Burning Bridges Podcast

In this episode, we sit down with Andrew Blucher — Indigenous boxing coach, father, and mentor — to talk about his life both inside and outside the ring. 
Andrew opens up about his upbringing, the sports he loved growing up, and the deep pain of losing his father.
Now a father himself, Andrew has channelled his experiences into coaching alongside Benny at All Star Boxing, where he proudly trained his two daughters as emerging fighters. 
He shares the realities of coaching in Queensland boxing, the struggles of finding quality matchups for female boxers, the shortage of fighters in the sport, and the behind-the-scenes challenges coaches and parents face navigating the boxing world.
This episode is a conversation about resilience, culture, fatherhood, and fighting for opportunities — both in life and in the ring.

Born in Brisbane and raised in the rough streets of Sydney’s west, Ben “The Beast” Hussain’s story is built on struggle, identity, and raw survival.
With his father deported and raised by a single mother, from a young age, he struggled to find his voice, both literally and in the classroom, making it hard to learn, connect, and fit in. 
That struggle made him a target, and the bullying only fueled something deeper inside him — a refusal to ever be pushed around again.
Ben found his way into a boxing gym and from there, the hunger grew and the discipline sharpened. Today he is ranked #1 in the super middleweight division, with a record of 13-2 and 8 knockouts.  Holding titles across WBC, WBA, IBO and Australasia.
But what separates Ben isn’t just his achievements — it’s his mindset. 
This is a fighter who has stepped into the ring with a broken jaw and damaged knuckles and still chose to go to war. No excuses, no fear, just pure grit and determination. 
In this episode, we dive into the journey behind the fighter — the mentality that drives him and the sacrifices that come with chasing greatness.Now training out of All Star Boxing and preparing for his next big fight on the Melbourne stage, Ben is more focused than ever. 
But beyond the titles and the violence of the sport, his greatest pride is being a father and protecting the life he’s built. He lives by keeping his circle small, valuing loyalty over numbers, and staying locked in on what truly matters.
This is more than a boxing story, its proving that no matter where you start, you can fight your way to the top.

In this episode, we dive deep into Luke Brown’s story—the highs, the lows, and everything in between.
Raised in a small Australian country town, Luke built a successful life on the outside—a thriving business in the agriculture industry, a strong family foundation, and lifelong friendships. But behind the success, there was struggle.
As a young man, Luke battled a drinking problem—blackouts, trouble with the law, and nights he couldn’t even piece back together. In a culture that shrugs things off with “you’ll be right, mate,” accountability was hard to face, and even harder to accept.
This episode explores the turning points—losing a mate, watching a close friend battle terminal illness, and the emotional weight that forced Luke to question everything. Despite his success, he felt stuck… like he was living the same day over and over.
“It’s not enough for me.”
That realisation became the catalyst.
What started with running and small wins in social golf turned into something much bigger—the Going Pro journey. A bold mission to qualify for the 2027 Australian Open at 44, using discipline, purpose, and public accountability to change his life.
Now off the drink and training full-time, Luke is all in. 
This is a conversation about identity, pressure, mateship, loss, and what it really takes to take control of your life—when most people would settle.

In this raw and emotional episode, Vika Pasefika opens up like never before. From growing up in a tough Samoan household to arriving in New Zealand unable to speak English, Vika shares the pain of being bullied—and how that pain turned him into the bully.

Behind the violence was something deeper. Untold trauma. Abuse by someone trusted. Silence that followed him for years.

From fighting in the streets to becoming a father, Vika’s turning point didn’t come easy. Now in Australia, he’s finally facing the demons he once buried.

Today, Vika leads the UCE Movement—mentoring youth, supporting mental health, and running men’s groups focused on healing and suicide prevention.

A powerful conversation about trauma, identity, and what it really takes to break the cycle.

This episode we speak openly to Aperehama-Rua, Coley, and Haati Bei about the journey to set things right after the past Hīkoi of Iwi Whakamahu – Heal the Nation, and the path they are now walking through UTU.
 
Discussing personal thoughts, experiences, and actions behind two of the organisers Aperehama and Coley, and the movement that began with the intention of healing our people. 
And Haati Bei, Aperehama’s whānau, shares her own journey of keeping her family close while navigating a hostile environment.
 
The kaupapa began with powerful intentions. The vision was to create a space of healing and unity. A place where people could come together, reconnect, and walk forward stronger.
But the journey became complicated. Questions were raised. Trust was tested. People were hurt. What started as a movement of healing slowly became surrounded by confusion, division, and pain - between organisers, supporters and the public.
 
In this kōrero we hear the heartbreak of how a space that began with hope and healing slowly became tangled in lies, pain, and despair. But we also hear something just as powerful — how through those experiences true friendships were formed that became whānau. And within a small group, now known as the LITT Krew, still believed in the Kaupapa and creating a space of whakawhanaungatanga, connection, and healing along the journey.
 
Aperehama and Coley speak honestly about the weight they have carried since then — the guilt, and the feeling of knowing that things did not unfold the way they were meant to. With that comes the courage to face those feelings and walk forward with intention.

Now they are walking a different path.
A path that leads back to Rātana Pā.
A journey of UTU — not revenge, but restoration. 
A return to balance. 
A way of putting right what has been thrown out of alignment.