https://simplecast.com Sweet Bitters One Friday night in May 2008, Marie was puttering around getting ready to meet her husband at his sister's place for drinks. Then the phone rang. A woman said "I'm calling from the West Shore RCMP and letting you know that we're charging your husband with first degree murder. Can you bring some clothes and his reading glasses to the jail sometime tomorrow?" Marie was stunned. That was the beginning of a two year nightmare that haunts Marie to this day. On Sweet Bitters we’re going to start with Marie’s story as we explore emotional pain through the personal stories of our own experiences. We’ll talk about addiction, abuse, self harm, assault, loss of faith, and betrayals. Sometimes it will be messy, sometimes confusing, a lot of time, it’ll be hard. And sometimes we’ll end up laughing. We’ll journey through the sadness and bitters but we’ll also talk about where you find the joys and triumphs, the sweets. Our goal over time is to start incorporating your stories and experiences into the podcast. en Fri, 27 May 2022 07:00:00 +0000 Fri, 27 May 2022 07:00:11 +0000 https://sweet-bitters.simplecast.com Sweet Bitters https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/8c668b54-fb8d-4514-af05-61756da0191d/7dec2f0a-35e7-4b35-9de4-0cfa7430f80a/3000x3000/sweet-03.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://sweet-bitters.simplecast.com episodic One Friday night in May 2008, Marie was puttering around getting ready to meet her husband at his sister's place for drinks. Then the phone rang. A woman said "I'm calling from the West Shore RCMP and letting you know that we're charging your husband with first degree murder. Can you bring some clothes and his reading glasses to the jail sometime tomorrow?" Marie was stunned. That was the beginning of a two year nightmare that haunts Marie to this day. On Sweet Bitters we’re going to start with Marie’s story as we explore emotional pain through the personal stories of our own experiences. We’ll talk about addiction, abuse, self harm, assault, loss of faith, and betrayals. Sometimes it will be messy, sometimes confusing, a lot of time, it’ll be hard. And sometimes we’ll end up laughing. We’ll journey through the sadness and bitters but we’ll also talk about where you find the joys and triumphs, the sweets. Our goal over time is to start incorporating your stories and experiences into the podcast. Susan Elrington, Marie Brotherston yes https://feeds.simplecast.com/Ni2ncqsk addiction, emotional pain, family, grief, justice, media, mental health, sexual assault Susan Elrington and Marie Brotherston sweetbitters21@gmail.com accd4477-37a0-445d-b203-5de5ff5d8b64 S1 E10 When Drugs Come Roaring Back Going into April of this year, things were looking pretty good for Marie. She was recovering well from shoulder surgery. The podcast was on track and doing well. And Greg was working hard alongside Ken and really enjoying his time with his daughter and the whole family.

But, out of the blue, Marie got a call that the police were looking for Greg. Flooded with emotions of all kinds, Marie started putting together the pieces of the puzzle and facing the fact that addiction had been laying in wait. 

In this episode we look at how Marie's feelings about addiction and trust and betrayal have evolved with this latest chapter. 

]]> Fri, 27 May 2022 07:00:00 +0000 sweetbitters21@gmail.com (Susan Elrington and Marie Brotherston) https://sweet-bitters.simplecast.com/episodes/s1-e10-when-drugs-come-roaring-back-WVBJ8Wzo Going into April of this year, things were looking pretty good for Marie. She was recovering well from shoulder surgery. The podcast was on track and doing well. And Greg was working hard alongside Ken and really enjoying his time with his daughter and the whole family.

But, out of the blue, Marie got a call that the police were looking for Greg. Flooded with emotions of all kinds, Marie started putting together the pieces of the puzzle and facing the fact that addiction had been laying in wait. 

In this episode we look at how Marie's feelings about addiction and trust and betrayal have evolved with this latest chapter. 

