When Disaster Strikes: Meet the USW Emergency Response Team

Solidarity Works

Allan McDougall, the first director of the USW Emergency Response Team, learned firsthand the importance of healing and the need for long-lasting support from unions more than thirty years ago while working in a mine in Canada. After witnessing multiple co-workers’ deaths and suffering in silence with alcoholism, Allan took control of his life and health, and brought that experience to the groundbreaking USW program. 

Embracing Crisis with Heart with Allan McDougall

NOHS Roundtable Discussions

In this compelling episode with our guest Allan McDougall, our conversation unpacks the worlds we carry within ourselves and how they dance with the worlds of those we serve. Allan shares his stories of grief, loss, compassion, and healing as he cast a light on the works of crisis response and the humans behind it. 

Mining your gems with Allan McDougall

TAO-Living with Lou Corleto

Born and raised in poverty on a dairy farm in Ontario, Canada, Allan McDougall spent more than twenty years underground as a miner in the mineral-rich Sudbury Basin. Numerous challenges and abuses led him down a self-destructive path into alcohol abuse. In a moment of truth, he pulled himself out of his downward spiral and today his focus is, as he says, “Not to see through people, but to see people through.” Drawing from his real-life experiences, Allan is a unique voice among public speakers, one capable of influencing, motivating, educating, and inspiring audiences to take the actions required to change their lives for the better. 

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Allan has authored Breaking Through: Discovering the Riches Within, an insightful account of his triumphant and inspiring story. Allan McDougall is a 50-year retired member of United Steelworkers. His continued mission is serving as Client Relations Coordinator for Provost Umphrey Law Firm. Known for his visionary and strategic leadership, Allan also facilitated Educational Programs for unions on a local, national and international level, implemented and conducted accredited courses for members in the United States and Canada. Allan provides powerfully dynamic strategies, proven to work, into personalized programs. He asserts his own life experiences, energy and influences to capture, educate and inspire audiences to take the necessary actions required to change their lives for the better. He uses those traits as a speaker for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and is a volunteer member on their Victim’s Impact Panel. In this episode we cover: * “not seeing through people but seeing people through” * How to travel the longest highway in the world- the 18″ inches from your head back to your heart *Allan shares his acronym HOW: Honesty, Open-minded, Willingness * A powerful tool to access your emotional body and much more 

Conversation with Mr. Allan McDougall

Clarity from Chaos Podcast

Allan McDougall endured a brutal childhood in southwestern Ontario as the son of a down-on-his-luck farmer and emotionally abusive mother. Frail from asthma, fearful from bullies’ taunts, and self-conscious from a persistent stutter, McDougall earned the nickname “Wimpy.” In his teens, he turned to drinking to find solace, and began a 22-year dependency. As with many alcoholics, alcohol wasn’t his problem – merely the answer to a deeper problem. 

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At age 19,with an alcohol-induced sense of bravado, McDougall began work as a miner in Northern Ontario – a career he remained in for 22 years, but that became a metaphor for the dark, desolate underworld where his alcohol-fueled existence led.In unflinching detail, Breaking Through exposes the hideous underbelly of addiction. Despite the pain inflicted on his family, the loss of his marriage, and the toll on his health, McDougall only hit rock bottom when his body finallyRebelled. The day came when he couldn’t take a sip of alcohol without throwing up. He contemplated suicide, but fortunately turned instead to his United Steel Workers (USW) union’s Employee Assistance Program for help. So began McDougall’s struggle to claw his way out of his personal cave-in to a new life of sobriety and hope. In a compelling story that interweaves humor, reflection, and unwavering honesty, he portrays the rollercoaster of emotions – from anger to humility to elation – experienced while reclaiming a ravaged life. He transforms from childish, or self-centered, to childlike, or other-centered, as he learns to re-engage with and delight in other people and the world of possibilities surrounding him. McDougall’s inspirational quest to become a motivational speaker, through both intention and serendipity, is instructive for anyone at a crossroads trying to change their lives. Now a sought-after speaker and international coordinator ofUSW’s emergency response team, McDougall spreads his message of hope, while also infusing real ty mined from his personal depths of despair.McDougall describes:•When dealing with addicts, it’s important to hate the addiction but love the person•The paradox that strength only comes from admitting one’s weakness•Why those seeking change find that help magically appears once you’re sober•How AA’s “Promises” serve as inspiration for change With Breaking Through, McDougall sheds light on the tortured path of the alcoholic and, through his own instructive and inspirational story, how it is possible to climb out of the darkness into the light.

