PODCAST · society
Matthew Heneghan: Unfiltered
by Matthew Heneghan
I’m Matthew Heneghan — a Canadian veteran and former paramedic.I’ve seen what happens when things go wrong — in people, in systems, and in real life.This channel is honest commentary on life, culture, crisis, and recovery.No spin. No ideology. No pretending.Just real perspective from someone who’s been there.
Episodes
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Minor Hockey Season Ending Hits Harder Than It Should
Minor hockey season ending hits harder than it should — and if you're a youth hockey parent, you know exactly what I mean. When the end of hockey season rolls around, it feels like more than just the last game. It feels like a chapter closing.In this episode, I talk about why youth hockey parents...
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Jamie Foxx BAFTA Take on Tourette’s Is Medically Wrong
In this video, I break down why Jamie Foxx’s reaction to the BAFTA Tourette’s incident is medically wrong — and what the brain science actually says.At the 2026 BAFTA Awards, a man with Tourette’s syndrome shouted a racial slur during the ceremony. Jamie Foxx responded on Instagram saying, “Nah…
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Bad Bunny Super Bowl Show and the Message Problem
📺 Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Show and the Message ProblemBad Bunny Super Bowl halftime show reaction from a former medic turned author. This isn’t a rant or a political take. It’s a real-world perspective on why entertainment feels different lately.In this episode of Unwritten Chapters, I…
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What Is a Veteran? Combat vs Service Explained
What is a veteran? This video breaks down the veteran definition and the real difference between combat veteran vs veteran—without the ego, the gatekeeping, or the internet chest-thumping.Someone said if you never deployed to a combat zone, you shouldn’t call yourself a veteran. I’m going to...
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Admitting I Was Wrong Changed Everything
Admitting I was wrong changed everything. This is a real-life story about accountability, owning your mistakes, and what happens when you choose growth over ego.In this episode of Unwritten Chapters, I talk honestly about pulling a video, apologizing publicly, and realizing that being right…
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Tumbler Ridge Shooting A Former Paramedic’s Ground Level Take
Unwritten Chapters with Matthew Heneghan is a solo channel about modern life, meaning, and the parts of the story that don’t fit neatly into slogans.Hosted by a veteran, former army medic, ex-paramedic, and nonfiction author, the channel blends lived experience with cultural commentary…
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Why People Get Angry At Your Healing
Why People Get Angry At Your HealingSomething strange happens when you start getting better.Not everyone celebrates it.In this episode of Unwritten Chapters, I talk honestly about why healing, sobriety, therapy, growth, or simply changing your life can make other people uncomfortable, defensive…
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What Alcohol Took From Me
For a long time, alcohol felt like it was helping me survive.I didn’t realize what it was costing me until much later.In this episode of Unwritten Chapters, I talk honestly about what alcohol took from me — not in dramatic headlines or recovery slogans, but in the quiet, cumulative ways that…
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The Day I Stopped Judging Suicide
I used to judge suicide.Then a man I worked with died on shift.In this episode of Unwritten Chapters, I tell the story of paramedic Greg Turner and the day I stopped judging suicide. I talk honestly about what it’s like to lose a brother in uniform, how PTSD and unspoken trauma eat people alive,...
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Two Americans Dead And Nobody Is Asking Why
Two Americans are dead after an ICE protest turned violent — and nobody seems interested in asking the uncomfortable questions.In this episode of Unwritten Chapters, I talk honestly about what really happened at the ICE protest, how the media is framing the shooting, and why our political climate...
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A Veteran Reacts To Trump’s NATO Comments
In this episode of Unwritten Chapters, Matthew Heneghan — former Canadian Armed Forces medic, civilian paramedic, recovering alcoholic, and author — delivers a raw, unfiltered response to Donald Trump’s recent NATO comments and his claim that allied troops “stayed a little back from the front...
