Life with Cerebral Palsy: Mark Wilson aka Wobbles on Dating & Defying Expectations

In this deeply moving and also surprisingly funny episode, Mark Wilson joins me on the podcast.

Better known by his nickname “Wobbles”, a title he has proudly reclaimed.

Mark has cerebral palsy, but he makes it clear from the outset: this isn’t a sad story. It’s a story about grit, love, resilience, savage humour, and carving out a life he’s genuinely proud of.

Mark’s new book Wobbles pulls back the curtain on his early years, the intense therapy programme that defined his childhood, the brutal bullying that shaped his teens, and the enormous sacrifices his parents made to give him a fighting chance.

Today, Mark is a business analyst at ANZ, drives a V8 Holden Kingswood, loves Devilskin, and is raising a blended family with his partner Elise.

Mark’s honesty is a gift: especially when he speaks about finding self-worth, surviving suicidal ideation and navigating dating with CP.

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Massive thanks to my long-term podcast sponsors, Generate.

Generate is an award-winning KiwiSaver provider with a track record of delivering strong long-term returns for their clients- you can see their latest returns for yourself on their website.

I became a client when they came on board as the show sponsor and it’s been a gamechanger for me personally- I’m kicking myself for not doing it years earlier.

You can book a no obligation chat with one of their awesome KiwiSaver advisers at generatekiwisaver.co.nz/dom

The issuer of the scheme is Generate Investment Management Limited. To see their Product disclosure statement see generatekiwisaver.co.nz/pds

Past performance does not guarantee future returns.

And just a reminder — I’m a podcast host, not a financial adviser, so this is just general advice. I recommend getting expert advice before making any financial decisions.

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Who should be on the podcast next? Message Dom Instagram: @domharveynz Email: [email protected]

If you enjoyed the podcast and would like for your business to sponsor an episode, please email [email protected]

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CHAPTERS:

00:00 – Meet Mark “Wobbles” Wilson & the origin of his nickname 04:49 – Paper clips, bread bags & the everyday things CP makes harder 07:14 – Depending on others: partners, parents & the blurry helper line 09:36 – Learning to drive, go-karts at five & life as a Holden bogan 11:58 – Rock music, Devilskin super-fandom & Greg Murphy the hero 14:13 – Is CP a “superpower”? Reclaiming words & what feels empowering 16:34 – Earliest memories, therapy as a kid & a brutal medical prognosis 21:23 – 30 volunteers, home programmes & starting mainstream school 26:13 – High school bullying: slurs, nicknames & being the butt of the joke 33:25 – Why he never told his parents or teachers what was happening 35:48 – Message to young people with CP & anyone dealing with bullies 40:28 – Running into bullies years later & the one who became his carer 42:54 – Teen image, Instagram culture & Mark’s built-in bullshit filter 45:17 – Making Mum proud: uni, ANZ, buying a house & real independence 49:45 – When Mum was least proud: strip clubs, mates & being “a pest” 53:08 – Dating apps, rejection & the legendary cruise-ship virginity story 57:57 – Meeting Elise: first date disaster, lost keys & instant connection 1:02:38 – Caregiver vs partner: love languages, feeding & daily routines 1:07:33 – Blended family life: stepkids, Broncos fandom & getting roasted 1:09:53 – The Countdown alcohol incident & feeling publicly singled out 1:12:21 – Job hunting, being overlooked, drinking to cope & suicidal thoughts 1:18:44 – His mum’s dark moments too, and why he wrote Wobbles to save lives 1:20:04 – What he’d tell his younger self (and anyone who feels like giving up) 1:24:17 – How emotion affects his body & the journey to clearer speech 1:27:43 – Inner critic, perfectionism & what he’s genuinely proud of 1:29:18 – Paying off his parents’ sacrifice, future goals, Sandy the dog teaser & wrap-up