Why Not You? Equality, Communication & Real Connection | Neha Gosalia | S2E35

In Season 2, Episode 35 of Igniting Inspired Inquiry, I speak with Neha Gosalia about equality, communication, and the importance of real human connection.

We explore the shift from asking “why me?” to “why not?”, and how this opens up a different way of relating to ourselves and others.

This conversation also touches on honest communication, shared experiences, and the importance of staying connected through real, in-person interaction.

We are here to open the door to reflection, resonance, and revelation — and this conversation does exactly that.

Connect with Neha:
Email: ms.gosalia@gmail.com

Join us — and step into a space where real conversation is felt, not just heard.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:02

Welcome to Exciting Inspired Inquiry, a space for real conversations with incredible humans. I'm your host, Jay, and I'm here to open the door to reflection, resonance, and revelation. If you have a moment to like, share, subscribe, or review, I would deeply appreciate you sharing the love. This is a space for truth, trust, and the kind of insight that comes from simply being human. Thank you for being here. Let's begin. Welcome. And today I'm honored to have a beautiful human, another who I met at Wellfest in Queensdown. I'm very glad I did. And it actually connected a little more over what she is receiving from the podcast, which was really cool to have her feedback. And then I was like, hey, you should come and have a combo. And here we are. So I'm excited to introduce Neha and excited to hear who is she? Who is Naha arriving here today? Share that with us.

SPEAKER_00 1:14

How did G. Thank you so much for having me. Yeah, I'm excited to see where this conversation goes. But yeah, this is one question. Every time I listen to an episode, I'm like, ooh, ooh, that's a big question, you know? Um, and I think some people are just like quite easily to talk about what they do and things like that. But I who am I? I am I think because I did think about this, but one thing that kept come I kept coming back to was like a movement. And I feel like one where that really resonates with me right now and has been for the last few years quite deeply is a traveler. I feel like I'm a traveler, whether it's physically, metaphysically, psychologically. I I feel like I'm always trying to see more and know more and understand more than what I already do. Because I'm just really fascinated by the human condition. And I think, you know, every other person around me is such a a gift because everyone has a different experience and a perspective, and I'm forever curious and trying to learn from everyone else because I think through others' experiences I understand my own better as well. And travel, you know, traveling to different countries, different places always is where I feel most alive, is when I meet people, whether they're from that place or also traveling like myself. Um and and you know, and again, doesn't have to be to a new country. It could be to an a new experience where people that don't normally intersect come together for some reason. And that's like a really exciting kind of travel, you know. I feel like you travel into other people's minds and things like that can really just, I don't know, that's what makes me feel most alive. And I think what makes you feel most alive is what you are, you know, that's like the essence of your being in a way. Yeah, I feel like traveler really resonated with me. And then, you know, I'm a I I'm a singer, I'm a dancer, I'm a writer. Yes, and that is just I think how my me comes out, you know, and so I feel like that's another part of my being, existence. Yeah, and I'm a lover of love and harmony. You know, I I love connecting people and I like beyond everything, I think I really believe in the like collective power to create and and and to change the world, a community, anything for the better. That's something that I I really find that drives me to do what I do in terms of my hair and and just every day, really. Yeah, beautiful.

SPEAKER_01 4:40

So many things aligned, and I love that. So there's there's curiosity, exploration, traveling, connection. And I didn't know you sang, so I just up to you. Yes, and that is like very much a deep part of yourself when you sing or express in music or creativity, any kind of creation, right? It's just very much like it's a it's a showing of who you are, which is so beautiful, or something that's a part of you. Yay! I love that. I'm really curious in that mode about what's going to come through in this next question. So the common thread, the one you know and have heard in other podcasts for you. What is a lie for you today in answering this question? What is one moment, belief, or experience that changed the way you see the world?

