Can we fix our mental health epidemic with a drastic change in what we eat? That's the question posed by Professor Julia Rucklidge. She's a psychologist and the director of the Mental Health and Nutrition Research Group at the University of Canterbury. Her research has focused on the impact of nutrition on brain metabolism, gut microbiome and how our mental health is directly tied to the gut-brain axis. We kōrero with Julia about the findings of her studies and expose the barriers she's faced challenging the status quo, with Scientific institutes unwilling to publish and promote research on the basis that it questions the existing treatments.

The issues of health, education and welfare can often feel intangible and immovable. Despite feeling like we are slipping backwards on these issues, we often look to the government, expecting them to drive change. Yet, in our focus on government as an omnipotent force, we might overlook the organic source of change at the grassroots. Charities, NGOs and Community organisations often serve as the safety net for the most vulnerable among us. However, they struggle due to insufficient funding, resources, and the means to measure their impact. Social Investment is an initiative that aims to promote and resource the grassroots programs that are working. Joining me to talk more about this is former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Sir Bill English. Today his organisation Impact Lab helps charities and NGOs better measure the impact they have. You might notice that the audio quality of this episode isn’t up to our usual standard. Unfortunately we had some issues with the recording and have had to do our best with a backup. So please bear with us, we promise it’s a conversation worth listening to.

Top of mind for Nzers, according to the media, is youth crime and ram raids. But when I speak to most people, there’s a deeper understanding that crime is just a symptom of broader societal dissonance. The risk factors for a life of crime and incarceration are well studied and well known, yet it feels like we haven't figured out how to prevent it yet. Or at least we haven't accepted that we need to keep doing the interventions that work and stop doing the interventions that don't. On this episode I'm joined by Sully Paea, Member of the New Zealand order of Merit for his services to youth work. He's an iconic fixture in Otara who has not only seen it all, but lived it.

Rarely in conversation, do we hear about the state of Asian health. Despite being over 15% of the NZ population, it feels like this issue has dropped completely off the map. If we take the data at face value, it appears that on average asians in New Zealand, are doing alright. But within this demographic are a superdiverse population, heterogenous in culture, needs and health risks. To help me unpack this often overlooked issue of asian health, I’m speaking with Ivan Yeo, deputy director of Asian Family Services. He dispels the myths that exist and shines a light on core issues affecting families he serves.

For a long time, New Zealand has traded off the back of its agricultural and farming expertise. Producing enough food to feed 40 million, we export most of that overseas. It’s made us a pretty wealthy country and afforded us access to new medicines; precision scientific instruments; animal feed and fuel. However, our heavy reliance on agriculture has come at the cost of our environment, leading to soil degradation, water pollution and excessive carbon emissions. On today’s episode I kōrero with Darryn Keiller CEO and founder of Agtech startup, WayBeyond. They’re a New Zealand company whose mission is to improve the way we cultivate food. As we know, access to quality nutrition, fruit and vegetables is critical for the health and wellbeing of our future generations. But our food systems face uncertainty in the wake of Climate Change. Cyclone Gabrielle highlighted the power of extreme weather to disrupt our food growers. So what does a more resilient and sustainable food system look like?

On this episode we kōrero with Emily King, a food systems expert and author of the book, Re-Food. We unravel sustainable agriculture, food accessibility, and the challenges posed by monopolistic supermarkets. Emily's narratives from Cuba shed light on food scarcity and resilient island communities like Waiheke. Our conversation dives into empathy, societal collaboration, and sustainable food futures, emphasizing the impact of urban sprawl on farmlands. Through diverse perspectives, we explore humanity's relationship with food, seeking solutions for a more inclusive, sustainable future. This episode navigates food system complexities, fostering contemplation and dialogue. Join us as we journey through layers of our food systems, aiming for a deeper understanding and a path towards a better tomorrow.

In this touching podcast episode, we kōrero with Bernie Harfleet to explore the profound impact of adoption, experiences in state care, and the transformative work of "Give a Kid a Blanket.", a charity Bernie co-founded with his partner, Turtle. Bernie's journey, from adoption to reconnecting with his birth family, offers a unique perspective on identity and belonging. We dive deep into the struggles faced by children in state care, emphasising the importance of giving them a voice and support. Discover how Bernie and his community are changing lives one blanket at a time. Join us for a heartwarming conversation that shows how small acts of kindness can make a world of difference.

It's been a little while since we last released an episode of the podcast, so we thought we'd share a bit about what has been happening in our personal lives that has lead to the hiatus. Just over a year ago, Nina was approached to run as a candidate for a political party. Seeing it as an opportunity to give a voice to health workers and the issues facing our health system, we jumped head first into the world of campaigns, billboards, debates and politicians. With the election wave being finally over, we're now resurfacing and thought we'd share a bit about our experience.

In this episode, we kōrero Dr. Davin Tan, an adolescent psychiatrist. We explore the profound impact parents have on their children's lives, discussing attachment, resilience, and the changing dynamics of modern families. Davin shares insights from his experiences in Youth Justice and Forensic Psychiatry units, shedding light on the delicate balance between autonomy and safety in mental health care.

