadafirst.com/ to learn more.CHAPTERS0:00 — Intro + Sponsor0:36 — Meet Daniel Foch1:00 — ’90s Market Déjà Vu1:34 — Data vs. Old Narratives2:24 — Daniel’s Background3:07 — Why Realtors Lost Trust4:15 — AI Changing Real Estate5:52 — Shift to Rentals6:57 — Agents Leaving Industry7:52 — Canada’s Affordability Crisis8:49 — How We Got Here10:19 — Pandemic Money Fallout11:09 — Mortgage Shock Coming12:03 — Record Consumer Debt13:24 — Are We in a Recession?14:59 — Prices vs. Rates Reality15:54 — Why New Builds Struggle17:01 — Buyer Patience Pays18:15 — Should Sellers Wait?19:42 — Emotional Pricing Problem21:07 — Financial Literacy Crisis22:54 — Explaining the Condo Crash24:47 — Pre-Con Investors Burned26:12 — 22% Closing Failure Rate27:28 — Supply Flooding Market28:34 — When Prices Finally Bottom29:51 — 2026 Market Outlook31:32 — Politics & Housing Meet33:14 — Government Spending Debate34:47 — Housing Policy Breakdown36:20 — Why Builders Are Pausing37:45 — Zoning & Red Tape Issues39:15 — Who Should Fix Housing?40:31 — Modular Housing Concerns42:02 — Social Housing Explained43:48 — Taxation on Housing45:26 — Cities Blocking Development46:41 — Why Multiplexes Boom48:32 — Small Developers Return50:14 — Advice for First-Time Buyers52:12 — Should You Rent or Buy?53:48 — Stefano’s Condo Debate55:03 — Why It’s Not Selling56:24 — Future Buyer Behaviour57:59 — Deflation Mindset59:21 — Final Thoughts1:00:11 — New York’s Future1:01:14 — Closing Remarks

Welcome back to another full episode of the Couple Casuals Podcast!In this raw, honest, and wide-open conversation, your host Stefano sits down once again with Lee Baxter — entrepreneur, boxing promoter, and the man behind one of your most viral clips ever.Last time Lee was on, you asked him a simple question:“Are you proud to be Canadian?”His answer shook the internet… sparking millions of views, debates, arguments, and a national conversation.So today, the two of you go way deeper.Lee opens up about what happened after that viral moment — the messages from strangers, the backlash, the support, and how that single clip exposed something bigger happening across the country. Together, you break down why Canadians are more divided, frustrated, and politically charged than ever before… and why a question as simple as national pride hits such a nerve in 2025.This episode unpacks the real concerns Canadians are feeling today: • how politics has infiltrated everything, from family to sports to culture • why honest conversations instantly turn into arguments • how Canada lost that shared, unified identity we grew up with • why opportunity, community, and cultural connection feel weaker than ever • and what it actually means to “be Canadian” in a divided eraAlong the way, you and Lee dive into powerful, unexpected territory — from the decline of community culture and trades, to the social-media takeover of boxing, to Toronto’s political circus, to the moments that still do unite us: sports, pride, and truly Canadian experiences.This conversation is real, unfiltered, and taps directly into something Canadians everywhere are feeling right now.Grab a casual, lock in, and let’s get into it.Host: Stefano (stefo)Instagram: @drstefohttps://www.instagram.com/drstefo?igs...Guest: Lee Baxter Instagram: @leebaxtermgt https://www.instagram.com/leebaxtermgt/?hl=enThis 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 0:00 Intro & Sponsor1:30 Viral Question Recap4:10 Reaction & Blowback7:10 Canada’s Divide10:40 Social Media Shift15:20 Boxing’s New Era20:10 Real Competition24:30 Toronto’s Identity29:40 Bandwagon Culture34:25 What Is Canadian?37:40 Lost Shared Values42:10 Community Decline47:20 Opportunity Drop52:10 Culture & Belonging56:00 Finding Unity59:25 The Salute

