In this episode of The Brink Podcast, we sit down with one of New Zealand's finest content creators, Leighton Clarke – better known as UNCLE TICS!




Leighton rose to TikTok and Instagram fame, known for his unfiltered and hilarious take on life with Tourette's syndrome. 

tiktok.com/@uncletics

instagram.com/uncletics/




With literally millions of followers, Leighton uses humor to spread awareness about Tourette's and dismantle the stigma surrounding the condition, all while giving people a reason to laugh. 




Matthew Ridge and David Ring dive into Leighton's rise to fame, the challenges he faces and how he turned his tics into comedy gold. 




Expect raw stories, side-splitting moments and more insights as we discuss everything from his viral moments to how he manages his condition in public. 




Learn more about Tourette’s Syndrome: 

tourettes.org.nz




Yours truly,

Ringo & Ridgey



Don't forget to follow us on Instagram: 

@the_brink_podcast

linktr.ee/thebrinkpodcast




Keywords: NZ, podcast, content creator, influencer, kiwi, mental health, awareness, tourettes, tics, syndrome, comedy, rugby, ADHD, rugbyleague, living with Tourette’s, TikTok viral, overcoming adversity

In this episode of <a href="https://linktr.ee/thebrinkpodcast" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">The Brink Podcast</a>, we sit down with one of New Zealand's finest content creators, Leighton Clarke – better known as UNCLE TICS!
 
Leighton rose to TikTok and Instagram fame, known for his unfiltered and hilarious take on life with Tourette's syndrome. 
<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@uncletics" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">tiktok.com/@uncletics</a>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/uncletics/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">instagram.com/uncletics/</a>
 
With literally millions of followers, Leighton uses humor to spread awareness about Tourette's and dismantle the stigma surrounding the condition, all while giving people a reason to laugh. 
 
Matthew Ridge and David Ring dive into Leighton's rise to fame, the challenges he faces and how he turned his tics into comedy gold. 
 
Expect raw stories, side-splitting moments and more insights as we discuss everything from his viral moments to how he manages his condition in public. 
 
Learn more about Tourette’s Syndrome: 
<a href="https://www.tourettes.org.nz/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">tourettes.org.nz</a>
 
Yours truly,
Ringo &amp; Ridgey


Don't forget to follow us on Instagram: 
<a href="https://instagram.com/the_brink_podcast" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">@the_brink_podcast</a>
<a href="https://linktr.ee/thebrinkpodcast" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">linktr.ee/thebrinkpodcast</a>
 
Keywords: NZ, podcast, content creator, influencer, kiwi, mental health, awareness, tourettes, tics, syndrome, comedy, rugby, ADHD, rugbyleague, living with Tourette’s, TikTok viral, overcoming adversity

Ex-All Black Matthew Ridge and his quirky sidekick David Ring team up from the sunny South of France to push boundaries and tackle the tough stuff. Expect unfiltered opinions, humor, and chaos as they dissect norms, challenge stereotypes, and ask the awkward questions. Buckle up for a cheeky antidote to cancel culture and a wild ride through the madness of the modern world. Join the odd couple nobody knew they needed—it's a car crash you won't want to miss.

The Brink Podcast

#13 - Tourette’s, Tics and TikTok Fame | UNCLE TICS aka Leighton Clarke | w/ Matthew Ridge & David Ring

In this raw and revealing conversation, Ringo and Ridgey pull back the curtain on Christian Lell’s life—a journey from the green turf of Bayern Munich and Hertha BSC to the depths of spiritual awakening. Christian, a decorated right-back who played over 65 Bundesliga games for Bayern, helped secure Bundesliga and DFB‑Pokal titles and even featured in La Liga with Levante, shares the story behind the headlines. He recounts how, despite sporting success and stardom, he found himself wrestling with ego, identity and the question: Who am I beyond the player?

Ringo and Ridgey dig into Christian’s early years—his upbringing in Munich, the pressures of elite sport and how childhood experiences shaped his self‑esteem. He discusses the power of shadow work and meditation and how personal tragedy—particularly watching his sister struggle with cystic fibrosis—became a catalyst for digging deeper into presence, spirituality and authenticity. Christian’s message is simple but profound: healing yourself is the greatest service you can give others.

