Thank you for taking the time to read my article in the Alive mag! Below is the full interview with my bro Frank Winterstein. 

How did your journey as a professional athlete shape the way you approach life, resilience, and transformation today? 

The way I approach life and everything I do has been shaped through my career which showed me that you need to work hard if you want to achieve anything great in life. It taught me to be disciplined in all aspects of my life on the field and off because discipline breeds results. It also helped me accept that things won't always go to plan e.g. injuries, not making teams, missing out on finals - that's life too! Things don't go to plan most of the time but we pick ourselves up and we go again.

What were some of the most challenging and rewarding moments of your rugby league career, and how did they prepare you for life after sports? 

Most challenging would have been getting injured in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup representing Samoa in the first game against the NZ Kiwis, not only did it happen in the first tackle of the game but I managed to get through to half time - it was the end of that campaign for me and also took a toll in the lead up to weddings preparations in Samoa as I needed immediate surgery. 

The most rewarding moment was actually making it to NRL first grade, I think that is every kids dream to make it to the big league. Then it would definitely be representing Samoa in 2 World Cups in 2013 and 2017, plus making the switch from league to union and living in Japan with my wife for 2 years, then from there being called into the Australian Rugby 7s team.

Can you share how our paths first crossed? 

My wife and I created an online community in 2021 called 'Families For Freedom' where we encourage like minded people to reclaim their power in health and wellbeing. Your family were brave enough to be apart of that and from there our relationship evolved from online space into real life connection at community catchups and then here at The Alofa Village for our families retreat. 

You held me in my first in person breathwork session, which unleashed a chain of events leading to my transformation. How did you feel witnessing that moment, and when you got everyone around me, what inspired you to guide me through that moment?  

One thing we do at all retreats at The Alofa Village is take our participants to the top of our farm where we get to witness a new day as the sun rises over the mountains. That morning there were various members from our community and you happened to be there with your eldest son Taylor and I just took that opportunity to really honour your relationship as father and son, and invite you both into deeper connection. Knowing you were wanting change and to establish new experiences with your family, I felt it was important to highlight this moment for you both and help create a core memory that would be cherished forever.

What is it about breathwork that you believe holds such transformative power, especially for men like us who are seeking growth and connection? 

Breathwork for me has the ability to get us out of our heads and into our bodies to feel. To really feel what needs to be felt is hard, for everyone but especially for men because society tells us to be strong, don't show emotions that is a sign of weakness. I believe through our vulnerability comes strength and healing for us all. Some of my most powerful ah-huh moments and deep healing have come through breathwork journeys. There are a variety of styles of breathwork, each serving different purposes, it is something I definitely wish I discovered at the start of my football career rather than the end but everything happens for a reason and now I get to help guide other young men coming up through the ranks. The breath is an underutilised tool that we all can tap into each and every day to assist with stress relief, anxiety and clearing the head noise. 

How has your transition from the high performance world of NRL to mentoring and empowering others evolved your understanding of success and legacy? 

NRL success is always about winning, it's tangible and the outcome is final whereas success in everyday life looks different and means different things depending on the season you are in. Success to me then meant win. Success to me now mean how I treat my loved ones, internal peace, taking care of my community, seeing or helping my friends win. This then ripples out to my children who get to watch me lead by example and show them what it truly means to win in life. To LOVE and to SERVE, that now is my legacy.

What has it been like for you to witness my growth and journey since that first session? 

So much can happen in 2 years. For me the growth is in seeing how happy your kids are and your wife, how different you all are together which is a reflection of the journey you have been on. Your commitment to your own healing. The first session I witnessed a little boy in a man's body, hurt, afraid, unsure. Now as we work together and a couple years later I see a strong Father, protector, role model and leader. Someone who understands the work is never done but to try our best every day and encourage our kids to do the same.

How has your role as a husband, father, and mentor influenced the way you’ve guided and supported me and my family? 

Father to Father I know how important it is to be the role model for your kids, to lead them, guide and support them. Sometimes we do well and sometimes we fall short, that is ok. As long as we are learning and own our mistakes so that we can repair after rupture and continue to move forward. I know how much it means to want to raise kids the best way we know how and so I relate to you on that level and it brings our brotherhood much closer. 

In what ways do you see the discipline and teamwork you developed as an athlete showing up in your current work and mentorship? 

I'll never take a participant to a place I haven't yet been myself. I know the results that can be achieved by being disciplined and the saying I always used to go by is "the harder you work, the luckier you get" but it's actually not luck you're just putting yourself in a position where more opportunities means more possibilities for a win, for success, for growth. I've seen what it takes to perform at an elite level, I know the importance of those extras and so I apply that in everyday life with my current mentoring with those seeking specific results, we have to be willing to do the work most will not do to live a life most do not have.

Brotherhood and connection are a big part of what you’ve built and we’ve been a part of together both as participant and facilitator. What does that mean to you, and how has it shaped our friendship and any future collaboration? 

When I see people like you, who show up time and time again, are committed to the work, who give it their best shot, who fall down but get back up, that's who I want to be around. That's what makes us all better in brotherhood. That's what helps us unite our skills and help the community heal. Historically we came from tribes and villages, we used to be in men's councils and provide support to each other. We need to get back to this which is why I will always look to collaborate with brothers genuinely doing their best in this space.

For young athletes aspiring to succeed in professional sports, what advice would you give about preparing not only for the game but for life beyond it? 

There are no silly questions. At every team function or promo, engage with sponsors, engage with corporate - there are always opportunities to make connections and network. As young players we think we have forever in our career but the reality is it can be taken away in one injury on the next game so to establish strong relationships within the network of footy will always pay off for life after footy.

You and I both aim to serve humanity in unique ways. How do you see our work complementing each other, and what message do you hope we inspire in others? 

We need more of us doing the work together and offering it to our local communities. We are in a time where mental health rates, depression, stress, anxiety is higher than ever. We must do what we do and also combine our services to reach more people who really need this. Strength in numbers and as a by product that will inspire more people to normalise this healing journey and want to come along for the ride too.

As you look to the future, what’s next for you, and how do you envision continuing to create a lasting legacy for your family and those you mentor? 

What's next is more retreats at The Alofa Village. Supporting my wife in the work she offers in this world too. Being more present with my children and helping them understand what it is we do too. My children are my legacy, if I can raise them to be changemakers, take care of the community, serve with love and lead by example in this world, I've done my job.

If you would like to find out more about Frank and Tay and what they do, please head to the links below.

Frank Winterstein - Instagram

Taylor Winterstein - Instagram

Families for Freedom

The Brothers Voyage