Talk With A Courageous Heart

Andrew Bothalage
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Real people. Real stories. Courage in everyday life. Join Andrew Bothalage as he sits down with people from all walks of life to share honest conversations about courage, faith, resilience, and the moments that shape who we are.”

  1. 1d ago

    Nobody Knows What You're Going Through: Immunologist Dr Anna Brooks on Invisible Illness

    Courage isn't a heroic moment everyone sees. For Dr Anna Brooks, it's the quiet, invisible work of facing discomfort — and the reason nobody else gets to define it for you. In this conversation, Anna shares why her entire scientific path was walked with a permanent layer of discomfort. Why she's even more curious about the questions that don't have answers. Why the patients she works with keep showing up for research that may never help them personally. And why courage ends up being about sitting with your own achievements, not anyone else's applause. About Dr Anna Brooks: Anna is a cellular immunologist and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Auckland's Liggins Institute, and Director of Auckland Cytometry. Her research focuses on complex chronic conditions involving immune dysfunction. Learn more: https://profiles.auckland.ac.nz/a-brooks In this episode: Courage is invisible — and only you can define yours A scientist's path built on curiosity, not certainty Why public speaking felt deeply unnatural for her Dedication to chronic illnesses that get misunderstood The patients who say "I will always help" Teaching the next generation: mistakes are lessons Why science isn't black and white Learning to sit with your own achievements Favourite quotes:"I don't see courage as some heroic moment or something that everyone sees... you define your own definition because nobody knows what you are going through.""If this helps the future, the next generation of people with this illness, I will always help.""Knowledge is experience, you can't read a piece of paper and learn experience.""I'm even more curious about something that doesn't have an answer.""It's not about searching for external validation, it's about sitting with your own achievements."Subscribe for more honest conversations on courage, faith, purpose and resilience. New episodes weekly. 00:00 - Welcome to Talk With A Courageous Heart 01:33 - Introducing Anna Brooks 02:39 - Who is Anna Brooks? 04:45 - Anna's definition of courage 07:37 - Finding her path in academia 10:56 - Helping people with misunderstood chronic illness 16:02 - Stories of resilience from patients 20:50 - Becoming an educator and inspiring students 28:50 - Misconceptions of a scientist 30:50 - Anna asks the host a question 32:50 - How challenges shaped her identity 38:30 - Closing gratitude

    Nobody Knows What You're Going Through: Immunologist Dr Anna Brooks on Invisible Illness

  2. 3d ago

    Self-Made Is a Lie: Mina Amso on Courage, Action & Building Support

    Self-made is a lie. Mina Amso learned it the hard way — from pharmacy, to 12+ years in journalism, to founding PWRFULLY.  In this conversation, Mina shares why courageous people don't feel courageous; they just do it. Why you have to work through ⁠ overcoming fear ⁠ instead of waiting to feel ready. Why putting successful people on a pedestal kills your own courage. And why every day you wait to change has an opportunity cost.  About Mina Amso:Mina is the founder of PWRFULLY in Auckland, a ⁠podcast guesting ⁠and ⁠communication coach⁠⁠ ⁠practice helping business owners and executives communicate with authority. Learn more:  In this episode: From pharmacist to journalist to founder Courage is action, not a feeling People are just people — stop pedestalling Self-made is a lie — success takes a village Life's too short to stay stuck Favourite quotes:“Courage is just doing something. You just have to do it.”“Life is too short to stay in a thing that I don't like.”“Self-made is a lie.”  Subscribe for more honest conversations on ⁠courage⁠,faith, purpose and resilience. New episodes weekly.  00:00 What is Courage? Cold open with Mina 02:25 Meet Mina Amso - Pharmacist to Journalist to Podcaster 04:08 Mina's Definition of Courage - Just Do It 07:00 From Pharmacy to Media - A Courageous Career Shift 11:41 The Birth of "Notes From The Executive" Podcast 17:19 3 Powerful Lessons From Interviewing CEOs 19:57 People Are Just People - Stop Putting Others on a Pedestal 21:31 Self-Made Is a Lie - It Takes a Village 23:46 The Future Vision for Mina's Podcast 25:14 PWRFULLY - Helping Leaders Become Podcast Guests 32:31 Feeling Stuck? How to Take Action Anyway 42:25 Don't Give Up - Mina's Final Message 44:05 Closing - Consistency Beats Talent #TalkWithACourageousHeart #Courage #CareerChange

    Self-Made Is a Lie: Mina Amso on Courage, Action & Building Support

  3. Sep 24

    What a Hospital Chaplain Learned About Death, Silence & Courage with Father Mark Chamberlain

