I enjoyed speaking with Dr Anu Anandaraja about her life and the work she does with Women Together Global. I really enjoyed this conversation with Anu and hearing about her childhood and her dream at age 9 to help with health care in Africa - which came true, thanks to both hard work and serendipity! If you enjoy this check out the 470 other episodes in the back catalogue and more info is at www.theseeds.nz

Website: https://www.womentogetherglobal.com/

New Zealand site for Women Together Global: https://www.womentogether.org.nz/

Video by Kea on Anu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQS1xebR67I

Women Together empowers women and girls to achieve the economic independence, confidence, and solidarity to transform their futures together.

Through peer to peer skills transfer, education, access to land and funding to launch cooperative businesses, women and girls are supported to build a better world for themselves and their communities.

Shaun Seaman from Mushroom Material recently won the Next Fest 2025 pitch competition run by the Sustainable Business Network and this is his pitch. I attended the event and enjoyed the discussions there.

Thanks to SBN for the chance to share this with others as it is a good example of innovative and new ways of doing business and thinking!

Website: https://www.mushroommaterial.com/

His bio: Shaun is Founder & CEO at Mushroom Material. Mushroom Material is replacing expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) with a high-performance, home-compostable alternative made from mycelium (mushrooms). The material matches expanded polystyrene in impact resistance, thermal protection, and acoustic insulation. The end product is fully circular, microplastic-free, and safe for home composting.

More interviews www.theseeds.nz

I was interviewed by Azoora Ali for her new "Care beyond profits" podcast recently - this is a portion of that interview. For the full episode listen on her show:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1nkiSFbWQhBoGCFkXZR6lA?si=aNWoGQyQQ6yzm8N2pJT1KA

Video:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8j76XbSDm8g

In this episode, discover how to:

• Overcome the fear of the unknown with courage

• Embrace mindset shifts to unlock growth and success

• Build resilience while navigating challenges and change

• Find purpose-driven direction in your career and personal life

• Align values, community, and even faith
with authentic leadership

This conversation is perfect for anyone seeking personal growth, career inspiration, or guidance on leading with purpose.

Timestamps:
0:00 Would your 95-year-old self regret this choice?

0:27 Meet Steven Moe: Lawyer turned purpose-driven leader 1:27
Family chaos, laughter & a love of books 3:36
Childhood across countries → building resilience 7:32
The leap to Japan at 21 that changed everything 10:20
Why "work–life balance" is a myth 12:07
The bell test: How to find your true purpose 15:32
Faith, values & the spiritual side of leadership 21:18
3 daily habits for focus & lasting energy 25:17
Family first: urgent work won't matter in 10 years 31:57
The #1 thing founders must do to succeed 37:12
Everyone is a leader - starting with yourself

Join us in this interview series of inspiring purpose-driven founders, CEOs, and social enterprise leaders who build care into how they work and live. We unpack their values, choices, and habits so you can apply the same ideas in your world.
I believe that care turns purpose into impact in positive ways.
Hosted by Azoora Ali, a Virtual (Fractional) CFO using the CARES lens: clarity, actionable insights, returns, efficiency, stability. New episodes every 2 weeks.

I learned a lot in this conversation with Alison Mau about her life and journey and what has led to the setting up of Tika. Curiousity guided the questions and we talk about a lot of things starting with her childhood, growing up in Melbourne, experiences at primary school that shaped her and led to a resilient attitude, the special bond she feels with horses and why that is so, becoming a journalist back in the analogue days before lots of computers or dictaphons, and her presenting on TV and how she ended up in New Zealand. Then we focus in on the setting up of Tika which is a charity that empowers people to come forward to report past sexual harm and how it works, what it means and the future potential.

And an encouragment for us all: "Happiness for me is not in money, possessions or anything like that - it is, how can I be useful..."

Tika website: https://www.tika.org.nz/

Alison's book "No Words for this" is here or over here

More about Anu and Women Together Global who we mention in the interview as she introduced us: https://www.womentogetherglobal.com/

Spinoff book review: https://thespinoff.co.nz/books/01-04-2025/gripping-revelatory-generous-and-layered-no-words-for-this-by-ali-mau-reviewed

For many more interviews visit www.theseeds.nz

This is a book review of Cues by Vanessa Van Edwards - I suggest you get a copy (link below).

For the written review visit over here and that also has links to her TedX talk and several podcast appearances talking about the principles in the book: https://theseeds.nz/articles/cues-book-review-and-principles-learned/

Link to the book: https://scorpiobooks.co.nz/product/cues-master-the-secret-language-of-charismatic-communication/

If this is of use why not share it with someone or post it with your thoughts on the topic?

More here www.theseeds.nz

In this short 5 minute episode share some reflections on the topic of saying no - what do you think? When is it important to do this?

More content is at www.theseeds.nz

I really enjoyed my conversation with Susanne Ritzenhoff about her life and Toi Ora and the work they do – check out the links we mentioned in the conversation:

Toi Ora link: Toi Ora Live Art Trust

Gallery with art for sale: Gallery Shop - Toi Ora Live Art Trust

The Circle: Careers with Impact Book: The Circle: Careers with Impact - Seeds

Interview with Neil Ieremia: Neil Ieremia on founding Black Grace and the role Dance can play in commenting on our past and our future - Seeds

Shakespeare Festival link: Contact Us : Shakespeare Globe Centre NZ

Annie Dillard quote:

"One of the things I know about writing is this: spend it all, shoot it, play it, lose it, all, right away, every time. Do not hoard what seems good for a later place in the book or for another book; give it, give it all, give it now. The impulse to save something good for a better place later is the signal to spend it now. Something more will arise for later, something better. These things fill from behind, from beneath, like well water. Similarly, the impulse to keep to yourself what you have learned is not only shameful, it is destructive. Anything you do not give freely and abundantly becomes lost to you. You open your safe and find ashes."

Here is a short summary of sessions held at the reent two day Institute of Directors Leadership Conference.

The full article can be accessed here with a lot more summaries of other sessions as well! https://theseeds.nz/iod-leadership-conference-2025-summary-of-sessions-and-key-themes/

Why not join the next one in Wellington in September 2026? Info is at the IOD site here https://www.iod.org.nz/2026-leadership-conference

For more content visit www.theseeds.nz