In this episode of The Brink, Ringo and Ridgey welcome high-performance coach Adam Smith, whose journey from near-suicide to sobriety, self-mastery and service is as gritty as it is inspiring. Adam gets raw about his battles with mental health, addiction and low self-worth—and how hitting rock bottom gave him the foundation to rebuild everything.

This isn’t your standard self-help chat. It’s a practical, no-fluff conversation about transformation, resilience, and why “doing what’s doable” is often the most powerful place to start.Adam breaks down the psychology of change, how understanding human behaviour can shift everything, and why procrastination is less about laziness and more about self-esteem.

From habit stacking to fasting, non-negotiables to DNA-driven nutrition, he shares simple steps that anyone can implement to regain control of their body, mind, and life:

• Set three daily non-negotiables to build structure

• Use your past as fuel, not a chain

• Stack small habits for big momentum

• Get curious about nutrition and DNA

• Raise your standards to raise your life

This one’s for anyone who’s been stuck, spiraling, or just quietly losing steam. Adam doesn’t sell perfection—he models progress. And whether you’re in a rut or on the rise, his story reminds us that change doesn’t come from doing everything at once, but from consistently doing something.

Links:

Adam's linkedIn

Adam's podcast

Website: A-Game Consultancy

Adam's Instagram

In this raw and urgent follow-up, Sam Troth returns to The Brink after completing an unthinkable mission—walking the length of New Zealand, from Cape Reinga to Parliament, to raise awareness for child sexual abuse. Along the way, he gathered close to 8,000 signatures for a petition demanding harsher penalties for abusers. But despite the miles walked and the pain carried—his and others’—what met him at Parliament was silence. No acknowledgement, no response, just bureaucracy in its coldest form.

Ringo and Ridgey sit down with Sam to unpack what that journey really cost: physically, emotionally, and spiritually. They talk about the countless conversations Sam had with survivors, the heartbreaking stories shared along the way, and the stark reality that New Zealand has a growing epidemic we’re still not talking about loudly enough. This episode is a rallying cry—a conversation about injustice, resilience, and the power of one person refusing to look away.

Links:

Sam's website

Email: theroadtohealingaotearoa@gmail.com

In this episode of The Brink, Ringo and Ridgey are joined by Dion Freeman—a man whose life reads like a modern spiritual odyssey. From a childhood soaked in chaos to prison bars and, eventually, a cave in the mountains, Dion’s story is a raw, powerful reminder that healing doesn’t always come in the package you expect. Today, he stands as a Māori healer and spiritual guide, practicing Honohono—an ancestral medicine that reconnects people with their wairua (spirit), their past, and their purpose.

Dion takes us through the defining moments of his transformation, including his time behind bars where he experienced not just physical change but a profound spiritual awakening. It’s not every day you hear someone say “I didn’t see humans for 49 days,” but for Dion, that solitude became sacred. Through Honohono and deep self-reflection, he began helping others heal from trauma, addiction, and the pain they didn’t even know they were carrying. He speaks of God not as a man with a beard, but as energy. Of names having meaning. Of healing that transcends space and time.

Dion’s understanding of healing isn’t abstract—it’s raw, physical, and often emotional. And yes, in case you’re wondering, both Ringo and Ridgey had personal healing sessions with Dion—and we talk about those experiences in this episode. This conversation isn't just about healing—it's about unlearning, relearning, and remembering who you are beneath the noise. Whether you're a skeptic or a seeker, Dion brings a grounded, visceral truth to the conversation. And as always, Ringo and Ridgey keep it real. This episode might just leave you breathing a little deeper—and looking at your own journey with fresh eyes.

Dion's links:

https://www.wayofthewarrior.co.nz/

https://www.healingaotearoa.co.nz/

https://www.youtube.com/@f.t.p-podcast

https://www.instagram.com/dion_free_man?igsh=dHRjam00Y3JzY2M3

https://www.instagram.com/dionbrangiuaia?igsh=MXZxNWtobGM3NDZxdw%3D%3D

https://www.honohono-healing.com/

https://www.tiktok.com/@dionbrangiuaiafre