Toxic Veteran Culture & the Comparison Trap: Why 1 Year of Service Still Counts | Unwritten Chapters Podcast

Veteran identity. Service shaming. The toxic culture of comparison.

In this episode of Unwritten Chapters, host Matthew Heneghan, a former Canadian Armed Forces medic and long-time paramedic, breaks down the ugly truth behind a viral moment in the Canadian Veterans Marketplace — a story where a fellow veteran was mocked for only serving one year.

💥 From service shaming to fragile ego warfare, we dig into:

• The toxic comparison culture in veteran communities

• Why every year of military service counts — no matter the length

• The hypocrisy of valor gatekeeping

• Why compassion should outweigh credentials

• The emotional fallout of intra-community bullying

🎧 Whether you're a veteran, a first responder, or someone navigating identity, trauma, or mental health in high-stress professions — this episode is for you.