SPEAKER_00 5:36

Yeah, this was another really interesting because yeah, and I I I I'm glad that you focus on like the one because there's so many often, you know. I think there's I always call, you know, you think about like yourself and it's like that's like season one neha. It's like, you know, underdeveloped and or like you know, and so many pivotal moments occur along the way. I think the one that I feel like I'm still riding on that that change that it created in me. There was, I'd say I guess like two moments that was part of an experience. And that was a couple of years ago, I was fortunate enough to be able to travel to the beautiful island of Niwe. And I had just one moment where I met a fellow traveler, just a gorgeous human being, and we're just sat on the beach and having a chat. And I don't know, I think at that point I had was in this state, like I had just finished delivering this huge event and campaign. And it was like we got on the plane and just shed everything. And but you know, you think you've shed everything and you're still carrying some of that attention. And and in that moment I said, Oh, sometimes I just wish I could just live on an island in the middle of nowhere. Because, like, what's better than this? And this guy just turns to me and says, Well, what's stopping you? You know, and I was like, I didn't expect to feel that confronted by this question, you know, because people would have so many answers to that question as well. And I was like, But which of those answers is actually like, you know, actually limiting me, actually stopping me? And it's just it was just it made me re-examine my beliefs and beyond just like what capitalist society and conditioning has done, which is something that I feel like I've been actively trying to unlearn within myself for many years now. But yeah, just that like assigning what you assign value to, whether it's earnings, achievements, whatever it is. And it's so interesting that because that really showed me that I was still trapped under so many of those beliefs at a level that I hadn't reached, you know, to unlearn it. And then it really caught me. It's like, well, yeah, I mean, it's if you decide to actually just do something because there's nothing else that you want more, there's actually nothing stopping you. You know, there might be some practical challenges along the way, but even if if as you're trying to overcome them, you're still doing that thing, you know, you're not saying, I wish I could do this thing and just park it there and and not take any steps towards it. So it's that it kind of made me realize that while I don't, you know, uh achieving this like thing that I wish I could do is not about dropping everything right this moment and doing that. It's about moving towards it consciously. Absolutely. You know, and that like it was like me on the outside proclaiming that, yeah, I only do what I choose and what I want. And and then in this moment, I realized that I wasn't fully, you know, honoring my what my choices were. Like I was I wanted to choose something and I was saying I couldn't, but the choice is always mine, right? And so, and that goes for anything, you know, it's not just about like where you're living, what you're working, all that. It's just any anything that you wish for. And it actually changed the course of my life because on the flight home, I made I had this like clarity in a way that just so many layers were just stripped away of like, you know, all the things that I had thought were like, these are the reasons I can't. You know, it literally on the flight home, I was like, well, this is it became so clear all the steps that I had to take to just go. I realized I was in, I needed to activate Rolling Stone mode, I called it. Yeah, because I guess I'm clearly not happy just being in one place, and I just needed to be moving. I needed to get into traveler, you know, like physical traveler space. And so I was like, yeah, that's easy. Like, yeah, this is where I give notice to this particular role, and then then, and then this is the month that I will leave the country, and this is, you know, like all like none of that was even in like the yeah, none of that happened. And then, and that that journey is still, I think, going even though I've returned to our turwa. I am still on that journey. I love that. Yeah, and I, you know, and I think I embody that, you know, choice a lot more, and I think it's really changed how I view the world just hugely, even though I'm back doing some of the same Mahi that I was doing before I left. Yeah, the view has completely changed, and my attachment to that has completely changed.

SPEAKER_01 11:23

And it's not it's not what you're doing, it's how you feel about what you're doing and the perspective. Yeah, it's aligned with you in that.

SPEAKER_00 11:31

Yeah, and how I feel about the you know that like feeling of like I'm doing this because I've got to, you know, or you know, yeah, it's more I choose and I'm always checking in with that. And I'm not assuming that because I've chosen it, that that is now like you know, I don't need to think about this again. It's about always checking in with it, I think, as well.

