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

Ringo and Ridgey sit down with leadership coach and professional people-whisperer Hong Kong based Felicity McRobb to unpack the big question: What if your so-called flaws are actually your greatest strengths? Through the lens of Insights Discovery—a tool that uses colour energy profiling to understand how we tick—Felicity helps us navigate the murky waters of personality, communication, and team dynamics with humour, heart, and zero jargon.

From boardrooms to backyard barbecues, understanding how we show up in the world can shift the entire tone of our relationships. Felicity talks about energy types and the value of self-awareness in real terms, sharing how tweaking your approach (without faking it) can build trust, diffuse tension, and make you the kind of person others actually want to work with. There’s insight here for leaders, introverts, extroverts, and anyone who’s ever wondered why Barry in finance never makes eye contact. Spoiler: it’s probably not about you.

This is a conversation about communication without the corporate fluff. It’s about listening, adapting, and owning who you are—loudly or quietly, depending on your energy colour. Whether you’re running a company, raising a family, or just trying not to lose your cool at the dinner table, Felicity brings the kind of grounded wisdom that helps you see yourself—and everyone else—a little more clearly. Tune in, laugh a bit, reflect a lot, and maybe even discover that the village idiot in you is actually a hidden genius.

Felicity's LinkedIn:

Felicity McRobb

This week on The Brink, Ringo and Ridgey attempt to breathe their way to enlightenment—without passing out—as they sit down with legendary breathwork master Dan Brulé. Dan isn’t just any breath coach; he’s trained Navy SEALs, Olympic athletes, and yes, even Tony Robbins, who was so impressed he wrote the foreword to Dan’s best-selling book Just Breathe. If Tony Robbins is the godfather of self-help, Dan is the Yoda of the inhale.

From the very first puff—sorry, breath—Dan breaks down why this ancient, involuntary act might just be the key to managing stress, healing trauma, and accessing peak performance. He walks us through practices like rebirthing (which is not as weird as it sounds), breath holding (which is exactly what it sounds like), and his golden formula for transformation: awareness, relaxation, and conscious breathing. You’ll also hear how the breath impacts anxiety, emotional management, and why hyperventilating isn’t always a red flag.

As usual, Ringo and Ridgey find a way to mix depth with a dash of idiocy—because nothing says spiritual growth like two grown men trying to out-breathe each other. But behind the laughs is a serious message: breath is free, it’s always with you, and it might just be the most underrated superpower we’ve got.

So whether you're looking for calm, clarity, or just want to stop sounding like a chain smoker walking up stairs, this episode delivers. You’ll come for the banter, but you might just leave with a new lease on life—and hopefully, breathing through your nose.

Links:

Dan's Website: Breath Mastery

Dan's Instagram

This episode of The Brink Podcast takes us into one of the most difficult but necessary conversations we can have. Ringo and Ridgey welcome psychotherapist, speaker, and survivor Ella McCrystal, who bravely shares her personal journey as a victim of childhood abuse at the hands of her own father. Ella brings the unique perspective of not only being a survivor but also a clinician — someone who has lived through the trauma and now works to help others heal from it. She opens up about the profound, lifelong impact of trauma on mental and emotional health, exploring the painful realities of dissociation, the complexities of parental relationships and the dark truth of how many survivors internalise guilt, shame, and responsibility that was never theirs to carry. This conversation pulls no punches but is laced with the kind of raw honesty that cuts through the silence many survivors live with.

Ringo, Ridgey, and Ella also dive into the deep cracks in the justice system, the failures to protect survivors and the broader, horrifying issue of child trafficking. Ella shares not only her own story but also insights from her therapeutic work, touching on self-harm, intrusive thoughts and the challenges of navigating intimacy and sexual development after trauma. She brings a wealth of knowledge about how trauma rewires the brain and how approaches like neuroeletric therapy and neuroplasticity can help survivors build new, healthier pathways toward recovery. The conversation is heavy, yes, but it’s also grounded in hope, resilience and the profound human capacity for healing.

While the subject matter is raw, Ella’s perspective is anything but bleak. She speaks passionately about the importance of safe spaces, compassionate rehabilitation, and the cultural conversations we must be having around abuse, healing, and forgiveness. This episode is a powerful reminder that while trauma can shape a person, it doesn’t have to define them — and that with understanding, support, and hard work, survivors can reclaim their lives. For anyone looking for an episode that goes deep but stays grounded in empathy and truth, this one’s for you.

Links to Ella and her work:

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/ellamccrystal/

Website:

ellamccrystal.com

Trigger warning: This episode contains discussion of suicide, bullying, and mental health. Listener discretion is advised.

In this episode of The Brink Podcast, Ringo and Ridgey sit down with the legendary Alex Perry for a wide-ranging, sharp, and unexpectedly hilarious chat that pulls back the glittery curtain on the fashion world. Alex dishes on everything from the cultural quirks that shape global fashion to the not-so-glam side of the industry most people never see. With his trademark wit and brutal honesty, Alex talks about the highs and lows of fame, the tightrope walk between authenticity and public image, and why self-critique (without self-destruction) is his secret weapon. Expect big laughs, a few jaw-dropping stories, and plenty of no-nonsense wisdom.

