Couple Casuals Podcast

EP77: Street Fighter to Pro Boxer | The Story of Ryan Rozicki

Welcome back to another episode of the Couple Casuals Podcast! In this episode, Stefano sits down with Canadian professional boxer Ryan Rozicki — one of the most feared and authentic fighters in the country — for a raw, unfiltered conversation about grit, violence, discipline, and what it truly takes to survive at the highest levels of boxing. Ryan opens up about growing up in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, where toughness wasn’t optional and fighting was part of daily life. From small-town rivalries and street fights to run-ins with the law, he explains how that environment shaped his mindset — and ultimately led him to boxing. Throughout the episode, Stefano and Ryan dive into: * growing up in a blue-collar, no-excuses environment * how street fighting shaped Ryan’s mentality and durability * boxing as a form of control, discipline, and survival * the thin line between rage and composure in the ring * why real toughness can’t be taught or bought * Canadian boxing’s history, reputation, and what still needs to change * respect, masculinity, and why young men need challenge — not comfort Ryan also shares how boxing quite literally saved his life, why he isn’t afraid of being hurt or knocked out, and how studying fighters like Jack Dempsey defined his identity as a pressure-first. Host: Stefano (stefo) Instagram: @drstefo https://www.instagram.com/drstefo?igs... Guest: Ryan Rozicki Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryan_rozicki?igsh=cDU4bm02d3U4b2t6 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 & Welcome 00:01:07 Welcome + Sponsor 00:02:07 Who Is Ryan Rozicki 00:03:54 Cape Breton & Tough Upbringing 00:05:32 Street Fights & Early Violence 00:07:37 Emotion vs Boxing Control 00:09:25 Bare Knuckle & Trailer Park Fights 00:11:55 Reputation & Growth Spurt 00:14:06 Born A Fighter Mentality 00:16:06 Boxing Saves His Life 00:18:18 Trouble With The Law 00:19:45 First Boxing Gym Experience 00:22:01 Discovering Jack Dempsey 00:23:43 Turning Pro & Amateur Suspension 00:25:18 Training In Isolation 00:27:45 First Pro Fight 00:29:31 Fear, Death & Fighting 00:30:57 State Of Canadian Boxing 00:33:15 Jake Paul & Canadian Disrespect 00:35:01 Damage, Durability & Style 00:37:12 Reality Of Violence 00:39:46 Russian War Fight 00:42:36 Oscar Rivas Fight 00:44:12 Long-Term Damage Discussion 00:47:49 Mental Warfare 00:49:02 Masculinity & Violence 00:51:35 Discipline & Fatherhood 00:54:09 Training Through Pain 00:56:43 Legacy & Respect 00:57:59 Advice To Young Men 01:00:39 Channeling Aggression 01:03:35 Purpose & Survival 01:06:25 Final Reflections 01:10:37 Final Mindset

EP76: The Numbers Don’t Lie — The Government Does

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

EP75: The Politics Behind Canada’s Housing Collapse

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: @drstefo https://www.instagram.com/drstefo?igs... Guest: Daniel Foch YouTube: @d ⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielfoch/ Podcast: The Canadian Real Estate Investor Podcast 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 0:00 — Intro + Sponsor 0:36 — Meet Daniel Foch 1:00 — ’90s Market Déjà Vu 1:34 — Data vs. Old Narratives 2:24 — Daniel’s Background 3:07 — Why Realtors Lost Trust 4:15 — AI Changing Real Estate 5:52 — Shift to Rentals 6:57 — Agents Leaving Industry 7:52 — Canada’s Affordability Crisis 8:49 — How We Got Here 10:19 — Pandemic Money Fallout 11:09 — Mortgage Shock Coming 12:03 — Record Consumer Debt 13:24 — Are We in a Recession? 14:59 — Prices vs. Rates Reality 15:54 — Why New Builds Struggle 17:01 — Buyer Patience Pays 18:15 — Should Sellers Wait? 19:42 — Emotional Pricing Problem 21:07 — Financial Literacy Crisis 22:54 — Explaining the Condo Crash 24:47 — Pre-Con Investors Burned 26:12 — 22% Closing Failure Rate 27:28 — Supply Flooding Market 28:34 — When Prices Finally Bottom 29:51 — 2026 Market Outlook 31:32 — Politics & Housing Meet 33:14 — Government Spending Debate 34:47 — Housing Policy Breakdown 36:20 — Why Builders Are Pausing 37:45 — Zoning & Red Tape Issues 39:15 — Who Should Fix Housing? 40:31 — Modular Housing Concerns 42:02 — Social Housing Explained 43:48 — Taxation on Housing 45:26 — Cities Blocking Development 46:41 — Why Multiplexes Boom 48:32 — Small Developers Return 50:14 — Advice for First-Time Buyers 52:12 — Should You Rent or Buy? 53:48 — Stefano’s Condo Debate 55:03 — Why It’s Not Selling 56:24 — Future Buyer Behaviour 57:59 — Deflation Mindset 59:21 — Final Thoughts 1:00:11 — New York’s Future 1:01:14 — Closing Remarks

EP74: Are You Proud To Be Canadian?

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 era Along 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: @drstefo https://www.instagram.com/drstefo?igs... Guest: Lee Baxter Instagram: @leebaxtermgt https://www.instagram.com/leebaxtermgt/?hl=en 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 0:00 Intro & Sponsor 1:30 Viral Question Recap 4:10 Reaction & Blowback 7:10 Canada’s Divide 10:40 Social Media Shift 15:20 Boxing’s New Era 20:10 Real Competition 24:30 Toronto’s Identity 29:40 Bandwagon Culture 34:25 What Is Canadian? 37:40 Lost Shared Values 42:10 Community Decline 47:20 Opportunity Drop 52:10 Culture & Belonging 56:00 Finding Unity 59:25 The Salute

CCP - EP73: Is Canada Falling? The Unfiltered TRUTH

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 sense Grab a casual, lock in, and let’s get into it. Host: Stefano (stefo) Instagram: @drstefo https://www.instagram.com/drstefo?igs... Guest: Elliot Diagneault Instagram: @hrh_elliot https://www.instagram.com/hrh_elliot/?hl=en Podcast: The Right Call Podcast Instagram: ‬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. CHAPTERS 0:00 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