Andrew Gardener is a fantastic communicator and a great thinker. So we get in deep in this episode, going well beyond small talk to some really vulnerable and personal spaces. We talk about his passions for storytelling and creativity, his journey into being an advocate for justice and the search for living a just life, and his exploration of the connection between faith and suffering, including his own challenging journey towards fatherhood. Andrew has been a key part of The Justice Conference ...
Apr 11, 2021•50 min
In this episode I talk to Lady Ranapiri Kupa of Prison Fellowship Aotearoa, aka He Korowai Whakapono. Lady oversees people and programmes that really get alongside families of people who have experienced prison to help to break the generational cycle of imprisonment. We talk about the tamariki and whānau, about mana, dignity, shame, restoration, and seeing people as people. We look at the programmes PFA run and the kaupapa (reason for being) of the programmes and the organisation. To connect wit...
Mar 28, 2021•42 min
The nakedpastor, David Hayward, joins me to talk about his cartoons, his changing faith, his purpose, not to mention his name! Having been a pastor for 30 years David left and forged a career as an artist, drawing cartoons, painting watercolours, writing books, and leading online communities and courses for those processing faith. We talk about all of that and more. You can find (and purchase) his work at nakedpastor.com or find him on many social media platforms as @nakedpastor (found here on F...
Mar 14, 2021•43 min
Hannah Sheath is a paramedic. We talk about what the job entails, what keeps Hannah doing it, what brings her joy in the midst of all the hurt, some lighter, more humorous moments in her career, and her empathy towards her patients through having had her own trauma through her pregnancies. We cover the Christchurch earthquakes and Mosque shootings, and Whakaari (white Island) eruption as well and how she was involved in those situations. Maybe it's the seriousness of the job but I don't think I'...
Feb 28, 2021•48 min
Former Mayor of New Plymouth, Andrew Judd, joins us to talk about race from a Pākehā perspective. Andrew had a huge world view shift around race while in the role of Mayor that has shaped his life beyond that. We talk about what he loved about being mayor, what brought on the shift in thinking and the negative response to that from constituents, and how he sees life now. We cover the issue of Māori wards, and his role in petitioning the government to change the law - and why he feels that is imp...
Feb 14, 2021•45 min
Andy briefly looks back at a couple of themes from the podcast this year, before inviting us into a slightly different version of the nativity as we head towards Christmas. --- Connect with me at downtoearthconversations.com or at: Facebook: facebook.com/downtoearth.conversations Instagram: @downtoearth.conversations Email: downtoearth.conversations@gmail.com Thanks to Ignition Networks for their support. If your business needs creative communications solutions, check out https://ignition.net.nz...
Dec 13, 2020•13 min
In this episode I talk to Michael Kettle from Beautify Waitara. Hear how Mike and some others are using the arts to help with community healing and connection. It's a beautiful kōrero where Mike demonstrates his love for his community and the value of serving something more than yourself. It is a breath of fresh air in a world where so many are focussed on what they get out of something, rather than the good that can be given through it. Glossary Iwi - extended kinship group, tribeHapu - kinship...
Nov 29, 2020•36 min
Lisa Mead, from Social Currency, fits perfectly with the kaupapa of this podcast. She is someone who has looked at the skills and passions she has, and then taken them and used them to make a difference in the world. Not by leaving her accounting profession, but by utilising it to create change for those young people who are deemed 'at risk'. We talk about why she does what she does, what it was like to leave a stable well paying job to risk it all for these at risk kids, and how she goes about ...
Nov 15, 2020•38 min
In this episode I chat with Caz Tod-Pearson, director of The Simple Way in Philadelphia. The Simple Way is a community organisation looking to do what they can to love their neighbours in one of the poorest areas of Philadelphia in which they live. We talk about what the Simple Way are doing to love their neighbours, what drives them to do so, some of the things Caz has learnt along the way, and how Caz sees this as an outworking of loving Jesus. Find The Simple Way at thesimpleway.org or at: Fa...
Oct 25, 2020•49 min
This is the second part of a two part kōrero, so go have a listen to that one before heading into this one. In pt. 1 we talked about what led Manny to this combination of theology, hope and disability; about the use of language and what it says about underlying assumptions regarding disability; and we even tackle church healing culture as he has experienced it in his life - does God heal? Why isn't he healing? What does church healing culture say to people like Manny? In this episode we ask, did...
Oct 11, 2020•38 min
Manny Koks is a husband, father, lecturer, theologian, and all round top human being. He is currently completing a PhD, looking at the theology of hope and disability. Manny's interest in this stems from his theological study, combined with his lived experience as someone with cerebral palsy. This kōrero was so rich that I've split it into two parts with the second half being released as the next episode in a fortnight. In pt. 1 we talk about what led Manny to this combination of theology, hope ...
Sep 27, 2020•44 min
Events of this year have once again put race relations to the fore. Yet for many, racism is never off the radar. It is simply part of life. Something they have to deal with on a daily basis. In this episode I talk to Kat Poi from Courageous Conversations South Pacific about her experiences with racism as wahine Māori, and about her work in training people to have courageous conversations about race. --- Check out Courageous Conversations South Pacific at https://courageousconversation.com/south-...
Sep 13, 2020•51 min
Artist Michelle Green joins us to share about her journey in art, why she struggled to believe she could paint, and how she became an artist with paintings all over the world. She also shares about how her journey has influenced her to teach classes to inspire others who think they can't paint by showing them they can. Check out Michelle's stunning artworks on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Michellegreenartist -- Connect with me at downtoearthconversations.com or at: Facebook: facebook.com...
Aug 30, 2020•37 min
Spanky Moore, from the 21 Elephants podcast, takes over the episode and turns the questions on Andy. We talk about key moments of learning from Andy's life and, ultimately, what we do with the power we are given. Spanky is a former punk and radio DJ turned Ordained Anglican Minister and University of Canterbury Chaplain. Check out 21 Elephants podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. And as usual, connect with me at downtoearthconversations.com or at: Facebook: facebook.com/downtoearth.conversat...
Aug 16, 2020•52 min
Blair Ashdowne, from Episode 9, joins us for a follow up where we dig a little deeper into his journey and some of the ways he was able to turn things around, personally and professionally. Find Blair at: Website: heatpumpsnow.co.nz Facebook: facebook.com/HeatPumpsNOW/ -- Connect with me at downtoearthconversations.com or at: Facebook: facebook.com/downtoearth.conversations Instgram: @downtoearth.conversations Email: downtoearth.conversations@gmail.com -- If you need further support around menta...
Aug 10, 2020•48 min
Aaron Hendry joins me online to discuss his work with youth who are either homeless, or in danger of becoming homeless. Aaron shares stories from the youth he supports, and talks about the cracks in the system that our young people are falling through. If you would like to sign the petition to #endyouthhomelessness head to https://our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/end-youth-homelessness To hear more from Aaron check out When Lambs Are Silent the Podcast on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/sh...
Aug 02, 2020•46 min
