Todd Maguire is a Brisbane-born Australian whose life has been shaped by family, sport, service, loss and resilience. Growing up on Brisbane’s north side, Todd had a strong connection to family and sport from an early age, particularly rugby league.

His love of the game eventually saw him play representative football and represent Australian Police, travelling overseas and experiencing a side of rugby that went well beyond the local field.

After finding his way into the Queensland Police Service, Todd would go on to spend 27 years wearing the badge. His career took him into some extraordinary and dangerous places, including years working undercover, where he became known as “Donny Wilson”. Living behind an assumed identity and dealing with criminals, drugs and situations where the stakes were incredibly high became part of his everyday life.

But some of Todd’s biggest battles weren't faced on the streets.He experienced devastating loss and trauma that he carried quietly for years. He kept going, kept working and tried to bury the memories, not fully understanding the effect they were having on him. Behind the tough exterior was a man struggling with grief, anger, alcohol and the weight of experiences he didn't know how to process.

Eventually, after 27 years in the police, Todd made the decision to walk away. Leaving the job gave him the space to finally look back at the life he'd lived and confront the things he'd spent years running from.

What followed was deeply personal. Todd began writing his story, initially as a way of making sense of his own experiences. That story eventually became a book and, more importantly, a way for Todd to reach other people who may be carrying their own hidden battles.

Today, Todd openly shares the highs and lows of his journey — from the young boy who loved sport, to the police officer living an undercover life, to a husband, father and man who has had to face some very dark chapters.

His story is raw, honest and ultimately hopeful — a reminder that no matter how long you've spent carrying something, it's never too late to put it down, talk about it and start moving forward.

www.toddmaguire.com.au

Born on the Gold Coast and raised predominantly around Browns Plains and the Logan area, Tyson Major’s journey has taken him through plenty of different chapters.

Diagnosed with ADHD at a young age, Tyson struggled with concentration at school and was always more comfortable being active and outdoors. After school, he explored different career paths, including aspirations of becoming a chef and attempting to join the Army, before eventually working in security alongside his father and later moving through a range of jobs and industries to support his family.

In 2017, at around 30 years old, Tyson’s life changed when he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Learning to manage a lifelong condition while working and providing for his family brought with it some incredibly difficult mental and physical challenges.

Over time, Tyson began pushing himself physically through hiking, eventually taking on the Kokoda Track and proving to himself that Type 1 diabetes didn’t have to define what he was capable of.

Away from those challenges, Tyson has built an online following as Cringe Dad, using humour, family and everyday life to create content while also using his platform to raise awareness for Type 1 diabetes.

Most recently, he completed an incredible 24-hour walking challenge, with family, friends and the local community rallying behind him and helping raise approximately $12,000 for the Type 1 Foundation.

Today, Tyson continues to balance family life, social media, hiking and new challenges while using his story to inspire others living with Type 1 diabetes.

Meet Tommy Hart — a professional male companion whose journey has taken him from the outskirts of Birmingham, England, to the Gold Coast of Australia.The eldest of four boys, Tommy grew up in a strict military-influenced household.

School was never his main focus, with his younger years driven more by adrenaline, extreme sports and finding his own path. At 14, his family moved to Australia, and by 16 Tommy had left school to pursue personal training, fitness and bodybuilding.

After circumstances took him back to the UK, Tommy worked a number of different jobs, but Australia continued calling. He eventually returned, settling in Adelaide and working construction before a holiday to the Gold Coast changed the direction of his life.

After moving to Queensland and continuing in construction, Tommy eventually stepped into the world of being a professional male companion. Despite being in the industry for a relatively short time, he went on to win AAIA Best Male Companion three times.

Today, Tommy continues to work on the Gold Coast and tour Australia, building his reputation around respect, connection, professionalism and creating a safe space for his clients.

On this episode of The Roads We’ve Walked Podcast, we unpack Tommy’s journey, the experiences that shaped him and how he found himself thriving in an industry he never expected to be part of.

Born and raised in Mount Gambier, South Australia, Nick Ziemlanej grew up as the eldest of three kids, with sport, the outdoors and working with his hands playing a big part in his early life.

Nick began a carpentry apprenticeship while still at school and eventually became a qualified carpenter. But when an opportunity came along to work aboard fishing trawlers, following a family connection to professional cray fishing, he decided to take a completely different road.

