James Deacon is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist whose music has made waves across South African radio — with chart-topping hits like “Not Givin’ Up” and performances alongside international icons like A-ha. But behind the success is a story of struggle, identity, and transformation.

In this episode, James opens up about who he was before the music — a teenager grappling with insecurity, feeling like an outsider, and turning to alcohol and drugs to cope. He shares what it was like to chase a “badass” image while quietly losing himself, and the powerful moment when he realized he didn’t need substances to feel  ...