Yarns for the Soul
"Yarns" is a common way for New Zealanders to describe having a chat, a conversation. We might say 'I had a great yarn with Nicole the other day!'. For me, a yarn can go in many different directions, often including multiple tangents and side stories. It also involves having deeper discussions and diving into some vulnerability, before coming back up to a lighter level with some sarcasm or dark humour.
Yarns for the Soul was born out of a desire to champion more honest and vulnerable conversation (but also feel like you're sitting on a friend's couch with a cup of tea having a yarn with them- and that friend is me!).
I believe in the magic and power of story-telling, and everyone has stories that deserve to be shared with the world. We are all experts of our own lived experiences, and I hope by sharing these we can foster more curiosity and compassion for others and the world around us.
I yarn with my guests on a range of topics, often delving into subjects that are still considered socially taboo or not spoken about enough. In my mini-yarns, I also share parts of my own stories, and reflect on things that I'm learning while I continue to muddle my way forward and follow my nose!
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If you'd like to get in touch, or follow my journey, you can find me over in Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole. See you there!
Yarns for the Soul
Episode 49- Heal the Hauraki: yarns on healing, helping and hope with Cassie and Mandy
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!
