The Grey Space with Brenden Newton: Recent Episodes
BN
Healing loudly by addressing mental health & trauma, gently, yet openly......A space to be honest....30-60minute episodes weekly.
This chat, as with all eps, gets better and better as the recording continues.
Jarod and I really hit a flow and towards the back end, as he's able to discuss his passion for helping others; connected to he photography practice.
In this collaboration episode, I chat with Ben Hodge & Jolan Kilkelly - two diehard NZ boogs who run a cracking little boog centric podcast called Fumanswoo.
We talk discrimination, shame, the global boog network, world tour ideas, the 2024 Shark Island challenge, my boog career, and we break down who we deem the 12 Apostles of Bodyboarding.
Super fun chat and a real testimony to the strength of the boog lifestyle.
Brendo
Shaun Cooper is a doer.
Coming 2nd to Mitch Rawlins in the Australian Pro Junior in the 90's, Shaun used his disappointment to fuel 2 subsequent Australian Titles victories.
Running a busy pools maintenance business, raising 2 boys & now, with his childhood buddy Idris Wais, launching a 100 member local boog club.
In this episode we look behind the curtain on Coops' motivations and journey.
Onya Coops.
Jim is an 80 year old bodyboarder, potter & painter.
He nursed his wife until she passed, from cancer.
He played Offspring at the start of her funeral.
He lives a clear life. Something he credits a particular therapy for.
Fascinating & cathartic chat.
Ep 2 of Lula's podcasting career we explore strategies in accepting difficult feelings and thoughts. "What's the worst that can happen" says Lula.
We also take a look at Talulah's educational series: Stop Earth's Worries, where she breaks down the basics of climate change & highlights the need for our political leaders to move faster.
Now 9, she is nuanced and reflective; growing in some very helpful techniques for managing life.
Fear of young pregnancy for her daughter, Darryl's grandmother pounded his mum in the belly to force miscarriage.
Darryl grew violent in his later teens, staring down the barrel at 10 years in jail.
This beautiful man has since walked the hard road, slowly retraining a misguided toughness into a tender and powerful, real toughness.
His story is super interesting & I'm blessed to have heard it.
Daz is now a qualified counsellor, running some powerful services. Most importantly he is continuing to look within.
Rory's account of his OCD journey is fucken treacherous; not to mention the severity of his bipolar ups and downs. This conversation is one of my favourite to date. Informative, brutally brave and liberating for those out there, suffering alone. Put this ep in front of your friends with intrusive thoughts.
Heapa rad surf tales in here too.
Onya Rory.
Stoked to have met you.
Brendo
OCD is real.
It's not a joke.
It's not just cleaning things, locking things or being a perfectionist.
Here's a story that'll be deeply comforting to some, a shock for others and hopefully the start of new chapter for dear Susie.
All strength to those suffering from stuff we cannot see.
Our empathy and love as individuals, and as a collective, matters.
Brendo
If anyone has ever met Artie, you'll have felt good.
He has a beautiful knack for making people feel good, relaxed; connected.
Arthur has become a close friend of mine & I thought his recent interview via the national Indigenous-lead radio station, Koori Radio, was something worth publishing for Grey Space listeners.
I hope you enjoy it.
Brendo
Claire is one of the most generous, dedicated and insightful people I've ever met.
I had the opportunity to meet Claire recently. She had generously done her research on my work, which is rare and appreciated.
Claire is wise, has been through hell, and is living proof of the power of following your own path in life.
Claire is and will provide tremendous support to thousands of people experiencing anxiety; with her story, her listening, her sense of contentment, and with her entrepreneurial nous & bravery.
In a world seemingly chasing the wind, Claire flying high in an updraft.
I'm so stoked to meet her and hear her story.
Link to Claire's necklaces: 15% off with greyspace15
https://breatheintopeace.com/discount/greyspace15
Bookings for an 'anxiety relief' therapy session with Claire:
https://calendly.com/claire-bip/nervous-system-therapy
Take a stroll with Kuko - a fearsome Puerto Rican bodyboarder who recently faced his biggest challenge. Learn how he found hope while lying immobile on his small apartment floor of Honolulu.
