In this episode of Sharing Without Shame, host Donna Marston sits down with Richard Evans, a former firefighter and paramedic turned addiction counselor, to explore the emotional weight and trauma that often go unseen in high-stress professions. With brutal honesty, Richard shares his journey from the rush of saving lives to the depths of addiction, burnout, and a near-suicidal spiral—all while juggling the roles of husband, father, and first responder.
Richard opens up about the cultural silence around trauma in the emergency services world, the dangers of “stuffing it down,” and how a lifetime of hard work and service couldn’t save him from the pain he refused to acknowledge. From 48-hour shifts and liters of vodka to a psychiatric hospital at Christmas, Richard’s story is a raw reminder of what happens when society fails to support its frontline heroes.
Together, Donna and Richard unpack the weight of shame, the importance of peer support, and the urgent need for trauma-informed recovery tools for those who risk their lives to protect others. This conversation shines a light on hope, redemption, and the long road back from the edge—with a powerful reminder that healing is possible when we stop hiding and start sharing.
Connect with Richard Evans
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/richardthecounsellor2/#
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richardthecounsellor2/#
Website: https://www.rootedrising.ca/
Sponsors:
Experience Inner Peace with Calming Therapy Bracelets
Website: https://snappbandz.com/
Use SWOS or SharingWithoutShame code
Learn more: https://linktr.ee/Sharingwithoutshame
Thank you for tuning in! May your faith and strength heal your heart.
Popular Podcasts
NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com