Relearning laughter, music, and the small things that bring back life

Joy doesn’t always return in big ways after a heart attack. More often, it arrives quietly — through tiny sparks you might not even notice at first. A familiar song. A sudden laugh. A calm morning. A small moment that feels… lighter.

In this episode, I share how joy slowly found its way back into my own recovery — not in dramatic bursts, but in gentle reminders that life was still worth leaning into.

Here’s what we cover:
• why joy returns quietly, not with a fanfare
• why men think they need everything “sorted” before they can feel good
• how laughter sneaks back in when you least expect it
• how music can reconnect you to the person you were before
• the tiny moments that show healing is happening
• why joy isn’t forgetting — it’s recovering

If you’ve felt even the smallest lift — a smile, a calmer breath, a lighter moment — that’s not random. That’s healing. And it’s worth paying attention to.

If you’ve noticed wee lifts here and there — a smile, a calm breath, a lighter moment — they’re not random.
 They’re part of your recovery. And you’re further along than you think.

Next week: “Gratitude Isn’t Weakness — How Thankfulness Turns Survival Into Strength.”

 Listen to Episode 13:
https://strongerafterthestorm.com/episodes

💻 Visit StrongerAfterTheStorm.com — the home of the podcast and weekly Reflection Letters.
📩 Each week I write an honest letter for men rebuilding life after a heart attack. You can join in on the site.
🎧 Make sure to follow the podcast so you don’t miss the next episode.
⭐ If something in this episode helped you, please leave a review on Apple or Spotify — it really helps more men find us.
🤝 And if you know someone going through the same storm, share this with him. It might be just what he needs today.

 Episode 12: The Anger Nobody Talks About — Hidden Frustration, Grief, and the Slow Process of Forgiveness 

Anger isn’t something men talk about after a heart attack — but it shows up more than we admit.
 Not the shouting, explosive kind… but the quiet frustration, the short fuse, the “why me?” moments, and the resentment that no one sees.

In this episode, I’m talking honestly about the anger that creeps in during recovery:

• the hidden grief behind it
• the frustration of feeling changed
• the guilt that comes with snapping at the wrong moments
• and the slow, uncomfortable process of learning how to forgive yourself

This isn’t about pretending everything’s fine.
 It’s about understanding where the anger really comes from — and how to move through it without shame.

If you’ve felt that edge in yourself lately, you’re not alone.
 This episode might help you make sense of it.

🎧 Listen now: https://strongerafterthestorm.com/episodes/

💻 Visit StrongerAfterTheStorm.com — the home of the podcast and weekly Reflection Letters.
📩 Each week I write an honest letter for men rebuilding life after a heart attack. You can join in on the site.
🎧 Make sure to follow the podcast so you don’t miss the next episode.
⭐ If something in this episode helped you, please leave a review on Apple or Spotify — it really helps more men find us.
🤝 And if you know someone going through the same storm, share this with him. It might be just what he needs today.

The Loneliness Men Feel — the quiet kind that doesn’t look like loneliness at all.

In this episode, I talk about the subtle, hard-to-explain moments of loneliness that showed up during my recovery — even though I had people around me, support, and check-ins.
 It’s not about being physically alone… it’s about that feeling of being slightly “out of sync” with the world.

I share:

• why men often hide this feeling
• how loneliness shows up in tiny, everyday moments
• the difference between contact and real connection
• the small steps that helped me feel part of life again

If you’ve experienced that quiet sense of disconnection during recovery, you’re definitely not alone — and there’s nothing wrong with you.
 This episode might help you feel understood, seen, and a little less isolated in the process.

🎧 Listen now and take the next step in your emotional recovery.

💻 Visit StrongerAfterTheStorm.com — the home of the podcast and weekly Reflection Letters.
📩 Each week I write an honest letter for men rebuilding life after a heart attack. You can join in on the site.
🎧 Make sure to follow the podcast so you don’t miss the next episode.
⭐ If something in this episode helped you, please leave a review on Apple or Spotify — it really helps more men find us.
🤝 And if you know someone going through the same storm, share this with him. It might be just what he needs today.