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BC Paramedics Going on Strike Will Cost Lives
Canada’s healthcare system is already failing — and it’s about to get worse.In this short, I explain what a potential paramedic strike in British Columbia really means for public safety, 911 response times, and patient care. Based on my lived experience as a former army medic, ex-paramedic, and...
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Stranger Things Finale Review What Writers Notice
Stranger Things Season Finale Review through a writer’s eyes and a fan’s heart.In this episode of Unwritten Chapters I break down what the Stranger Things finale does right and what most people miss on a first watch. Not plot trivia. Not outrage. The craft. The choices. The emotional beats that...
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2026 Is Your Year to Write a Book Start Here
If you’ve been telling yourself “one day I’ll write it” while carrying everyone else’s weight… this is your sign.In 2019 I wrote a book largely by accident. I wasn’t “ready.” I wasn’t confident. I wasn’t some disciplined writer with a perfect morning routine and a color coded calendar. I was a...
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Canada Wants 300,000 Troops Can This Even Work
Canada wants 300000 troops across the Regular Force, Primary Reserve, and a Supplementary Reserve that could include civil servants. On paper it sounds bold. In real life it raises a question nobody is answering clearly:Can this even work?In this episode of Unwritten Chapters, I break down…
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The Christmas Story Nobody Tells About Canadian Troops
Santa wasn’t supposed to find this kind of house on Christmas Eve.No Christmas tree. No stockings. No cookies.Just combat boots by the mantle, sand where comfort should be, and a Canadian soldier sleeping alone on the floor.In this episode of Unwritten Chapters, I recite an original Christmas…
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Gender Inequality On Ice With Our Daughters
A “home” tournament that isn’t at home.No ref for a girls’ gold medal game.A 13-year-old boy watching for three seconds before saying, “They suck.”In this episode, Gender Inequality On Ice With Our Daughters, I talk about what it’s like trying to raise two girls in a man’s world… while sitting in...
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Former Army Medic Defends Women Who Step Into Fire
In this episode of Unwritten Chapters, I do something a little different: I hit play on two videos and react in real time — as a former army medic, long-time paramedic, and guy who’s watched a lot of people quietly fall apart while the world tells them to “be strong.”First up is the Monochromatic...
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Tomorrow Never Comes This Is All You Get
There is no “tomorrow.”You never wake up there. You only ever wake up here.In this solo episode of Unwritten Chapters, I talk honestly about what it means to live in the now when you’ve got a brain full of flashbacks, burnout, and worst-case scenarios. As a former army medic and paramedic turned...
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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...
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Rock Bottom Is a Checkpoint: My Story of Alcoholism and Recovery
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…
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Jill McKnight, Liberal Budget Cuts, and What Canadian Veterans Lose
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...
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Remembrance Day Poppy Debate: Don Cherry, Identity, and Canadian Unity
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...
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Becoming Michael Myers: Why Fear Can Be Therapy
Every October, the quiet town of Falkland transforms into something out of a nightmare — and I’m right at the center of it. Dressed as Michael Myers, I stalk through the fog and screams of “The Hunt,” an attraction my brother Kozy and I help bring to life for The Haunting of Falkland. But for me,...
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Chase De Balinhard: System Failure or Police Blame?
In this episode, I dive into the controversial RCMP shooting of Chase De Balinhard in Surrey, British Columbia — a neurodivergent man carrying what appeared to be a firearm near a school, later revealed to be a pellet gun. While headlines rushed to condemn the police and call for inquiries, I...
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Stoic Wisdom on Fathers and Mothers: Meditations for Recovery
Matthew reads Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations and traces how Stoic reflections on fathers, grandfathers, and mothers echo through his own story—childhood abuse, addiction, PTSD, and the hard choice to heal. He connects Marcus’s gratitude for simple living and moral discipline to modern life,...
