Off The Clock Toolbox Talk

23/07/2024

NEW EPISODE ALERT! "Aeris's Story - Part 2" is now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or your fave podcast platform. Links at www.tradespodcast.com/s3-ep7 . PLEASE SHARE!

"Aeris’s Story - Part 2" picks up where Aeris is just coming back to reality after being in a coma for approximately one month. His steadfast family helps him slowly recover from kidney, liver and brain damage. Advocating on his behalf, his family asks the doctors for a pain specialist as they believe Aeris consumed poisoned drug supply because he was attempting to self-medicate his pain from multiple surgeries and ongoing complex medical diagnoses.

With the prevailing assumptions about people who access unregulated drug supply, instead of a pain specialist, Aeris is given an addictions doctor. While he has minimal intellectual functioning as his brain is still swollen and recovering, instead of supporting him with pain management, the healthcare system coerces him into going on OAT (Opioid Agonist Treatment) that effectively causes him to become dependent on opioids that don’t actually address his pain. So as Aeris fights to regain his intellectual capacity and day-to-day functioning in his life - by virtue of what OAT is - he is now also dependent on opioids again and he is humiliated daily by a doctor who refuses to take him or his family at their word.

Because Aeris is willing to do anything and everything he can to recover, to be there for his kids and family, he tolerates this inhumane treatment from the medical system for over a year. Eventually, Aeris becomes well enough that he’s able to self-advocate to find another more trauma-informed doctor who supports Aeris to manage his own Suboxone tapering. Aeris is eventually able to fully recover, including recovery of dignity.

Between ongoing Crohn’s Disease and other Crohn's-related health issues that have emerged, Aeris’s rebar days come to a mutually-agreeable end. While Aeris is feeling lost without his rod busting crew, an opportunity to become a drug testing specialist with Mountainside Harm Reduction Society emerges where Aeris is able to utilize all his personal and family experiences with substances, and give other folks the supports that he rarely found.

“Be kind to that person on the street. You don’t know what they're dealing with and sometimes one moment of kindness could honestly save a life. Do the best to advocate yourself, or do your best because I know it can be really hard. And get your drugs checked!” – Aeris Finch

Fraser House Society MomsStopTheHarm Mission Overdose Community Action Team Daniel Snyder Langley Overdose Response: Community Action Team Karen Janzen Mountainside Harm Reduction Society

23/07/2024

Two awesome dudes! Here's OTCTBT co-host Daniel Snyder when he "accidentally" met current guest Aeris Finch a day before recording the most recent episodes. While in a meeting, Daniel (Langley Community Action Team) says to Aeris (Mountainside Harm Reduction Society), "Hey, I think I'm interviewing you tomorrow!" 🤣

"Aeris's Story - Part 2" is now available on Spotify, Apple and other podcast platforms. Links will also be posted here today. Both Part 1 and 2 are MUST LISTEN TO episodes! You'll be so inspired by Aeris's convo with Daniel and Karen about his miraculous journey. Thanks for sharing, Aeris!
🖤💛🖤

Langley Overdose Response: Community Action Team Mission Community Services Society Mountainside Harm Reduction Society

18/07/2024

NEW EPISODE ALERT! "Aeris's Story - Part 1" is now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or your fave podcast platform. Links at www.tradespodcast.com/s3-ep6 . PLEASE SHARE!

As rod buster Aeris Finch refers to partway through his story, his struggle really began at age 11, when he lost his older brother to an M**A accident. But some of the effects of that trauma didn’t emerge until he began experimenting with substances himself as a teenager.

Another layer of complexity emerged when Aeris developed painful and debilitating Crohn’s disease while working rebar as a young adult. While Aeris’s description of his day-to-day existence with Crohn’s is graphic, it highlights the desperation of ridiculous circumstances that many tradespeople with extreme stressors have to navigate while trying to meet the grueling demands of physically intensive labour.

