Yarns for the Soul

Send us a text On this mini episode I share how Winter in New Zealand has been impacting the way I show up across all areas of life, and how I've given myself permission to reflect on what is currently serving me. I also yarn about the importance of listening to our bodies as seasons change, and to check in with ourselves to see what we really need. I have chosen to take a break for Winter and put the podcast on pause, with the intention of returning with the change in seasons and hopefully a spring in my step- watch this space from September onwards..! If you want to check out what I'm up to in the meantime or get in touch, you can find me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole- see you there! Support the show

Send us a text On this episode I am joined by Kim Davis, an avid crafter and true crime enthusiast, mother, and co-host of the Slaycation podcast. Our yarn begins with the healing power of crafts- how sitting and knitting or stitching can be meditative, as well as how it can be used to disconnect from unwanted social conversations! We talk about how crafting can give you moments to yourself, and the importance of doing something just because. Kim speaks openly about her life growing up in a household with domestic abuse, and the ongoing impacts that has had on her and her relationships. We talk about intergenerational trauma, and how being a cycle breaker requires looking back with a compassionate lens. Kim also shares some of her experiences from her career as a social worker in the US, and how she saw cycles of violence and trauma perpetuated among the people she was desperately trying to support. We yarn about compassion fatigue, and that as much as you want to help there is often a moment where you decide you need to walk away. We also yarn about our mutual love of true crime, and what it is that fascinates us so much about the most grisly cases. Kim explains the origin story behind her podcast, Slaycation, and what motivates her to continue sharing these stories. Check out the Slaycation podcast on your favourite podcast platform, and follow their updates on Instagram @slaycationwtf. To check out all of Kim's epic crafts, you can also find her @thatgirlknits. ... If you're enjoying the podcast, you're welcome to come and join me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole- see you there! Support the show

Send us a text On this mini-yarn I share some of my recent experiences and learnings from working through stuff with coach Di Foster and EMDR therapy with a local psychologist. I yarn about feeling more future-focused in my current phase of life, and why that feels like such a novelty to me. I reflect on how some of my lived experiences left me stuck in survival mode, and how that can make you forget about any big audacious goals. I talk about the idea of shifting my mindset, from putting things into the "too hard basket" and having negative narratives about myself, to becoming curious about what could happen if I changed my perspective. We're often so stuck in the weeds that we can lose sight of our own strengths and goals, and sometimes we just need a reminder from our bestie that people already see us as the powerhouse that we are! To keep up to date on future podcast episodes you can follow me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole. Links: Podcast recommendation- "I Weigh- Living Deliciously with Florence Given". Check out Di Foster on Instagram @difoster.live and @betweentwobeerspodcast. Girls that Invest- Masterclass. Support the show

Send us a text On this episode I am joined by the magical Maren Swenson, an intuitive stylist, fashion coach, podcast creator and mother. After leaving a high demand religion, Maren embarked on deep inner work to explore how she wanted to show up and be seen in the world. A key part of this was rediscovering and owning her femininity, which inspired her to create a space for other women to do the same. Maren shares the backstory to starting her coaching business "Wild Serenity", and how she uses intuitive fashion styling to help women step into self-expression and self-love. We yarn about some of the key blocks that women face in owning their own style, from internal narratives we have created to what we've been told is socially or culturally acceptable. Maren explains how religion had stifled her ability to express femininity in the way she wanted, and what she had to unlearn when she left that community. We also yarn about the power of women reclaiming and using their voice, and the story behind Maren starting her own podcast "The Glow Code". To check out all the awesome work Maren is doing and find out how you can work with her, check out her website. Her podcast The Glow Code is available on your favourite podcast platform today, and follow her beautiful content over on Instagram @findwildserenity. ... If you enjoyed this episode you can find me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole to follow along for more! Support the show

Send us a text Welcome to episode 50!! I am celebrating this milestone episode with a special mini-yarn all about the origins of the word "yarn". Most people outside of New Zealand will only associate yarn with wool, and I have to tell people my podcast is sadly not about knitting! So here's an episode to explain what the word yarning means to me, as well as exploring the historical origins behind the use of the word in everyday kiwi conversation. On my research journey I pulled at many threads, from indigenous cultures to Greek mythology, and I was surprised by what I unearthed. Is the origin from early sailors visiting New Zealand shores, and telling tall tales while they hoisted sails? Or is yarning another form of cultural appropriation? Perhaps spinning yarn is a synonym for goddesses weaving the destiny of mortal souls? I wrap up the episode by tying together what my discoveries mean to me, and how this affects the future of the Yarns for the Soul podcast. ... Resources: "To Spin a Yarn: The Female Voice in Folklore and Fairy Tale" Te Ara- "The origins of Kiwi humour" "Yarning about Yarning as a Legitimate Method in Indigenous Research" "Stories from the Aboriginal Women of the Yarning Circle: when cultures collide" "Clinical yarning with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples" "The power of healing in the yarn: working with Aboriginal men" "Yarning up with Doc Reynolds: an interview about Country from an Indigenous perspective" ... If you want to get in touch with me, or just follow along as I muddle my way forwards, come find me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole- see you there! Support the show

