How One Missing Credit Led to a STEM Career | Liahna Smith on Non-Linear Paths, Mental Health & Taking Uncomfortable Opportunities - Baskets Of Knowledge

Episode Transcript
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(00:04):
Hey everybody, it's Prajesh here.
In Tana here. Welcome to our podcast Passes of
Knowledge chats with a difference.
In our podcast, we invite guestsfrom around the country and
around the world to talk about how they got to where they at
the moment. It's about a journey.
It's about an experience. It's about their life.

(00:26):
Good to go to everybody. Welcome to another episode of
Baskets of Knowledge. Tony, nice to see you again.
We have missed you. What is you?
What have you put into your basket of knowledge since we
last spoke? Yeah.
I think, yeah, definitely missedthe last couple of episodes
about being able to, yeah, go back and listen to them, which
is always a good insight. Taking it from another

(00:47):
perspective, I think something I've probably put into my basket
the last couple of weeks or overthe weekend just been has I went
back to Mamadai on Sunday and I think that was a timely
reminder, just that there's no perfect time to do some of the
things you want to do on your bucket list.
You know, I've thought about going back to Mamadai for quite
a while and when I've come back from uni I wanted to go but I

(01:10):
never really found the right time.
And so yes, there was an event on and that was cool, but I
think you're reflecting on it. So there is no perfect time to
do those kinds of things. So just going out there and
doing it. So I guess that's been my main
take away from the last couple of weeks.
Oh, beautiful. And and I love that because you
know, we always look for perfecttimes in life to do things.

(01:31):
And when you keep looking for the perfect time, whatever it
is, whether it's going to the Marai, whether it's posting
something online, whether it's writing anything for the perfect
time, it's never going to happen.
It's never going to happen and you'll just be quitting and
it'll never happen. So I love I love that you
reflecting that there. And what have I done Basket of
Knowledge over the last week, I'm reading Gilbert and Occo's
book, which is pretty crazy. It's pretty awesome.

(01:53):
And there is 1 chapter I'm looking at the moment.
It's called It's About Pressure and talks about pressure as a
lifestyle. But it talks about how pressure
comes in is because of three different things.
Pressure comes from expectation.The expectation that you put in
yourself, the scrutiny that you get from other people and, and

(02:15):
yourself as well. And the third one, which I
forget, but I know it's pretty, pretty powerful, but there's
three things that he talks about.
But the one that I'm talking about is the expectation,
because pressure comes to expectation.
When we put that expectation in ourself and the perceived
expectation in others, that pressure just goes out the
window no matter what situation it is.
And, and he talks about in the context of the All Blacks.
And I think about myself and I go, when do I feel the most

(02:37):
pressure is when I have that expectation, which going back to
your context is when you have the expectation of doing things
perfectly, you don't do it because the pressure comes to
play. But anyway, that's my, my little
chat and I'll room number 3 and I'll post about it somewhere
along the way, but it's not about us.
It's not about us. As we know today, we are very
excited, very privileged and very honoured to have someone

(02:59):
that I think is a pretty epic human on our, on our podcast
today. And I think this person has been
waiting for the perfect moment to come on here.
And as we know today, there's nosuch thing as a perfect moment.
I think they also had a bit of expectation and pressure, which
is why they haven't come on. I'm just speaking for them.
But hey, they're here today, which all that matters.
It is someone that I have watched quietly from, well, not

(03:20):
just quietly, but also physically how they've grown and
how they've changed and how they've how they not just grow,
but also they glow with the workthat they do.
So it's our privilege now honourto actually have an in person,
half in person podcast episode with our guests from the Tarnaki
Kura. And welcome to Passanol Italy.
Anna, awesome. Thank you for joining us today.

(03:44):
Thank you for having me. I'm very excited, very excited.
Yeah, beautiful. And you know, we spoke about the
depression, the perfection. Is that or is that something
that was stopping you when we first spoke about this maybe two
years ago, 2 1/2 years ago? Yeah, I think you're talking
about those pressured moments and everything can what we.
I think I kind of hold myself tobe around about here.

(04:08):
And so two years ago when I was first offered to come on to you
guys wonderful podcast, I don't think I was ready.
And my coping mechanism to that was to dodge the emails and come
up with excuses that I was really, really busy.
And I think that's just a talker.
It's a sign that maybe I just wasn't ready to share my hiding

(04:29):
it to where I am now. And I think, yeah, you're right.
I have matured and grown as an individual from those two years
to now. So yeah, I'm actually excited
now. But rewind a couple years ago, I
was probably very nervous littlegirl hiding behind the laptop.
Like I said dot G you guys emails.
Yeah. And also, you know, you know,
there's also a time in place andsometimes, you know, as you
said, at that point in time, maybe it wasn't the right time

(04:51):
for you to Share your story and now you won't.
Actually, I have a story just toshare and I'm I'm proud of it
and I'm going on it and it takestime.
So like time, I said there's no perfect time, but they are
perfect moments, right? There's nothing that come with
their perfect moments. And I think this is a perfect
moment. But hey, we know who you are.
So this is who know nothing about you.
Who is Leona today on the 9th of?