The stakes rise yet again in Aeris’s story as he desperately clings to the company he works for, doing everything he can to provide for his new family. In the midst of trying to find some brief relief, he comes into toxic drug supply, and stops breathing for long enough that - for all intents and purposes - he is brain-dead. Remarkably kept alive for weeks by machines and medical interventions, Aeris survives against medical prognosis.

We leave Part 1 as Aeris emerges from his coma and begins to return to reality from intense brain swelling. But the story is only half over. Listen to Aeris’s Story Part 2 (coming soon) to find out what happened next as Aeris tries to recover from hypoxic brain injury from drug poisoning.

Fraser House Society Mission Overdose Community Action Team MomsStopTheHarm Karen Janzen Daniel Snyder

05/07/2024

Karen, Dee and Jason from Off The Clock Toolbox Talk recently attended the 2nd Annual “Meet The Generals and Owners,” hosted by ICBA - Independent Contractors and Businesses Association.

What a fantastic networking opportunity to promote the podcast to major general contractors, developers, owners and other professionals in the construction industry.. Over 1,500 people were in attendance at JW Marriott Parq Vancouver.

Everyone we met was extremely supportive. "This is SO needed" is feedback we heard from numerous attendees. We also met Leslie, a dedicated listener who works as a counsellor in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. She looks forward to handing out OTCTBT stickers to the men she's currently working with who are facing challenging times - many from the trades. 😞

THANK YOU for a spectacular event!

25/06/2024

NEW EPISODE ALERT! "Superintendent Summit" is now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or your fave podcast platform. Links at www.tradespodcast.com/s3-ep5 . PLEASE SHARE!

Superintendent Summit features an in-depth discussion about how to lead work sites in a day where all our crews are affected by mental health and overdose (drug poisoning). From their own experiences, Superintendents Duncan Jordan and Trevor Botkin together with CSO Shane Sewell discuss many of the factors that have to be juggled between the demands of the business and the wellness of the crews; both ends need to be balanced to produce profit and have a crew healthy enough to produce the profit.

Duncan and Trevor discuss that a super’s job is not to be a psychologist or counsellor. But when they can build a crew where people feel seen and heard - where the super is perceived as approachable by crew members, when crew members see themselves as invested in the physical and mental safety of the worksite - then striking the balance between profit and wellness becomes attainable. The development of these social skills, however, are not typically afforded to a superintendent; it often happens through a super’s personal journey or recovery. And that’s difficult to facilitate as an active Superintendent.

Duncan emphasizes the importance of education in all things safety – physical on-site safety, safety with drug use, and safety with one’s mental health. Duncan gets personal and tells us how he tries to educate folks through the story of loved ones he’s lost to su***de. Trevor shares that he’s also lost beloved crew members to su***de. They agree that these losses drive them to take an extra moment with crew members, friends and family, even when there’s so much on their plate.

Co-host Karen ties it up with a feeling that project participants have expressed before, that all these beloved people we’ve lost in construction - perhaps its their energy that carries us forward in the work we do to create a world where people can talk about these things, where previous generations could not.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, 988 is Canada’s su***de crisis line. You can call by yourself, 24/7, or you can call together with a buddy. Many of us in the Off the Clock Toolbox Talk community know these feelings and are sending out our love and hope to you.
🖤💛🖤

Fraser House Society Mission Overdose Community Action Team MomsStopTheHarm ***de

18/06/2024

NEW EPISODE ALERT! "CSO Shane's Story" is now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or your fave podcast platform. Links at www.tradespodcast.com/s3-ep4 . PLEASE SHARE!

CSO Shane Sewell (different than Shayne’s Story) takes us on his heart’s journey from an 8-year-old with an invisible disability and an abusive parent, to an adult inner life that was continually erupting with low self esteem and feeling like he wasn’t good enough.

Shane relates to many with tales of public school failure, difficulty fitting in, and eventually living a life that centred around substance use. His unconscious trauma responses, that outwardly appeared in his drug and alcohol use, caused the loss of his first marriage and brought him to a place where he couldn’t even carry on basic life functioning. With no other options, he entered treatment at Maple Ridge Treatment Centre and began putting the pieces back together.

