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Monday Oct 21, 2024

102. Kylee Black - Disability, Interdependence, and How Accessibility Benefits Everyone

Monday Oct 21, 2024

Kylee Black is a social entrepreneur committed to cultivating strong connected community. Through her own experiences with disability and complex health challenges, Kylee has been able to create spaces for others and that help empower them in their own journey. Kylee is the CEO and founder of Kylee & Co, an online platform with accessible products by the disability community for everyone.

On this episode we talk about Kylee's journey with health and disability, her advocacy for people with disabilities, creating safe spaces for people with disabilities within faith communities and expressions, the power of connectedness, and we explore the idea that accessibility actually benefits us all.

Check out Kylee & Co on their website, Facebook, or Instagram.

Check out Clipboard on their website, Facebook, or Instagram.

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Connect with me at downtoearthconversations.com or at:

Music by Strahan:

Spotify: Strahan

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

Instagram: @strahanmusic or @commoners_communion

Monday Oct 07, 2024

101. Cole Yeoman - Palestinian Resilience, Non-Violent Resistance, and Creating Hope

Monday Oct 07, 2024

As I release this, today marks one full year since the atrocities committed by Hamas in Israel, and the beginning of a horrendous campaign of genocide that Israel began in Gaza as a result. Violence that has, in the past week or so, spread into surrounding territories as the western world sits back and watches.

Today's guest, Cole Yeoman, is a visual journalist, capturing stories through photos and videos. While many of us were simply getting on with our lives, Cole left the safety of Aotearoa New Zealand for the land of Palestine, spending two months in and around the West Bank.

Cole shares stories of the people he met, the resilience he saw, and the oppression that they face in everyday life. What Cole describes is both heart-warming and heart breaking. It gives some understanding as to why things exploded a year ago, and why this so far from Israel simply defending itself.

Cole tells the stories of humans who are trying to keep their humanity and dignity in an environment that is dehumanising and oppressive. He also challenges us about what we are doing to help give hope to those for whom life has become quite hopeless.

This is one of the most important conversations I feel like I've ever had on this podcast. And that is no slight on all the amazing conversation partners I've had so far. But this one just has a weight to it. For that reason, wanting to do this conversation some justice, I didn't stop us to fit my usual timings, and so this episode is much longer than my others. It felt like it needed to be. Feel free to listen in smaller chunks as you are able.

Cole and I specifically discuss some of the stories behind some of his photographs and videos, so you may want to go check them out on his Instagram page before listening.

See below for a range of resources to become educated on the situation, and to keep up with what is going in in real time.

Check out the amazing list of resources at Aotearoa Christians for Peace in Palestine and follow them on Instagram.

Find Across the Divide Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Here is a 90min Course, "Deconstructing Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians" from Amnesty International

And read this Open Letter from Palestinian Christians to Western Church Leaders and Theologians

INSTAGRAM accounts to follow:
@cole.in.a.box
@christians4peaceaotearoa
@christatthecheckpoint
@youthofsumud
@mohammadhureini
@samihuraini
@wizard_bisan1
@tariq.hathaleen
@awdah.hathaleen
@savealmakhrour

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Connect with me at downtoearthconversations.com or at:

Music by Strahan:

Spotify: Strahan

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

Instagram: @strahanmusic or @commoners_communion

Tuesday Sep 24, 2024

100. Strahan Coleman - Mountain Tops, Unanswered Prayers, and What It Means That God is Good,

Tuesday Sep 24, 2024

Episode 100 is here!

As I was thinking about what to do for this episode, I thought, why not interview someone who has featured more on the podcast than anyone else, yet who hasn't actually been a guest on the podcast? Every episode since episode 21, Strahan Coleman's music has been there.

And in this kōrero with Strahan we go deep, talking about the journey that led to him being an award winning musician who travelled the world, but then the way life all came crashing down, pulling his music career out from under him and changing everything about his life and his future. In that time of deep pain, Strahan began to learn a new way of seeing God, a new way of praying, a new way of being. We talk about the mountains and the valleys, the joys and the struggles, the unlearning, and the embodying of faith. We talk about unanswered prayers, undiagnosable conditions, and what it might mean that God is good, especially in those times when it doesn't seem to be true.

