Recovering Out Loud

In this episode of Recovering Out Loud, Anthony sits down with Alexandra Perry, Director of Business Development for Inpatient and Virtual Programs, and former Executive Director at Trafalgar Addiction Treatment Centres. With over a decade of experience across nonprofit shelters, addiction treatment, and higher education, Alexandra brings a powerful mix of lived experience, leadership insight, and compassion to the conversation.

Together, we unpack:

• The real link between workplace stress, burnout, and substance use

• Why “recovery is a privilege” for some — and how that must change

• The truth about hitting rock bottom and why prevention matters more than ever

• How trauma, shame, and silence keep people sick

• What organizations can do to create trauma-informed, supportive spaces for employees

This is a raw, human conversation about systemic change, courage, and connection — reminding us all that recovery starts with empathy and asking for help.

In this emotional and deeply relatable episode of Recovering Out Loud, host Anthony  sits down with Eryl McCaffrey, a psychotherapist and woman in long-term recovery, to explore the toxic link between body image, perfectionism, and addiction.

Eryl opens up about growing up in an alcoholic home, chasing perfection to escape pain, and how her obsession with control over her body and success masked deeper wounds.
They dive into what it means to truly let go — to stop chasing validation and start building connection, spirituality, and self-acceptance.

You’ll learn:

• Why perfectionism and body image struggles often lead to addiction

• How trauma disconnects us from our bodies and our emotions

• What “relief” really means in early recovery

• Why spiritual connection is the antidote to self-destruction

• Daily recovery practices that rebuild peace, gratitude, and purpose

This conversation is for anyone stuck in the loop of not enoughness — and ready to find peace in their own skin.

If you’ve ever struggled with addiction, relapse, or finding long-term sobriety, this conversation will inspire you.

Host Anthony speaks with Allison, an intake counselor at Addiction Rehab Toronto, about her journey from active addiction to seven years of recovery. They unpack what really causes relapse, the importance of spirituality, practical tools like journaling and gratitude lists, and why sober support systems matter long after treatment ends.

You’ll hear personal experiences about triggers at social events, navigating shame, rebuilding trust with family, and how traveling and living sober can be joyful. Whether you’re new to recovery, supporting a loved one, or looking to deepen your sobriety, this episode offers hope and actionable advice.

Subscribe for more real recovery stories and tools for staying sober.

www.addictionrehabtoronto.ca

Today i sat down with Melanie Matthews, BSW, MSW, RSW Director of Clinical Programs at Canadian Addiction Treatment Centres

Melanie Matthews is a registered social worker with BSW and MSW degrees. She takes a collaborative approach to therapy and uses a person-centered approach while maintaining empathy and a non-judgemental stance.

Melanie has worked in social services and mental health since 2010 in several different areas of practice including residential treatment programs, educational settings, and not-for-profit organizations.

She uses primarily Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) in her work. She often works with youth and adult clients experiencing a range of issues, including depression, anxiety, and personality disorders.

Melanie co-authored a paper titled “A Review of Mental Health Services Offered by Canada’s English Language Universities“, which investigated the availability of mental health services offered to postsecondary students on campus compared to known prevalence rates of mental health issues.

She has also written a number of reports regarding best practices for youth serving programming offered by not-for-profit organizations across Ontario. She continues to engage in research and knowledge dissemination as a vehicle for advocacy and social justice.

Are you or a loved one struggling to find the right path to recovery? This episode dives deep into the world of addiction treatment and long-term sobriety.

Host Anthony speaks with Melanie, an addiction professional with personal recovery experience, about navigating the complex choices between virtual programs, outpatient care, and inpatient rehab. They discuss why some people relapse, what daily essentials help sustain long-term recovery, and how to choose the right treatment center.

This conversation also unpacks the difference between supporting and enabling a loved one, the role of families in recovery, and what to look for in public vs private treatment centers. Melanie also shares insights on medication-assisted recovery (like naltrexone and other emerging therapies), and how to stay connected to community and self-care.

Find her here

https://canatc.ca/biographies/melanie-matthews/

Subscribe for honest, practical advice and real recovery stories to inspire hope and healing.

After decades of drinking, failed restarts, and hitting countless rock bottoms, Tom found himself on the edge — alone in a Toronto condo, terrified and ready to end it all. But one small moment — looking into his dog’s eyes — changed everything.

