This week on the Tonksy Media Podcast, I sit down with Klayten aka GetClean for one of the most raw, unfiltered, and powerful conversations we’ve ever had.
We dive deep into Klayten’s chaotic childhood, where he was using drugs intravenously by the age of 12, bouncing between boys’ homes, foster care, welfare, and eventually adult prison. His life spiraled out of control — but this episode uncovers the truth behind the headlines.
We also tackle the infamous internet trend surrounding his recent relationship breakdown, a situation riddled with false allegations that blew up across social media.
Just one week after filming this episode, Klayten was locked up again, making this a raw and real account before everything changed.
This is an episode you do not want to miss — one filled with truth, redemption, and resilience.
LINKS⬇️⬇️⬇️
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/share/19HVUSQMmJ/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/getcleanofficialpage?igsh=OHJocHp5dTg0cnMx
Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@getcleanofficial?_t=ZS-8zl54k2Ok0m&_r=1
#TonksyMediaPodcast #GetClean #KlaytenStory #AddictionRecovery #FromPrisonToPurpose #ChildhoodTrauma #MentalHealthAwareness #DrugAddiction #BreakingFree #RedemptionStory #SecondChances #RealLifeStories #UnfilteredConversations #PrisonToPodcast #BoysHomeToPrison #OvercomingAdversity #LifeAfterPrison #RiseAbove #NoMoreChains #SurvivorStory #AddictionAwareness #RawAndReal #TruthBehindTheHeadlines #DontMissThis #PowerfulPodcast
From the spotlight to the shadows… and back again. 🎤✨
In this week’s episode of the Tonksy Media Podcast, I sit down with former Australian Idol winner Kate DeAraugo (@katedearaugo_official) for one of the most raw and powerful conversations I’ve ever had.
Kate skyrocketed to fame after being crowned Australian Idol, but behind the bright lights came a battle with addiction, crime, and self-destruction. Her journey spiraled into some of her darkest days — but that’s not where her story ends.
Today, Kate is 7.5 years clean, a devoted mother of two, and a strong advocate for recovery and mental health. Her comeback is living proof that hitting rock bottom isn’t the end — it can be the start of something greater.
This episode is about resilience, redemption, and the unshakable power of choosing to fight back. Whether you’ve faced addiction yourself, supported someone through it, or just need inspiration to push through your own battles — Kate’s story will hit home.
👉 Make sure to like, comment, share, and subscribe to help spread these powerful stories further.
LINKS⬇️⬇️⬇️
Website - www.katedearaugo.com.au
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/katedearaugo_official?igsh=MWtsdjQxMmo0b3Bydw==
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/share/1PLcvs1q8Q/
Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@katedearaugo?_t=ZS-8zKz2b4D5BH&_r=1
#tonksymediapodcast #katedearaugo #australianidolwinner #redemptionjourney #addictionawareness #7andahalfyearsclean #mentalhealthmatters #fromrockbottom #riseandredeem #healingispossible #breakingthestigma #rawconversations #truthandredemption #powerfulstories #motherhoodstrong #overcomeaddiction #lifeafteridols #faithandstrength #recoveryjourney #comebackstory #realandraw #dontgiveup #podcastinterview #australianidol #resilience
In this episode of the Tonksy Media Podcast, I sit down with two incredible people whose story is as real and inspiring as it gets – Aidan and Grace Herbaut.
Aidan’s journey is one of pain, survival, and transformation. From growing up surrounded by addiction and chaos, to years lost in drugs, he hit a point where he knew his life had to change. Through faith, music, and resilience, he rebuilt himself from the ground up. Along that journey, he crossed paths with Grace – an independent artist with a powerful voice and a mission of her own. What began as friendship grew into love, and together they’ve turned their struggles into songs of hope and healing.
In this episode, we dive into:
🎵 Aidan’s rise from addiction to redemption through music and storytelling.
💡 Grace’s unique journey as both a solo artist and as part of their duo.
❤️ The way love and faith became their anchor through the darkest times.
🌍 Their mission to inspire others by turning pain into purpose.
This is one of those conversations that will move you, challenge you, and remind you that no matter your past, you have the power to create a better future.
👉 Don’t miss this one – hit play, share it with someone who needs to hear it, and let their story light a fire in you.
