Authentic Leadership Podcast
by Ivan Yeo
Every story shapes our shared history. Authenticity Studio is a storytelling and oral history platform dedicated to documenting the lived experiences of people and communities across Aotearoa New Zealand. Through meaningful conversations, we preserve stories of identity, culture, migration, resilience, leadership and transformation—one person, one community and one story at a time. Essence + Truth + Clarity = Authenticity Authenticity begins when we move beyond appearances and make space for the truth of who we are. Every story carries an essence. When that essence is expressed with truth and clarity, it allows people to be seen, heard and remembered. “The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” - Inspired by the work of Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung.
Episodes
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Creating the Belonging We Carry Within Us With Alexia Rojas
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! What does it take to turn a new country into a place of belonging—and help others do the same? Chilean mathematics teacher and Allyship Projects founder Alexia Rojas joins Ivan Yeo to explore...
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I'm Glad Life Didn't Always Go My Way with Marlene Shrubshall
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! At 86, Marlene Shrubshall looks back on a life that didn’t always go to plan—and is grateful for where it led. In this warm conversation with Ivan Yeo, she reflects on finding her own way...
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Who Gets Heard? A Conversation About Community and Inclusion | Adorate Mizero
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Who are you beyond your job title—and how do your interests and experiences shape the way you contribute to the world? In this conversation, creative producer and community development…
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The Soul of a Community: A Creative Journey Through Art with Clint Taniguchi
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Clint Yukio Taniguchi is a fourth-generation Japanese American from Hawai‘i and General Manager of Mairangi Arts Centre in Auckland. Having lived and created art in Hawai‘i, San Francisco,...
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Mixed Heritage: Finding Wholeness Between Chinese and Kiwi Worlds | A Conversation with Rose Li
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Growing up in New Zealand with a Chinese father and Pākehā mother, Rose never thought deeply about living between two cultures. She simply saw herself as Kiwi—until a family visit to China…
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An Invitation to Live: Rethinking Suicide Prevention | Barry Taylor
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! For nearly four decades, health sociologist Barry Taylor has worked at the forefront of suicide prevention and mental wellbeing in New Zealand and Australia. His work has spanned youth suicide...
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The Courage to Dream, the Bravery to Follow It: Jai Jamali’s Journey to The Lion King
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! At just 16, Jai Jamali left Singapore alone after receiving a dance scholarship in Wellington—beginning a journey that would eventually take him to the Australian stage in major productions...
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Across Cultures and Continents: A Migrant GP’s Journey to New Zealand with Victoria Rey
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Born in France to French and Mexican parents, Victoria grew up across Nigeria, Kenya, and Madagascar before studying medicine in Belgium and eventually moving to Aotearoa New Zealand. In this...
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Language as a Gateway to People and Society: A 2nd-Generation Chinese Kiwi Story with Annemarie Wen
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! In this thoughtful conversation, Ivan speaks with 20-year-old Annemarie Wen about growing up as a second-generation Chinese New Zealander between Mandarin and English. Annemarie shares that...
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The Storytellers: Poetry, Migration and Social Justice with Jenny Janif MNZM & Esteban A Espinoza
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! What happens to the stories of people whose lives are never recorded? In this deeply moving conversation, Jenny Janif and Esteban Espinoza explore how poetry and storytelling can preserve...
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It’s Their Future, Not Ours: Why Youth Voices Matter | A Conversation with Rachel Gu
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! What does it mean to give young people a genuine voice—not simply invite them into the room? In this episode of the Authentic Leadership Podcast, Ivan speaks with Rachel, a first-year…
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Coming Home to Ourselves: Because You Matter — A Conversation with Shelley Brunskill-Matson
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! In this deeply moving episode, Ivan speaks with Shelley Brunskill-Matson about grief, suicide loss, purpose and our fundamental human need to know that we matter. Shelley was only 12 years old...
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Choosing an Authentic Life: Yoga, Reiki, Travel and Spiritual Awakening With Katie Sterbens
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! What happens when your inner voice becomes too loud to ignore? Katie left behind New York’s corporate fashion world to follow a very different path—one shaped by yoga, Reiki, Akashic Records,...
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Grassroots Leadership: What Real Community Change Looks Like | Eva Chen MNZM
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Some people build organisations. Others build communities. For more than two decades, Eva Chen MNZM has quietly stood alongside migrant and refugee families across Aotearoa New Zealand…
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Dance, Freedom and the Courage to Choose Yourself | Charline’s Story
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! At 27, following the end of a long-term relationship, Charline found herself back at her father’s home in France, asking a life-changing question: What am I going to do now? Her answer took…
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1.5-Generation Korean New Zealander | Continuing to Thrive Through Tears and Laughter | Helen Lee
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Behind every migrant family is a story of sacrifice, resilience, and love that often goes untold. In this deeply personal conversation, Helen Lee shares her journey as a 1.5-generation Korean...