SPEAKER_01 12:02

Um yeah. I love that. I also love like that. You reflected that that moment that per when he asked you that question, like that's confronting, right? But and and it's so true though, that when we have the most confronting moments are when we are reflected where we're in our own way, but then also when we acknowledge that that the clarity on the other side of that is like poof. And then as you said, it's like, oh well, everything just lined up, and it just like because you all we needed was that confrontation that created the clarity, and then you're like, huh. And we get reminded I'm going down a path I didn't choose, not necessarily consciously, but now I am, I can choose, yeah, and exactly, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 12:48

And it's just like the it was such a gift, you know. That question was it's literally three words, and it was such a gift asked by a complete at that point stranger, you know. And yeah, it was yeah, it was incredible that I mean I'm sure people asked me that before, but it was in that moment that it needed to be, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 13:12

Yeah, because and people might have answered that, you know, before, but you weren't hearing it in the moment that you needed to.

SPEAKER_00 13:19

Yeah, and then that was sort of followed by another experience where we were able to share space with a tupuna from the deep, with the humppack whales that were around the island at that time, and just being in the presence of some of the largest creatures of the ocean that and then while so we were in the water, the whale breached as well. So imagine that happening sort of like 30 meters away whilst you're uh just bobbing lung on the surface. Wow, and it was just like you know, like there's nothing to describe that like literally nothing else exists, but also you realize that if this can exist, anything can. If I can exist in this moment, I can like anything is possible. And just the fact that the whale was just being, it was claiming its space, whereas you know, it can be under the ocean, under the surface, and you wouldn't even know that they were there. And you know, these are creatures that are so intelligent and so aware of everything around them, above, below, but they never ever feel the need to take up more space than they need, you know, and it was just such a reminder that, like, here I am, like, yes, I was congratulating myself for being brave and you know, getting into the water in the first place, but really it was also this like incredible reality check of just how small we are, but also how big life actually is, both within us and beyond us. Yes, and and and that's not something to be taken lightly ever. And again, it brought me back to that choice of yeah, of of got everything ahead of me, but also I was also humbled because you know, choice is something that not everyone might have in terms of like I had the freedom as well, you know, and the the the privilege to be able to act upon those choices and despite being this tiny speck of life, you know, and yeah, so I think it was a blessing from the ancestors of the deep to to be to be to bear witness to something so incredible and but also like you know, we're all life, and so I should, you know, I'd remind myself to be grateful that I'm able to bear witness to my own life and and yeah, and that you know, I have power to be good and do good at all times.

SPEAKER_01 16:50

So yeah. Yes, and the awe of life, and that all comes from being asked a question, but not just being asked a question, but reflecting on that that confrontation and seeing what it meant for you and then flowing with it, yeah. And and and that's what I was hearing too, is like that when we follow these threads, unbeknownst to us of why they're there, but they're there, that the feeling is there, we need to follow it, then we see why. Yes, and the awe is just incredible, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:24

And I mean, uh why I wasn't even thinking of Nui. I was thinking of going to Tonga. And then somehow Nui dropped in, and like, you know, that's it. Follow it.

SPEAKER_01 17:39

And now you know why. And that's what I love too, is like when you're in those moments, you're like, that's why that dropped in. That's why I felt so strongly about that. And and the more we learn and listen, the more we listen and then follow it, then we learn to listen on a deeper level and trust that learning, trust that knowing.

SPEAKER_00 17:56

That the trust, that built that, you know, I think that's I think that's the harder step. First is like, okay, yeah, I'm gonna hang on to this choice. And then the minute you sort of reintegrate, right? And you like you step out of the the sort of fourth field of that amazing moment, and you have, you know, because those your familiar patterns are still waiting for you, and your calendar is still waiting for you, and you know, and it's and then it's that trust that really I think is what helps you, you've gotta, you've gotta find it. And I think that's the back and forth a little bit between really just staying on that new path that's been revealed to you is the trust and that like, yeah, having trust and having faith in the leap of faith that you've decided to take because you know your body said yes, your your soul said yes, and yeah, but following through with this thing in here, yes.

