Authentic Leadership Podcast

we honour those who lead not through role or recognition, but through essence
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🌟 Authentic Leadership Podcast: Who We Are 🎙️ We share real conversations about what it means to lead with honesty, courage, and heart. Our guests are people who’ve faced challenges and stayed true to themselves, showing that leadership is about being real—not about titles or roles. 💬 What You’ll Hear ✨ Staying True: Stories of courage in the face of struggle. 💛 Healing Stories: How lived experiences like grief, recovery, or identity shape us. 🤝 Real Connection: Why kindness and empathy matter more than quick fixes. 🌿 System & Spirit: Finding balance between institutions and our deeper humanity. 🏡 Community: The power of creating safe spaces where people feel supported. 📚 Beyond the Podcast Alongside the podcast, we also share The Boy Who Wanted to Be Cinderella 🏳️‍🌈 — a queer fairytale I created for the gay community. It’s a story of courage, love, and being true to yourself, offering representation and hope for those who grew up not seeing their stories reflected in the world around them. authenticitystudio.substack.com

  1. FEB 18

    Finding the Shy Kid in the World — One Show at a Time | Michael Sanders After 100+ Shows

    Authentic Leadership Podcast is proud to honour a very special guest in celebration of Pride Month. Michael Sanders’ journey is one of courage and transformation. From a shy child to someone who could walk confidently onto a theatre stage and deliver performances that changed his life, Michael has dedicated himself to the arts with heart and authenticity. With more than 100 productions to his name—spanning acting and directing—Michael has devoted much of his life to theatre and has inspired countless individuals to pursue their talents. In a world where men are often stigmatised for expressing themselves through dance and performance, Michael has stood as a powerful example of self-expression and leadership. Join us for this meaningful conversation at the CentreStage as we celebrate this remarkable human being and his incredible journey. Watch the full episode now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authenticitystudio.substack.com

    1 min

  2. FEB 14

    Success Was Survival

    What is success? In his journey of recovery from mental health challenges and addiction, Shelwin Khan reminds us that recovery is neither linear nor easy. Sometimes, success is as simple as getting out of bed in the morning — or simply surviving the day. On the Authentic Leadership Podcast, there were no pre-prepared questions. The narrative is driven entirely by the guest, not the host. Listen to the full conversation with Shelwin Khan, hosted by Ivan Yeo (He/Him), now available on YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authenticitystudio.substack.com

    1 min
  3. 💔✨ A Boy with a Big Red Heart ✨💔

    09/22/2025

    💔✨ A Boy with a Big Red Heart ✨💔

    Sean was once a boy who carried his heart proudly — big, red, and full of innocence. But after years of hurt and rejection, he stitched it back together and hid it away, too afraid to show the world its cracks. Then he met Amory, a florist with a smile that felt like sunlight. Through kindness, laughter, and unconditional love, Amory awakens something Sean thought was lost forever — the power to heal, the courage to love, and the journey back to his true self. This is not just a love story. It’s a story about shame, hope, healing, and discovering that the scars we carry can become part of our beauty. 🌹 Watch the story unfold now on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQOvWyzk2Ndy26HB_idd_PfhZhOhxDY5D This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authenticitystudio.substack.com

    29 sec
  4. Meet the Characters | A Boy Who Wanted to Be a Cinderella (Anime Intro)

    09/11/2025

    Meet the Characters | A Boy Who Wanted to Be a Cinderella (Anime Intro)

    Step into the world of A Boy Who Wanted to Be a Cinderella. In this short anime intro, meet the characters who bring this queer fairytale to life. Each character holds a piece of Ivo’s journey—his courage, his heartbreak, and his dream of love. This series reimagines the classic fairytale through new eyes: what if Cinderella was a boy longing for a prince? Follow along as we introduce the cast that makes this story unforgettable. A Boy Who Wanted To Be A Cinderella (Anime) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authenticitystudio.substack.com

