Nick Bracks on Identity, Recovery & Taking Responsibility for Your Life

Episode Introduction

What do you do when you’ve spent your life living in someone else’s shadow — and finally realise it’s time to step into your own?

In this raw and powerful episode, Steve sits down with Nick Bracks, mental health advocate, speaker, and founder of Move Your Mind, to explore identity, addiction, and the lifelong process of rebuilding from rock bottom.

From being known as the son of a Premier to becoming one of Australia’s most recognised voices in mental health, Nick shares the painful truths behind his public fall — the car crash that changed everything — and the long climb back to self-worth, purpose, and personal accountability.

Through brutal honesty and hard-won wisdom, Nick reveals how true change starts with one small step, radical ownership, and the courage to forgive yourself and begin again.

About Our Guest

Nick Bracks is an Australian mental health advocate, speaker, and entrepreneur dedicated to helping people implement practical change through Move Your Mind — a global mental health and wellbeing platform.

After overcoming addiction and depression, Nick has shared his story with thousands across schools, companies and media platforms worldwide. A former actor and model, he now uses his experiences to promote proactive wellbeing, behavioural change, and self-leadership.

He is also the host of the Move Your Mind podcast and author of Move Your Mind: How to Build a Healthy Mindset for Life.

Follow Our Guest

Website: https://www.nickbracks.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickbracks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickbracks

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Host Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestevehodgson

Show Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharewithsteve

Episode Highlights

00:00 – “The Noise of Life” — acceptance, self-awareness, and learning to live with the chaos.

02:10 – Why we waste so much energy on what we can’t control.

03:30 – The danger of division and cancel culture: rediscovering empathy and dialogue.

08:10 – Growing up as the son of a Premier and the battle to find his own identity.

09:30 – The pressure to prove himself: obsession, insecurity, and burnout.

11:20 – Depression, addiction, and the double life of validation and self-hate.

12:30 – Dancing with the Stars, fame, and the illusion of confidence.

13:50 – The moment he hit rock bottom — and the car crash that changed his life.

19:00 – Surviving the media storm and facing himself for the first time.

22:10 – The turning point: asking for help, starting therapy, and rebuilding step by step.

23:30 – The power of small wins and the courage to fail forward.

25:40 – How behaviour change really happens — and why simplicity wins.

28:00 – Forgiveness as a form of discipline and growth.

29:40 – Building sustainable change with Move Your Mind: accountability, awareness, and consistency.

33:40 – The environments and habits that shaped his recovery: exercise, meditation, and relationships.

37:20 – Redefining your relationship with alcohol — and why discipline is freedom.

40:20 – For anyone at rock bottom: start with one small step.

43:00 – What his mental health journey has taught him most: you are enough.

44:00 – The next decade of Move Your Mind: advocacy, prevention, and systemic change.