Secrets of the Underworld

Walter Pugliese grew up surrounded by heroin addiction, domestic violence, and chaos. By 15, he had been arrested. Drugs, dealing, and prison followed—until he decided he wasn't going to waste his life.
Walter tells Neil how fighting became his way out, taking him from a life fuelled by rage to the brutal world of professional MMA and bare-knuckle fighting.
He opens up about his childhood, prison, the mistakes he refuses to let define him, becoming a father, and the night he went toe-to-toe with one of the biggest names in bare-knuckle fighting.
His dream now? A world title—and proving that after everything life has thrown at him, he's still standing.
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For safety reasons, we have concealed the identity of the woman at the center of this episode.
She shares a deeply personal story about trauma, trust, intimidation, and the lasting impact of feeling unable to speak up.
From an experience of sexual assault as a child to disturbing behavior later in her life that she now views very differently, she explains how years of questioning herself and assuming the best in others affected the choices she made.
She also speaks about harassment, anonymous calls, rumors, fear, and the moment she realised she could no longer allow those experiences to define her.
This is a raw conversation about what happens when you stay silent for too long—and what it takes to finally tell your story.
Content warning: This episode contains discussion of sexual assault, harassment and trauma.
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Alison was born with Treacher Collins syndrome and has endured more than 100 reconstructive surgeries, discrimination, childhood trauma and years of being judged for looking different.
In this episode of Secrets of the Underworld, Neil sits down with Alison to hear how she built a life in New York, broke into modelling and acting, earned a Canadian Screen Award nomination, and developed the thick skin that now allows her to say: know who you are, no matter what anyone else thinks.
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Adam Smith thought he'd found brotherhood. Instead, he found addiction, violence, prison and a contract on his life.
In this powerful interview with Neil "The Muscle" Cummins, Adam reveals what life inside outlaw motorcycle clubs is really like, why prison changed him forever, and why he's now dedicating his life to helping others avoid the same path. If you've ever wondered what happens behind the patches, this is the story you need to hear.
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Marcus spent 11 years in the British Army, including two tours of Afghanistan. After surviving a devastating brain injury that ended his military career, he arrived in Australia looking for a fresh start.
Just four days later, he became a male escort.
Now charging up to $2,000 an hour, Marcus says he's Australia's most expensive male escort. But behind the headlines is a story far more complex than money, sex and scandal.
In this raw and surprisingly emotional conversation, Marcus opens up about the reality of selling intimacy, the women who seek his services, the trauma many carry, and the mental toll of living a life built around fulfilling other people's fantasies. He also reveals the bizarre requests, the life-changing moments, and why he's seriously considering walking away from the industry altogether.


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