Suzanne Salloum grew up the youngest of ten children in Mount Druitt, Western Sydney — the only Lebanese girl in her school, navigating relentless racism, cultural isolation and the weight of an immigrant family finding its footing in Australia. What followed was a life lived defiantly in spaces that didn't want her — she did it anyway.

In this episode, Suzanne opens up to Neil about growing up caught between two worlds, caring for her father from the age of 17 before losing him suddenly, scoring a role on Fat Pizza and why twenty years on she still won't lighten her hair.

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In April 2010, 21-year-old Pralav Dhyani was four months into his first voyage as a trainee deck officer when Somali pirates boarded his vessel. What followed was 332 days held hostage off the coast of Somalia — no contact with family, dwindling food and water, guns pointed at his head, and the devastating loss of a crewmate who didn't make it home.

Pralav takes Neil inside the moment the shots rang out, the terrifying five-minute window between attack and capture, and what daily survival looked like when hope was rationed just as tightly as the rice. He talks about the crew members who sided with their captors, the staged terror before every ransom negotiation, and the surreal moment a bag of cash floated down from a plane — and the pirates just vanished.

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In this special episode, competition winners Angela and Costa turn the tables on Neil — putting him in the hot seat with questions that cover 20 years of life in the shadows. From his first security job chasing shoplifters at Westfield Miranda to walking beside one of Sydney's most feared men, Neil opens up about the highs, the loyalties, and the cost of it all.

He talks about what it was like to be a target — for years. The drive-by at DCM where instinct alone moved him out of the line of fire. The moment his family gave him an ultimatum and he chose not to blink. And in one of the most honest exchanges the show has ever had, he talks about the night he put a hit on himself — because he couldn't see any other way out.

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She came from a small mining town with big dreams, a stubborn streak, and a whole lot of anger to burn. Desley "The Destroyer" Robinson was told girls don't box — so naturally, she went and became a two-time IBF/WBO World Middleweight Champion.

In this episode, Neil sits down with Desley for a full-circle conversation that covers everything: growing up in Moranbah chasing athletics dreams she couldn't afford to follow, sparring full-grown men at 14, fighting for a world title on a fractured foot and what it actually felt like to win the belt she'd spent a lifetime earning. She also opens up about life after the title — signing with Jake Paul's MVP Promotions, fighting in America, and learning to finally enjoy it all.

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In this episode, Neil sits down with Bondi Brat, the social media personality and OnlyFans creator known for her sharp humour and even sharper commentary on the adult industry. What starts as a chat about content creation quickly becomes something far deeper.

Bondi Brat opens up about growing up in Melbourne's southeastern suburbs, dropping out of school, getting kicked out of home as a teenager and finding her footing in the world of nightclubs and adult entertainment.

But underneath the bravado is a story of real survival. She speaks candidly about her addiction to ice, a violent relationship that nearly broke her, and the long road to getting clean.

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Neil sits down face-to-face with Russell Small — the Brighton-born DJ and producer whose fingerprints are all over some of dance music's biggest moments. From growing up with undiagnosed ADHD to Grammy nominations and co-producing tracks that hit number one in 19 countries (including a little something for Beyoncé), Russell's story is as raw as it is remarkable.

In this one, they get into it all: the chaos of lockdown revealing a lifetime of wiring he never knew he had, the hyper-focus that fuels his creativity and the numbness that came with the pills he chose to leave behind, the parties at his Brighton house that carried on even when he wasn't there and the career highs that cost him his marriage and years with his son.

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In this episode of Secrets of the Underworld, we revisit Jamie's story.

Imagine jumping from a burning plane, knowing it’s your only chance to survive. At 32, while serving in the armed forces, Jamie Hull faced this exact nightmare. He suffered life-threatening burns over 63% of his body and spent two years in the hospital recovering. In this episode, we dive into his incredible story of survival, resilience, and what it takes to rebuild after the unthinkable.

🎧 Want the full story? Listen to the complete episode now on Secrets of the Underworld.

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TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains graphic discussions of murder, cannibalism, and disturbing psychological themes. Some listeners may find the content confronting or distressing. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

In this chilling episode of Secrets of the Underworld, host Neil Cummins sits down with French cannibal and convicted killer Nicolas Claux — a man whose crimes shocked Europe and whose mind remains as disturbing as his actions.

Born in Cameroon and raised across Europe, Claux describes a childhood marked by isolation, obsession and a growing fascination with blood, death, and anatomy. From stealing weapons in the army to working inside a Paris morgue, where his darkest fantasies escalated into real-world acts, this is a conversation that goes far beyond headlines.

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In this episode of Secrets of the Underworld, we revisit Andrew's story.

Neil sits down with Andrew, a former uni student turned mushroom dealer turned stand-up comic. They chat about growing up, selling drugs, getting arrested, and doing time — plus how Andrew turned prison life into punchlines. From public vs private prisons to performing behind bars, this raw and revealing convo is full of laughs, lessons, and second chances.

🎧 Want the full story? Listen to the complete episode now on Secrets of the Underworld.

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In this episode of Secrets of the Underworld, Neil Cummins sits down with Liverpool dance music pioneer Ian Redman, the driving force behind chart-smashing act Ultrabeat.

From a dyslexic class clown in Crosby with a Sony Walkman glued to his ear, to headlining clubs at just 15 years old, Ian’s story is pure graft, hustle and Scouse belief. He opens up about sneaking into the DJ booth at The Paradox as a teenager, selling records in Liverpool’s legendary Three Beat Records and boldly cold-calling labels until they handed him remix opportunities that would change his life.

Then came Green Eyes — a track that exploded onto the UK charts and became a generational anthem. Ian reveals how the record was made, the surreal experience of performing on national television and the whirlwind of fame, money and excess that followed.

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In this episode of Secrets of the Underworld, we revisit Andrew's story.

Neil sits down with Andrew, a former uni student turned mushroom dealer turned stand-up comic. They chat about growing up, selling drugs, getting arrested, and doing time — plus how Andrew turned prison life into punchlines. From public vs private prisons to performing behind bars, this raw and revealing convo is full of laughs, lessons, and second chances.

🎧 Want the full story? Listen to the complete episode now on Secrets of the Underworld.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.