Hannah Hardy-Jones has taken the challenges of life and turned them into something that is changing people's lives. Hannah worked in HR until the birth of her first child triggered a manic episode and life changed forever. We talk a little of that journey, however you can hear more of it on episode one of Voices of Hope's podcast, A Moment With. The focus of our kōrero is what happened from there. How did her newly acquired bipolar disorder lead to the development of her business, The Kite Progr...
Aug 21, 2022•54 min
Sel Leigh runs Leigh Development where she gets alongside people wanting to make an impact in the world through business and helps them to achieve that goal. But if I said this was a conversation about business coaching and mentoring I would be doing Sel a huge disservice. Because what Sel is doing goes so much deeper than that. We talk about diversity and inclusion, the effects of colonisation even on the way we do business, and about how Sel gets alongside people, encouraging them into and sup...
Aug 07, 2022•50 min
Jared Byas and his friend, Pete Enns, run a podcast called The Bible for Normal People. They've been having conversations with all sorts of amazing guests for years, bringing a diverse group of voices together and covering a wide range of content with the aim of helping people explore the Bible. Jared is also an author, having written books such as Love Matters More, and his latest, Jonah for Normal People, which is hugely helpful in demonstrating how to read certain kinds of texts while letting...
Jul 24, 2022•53 min
Alex and Matt Wild are a married with two beautiful tamariki. They are the founders and Directors of Connect Chiropractic in Ōtautahi (Christchurch), but they do far more than just work Chiropractic magic. They have set up the clinic using a business model that allows anyone who needs their care to be able to afford it, regardless of their financial situation, which has led to people who usually wouldn't receive care being able to get it, while the business has become a thriving success. They al...
Jul 10, 2022•54 min
Stuart Ennor is a former youth worker who now, alongside his wife Sarah, runs Kairos Food Rescue in Ōtautahi (Christchurch) including the Kairos Free Store. We talk about how Kairos started, how Stuart became involved and how the organisation has changed in it's short life. Stuart also shares stories of people whose lives have been changed in remarkable ways through this organisation that simply offers free food to those who need it. It's clear in the conversation that it's about so much more th...
Jun 26, 2022•46 min
We celebrate this 50th episode with someone who knows how to celebrate - someone whose job it is to bring joy and fun into the world - Michal Bush, a.k.a Music with Michal, the recently crowned New Zealand Children's Artist of the Year! Michal a mother of three who has seen her love for music and her kids become a career. Her song Brave won the best song at the 2021 New Zealand Children's Music awards, and followed up with a second place in the children's section of the International Songwriting...
Jun 12, 2022•49 min
If you've spent any amount of time in Christchurch you might well have heard of, or even been to, the Addington Coffee Co-op. A café in Addington, Christchurch, that has developed a great reputation as a café, and also as a business doing good. So it was there I headed this week to talk to one of the founders, and one of the overseers of the café and it's ever growing associated entities, Age Palmer. Age has been involved in the café since it was just an idea, and has been integral to the whole ...
May 29, 2022•42 min
Carey Thomas is a teacher who has an interest in helping change the education system to reflect our bicultural nature as a country. She has recently finished a Masters Thesis looking at what it means to be a Pākehā engaging with te āo Māori (the world of Māori) and what are the barriers that get in the way of that. She particularly looked at past moments in her own life where she felt a resistance to engage and explored why that was. We discuss Carey's passion for kids, for teaching, and for cha...
May 08, 2022•50 min
Craig Watson has worked in project management for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, the 2012 London Olympics, and also the Christchurch Earthquake Recovery. We talk about all of that and about how his love of people sits first and foremost in his projects. This is a man who really does care. Craig also shares some of his journey of being gay and Christian, from being raised in the church and fighting with his attractions, to his acceptance of who he is and his desire for safe spaces and belonging for ot...
Apr 24, 2022•1 hr
Gen Mora is a survivor. She has battled with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, eating disorders, and anxiety, but is now living a vibrant and happy life where she looks to help others who are fighting their own battles. Along with her good friend Jazz Thornton, Gen founded Voices of Hope - a not for profit that advocates for, and encourages, those who are fighting to be mentally well. Gen shares about her struggles, her journey to wellness, and how that led to starting Voices of Hope. Please note t...