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The LGBTQ+ Elders Who Paved the Way — Are We Forgetting Them? Conversation with Mark Maple
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! What does it mean to grow up openly gay in the conservative American South during the 1960s and 70s? In this deeply moving conversation, Mark shares an extraordinary life shaped by courage,...
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The Marathon Never Ends: Honouring the Women Who Came Before Us | Sophie Jing
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! In this episode of the Authentic Leadership Podcast, Sophie Jing reflects on a lifelong journey of becoming. Drawing on the wisdom of her grandmother and her own experiences as a mother…
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Kevin McAfee: Rethinking Mental Health Through Sport, Technology and Human Connection
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! In this episode of the Authentic Leadership Podcast, Ivan Yeo sits down with Kevin McAfee, founder of Wellbeing Solutions, to explore his journey from Belfast, Northern Ireland, to New Zealand...
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Steven Oates at 50: Pride, Freedom and a Life of Community
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! In this special Pride Month conversation, I sit down with long-time Rainbow community advocate and media personality Steven Oates for an intimate and deeply personal discussion about identity,...
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From Unemployment to Peer Support Specialist Conversation With Shelwin Khan
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! From unemployment and years of struggling with mental health and addiction challenges, to becoming a leader in the lived experience workforce, Shelwin Khan shares his remarkable journey into...
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Athlete. Music Executive. Entrepreneur. Migrant. The Extraordinary Journey of A.K. Yap
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! A.K. has lived many lives. She grew up in poverty, survived a difficult childhood, became a national-level athlete, built a career in the music industry, started and ran her own successful...
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Intercultural Navigation Workshop
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! What do migrants bring in their luggage besides clothes? Migration is never just about moving countries — it is about carrying invisible luggage: identity, language, hopes, grief, values,...
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How Do We Create Systems That Heal | Kerri Butler
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! In this deeply moving and powerful conversation, I sit down with Kerri Butler — founder of Take Notice, mental health advocate, and lived experience leader — to explore a journey shaped by...
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Malaysian Perspectives on Migration, Identity, Queerness and Belonging in New Zealand
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! A Generational Conversation: Malaysian Perspectives on Migration, Identity, Queerness and Belonging in New Zealand. In this deeply honest and reflective conversation, we explore what it means…
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Mental Health, Wairua & Survival: A Māori Perspective We Need to Hear
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! What happens when the system meant to help you cannot fully see you? In this deeply moving episode of the Authentic Leadership Podcast, I sit down with Tui Taurua, a respected Māori lived...
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“Oppression Does Not Sit With Me” A Conversation on Truth, Justice & Community | Camille Nakhid MNZM
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! In this episode, I reconnect with someone who deeply shaped my thinking — my former lecturer and now Professor, Camille. What unfolds is an honest, courageous, and deeply human conversation...
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Living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Lived Experience Becoming a Healer
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! This episode of the Authentic Leadership Podcast explores the deeply personal and transformative journey of Michael Owen—a therapist whose work is shaped by lived experience, adversity, and...
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Courage Over Fear: A Journey of Faith and Bravery with Arina Aizal
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! In this episode of the Authentic Leadership Podcast, I sit down with Arina Aizal to explore her journey of identity, culture, and finding her voice. From growing up between Malaysia and New...
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From Silence to Strength: A Refugee Story of Growth Conversation With Fahima Muse
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! At the heart of the episode is the experience of growing up between cultures—where nothing is explicitly taught, yet everything must be navigated. Fahima describes holding “one foot in her…
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Living Inside Out: From Lived Experience to System Change — The Story of a Quiet Hero
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! This story follows a journey that begins in silence—shaped by hardship, responsibility, and experiences that were never given space to be spoken. Growing up in an environment where survival…
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Between Two Worlds: Finding Identity and Belonging As A 2nd-Generation Asian in New Zealand
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! This Podcast explores the lived experience of growing up between cultures as a second-generation Asian in New Zealand. It reveals the tension of navigating different cultural...
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Turning Pain Into Fire Wendy Su on the Overlooked 1.5 Generation in New Zealand (Full Version)
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! This episode takes you through a powerful journey of identity, culture, and personal transformation — unfolding across study, lived experience, and reflection. We begin with a search for...
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Between Two Worlds: The Unspoken Challenges of 1.5 Asian Migrants in New Zealand — with Wendy Su
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! What does it really mean to grow up as a 1.5 Asian migrant in New Zealand? In this episode of the Authentic Leadership Podcast, Wendy Su shares her deeply personal journey navigating identity,...
