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

In this raw and revealing conversation, Ringo and Ridgey pull back the curtain on Christian Lell’s life—a journey from the green turf of Bayern Munich and Hertha BSC to the depths of spiritual awakening. Christian, a decorated right-back who played over 65 Bundesliga games for Bayern, helped secure Bundesliga and DFB‑Pokal titles and even featured in La Liga with Levante, shares the story behind the headlines. He recounts how, despite sporting success and stardom, he found himself wrestling with ego, identity and the question: Who am I beyond the player? Ringo and Ridgey dig into Christian’s early years—his upbringing in Munich, the pressures of elite sport and how childhood experiences shaped his self‑esteem. He discusses the power of shadow work and meditation and how personal tragedy—particularly watching his sister struggle with cystic fibrosis—became a catalyst for digging deeper into presence, spirituality and authenticity. Christian’s message is simple but profound: healing yourself is the greatest service you can give others. This chat is a masterclass in duality—success and struggle, fame and vulnerability, competing and connecting. Christian unpacks parenting with mindfulness, the daily grind of maintaining intention and how he’s transitioned to a life focused on awareness, heart and purpose. Whether you’re a football fanatic or soul‑searching stranger, this episode reminds us all that real greatness isn’t won on the field—it’s forged in the quiet work of the heart. Links: Instagram Website

In this mind-expanding episode of The Brink, Ringo and Ridgey sit down with Troy Casey, aka the Certified Health Nut—a man whose journey from international fashion model to holistic health warrior is as raw and real as it gets. Troy opens up about his early life, his struggles with addiction, and the path that led him to ancient plant medicine, natural detox practices, and a mission to Make America Healthy Again through what he calls the Maha movement. His story isn’t polished—it’s lived. And his message is clear: we don’t need more hacks. We need to return to what’s real. Troy takes us through his ‘9 Pillars of Health’, a framework built around holistic health, movement, clean nutrition, consciousness, and self-responsibility. He shares his powerful experiences with ayahuasca, insights from working with Maori healers, and his deep critique of modern education systems—particularly how they fail to foster critical thinking or raise conscious, connected children. For Troy, wellness isn’t just about green smoothies and morning routines. It’s about raising kids who question, communities who support each other, and a body-mind-spirit system that’s in alignment with nature. This is an episode that challenges the status quo—from parenting and technology to what we’re feeding our bodies and our minds. Ringo and Ridgey dig into Troy’s vision for a healthier, more awakened society, one that starts with self-inquiry and ends with legacy. Whether you’re deep in the wellness world or just questioning what “health” really means in 2025, this one will leave you thinking, laughing, and maybe even reprogramming your daily habits. As Troy says: “Let thy food be thy medicine—but don’t forget to move your damn body.” Links: Instagram Certified Health Nut Website

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: [email protected]