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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.
Episodes
58 episodes
Episode 58 - The only village in the Pacific that renounced its culture completely for Jesus Christ.
What happens when an entire village makes the decision to turn away from its traditional practices and fully embrace Jesus Christ?In this episode, I am joined by Bri Olewale from Hula (Vulaa), Papua New Guinea, to explore the rema...
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Episode 57 - The Courtroom of Heaven: How to Pray & Present Your Case Before God.
Are you a Christian struggling with your prayer life? This episode is for you!🙏🏼Whether you’re a young or mature Christian, this episode gives you a step-by-step guide on how to pray and present your case before God in t...
Episode 56 - The Truth About Kava / Yaqona / Grog.
In this episode, we briefly discuss Fiji’s recent declaration of HIV as a national crisis, following a significant rise in HIV infections.🇫🇯We then dive deeper into kava (yaqona/grog) and its spiritual impact on those who drink it. We e...
Episode 55 - WHEN CULTURE REPLACES CHRIST: Tabua, the Highest Treasure in Fiji.
In this episode, we examine how tabua and yaqona (kava) have become deeply honoured within Fijian culture, and whether these traditions have taken a place that belongs to Jesus Christ alone.When cultural traditions receive the honour, r...
EPISODE 54 - YOU CANNOT SERVE BOTH GOD AND CULTURE.
“No one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” — Luke 9:62What happens when we say we follow Christ, but continue looking back to the traditions, beliefs, and practices of our ancestors?In...
Episode 53 - How Can the Pacific Come Out of Culture?
In this episode, Merenaisi Waqavakatoga and I discuss the wicked and ungodly parts of our Pacific cultures and how Pacific Islanders can let go of them and follow Jesus Christ.For many Pacific Islanders, renouncing culture is difficult ...
Episode 52 - End Times Prophecy: A Warning to the Pacific.
In this Episode, Merenaisi Waqavakatoga and I continue our discussion from the previous episode, diving deeper into end-times prophecy, Pacific culture, and the warnings given concerning the days ahead.How should we as Pacific Isl...
Episode 51 - Fijian Demonic Cultures: Are Fijians the Black Israelites?
In this episode, we sit down with Merenaisi Waqavakatoga to explore the spiritual side of Fijian culture and traditions, including practices believed to have pagan or demonic origins.We also investigate the fascinating question: Are Fij...
Episode 50 - Can You Lose Your Salvation?
What is salvation? What does it really mean to be saved? Can a born-again Christian fall back into sin? Can you lose your salvation? Is "once saved, always saved" truly biblical?These are some of the most debated questions in Chri...
Episode 49 - Spiritual Warfare: Fighting the Real Enemy.
In this episode, I discuss spiritual warfare, the recent backlash over the Samoan podcast, and how God has shown me that our true battle is not against people, but against evil. I also share my thoughts on the book I'm currently reading, <...
Episode 48 - How Kava Addiction Is Destroying Marriages in Fiji.
In this powerful and eye-opening episode, Solomone Koroi shares his personal journey of being trapped in kava addiction, how it affected his marriage and family, and the devastating impact he has seen kava have on many families in Fiji....
Episode 47 - I Sold My Tattoo Business After Finding Jesus – Tattoos Are Demonic.
In this powerful episode, a former Samoan tattoo artist, Mua Posala, shares his journey from running a successful tattoo business to giving it all up after accepting Jesus Christ.He talks about learning the art through family traditions ...
Episode 46 - Is Tou'a Human Trafficking?
IS TOU'A HUMAN TRAFFICKING?In this episode, we tackle one of the most difficult questions facing our communities today.Drawing on the testimonies of former tou'a women, we explore the connections between family pressure, mo...
Episode 45 - When Christians say, "It's not the church, it's the individual".
What is the church? Is it a building, a denomination, or the people of God?In this episode, we explore what the Bible actually teaches about the church and respond to the common claim: "It's not the church, it's the individual." Through...
Episode 44 - How Kava Addiction Affected My Life, Family, and Ministry.
In this episode, I sit down with Fiji Senior Methodist Minister, Reverend Wilfred Regunamada, to discuss his personal battle with kava addiction. We talk about how kava affected his life, family, and ministry, the journey that led to his recove...
Episode 43 - Wives, Don’t Lose Yourself Trying to Fix a Man Who Refuses to Change.
In this episode, Akanesi Kaufusi speaks directly to the wives of faikava men and any wives struggling emotionally in their marriages. We discuss emotional neglect, boundaries, healing, supporting husbands with unhealthy habits, and ...
Episode 42 - Why Do So Many Pacific Men Treat Their Wives Badly?
In this episode of the, we discuss the shocking rates of domestic violence and sexual abuse against women in the Pacific and ask the hard question: Why do so many Pacific men treat their wives badly?We dive into culture, faikava, father...
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...
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 ...
Episode 36 - My Estranged Relationship with Pacific Media.
This episode is about my estranged relationship with Pacific media - featuring some interesting interactions, a few receipts, and screenshots that speak for themselves 👀I also react to a recent faikava and tou’a video posted by ABC Paci...
Episode 35 - How Kava Was Used for Witchcraft in the Pacific.
Kava has long been a central part of Pacific culture, but its history goes deeper than many realise. In this episode, we explore how kava was traditionally used in spiritual systems, including rituals, divination, and communication with ancesto...
Episode 34 - Queen Salote College at 100: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.
As Queen Salote College celebrates its 100th anniversary this week, I take a trip down memory lane and reflect on my years at the college.In this episode, I share the good, the bad, and the ugly of my high school years at Q...