Yarns for the Soul

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On this mini episode I share how Winter in New Zealand has been impacting the way I show up across all areas of life, and how I've given myself permission to reflect on what is currently serving me. I also yarn about the importance of listening to our bodies as seasons change, and to check in with ourselves to see what we really need. I have chosen to take a break for Winter and put the podcast on pause, with the intention of returning with the change in seasons and hopefully a spring in my step- watch this space from September onwards..! 

If you want to check out what I'm up to in the meantime or get in touch, you can find me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole- see you there! 

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On this episode I am joined by Kim Davis, an avid crafter and true crime enthusiast, mother, and co-host of the Slaycation podcast. Our yarn begins with the healing power of crafts- how sitting and knitting or stitching can be meditative, as well as how it can be used to disconnect from unwanted social conversations! We talk about how crafting can give you moments to yourself, and the importance of doing something just because. 

Kim speaks openly about her life growing up in a household with domestic abuse, and the ongoing impacts that has had on her and her relationships. We talk about intergenerational trauma, and how being a cycle breaker requires looking back with a compassionate lens. Kim also shares some of her experiences from her career as a social worker in the US, and how she saw cycles of violence and trauma perpetuated among the people she was desperately trying to support. We yarn about compassion fatigue, and that as much as you want to help there is often a moment where you decide you need to walk away.

We also yarn about our mutual love of true crime, and what it is that fascinates us so much about the most grisly cases. Kim explains the origin story behind her podcast, Slaycation, and what motivates her to continue sharing these stories. 

Check out the Slaycation podcast on your favourite podcast platform, and follow their updates on Instagram @slaycationwtf. To check out all of Kim's epic crafts, you can also find her @thatgirlknits.

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If you're enjoying the podcast, you're welcome to come and join me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole- see you there!

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On this mini-yarn I share some of my recent experiences and learnings from working through stuff with coach Di Foster and EMDR therapy with a local psychologist. I yarn about feeling more future-focused in my current phase of life, and why that feels like such a novelty to me. I reflect on how some of my lived experiences left me stuck in survival mode, and how that can make you forget about any big audacious goals. 

I talk about the idea of shifting my mindset, from putting things into the "too hard basket" and having negative narratives about myself, to becoming curious about what could happen if I changed my perspective. We're often so stuck in the weeds that we can lose sight of our own strengths and goals, and sometimes we just need a reminder from our bestie that people already see us as the powerhouse that we are! 

To keep up to date on future podcast episodes you can follow me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole. 

Links: 

Podcast recommendation- "I Weigh- Living Deliciously with Florence Given". 

Check out Di Foster on Instagram @difoster.live and @betweentwobeerspodcast.

Girls that Invest- Masterclass. 

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On this episode I am joined by the magical Maren Swenson, an intuitive stylist, fashion coach, podcast creator and mother.  After leaving a high demand religion, Maren embarked on deep inner work to explore how she wanted to show up and be seen in the world. A key part of this was rediscovering and owning her femininity, which inspired her to create a space for other women to do the same.

Maren shares the backstory to starting her coaching business "Wild Serenity", and how she uses intuitive fashion styling to help women step into self-expression and self-love. We yarn about some of the key blocks that women face in owning their own style, from internal narratives we have created to what we've been told is socially or culturally acceptable. 

Maren explains how religion had stifled her ability to express femininity in the way she wanted, and what she had to unlearn when she left that community. We also yarn about the power of women reclaiming and using their voice, and the story behind Maren starting her own podcast "The Glow Code". 

To check out all the awesome work Maren is doing and find out how you can work with her, check out her website. Her podcast The Glow Code is available on your favourite podcast platform today, and follow her beautiful content over on Instagram @findwildserenity. 

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If you enjoyed this episode you can find me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole to follow along for more! 

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Welcome to episode 50!! I am celebrating this milestone episode with a special mini-yarn all about the origins of the word "yarn". 

Most people outside of New Zealand will only associate yarn with wool, and I have to tell people my podcast is sadly not about knitting! So here's an episode to explain what the word yarning means to me, as well as exploring the historical origins behind the use of the word in everyday kiwi conversation.

On my research journey I pulled at many threads, from indigenous cultures to Greek mythology, and I was surprised by what I unearthed. Is the origin from early sailors visiting New Zealand shores, and telling tall tales while they hoisted sails? Or is yarning another form of cultural appropriation? Perhaps spinning yarn is a synonym for goddesses weaving the destiny of mortal souls? 

I wrap up the episode by tying together what my discoveries mean to me, and how this affects the future of the Yarns for the Soul podcast. 

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Resources:

"To Spin a Yarn: The Female Voice in Folklore and Fairy Tale"

Te Ara- "The origins of Kiwi humour"

"Yarning about Yarning as a Legitimate Method in Indigenous Research"

"Stories from the Aboriginal Women of the Yarning Circle: when cultures collide"

"Clinical yarning with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples"

"The power of healing in the yarn: working with Aboriginal men"

"Yarning up with Doc Reynolds: an interview about Country from an Indigenous perspective"

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If you want to get in touch with me, or just follow along as I muddle my way forwards, come find me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole- see you there!

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Why is connection with nature just as important as connection with others? And how can we incorporate Mātaraunga Māori and the leadership of wāhine Māori in healing the world around us?

On this episode I am joined by the powerhouse bestie duo that is Cassie Roma and Mandy Kupenga to yarn about their project, "Heal the Hauraki". They share the origin story behind their friendship- from the first email, to co-producing a docuseries and the shared vision of an incredible digital media campaign (dropping soon!). 