Prior to this interview I scooped Kuko up from his small makeshift apartment village where 6 dwellings occupy the space of your average house. With passion and curiosity Kuko unravelled his perspective on life, his sailing journey from home to Hawaii and what happens in his mind when all cards are down.
Check the Pipeline air-forward silhouette on the episode tile. Kuko is an athlete with a rare ferocity.
Growing up in Brazil, fighting for a place in the world, Magno slowly becomes a grand hustler, with these-here stories to prove it.
Having ridden the biggest wave ever paddled into on a boog, and desperately memorising 100s of restaurant orders per night, The Magi has landed on his feet, living his dream, with his beautiful family here on Oahu, Hawaii.
Not without the back-story though.
Here's the back-story...
Shane Tolson was abused, badly, as a boy.
He was addicted to sleeping meds before the age of 10.
He experiences the most horrific of shame.
But Shane is still here, with a sweet answer for us all.
Thank you Shane, for your courage, openness and friendship.
We all love and appreciate the remarkable human you are.
Brendo
Beautiful & talented lads from Gerringong walk us through what many will not know about them.
A lovely chat with two fun dudes living a large life.
Thank you lads.
Brendo
Maybe all art frees us.
Not hard edged dogma of self help strategies. Maybe just art.
This riveting little chat with Shal suggests so.
MAYBE ART FREES US.
Enjoy.
Again, Julia walks us through her internal world; what triggers her into a variety of responses, day to day. By learning these parts, and accepting them, working with them, she is less blown by the wind of thoughts and emotions. A great lesson and reflective episode for us all.
Julia is the General Manager at Heart On My Sleeve (HOMS), an important org offering resources for better mental ill health management & awareness. HOMS offers free online resources like this:
https://www.heartonmysleeve.org/all-training
A generous and delicate walk through someones adaptations and honesty regarding her childhood trauma. Julia is a sensible woman, a mental health trainer, a general manager & a marriage celebrant. This episode is Part 1 of 2. I hope it’s helpful for listeners in potentially reflecting on their own internal worlds and characters. It was for me.
- Brenden
Bravely pulling herself through life on poetry, performance and pain; Holly finds wonder. Small, marvellous moments of real wonder.
Holly's book:
https://vagabondpress.net/products/holly-isemonger-greatest-hit
What happens when you have everything, but self worth?
What happens when the escape drugs offer is so relieving it feels like heaven?
What happens when your partner is strong enough not to chase you?
Cesar Bassi's story is real, and ongoing.
Inspirational, tender, and terribly real.
Come walk with us down his path.
Find hope in the small things.
Welcome to the Ces Bassi story.
A boy in a Portugese village.
Haunted with stories of sea danger
Fearful of 'the other side of the headland'
Growing on the boog
Dreaming beyond taboo possibilities
Now dancing with danger, and doing pretty well at it.
Anotonio Cardoso
A marriage of bodyboarding & surfing.... yet again the boog skills and humility serve some mainstream surf production.
Jed's an animal.
A decade writing cutting n unpopular editorial for major news entities.
Sitting on the dusty floors with overworked women of the developing world, comprehending the real influence of our $7 Kmart t-shirt.
The global piss-take tour, with the world's best, an ironic success.
But what of this thoughtful man, plagued with pain & punish, prolific in practice.
Jed's your under 18's rugby captain, and... he's the kind-hearted soul listening to your pain.
But really. Jed Smith. Something else.
What really happens in our brains?
What pushes someone from a traffic jam in Sydney's CBD to befriend a neuroscience lecturer in Western Australia?
What happens after you achieve your childhood dream?
And..
Why is Luna's nothing like Chopes?
A rip snorter of an ep with Sigur Ros fan, Drew Innocend.
Orion Jennings.
25. Musician. Dragged through a decade of public housing.
Brave, beaten, bastardised and bold.
But making a song out of it.
This is a special account of finding the rhythms in the chaos & hope in the heart.
Stay till the end, cos we fly.
You're inspirational, Orion.
