Authentic Leadership Podcast

Ivan Yeo
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  • Mental Health

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.

  1. 5d ago

    Coming Home to Ourselves: Because You Matter — A Conversation with Shelley Brunskill-Matson

    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 when her father, Tony, died by suicide. Decades later, that experience became part of a much larger mission: helping children, young people and families affected by suicide loss receive the care and support they genuinely need. Shelley shares what she learned through her PhD research with bereaved tamariki aged six to thirteen. Her central finding was powerful: children experience care as truly supportive when it reinforces that they matter. They need to be seen, heard, offered choices and recognised as active participants in their own grief—not simply have adults decide what is best for them. She also discusses the creation of Tony’s Place, its guardianship of the WAVES suicide-bereavement programme, and the development of MySpace, a new programme designed specifically for bereaved children. The conversation then opens into Shelley’s own new chapter following burnout and the sudden deaths of two close friends. She reflects on trusting herself, refusing to fit inside one box and finding the courage to pursue the work that has quietly been calling her. Ultimately, this is a conversation about turning grief into purpose, listening without assuming, and recognising how much it means when another person makes us feel truly seen and heard. Because whether we are six, thirty-six or eighty-six, we all need to know that we matter. Content note: This episode contains conversations about suicide loss and grief.

    Coming Home to Ourselves: Because You Matter — A Conversation with Shelley Brunskill-Matson

  2. Aug 9

    Choosing an Authentic Life: Yoga, Reiki, Travel and Spiritual Awakening With Katie Sterbens

    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, spiritual exploration and travel. Her journey took her from Peru and Hawaii to India, Bali and eventually New Zealand, where she discovered a community and way of living that allowed her to embrace who she truly is. In this heartfelt conversation, Katie shares how she became a 500-hour yoga teacher, Reiki Master and Akashic Records reader. She explains what the Akashic Records are, how Reiki works within her practice, and why listening to our intuition can open doors we never imagined. We also explore the courage required to choose an unconventional life when the people around us may not understand. Katie speaks honestly about burnout, family expectations, loneliness, failure and learning to trust herself—even when following her calling meant going against everything she had been taught. This conversation becomes especially personal as I share how Katie’s yoga classes offered me a place of grounding and comfort during one of the most difficult transitions of my life. Katie’s message to her younger self—and to anyone trying to follow their own path—is beautifully simple: “Don’t give up. Keep going, keep trying, keep failing, and have more fun with it. It always works out.”

    Choosing an Authentic Life: Yoga, Reiki, Travel and Spiritual Awakening With Katie Sterbens

  3. Aug 2

    Grassroots Leadership: What Real Community Change Looks Like | Eva Chen MNZM

    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, creating spaces where people feel seen, supported and connected. In this conversation, Eva shares the untold stories behind Wellbeing Charitable Trust—from supporting new migrant mothers experiencing postnatal depression and family violence, to advocating for culturally appropriate services, coordinating emergency responses during natural disasters, and helping families through the COVID-19 pandemic. What makes Eva's story remarkable is not simply what she has achieved, but how she has achieved it. She reminds us that meaningful change rarely begins with large budgets or grand strategies. It begins by listening to one family, responding to one need, and earning the trust of a community. Throughout our conversation, we explore: • Building Wellbeing Charitable Trust from the ground up • Supporting Chinese migrant parents and families • The hidden realities of family violence in migrant communities • Why trust is the most valuable resource in community work • Grassroots leadership and advocacy • Cultural dignity during emergencies and disasters • Community mobilisation during COVID-19 • Why lasting social change happens through relationships, not systems alone Perhaps the greatest lesson from Eva is this: Communities are not built by organisations. They are built by ordinary people who choose to care for one another.

    Grassroots Leadership: What Real Community Change Looks Like | Eva Chen MNZM

  4. Jul 27

    Dance, Freedom and the Courage to Choose Yourself | Charline’s Story

    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 her to the other side of the world. Leaving behind the familiarity of her small hometown, Charline travelled alone to Aotearoa New Zealand—despite the fear, uncertainty and challenge of communicating in English. What began as a working holiday became a much deeper journey of finding herself, reclaiming her freedom and learning to put her own happiness first. In this heartfelt conversation, Charline speaks about losing herself in relationships, protecting her energy, challenging the expectations placed upon women and discovering the confidence to live on her own terms. She also reflects on the influence of her grandmothers, the unexpected kindness she encountered while travelling and the freedom she experiences through dance. Her message is simple but powerful: do not wait until fear disappears. Take the opportunity, follow what calls you and allow yourself to change. “If you’re scared, just go.”

