He toa taumata rau

Courage has many resting places

 

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This podcast features a conversation between Ve, Corrinne, and Sala Tiatia, a youth educator with over 30 years of experience in roles ranging from church ministry and community outreach to leading workshops for youth workers and running leadership programs in mainstream schools and alternative education. At the age of six, Sala first encountered domestic violence, but it was the verbal abuse that left the deepest mark on his inner world. However, a turning point came through one English class and a teacher who helped shift the darkness in his life. In this emotional talk, Sala reflects on how certain words brought light into his life and how he now works to bring that same light to some of New Zealand’s most vulnerable youth.

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Key Points

• Words have immense power—they can either harm or heal.

• Words hold the potential to change lives.

• For those working with young people, their motivation should always be grounded in love, care, and connection.

• While it's not possible to build a deep relationship with everyone, we can always strive to connect.

• When we speak words of life, they should come from a place of hope and authenticity within ourselves.

• It’s essential to tend to our own emotional well-being—we need to nurture the gardens within our hearts.

• Taking time to "sit" with our emotions allows us to move forward and continue giving to others

 

Link to Sala’s Ted Talk

 

Acknowledgments

Sala Tiatia- Interviewee

Corrinne Devitt - Co-Host, scripting and show notes

Ve Grant-Lawlor - Co-host, scripting, music, production, editing, and publishing