Apr 10, 2022•57 min
Matt Renata has been a youth worker for many years and is now studying Christian theology through an indigenous lens - specifically a Māori and Pasifika lens. We talk about his years working with youth - how and why he got into it and what he learned about himself along the way. We talk about his exploration of his whakapapa (ancestry), and what a difference that has made to his life. And we dive into his theological study and hear about what he's studying and why it is bringing him so much life...
Mar 27, 2022•57 min
Olivia Shivas is a journalist, podcaster and disability advocate. Working for Stuff, Olivia's own experience of disability has shaped her passions and areas of focus in her media role, including the podcast she co-hosted in 2021 about disability that won her an award. During the conversation we also touch on faith, and her roles with various trusts and charities, including her voluntary role as a dj for radio lollipop at Starship Children's Hospital. Check out the What's Wrong With You? podcast ...
Mar 13, 2022•38 min
In this episode I had the privilege of sitting down with lawyer, writer and podcaster Steven Moe. Steven is someone whose life reflects his desire to see change in the world. He loves to support other change makers, as well as role modelling fresh ways of approaching situations. We talk about his podcast, The Seeds, and he shares how and why it came about. We also explore how he functions as a lawyer who wants to do good in the world. We talk about the ways businesses can structure themselves to...
Feb 27, 2022•51 min
Counsellor, mum, and all around good sort Charlotte Cummings takes over the episode putting Andy in the hot seat. She asks Andy about his journey with redundancy, parenting challenges and joys, his experience of depression and anxiety and subsequent experience of counselling, and where he sees the podcast going in the future. Connect with Charlotte at charlottecummings.com To give a little to support the podcast head to givealittle.co.nz ___ Connect with me at downtoearthconversations.com or at:...
Dec 12, 2021•53 min
Jeff Chu is a New York Times best selling author, a reporter, and an editor. He is the co-curator and co-host of Evolving Faith - a conference, community, and now a podcast. And he's the teacher in residence at Crosspointe Church. We talk about how he became a writer, what he loves about journalism, and his book "Does Jesus Really Love Me? A gay Christian's pilgrimage in search of God in America." We discuss how to honour those people who don't hold space for you, or even wish you harm. And we t...
Nov 28, 2021•55 min
Since debuting on national television on IceTV in the mid-nineties, Petra Bagust has been a staple of New Zealand television and radio. She has brought us many iconic moments, including hosting breakfast after the tragedy of the fatal Christchurch earthquake. Throughout her media career Petra has always managed to find ways alongside her paid roles to make meaningful contributions to society, to bring awareness or aid in raising funds for good causes, or to champion things dear to her heart. Mor...
Nov 14, 2021•51 min
Jay Geldard is a big man with an even bigger heart. He has spent years of his life dedicated to seeing young people thrive, first as a 24-7 youth worker, and then as the national director of 24-7. Now he has now picked a fight with Tall Poppy Syndrome, trying to change the way New Zealanders see themselves and others, in an effort to reduce suicide rates and see people be all they can be. This new movement, E Tū Tāngata, is in it's infancy but already making waves throughout the country. We talk...
Oct 31, 2021•55 min
Sarah West is an Anglican priest in Auckland, tasked with being a chaplain to young adults as part of a community called Ordinary Saints. She is active in matters of justice, including attending protests and organising action around issues she cares about. As well as that she is a fantastic artist and is a wife and mum too. We talk about being a priest, attending protests, embracing those of other faiths and perspectives, practical ways she is involved in climate justice, intergenerational conne...
Oct 17, 2021•54 min
Dylan Jones from For Good Media joins me to talk about how he is using his film and production skillset to support others who are doing good in the world. To tell important stories with good quality video. We talk about his journey into film. How the company came about and what it's been like to forge this path in a fairly cut throat industry. We talk fear, creativity, storytelling, holy moments, and much more. Check out For Good Media at forgoodmedia.co.nz or connect with Dylan on Facebook or I...
Oct 03, 2021•37 min
Mataio Faafetai Malietoa Brown - a.k.a. Matt Brown - is known for his business, My Fathers Barbers, and for the global movement that he started with his wife Sarah, She is Not Your Rehab, inviting men into a journey of healing and wholeness. Matt and Sarah recently released the best selling book, She is Not Your Rehab, unpacking the kaupapa of the movement with insights from Matt's journey and their journey together. Matt is a sought after speaker all around the world due to She is Not Your Reha...