Eventually Shane found a new partner whom he credits with helping him recover. Together they had a daughter, and Shane began noticing that he was doing all the same things to his family that his dad had done to him. A return visit to Maple Ridge Treatment Centre gave Shane the tools and recovery capital he needed to build a life that had meaning for him. He found that meaning by helping others through his work as a CSO, which feeds his soul as much as it feeds his family.

Thank-you, Shane, for helping us understand through our hearts, which sometimes work better than our brains. ❤️

Fraser House Society Mission Overdose Community Action Team MomsStopTheHarm Trevor Botkin Karen Janzen

14/06/2024

Throwback to last Thursday when (OTCTBT) joined the Community Action Teams from Delta, Surrey, South Surrey/White Rock and Langley for their cross-community Peer BBQ at White Rock Beach. It was a beautiful day with beautiful people. 😀😀😀

Podcast Coordinator Delanne (Dee) Young enjoyed hanging out with Phil and Blake (Delta CAT) who sit on the OTCTBT Steering Committee. Daniel (Langley CAT) - one of our co-hosts - was also there! Thanks to the organizers for inviting us to join you!

Langley Overdose Response: Community Action Team Surrey Community Action Team Tides of Change - South Surrey/White Rock Community Action Team Delta Community Action Teami

11/06/2024

NEW EPISODE ALERT!! "Jason's Story" is now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or your fave podcast platform. Links at www.tradespodcast.com/s3-ep3 . PLEASE SHARE!

Jason White, electrician and former rock star hopeful, shares his story of substance use, addiction, and the sharp turn that snatched him out of a sinking darkness, showing him a better way of being.

Like many people’s stories contain powerful moments of change, Jason’s includes a moment of divine intervention, followed up by an unlikely confirmation days later that played out on a tour bus in stopped traffic in the middle of the Trans Canada Highway with a film crew on board. You can still watch this music video that captured the moment and catch a glimpse of Jason at this point in his life (he's the singer!). Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1__RgU7WD4

Jason ties up his story with heartfelt outreach to other men who are struggling with mental health and substance use. Jason also reflects on losing a family member to su***de, encouraging men to find someone around them they can talk to, and encouraging foremen and other leaders to be that guy who asks others how its really going.

Special thanks to Nightingale Electrical Ltd. for supporting this episode and !

Fraser House Society Mission Overdose Community Action Team MomsStopTheHarm

08/06/2024

THANK YOU to the following Community Action Teams for inviting Off The Clock Toolbox Talk to attend the recent CAT Peer BBQ at White Rock Beach.. A beautiful day! We'll be posting our pics soon. Langley Overdose Response: Community Action Team Surrey Community Action Team Tides of Change - South Surrey/White Rock Community Action Team Delta Community Action Team

04/06/2024

NEW EPISODE ALERT!! "Losing Someone to 'Overdose'" is now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or your fave podcast platform. Links at www.tradespodcast.com/s3-ep2 . PLEASE SHARE!

If you've been looking for relatable, non-invasive support after losing someone to overdose (drug poisoning), you've found it. Holding heartbreak in one hand and inspiration to take action in the other, Kale Moth and Julie Cochrane explore life after losing their loved one to overdose.

Kale talks about the increasing crisis in Saskatchewan where he works, having lost 23 co-workers in the last 6 years. Julie talks about her professional practice, as a hypnotherapist, inspired to bring timely and effective services to young men who are suffering from their own pain, loss, and mental health issues.

Julie quickly transitions into her grief journey where she just needed to take action, to learn and prevent other families from going through the suffering her family has. From the surreal moments the police showed up at their door, to seeing the overdose crisis being politically weaponized, this episode meaningfully moves through the personal tragedy, the what-if's, stigma, and how we move forward, together.

Resources mentioned in this episode are Mom's Stop the Harm's "Holding Hope" group for people supporting a loved one using substances AND "Healing Hearts" for families who have had a death from drug poisoning. Visit www.momsstoptheharm.com to learn more.

