Don't Change Much

The Hidden Cost of Carrying It Alone

Support This Podcast and Canadian Men's Health Foundation https://menshealthfoundation.ca/donate/ There are things many men carry that no one sees. Grief. Trauma. Pressure to hold it together. The belief that if you slow down or speak up, you’ll fall apart or let someone else down. In this episode, hosts Mike Cameron and Trevor Botkin sit down with former NHL player Bob Wilkie and filmmaker Shayne Putzlocher to talk about the documentary Sideways and the story behind it. At 17, Bob survived the 1986 Swift Current Broncos bus crash that killed four of his teammates. What followed wasn’t just resilience. It was silence. Substance use. Suicidal thoughts. Years of trying to function while carrying more than he knew how to process. The conversation moves beyond the crash. They unpack the belief that “caring” means worrying, stressing, and losing sleep. That if you’re not overwhelmed, you must not care enough. But when stress becomes constant, it doesn’t make you stronger, it just gets heavier. Eventually, that weight shows up somewhere. In your health. In your relationships. In the way you move through your own life. Inside this episode: Why silence can feel safer than telling the truth What unprocessed trauma can look like years later The difference between caring and carrying too much Practical language for setting boundaries without blowing up relationships How small moments of honesty reduce shame This isn’t about fixing yourself. It’s about taking the pack off your back, even for a minute, so you don’t have to carry it alone. Watch Sideways with CMHF We’re proud to be a partner on this film and help bring this story to more Canadians. Use the promo code CMHFSIDEWAYS to get $5 off the digital download and watch it at home. https://sidewaysdocumentary.ca/ Follow Bob Wilkie Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/igotmind1/ Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpqCxLbVCoY0ZyCVtgBzd4Q Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/igotmind LinkedIN - https://ca.linkedin.com/company/i-got-mind Website - https://igotmind.ca Podcast - Tear off the Tape - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tear-off-the-tape/id1836507415 Follow Shayne Putzlocher Website - https://trilight.ca/ Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyyKGy5rwu6fbw7Swh9B6FQ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sputzlocher/ Follow Canadian Men’s Health Foundation Website - https://menshealthfoundation.ca/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/menshealthfdn/ Facebook - https://facebook.com/menshealthfoundation Follow Mike Cameron Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mikecameron.ca/ Youtube - https://youtube.com/mikecameronspeaks Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mikedavidcameron/ X - Mike Cameron (@axiommike) / X LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/mikecameronWebsite - https://mikecameron.ca/TedX Talk - https://www.ted.com/talks/mike_cameron_redefining_badass_the_way_we_think_about_strong_is_wrong Follow Trevor Botkin Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gsnscreative Muster Point IG - https://www.instagram.com/the_musterpoint Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/gsnscreative LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-botkin-869ab5143/ Support Men & Their Familes: https://menshealthfoundation.ca/donate/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Isolation Trap: Why Comfort is Killing Your Connections

Comfort can feel like relief. Staying quiet. Keeping things to yourself. Not risking rejection. For a lot of men, that comfort slowly turns into distance, and then into loneliness. In this episode of the Don’t Change Much Podcast, hosts Mike Cameron and Trevor Botkin talk openly about how isolation becomes a habit long before it becomes a problem. Drawing from their own lives, leadership roles, relationships, and past struggles, they unpack how choosing comfort can quietly cost men the connection they actually want. They explore what happens when men wear masks, manage impressions, or keep people at arm’s length to stay in control. The conversation moves through fear of rejection, the urge to self-isolate, and the belief that independence means handling everything alone. The shift comes when both men name a hard truth: connection doesn’t break when you speak up, it breaks when you disappear. This isn’t about forcing vulnerability or oversharing. It’s about learning to listen, to stay present, and to let yourself be seen without trying to manage the outcome. You’ll hear: How comfort can slowly replace real connection Why isolation often feels safer than risking rejection What actually helps men open up without losing themselves Small, practical ways to rebuild connection without changing everything Before they close, Mike and Trevor leave listeners with two simple challenges: Reach out to someone who has impacted you in a positive way and let them know. Start a conversation with a stranger who is different than you. If you’ve been feeling disconnected, even while surrounded by people, this conversation meets you where you are. Support This Podcast and Canadian Men's Health Foundation https://menshealthfoundation.ca/donate/ Follow Canadian Men’s Health Foundation Website - https://menshealthfoundation.ca/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/menshealthfdn/ Facebook - https://facebook.com/menshealthfoundation Follow Trevor Botkin LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-botkin-869ab5143/ Follow Mike Cameron Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mikecameron.ca/ Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@mikecameronspeaks/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mikedavidcameron/ X - Mike Cameron (@axiommike) / X LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/mikecameronWebsite - https://mikecameron.ca/TedX Talk - https://www.ted.com/talks/mike_cameron_redefining_badass_the_way_we_think_about_strong_is_wrong Support Men & Their Familes: https://menshealthfoundation.ca/donate/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Running on Empty: What Men Get Wrong About Resilience

