So who is Mike King? A man with a mission for sure. He himself suffers from depression and Drug and Alcohol recovery issues and that gives him the right to speak out about both issues. But he does it with love and aroha, not as a headlight seeking star. He does it so that others can reach out and ask for help. All you have to do is listen to Radio Live between 8 and 12pm on Sunday nights to see where his mana is represented. He has empathy, understanding, and a knowledge of the issues. He also has an innate sixth sense when dealing with callers. He knows where they are from what they say and more often than not he is right on the mark.
He also picks his team well for the radio show. Most of the team at Radio Live The Nutters Club are experienced in the mental health field, including the hirsute Dr David Codyre, Boris Sokratov the energetic producer, Brian Holland the Nuts and Bolts Man, and also Phillipa, Katete, and many others that have that empathy. The Nutters Club isn't successful just because Mike headlines it, it's successful because Mike has picked a good team.
But what about Mike the Person. I am biased in regards to his station in my life. I had the opportunity to be interviewed by Mike before my show in December last year and I was pleasantly surprised at how much Mike could get out of me. Things I had never talked to anyone else about were raised and dealth with, and over a cup of coffee in Ponsonby Road (just a short walk to Radio Live) we nutted (good choice of word) out how the interview would go that night. Mike made me feel very at ease and that's one thing he gets out of his callers, his easy manner means he can draw the right information from a caller and then pass on his wisdom (or Dr Dave's) to that person. I got that from that interview.
Saviour:- Mike King is a saviour. All one has to do is listen to all the success stories emanating from The Nutters Club archives to realise that Mike started something 2 years ago that has filled a niche market. People helping people, nutters helping nutters.
Saint:- No way. Mike knows where he stands in society and balances out the successes to himself, his team and his facebook people. But yes, Mike has been a saint to some, hauled them out of the darkness of their lives and despair and given them hope.
Sycophant:- Yes and no. Yes most times he's getting kudos and mana from all avenues of life. No, he does have another life away from The Nutters Club and his Stand Up act, and that life is filled with the personal Mike King who daily, nay hourly, battles his own ghosts. Sometimes he's up, sometimes he's down, sometimes he's controversial. Do I begrudge him his life? Who am I to judge? It's just a measure of the man, that he is human, is funny, and is a very helpful and well meaning man.
Recently I saw a few emails doing the circuit bemoaning the poor choice of photo for his best selling book, aptly named The Nutters Club. I wasn't drawn into the debate, but was perturbed to see some folks in the mental health field (Mental Health Foundation and Like Minds Like Mine) dissing Mike for the Straitjacket he was wearing, principally due to the thought that many nutters (they hate that term) were not long out of The Bins and this would have excess affects on those same people. The reason I didn't want to get involved in the email war was that I know personally folks that were in The Bins and that they had by and large put that phase of their life behind them and didn't think it an issue anymore. I don't see those two organisations above banning One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest, Girl Interrupted, or the likes of Twelve Monkeys. They all are Bin movies and could have an adverse affect on clients.
But back to Mike King. Saviour, Saint, or Sycophant? Sorry, the Sssss's dip out on this one although they are important. Hero, Father, Funny Man, Controversial, take your pick. If you know Mike well enough, you too will see him taking his pick. He's a free man and one that does battle, and does succeed, and does fail, a role model perhaps? No, but a damn fine man for what he does and how he feels for others. Kapai Mike, see you in another two years at least every Sunday Night on The Nutters Club - your baby.
yes, most of the times its great to listen to Mikey, sometimes hes a bit off the cuff - aren't we all, say things that we don't take seriously but others take offense to, I like that he is non judgmental the majority of the time and he does have a good heart. He should be very proud of how he and the team have helped others, its great just being able to talk with out being judged
ReplyDeleteNot sure!! Saviour could be a bit OTT. We all do things that have pay offs for ourselves.... whatever that is weather we are consciously aware of it or not.... so I'm sure when he gives heaps he recieves heaps, and when he is abusing people and defriending them he in turn feels like shit (if not at the time... later). Such is life!!
ReplyDeleteSaint... well he has issues.... some we know and some we don't.
Personally, I think he is NORMAL... nothing more or less. Who with a heart wouldn't do the same about something they were passionate about if they had the public profile he does?? We all want to make a difference and leave a legency just some of us do it without the publicity, praise or cult following. When we put people on a pedestal they can only EVER fall off.
If you keep this up Mike will have to add another ailment to his list, swelled head syndrome. :)
ReplyDeleteMike is a very okay guy and would mean different things to different people, but for the help he has and continues to give us Nutters, he is a genius. I really miss him being on the radio after 10pm on Sunday nights, that is when nutters got the chance to ring in with their own personal problems and I could lay in bed, listening to all the excellent advice. As lovely as the other hosts are, they aren't Mike, he is my hero.