]]> S1 E10 When Drugs Come Roaring Back Susan Elrington and Marie Brotherston 00:21:19 For the first time in many years, Marie was living a life without grappling with her boys' drug addictions. Greg had been sober for three years and was working with his Dad and loving spending time with his kids. But one Monday, without warning, all that changed. For the first time in many years, Marie was living a life without grappling with her boys' drug addictions. Greg had been sober for three years and was working with his Dad and loving spending time with his kids. But one Monday, without warning, all that changed. yes full 10 227a0a0f-9cb4-403c-a8ff-0c11a5968204 S1 E9 When Drugs Take All Five years ago the unimaginable happened to Marie when her son died of a drug overdose. In this episode, Marie takes us back to that day, the depression that followed, and where she is now in her mental health journey.

 

]]> Fri, 13 May 2022 07:00:00 +0000 sweetbitters21@gmail.com (Sue Elrington, Marie Brotherston) https://sweet-bitters.simplecast.com/episodes/s1-e9-when-drugs-take-all-MtNPylFz Five years ago the unimaginable happened to Marie when her son died of a drug overdose. In this episode, Marie takes us back to that day, the depression that followed, and where she is now in her mental health journey.

 

]]> S1 E9 When Drugs Take All Sue Elrington, Marie Brotherston 00:41:24 It's been five years since the darkest day of Marie's life. In this episode, she tells us what happened that day and her journey since. WARNING: sensitive material about drug overdose and suicide. It's been five years since the darkest day of Marie's life. In this episode, she tells us what happened that day and her journey since. WARNING: sensitive material about drug overdose and suicide. mental health, drugs, overdose, addiction yes full 9 0f717517-db24-4009-8e20-ff2100d79e9c S1 E8 When Drugs Come Home As Marie's sons struggled with their addictions to drugs, her entire family was struggling to hold on to some semblance of the family life they had once enjoyed.

Marie and Ken tried everything they could think of to help their boys, desperation leading to some extremes. But although they had some short term successes, they weren't able to drive drugs from their boys' lives. 

In this episode Marie talks about the impact of drug addiction on her family and own mental health.

]]> Fri, 29 Apr 2022 07:00:00 +0000 sweetbitters21@gmail.com (Sue Elrington, Marie Brotherston) https://sweet-bitters.simplecast.com/episodes/s1-e8-when-drugs-come-home-eymDTb6N As Marie's sons struggled with their addictions to drugs, her entire family was struggling to hold on to some semblance of the family life they had once enjoyed.

Marie and Ken tried everything they could think of to help their boys, desperation leading to some extremes. But although they had some short term successes, they weren't able to drive drugs from their boys' lives. 

In this episode Marie talks about the impact of drug addiction on her family and own mental health.

]]> S1 E8 When Drugs Come Home Sue Elrington, Marie Brotherston 00:36:07 Within a year of each other Marie's sons became addicted to drugs. In this episode we look at how that affected the whole family and how desperate Marie and Ken were to help them. Within a year of each other Marie's sons became addicted to drugs. In this episode we look at how that affected the whole family and how desperate Marie and Ken were to help them. therapy, drugs, interventions, addiction yes full 8 9a4bb572-234c-4c4a-af67-ba5b1c8e128e S1 E7 The Boys & Drugs It's a strange thing to know your kids so well and then almost overnight, they seem to become entirely different people. That's what happened to Marie when her sons became addicted to drugs. When they were using and she tried to reach them, those funny, athletic, strong sons she raised would look back at her with vacant eyes. But when they were sober, she found her lost family again. 

In this episode, Marie introduces us to those boys, the people behind the addictions. And she recounts how drugs took a hold of them.

This is the first of three episodes that will take us through Marie's roller coaster journey with the addictions of others.

]]> Fri, 15 Apr 2022 07:00:00 +0000 sweetbitters21@gmail.com (Sue Elrington, Marie Brotherston) https://sweet-bitters.simplecast.com/episodes/s1-e7-the-boys-drugs-1QDHT0J4 It's a strange thing to know your kids so well and then almost overnight, they seem to become entirely different people. That's what happened to Marie when her sons became addicted to drugs. When they were using and she tried to reach them, those funny, athletic, strong sons she raised would look back at her with vacant eyes. But when they were sober, she found her lost family again. 

In this episode, Marie introduces us to those boys, the people behind the addictions. And she recounts how drugs took a hold of them.

This is the first of three episodes that will take us through Marie's roller coaster journey with the addictions of others.

