Against The Grain

Episode 5 | Jason JacksonThe Boy Who Found His CourageSometimes the person who inspires you never knows your name — yet somehow changes the entire course of your life.In Episode 5 of Against The Grain, NewAge Poet sits down with Jason Jackson, regarded as one of Australia's leading Michael Jackson tribute performers, for a story that goes far beyond the glove, the moonwalk and the music.Jason's childhood was anything but ordinary.Diagnosed with an extremely rare cancer at a young age, much of the childhood other kids take for granted was taken away from him. Treatment, isolation and long periods away from school left Jason secluded from other children during some of the most formative years of his life.When he did return to school, kindness wasn't always waiting for him.Those experiences followed Jason into adulthood, manifesting in fears and phobias that made navigating the outside world difficult. But throughout it all, there was one constant — the unwavering love of his family.Then Jason saw Michael Jackson moonwalk.And something changed.Watching Michael perform "Billie Jean" ignited something inside the young boy who had spent so much of his childhood isolated from the world. Jason knew exactly what he wanted to do.His mother didn't question it.She started making the costumes.Jason started practising.Talent shows followed. Then performances. Then years became decades.What began as childhood fascination evolved into a lifelong dedication to preserving the music, movement and magic that had given Jason the courage to believe in himself when he needed it most.Today, that dedication extends far beyond performing. From painstakingly recreating Michael's iconic looks — the clothing, the hair and the details — to building his own extraordinary tribute to Neverland in Narellan, NSW, Jason has created a world around the artist who helped him find his own.But beneath all of it lies something far more important than impersonation.Empathy.Perhaps because Jason knows what it feels like to be isolated, frightened and treated differently, the most striking part of his story isn't how closely he can recreate Michael Jackson.It's how he treats people.This is a conversation about childhood illness, isolation, fear, family, obsession, nostalgia and what can happen when one moment of inspiration gives a child permission to dream.Michael Jackson taught Jason to never give up.His mother gave him the tools to begin.And Jason spent the rest of his life moonwalking Against The Grain.

Episode 4 | NJE – No Way HomeWhat does it mean to find home when so much of your life has been spent moving?In Episode 4 of Against The Grain, NewAge Poet sits down with South West Sydney independent hip-hop artist NJE for a conversation about music, ambition, toxic relationships, family, loss and the experiences that shaped the man behind the microphone.After moving from New Zealand to Australia and changing schools several times, NJE found something in hip-hop that the constant movement in his life couldn't give him — a sense of belonging.What started as an escape soon became a purpose.Determined to pursue music at all costs, NJE carved out his own path as an independent artist, eventually sharing stages with some of hip-hop's biggest names, including Xzibit, D12 and Hopsin.We dive into his latest single, "Warning Signs," and the real-life experiences behind it — recognising narcissistic behaviour in people close to him, learning when to walk away, and discovering the peace that can come from protecting who you allow into your life.But the conversation takes a deeply personal turn when NJE opens up about his father.After leaving Australia for England to care for NJE's ill grandparent, his father was devastatingly denied entry back into Australia — the country he had called home for years.What followed was a painful fight to reunite their family. A fight that took its toll on everyone involved. Eventually, exhausted by the battle and separated from the family he desperately wanted to return to, NJE's father became ill and tragically passed away overseas.NJE shares the heartbreak, frustration and unanswered questions left behind — and how you continue moving forward when life doesn't give you the ending you fought so hard for.From a kid searching for stability to an artist who refused to give up on his dream, this is NJE's Against The Grain story.Sometimes going against the grain means chasing the dream. Sometimes it means recognising the warning signs. And sometimes, it's simply finding the strength to keep going when life refuses to go the way it should.

Episode 3 | Rebecca Mannah – Rewriting the StoryWhat happens when everything you've been taught about the world is built on fear, trauma, and survival?In Episode 3 of Against The Grain, NewAge Poet sits down with Rebecca Mannah, founder of Be Prolific, for one of the most confronting and inspiring conversations of the series.The episode begins by exploring the themes behind Against The Grain, the album, before becoming the gateway into Rebecca's own Against The Grain story.From enduring abuse at a young age to growing up under the weight of rigid cultural expectations, Rebecca spent much of her life believing that safety was something she could never truly know. As the years unfolded, she faced unimaginable hardship—including workplace assault, being kidnapped, drugged and sexually assaulted, and later the devastating loss of two close male friends to suicide just six weeks apart.The cumulative weight of these experiences eventually led to a complete mental and physical breakdown.But this is not where Rebecca's story ends.Faced with a choice between merely surviving or completely redefining her life, she challenged everything she had ever believed. By going against the grain, she began rebuilding from the ground up—finding purpose through healing, advocacy, and a mission to change the conversation around mental health. Today, through Be Prolific, Rebecca is dedicated to supporting men who are struggling in silence, proving that even the deepest wounds can become a catalyst for hope.This is a conversation about trauma, resilience, forgiveness, and the extraordinary courage it takes to rewrite your story.Some stories break your heart. Others remind you that healing is possible. This episode does both.

Episode 2 | Anthony Snape – Finding Your VoiceWhat if the biggest obstacle between you and your dream isn't only talent—but the courage to believe in yourself?In Episode 2 of Against The Grain, NewAge Poet sits down with acclaimed independent artist, songwriter and mentor Anthony Snape. After opening with the stories and inspiration behind Against The Grain, the conversation shifts to Anthony's own journey of choosing purpose over popularity.Growing up in a small country town, Anthony knew from a young age that music was his calling. But chasing that dream meant learning to rise above the opinions of others. He shares how the unwavering support of his parents and teachers gave him the confidence to pursue an unconventional path, and how resilience became the foundation of a career that has taken his music around the world.The conversation reaches a powerful moment when Anthony recalls meeting a woman in her sixties during one of his mentoring workshops. Quiet and reserved, she carried an extraordinary voice that had been silenced for decades. As her story unfolded, so did a moment of healing—where years of fear and emotional chains were finally broken through the simple act of singing again.This episode is a moving reminder that believing in someone can change the course of their life, and that sometimes the greatest gift we can give another person is the confidence to find their own voice.Because going Against The Grain isn't just about following your own path—it's about helping others discover theirs.

Episode 1 | Ronnie Obsioma – A 2020 NightmareWhat happens when the life you've spent years building shatters overnight?In the debut episode of Against The Grain, NewAge Poet sits down with champion bodybuilder Ronnie Obsioma for a conversation that goes far beyond trophies and titles.The episode opens by exploring the themes behind Against The Grain, the album, before taking a powerful turn into Ronnie's own Against The Grain story. He shares the devastating discovery that his wife had been involved in five separate affairs, the emotional fallout that followed, and the moments when the weight of it all became so overwhelming that suicide felt like an option.But this isn't a story about defeat!It's a story about choosing to stand back up. Ronnie speaks openly about the unwavering love for his children, the responsibility of fatherhood, the strength he found through faith, the friends who refused to let him fall, and the determination that helped him rebuild his life from the ground up.Raw, honest, and deeply inspiring, this episode is a reminder that your darkest chapter doesn't have to become your final one.Because going Against The Grain isn't about avoiding adversity—it's about refusing to let adversity define you