Matthew reads Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations and traces how Stoic reflections on fathers, grandfathers, and mothers echo through his own story—childhood abuse, addiction, PTSD, and the hard choice to heal. He connects Marcus’s gratitude for simple living and moral discipline to modern life, challenging the narratives that keep us stuck and championing personal agency, boundaries, and compassion. This is a raw, honest solo about grief, family, and rewriting your story—one decision at a time. If you’re navigating trauma recovery, parenting, sobriety, or just trying to live with more courage, this one’s for you.

Content note: mentions of abuse, addiction, suicide.

Episode Highlights (for show notes)

• Marcus Aurelius on learning from parents and grandparents

• How Stoicism reframes overwhelm, grief, and modern chaos

• Childhood abuse, PTSD, and the choice to stop drinking

• Rewriting family patterns while parenting with compassion

• Individual responsibility vs. limiting group narratives

• Practical Stoic takeaways: reflection, boundaries, simpler living

  
  

  Website: www.authormheneghan.com

Expectations can feel like bricks in a backpack — the ones you pile on yourself, the ones other people stack on you, and even the ones you quietly hand out to others. Eventually, it all gets heavy.

In this episode of Unwritten Chapters, Matthew opens up about how volunteering at the annual Haunting of Falkland — and the fatigue that followed — forced him to take a hard look at the expectations he carries. He also reflects on how a friend out east, meaning to or not, added more weight to his shoulders, creating strain where there should’ve been ease.

This is a conversation about burnout, relationships, and the invisible pressures that keep us running on empty. But it’s also about permission. Permission to be kinder to yourself. Permission to set a boundary. Permission to rest.

Matthew leaves listeners with just one expectation this week: carve out 10 minutes of your day for you — and only you. Because sometimes the bravest thing you can do is stop carrying what was never yours in the first place.

Website: www.authormheneghan.com

The Lie About Always Staying Positive

Ever been told to “just stay positive” — like it’s some kind of magic cure? Yeah, me too. In this episode, I answer a follower’s question about how I “always” keep a positive mindset. The truth? I don’t.

I talk about the pressure we put on ourselves to be perfect, why toxic positivity sets us up for failure, and how real resilience comes from admitting we have rough days. Positivity isn’t about ignoring the bad — it’s about recognizing it, owning it, and still being grateful for the things that go right.

If you’ve ever struggled with the expectation to keep smiling no matter what — especially as a veteran, first responder, or just someone trying to hold it together — this conversation is for you.

🎧 Hit play to hear why imperfection isn’t weakness, it’s human.

Website: www.authormheneghan.com