Send us a text Why is connection with nature just as important as connection with others? And how can we incorporate Mātaraunga Māori and the leadership of wāhine Māori in healing the world around us? On this episode I am joined by the powerhouse bestie duo that is Cassie Roma and Mandy Kupenga to yarn about their project, "Heal the Hauraki". They share the origin story behind their friendship- from the first email, to co-producing a docuseries and the shared vision of an incredible digital media campaign (dropping soon!). Mandy explains the "why" behind Heal the Hauraki, and the environmental challenges facing the Hauraki Gulf in Aotearoa New Zealand. Environmental concerns are a global issue, but we can use an indigenous lens such as Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) to find solutions that are better for us, and Papatūānuku (Mother Earth). Both Cassie and Mandy yarn about the importance of uplifting stories and messages of hope, and the power of a community-focused approach. Cassie also saw the strength of wāhine Māori working intergenerationally, empowering their children, grandchildren and rangatahi in the community to be a part of the solution. Mandy and Cassie share what they have learnt about healing from producing this docuseries, and how witnessing each other's healing and joy has brought them so much closer. Their reflections inspire us to reconnect with ourselves, in partnership with nature, and embrace our own uniqueness. To follow along for updates about the project when it lands, head over to Instagram @healthehauraki. If you want to keep fangirling with me over all the other awesome mahi these two are doing, check out the following links: Mandy- Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Cassie- Instagram, LinkedIn, Kindness Warriors Podcast. ... If you loved this episode and you want to keep updated on when new episodes are released, head over and find me on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole- see you there! Support the show

Send us a text What is the current model of leadership in businesses and organisations today? Is everyone represented in this model, and who does it serve? On this episode I had the pleasure of yarning with Ros Cardinal, an executive coach and facilitator, author, and speaker based in Tasmania, Australia. In 2012 she founded her own business, Shaping Change, to help overcome workplace challenges and build positive team cultures. The programs and tools she offers are too many to list here, but include unconscious bias, emotional intelligence, improving communication and strategic planning. Ros shares a bit about her background and what led her to start Shaping Change, including the changes in leadership style and structure she has seen across her career. We dive into her "why" that continues to drive her, which includes Ros' daughter entering the workforce and realising not much has changed. We yarn about the origins of today's version of leadership, the reasons why women are largely missing from this model, and why women trying to change themselves to fit this model is the wrong answer. Ros shares her views on why patriarchal leadership serves very few people in reality, and how female-led organisations are doing things differently. Ros has developed the Women's Leader Archetypes, which she has been powerfully incorporating into women's leadership training and coaching. Ros tells us all about what these archetypes mean and their practical applications, but also the responses she has received from female leaders who finally feel seen. To find out more about the awesome services Ros offers check out her website Shaping Change, and click here for more info on the Women's Leader Archetypes. You can also find Ros on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. ... If you have enjoyed this episode, there are plenty more for you to check out! You can also come and hang out with me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole- see you there! Support the show

Send us a text What is trauma, and why is it important on a collective level that we examine what's going on for us as individuals? On this episode I yarn with the incredible Amanda Hanna, director and creator of SomaPsych which offers trauma-informed trainings across New Zealand. She also teaches yin yoga, somatic dance, mindfulness and meditation, and is currently studying towards a Masters in Psychology. Amanda shares her origin story of creating SomaPsych, which came from a space of burnout and disconnection (which we can all relate to on some level!). She talks about what healing looked and felt like for her, including the mindset shifts that had to happen along the way. I ask Amanda to share her definition of trauma, and we yarn about why a purely Western version of trauma misses so many important aspects of healing. We talk about how unpacking our own lived experiences can help us move towards collective healing, and what small steps we can take on a day to day basis. Amanda also explains how 'mindfulness' is often tokenistic, but also harmful, depending on the current state of our nervous system. We also yarn about how we can look after ourselves while also accepting that we get to have sacred rage about everything going on in the world around us. Amanda shares her tips for how we can build capacity to be able to lean in, and how we can accept others around us who might choose to disengage. To check out the awesome trainings that SomaPsych offers and to find out more, check out the website. You can also follow @soma.psych on Instagram. ... If you're enjoying the podcast I'd love to hear from you- find me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole. Support the show

