Burning Bridges Podcast

Renee & Taimana
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Welcome to Burning Bridges — a podcast rooted in real stories of adversity, resilience, and transformation. Through raw, unfiltered conversations, we dive into the moments that define us — the rock bottoms, the breaking points, and the sparks that ignite healing.  These are the journeys of people who’ve felt stuck, lost, or shattered... and found their way back to themselves. Here, we believe in the power of storytelling — not just to inspire, but to connect, to heal, and to remind us that we’re never alone in what we face.  **CONTENT WARNING — VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED** Our content may contain mature or sensitive material, including; domestic violence, sexual assault, violence, injuries, deceased people, death, abuse, sexual content, strong language, self-harm, substance use, and other potentially distressing themes.

  1. 4d ago

    The Secrets Family Keep

    Send us Fan Mail We are back for Full Volume Episode 4. We kick off with what we've been up to lately — including the Lomipeau Tongan and Māori Cultural Day: the food, the people, the culture, and why days like that matter more than we sometimes give them credit for. Then we get loud about the heavy stuff. What happens when parents keep a secret from their kids — the kind of secret that doesn't disappear, but turns into trauma when it finally comes out? Like finding out the man who raised you isn't your biological father. Discovering a sibling you never knew about. Learning the truth at 30, 40, or even at a funeral. We ask the uncomfortable question: is protecting someone from the truth actually protection? Or are we just delaying the pain and potentially making it worse? Because sometimes the truth burns. But maybe some things are worth the burn. That leads us into the topic of sweeping things under the carpet — the family rule nobody ever says out loud: We don't talk about that. Embarrassment. Family pride. Keeping up appearances. Protecting the family's image. But what does all that silence cost the people who come after us? Sometimes staying quiet keeps the peace. Sometimes staying quiet keeps the problem alive. So we're going there. We're talking about the things families don't want talked about, the secrets that get carried from one generation to the next, and what happens when someone finally decides to break the silence. Stay Loud. Because some conversations are uncomfortable, but they're necessary. And some truths hurt — but they're worth the burn. No scripts. No filter. Just our honest take. Support the show Trigger Warning: This episode may contain stories, experiences, or discussions that some listeners may find confronting or triggering. Listener discretion is advised.

    The Secrets Family Keep

  2. Sep 13

    #28 Melika Ackinclose: The Ultimate Betrayal | PART 1

    Send us Fan Mail Melika Ackinclose takes us into a childhood filled with love, connection and family — memories of a dad who showed up for her through sport and built a lasting impression of what it takes to dig deep. At a young age Melika became a mum, and what she believed would be a life built around love and family slowly turned into something much darker. During her pregnancy, the cracks began to show, and before she knew it, she was trapped in an abusive relationship. What followed was a life lived in fear, control, isolation and manipulation - Domestic violence.  A toxic and volatile home where she was constantly trying to protect her now two children while quietly falling apart herself. Her mental health spiralled to a place where she no longer wanted to live, yet she continued to give the man she loved chance after chance — hiding the reality from her family and desperately trying to hold her world together. The moment came when Melika realised that if she wanted to survive, she had to choose herself.  She bravely shares the choices she made to finally escape, the terror of leaving, and the heartbreak of discovering that freedom didn't mean the pain was over. Because on the other side of that relationship was another person close to her — someone she trusted, someone who should have been safe, but who would leave her facing another form of manipulation and abuse. This is not an easy story to hear. It is raw, confronting and heartbreaking. But beneath the pain is a woman who refused to stay broken. A mother who fought to survive. And a woman who, after years of fear, finally began to understand that choosing herself wasn't selfish — it was survival.  This is Melika's story. Part One. *For anyone seeking support you can ring: 1800RESPECT Trigger Warning: This episode may contain stories, experiences, or discussions that some listeners may find confronting or triggering. Listener discretion is advised.

    #28 Melika Ackinclose: The Ultimate Betrayal | PART 1

  3. Sep 6

    Full Volume Ep3: Happy Fathers Day!

    Send us Fan Mail Happy Father’s Day from the latest episode of Full Volume!  This one is for the dads — the good, the great, the struggling, the absent, the stepdads, and the fathers who simply wish they could be with their children today. We’re getting real about the highs and lows of fatherhood: what it means to be a dad, the heartbreak of not having access to your children, the impact that separation can have on a father’s mental health, and the often-lacking support for dads who are doing their absolute best. But this episode isn’t just about the hard stuff. We’re also celebrating the beautiful side of fatherhood — the love, the pride, the memories, and the special moments that make being a dad so incredibly meaningful. We celebrate the new dads in our families and the love they’re already pouring into the next generation. And to the mums who are holding it down, the stepfathers who step up, the families navigating complicated circumstances, and especially the fathers who cannot be with their children today — we see you. Fatherhood comes in many forms, and every story is different. So whether today is filled with laughter, love, longing, or a little bit of everything — this one is for you. 💚 Full Volume — Happy Father’s Day. We see you. We hear you. Trigger Warning: This episode may contain stories, experiences, or discussions that some listeners may find confronting or triggering. Listener discretion is advised.

