Children's Book Author " I thought I'll do a Science Book that's FUN...I needed a book to do exactly that. You've got books that you read to your babies about Farm animals, ABCs, Rainbows, Mermaids, Unicorns...wanted it to be FUN...mermaids! unicorns! ELECTRONS!..." Mechatronic Engineer "The way I've always operated is; if a door opens up, or if an opportunity opens up. Even if I'm afraid I will step forward because... doing that! even though you don't know what's going to happen. Something good CAN always happen." Beauty Queen "... it's an extremely uncomfortable experience...you are putting yourself out there in front of thousands of people...to be judged! to be criticized! to be knit picking at everything you're already self-conscious about...it's no easy task to do that."
Cook Islander Richard Tekeu is the creative force behind Varu, a new fashion label that’s built a following on social media. "...Yep, we just need to grab a hold as well y'know WALK THROUGH THAT DOOR too... honestly. Y'know our people have got it-BUT they just don't know it! What's holding you back? YOU ARE really. Options are there; we just have to pick the right one. Making that CHOICE to actually take that step...you just got to LEAD THE WAY REALLY "
19yo Tongan from Blenheim, Marlborough New Zealand "BE bold, be brave and just step out and go for it ...DO YOU!" "What it's like for me living as a PI youth in NZ....in Marlborough its fine!...something that's challenging for me is putting myself in spaces where not a lot of my culture is represented...and being able to I guess express myself....it's challenging but good...I can work on for myself -build my confidence."
"...growing up in a culture...in a place where we are raised to not speak. We're raised to not speak out of bounds or out of line when you're having discussions with your elders, your parents..." With Covid19 vaccination talk dominating the Globe. Our talanoa will take a look at my guests unique journey that few Pacific people have done and at such a significant time. In particular how a brown Samoan boy, born and raised in Pago Pago American Samoa **navigated life **as a Teen to now. The challenges in finding his way and **individual voice **in this western-dominated field of medicine and drug discovery. Also what role did **culture, customs and belief systems **play in his personal and professional development. CLOSING OUR T20wentyWON Series Sunday February 28th 1:00PM ( NZT) **Saturday February 27th 10:00AM (WST) San Francisco
"I know that sometimes (as a teen) you can feel pressured to (especially leaving School) have to go to Uni, I have to learn something - have to find a job that'll be-I'm able to help provide for my family....y'know- I went through the same phase....take your time-there's no rush....you just got to take your time in finding out what's right for you. Find something that you enjoy doing!"
NZ Quarantine!! for 2 weeks- we join the brother on day 10 of his 2 week quarantine. Once a quiet Rugby First XV Captain in High School to being a contemporary voice, influencer and Coach of World Champions. In a World still in the midst of a global epidemic-who better to comment then someone experiencing in real time. Las Vegas, Dubai, Sydney to Auckland. Eugene chats about what he has seen and experienced. #authenticself #AreweLIVE #14days #Responsibility #MentalFortitude #MumnDad #JoinAgym #7amwakeups #FIFAnMYsis #MyMedia #FatherPartner #DutchSamoanKiwi #MyStreet
Radio Announcer Pacific Media Network Assistant Producer -Pacific Dance New Zealand May 12, 2020 In our chat Soana shares how being a Tongan teen is as complicated as anyone else. Some lovely gems in this interview for our teens and parents
October 10 on the day of announcing his fight with Jnr Fa he caught up with me for a relax light hearted talanoa about things- to break the monotony of press he's been doing all day. NB we do speak a little in Samoa language.
West Auckland 5th June 2020 A chat about her adolescent years, growing up on a farm, Big family and all the complexities she faced and overcome. #BeExcitedTeens MINISTER for Social Development ACC and Disabilities, Arts, Culture and Heritage
"As young people, it's so important you know that you have a gift- and it's actually your purpose to not only discover what that is but share it, and that's all part of this journey called LIFE " Sione Faumuinā Son, Husband, Father,
***BE PATIENT WITH YOU*** MAY 7 2020 AUCKLAND NZ (Lockdown) A double international representative in Netball was the easy part. Anna Senio shares her heart and experiences. Growing up in her family and how culture, sport, health, and communication are now cornerstones for her as a Parent. #FULLHouse #Trust #Modelling #ReachingOut #1OOs #InternalisedAnxiety #2Worlds #Siblings #Language
JULY 17 2020 **LIFE COACH_ MY (LOVE) COACH 9 **Cultivating Your Best YOU Whanau. Alright we're LIVE with Kiwi League Legend. Humble-Real- Runs it straight- Loves his wife- talks openly with his kids- NRL Hall of Fame- Runs a Gym- Otara274-Raider/Warrior-Samoa Maori-Chop Suey Maker and Pacific Lockdown Supporter!! Nga mihi nui e hoa- Faafetai tele lava le fa'asoa Uso. Mr Ruben Wiki SERIES QUOTE July 2020: One last word of Confidence "...whatever journey you choose to go..run it straight, just run it straight...be vulnerable- don't be afraid to cry, be humble and keep it real "
Sheffield United Kingdom Lockdown “It’s crazy- like during this Pandemic it just makes you want to go home more y’know miss family more- I think that’s always been the hardest thing for me, living away from home-being away from family…Mum and Dad.”