Episode 10 — When the Panic Comes Back

That moment when the panic hits again — out of nowhere — is one of the hardest parts of recovering after a heart attack. You think you’re doing better… and suddenly your chest tightens, your breathing changes, and your mind jumps straight to fear.

In this episode, I’m talking honestly about those moments:

• What they feel like
• Why they happen (even months after your event)
• What I’ve learned about managing them
• And the tools that help me calm my system before it spirals

If you’ve ever felt ashamed, embarrassed, or frustrated when the fear comes back, this one’s for you. You’re not going backwards. And you’re definitely not alone.

Take a breath. Tune in. Let’s walk through it together.

🎧 Listen now and share it with someone who needs to hear this.

💻 Visit StrongerAfterTheStorm.com — the home of the podcast and weekly Reflection Letters.
📩 Each week I write an honest letter for men rebuilding life after a heart attack. You can join in on the site.
🎧 Make sure to follow the podcast so you don’t miss the next episode.
⭐ If something in this episode helped you, please leave a review on Apple or Spotify — it really helps more men find us.
🤝 And if you know someone going through the same storm, share this with him. It might be just what he needs today.

In this week’s episode, Dougie takes us back to those first few weeks after his heart attack — when recovery was still new, quiet, and uncertain.

He talks about rebuilding life one small habit at a time: gentle mornings filled with gratitude, coffee, and stillness.
 And yes — the little puppy who arrived right when he needed company most.

This isn’t about morning motivation or productivity. It’s about calm.
 It’s about the quiet moments that slowly start to rebuild your confidence, your rhythm, and your strength — inside and out.

🎧 Listen now to Episode 9: The New Morning Routine — Creating calm in the chaos, one gentle morning at a time.

👉 https://strongerafterthestorm.com/episodes

💻 Visit StrongerAfterTheStorm.com — the home of the podcast and weekly Reflection Letters.
📩 Each week I write an honest letter for men rebuilding life after a heart attack. You can join in on the site.
🎧 Make sure to follow the podcast so you don’t miss the next episode.
⭐ If something in this episode helped you, please leave a review on Apple or Spotify — it really helps more men find us.
🤝 And if you know someone going through the same storm, share this with him. It might be just what he needs today.

After a heart attack, it’s not just your body that changes — it’s how you see yourself.
That moment when you catch your reflection and feel like you’re looking at someone else — weaker, older, unsure.

In this episode, Dougie talks about that quiet shock of self-image in recovery, how healing shifts your sense of identity, and how to start seeing pride in the man who’s still standing.

It’s not about getting back to who you were — it’s about respecting who you’ve become.

Listen now for a calm reminder that your reflection isn’t your past — it’s your progress.

💻 Visit StrongerAfterTheStorm.com — the home of the podcast and weekly Reflection Letters.
📩 Each week I write an honest letter for men rebuilding life after a heart attack. You can join in on the site.
🎧 Make sure to follow the podcast so you don’t miss the next episode.
⭐ If something in this episode helped you, please leave a review on Apple or Spotify — it really helps more men find us.
🤝 And if you know someone going through the same storm, share this with him. It might be just what he needs today.

For many men, rest feels like the hardest part of recovery. After a lifetime of working, providing, and pushing through, being told to stop can feel like weakness — even failure.

In this episode, Dougie opens up about the long stretch of recovery between his heart attack and returning to work — the stillness that tested his patience, his identity, and his pride.

He shares how learning to rest without guilt became one of the most powerful parts of his healing journey. From quiet walks in nature to simply sitting in stillness, Dougie discovered that real strength isn’t found in doing more — it’s found in learning when to stop.

If you’ve ever struggled with slowing down or felt guilty for taking time to recover, this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen in to rediscover the meaning of strength, rest, and recovery — and how to give yourself the grace to heal.

💻 Visit: https://strongerafterthestorm.com

📩 Join Dougie’s free Reflection Letters for men rebuilding life after a heart attack.
⭐ Follow, rate, and share to help another man find his way back to strength.

