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It all started with a dream... literally. Jay Ruka, the new co dean at Taranaki Cathedral Church of St Mary in New Plymouth, joins me on an episode to talk about religion and its relationship to colonisation and the reconciling of those two worlds in the modern day. We explore what it's like growing up within a household run by church leaders and how those influences rippled out into social circles. Surfing, church, colonisation, family and the churches role in settling Aotearoa as an English colony all play out heavily here. We also get into a very elaborate kōrero about chicken and Jays immersing back into Te Ao Māori. Before you change, you need to be challenged. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bestsiiide/message

When was the last time you gave yourself permission to feel? Like, reeeeally feel! In a world where we often have been taught to suppress our "negative emotions" : sadness, anger, frustration and the likes - it can be hard to be ones authentic self. What does an authentic self look like and how can we get back to that when needed? Enter, Monique:  'Monique is trained in remedial massage, sound healing, biodynamic breathwork, energy healing and yoga. Through her own healing journey Monique has strengthened and attuned her intuition and has a direct channel to Source, offering healing, wisdom, and sacred practices with her clients.' We speak around themes of trauma, judgement, becoming a mum, balance and pleasure. We also explore the tools of Breath work, Sound / frequency healing and Cacao and how these tools can aid in our ascension and combating the current state of craziness within the world. Grab your notebook, lots to learn here! P.S: Special mention to Liam, Moniques partner, as Monique also shares the funniest proposal story I've ever heard in my life!!! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bestsiiide/message

How do you feel about the current state of the world?  What have you been told about meditation?  How do you keep your expectations of others in check? Mystic. Misfit. Librarian. Barbarian. Netic Rebel is a juxtaposition of many things and living proof that people should never be limited to the confinements of a box. In this conversation, Netic and I explore the craziness of the contemporary world (2021) and explore together what we know, what we think we know and what we don't know.  Covering martial arts as therapy, spirituality being open to all and the indigenous perspective in a colonised world - we laugh, gasp and pull our hair out as we exchange life experiences and perspectives about our arrival to this point and where we can go from here. Strap in whānau, these strokes go deep and long. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bestsiiide/message

Before starting Wahine Toa Hunting, Pania was a self confessed 'hood bitch doing hood things'. Now, many years later, Pania has travelled a journey of dealing drugs and stealing to now leading Wahine Māori on a journey of empowerment by teaching them how to use our natural resources to better themselves and their whānau whilst being invited to speak at soo many events that she can't even keep up with them all! I caught up with Pania to talk about mental health, colonisation and what she experienced when she died before she was brought back to life. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bestsiiide/message

When the world gets a bit tough or times get a bit hard, where do you go and who do you turn to? In this episode of Best Siiide I catch up with introverted photographer, Ben D'Ath whose life took a dramatic shift when he was surprisingly involved in a house fire that destroyed his dwelling, nearly took his life and took time that Ben is now determined to reclaim. Teetering between dark moments of contemplating suicide, nightmares and self doubt we also experience incredibly illuminating moments of community support, nostalgia and a sense of purpose from Ben as he unearths his walk with fire and how its breathed air into a new found purpose that he has with life. Text 1737 to Talk Now. To talk to a trained counsellor 24/7 call the Depression helpline – 0800 111 757. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bestsiiide/message

When was the last time you intently looked at the stars?  Professor Rangi Matamua stops in to talk with us about space, cultural appropriation, schooling, star wars and what the future looks like for Māori.  We navigate how Māori need to be aware of just how protective of our culture and what it looks like to start becoming our parents or grandparents.   Speaking about formal education, I share what I was afraid of and Rangi helps to navigate that space and offers an alternative view that might help a lot of us - especially Rangatahi/Youth, when looking at getting into university.  Being decisive, for a lot of people, is one of life's biggest hurdles. It's not just discovering the who / what / how / when of things which can be hard but also choosing which of those to intently pursue!   Balance turns out to be a theme of our conversation too. In terms of legacy / taonga tuku iho, what are we doing to ensure a smooth transition from us to the future generations?  Are we making it easier or harder?   Be sure to check out livingbythestars.co.nz for all sorts of tools and resources on how to navigate the stars, the world and ourselves. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bestsiiide/message

