Mike Diamond, author, director, life coach and interventionist, known for his work on the hit TV shows NY Ink and Bondi Ink Tattoo Crew, shares how he went from partying hard in the Miami, LA, and NYC club scenes to becoming an interventionist and being the go-to guy to get people sober as well as his advice for living a healthy and happy life.

On this episode, Mike talks to Matt about:

• Growing up in Australia and being put in a difficult situation while attending acting school in Sydney.
• Getting gifted a winning green card lottery ticket allowing him to move to America.
• Working clubs in Miami and NYC and meeting entertainment VIPs who helped him land acting roles.
• Opening SNITCH club in NYC with members of Velvet Revolver and hosting a variety of musicians like the newly formed Killers.
• Wild nights clubbing and using drugs that ultimately made him miserable and forced him to turn his life around.
• Performing comedy before deciding what he really wanted to do was be the most reliable interventionist around.
• How he is able to stage interventions and be effective at getting people clean.
• His advice for how to live a positive life, including diet, exercise, and kindness.

And More

Mike’s book, A DOSE of Positivity, is available here https://themikediamond.com/books/

This episode is sponsored by The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Centers – one of the oldest residential drug and alcohol rehab programs. ARC is a non-profit and was hit hard financially as a result of COVID. For more information, and to donate or sign up for their quarterly newsletter, visit thechanceto.org.

About Mike Diamond

Mike Diamond is an Author, Television Personality, Director, Life Coach and Interventionist. Known for his work on the hit TV shows NY Ink and Bondi Ink Tattoo Crew, which is currently nominated for a Logie Award for Best Reality Series.

Originally from Perth, Western Australia, Mike got off to a bit of a rough start. Battling undiagnosed dyslexia, he started using drugs and alcohol at age 12. At age 16, he was expelled for Aquinas College and finished at Melville H.S. Immediately after graduation, Mike moved to Sydney and enrolled at the Actors Center. He got a job at a local clothing store which, unbeknownst to him at the time, would change his life forever. Lady Luck was on Mike’s side when a customer at the store handed him a Green Card Lottery ticket. Mike won a green card in 1997 and made the move to Miami. Shortly after his arrival, Mike landed a role on the CBS sitcom, Grapevine from Director David Frankel. After Grapevine, Mike moved to NYC, where he worked on various projects including as a guest star on Sex and the City. Mike wrote, created and starred in a VH1 pilot with former STP and Velvet Revolver frontman, Scott Weiland. Splitting his time between NYC, Miami and Los Angeles, Mike had regular gigs performing stand up at Caroline’s on Broadway and The Comedy Store. Mike was properly introduced into the tattoo world when he appeared on Miami Ink. He later became the store manager for his good friend, Ami James, at Wooster St and starred on Season 3 of NY Ink. Mike then headed back to his hometown where he wrote, directed, produced, and starred in Bondi Ink Tattoo Crew, based on Bondi Beach. Although Mike has had plenty of “highs” in his life, he has also had his “low” moments along the way. Mike has battled cocaine and alcohol addiction for the majority of his life. The defining moment came at the height of his career while shooting a TV show for VH1. To the outside world, Mike looked like he was living the dream but on the inside, Mike was spiritually bankrupt and miserable. He realized that if he didn’t turn his life around, he was going to die. April 16, 2006 was the day Mike Diamond got sober. Since then, Mike has literally helped hundreds of people on the road to recovery. He is on beck and call to all his clients and friends, helping them through their life problems and battles with addiction.