Down to Earth Conversations

James Harris is passionate about people and has given his life to helping those less privileged than himself.  This has led him around the world to a number of places that many of us would never dream of going. 

We talk about his passion for youth work, justice, and doing good in the world, and hear how this has been outworked while living and working in Nauru with those in Australian detention centres, influencing the Prime Minister of New Zealand while working for World Vision NZ, and now serving youth in the outback of the land we now call Australia.

This conversation blew my mind and melted my heart, as I'm sure it will yours too. 

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Connect with me at downtoearthconversations.com or at:

Facebook: facebook.com/downtoearth.conversations 

Instagram: @downtoearth.conversations

Email: [email protected]

 

Music by Strahan:

Spotify: Strahan

Facebook: facebook.com/StrahanMusic  or  facebook.com/commonerscommunion

Instagram: @strahanmusic  or  @commoners_communion

Today's guest is Lis Rate-Smith from Drug-Arm, who heads up their Art East initiative.  

Lis is an amazing human being who is using art to help people with addictions and/or poor mental health, and to support and upskill men in prison. 

Art East recently received the Creative Space Award at the Te Putanga Toi Arts Access Awards, recognising the way that creativity is being used to make a difference in people's lives.

As well as the Art East space, Lis goes into Christchurch Men's Prison as part of the Navigate initiative, started by Pathway Trust (See episode 1) and teaches screen printing. 

It was a pleasure to sit down with Lis and kōrero about how she got into this work, what it looks like, and where she can see it going.  It's another fantastic tale of using who you are and what you have to make a difference in the world.

 

Find out about Drug Arm's Art-East at drugarm.co.nz/what-we-do/art-east/

Facebook: facebook.com/DrugArmChch

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Connect with me at downtoearthconversations.com or at:

Facebook: facebook.com/downtoearth.conversations 

Instagram: @downtoearth.conversations

Email: [email protected]

 

Music by Strahan:

Spotify: Strahan

Facebook: facebook.com/StrahanMusic  or  facebook.com/commonerscommunion

Instagram: @strahanmusic  or  @commoners_communion

Joel McKerrow is an award winning writer, speaker, educator, artist, and one of Australia’s most successful, internationally touring, performance poets. He is the artist ambassador for Tearfund Australia, and a big part of The Justice Conference in Australia.

In this conversation we talk about his creativity, how that connects with his spirituality which has changed over the years, how he got involved in issues of justice, and so much more.  We even listen to one of his poems, released earlier this year. 

He is inspiring, thought provoking, and is a totally relatable, down to earth human being.

 

Check out Joel's creativity at joelmckerrow.com including his exhibition 'Human'.

Find him on Facebook or Instagram

For Joel's poems head to Spotify or Youtube

And find "The Deep Place: On Spirituality and Creativity" podcast on Spotify or where you listen to podcasts. 

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Connect with me at downtoearthconversations.com or at:

Facebook: facebook.com/downtoearth.conversations 

Instagram: @downtoearth.conversations

Email: [email protected]

 

Music by Strahan:

Spotify: Strahan

Facebook: facebook.com/StrahanMusic  or  facebook.com/commonerscommunion

Instagram: @strahanmusic  or  @commoners_communion

Naomi Nicholas works for Karuwhā Trust.  She is part of helping facilitate learning and understanding about Te Tiriti o Waitangi, a.k.a. the Treaty of Waitangi, particularly amongst non-Māori. For those of you overseas and unfamiliar with it, Te Tiriti is the treaty that was signed between the indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand, and the British Crown in 1840.  It is also a treaty that was then repeatedly breached by the colonisers, resulting in much pain and loss for Māori.  Yet, understood well it is a great platform from which to work towards reconciliation and even justice. 

Naomi shares about what she does in her role, what she notices about the revelations people have on their journeys, how non-Maori can appropriately learn the true history of this nation without simply consuming and taking all over again, and what hope she sees for the future of this country.

To read more about Parihaka Pā or to watch The Children of Parihaka documentary, head to https://nzhistory.govt.nz/occupation-pacifist-settlement-at-parihaka

There are a few Māori terms in the episode today - I've tried to capture them below with basic translations (with the help of maoridictionary.co.nz).  In order of their mention in the episode the following terms are used...

