What's Your Twenty

About What's Your Twenty

A mental health check-in for First Responders, Armed Forces, and persons exposed to and dealing with trauma. Real people and real talk, removing the masks and taking down the veil to expose what happens on the inside of organizations and the effects on their members. Navigating, managing and living life with PTSI/PTSD using a trauma-infromed approach to understanding and recovery. Taking steps to turn pain into purpose whie allowing ourselves grace to heal, forging ahead with a growth mindset, ensuring no one journeys this path alone. *Disclaimer* The information on this podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your health care provider before making any health care decisions or for guidance about a specific medical concern or condition. If you or anyone you know has a medical emergency or is suicidal call 911 immediately or Canada Suicide Prevention Services at 1-833-456-4566 or 988. The views and opinions expressed on the podcast and associated social media pages are those of the authors and speakers and do not reflect or represent the views or opinions of their employers, groups or associations that they may be affiliated with. All content including text, graphics and images contained on or available through this podcast and associated social media pages is for general information purposes only.

Publisher

Emily Zufelt

Category

education · health & fitness · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

13 Aug 2021

Latest episode

21 May 2025

Latest episodes

43 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   21 May 2025

   Blast Exposure & Brain Injuries MCPL Justin MacPherson Part VI

   In the final installment of our six-part series on blast exposure and brain injuries, I continue my powerful conversation with JTF2 breacher, Master Corporal Justin MacPherson. This episode dives into raw truths, hard lessons, and the urgent need for change. We explore the efforts of Veterans-turned-Toronto Police Officers Aaron Dale and Jeremy Burns, and the Military Veteran Wellness Program - a critical initiative helping get homeless veterans off the streets. Justin and I discuss the deep disconnect between action and bureaucracy - the harsh reality that within the system, “facta non verba” (deeds, not words) has been flipped. In a culture of risk aversion, taking bold steps isn’t rewarded - silence and inaction often are. We ask tough questions: Would people still line the border to protect this country? What does retention and recruitment say about how Canada treats its servicepeople? Is this the Canada we thought we served? We talk about the burden of truth - how it shouldn’t fall solely on the injured. Professional soldiers with psychological wounds need support navigating a system that often assumes resilience means silence. We confront the reality that high-risk units - especially those dealing with explosives - are indeed suffering the effects of brain injuries, and the system must catch up to the science. We touch on the need to invest not just in policies, but in places and people - making every space a Veteran enters feel safe, welcoming, and worthy of their service. You’ll also hear about Warrior Adventures Canada - what it is, why it was started, and how it’s helping Veterans rediscover meaning and challenge in civilian life. Stick around for the Fast and Furious - as we discuss filling the void after service, finding a new arena, and the importance of never stopping. As Justin says: "Don't stop striving for greatness." Don’t live life scripted. You’ve got one life - how are you going to live what’s left of it?

2. 

   20 May 2025

   Blast Exposure & Brain Injuries MCPL Justin MacPherson Part V

   Continuing the 6 part series on Blast Exposure and Brain Injuries, this episode is dedicated to Master Corporal Pete Duff - a soldier, husband, father, and friend whose memory remains woven into the lives of those who knew and cared for him. Through this series, we’ve heard from those who honour his legacy, and today, we continue that promise - to keep speaking his name, supporting those who struggle, and ensuring no one feels alone. In this fifth installment, we sit down with Master Corporal Justin MacPherson, who reflects on his time entering the armed forces as a young man - never thinking about injury, only about serving his country and standing with his brothers. In Afghanistan, the war was real where they did good things, but now, as a father of young children, his priorities have changed. We dive deep into the long-term effects of blast exposure and overpressure, exploring what it takes to meet Veterans Affairs Canada’s (VAC) compensation criteria, the need of common sense and assumption of brain injury in Special Operations Forces, and the stigma surrounding reporting injuries - where soldiers often hide their wounds to avoid being sidelined. Why must Veterans make themselves look like victims just to be compensated for their service? They gave up their bodies, minds, and lives - and still, the battle continues. We discuss how losing consciousness is a requirement for VAC’s brain injury recognition, but why that doesn’t capture the full picture, and the symptomology of blast trauma. Justin shares his own regimen for managing flares, including therapy, mindset shifts, testosterone and growth hormone therapy. We also tackle the harsh reality of VAC’s Transition Centre in Canada’s capital - described as a horror movie - an abandoned hospital being the painful reflection of how Veterans are valued. This episode isn’t just about awareness - it’s about accountability, about demanding change, and about honouring those who have sacrificed everything.

3. 

   27 Mar 2025

   Mind Beyond the Mission Podcast: Turning Pain into Purpose with Guests Emily Zufelt and Andrew Gough

   Emily is the guest on Mind Beyond the Mission - the Atlas Institute of Veterans and Families podcast hosted by members of the lived experience team, Laryssa Lamrock and Brain McKenna. In this episode of Mind Beyond the Mission, Laryssa Lamrock is joined by guest co-host Andrew Gough — a Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Veteran, serving Reservist and medically retired police officer — and guest Emily Zufelt. Emily is a former police dispatcher, advocate for first responders, military members and Veterans, and host and creator of "What's Your Twenty?", a podcast featuring stories from first responders, CAF members and Veterans, and other trauma-exposed professionals. Along with Laryssa, Emily and Andrew explore the parallels between the experiences and mental health journeys of first responders, military members and Veterans, and the unique nature of their work which puts them at high risk for exposure to trauma. Emily shares her personal journey of recovering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, and how these experiences have shaped her advocacy work. They discuss the concept of posttraumatic growth and turning pain into purpose. They emphasize the need for supportive communities and structures to aid in recovery, highlighting the significant role of Family in the healing process. Key topics: - The links between the mental health and well-being journeys of Veterans and first responders - The power and challenge of overcoming stigma related to posttraumatic stress injuries (PTSIs) - Strategies for finding purpose and healing in creativity - The role of Family in recovering from PTSI - The importance of self-advocacy in mental health treatment - Navigating identity beyond professional roles in uniformed services Resources - V-eh! Veterans and Everyday Heroes: A not-for-profit organization providing wellness initiatives for Veterans and first responders, with the goal of reducing the stigma associated with mental health injuries:  https://v-eh.ca/ "What's Your Twenty?": Emily Zufelt’s podcast featuring stories from first responders, CAF members and Veterans, and other trauma-exposed professionals: https://www.whatsyourtwenty.com/ Boots on the Ground: Anonymous peer support by first responders, for first responders: https://www.bootsontheground.ca/ Public safety personnel and posttraumatic stress injuries: Find resources, fact sheets and videos about PTSIs designed specifically for public safety personnel: https://atlasveterans.ca/psp/ Your own brand of courage: A Mind Beyond the Mission episode featuring Andrew and Elizabeth Gough: https://atlasveterans.ca/community/podcast/episode-14-your-own-brand-of-courage-with-elizabeth-and-andrew-gough/ The Mind's the Matter - Understanding a Family member's operational stress injury: A free, module-based educational resource for Family members and friends of people living with operational stress injuries: https://cfmwsmfs.com/mtm-en/story_html5.html Wounded Warriors Canada: A national mental health service provider specializing in providing culturally informed services that utilize a combination of education, counselling, and training approaches to support resiliency and recovery from post-trauma injuries: https://woundedwarriors.ca/ Operation LOBE: Watch a video about the CAF operation to evacuate the Canadian Embassy in Tripoli, Libya during a near civil war and then to provide protection for it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u09JPu8ouNQ

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

4.6 / 5

10 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 36 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

39

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

82

Contact What's Your Twenty

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.