This is a special episode of 'Revolving Door Syndrome', recorded live at the ASB Waterfront Theatre after a performance of 'Things That Matter'. This production is an adaptation of Dr David Galler's book of the same name. We sit down with Dr Mamaeroa David and Rob Campbell to delve into the show. During our discussion, we address the stark realities that the show sheds light on regarding our struggling health system and how its themes resonate all too closely with real life.

In this episode we kōrero with Dr. Adrian Gray, an addiction specialist. We delve into the complexities surrounding mental health, societal influences, and the transformative power of psychedelic therapy. Speaking about the rise of anxiety and depression in modern society, Dr Adrian Gray underscores how psychedelic therapies offer a 'reset', a refreshing perspective that extends beyond traditional Western medicine. As we explore substances like Ayahuasca and LSD for therapeutic use, the conversation bridges the gap between their indigenous roots and their clinical applications in contemporary settings. Amidst a growing interest in psychedelics, we discuss the potential conflicts between the holistic, community-based approaches of native cultures and the commercial interests of the pharmaceutical industry. Join us for a compelling conversation about this unconventional yet promising approach to mental health.

On this episode, we sit down with Harry Tam, a former public policy advisor and patched member of New Zealand's Mongrel Mob. Harry offers a unique perspective on crime, gang culture, and the societal and economic factors that perpetuate these issues. He criticises the media's role in sensationalising crime and the political rhetoric around being "tough on crime". Drawing from his personal experiences and observations, Harry emphasises the need to focus on changing harmful behaviours rather than trying to eliminate gangs. He also discusses the impact of economic policies on communities and how they can lead to cycles of crime and gang involvement. This episode is a deep dive into the complexities of crime, gang culture, and the societal and economic factors that contribute to these issues from the perspective of someone who has both lived experience and policy expertise.

This week we are joined by Dr Julian Buchanan, retired associate professor of criminology and addiction. He is now using his research and experiences to advocate for drug policy reform through the Harm Reduction Coalition Aotearoa.

Julian is originally from Liverpool, UK and is now enjoying a busy ‘retirement’ in Waikenae beach.

Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM is an Australian emergency doctor, lawyer, author, pilot and disability advocate - and he does it all from a wheelchair. Dinesh shares his story of surviving a severe spinal cord injury to finishing medical training and showing that he has all the abilities to achieve a fulfilling career helping people in emergency situations.

On this episode we kōrero with Rob Campbell and Dave Letele, an unlikely pairing of best mates. It all began when Dave encouraged Rob to put aside the wine and sausage rolls and join him in the gym. Now bound by the Brown Buttabean creed, Rob and Dave share a joint mission and vision for a more community driven approach to health. Making no secret of his discontent with the health reforms, Rob indulges us with the stories of political turmoil behind closed doors that ultimately lead to his sacking. While Dave provides an insight into his grassroots organisation and the vital work being lead by community groups and LinkedIn conversations.

On this episode we kōrero with Dr Carmen Basu, the founder of Milk and Honey Paediatrics. As a paediatrician who grew disillusioned with her ability to innovate within the public health system, Carmen has pioneered a fresh approach to the first 1000 days of life. Drawing upon research from Scandinavia, which vividly portrays the lasting advantages of early investments, Carmen raises a thought-provoking question: Why aren't we implementing this approach in Aotearoa?

On this episode we kōrero with Cherie Jaeger, a mother, teacher and principal of Marist Alternative Education school in Auckland. For students that have fallen out of mainstream education, Cherie's school offers a unique lifeline of hope for disenfranchised youth. Cherie breaks down the challenges she sees in her day to day and provides some heartbreaking stories that illustrate how hard it is to break the cycle.

On this episode we kōrero with Dr Nic Szecket, an internal medicine consultant, about the inevitable nature of mistakes in medicine, why they occur and how we can reduce the chances of them reoccurring. Having trained and worked before in the Canadian health system, Dr Szecket provides some perspective when reflecting on our own system in Aotearoa.

On this episode we kōrero with Tommy Doran, a recovered meth addict and advocate for justice system reform with the NGO, JustSpeak. As somebody who has experienced the Revolving Door, Tommy offers great insight into the injustice of our prison systems; where recidivism is extremely high and rehabilitation rates, low. Tommy's story provides a window of hope to those still stuck in the cycle and provides valuable lessons we can learn from to enable to recovery of more people.

On this episode of our podcast, we kōrero with Dr. Elizabeth Berryman, a highly respected healthcare professional and advocate for clinician's mental health. Dr. Berryman's journey began as a nurse working in the remote Australian outback, where she faced unique challenges and gained invaluable experience in managing a small rural hospital. This experience fueled her passion for improving healthcare outcomes and inspired her to pursue a career in medicine. During her clinical years as a med student, she encountered a toxic bullying environment. This experience nearly led her to leave medicine altogether, but instead, it sparked a passion for investigating and improving workplace culture. Dr. Berryman's research ultimately led to the development of 'Chnnl,' a cutting-edge medical tech startup aimed at empowering healthcare workers to track their mental wellbeing and provide anonymous feedback to senior leadership. Through her work with 'Chnnl,' Dr. Berryman is making a significant impact in the healthcare industry, advocating for mental health awareness, and working to improve clinician wellbeing and patient outcomes.