After spending time at sea and finding himself getting into a bit of trouble, another opportunity arrived — working on drill rigs in Western Australia. Nick grabbed it with both hands, beginning a journey that would take him from oil rigs to quarries and worksites around Australia before eventually landing on the Gold Coast.

After years in heavy industry, Nick decided it was time to explore his creative side. He traded the rigs for the tattoo chair and began an apprenticeship in tattooing, starting another completely new chapter of his life.

In this episode of The Roads We’ve Walked Podcast, Nick shares the highs, the mistakes, the lessons and the opportunities that have shaped his journey so far.

Today, Nick is living on the Gold Coast and diving deeper into his creative side, continuing to develop his craft as an apprentice tattooist and embracing a completely different path from the one he spent so many years travelling.

Katy King returns for Part 2, picking up where we left off as she takes us through her journey into the adult industry. She opens up about her early days in the world of sugaring, how those experiences shaped her perspective, and what ultimately led her to transition into full-service escorting. Katy shares the realities behind those decisions, the lessons she learned along the way, and how her career has evolved over the years.

We also explore the work Katy does outside of escorting, including connection and relationship coaching, working with individuals and couples to improve communication, intimacy, confidence, and emotional connection. She discusses how those services often overlap with what people are truly searching for, and why so much of her work goes far beyond what many assume.

Throughout the conversation, Katy reflects on how the industry has changed since she first started, from client expectations and technology to safety, professionalism, and the growing sense of community within the industry. She speaks candidly about the friendships she’s built with fellow workers, what it means to earn the respect of both clients and peers, and why professionalism has been such an important part of her success.

We also chat about her interactions and experiences working alongside Tommy Hart, giving an insight into another side of the adult industry and the people within it.

To wrap up the episode, Katy answers a series of listener-style questions covering everything from misconceptions about the industry to her most memorable experiences, advice for those considering the profession, and the personal growth she’s experienced throughout her journey.

This is an honest, respectful, and fascinating conversation that provides a deeper understanding of an industry that’s often judged but rarely understood through the eyes of someone who has lived it.

Dazz Wetzler grew up in the small town of Marmor, just south of Rockhampton, where life was simple and community meant everything. While school was never really his main focus, the friendships and social side of growing up shaped much of who he is today.

After leaving school, Dazz began working alongside his old man in the family business before an opportunity arose to work in the mining industry as a driller’s offsider. Determined to keep progressing, he later stepped away from that role to chase a career operating heavy machinery in the civil sector.

Like many people, life eventually caught up with him. At one point, Dazz tipped the scales at around 170kg. Knowing something had to change, he committed himself to a healthier lifestyle, ultimately losing an incredible 50kg through hard work, discipline, and consistency.

That new mindset led him to one of his biggest personal challenges yet—stepping into the ring for the 2025 Rockhampton Charity Boxing Event. Despite falling just short in a hard-fought contest, the experience only strengthened his determination rather than discouraging him.

Today, Dazz continues to train with his sights firmly set on the 2026 Rockhampton Charity Boxing Event. Alongside his fitness journey, he’s building a new passion project called Unscripted Hustlers, a platform dedicated to sharing the stories of everyday people who are working hard, chasing opportunities, and doing whatever it takes to create a better life for themselves and their families.

This episode is about resilience, discipline, backing yourself, and proving that no matter where you start, you’re capable of rewriting your own story.

This episode is proudly brought to you by Peak Productions

https://linktr.ee/roadswalkedpodcast

Ashley Smith grew up around Essendon in Victoria, where life was simple and much of his younger years were spent on the water. He developed a passion for water skiing, where he met his best mate Brett — a man Ashley would come to see as the brother he never had.

Tragically, Brett lost his life in a car accident, and for Ashley, it felt as though a part of him died that night too. The loss changed him, and for a long time, those closest to him knew he wasn’t quite the same person he had once been.

As life moved forward, Ashley completed university and became a teacher. After relocating, he immersed himself in the community, joining the local cricket club and volunteering with the fire brigade. Along the way, he also became a proud father of four children across different chapters of his life.