It is a conversation that is filled with life and hope.

Connect with Strahan on his Website, Facebook, or Instagram

Or check out Strahan's Music on Spotify

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Monday Sep 09, 2024

99. Asif Mall - Religious Persecution, Harm Prevention, and Loving Those Who Hate You

Monday Sep 09, 2024

Asif Mall works out of the UK in places like his homeland of Pakistan, helping to support persecuted Christians, but even more than that, using influence and strategy to help create change that prevents some of the persecution from happening to begin with.

We talk about growing up in Pakistan as a Christian in a Muslim country, how he got involved in the work he is doing, and what he has learnt about himself and his faith along the way. We hear stories of how strategies Asif's organisation employed have saved hundreds of homes from being torched, and many people from being killed.

If you wish to get in touch with Asif regarding some of the invitations he gives in the episode, contact Andy through the platforms bellow and he can connect you with Asif.

I was put in touch with Asif by Voice of the Martyrs NZ. Check out VOMNZ on their website, Instagram, or Facebook.

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Connect with me at downtoearthconversations.com or at:

Music by Strahan:

Spotify: Strahan

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

Instagram: @strahanmusic or @commoners_communion

Wednesday Aug 28, 2024

98. Charlotte Cummings - Church Hurt, The Helping Gang, and How to Feel Better

Wednesday Aug 28, 2024

Charlotte Cummings works in a number of ways to outwork an inner desire to help others, especially people who are finding life tough through mental health, parenting, or because they've been hurt in faith-based spaces.

We talk about her work as an investigator, counsellor, consultant and more. We hear about her experience of supporting those who have been hurt in Christian faith communities, and get her take on the recently released report from the Royal Commission of Enquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care. We also talk about her own podcast, Feel Better, and how she is offering her wealth of therapeutic knowledge to any who will listen.

Find Charlotte through her counselling website, her consultancy website, or Instagram.

And find her podcast, Feel Better, on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Connect with me at downtoearthconversations.com or at:

Music by Strahan:

Spotify: Strahan

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

Instagram: @strahanmusic or @commoners_communion

Monday Aug 12, 2024

97. Scott Gilmour - Generational Change, Building Connections, and the I Have a Dream Trust

Monday Aug 12, 2024

Scott Gilmour is the chair and founder of the I Have A Dream Trust.

I Have a Dream is an organisation working to support children through building relationships that span years. It is a programme that, as you will hear, was a long time in the making for Scott, but he followed his intuition, used the resources he had, and now supports over 20 workers, or navigators as they call them, who are supporting students across 5 schools, from the day they start school until they are 20.

Scott comes from a business and technology background, so we talk a bit about that. We also talk about his involvement in Angel Investing - something that was new to me that I think is brilliant. And then we dive into how I Have a Dream came about, how it works, and what results they are seeing over 20 years in.

Check out this summary video of I Have a Dream, or find them on their website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or LinkedIn.

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Connect with me at downtoearthconversations.com or at:

Music by Strahan:

Spotify: Strahan

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

Instagram: @strahanmusic or @commoners_communion

Monday Aug 05, 2024

Catching Up With - 05 - Aaron Hendry - Still Kicking Back at Youth Homelessness

Monday Aug 05, 2024

Back on episode 11 of Down to Earth Conversations I talked to Aaron about work he was doing with young people experiencing homelessness.

Aaron is still fighting with and for our rangatahi (youth) but has left the larger, more generic services he worked for and, with his wife Summer, started Kick Back - an organisation dedicated to supporting some of our most vulnerable young people - particularly those experiencing homelessness.

We talk about the journey of starting something new, how it fills a void in the existing services, and how it will help the youth of Tāmaki (Auckland) moving forward. We talk about government, budgets, community responsibility, collaboration, and how the work Aaron is doing is already making a difference a year in.