Have you ever felt lost?  Not Māori enough? That you're nothing more than your job title?   Kaitiaki, Zane Wedding, who slept in a tree for more than 60 nights continuously last year, was arrested after climbing a fence that blocked the Avondale site from being accessed by land stewards.  Whilst his arm may have been broken, his wairua (spirit) has not been.  Here I get to kōrero with the bro, in regards to why saving these trees is so important to the mental health, identity and environment of ALL New Zealanders.  He shares his journey from being homeless at 14 on Aucklands south side and how a connection to the environment, more specifically trees, helped him find his place in the world and how he wants these trees remain so that the knowledge and that sense of connection can be retained.  We exchange Pūrākau (legends) that are evidence, of the scientific thought processes, that pacific people have and their ability to pass these on from generation to generation. Even if you cannot be bothered checking out this episode whanau please head along to the following: Sign the petition here Follow the Save Canal Road Native Trees facebook page And keep up to date with saveourtrees.nz --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bestsiiide/message

How often have you just wished you could pause life for a second to get your shit together? TRIGGER WARNINGS: CONVERSATIONS AROUND SUICIDE, DEPRESSION, MENTAL HEALTH AND BEREAVEMENT The Taranaki Retreat is a sanctuary for many and a safe haven for more many more. A small piece of paradise within Taranaki offering respite and the chance for people to get away from the pressures of life and go within themselves so they can arm themselves with the tools to then face the world with all its variables. Jamie Allen - Father, husband and executive officer for The Taranaki Retreat (amongst many other things) shares his story of walking beside his daughter, Carrie as she faced cancer and then eventually passed in 2012. Jamie says: "The Retreat is about the good stuff : walking alongside one-another - and sharing and dealing with burdens. It is a kaupapa with some fantastic support and energy in our community, and I feel very proud to be a part of it. Most of all, I wanna say - this place is for YOU; for all of us."Jamie shares his journey: dealing with the loss of his daughter and how it lead to the creation of a place that has given soo much to the people of Taranaki. Chris - Chris is also a father, husband and former resident of the retreat who is still involved with the beautiful mahi of the place. Chris shares his story of losing a child to suicide and another to a car accident both within 6 months of each other less than 3 years ago. He speaks on how these events have inspired his journey since but not without sharing some of his deepest and darkest moments that he continues to battle through. From feeling like a failure as a father to encouraging every one of us to step into our vulnerable moments and connect heart to heart. Contact the retreat here Text 1737 to Talk Now Text 5626 to contact The Low Down To talk to a trained counsellor 24/7 call the Depression helpline – 0800 111 757. To get help from a registered nurse 24/7 call Healthline – 0800 611 116. Youthline – 0800 376 633, free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat. What's Up  – 0800 942 8787, (for 5–18 year olds). Phone counselling is available Monday to Friday, 1pm–10pm and weekends, 3pm–10pm. Online chat is available 7pm–10pm daily. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bestsiiide/message

New Year, same ol' shit... well except now we have video! Thats right, we've stepped into the future and have finally taken the podcast to include video in it's 3rd season! Kicking off season 3, we catch up with Green Party Aotearoa New Zealand member of parliament and Auckland MP - Chloe Swarbrick. Heaps of gold nuggets in this kōrero, if not only to understand politics in Aotearoa a lot better.  Chloe and I both agreed that there will be an inevitable part 2 to this as we didn’t even touch on New Zealand drug reform, her other baby (Chloe talks about her main baby a lot!).  Long time listeners will know that I always ask every guest for their advice on how to approach tough times. Whilst almost none of the guests are mental health professionals, almost all of them are mental health awareness advocates who have been through the wars themselves and can offer insight a nuanced approaches to those situations. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bestsiiide/message