(05:17):
October 2025. Wow called Liana Smith toku

(05:37):
ingua. Hi so my name is Liana.
I am a 23 year old who lives in Inglewood and was brought up in
Inglewood and also I'm here in Taranaki.
I'm a very mono orientated person.
Love love love my family. They are my number one in my
life and I went to Inglewood Primary School, beautiful little

(06:02):
CUDA in Inglewood, loved my timethere and then I moved to New
Plymouth Hills High School whereI did my secondary schooling
there and the purpose for that was for my sporting decisions.
I think that high school offereda little more sporting
opportunities that I was kind ofafter and I don't regret my

(06:23):
decision there either. I got to follow my sister who
went to Plymouth Hills High School also, and actually my mum
and my sister went to Inglood Primary School.
So we kind of all went like thistogether.
I'm just obviously at different stages in our life.
And then yes, so from high school I had no idea what I

(06:44):
wanted to do. I think I've always known I
wanted to work with kids, to work with Tamadiki, but I just
never knew what age. And so I think that passion
stems from during primary school, I had a few key teachers
that really stood out to me thatI admired and I really wanted to
be like them. I'd find myself in year 8, and

(07:08):
so my primary school went from year one to year 8.
So I found myself in year 8 going back to the year one
classes, helping out the young ones there and finding that's
where my passion truly lies. And so after high school, it's
that big scary decision of do you go to university?
Do you not? And I was having lots of court
at all amongst my one know. But those teachers that I spoke

(07:30):
on just to decide like, is it for me?
Am I truly ready to go to university?
And then my sister found out shewas happy with her and her
partner. And immediately I was like, I
don't want to go anywhere. I want to be auntie forever,
stay at home, you know, I want to be I want to be paid for this
trying to convince my sister I'll be the nanny.

(07:51):
And so I applied for the bachelor teaching at the
University of Barcaso and they came back to me and they were
like, you're 1 English pretty short.
And that's nothing like I realized that now that's
nothing. And I could easily go could have
done summer school, got that done and headed away to
university. But I think mentally I clocked
out of schooling and my English teacher at the time at New Bloom

(08:13):
of Yours high School was like, come in, we can get you some
more credit. Let's do this.
And I was immediately like, no, not doing that.
I'm going to be an auntie. I'm going to be here at present
auntie. And I think like think back to
it and I think everything happens for a reason.
Maybe my timing wasn't right to go to university in that point

(08:34):
in time. Maybe my timing was to be a
present auntie. And I can't change what I've
chosen to do in the past. But I think it has made me the
person I am today, which sounds very cliche, but it's very true.
It made me the person I am todaybecause transitioning from high
school to where my full time employment of Y order has helped

(08:55):
me grown into the individual I am today.
Oh yeah, that's probably. Actually, I'm probably.
Talking quite a bit here back over to you.
That's a great, great segue. And and I guess this is that was
your genre wish we'll tap into, but who, who are you today?
What are you? What are you you mentioning
Wyota? So just tell our listeners, what

(09:17):
do you do with Wyota today? Cool.
So I'm actually currently employed by Puhudo, which is a
steam Academy across El Teora Steam with an extra M being Mato
Danga Maldi. So I'm on his secondment from
way order. So I'll start from my hiding it
as through Waywarder to where I am now.

(09:38):
So yeah, I was offered a cadetship at the age of 18, I
think I just turned 18, finishedschool, and I was offered a
cadetship to come and work with Waywarder for six months.
And again, I was like, I don't think this is for me.
If I sat down with my mom and dad and they were like, there is
no way you're not taking this awesome opportunity.

