Take It From Us with Kent Johns
Ember
Publishing Details
About This Podcast
Take It From Us is the voice of lived experience. In this podcast, you'll hear real people share honest stories about mental health, addiction, trauma and recovery - straight from their own journeys.
They'll tell you what actually worked, what didn't, and what they wish they'd known sooner.
Host Kent Johns is a former broadcaster-turned-health-coach who believes everyone has a story to tell if people take the time to really listen.
So settle in, you're going to hear some stories. Take it from us - and from them.
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If you need support, click here for helpful links, phone numbers and resources:
https://ember.org.nz/resources/in-a-crisis/
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Recent Episodes
Lynda Hills: Suicide survivor on the research that's her new purpose
Lynda Hills is a suicide researcher studying for a PhD at Auckland University, and her lived experience is informing her research.Seventeen years ago, Lynda tried to take her own life. She was left…
Rose Heta-Minhinnick & Arohanui Minhinnick: From recovery to empowering the next generation
Rose Heta-Minhinnick and her daughter Arohanui Minhinnik run Te Waa Charitable Trust, helping young people and their families in Waiuku, southwest of Auckland.Rose is 12 years in recovery from…
Anna Ashton: Online harm - the crisis no one's trained to handle
Ten years ago, online harassment followed Anna Ashton everywhere - she couldn't escape by changing schools or moving homes. She became agoraphobic, was misdiagnosed with social anxiety, and…
Dom Huxley: How surfing is helping farmers combat isolation
Dom Huxley is the General Manager of Surfing for Farmers, a grassroots organisation helping the rural community through surf therapy. Since 2018, over 8,000 farmers have taken part across 25 beaches…
Riqi Harawira: Rock Star, Survivor, Counsellor - on smashing the shame
Riqi Harawira's band Dead Flowers used to play in front of tens of thousands, supporting acts like Guns N' Roses and Pearl Jam. Now Riqi works at Man Alive in West Auckland, helping men build better…
Ben Purua: From Waikeria Prison to Young Māori Farmer of the Year
Ben Purua is a South Waikato farmer who grew up in South Auckland surrounded by poverty, gangs and violence. He joined a gang at 13. At 16, he was sent to prison for manslaughter.Ben discovered…
Dr Moana Tane: Domestic violence - it's not about poverty, it's about men
Dr. Moana Tane is the chief executive of Tauranga Living Without Violence, and she's challenging the assumptions we make about domestic violence.It's not rooted in socioeconomic hardship.…
Josh Komen: A story of epic survival and how a Mum's love pulled him back from the brink
Josh Komen was a gun athlete with aspirations to run the 800 metres for New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games - until a cancer diagnosis changed everything.Josh's life was tipped on its head. He…
Maree MacLean: The no bullshit guide to getting sober
Maree MacLean is an author and publisher who has helped countless people with her guides to sobriety. Her first book, The No Bullshit Guide to Getting Sober, became an Audible bestseller in…
Georgie Hanafin: Living with OCD, ADHD and intrusive thoughts
For years, Georgie Hanafin thought she was just a bad person. She struggled at school, couldn't maintain friendships, overthought every conversation.At 34, she realised she had OCD and ADHD. Getting…
Ian Walker: Surviving two spinal cord injuries - and the voice that woke him from a coma
Ian Walker has survived two catastrophic spinal cord injuries - one in 2006 when his bicycle hit a truck, another in 2019 when a 4x4 dragged his hand-cycle 15 metres down the road. After 13 days in…
Debbs Murray: Coercive control in relationships - what it really looks like
Debbs Murray endured nearly eight years of coercive control before her dad saw the knife-slashed bed where her ex-partner thought she'd been sleeping... that moment forced her to finally call the…
Lisa Reid: How meth addiction took over my life in just six weeks
Lisa Reid's first proper relationship breakup sent her spiralling. What started as weekend drinking turned into trying meth at a party - just to feel numb, just to forget. Within six to eight weeks,…
Romy Lee: From addiction to recovery - how I used my experience as a Korean Kiwi to help others
Growing up as a queer Korean New Zealander, Romy Lee lived between two worlds with two different sets of expectations. The identity dissonance and isolation drove her to substances as a teenager - a…
Steve Devine & Jack Newman: Asking for help is the hardest thing a man will do
Former All Black Steve Devine spent two years bedridden with migraines after multiple concussions ended his rugby career. Jack Newman got to 142 kilos, hadn't exercised since 2015, and in 2014 came…
Tom Robinson: The rugby star who walked away for his mental health
At the height of his rugby career, former Blues captain and cult star Tom Robinson walked away from the sport he loved. Behind the big tackles and big hair was a growing fear - anxiety over…
Camille Keyte: From Mongrel Mob dealer to helping others out of addiction
In November 2020, Camille Keyte was arrested for dealing methamphetamine for a senior Mongrel Mob member. She'd been addicted since 14, using daily since 17. She'd lost her house, her business, her…
Jo Randerson: ADHD, autism and the creative mind
Jo Randerson was diagnosed with ADHD at 46, then autism this year - diagnoses that finally explained the parts of their life that never quite made sense. The theatre-maker and author talks honestly…
Seán Barnes: 'Social fitness' and why men need their mates
Sean Barnes co-founded the Christchurch chapter of WNOW (When No One's Watching) - a global movement where men gather at 6am every Wednesday for exercise, conversation, and coffee. It's simple, but…
Sand artist Wayne Webb: Finding hope on New Brighton beach
Wayne Webb was drowning in addiction and darkness when tragedy struck close to home. In his grief, his pain became visible to someone who asked if he was okay - that question changed everything.Now…
Frequently Asked Questions
Take It From Us with Kent Johns has published 34 episodes since June 2025, covering topics in Health & Fitness, Mental Health.
Take It From Us with Kent Johns is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 33m.
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