PODCAST · society
Call Me Tony
by AC Bergen-Fischer
Call Me Tony is a personal podcast about life, relationships, beliefs, mistakes, growth, and the things we figure out along the way.The host draws from his own experiences to explore the people and ideas that have shaped him, the things he’s changed his mind about, and the questions he still doesn’t have answers to.Sometimes it’s deeply personal. Sometimes it’s about something happening in the world around him. Sometimes it starts with a story and ends somewhere completely unexpected.No expertise. No claim to have it all figured out. Just one person trying to make sense of being human.
Episodes
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What an Addict Taught Me About Being Good
Tony used to work with a man who was addicted to crack and alcohol. While Tony and his wife were struggling to afford formula and diapers for their infant son, his coworker quietly made sure the baby was taken care of before spending money on his own addictions. It challenged Tony’s assumptions...
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If At First You Don't Succeed, Give Up!
“If at first you don’t succeed, give up!” My dad used to say that. I thought it was shit advice because almost everyone else was telling me the opposite: try, try again. Never quit. Keep pushing. Almost 30 years later, I’m starting to think Dad might have been onto something. In this episode, I...
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I Don't Watch the News Anymore
I used to gobble up every bit of news I had time for. It left me stressed, angry, and carrying emotional reactions to things I couldn't influence. These days, I don't follow the news. I seek out information when it directly affects me, the people I care about, or a decision I can actually make.…
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Come Home When the Streetlights Come On
When I was a kid, the rule was pretty straightforward: have fun and come home when the streetlights come on. For hours at a time, we were largely responsible for ourselves. We took stupid risks, got hurt, wandered into places we shouldn't have been, fought with our friends, worked things out, and...
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When a Lost Love Becomes History
In the first episode of Call Me Tony, I told a story about someone I'd loved when I was young. Someone I hadn't seen since 1994, but who remained a significant part of my emotional life for more than two decades. At the time, Facebook kept suggesting her as someone I might know. I chose not to...
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Some Things Don't Need an Explanation
Curiosity has shaped my life. It has changed my beliefs, challenged my assumptions, and helped me see the world differently. I wouldn't want to lose that. At the same time, I've learned that not everything valuable needs to be completely explained. In this episode, I explore the difference…
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Why Opinions Have Power
We all like to think we evaluate evidence objectively. I'm not sure we do. In this episode, I explore why different beliefs often seem to receive different standards of evidence, whether belief is actually a choice, and why certainty can become a trap. Along the way, I reflect on my own…
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Am I A Failure?
Seven years ago I recorded a short podcast asking myself a difficult question: Am I a failure? Finding that old script forced me to confront a different question entirely. By what standard do we decide whether a person has succeeded or failed? In this episode I revisit that younger version of...
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Yesterday's Papers
How do we know when someone has truly changed? This episode explores the difference between remembering the past and allowing it to permanently define the present. It's a reflection on accountability, evidence, boundaries, and why we should be careful not to confuse history with identity.
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A Giraffe in My Pocket
Two days after my father died, I walked into a toy store and found comfort in a place I never would have expected: a giraffe finger puppet named Richard. What began as an impulsive purchase quickly became a private coping mechanism during one of the most difficult periods of my life. While...
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12 Thoughts That Trap Us
The 12 Thoughts That Trap Us When Life Gets Heavy When life gets heavy, our minds often fall into familiar patterns. We ask ourselves why we're suffering, what we did to deserve it, why nobody understands, and whether things will ever get better. In this episode, I walk through twelve common...
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24 Years Too Long
We often treat time as if it automatically creates value. The longer a friendship lasts, the more pressure we feel to preserve it, even when it's become unhealthy. In this episode, I reflect on the end of a 24-year friendship and the realization that history alone is not a good reason to remain...
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How Time Slips Away
Episode Summary: What happens when a song you have never heard feels instantly, deeply familiar? At fifty-three, a chance encounter with a Willie Nelson classic sparks a raw reflection on aging, memory, and how music hits differently over time. Moving from the rebellion of youth to the quiet...
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Take Me To Church
After a long break, I’m back to podcasting... This episode focuses on my experience caring for Fred Tober, a 76-year-old local musician who was going through a lonely period... It led me to rethink community and support. I saw that strong community doesn’t depend on religious institutions, and…
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The Wi-Fi Is Strong, but the Vibe Is Dead
Once upon a time, I chased every new gadget and app like they were tickets to the future. Now I’m wondering if this is the future I really want to live in. This week, I’m talking about how constant connection somehow makes life lonelier, how everything from music to conversation feels like it’s...