Find Aaron on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn

And check out Kick Back on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn

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Connect with me at downtoearthconversations.com or at:

Music by Strahan:

Spotify: Strahan

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

Instagram: @strahanmusic or @commoners_communion

Thursday Jul 25, 2024

96. Ken Clearwater - The Royal Commission of Inquiry, Healing from Abuse, and Changes that Must Be Made

Thursday Jul 25, 2024

I have released this episode out of my usual rhythm because the day of release is a significant day in Aotearoa New Zealand. On this day, July 24, 2024, the Royal Commission of inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care released their final report. This report, which took six years to compile, details the abuse of thousands of New Zealand children and other vulnerable people while in the care of the state or faith based organisations. The report estimates that between 1950 and 1999, over 200,000 people suffered abuse while in the care of these organisations.

Ken Clearwater, is himself a survivor of sexual abuse, and has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his 30 years of supporting other male survivors of abuse, and advocating for legislative change. He was one of those who regularly called for the government to launch a royal commission of inquiry, and we talk both about Ken's own journey, and the inquiry itself. He has spoken at the United Nations about the work he is involved in in Aotearoa.

Obviously there are things in this conversation that may be challenging to listen to, including mention of rape, sexual assault, and suicide. Please take care of yourself and stop listening or take breaks if you need to. Please use your own support structures, and make use of the links in the show notes to seek help if you need to.

While there are some hard truths in this episode, it is ultimately an episode of hope. It is a conversation with a man who has grown something powerful from the evils he was put through. It is the story of how men have supported other men, and how goodness can thrive, even in the face of great evil.

Find Ken's Ted Talk here.

Please make use of the following services if you need them:

Rape Crisis - 0800 88 33 00 (Will direct you to a nearby centre), follow link for information on local helplines
Victim Support - 0800 842 846 (24hr service)
The Harbour, online support and information for those affected by harmful sexual behaviour
Women's Refuge (For women and children) - crisis line available on 0800 733 843
Safe to talk - 0800 044 334, text 4334 or web chat
Male Survivors Aotearoa (For men) - follow link for regional helplines
Safe to Talk(external link) sexual harm helpline: 0800 044334, text: 4334, email: support@safetotalk.nz
Rape Crisis: 0800 88 33 00
Women's Refuge(external link): 0800 733 843
Shine domestic abuse services(external link) free call: 0508 744 633 (24/7, Live Webchat is also available)
Hey Bro helpline(external link) - supporting men to be free from violence 0800 HeyBro (439 276)
Family violence information line(external link) to find out about local services or how to help someone else: 0800 456 450
Oranga Tamariki line(external link) for concerns about children and young people: 0508 326 459, email: contact@ot.govt.nz1737,
Need to talk?(external link) Free call or text: 1737 for mental health support from a trained counsellor
Youthline(external link): 0800 376 633, free text: 234, email: talk@youthline.co.nz
Shakti - for migrant and refugee women - 0800 742 584 - 24 hours
Elder Abuse Helpline: 0800 32 668 65 - 24 hours, text: 5032, email: support@elderabuse.nz
Wellington Help(external link) for individuals, whānau and communities affected by sexual abuse in the Wellington Region: 04 801 6655 & push 0 at the menu - 24 hours
Aviva(external link) For free 24/7 support line, call 0800 AVIVA NOW (0800 28482 669)

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Connect with me at downtoearthconversations.com or at:

Music by Strahan:

Spotify: Strahan

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

Instagram: @strahanmusic or @commoners_communion

Monday Jul 15, 2024

95. Jemma and Shane Clifton - Gender Affirmation, Spinal Cord Injury, and a Life of Change and Love

Monday Jul 15, 2024

Daughter-father combo, Jemma and Shane Clifton, have both gone through large life transitions, Jemma's around gender, and Shane's around disability. Both have been long processes of change, and they have been a support for one another in their transitional journeys.

Jemma and Shane run a podcast called the Change podcast, which follows Jemma's gender affirmation transition, as she embraces who she is as a transgender woman. It is available on all podcasting platforms, and was the catalyst for my inviting them into conversation.

We talk about their podcast, why they chose to take this journey public, and what sort of feedback they are getting. We talk about Shane's accident and how that has affected life as he lives with quadriplegia, and also what that was like for Jemma as a teenager seeing her dad on that life altering journey.

This is a powerful conversation with two beautiful humans.

Find the Change Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.

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