Send us a text What if the best way to lead wasn’t about having the right answers—but asking the right questions? In this episode, I yarned with the ever-curious Paul McGregor, a leadership coach, author and MC based in Nelson, New Zealand. With a background in law, collaboration and engagement, Paul has carved out an unconventional path - one that wasn’t planned but was led by instinct, curiosity and a refusal to settle. We unpack how he made some career choices based on joy, connection and purpose (and others based on fear and scarcity) - and what he had to let go of along the way. We also get into the art of facilitation, where Paul shares a surprising and valuable lesson for anybody in a leadership role. Paul has a knack for asking the questions others avoid - the ones that cut through noise and get to what really matters. But what happens when those questions make people uncomfortable? And how does privilege shape the way we engage with leadership and workplace culture? We yarn about the tension between awareness and action, the challenges of acknowledging your privilege and how to talk about your work when it's not easily put into a known box like 'lawyer', 'doctor' or 'builder'. Curious? Tune in to hear Paul’s take on leadership, impact and the conversations that move us forward. If you would like to know more about the awesome mahi that Paul is doing, you can check out his website or follow him over on LinkedIn. ... If you enjoyed this episode and want to get in touch you can find me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole- see you there! Support the show

Send us a text Welcome to my first episode of 2025! I'm diving straight into the deep end with this one and yarning about some of the reasons why I have been in perpetual angry feminism mode recently. I discuss the French Mazan rape case, the incredible strength of victim Gisèle Pelicot, and how this case demonstrated a 'spectrum of culpability' behind violence towards women. I draw a parallel between this case and my work as a lawyer on historic abuse in state care claims, and how labelling people as good or bad means we are ignoring the grey areas. Just a heads up that this episode discusses traumatic subject matter, and it's important to be conscious of where your headspace is at before listening. I also note in this episode that the ability to "check out" is a luxury and privilege that not everyone has, and I believe leaning into challenging conversations and developing awareness is an important first step towards creating change (because something has to change, right!). ... If you enjoyed this episode, have any feedback, or want to continue this conversation you can find me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole- see you there! Support the show

Send us a text On this episode I am so grateful to be joined again by the incredible Sarah Salter-Kelly. She first joined me in Episode 38, so go back and check out that episode if you'd like to know more about Sarah's story and some context to this second yarn. Sarah shares her journey towards forgiving her mother's murderer, and what she uncovered about colonial trauma in the criminal justice system during this process. Part of her healing looked like learning about the perpetrator's history as a First Nations person in Canada, connecting with his sister, and exploring restorative justice mechanisms. Sarah discovered that her mother's murder was really the result of on-going impacts of colonisation. Sarah discusses how reparation of harm done and restorative justice requires us removing ideas of "us and them", acknowledging the humanity in perpetrators of crime. We need to lean in and be willing to understand the 'why' behind someone's actions, rather than giving people a label and choosing to look away. We discuss the importance of connection with land in indigenous cultures in both Canada and New Zealand, and how the forcible removal of people from their cultural lands has had a lasting impact. Sarah also shares the importance of people of settler origin connecting with their own ancestral lands, as well as the land they now inhabit, as a way of moving towards healing. To find out more about Sarah and the amazing work she is doing, check out her website or follow her over on Instagram @sarahsalterkelly. Book recommendation: "My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies" by Resmaa Menakem. ... If you enjoyed this episode I would love to hear from you! Come and find me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole. Support the show

Send us a text On this episode I yarn with the creator and host of 'Our Dead Dads' podcast Nick Gaylord. After the death of Nick's father (and a healthy dose of therapy to help move through the grief, anger and all of the feels), Nick realised we weren't having enough conversations about grief and healing. So he decided to start his own podcast and have yarns about grief and loss with guests from all over the world. Nick is motivated to continue creating a safe space for guests to share their experiences, talk about what they have learned, and how society can get better at having these challenging conversations. He emphasizes the importance of connection, and how creating space for others to share their thoughts and emotions can be such a powerful healing tool. To hear Nick's own story, including how he tackled the combo of grief and anger towards a father who he often had a difficult relationship with, check out his intro episode here. I am such a fan of the work Nick is doing to normalise conversations about grief, loss and trauma, and I highly recommend you check out Our Dead Dads podcast- you can find it on Spotify here, on Apple podcasts here, or wherever you get your podcasts! Check out the podcast on Instagram @ourdeaddadspod and on Facebook at Our Dead Dads Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, and like me you're a fan of what Nick is creating, get in touch with him and let him know! ... If you're enjoying the podcast, I would love to hear from you! Get in touch or just come and hang out with me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole. Support the show