(09:59):
And so I took it because my parents told me it would be a
really great opportunity to take.
So now the reason I took this opportunity and I don't regret
it ever since. So yeah, I've been, if we like
kind of rewind to the start of the year when I was with Why
Order. I've been with Why order for
four years, which is huge for me.
I didn't see myself being in an amazing Co Papa like why order

(10:22):
for four years because, you know, it was just that stepping
stone to get to build my confidence, to build my
networking skills, all those 21st century skills to then head
off to university. But I think I I truly did fall
in love with the Copa of why orders like a little bit about
why order it is. So why order is a non for a

(10:42):
profit body organization here inTabernacle and we help our
secondary school time. We aged years 11 to year 13 with
their career pathways and healthand education.
So that's been going for 14 plusyears.
How fucker Heidi currently was the one that sat down at a table
14 odd years ago and wanted to see a positive difference with

(11:06):
our multi in these spaces. So yeah, that's the copper that
I fell in love with and I think I fell in love with it because
they gave me an opportunity to. I was someone that I didn't know
what I wanted to do or like, applied for uni, didn't go my
way. So then what am I meant to do?
And yes, they gave me that opportunity and I loved the fact
that I could also provide opportunities for our tail here

(11:28):
in Tatamaki, who may be feeling similar ways.
I do quite often share my story with the year thirteens that I
do meet with because pathways aren't linear and it's a lot of
expectation for our 18 yards to head straight to university, get
their degree, come back and work.
And so I like to just kind of talk a little bit about my story

(11:48):
and how I developed through workexperience, not necessarily
through qualifications. So yeah, I have no
qualifications and got into thisrole at Waywarder and absolutely
love it. And then it was at the start of
this year, there was a partnership with Pooh Hoodle and
Waywarder for a second opportunity.

(12:10):
And I thought maybe this is something I could go for.
I felt myself getting very comfortable with my order, which
is very easy to do. You know, you really love your
mahi. You love the people around you.
And I was like, maybe change is good for me.
So yeah, I'm currently on a six months of comment with a Co Papa
called per huddle. We launched in Tarnaki in term 3
of this year and I'm in five secondary schools through per

(12:34):
huddle. So I think to read my back to
your initial question, who does that make me today?
That makes me, I believe, a strong working tour that is
willing to give back to the Taiwi of Taranaki in ways that I
think I needed when I was in high school.
The support was definitely there, but I'm someone who

(12:56):
doesn't ask for ask for help or put my hand up.
So it's about encouraging those moments for our Taiwi to stand
up, ask those questions, find out who you truly are, what your
passions are and everything likethat.
And if I could be that big sister, that auntie, that friend
to those here in Tabernacchi, I think I definitely think I'm
doing my job, doing what I love.Awesome, awesome.

(13:19):
Thank you so much for that. And there's so much to to talk
about. And the one thing the one thread
that I'm going to pick on there is you mentioned something just
before that you got comfortable in your role and it's very easy
for us to be comfortable. And I'm guilty of that there.
And I'm sure Tani is also guiltyof that in certain situations in
life. So what I've noticed is in your
story that you have shared beautifully is that the thread

(13:42):
that I see is growth happens when you're uncomfortable.
So when I think about it and reflect back to you, when you
didn't get your one credit for your English discomfort straight
away, like now what do I do? The growth was the growth was
OK. I'm just, I can't do that
anymore. So I'm just going to be a prison
auntie. But then what happened then is
you got challenged by your parents.

(14:03):
So again, growth, discomfort again in your growth.
And it's, it's a great three to have.
And it's, I think it's importantfor us all to recognize that
when you're comfortable, it's awesome.
But it's actually better when you are in discomfort because
that's when growth happens, which is what I love.
And you've mentioned a lot aboutyour mahi, which is amazing,
which is beautiful because I've seen you operating.
But I'm going to ask you a question about your own journey.

(14:25):
So you work for a multi LED organization which has got TTD
at the centre of it. Has this always been part of
your life? Has have you always leaned into
into your multi dim and your TR multi world or have you
navigated to those two worlds? And I asked this question
because you come from a generation where things have
shifted just a little bit compared to say 2 generations

(14:46):
ago, when those are very different and how you probably
navigate that because you're navigating your own journey,
navigating your the elders in your world and also navigating
young, young Tahina as well. Yeah, no, it was never part of
my journey. I wouldn't say never.
Actually, it's not. It wasn't as strong as I
probably hoped for it to be, andthat doesn't fall on anyone

(15:09):
other than myself. I, I grew up real comfortable in
Englewood. So I took one more in Englewood
and didn't. I knew where I came from.
I knew I came from up the hour, but that's all I kind of really
knew. And I'm still on that learning,
hiding it at the moment. I'm still figuring out the

(15:31):
different Evie that I walk a Papa to.
And I think for me it's so important now that I am in a
Copa multi space, it's so important for me to understand
who I am so I can help others understand who they are.
And it's like a cup half full type of thing.
You know, you can't be filling other people's cup if your cup
is empty. And that's kind of how I look at
it in that aspect. And I think of my two, my 2

(15:53):
nieces, I think I want them to understand who they are growing
up and how can I take that role on board to be that person that
can help them understand themselves.
We've got my mum's side, so it'sfrom up the hour and there's a
core group in there that know, know a lot about where we come

(16:16):
from. And to me, it's about getting
back to my Mariah more often. Just like Tony said at the
start. And you just he's right that you
don't know when the timing is going to come.
You don't know when the timing is right.
You just have to step out there and do it.
Which kind of touches on your quote at all about the
uncomfortable feeling because it's not comfortable not knowing
where you come from and it's notcomfortable asking those
questions to your father, you know?