Born/raised in Levin NZ, her inspiring life-path has led to her winning her seat in Parliament Labour MP for OTAKI Oct 2020. This interview was in May 2020. We chat about her growing up in a small town, mixed-race, the family business. And why Politics? Ngobi (In-go-bee) is her married name and it will be inciteful to listen to her views on teen hardship, life lessons important for a teen to consider for their future.
She is Ex-Athlete and experienced entrepreneur with a demonstrated history of working in the educational technology industry. Worked on a range of projects that include community development Passionate about using tech for education and providing opportunities for youth. She is involved in a program which gives NZ youth the opportunity to teach English to overseas students. Brittany is also working on a new project which is setting up a digital and tech apprenticeship pathway for Pasifika youth, for which she will be recruiting later in the year. We talk about it all- my guest shares some inspiring insights into her teen years as an athlete, representing New Zealand & Cook Islands in tennis and travelling the world on her own from a young age.
December 17, 2020 White Oak, Maryland USA ***Executive Chef of Uncle’s Hawaiian Grindz, a modern Hawaiian restaurant in Fallston, MD and a Chef Ambassador/ for Eat JUST, a cutting-edge food technology company. For the past 5 years Chef Kaimana has traveled to over 30 countries as an advocate for the JUST product-line promoting sustainable, delicious and healthier food products. 2019 Critic’s Restaurant Award for Best of Baltimore 2018 Best New Restaurant – Harford County 2016 Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen S.10 Ep. 11 – Winner 2015 Smithsonian’s Iron Chef Competition - Winner
VIRTUAL CONCERT for AMERICAN SAMOA DECEMBER 4, 2020 FROM BRISBANE AUSTRALIA -TO CHANGE PEOPLE through song is a gift. Hearts from broken to healed, closed Minds being renewed. Belief in lies to knowing love. Our very own Samoan Songbird. A passionate strong beautiful woman committed to using her platform of Music to bring light in an ever darkening World. A Wife, Mother, Business Woman and Artist her drive is to bring joy, heal and empower as many people as possible. She was the first Artist to commit to being a part of our Virtual Concert.
MEITAKI MA'ATA MARCH- Cook Island Series March 4 2021, WELLINGTON New Zealand Former Communications Advisor at Office of the Prime Minister Spent High school standing up against Apartheid and breaking new ground for student voice representation. He would return to the Cook Islands as an adult-only to find the local teens had something his soul had been missing. "...it was the first time ever that students had stood for a student voice in a High School and this was back in 1984....and that was a game changer, I'm really proud really happy to be a part of that legacy."
MEITAKI MA’ATA MARCH Series 26 March 2021- Auckland New Zealand A daughter of an Aitutaki mother and British father, born and raised on the island of Aitutaki. She is an Auckland based practicing medical doctor currently in the beginning of her training in Emergency Medicine. Tepaeru-Ariki is also an artist, performer and mother. She holds a Master’s degree in Science in Medical Sciences, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and is a qualified secondary school teacher of Science and Biology. She has national and international performance experience and continues to weave both her passions of art and medical sciences in her everyday life. FULL interview FB Group Pacific Lockdown
PACIFIC ARTS SERIES Sep 1, 2020- Christchurch New Zealand 2020 Arts Foundation Laureate receiving the Theresa Gattung Female Arts Practitioners Award The voices of Tusiata Avia are infinite. Acclaimed poet, performer and children’s book writer, her poetry is revolutionary as it redefines the face of Pacific and New Zealand literature. Having just completed in Manhattan- New York City!!! Off-Broadway Play she shares some of her published poetry, life with a teen? being a Pacific teen in Christchurch in the eighties, how does it feel to get a Queens Honours in 2020? And what should Creative Teens know now? Any advice to Parents of creative teens? Admittedly bias I loved every minute hearing about the travels and experiences of this talented Pacific Artists life and wish her only the best in the coming years and remainder of 2020. (Fa'afetai tele lava Ia oe le tuafafine mo lona fa'asoa aua le lumana'i manuia o fanau ma alo ale Pasefika.)