Baskets Of Knowledge

What happens when a 16-year-old has the wisdom most adults spend decades searching for? In Episode 203 of Baskets of Knowledge, we sit down with youth advocate, storyteller, podcaster and Race Unity Speech Awards winner  Malak Tamimi. Growing up between Palestine and Aotearoa New Zealand, Malak shares how identity, culture, family and faith have shaped the person she is becoming. This isn't si...

Most people spend years waiting to feel confident before making a change. Lata Hamilton believes that confidence doesn't come first. Action does. In Episode 202 of Baskets of Knowledge, Lata shares the lessons that transformed her life, from overcoming self-doubt and leaving a traditional corporate path, to tripling her income, building a successful business, writing a book, and navigating som...

Bella Anastasiou's story is a powerful reminder that the life you want often begins with a step you are afraid to take. In this episode of Baskets of Knowledge, Bella shares her journey through mental health challenges, depression, identity shifts, career changes, remote work, digital nomad life, personal branding and the lessons she learned while building a life across Europe. From navigating...

200 episodes later, this may be one of the most important conversations we’ve had. In this milestone episode of Baskets of Knowledge, Prajesh and Tane sit down with Aarthi Candadai and Lola Fisher for a deeply honest conversation about burnout, purpose, identity, AI, leadership, human connection and what it means to grow up in today’s rapidly changing world. Together, they explore: Burnout in purp...

In Episode 199 of Baskets of Knowledge, we sit down with Baraa Harbid for one of the most honest and perspective-shifting conversations we’ve had on the podcast. Baraa shares his journey from arriving in New Zealand from Gaza as a young child struggling with language, confidence and belonging… to becoming a 5th year medical student at the University of Auckland. But this episode goes far deeper th...

What if the life you’re living… isn’t actually yours? In Episode 198 of  Baskets of Knowledge , we sit down with Adrian Silvester, rugby coach, global traveller, and mentor, to explore identity, mental health, leadership, and the power of perspective. From coaching in Brazil’s favelas to working with young athletes across cultures, Adrian shares real stories about: The reality of mental health in...

What if confidence isn’t required to start? What if the real courage is moving forward while doubt is still present? In Episode 196 of Baskets of Knowledge, we sit down with Amelia Robinson, a business owner, mother of three, and leader who shares her honest journey through entrepreneurship, motherhood, grief, and resilience. This conversation goes beyond business. It explores the emotional realit...

In a world obsessed with data, automation, and artificial intelligence, one truth still stands: People don’t act on data. They act on stories. In Episode 196 of the Baskets of Knowledge podcast, we sit down with Sumali Wickramarachchi, a human-centered data storyteller who shares a deeply personal journey, from a shy child who struggled to belong, to a confident voice helping organisations make be...

What happens when life forces you to start again? In Episode  195  of  Baskets of Knowledge , we sit down with  Maryum Sharif , host of the  Styles Mogul Podcast , to explore a journey defined by courage, reinvention, and unwavering self-belief. From working with disadvantaged youth… to serving in the prison system… to stepping into the world of fashion and media… Maryum’s story is a powerful remi...

What happens when a young person loses their identity, and one adult steps in and changes their future? In  Episode 194 of the Baskets of Knowledge podcast , we sit down with  Wee-Yeong Eyou , a passionate mentor, father, and advocate for young people, to explore the power of mentorship, purpose, and intergenerational leadership. At just  15 years old , Wee-Yeong moved countries, lost his sense of...

What happens when your biggest setback becomes your greatest purpose? We sit down with Savera Sidhu, a 17-year-old university student, black belt in karate, and youth mental health advocate who is already making a powerful impact in her community. After experiencing bullying, navigating family challenges, and facing a career-changing injury, Savera made a decision that changed everything, to turn...

What happens when values move from something you're taught… to something you actually live? In Episode 192 of  Baskets of Knowledge , we sit down with Ari Taylor, a young leader whose experiences in service, global communities, and youth leadership have shaped a powerful perspective on identity, focus, and human connection. This conversation explores how real-world experiences transform values...

Why do smart, capable people still feel stuck with money? In this powerful episode of  Baskets of Knowledge , Prajesh sits down with money mindset coach Stacey Adams to explore the emotional side of financial wellbeing and why confidence is built through courage, not certainty. Stacey shares her personal journey through grief, identity transformation, and helping people rebuild their relationship...