Around a decade ago, Ashley faced another devastating loss when his mother passed away from cancer. Through the grief, however, came a reconnection with his family, particularly his two sisters, who began to feel like they finally had their brother back again.

Then, in March 2026, Ashley’s world was shattered when he lost his son, Zaron, to suicide following his struggles with mental health.

Faced with unimaginable grief, Ashley made the decision to speak rather than stay silent. He began exploring mental health more deeply, sharing his experiences and raising awareness around men’s mental health, grief, loss and the importance of having difficult conversations.

Today, Ashley is a dedicated school teacher, a fire brigade captain and a father determined to use his story to help others. Through everything life has thrown his way, his message is simple — talk, check in on your mates, and never underestimate the importance of being there for one another.

Growing up just over an hour north of London, Will Stock enjoyed a laid-back childhood and never really found himself interested in school. Like many teenagers, he began experimenting with recreational drugs—not out of addiction, but simply because he enjoyed the feeling they gave him. While it never took over his life or stopped him from functioning day to day, Will eventually made the decision in his early adulthood to walk away from that lifestyle and look for something that could genuinely improve his wellbeing.

That search led him to the world of breathwork. Curious about the impact it could have on both his physical and mental health, Will immersed himself in learning everything he could about the power of conscious breathing—a journey that would ultimately change the direction of his life.

With a desire to explore the world, Will set off for Australia after his siblings had already made the trip before him, stopping through Southeast Asia along the way. He landed in Melbourne before finding work on a solar panel farm in Albury. Chasing new opportunities, he later headed north to Gympie to continue working in the renewable energy industry before eventually settling on the Gold Coast.

Today, Will calls the Gold Coast home, where he runs Willpower breathwork workshops, helping others discover the same life-changing benefits that transformed his own journey. Alongside building his breathwork business, he’s also studying carpentry—continuing to prove that personal growth is a lifelong pursuit.

This episode is proudly brought to you by Peak Productions

https://linktr.ee/roadswalkedpodcast

Born in Brisbane but raised in Innisfail, Ollie Molinari was never someone who found his place in the classroom. School wasn’t where he thrived, but creativity was. From a young age, he developed a passion for cooking and art, finding joy in creating something with his own hands.

After leaving school, Ollie entered the workforce without a clear direction. Then, during his early adult years, everything changed when he lost his best mate in a tragic accident. It was a heartbreaking chapter that forced him to look at life differently and ultimately inspired him to take a chance on something new.

When an opportunity came to move to London with friends, Ollie embraced it. Living overseas gave him the chance to travel, experience different cultures and build a career in recruitment, but despite everything he achieved, his passion for cooking never left him.

After returning to Australia, Ollie continued working in recruitment before making the biggest gamble of his life—walking away from the security of a steady career to back himself completely. That leap of faith became Molinari’s Deli, a business built on authentic fresh pasta, handmade meatballs, lasagnes and quality seasonings.

In less than 18 months, the business has already enjoyed incredible early success, but Ollie believes this is only the beginning. Today, he’s a proud partner, father and businessman whose story is a reminder that life’s toughest moments can often become the catalyst for something extraordinary.

This episode is proudly brought to you by Peak Productions

https://linktr.ee/roadswalkedpodcast

Danny Mac was born and raised in Melbourne, where from a young age he was driven by a desire to build a successful life on his own terms. While school never truly captured his attention, hard work, business, and chasing opportunities did, leading him to work a variety of jobs and own several businesses throughout his early adult years.

During the COVID era, Danny made the life-changing decision to relocate his family from Melbourne to the Gold Coast. It was there that he joined a fight gym and discovered a new passion for combat sports. In 2023, while attending the Battle of the Reef boxing event in Townsville, he experienced a moment that would change his future. Walking through the arena and witnessing the lights, atmosphere, and energy of fight night inspired him to create something of his own.

That inspiration became the Intentional Brawling Championship (IBC) — an innovative combat sports promotion that blends elements of boxing and MMA into a unique spectator experience. With three successful events already completed, IBC is rapidly establishing itself as one of the most exciting and fast-growing promotions in the country.

Today, Danny is a proud husband, father, entrepreneur, and promoter whose journey is a testament to backing yourself, taking risks, and refusing to settle. His story proves that with vision, determination, and relentless effort, success is achievable for those willing to chase it.