Best Siiide

You know how there's that kid from your neighbourhood who grew up to go and amazingly crazy things?

For me, Bobby is one of those.

This conversation was one that has been scheduled and re: scheduled again throughout time and it felt great to finally getting around to have this kōrero (talk). Through our conversation we explore narratives of lineage (whakapapa), how growing up influences your imagination and the utter strength of femininity and how it can influence the world.

This story of how we can learn to own our uniqueness as a loner is a freeing conversation. We, of course, touch on the arts; both fashion and film AND the interesting adventure of a Pā boy coming out to claim his sexuality. One for every ear.

The man, the myth - the dad from Hunt for the wilder-people: Troy Kingi. An indescribable people talent that people have been trying to box-in for years with titles like: actor, teacher, performer, singer or artist - yet he is soo much more than all of those.

Challenging the status quo and doing the impossible are amongst may things that come up in this conversation. We explore his moving about as a child through Rotorua and Te Kaha to becoming a staple of the NZ Music scene and a familiar face on TV and beyond! From his relationship with the oceans to his favourite basketball player - we leave no stone unturned.

We also talk of course, about his flagship goal: To complete 10 albums, in 10 different genres within 10 years!

Jesse Smith goes by too many names to mention but some attributes that are synonymous with those names are: happy, excited, stoked and a heart of gold.

Born in Auckland then moving down to Taranaki so Mum & Dad could enjoy the surf, create fellowship and run their business (Seasons / Cheapskates, an iconic Taranaki surf shop that later included skate gear and then ultimately street culture that ran parallel to the upbringing of any Taranaki 90s kid) - Jesse is a man that warms the heart of everyone he passes.  

To say Jesse is an optimist would be a gross understatement. For years, the 34 year old has made every person within his radius feel like they mattered and is known for being able to change your day around with a simple conversation. However, amongst the smiles and laughter - there is also a story of a family battling a medical condition that continuously threatens the positive radiance of a man (and his family) who have long been at the epicentre for shaping the retail, surf and skate culture of the little yet excited hub that is Taranaki.

I sat with the regions most positive man to discuss family, human science, the power of stickers and how religion, nature and good f*ckin attitude can help you through almost anything.

There are many milestones to ones life.

For many of us, having children is definitely one of them. The experience is often romanticised in movies and television from start (when people discover they're pregnant) to arriving home with babies and then on to shaping a future together. But what about the stuff we don't hear?

Enter Chelsea -

In a vivid recount of the birth of her eldest son, Cruz - Chelsea shares with us the plans that were ahead for her and her little family before an interesting experience with the medical facilities and staff within the hospitals of New Zealand lead to some life long complications for their family.

From a birth that seemed to lack a lot of communication and care of duty - to the struggles and successes of raising a child with cerebral palsy . We explore:

What questions need to be asked when it comes to having a child?

Why is it important to think outside of the box?

What medical advances are on the horizon for Cerebral Palsy?

How can we help?

EDIT  - At this time Chelsea and her family are raising funds for Cruz to acquire a Molli suit (google it!) so please head to our instagram and facebook pages for more information on this.

Getting your warrant of fitness, is pretty standard for those that own cars. Whist paying for it isn't always fun, ensuring the vehicles that carry us and our loved ones are operating efficiently, structurally sound and therefore safe - is always a part of the journey of owning a car.

But what about owning our own lives?

Do you check your own structures?  Your own foundations? All the little bits and pieces (and the big bits & pieces!) that hold you: your body, your spirit and your mind - all together?

Chance are you don't.

In this episode, we catch up with Paul Rangiwāhia - a South Taranaki artist whose life and experiences lead him overseas as an athlete then back home to Aotearoa working in a bar serving gang members. From the ascension of his business and its ultimate demise which lead to Paul becoming an ambassador and spokesperson for Mental Health within New Zealand.

There’s something to be said for testing yourself physically. Whether that test is you going to the gym for the first time, the 100th time or even just walking to the shop and back. Well this episode epitomises that exact sentiment. Choosing to circumnavigate the north island of NZ on a kayak - Joel Buckley is always up for a challenge and the lessons it comes with. Here, Joel and I discuss the rugged landscapes of Aotearoa whilst admiring its warm people who have accepted him time and time again throughout his journey. Mentions of Turangi, Ruatoria and of course Taranaki pepper this conversation as we share yarns tht fo beyond just a physical challenge

Dancer turned speaker turned social influencer turned conscious thinker - Jordan Rivers has a voice that he is barely using.

Jordans online social presence is not only one of numbers but one of impactful and meaningful conversations which constantly challenge "common sense" and "normal" social standards of acceptance. Sprinkles of humor and dashes of seriousness - Jordan has a unique ability to bring attention to the topics that we need to be talking about but for some reason we aren't.

Exploring privilege, systemic racism, shame, blowing up on instagram and a whole range more - our conversation effortlessly flows between laughter and serious tones. Constantly challenging one another on our own values and seeing if we can make the other person tick.

Born & Bred in Patea of Aotearoa, Nicola Ngarewa learned about what it means to be resourceful and the importance of community from the very beginning.

A self confessed "Bad student" turned corrections officer turned school principal, Nicola has become laser focussed on creating a society which our young people can have access to every opportunity that they need to create the life that they can see in their minds eye. The future is now, yet the future needs to get back to some core "old school" values -

Creating a "Free Range" learning environment as opposed to "Machine Farmed" learning is one example she gives and we explore the notion that Education was birthed from religion... something I didn't know!

What does the future of education look like?

How does technology make an impact?

How can you help?

Talking connection, education and grabbing control of the future are just a few of the many themes spoken here. If you have children, hate children or plan to have children -  this kōrero will grab your interest.

Can you read?

If yes, then you're already ahead of Hemi - who says that reading was constant battle as a kid.

Originally from the small town of Kawerau in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand - Hemi is an enthusiastic entrepreneur who is a massive advocate for failing forward and not letting paralysis by analysis win the war.

The owner of multiple successful enterprises including Eat a rainbow (A food service helping parents feed their kids all the nutritious and colourful kai they need in a time poor world) and Manaaki Adventures (Adventure tourism showing our visitors the special, bespoke side of Aotearoa otherwise remained unseen) Hemi Coates loves his sports, his family, giving things a go and having the conversations that others won't to help spread important messages. 

The importance of networking is something the bro cant stress enough alongside multiple nuggets of advice for people who have a great business idea but are unsure on how to go about bringing it to life.

PLUS - Have you heard of huntingtons disease?

Push play ya egg

On Saturday night (November 23rd 2019) Tania Reid became the Australian National Boxing Federation's Australasian Lightweight title.

But the story will started a very long time ago.

From moving around a heap as a kid to searching for her biological father - Tanz has always been a fighter and this conversation illustrates that.

Tanz shares never-before-heard details surrounding the circumstances around her birth and the mental health issues that have weaved their ways in and out of her life.

41-year-old Tanz (she’ll kill me for that) went into the bout as underdog with the odds stacked against her, having never won a title, fighting on foreign soil, coming off two loses and up against a woman half her age who was on a five-fight winning streak.

But this story will show you that being an underdog is nothing new to Tanz. She’ll be the first to tell you though - “You have more inside you”.