#FIRSTLOOK: “STRESS TEST” COMING TO TVO AND TVO DOCS YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Life is stressful. Just ask actor and comedian Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll, who grapples with it every day. In STRESS TEST (6 x 30 min), Rodrigo decides it’s finally time to do something about it. Premiering Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. ET on TVO and streaming on the TVO Docs YouTube channel, website and Smart TV app, the new original docuseries created by Adam Cook and Daniel AM Rosenberg, directed by Daniel AM Rosenberg, and developed and produced in association with TVO, follows Rodrigo as he explores the many sources of daily stress, testing remedies ranging from the conventional to the fringes of science.

“Stress is something we all experience, but we wanted to explore it in a way that felt honest, entertaining and relatable,” said Adam Cook and Daniel AM Rosenberg, creators of Stress Test. “Rodrigo was the perfect person to take on this journey because he’s willing to try anything, he doesn’t take himself too seriously, and he’s completely open about the things that stress him out. What started as a quest to find some answers became a much bigger exploration of why we’re all struggling to keep up.”

Across the six episodes, Rodrigo tackles work-life balance, after a panic attack forces him to reconsider how he manages his career and personal life; relationships, as he and his longtime partner Gwynne confront their communication and emotional connection; and finances, as Rodrigo finally faces years of financial avoidance. He also explores aging, masculinity and AI, examining how each intersects with the anxieties and pressures of modern life.

“I’ve spent a lot of my life being stressed about being stressed, so I figured it was probably time to investigate,” said Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll, host of Stress Test. “Making this series forced me to look at some things I’d been avoiding and try a lot of things that were completely outside my comfort zone. Some worked, some definitely did not, but I came away with a much better understanding of where my stress comes from and how I might actually deal with it.”

“Through Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll’s humor, honesty, and curiosity, Stress Test opens up a conversation about life’s daily pressures in a way that feels genuine, entertaining, and meaningful,” says Natasha Negrea, Head of Programming at TVO. “We’re always looking for human stories to help people understand their world, and sometimes that starts with being able to laugh at the challenges we share.”

After a life altering moment forces Rodrigo to confront the toll stress is taking on his life, he embarks on a wellness odyssey that takes him into the worlds of mental health, science and self-help. Along the way, he meets with experts, researchers and mentors while putting their advice to the test.

New episodes premiere weekly on Tuesdays starting October 6 through November 10, 2026 on TVO and on the TVO Docs YouTube channel, website and Smart TV app.

TVO presents a Headspace Production in association with The Artcraft Zoo Ltd., Muse Entertainment and Vikileaks Inc. Stress Test is produced with the participation of the TELUS Fund, Canada Media Fund (CMF), CAVCO and Ontario Creates. Produced by Jonas Prupas, with Daniel AM Rosenberg and Adam Cook serving as producers and executive producers alongside Victoria Lean. Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll serves as co-executive producer. The series is written by Adam Cook, Daniel AM Rosenberg and Cathryn Naiker.

About TVO Media Education Group
TVO Media Education Group inspires learning that changes lives and enriches communities. Founded in 1970, we are a globally recognized digital learning organization that engages Ontarians of all ages with inclusive experiences and diverse perspectives. Through our brands TVO Today, TVO Learn, TVO ILC and TVOkids, we’re investing in the transformative potential of education for everyone. TVO is a registered charity funded in part by the Province of Ontario and supported by thousands of sponsors and donors. Visit TVO.me for more information.

About Headspace Productions
Headspace Productions is an Ontario-based production company founded by accomplished filmmakers Daniel AM Rosenberg and Adam Cook. With experience across a wide range of documentary and television projects, spanning scripted and unscripted programming and multiple genres, Daniel and Adam are passionate about bringing their relatable perspective to audiences through their work. The company develops and produces original series and films that use humour to help audiences question themselves and the world they live in.

About Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll
Peruvian-Canadian Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll is one of the country’s most versatile character actors and comedians. As a Canadian Comedy Award, National Screen Institute and Canadian Screen Award winner, Rodrigo has over 100 notable credits including Creepy Todd on CBS’s the hit comedy series Ghosts, the popular crime drama Boston Blue, CBC’s Son of a Critch (for which he won a Canadian Screen Award), Matt Johnson’s breakout feature BlackBerry, and Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla. Other film and television credits include appearances in the cult horror anthology series VHS: 94, Amazon’s Overcompensating, Netflix’s Ginny & Georgia, DOC on Fox, and MGM+’s Earth Abides. Upcoming feature film credits include Michael Cera’s Love is Not the Answer and Disney’s rom-com Beach Read.

About The TELUS Fund
Dedicated to financing exceptional films and series that champion health, well-being, and positive social impact, TELUS Fund has committed $48 million to 320 projects & initiatives that have achieved 238M views and counting. The TELUS Fund is an independently governed, not-for-profit organization recognized by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission as a Certified Independent Production Fund, that administers TELUS Communications’ financial contributions in support of Canadian programming.