Hard Knox Talks: Your Addiction Podcast

Send us Fan MailChris Martell’s son, Yvander, was just 22 months old when he drowned in foster care in Saskatchewan. His death began a years-long fight for answers that took Chris through courtrooms, walks for justice, depression, and homelessness.Chris shares why he chose to forgive the foster mother, how he stayed sober through unimaginable grief, and how ceremony and sharing circles helped him find a way forward. Today, he’s raising his children and working to help others—with his son’s memory at the heart of it all.Find Chris on FacebookSupport the showSEIU-WestWellness NewsParenting in the Storm Check out Parenting in the Storm HEREAre you getting something from our content? Tap here and buy us a coffee to say thanks and help us keep this train on the tracks!Check out the speakeasy podcastFollow Daniel Unmanageable on FacebookFollow Project Sparky We've got fresh merch and it's amazing! Pick yours up HEREFor business or speaking inquiries: [email protected] Hard Knox TalksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/hardknoxtalkspodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardknoxtalks/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hardknoxtalks?lang=en Check us out on YouTube:ht...

Send us Fan MailDavid Fineday was arrested as police moved in to clear a Saskatoon encampment where roughly 120 people had been living. He says police told him he couldn't be released until the encampment was gone.On October 8, 2026, authorities cleared the encampment near 20th Street and Avenue K, citing fire hazards, violence, and other public safety concerns.But for the people living there, the clearing raised another question: where were they supposed to go?David Fineday, a longtime housing advocate and Sixties Scoop survivor, was one of the encampment's residents and community leaders. He describes how a handful of tents grew into a community, the outreach efforts that supported residents, the problems that existed within the camp, and what happened when police arrived.Joining us is Michelle MacDonald, a lawyer with CLASSIC Law in Saskatoon, to examine the legal questions surrounding the clearing, including a Charter challenge involving the city's bylaws and the constitutional rights of people experiencing homelessness.Learn more about Crocus Co-op https://crocuscooperative.org/Support the showSEIU-WestWellness NewsParenting in the Storm Check out Parenting in the Storm HEREAre you getting something from our content? Tap here and buy us a coffee to say thanks and help us keep this train on the tracks!Check out the speakeasy podcastFollow Daniel Unmanageable on FacebookFollow Project Sparky We've got fresh merch and it's amazing! Pick yours up HEREFor business or speaking inquiries: [email protected] Hard Knox TalksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/hardknoxtalkspodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardknoxtalks/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hardknoxtalks?lang=en Check us out on YouTube:ht...

Send us Fan MailDoctors told Nathan Cheatwood he needed a new liver or he could have only months to live. Even before reaching that point, he knew alcohol was destroying his health — but knowing wasn't enough to make him stop drinking.Support the showSEIU-WestWellness NewsParenting in the Storm Check out Parenting in the Storm HEREAre you getting something from our content? Tap here and buy us a coffee to say thanks and help us keep this train on the tracks!Check out the speakeasy podcastFollow Daniel Unmanageable on FacebookFollow Project Sparky We've got fresh merch and it's amazing! Pick yours up HEREFor business or speaking inquiries: [email protected] Hard Knox TalksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/hardknoxtalkspodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardknoxtalks/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hardknoxtalks?lang=en Check us out on YouTube:ht...

Send us Fan MailHe robbed more than 20 banks across America while running from the FBI. But after his arrest, Jonathan would face something even more devastating: nine years in prison isolation.Growing up surrounded by childhood trauma, abuse, addiction, and organized crime, Jonathan's life spiralled into drug trafficking, bank robberies, and a nationwide FBI manhunt. His substance use escalated into opioid addiction, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, paranoia, and hallucinations.After being sentenced to federal prison, Jonathan spent 16 years incarcerated, including nine years in solitary confinement. He shares how prison violence and prolonged isolation affected his mental health, and how trauma therapy, addiction treatment, and compassionate support helped him begin rebuilding his life.But recovery wasn't a straight line. Following his release, Jonathan experienced relapse, relationship struggles, and the challenges of rebuilding a life after incarceration.This is a powerful conversation about addiction recovery, mental health, the criminal justice system, relapse prevention, accountability, and second chances.Support the showSEIU-WestWellness NewsParenting in the Storm Check out Parenting in the Storm HEREAre you getting something from our content? Tap here and buy us a coffee to say thanks and help us keep this train on the tracks!Check out the speakeasy podcastFollow Daniel Unmanageable on FacebookFollow Project Sparky We've got fresh merch and it's amazing! Pick yours up HEREFor business or speaking inquiries: [email protected] Hard Knox TalksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/hardknoxtalkspodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardknoxtalks/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hardknoxtalks?lang=en Check us out on YouTube:ht...