💻 Visit StrongerAfterTheStorm.com — the home of the podcast and weekly Reflection Letters.
📩 Each week I write an honest letter for men rebuilding life after a heart attack. You can join in on the site.
🎧 Make sure to follow the podcast so you don’t miss the next episode.
⭐ If something in this episode helped you, please leave a review on Apple or Spotify — it really helps more men find us.
🤝 And if you know someone going through the same storm, share this with him. It might be just what he needs today.

When a heart attack forces life to stop, the world keeps moving — and that’s where the fear creeps in.
 In this episode, Dougie opens up about what happened when his small forestry business came to a sudden halt after his heart attack.

He talks honestly about the financial panic that followed, the slow rebuild, and the identity shift that comes when you can no longer rely on the strength that once defined you.

From quiet Christmases to family support, from fear to gratitude — this is an episode about finding worth beyond work and learning that asking for help isn’t weakness, it’s survival.

If you’re facing recovery and wondering how to keep going, how to rebuild, or what your work means now — this one’s for you.

🎧 Listen in for truth, reassurance, and the reminder that the storm might have paused your plans — but it hasn’t ended your purpose.

💻 Visit StrongerAfterTheStorm.com — the home of the podcast and weekly Reflection Letters.
📩 Each week I write an honest letter for men rebuilding life after a heart attack. You can join in on the site.
🎧 Make sure to follow the podcast so you don’t miss the next episode.
⭐ If something in this episode helped you, please leave a review on Apple or Spotify — it really helps more men find us.
🤝 And if you know someone going through the same storm, share this with him. It might be just what he needs today.

When you’re facing a heart attack, your first thought isn’t always about yourself — it’s about the people you love.
 In this deeply personal episode, Dougie shares the story of his own heart attack and the question that changed everything:
 “What will my family do without me?”

From that moment of fear came something unexpected — clarity, gratitude, and what he calls an awakening to life.

Join Dougie as he reflects on the night everything changed, how recovery reshaped his outlook, and the quiet lessons that helped him rebuild.
 This episode is a reminder that even after the storm, life can feel richer, calmer, and more meaningful than before.

If you’ve ever worried about your loved ones more than yourself, this one’s for you.

🎧 In this episode:

• Facing the night of the heart attack
• The moment of awakening
• Learning gratitude and connection
• Finding purpose after survival

💻 Visit StrongerAfterTheStorm.com
for past episodes, stories, and Reflection Letters.
📩 Join Dougie’s weekly letter — real talk for men rebuilding life after a heart attack.
⭐ Subscribe, share, and leave a review on your favourite podcast platform — it helps others find the show.

💻 Visit StrongerAfterTheStorm.com — the home of the podcast and weekly Reflection Letters.
📩 Each week I write an honest letter for men rebuilding life after a heart attack. You can join in on the site.
🎧 Make sure to follow the podcast so you don’t miss the next episode.
⭐ If something in this episode helped you, please leave a review on Apple or Spotify — it really helps more men find us.
🤝 And if you know someone going through the same storm, share this with him. It might be just what he needs today.

🎧 Episode 4: When Friends Just Don’t Understand – How to Keep Your Circle Involved Without Losing Yourself

When you come home after a heart attack, you expect life with your mates to go back to normal — but it rarely does. In this episode, Dougie opens up about the awkward shift that happens when friends mean well but just don’t understand what you’re going through.

From feeling pressure to “be fine” to realising that the banter hits differently now, Dougie talks honestly about friendship, boundaries, and what it means to stay connected when your world has changed. He shares simple ways to keep your circle involved — with honesty, space, and truth — without losing yourself in the process.

If you’ve ever felt like your friends just don’t get it, or you’re tired of pretending you’re “back to normal,” this one’s for you.

💻 Visit StrongerAfterTheStorm.com to join the weekly Reflection Letters — real talk for men rebuilding life after a heart attack.

💻 Visit StrongerAfterTheStorm.com — the home of the podcast and weekly Reflection Letters.
📩 Each week I write an honest letter for men rebuilding life after a heart attack. You can join in on the site.
🎧 Make sure to follow the podcast so you don’t miss the next episode.
⭐ If something in this episode helped you, please leave a review on Apple or Spotify — it really helps more men find us.
🤝 And if you know someone going through the same storm, share this with him. It might be just what he needs today.