Welcome back to another full episode of the Couple Casuals Podcast!In this raw and unfiltered conversation, your host Stefano sits down with Elliot, fellow Canadian podcaster and host of The Right Call Podcast, who travelled all the way from Montreal to Toronto for this thought-provoking episode.Together, they break down the cultural, political, and economic divide between Canada’s two biggest cities — exploring why Toronto has lost its soul, how Montreal still preserves its joie de vivre, and what these contrasts reveal about the future of Canada.Elliot reflects on his time living in Toronto years ago and how dramatically it has changed — from rampant homelessness and violent-crime spikes (up 55%) to a bureaucratic nightmare of housing costs and red tape. He contrasts that with Montreal’s deep sense of community and social cohesion, explaining how Toronto’s extreme multiculturalism has created a city of isolated tribes rather than a unified people .The two dive into hard-hitting national themes:- the collapse of Canada’s housing market,- the immigration surge that’s overwhelmed infrastructure,- and the growing voter apathy that’s left everyday Canadians feeling unheard.Elliot doesn’t hold back in criticizing Olivia Chow’s leadership and the Liberal government’s mass-immigration policies, arguing that decades of reckless decision-making have left Toronto on the brink. With nearly half of Toronto’s population foreign-born and over 56% identifying as minorities, he asks a critical question: Has multiculturalism gone too far to unite the country?They also examine how policy failures at every level — federal, provincial, and municipal — have eroded Canada’s middle class, crippled youth opportunity, and divided Canadians into tribal echo chambers.This episode dives deep into:- Why Toronto feels “soulless” compared to Montreal’s community energy- How unchecked immigration is overwhelming Canada’s systems- The cultural costs of political correctness and identity politics- The reality of corruption, bureaucracy, and government overreach- Why Canadians must re-embrace patriotism, faith, and common senseGrab a casual, lock in, and let’s get into it. Host: Stefano (stefo)Instagram: @drstefohttps://www.instagram.com/drstefo?igs...Guest: Elliot DiagneaultInstagram: @hrh_elliothttps://www.instagram.com/hrh_elliot/?hl=enPodcast: The Right Call PodcastInstagram: ‬https://www.instagram.com/rightcallpodcast/YouTube: ⁠ 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.CHAPTERS0:00 Intro & Sponsor 3:10 Meet Elliot 6:20 Toronto First Impr. 9:21 Montreal vs Toronto 12:34 City Vibes & Energy 15:51 Homelessness 19:01 Crime & Safety 22:03 Construction Chaos 25:03 Red Tape & Bureaucracy 28:16 Cost of Living 31:31 Cultural Divide 34:43 Immigration Surge 37:54 Values & Identity 41:06 Leadership & Policy 44:06 Housing Crisis 47:11 Visa Mills 50:11 Youth Unemployment 53:29 Student Protests 57:02 Public Sentiment 1:00:07 Political Corruption 1:03:34 National Pride 1:06:10 Israel & Global Conflicts 1:09:56 Wrap-Up

Welcome back to another full episode of the Couple Casuals Podcast!In this powerful and unfiltered conversation, your host Stefano sits down with Jamil Jivani — Conservative MP for Bowmanville–North Oshawa — to discuss what it truly means to be conservative in today’s Canada and how his mission to “Restore the North” is resonating with a new generation of Canadians.Jivani opens up about his rise from humble beginnings to Parliament Hill, his fight against woke ideology, and why common sense conservatism is the antidote to Canada’s political and cultural decline. Together, they dive deep into the country’s most urgent challenges — from the broken immigration system and youth unemployment crisis to the explosion of violent crime and government overreach.This episode exposes how Liberal policies have weakened our justice system, flooded our cities with unchecked immigration, and left Canadians paying the price. Jivani doesn’t hold back as he calls out Bill C-75, Bill C-21, and the Temporary Foreign Workers Program — revealing how each one fails everyday Canadians.And beyond politics, Jivani opens up about his faith, redemption, and resilience — sharing the story of surviving stage-4 cancer and how it deepened his calling to serve and lead with conviction.This episode dives deep into:- What it truly means to be conservative in modern Canada- How the Temporary Foreign Workers Program is hurting Canadian youth- Why crime is exploding under Liberal “catch and release” policies- The government’s dangerous overreach with Bill C-21 and censorship laws- How faith and purpose can guide Canada’s next generationJamil Jivani isn’t just talking politics — he’s giving Canadians a blueprint to restore integrity, strength, and belief in the country again.Grab a casual, lock in, and let’s get into it.Host: Stefano (stefo)Instagram: @drstefohttps://www.instagram.com/drstefo?igs...Guest: Jamil JivaniInstagram: @jamiljivani https://www.instagram.com/jamiljivani/Youtube: ​⁠Support the movement and RESTORE THE NORTHhttps://restorethenorth.caThis episode is brought to you by Canada First — secure your home with Canada’s best home fortification. Visit https://canadafirst.com/ to learn more.CHAPTERS00:00 – Intro01:00 – Jamil Jivani joins the show03:00 – Global politics & Gaza ceasefire06:00 – Authenticity in politics08:00 – Jamil’s early life story10:00 – From anger to purpose12:00 – Why he chose conservatism14:00 – The fatherless crisis17:00 – Common sense values19:00 – What it means to be conservative21:00 – State of the Conservative Party24:00 – Ontario politics & Doug Ford27:00 – The Mark Carney government29:00 – Immigration system collapse32:00 – Why immigration went wrong35:00 – Fear of being called racist37:00 – Canada’s confidence problem38:00 – Temporary Foreign Workers41:00 – Why crime is skyrocketing43:00 – Weak justice system45:00 – Bill C-75 & Liberal failure47:00 – Bill 242 explained49:00 – Ignoring police voices50:00 – Bill C-21 gun grab53:00 – Government overreach55:00 – Restore the North mission57:00 – Message to young men58:00 – Jamil’s faith journey01:00:00 – Finding God through pain01:02:00 – Final reflections01:03:00 – Closing thoughts & outro