30 years ago a set of instruments from Bali were brought to University of Canterbury and formed the first Gamelan ensemble in Christchurch, under the guidance of Professor Elaine Dobson. Three decades on, after a short period of disuse the ensemble was reestablished in 2017 under Justin DeHart and celebrates a milestone this month. The podcast features Prof Justin DeHart and I Made Kartawan who's visiting from Bali, where he is faculty at ISI - The Indonesian Institute of Arts. Gamelan is cultural taonga with spiritual roots in the Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim histories of the islands of Bali, Java and Sumatra. With its hypnotic and sometimes haunting sounds, the Gamelan makes for quite a remarkable sight - a set of percussive instruments intricately carved, sometimes painted bright red and gold, and struck with hammer-like mallets. Gamelan is more than just music or entertainment but a seen as a vehicle for spiritual connection and an integral part of rituals, worship and tradition.

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Filmmaker Shamin Yazdani tackles a personal dilemma in her latest documentary - to freeze her eggs or not. She chats to Kadambari Raghukumar about the journey she went on as she explores the topic through conversation with some close ones.

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A collective of former refugee women come together in Christchurch to share stories, kai and community.

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As home-based early childcare picks up in popularity, Barnardos-employed mother and daughter duo Iman and Hanin Taqieh speak about how it helped change their lives as new mums. Making shifts in their careers to become homebased educators was a decision that gave them flexibility and purpose after their family moved here from Jordan. Hanin Taqieh is community coordinator with Barnardos where she leads the home-based portfolio supporting over 40 home-based educators in Auckland – including her own mum Iman, who's herself, been with Barnardos for twenty years as an educator. In this episode - what's the incentive, both for parents and educators?

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Last week, New Zealand upped its ante by lowering the cap on Russian crude oil as part of its sanctions, while about 20,000 people rallied in Auckland calling for sanctions against Israel. In this episode, what's the sentiment on the ground when it comes to sanctions against Israel and Russia? Kadambari Raghukumar talks to Alex Kirichuk, Taimor Hazou, Katrina Mitchell Kouttab and Juliet Moses.

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Breaking Bread this week features Kadambari Raghukumar in conversation with Agha Naqshbandi and his wife Wahida Niazi, who are mastering with pride, their Afghan skills of breadmaking in the South Island.

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The humble pide, is a historic staple from Anatolia and at this bakery in West Auckland, Mustafa Suphy and Anil Ozbal sing praises of their Turkish traditions of baking while enjoying a fresh pide, washing it down with a Turkish coffee.

Credits:

Video and images:

DOP/Editor - Craig Gladding

Director/ Producer - Ka

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No Ethiopian meal is complete without this fermented staple accompaniment and in today’s podcast, Kadambari Raghukumar is breaking bread with her Ethiopian friends in West Auckland at Goju, with injera.

Credits:

Video and images:

DOP/Editor - Craig Gladding

Director/ Producer - Kadambari Raghukumar

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