In this harrowing and essential episode of The Brink, Gloria Masters shares the unthinkable truth of her childhood: she was groomed, abused, and trafficked by her own father and grandmother. From the age of five, Gloria was forced into child sex work, not by strangers, but by the very people who were supposed to protect her. Her grandmother and father not only abused her themselves—they orchestrated and profited from her trafficking, selling her into a network of abusers throughout her early life. It’s a story almost too horrific to believe, and yet Gloria tells it with unflinching courage, turning her pain into purpose.

Matthew and David sit down with Gloria to explore the long-term effects of such betrayal—the dissociation that allowed her to survive, the decades-long journey to healing and the daily work of reclaiming her identity. She opens up about the complexities of trauma recovery, the silence society maintains around child sexual abuse and the desperate need for education and prevention. Her advocacy today is fuelled by a mission to protect other children and amplify the voices of survivors, especially those whose abuse came from within the family.

This episode doesn’t pull punches—nor should it. Child trafficking is not a far-off issue. It’s happening in homes, in communities and is most often perpetrated by people the child knows. Gloria’s message is clear: we need awareness, we need education and we need to break the silence that allows this epidemic to thrive. If we’re serious about protecting our children, we must start by listening to those who’ve survived the unthinkable. Gloria Masters is not just a survivor—she’s a warrior, an advocate and a voice this world desperately needs to hear.

Links:

Instagram

The Global Hand Sign

How the global hand sign can help

Handing Back the Shame Website

In this episode of The Brink, Ringo and Ridgey welcome high-performance coach Adam Smith, whose journey from near-suicide to sobriety, self-mastery and service is as gritty as it is inspiring. Adam gets raw about his battles with mental health, addiction and low self-worth—and how hitting rock bottom gave him the foundation to rebuild everything.

This isn’t your standard self-help chat. It’s a practical, no-fluff conversation about transformation, resilience, and why “doing what’s doable” is often the most powerful place to start.Adam breaks down the psychology of change, how understanding human behaviour can shift everything, and why procrastination is less about laziness and more about self-esteem.

From habit stacking to fasting, non-negotiables to DNA-driven nutrition, he shares simple steps that anyone can implement to regain control of their body, mind, and life:

• Set three daily non-negotiables to build structure

• Use your past as fuel, not a chain

• Stack small habits for big momentum

• Get curious about nutrition and DNA

• Raise your standards to raise your life

This one’s for anyone who’s been stuck, spiraling, or just quietly losing steam. Adam doesn’t sell perfection—he models progress. And whether you’re in a rut or on the rise, his story reminds us that change doesn’t come from doing everything at once, but from consistently doing something.

Links:

Adam's linkedIn

Adam's podcast

Website: A-Game Consultancy

Adam's Instagram

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: theroadtohealingaotearoa@gmail.com