  4. Aug 26

    Full Volume Ep2: Concha Shell Lessons in Alotau

    Send us Fan Mail Welcome to another episode of Full Volume, the segment of Burning Bridges Podcast where we turn it up and get into it! This one's coming to you live from onboard the Carnival Encounter, docked in Alotau, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. 🚢🌴 Taimana and Renee are talking all things cruise ship life this episode — the ups, the downs, and everything in between when it comes to traveling as a couple at sea. We also get into some of the wildest stories we've heard about things that happen onboard cruise ships (you won't believe some of these). Plus, we take you into Alotau, our first port of the trip, where Taimana picked up a concha shell from one of the locals — and got a hands-on lesson in how to actually play it. Turns out it's way harder than it looks, but the locals were incredible teachers and the whole experience was one of the highlights of the port. Turn it up, tune in, and burn some bridges with us. 🔥 Trigger Warning: This episode may contain stories, experiences, or discussions that some listeners may find confronting or triggering. Listener discretion is advised.

    Full Volume Ep2: Concha Shell Lessons in Alotau

  5. Aug 15

    #27 Jason Tupou | Waking up Determined

    Send us Fan Mail Meet Jason Tupou - Tongan-born, raised in New Zealand.   Today, he’s a father, a co-founder of Active Heros, and a man on a mission to unlock the potential in every individual through sport. His message is simple but powerful: Creating Possibilities for All Abilities.  But Jasons journey took a terrifying turn when he was struck down by sepsis and put in an induced coma for over 2 weeks.  He opens up about the demons he faced, the fight to find his way back, and the incredible road to recovery. This is a story about resilience, purpose, courage and refusing to give up. Jason story proves that sometimes the biggest battles create the strongest people.  That no one is coming to save you, you have to save yourself. What a story. What journey. Trigger Warning: This episode may contain stories, experiences, or discussions that some listeners may find confronting or triggering. Listener discretion is advised.

    #27 Jason Tupou | Waking up Determined

  6. Aug 9

    Full Volume: Ep 1

    Send us Fan Mail This is Full Volume, where Renee & Taimana get loud  In our first episode, we talk about our first year on Burning Bridges Podcast. - the guests we've had, the challenges we've faced, and everything in between. Pull up, give us your topic, and get our honest take - we might get loud about it next time. Trigger Warning: This episode may contain stories, experiences, or discussions that some listeners may find confronting or triggering. Listener discretion is advised.

    Full Volume: Ep 1

  7. Aug 1

    #26 "Who's Next: Jahzia Puohotaua | From Gangsta Dreams, Obese to Elite"

    Send us Fan Mail Jahzia Puohotaua grew up in Whanganui, New Zealand, chasing a father he barely knew into the gang world — until his mother made the call that changed everything, sending him to Brisbane at 11 to start again.  At 19, he returned to Brisbane for good, weighing 137kg and squeezed into 4XL pants, fully convinced he’d become a world champion boxer. What followed was “Allegiance Boxing” — training out of a mate’s garage and turning that belief into reality. Jahzia opens up about his professional career being cut short by a medical retirement at 25 after discovering an assist in his brain, and the identity crisis of losing the only thing he’d ever known himself to be.  He talks about growing up a white Māori boy fighting to prove where he belonged, becoming a different kind of father than the one he had, and drawing on his years of pre-fight training camps and cutting weight — the do’s and don’ts learned through his own failures and successes — to help other boxers get fight-ready. This one’s about staying staunch when life takes the thing you built your whole identity around.  As Jahzia puts it: “Anyone who’s ever judging you isn’t doing better than you. Keep going.” Trigger Warning: This episode may contain stories, experiences, or discussions that some listeners may find confronting or triggering. Listener discretion is advised.

    #26 "Who's Next: Jahzia Puohotaua | From Gangsta Dreams, Obese to Elite"

  8. Jul 18

    #25 Shaymus Edwards | My Journey

    Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode, Shaymus Edwards opens up about a childhood marked by rejection, feeling passed between family members, unseen, unsafe, and disconnected.  Those early wounds followed him into adulthood, where unresolved trauma led him down the path of meth addiction, poor decisions, and nearly losing everything that mattered most. As a father living in Australia, Shaymus reached a turning point that changed the course of his life forever. What followed wasn't just recovery—it was healing. Immersing himself in his roots and culture, building meaningful relationships and finding strength through brotherhood, Shaymus shares his passion for energy, frequency, spirituality, fatherhood, family, culture and creating safe spaces. This is a raw, emotional conversation about trauma, resilience, forgiveness, identity, and the incredible power of choosing a different path. If this conversation moves you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Trigger Warning: This episode may contain stories, experiences, or discussions that some listeners may find confronting or triggering. Listener discretion is advised.

    #25 Shaymus Edwards | My Journey
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About

Welcome to Burning Bridges — a podcast rooted in real stories of adversity, resilience, and transformation. Through raw, unfiltered conversations, we dive into the moments that define us — the rock bottoms, the breaking points, and the sparks that ignite healing.  These are the journeys of people who’ve felt stuck, lost, or shattered... and found their way back to themselves. Here, we believe in the power of storytelling — not just to inspire, but to connect, to heal, and to remind us that we’re never alone in what we face.  **CONTENT WARNING — VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED** Our content may contain mature or sensitive material, including; domestic violence, sexual assault, violence, injuries, deceased people, death, abuse, sexual content, strong language, self-harm, substance use, and other potentially distressing themes.

Information

  • Creator
    Renee & Taimana
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Burning Bridges Podcast
  • Show Website
    Burning Bridges Podcast