LINKS⬇️⬇️⬇️
AIDAN
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bautofficial?igsh=ZW5ob2x6YjVzZmZ0
Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@officialbaut?_t=ZS-8z8JtQp0zeq&_r=1
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/1CAHlRE75LRUgyCNq68AeB?si=rUoDr1jKTXye0dACXfli8g
GRACE
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/graceluisa?igsh=MTcyb3BhOW9rbzQ4bQ==
Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@graceluisa?_t=ZS-8z8JuV2iApc&_r=1
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/4TsDR2lgk4Nd9Zt5kw2gtD?si=WQb4JKmdRVuRXcJcmR6owA
#TonksyMediaPodcast #AidanHerbaut #GraceHerbaut #tonksymediapodcast #aidanherbaut #graceherbaut #podcastseason2 #redemptionstory #musicjourney #frompaintonpurpose #addictionrecovery #faithandmusic #powerfulstories #rawandreal #independentartist #duoartists #musicandlove #turningpoint #lifeafteraddiction #inspiringjourneys #hopeandhealing #resilienceandfaith #musicwithmeaning #artiststorytelling #truthandpurpose #inspirationdaily #newepisodealert #mustlisten
In Episode 13 of the Tonksy Media Podcast, I’m joined by Dylan Meares — known in the hip-hop world as Mearsy. This is one of the most powerful and confronting conversations I’ve had to date.
Mearsy’s story is nothing short of extraordinary. At just four years old, he lost his baby brother, who was only one. That tragedy sent shockwaves through his family and left his mother emotionally absent. By the time he was eight, Dylan found himself in the welfare system, growing up without the stability or love every kid deserves.
Sadly, his early trauma paved the way for a troubled path. As a teenager, he became deeply involved in crime and violence, eventually earning a reputation as one of Tasmania’s most notorious young offenders. By the age of 28, he’d already spent a total of 12 years behind bars — nearly half his life gone.
But his story doesn’t end there.
While in prison, Mearsy discovered hip-hop as a lifeline. Through writing and music, he found a way to process his pain and channel his experiences into something meaningful. Today, he’s emerging as a force in the Australian hip-hop scene, using his art to shed light on issues many people would rather ignore — and to help others who are struggling in the dark places he’s been.
In this episode, we explore:
✅ The devastating loss of his younger brother and its lifelong impact
✅ Growing up in the welfare system from the age of eight
✅ The path from childhood trauma to serious criminality
✅ Spending 12 years in prison before even reaching 30
✅ How discovering hip-hop became his turning point
✅ His mission to transform his past into purpose through music
This episode is raw, confronting, and deeply inspiring. Mearsy’s story is proof that no matter how far someone has fallen, there’s always a chance to turn things around.
Tune in to hear this incredible journey. And don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share the Tonksy Media Podcast for more real and unfiltered stories.
LINKS⬇️⬇️⬇️
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/share/1CBxw77Tjn/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mearsy.1ftp?igsh=MXQ5cW9kZXo5ZWU2Ng==
Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@dylanmeares655?_t=ZS-8xz8CvFn3Ni&_r=1
In this exclusive and emotional episode of the Tonksy Media Podcast, I sit down with Hope Richards — a familiar face across social media and a powerful voice in the addiction recovery space. But behind her viral reels and inspiring messages lies a story of unthinkable trauma, survival, and transformation.
Hope was born into chaos — both of her parents were addicted to heroin. From a young age, she was placed into foster care, where she remained until she was nine years old. She experienced deep intergenerational trauma, abandonment, and a childhood that most wouldn’t survive. That pain led her down a dark road of drug addiction, violence, and self-destruction.
But Hope didn’t stay down.
What followed was a journey of raw self-discovery and resilience. After reaching her rock bottom, she chose recovery — not just for herself, but for her children, her future, and for the thousands who now look up to her.
This is the first time Hope shares her full story publicly — exclusive to the Tonksy Media Podcast. It’s unfiltered. It’s confronting. And it’s exactly what some people out there need to hear right now.
If you’ve ever battled with addiction, trauma, or felt like giving up — this one is for you.
WATCH IT. SHARE IT. FEEL IT.
