Rock Your Bottom

“Before hitting rock bottom, I hit the top of the mountain.” <br><br>This week, I can’t fully fathom the episode I get to share with the watchers and listeners of the Rock Your Bottom Podcast. <br><br>Paul Whatuira played his first game for the Warriors at just 17 years old, and the journey he has been on since has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. In this episode, Paul joins me on the couch to talk about his rise through the NRL, the pressures that came with it, and the battles he faced with his mental health, medication, and drinking. We dive into how his career in the NRL came to an end while he was overseas in England, simply because he was no longer functioning under the weight of the medication he was prescribed. <br>And now? Paul is running his own business, He Mana a Roto - Internal Strength. WOW. <br><br>Paul has walked through some of life’s greatest challenges. From the pressure and expectations of being a young star on the field to the isolation and loneliness he lived with for years, his journey has taken him somewhere he never imagined he could go. <br><br>Today, Paul runs He Mana a Roto (Internal Strength), a 12-step programme to wellness built from everything he has learned along his healing journey. He works with rangatahi, parents, and individuals facing their own battles, offering tools, strategies and education to support mental health and well-being. His programme is for anyone, rooted in lived experience, insight and of course, internal strength. It is grounded in helping people become the best version of themselves. <br><br>This episode holds so much growth. It offers a real insight into what happens behind the scenes and off the field, the struggles people don’t see, the support that is needed, and the truth that no one is immune to hardship. Paul speaks openly about what has helped him maintain his mental health and overall well-being, and the practices that continue to keep him grounded.<br><br>Paul, thank you for your willingness, openness and vulnerability in this episode. Your story is a powerful reminder that wellness has no limits and that anyone can rewrite the ending to their story.<br><br>This episode brings Season One of the Rock Your Bottom Podcast to a close. Thank you to every single person who has watched, listened and supported the mahi behind the scenes. This has been a year of learning, growing, listening and sharing, and I truly cannot thank you all enough. I couldn’t think of a more meaningful episode to close the season with. <br><br>Season 2 will be coming soon… keep a close eye out in 2026! See you guys then. <br><br>Paul's website <br>https://www.internalstrength.nz/ <br>Paul's documentary i talk about in the episode <br> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4mFk29HP_U&t=1052s <br><br>Support the Rock Your Bottom podcast by subscribing, liking, and sharing it far and wide. You never know who might need to hear one of these conversations.❤️ - Leave me a comment on what you enjoyed most about the episode! <br>You can listen to this episode on all platforms, wherever you get your podcasts.📲Follow us on socials to stay updated with what’s happening and who’s coming on next! <br>TikTok: rockyourbottomofficial <br>Instagram: rockyourbottom <br>Facebook: Rock Your Bottom <br>If you’re struggling, please know: YOU ARE NOT ALONE. <br>📞 Alcohol and Other Drug Helpline: 0800 787 797 <br>📞Need to talk?: 1737 <br>Want to get in touch? <br>Email: rockyourbottomofficial@gmail.com

This week, Paige Swaney joins me on the couch to share her powerful journey from addiction to recovery/sobriety and the impact mental health challenges have had along the way. At just 25 years old, Paige has over two years of recovery under her belt and a story that’s as raw as it is inspiring. <br><br>Residing here in Tāmaki Makaurau, Paige is young, full of love and light, and truly one of a kind. She opens up about getting sober at 23, navigating early recovery, and the intense challenges she’s faced with her mental health, including chronic nausea, anxiety, depression, and suicide attempts. Paige’s honesty and strength shine through as she shares the moment she realised substances were no longer serving her and how she began rebuilding her life from the inside out. <br><br>My favourite part of this conversation is the courage Paige brings to the table. She reminds us that you don’t have to meet any “criteria” or age to decide you have a problem with substances. Addiction does not discriminate, and her story is a powerful reminder of how something as common and accepted as alcohol can quickly take a real turn for the worse.<br><br>A massive thank you to Paige for her time, for sharing her journey, and for being a true role model for the up-and-coming youth walking in similar shoes. It’s people like Paige, those willing to share their stories in the hope of helping others realise that anything is possible and that no one has to face their challenges alone, who make conversations like this so meaningful. <br><br>Today, Paige is a lived experience Peer Support Worker, walking alongside others who are facing similar struggles to those she has overcome herself, a true inspiration to many. <br><br>This was an amazing kōrero, and I hope you enjoy listening to or watching it as much as we enjoyed having it. <br><br>Support the Rock Your Bottom podcast by subscribing, liking, and sharing it far and wide. You never know who might need to hear one of these conversations.❤️ - Leave me a comment on what you enjoyed most about the episode! <br><br>You can listen to this episode on all platforms, wherever you get your podcasts.📲 <br><br>Follow us on socials to stay updated with what’s happening and who’s coming on next!<br>TikTok: rockyourbottomofficial <br>Instagram: rockyourbottom<br>Facebook: Rock Your Bottom<br>If you’re struggling, please know: YOU ARE NOT ALONE.<br>📞 Alcohol and Other Drug Helpline: 0800 787 797<br><br>Want to get in touch?<br>Email: rockyourbottomofficial@gmail.com<br>

