In this episode we speak with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia survivor, Vonda Nepia, about how her cancer journey drove her to uncover her whakapapa and whenua (Māori ancestors and ancestral land ties), moving to live on ancestral whenua post-cancer, and the health advocacy work she leads on behalf of Māori communities (the indigenous peoples of New Zealand). She discusses the shock of being given 72 hours to live, the significance of Te Whare Tapa Wha health model to help her successfully navigate cancer treatment, and the advocacy work she does to ensure health systems can better serve Māori communities through improved access and prevention. Visit https://www.vondanepia.com for more about Vonda's advocacy roles and her holistic wellbeing consultancy, Ataahua Wellbeing Solutions.

Anna Ward of Art Therapy Gold Coast shares her journey from developing her artistic abilities in childhood to discovering and becoming an Art Therapy practitioner. We discuss the various clients she works with, using creativity as a profound and impactful tool to unlock healing and improve wellbeing. We dive into art therapy's accessibility in both New Zealand and Australia, its integration with mainstream public health services, and acknowledgment of spirituality as an aspect of healing. With a compassionate and creative approach to therapy, Anna highlights the multi-faceted nature of healing and the importance of living in the present. Check out https://arttherapygoldcoast.com for more information about Anna and her Art Therapy practice.