Best Siiide

Have you ever followed your gut and regretted it? Or have you only regretted not following your gut? Following my gut feeling lead me to Michelle. We had never met and I had never looked into her journey but amongst multiple conversations with different friends and acquaintances I had a gravitation towards getting in contact with Michelle and get her to share her journey. Outer body experiences, the trapping feeling of traffic and a family history of mental health issues are the just the tip - there is a great big story here and Michelle doesn’t hold back. The power of unpacking your traumas is real in here. Michelle even offers an insight into meditation and how it can be a game changer to ones life.

Girls Minds Matter (GMM) invited the community to an evening of connection and conversation around mental wellbeing.

GMM is an organisation dedicated to supporting and empowering girls and young women to explore the challenges of mental and emotional wellness.

Brooke, Elle, Sorcha, Michelle and Kayla share their own journeys from struggle to wellness and share their vision for this community of young women.

Born in Cairo, Egypt before immigrating to Aotearoa at the ages of 3 & 4 respectively - Ayman (Entrepreneur, Metal Head and self confessed "Bounty Bar") & Hoss (Illustrator, Hip Hop fan and casual anarchist) Aneece, tell a story which is so dramatic, comical and diverse that it could be the script to a TV Series.

Flowing backwards and forwards between the two brothers, this episode forces listeners to have an open mind and be prepared to have your own beliefs and values questioned. Strict parents, pursuing passions, long distance relationships and experiencing airports pre and post 9/11 are some of the jaw dropping and belly laughing moments that come to life in this episode.

Why should everyone try LSD?

Can Dolphins deliver babies?

What is the only oil worth fighting for? And - How the darkest periods of our life give us the tools to light up the world -

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Like many, I came across Lorella via her mahi creating Ngātoro - a plastic whale that was created using recycled plastic. As I touched base, to learn the story and dig into the “Why” of her passion project, it wasn’t long before it became clear that this was merely one part to a huge resume of creations dedicated to raising our awareness to Kaitiakitanga/Guardianship. That being; our awareness of our duty as humans to look after the planet and ALL of its inhabitants. During this episode - we learn how a lonely little girl that was raised on the road with a family history of addictions, grew to become an ambassador for self awareness and global responsibility whilst being a catalyst for change who just happens to appreciate good hip hop music.

If you were going for a world record - what world record would you like to have?

How about the worlds most tattooed person?

Greg Paul McLaren a.k.a Lucky Diamond Rich born in New Zealand but a self professed "proud Australian" having spent most his life there. The bro has tattoos from his eyelids down to his million dollar man. The record books say he is 100% tattooed but during our conversation that number could easily be 400%

Life experience spills out of Lucky in everything he says and does. If you ever see him in the flesh, please don't hesitate to say hello - but beware... he might just ask you for a hug. 

Detailing his journey with addiction, multiple visits to rehab and multiple family issues including witnessing death - its no coincidence that I've chosen this episode to be one of our first to publish as it truly epitomises the whole ambition of this project. 'Be careful of the shiny shit' he says 'it loses its shine pretty fuckin quick'.

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Who are your heroes?

Growing up, I was always fascinated by comic books and super heroes. In retrospect, it was probably the escapism they provided me as a kid, which allowed me to get away from all the surrounding drama. Nowadays, with the current renaissance happening in film, it's pretty amazing to see this characters come to life on the big screen and to be able to bring to life that child-like imagination.

The experience in recording this episode was very similar.

Having next-to-no interaction with Elle, previous to this episode, I had no expectations or knowledge of her background. If I'm being genuine here, I only knew her as one half of the dynamic duo which owned & operated the co-working space known as Johnson Corner in the CBD of New Plymouth. However, I came away from our conversation in complete awe and wonder of this champion woman. Hearing of her trials and triumphs straight from the horses mouth, so to speak, had me in a rollercoaster of emotion.

From the rise of her families persistency, to the falls of addiction and the loops of relapse. With hard corners of vulnerability and gravity defying self worth - the ride will have you gripping your seat as your head is spun and thrown around through all the emotion and brutal honesty on display.

Her first question to me was "Why did you want to interview me?" and I couldn't answer without sounding ludicrous. I had a gut feeling there was something to unearth and something that people would resonate with. Coming away from our conversation, I felt like I had just spoken with a real life superhero. A Phoenix, risen from the ashes, reborn and ready to reignite the world with her magic by encouraging others to be empowered with the ability to forgive themselves for their past and embrace their new, tailor-made life.

What does your future look like?

For many people on the planet today, that is the very reason why they get out of bed. Adnan is one of those people.

Weaving through topics such as: Futurism, meditation, relationship struggles, family struggles, immigration and becoming a dad - Adnan and myself manage to share many lightbulb moments whilst laughing through similar tragedies and crying at different "successes" in each of our lives.

Ted Talker, Entrepreneur, Husband and Revolutionary - Adnan shares with us ways to prepare for the future with both practical and impractical methods to help take control of your future by seeing whats coming and to be prepared for what you don't see coming.

With perhaps one of the most interesting background stories / life journeys that I've ever heard, this conversation has sat with me deeply ever since we shared it... and now we get to share it with you

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Episode 007

Age is often used as the number to tally ones life experience. But is that an archaic thought now?

Many of us have passions and aspirations we want to pursue but due to external voices telling us we can’t or shouldn’t - our internal voice usually joins them which leads to aspirational paralysis.

Rapper, Recovering Addict and Political Enthusiast, Ash Herman a.k.a Hxrman opens his mind and heart on everything from his music to his theories on depression and pharmaceuticals

Are you sitting on the fence with an idea you've had but have yet to action it?

Migrating to New Zealand at a very young age, Ezel was introduced to hard work as a strong family tradition from the get go. Unfortunately she was also introduced to discrimination, tall poppy syndrome and put in a box due to things beyond her control. 

Inexperienced, underage and a name thats too hard to pronounce or say over the phone so people just didnt talk her - we get to hear how to climb these obstacles and use the chip that can be placed on our shoulders to our advantage - against a world, which at times, can seem like all it wants you to do is fail.

- How to turn dream to reality

- Why inaction isn't the hardest part

- How the Christchurch shooting directly affected her family

- There's no such thing as too young, too girly or too ethnic

Deeply personal yet packed with a dozen "How To" tutorials of practical advice, this is going to change soo many lives and empower all the fence sitters out there.

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Self professed 'Recovering racist', Andrew Judd polarised the nation with his stance to support the creation of a Maori Ward in the New Plymouth District. 

Though thats not where Andrews journey began. Growing up in Masterton, New Zealand - with a mother who immigrated to our country, Andrew was no stranger to discrimination growing up - from both a receiving and giving end. Moving through his experiences, almost chronologically, we discover his views on how we can all overcome discrimination and even how to use it on your side.

Throughout life we're forced to make unpopular decisions. They often prove to be pivotal moments which seperate leaders from followers in the march towards great change. You'd be hard pressed to find a person who was more willing to, not only MAKE an unpopular decision but, lead an entire movement campaigning for a country to acknowledge its own dark history and amend itself accordingly than Andrew Judd. 

- How to listen to your instincts

- How to choose whats right over whats popular and

- How to accept help

Just a few of the lessons you'll learn from this one.

So go on, push play ya egg