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Pacific Empowerment
Pacific Empowerment Podcast was founded by a Tongan woman entrepreneur, Akanesi Kaufusi, to uplift and inspire Pacific Island people to take bold action, chase their dreams, and dream as big as they dare. This podcast challenges the limitations of traditional thinking and cultural expectations that often hold our people back. It’s a space to break free from fear, take risks, and rewrite what’s possible - no matter your background or environment. Your situation doesn’t define you. Your vision does.
Pacific Empowerment
Latest Episodes
Episode 41 - The Impact of Father Absence on Children.
In this episode of the Pacific Empowerment Podcast, I dive deep into the impact of father absence on children, especially within Pacific communities.Drawing on international studies and real-life experiences shared by women in the commun...
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Episode 40 - How Touʻa Changed From Men to Women.
In this episode, we dive deep into the history and evolution of Touʻa in Tongan faikava culture.Was Touʻa originally a male role? How did it change over time from sacred ceremony into modern faikava settings? Drawing from academic resear...
Episode 39 - Pagan Origins of Kava.
In this episode, we go deeper than culture and tradition to uncover the true origins of kava. Where did it come from? What beliefs shaped it? And why does its history matter today?We explore ancient Tongan stories like Kavaʻonau a...
Episode 38 - When Culture Becomes an Idol: You Shall Have No Other Gods Before Me
In this episode, I explore what happens when culture is placed above God, and why that becomes idolatry.After sharing that kava is classified as a drug, someone responded, “We know it’s true… but it’s our culture.” That statement reveals...
Episode 37 - Addiction Starts Early: What Kava Is Doing to Our Children.
In this episode, we unpack what addiction really is, what leads to it, and why early exposure to substances matters more than people think. From brain development to environment and culture, we break down how habits are formed and how they can ...