In this deeply honest and moving conversation, Shaun Robinson, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand, joins Ivan to talk about life, leadership, and what it truly means to live with authenticity.

Shaun opens up about his journey — from growing up as a minister’s son to finding purpose through service, from confronting depression and bipolar disorder to leading one of the country’s most influential mental health organisations. He speaks candidly about fatherhood, vulnerability, and the lifelong process of learning to accept oneself.

This episode is not about titles or achievements. It’s about being human — the quiet courage to hold both strength and softness, to lead with heart, and to find meaning in suffering.

For anyone who’s ever struggled to feel “enough,” this conversation is a reminder that authenticity is not perfection — it’s presence, acceptance, and the willingness to grow.

In this heartfelt episode, we explore the power of storytelling as a pathway through grief, loss, and healing. Our guests share deeply personal reflections on how podcasts and peer support can create connection and hope in the aftermath of suicide.

Together, we discuss the importance of community, compassion, and cultural understanding in the way we hold space for grief.

The conversation also explores how workplaces and families can better support those who are grieving, the importance of celebrating lives rather than just mourning their loss, and the vital role of self-care for individuals supporting others. It’s an episode that reminds us grief is not something to “get over” — it’s something we grow through. Healing and grief can coexist, and through storytelling, we learn that we are never truly alone.

Support and Resources in Aotearoa New Zealand

If this conversation brings up difficult emotions or memories, please know that help and connection are always available.

Reaching out for support is a sign of strength — you are not alone.

Need to talk?

• Call or text 1737 anytime to speak with a trained counsellor. It’s completely confidential and available 24/7 anywhere in Aotearoa.

Other Helplines and Support:

• Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or 09 522 2999 | Free text 4357 (HELP)

• Suicide Prevention Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)

• Youthline: 0800 376 633 | Free text 234

• Samaritans: 0800 726 666

Community and Bereavement Support:

• Solace Support Auckland — a group offering comfort and understanding for those who have lost a loved one. https://mentalhealth.org.nz/groups/group/solace-support-auckland

• Community Support Groups — find peer-led groups across Aotearoa. https://mentalhealth.org.nz/groups Suicide

• Bereavement Groups — spaces for shared healing and understanding. https://mentalhealth.org.nz/groups?category=SuicideBereavementGroups

• Aoake te Rā – Bereaved by Suicide Services — free, nationwide support for individuals and whānau affected by suicide.https://www.aoaketera.org.nz/

Further Information and Resources:

• Mental Health Foundation – Main Site https://mentalhealth.org.nz/ Suicide Prevention Resources https://mentalhealth.org.nz/suicide-prevention/suicide-prevention-resources

• Accessing Mental Health Services https://mentalhealth.org.nz/help/accessing-mental-health-services

• Suicide Prevention in the Workplace https://mentalhealth.org.nz/resources/resource/suicide-prevention-in-the-workplace Helplines & Support https://mentalhealth.org.nz/helplines

• In Crisis? Find Help Here https://mentalhealth.org.nz/help

• Suicide Prevention – Changing the Narrative on Suicide. How to communicate safely about suicide in media, online and at events (Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKkdxgKx1Vw&t=28s

• Suicide Prevention and Community Support Webinar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz75-aVHhLI

In this episode of the Authentic Leadership Podcast, I sit down with Dave Burnside — a lived experience leader whose story spans addiction, incarceration, and recovery, to becoming a national voice for peer support and prison reform. Dave shares how one pivotal moment in a prison cell sparked a journey of transformation, leading him to champion lived experience in education, policy, and leadership. We discuss the power of peer support, the challenges of working within systems that often silence marginalised voices, and the urgent need to empower communities to lead change. Dave’s courage to turn inward, reimagine identity, and use his story for collective transformation is both humbling and inspiring. If you’ve ever wondered how lived experience can truly reshape systems, spark hope, and create movements for justice and wellbeing, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

What happens when you step outside your comfort zone and say yes to the unknown? 🌍 In this inspiring conversation, Sarah Hammouda shares her journey from New Zealand to Canada on a working holiday visa — a leap that turned into two years of adventure, resilience, and leadership lessons. From tiny staff housing and freezing winters to skiing to work and finding lifelong friends, Sarah discovered the power of humility, teamwork, and women’s leadership. We also explore how leaving home helped her rediscover what home really means, the importance of preparation, and how challenges become opportunities for growth. Whether you’re thinking about working overseas, curious about leadership, or simply love hearing real human stories of courage and connection, this episode is for you.

