HVAC Mental Health: The Reality of Grief in the Trades with Adam Gordon Part 1

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Podcast, host Gary McCreadie continues the mental health series with guest Adam Gordon, Director of Service and Maintenance, Mechanical Division at Orella Group Inc. In Part 1, Adam shares his life story and speaks openly about the trauma he has faced, including witnessing a close friend die in a tragic accident, losing family members, and making the difficult decision to remove life support from his father. He explains how years of grief, family struggles, and seeking attention shaped many of his actions in the past, both online and in his personal life. Adam also talks about how therapy helped him better understand himself and begin working through his trauma. Together, they discuss the importance of purpose in the trades, learning from difficult experiences, and creating space for honest conversations about mental health.

This episode continues the mental health series by focusing on the struggles many people in the trades quietly carry. Adam joins Gary to share the difficult experiences that shaped his life, including witnessing his best friend die in a tragic accident, losing his stepfather to suicide, and later losing his sister and father. He explains how years of grief and family challenges affected his behaviour, relationships, and search for attention both online and in real life. Adam also talks about how therapy helped him better understand his trauma and begin working on personal growth. The conversation highlights the importance of opening up, learning from hard experiences, and creating space for honest discussions about mental health in the trades.

Expect to Learn:

• How witnessing a close friend die at a young age affected Adam's life.

• How losing his stepfather, sister, and later his father shaped his grief.

• Why do many tradespeople feel pressure to stay quiet and keep working?

• How therapy helped Adam understand his behaviour and past trauma.

• How helping customers through service work can create purpose and meaning.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] - Intro to Adam Gordon in Part 1

[03:02] - Meet Adam: Early Life Trauma & Loss

[05:44] - Coping Mechanisms: Dark Humor & Moving On

[09:16] - Adam's Past: From Revenge Porn to Therapy

[12:02] - Social Media Struggles: Trolls vs. Gratitude

[15:44] - Gary's Approach: Blocking Out Negativity

[18:23] - Maturity: Not Feeding the Online Drama

This Episode is Kindly Sponsored by:

Cintas: https://www.cintas.com/hvacknowitall

Cool Air Products: https://www.coolairproducts.net/

Factory Direct Filters: https://www.factorydirectfilters.com/

SupplyHouse: https://www.supplyhouse.com/tm
Use promo code HKIA5 to get 5% off your first order at SupplyHouse!

Follow the Guest Adam Gordon on:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-gordon-494a54bb/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gordonbotplumbing/

Orella Group Inc: https://www.linkedin.com/company/orella-group-inc/

Follow the Host:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-mccreadie-38217a77/

Website: https://www.hvacknowitall.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/HVAC-Know-It-All-2/61569643061429/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hvacknowitall1/