Awa - river Maunga - mountainPākehā - non-Māori (usually Caucasian) Kaupapa - reason for being Kaumātua - adult, elder - a person of status within the whānau (family), family group (hapu) or iwi (tribe).Kuia - elderly womanHaerenga - journeyWhānau - extended family Whakapapa - genealogyTangata Tiriti - person of the treaty.  Tangata whenua - people of the land (indigenous people)Tūrangawaewae - a standing, a place of standingTe Pūtake o te Riri - a day commemorating the beginning of the land wars in Taranaki, New ZealandParihaka - a settlement in Taranaki that was the site of violent assault by the Crown, met with non-violent response by the Māori residents. Hīkoi - walkWhenua - landKaruwhā - literally 'four eyes'. The nickname given to missionary Henry Williams who helped write the Māori version of the treaty. Whaea - mother, aunty, sometimes for a woman simply as a term of endearment Rōpu - groupWhakaiti - belittle, disparage, diminish, cheapenKāinga - homeHapu - sub-tribeIwi - tribeHui - meeting, gathering, assemblyNgā mihi nui ki a koe - thank you

 

Find Karuwhā Trust at karuwha.org.nz or at:

Facebook: facebook.com/Karuwha

Instagram: @karuwha_trust

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Connect with me at downtoearthconversations.com or at:

Facebook: facebook.com/downtoearth.conversations 

Instagram: @downtoearth.conversations

Email: [email protected]

 

Music by Strahan:

Spotify: Strahan

Facebook: facebook.com/StrahanMusic  or  facebook.com/commonerscommunion

Instagram: @strahanmusic  or  @commoners_communion

Shane Claiborne is such a beautiful human being and it was a privilege to speak to him.  As you will hear in the conversation he has his finger in many interlinking pies. 

Shane is just so humble and relatable - just an ordinary guy - yet he has learned that his life can make a difference and has given himself to that.  

Some of you will have listened to episode 17 with Caz Tod-Pearson from the Simple way. Shane is one of the founders of the Simple Way and is still part of that community in Philadelphia.  We don't go into this so much because there is so much else to talk about but if you want to hear more about that go back and listen to that chat with Caz.  

We cover his time with Mother Teresa, his activism and civil disobedience, his pacifism, including his time in Iraq during the war, and his fight against gun violence and the electric chair.  

It's action packed and sure to leave you inspired

Find Shane at shaneclaiborne.com or at:

Facebook: facebook.com/ShaneClaiborne 

Instagram: @shane.claiborne 

Twitter: @ShaneClaiborne 

And check out redletterchristians.org for articles, resources, links and more. 

Shane's books include Jesus for President; Red Letter Revolution; Common Prayer; Follow Me to Freedom; Jesus, Bombs and Ice Cream; Becoming the Answer to Our Prayers; Executing Grace; Beating Guns; and his classic The Irresistible Revolution. 

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Connect with me at downtoearthconversations.com or at:

Facebook: facebook.com/downtoearth.conversations 

Instagram: @downtoearth.conversations

Email: [email protected]

 

Music by Strahan:

Spotify: Strahan

Facebook: facebook.com/StrahanMusic  or  facebook.com/commonerscommunion

Instagram: @strahanmusic  or  @commoners_communion

As an 18 year old, fresh out of school, April McLennan formed a charitable trust called Limitless to assist teenagers in finding a career path that fits their strengths and values.  A few years in, four conferences down and she has learnt a lot.  It was a privilege to hear some of that journey. 

We talk about how and why it started, what opportunities or barriers being 18 was to getting it going, practicalities of starting a charity, and where she has seen her journey making a difference. 

Check out Limitless at limitless.org.nz 

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Connect with me at downtoearthconversations.com or at:

Facebook: facebook.com/downtoearth.conversations 

Instagram: @downtoearth.conversations

Email: [email protected]

 

Music by Strahan:

Spotify: Strahan

Facebook: facebook.com/StrahanMusic  or  facebook.com/commonerscommunion

Instagram: @strahanmusic  or  @commoners_communion

I am so excited to bring to you a conversation with my mum and dad, Les and Alan Dickson.

