The Brink Podcast

• #47 - Shame on New Zealand's Parliament: This Is What Ignoring Survivors Looks Like

  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: [email protected]

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• #46 -The Cave, The Prison and The Power Within – Dion Freeman’s Story

  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

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• #45 -The People Whisperer Speaks: Felicity McRobb on the Power of Personality and Perception

  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

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• #44 - 'The Oracle of Oxygen: Dan Brulé and the Breath Revolution'

  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

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• #43 - A Predator in Father’s Clothing: Ella McCrystal’s Rise from Victim to Healer

  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

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