Podcast // Joe Williams
Key points we explore in this episode include:
• Joe's experiences in professional sports, including his career in the NRL and boxing
• His personal struggles with mental health and addiction
• The transformative journey that led him to become a mental health advocate
• His work with The Enemy Within, a suicide prevention and wellbeing education charity
• The importance of addressing mental health issues in Indigenous communities
• Breaking down stereotypes and challenging societal expectations
• The power of storytelling and personal narrative in healing and advocacy
In this powerful episode of the Luka Lesson Podcast, I have the privilege of sitting down with Joe Williams, a Wiradjuri/Wolgalu man and former NRL player and professional boxer.
Our conversation, which spans 1 hour and 19 minutes, delves deep into Joe's extraordinary journey and the vital work he's doing today. Joe in a great talker, big hearted human and committed father.
His story is one of transformation and resilience. From the highs of professional sports to the lows of battling mental health issues and addiction, Joe has emerged as a powerful advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention, particularly within Indigenous communities.
Throughout our conversation, Joe shares raw, honest insights that challenge stereotypes and offer hope to those facing similar struggles. His work in suicide prevention and mental health awareness is not just inspiring—it's saving lives.
Inspired by our powerful discussion, I close the episode with a performance of my original piece, "Stereotype." This spoken word poem encapsulates many of the themes we explored, addressing issues of racial stereotyping, media manipulation, and the importance of reclaiming our narratives. With lines like "Before they lock you in a stereotype / speak words so deep they're like burial rights," the piece encourages listeners to challenge preconceptions and embrace the complexity of human identity.
This 79-minute episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in mental health, Indigenous issues, or the power of personal transformation. Joe Williams' journey from the football field to mental health advocacy is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the importance of breaking down stereotypes.
Tune in for an hour and nineteen minutes of raw, honest, and potentially life-changing conversation, capped off with a powerful poetic reflection on the themes discussed.
S T E R E O. T Y P E.
Before they lock you
in a stereotype
speak words so deep
they’re like burial rights
Write lines that unite
every side of the fight
so when you speak
all they get is your
STEREO. TYPE.
See I don't care about your lyrics
I mostly care about your spirit
our words are just vessels
to help our souls grow coherent
That's why plastic conversations
just keep people in their places
boxes and cages
staying locked in a maze
These days
a raised eyebrow in suspicion
can draw a straight line
to a conviction
A country so conditioned by racism
those most judged
by skin colour and appearance
end up filling up our prisons
And you're pissed off
when a shock-jock
gets paid just to be a bigot
but our taxes have been paying
for the same shit
since the beginning
They pigeon hole us into body types
traditional dress
sexual preference
or exotic sound bytes
and they use every media stereotype
to amplify their agenda
as their political stereo mic
So we're stuck
in the battle of the headlines
on the war of the magazine shelf
they've taught us to see each other
as caricatures of our real selves
From Cronulla to the Herald
Channel 7 - the whole cartel
the media mafia's making sure
News Corp gets the sell
But the complexity of our lives
doesn't fit in their headlines
so they need bite-sized pieces
of our bodies to feed on
between dinner and bedtime
So when we see each other on the street
those headlines
in our head sets
become headnotes
become death stares
become death threats
become the next steps
towards our best friends' necks
becoming breathless
See, to divide and conquer
we need a clear set of enemies
falsified identities combined
with our short term memories
They poison our communities
to keep us preoccupied
so while we're fighting each other
more land gets occupied
More services are cut
Adani gets up
another open cut mine
another refugee gets stuck
That's why we need to take back the narrative
speak our own languages
keep our identities multifaceted
don't simplify it for their arrogance
You are not all savages
you are not all parodies
to be used as their front page
embarrassments
So before they lock you
in a stereotype
speak words so deep
they're like burial rights
Write lines that unite
every side of the fight
so when we speak
all they get is our
STEREO. TYPE.
- Luka Lesson
Luka is a poet, rapper, Australian Poetry Slam Champion and Ancient History buff who can’t keep his hands off the classics. Luka has toured extensively throughout the world and is often bouncing ideas off Athenian columns and global politics as he finds his way, giving commentary on life and writing as a modern philosopher, performer and full-time poet.
Luka Lesson draws on his creative powers to either create new poetry inspired by conversations with guests from across the planet, or do a deep dive into his own catalogue of poetry and rap verses, using them as a sounding board for new conversations. His own Greek heritage and the histories of the people he speaks to often filter through, as well as his love of story, mythology, social change and visions for the future.