- Brendo
Welcome to a lap in Rexy's lane.
A fun and fascinating chat with a 5 year old who has few neat answers for us.
Rex is a sensitive, deeply creative and funny boy, who is such a delight to hang with.
His sister is wonderful with him too - you can hear from her at episode 53.
Here's to a great life of processing feelings through writing them down, or drawing them and passing them under our bedroom door.
Enjoy this beautiful episode.
A serendipitous moment with a whale at age twelve;
seven hospitalisations due to a bipolar condition through his teens;
now getting a regular peace and pump-up from swimming with his camera and sharing his story.
Jarod has dreams.
Welcome to his Grey Space episode.
Max Blumer doesn’t talk radical exploits or overwhelming milestones.
A relatively normal life of ups n downs, however turns out to be a story worth listening to, a story of tremendous depth.
A precious experience of the ‘strangeness’ one would feel down the vortex of depression.
A fizzing dissonance, repelling a sense of peace during his late teens and early 20’s.
A painful hop, and confusing skip and a hopeful jump into a therapeutic method that’s seems to provide relief.
This is a truly special ep, spotlighting a truly normal experience.
I’m deeply proud of this one.
Hands together for our German compadre, Max Blumer 🙏.
- Brendo
Bodyboarding takes Argentinian duo, Nico and Marcos, around the world, finally landing 9000 kilometres from home to settle in the slab rich islands, the Canarias, 20 years down the track.
They've made families there and we discuss fatherhood, caring for others, dwindling ocean time.
We also run into the somewhat conspiratory idea of chemtrails.
Interesting convo.
Bless these wonderful adventurers.
He's paddled the right.
Launched the largest of stunts.
Considered clown school.
Classically trained.
And he lives in the universe.
Josh Garner.
A previous Grey Space guest, Stephanie Beck, has been wrangling with the big concepts and today catapults us into different thinking - some potential solutions.
There's hunger, homelessness and hazard.
Are we really living on a planet where natural disaster may become as common as owning a dog?
What type of thinking will lead us out of this?
A fast paced, hugely informative, and fun talk through the ins and outs of OCD;
also unpacking suicide, with role plays designed to equip us.
Such a pleasure to catch up with Jack.
BN
These guys walked the tight rope between hilarious and unreal.
A special display of real story and real emotional, all jammed into a factory art show like no other.
Why did Hardy wake up at 130am, drive 4 hours to The Right, paddle out, paddle into bombs all morning, then return for afternoon tea with his family?
"It's been fucken hard, but it's been incredible" - RH
Why did Kingy contemplate his life on the hospital floor, 20 years ago?
Enjoy this ep.
BN
A somewhat sansei at The Grey Space, Parul discusses world economics, equality, our relationship with nature and our origin: PEACE.
A great change of pace and a fun chat.
Enjoy.
BN
Last week, I caught up for a lovely convo with Lindsay McDougall on ABC radio for a pretty nuanced chat through the upcoming Grey Space Exhibition.
I'm publishing it here for context and insight around the Exhibition this Saturday.
Buy exhibition tickets here.
Ep 1 guest, art host, bodyboarder, stunning photog and chronic pain guru - Chris Frape.
Enjoy this lovely chat with my bud Chris, explaining how we could possibly live with unspeakable pain; plus some tips on how to graciously navigate the pressures of family life.
Sarue walks us through a childhood of abuse, trauma and the emergence of an adulthood full of spark.
How did the spark happen?
And how does she deal with her anxiety?
Today we join Emma Bunting in The Grey Space, ep 23 star, diving down into her real feelings about what it's like raising 5 kids, leading YMCA as CEO, supporting her incredible husband through mental health impact.
How is life for her now, in Feb 2023?
What is marriage?
And are there 2 sides to this mental illness coin?
Do the nightmares lead to miracle? Listen to the end of this ep and it seems to be the case.
Thanks for listening.
BN
When have you ever seen Damian King, Mitch Rawlins & Ryan Hardy all in one room talking cutbacks, mind maps and set-backs.
What does it look like to put on a bodyboard show in 2023?