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When Expectations Exhaust You: Finding Permission to Rest
Expectations can feel like bricks in a backpack — the ones you pile on yourself, the ones other people stack on you, and even the ones you quietly hand out to others. Eventually, it all gets heavy. In this episode of Unwritten Chapters, Matthew opens up about how volunteering at the annual…
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The Lie About Always Staying Positive
The Lie About Always Staying Positive Ever been told to “just stay positive” — like it’s some kind of magic cure? Yeah, me too. In this episode, I answer a follower’s question about how I “always” keep a positive mindset. The truth? I don’t. I talk about the pressure we put on ourselves to be...
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Processing Charlie Kirk’s Death: Raw Thoughts and a Podcast Reboot
In this episode of Unwritten Chapters, Matthew sits down to process the shocking murder of Charlie Kirk and what it means in today’s divided world. More than just a headline, this moment sparked reflection — on grief, anger, politics, and the importance of speaking truth without a filter. Matthew...
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Notes from Greece: Love, Chaos & Sun-Soaked Streets
In this episode of Unwritten Chapters, Matthew Heneghan takes you on a raw, unfiltered journey through Greece — from the cracked streets of Athens to the sun-soaked chaos of Rhodes. What you’ll hear in this episode: Why Anthony Bourdain was right about the real meaning of travel. How the streets…
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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...
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Paramedic Mental Health Crisis: 9 Suicides in 7 Months | PTSD, Trauma & System Failure
Nine paramedics lost to suicide in British Columbia in just seven months. This is not just a mental health crisis — this is a system failure. In this raw and unfiltered episode of Unwritten Chapters, former Canadian Armed Forces medic and civilian paramedic Matthew Heneghan pulls back the curtain...
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Why I Wrote About Hulk Hogan’s Death — And Why It’s Not What You Think | Nostalgia, Grief & Cancel Culture
On July 24th, Terry Bollea — better known as Hulk Hogan — passed away at the age of 71. I wrote a post reflecting on what that meant to me, and the backlash was swift. In this video, I unpack that post, the controversy that followed, and the deeper meaning behind my words. This isn’t about...
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Why Some Trauma "Matters" and Others Don’t | PTSD, Justice, and the Gladue Double Standard
Why does the justice system show compassion for some trauma — but not for others? In this episode of Unwritten Chapters, I explore the unequal application of empathy in Canadian courts. From PTSD and veteran struggles to the racial lens of the Gladue ruling, this is a raw breakdown of how pain is...
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Unwritten Chapters Podcast: New Schedule & Updates!
We are transitioning to a bi-weekly format to enhance content quality and allow for better focus on mental health, personal growth, and life reflections. We also have a new podcast, Haunted B.C., featuring spooky stories from British Columbia. Thank you for your support! #MentalHealthPodcast...
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Ketel Marte Controversy: What MLB Fans Need to Know Right Now
What’s really going on with Ketel Marte? In this episode of Unwritten Chapters, I unpack the situation surrounding Arizona Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte, the swirling controversy, and what it says about professional sports culture, pressure, and public perception. If you’re an MLB fan trying to...
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Combat Trauma & Leadership: Insights from Bart Womack
From insider attack survivor to leadership expert — this is the untold cost of combat trauma and resilience. In this episode of Unwritten Chapters, I sit down with Command Sergeant Major (Ret.) Bart Womack, author of Embedded Enemy. Bart shares his firsthand experience surviving a brutal insider...
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Family Trauma & Boundaries: When Love Comes with Conditions
Family trauma runs deep — and sometimes, it echoes through generations. In this episode of Unwritten Chapters, I share a recent experience that reopened an old wound — a message from a family member that didn’t ask how I was, didn’t recognize what I’ve survived, but instead demanded…
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The Hidden Cost of Legal Immigration: Waiting Without Answers
Legal immigration shouldn’t feel like punishment — but for many, it does. In this episode of Unwritten Chapters, I explore the emotional toll of doing everything “by the book” and still being left in limbo. Inspired by the stories of legal immigrants caught in the shadows of ICE raids — and my…
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I was diagnosed with PTSD in 2017—last week, I used what I’ve learned to save a life.
