After roughly 15 years as an on-and-off heroin user, Daniel Snyder faced the challenge of being publicly vulnerable about his experience years ago.

害羞草研究所淚 wrestled with it 害羞草研究所� certainly for a time 害羞草研究所� but emerged realizing that I really needed to own my story,害羞草研究所� Snyder said.

That journey has allowed Snyder to co-host Off The Clock Toolbox Talk, a podcast launched by Mission害羞草研究所檚 Fraser House Society to create conversations with men who work in the trades and construction industry about health and substance use.

The Fraser House podcast is a two-year project that will include up to 40 episodes over four seasons, produced with a financial contribution from Health Canada害羞草研究所檚 Substance Use and Addiction Program.

害羞草研究所淭his funding will enable us to create podcasts for men in the trades that will provide tools and information on pain, trauma and substance use while enhancing awareness, decreasing stigma and encouraging shared lived experiences,害羞草研究所� Fraser House Society executive director Cynthia Coyle said.

Snyder co-hosts the podcast with Karen Janzen, a health promotion specialist who has worked with vulnerable youth in the mental health substance use field for decades. Janzen also came up with the concept for the podcast.

害羞草研究所淔ifteen years ago, I saw how a lack of psycho-social resources fueled the misery of tradesmen in my life,害羞草研究所� Janzen said.

In the first episode, Snyder shared his experiences as a tradesman who used heroin on and off for 15 years 害羞草研究所� during which time he overdosed and survived.

He says if he were going through his addiction experience at any point in the last seven years, he wouldn害羞草研究所檛 be alive.

害羞草研究所淚 know that in my heart because of the way I used to operate alone 害羞草研究所� always kind of behind closed doors, locked in a bedroom or a bathroom, and very isolated, very secretive,害羞草研究所� he said.

While Snyder is open about his experiences, he says finding others to be publicly vulnerable is a challenge.

害羞草研究所淥ften, one of the real challenges is finding people who are still struggling or people who are perhaps using drugs and it害羞草研究所檚 not dysfunctional 害羞草研究所� and that is actually a large majority of people,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚f I害羞草研究所檓 a guy who uses molly a couple of times a year or likes to do cocaine once in a while, I害羞草研究所檓 not generally the guy that害羞草研究所檚 gonna open up about that, especially on a podcast.害羞草研究所�

He says a challenge of hosting is being aware of his own biases.

害羞草研究所淸My] ways of thinking about this issue do not necessarily translate out onto every other person,害羞草研究所� he said.

However, Snyder hopes his own experience with drug use can help people to open up on the show.

害羞草研究所淚 have that lived experience in interaction with people on job sites, and I害羞草研究所檓 well aware of the kind of drive to hide behaviours that society deems less than desirable.害羞草研究所�

Snyder says the classic view of drug use usually involves addiction or homelessness. However, a large number of overdoses are happening in private residences with many of those people employed in trade and transport.

害羞草研究所淎 lot of trades guys are working paycheck to paycheck in a difficult society. The financial burdens that people experience and害羞草研究所� the wear and tear on the bodies of our tradespeople 害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 not a surprise to me that some of them are just hanging on and substance use is simply a way of self-medicating.害羞草研究所�

According to Snyder, the trades industry has unique factors contributing to drug use that are difficult to research to truly understand why they are so impacted.

害羞草研究所淚 obviously don害羞草研究所檛 have all the answers,害羞草研究所� Snyder said. 害羞草研究所淭he podcast is an exploration of that and breaking down the stigma around drug use.害羞草研究所�

The podcast hopes to drive home the idea that every story is unique and different and so are solutions.

The first season is now available on Apple, Spotify and Youtube with the second season on the way.