In this inaugural episode of Season 7 of From Darkness to Life, Poncho Parker is joined by Cody Lawrence in the beautiful, historic Monarch Theatre... Canada’s oldest purpose-built movie theatre in Medicine Hat Alberta.
Cody shares an unflinchingly honest story of addiction, overwhelming grief, and the night he reached his personal rock bottom. After surviving a suicide attempt and experiencing relapse, he discovered that recovery was not a single decision, but a daily commitment to honesty, gratitude, connection, and growth.
Today, Cody draws on his lived experience, his art, and his work at the Medicine Hat Recovery Centre to help others find their own path forward. His journey is a powerful reminder that our darkest chapters do not have to define how our stories end—and that even the smallest grain of hope can illuminate the way back to life.
His message to anyone struggling is simple: “Never quit quitting.”
Table of Contents
00:00 — Opening teaser: “Never quit quitting”
00:16 — Our Collective Journey support message
00:38 — Episode introduction and Cody Lawrence’s story
02:59 — Meeting “Cody 2.0”
04:50 — Cody’s early life and substance use
06:30 — Recognizing the warning signs
08:06 — When addiction began to catch up
08:44 — Grief, suicide, and repeated loss
11:46 — Losing hope and facing an uncertain future
14:44 — Cody’s suicide attempt and survival
16:59 — Rock bottom, honesty, and asking for help
17:34 — The unwavering support of Cody’s mother
18:01 — Addiction as a coping mechanism
19:59 — Resilience and the power of the human spirit
21:14 — Waking up alive: clarity and a grain of hope
22:44 — Why asking for help can be so difficult
24:05 — Entering treatment for the first time
26:28 — Wanting recovery versus being ready
28:11 — Returning home and repairing relationships
31:24 — Relapse and trying to outrun the problem
31:53 — The 2023 turning point
33:12 — The gratitude practice that changed everything
35:35 — Grieving the old Cody
36:52 — Turning pain into purpose
38:41 — The value of lived experience
39:47 — Rediscovering art through recovery
42:02 — What gives Cody hope today
43:02 — His daughter’s essay and the impact on his family
45:43 — Cody’s final message of hope
46:06 — “Never quit quitting”
46:24 — Closing reflections
47:20 — Our Collective Journey outro and credits