PTSD nearly ended my life in 2017. Last week, I used my recovery to save someone else's. In this powerful episode for PTSD Awareness Month, I share my journey from diagnosis as a paramedic to real-world healing—culminating in a moment where my recovery truly came full circle. 🎧 What You’ll Hear…
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0.0 Beer Isn’t a Relapse: Sobriety Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All
If you drink 0.0 beer, you're not broken — and you haven't failed. In this episode of Unwritten Chapters, I speak from experience about the nuance of sobriety — including why I used 0.0 beer early in my recovery, why I’ve moved away from it, and why I still don’t believe it’s a relapse. Recovery…
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CBC Interview: Trauma, Service & the Honour That Changed Everything
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...
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Mental Health, Grief, and Life After Trauma – Interview on The Last Show with David Cooper
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...
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I Stayed Sober Without AA: 12 Things That Saved My Life
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...
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Healing Means Letting Go — Even of Family
Episode Summary: In this raw and reflective episode of Unwritten Chapters, I open up about the complicated trauma that comes not from the battlefield, but from the living room. From family. From silence. As a veteran, former paramedic, and survivor of PTSD, I share a personal account of emotional...
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Val Kilmer: How Iceman Saved My Life (You Won't Believe It)
Explore the emotional impact of movies with our heartfelt tribute to Val Kilmer. Discover a personal story of hope and resilience inspired by his iconic roles. Join us as we celebrate his unforgettable screen presence and the influence of 'Iceman' on finding strength in unseen moments....
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How Val Kilmer and Top Gun Saved Me From Leaving the Military
In this emotional episode of the Unwritten Chapters Podcast, host Matthew Heneghan shares a powerful true story about staying in the military after watching Top Gun during a lonely Christmas on base. This heartfelt Val Kilmer tribute explores military mental health, the quiet strength of Iceman,...
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First Responder Realities: Why We Need to Listen to the Silence
Episode Description: Have you ever felt the profound weight of silence—the kind of silence that carries more meaning than words ever could? In this emotionally charged episode of Unwritten Chapters, join me as I recount my powerful visit to a paramedic station in Salmon Arm, BC, during Christmas...
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Navigating Canadian Politics: Turning Political Division into Respectful Disagreement
In this timely episode, we tackle the challenging world of Canadian politics ahead of the upcoming federal election. With growing political division causing family arguments and heated online arguments, how can we manage election anxiety and social media conflict? We’ll explore recent…
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Receiving the King Charles Medal: A Veteran’s Journey through PTSD, Imposter Syndrome, and Personal Growth
In this heartfelt and deeply personal episode of Unwritten Chapters, host Matthew Heneghan shares his extraordinary experience of receiving the prestigious King Charles III Coronation Medal. Matthew candidly discusses the complex emotions he experienced, including battles with imposter syndrome,...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
I’m Matthew Heneghan — a Canadian veteran and former paramedic.I’ve seen what happens when things go wrong — in people, in systems, and in real life.This channel is honest commentary on life, culture, crisis, and recovery.No spin. No ideology. No pretending.Just real perspective from someone who’s been there.
HOSTED BY
Matthew Heneghan
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Matthew Heneghan: Unfiltered have?
Matthew Heneghan: Unfiltered currently has 371 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Matthew Heneghan: Unfiltered about?
I’m Matthew Heneghan — a Canadian veteran and former paramedic.I’ve seen what happens when things go wrong — in people, in systems, and in real life.This channel is honest commentary on life, culture, crisis, and recovery.No spin. No ideology. No pretending.Just real perspective from someone who’s...
How often does Matthew Heneghan: Unfiltered release new episodes?
Matthew Heneghan: Unfiltered publishes regularly with 371 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Matthew Heneghan: Unfiltered?
You can listen to Matthew Heneghan: Unfiltered on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Matthew Heneghan: Unfiltered?
Matthew Heneghan: Unfiltered is created and hosted by Matthew Heneghan.
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