Send us a text On this episode I am joined by the incredible Allison Mahoney, a social justice, victim rights and civil rights litigator in America. In 2022, Allison started her own firm ALM Law, which specialises in representing children harmed in the child welfare system, survivors of domestic violence, and survivors of sexual assault and image-based sexual abuse at both state and federal levels. Allison talks about what drew her to working in law, and her path to becoming a victims' rights advocate in particular. We also yarn about vicarious/ secondary trauma, having both worked in legal fields dealing with traumatic subject matter on a daily basis. Allison shares tools that help her to look after her mental wellbeing, as well as what motivates her to continue to show up to work every day. We talk about how intergenerational trauma plays a part in the work Allison does, particularly the ongoing effects of abuse in the child welfare system. I also share some thoughts in the wake of the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry in New Zealand, and my experiences working with survivors of historic abuse in state care. We yarn about what trauma-informed justice might look like, and what is needed in this space moving forward. To check out the amazing work that Allison does, you can find her website here. Head over to Instagram and follow her @almlawllc, or check her out on LinkedIn. ... If you want to get in touch, or just follow along as I muddle my way through life, you can find me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole- see you there! Support the show

Send us a text On this mini-yarn I share with you part of my creative podcasting process around guest episodes, and explain that I only share with the world whatever my guests are comfortable with. I have some epic guest episodes coming up, and I also plan to get back into more mini-yarns in the new year so watch out! I also wanted to take a moment to acknowledge that the world feels a bit dark right now, and acknowledge my privilege in being able to somewhat switch off for my own mental health. I hope that through continuing to produce this podcast I create spaces where people feel heard, seen, and ultimately feel less alone. All I want is to contribute to providing some light in this world. Thanks so much for following my journey so far, and if you'd like to get in touch you can find me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole. Support the show

Send us a text On this episode I am joined by the amazing Vanessa Karel, two-time business founder, entrepreneur and creative producer. Vanessa created the platform Greether, aimed at making travel more accessible, sustainable, and safer for female travellers. Greether started when Vanessa found herself in Morocco at the start of the 2020 pandemic feeling isolated and wanting to connect with locals who could show her around and answer questions about life in Morocco. She discovered that there was no technology out there that could help her- so she decided to create it herself! As well as yarning about how Greether was created, Vanessa shares how the platform is aimed at both female empowerment and sustainable travel. Greether is used by solo travellers and small groups, as well as by women of all ages. The Greeters tailor the experience to whatever you're interested in, whether it's thrift shopping, checking out museums, or finding the best local spot for coffee. Greether also creates accessible and flexible work opportunities for the Greeters, and aims to support women-led local businesses and services in each location. We also yarn about how travel and where you spend your money is a cultural and political statement- whether you're aware of this or not! Some of the ways Vanessa and Greether have been celebrated so far include: Expedia's accelerator programtop innovative female empowerment sustainable startupsHot 25 Travel Startups for 2024winner of the second edition of of E-100If you're interested in learning more or want to book a Greeter for your next adventure, follow the link here to the Greether website. You can also follow Greether over on Instagram @greet.her to keep up to date on all the awesome work Vanessa is doing! ... If you want to follow my own travel adventures, or just get in touch, you can find me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole. Support the show

Send us a text BONUS MINI-YARN On this cheeky bonus episode I yarn about what femininity means to me, and the journey I have taken to feeling confident in my own version of being feminine. I talk about my experiences growing up in a rural part of New Zealand, and the transition from a small primary school to intermediate in 'town' where I was first introduced to what I thought being feminine was "supposed" to look like. I also discuss the fact that school uniforms for girls always involved skirts, and the subtle message this sends. I yarn about how full-time work and practicing as lawyer meant I spent so much time in a world of masculine energy, that it took time to reconnect with my own feminine energy when I left. It took me many years to realise that just because what makes me feel confident and powerful may look different to others, that doesn't mean it is any less feminine. I also reflect on the blue/pink gender binary, and realising how much this rigid structure impacted on my ability to feel confident as who I am. I never resonated with the colour pink, and any version of femininity associated with it, so I was then left wondering where it was that I fitted in. I disagree with the way we continue to assign kids a colour at birth, rather than letting them pick their own colours as they grow up (I'm either blue, purple or black, depending on the day). ... If you enjoyed this episode I would love to hear from you, or if you have suggestions for mini-yarn topics in the future. If you want to get in touch, you can find me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole- see you there! Support the show