🎙️ New episodes every Sunday @ 6pm AEST
🔗 Subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.
📢 Drop a comment, share your thoughts, and let’s break the stigma together.
LINKS⬇️⬇️⬇️
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hoperichards.1994?igsh=MXFvcHM3M296dDlzMg==
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/share/174VtB7DCb/
Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@hope.richards94?_t=ZS-8yYJSGXPlIe&_r=1
In this incredibly raw and powerful episode, I sit down with Kellie Carter-Bell — a mother, grandmother, survivor, and absolute warrior.
From being gang raped between the ages of 11 and 13…
To living in a world of intergenerational trauma, growing up in the shadows of the gangland underworld…
To surviving decades of brutal domestic violence, including a near-fatal attack by her ex-husband with a filleting knife…
Kellie doesn’t hold back. With scars that stretch from her body to her soul, she shares the battles she’s fought — and the demons she’s defeated — to become the strong, outspoken woman she is today.
We talk:
Surviving sexual assault and violence
The aftermath of trauma and finding your voice
What it means to raise kids and grandkids after living through absolute hell
Why silence is never the answer
And the message she has for every woman (and man) in Australia living in fear.
This episode is not for the faint-hearted — it’s for the people who need hope. For those who’ve felt voiceless. For anyone who’s ever wondered if they could make it out alive.
TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains explicit discussions of sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence. Please take care while watching.
💬 Drop your thoughts in the comments.
🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you never miss a story this real.
🎙️ Available on all major platforms — but this one hits different.
LINKS⬇️⬇️⬇️
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kelliecarterbell?igsh=MW05NDBhYnJzZWc0YQ==
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/share/1SnZmxp3ZD/
In this week’s gripping episode of the Tonksy Media Podcast, we sit down with Damian “Wildman” Duffy — a man who was quite literally born into chaos. His life began in the shadow of one of Australia’s most violent and infamous moments: the Milperra Massacre, a deadly shootout between the Comancheros and Bandidos motorcycle clubs. His father, a Comanchero involved in the massacre, was sent to prison for the first five years of Damian’s life.
With a childhood marked by abandonment, instability, and trauma, Wildman was shuffled between relatives, bounced from school to school, and never truly felt like he belonged. At 17, he joined the Australian Army hoping to find structure — but even there, the bullying continued and the feeling of disconnection deepened.
But Damian had a dream. A wild, dangerous, childhood dream — to work with crocodiles. And he made it happen.
From the heavy metal scene in Brisbane to remote crocodile-filled rivers in Far North Queensland, Wildman’s journey is one of grit, rebellion, and raw survival. He opens up about the day he was bitten on the shoulder by a crocodile during a boat tour with 26 terrified tourists on board, and how that moment didn't break him — it built him.
This episode is a raw, unfiltered look into the life of a man who’s faced the odds, stared down trauma, and carved out his own wild path.
If you’ve ever felt like you were born into a storm — this one’s for you. 🌪️🐊
LINKS⬇️⬇️⬇️
Instagram -
https://www.instagram.com/wildmanadventures?igsh=MTN2bW1vdzZtczh3MQ==
Facebook -
https://www.facebook.com/share/15qLigGugm/
In this deeply moving episode of the Tonksy Media Podcast, host Braiden Tonks sits down with Mitch Currie, who, for the first time, publicly shares his experience of being sexually abused at the age of 10 by an older boy. Mitch opens up about the profound impact this trauma had on his life, leading to years of suppressed rage, violence, and addiction. Through candid conversation, Mitch discusses his journey toward healing, highlighting the transformative power of breathwork, self-reflection, and confronting his past.
This episode is a testament to resilience and the human spirit's capacity to overcome adversity. It's a must-watch for anyone seeking understanding, connection, and hope in the face of trauma.
⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of sexual abuse and trauma, which may be distressing to some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.
📞 Support Resources:
If you or someone you know is affected by sexual abuse, please reach out to the following resources for support:
1800RESPECT – National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service
Lifeline Australia – 13 11 14
LINKS⬇️⬇️⬇️
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mitch.currie?igsh=bnY2ZHhhNjN2MnJt
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/share/19LGbPvimU/
Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mitchcurrie?_t=ZS-8wdONh9Ppns&_r=1