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A Fight to Be My Authentic Self: A Journey of Finding Who Ivan Is
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Shelwin flips the script and interviews Ivan, the creator of the Authentic Leadership Podcast, drawing out the life story behind the voice. Ivan shares his origins (born in Singapore, raised…
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Never Let Your Colours Fade: Tricia’s Journey Through Grief and Service
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Tricia reflects on how life rarely unfolds as expected, tracing the “threads” that shaped her—from a childhood marked by international moves and early awareness of injustice, to teaching and...
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Finding the Shy Kid in the World — One Show at a Time | Michael Sanders After 100+ Shows
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! In this heartfelt conversation, Michael—community theatre veteran and current president of The Centrestage Theatre—shares how performing helped him move from a shy, bullied teenager into a...
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Beyond The Diagnosis: Shelwin Khan and His Ever-Evolving Journey In Recovery
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! This episode of the Authentic Leadership Podcast features a long-form, deeply human conversation with Shelwin Khan, exploring mental health, addiction, recovery, and the meaning of lived...
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The Awakening Kundalini and the Twin Flame Journey A Conversation with Lisa Cerise
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! In this opening segment of the Authentic Leadership Podcast, Lisa shares a raw and deeply human turning point: depression, a major shoulder injury and infection, and a spiritual awakening that...
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Conversation with Eva Chen MNZM: Parenting Between Cultures, Raising Asian Kiwi Kids with Confidence
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! In this episode of the Authentic Leadership Podcast, Ivan welcomes Eva Chen MNZM back for a deeply personal conversation that shifts from public leadership to the often unseen leadership work…
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From Lived Experience to Advocacy: A Heart That Never Gave Up
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! This video captures an intimate and deeply honest conversation between Ivan and Chris, tracing an unexpected journey from the lived experience of trauma and survival to a lifelong commitment…
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Kaupapa Māori vs Western Systems: A Doctor’s Fight for Voice & Identity with Dr Alexander Stevens II
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Dr Alexander Stevens II joins Ivan on the Authentic Leadership Podcast for a powerful conversation that begins with a heartfelt celebration of his PhD achievement and the story behind his full...
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Dan Goodwin: Part 2: From Misdiagnosis to Meaning - Redefining Mental Health Through Storytelling
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! In this deep conversation, Ivan and Dan unpack the hidden cost of mental health misdiagnosis and why our healthcare systems often treat people as isolated individuals instead of whole humans...
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Pioneer of The Game: Untold Story of Women's Football in Aotearoa with Scottie, Part 2
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! In this episode, Ivan sits down with Scottie to uncover remarkable stories from her sporting journey — from representing New Zealand internationally to moments of real danger off the field....
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Dan Goodwin: Part 1: From Misdiagnosis to Meaning — Redefining Mental Health Through Storytelling
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! In this deeply moving episode, Ivan sits down with Dan Goodwin, a theatre practitioner and lived experience advocate, to explore how art, anxiety, and identity shape the human journey. From...
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Breaking the Silence: From Survival to Purpose — James’ Journey Toward Healing and Hope
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, James opens up about his journey from surviving childhood abuse, addiction, and mental health struggles to discovering purpose, healing, and...
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Pioneer of the Game: Untold Story of Women’s Football in Aotearoa with Scottie
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! This episode traces an extraordinary journey through women’s football history, personal resilience and the quiet power of community. Scottie shares how a casual kick-around in Germany led her...
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Growing Up Between Cultures | A Conversation on Identity & Belonging with Aidan Hung
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! In this heartfelt episode of the Authentic Leadership Podcast, Ivan sits down with Aidan — a young thinker whose honesty and depth reveal what it truly means to grow up between cultures.…
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Take It From Us: 1,300 Shows Later — Sheldon Brown, The Man Who Brought Humanity to Radio
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! After more than 1,300 shows, Sheldon Brown reflects on the extraordinary journey behind Take It From Us — New Zealand’s longest-running mental health radio show. In this heartfelt…
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Shaun Robinson on Mental Health, Leadership, and Loving Who We Are
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! In this deeply honest and moving conversation, Shaun Robinson, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand, joins Ivan to talk about life, leadership, and what it truly…
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About this show
Every story shapes our shared history.
Authenticity Studio is a storytelling and oral history platform dedicated to documenting the lived experiences of people and communities across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Through meaningful conversations, we preserve stories of identity, culture, migration, resilience, leadership and transformation—one person, one community and one story at a time.
Essence + Truth + Clarity = Authenticity
Authenticity begins when we move beyond appearances and make space for the truth of who we are. Every story carries an essence. When that essence is expressed with truth and clarity, it allows people to be seen, heard and remembered.
“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” - Inspired by the work of Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung.
Hosted by
Ivan Yeo