In this deeply moving episode of Real Medicine, Laurie opens up about his battle with alcohol addiction, beginning with early life experiences and the heartbreak of raising a child with cancer. With raw honesty, he reflects on the pain he tried to numb, the moments that broke him, and the community that helped him heal. Through the lens of AA, Laurie shares how recovery gave him not just sobriety—but his life, his purpose, and his family back. This is a story of vulnerability, hope, and the quiet therapy of connection.

If you or anyone you love is struggling and wanting to connect with the speakers please email janderson@cannabisdoc.ca. Alternatively you can reach out to aambco@aamanitoba.org or call the national help line at 1-877-942-0126.

Music Copyright Jason Houghton 2025

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In this episode of Real Medicine, we sit down with John to hear his powerful journey from the depths of alcohol addiction to the clarity and connection he found through recovery. With honesty and heart, John shares what led him to seek help, how the 12-step program changed his life, and the role of community in his healing process. This is a story of resilience, transformation, and hope—because sometimes, real medicine starts with one person's truth.

Music copyright 2025 Jason Houghton

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In Part 2 of this series, we explore how addiction goes far beyond substances — showing up in our daily lives through food, phones, productivity, and the constant chase for approval or control.

We dive into the science of dopamine, the brain’s reward chemical, and how overuse of certain behaviors creates dopamine withdrawal — a state that leaves us feeling anxious, restless, unmotivated, or numb. This isn’t a failure of willpower. It’s a survival response rooted in trauma, stress, and nervous system dysregulation.

I share personal stories and insights from Dopamine Nation and Sick Enough, alongside clinical reflections on how people — including teens, caregivers, and high performers — often use these behaviors to self-soothe and survive.

We also explore how to rewire our brains for long-term healing. You’ll learn how intention, small dopamine breaks, nervous system regulation, and compassionate curiosity can help restore balance to your reward system and build new, healthier patterns of coping.

This episode is about shifting from shame to self-understanding, from autopilot to awareness — and beginning the work of choosing what actually supports your healing.

music copyright 2025 Jason Houghton

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What if addiction isn’t just about substances — but about the habits we use to survive?

In this episode, I invite you to get curious about the ways addiction shows up in all of us — in our work, our need for approval, our phones, and even in the drive to constantly be productive. These behaviors often begin as coping strategies, but over time, they can quietly take control.

Through personal stories and insights from Dopamine Nation, we begin to unpack what addiction really is — and why the key to healing isn’t shame or willpower, but curiosity and intention.

If you’ve ever wondered why you can’t stop a certain pattern, or felt stuck in habits that no longer serve you — this episode is your invitation to pause, reflect, and begin taking control of the habits that have been controlling you.

Because the first step to freedom is not fixing yourself — it’s understanding yourself.

Music copyright 2025 Jason Houghton

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In this episode of Real Medicine, Dr. Jennifer Anderson explores the deep connection between trauma and addiction through a compassionate, trauma-informed lens. Drawing from both her personal story and professional experience, she unpacks how addiction is not a failure, but a survival strategy often rooted in unprocessed pain. Using the powerful framework of genetics and epigenetics, Dr. Anderson reframes healing as something we can influence—through therapy, connection, plant medicine, and safety.

She reflects on her own family lineage, including her ancestor Chief Johnstone, and how intergenerational trauma and resilience shape our stories. Listeners will also hear insights on how trauma affects the nervous system, how we can begin to rewire it, and how we can support ourselves and others through moments of overwhelm, relapse, or burnout.

This episode is a call to shift from judgment to compassion, from symptom management to root-cause care—and to reimagine what real medicine can truly be.

Podcast music copyright 2025 Jason Houghton

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In this episode of Real Medicine, we dive into the invisible wounds left by the healthcare system — the kind that don’t show up on scans but live deep in the body, mind, and memory.

We talk about medical trauma — what it is, how it shows up, and why it’s so often missed. From medical gaslighting and systemic dismissal to the ripple effects on caregivers, providers, and siblings of complex patients, this episode names what many have felt but never had words for.

You’ll hear insights from:

• My personal story and what I have seen in myself and patients
• Dr. Gabor Maté on how trauma becomes embodied
• Dr. Bessel van der Kolk on how “the body keeps the score”
• Recent 2024 research from Current Psychology validating the trauma caused by medical dismissal and bias

We explore:

• How to regain power in healthcare after being harmed
• Somatic tools for healing trauma stored in the body
• The overlooked experiences of caregivers and siblings
• The silent trauma carried by clinicians asked to stay strong while witnessing harm
• Why we must recognize medical gaslighting as a legitimate pathway to PTSD
• This episode is a call to witness, validate, and begin to heal — for everyone who has been hurt by the very system meant to care for them.
  Because real medicine starts not with fixing — but with listening.

Podcast Music Copy write 2025 Jason Houghton

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In this powerful episode of Real Medicine, Dr. Jennifer Anderson sits down with former NHL enforcer turned wellness advocate Riley Cote to explore the journey from trauma to healing. Riley shares his raw and deeply personal transformation—how years of head injuries, chronic pain, and emotional toll from professional hockey led him to question everything he knew about health and recovery.

Now a co-founder of Athletes for CARE , Riley is a vocal advocate for cannabis, psychedelics, breath work, and holistic healing. Together, we unpack his experience in the acclaimed documentary Peace of Mind, discuss the long shadow of CTE, and challenge outdated narratives around what it means to truly heal.

This episode is a conversation about pain, purpose, and the courage to rewrite your story—on and off the ice.

Podcast Music copyright 2025 Jason Houghton

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In this deeply personal episode of Real Medicine, Dr. Anderson shares her journey through the hidden world of medical trauma — the unspoken grief, fear, and emotional injuries that many patients, caregivers, and even healthcare providers carry.

Drawing from her own experiences in the Pediatric ICU with her son, and more recently navigating a new medical crisis with another child, she explores how medical systems often dismiss trauma instead of recognizing and healing it.

Through powerful storytelling, research-backed insights, and reflections on vulnerability and authenticity in medicine, Dr. Anderson reveals how real healing begins — not with perfection, but with presence.

Listeners will walk away with a deeper understanding of medical trauma, why trauma-informed care matters, and three practical ways to begin their own healing journey.

Key Takeaways:

• Medical trauma is real — and more common than we realize.
• Authenticity and vulnerability are essential for healing, not weaknesses to hide.
• Being heard and seen by healthcare providers can be as powerful as any prescription.

This episode is for patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals ready to reimagine what true healing looks like.

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