Mandy explains the "why" behind Heal the Hauraki, and the environmental challenges facing the Hauraki Gulf in Aotearoa New Zealand. Environmental concerns are a global issue, but we can use an indigenous lens such as Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) to find solutions that are better for us, and Papatūānuku (Mother Earth). Both Cassie and Mandy yarn about the importance of uplifting stories and messages of hope, and the power of a community-focused approach. Cassie also saw the strength of wāhine Māori working intergenerationally, empowering their children, grandchildren and rangatahi in the community to be a part of the solution.  

Mandy and Cassie share what they have learnt about healing from producing this docuseries, and how witnessing each other's healing and joy has brought them so much closer. Their reflections inspire us to reconnect with ourselves, in partnership with nature, and embrace our own uniqueness. 

To follow along for updates about the project when it lands, head over to Instagram @healthehauraki. If you want to keep fangirling with me over all the other awesome mahi these two are doing, check out the following links: 

Mandy- Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.  

Cassie- Instagram, LinkedIn, Kindness Warriors Podcast.

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If you loved this episode and you want to keep updated on when new episodes are released, head over and find me on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole- see you there!

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What is the current model of leadership in businesses and organisations today? Is everyone represented in this model, and who does it serve?

On this episode I had the pleasure of yarning with Ros Cardinal, an executive coach and facilitator, author, and speaker based in Tasmania, Australia. In 2012 she founded her own business, Shaping Change, to help overcome workplace challenges and build positive team cultures. The programs and tools she offers are too many to list here, but include unconscious bias, emotional intelligence, improving communication and strategic planning. 

Ros shares a bit about her background and what led her to start Shaping Change, including the changes in leadership style and structure she has seen across her career. We dive into her "why" that continues to drive her, which includes Ros' daughter entering the workforce and realising not much has changed. 

We yarn about the origins of today's version of leadership, the reasons why women are largely missing from this model, and why women trying to change themselves to fit this model is the wrong answer. Ros shares her views on why patriarchal leadership serves very few people in reality, and how female-led organisations are doing things differently. 

Ros has developed the Women's Leader Archetypes, which she has been powerfully incorporating into women's leadership training and coaching. Ros tells us all about what these archetypes mean and their practical applications, but also the responses she has received from female leaders who finally feel seen. 

To find out more about the awesome services Ros offers check out her website Shaping Change, and click here for more info on the Women's Leader Archetypes. You can also find Ros on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

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If you have enjoyed this episode, there are plenty more for you to check out! You can also come and hang out with me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole- see you there! 

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What is trauma, and why is it important on a collective level that we examine what's going on for us as individuals?

On this episode I yarn with the incredible Amanda Hanna, director and creator of SomaPsych which offers trauma-informed trainings across New Zealand. She also teaches yin yoga, somatic dance, mindfulness and meditation, and is currently studying towards a Masters in Psychology.

Amanda shares her origin story of creating SomaPsych, which came from a space of burnout and disconnection (which we can all relate to on some level!). She talks about what healing looked and felt like for her, including the mindset shifts that had to happen along the way.

I ask Amanda to share her definition of trauma, and we yarn about why a purely Western version of trauma misses so many important aspects of healing. We talk about how unpacking our own lived experiences can help us move towards collective healing, and what small steps we can take on a day to day basis. Amanda also explains how 'mindfulness' is often tokenistic, but also harmful, depending on the current state of our nervous system.

We also yarn about how we can look after ourselves while also accepting that we get to have sacred rage about everything going on in the world around us. Amanda shares her tips for how we can build capacity to be able to lean in, and how we can accept others around us who might choose to disengage. 

To check out the awesome trainings that SomaPsych offers and to find out more, check out the website. You can also follow @soma.psych on Instagram. 

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If you're enjoying the podcast I'd love to hear from you- find me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole. 

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What if the best way to lead wasn’t about having the right answers—but asking the right questions?

In this episode, I yarned with the ever-curious Paul McGregor, a leadership coach, author and MC based in Nelson, New Zealand. With a background in law, collaboration and engagement, Paul has carved out an unconventional path - one that wasn’t planned but was led by instinct, curiosity and a refusal to settle.

We unpack how he made some career choices based on joy, connection and purpose (and others based on fear and scarcity) - and what he had to let go of along the way. We also get into the art of facilitation, where Paul shares a surprising and valuable lesson for anybody in a leadership role.

Paul has a knack for asking the questions others avoid - the ones that cut through noise and get to what really matters. But what happens when those questions make people uncomfortable? And how does privilege shape the way we engage with leadership and workplace culture? We yarn about the tension between awareness and action, the challenges of acknowledging your privilege and how to talk about your work when it's not easily put into a known box like 'lawyer', 'doctor' or 'builder'.

Curious? Tune in to hear Paul’s take on leadership, impact and the conversations that move us forward.

If you would like to know more about the awesome mahi that Paul is doing, you can check out his website or follow him over on LinkedIn.

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If you enjoyed this episode and want to get in touch you can find me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole- see you there! 

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Welcome to my first episode of 2025! I'm diving straight into the deep end with this one and yarning about some of the reasons why I have been in perpetual angry feminism mode recently. I discuss the French Mazan rape case, the incredible strength of victim Gisèle Pelicot, and how this case demonstrated a 'spectrum of culpability' behind violence towards women. I draw a parallel between this case and my work as a lawyer on historic abuse in state care claims, and how labelling people as good or bad means we are ignoring the grey areas.

Just a heads up that this episode discusses traumatic subject matter, and it's important to be conscious of where your headspace is at before listening. I also note in this episode that the ability to "check out" is a luxury and privilege that not everyone has, and I believe leaning into challenging conversations and developing awareness is an important first step towards creating change (because something has to change, right!).

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If you enjoyed this episode, have any feedback, or want to continue this conversation you can find me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole- see you there! 

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