SPEAKER_01 19:08

Yes, and that's the magic of life, right? Yeah, that is the magic. And it's it's so beautiful when life reflects that back to us. And I really feel the resonance in what you're sharing, so thank you so much. Now we're live in question two. So this is in the moment, you don't know the question, and what I'm really wanted to ask you is I'm super inspired by your work and by the things that you're involved in. And so the question is around that, and I was wondering if you could share with me with us. What do you feel is a big question, but in the work that you do, what do you feel we need the most change? Where do you feel we need the most change in the work that you do?

SPEAKER_00 19:56

Hmm, that is a fantastic question. I think about it all the time. Um and it's so weird because it's quite close to the question I was gonna ask you. Oh, sweet, bring it. Um, but yeah, it's slightly different. So, but I I think that's gonna really be nice with the conversation. So, what do you think, what do I think we need the most? Everything I do, so just for context, I work obviously in events, community events, pretty much exclusively in the non-profit sector. So I've worked in the volunteering sector, I've worked, I'm currently working within sustainability and also now moving into a new role with community well-being. So I and I'm also recently stepped back into education, which is something that I did when I first started into the professional world. And the one thing, and I think I'll refer back to what I said about myself, that that connector piece of me, uh, I think that's what I find is the most important is connection. And this is said in so many different ways in so many different uh spaces and at so many different levels all the time. I think, you know, uh the one thing that we really need to rediscover is genuine uh connection because so much around us is uh dehumanizing both us and other people. And we don't even realize. It because we have I feel like we've normalized a certain percentage of dehumanization where we don't feel compelled, we don't feel obliged to uh acknowledge uh a hundred percent of each other's humanity. And I find that absolutely terrifying. And so that is where, and I see it every day, like you know, you I think people have said for decades now, like, you know, when you see someone wearing a uniform, they kind of become invisible, and it's like how you know, people in the service industry, in any kind of industry where you're wearing a uniform are treated often. But I think that's now becoming pretty across the board because we observe each other far too much on a screen. Where I guess the point, and this catches me out all the time, is that I forget how much of people's lives they've actually witnessed in real life versus on a screen because we know too much about each other from not a primary source, so to speak, even if it's that person sharing their story on a screen. I just don't think that that's the same as sharing a conversation with them about them telling you a story about something that happened in their life, or yeah, I and I so I think, and that's what what lies at the root of everything that I try to create here in the community is how do I create experiences, events, any kind of campaign where I can get people together and allow them to connect in a way that is so uh fundamental that they'll carry it away with them. Because if I can add a little piece of connection back into every person that has come through to something that I've helped create, that is a win for me because that is to me, if we remember that we're not just living for us, you know, whether it has to do with sustainability, whether it has to do with well-being, whether it has to do with community service, whatever it is, if we can remember that there is we are we are not just living for us, we uh will just act differently. We just will. We just will that because there is something so visceral about that, like our conscience has deteriorated because of this, you know, kind of uh barrier that is this thing, and you know, and yeah, I think that's something that is we're we're lacking. And uh one of my dear dear friends, Lucian, created this gorgeous piece of art, it's a collage, and he put on there it said, how we treat the earth is how we feel about our children. And that for me, you know, that kind of right, right?

SPEAKER_01 25:44

Yeah, I feel that way too.

SPEAKER_00 25:46

Yeah, and it was like, you know, but that is pretty much like it's not just how we feel about our children, it's about how we feel about each other. Like if the life that is in me is also in everybody else, how how have we made it possible to disrespect that very life by somehow being told that by doing certain things we're preserving our own, but we're not. For me, for me to be free, to be, do, and you know, be myself, exist as a as a human being, everyone must be free. Right? So I think if we remember that connection, if we the biggest thing that we need, the most important thing that we need more of in uh really sort of genuine, really most primal ways is connection. Because when it comes to, I mean, look at the state of like just let's talk about all these natural phenomena that are you know affecting people across the world, whether it's a fire, a flood, storms, there's so much. What happens in those moments? We need each other, exactly. Yeah, and we need each other more than we need anything else, and that's actually all that matters. That's all that matters. And if we forget how to connect, how the heck are we going to survive?

