The Vibe Lifter Podcast

In this episode of The Vibe Lifter Podcast, Tesh chats with Alice Fitzgerald - CEO of The Gut Foundation NZ. Alice is on a mission to improve Kiwi's digestive gut health - an important one, as we were shocked to learn that NZ currently has the highest rates of bowel disease in the world!To learn more about The Gut Foundation NZ, head to https://www.thegut.org.nz/.

In this episode of The Vibe Lifter Podcast, Dana chats with Linda Roil from Kids in Need Waikato.Linda shares how a simple idea turned into a movement supporting thousands of tamariki in care with aroha, essentials, and community kindness.

Oonagh Browne is a master chocolatier, cacao ambassador, and co-founder of Weave Cacao, working closely with farmers across the Pacific to bring ethical, high-quality cacao to the world.Originally from Ireland, Oonagh’s journey into chocolate is anything but ordinary. From deep historical and cultural roots to the health benefits of cacao, she shares incredible insights into the world of chocolate—beyond just taste.As an Edmund Hillary Fellow, she’s not only crafting some of the finest chocolate but also advocating for fair pay, sustainable farming practices, and better livelihoods for cacao growers.Tune in as we explore the impact of ethical cacao, the importance of sustainability in the industry, and why the future of chocolate depends on responsible sourcing.

Marco Morawec is an impact entrepreneur at the intersection of talent, education, and climate.Originally from Germany, he started in the US with $18 in his pockets. In the last decade, he bootstrapped his online education company to be the market leader, helped 1,000s of people transition into higher-paying jobs, and eventually got acquired by the fastest-growing EdTech company at the time, Trilogy Education.At Trilogy he scaled the entire online offering into an 8-figure business in the first year, culminating in a $750M acquisition.Today, he’s growing Climate Drift, providing training, networking opportunities, and skill-building projects to help mid-career professionals demonstrate their value and navigate the climate job market with confidence.

On this week’s episode of The Vibe Lifter Podcast, we’re sitting down with Catherine Cooper, General Manager of House of Science Central Waikato and the recent winner of our Raglan Community Fund! 🌱💚🌟 In this episode:🔹 How Catherine and her team are bringing science to life for students with hands-on resources that spark curiosity.🔹 The challenges and rewards of empowering educators and making science more accessible in schools.🔹 Her vision for the future of science learning and the lasting impact it can have on our tamariki.💡 Catherine’s mahi is inspiring the next generation of thinkers, dreamers, and innovators—don’t miss this powerful conversation about the importance of science in education. 🌍

🚗💚 From Tyres to Treasure: Tackling Waste One Tread at a Time with Blake Richardson! 💡✨This week on The Vibe Lifter Podcast, we’re talking with Blake Richardson, the driving force behind TreadLite, to uncover how tyre recycling is transforming waste into something extraordinary. 🌍🌟 In this episode:🔹 Why tyre waste is a massive global issue—and why it’s not getting the attention it deserves.🔹 How TreadLite’s innovative approach is setting new standards in recycling.🔹 The challenges and opportunities New Zealand faces in solving the tyre waste problem.🔹 Blake’s personal journey into sustainability, his top leadership lessons, and the change he hopes to inspire in how we think about waste.💡 Be inspired by Blake’s passion, vision, and commitment to making a difference—one tyre at a time. 🌱

Today, we’re thrilled to chat with Dana Gray—surfer, artist, co-founder of @mynd_mushrooms, and our new Head of Sustainability & Culture at Raglan Food Co! 🌊🍄Dana shares her journey to Whaingaroa Raglan, the magic of mushrooms in both human and planetary health, and the exciting sustainability initiatives she’s leading here at RFC. 🍃🌍 Plus, you won’t believe some of the surprising mushroom facts she drops along the way! 🍄Get ready to be inspired by her entrepreneurial journey, her take on how business can shape communities and fight climate change, and how her experience with Mynd influences her work at Raglan Food Co. 🎧 Link in bio.