Send us a text On this episode I yarn with the incredible healer, author and speaker Sarah Salter-Kelly. Sarah has been sharing her wisdom for over 16 years through her private healing practice and presenting at conferences and events, as well as facilitating retreats in Canada and Peru, and teaching trauma-focused and shamanic healing workshops. Sarah speaks about how she was drawn to work with mother nature from a young age, and how connecting with pagan spiritual practices has helped her work through some incredibly challenging periods of her life. Having barely reached adulthood, Sarah went through the tragic kidnapping and homicide of her mother. Sarah shares with us the timeline of these events, from finding out her mother was missing, to the eventual criminal trial of the perpetrator. Sarah shares so beautifully and deeply about trauma and how we can move through this, which includes her own realisations about both intergenerational and colonial trauma in the context of forgiving her mother's murderer. In her book 'Trauma as Medicine', Sarah shares more detail of her experiences and her healing journey- it is an incredibly moving and powerful read, which I highly recommend. For more information, check out Sarah's website and follow her over on Instagram @sarahsalterkelly. Content warning: This episode discusses kidnapping, homicide, and suicide. Please check in with your own headspace before you jump in and listen, or make sure you are feeling grounded and ready to receive all the beautiful insights that Sarah shares about healing through trauma. ... If you'd like to get in touch with me you can find me on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole. I'm always keen to hear from people who would like to be a guest on the show, or let me know if there are any topics that you'd like me to cover. Talk soon! Support the show

Send us a text On this episode I was joined by the awesome duo that is Shelby and Scott, creators and hosts of the Balls Deep podcast. Our yarns go all the way from the origins of their romance to the "why" behind creating their podcast, and many things in between! Shelby and Scott are both avid travellers, and they share how they approach international adventures while both working full time and trying to make the most of each destination. We bonded over taking a slower approach to travel, having more time in each place and creating space to explore beyond just ticking sightseeing boxes. Shelby and Scott share plenty of their travel yarns on this episode, including the good, the bad, and the unfiltered! If you enjoyed their stories, make sure to tune into their podcast, Balls Deep, for even more entertaining chat! You can also follow their adventures over on Instagram @acityilovex. Check out the Balls Deep podcast on your favourite platform: https://open.spotify.com/show/5JB8XfrzERolEy09Z9pZswhttps://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/8766b291-d97d-437d-af1b-4ad8432c652f/balls-deephttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/balls-deep/id1721807996https://castbox.fm/channel/id5718089?country=gbhttps://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-balls-deep-136157993/https://www.youtube.com/@BallsDeepPodcastShow/featured... If you want to get in touch with me or check out my own travel adventures you can find me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole- see you there! Support the show

Send us a text On this episode I yarn with Polina, a medical intuitive holistic wellness coach. She shares how she went from a PhD in Consumer Behaviour in Russia, to a wellness coach based in Colorado, USA. Polina explains how she uses a range of modalities to assist her clients, and how she has learnt to let each body speak to her and guide her towards what needs to be healed. We chat in more depth about chronic stress and how this flows on to impact other parts of the body, as well as the idea of a 'cancer personality' and common barriers to healing that Polina has seen among her clients diagnosed with cancer. Polina also explains the important connection between mindset and the stories we tell ourselves, and how this manifests as physical health issues. You can check out all the amazing ways to work with Polina over on her website, as well as follow her beautiful guidance and insights on Instagram @polinaleroy. There were just so many things I wanted to yarn about with Polina that we couldn't fit it all into one episode- so stay tuned for a follow up episode later this year! ... If you want to get in touch with me for a yarn, with suggestions for the podcast, or just want to tell me how much you're enjoying it, you can find me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole. Support the show

Send us a text On this episode I yarn with Rosie, a business and mindset coach who supports solo entrepreneurs to grow businesses they love. We dive into how Rosie got to where she is today, including stints in the world of corporate marketing as well as running her own floristry business for a number of years. Rosie shares how her approach to life and business has often been one of 'life's too short', while also learning to prioritise rest and space. We yarn about what it means to create a life by design, and the importance of not getting caught up in comparison mode. Rosie and I also discuss how being intentional about what we bring into our lives gives us the freedom to create a future that we're excited about. You can follow all of Rosie's amazing work over on Instagram @rosie.coaches or check out her website for more information on her high performance coaching services. ... If you loved this episode, feel free to head over to Instagram and get in touch with me @yarnsforthesoulnicole- see you there! Support the show