Talk With A Courageous Heart

Don't be a bystander, be an upstander. Tania Pouwhare, Chief Executive of Good Shepherd in Aotearoa and proud Ngāi Tūhoe wahine, on what it really means to lead with courage. Tania leads the efforts and impact of Good Shepherd in Aotearoa - supporting women, whānau and communities facing hardship, and moving beyond the safety net to prevention, dignified incomes and innovation. In this convers...

What happens when you get two cardiac arrests in one night — twice? In this episode of Talk With A Courageous Heart, host Andrew Bothalage sits down with Nikita Watt, a volunteer firefighter in New Zealand, for an honest conversation about courage, resilience, discipline and living life intentionally. Nikita shares how a "Recruiting Now" sign after a personal separation led her to follow...

What do elite athletes really have in common? It's not just talent. Strength coach Brad McCullough reveals what he's learned from coaching high-level athletes — a winning mindset, discipline, consistency, and leadership — and why the best are often not the most gifted, but the ones who toil the hardest. Brad also shares his own courageous story: from depression and anxiety to peace and joy...

Courage isn't a heroic moment everyone sees. For Dr Anna Brooks, it's the quiet, invisible work of facing discomfort — and the reason nobody else gets to define it for you. In this conversation, Anna shares why her entire scientific path was walked with a permanent layer of discomfort. Why she's even more curious about the questions that don't have answers. Why the patients she wor...

Self-made is a lie. Mina Amso learned it the hard way — from pharmacy, to 12+ years in journalism, to founding PWRFULLY.  In this conversation, Mina shares why courageous people don't feel courageous; they just do it. Why you have to work through ⁠ overcoming fear ⁠ instead of waiting to feel ready. Why putting successful people on a pedestal kills your own courage. And why every day you wait...

Self-made is a lie. Mina Amso learned it the hard way — from pharmacy, to 12+ years in journalism, to founding PWRFULLY. In this conversation, Mina shares why courageous people don't feel courageous; they just do it. Why you have to work through overcoming fear instead of waiting to feel ready. Why putting successful people on a pedestal kills your own courage. And why every day you wait to ch...

What does true courage look like in the face of death? In this moving conversation on Talk With A Courageous Heart, Father Mark Chamberlain — priest, chaplain to the University of Otago and Dunedin Hospitals, and Director of Ignatian Spirituality in New Zealand — shares what hospital ministry taught him about faith and courage, finding peace, and gratitude. Father Mark opens up about sitting with...

What does it take to tell a client the truth when the truth costs you the listing? Aaron Cook has spent nearly 20 years selling property in Auckland with Barfoot & Thompson — and he's built his career on the one thing most agents avoid: saying it exactly how it is. In this episode of Talk With A Courageous Heart, Aaron talks about courage as "doing what you feel in your heart is right...

What if listening — truly listening — is the real superpower of a health coach? In this heartfelt conversation on Talk With A Courageous Heart, health coach & nutritionist Thea Martinez shares her journey from deep insecurity and loneliness after moving from the Philippines to New Zealand, to finding purpose through faith, courage, and health coaching. Thea opens up about leaving her comfort z...

From milking cows to calming dental fears — how one oral health therapist turned her dyslexia into her superpower. 🦷In this episode of Talk with a Courageous Heart, Andrew sits down with Hanelle Blum, an oral health therapist whose definition of courage was forged long before she ever picked up a dental mirror. Hanel immigrated from South Africa to New Zealand as a child, attended eight different...

"Get comfortable being uncomfortable. You don't grow when you're comfortable — you grow when you're very uncomfortable and doing it anyway. "Dan Brady is a 45-year-old volunteer firefighter, Firefighter Challenge competitor, and president of the Takapuna Athletics Club. But his story isn't about never falling — it's about getting back up every single time. In this epi...

She left Sri Lanka at 18 with nothing but trust in herself. Now she keeps 100 backup plans — and it's why she's never stuck. In this episode, I sit down with Sasini Ariyarathna — teacher, content creator, and real estate agent — who moved from Sri Lanka to Dubai at 18, then to New Zealand, reinventing herself at every turn. We talk about: Why courage is really just trusting yourself. The m...