Things get even juicier when the conversation turns to the digital jungle of social media and the relentless world of online criticism. Alex, Ringo, and Ridgey dive into the brutal reality of bullying—both in person and online—and how it messes with mental health and self-perception. Alex doesn’t hold back on the toxic side of the internet, the emotional weight of bullying, and the challenge of staying sane when the trolls come out to play. Whether it’s surviving harsh criticism, handling bullies, or knowing when to block, mute, or just laugh it off, the trio serves up sharp truths with a healthy dose of humor.

But beneath the banter, there’s heart. Alex opens up about how family, cultural identity, and a good old-fashioned work ethic have shaped his resilience and kept him grounded—even when the pressure’s on. From childhood lessons to the underrated magic of a family dinner, Alex reminds us that success isn’t just about image—it’s about connection. Whether you’re a fashion junkie, a social media survivor, or just here for the laughs, this episode is packed with honesty, humor, and the kind of sharp banter that makes The Brink one hell of a listen.

Ringo and Ridgey sit down with Keegan Hirst—a man who’s tackled more than just opponents on the rugby field. Keegan made headlines in 2015 as the first British rugby league player to come out as gay while still playing professionally but his story is far deeper than a single headline. From growing up under the weight of rigid masculinity to living a double life, Keegan opens up about the long, painful road to self-acceptance and the toll internalised homophobia can take when silence feels safer than truth.

The lads dive into the tricky terrain of masculinity, mental health and male vulnerability—spoiler: real men do cry, and Keegan’s proof that it takes guts to be honest. He shares how language, peer pressure and fear of judgment kept him from living authentically for years. We talk about the ripple effects of coming out, from strained family dynamics to the liberating moment of finally being able to exhale. Keegan also gets into his work as a coach for gay men, helping others navigate the same fears he once faced and why teaching kids about acceptance and emotional intelligence is as important as teaching them to tie their shoes.

From the locker room to late-night self-reflection, Keegan’s story is a powerful reminder that vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s freedom. Whether you’ve faced your own identity battles or just want to understand the inner world of someone who has, this one hits deep. We talk shame, survival and the courage it takes to live in your truth—plus why "straight-acting" is a term best left in the bin. It’s honest, raw, and proof that breaking the mould isn’t easy—but it’s worth it.

Links to Keegan's socials and business:

Instagram: @keeganhirst

https://www.instagram.com/keeganhirst/

https://gaymanscoaching.com/

We sit down with Danyon and Cole to unravel a raw, emotional journey through meth addiction, rehab and the unexpected love story that emerged in the heart of struggle. From the initial escape meth provided to the brutal lows that followed, both Cole and Danyon speak with unflinching honesty about guilt, self-forgiveness and the long, often painful road to recovery. They share how love can survive in chaos, how trust is rebuilt brick by brick and how addiction reshapes the very core of who you think you are.

Danyon, now a men’s mental health advocate, opens up about the emotional reality of sobriety—what happens after the detox, after the rehab, and the truth about starting again. Cole reflects on the complexities of loving someone in recovery, the role of spirituality in healing and the necessity of honesty in relationships. Together, they explore how support systems, purpose and deep personal work helped them not just survive, but grow.

This is a must-listen episode for anyone who has a loved one caught in the grip of addiction or anyone fighting that battle themselves. Cole and Danyon’s story reminds us that recovery is never simple, love isn’t always clean and hope is a lifeline worth grabbing onto. It's a conversation about falling apart—and choosing to put the pieces back together anyway.

Ringo and Ridgey are joined by the brilliant and unfiltered Layla Kelly, who traded in her corporate banking gig for a camera, a ring light, and a subscription to financial freedom. What started as a plan to earn a little side cash ($300NZ a week, to be exact) quickly turned into a full-blown adult entertainment career—with Layla pulling in way more than just tips. She walks us through that bold leap from the boardroom to OnlyFans, the double takes she gets at PTA meetings, and why she’ll never go back to the nine-to-five.

But it’s not all champagne and lingerie. Layla gets into the emotional rollercoaster that comes with sex work—how it affects her marriage, how her kids are learning about boundaries, and how the internet trolls are both relentless and cruel—and how she rises above it all. She shares how fantasy and reality often blur in adult content, and why performance anxiety isn’t just for high school theater kids. Spoiler: communication is the real MVP in any relationship, especially when your job involves... well, performance.

We also get deep on society’s ever-evolving views on sex work—why stigma still lingers, how discrimination shows up in the most mundane places (hello, banking systems), and what empowerment really means when your job challenges the norm. Layla's not just here to shake things up—she’s building something bigger. From entrepreneurship to advocacy, she’s redefining what it means to own your story, your body, and your business.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like behind the scenes of adult content—or why honest conversations about porn, youth, and gender perspectives matter more than ever—this episode is your backstage pass. It's funny, it’s raw, and it’s probably not safe for work. But neither is Layla, and that’s kind of the point.