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The Internet Sucks So I Cancelled Myself
Turns out “staying connected” mostly means doomscrolling, fake friendships, and handing your attention to corporations who’d sell your soul for ad revenue. I was supposed to be networking and creating. Instead, I was melting my brain one scroll at a time. So I pulled the plug. Before a hater…
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He Might Be Gone
A rumour says my brother is dead. I don't know if it's true. No one has confirmed it, and no one will. But the grief is real anyway. This episode explores the strange kind of mourning that comes when there's no clarity. It's about estranged siblings, unresolved childhoods, and the kind of silence...
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Loyalty or Ego?
In this episode of Call Me Tony, I talk about the kind of loyalty that builds us up, and the kind that quietly breaks us down. Some people treat loyalty like it's a virtue in itself, but what happens when that loyalty is used to protect ego instead of truth? I share thoughts on how misplaced...
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The Recovery Cult
Addiction causes real harm. That part isn’t up for debate. But what happens when the damage doesn’t stop with the substance? In this episode of Call Me Tony, I talk about how getting sober without a program didn’t make me a danger to myself or anyone else—but it sure made me a problem in the eyes...
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She's Not The One Who Haunts Me
She’s not the one who haunts me. I don’t miss her. I don’t long for the relationship we had. But I do keep running into the version of myself I had to become when I was with her. The one who knew how to stay quiet. The one who filtered every emotion. The one who thought being easy to love meant...
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Unloved On Mother's Day
Mother’s Day just passed, and for some of us, it’s not a day of celebration. In this episode, I open up about the complicated relationship I have with my mother. I share what it was like growing up, the moments when I thought we were finally connecting, and the painful reality of feeling betrayed...
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If He'd Known The Time
As the anniversary of my father’s death approaches, I find myself thinking less about how he died and more about how he lived—and how he might have lived differently if he’d known how little time he had left. This episode is softer than the last few. It’s about reflection, memory, and the quiet...
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The Vote Is The Fight
The Vote Is The Fight In this episode, Tony speaks to every Canadian who’s tempted to sit this election out, convinced that protest, resistance, or performative outrage will somehow be enough. Looking at what’s unfolded south of the border, this episode is a wake-up call. The rise of...
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When the Catchphrases Get It Wrong
We've all heard them. "Let go of the past." "Accept what is." "Everything happens for a reason." They're offered like universal truths—phrases meant to calm us down, bring us peace, help us heal. But what if they’re doing the opposite? In this episode, Tony unpacks the hidden danger in some of…
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Your Soul Can't Cure Cancer
This episode takes aim at a deeply harmful belief: that cancer is something you can heal by surrendering to your “soul’s natural ability.” I unpack why that kind of message isn’t spiritual — it’s dangerous. When people suggest that fighting cancer is wrong, they’re not offering a helpful...
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Abandoning The Common Ground
In this episode, I reflect on why I’ve changed my mind about one of my core beliefs: that we all have more in common than we have in conflict. I used to think any two people could connect if they just tried hard enough. Now, I’m not so sure. I talk about what it feels like to watch a movement…
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The Unfriendly Atheist
Matt Dillahunty has influenced many deconversions—including mine. His ability to break down religious arguments is undeniable. But does his confrontational approach help the atheist movement, or does it drive more people away? Many atheists focus on the rare cases where hostility led to...
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Wind Of Change
Since launching Call Me Tony, I’ve focused on sharing my personal experiences, stories, and reflections. I wanted people to get to know me as my friends do. But lately, I’ve realized that I’ve been holding back. I’ve avoided inserting my strongest opinions into this podcast—not because I don’t…
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F Logic - People Want Lies
I used to think logic could change minds. That if you laid out the facts clearly enough, people would have no choice but to acknowledge reality. But the truth is, people don’t want logic—they want lies that make them feel safe. And I’m exhausted from trying to push back against it. Chronic…
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The Atheist's God
Can an atheist have a God? That might sound like a contradiction, but after stepping into an interfaith community, I started questioning what "God" really means—and whether it’s possible to explore meaning, connection, and even spirituality without belief. In this episode, I share my journey of...
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You're Not Entitled To An Opinion
Think you’re entitled to your opinion? Think again. When I was six, my dad made me try eel before I could say I hated it. That lesson stuck with me—because too many people form opinions without doing the work to earn them. In this episode, I break down why confidence without knowledge is…
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Fully Exposed
When people tell you not to ask questions, what they’re really saying is, “I don’t want you to find something that contradicts me.” In this episode, I talk about the freedom that comes with transparency. I’ve spent years putting my past in the open—not to prove anything, but because I have…
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Breaking Free
In this episode, I reflect on the person I used to be—someone driven by harmful beliefs and behaviours—and the journey that led to my transformation. I talk about questioning my religious beliefs, taking responsibility for my past mistakes, and how embracing uncertainty and curiosity has helped…
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Handling Uncertainty
Uncertainty in relationships is one of the hardest things for me to handle. I can prepare for almost any outcome—except the unknown. In this episode, I talk about how my anxiety drives me to anticipate every possibility, why uncertainty destabilizes me, and how clear communication and boundaries...