Fraser House Society Mission Overdose Community Action Team MomsStopTheHarm

02/06/2024

(OTCTBT) was catching attention at the 6th Annual BC Substance Use Conference today. 😀

Kat Wahamaa from the “Ditch the Tough, Keep the Love” episode spoke about Action Through Arts. Podcast co-host Trevor Botkin and Greg Hemminger (Tailgate Toolkit) spoke about Construction and The Service Industry. And we met Dr. Jeremy Milloy, an academic researcher who specializes in addiction and the work place. (We’re looking forward to having Dr. Milloy on a future episode! Check him out @ www.jeremymilloy.com .)

We also ran into podcast co-host Daniel Snyder but he escaped the picture with Trevor and OTCTBT podcast creator/co-host Karen Janzen! Well played, Daniel. Well played....

British Columbia Centre on Substance Use Fraser House Society MomsStopTheHarm Mission Overdose Community Action Team

30/05/2024

We're getting ready to mail this package out to our latest winner of a $200 gift card - plus we're throwin' in a carpenter pencil and hard hat stickers.

👏👏👏 CONGRATS DARREN!!! 👏👏👏

And thanks so much to Mainland Construction Materials for promoting the podcast and bi-monthly draw at their safety BBQ. We appreciate the help spreading the word about .

To enter the next one, you only need to listen to ONE episode and complete a simple online survey for a chance to win. You may also enter more than once. So.....the more you listen and submit, the more chances you have to WIN! Visit www.TradesPodcast.com to participate.

GOOD LUCK!

Fraser House Society MomsStopTheHarm Mission Overdose Community Action Team

29/05/2024

Thanks to Phil, Georgina and Tanis from Fraser House Society for modelling our new toques & t-shirts! (A shout out to our awesome community partner - Clear Marketing 😀).

We also have 5,000 more QR code stickers to get on worksites asap. If you'd like a stack for your crew, please message us! Thanks for your support. 😎

27/05/2024

Off The Clock Toolbox Talk is excited to have this event inked on our calendar. If you live on the island, please join us!

Congratulations to the organizers! 👏👏👏

New Roads Therapeutic Recovery Community Our Place Society Umbrella Society for Addictions & Mental Health

Hey everyone! Mark this date on your calandars and get ready to celebrate Recovery. New Roads and Umbrella Society are pleased to present Recovery Day 2024!

17/05/2024

HUGE CONGRATS to two special people from the team - Shawn & Mickaella - on the arrival of their precious Baby Ricky! As you can see on this little video we've created, she's absolutely adorable! 🩷

Shawn recently opened up with Daniel & Karen on the podcast about his personal journey from addiction to recovery. You'll be so inspired by his multi-layered story which wraps with a touching, vulnerable poem he penned during his down and out phase titled, "Do You Know Who You Are?" Listening links are here: www.tradespodcast.com/s3-sp1

Thanks for being YOU Shawn! We're so grateful for you & Mickaella. Enjoy Baby Ricky Jae and your beautiful family.🙏

Fraser House Society MomsStopTheHarm Mission Overdose Community Action Team Karen Janzen Daniel Snyder

08/05/2024

We'd like to congratulate Kale for celebrating six years of sobriety today. Kale shares his journey in Season 2 of .

Here's a short clip of him talking about giving back and his dedication to helping others as a HOPE DEALER.

Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and others. Links are here: > www.tradespodcast.com/s2-ep1

Thanks for your huge heart, Kale. You're a true inspiration.
🙏❤️🙏

Fraser House Society MomsStopTheHarm Mission Overdose Community Action Team

29/04/2024

NEW SEASON & EPISODE ALERT! "Shawn's Story" is now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and at www.tradespodcast.com/s3-sp1. PLEASE SHARE!

To launch Season 3, Ironworker Shawn Underhill joins Daniel and Karen to talk about his journey through problematic substance use and addiction. From Shawn’s early days smoking pot as a teen in his first construction job, to navigating problematic substance use in camps up north, to using to get through pain, grief, and exhaustion, Shawn demonstrates how recovery is anything but a straight line. Daniel and Shawn discuss how, on average, most people addicted to opioids struggle with that addiction for 15 years, but they do recover, even though it typically takes multiple attempts.

