In this deeply honest conversation, musician and NDIS support worker Andrew Kitchen (Antiskeptic) sits down with host Justin to discuss his recent journey through chronic anxiety, the deconstruction of ego, and discovering what remains when achievement can no longer define you.

Andrew opens up about canceling his band's tour in November 2024 due to a severe anxiety episode, the wisdom his wife Katie offered about thirty years of buildup requiring more than twelve months to heal, and learning to recognize when his body was misinterpreting basic needs as anxiety. From his childhood as a pastor's kid to his work helping others write songs through the NDIS, Andrew reflects on the pastoral heart that runs through both his music and his mental health journey.

This episode explores the reality of middle-aged fatherhood, the challenge of "limping in public" as musician Ben Harper encouraged him to do, and the semicolon movement for those who've faced suicidal ideation. Andrew shares the tattoos on his arms written in Star Wars Aurebesh script—"beauty from brokenness" and "strength in dependence"—and how these themes have become the anchors of his life.

For fathers navigating their own mental health struggles, those supporting loved ones through anxiety, or anyone reconsidering what defines them beyond their achievements, this conversation offers hard-won wisdom, practical encouragement, and the reminder that sometimes "this is all I have left" is exactly where transformation begins.

Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of mental health challenges, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.

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In this deeply moving episode of Father Figures, Justin sits down with counselor and pastor Dave Drummond for a raw conversation about overcoming childhood trauma and finding authentic purpose. Dave shares his journey from a broken home marked by abuse to becoming a father, minister, and healer who has literally died and come back to serve others.

From their unlikely first meeting when Justin was 14 (involving a Larry Norman album and a youth rally poster), to Dave's massive heart attack that left him dead for 45 minutes, this conversation explores the cost of serving others and the power of authentic living. Dave opens up about growing up without a father figure, finding safety in an empty church as a child, and how his own wounds became the source of his calling to "comfort others with the comfort he received."

Whether you're struggling with your own past, questioning your purpose as a father, or simply trying to live authentically in a world full of expectations, Dave's story offers hope and practical wisdom. He discusses his counseling practice, the difference between happiness and contentment, and why he believes our authentic selves—not our wounds or unrealistic dreams—are our greatest gifts to the world.

This isn't just another feel-good story—it's an honest look at what it means to be whole enough to serve others while staying true to who you really are.

Note: This episode contains discussions of childhood trauma and abuse.

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In this episode of Father Figures, Justin sits down with Paul Bugg — long-time president of the Sharks Basketball Club, husband, dad, and proud “Pa Bugg” to his grandkids. Paul opens up about raising his son Andy, who has Down syndrome, and how advocating for him shaped both his family life and his leadership in the community. From coaching under-10s to creating opportunities for all abilities teams, Paul shares what it means to step up when you see gaps, why anger doesn’t solve problems, and how love and persistence can spark lasting change. Plus, hear Andy drop in at the end with his take on basketball, lunch, and who his favourite parent really is.

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