How do you scrounge together an unlikely gang in order to pull it off?
Dobo has a crack at building the story and reflecting on his own journey.
We welcome back to the mic, episode 14 guest, Jack Dobinson, to tell you how he popped 2 new tyres chasing his favourite 1 foot slab for the Goodbye film - premiering at The Grey Space Exhibition, Saturday April 15, 6pm.
Tix via
https://www.trybooking.com/BYYVL
Ryan's a Jersey / American bodyboarder turned business owner. More importantly, a sweet and open dude who's walked through hell and keen to share his bipolar journey.
Some fascinating and strangely comforting parts to this ep.
Enjoy.
BN
Why do we live worlds apart, in the same world?
Why are there walls that seperate us?
HIV, Ugandan ghettos, our fucked up system and...
A SMILE.
A FAMILAR EXPEERIENCE.
Sameness and difference.
Come play with Shyaka & I.
- Brendo
Leaping water, as is the meaning of Talulah's name, isn't far from the truth.
Clear, conscious and fiercely engaged, Lula walks us through why she's thinking leaders are more important than bosses, what it looks like in her imagination and what it felt like to get 10 barrels in Melbourne last year.
Lovely few chats on our front deck this week.
Listen where ya listen.
Cover pic by master, Phil Gallagher.
Daniel is my big brother.
My inspiration for bodyboarding & almost every other physical activity in my world.
A seasoned entrepreneur, CEO, Founder and IronMan, Daniel has a beautiful n nuanced little family of three kids and his weapon of a wife, outta Noosa currently, where our pod was recorded. Hear about why he moves daily and what he reckons underpins successful business ventures.
A beauty of an ep.
BN
One of the world's most psycho wave riders, Shane talks us through what originally took him to the heavy lumps; on the fringes of self harm, dreading his next shift in the mines.
Shane like to keep to himself, but here he shares a few insights on why he reckons he'd be sweet on an island, by himself, forever.
Welcome to Shackerman's world.
Paul's a sweet, kind and engaged human.
Maybe not always that way, but certainly life has taught him how to handle, how to grow.
Navigating relationship breakdowns and ensuing desire to connect with his kids, a true test and a journey worth listening to.
Enjoy.
BN
Imagine spending all your formative years locked away with ya fam, no TV, limited schooling, just a record player spinning Bob Dylan, every day.
James Bennett, then ran from domestic violence and sheltered at the beach. Flynny's Beach, Port Mac, where he found sanctuary riding Flynny's reef, and watching boog vids when he got a hold of a TV.
True to these influences, JB now tours his Dylan-esque tunes for a living and boogs on the road.
This podcast walks through the trauma of his upbringing and the joy of its silver lining.
Beautiful guy.
BN
Fierce flow and misunderstood, Winston gently walks us through the way he has experienced his life.
2 Riptide covers in 3 months, and 20 years on the road, entertaining millions of people. What’s it like? What does he really think?
Beautiful moment with seemingly the most well positioned dude on the planet, however his encouragement is to enjoy your own soul, as a spec of dust spinning across this largely unknown universe.
Thank you Winston, you Spencer flow-master.
And thank you Winston's mum and dad :)
Best leather couch in Byron.
Love Brendo
Ryan was my and many others' bodyboard icon.
Beyond this identity Ryan is an inquisitive, brave, honest and sensitive man.
In this ep we walk through managing the life of a performer, with no stage, his insights into fatherhood, domestic life and his weave and flow as a dolphin.
Tremendous honour, and a special occasion at Hastings’ dusk-lit Point, comet exploding as a full stop, before the next sentence.
What a thrill.
Brendo
Life in full swing.
Biggest wave ever paddled into on a bodyboard.
Lifeguard, tourist guide and partner to secret agent, all while navigating the strangling lows and restless highs of bipolar.
Pedro is a beautiful dude, with a bloody cool woman - Vanya.
Enjoy this episode as we unpack what it's like living and growing through this mental condition.
I really enjoyed this one.
Love ya Pedro
Don't bother listening if you don't wanna be changed.