In this episode I sit down with Matua Mark and Bobby to talk about Mental health and how much Kindness can make a difference. 2020/2021 has been a crazy time for everyone but even without the contributions of Covid-19, contemporary stresses and modern anxiety seems to be spreading faster and quicker than ever. Just google "Mental health statistics NZ" and you'll see it but talk to two or 3 members of your whānau and see what conversations arise.  The Taranaki retreat was built off personal experience and continues to function via community ambition: uniting the community together to be part of the creation of a sustainable future, where everyone can be part of the solution. Listen in to hear about a new public holiday in the making which aims to encourage people to remember, in times when it's easy to forget that other people have shit going on too, just be kind.  Donate here  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bestsiiide/message

Champion Muay Thai kickboxer turned White Ribbon Ambassador and member of the their Trust, Richie Harcore is a passionate advocate for social change. Professionally he is in demand as a public speaker, personal trainer and fight coach. In his role as an Ambassador and in his professional public speaking engagements he campaigns to prevent sexual and domestic violence and also works as a sexual consent educator. In our kōrero we discuss toxic masculinity, addiction, how fighting helped him growing up and how growing up in West Auckland shaped his life into what it is now. Richie has been a vital part of the White Ribbon Ambassador team and he recently presented to Year 12 and 13 students throughout the Wellington region on a Youth Ambassador Leadership Programme. Richie’s mission is “to help make the world better by supporting people to live their best lives” and he can often be seen or heard on National media speaking about all these issues. **This discussion was recorded in October 2019 when Richie visited Taranaki to speak at an event here.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bestsiiide/message

Wayne Capper (or Caps) was the first Kaitiaki Whenua Ranger for Te Kahui o Taranaki looking after 30 cultural sites (including many Pā) around Taranaki.  In addition to that, the Australian born Māori man shares with us his experience in growing up in a household that took everyone in and how this shaped him as an adult.  From a love of rugby league and community to battles with alcohol and owning his mistakes - Caps’ honest account of his life journey until this point will have lessons worth taking for everyone. Now a father of 7 but a role model to many, Caps reflection of his life bounces forward like the sun off a mirror into a bright and hopeful future for his whānau and community. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bestsiiide/message

The Big Fighter who became the ambassador for The Little Fighters Trust. Entertainer / Business owner turned local politician - Dinnie Moeahu has never been a stranger to controversy and fighting. Since birth (arguably before that), Dinnie has been a part of the battle of standing up to oppression and standing for what is right. Carrying on the batton from his ancestors, Dinnie is running full steam ahead into a generational defining battle, being one of many leaders fighting to establish a Māori Ward. Big goals are nothing for Dinnie though - Taranaki Daily News Person of the year, TSB Best New Business of the year, Iron Māori, Iron Man and raising over $80,000 for The Little Fighters Trust are just a few notches on his belt. Get your notepad ready, for this is arguably our most quotable podcast episode to date!  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bestsiiide/message

Born in Otago and moving to Taranaki, after having travelled the world through culturally diverse areas like Africa and Ngaruawāhia, Karen has been gifted a world view staunchly foundationed in fairness and unconditional love. With a very global world view of society both professionally and personally, we get a front row seat to the initiatives that Karen has been a part of; From being a part of a school that initiates two hours of priming before school starts (exercise, a healthy breakfast etc) to ensuring that an important piece of her hometown was saved (as a prominent member of the Save Fitzroy Golf Club campaign) this lawyer is no stranger to campaigning for change as she joins the fight to changing legislation within New Zealand which discriminates against Māori. She is definitely not your regular, Karen. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bestsiiide/message

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.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bestsiiide/message

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!  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bestsiiide/message

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.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bestsiiide/message

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.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bestsiiide/message

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.   --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bestsiiide/message

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 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bestsiiide/message