In this episode of Unwritten Chapters, I re-release my CBC Daybreak interview with host Sarah Penton — a raw and reflective conversation recorded after I was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal.

Though the honour was official, what we talk about here is much deeper: the real cost of service, the lifelong weight of trauma, and what it means to be recognized for simply surviving.

I may not be at full vocal strength today — but the words in this interview still carry weight.

🎙 Originally aired March 2025
🔔 Subscribe for personal stories on healing, identity, and the truths behind the uniform.

#VeteranVoices #MentalHealthPodcast #CBCInterview #CoronationMedal #TraumaHealing #ServiceAndSacrifice #UnwrittenChapters #CanadianVeterans #StorytellingPodcast

📚 Love whatyou heard? There’s more.
I’m Matthew Heneghan — a former military and civilian medic, now a sober writersharing raw stories about trauma, grief, addiction, and healing.

🎙 Listento the full podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hmuMofDnEkc8Ec9MqGHmC
📰 Subscribe to my newsletter for reflectionsI don’t share anywhere else: https://substack.com/@unwrittenchapterspodcast?utm_source=user-menu

📚 Read my books:

A Medic’sMind: https://a.co/d/fyBwpo1

Woven inWar: https://a.co/d/6DlWdg6

Life AfterLoss: Reflections on Moments of Grace and Courage in Grief: https://a.co/d/2U4zSG4

Dream:Tales from the Pikes Peak Writers: https://a.co/d/cbi7A9n

BrainstormRevolution: True mental health stories of love, personal evolution, andcultural revolution: https://a.co/d/gatLrby

A Versionof Me: Askew's Word on the Lake Anthology 2024: https://a.co/d/iEON2Rw

🌐 Visit: www.amedicsmind.com
📸 Follow me: @UnwrittenChaptersPodcaston Instagram

Because thenext chapter is still unwritten — and you don’t have to write it alone.

In this special episode of Unwritten Chapters, I’m sharing a powerful conversation from the archives — my guest interview on The Last Show with David Cooper. As I take some time off to recover from illness, I wanted to bring you a previously aired episode that explores themes central to this podcast: mental health, PTSD, addiction recovery, grief, trauma, healing, and life after service.

We talk candidly about post-traumatic stress, the challenges of living with anxiety and depression, and how storytelling has become a tool for connection, reflection, and survival. Whether you’re a veteran, first responder, or someone navigating personal loss, this conversation offers insight, support, and shared experience.

If you're looking for a podcast about mental health journeys, recovery after trauma, or simply need to hear an honest, human story — this episode is for you. Please consider sharing it with someone who might benefit from these words.

🎧 Topics covered: PTSD, trauma recovery, mental health awareness, addiction, grief, anxiety, veteran stories, podcast interview, emotional resilience, therapy, sobriety, storytelling

📚 Love whatyou heard? There’s more.
I’m Matthew Heneghan — a former military and civilian medic, now a sober writersharing raw stories about trauma, grief, addiction, and healing.

🎙 Listento the full podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hmuMofDnEkc8Ec9MqGHmC
📰 Subscribe to my newsletter for reflectionsI don’t share anywhere else: https://substack.com/@unwrittenchapterspodcast?utm_source=user-menu

📚 Read my books:

A Medic’sMind: https://a.co/d/fyBwpo1

Woven inWar: https://a.co/d/6DlWdg6

Life AfterLoss: Reflections on Moments of Grace and Courage in Grief: https://a.co/d/2U4zSG4

Dream:Tales from the Pikes Peak Writers: https://a.co/d/cbi7A9n

BrainstormRevolution: True mental health stories of love, personal evolution, andcultural revolution: https://a.co/d/gatLrby

A Versionof Me: Askew's Word on the Lake Anthology 2024: https://a.co/d/iEON2Rw

🌐 Visit: www.amedicsmind.com
📸 Follow me: @UnwrittenChaptersPodcaston Instagram

Because thenext chapter is still unwritten — and you don’t have to write it alone.

You don't have to follow the 12 steps to stay sober — sometimes, you have to create your own.
In this episode of Unwritten Chapters, I reveal the 12 real-world strategies that helped me stay sober after rehab — without ever attending an AA meeting again.

This is for anyone who feels lost outside the traditional recovery system.
It's not about rejecting AA — it's about finding YOUR path to healing.

Inside this episode:
– Why AA didn't fit my story after rehab
– The daily habits that kept me grounded
– How trauma recovery shaped my sobriety journey
– Building resilience without a sponsor or steps
– The power of community, creativity, and self-forgiveness

#Sobriety #AlcoholFreeLife #RecoveryJourney #UnwrittenChapters #AddictionRecovery #MentalHealthAwareness #SelfHealing #PTSDRecovery

Follow for raw, honest reflections from a former medic finding healing one unwritten chapter at a time.

📚 Love whatyou heard? There’s more.
I’m Matthew Heneghan — a former military and civilian medic, now a sober writersharing raw stories about trauma, grief, addiction, and healing.

🎙 Listento the full podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hmuMofDnEkc8Ec9MqGHmC
📰 Subscribe to my newsletter for reflectionsI don’t share anywhere else: https://substack.com/@unwrittenchapterspodcast?utm_source=user-menu

📚 Read my books:

A Medic’sMind: https://a.co/d/fyBwpo1

Woven inWar: https://a.co/d/6DlWdg6

Life AfterLoss: Reflections on Moments of Grace and Courage in Grief: https://a.co/d/2U4zSG4

Dream:Tales from the Pikes Peak Writers: https://a.co/d/cbi7A9n

BrainstormRevolution: True mental health stories of love, personal evolution, andcultural revolution: https://a.co/d/gatLrby

A Versionof Me: Askew's Word on the Lake Anthology 2024: https://a.co/d/iEON2Rw

🌐 Visit: www.amedicsmind.com
📸 Follow me: @UnwrittenChaptersPodcaston Instagram

Because the next chapter is still unwritten — and you don’t have to write it alone.