Down to Earth Conversations

Monday Aug 14, 2023

76. Mike Maeshiro - Bethel, Coming Out, and Leaning In to Your Discomfort

Monday Aug 14, 2023

Bethel Church is a charismatic evangelical church in Redding, California. It is famous for the church music it pumps out prolifically, and it has a Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry which hosts over 2,000 students annually from over 60 countries. Mike Maeshiro worked for Bethel coordinating events (which they do on a huge scale and frequency), travelled the world preaching, and was a teacher of spiritual discernment at the School of Supernatural Ministry until coming out as gay just a couple of years ago.

Since then life has changed dramatically for Mike, losing his role, his income, many friends, but gaining a whole lot too. Mike shares about that journey in the episode.

We talk about how it was actually Mike's relationship with God, not his abandonment of faith, that led to his coming out. We also discuss the way he's been treated by those who are supposed to be God's examples of love to the world, and how he now uses the platforms he built while at Bethel to support others who are wrestling with faith and sexuality, or who are simply asking questions about the faith they've been handed.

Hear Mike's coming out story on his own podcast 'Confessions of a Reformer' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Find resources for exploring theology and sexuality at mikemaeshiro.com/lgbtq-resources

Find Mike on Instagram, YouTube, LinkTree, or mikemaeshiro.com

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Monday Jul 31, 2023

75. Amelie Coggan - OCD, the Business of Making a Difference, and the Little Joys Along the Way

Monday Jul 31, 2023

I met Amelie Coggan at Voices of Hope's (featured on episode 46) event, 'It's Not Weak to Speak'. When I found out she had her own mental health challenges but that she was also, as a teenager, the owner of a business making products to support the mental health of others, I knew I had to get her on the podcast.

Amelie Coggan is the founder of Little Joys - a business creating products to support people in their mental health journey. We talk about Little Joys and how it came that an 18 year old is already several years in to running her own business. This is a kōrero that includes Amelie inviting us into her life with OCD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. We hear about what it is and what it's not, why people's ignorance can be painful, some of the things that have been helpful for her, and how she became involved in supporting others along the way.

Check out Little Joys on their website, littlejoys.co.nz, or on Facebook or Instagram.

For help lines and mental health support and resources see Voices of Hope's website

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Monday Jul 10, 2023

74. Nick Allwright - Caring for the Dead, Helping the Living, and Looking After Yourself

Monday Jul 10, 2023

Nick Allwright is a funeral director. It is his job to walk alongside grieving family members and friends as they deal with the loss of their loved one.

As we will hear from Nick, sometimes this is a glorious time, and sometimes it is anything but. Sometimes it is a celebration, and sometimes it is a symbol of all that is wrong with the world.

Nick shares about how he got into this profession, what is involved in his role, how he interacts with families, how he looks after himself when dealing with death every day, what he loves about the role, and what makes it sometimes a very difficult job to do.

While Nick deals with death, his job is very much about the living, helping them through what can be a very tough time in their lives, doing whatever he can to let them get on with their grieving without having to stress about details that he can take care of.

Please note that, as we are talking about death, there may be triggering aspects of this korero, so please hit pause and have a breather if you need to, and access the relevant support networks if something comes up for you.

You will hear in Nick's voice that this is, at times, a very emotional conversation. It is very real and authentic, and it is a conversation that is a beautiful example of someone stepping into the pain and sorrow of others and bringing a bit of heaven in the midst of it.

If you are triggered during the episode please seek appropriate support. If you need to connect with someone check out the helplines, organisations, and resources on the Voices of Hope website.

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Monday Jun 26, 2023

73. The Changes Ahead Podcast Takes Over - Creativity, Justice, and the Kingdom

Monday Jun 26, 2023

Cathy and Steven of The Changes Ahead take over the episode putting me in the hot seat. This interview originally appeared on The Changes Ahead podcast back in March. We talk about creativity, being right, being just, and the shifting of our faith as we grow.

If you enjoy this check out the many other fantastic conversations on The Changes Ahead - here's how they describe the heart of their podcast:

"It is no secret that the church in the West is in decline and there seems to have been unending talk about the church needing to change. Despite this, the number of sustainable alternatives or even smaller changes to what most would be familiar with as church is tragically low. This podcast is capturing thoughts of people who can see the Changes Ahead of us. Together we’ll be challenged, provoked even, by the views of people who are thinking about how the church might thrive going forward. So we invite you to join co-hosts Cathy Marston and Steven Goulstone as we imagine the Changes Ahead."