The recurring theme of Shawn’s story is his mom’s constant voice, in her life and death, urging Shawn to access help at Fraser House Society (the host organization of this podcast). And every time he returned, he grew more and more, adding to his toolbox, ultimately creating a life of beauty that he loves.

Shawn’s counsellor, Sam, jumps in at the end and Shawn and Sam give us some insight on what the first few weeks of counselling are like, and what its like to begin the counselling journey. Shawn closes out with a poem he wrote at a very dark time, to cultivate hope for us all.

Fraser House Society MomsStopTheHarm Mission Overdose Community Action Team Karen Janzen Daniel Snyder Century Group Mainland Construction Materials A and R Construction REW.ca Ledcor Solmar Diverse Properties Unitech Construction Management Ltd

28/04/2024

A fantastic two days at BCSSGA’s Annual Conference & Trade Show. Podcast Lead Karen Janzen met soooo many great people who expressed interested in helping to promote .

Thanks again to BC Stone,Sand,and Gravel Association for inviting us to participate. We look forward to staying in touch!

Frontline Machinery Ltd. Ritchie Bros. Terus Construction Ltd Fraser Valley Aggregates Liebherr Construction Unicast, Inc Foreman Equipment Arthon Industries Limited Nektar Dirt Protrack Star West Petroleum Ltd. Polydeck Westrek Geotechnical Services Ltd. ELRUS Aggregate Systems Bidadoo Tyalta Industries Inc.

25/04/2024

Karen and Trevor are looking forward to representing at the annual BC Sand, Stone and Gravel Conference and Trade Show today and tomorrow in Victoria! They look forward to promoting the podcast on the island. If you're attending, track them down to say hello! Thanks to the BC Stone,Sand,and Gravel Association for inviting us to participate!

24/04/2024

NEW EPISODE TO WRAP SEASON 2!

The Off The Clock Toolbox Talk Season 2 Sampler serves up select appetizers from Season 2 episodes, combined with house-style transitional music to keep your groove on throughout your day. Listen here and please share!
https://www.tradespodcast.com/s2-ep10

Special thanks to the BC Stone,Sand,and Gravel Association for inviting Off the Clock Toolbox Talk to the BCSSGA Conference, and for standing behind our tradespeople in the drug poisoning crisis.

Fraser House Society MomsStopTheHarm Mission Overdose Community Action Team Karen Janzen Daniel Snyder

12/04/2024

Dee, project coordinator for Off The Clock Toolbox Talk (OTCTBT), recently attended The Construction Expo at the Cloverdale Agriplex. What a fantastic opportunity to meet people from numerous facets of BC's construction industry. Thanks to the organizers and sponsors for a job well done, and huge appreciation to Sanjeev & the ICBA - Independent Contractors and Businesses Association for inviting us to promote the OTCTBT podcast at their table this year. We appreciate every opportunity to get the word out.....and to help save lives!

WorkSafeBC Tradesman Association of BC Windsor Plywood Lower Mainland The Energy Concept Fraser House Society MomsStopTheHarm Mission Overdose Community Action Team

06/04/2024

We're lookin' forward to the 2024 The Construction Expo at the Cloverdale Agriplex this weekend! Free entrance. Free learning. Free networking. And free food!😀

Come find us at booth 223 / ICBA - Independent Contractors and Businesses Association to say hi and learn what's coming up in Season 3 of our podcast .

For more event info, visit www.theconstructionexpo.com. See you there.👍

15/03/2024

NEW EPISODE ALERT!! "Shayne's Story: The Aftershow" is now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and at www.tradespodcast.com/s2-ep9 . PLEASE SHARE!