]]> S1 E7 The Boys & Drugs Sue Elrington, Marie Brotherston 00:23:41 When Marie tells her story there's always an elephant in the room - her sons' drug addictions. In this episode Marie introduces us to her sons and tells us how they became addicted to drugs. When Marie tells her story there's always an elephant in the room - her sons' drug addictions. In this episode Marie introduces us to her sons and tells us how they became addicted to drugs. tbi, drugs, addiction, brain injury yes full 7 b8d3ca90-f7e4-4ee5-99e1-d0c8cf44e8e0 S1 E6 Pillars of Sand While Marie was focussed on the fate of her family, their story was playing out in the headlines and online. Her family was depicted as "the Highland mob" and "the family that kills together, stays together". Marie saw a deep chasm between the story she read in the papers and what she knew to be true about that night on Betula Place. 

That same chasm was evident when the case moved into the courtroom. As we heard in Episode 4 much of the testimony wasn't really credible. 

Those experiences shook Marie's faith in journalism and the justice system. In this episode, we explore what happens when you realize that institutions that are supposed to protect you are build on Pillars of Sand.

]]> Fri, 1 Apr 2022 07:00:00 +0000 sweetbitters21@gmail.com (Sue Elrington, Marie Brotherston) https://sweet-bitters.simplecast.com/episodes/s1-e6-pillars-of-sand-x6iiYhSO While Marie was focussed on the fate of her family, their story was playing out in the headlines and online. Her family was depicted as "the Highland mob" and "the family that kills together, stays together". Marie saw a deep chasm between the story she read in the papers and what she knew to be true about that night on Betula Place. 

That same chasm was evident when the case moved into the courtroom. As we heard in Episode 4 much of the testimony wasn't really credible. 

Those experiences shook Marie's faith in journalism and the justice system. In this episode, we explore what happens when you realize that institutions that are supposed to protect you are build on Pillars of Sand.

]]> S1 E6 Pillars of Sand Sue Elrington, Marie Brotherston 00:26:33 What happens when you have to fight the institutions you thought were there to protect you? Marie talks about losing faith in justice and journalism and the podcast draws the lines to current-day social justice movements. What happens when you have to fight the institutions you thought were there to protect you? Marie talks about losing faith in justice and journalism and the podcast draws the lines to current-day social justice movements. justice, reporting, brotherston, media yes full 6 bb4f8ed1-5afa-46b7-9367-3caf85b3bcc2 S1 E5 Picking Up The Pieces When Marie and Ken work up January 30th, 2012 for the first time in nearly two years they didn't have the prospect of jail time for Ken hanging over their heads. 

But that didn't mean life was back to normal. Their finances had taken a big hit and they were soon to find out that a not-guilty verdict did not restore their reputations. 

In this episode Marie tells us how they reshaped their lives around the people who stuck with them, what she thinks about those who turned their backs and how they live their lives now. 

]]> Fri, 18 Mar 2022 07:00:00 +0000 sweetbitters21@gmail.com (Susan Elrington and Marie Brotherston) https://sweet-bitters.simplecast.com/episodes/s1-e5-picking-up-the-pieces-8dnZhBKu When Marie and Ken work up January 30th, 2012 for the first time in nearly two years they didn't have the prospect of jail time for Ken hanging over their heads. 

But that didn't mean life was back to normal. Their finances had taken a big hit and they were soon to find out that a not-guilty verdict did not restore their reputations. 

In this episode Marie tells us how they reshaped their lives around the people who stuck with them, what she thinks about those who turned their backs and how they live their lives now. 

]]> S1 E5 Picking Up The Pieces Susan Elrington and Marie Brotherston 00:28:06 Ken and his sons may have been found not guilty on all counts, but as Marie tells us, that didn’t mean their lives returned to normal. They still had a hefty price to pay, both financially and socially. Ken and his sons may have been found not guilty on all counts, but as Marie tells us, that didn’t mean their lives returned to normal. They still had a hefty price to pay, both financially and socially. yes full 5 1db9fe05-2449-4ece-a1fd-60a8d9fe2973 S1 E4 The Trial The trial of Ken Brotherston and his sons, Kenny and Greg was an exercise in frustration for Marie. She heard absurd testimony from witnesses who admitted lying on the stand. She might have laughed if the next 20 years of her life wasn't at stake.