SPEAKER_01 27:32

Yeah, agreed. Yeah, it's so true, so important.

SPEAKER_00 27:37

Yeah, and so I think you know, we can do all this campaigning on social media, but for me, it's like get people in a room.

SPEAKER_01 27:49

Yeah, yeah, yeah, because it's the disconnection that's keeping people disconnected, it's the the lack of ability to know what to do and how to connect. That that then people perceiving it's too hard or or they don't know how to do it. Whereas it's like it's something you can and it's and it's a skill that needs, it's a muscle that needs flexed for sure.

SPEAKER_00 28:10

Yeah, have you have you noticed that? Absolutely, and it's you know, when you said that, they they think they don't know how to do it, but it is our most natural agreed ability. It's a thought, but it's not true, yeah. Yeah, no, no, but like, but it is it's becoming true because that's how people are thinking about it, yeah. Whereas it's actually the most natural thing that we are able to do because we have always been social animals, it's that that has also been turned into a convenience, yeah. Right, and the minute something is turned into a convenience, you stop flexing that muscle.

SPEAKER_01 28:56

Agreed, yeah, yeah. And we're wide without unconsciously to to search for what is easy and what is, but then also I think another part of it, the the the lack of connection or not wanting to is that wow, honestly, I think people are too busy.

SPEAKER_00 29:15

Why are we too busy?

SPEAKER_01 29:16

And we're so busy, we're so stressed though. But then when we think about connecting with someone, we A, think about that as effort, B, it's not practice, so it feels hard. And and then we're just we we're too tired to even think about it.

SPEAKER_00 29:32

Yeah, and we can we end up connecting with a version of that, because think about what often people choose to do, whether they sat in front of a TV screen and they're observing lives, whether it's you know, fictional or non-fictional of others, but through a barrier, you know. So we are seeking that connection still because absolutely whether it's we whether you escape into a book or a you know, go to the cinema and escape into a movie or you watch some transfer reality TV, I don't know. But we are seeking that connection because we are wanting to connect with lives, other lives in some ways, but we've lost the courage, yeah, yeah, and feeling something for it, absolutely, but it's that exchange of emotion that doesn't occur, and and when the exchange doesn't occur, not only A, we forget that it's okay to express ourselves, and we also forget how to receive emotionally, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 30:43

Just thinking that's so true, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 30:46

So, like both of those tasks are lost, and I mean, we're so in this Tahoe no community, we're very fortunate. Like, you know, there are people that are actively trying, like the libraries are always trying to get people in a room and and kind of break some of those patterns that have developed. Yeah, it's got harder, that's for sure. Yeah, but like you said, that busyness is also coming from from we've added convenience so that you have more time to do more things in your life. I know. And you know, for some people that is like, oh yeah, now that I can you know turn my dishwasher on through my phone, I don't know, or whatever. Now I can now I can go to do this one activity. But or now I'm just like I've got more time to be busy. Yeah, more time to be more busy. And we add more without allowing time for absorption. It's something I say like at festivals and stuff as well. Like, you know, there's so much, and I'll be like, can circle all the things on the schedule. And but then it's like actually, and that that is again that's that that mindset of like got to do everything dropping into this space where I'm trying to get away from that, and you know, yeah, yeah, yeah, go in. But it's like actually we're gonna go to this, and then actually let that hour of you know, incredible learning sink in, absorb it. Agreed.

SPEAKER_01 32:20

Otherwise, what's yeah, otherwise, what's the point? Because the thing that you do is like 10, 20 integration, absorption, say 80% of it. Like why are you there? What did you learn? What and what will you do with it now?

SPEAKER_00 32:36

Exactly. That next step of taking it forward into the rest of your life to actually feel the the impact. And it doesn't have to be, yeah. Sorry.

