One consequence of COVID-19 is we have a bit more time and so I thought it might be helpful to list some of my own favourite episodes from the seeds back catalogue organised by topic. So, here you go:
The most popular episode so far
The Honourable Justice Joseph Williams explaining the Karakia “Whakataka te Hau”
Entrepreneurs
Israel Cooper: Israel has a clear sense of identity and purpose and we talk about what led to his co-founding the building company, home, which has a real focus on people and community and is an impact driven company. From his earliest years as a child growing up in the cult his Grandfather founded (now called Gloriavale) to time in the United States and Australia, working at PWC and co-founding IT companies, working in the movie industry, we talk about that and more along the way.
Glen Herud: Glen’s start-up Happy Cow Milk failed. That failure resulted in an outpouring of support – so he started again. In this interview we talk about his dreams and what went wrong, what happens when you admit defeat but then get even more support, the value of transparency in business, the impact of pursuing your dream on your family, the corporatization of farming today and what it means for the people and animals involved, moving from being a milk production company to becoming an IT company – oh, and landmines in the garden and lions by the African road as a child in Rhodesia.
Alanna Chapman: Alanna is a co-founder of 27 Seconds which is a social enterprise winery whose profits go to ending modern day slavery. They do this by supporting the work of Hagar with their profits. In this interview we talk about her childhood that included living in South East Asia, her more recent encounters with modern slavery and the resulting origin of the idea for 27 Seconds and how it operates as a social enterprise.
Education
Cheryl Doig: Cheryl is a leadership futurist and expert in education and in this interview we combine the two into a far reaching discussion about what is to come in relation to the future of learning. We also talked about her background as a school principal, the impact of a child dying of abuse on an entire school community, the recent Future of Learning conference she co-organised with Hamish Duff (from Recalibrate) as well as her work at Think Beyond.
John Balash: John is Director of Educational Engagement at Carnegie Mellon University Entertainment Technology Centre. In this interview we talk about his early years and his background that has led to a career looking at how entertainment can intersect with education. We also talk about John’s childhood and experience in France, what he studied, why he loves lego so much, what it was like to compete at lego and the role it plays in this life today.
Jessica Trybus: Because any interview where you talk about working from Drew Barrymore needs to be on the list. In this one Jessica shares about that but we also learn about Simcoach Games and making learning fun.
Children’s perspective
Shanna on being 10:
Isabel on being 6:
Shanna on being 11:
On life and death
John Hammond: This is one of the most downloaded episodes of all time. I spoke with John when we knew that he had terminal cancer and he died about two months later. So in this episode we got the chance to reflect about his life, falling in love at first sight and what you do when you get the news that you have terminal cancer. I got an email from John’s son after the funeral thanking me for recording this episode – it makes the whole effort of doing the podcast worthwhile.
Sister Mary Scanlon: Mary was born in 1929 which means she was about to turn 90 when we did this interview. We talk about her life – her memories of when World War II started (she heard about it on the radio and her Father cried), and what led her to joining The Little Company of Mary and a life of service helping those through hospice care.
Peter Beck: Peter was the Dean of the Christchurch Cathedral at the time of the earthquakes in 2011. We take time to reflect on spiritual ‘thin places’ where the distance between physical things and spiritual things is less thick.
Reviews
Social Enterprise
Louise Aitken: In this interview we find out about many things in one of the longest episodes, because Louise had so many great things to share. We start with what it is like to be an identical twin then discuss the growth of impact enterprises and the role that Akina plays. We also discuss what the future may hold for impact driven organisations.
Bridget Williams: Bridget cares about the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and founded social enterprise Bead and Proceed to highlight them. In this interview we find out about the SDGs as well as her own life story and journey including her work with the Student Volunteer Army, Global Shapers, working as a lawyer and time on the TV show, What Now.
Systems Change
Enetta Pauze: This one we talk on a really wide variety of topics including intergenerational legacy and what passes between generations, family businesses and their unique dynamics and memories of grandparents. We also go deep into system change – what is it and how it works, particularly in the context of a city like Christchurch.
Music
Sacha Vee: This was a fascinating insight into the life of a recording artist who also sang for us on the episode. I loved learning about her initiative to set up a place where young people and others can learn more about the music industry and create music themselves.
Tamara Smith: This is a great interview because we explore all about Tamara’s love of music and how it began. Starting from her origins in a creative family we discuss how she began to love the flute and all about her creative music process. She even plays three types of flute for us and composes a song on the spot.
Kathleen Gallagher: Some interviews are like little jewels that I’ve somehow uncovered while walking along the beach. Today is one of those as I speak with the poet Kathleen Gallagher. Kathleen has written plays, poems, novels as well as done 7 feature films. In this interview we talk about her childhood, the creative writing process, how she writes, being attentive and in the moment and her recent novel Inangahua Gold.
Community
Natasha Zimmerman: This is easily one of the best episodes ever because we focus in on Natasha’s PHD research on connection and belonging. As well as that we learn about her childhood, she recites a poem that she wrote just for seeds podcast and we find out all about Unchatter which is a connection experience promoting community. I guarantee this is one you will really enjoy.
