Down to Earth Conversations

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...

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 the...

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...

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...

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, an...

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 is...

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 n...

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...

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/...

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 us...

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: @downtoe...

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 h...

Te Karere joins us to talk poetry, biculturalism, discovering his Māoritanga, and much more.

Blair joins me to talk about business, resiliency, mental health and more.

Jeremy Baker is a Medical Doctor with a special interest in mental health. He holds a Masters of Theology. He is also the doctor who diagnosed me with depression and helped me on my journey of healing. We talk about his journey into medicine, and how and why he chooses to bring his Christian faith into his medical practice.

Jeremy is a social worker who loves young people and wants to see them thrive. We talk about his journey of faith, his work in Samoa with children who have been abused and/or abandoned, his adoption of two of these children, his work as a social worker with youth in Christchurch, and his shift from "praying-out-the-gay" to winning awards for his advocacy and support for the rainbow commu...

Jared joins me to talk about creativity. As a photographer, Jared is a story-teller. He captures moments for people to treasure. We talk about how that connects with faith, how he got into photography, his harrowing experience being detained in US Federal Prison and deported, and how he's learned to bring beauty into the world through his art.

Julia is an award winning singer-songwriter, and an incredible speaker. Funny yet authentic, she uses her skills to bring life to others. Her own journey of mental health crises has changed the course of her work, however, as she now looks to help break stigma and create resourcefulness around mental health.

Frank is a radio broadcaster, media chaplain, and Wesleyan Methodist minister. He joins me to talk about each of those aspects, with a particular focus on his time as a media chaplain, supporting media who were covering the 2019 Christchurch Mosque shootings where 51 people were killed and many more injured.

Emma joins me to talk about her work with children with complex needs. Many of these children are seen as 'too disabled' or beyond help. But Emma and her colleagues love and support these children and help them live life to their fullest. She doesn't say they have disabilities, choosing instead to say they have diff-abilities, that is, they are differently abled. It's a very positi...

Ben, of Benny's Barbers, shifted from building to barbering, and built a solid client base in Christchurch. He uses his business for all sorts of social good, from helping men to open up, to welcoming those without family to a meal on Christmas day.

Carey is a social worker, working for Pathway Trust, helping people who have experienced prison to reintegrate into society. We talk about how societal issues are often behind incarceration, and how they also hinder rehabilitation. We talk about the work he and the team at Pathway do to help lower the chance of reoffending, and give these men and women a better chance at life.

Down to Earth Conversations is here. Hear a little about what it is and why I'm doing this.