Pedersen Recovery Inc.

Welcome back! It's our first Pedersen Recovery Podcast of 2019 and we're pleased to welcome former NHL goaltender, current Vancouver Canucks broadcaster, and Mental Health Advocate Corey Hirsch! I'd known - and known of - Corey Hirsch for quite some time. We're the same age, he's from Medicine Hat, AB, and I'd followed his illustrious playing career through his stops in Kamloops, Vancouver, New York, Washington, Dallas and Team Canada. It was a pleasure to finally meet "Hirschy" in the living room of our mutual friend Curtis Hunt in Regina 10 or so years ago. At the time, Corey was working as a goalie coach. But what really got my attention - and dropped my jaw - was Corey's raw column on his Mental Health battle on the popular website The Players Tribune two years ago. The courage Corey displayed in telling his story was remarkable, but it was equally sad to hear what he'd gone through including an attempt to take his own life. Ha...

It's a brand new month, and time for a brand new Recovery Podcast here at Pedersen Recovery Inc. This interview is one I've been excited to post for quite some time. At 6'5" and 285 lbs, former NFL and CFL offensive tackle Xavier Fulton certainly looks the part of a rough-and-tumble pro football player. But his life journey has had more than its share of ups and downs, with football stops in Tampa Bay, Indianapolis, San Francisco, Washington, Edmonton, Saskatchewan, Hamilton and Montreal. His longest stint was with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (2012-2016), but it was there where he hit his own personal rock bottom and began taking the steps to turn his life around. Those around him didn't know what "X" was going through at the time, but it turns out to be a familiar story for anyone who's battled the demons of Alcoholism and Mental Illness. The Chicago, IL product went public with his personal story in 2016, and is happy to share it with...

Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Cody Fajardo is a rising star in the football world, but also within the Faith community. The 27-year old pivot from Brea, CA has risen to prominence in the Canadian Football League in his first year as a starter, but his fifth in the CFL.  He also spent time with the NFL's Oakland Raiders. Fajardo drew headlines this season with his colourful "Sprinkle of Jesus" quote, when he led the Riders on a game-winning touchdown drive in a 24-19 victory over Hamilton on August 1 at Mosaic Stadium. After the game, Cody gave credit for his heroics to his Lord and Saviour. The comment took off within the Rider Nation, and within the religious community In this month's Pedersen Recovery Podcast, Cody Fajardo tells his personal Faith story, how he dealt with his parents' divorce as a teen, and how he deals with critics since he wears his heart on his sleeve as a Believer. Please enjoy this uplifting interview with Cody Faja...

Photo: Bell.ca 2-Time Grey Cup champion Shea Emry is the featured guest on the latest edition of the Pedersen Recovery Rodcast. The Richmond, BC product spent eight seasons in the CFL with Montreal, Toronto and Saskatchewan and was named a CFL All Star in 2012. The linebacker also won the prestigious Jake Gaudaur Veterans Trophy in 2013, a distinction appointed to the individual who most exemplifies the values of Canada’s Veterans. The 31-year old is the founder and CEO of WellMen Project, a men's adventure club which aims to empower men to take initiative in their own mental wellness. While Shea has no history of substance abuse, he is an outspoken advocate for Mental Health and in this podcast Rod shares his own battles with Mental Illness along with Shea. The Rodcast is sponsored by Saputo Dairy's Milk 2 Go Sport and CJ Evans Home Design. Please give it a listen!

Photo: Jeff Sawatzky Pro football fans' last memory of Kory Sheets is very likely the famed Saskatchewan Roughriders running back ripping off a record 197 yards rushing in the 2013 Grey Cup, and being named the MVP of a 45-23 Saskatchewan victory over Hamilton at Taylor Field. The highest of highs, you'd think. Just a few months later Sheets - a free agent - spurned a lucrative offer from the Roughriders to sign with the NFL's Oakland Raiders for a few thousand dollars more. The following August, on national television at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Sheets popped his achilles tendon in a preseason game against the Packers and his career was over. In the blink of an eye. That's when the regrets, the demons, and the downward spiral began. With Sheets in Regina in June/2019 Photo: Jeff Armstead In an interview with The Rod Pedersen Show , Sheets bared all about what Life After Football can be like, and how his life turned south with one fateful decision. ...

Saskatchewan was rocked on April 6, 2018 by the devastating bus crash which took the lives of 16 players and staff of the Humboldt Broncos hockey club. Remarkably, Broncos Assistant Coach Chris Beaudry - who celebrated his 4-year sober anniversary the day before the accident - survived the catastrophe simply because he was driving on his own to the playoff game in Nipawin, SK. He wasn't on the bus. Beaudry - a farmer from St. Front, SK and married father of two - has been very vocal about his sobriety, appearing in interviews and podcasts across North America since he made the positive life change in 2014. And for the purposes of this Recovery podcast, Beaudry wanted to share his Recovery story and how it relates to the devastating circumstances in which he currently finds himself with the Broncos. If he can help someone, he wants to be that positive influence in their life. When the interview was completed in the parking lot of a church in Northwest Regina, I asked ...

Nine times out of 10 when someone I meet learns that I no longer drink (3,124 days as of this writing), they say, "Boy it must be great not having to deal with hangovers!" Of course it is, but in truth that's about the 10th best thing I've discovered from leading a sober life. So for this week's blog post, here are my Top 10 Best Things of My Sober Life after hitting rock bottom on January 26, 2015: 1 - NO FEAR : The rest of these points really are in no particular order but this is my clearcut #1. Why? Because imagine being paralyzed by fear so much that you're afraid to look at your phone, you shudder in a cold sweat each and every time a text or call comes in because you assume you're in trouble for something you did or said while drinking (and most times you don't even remember doing it). Imagine having to tiptoe around your boss's office to avoid his angry glare for your drunken antics, or constantly worry about "who's talking t...