Don't Change Much How Men Are Healing: Shame, Hope, and the Hard Work of Change
What happens when two men sit down, drop the armour, and tell the truth about who they really are? On this episode of the Don’t Change Much Podcast, we introduce our new co-hosts, Mike Cameron and Trevor Botkin—two guys who have lived through rock bottom, rebuilt their lives, and are still doing the work every day.
They share the same mission: help men close the gap between who they are and who they want to be.
In this raw and hopeful conversation, Mike and Trevor unpack what healing actually looks like for men—navigating shame, asking for help, getting blindsided by grief, and learning to show up as the man you want to be, not the one you’re pretending to be. They share their stories of addiction, trauma, devastating loss, and the life-saving power of connection.
What emerges is a powerful reminder that resilience isn’t only about being strong… it’s also about learning to feel again.
This isn’t self-help fluff. It’s the hard, uncomfortable, life-changing work of becoming emotionally honest.
You’ll hear:
• Why men avoid asking for help and how to break that pattern
• How shame fuels isolation and what stops it from running your life
• The simple question Mike uses to course-correct when he’s slipping
• Why Trevor believes self-forgiveness is the most unselfish thing a man can do
If you’ve ever felt stuck, alone, or like you’re not the man you want to be, this conversation is your reminder: healing is possible… and you don’t have to do it on your own.
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/mikecameron
- Website - 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
Follow Canadian Men’s Health Foundation
- Website - https://menshealthfoundation.ca/
- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/menshealthfdn/
- Facebook - https://facebook.com/menshealthfoundation
Chapters
00:00 Introduction: The Struggle with Humility
00:50 Meet the Hosts: Mike and Trevor
01:21 The Importance of Human Connection
02:55 Personal Journeys: Overcoming Challenges
06:21 The Power of Vulnerability and Asking for Help
09:27 A Heartbreaking Loss: Mike's Story
14:09 Honoring Colleen: Making Beautiful Shit Happen
18:22 Finding Beauty in Grief: Trevor's Story
19:20 Coping with Loss and Family Support
21:02 Finding Strength in Vulnerability
21:38 Redefining Masculinity
22:28 The Power of Emotional Connection
23:28 Overcoming Addiction and Self-Discovery
26:10 The Importance of Sharing Stories
29:37 Navigating Shame and Forgiveness
33:49 Building a Hopeful Future
Support Men & Their Familes: https://menshealthfoundation.ca/donate/
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