In this episode of Unwritten Chapters, I talk openly about my experience as an alcoholic and why I no longer see rock bottom as a single, dramatic crash — but as a checkpoint on the way down. I share parts of my own story with alcohol addiction, the moments I thought were “the bottom,” and how life kept showing me there was always a deeper low if I didn’t change.

We explore questions like:

• What does rock bottom really look like in alcoholism?

• Why is rock bottom different for everyone struggling with addiction?

• How do you know when it’s time to ask for help?

• Can you start recovery before you completely lose everything?

If you’re wondering, “Have I hit rock bottom?” or you’re scared of where your drinking is heading, this episode is for you. I talk about shame, relapse, denial, trauma, sobriety, and the small decisions that slowly move you back toward level ground. Rock bottom doesn’t have to be the end of your story — it can be the place you decide to fight for a different one.

Whether you’re in early recovery, still in active addiction, love someone who’s struggling, or are just trying to understand mental health and substance use, I hope this conversation helps you feel a little less alone.

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👍 If this episode resonates, please like, share, or leave a comment about your own journey with rock bottom or alcoholism.

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In this episode of Unwritten Chapters – Life After Trauma, I sit down at the mic as a Canadian veteran and VAC client to talk about something a lot of us are feeling in our gut right now: the Liberal government’s plan to strip $4.23 billion in “savings” from Veterans Affairs Canada over the next four years—and the way Minister of Veterans Affairs Jill McKnight insists that somehow doesn’t count as a “cut.”

We’ll unpack what Budget 2025 actually says, including the plan to “adjust” medical cannabis benefits by dropping the VAC reimbursement cap from $8.50 to $6.00 a gram, a change Ottawa says will save about $4.4 billion over four years by “aligning with market prices.” On paper, VAC’s overall budget line might still show an increase, but for real people trying to manage PTSD, chronic pain, and day-to-day functioning, these “efficiencies” land as very real reductions in support.

I talk candidly about:

• Watching the Minister play word games about “reinvesting” and “modernizing benefits” on Remembrance Day, while veterans stand on parade being told they’re “never forgotten.”

• What these changes look like from the other side of the counter: phone calls, forms, delays, appeals, and the slow grind of trying to hang on to your VAC benefits when you’re already exhausted.

• My own experience navigating Veterans Affairs Canada with PTSD, injuries, and disability claims—and how policy decisions made in Ottawa actually show up in a veteran’s kitchen when the mail arrives.

• The emotional whiplash of being publicly honoured on one hand, while quietly being told your care is where they’ll “find savings” on the other.

This isn’t a legal breakdown or financial advice—it’s a lived-experience reaction from inside the system. If you’re a Canadian veteran, family member, or ally trying to make sense of what these so-called “savings” mean in real life, this episode is for you.

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In this Remembrance Day special, Matthew takes a candid, thoughtful dive into the evolving debate surrounding the poppy in Canada — from Don Cherry’s “you people” controversy to today’s renewed discussion around Indigenous poppies in Canadian Armed Forces uniforms.

As a veteran and former paramedic, Matthew reflects on the meaning of remembrance, the sacrifices made by Canadian soldiers across generations, and why fragmenting the poppy into identity-based variations may risk dividing a symbol meant to unite us. This solo narration blends raw honesty, personal reflection, and respectful commentary on Canadian military tradition, Indigenous representation, and national remembrance culture.

Whether you’re a Canadian veteran, military family member, history-minded listener, or someone wrestling with modern identity politics and tradition, this episode of Unwritten Chapters invites you to pause, think, and remember what the poppy truly represents.

PRE-ORDER the new book: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/trauma-and-tea-essays-on-trauma-recovery-and-growing-up-the-hard-way/9781777649210.html