The conversation continues as Trevor, Shayne and Karen discuss ‘safety is behavioral’; these life-wisdom conversations need to happen in-person, breathing and sharing energy together, preferred where apps, lectures, and protocols fall short. Karen and Trevor confirm this same thread from the Random Recovery Talk episode (www.tradespodcast.com/s2-ep5) where it emerged that recovery is leadership of self to recruit help. Recovery is not done in isolation; it requires a relational context with other humans, referred to as 'co-regulation'. And recovery is spiritual—however you connect with something meaningful outside yourself.

Shayne creates the metaphor of a toolkit; whatever recovery path you’re on, you’re gathering tools along the way with every experience to put into your toolkit. And we need to access those tools on a regular basis.

Trevor and Shayne discuss the power of Shayne’s confession that “The first lie I ever told myself is that I’m okay,” meaning all the things that brew consciously and subconsciously for years leading up to catastrophic blow-up. The group discuss the difficulties of recruiting help, yet it’s pivotal to moving forward in our own well-being.

The conversation ties up with Shayne’s suggestion of changing the terminology of “rock bottom” to “the point of return."

**This episode contains mention of childhood sexual abuse, explicit drug use, and description of an overdose experience.

Fraser House Society Mission Overdose Community Action Team MomsStopTheHarm The Gisborne Group ICBA - Independent Contractors and Businesses Association Karen Janzen

12/03/2024

Stephen Quinn, host of The Early Edition on CBC Radio One, recently spoke with "Off The Clock Toolbox Talk" podcast creator Karen Janzen & co-host Trevor Botkin who shared how the series began and ways it supports those struggling with mental health issues, physical pain and substance use in the trades. (We missed you on this one Daniel Snyder).

Full interview is available at www.tradespodcast.com/post/radio-interview-the-early-edition-march12

Thanks CBC/Radio-Canada for supporting !

Fraser House Society MomsStopTheHarm Mission Overdose Community Action Team

12/03/2024

Today (March 12) at approx 7:50 am PT Stephen Quinn speaks with Off The Clock Toolbox Talk creator Karen Janzen and co-host Trevor Botkin on The Early Edition. Tune in to CBC Radio One at 690 am on the radio dial. We will also post the replay link at TradesPodcast.com. Thanks for the support CBC! 👍

12/03/2024

Catch our upcoming interview TODAY (March 12) at approximately 7:50 am on The Early Edition. Stephen Quinn will be speaking with Off The Clock Toolbox Talk creator Karen Janzen and co-host Trevor Botkin. Listen live or catch the "on demand" replay here >>> https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio . Thanks for the support CBC Radio One!

12/03/2024

Catch our upcoming interview TODAY (March 12) at approximately 7:50 am on The Early Edition. Stephen Quinn will be speaking with Off The Clock Toolbox Talk creator Karen Janzen and co-host Trevor Botkin. Listen live or catch the "on demand" replay here > https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio . Thanks for the support CBC Radio One!

07/03/2024

Throwback to a few weeks ago when Mike Mathers - Wellness Evolved Counselling was featured on in two episodes. Thanks for sharing Mike!

Here are links to each powerful episode. Please take a listen and share with others.

Psychedelic Surprise
https://www.tradespodcast.com/s2-ep7

Curious AF
https://www.tradespodcast.com/s2-ep6

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to share the latest episode of “Off The Clock Toolbox Talk” where I join Daniel and Karen for a no-nonsense chat on psychedelics and their role in therapy. We delve into the complexities of navigating Canada’s psychedelic landscape, touching on personal journeys through addiction and the transformative power of facing our hidden emotions.

This episode isn’t just talk—it’s an honest exploration of how psychedelics can confront us with our most buried feelings and guide us towards healing. We also discuss the concept of a “Temple of Regret” as a metaphor for processing these experiences, not to dwell on the past, but to learn and grow from it.

Plus, there’s a bit about my upcoming book, “Curious AF,” and how curiosity plays a crucial role in our personal development journey.

Give it a listen for some straight-up insights into the world of psychedelic therapy.

Head to our bio for the link.

All the best,
Mike

06/03/2024

🖤💛🖤

A telling image for those in British Columbia who have died from substance use harms and the unregulated toxic drug poisoning crisis.

Remembering Jared +15,246 more