In this raw and honest conversation, we talk about:

• Surviving suicidal thoughts and choosing life one day at a time

• Why “never too late” really matters in addiction recovery

• The unexpected kindness of a first AA Zoom meeting

• Practical tools to fight overwhelm: “next right thing,” morning check-ins, and self-compassion

If you’re struggling with addiction, self-worth, or feeling like change is impossible — this story will give you hope, practical recovery insights, and proof you’re not alone.

I say down with Chef Devan...

Driven by his desire and ambition to be the best in the business, Guyanese, Canadian Chef Devan Rajkumar (aka Chef Dev) has no boundaries when it comes to culinary exploration. 

Chef Devan Rajkumar is on a mission to create food worth sharing that modernizes the craft, traditions and tastes of East and West Indian cuisines. 

Whether that means owning the role of food expert on Cityline, traveling abroad to gain more experience and share his craft, appearing as a judge on Food Network Canada’s Fire Masters, developing signature soups with Mema Foods International or hosting pop-ups with chef peers both local and internationally on any given day.

This episode dives deep into the raw truths of addiction, relapse, and the ongoing journey of recovery. From finding podcasting as a lifeline in rehab, to rediscovering humility, service, and purpose, we explore how sobriety isn’t just about abstaining—it’s about learning how to live again.

You’ll hear powerful stories about:

• Relapsing after 8 years and starting over

• Wearing the “mask” and hiding behind ego

• Functional alcoholism and the danger of high performance in addiction

• How addiction stripped away passion—and how recovery brought it back

• Why humility, service, and honesty are the keys to lasting change

If you’re looking for hope, tools, and real conversations about recovery, addiction, and mental health, this episode will resonate.

In this powerful episode of Recovering Out Loud, we explore the raw and unfiltered journey of a man who transformed his life from violence, drugs, and street survival to healing, meditation, and spiritual awakening. He shares his earliest memories of abuse, how he lost himself behind masks and identities, and the pivotal moment that led him to leave the street life behind.

Through deep reflections on meditation, forgiveness, spirituality, and personal growth, this episode dives into how letting go of control, finding inner guides, and practicing awareness can completely change the course of a life.

If you’ve ever struggled with identity, trauma, addiction, or resentment, this conversation is a reminder that transformation is possible—and that healing starts from within.

This is Braydon Lynch's story In this episode, we dive into one of the rawest stories you’ll ever hear about addiction, relapse, and recovery. Our guest shares how his addiction spiraled out of control — from growing up in a small hockey town to chasing validation in comedy and social media — until one night in Times Square, New York, brought him to his absolute rock bottom.

Naked, lost, and locked out of his hotel at 4:30 AM, he hit a breaking point. But instead of ending his life, a moment of grace — and a prayer — turned everything around. This shocking yet inspiring story shows how addiction can strip us down to nothing, but recovery can build us back up stronger than ever.

If you’ve ever struggled with addiction or know someone who has, this conversation is for you. It’s about shame, resilience, higher power, and the hope that comes from choosing life.

🔔 Follow us for more powerful recovery stories, sober tools, and unfiltered conversations about mental health and addiction.

This powerful episode dives into the raw reality of addiction, relapse, and recovery. Hasan shares his journey from building a business, losing $2.5M, and spiralling into cocaine and Percocet addiction — to finding peace through treatment, Suboxone, and a 12-step program.

💡 You’ll hear about:

• Hitting rock bottom even after “having it all”

• The mental obsession and physical cravings that make addiction relentless

• How treatment, service, and spiritual growth brought lasting peace

• The role of prayer, meditation, and helping others in staying sober

Whether you’re in recovery, supporting someone who is, or just curious about the process, this conversation will inspire you to keep moving forward — one day at a time.

Jennifer Baxendale and Kirstin Rajala were in NYC to attend the February 2020 show. Inspired by the night, and with their shared passion for women’s stories and lively events, they’ve signed up to bring the series to Canada.

Generation Women blends a lively literary salon with the tradition of handing down wisdom from community elders. Join us around the matriarchal campfire for an intimate events that celebrates the hearts and minds of many. Alongside cis women, we cast all gender expressions including non-binary folk and trans women.

What these 2 women are doing is incredible and you need to check them out now! Generation women. Im looking forward to attending these shows in Toronto! For tickets click the link!

https://www.generationwomen.ca/