On this episode we kōrero with Kiri Danielle, Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa and Ngati Raukawa ki Te Tonga. We talk about her career as an early childhood educator and what a good quality pre-school looks like. We have one chance to get child development right and the consequences can be significant. We also talk about her experience of homelessness but by continuing to advocate for Papatuānuku, Mother Earth, through activism she was able to rise above to become a lawyer and now our very first Māori Environmental Commissioner. We touch on environmental issues and sustainability and how complex issues require a delicate hand.

On this episode we kōrero with Rich Rowley, an advocate and educator for neurodiversity within the workplace. With his charity, The Observatory, Rich runs workshops with businesses to help drive systems and culture change, to realise and embrace the neurodiverse skillset of their employees and solve big business problems. We discuss how the school system is letting down neurodiverse kids and driving them away from education and how Rich seeks to change this.

On this episode, we speak with Dr Orna McGinn, a GP specialising in women's health. We discuss the many issues currently affecting women's access to basic health needs and the inequities that exist for different groups. Dr Orna advocates for a Women's Health Strategy, of which New Zealand is one of few OECD countries where one doesn't exist.

On this episode, we're joined by political analyst Josh Van Veen. Bringing with him a wealth of experience in politics and health, Josh speaks to the effects of neoliberalism on our health system and the history of how we got here. We also kōrero about the time Josh spent at The Health and Disabilities Commissioner and the limitations faced with upholding the Code of Rights and implementing change.

On the surface, it sounds like being a doctor would be one of the most fulfilling jobs out there: helping people, saving lives, effecting change within communities... But the reality is often more bleak, as many clinicians have discovered, that our ability to affect change is severely hampered by the systems we work in. This being the prime reason Dr Justin Sung left medicine, instead to pursue a passion in education where he feels he is able to create more meaningful and impactful change.On this episode we speak about a broad range of issues, from the stagnant innovation of the health system and the driving factors for our tech-woes, to education and our need to rethink effective learning environments.

A bonus mini episode on the importance of compassionate palliative care with Dr Natalie Anderson. We talk about some of our own experiences with providing dignified end of life care and also Natalie shares her partner's complex health story and dealings with the health system.

On this episode we chat with emergency nurse and senior nursing lecturer, Dr Natalie Anderson, on the challenges of training new nurses and retaining existing ones. With recent revival talk of hospital wait time targets, we look at ways we can create useful indicators for our health system and provide clinicians power to demand better staffing and working conditions.

On this episode, we kōrero with a friend of mine, Luke Elborough. Luke's a Criminal Defence lawyer based in the Auckland region specialising in Legal Aid. Frequently, he gets to see behind the headlines, working directly with people on the receiving end of legal judgement. Luke talks to the complexities that lead to offending and how our Justice Systems are failing to catch people and instead aggravate the issues; leaving people more isolated from help and more likely to reoffend.

Mike King is a household name in Aotearoa for his comedy specials and reality TV appearances. Today we will be talking about his work in mental health with his charities I Am Hope and Gumboot Friday on what we could be doing better to help our rangatahi and tamariki in desperate need for support.

On this Episode we lift the lid on Gangs and their history in Aotearoa, the difficulties that gang-affiliated whānau face and what Cherie Kurarangi is doing to break the cycle. Cherie is a gang-affiliated woman in Hawke's Bay who is using her past trauma and familial connection with the Mongrel Mob as a bridge between hard to reach families and the support they desperately need.

Carlton Irving, critical care Air Ambulance Paramedic, 4th year medical student and father of SIX kids. We don't know where he finds the time to sleep, (let alone chat on our podcast!!) but we got him! An inspiring and uplifting kōrero with perhaps a few life lessons for us all.

In Part 2 of this 2 part series we pick up where we left off with Dr Ari Chuang. We hear more about his journey in our current health system to access gender-affirming care and learn about his work to increase access for others.

On this episode we kōrero with Dr Ari Chuang, a trans male emergency doctor, recipient of a Commonwealth Youth award and proud father of one. In part one of this two part series, we hear his story about surviving pentecostal megachurches and his multiple journeys of coming out to reclaim his identity

This week we speak with Anton Blank (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu), an advocate, researcher and publisher based in Auckland, New Zealand. Working across a portfolio of projects Anton has a special interest in indigenous issues, indigenous literature, racism and bias. Anton has over thirty years experience in social work, communications, social marketing and leadership. He works across justice, education and health developing strategies to address racism and bias, and their impact on diverse populations.

Growing up Maori with Dr RichOn this episode we kōrero with Dr Rich, a paediatric doctor in Tāmaki Makarau. We learn about his roots in Tikanga Māori and he shares some of his experiences as Māori in our health, education and justice systems.

On this intro episode we sit down with our host Dr Nina Su and our producer Connor Ayliffe. We set the scene for this podcast series and introduce the main themes and direction for Revolving Door Syndrome