In this deeply moving conversation, Ivan speaks with Shelley Brunskill-Matson about grief, purpose and our fundamental need to know that we matter. After losing her father, Tony, to suicide at age 12, Shelley dedicated her work to improving support for bereaved children and whānau. She shares insights from her PhD research, the creation of Tony’s Place, its guardianship of the WAVES programme and the development of MySpace for tamariki. Ultimately, this is a conversation about listening without assuming, transforming grief into purpose and helping every person feel truly seen and heard.

Content note: This episode discusses suicide loss and grief.