This Aboriginal woman, artist, thinker, philosopher, Vice Chancellor and friend; will change your life.
Stolen grandmother, stolen mum. Domestic violence, running away. Feeling unwanted; but the pen's in her hand now.
Let Steph Beck take you for a walk.
BN
Relevant links:
Steph's piece of art:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/177FkAGSLsDci35wQ4o6sMUX5Cd0pJ-CD/view?usp=sharing
Tyson's work
https://anchor.fm/tyson-yunkaporta/episodes/Positivity-meets-Complexity-e1094eo
IMAGI-NATION {University}
idea: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBpq-_8kQyE&t=2s
apply: https://airtable.com/shrIFEBXuHWPZ9iPw
Age 15, pulled outta school to tow Paul Morgs into Depot of the decade.
To outta WA bombies with Courtney Brown n gang.
Brett Burcher lives and writes stories, now delicately publishing such tales at Inviting Distractions, while handling special ed teaching and being a celebrity sidekick to Jack River.
Brett still has a deeper and more valuable narrative, to which he eludes at the 53min mark of this ep.
A wonderful n rich dude. Burch.
Enjoy
Big laughs, big stories and some lovely subtleties to a brilliant night.
2023 tickets via: https://www.trybooking.com/BYYVL
Kyle broke his back 3 years ago while doing martial arts training, and is hence a quadriplegic.
He doesn't wanna to be your inspiration porn.
He wants to have the hard conversations.
He's contemplated life and death since his accident and has come up with a few things.
Great to sit with him for a good open / honest chat.
Brendo
The Grey Space exhibition
Tim and Beth are a sweet local couple, just like many of you out there.
This is their honest story.
Nightmares, fear, depression, therapy, acceptance and learning new corners of themselves.
So beautiful.
I'm very thankful and grounded by this ep.
BN
Koots is a strong, capable, solutions focussed man.
He proved that when he joined me in splashing wet sand onto our burning-coal bed, providing a warm-ish nap below the Luna's cliff, one rainy night 10 years ago.
He's recently explored what was previously untapped regions of his mental landscape, having bravely faced 4 years of a Physics Degree.
We walk through ADHD, and later, bipolar.
The story told on the podcast is tough, honest, educational and riveting.
Love ya Koots. Thanks for your openness.
Brendo
Wayne, a Yuin surfing guru, has hunted and gathered in his old peoples' ways his whole life. Evading modern and arbitrary catch quoters as a custodian of the oldest living culture on earth (see news features highlighting such); Wayne's seen a few things, but his openness invites others' on his journey as he teaches us, not only in this podcast ep.
Thanks unk.
Brendo
Aboriginal customs, culture and Country.
Growing up on the mish, social housing and violence.
This is Jade Kennedy.
Can everyone be right?
"Same - same" says Jade.
What are the things that connect us?
"It's not workin for us, but we gonna change it.... always buz"
Jade's on a mission; one road crack at a time.
Listen to the episode.
BN
'My path in life changed when my heart stopped'
110km/hr Todd's heart stopped beating. Waking up on the other side of a 4-lane highway in a cloud of white dust.
Is adversity the doorway to experiencing heaven? Was this Todd's door ajar?
Interesting convo.
Enjoy.
Nick's been my comfortable buddy for 25 years. When I went to pro bodyboarding he went to crystal meth. The narrative, told by the talented conversationalist and comedian himself, is alarmingly grounding. His love for people & surf is sustaining. Even in jail or indo drug dens. Thanks for taking the time Nick.
Please feel free to reach out to Nick on insta, he'll have you laughing in 3 seconds.
Brendo
Creative discipline. Competitively at peace. Oxymoronic balance broker, Todd Barnes, walks us through his No Friends custodianship, inspired by Ocean Fire, Ballistic & his brother's Manta Wingnut. This ep is a great reminder of how balance can breed power. Todd's life is one of quality and creativity.