Allan McDougall Steppin’ Out Radio – Allan McDougal, Breaking Through

Steppin’ Out Radio

Author and Public Speaker Allan McDougall takes you into the life of an alcoholic with unforgiving detail. It leads you down the tortured path that brought him to the brink of suicide by alcohol and back from that hell into the light of a productive life again.  McDougall’s book, Breaking Through: Discovering the Riches Within, is the memoir of a hard life, yet one that, more than 20 years after Allan’s critical moment on the brink, continues to be fully redeemed. “My intention”, says Allan “is never to see through people but to see people through. 

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This book is a dream I have carried with me for twenty-four years.” He lives these words daily as head of the United Steelworkers Union’s Emergency Response Team, reaching out as a crisis counselor to the families of workers killed on the job. “Every day for 22 years I went thousands of feet under the ground and fought Mother Earth in sweltering heat for her mineral wealth. But, however far inside the earth I went, the riches I discovered when I went deep within myself, the 18 inches from my head to my heart, have proven much more valuable. Those 18 inches were the hardest distance I have ever traveled, yet, after more than twenty years, I am still mining that vein, and I am convinced that it is a bottomless source of personal riches.” Many is the book we can’t put down, but rare is the story we take with us. Breaking Through is such a story.

Drunk too often? Life After Sobering Up With Allan McDougal

Ask Cathleen Network

Allan McDougall, a member of the United Steelworkers, is the Program Coordinator for the Emergency Response Team that serves 850,000 Union Members. As a grief counselor, Allan responds to life altering injuries and fatalities and acts as a bridge between the company and the families of the injured or deceased workers across the nation. He leads and incredible life helping people- after he waws able to find help for himself. Allan’s new book: Breaking Through is a story of redemption which leads you down the tortured path that brought Allan McDougall to the brink of suicide because of a serious alcohol addiction. 

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A powerful speaker and trainer, Allan McDougall is a member of Les Brown’s elite Platinum Speaking Network as well as Toastmasters, International.  Powerfully dynamic, he integrates proven strategies into personalized programs.  His real life experiences, energy and captivating style, influences, motivates, educates and inspires audiences to take the action required to change their lives for the better. Ask Cathleen! The review Show to Adam, Where Art Thou? And your opportunity to get information about anything and everything you are in need of. Business advice? Relationships? Issues with kids? Everyone always asks me to help them with something, here is your chance! Also, get the details about the upcoming guests and topics that start at 7PM on Adam, Where Art Thou with Cathleen Williams!  

Breaking Through, Get Real Ladies & Decisions – Experience Pros Radio Show

Experience Pros Radio Show

Today on the Experience Pros Radio Show, Angel and Eric speak with Allan McDougall about discovering the riches within yourself. New author Kim DeCoste shares her book, “Get Real Ladies”, and Gail Harris explains why your gut trumps your intellect so often.

The Michael Dresser Show

The Michael Dresser Show

Allan Mcdougall on Good Vibrations Radio

Good Vibrations Radio

Allan McDougall and The Universal Entrepreneur on Commitment to Courage

Pauline Victoria

Allan McDougall, Renate Reimann, Kirby Heyborne

Money For Lunch

Allan McDougall worked in underground mines for 22 years before emerging to assist in his union’s EAP office, where his experience helping others deal with situations spiraling out of their control led him to head the International Steelworkers Emergency Response Team. He holds a Master of Labor Administration from the University of Massachusetts. His new book, Breaking Through: Discovering the Riches Within (AM Publishing), is his inspiring memoir, offering a moving example of how to leave addiction and pain behind for a life of sobriety and vision.

Ep 61 – with special guest, author, Allan McDougall

Musically Meditated Podcast

This week Joe is joined by very special guest, author, Allan McDougall. Joe and Allan have a conversation that is very dear to him. Allan’s book “Breaking Through, Discovering the Riches Within,” can be found at Green Door Books or online on all big bookstore sites.

© 2022 Allan McDougall Live