Lead on Purpose with James Laughlin Paddy Gower on Overcoming Bullying & Alcoholism, Finding Connection in the Digital World
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In this episode, I sit down with one of New Zealand’s most recognisable truth-tellers—journalist, documentarian, and author Patrick Gower (aka PG).
PG is known for hard-hitting headlines, viral soundbites, and a gift for connecting with Kiwis at every level. But behind the viral moments and political showdowns is a man who’s wrestled with identity, addiction, and self-worth—and come out the other side with clarity, conviction, and purpose.
This conversation is part memoir, part manifesto, and part reminder that change is hard—but possible. Especially if you believe in the f***ing possible.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
• The mental trick PG uses to stay focused and optimistic—even in chaos
• What really drove his drinking—and the breakthrough that changed everything
• Why connection (not perfection) is your real leadership advantage
• The outrageous schoolyard scandal that’s somehow still making headlines…
Why You Should Listen:
PG doesn’t sugarcoat anything. He talks openly about the awkward years, the impact of bullying, the heartbreak of redundancy, and the hidden pain behind being the “funny guy” in the room.
But he also talks about growth, about leadership, about mission. And how it’s never too late to start again with purpose.
If you’re navigating change, battling self-doubt, or quietly dreaming of more—this one’s for you.
You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll definitely never look at a school lunch the same way again.
This episode was proudly sponsored by NZ Mortgages. You can contact them here - https://www.nzmortgages.co.nz
- Grab your copy of This is the F***ing News here - http://bit.ly/3YpRC0I
- Connect with PG on Instagram here - https://www.instagram.com/patrickgowernz/?hl=en
- Connect with PG on LinkedIn here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paddygowernz/?originalSubdomain=nz
- Book PG for speaking here - https://www.celebrityspeakers.co.nz/speakers/patrick-gower
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Website: https://www.jjlaughlin.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6GETJbxpgulYcYc6QAKLHA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesLaughlinOfficial Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jameslaughlinofficial/ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/life-on-purpose-with-james-laughlin/id1547874035 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3WBElxcvhCHtJWBac3nOlF?si=hotcGzHVRACeAx4GvybVOQ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslaughlincoaching/
James Laughlin is a High Performance Leadership Coach, Former 7-Time World Cham
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- If you're interested in booking me for a keynote or workshop, contact Caroline at caroline@jjlaughlin.com