Thanks Barnesy
BN
Todd's website:
bonezfilmz.com
JMB is the best leader I've ever met. Maybe one of the best leaders the world has seen. Big call, but prove me wrong. Founding AIME at 19 years old, this Bundjalung boy has hustled over $100 million AUD over the last 15 years, leveraging every dollar for the mentorship of 25000 youngsters across 6 countries; and has recently set his eyes on building a relational network who's algorithms provoke complex and diverse connection to what and who we don't know, rather than the silo-chambers of our dominant social platforms. Keeled over vomiting black bile Jack has seen some dark days, but only those of someone who refuses to take no for an answer. An expert in rejection, loneliness, leadership and negotiation, Jack credits his 'trap-doors' into play for his capacity to see joy in response to rejection.
Jack is completely unique and utterly inspiring. A great friend and hope for myself and many.
Enjoy this electric episode.
BN
Relevant links:
https://www.instagram.com/brattheartist/
https://www.abc.net.au/qanda/jack-manning-bancroft/11959102
aimementoring.com
This interview quenched my thirst. It may do the same for you. A unique creative & athletic talent across a number of mediums, Jim walks us through his internal world, his path to pro boogin', and some of what he's learning on his journey. A fresh, no fast food chat where the resourcing remains well after the outro song. Brave move Jim - thank you mate.
Brendo
Ps- Ya welcome to buy one of Jimmy/Russell's books -
Book launch: Open Studios, Belambi, 6pm Dec 16
Online soon.
Russell unpacks a worrisome childhood, amidst a solid upbringing; a sweep through three wild bouts of depression - most recently potentially grounding him on 'notes of life' unreachable via any other route. From this place Russ shares with us, in the gentlest of ways - and what therapy it is.
Some of Russ' music
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3a7wraUUkEfHvEjw8hz8Og?si=AfOC_KexSreAhHgYRnEpdA
Paul is a beautiful man. Articulate, insightful, intriguing, and with one hell of a story to tell. What's it like growing up as a gay man? What's it like feeling those urges and not having a clear path to truely be yourself. We can all learn something from this interview. I just love characters like Paul, who stand on a hill to help guide others with the shadow of his wrestle.
Thank you Paul.
BN
A gentle childhood of love in his Redfern commune, sparked by a conscious Nun in the 70's Surfing World office, Albe laughs because he knows his inner landscape. The joy of kindness, the still solitude of his farmland - rich with connection: Yogasynthesis. What joy. What grace.
Albe, is free.
Enjoy.
Transcend via:
https://morningoftheearth.com/
The flying man and I talk about the No Friends days; McBride's mum, loops and drawn-out reverses. We also dance through Jeff's personal life, his perspective & residing positivity.
His message to us all: Go to school and have fun lying down and/or jumping.
Thanks Jeff for being so kind to me.
https://hubboards.com/
This Ep is a kind collab between LeBoogie Podcast and The Grey Space.
We discuss exact what this whole board raffle thing is, and what cause it is going towards.
A donation of over $500 puts you in the draw to win Brendo's Salty Dogs board (to be announced in AIME's newsletter at the end of the year) - Sign up to the newsletter here20K will get you the board, guaranteed.
A donation between $100-$499 donations puts you in the draw to win 1 of 5 limited edition AIME x Brendo's Salty Dogs board hoodies
A donation between $5-$99 donations gives you a chance at featuring on Brendo's podcast, **The Grey Space with Brenden Newton
Donation link:**https://gofund.me/22d5dc7b
Vids for context:
https://vimeo.com/648887287/e50e8af543
https://vimeo.com/314670113/4c65eb3a7d
https://vimeo.com/462466201/11f9bd210d
Board photography by Chris Frape
House parties are the best, they always have been the best. Squeezing down the cue and into a club has only ever offered a shadow of the house party experience. Ben Tillman turned his rocking house parties into an annual festival for 20000 young hooligans looking for fun, just like himself. He had fun, until he wrapped his car around a pole at 100km post-party. From there he's taken his rebellious trait to a new level: proving to the spinal unit that he can regrow his damaged spinal cord by transcending his form via meditation. No wonder his house parties were so good; always coming up with something new, Ben is. I still wonder what got into that kid with the Milo tin though.
Enjoy the ep.
