Planting Seeds Podcast

Meth is in almost every whānau in Aotearoa — whether we want to admit it or not.This kōrero might be the one that finally cracks it open.Marley Taipeti is a third-generation Black Power member who walked through the fire of addiction, dealing meth, violence, and the kind of pain most people never speak about. But instead of leaving the environment that nearly took him, he chose to stay in it AND change it from the inside.In this episode, Marley shares his journey openly about the highest of highs, the lowest of lows, and the moment he decided his whānau deserved more. What followed wasn't just his own transformation BUT he sparked the same shift in his wife, and countless others around him.We both mahi for Waiariki Whānau Mentoring, a Māori hauora kaupapa supporting our hardest-to-reach communities, most often, our gang whānau. This episode is for anyone who's been told they're too far gone to come back.Episode Breakdown✨ The reality of meth in our communities — no sugar-coating✨ What addiction actually feels like from the inside✨ Why he chose to stay in the gang environment instead of running from it✨ How transformation ripples through whānau✨ The role of kaupapa Māori in healing✨ What real accountability looks like✨ Leading by example when no one taught you howWhere to Next 💬 Drop a highlight in the comments if this kōrero landed for you.🔗 Reach out to Waiariki Whānau Mentoring HERE if you or someone you love needs tautoko.🌱 Join the Planting Seeds Community HERE.

Beauty comes from struggle.In this episode, I sit down with Jesse Wynyard, a purpose-driven creator expressing himself through hip-hop, music, and movement, while supporting others through healing and transformation.This conversation goes deep.We talk about breaking through conditioning. Moving through healing. The power of forgiveness. And learning the lessons from the breakdowns that guide you to breakthroughs.Jesse is about to drop his new album 'Out the Mud', a body of work that speaks to the beauty born from struggle, pain, and growth.If you're in a season where you're questioning the journey, feeling stuck in the mud, or searching for the lessons in the breakdown, this kōrero will meet you where you are.🔗 Follow Jesse: Instagram Link🔗 Stream 'Out the Mud' (coming soon): Spotify Link🔗 If you feel called to go deeper, join the Planting Seeds Community: Join our Community

In Episode 257 of the Planting Seeds Podcast, I sit down with D’Angelo Martin, known to many as Tuturu Māori. A proud Māori tāne from the far north, devoted pāpā, and creative known for his humour.But this kōrero goes beyond the laughs.D’Angelo opens up about a major shift in his life direction, navigating a challenging season where he is currently based in Aotearoa while his whānau are in Vietnam.One of the biggest turning points came through his child’s health, experiencing severe eczema in Aotearoa, yet becoming almost non-existent in Vietnam, where his partner’s whānau are from.This sparked deeper reflection around environment, wellbeing, and the decisions we make for our families.We also dive into:The power of small, consistent changesSurrounding yourself with go-gettersTaking care of your hauoraBacking yourself when life shiftsBeing a present and devoted pāpāAnd not wasting time on what doesn’t matterThis is a real, grounded kōrero about identity, responsibility, growth, and choosing a better path even when it’s uncomfortable.🔗 Join Planting Seeds Community Here:www.skool.com/seeds-of-self

In Episode 255, I sit down with Hinerapa Rupuha, a mana wahine deeply anchored in te ao Māori, with a passion for te reo Māori, traditional navigation, and voyaging.Raised through kōhanga reo and kura kaupapa Māori, Hinerapa attributes much of who she is today to her whānau and the strong foundations laid within Hoani Waititi.Her journey began with a love for the moana through waka ama, which evolved into a deeper curiosity for traditional navigation, a path she has now been committed to for over 10 years.Most recently, she completed a powerful voyage from Aotearoa to Samoa and back, embodying the knowledge, discipline, and connection required to navigate the Pacific using ancestral ways.This is a conversation about identity, discipline, culture, and trusting your path, guided not just by destination, but by who you are becoming.🔗 Join our online community Seeds of Self:www.skool.com/seeds-of-self

In Episode 253 of the Planting Seeds Podcast, I sit down with Jordaan Tuitama, also known as Creative Taro, a brother from the Waikato who is passionate about thrifting, reselling, and working alongside rangatahi.Jordaan shares his journey growing up in an environment shaped by violence and street life, and how over time he became desensitised to it. But instead of continuing down that path, he made a conscious shift by choosing to work with young people and be part of something more positive.We talk about the influence of his parents, the impact of American Black culture on his identity, and how that sparked his love for pop culture and creative expression. What started as interest has grown into a powerful outlet through op shopping, reselling, and sewing, which now plays a big role in who he is today.This is a kōrero about identity, influence, creativity, and choosing a different path.Also keep an eye out for his upcoming docu-series: “Thrifting Aotearoa”.Check out the links below:🔗 Website: https://creativetaro.bigcartel.com/🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creativetaro/

In this episode of the Planting Seeds Podcast, I sit down with Whatanui Flavell, a Māori storyteller with over a decade of experience bringing stories to life across the media landscape.From presenter, camera operator, director, and producer — to now leading his own kaupapa Haututū Creatives, Whatanui shares his journey through the world of storytelling and the deeper responsibility that comes with it.We speak about being a Whaturoa, Māori creatives working across film, media, and content AND the significance this has for how we see ourselves as Māori. For the first time, we are in a position where we can truly tell our stories our way.Whatanui uses the example of the Hīkoi mō te Tiriti, where over 100,000 Māori and non-Māori marched to parliament in 2024, as a powerful reminder of storytelling in action and how narrative shapes perception, identity, and unity.We also dive into his upbringing, the influence of his parents and siblings, and how those foundations shaped his why and the contribution he continues to make for te iwi Māori.This is a kōrero about identity, creativity, responsibility, and the power of owning our narrative.🔗 Follow Haututū / Whatanui:https://www.instagram.com/haututu_creatives/🔗 Planting Seeds Offerings:https://form.typeform.com/to/PqdcWDEW