SPEAKER_01 32:49

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 32:49

So you just don't leave the impact.

SPEAKER_01 32:51

And you don't have to come to the yeah, yeah. It's a beautiful thing to be able to just really sit in the resonance of what you receive. And and and so there's sometimes there's oh, well, what will I gonna do with this information now? But actually, before that, it's just like, how does this make me feel? Yeah, it was the same as when you're reflecting in that first question of like, oh, it's confronting, and then why? And then oh, you know, so it's that self-inquiry where the growth is, and it's it's so beautiful, but that is also in and thread of your question, is like that's deepening the connection with yourself, which helps you deepen connection with others, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 33:29

But we we've been robbed of like again that time to sit with anything, right? Like, like obviously, somewhere you made a choice, like I want to go to this workshop, right? And then you're not even honoring that choice fully. You know, when you go to the workshop and then you're like, right, tick, I've done it. But you didn't even listen fully to like, why did you choose that? Why did I choose this workshop? You know, what made me choose there's something inside me, there was a need that I was listening to when I said, Yeah, that sounds good, you know, and I'm gonna go to that. And then, but you forget that just going to the workshop is not gonna fulfill the need necessarily, you know, you that it it that you absorbing it, taking the next steps of like, you know, what else do I need? Do I still need more? Like, that's what's and yeah, you're absolutely right. That connection to self is is lost because it it's reflected back when we connect with each other. And if we don't do that, then yeah, we don't go deep enough.

SPEAKER_01 34:43

That's right. That's why we do the work we do.

SPEAKER_00 34:46

Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 34:48

Thank you for that. That is just there's a lot to reflect on in there, and I really love that. And I know that that people listening will really hear that, and I hope, even in the in the second part of the answer, just take a moment to really sit with what it means for you and not make meaning out of it, just feel into it, yeah. And I think that that's really special, yeah. Which is it's interesting because you at the beginning of the question you said about about phones and connection, which was hilarious because listeners won't know, but we had trouble doing all this call. And then you also said about oh, it's really weird because this is like similar to where what my question is, but it's never weird, it's always synchronous, and I love that, especially because where we've been where we've been chatting is very much in alignment with other conversations we've had today, and and I really feel that that's the way it is now when we're really in the deep listening of life. So this is where we get to you question three, reflecting light. You have a question for me.

SPEAKER_00 35:55

I do, and this is something that like I think I was just so when I first met you. Obviously, like the first communication was all through WhatsApp chats and and something, you know, just even that first email that I received was it was so full of genuine love, even though I know that you sent a similar email to probably several other people that were wanting to volunteer. And but there was but you know, you knew that it was going out to potentially complete strangers, and you still managed to infuse it with something that was like, ooh, yes, you know, excited like really just like whatever that first pull of for was for me to connect into Welfist, you just made that stronger. And yeah, so just as someone that I've seen bring people together, often people that have just met both you and each other, but and you know, they've sort of chosen to work together in this new environment potentially for them. There's this like combination of excitement, but also a level of trust about what lies ahead, right? Because especially if it's you've just chosen to be there. And so I'm curious to know. We talked about connection. What do you think is the magic ingredient? Because I feel like there's certain people that hold it that can then, you know, be like the crux of that energy, and then draw everyone else in, and everyone just kind of comes together. So, what do you think is the magic ingredient that can like sort of connect people to co-create in like a really cooperative, truly community-focused way that just lets us come up above the personal gain from something? And I don't mean personal gain in like a negative sense of the word, but you know, yes, of course, everyone has a need that they're wanting to get fulfilled when they come to join something, an event or whatever it is. Yeah, so what do you think is someone that often brings people together as the magic ingredient to authentic co-creation? That's a very long question, sorry.