Brendo
Experience Tillman's house party via:
https://yoursandowls.com.au/
What happens when you accidentally launch a global mask company a few month before Covid happens? We ask this unique entrepreneur, that, and why he decided to wear a bath robe to university for a day.
Great episode unravelling sensible techniques for managing head-noise and inspiring belief that anything is possible.
Thank you for the chat Isaac - lovely dude.
Brenden
Isaac's co:
https://shopausair.com/
Fierce and ferocious. The GT machine. Six time world bodyboarding champion, The Fighter never stops. Always another challenge, whether it be rollo's at big pipeline or who can delivery more pizza in a shift. Take a dive into the thoughts behind the actions and hear why Tamega see's himself as a born warrior. Thanks for taking the time GT. Beautiful bud.
Brendo
GT's brand:
https://www.gtboards.com/
Wife of Heydon Bunting (iconic waterman & ep15 guest), Emma lures me in with the personal process that saved their marriage - a practical process of empathy & and forgiveness. Full of emotion and gravity, this episode was a complete honour as we captured the perspective of those suffering in the wake of mental illness - often a turbulent and terrifying place to be.
Thank you dearly Emma - you're nothing short of a hero. So much respect for you.
Love Brendo.
The book Em refers to in the pod:
https://books.apple.com/au/audiobook/the-forgiveness-book-healing-the-hurts-we-dont/id1533440522
What even is this podcast?
The Grey Space with Brenden Newton is a weekly audio podcast released via Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google podcasts.
With listeners in 58 countries and 639 cities, since inception 2 months ago, there has been almost 10 000 downloads.
An eclectic run of global guests representing fame, fragility, confidence, confusion, pride and personality. Starting with bodyboarding, ending anywhere.
The Grey Space is a completely open platform regarding age, gender, religion, race, sexuality and spirituality. Authenticity is the currency of the conversation.
The premise on which the show is founded is that we all have shameful or uncomfortable secrets that we squirm through privately on a daily basis; and here is a space you may share without judgement, if you’d like.
Each 30-60 minute episode gently breaks stigma, allowing guests to feel strong about their vulnerability, ultimately ‘healing loudly’.
Having travelled extensively with his bodyboard, ridden the heaviest waves on the planet, experienced the deepest of shame and embarrassment, 2 decades haunted by OCD, having mentored 1000’s of young people and professionals via his role at AIME Mentoring, The Grey Space host - Brenden - now delights in sharing delicate, nuanced and honest conversations, liberating guests and listeners.
Rather than casting polarities and binary labels on ones identity, guests are encouraged to enter the uncomfortable nuance and uncertainties of life.
Welcome to The Grey Space - come in via a simple internet video call, and feel supported to ‘heal loudly’.
Showreel: https://youtu.be/X0RYLsUpHW4
One of the sweetest and most articulate lads you'll meet, Mav walks us through the loss of his child and his best friend, all in the space of 1 year. 'Mav Stevens' as he was know as power metal band Lord's theatrical lead guitarist, walks us through how to cope, sit and settle with his friend called grief. On the up now with another child growing, Mav got barrelled on the weekend and life is looking fresh.
Big love bud.
Great episode.
BN
Photographer: Chris Frape
Enigmatic & electric Boogie guy of the 90's; 51 year old talks dealing coke, the 4 letter work and why church is too church.
Great chat with a Hawaiian bodyboarding great.
Some beautiful wisdom towards the end of the ep.
Thanks Maligs. PADPAN4Lyfe.
-BN
Kyle's merch for foilers:
https://www.instagram.com/padpanmerch/
Today we joint our resident guru to talk through a relationship with death, wild strawberries and the expansive universe within us.
Against the Grain, A Blank Canvas, Ben Howard, A Blaze of Feather. All names and worlds you associate with Mickey Smith's mysterious creative career, but today we walk through the inception phase of Mike's ideas, and behind them, the tears. A beauty of a human, and dear friend and mentor for many. Take a moment to sit with Mike and get a sense of who he is and what makes him feel.