The judge handed down her verdict based on the version of events she found most credible. In this episode we take you through that narrative and her reasoning for finding Ken and his sons not guilty on all counts. 

The decision of The Honourable Madam Justice Dillon

 

Theme Music: Verão by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

]]> Fri, 4 Mar 2022 08:00:00 +0000 sweetbitters21@gmail.com (Sue Elrington, Marie Brotherston) https://sweet-bitters.simplecast.com/episodes/s1-e4-the-trial-tzfw1OU0 The trial of Ken Brotherston and his sons, Kenny and Greg was an exercise in frustration for Marie. She heard absurd testimony from witnesses who admitted lying on the stand. She might have laughed if the next 20 years of her life wasn't at stake.

The judge handed down her verdict based on the version of events she found most credible. In this episode we take you through that narrative and her reasoning for finding Ken and his sons not guilty on all counts. 

The decision of The Honourable Madam Justice Dillon

 

Theme Music: Verão by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

]]> S1 E4 The Trial Sue Elrington, Marie Brotherston 00:34:34 In Nov. 2009 Ken, Kenny and Greg entered the courtroom ready to stand trial on murder charges. What followed was testimony that was in some cases confused, some cases erroneous and some cases, just made up. A month later the judge rendered her verdict. In this episode we go through that verdict and reflect on the trial. In Nov. 2009 Ken, Kenny and Greg entered the courtroom ready to stand trial on murder charges. What followed was testimony that was in some cases confused, some cases erroneous and some cases, just made up. A month later the judge rendered her verdict. In this episode we go through that verdict and reflect on the trial. justice, trial, brotherston yes full 4 8bbc10ba-8ea1-44c4-9ea3-b534e700784e S1 E3 33 Days After Ken was arrested Marie waited 33 days until he was released on bail and they could touch each other again. 

That time was filled with lawyers, accountants, frantic plans to raise money and prison visits --- so many prison visits. Marie explains why it took so long to get Ken out and takes us through it all up to the moment when she picked up Ken from the jail and put her hand in his once again. 

 

Credits

Theme Music: Verão by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

]]> Wed, 16 Feb 2022 08:00:00 +0000 sweetbitters21@gmail.com (Sue Elrington, Marie Brotherston) https://sweet-bitters.simplecast.com/episodes/s1-e3-33-days-gEcZwMLv After Ken was arrested Marie waited 33 days until he was released on bail and they could touch each other again. 

That time was filled with lawyers, accountants, frantic plans to raise money and prison visits --- so many prison visits. Marie explains why it took so long to get Ken out and takes us through it all up to the moment when she picked up Ken from the jail and put her hand in his once again. 

 

Credits

Theme Music: Verão by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

]]> S1 E3 33 Days Sue Elrington, Marie Brotherston 00:32:46 It took 33 days for Ken to be released on bail. In those 33 Days, Marie got a quick education about lawyers, reading about yourself in the morning paper, raising money, how prison works and how to write a kick-ass To-Do list. In this episode, Marie talks about what she packed into that 33 days. It took 33 days for Ken to be released on bail. In those 33 Days, Marie got a quick education about lawyers, reading about yourself in the morning paper, raising money, how prison works and how to write a kick-ass To-Do list. In this episode, Marie talks about what she packed into that 33 days. jail, justice, prison, drugs, brotherston no full 3 081441da-fd31-4095-bc24-0cf6bc6bcf2b S1 E2 - That Night On a warm spring evening in 2008 Marie's husband Ken set out on a simple errand with his son, Kenny. They were going to pick up some insurance papers at a guy's house.  But the night was anything but simple. They were met by a man waving a gun and less than two hours later Ken was being charged with first degree murder.

In this episode we go through what happened that evening, from Ken's arrival at the house on Betula Place to his frantic pleas at the police station for help with the guy who had tried to kill him, the man who died that night. 

]]> Wed, 2 Feb 2022 08:00:00 +0000 sweetbitters21@gmail.com (Susan Elrington, Marie Brotherston) https://sweet-bitters.simplecast.com/episodes/s1-e2-that-night-k8e0_l5R On a warm spring evening in 2008 Marie's husband Ken set out on a simple errand with his son, Kenny. They were going to pick up some insurance papers at a guy's house.  But the night was anything but simple. They were met by a man waving a gun and less than two hours later Ken was being charged with first degree murder.