SPEAKER_01 38:32

It's a beautiful question. And I and I it's nice personally, it's just nice to hear that that that's you know, sort of what you received is in the beginning of our communication. And actually, that would be probably my first answer is just honest and authentic communication. But what's but and and I share that because I want to reflect on where you started, but the biggest piece, which is loud and proud for me in everything I do, it is equality. And no matter where I work, whether I'm working with a one-on-one client or whether we're working in a group, and yes, I'm kind of leading the way, I don't want anyone to feel as though I'm above them in any way, shape, or form. And even in how I deliver the information that they may require, it comes from a place of this is something I invite you into, and this may be something that you'd like to receive, but this is not something I know better and you should follow. Um so equality, communication, communication, I think, is the big piece in terms of and in terms of letting people in with what you're doing as well, instead of like this is what I need you to do. It's like this is what we're working on together.

SPEAKER_00 40:01

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 40:02

So you need the whole picture for that, and and understanding again, depending on what you're doing, but for the festival sake, it's like we're going on a journey. And I want you to come along on the ride for the ride, you know, and making feel people feel because they are, but they may not have realized it yet, that they're a part of something. Yeah. And then, and and I think that's what I love about wow, it's what I love about leadership. It's what I love about holding space for people, is realizing that, and I've actually was again, it's another synchronicity, it was just writing that, like, because to me, leadership isn't a it's not a me, it's a we. Yeah, and we together are a superpower, right? But also, I'm not here above you, I'm here with you. Yes, so even in the practical sense, it's like if I'm leading against, say, the um uh the well fest the festival, there's no job that I'm not above or below. It's like I'll clean the loop and I need you to too, you know. It's like it, but also it's just yeah, that's what resonates for me, as well as being willing to do the work just as much as the people you're asking to do the work.

SPEAKER_00 41:19

That's right. Yeah, I love that equality. That kind of gave me goose films the first time you said it. It's huge, and it's it is huge, and and and how much the communication feeds into that is also huge. And and I think what is what sets people apart definitely is that ability to communicate without that ego, because they've been given a title. And and also like I don't know if you found this, but working in the community space, like I think you're almost expected to have a bit of that if you're a coordinator, manager, you know. And when you don't, it's sometimes seen as like, well, is that person truly a leader? Because they're not being bossy and he'd say, but women, women especially, um viewed like, oh, well, that's you know, like it's like, but it's not about the limelight in everybody listen to me. You do need to have moments like that, but it is to create that sort of even ground, you know.

SPEAKER_01 42:43

Um and I think that's been a really big part of my my work is teaching people a different way in terms of leadership, and and even just I mean, one of the the ways I got there was from being in some really toxic work environments and and seeing the leadership and and just seeing learning what not to do. Thank you very much for teaching me that those people, you know, but then and but then also understanding that you know I have the ability to lift people up to where I'm at, yeah, and that feels more important than being above anyone ever.

SPEAKER_00 43:19

100%, yeah, because it's like if if I can show you that, you know, there are some ways that we can all create change, and if we can all, you know, getting people up to stand beside you is just making the movement of whatever you're trying to achieve stronger. It is not gonna be, you know, like the the the the peak of the mountain is not the strongest part of it. Yeah, agreed.

SPEAKER_01 43:54

Yeah, you know, and it yeah, and that's the same like in other parts of my work. It's like when I learn something, it's not. Like, oh, I know better. It's like, come up, come with me, it's really good over here. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 44:05

Yeah, check this out, you know. Yeah, like, yeah. Um, and I think that that's where the honesty part also really plays into it because when it's coming from a place of like people can always tell whether they realize that they can or not, that is is the biggest magnet, I say, you know, and this is something I always said to people like when you're trying to recruit volunteers, like don't use language that you think sounds good. Say how you truly feel. Lead, like put your passion first. Don't be afraid of showing the passion either. Because I think that's something that a lot of leaders don't do, is like they don't they don't go hard out when they're talking about what they're doing because they've got to sound, I don't know, professional and managerial or whatever.

SPEAKER_01 45:03

Yeah. Yeah, yeah. There's a sweet spot there, I think, because people also like if you're leading them, they do view you as like you need to have it all together.