This chat is a masterclass in duality—success and struggle, fame and vulnerability, competing and connecting. Christian unpacks parenting with mindfulness, the daily grind of maintaining intention and how he’s transitioned to a life focused on awareness, heart and purpose. Whether you’re a football fanatic or soul‑searching stranger, this episode reminds us all that real greatness isn’t won on the field—it’s forged in the quiet work of the heart.

Links: 

Instagram

Website

 

In this raw and revealing conversation, Ringo and Ridgey pull back the curtain on Christian Lell&rsquo;s life&mdash;a journey from the green turf of Bayern Munich and Hertha BSC to the depths of spiritual awakening. Christian, a decorated right-back who played over 65 Bundesliga games for Bayern, helped secure Bundesliga and DFB‑Pokal titles and even featured in La Liga with Levante, shares the story behind the headlines. He recounts how, despite sporting success and stardom, he found himself wrestling with ego, identity and the question: Who am I beyond the player?
Ringo and Ridgey dig into Christian&rsquo;s early years&mdash;his upbringing in Munich, the pressures of elite sport and how childhood experiences shaped his self‑esteem. He discusses the power of shadow work and meditation and how personal tragedy&mdash;particularly watching his sister struggle with cystic fibrosis&mdash;became a catalyst for digging deeper into presence, spirituality and authenticity. Christian&rsquo;s message is simple but profound: healing yourself is the greatest service you can give others.
This chat is a masterclass in duality&mdash;success and struggle, fame and vulnerability, competing and connecting. Christian unpacks parenting with mindfulness, the daily grind of maintaining intention and how he&rsquo;s transitioned to a life focused on awareness, heart and purpose. Whether you&rsquo;re a football fanatic or soul‑searching stranger, this episode reminds us all that real greatness isn&rsquo;t won on the field&mdash;it&rsquo;s forged in the quiet work of the heart.
Links:&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/lell_christian/?hl=en">Instagram</a>
<a href="https://www.christianlell.de/">Website</a>
&nbsp;

#51 - Football Star Christian Lell: The Ego, the Pitch and the Path to Inner Peace

In this mind-expanding episode of The Brink, Ringo and Ridgey sit down with Troy Casey, aka the Certified Health Nut—a man whose journey from international fashion model to holistic health warrior is as raw and real as it gets. Troy opens up about his early life, his struggles with addiction, and the path that led him to ancient plant medicine, natural detox practices, and a mission to Make America Healthy Again through what he calls the Maha movement. His story isn’t polished—it’s lived. And his message is clear: we don’t need more hacks. We need to return to what’s real.

Troy takes us through his ‘9 Pillars of Health’, a framework built around holistic health, movement, clean nutrition, consciousness, and self-responsibility. He shares his powerful experiences with ayahuasca, insights from working with Maori healers, and his deep critique of modern education systems—particularly how they fail to foster critical thinking or raise conscious, connected children. For Troy, wellness isn’t just about green smoothies and morning routines. It’s about raising kids who question, communities who support each other, and a body-mind-spirit system that’s in alignment with nature.

This is an episode that challenges the status quo—from parenting and technology to what we’re feeding our bodies and our minds. Ringo and Ridgey dig into Troy’s vision for a healthier, more awakened society, one that starts with self-inquiry and ends with legacy. Whether you’re deep in the wellness world or just questioning what “health” really means in 2025, this one will leave you thinking, laughing, and maybe even reprogramming your daily habits. As Troy says: “Let thy food be thy medicine—but don’t forget to move your damn body.”

Links:

Instagram

Certified Health Nut Website

 

 

In this mind-expanding episode of The Brink, Ringo and Ridgey sit down with Troy Casey, aka the Certified Health Nut&mdash;a man whose journey from international fashion model to holistic health warrior is as raw and real as it gets. Troy opens up about his early life, his struggles with addiction, and the path that led him to ancient plant medicine, natural detox practices, and a mission to Make America Healthy Again through what he calls the Maha movement. His story isn&rsquo;t polished&mdash;it&rsquo;s lived. And his message is clear: we don&rsquo;t need more hacks. We need to return to what&rsquo;s real.
Troy takes us through his &lsquo;9 Pillars of Health&rsquo;, a framework built around holistic health, movement, clean nutrition, consciousness, and self-responsibility. He shares his powerful experiences with ayahuasca, insights from working with Maori healers, and his deep critique of modern education systems&mdash;particularly how they fail to foster critical thinking or raise conscious, connected children. For Troy, wellness isn&rsquo;t just about green smoothies and morning routines. It&rsquo;s about raising kids who question, communities who support each other, and a body-mind-spirit system that&rsquo;s in alignment with nature.
This is an episode that challenges the status quo&mdash;from parenting and technology to what we&rsquo;re feeding our bodies and our minds. Ringo and Ridgey dig into Troy&rsquo;s vision for a healthier, more awakened society, one that starts with self-inquiry and ends with legacy. Whether you&rsquo;re deep in the wellness world or just questioning what &ldquo;health&rdquo; really means in 2025, this one will leave you thinking, laughing, and maybe even reprogramming your daily habits. As Troy says: &ldquo;Let thy food be thy medicine&mdash;but don&rsquo;t forget to move your damn body.&rdquo;
Links:
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/certifiedhealthnut/?hl=en">Instagram</a>
<a href="https://www.certifiedhealthnut.com/courses">Certified Health Nut Website</a>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