- Brendo
Music: https://ablazeoffeather.com/
Film: https://youtu.be/OaZSJkoMFIE
Boog projects:
A Blank Canvas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2CGsr1cceg
Against The Grain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtni4RE0J08
Paddling 5 km out to sea, arms and legs only, for the last decade. Listen through this Brazilian tale. Special convo with some true watermen. Thanks NXF crew.
- Brendo
A very special one, this one. Grappling with pre-teen panic attacks, pipeline bottom turns, and more recently, the darkest time of his life. The Boogie Man shares his story, and what a brave recollection it is. Thank you Heydon.
- Brendo
Faced with a mental health crisis? The below numbers may help:
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
MensLine Australia: 1300 78 99 78
Kids Helpline (Counselling for young people aged 5 to 25): 1800 55 1800
Jack is a dude. Old school, grass roots bodyboarder, turn school teacher, with an articulate story thread of Perinatal Anxiety & Depression. Beauty of an episode. Thank you Dobo.
Episode dedicated to Arthur Stone Thurston.
Helpful resource:
https://www.panda.org.au/
Eating pine nuts with Patagonia, publishing paperbacks for 3 decades; Sean Doherty is pointing his finger at the coal flashing parliamentary figure for his dead end fuels. An educational podcast that may just change your mind on things. Sean Doherty on The Grey Space.
Like many of us, bent over backwards for a state news feature, Nick has well and truely transcended the neurosis. Let him walk with you. Longer ep this time, and most of the nutrients towards the end.
Enjoy.
-BN
2016 Moran Prize winner, having transcended regular ocean photography for 2 decades, Trent, a close friend, talks about the photographic moment that changed his life, what 'flow' means to him and how he reckons I don't take long to go to the toilet.
-BN
Relevant links:
https://www.trentmitchell.com/
https://www.trentmitchell.com/inner-atlas-01
https://www.trentmitchell.com/chasing-the-curve-1
2 time best-selling author. Defying silly stereotypes and patriarchal inertia with deep, repetitive rabbit-hole wisdom. Take a dive into the lady who's done the hard yards for the people she grew up with, black America. Get ya note pad out for this ep.
-BN
His leg ripped apart by a Great White in March 2016, Brett Connellan now sees his ensuing mental and physical struggle as a potential asset to those he is reaching via his new production initiative. Public speaking, podcasts, films and, what's most intriguing, giving these platforms to other, less famous folks, to share their stories.
A great little chat with a man on the rise, from near death to living life with an energy he'd never known before.
Enjoy.
-BN
Jason has a rare and degenerative muscle disease where he is slowly becoming more disabled by the year. In this episode we speak candidly and hear of the healing power of the ocean and his bodyboard. After speaking to him, I'm inspired, and I think you will be too.
-BN
Alex Leon takes us on a powerful yet delicate journey, through life with OCD. An absolute corker of an ep, extremely helpful for those with family of friends experiencing debilitating OCD. Huge thanks Leo. Incredible.
-BN
Lewy Finnegan is incredible.
Paddling the right, launching into space and refining the art of meditation.
An honest, kind and incredible human being.
I felt lucky to talk to him. What a great conversation.
-BN
Parul is not a bodyboarder. He is someone I work with at AIME Mentoring. His philosophy and sense of peace is intriguing. Listen to him unpack the transcendence of form, using the ever present metaphorical ocean as his hook. An interesting chat.
-BN
From the most perfect backflips on the planet, the death of his mother and shaking at 40 000 feet, mid-satori.
Jake Stone is a gorgeous success story and someone we can learn from.
-BN
Settle in for a very sweet chat with our Tension hero, Chris White.
He kindly walks us through the rationale behind a Tension 11 push, and some important techniques for coping with the ongoing grief of his late brother and father.
This Ninja Warrior is sure fun to chat with.
Enjoy the conversation.
- BN
One of the most committed wave riders in the world, faces his darkest demons. Articulate and completely inspiring. Nick O is a friend I'm glad I have. Enjoy Nick's generosity in telling his story.
- BN
Chris has photographed 5000 music gigs, crushed his ankle and overcome a narcotics addiction. Plenty of feels in this episode. Enjoy.