What happens when you’ve lived a life that looks right on paper… but feels misaligned in your body? In this powerful episode of  Baskets of Knowledge , Dr Manmeet Rattu (Dr Mini) shares her journey from growing up in a deeply loving cultural family, entering an arranged marriage, and navigating its breakdown, to rediscovering herself through strength training, a bikini bodybuilding competition, an...

What happens when a young person refuses to accept broken systems as “just the way things are”? In this episode of  Baskets of Knowledge , we sit down with  Kenisha Mediratta , founder of  REdefine Aotearoa , to explore  creating support systems, navigating change, and leading through lived experience . Kenisha shares her journey from growing up in West Auckland public schools to founding a youth-...

What happens when doing “everything right” still doesn’t feel right? In this episode of  Baskets of Knowledge , we sit down with  Ritu Saxena , founder of  Project UpgradeHer , to explore what confidence really looks like when it’s built, not inherited. Born and raised in Mumbai, Ritu became a Chartered Accountant and moved to New Zealand to experiment with independence and live on her own terms....

What if the thing you rely on for productivity is actually working against you? In this episode of  Baskets of Knowledge , we sit down with Amber Scott, a fourth-year law student and the founder of PIQ, to explore how personal frustration with caffeine, chronic fatigue, and burnout turned into a science-backed solution for focus and energy. Amber shares her journey of building PIQ while studying l...

What does it mean to belong,  to a place, a people, and yourself? In this episode of  Baskets of Knowledge , we speak with Rinad Tamimi, a Palestinian woman who grew up in Al-Khalil (Hebron) and moved to New Zealand at 13. Rinad shares her lived experience of migration, identity, racism, motherhood, and returning home after nine years away. This is a conversation about Palestine beyond the headlin...

What does real leadership look like at 19? In this episode of  Baskets of Knowledge , we sit down with  Mackenzie , a student at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. She is a youth advocate who is quietly reshaping what leadership, empathy, and impact truly mean. This conversation explores  people-first leadership , the power of reflection, and why real change doesn’t come from titles, it...

What happens when the life you worked so hard for… no longer feels like your life? In this powerful episode, we sit down with Mina Amso, founder of  Notes from the Executive , to explore identity, reinvention, cultural expectations, courage, and the moment you finally choose alignment over approval. We dive into: • Career pivots & following your purpose • Breaking away from family expectations...

In this episode of  Baskets of Knowledge , we sit down with 18-year-old Adam and 17-year-old Alfie, the young entrepreneurs behind ZenSha, New Zealand’s first  matcha protein  brand. They share how they turned a classroom idea into a fast-growing health and wellness business, how they built their startup while still in school, and why consistency and action are the keys to success. Perfect for lis...

In this powerful episode of  Baskets of Knowledge , we sit down with Malaysian mountaineer and environmental educator  Saravanan Sinniah,  a man whose life changed the moment he fulfilled his childhood dream of climbing  Mount Kilimanjaro … and discovered the heartbreaking reality of climate change with his own eyes. From witnessing melting glaciers to leading young people through forests and ecos...

In this episode of  Baskets of Knowledge , Kristin Murray, a leader with 30 years of experience, has a real, unscripted moment of imposter syndrome right at the start of the interview. What follows is one of the most honest conversations we’ve ever recorded. Kristin opens up about navigating self-doubt, owning feedback, finding her voice, and discovering the framework that changed everything for h...

In this powerful episode of  Baskets of Knowledge ,  Margot Korhonen , a  Community Coach and Creative , shares how one simple question,  “What if everything did work out?”, changed the course of her life. From being a single mum dreaming of small comforts to becoming a homeowner, artist, and author of  Creating Connected Communities , Margot’s journey is a masterclass in courage, self-leadership,...

Change is inevitable, but growth is a choice. In this episode of  Baskets of Knowledge ,  we  sit down with  Janelle Hulin , author, speaker, and proud “emoji enthusiast,” to unpack the beauty and chaos of change. From raising six children while homeschooling across continents to losing a career she loved, Janelle shares how she discovered the power of the  Liminal Space,   that uncertain in-betwe...