Rebecca Parnham: I really enjoyed my conversation with Rebecca becuase she mentions at least 20 people in the interview – those who have helpd her or who she has helped. The tangible way she talks about community and how it clearly has shaped her world is such an encouragement. Then add in the projects she is part of and it stands out as a great interview.
Alina Siegried: if you can combine both poetry and talking about impact with a discussion on systems change then the interview gets real. We do that and more in this one with Alina who shares her life story, the influence of a particular song on her decision to move back to New Zealand and what it is like to be a performance poet.
Technology
Dr. Mahsa Mohaghegh: Mahsa is an expert in Artificial Intelligence working as a senior lecturer at AUT. In this interview talk about her background and childhood in Iran and what first got her interested in computers (at age 7) as well as machine translation and AI. We also discuss how she ended up in New Zealand (by chance), what her first impressions were, why she founded She# as a networking platform for women in tech to connect professionals with high school and tertiary students.
Raphael Nolden: Speaking with Raphael was really enjoyable because I got to learn about the AI enabled learning app AMY which he is working on to help people learn mathematics. He had a lot of helpful reflections on being an entrepreneur. But we also discussed a lot about technology and topics like what the future will look like in 2030, and his reflections on the speed of change.
Tech for Good: A live panel for TechWeek19 discussing this with Tim Jones, Georgia Robertson, John Ascroft, Dave Lane and Menno Finlay-Smits
Medicine
Dr Brett Mann: I really enjoyed my conversation with Brett about somatisation and the impact of stress on our bodies. Why is it that we don’t make those connections more readily and what does psychoanalysis involve? Finding out about his ancestors being at the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi and his reflections on spirituality make this an incredibly diverse interview and it is well worth checking out.
Angela Reimer: We discussed the use of music to help people with brain injuries as well as the role that speech therapy plays. We also learn all about Angela’s life growing up in a small rural town in Canterbury and the work of the Cantabrainers choir.
Professor David Murdoch: David is Dean of the University of Otago, Christchurch. His main research has been into infectious diseases and in this interview we discuss that research, his time spent living in remote Nepal for two years as well as the role of antibiotics and breakthroughs he is searching for.
Dr Alex Wild: Alex grew up in Norway and dreamed of being a professional snowboarder. In this interview we learn about her childhood in that country and what led her to study Chiropractic care. We also discover what she has learned through that study and get a few tips to care for our spines. We then turn to focus on the business of Connect Chiropractic which takes an unusual approach in its business model having a Koha system of paying as you choose.
Professor Anthony Butler: Anthony is a co-founder (with his Father) of Mars Bioimaging Limited which produces 3D colour x-rays (spectral molecular imaging). This involves the intersection of high energy physics with clinical medicine. In this interview we talk his childhood and background and what led him to work in this area.
Impact Investing
Chris Simcock: In this interview we hear about impact investing – combining both financial returns with impact through the investment – from Chris who has been involved in setting up one of the first impact funds in New Zealand. This interview was recorded when they were just beginning so is now a piece of history as they have gone on to raise many millions of dollars and have several investments in businesses that combine both profit and purpose.
Impact Investing: Future Trends from Philanthropy Summit NZ 2019 with Rebekah Swan, David Woods, Emily Woodland and Clive Pedley
Bill Murphy: Bill shares about his life and background starting in the 1970s in California and his coming to New Zealand and setting up Enterprise Angels in Tauranga. We also discuss the new Impact Fund he has been setting up and which has raised $20 million.
Converstions… without me there!
Tim Jones and Mark Ambundo: I love this one as these two former guests bounce off each other and talk about so much that is really helpful. That is what happens when you get two guys so focused on purpose in a room – one from Kenya, the other from the UK – sparks fly!
Peter Wells and Sarah Kessans: This one is also really good and ends up being a friendly debate on the future of food – with very different perspectives we hear from both sides of the GE debate.
On Christchurch
Law
Lord Thomas was called to the bar in 1969 and after a long and distinguished career became Chief Justice of England and Wales between 2013 and 2017. In this interview we talk about his early career and what led him to that role and what he is involved in today and what it is like being a peer in the House of Lords.
Emily Morrow: Emily practised as a lawyer for many years and now assists both law firms and lawyers with thinking deeply about the work they do, and why they do it. This interview was recorded live in front of an audience of more than 100. We talk a lot about a commonly used word: “balance”, and whether that is achievable, or not. We also talk about the idea that “your work is your love made visible” and how life could be more integrated with work, in a positive way.
Short Reflections
Conferences
This is the audio of a few conferences I was able to capture:
Compilation episode
This is a bonus compilation episode looking back through some of the conversations to pull out short extracts of “the moment” when something changed for the people I was interviewing. I hope you enjoy it!
Audiobook
This is an audiobook of the report “Structuring for Impact: Evolving Legal Structures for Business in New Zealand” that was released 17 April 2019.