Matthew Ridge Tells All: Wrongful Conviction, Addiction & Working with Marc Ellis (Re-Release)
Between Two Beers PodcastShow Notes
Matthew Ridge is one of New Zealand's most recognisable sporting figures - All Blacks captain, NRL star, television personality. But behind the swagger and the highlights reel is a story most people have never heard.
Originally released in 2024 and one of our most popular episodes, we're bringing this one back because it deserves to be heard again.
Ridgey sits down with Steve and Seamus to tell it all. At 16, he was wrongfully convicted of aggravated robbery - three High Court trials, a 14-year sentence hanging over his head, and a sports career that nearly never happened.
He talks about growing up without his father, finding mental toughness through tennis, and the moment he got a voicemail from Graham Lowe asking if he wanted to play rugby league for Manly.
He opens up about the NRL years, the TV relationship with Marc Ellis - and he talks honestly about his meth use, functioning as an addict while the cameras rolled, and the moment he looked at a photo of himself and saw no light in his eyes.
This is Matthew Ridge like you've never heard him before.
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Content warning: This episode contains frank discussion of addiction, depression, suicide and self-harm, and may not be suitable for all listeners. Please take care while listening. Support details are at the end of this description.
Content note: this contains a tribute to our friend and former guest Becki Ross and touches on assisted dying - please listen with care.