meet the host

g’day!

name’s Paris.

Your Mate Who’s Been There, Done That.

Active Addiction - 2020

shts been pretty fcked

I’ve been through the wringer, no doubt about it. I spent 17 years battling the bottle and 10 years hooked on meth, and for a while there, I was wrapped up in the world of escorting too. It’s a life that can chew you up and spit you out, and believe me, I’ve seen its darkest corners. It’s given me a front-row seat to the absolute hell that is addiction - the chaos, the isolation, and the exhausting fight trying to claw your way out of that vicious cycle.

Now, almost two years clean from meth and with a whole new take on my relationship with alcohol, I know recovery’s possible.

I launched Sh*ts F*cked because of my own recovery journey – a journey that, for a long time, felt like an impossible maze. For years, I was completely lost, overwhelmed by where to even bloody start.

It wasn’t until I finally reached out to a drug counsellor that things began to shift. That step opened my eyes to a whole new world of people and approaches I’d never known about. I met individuals who’d been through their own battles, found support groups I’d never heard of, and discovered recovery programmes that didn’t fit the traditional mould.

These experiences showed me something crucial – there’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to overcoming addiction and reclaiming your mind.

I quickly realised that the usual routes like Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, or checking into rehab aren’t the only answers out there. Don’t get me wrong, those can work for some people, but they’re not for everyone…

and the poddy was born!

That’s where the idea for Sh*ts F*cked was born. I wanted to create a space where listeners could tap into a variety of resources, hear different perspectives, and realise that recovery is as personal and unique as they are. There’s no ‘right way’ to heal – it’s about finding the path that makes sense for you.

I’ve got some formal qualifications in Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) and I’m a certified lived experience AOD representative. That means when I’m sitting at the table with decision-makers, I’m not just throwing around theories – I’m bringing real experiences, and real insights to help shape policies that actually make a difference. Whether it’s contributing to committees or speaking up on behalf of people who’ve been through addiction, I’m here to make sure our voices are front and centre. Because at the end of the day, those of us who’ve lived it know best what needs to change.

And if you’re looking for someone to bring that lived experience to the table, whether it’s for policy work or pushing for change in the AOD and Mental Health sectors, I’m your girl!

But I’ve also seen, firsthand, just how broken our health systems are – not just here in Australia, but all over the world. These systems often leave people behind, failing to give them the proper support they need during the most critical moments of their recovery. That’s something I’m fighting to change. I truly believe in a more collaborative, community-driven approach that meets people where they’re at, embracing their strengths instead of focusing on their weaknesses.

And when it comes to supporting our First Nations people, we need to do better. Culturally safe practices should be the standard, not the exception. Everyone deserves to feel respected, heard, and supported in a way that honours their background and experiences.

So if you’re feeling lost, know this…there’s always another way forward, and you don’t have to do it the traditional way. You just have to do it your way. And I’ll be here, sharing the highs, the lows, and everything in between – because if there’s one thing I’ve learnt, it’s that you are the creator of your own life, and you can always start again.

The Cocoon Podcast - Breaking the Stigma: Paris's Journey from Addiction to Advocacy

Ashes to Awesome Podcast - Paris Le Maistre from Sh*ts F*cked

Your Listener Podcast - Personal Responsibility in Mental Illness Management with Paris Le Maistre

Raw. Unscripted. Life - Paris Le Maistre: From Addiction to Addiction Worker