In this Grow With Me episode, I reflect on the inspiration that came from watching one of my closest brothers complete a FULL Ironman in Taupō over the weekend.I also share insights coming from Week 2 of the Brother to Brother kaupapa, where the theme is Identity.This week has been powerful. Tāne are stepping into the weight of the roles we carry, while also taking time to look beneath the labels we live under.Too often we define ourselves by titles, responsibilities, or expectations. But who are we beneath all of that?These are the four questions we explored together:1️⃣ What roles do you carry in life?2️⃣ Who are you beneath those labels?3️⃣ What are you hiding or putting to the side right now?4️⃣ What do you genuinely value about yourself?Many men are wired to operate in the mind and logic, but Brother to Brother is a space helping tāne reconnect with their heart and emotions, while being supported by others walking similar paths.If you’re a brother who feels the pull to grow, connect, and do some real inner work, you’re welcome to join us.If you’re interested in joining the Brother to Brother kaupapa, please use the link below to express your interest:🔗 Register your interest:https://form.typeform.com/to/lA0kwq8H

In this Grow With Me episode of the Planting Seeds Podcast, I reflect on the month of February as we’ve already stepped into March.I unpack some of the gems that came out of our recent wānanga, where the theme was DIRECTION, bringing focus back to what truly matters and creating simple, actionable steps that support clarity and forward movement.March isn’t about doing anything different. It’s about more of the same. Sticking to structure. Staying grounded. Controlling what’s in my hands.I share why getting caught in the “bigness” of a month can create overthinking, procrastination, and anxiety AND how simplifying things back to daily structure removes unnecessary pressure.If you’re someone who tends to overcomplicate growth or feels overwhelmed by what’s ahead, this episode may bring you back to steady ground.🔗 Planting Seeds Offerings

In this Grow With Me episode, I sit with four questions that have come from my own reflections and the Planting Seeds IG community.These questions touch on growth, culture and consistency. I answer them from where I’m at right now, not from a place of perfection.Questions:What are my current wins?How we can encourage our people to engage with and embrace culture without whakamā?How do I keep growing without feeling broken or behind?How do I stay consistent when motivation drops off?Big mihi to the sponsor of the show, Bio Gold — a natural testosterone booster made in Aotearoa.🔗Use code SEEDS15 for 15% off HERE.

This Grow With Me episode is a kōrero on purpose and why purpose is a critical pillar of tāne wellbeing.Purpose gives drive, meaning, and fulfilment. Without it, many men feel lost, disconnected, or stuck in survival mode. In this episode, I share the simple framework that has helped me identify and reconnect with my own sense of purpose and may support you on your journey too.I break purpose down into three key areas:Authenticity: Ko wai koe?Who are you beneath the expectations, roles and noise?Gifts: What comes naturally to you?The things you like or that you’re often good at without trying too hard.Challenges: What have you gone through?The experiences and struggles that have shaped you and may now be part of what you’re here to give.These three areas have helped me find clarity, direction, alignment and I share them openly in this episode as an invitation . . . not a prescription.IF you’re a brother based in, or connected to, the Bay of Plenty, I also share about an upcoming 12-week Brother to Brother Kaupapa, starting the first week of March.🔗 Join Brother to Brother Here:https://form.typeform.com/to/oO9vmjZD🔗 Get Your Bio Gold Here:https://biogoldnz.com/discount/SEEDS15

This Grow With Me episode is a real and honest reflection on what often happens when you start showing up for yourself.I briefly share my experience being at Waitangi, before diving deeper into a challenge many of us face on a growth journey. The subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) shade that comes when you begin to change.“You think you’re better than me.”“You’re too cool now.”Tall poppy syndrome.These comments often come from the people closest to us, which is what makes it so hard to navigate. In this episode, I speak about why this happens, how growth naturally shifts relationships, and why outgrowing old behaviours and sometimes people is a sign of alignment, not arrogance.This kōrero isn’t about cutting people off. It’s about understanding how minimising time, changing energy, and choosing authenticity can create tension and why that tension is often a mirror.At the end of the episode, I also share about the first Planting Seeds Wānanga / Retreat, happening at the end of the month with only 10 spaces available.🔗 Fill out the interest here: https://form.typeform.com/to/PqdcWDEW

This episode was recorded on Waitangi Day at Waitangi and features a powerful kōrero with Eru Kapa-Kingi on the significance of the day here in Aotearoa, New Zealand and more importantly, what led to the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.Eru brings clarity and context to Te Tiriti, unpacking the historical intent, the responsibilities it carries and what it continues to ask of us today.Over the past few months, Eru has also been in the spotlight after breaking his silence around Te Pāti Māori and its leadership, something that was visibly present on the marae ātea yesterday. In this conversation, he reflects honestly on his intentions, learnings and why speaking up mattered.This is a thoughtful, grounded kōrero as Eru shares practical ways to practice rangatiratanga, how to turn pain into power, and informed ways to approach voting in the year ahead.A timely and important conversation for anyone wanting to understand Waitangi Day, Te Tiriti and their role within it.