At 18, Raymond Wong arrived in Aotearoa as an international student, navigating language barriers, culture shock (remember when shops closed at 5!), and the challenge of finding his place. Two years later he joined NZ Police, eventually becoming the country’s first full-time Asian Ethnic Police Liaison (2003). Over 22+ years he helped pioneer community policing with Asian and refugee communities—building trust in places where police were once feared, recruiting local volunteers, and using his multilingual skills to bridge crises big and small. As a father, cases like the kidnapping of a young girl hit close to home, reminding him that empathy is the heart of service. Raymond reflects on resilience, teamwork, and humility—crediting colleagues, community, and his wife’s steadfast support. From tracing his roots back to Fuzhou to mentoring younger staff, his message to new migrants is simple: stay humble, listen, learn, and use common sense about safety. This is a story of becoming—a migrant, a parent, and a bridge-builder—shaped by Aotearoa New Zealand.

Exploring the 1.5 generation’s journey through migration, cultural identity, mental health, neurodivergence, and the impact of social media. This conversation examines the lived experiences of the 1.5 generation, particularly in relation to migration, cultural identity, and mental health in New Zealand. It highlights the challenges of navigating intergenerational expectations, language barriers, and the added complexities of neurodivergence. The discussion explores authenticity, personal expression, and the influence of family dynamics on shaping identity. It also discussed the creativity and storytelling emerge as powerful tools for leadership, connection, and personal growth, showing how even small actions can ripple into meaningful change.

This conversation unpacks cultural norms and social expectations across Asia and New Zealand, exploring how they shape class, identity, and communication. It examines the influence of language and intent, the rise of social media in reshaping relationships, and the loneliness faced by young men. Through storytelling and creativity, the discussion highlights the power of community, the importance of celebrating achievements, and the role of empowerment in fostering genuine connection.

In this conversation, Ivan and Monika explore the intersection of yoga, spirituality, and community healing. Monika shares her journey from marine science to becoming a yoga teacher and caretaker of Golden Yogi, emphasising the importance of bridging scientific understanding with spiritual practices. They discuss the significance of creating a safe space for individuals to heal and connect, the diverse offerings at the studio, and the personal experiences that shape their understanding of energy and community. Monika's insights into the interconnectedness of all things and the power of intention resonate throughout the dialogue, highlighting the transformative potential of yoga and mindfulness. For more information on Golden Yoga, visit https://goldenyogi.co.nz/

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.

Jordyn Elyse shared her journey from childhood to motherhood, exploring her identity through separation, grief, and vulnerability. She lives her life with authenticity, showing up truthfully—with love and passion. This was a conversation I’ll never forget: a soul-to-soul exchange that many will deeply relate to, touching on heartache and kindness, beauty and grace.

Ivan Yeo and Kevin Harper (He/him), CEO and Chief Enabler of the Changing Minds community, delve into the meaning of authentic leadership in this thought-provoking episode. Kevin, a visionary leader with both wisdom and an inquisitive mind, shares his journey—from the individual to the community, society, and beyond—exploring how challenging and rewarding it can be to lead with authenticity. Their honest conversation centres on lived experience and raises important questions about what it truly takes to be an authentic leader. A powerful and insightful episode you won’t want to miss.