    What does true courage look like in the face of death? In this moving conversation on Talk With A Courageous Heart, Father Mark Chamberlain — priest, chaplain to the University of Otago and Dunedin Hospitals, and Director of Ignatian Spirituality in New Zealand — shares what hospital ministry taught him about faith and courage, finding peace, and gratitude. Father Mark opens up about sitting with a young father as he was dying, why he wanted to run away yet chose to stay, what the anointing of the sick really means, and why finding peace in silence matters more than ever for young people today. He also shares his own unlikely journey to priesthood and his work providing a home for people facing homelessness, addiction, and mental health challenges. If you’re walking through grief, loss, or searching for purpose, this one will stay with you. Tell us in the comments: What gave you courage in a hard moment? Subscribe to Talk With A Courageous Heart for weekly conversations on courage, faith, and resilience. New episodes every week. Guest: Father Mark Chamberlain, Catholic Priest & Hospital Chaplain. Host: Talk With A Courageous Heart 00:00 - Intro: Courage Is Not Being Afraid of Vulnerability 01:00 - Welcome to Talk With A Courageous Heart 01:40 - Meet Father Mark Chamberlain - Priest & Hospital Chaplain in Dunedin 03:20 - Living With Students & The Homeless, Serving Through Faith 07:30 - What Courage Really Means: Staying Present in Death 13:00 - Anointing of the Sick - Bringing Peace at End of Life 16:20 - Being Present at the Moment of Death 18:30 - Lesson from Hospice: Don't Let Your Feelings Intrude 20:50 - Why Become a Priest? Helping Young People Befriend Silence 22:40 - How to Overcome Fear of Silence in a Noisy World 25:00 - His Call to Priesthood: A Voice He Couldn't Ignore 27:00 - Fear of Not Being Successful & Finding True Success 29:00 - Final Message to Youth: Gratitude for Life 30:20 - Thank You & Closing

    What a Hospital Chaplain Learned About Death, Silence & Courage with Father Mark Chamberlain

  4. Sep 18

    Real Estate Agent Aaron Cook on Honesty, Courage & Buying Your First NZ Home

    What does it take to tell a client the truth when the truth costs you the listing? Aaron Cook has spent nearly 20 years selling property in Auckland with Barfoot & Thompson — and he's built his career on the one thing most agents avoid: saying it exactly how it is. In this episode of Talk With A Courageous Heart, Aaron talks about courage as "doing what you feel in your heart is right, not necessarily what is easy" — and what that looks like when a market turns and you have to tell someone their home is worth less than they hoped. He also shares what almost nobody expects from a top real estate agent: the first-home buyer he handed keys to, who saved her whole life, and the moment that reminded him his job is about people, not property. Plus the hardest season of his life — his 88-year-old father's stage four cancer diagnosis — and the advice he'd give anyone who's one step away from giving up. If you're buying your first home in New Zealand, Aaron's two starting points are worth writing down: get pre-approved (offers between banks can differ by hundreds of thousands of dollars), and get ruthless clarity on what actually matters to you — location, size, townhouse or freestanding, proximity to family or work.⏱️ Timestamps0:00 Introduction1:34 Meet Aaron Cook — nearly 20 years in Auckland real estate4:24 Aaron's definition of courage7:30 Why honesty wins in a tough market9:17 The first-home buyer he'll never forget11:45 His dad's diagnosis — and how he carries it14:00 Lessons his father taught him17:12 Building trust and not taking things personally21:46 Advice for first home buyers: pre-approval and clarity23:50 The "hotel pool" mix-up27:00 What inspires him and where the energy comes from29:27 The secret his dad kept for 15 years30:28 For anyone about to give up32:00 Closing thoughts 🔗 ConnectSubscribe to Talk With A Courageous Heart for weekly conversations about courage, purpose and resilience.Guest: Aaron Cook — Barfoot & Thompson, Auckland Hashtags: #realestate #auckland #courage #firsthomebuyer #newzealand