He applied to 1,500 jobs in Australia — then walked away from his "dream" government offer. Dinesh Fonseca is a pain & posture specialist, teacher, musician, and entrepreneur. But his story is about something bigger than careers: it's about choosing a purpose-driven life — even when it costs you. ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 — The 3.5 days that changed everything: why he walked away (and g...

"You do not need to become someone else to be worthy. You already are." Bex O'Malley was 35 when she discovered she had ADHD — triggered by her son's diagnosis at age 8. In this conversation, she shares what it felt like to live undiagnosed for decades, the A-THEMA framework for understanding ADHD, and her message for anyone who's ever felt broken.🧠 What we cover: Living und...

What happens when you feel like you have to hide who you really are? In this episode of Talk With A Courageous Heart, I sit down with Hamza, a Palestinian-Kiwi pharmacy student at the University of Otago to talk about the mental barriers that keep us silent. Hamza opens up about navigating university as a minority student, the quiet pressure to keep a low profile as a Palestinian, and how somethin...

Hair loss is often seen as a cosmetic issue, but for many people, it affects confidence, identity, and how they see themselves. In this episode of Talk With a Courageous Heart, I sit down with business owner and hair loss and thinning hair specialist Cleo Grater. What began as a conversation about hair quickly became a much deeper discussion about courage, self-awareness, entrepreneurship, and tak...

What do you do when you've remained faithful, overcome countless challenges, and still find yourself asking God, "Lord, have I not done enough for You?" In this heartfelt episode of Talk With a Courageous Heart , I sit down with Aubert Purwadi to explore a journey of faith, courage, resilience, and purpose. Aubert shares his experience of growing up as a Chinese-Indonesian during a t...

What if courage has nothing to do with confidence? In this episode of Talk With a Courageous Heart, I sit down with Jane Choi, Senior Professional Practice Fellow at the University of Otago's Faculty of Dentistry, to explore what courage has looked like throughout her life and career. Jane shares how she never truly felt ready for many of the opportunities that shaped her journey, including an int...

What does it take to dedicate your life to God? In this episode, I sit down with Fr Tien Cao , a Catholic priest serving in Timaru, New Zealand, to explore the journey behind his vocation. Fr Tien shares how he wrestled with doubt, questioned whether priesthood was truly his calling, and ultimately found peace in saying yes. Together we discuss faith, courage, purpose, discernment, and the challen...

What happens when people see your disability before they see your ability? In this episode, Andrew sits down with New Zealand para-athlete Josh Chisholm for an honest conversation about growing up with dwarfism, overcoming self-doubt, finding purpose through sport, and learning to keep going during life's toughest moments. Josh shares the challenges of being judged by appearances, the importan...

What happens when the person you trust breaks your heart? In this episode of Talk With a Courageous Heart, Anna Mae shares her deeply personal journey through heartbreak, betrayal, and healing. After being cheated on twice, many people would understandably give up on love. Instead, Anna Mae chose a different path. With honesty and vulnerability, she reflects on the pain she experienced, the lesson...

In this episode of Talk With a Courageous Heart, Andrew sits down with Professor Haizal Mohd Hussaini, Professor of Oral Pathology at the University of Otago, Muslim chaplain, leader, and educator. Professor Haizal shares his journey from Malaysia to New Zealand, the lessons he has learned through faith and service, and what courage truly means in the face of adversity. The conversation also explo...

What if one of the biggest keys to surviving difficult seasons in life is truly knowing who you are? In this heartfelt episode of Talk With a Courageous Heart, I sit down with Amy Armstrong, Chaplain of the Catholic Diocese of Dunedin and the University of Otago, for a deeply honest conversation about courage, identity, faith, loneliness, and supporting people through pain. Amy reflects on: Moving...

In this episode of Talk With a Courageous Heart, Andrew Bothalage sits down with Anagi Wijeratne, a Mortgage Adviser in New Zealand, to talk about courage, sacrifice, rebuilding life from zero, and the reality of starting over in a new country. Anagi opens up about: Leaving a stable banking career Moving countries with his family Going months without a job Building a company from the ground up Hel...

In this episode of Talk With a Courageous Heart, I sit down with Mickey Treadwell, a young Dunedin City Councillor, for a conversation about courage, leadership, uncertainty, and stepping up when no one else would. We explore: What courage really means. Why uncertainty is necessary for growth. The pressure of leadership at a young age. His journey into local politics. Representing vulnerable commu...