Just Meee!
We’re all celebrities in our own worlds.
Just Meee celebrates the extraordinary in everyday people, those who’ve faced life’s challenges, navigated its twists and turns, and found a way to keep going.
We hear from mums, dads, daughters and sons as they share how they’ve made it, and continue to make it, through the hazards and highlights of this thing we call life.
It’s a privilege to listen to their stories, and we hope you enjoy their journeys as much as we do.
Just Meee!
#65 Paul Pook – There’s Always Hope!
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The more I listen to stories like Paul Pook’s, the more I realise how powerful it is when someone turns pain into purpose.
This deeply moving and honest conversation with Paul, CEO and founder of Tackle 360 and Tackle Suicide, is a reminder that even in our darkest moments, hope can still find a way through.
Paul shares how rugby gave him self-esteem and belonging after a difficult childhood, and how a career in elite sport eventually collided with hidden brain injuries, depression, and years of suicidal thoughts. With extraordinary courage, he speaks about living with disrupted emotional circuitry, the impact of concussion, and the long road back to himself.
What makes this episode so special is not just Paul’s vulnerability, it’s his compassion. Out of his own struggle, he created Tackle Suicide, an initiative dedicated to prevention, connection, and reminding people that they are not alone.
As Paul so beautifully shows us, healing isn’t linear. It’s about reaching in, staying connected, and believing that tomorrow can be different from today.
And when asked to describe himself in one word, Paul chose: “Grateful.”
Wow. That says everything.
Thank you, Paul, for your honesty, your courage, and for reminding us all that there is always hope.