Chuck LaFlange

Chuck aka Chris spent more than 25 years in active addiction. 

There were highs and lows in that time, and he enjoyed some short-term success in his work life, and as an entrepreneur, but always the struggle with addiction caught up, and the successes were short-lived.

As is almost always the case, Chuck moved away from being a high functioning addict, to struggling, to someone who's life had become not just unmanageable, but at risk of ending by his hand, or some other tragic circumstance. 

Very rarely is the path to recovery linear, and Chuck’s path was no exception. After many hard days, and numerous relapses, it was the unexpected death of his father that served as the push to work at real sustainable recovery. 

Chuck’s Mom Norma had used the phrase "You are loved" at the end of many erratic conversations. As such, when that day came, that comes for so many people that have suffered in addiction, and the exhaustion kicked in, he knew he was in fact loved, and reached out to her for help. 

When he got sober, he found he was broken. PTSD had set in so badly that getting on a bus wasn't possible most days, and getting a job seemed like an impossibility. His mother Norma, being a huge part of his life for the first time in years, suggested a podcast. 

Very shortly thereafter, he started The Dopey Canuck Podcast, telling often funny, and mostly stupid stories about his days in active addiction. He did this with an extremely outdated laptop, and no microphone or headphones, but soon after was donated a microphone and some other essentials. 

Throughout this period, Chuck was dependent on friends and family to keep him afloat, and what is now the Ashes to Awesome team, made up almost exclusively of people that have known each other for more than 20 years, was formed. They have come together with a common mission, to stop the stigma around addiction, and offer comfort and support to people struggling with addiction and mental health, and to the people that love them. 

A couple of months into this new venture, circumstances arose where a rebrand was needed, and Ashes to Awesome - Rising in Recovery was born. It was then that he found his "why” and used the rebrand as an opportunity to begin recording episodes that helped to comfort and inspire not just people who suffered in addiction, but even more so, their families and loved ones. 

Now with the help of co-hosts, Ryan Bathgate, Karl the Atheist (KTA), and Dr. Lisa, the show continues to evolve into a one-of-a-kind production, featuring all sorts of people affected by addiction, and professionals from the Harm Reduction, Healthcare, and Recovery industries. 

The "You are loved" message that served as a glimmer of hope for Chuck is now firmly entrenched itself into the culture of the Ashes to Awesome Podcast, and not only is it in the logo, but an almost always emotional monologue at the end of every single episode. 

Chuck invites you to join the team by listening to and spreading a message of hope, love, inclusion, and acceptance, so that more people might just find their way to living a life of meaning and purpose.