#50 - Certified Health Nut Troy Casey: From Catwalks to Consciousness

In this harrowing and essential episode of The Brink, Gloria Masters shares the unthinkable truth of her childhood: she was groomed, abused, and trafficked by her own father and grandmother. From the age of five, Gloria was forced into child sex work, not by strangers, but by the very people who were supposed to protect her. Her grandmother and father not only abused her themselves—they orchestrated and profited from her trafficking, selling her into a network of abusers throughout her early life. It’s a story almost too horrific to believe, and yet Gloria tells it with unflinching courage, turning her pain into purpose.

Matthew and David sit down with Gloria to explore the long-term effects of such betrayal—the dissociation that allowed her to survive, the decades-long journey to healing and the daily work of reclaiming her identity. She opens up about the complexities of trauma recovery, the silence society maintains around child sexual abuse and the desperate need for education and prevention. Her advocacy today is fuelled by a mission to protect other children and amplify the voices of survivors, especially those whose abuse came from within the family.

This episode doesn’t pull punches—nor should it. Child trafficking is not a far-off issue. It’s happening in homes, in communities and is most often perpetrated by people the child knows. Gloria’s message is clear: we need awareness, we need education and we need to break the silence that allows this epidemic to thrive. If we’re serious about protecting our children, we must start by listening to those who’ve survived the unthinkable. Gloria Masters is not just a survivor—she’s a warrior, an advocate and a voice this world desperately needs to hear.

Links:

Instagram

The Global Hand Sign

How the global hand sign can help

Handing Back the Shame Website

In this harrowing and essential episode of The Brink, Gloria Masters shares the unthinkable truth of her childhood: she was groomed, abused, and trafficked by her own father and grandmother. From the age of five, Gloria was forced into child sex work, not by strangers, but by the very people who were supposed to protect her. Her grandmother and father not only abused her themselves&mdash;they orchestrated and profited from her trafficking, selling her into a network of abusers throughout her early life. It&rsquo;s a story almost too horrific to believe, and yet Gloria tells it with unflinching courage, turning her pain into purpose.
Matthew and David sit down with Gloria to explore the long-term effects of such betrayal&mdash;the dissociation that allowed her to survive, the decades-long journey to healing and the daily work of reclaiming her identity. She opens up about the complexities of trauma recovery, the silence society maintains around child sexual abuse and the desperate need for education and prevention. Her advocacy today is fuelled by a mission to protect other children and amplify the voices of survivors, especially those whose abuse came from within the family.
This episode doesn&rsquo;t pull punches&mdash;nor should it. Child trafficking is not a far-off issue. It&rsquo;s happening in homes, in communities and is most often perpetrated by people the child knows. Gloria&rsquo;s message is clear: we need awareness, we need education and we need to break the silence that allows this epidemic to thrive. If we&rsquo;re serious about protecting our children, we must start by listening to those who&rsquo;ve survived the unthinkable. Gloria Masters is not just a survivor&mdash;she&rsquo;s a warrior, an advocate and a voice this world desperately needs to hear.
Links:
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/handingtheshameback/?hl=en">Instagram</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/gOBefr0BwP4">The Global Hand Sign</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1IyiJFQsyI">How the global hand sign can help</a>
<a href="https://www.handingtheshameback.org/">Handing Back the Shame Website</a>

#13 - Tourette’s, Tics and TikTok Fame | UNCLE TICS aka Leighton Clarke | w/ Matthew Ridge & David Ring

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