Self Growth in Real Time: Reacting to My Old Podcast

In this video, you get to watch self growth in real time.

I hit play on old episodes of my podcast, Unwritten Chapters, and react to past-me talking about mental health, addiction, trauma, recovery, and life. As a veteran, former addict, and solo podcaster, I break down what’s changed — in my storytelling, my headspace, and my healing.

We dig into:

How I used to talk about trauma, PTSD, and pain vs. now

The messy truth of addiction recovery and staying sober long-term

Subtle signs of personal growth you only see when you look back

What I’d tell that earlier version of myself today

How the podcast evolved from chaotic rambling to honest, grounded conversations

If you’re somewhere on your own mental health or healing journey — stuck between who you were and who you’re trying to become — I hope this helps you see that growth is allowed to be awkward, imperfect, and in-progress.

🎧 LISTEN TO THE PODCAST – UNWRITTEN CHAPTERS
Solo episodes on mental health, addiction, recovery, and writing through the hard stuff.

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Comment below: What’s one way you’ve grown that old-you wouldn’t believe?

Welcome — I’m Matthew Heneghan: Canadian veteran, former paramedic, addiction survivor and storyteller. After 17 years on the front lines — in the Forces and EMS — I now write, podcast and share stories of trauma, recovery and what comes after the worst of it.

📚 My Books

A Medic’s Mind
– Memoir of military medic → paramedic, trauma, loss and reinvention.
Amazon: https://a.co/d/fbYbp7x

Trauma and Tea: Essays on Trauma, Recovery and Growing Up the Hard Way
– A collection of raw essays about hitting rock bottom, healing and telling the truth.
Amazon: https://a.co/d/9GnaoDV

🌐 Visit my website for more: www.authormheneghan.com

Author Matthew Heneghan

🎙️ Host of the podcast Unwritten Chapters – Life After Trauma (for veterans, first responders, survivors of addiction and anyone rewriting the next chapter).

Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hmuMof...


LINKS & RESOURCES
– Buy my books: authormheneghan.com/buy-the-book

Author Matthew Heneghan

– Follow on IG / Twitter / Facebook – @matthewhenehgan_author
– Drop a comment, hit Subscribe, ring the 🔔 — let’s build a community of truth-telllers, healers and story-keepers.

WHAT YOU’LL FIND ON THIS CHANNEL
– Talking-head reflections on trauma, mental-health work, addiction recovery
– Behind-the-scenes of EMS & veteran life — what they don’t teach you in training
– Practical tips to cope, heal and build resilience from the rawest possible vantage
– Author & podcast updates, plus live discussions about writing your next chapter

Thanks for being here. Whether you’ve worn a uniform, watched someone struggle, or are simply trying to make peace with your past — you’re not alone. Let’s walk it out together.