Having this kōrero with them was very moving for me, but also was a huge reminder that they are a really big part of why I value what I value.  Their commitment to people and love for all is clear throughout the discussion.  And while they see themselves as nothing special, they are involved in so much goodness in the world I feel we only just scratched the surface. 

We talk about disability support, budget advice, food parcels, offering extra help to those who need it, journeying with people struggling with physical or mental health, and, importantly what they have learnt about themselves through their journey.

To find out about some of the organisations mentioned in this episode, check out:

0800Hungry: Website, or Facebook

Kingdom Resources: Website, or Facebook

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Connect with me at downtoearthconversations.com or at:

Facebook: facebook.com/downtoearth.conversations 

Instagram: @downtoearth.conversations

Email: [email protected]

 

Music by Strahan:

Spotify: Strahan

Facebook: facebook.com/StrahanMusic  or  facebook.com/commonerscommunion

Instagram: @strahanmusic  or  @commoners_communion

Alanna Chapman and her husband Pete are the owners of the wine label 27 Seconds.  100% of the profit from 27 Seconds goes to support survivors of slavery.  100%!  It is a fantastic story of business and justice colliding and becoming something beautifully unique.  

We hear from Alanna about how she and Pete ended up selling wine to support slavery survivors - how they got into the wine business, how it all connects to slavery, how they got their name, and what Alanna has learnt about making a difference.

 

Find 27Seconds Wine at 27seconds.co.nz or at:

Facebook: facebook.com/27secondswine

Instagram: @27secondswine

 

And find and support Hagar at hagar.org.nz or at:

Facebook: facebook.com/hagarnewzealand/ 

Instagram: @hagar_nz

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Connect with me at downtoearthconversations.com or at:

Facebook: facebook.com/downtoearth.conversations 

Instagram: @downtoearth.conversations

Email: [email protected]

 

Music by Strahan:

Spotify: Strahan

Facebook: facebook.com/StrahanMusic  or  facebook.com/commonerscommunion

Instagram: @strahanmusic  or  @commoners_communion

Andrew Gardener is a fantastic communicator and a great thinker.  So we get in deep in this episode, going well beyond small talk to some really vulnerable and personal spaces.  We talk about his passions for storytelling and creativity, his journey into being an advocate for justice and the search for living a just life, and his exploration of the connection between faith and suffering, including his own challenging journey towards fatherhood.

Andrew has been a key part of The Justice Conference Asia, and a speaker at The Justice Conference Australia. 

Connect with him on Instagram at @Andrew_Gardener

Or check out his podcast A Broken Hallelujah on Spotify

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Connect with me at downtoearthconversations.com or at:

Facebook: facebook.com/downtoearth.conversations 

Instagram: @downtoearth.conversations

Email: [email protected]

 

Music by Strahan:

Spotify: Strahan

Facebook: facebook.com/StrahanMusic  or  facebook.com/commonerscommunion

Instagram: @strahanmusic  or  @commoners_communion

In this episode I talk to Lady Ranapiri Kupa of Prison Fellowship Aotearoa, aka He Korowai Whakapono.  Lady oversees people and programmes that really get alongside families of people who have experienced prison to help to break the generational cycle of imprisonment. 

We talk about the tamariki and whānau, about mana, dignity, shame, restoration, and seeing people as people. We look at the programmes PFA run and the kaupapa (reason for being) of the programmes and the organisation.  

To connect with Prison Fellowship Aotearoa head to hekorowaiwhakapono.nz or:

Facebook: facebook.com/hkwnz

Instagram: @pfa_hkw

Or for the organisation supporting them with cakes, check out cakeitforward.co.nz or:

Facebook: facebook.com/cakeitforwardnz

Instagram: @cakeitforwardnz

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Connect with me at downtoearthconversations.com or at:

Facebook: facebook.com/downtoearth.conversations 

Instagram: @downtoearth.conversations

Email: [email protected]

 

Music by Strahan:

Spotify: Strahan

Facebook: facebook.com/StrahanMusic  or  facebook.com/commonerscommunion

Instagram: @strahanmusic  or  @commoners_communion