    Dance, Freedom and the Courage to Choose Yourself | Charline’s Story

  5. Jul 19

    1.5-Generation Korean New Zealander | Continuing to Thrive Through Tears and Laughter | Helen Lee

    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 New Zealander—growing up between two cultures, rediscovering her Korean identity, and finding purpose through community service. Helen reflects on the extraordinary courage of her parents, who left South Korea to build a new life in New Zealand, the profound impact of losing her father at just 19 years old, and how grief transformed the way she saw her mother—not only as a parent, but as a woman navigating her own loss. Together, we explore identity, belonging, volunteering, intergenerational change, migrant family life, and the quiet strength that shapes the next generation. This is more than a conversation about migration. It is about the people who came before us, the legacy they leave behind, and how love continues through the lives we choose to live. In this episode, we discuss: • Growing up as a 1.5-Generation Korean New Zealander • The untold sacrifices of migrant parents • Reconnecting with cultural identity • Losing a parent at a young age • Grief, resilience and healing • Community, volunteering and public service • Health equity and public policy • Why belonging matters • Carrying a parent's legacy into the future If this conversation resonates with you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who may need to hear it. Every story reminds us that none of us walks this journey alone.

    1.5-Generation Korean New Zealander | Continuing to Thrive Through Tears and Laughter | Helen Lee

  6. Jul 12

    The LGBTQ+ Elders Who Paved the Way — Are We Forgetting Them? Conversation with Mark Maple

    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, resilience, heartbreak, faith, and hope. From surviving hate crimes, sexual assault, addiction, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic, to rebuilding his life while living with Parkinson's disease, Mark reflects on nearly seven decades of lived experience with remarkable honesty. Now living in a nursing home in Colorado, Mark speaks openly about loneliness, ageing within the LGBTQ+ community, and why so many older queer people feel forgotten. Following a simple act of kindness on social media that connected him with people around the world, he reminds us how even the smallest gesture can create a ripple effect that changes someone's life. Together we explore: • Growing up openly gay in conservative America • Living through the HIV/AIDS epidemic • Recovery from addiction and finding hope again • Living with Parkinson's disease • Loneliness and ageing in the LGBTQ+ community • Faith, resilience and finding purpose • Why we must remember and honour the generation that paved the way for LGBTQ+ rights • The power of kindness, connection and human dignity This is more than one man's story. It is a reminder that behind every freedom we enjoy today are people whose lives were shaped by courage, sacrifice and perseverance. If Mark's story touched you, please consider liking this video, subscribing to the channel, and sharing it with others. Together, we can ensure that the voices of LGBTQ+ elders continue to be heard and remembered.

    The LGBTQ+ Elders Who Paved the Way — Are We Forgetting Them? Conversation with Mark Maple

  7. Jul 6

    The Marathon Never Ends: Honouring the Women Who Came Before Us | Sophie Jing

    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, author, marathon runner, and PhD researcher, she explores how each generation of women shapes the next. Together, we discuss identity, migration, motherhood, curiosity, education, and why life is not about reaching a finish line but about continuing to grow. Sophie's research seeks to honour the voices of the women who came before her while creating space for the generations that follow. This conversation is a celebration of resilience, authenticity, and the enduring legacy passed from one generation of women to the next.

    The Marathon Never Ends: Honouring the Women Who Came Before Us | Sophie Jing

  8. Jun 29

    Kevin McAfee: Rethinking Mental Health Through Sport, Technology and Human Connection

    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 and the mission that now drives his work. Drawing on his background in technology and his passion for helping others, Kevin shares how concerns about mental health and suicide led him to rethink how support systems are designed. From using football as a vehicle to teach resilience and belonging among young people, to developing innovative AI and text-based tools that place people before data, Kevin offers a fresh perspective on wellbeing and prevention. Together, they discuss: ⚽ Building resilience in children through sport and community 💙 Why mental health support should begin long before a crisis occurs 🤖 The opportunities and limits of artificial intelligence in mental health 📱 Creating technology that prioritises human connection and trust 🌏 How travel, migration and life experiences shaped Kevin's outlook 🤝 The importance of belonging, relationships and support networks 🔍 Why people should always come before systems and statistics Warm, practical and deeply purpose-driven, this conversation offers an inspiring look at how compassion, innovation and community can come together to create meaningful change.

    Kevin McAfee: Rethinking Mental Health Through Sport, Technology and Human Connection
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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Ivan Yeo
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    57
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Authenticity Studio™ 2025
  • Show Website
    Authentic Leadership Podcast