This week’s episode features the wonderful Lotta Dann, commonly known as Mrs D, who joins me from afar to share her powerful journey of sobriety.Fourteen years ago, after giving up the booze, Lotta started an anonymous blog called Mrs D is Going Without. What began as a personal tool to help her stay sober transformed into a powerful message that resonated with many: you are not alone in your struggles.Since then, Lotta’s influence has continued to grow. She became the community manager and public face of Living Sober, a free online support network run with the NZ Drug Foundation and Te Whatu Ora. This incredible community offers practical tools, peer support, and a judgment-free space where people can explore their relationship with alcohol. If you haven’t already, I highly recommend checking it out. www.livingsober.org.nzIn 2023, Lotta was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her advocacy in addiction recovery. In this kōrero, we talk about her memoir Mrs D Is Going Without and also touch on her other books, Mrs D Is Going Within, The Wine O’Clock Myth, and her latest release, Mrs D Is Not on a Diet. We also explore what life has looked like for Lotta since giving up alcohol, along with a few reflections in between. A massive thank you to Lotta for her time, her commitment to supporting others, and for being so open and honest in sharing her story. Support the Rock Your Bottom podcast by subscribing, liking, and sharing it far and wide. You never know who might need to hear one of these conversations.❤️ - Leave me a comment on what you enjoyed most about the episode! You can listen to this episode on all platforms, wherever you get your podcasts.📲Follow us on socials to stay updated with what’s happening and who’s coming on next! TikTok: rockyourbottomofficial Instagram: rockyourbottom Facebook: Rock Your Bottom If you’re struggling, please know: YOU ARE NOT ALONE.📞 Alcohol and Other Drug Helpline: 0800 787 797 Want to get in touch? Email: rockyourbottomofficial@gmail.com

A face you may well and truly know. This week, I’m joined on the couch by Guyon Espiner. We speak on topics such as his experience with alcohol, the journey he has had to sobriety, and the challenges he’s faced and overcome along the way. We also touch on the New Zealand Drinking culture and the problems we face as a society. Guyon Espiner is one of New Zealand’s most recognised journalists, with over 30 years of experience in the industry. He currently works as an investigative journalist at RNZ, where he also hosts the show 30 Minutes with Guyon. Guyon is the author of The Drinking Game, a compelling mix of memoir and an insightful exploration of New Zealand’s drinking culture and history.For the past six years, Guyon has lived completely alcohol-free in a country where drinking is embedded into almost every occasion. In our conversation, he opens up about what led him here, what he’s learned, and how life has unfolded since. During this 6 years of sobriety, not only has Guyon written a book which was mentioned before, but he has produced two documentaries: "PROOF", which delves more into his journey while exploring New Zealand’s drinking culture, and "WASTED", which examines the country’s approach to drug policy and the social, financial, and personal costs of criminalising low-level drug use. If you haven’t seen them, I highly recommend them. Both documentaries provide a confronting look at aspects of our society we often choose to ignore, highlighting issues important for public awareness and discussion. <br>A huge thank you to Guyon for joining me on the couch. We hope this story reaches the ones who need to hear it most. Support the Rock Your Bottom podcast by subscribing, liking, and sharing it far and wide. You never know who might need to hear one of these conversations.❤️ Let me know in the comments what you enjoyed most about this episode! Thank you for tuning in and being a part of this kaupapa. You can listen to this episode on all platforms, wherever you get your podcasts.📲 Follow us on socials to stay updated with what’s happening and who’s coming on next! TikTok: rockyourbottomofficial Instagram: rockyourbottom Facebook: Rock Your Bottom If you’re struggling, please know: YOU ARE NOT ALONE.📞 Alcohol and Other Drug Helpline: 0800 787 797 Want to get in touch? Email: rockyourbottomofficial@gmail.comGuyon's documentary links below PROOF: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2mCb2_NPsw WASTED: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_-qtGInnqE