    Real Estate Agent Aaron Cook on Honesty, Courage & Buying Your First NZ Home

  5. Sep 10

    I'm Not a Savior: A Health Coach's Honest Truth | Thea Martinez

    What if listening — truly listening — is the real superpower of a health coach? In this heartfelt conversation on Talk With A Courageous Heart, health coach & nutritionist Thea Martinez shares her journey from deep insecurity and loneliness after moving from the Philippines to New Zealand, to finding purpose through faith, courage, and health coaching. Thea opens up about leaving her comfort zone in Christchurch for the North Island, why courage means acting despite fear, and how "active listening is a superpower" in helping clients find their own solutions. You'll hear: ✨ Why she says "I'm not a savior — I'm only a reflection of Jesus' love" and how that protects her from burnout ⭐ The Starfish Story — why helping ONE person for 5 minutes still matters 💛 How faith helped her through a dark season of questioning and insecurity 🌱 Her honest advice: "If you're about to give up, know that this is a temporary thing. You'll find your way out of it." Whether you're passionate about health and wellness, holistic health, faith and health, or need courage to step outside your comfort zone — this interview will encourage you. 🎙️ Guest: Thea Martinez — Health Coach & Nutritionist 🎧 Host: Talk With A Courageous Heart TIMESTAMPS:00:00 — Meet Thea Martinez01:30 — From the Philippines to New Zealand05:20 — What courage really means09:10 — Leaving Christchurch to grow13:45 — Active listening as a superpower18:30 — The Starfish Story22:15 — "I'm not a savior" — handling the emotional weight of coaching27:00 — Faith, letting go of control & living in the present32:40 — Message for anyone feeling like giving upSubscribe for weekly conversations on courage, faith, and resilience.#HealthCoach #Nutritionist #FaithAndHealth👇 What part of Thea's story hit you the most? Tell us in the comments.

    I'm Not a Savior: A Health Coach's Honest Truth | Thea Martinez

  6. Sep 3

    I Treat the Person, Not Just the Tooth | Hanel Blom

    From milking cows to calming dental fears — how one oral health therapist turned her dyslexia into her superpower. 🦷In this episode of Talk with a Courageous Heart, Andrew sits down with Hanelle Blum, an oral health therapist whose definition of courage was forged long before she ever picked up a dental mirror. Hanel immigrated from South Africa to New Zealand as a child, attended eight different schools, and grew up navigating life with undiagnosed dyslexia — all while learning to "take the bull by the horns. "In this conversation, we explore: Why Hanel now calls her dyslexia a gift, not a weakness How she went from milking cows and waitressing to treating patients with severe dental fear The lesson behind treating "the person, not just the tooth"Her honest battle with imposter syndrome — and New Zealand's "tall poppy syndrome" The Theodore Roosevelt "Man in the Arena" quote she shares with anyone ready to give up Courage isn't the absence of fear — it's resilience, adaptation, and fighting for what you care about, even when you don't have all the answers. Follow Hanel's story and subscribe for more courageous conversations. 💛

    I Treat the Person, Not Just the Tooth | Hanel Blom

  7. Aug 27

    Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable — A Firefighter's Definition of Courage | Dan Brady

    "Get comfortable being uncomfortable. You don't grow when you're comfortable — you grow when you're very uncomfortable and doing it anyway. "Dan Brady is a 45-year-old volunteer firefighter, Firefighter Challenge competitor, and president of the Takapuna Athletics Club. But his story isn't about never falling — it's about getting back up every single time. In this episode, Dan opens up about: 🔥 Snapping his ankle in his early 20s and thinking his rugby days were over 🔥 Prolapsing two discs and cracking two vertebrae in 2019 — told he'd never compete or surf again 🔥 Losing his father, the "guiding hand" in his sport 🔥 Running faster at 45 than he ever did before the injury. His takeaway? "You might have a bad chapter, but it doesn't reflect over the entire book."Whether you're chasing a comeback, building a team culture, or just trying to do hard things — this one's for you.

    Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable — A Firefighter's Definition of Courage | Dan Brady

  8. Aug 20

    "I Have 100 Plans" — Leaving Home at 18 & Finding the Courage to Start Over - Sasini Ariyarathna

    She left Sri Lanka at 18 with nothing but trust in herself. Now she keeps 100 backup plans — and it's why she's never stuck. In this episode, I sit down with Sasini Ariyarathna — teacher, content creator, and real estate agent — who moved from Sri Lanka to Dubai at 18, then to New Zealand, reinventing herself at every turn. We talk about: Why courage is really just trusting yourself. The moment she knew it was time to leave her comfort zone. How she built "100 plans" so fear never holds her back. Why home isn't a place — it's the people you meet. Her journey building community for the Sri Lankan diaspora in New Zealand. If you've ever been scared to take the first step, this one's for you. ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 — What courage actually means to her 03:30 — "Courage is trusting yourself" 07:44 — Seeing everything as an opportunity 10:19 — Why she keeps 100 plans 19:39 — "Home isn't a place, it's people" 24:08 — What's meant for you will never miss out 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations about courage, change, and starting over.

    "I Have 100 Plans" — Leaving Home at 18 & Finding the Courage to Start Over - Sasini Ariyarathna
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Real people. Real stories. Courage in everyday life. Join Andrew Bothalage as he sits down with people from all walks of life to share honest conversations about courage, faith, resilience, and the moments that shape who we are.”

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