Send us Fan MailJordan Atkinson went from organized crime, guns, money and power to meth addiction, homelessness and stealing just to get high.Then, while isolated in an encampment and reading the Book of Revelation, Jordan says he experienced something that changed the direction of his life.In this episode, Jordan shares his story of childhood trauma, organized crime, incarceration, losing his son, addiction, relapse, recovery and the Christian faith that now shapes his life.Today, Jordan and his wife spend their time helping people on the streets of Saskatoon—the same kind of places Jordan once struggled to survive.Jordan's [email protected] the showSEIU-WestWellness NewsParenting in the Storm Check out Parenting in the Storm HEREAre you getting something from our content? Tap here and buy us a coffee to say thanks and help us keep this train on the tracks!Check out the speakeasy podcastFollow Daniel Unmanageable on FacebookFollow Project Sparky We've got fresh merch and it's amazing! Pick yours up HEREFor business or speaking inquiries: [email protected] Hard Knox TalksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/hardknoxtalkspodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardknoxtalks/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hardknoxtalks?lang=en Check us out on YouTube:ht...

Send us Fan Mail Tia grew up around alcoholism and began drinking young. Years later, doctors told her that her liver was failing and she needed a transplant — but even then, she kept drinking. Tia shares the reality of end-stage liver disease, the transplant that saved her life, and the faith and responsibility that came with getting a second chance. Support the showSEIU-WestWellness NewsParenting in the Storm Check out Parenting in the Storm HEREAre you getting something from our content? Tap here and buy us a coffee to say thanks and help us keep this train on the tracks!Check out the speakeasy podcastFollow Daniel Unmanageable on FacebookFollow Project Sparky We've got fresh merch and it's amazing! Pick yours up HEREFor business or speaking inquiries: [email protected] Hard Knox TalksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/hardknoxtalkspodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardknoxtalks/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hardknoxtalks?lang=en Check us out on YouTube:ht...

Send us Fan Mail Courtney grew up with stability, opportunity and plans for her future, but college partying quickly escalated into alcohol dependence, cocaine, meth and eventually IV drug use. After losing custody of her daughter and facing felony charges, she finally committed to recovery and has remained sober since March 3, 2018. Check out Courtney's book!Support the showSEIU-WestWellness NewsParenting in the Storm Check out Parenting in the Storm HEREAre you getting something from our content? Tap here and buy us a coffee to say thanks and help us keep this train on the tracks!Check out the speakeasy podcastFollow Daniel Unmanageable on FacebookFollow Project Sparky We've got fresh merch and it's amazing! Pick yours up HEREFor business or speaking inquiries: [email protected] Hard Knox TalksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/hardknoxtalkspodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardknoxtalks/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hardknoxtalks?lang=en Check us out on YouTube:ht...

Send us Fan MailJanet Tait shares her journey through childhood violence, addiction, losing custody, homelessness, meth-induced psychosis and surviving a brutal stabbing before finding recovery and eventually becoming a registered social worker.Support the showSEIU-WestWellness NewsParenting in the Storm Check out Parenting in the Storm HEREAre you getting something from our content? Tap here and buy us a coffee to say thanks and help us keep this train on the tracks!Check out the speakeasy podcastFollow Daniel Unmanageable on FacebookFollow Project Sparky We've got fresh merch and it's amazing! Pick yours up HEREFor business or speaking inquiries: [email protected] Hard Knox TalksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/hardknoxtalkspodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardknoxtalks/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hardknoxtalks?lang=en Check us out on YouTube:ht...

Send us Fan MailBiz Nico shares his journey through alcoholism, drug dealing, violence, relapse, a near-fatal fall, faith, and the spiritual experiences that shaped his recovery before leading him to serve people living on Saskatoon’s streets.Reach out to [email protected] him on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@officialBizNicoMusicSupport the showSEIU-WestWellness NewsParenting in the Storm Check out Parenting in the Storm HEREAre you getting something from our content? Tap here and buy us a coffee to say thanks and help us keep this train on the tracks!Check out the speakeasy podcastFollow Daniel Unmanageable on FacebookFollow Project Sparky We've got fresh merch and it's amazing! Pick yours up HEREFor business or speaking inquiries: [email protected] Hard Knox TalksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/hardknoxtalkspodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardknoxtalks/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hardknoxtalks?lang=en Check us out on YouTube:ht...

Send us Fan MailElijah grew up surrounded by addiction, instability and gang life, joining a gang around 10 years old and facing a murder charge at just 13. His story would take him through drug dealing, violence, being shot, meth, heroin and fentanyl addiction, homelessness and eventually recovery. After a recent relapse, Elijah joins me newly clean again to talk about where he’s been, what brought him back, and why he still believes recovery works.Support the showSEIU-WestWellness NewsParenting in the Storm Check out Parenting in the Storm HEREAre you getting something from our content? Tap here and buy us a coffee to say thanks and help us keep this train on the tracks!Check out the speakeasy podcastFollow Daniel Unmanageable on FacebookFollow Project Sparky We've got fresh merch and it's amazing! Pick yours up HEREFor business or speaking inquiries: [email protected] Hard Knox TalksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/hardknoxtalkspodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardknoxtalks/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hardknoxtalks?lang=en Check us out on YouTube:ht...