Take it from us
Giving lived experience the microphone it deserves
One of New Zealand's longest-running lived experience radio shows has relaunched in full podcast format. As its presenter, I get to chat with amazing Kiwis about their mental health and addiction challenges - from ordinary folk like us, as well as more well-known personalities.
You can subscribe and download from the link below or from wherever you get your podcasts
People like us
As a broadcaster, I've always understood the privilege of holding someone's story. But it wasn't until I faced my own struggles that I truly understood what my guests were offering me.
During my journalism career, I was trained to ask the right questions, to draw out human truth. I'd always been an empath, but when I collided with what was likely undiagnosed postpartum depression as a new father - a struggle rarely discussed when focus rightfully centres on new mothers - I gained different understanding. Shortly after that, the overwhelm caught up with me. I hit burnout.
My problem became my purpose, leading me from broadcasting into health coaching. It taught me that the most powerful stories come from those who've walked the path, not just studied the map.
This is why Take it From Us matters.
Every week, regular Kiwis share their most vulnerable moments.
They talk about their darkest hours, breakthrough moments, ongoing struggles and small victories. What makes these conversations extraordinary isn't professional polish - it's raw honesty. Vulnerability builds trust in ways knowledge alone cannot.
The questions listeners most want answered aren't found in manuals. They want to know: What did Tuesday morning feel like when you couldn't get out of bed? How did you tell your kids? What was the moment you knew you needed help? These questions matter because they come from shared human experience.
My own non-negotiables – running, tennis, seeing mates, eating well, learning to say no – aren't revolutionary strategies. They're simple truths learned through experience, not theory. This is exactly what our guests share: practical wisdom earned through lived experience.
When I interview someone now, I bring my whole self to the conversation. My struggles with overwhelm, my journey through burnout, my path to better health - they're not separate from my work, they are my work. This vulnerability creates space for others to be equally honest.
Take it From Us gives ordinary New Zealanders an extraordinary platform.
We're creating a repository of lived experience that says to anyone struggling: you're not alone, and your story matters.