We’re so excited to welcome Alena Winter, one of Raglan’s absolute gems, to the podcast this week! Alena is a naturopath & nutritionist with a devoted Instagram following, and a passionate advocate for gut health and a well-regulated nervous system.In this episode, Alena shares:💡 How her journey into natural health began and why gut health is so crucial.🤯 The fascinating connection between your gut and your brain (yes, it’s real!).🌱 Simple tips to balance your nervous system and beat burnout.🍎 Her top nutrition and herbal remedies for a healthier, happier you.If you’re curious about practical ways to improve your well-being or just love diving into the world of natural health, this episode is a must-listen. 🎧Tune in now and get ready to take notes! 💬

Today, we’re honored to chat with the inspiring Harita Gandhi-Kashyap—our Vibe Lifter Award winner, passionate volunteer, and host of the thought-provoking Coconut Chats podcast. 🌟💬Harita is a force of nature, juggling a full-time accounting job with countless volunteer roles, including coordinating the Chip Packet Project NZ, which turns used chip packets into blankets for the homeless. 🛏️❤️Join us as we dive into her journey of giving back, the causes that energize her, and her incredible work uplifting communities across New Zealand. 🌍✨Don’t miss this chance to hear from a woman who’s making waves and breaking barriers, one story at a time!

We’re thrilled to sit down with the incredible @matthewshribman—scientist, founder of @aimhieducation, Edmund Hillary Fellow, and a true lover of nature's quirks! 🧠✨Matthew joins us sharing his journey from the UK to Aotearoa, his passion for making climate science accessible, and some fascinating (and surprising!) insights about our environment. 🌿💬Get ready to dive into the stories that fuel his mission, the challenges of environmental activism, and practical steps we can all take to make a difference. Prepare to be both surprised and delighted with his depth of knowledge about the natural world. 🦋

Originally from the Netherlands, Leo discusses the contrasts between European life and small-town Raglan livin', and what it was that's made her call Raglan home (hint; her love of the ocean definitely plays a part!). 🏡 Leo has a lot to do with the local surf community, focusing on the female empowerment space through her photography and coaching. 🌊 Listen in as she discusses her go-to Raglan must-dos, reasons why women can sometimes be more hesitant to embrace surfing than men, the events she runs for female surfers, how she got into surf photography and how you can too! 👏

On this episode, Tesh chats with Samantha Tompkinson - psychologist, facilitator and coach who loves helping leaders increase their levels of emotional intelligence and self-awareness. To learn more about what Samantha does, head to her website:https://www.samanthatomkinson.com/

On this episode, Tesh chats with Tiaki Coates. A man with a passion for the great outdoors, a voyager, explorer, and supporter of rangatahi wellbeing and development through Poutama Rites of Passage.To learn more about Tiaki's mahi with Poutama Rites of Passage, check out their Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/poutamaritesofpassage/

In this episode, Tesh chats with Wendy Zhou - a vegetable enthusiast who has a big goal of saving 122,000 tonnes of food each year from going to waste. Listen in as she shares her passion for not just reducing needless waste, but increasing diversity in our diets through the types of produce we eat and grow. Wendy also opens up about how her mahi has given her purpose, helping her through some difficult times. Learn more about Perfectly Imperfect here:https://www.perfectlyimperfect.org.nz/

In this episode, Tesh chats with Dairne (aka Daz) Burns; founder of Lift55 and The Good Day Matrix - workplace programs, coaching and much more. Daz is a passionate advocate for human connection, health & wellbeing, and has a lot of different projects on the go! Hear about The Good Day Matrix's journey (like Raglan Food Co, it all started in a garage!), and how Daz's experience of coaching netball teams helps with how she works with groups of people in other areas today. You'll also learn some handy wellbeing techniques and practices that Daz personally uses in her everyday life. Learn more about Daz & her mahi via:https://thegooddaymatrix.com/httpps://lift55.com

In this episode, Tesh chats with Phil McCabe; a familiar face around the Raglan community. Well-known for his love of the ocean & surfing, this has led to Phil serving as the Pacific Lead on the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition and travelling around New Zealand raising awareness. Not only did Phil and his partner own & run the (very popular!) Solscape Eco Retreat for a long time here in Whaingaroa, but Phil has also spearheaded the KASM (Kiwis Against Seabed Mining) movement - an organisation RFC has been supporting for many years. Listen to find out why this work matters and how we all can become better kaitiaki of our oceans. Learn more about the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition here:https://deep-sea-conservation.org/

