Melie Kerr’s Treading Water series is back, and we could not recommend it highly enough.
At its heart, Treading Water is about honest conversations. Real people sharing real stories about mental health, tough times, recovery, resilience and the moments that helped them keep going.
No scripts.
No pretending.
Just people speaking openly in the hope that someone watching might feel a little less alone.
That kind of honesty matters.
Why These Conversations Matter
Talking about mental health can still feel hard. For many people, it takes courage to say, “This is what I went through,” or “This is what helped me,” especially when those experiences are deeply personal.
But when people do, it can give someone else the words they have been looking for.
It can help someone feel less strange, less ashamed, or less alone. It can remind them that other people have been in dark places too, and that there is still a way forward.
That is the heart of Treading Water.
Stories of Strength, Honesty and Hope
The latest Treading Water interviews continue that kaupapa.
Katelyn Vahaakolo
Katelyn Vahaakolo speaks openly about self-doubt, self-harm, self-love, whānau, culture and the pride she feels representing New Zealand through rugby.
Mike & Jo
Mike and Jo King share parts of their own journey, including mental health struggles, coping, advocacy and the experiences that led them to create I Am Hope.
Jess Kerr
Jess Kerr talks about the impact of significant health challenges on her physical and mental wellbeing, and what she has learned about connection, support, gratitude and allowing space for sadness too.
Each story is different. But together, they carry a shared message: people need people.
They need connection.
They need honesty.
They need reminders that it is okay not to have everything sorted.
A Series Worth Watching
At I Am Hope, we talk a lot about normalising conversations around mental health. This series does exactly that.
It does not make things neat or easy. It makes space for the truth. The messy parts, the hard parts, the learning, the support, and the hope that can still exist alongside all of it.
Huge thanks to Melie Kerr and everyone involved in bringing these stories to life. And to every person who has shared their story, thank you. Your honesty may help someone else feel brave enough to speak too.
