From Darkness to Life contains the real stories of courageous individuals who have found their way out of the darkness caused by mental health challenges and substance abuse. If this podcast series resonates with you and you yourself or someone you love needs help, please reach out to Our Collective Journey on the web at "http://ourcollectivejourney.ca" or on facebook at "Our Collective Journey."
S07E02 - When PTSD Comes Home: Alison’s Story of Love, Struggle, and Hope
In this episode of From Darkness to Life, Poncho sits down with Alison for a candid look at the side of trauma we don’t hear about enough: life as the partner of a first responder. As her husband’s world changed, Alison found herself holding the family together, protecting her children, and pushing her own needs aside—until she reached a breaking point.
With honesty and vulnerability, Alison shares the guilt of wanting more, the moment she nearly walked away, and the small signs that began to bring hope back into their home. Their conversation explores treatment, finding support, and learning that caring for someone else doesn’t mean your own happiness stops mattering.
If you’ve ever wondered who supports the person supporting everyone else, this conversation is for you. Listen to Alison’s story of finding her voice—and a way forward.
From Darkness to Life | S07E02 | Alison
TABLE OF CONTENTS (41:11).
00:00 Opening hook: “I can’t do this”
00:15 Introduction and reaching out for support
00:37 Poncho introduces Alison and the hidden side of PTSD
03:12 What partners wish people understood
05:36 The day everything changed
09:02 Holding the family together
12:31 When your own needs disappear
15:48 Nearly leaving—and reaching a breaking point
19:44 Guilt, resentment, and whose feelings matter
21:04 Protecting the children without losing yourself
23:06 When past wounds resurface
24:55 Finding support and healing for yourself
26:30 Choosing treatment and a way forward together
28:35 Small victories: smiles, affection, and reconnection
31:43 Navigating triggers and everyday challenges
34:26 What peace looks like now
36:20 Family pride, support, and deserving happiness
38:24 Alison’s message: you are not alone
40:22 Closing message, support information, and credits
1 Oct 2026
S07E01 - Never Quit Quitting: Cody Lawrence’s Journey from Addiction to Purpose
In this inaugural episode of Season 7 of From Darkness to Life, Poncho Parker is joined by Cody Lawrence in the beautiful, historic Monarch Theatre... Canada’s oldest purpose-built movie theatre in Medicine Hat Alberta.
Cody shares an unflinchingly honest story of addiction, overwhelming grief, and the night he reached his personal rock bottom. After surviving a suicide attempt and experiencing relapse, he discovered that recovery was not a single decision, but a daily commitment to honesty, gratitude, connection, and growth.
Today, Cody draws on his lived experience, his art, and his work at the Medicine Hat Recovery Centre to help others find their own path forward. His journey is a powerful reminder that our darkest chapters do not have to define how our stories end—and that even the smallest grain of hope can illuminate the way back to life.
His message to anyone struggling is simple: “Never quit quitting.”
Table of Contents
00:00 — Opening teaser: “Never quit quitting”
00:16 — Our Collective Journey support message
00:38 — Episode introduction and Cody Lawrence’s story
02:59 — Meeting “Cody 2.0”
04:50 — Cody’s early life and substance use
06:30 — Recognizing the warning signs
08:06 — When addiction began to catch up
08:44 — Grief, suicide, and repeated loss
11:46 — Losing hope and facing an uncertain future
14:44 — Cody’s suicide attempt and survival
16:59 — Rock bottom, honesty, and asking for help
17:34 — The unwavering support of Cody’s mother
18:01 — Addiction as a coping mechanism
19:59 — Resilience and the power of the human spirit
21:14 — Waking up alive: clarity and a grain of hope
22:44 — Why asking for help can be so difficult
24:05 — Entering treatment for the first time
26:28 — Wanting recovery versus being ready
28:11 — Returning home and repairing relationships
31:24 — Relapse and trying to outrun the problem
31:53 — The 2023 turning point
33:12 — The gratitude practice that changed everything
35:35 — Grieving the old Cody
36:52 — Turning pain into purpose
38:41 — The value of lived experience
39:47 — Rediscovering art through recovery
42:02 — What gives Cody hope today
43:02 — His daughter’s essay and the impact on his family
45:43 — Cody’s final message of hope
46:06 — “Never quit quitting”
46:24 — Closing reflections
47:20 — Our Collective Journey outro and credits
26 Mar 2026
S06E08 - Breaking Through: Chris Hellman’s Journey from Isolation to Community
Recorded live at SARRCON, this From Darkness to Life (Our Collective Journey) episode features Medicine Hat business owner and city councillor Chris Hellman sharing how escalating alcohol use and worsening mental health after COVID led to isolation, depression, and not caring if he lived. He describes how his wife, parents, and especially his sister intervened with a careful plan that got him into a Vancouver Island (Duncan/Victoria area) treatment centre, where he detoxed, completed 60 days, and returned home with shame and fear of stigma before gradually rebuilding through therapy, medical support, 12-step meetings, peer support work, and community connection. Chris discusses service gaps, transitional housing, and how gentle, non-judgmental support and listening helped him find hope and sustain 17 months of sobriety.
https://ourcollectivejourney.ca/podcast
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Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.7 / 5
3 ratings
Spotify
4.6 / 5
11 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 55 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
77
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
82
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