This week on the Rock Your Bottom podcast, Mitch joins me on the couch to share his journey through addiction and into recovery. This story holds so much within it, and it's truly worth a listen. Mitch opens up about his upbringing, including mental health challenges in his family and the impact of growing up in a time when mental health wasn’t talked about, especially for men. He shares how trying to “be a man” and keep it all in was one of the worst things he could have done. Not being able to express emotion after experiencing traumatic loss took its toll. Like many, Mitch turned to what worked in the moment... starting with cannabis and alcohol, and later getting caught up in an undercover operation involving methamphetamine, which ultimately led him to serve time. Mitch shares all of this within the episode. Mitch has overcome huge challenges. Most importantly, he’s found that life without substances is where it’s at for him. Recovery has given him a new way of living, one where he can finally breathe, feel, and live freely. He shares it all: the highs, the lows, and how he continues to show up in his own recovery today. A massive thank you to Mitch for sitting down with me, speaking his truth, and helping bring light to conversations that can be hard to have, in hopes that it reaches someone who needs to hear it most. Support the Rock Your Bottom podcast by subscribing, liking, and sharing it far and wide. You never know who might need to hear one of these conversations. Let me know in the comments what you enjoyed most about this episode! You can listen to this episode on all platforms, wherever you get your podcasts.📲 Follow us on socials to stay updated with what’s happening and who’s coming on next! If you’re struggling, please know: YOU ARE NOT ALONE. 📞 Alcohol and Other Drug Helpline: 0800 787 797 TikTok: rockyourbottomofficial, Instagram: rockyourbottom, Facebook: Rock Your Bottom #addiction #recovery #sobriety #nz #podcast #rockbottom #onedayatatime #youarenotalone #addictionawareness #soberjourney #recoveryjourney #rockyourbottom #addict #addictionhelp #prison #free #nzpodcast

This week I’m joined by the one and only Jessica Apanui. Known across Aotearoa for her honesty and vulnerability on LBM, Jess bravely shares her journey through addiction and what it took to come out the other side. She is the central figure in the powerful documentary "Mana Over Meth", which captures her story. In this episode, Jess sits down with me to speak openly about the deep impact addiction had, not just on her, but on her whānau and wider relationships. This kōrero goes beyond the screen, diving into healing, reconnection, and reclaiming ones true identity. We cover a lot, from Jess’s personal story to what life looks like clean and sober, and what support is out there for those navigating substance use challenges. A massive thank you to Jess for coming on the podcast and holding her story with such grace and strength. ✨ Support Rock Your Bottom by subscribing, liking, and sharing...you never know who might need to hear this kōrero. 🔔 Follow us on socials to stay updated with what’s happening and who’s coming on next. TikTok: @rockyourbottomofficial, Instagram: @rockyourbottom, Facebook: Rock Your Bottom #fyp #addiction #recovery #sobriety #nz #podcast #rockbottom #onedayatatime #youarenotalone #addictionawareness #soberjourney #recoveryjourney #rockyourbottom

This week, I’m joined by Tony Hudson, whose past was shaped by violence, crime, gangs, addiction, and incarceration. Tony shares how his early life shaped him, how addiction took hold, what led to his deportation, and the rock bottom that finally pushed him to change. Today, he holds a Te Taketake Diploma in Applied Addictions Counselling and works in the field, helping others who are going through similar struggles to those he once faced. A massive thank you to Tony for coming on and sharing his journey with the hopes it reaches those who need to hear it most. Support the Rock Your Bottom podcast by subscribing, liking, and sharing it far and wide; you never know who might need to hear it. You can listen to this episode on all platforms, wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us on socials to stay updated with what’s happening and who’s coming on next! TikTok: rockyourbottomofficial, Instagram: rockyourbottom, Facebook: Rock Your Bottom #addiction #recovery #sobriety #nz #podcast #rockbottom #onedayatatime #youarenotalone #addictionawareness #soberjourney #recoveryjourney #rockyourbottom #501 #Deportee #Australia

In this episode, I’m joined by Dave Burnside, Lived Experience Lead at Odyssey here in Tāmaki Makaurau. Dave opens up about his powerful journey through mental distress, addiction, incarceration, and how he’s managed to achieve 17 consecutive years of recovery. Dave has overcome immense challenges, which he openly shares in this episode. He’s transformed his lived experience into purpose, using it to support, uplift, and create real change in the lives of others. A massive thank you to Dave for coming on the podcast and sharing his journey, with the hope that it reaches those who need to hear it most. Support the Rock Your Bottom podcast by subscribing, liking, and sharing it far and wide; you never know who might need to hear it. Follow us on socials to stay updated with what’s happening and who’s coming on next! TikTok: rockyourbottomofficial, Instagram: rockyourbottom, Facebook: Rock Your Bottom #fyp #addiction #recovery #sobriety #nz #podcast #rockbottom #onedayatatime #youarenotalone #addictionawareness #soberjourney #recoveryjourney #rockyourbottom

Candice joins me to share her story from active addiction into recovery. With over half a decade in recovery Candice shares how she managed to get the recovery she has up her sleeve today as well as sharing where her rock bottoms took her and what they looked like. Candice's rock bottoms were the key components for her recovery. We are able to listen to how Candice lives her life today. Join us on how Candice went from Meth, Money and Mayhem to Peace, Love and Gratitude. From one person to the next, we do recover. Candice's Social Media platforms: Facebook: Lady West - Overcoming Addiction Facebook join: NZ recovery sisters - If you are a women in recovery!