    1 min

  5. 08/28/2025

    A Boy Who Wanted to Be Cinderella

    This is a retelling of a fairytale I wrote for my younger self — the boy who never dreamed of rescuing a princess, but quietly longed for a prince. A boy who was misunderstood, who spent years trying to find where he belonged in a world that told him to hide.How do you make choices when social pressure demands that you conform? When every “no,” every “you shouldn’t,” every “this is wrong” tries to drown out your truth?This story is about choosing to live authentically — even when it costs everything. It’s about walking through silence, rejection, and loneliness, brushing off the dust of shame, and continuing to walk forward, even when no one else understands the weight you carry.The Boy Who Wanted to Be Cinderella is for every boy who, like me, was told they were wrong for loving differently. For anyone who has ever felt unseen, unheard, or unloved. And for anyone who still dares to dream of love, truth, and belonging. “A Boy Who Wanted to Be Cinderella is the heartfelt story of Ivo — a gentle and courageous young man who dares to dream of true love, even in a world that tells him boys shouldn’t. When he meets George, a kind soul who quietly returns his feelings, Ivo feels hope for the first time. But George, bound by family tradition and expectations, struggles to express what his heart truly feels. Despite loving Ivo deeply, George hides behind duty — until the night of the royal ball, when he is finally confronted by the one person who sees him for who he really is. It’s in this moment that George realises no tradition, no expectation, can replace the ache of a silenced heart. To live authentically and love freely may sound simple, but what happens when the weight of obligation buries the truth? This story explores the quiet bravery it takes to reveal one’s real heart — and the deep yearning to be seen, chosen, and loved for who we are”.If someone you know might be going through something similar, share this story with them. You never know — it might be the light they need to keep going. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authenticitystudio.substack.com

    56 min
  6. Authentic Leadership Podcast

    08/21/2025

    Authentic Leadership Podcast

    In this episode, I sit down with Darryl Bishop, MNZM, to talk about authentic leadership and the future of mental health. We look back on our time working together on Like Minds, Like Mine—one of the most successful and internationally recognised public health programmes designed to challenge stigma and discrimination around mental distress. Widely respected and admired in Aotearoa and beyond, the programme remains a powerful example of what’s possible when lived experience leads the way. Darryl and I also explore the changes within the mental health sector, the realities of working in not-for-profit organisations, and the challenges still facing many in the field today. It’s an honest and inspiring conversation that connects the past, present, and future of mental health leadership. Darryl is currently the Group CEO of Ember Group, with over 20 years of experience leading large-scale health projects, and holds qualifications in leadership, mental health, and psychology. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authenticitystudio.substack.com

    50 min
  7. Authentic Leadership Podcast

    08/20/2025

    Authentic Leadership Podcast

    I first met Darryl Bishop MNZM during my time at the Mental Health Foundation, where he was Programme Manager under the Ministry of Health, leading the Like Minds, Like Mine programme. He has always been one of those rare people who consistently show kindness, integrity, and respect to everyone he interacts with. I couldn’t be more pleased to see him appointed as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, recognising his passion and leadership across many not-for-profit organisations, including his work with Like Minds, Like Mine. It is an honour to have Darryl join us on the Authentic Leadership Podcast. This special episode will be released tomorrow at 11 am—don’t miss it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authenticitystudio.substack.com

    25 sec
  8. Authentic Leadership Podcast

    08/19/2025

    Authentic Leadership Podcast

    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authenticitystudio.substack.com

    1 min
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About

🌟 Authentic Leadership Podcast: Who We Are 🎙️ We share real conversations about what it means to lead with honesty, courage, and heart. Our guests are people who’ve faced challenges and stayed true to themselves, showing that leadership is about being real—not about titles or roles. 💬 What You’ll Hear ✨ Staying True: Stories of courage in the face of struggle. 💛 Healing Stories: How lived experiences like grief, recovery, or identity shape us. 🤝 Real Connection: Why kindness and empathy matter more than quick fixes. 🌿 System & Spirit: Finding balance between institutions and our deeper humanity. 🏡 Community: The power of creating safe spaces where people feel supported. 📚 Beyond the Podcast Alongside the podcast, we also share The Boy Who Wanted to Be Cinderella 🏳️‍🌈 — a queer fairytale I created for the gay community. It’s a story of courage, love, and being true to yourself, offering representation and hope for those who grew up not seeing their stories reflected in the world around them. authenticitystudio.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    we honour those who lead not through role or recognition, but through essence
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Authenticity Studio
  • Show Website
    Authentic Leadership Podcast