Down to Earth Conversations

Dallas Harema is a social worker, counsellor, coach, husband, father, and so much more. My observation, having known Dallas for a while now, is that he has a really good grasp on what it means to love people well, in a way that gets through the clutter to make real connections.  We talk about how being Māori influences how he sees relationships, we talk about breaking down barriers for men to be vulnerable, for couples to connect better, the current political climate around Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the Treaty of Waitangi, and the need for us all to be better acquainted with our emotions.  Connect with Dallas at harema.co.nz ___ Connect with me at downtoearthconversations.com or at: Facebook: facebook.com/downtoearth.conversations  Instagram: @downtoearth.conversations Email: [email protected]   Music by Strahan: Spotify: Strahan Facebook: facebook.com/StrahanMusic or facebook.com/commonerscommunion Instagram: @strahanmusic or @commoners_communion

Earlier this year I was a guest on Stephen Garton's podcast, Fresh Aesthetic. This episode is a rerelease of that episode in full. If you enjoy it, make sure you check out Stephen's other episodes of Fresh Aesthetic. Check out Fresh Aesthetic on Instagram, linktree, or wherever you get your podcasts.  ___ Connect with me at downtoearthconversations.com or at: Facebook: facebook.com/downtoearth.conversations  Instagram: @downtoearth.conversations Email: [email protected]  

Kylee Black is a social entrepreneur committed to cultivating strong connected community. Through her own experiences with disability and complex health challenges, Kylee has been able to create spaces for others and that help empower them in their own journey. Kylee is the CEO and founder of Kylee & Co, an online platform with accessible products by the disability community for everyone.  On this episode we talk about Kylee's journey with health and disability, her advocacy for people with disabilities, creating safe spaces for people with disabilities within faith communities and expressions, the power of connectedness, and we explore the idea that accessibility actually benefits us all.  Check out Kylee & Co on their website, Facebook, or Instagram. Check out Clipboard on their website, Facebook, or Instagram. ___ Connect with me at downtoearthconversations.com or at: Facebook: facebook.com/downtoearth.conversations  Instagram: @downtoearth.conversations Email: [email protected]   Music by Strahan: Spotify: Strahan Facebook: facebook.com/StrahanMusic or facebook.com/commonerscommunion Instagram: @strahanmusic or @commoners_communion  

As I release this, today marks one full year since the atrocities committed by Hamas in Israel, and the beginning of a horrendous campaign of genocide that Israel began in Gaza as a result. Violence that has, in the past week or so, spread into surrounding territories as the western world sits back and watches.  Today's guest, Cole Yeoman, is a visual journalist, capturing stories through photos and videos. While many of us were simply getting on with our lives, Cole left the safety of Aotearoa New Zealand for the land of Palestine, spending two months in and around the West Bank.  Cole shares stories of the people he met, the resilience he saw, and the oppression that they face in everyday life. What Cole describes is both heart-warming and heart breaking. It gives some understanding as to why things exploded a year ago, and why this so far from Israel simply defending itself.  Cole tells the stories of humans who are trying to keep their humanity and dignity in an environment that is dehumanising and oppressive. He also challenges us about what we are doing to help give hope to those for whom life has become quite hopeless.  This is one of the most important conversations I feel like I've ever had on this podcast. And that is no slight on all the amazing conversation partners I've had so far. But this one just has a weight to it. For that reason, wanting to do this conversation some justice, I didn't stop us to fit my usual timings, and so this episode is much longer than my others. It felt like it needed to be. Feel free to listen in smaller chunks as you are able.  Cole and I specifically discuss some of the stories behind some of his photographs and videos, so you may want to go check them out on his Instagram page before listening.  See below for a range of resources to become educated on the situation, and to keep up with what is going in in real time.  Check out the amazing list of resources at Aotearoa Christians for Peace in Palestine and follow them on Instagram. Find Across the Divide Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Here is a 90min Course, "Deconstructing Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians" from Amnesty International And read this Open Letter from Palestinian Christians to Western Church Leaders and Theologians   INSTAGRAM accounts to follow:@cole.in.a.box@christians4peaceaotearoa@christatthecheckpoint@youthofsumud@mohammadhureini@samihuraini@[email protected]@awdah.hathaleen@savealmakhrour ___ Connect with me at downtoearthconversations.com or at: Facebook: facebook.com/downtoearth.conversations  Instagram: @downtoearth.conversations Email: [email protected]   Music by Strahan: Spotify: Strahan Facebook: facebook.com/StrahanMusic or facebook.com/commonerscommunion Instagram: @strahanmusic or @commoners_communion

Episode 100 is here! As I was thinking about what to do for this episode, I thought, why not interview someone who has featured more on the podcast than anyone else, yet who hasn't actually been a guest on the podcast? Every episode since episode 21, Strahan Coleman's music has been there.  And in this kōrero with Strahan we go deep, talking about the journey that led to him being an award winning musician who travelled the world, but then the way life all came crashing down, pulling his music career out from under him and changing everything about his life and his future. In that time of deep pain, Strahan began to learn a new way of seeing God, a new way of praying, a new way of being. We talk about the mountains and the valleys, the joys and the struggles, the unlearning, and the embodying of faith. We talk about unanswered prayers, undiagnosable conditions, and what it might mean that God is good, especially in those times when it doesn't seem to be true.   It is a conversation that is filled with life and hope. Connect with Strahan on his Website, Facebook, or Instagram Or check out Strahan's Music on Spotify ___ Connect with me at downtoearthconversations.com or at: Facebook: facebook.com/downtoearth.conversations  Instagram: @downtoearth.conversations Email: [email protected]