Rock Your Bottom

This week, I welcome Chris to the couch to take us on a walk down memory lane through his recovery journey. What began as a dream of becoming an actor quickly took a different path when drugs and alcohol entered the picture. <br>
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Chris is well known in the recovery space for being the face behind Recovery Street. An initiative that merges the arts with recovery, giving people the opportunity to tell their stories through acting. Earlier this year, Recovery Street reached the international stage in the UK, a testament to its impact. <br>
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In this episode, Chris leaves nothing off the table. We talk about growing up around gangsters and bushmen, the grip of addiction, mental health, treatment, prison, the reality that recovery wasn't followed by a "pink cloud," and how he continued to put one foot in front of the other, even against the odds. <br>
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We shared plenty of laughs, shed a few tears, and had some incredibly honest conversations. Most importantly, Chris opened up about what it truly took to get him to where he is today. The support he received, the people who believed in him, and the resilience he built along the way. <br>
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I have never laughed and cried so much while editing an episode. Thank you, Chris, for trusting me with your story and for being another voice of hope in the recovery community. I know your story will resonate with so many people. <br>
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You can find Recovery Street on Facebook and Instagram. Give them a follow team and support Chris along the way with his kaupapa "Recovery Street". <br>
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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>
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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>
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If you’re struggling, please know: YOU ARE NOT ALONE.<br>
📞 Alcohol and Other Drug Helpline: 0800 787 797<br>
📞 Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or txt: 4357<br>
📞Need to talk? Txt: 1737<br>
📞Crisis helpline: 0508 828 865 <br><br>
Want to get in touch?<br>
Email: rockyourbottomofficial@gmail.com

This week, I'm honoured to welcome Rikki Morris to the couch. For many New Zealanders, Rikki needs no introduction. Musician, songwriter, producer... the list goes on. Rikki has spent decades shaping the soundtrack of Aotearoa and has worn many hats throughout an extraordinary career. <br><br>More recently, Rikki rejoined legendary Kiwi band Th' Dudes. The band reunited in 2019 for their Hall of Fame induction, with a nationwide tour following shortly after. However, this conversation isn't really about the music. It's about the man behind it.<br><br>We discuss how addiction first entered his life, what substance use looked like throughout the late 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s, and the culture that surrounded it at the time. We explore the highs that kept him coming back, the devastating lows that followed, and the ways in which substance use gradually became woven into both his personal life and career.<br><br>We also dive into the realities of the music industry during that time; the opportunities it brought, the pressures that came with it, and the environment that often fuelled destructive behaviours. Rikki reflects on the moments that felt exhilarating, the consequences that came with chasing that lifestyle, and the impact addiction had on both himself and those around him. Through stories of heroin and methamphetamine addiction, loss, survival and self-destruction, he paints an honest picture of what life really looked like behind the scenes, and what, back then, was simply the norm.<br><br>But this conversation is about far more than addiction. It's about recovery, transformation and finding a new way to live. Rikki shares the turning points that changed the course of his life, the lessons he has learned along the way, and how he went from active addiction to becoming the husband, father and grandfather he is today. Now approaching 20 years clean and sober, his story stands as an epic reminder that no matter how far someone falls, recovery is possible.<br><br>A massive thank you to you, Rikki. Your courage, wisdom, vulnerability and honesty made this an incredible episode. It was an absolute privilege to sit down on the couch with you, hear your story, and the insight you shared into the realities of addiction, recovery and life itself.<br><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><br>TikTok: rockyourbottomofficial<br>Instagram: rockyourbottom<br>Facebook: Rock Your Bottom<br><br>If you’re struggling, please know: YOU ARE NOT ALONE.<br>📞 Alcohol and Other Drug Helpline: 0800 787 797<br>📞 Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or txt: 4357<br>📞Need to talk? Txt: 1737<br><br>Want to get in touch?<br>Email: rockyourbottomofficial@gmail.com<br>

This week, I’m thrilled to welcome Leroy Henriksen to the couch for an eye-opening conversation about his past and the journey that brought him to where he is today. What once was and what is now are complete opposites for Leroy. <br>

There was a time when drugs and crime were at the centre of his life. Today, things look very different. <br>

Leroy is now a Peer Support Worker with Odyssey, working alongside some of our most vulnerable tangata whai ora through the SACHAT pathway. He brings strength, openness, and honesty to this episode as he shares how he has transformed his past into his purpose.<br>

A massive thank you to Leroy for coming on and sharing your incredible story. I truly believe it will resonate with so many people. Your journey is a powerful reminder that change is possible and that commitment, time, and perseverance can make all the difference.<br>

Thank you for all that you do out in the community supporting our people. Your work matters, and it doesn't go unnoticed. ❤️🎙️<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.📲<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>
<br>
If you’re struggling, please know: YOU ARE NOT ALONE.<br>
📞 Alcohol and Other Drug Helpline: 0800 787 797<br>
📞 Women’s Refuge: 0800 733 843<br>
📞 Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or txt: 4357<br>
📞Need to talk? Txt: 1737<br>

Want to get in touch?<br>
Email: rockyourbottomofficial@gmail.com

SEASON 2 IS HERE!

The warmest welcome back to this podcast and this space, everyone. I’m so glad to be back.

As you’ll probably gather, I decided to bring back the woman who started it all with me. Without her, I honestly don’t know if episode one would have ever existed.

Candice and I took a trip down memory lane, revisiting some of the topics from our very first episode and diving even deeper into the conversation around addiction. She shared openly about what the last year and a half has looked like for her, and we’re so lucky to get an insight into that journey.

A massive thank you to Candice for helping me reopen this space, for showing up with such courage, and for bringing the most vulnerable, honest, and authentic version of yourself. 
You rock, sister. ❤️🎙️

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

📞 Women’s Refuge: 0800 733 843

📞 Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or txt: 4357

📞Need to talk? Txt: 1737

Want to get in touch?

Email: rockyourbottomofficial@gmail.com

“Before hitting rock bottom, I hit the top of the mountain.” <br>
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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>
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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>
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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>
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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>
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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>
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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>
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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>
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Season 2 will be coming soon… keep a close eye out in 2026! See you guys then. <br>
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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>
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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