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What's In Your Cup?
In this episode, I share a story about how life’s challenges can shake us and reveal what’s really inside us. When things get tough, do I respond with kindness and resilience, or do frustration and anger spill out? I reflect on how important it is to intentionally fill my “cup” with positivity,...
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Moving On
In this episode, I reflect on the challenges of navigating relationships with people who seem determined to misunderstand me. I share how I've chosen to let go of the struggle for their approval, embracing forgiveness as an act of self-love—without excusing harmful behaviour or compromising my...
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False Accusations
In this episode, I share a deeply personal experience about navigating false accusations and the challenges of facing abusive individuals, especially when they hold influence. I discuss the emotional toll of feeling isolated, the struggle to defend myself without worsening the situation, and the...
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Empathy vs Boundaries
This episode looks at how we’re connected by shared experiences and how we often have more in common than we think. I talk about the importance of finding common ground—like our shared hopes for happiness, health, and protecting loved ones. But I also explore why setting clear boundaries is...
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Christmas Gifts
In this episode, I share a personal story about a Christmas spent in Paraguay when my family had almost nothing. Through love, creativity, and resourcefulness, my parents turned a difficult time into a cherished memory that taught me the true meaning of giving. I also explore how showing emotions...
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The Heart Wants
In this episode, I share my thoughts on reconnecting with someone I love. I explore the risks involved, the potential for both hurt and happiness, and why embracing uncertainty can be essential in the pursuit of love and fulfillment... Dedicated to J
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One Foot In The Past
In this episode of Call Me Tony, I look at how remembering past experiences and honouring those we’ve lost can help us build a stronger present and future. Reflecting on where we’ve come from gives us resilience and a clearer sense of identity, grounding us in ways that support who we are today.
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Truth or Reconciliation
In this episode, I share my thoughts on truth and reconciliation in Canada, particularly as it relates to Indigenous First Nations. I explore why the focus seems so heavily on “truth” and how we might balance that with meaningful reconciliation. As a first-generation Canadian of mixed heritage…
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Rethinking Political Correctness
In this episode, I explore why I’m openly opposed to political correctness and how it often stifles genuine conversation. I discuss how PC culture can inadvertently promote bigotry, limit honest dialogue, and create fear rather than understanding. Instead of fostering real connections, it...
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The Wrong Parent Died
In this episode, I reflect on a question my mother asked me 22 years ago, shortly after my father’s death: “Do you think the wrong parent died?” My answer was “yes” then, and it’s still “yes” today. I’ll share why I feel this way by exploring the complicated relationships I had with both of my...
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Just Do It!
This week, I share a personal story about pushing past a long-standing insecurity—singing in a small group. By stepping outside my comfort zone, I discovered a new sense of joy in something I once thought was out of reach. Tune in to hear how this experience has not only helped me grow but also...
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Break Away
In this episode, I talk about breaking free from toxic relationships and self-destructive habits. I share my journey of exploring new connections, rediscovering joy through hobbies like playing guitar, and finding balance with meditation. Volunteering with my local UU church has also brought a...
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What Did I Do?
It's OK to say "ouch" when we're physically hurt so why not when the hurt is emotional?
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Redefining Manhood
As I enter uncharted territory, I'm forced to look at how I need to redefine what it means for me to be a man.
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Season of Tony
Instead of feeling blue about moving on from the previous chapter of my life, I've decided to embrace the beauty of this one... the season of Tony!
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More About Jesus?
The Think Institute has questions for atheists. I have answers. While I don't define myself by my atheism, it is an important part of who I am and how I got here.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Call Me Tony is a personal podcast about life, relationships, beliefs, mistakes, growth, and the things we figure out along the way.The host draws from his own experiences to explore the people and ideas that have shaped him, the things he’s changed his mind about, and the questions he still doesn’t have answers to.Sometimes it’s deeply personal. Sometimes it’s about something happening in the world around him. Sometimes it starts with a story and ends somewhere completely unexpected.No expertise. No claim to have it all figured out. Just one person trying to make sense of being human.
HOSTED BY
AC Bergen-Fischer
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Call Me Tony have?
Call Me Tony currently has 55 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Call Me Tony about?
Call Me Tony is a personal podcast about life, relationships, beliefs, mistakes, growth, and the things we figure out along the way.The host draws from his own experiences to explore the people and ideas that have shaped him, the things he’s changed his mind about, and the questions he still...
How often does Call Me Tony release new episodes?
Call Me Tony has 55 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Call Me Tony?
You can listen to Call Me Tony on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Call Me Tony?
Call Me Tony is created and hosted by AC Bergen-Fischer.
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