MusterPoint Off the Clock

TradesPodcast.com

Formerly known as Off the Clock Toolbox Talk, MusterPoint Off the Clock is worker driven, no BS, strength-based peer conversations about mental health, trauma and recovery in Canada's skilled trades.

  1. 8h ago

    Logan's Story

    In an OTC first, Logan’s Story centres on mental health as a primary issue. Logan and Trevor discuss how fragile job security can be a major trigger for depression and anxiety. Logan describes how being the safety guy at Wesgroup Properties doesn’t always make him the most popular person, but how important it is for him to support workers’ psychological and physical safety. Logan shares his own story of how he suddenly started noticing that things didn’t feel the same for him in his mind. He had lost interest in video games that he used to really enjoy. Everything just seemed harder, or impossible. He took a mood disorders screening test that his employer, Wesgroup, offers and discovered that he had severe depression, including suicidal thoughts. He went to his doctor to receive medical advice and was prescribed an antidepressant. A year later, the antidepressant is helping, but Logan is looking at further steps he can take to support himself. Trevor, Logan and Karen agree that the solution is in the trying. And the trying is what gives people agency to get better. Staying stuck is what keeps people sick. Logan shares the difference Off the Clock has made on Wesgroup sites, opening the eyes of many, and helping others get the treament they need, but couldn’t find a point of entry they recognized. https://wesgroup.ca/careers/ https://www.tradespodcast.com/ https://www.musterpointcanada.ca/ Formerly known as Off the Clock Toolbox Talk, MusterPoint Off the Clock is worker driven, no BS, strength-based peer conversations about mental health in Canada's skilled trades.

  2. Jul 22

    Evolution

    “Evolution” gathers Off the Clock Toolbox Talk OG’s for our first video episode, (see https://www.tradespodcast.com/ for video) and the merging with MusterPoint to create Muster Point Off the Clock. Shawn, Daniel, Kale, Jason, Trevor and Karen reflect on the project's journey, impact, and future direction, while emphasizing the importance of community-led peer support in the skilled trades. Jason reminds us of the importance of talking about suicide, and how it has impacted his and his family’s life. Daniel and Karen reminisce about the disaster of the first “script” that Daniel immediately and abrasively threw out the window, setting the stage for real conversations only. Kale reminds us of the centrality of the most often quoted line in the podcast, “The opposite of addiction is not sobriety. The opposite of addiction is connection.” (Johann Hari) Shawn talks about the enormous impact of our visits to workers on construction sites. Trevor shares the future of MusterPoint, a worker-driven mental health support app that bypasses formal systems that feel impersonal or unapproachable to many tradespeople. He emphasizes that MusterPoint is not a replacement for medical care, but serves as a bridge for tradespeople. It can be customized to whatever kind of bridge the user needs: from someone who gets it, to someone who can help you get into treatment the same week you know you need to get into treatment. https://www.musterpointcanada.ca/ Karen wraps it up by losing the group to raucous laughter as she tries to tell an apropos story gone awry, featuring Kale nearly falling off his chair.  Formerly known as Off the Clock Toolbox Talk, MusterPoint Off the Clock is worker driven, no BS, strength-based peer conversations about mental health in Canada's skilled trades.

    Evolution
  3. Apr 8

    Peter Notsowhite

    Rodbuster, Peter White (aka Peter Notsowhite) tells us his story of healing through culture. Peter summarizes of series of heartbreaking tragedies in his early years, all related to inter-generational trauma of Indigenous peoples on Turtle Island (North America). Like many of our guests, Peter dropped out of school early when he got an opportunity to work in the trades. Alcohol use came hand in hand with the trades, and like most of our guests, Peter felt 'normal' for this first time in his life with alcohol. Also like many of our guests, Peter stopped being able to show up for work when the alcohol use became prolific. The sharp turn in Peter's Story, however, arrives when after a dry spell in the oil fields, Peter tried to return to drinking but could no longer continue. The taste and the rituals suddenly just felt wrong to him. Peter stopped drinking cold turkey. Rather than just living a sober life, Peter grew his spirit through the spirituality of his culture. About the same time, Peter discovered he had cancer. He faced all these challenges with his spirituality, and grew strong, well, and resilient in the middle of it. Peter began attending Powwows and began to learn traditional dance in all his regalia. Peter is now a well known and respected traditional dancer across Turtle Island. Trevor and Peter discuss the importance and focus of treating the body like an athlete would; with nutrition, rest, challenge and training. Peter's recovery is fed by a combination of respect for all things, and knowing that everything happens for a reason. Check out Peter on IG @peternotsowhite  Formerly known as Off the Clock Toolbox Talk, MusterPoint Off the Clock is worker driven, no BS, strength-based peer conversations about mental health in Canada's skilled trades.

  4. Mar 17

    Remy's Story

    Remy & Trevor kick off Remy’s Story with the humor of what their first few days of treatment looked like together in 2019. Remy goes back to the origins of his story, an Indigenous kid growing up in a white family, his mother being a product of the The Sixties Scoop. Remy’s feelings of not belonging and disconnection from culture contributed to his troubles as a kid and ultimately led him to alcohol use. Remy left school early to work in remote industries: tree service, mining, oil & gas, firefighting, etc. In the oil and gas field Remy was introduced to cocaine which rapidly deteriorated his ability to function. Remy and Trevor discuss the insanity they both experienced in their days of trying to work through their cocaine dependence, including not wanting to be alive due to their suffering. At the height of Remy’s substance related illness, Remy was initially refused medical treatment until the doctor assessed his blood and saw the severity of damage to his liver, kidneys, and pancreas. With some humor, Remy talks about how his recovery wasn’t a straight line until he landed in Cedars Recovery. Through many more remarkable life experiences, Remy developed into the strong Indigenous leader that he had been seeking his whole life. Remy wraps up with a visceral recounting of his experience with his higher power in the 2021 Lytton wildfire. Formerly known as Off the Clock Toolbox Talk, MusterPoint Off the Clock is worker driven, no BS, strength-based peer conversations about mental health in Canada's skilled trades.

About

Formerly known as Off the Clock Toolbox Talk, MusterPoint Off the Clock is worker driven, no BS, strength-based peer conversations about mental health, trauma and recovery in Canada's skilled trades.