Connect with Cathy and Steven on Facebook and Instagram, or listen on Spotify, Apple Music, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Monday Jun 12, 2023

72. James Beck - Ngā Here, Eco Churches, and Pockets of Heaven on Earth

Monday Jun 12, 2023

James Beck, is a speaker, facilitator, pastor, podcaster, author and eco-warrior. We talk about the years James spent working with Attitude, helping shape the wellbeing of teenagers throughout Aotearoa, and his time at the Parenting Place. We also talk about James' passion for the environment and how that is impacting his work, his church, and his spirituality, as well as his own Podcast, Ngā Here, that brings the environment, the bible, and te ao Māori, the world of Māori, together.

Check out the Wilberforce Foundation, A Rocha, and the Eco Church initiative.

Listen to Ngā Here on Spotify, Apple Music, or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you're in Christchurch and would like to connect with James' church, head to The River Ōpāwaho.

And check out James' book on YouTube, or go and buy your copy from your local children's bookseller.

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Monday May 29, 2023

71. Heather Roberts - Chronic Fatigue, Modern Day Slavery, and Just Kai

Monday May 29, 2023

Heather Roberts is the founder of the initiative Just Kai - an organisation looking to aid consumers in buying food products free from slavery or child labour.

Heather shares with me her prolonged journey of chronic fatigue and how that impacted life for her for many years. We hear about how it rapidly arrived and then rapidly improved years later like the flicking of a switch.

She shares about things that got her through that time, including relationships and connection, her amazingly supportive husband, and her local church.

We also hear about how Heather's illness led to the work she is now doing with Just Kai, and how Just Kai played a part in her dramatic recovery.

Check out Just Kai's website or find them on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, and make sure to spread the word about this awesome work.

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Monday May 15, 2023

70. Nigel Yeoh - General Practice, Police Medical Officer, and Loving People as People

Monday May 15, 2023

Nigel Yeoh is a medical doctor, a GP, who also works as a Police Medical Officer for the Police in Ōtautahi-Christchurch. In this conversation we talk about what it's like journeying with people through their physical and mental struggles, but also seeing patients overcome illnesses and challenges. I ask how the system could be better to allow the most disadvantaged to gain support, and about how Nigel cares for those accused of heinous crimes. Ultimately, this is a conversation about how Nigel's love for people lies at the centre of everything.

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Monday May 01, 2023

69. Michael Frost - Science, Suffering, and When Life and Faith Go Off Script

Monday May 01, 2023

Aotearoa New Zealand theologian Michael Frost (not to be confused with Australian theologian Michael Frost...who is also worth a follow on your socials) has a PhD in theology, an honours degree in Science, is a lecturer and pastor, and is a well respected host of the podcast In the Shift, 'for when life and faith go off script.'

Our kōrero takes many twists and turns as we talk about science and faith, Michael and his wife's 10 year journey to become parents, suffering and theology, changing beliefs, being a rainbow ally, and the church's relationship with unhealthy forms of power.

A trigger warning, we do mention in this episode traumas such as infertility and miscarriage, and negative experiences of church from the lgbtqai+ community and others who have come out of high demand religious spaces. Please take care of yourself and take a break if you need it. And please talk to someone if things come up for you.

Find Michael through his website, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, and listen to In the Shift wherever you get your podcasts.

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Monday Apr 10, 2023

68. Katy Rowden - Good Bitches Baking and the Reciprocal Nature of Kindness

Monday Apr 10, 2023

Katy Rowden is the General Manager of Good Bitches Baking, a small charity here in Aotearoa with a big impact in the lives of so many through the art of baking.

We talk about how the organisation started, how it got it's name and why they're sticking with it, how they are using baking as a vehicle to share kindness, and how that kindness actually breeds more kindness. We hear some of the feedback that their Good Bitches have received in thanks for their baking, and we see that one simple act can make an enormous difference in someone else's life.

It's an inspirational conversation about finding how who you are and what you do can be used to share kindness and goodness with the world.

Check out Good Bitches Baking on their Website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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