SPEAKER_00 45:12

Well, no, I don't yeah, I I I think you know yeah, having it all together, but not losing the passion, you know, in like in in what you like rema saying that, like speaking just as passionately about every role that you know it needs to be filled in any project, campaign, event, whatever it is, uh like and being able to say that like this is really helping all of us do this, you know. And being able to say that about any task that you are asking people to do. So yeah, I think that that honesty and amazing question. Yeah, that really thank you. Thank you. No, that's yeah, I appreciate the way that you frame that because I love being in the reflection, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 46:07

It's and it's just it's really nice to to know that that has been received, actually. And and I'm sure from from I mean, even the reason you're asking is um that it implicates into like how you you do your work. And that's where I would come is like if you could share with because we do need to wind up, but like if you could share with us, like how do people connect with you and what's what you're doing? What are you working on at the moment?

SPEAKER_00 46:32

Yeah, so as I said, working on I'm I run a variety of sustainability events in Queenstown. So the next couple of things that are happening, repair events. We've got, we're looking for people that have any kind of repair skills. If you're a volunteer who just likes being at events and wants to help out as well, just greeting people, we're open to that. But yeah, I'm working on uh these repair events where community members can bring in items that don't work or broken in any way, clothing, shoes, skis, bikes, whatever, and repair heroes, we like to call them. Volunteers will share their knowledge on fixing and help them fix these things. And it's it's just a great way of growing repair culture. So repair not replace is kind of our motto. And yeah, also, yeah, it's really exciting. And and I mean, to connect with me, I I don't have like my own thing, but you can connect with me through Sustainable Queenstown. I'm also gonna be supporting a community well-being program through Headlight Trust. So that's another way you can connect with me. I can send links, but yeah, just email me. I'll send my email to you, Jay. And if you've got anything, yeah. Anytime if you've got an idea for something creative, something that will just make our community a more connected place, get in touch because I love a project um that does that for the community. I'm in the creative arts. I'm like I said, I'm a dancer, I'm a singer, I write, and it's something I'm always open to collaborate on. And yeah, so just get in touch if you've got anything community, because I just love being amongst it.

SPEAKER_01 48:27

Yes, I can feel that, and it's so good. And when some of your events come up, I'll share them on the program.

SPEAKER_00 48:33

Oh, thank you. Yeah, yeah, it's fabulous. Thank you so much. That's what it is all about supporting each other. Yeah, oh, and Aiden's already signed up too.

SPEAKER_01 48:43

Yes, sweet, amazing. Thank you. Well, it was really it was beautiful, actually. Um I'm excited to reflect back on this combo and to see what comes through for others and sharing beautiful pieces of what you've shared and what you've asked, and and the receiving, the reciprocity of this. Yeah, um, and I just yeah, I wanted to say thank you so much for being here.

SPEAKER_00 49:09

Thank you for doing this amazing mahi. Like I've I'm telling everyone about your podcast, by the way, because I just I'm just like you listen to them and you might just listen to some of it and just go, wow, these people are just so incredible. And then one little bit just sticks with you. And it I feel like all the conversations, there's never that pressure. Sometimes you listen to these podcasts that are like, Oh my gosh, now I feel like I've got to go and like do all the all the amazing things for self-improvement or for community improvement, or like, you know, and with this one, I just feel like it's it's this it's that invitation. Come along, yeah, see where you sit, you know, and I love that it's that vibe is just all through, regardless of who the person is and what the conversation is about. You just feel like you're in the room listening and and and feeling good about it because you might take away one line that really just stuck with you, and and it's still transformative, you know, and I love that. So thank you for doing this, and thank you for having me on.

SPEAKER_02 50:19

Thank you, thank you.

SPEAKER_01 50:21

It's an absolute pleasure. And for those who are listening, thank you so much for being here with us. And we love to hear from you. And if anything drops in, or if you need any support with anything, or if you want to do something community with Naha, do it. I totally recommend that. But thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you.