Hearts to Hearts Podcast

Christine and Wāti are our facilitators on the Atawhai programme and they have created a Podcast, dedicated to explore and demystefy Mental Health in Aotearoa.

Who we are

Kia Ora ko Christine Russell ahau (right side). Nō Ngāti Kurī, nō Te Tai Tokerau ahau. I am a Facilitator on The Atawhai Programme and I have been apart of the kaupapa for 7 years now and a pivotal moment for me is connecting me back to my tuākiritanga.

Kia Ora ko Wāti Hohua-Kora tōku ingoa (left side). Nō Te Whāruarua o Ruātoki, nō te Waimana Kākū anō hoki ahau, ka mutu he herenga ōku ki Tahiti me Aitutaki. I am also a Facilitator on the Atawhai Programme and I have been apart of the program since I was 16 and I am 22 now, so a very long time. A pivotal moment for me was listening to myself more and being present with my mind.

Why we created a Podcast

We created this podcast to explore and break down some of the stigma surrounding Mental Health. Growing up in Aotearoa, my co-host and I recognize the Youth Mental Health crisis here and the daily challenges Rangatahi face when it comes to their well-being. Each week we have a different guest and explore a variety of Mental Health topics, through these discussions, we aim to show Rangatahi that they’re not alone in how they feel, encouraging them to connect with themselves and their wellbeing. We’ll also provide practical tools and resources that can help our listeners navigate what they might be going through.