In this episode, Tesh chats with Vaughan Fergusson - known around the country as a bit of a tech whizz. He was the founder of software success story Vend and has been a long-time supporter of the New Zealand Hi-Tech Awards. Now, you'll find him busy running The Institute of Awesome here in Whaingaroa Raglan, with a vision (inspired by his Mum, Pam) of supporting young people to get into tech and innovation. Listen in as Vaughan & Tesh discuss secret labs, AI, impossible challenges, his thoughts on the future of technology here in little ol' New Zealand, and much more. Learn more about The Institute of Awesome here - https://inawe.nz/.

In this episode, Tesh chats with Peggy Oki - a skateboarding legend, artist, environmental activist with a "rebel spirit and kind heart". Peggy shares memories of her time in the 70's as the only female skater in the Dogtown Z Boys crew, how she's travelled the world sharing her incredible Origami Whales Project to raise awareness for cetaceans (whales & dolphins), and gives her recommendations of some must-watch documentaries. References to check out after listening:Seaspiracy doco: https://www.seaspiracy.org Deep Rising: an award winning documentary about seabed mining, narrated by Jason Momoa: https://www.deeprising.comEating Our Way to Extinction: (free on YouTube, available in 20 languages): https://eating2extinction.comMilked: https://milked.filmEntanglement, a Double Disaster: https://www.cetaceans.org/peggyoki-artinstallationsWatch Peggy's Ted Talk: https://www.cetaceans.org/peggyoki-publicspeakingMaui Dolphin Day information, including all you need to know about the Xtreme recycled raft race: www.whaingaroa.org.nz/maui-dolphin-day 

In this episode, Tesh catches up with local legend Rick Thorpe - one of Raglan's favourite sustainability & environmental champions. Rick shares the inspiring story and vision behind Xtreme Zero Waste (who divert an incredible 75-80% of the community's waste from landfill!) and his thoughts on how we can do waste management better in NZ. He also discusses the power of renewable energy (and his new project Community Energy Whāingaroa), permaculture, and what's so amazing about living in Whāingaroa, Raglan. Learn more about Xtreme Zero Waste here:https://xtremezerowaste.org.nz/about-us/

In this episode, Tesh catches up with Annie Cochrane from Raglan's local weavers' group - Raranga Whaingaroa.​ Learn from Annie about the beauty and tradition of raranga (weaving) with harakeke, as she shares her knowledge on the amazing history and tikanga behind the practice.

On this episode, Tesh chats with Anna Dahlberg - a passionate animal lover who runs the not-for-profit Paws Awhile Animal Sanctuary here in Raglan. You can learn more about what Anna does over on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/PawsAwhileAnimalSanctuary

On this episode, Tesh chats with Elisabeth Denis - local Raglan artist, writer and social activator. Check out her work here:https://elisabethdenis.com/

On this episode, Tesh chats with Murray Grant - tree-lover, nature enthusiast, Vibe Lifter award winner and founding trustee of the Kaitiakitanga Charitable Trust.You can learn more about their amazing mahi and how to get involved here:https://kaitiakitangatrust.com/who-we-are-what-we-do/

On this episode, Tesh chats with Adel Hattingh - Vibe Lifter Award winner, advocate for the elderly, those living with disabilities, and sustainability.

On this episode, Tesh chats with Tania Ashman - the passionate gardener and social activator behind setting up the very popular Raglan Growers Market.Learn more about the Raglan Growers Market here - https://www.facebook.com/RaglanGrowersMarket/ and make sure to check them out on Fridays between 5-7pm at 1 Stewart Street.

On this episode, Tesh chats with Kristel Van Houte - animal lover, biodiversity champion, and protector of Raglan's precious Oi birds.Learn more about The Karioi Project and watch their amazing doco filmed in collaboration with Patagonia here - https://www.karioiproject.co.nz/.