Visit Changing Minds

On the Authentic Leadership Podcast, we sit down with Gary Sutcliffe to hear about his incredible journey through mental health—one that eventually led him into the mental health workforce during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Later in life, just as he and his wife were preparing for retirement, their plans were disrupted by a rare condition called aphasia. It brought unexpected challenges, but together, they found new ways to navigate this unfamiliar terrain. Through it all, Gary remained a steady anchor, not just for his wife but for others around him. Tune in to the episode to hear how his story unfolded—with honesty, strength, and heart.

In this conversation, Eva Chen MNZM reflects on her journey, shaped by family values and quiet but powerful leadership. She shares how challenging authority can be done with grace, and how systems—not communities—often create the biggest barriers. From misaligned translations to the myth of “hard-to-reach” groups, Eva speaks honestly about the gaps she’s witnessed.

She also challenges the stereotype of underqualified Asians, naming how cultural pressures and systemic bias contribute to underemployment. Through it all, Eva stays grounded in service. For her, true leadership is about lifting others up—not seeking the spotlight. One of her proudest moments? Seeing her children helped by strangers she once supported herself.

Being an Asian woman representing her community while staying true to herself has not been an easy path for Eva Chen MNZM. She describes her journey as one of constant learning — shaped by purpose and grounded in service. For Eva, it has always been about the people.

In her earlier years, Eva often faced discrimination. Her youthful appearance led to assumptions and misjudgements — at times even being mistaken for someone’s mistress. These experiences were deeply shaped by patriarchal and authoritarian structures, where women were confined to traditional roles and judged by how they looked. Navigating those expectations, particularly within a collectivist culture, added another layer of complexity. Even today, she observes how these biases can persist, especially in spaces where women from collective cultures are still treated differently based on appearance or age.

Eva’s hope is to empower the next generation of female leaders who come from similar cultural backgrounds — not by telling them who to be, but by sharing what she has learned through lived experience.

In collectivist cultures, asking hard questions is often avoided for fear of appearing rude. But Eva leans into that discomfort. She believes direct conversations with communities reveal truths that data alone can’t show. It's something she often reminds government officials — if we truly want to serve, we must listen first.

Eva’s community spirit is wide-reaching. She is a natural collaborator who builds capacity in others by working alongside different organisations. During COVID-19, she witnessed the gaps in support for ethnic and migrant communities. But Eva didn’t wait for solutions to be designed — she acted. Whether it was visiting a migrant in hospital, or quietly delivering food to families in crisis, she responded without needing recognition, simply because it was needed.

As a former international student and now a mother without extended family support, Eva knows intimately how isolating it can be — especially when caring for a sick child. These lived experiences have shaped her into a deeply empathetic and values-led leader. One of her guiding mottos remains: “Any help is better than no help.” And for those who know her, that’s not just a saying — it’s how she lives.

Eva’s children found a sense of belonging through learning kapa haka, which later inspired them to study te reo Māori. That journey of cultural grounding deepened their identity and shaped Eva’s understanding of connection, belonging, and bicultural practice in Aotearoa.

Over time, Eva’s advocacy extended well beyond her immediate community. She became the CEO of the Wellbeing Charitable Trust, a SKIP Champion. She serves as Co-Chair of Auckland Council’s Ethnic Peoples Advisory Panel, continuing her commitment to whānau-centred wellbeing and cross-cultural collaboration.

One of the most meaningful projects Eva has led is the Hawaiki Project — a cultural exchange connecting Indigenous communities in Taiwan with Ngāti Manu in Aotearoa. The project began by bringing Taiwanese Indigenous youth to New Zealand, followed by a reciprocal visit where Ngāti Manu travelled to Taiwan. It took a massive effort to raise funds and make it happen, but the impact was profound.

This project is special because it focuses on genuine connection, not just cultural exchange, but deep and lasting friendships. It traces the shared ancestral roots between Māori and Indigenous Taiwanese peoples, supported by genetic and linguistic research. For many of the young people involved, it offered a stronger sense of identity, belonging, and pride — and showed what’s possible when communities come together with shared purpose and heart.