A lot of men were taught that resilience means pushing through.Staying quiet. Handling it alone. Running on empty and calling it strength. In this episode, hosts Mike Cameron and Trevor Botkin slow that story down and take it apart, not as experts looking down, but as men who’ve lived the cost of getting it wrong. Joined by returning guest Dr. David Kuhl, physician, professor, and longtime voice in men’s health, the conversation explores what resilience actually looks like when life brings grief, shame, burnout, or emotional numbness. Drawing from decades of experience in palliative care and trauma-informed work, Dr. Kuhl reframes resilience as a dynamic, relational process shaped by our bodies, our relationships, and the environments we live and work in. Mike shares how unspoken shame followed him years after exiting a business and quietly showed up in his relationship. Trevor reflects on how confusing endurance for resilience led him to self-neglect, substance use, and running himself into the ground. Together, they talk openly about numbness, emotional literacy, and the moment many men reach when “toughing it out” stops working. You’ll hear practical, grounded insights on: Why numbness is a signal, not the absence of feeling How shame fuels isolation and erodes trust The difference between “I made a mistake” and “I am a mistake” Why knowing just one person has your back increases resilience How vulnerability, when practiced honestly, strengthens connection This isn’t about fixing yourself.It’s about paying attention sooner, staying connected, and redefining strength in a way that actually sustains you. If you’ve been pushing through, feeling disconnected, or quietly carrying more than you let on, this conversation offers language, perspective, and permission to pause and look again. Support This Podcast and Canadian Men's Health Foundation https://menshealthfoundation.ca/donate/ Follow Canadian Men’s Health Foundation Website - https://menshealthfoundation.ca/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/menshealthfdn/ Facebook - https://facebook.com/menshealthfoundation Follow Mike Cameron Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mikecameron.ca/ Youtube - https://youtube.com/mikecameronspeaks Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mikedavidcameron/ X - Mike Cameron (@axiommike) / X LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/mikecameronWebsite - https://mikecameron.ca/TedX Talk - https://www.ted.com/talks/mike_cameron_redefining_badass_the_way_we_think_about_strong_is_wrong Follow Trevor Botkin LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-botkin-869ab5143/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Resilience 00:27 Guest Introduction: Dr. David Kool 02:01 Defining Resilience 03:42 Building Resilience Before Adversity 04:58 The Importance of Support Systems 06:17 Understanding Shame and Guilt 08:50 Personal Reflections on Resilience 15:25 Recognizing and Addressing Numbness 20:49 Understanding Emotional Numbness 21:22 The Impact of Societal Expectations 22:01 Personal Struggles and Coping Mechanisms 22:42 The Importance of Emotional Literacy 25:32 The Role of Vulnerability in Relationships 29:14 Holding Space for Others 35:02 The Systemic Nature of Resilience 37:19 Final Thoughts on Connection and VulnerabilitySupport Men & Their Familes: https://menshealthfoundation.ca/donate/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why Talking Is the Toughest Thing Men Can Do

