In this episode, I sit down with Caitlin Morrison, Executive Director of the Matthew Perry House, to talk about the experience of loving someone through the illness of addiction — and what it means to carry that experience forward after loss.

There’s a version of this story we don’t talk about very often.

The one where someone you love spends years struggling, finally finds their way to recovery… and then is gone.

Together, we explore what families often carry behind the scenes: the early signs that something isn’t quite right, the cycles of hope and disappointment, and the emotional weight of trying to support someone you can’t “fix.”

This conversation also moves beyond the personal into something deeply hopeful — the work Caitlin is leading through the Matthew Perry House, a first-of-its-kind transitional housing initiative in Ottawa focused on long-term, community-based recovery. Grounded in the understanding of addiction as a medical illness, this model addresses a critical gap in care: what happens after treatment ends.

This is a conversation about love, grief, understanding — and legacy.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What families often notice before they have language for addiction
• The cycles of hope, relapse, and emotional impact on loved ones
• The limits of control — and what “support” can really look like
• Reframing addiction as an illness, not a failure
• Recovery, and the part we don’t often talk about
• The vision behind the Matthew Perry House and long-term recovery support

About Caitlin:

Caitlin Morrison is the Executive Director of the Matthew Perry House, carrying forward her brother Matthew Perry’s legacy by advocating for long-term recovery support. With a deep commitment to breaking down stigma and improving access to resources, Caitlin has played a pivotal role in the development of the Matthew Perry House Ottawa, a first-of-its-kind transitional housing initiative.

Learn more:

🌐 https://matthewperryhouse.ca

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matthewperryhouse

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Host/Producer/Writer/Director: Jenn St John

Editor: Andrew Schiller
Website: www.jennstjohn.ca
Follow along:
Instagram: @jenn_stjohn
LinkedIn: Jenn St John

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