In this episode we go through what happened that evening, from Ken's arrival at the house on Betula Place to his frantic pleas at the police station for help with the guy who had tried to kill him, the man who died that night. 

]]> S1 E2 - That Night Susan Elrington, Marie Brotherston 00:30:33 In this episode we take you to the house on Betula Place the night of May 30, 2008. That's the night Marie's husband Ken found himself in the middle of a fight for his life. A fight that took the life of another man. In this episode we take you to the house on Betula Place the night of May 30, 2008. That's the night Marie's husband Ken found himself in the middle of a fight for his life. A fight that took the life of another man. justice, brotherston yes full 2 8333c07a-71aa-48d3-899c-446117487022 S1 E1 - It All Started With a Phone Call In this introductory episode Marie tells us the broad strokes of the events that blew her world apart, from the night that her husband and two sons were arrested on murder charges to the verdict in the courtroom almost two years later.

Sue and Marie talk about how a podcast about one woman's story came to be a podcast about talking about emotional pain. Marie really wanted the story to mean something, to help someone in some way. And Marie's story is so relevant in these difficult times from the injustice of the justice system to living under intense media scrutiny.

You'll also get to know a little more about Sue and Marie. They're clear that neither of them is a counsellor. They are not offering any advice and they don't advocate any particular therapy but they do believe that talking about the events that cause us pain almost always helps with healing.  They will tell you a little bit more about their backgrounds and what they bring to the podcast.

 

 

]]> Fri, 17 Dec 2021 21:04:48 +0000 sweetbitters21@gmail.com (Sue Elrington, Marie Brotherston) https://sweet-bitters.simplecast.com/episodes/s1-e1-it-all-started-with-a-phone-call-Y1b2my0b In this introductory episode Marie tells us the broad strokes of the events that blew her world apart, from the night that her husband and two sons were arrested on murder charges to the verdict in the courtroom almost two years later.

Sue and Marie talk about how a podcast about one woman's story came to be a podcast about talking about emotional pain. Marie really wanted the story to mean something, to help someone in some way. And Marie's story is so relevant in these difficult times from the injustice of the justice system to living under intense media scrutiny.

You'll also get to know a little more about Sue and Marie. They're clear that neither of them is a counsellor. They are not offering any advice and they don't advocate any particular therapy but they do believe that talking about the events that cause us pain almost always helps with healing.  They will tell you a little bit more about their backgrounds and what they bring to the podcast.

 

 

]]> S1 E1 - It All Started With a Phone Call Sue Elrington, Marie Brotherston 00:22:54 One phone call on a spring night and Marie's life exploded. Her journey to understand and live with the events that followed that night is the basis of Sweet Bitters. In this introduction to the podcast series, Marie and Sue give the short version of Marie's story and talk about the philosophy behind the podcast. One phone call on a spring night and Marie's life exploded. Her journey to understand and live with the events that followed that night is the basis of Sweet Bitters. In this introduction to the podcast series, Marie and Sue give the short version of Marie's story and talk about the philosophy behind the podcast. mental health, justice, talking about pain yes full 1 38e3faff-6027-4e05-a22d-3b5df419477d S1 Sweet Bitters Trailer Speaker 1: Marie Brotherston

Speaker 2: Sue Elrington

Overseeing the studio session: Sadie the dog

]]> Wed, 24 Nov 2021 00:00:38 +0000 sweetbitters21@gmail.com (Marie Brotherston, Sue Elrington) https://sweet-bitters.simplecast.com/episodes/s1-sweet-bitters-trailer-IO_fxYHm Speaker 1: Marie Brotherston

Speaker 2: Sue Elrington

Overseeing the studio session: Sadie the dog

]]> S1 Sweet Bitters Trailer Marie Brotherston, Sue Elrington 00:05:41 Sue and Marie talk about what listeners can expect when they tune into Sweet Bitters Sue and Marie talk about what listeners can expect when they tune into Sweet Bitters justice, sweet bitters, emotional pain yes trailer