For a lot of men, staying silent feels like strength. But what if it’s the opposite? In this episode of the Don’t Change Much Podcast, Paralympic gold medalist Greg Stewart challenges that belief head-on. In a raw, honest conversation with Mike Cameron and Trevor Botkin, Greg explores why silence has become the default for so many men and why talking might be the most courageous act there is. Greg shares his journey from elite sport to emotional burnout, and how learning to talk, ask for help, and sit with discomfort reshaped his sense of identity, resilience, and self-care. The conversation moves through fatherhood fears, intrusive thoughts, masculinity, and the unspoken rules that keep men isolated, even when they’re surrounded by people. You’ll hear: Why silence often masks fear, shame, or loneliness How “toughing it out” quietly leads to disconnection Why vulnerability builds trust, leadership, and real resilience Simple practices to pause, breathe, and stay present in hard moments If you’re looking for a real-world conversation about men’s health, mental health, and showing up more fully in your life, this episode meets you exactly where you are. Follow Greg Stewart Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/greg_r_stewart/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-stewart-ply-bba-7ab19161/ Website - https://themindfulete.ca/ Follow Mike Cameron Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mikecameron.ca/ Youtube - https://youtube.com/mikecameronspeaks Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mikedavidcameron/ X - Mike Cameron (@axiommike) / X LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/mikecameronWebsite - https://mikecameron.ca/TedX Talk - https://www.ted.com/talks/mike_cameron_redefining_badass_the_way_we_think_about_strong_is_wrong Follow Trevor Botkin LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-botkin-869ab5143/ Follow Canadian Men’s Health Foundation Website - https://menshealthfoundation.ca/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/menshealthfdn/ Facebook - https://facebook.com/menshealthfoundation Chapters 00:00 The Toughness Debate 00:36 Meet Greg Stewart: A Champion's Journey 02:35 Greg's Early Life and Challenges 04:47 The Turning Point: Seeking Help 05:44 Mindful Athlete: Embracing Vulnerability 08:49 The Power of Ownership and Responsibility 15:30 The Role of Vulnerability in Personal Growth 18:13 Self-Love and Healthy Relationships 19:51 Navigating Fatherhood: The Emotional Journey 20:10 Struggles and Realities of Expecting Fathers 21:26 The Importance of Acknowledging Emotions 22:30 Helplessness and Support During Childbirth 24:43 Intrusive Thoughts and Mental Health 28:25 Breaking the Patriarchy 31:15 The Role of Toughness and Resilience 34:24 Practical Takeaways for Mental Well-beingSupport Men & Their Familes: https://menshealthfoundation.ca/donate/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Rage to Relief: How to Pause Before You Explode

A lot of men aren’t “angry guys.” They’re overwhelmed, disconnected, and running out of space to breathe, and it’s catching up with them. In this episode of the Don’t Change Much Podcast, Gene Bernier, CTO & Don’t Change Much Producer at CMHF, joins hosts Trevor Botkin and Mike Cameron on camera for an honest conversation about anger, men’s mental health, and why reacting isn’t the same thing as responding. Together, they break down how anger shows up in the body, why it’s often the only emotion men were taught to recognize, and how today’s social pressure is amplifying everyday frustration. The conversation moves from the pressures young men are facing today to how anger often masks sadness, fear, or feeling left behind. The turning point isn’t about “controlling” anger. It’s about learning how to pause before it explodes. Not therapy-speak. Not perfection. Just a small, practiced moment that can change the outcome. You’ll hear practical, real-world tools men can use immediately, including: How to use anger as a cue to slow down instead of reacting Why naming what you’re feeling changes everything How to pause long enough to choose a better response Why emotions are temporary, but consequences can be permanent How connection and listening can de-escalate even the hardest moments This episode is about resilience, self-care, and connection. Not fixing yourself and not getting it perfect, just learning how to show up with a little more awareness and a lot less damage. Follow Gene Bernier Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/genebernier/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/genebernier/ Follow Mike Cameron Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mikecameron.ca/ Youtube - https://youtube.com/mikecameronspeaks Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mikedavidcameron/ X - Mike Cameron (@axiommike) / X LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/mikecameronWebsite - https://mikecameron.ca/TedX Talk - https://www.ted.com/talks/mike_cameron_redefining_badass_the_way_we_think_about_strong_is_wrong Follow Trevor Botkin LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-botkin-869ab5143/ Follow Canadian Men’s Health Foundation Website - https://menshealthfoundation.ca/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/menshealthfdn/ Facebook - https://facebook.com/menshealthfoundation Support Men & Their Familes: https://menshealthfoundation.ca/donate/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.