Kids are a**holes, let’s just say it how it is.
And the bullying we all go through as kids, that doesn’t stay in the playground – it follows us.
It shapes the way we see the world as adults. The way we love, communicate and trust.
I’m a young gay Māori man who grew up in a small, conservative town on the East Coast of New Zealand. I’ve made videos online since I was 12 years old – from Minecraft let’s plays to makeup tutorials. And as you can imagine, growing up wasn’t easy for me.
In this episode, I want to share my bullying story throughout school and how these experiences still affect me to this day.
If you’re queer, have queer friends, or you’re a parent of a queer child – this episode is for you.
00:00 Introduction
01:45 Primary School
14:02 Intermediate
24:13 High School
37:29 Key Takeaways
40:39 Pink Shirt Day
41:44 Thank You
Have you ever begged someone for love? Watched yourself spiral, giving away every piece of your dignity just to feel seen? Did you feel completely worthless when they didn’t choose you?
Me too.
In this episode, I tell the full story of the heartbreak that made me love myself. From exposing my childhood wounds, to recognising my anxious attachment, self-sabotage, substance abuse, and toxic behaviour — all in hopes that my healing might help guide yours.
I take you through the uncomfortable journey of self-discovery — the kind that forces you to look in the mirror and confront the parts of yourself you’ve spent your whole life running from.
I share the moment I saw myself from the outside and finally understood what it means to truly love yourself. To step into a secure attachment style.
Now, it's my mission to help you do the same.
We might be strangers — but if you’ve ever felt unloved, unseen, or unworthy, this story is yours too.
If you're ready to have your own renaissance, hit play babes.
00:00 Introduction
02:41 The Story Starts
06:27 Back In Gisborne
08:33 The Boy
11:48 The Attachment Begins
16:05 Moving to Auckland
19:45 The Crash Out
30:40 No Contact
34:59 Attachment Styles
40:39 Owning My Shit
42:52 Self-Love Begins
46:27 Breakthrough
53:11 The Present
54:37 Key Takeaways
59:25 Thank You
Raw, unfiltered, and straight from the heart, Self Titled is my personal journal—a deep dive into my life as a young gay Māori navigating love, friendships, heartbreak, identity, self-growth, and the unpredictable rollercoaster of adulthood.
One moment, we're crying over how that situationship treated us; the next, we're laughing at how ridiculous we were to stay. See life through my lens, and together, we’ll connect over our messes and figure things out—one chaotic story at a time.
Coming soon by Kylee De Thier.