Sep 19, 2021•44 min
Courtney Manu is your typical mum, wife, and business owner who just happens to have 13,000 Instagram followers. She built the following around helping people become aware of ways to become financially confident, beginning by sharing her and her husband's own journey out of debt. We talk about social media, debt, vulnerability, investment, generosity, and how family fits into all of this. Follow Courtney on Instagram at @themanuss Find Manawatu Home Budgeting Service at mhbs.org.nz ___ Connect w...
Sep 05, 2021•42 min
Today we hear from Dietrich Soakai. A beautiful man with a huge heart, especially for rangatahi, or young people. Currently working for Voyce Whakarongo Mai in youth advocacy, Dietrich has spent a lot of time with young people helping them feel heard. We talk about growing up in New Zealand as a Pacific Islander, how he discovered poetry and got into youth work and what he saw when those two things were held together, and what he is doing now in the area of child advocacy. Some te reo Māori, or ...
Aug 22, 2021•58 min
James Harris is passionate about people and has given his life to helping those less privileged than himself. This has led him around the world to a number of places that many of us would never dream of going. We talk about his passion for youth work, justice, and doing good in the world, and hear how this has been outworked while living and working in Nauru with those in Australian detention centres, influencing the Prime Minister of New Zealand while working for World Vision NZ, and now servin...
Aug 08, 2021•54 min
Today's guest is Lis Rate-Smith from Drug-Arm, who heads up their Art East initiative. Lis is an amazing human being who is using art to help people with addictions and/or poor mental health, and to support and upskill men in prison. Art East recently received the Creative Space Award at the Te Putanga Toi Arts Access Awards, recognising the way that creativity is being used to make a difference in people's lives. As well as the Art East space, Lis goes into Christchurch Men's Prison as part of ...
Jul 18, 2021•38 min
Joel McKerrow is an award winning writer, speaker, educator, artist, and one of Australia’s most successful, internationally touring, performance poets. He is the artist ambassador for Tearfund Australia, and a big part of The Justice Conference in Australia. In this conversation we talk about his creativity, how that connects with his spirituality which has changed over the years, how he got involved in issues of justice, and so much more. We even listen to one of his poems, released earlier th...
Jul 04, 2021•56 min
Naomi Nicholas works for Karuwhā Trust. She is part of helping facilitate learning and understanding about Te Tiriti o Waitangi, a.k.a. the Treaty of Waitangi, particularly amongst non-Māori. For those of you overseas and unfamiliar with it, Te Tiriti is the treaty that was signed between the indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand, and the British Crown in 1840. It is also a treaty that was then repeatedly breached by the colonisers, resulting in much pain and loss for Māori. Yet, understood ...
Jun 20, 2021•33 min
Shane Claiborne is such a beautiful human being and it was a privilege to speak to him. As you will hear in the conversation he has his finger in many interlinking pies. Shane is just so humble and relatable - just an ordinary guy - yet he has learned that his life can make a difference and has given himself to that. Some of you will have listened to episode 17 with Caz Tod-Pearson from the Simple way. Shane is one of the founders of the Simple Way and is still part of that community in Philadel...
Jun 06, 2021•45 min
As an 18 year old, fresh out of school, April McLennan formed a charitable trust called Limitless to assist teenagers in finding a career path that fits their strengths and values. A few years in, four conferences down and she has learnt a lot. It was a privilege to hear some of that journey. We talk about how and why it started, what opportunities or barriers being 18 was to getting it going, practicalities of starting a charity, and where she has seen her journey making a difference. Check out...
May 23, 2021•32 min
I am so excited to bring to you a conversation with my mum and dad, Les and Alan Dickson. Having this kōrero with them was very moving for me, but also was a huge reminder that they are a really big part of why I value what I value. Their commitment to people and love for all is clear throughout the discussion. And while they see themselves as nothing special, they are involved in so much goodness in the world I feel we only just scratched the surface. We talk about disability support, budget ad...
May 09, 2021•49 min
Alanna Chapman and her husband Pete are the owners of the wine label 27 Seconds. 100% of the profit from 27 Seconds goes to support survivors of slavery. 100%! It is a fantastic story of business and justice colliding and becoming something beautifully unique. We hear from Alanna about how she and Pete ended up selling wine to support slavery survivors - how they got into the wine business, how it all connects to slavery, how they got their name, and what Alanna has learnt about making a differe...
Apr 25, 2021•37 min