(16:39):
And so the past four or so yearsworking in a copper multi space
has highlighted that I do need to go back home more often.
And I have gone to one or two Madai, stays at my Madai.
But that's not enough to me. And I need to like not just say
it out loud. It's not enough.
I need to do something about it.And again, that does just fall

(17:01):
on me because there's so many opportunities to get back down
to the hour to see and do do things and see where we come
from. So yeah, sure answer.
No, it hasn't always been a partof who I am.
It's always been there. And I know my father, I've tried
real hard to kind of guide me inthat direction and help me

(17:24):
understand where I am from. But none of us are experienced.
Absolutely not. And so we need to be finding
those right people to talk to, to understand who we are because
it all connects in one way or another.
But yeah, so no, it hasn't always been a part of who I am,
but I'm so glad that now I'm finding that passion to find who

(17:44):
I am, who my mum is. And my dad, like I know he is
smiley and does he wack up up aware?
Those type of those are the typeof questions that I'm pushing
back to my Lano and who can I goand talk to?
And I think another important moment for me and my mum was, I
think it was two years ago, we started out your journey

(18:06):
together. We went to Tijuana or Al Tierra,
we sat down and we were like, you know what, we just need to
give this a go. We need to just sit out there
and get in those uncomfortable moments because it's not
comfortable. Again, not knowing things and
not knowing the language there. We like have the right to know,
you know, everyone has the rightto know this beautiful language,
but I don't know it. And I feel a bit of guilt and

(18:28):
shame not knowing it when I do Waka Papa Maldi.
And I know others may feel similar ways, but it's actually
not about that. It's about your journey starts
differently to others. And so we did level 1 and 2
together and then we started Level 3 together as well.
And it got really hard. It's not an easy thing.

(18:49):
It got really hard. And I when me and my made the
decision that the timing's not right anymore because it was
during work and it was a lot of factors we had to put together
for that one. And so we did end up leaving our
course. So it's like for me, it's the
uncomfortable feeling of we started something, we got
through to the point, and then Ithink we got to the point where

(19:12):
it was really hard. And I don't like to see this
giving up. I also see it as the timing just
wasn't right because I'm never giving up because I'm going to
pick it back up when the timing's right again.
But yeah, yeah. And that's so true because it's
not about, it's not about just scaffolding going 1:00 to 3:00
just because of the sake of it, but for you to stop and go
actually wait a minute. Let me just pause here.

(19:34):
You and your and your mum stopping doing, actually wait a
minute because life is still happening here.
Yeah. Acknowledging the fact that,
hey, it's OK to pause. And as you said before, you're
actually embracing it every single day.
And what you do, it's not like astop.
It's not like a, you know, sometimes I always think about
education really weirdly that you go to school, you learn your
stuff and then when you leave school, you forget about all the
stuff that you learnt, you know,whereas the language is a little

(19:56):
bit different, you know, and if you're immersed in it, it's not
about the qualification, it's not about the piece of paper
you're going to be getting. It's about you actually using it
in in your everyday life to the extent that you can.
So and I love also how you spokeabout guilt and shame because I
think there's a lot of people that will be listening to this
podcast that have guilt and shame, not just about tear
Maori, but also about just, you know, different, you know,

(20:18):
wherever they go in the field, guilt and shame, which stops
them from doing things. Because as you said before, and
as you said time before, you don't know when the right time
is, But if you live in the worldof guilt and shame, you're never
going to do anything, right. So if you use that as as a or a
crutch. So I love how you actually said
you felt that, that the new Gee,that wasn't the reason to stop.
It was actually, let me just go and use that department.

(20:40):
So beautiful. I'm going to bring you in here
because you're also now you get to work with.
I'm going to talk about you in adifferent way because you were
also a product of Whyura. And what does it feel like for
you now coming full settle? Yeah, it's definitely been a
reflective piece for me coming back to such an awesome Co

(21:00):
copper. I think having come in or come
through, yeah, Year 12 and year 13, I didn't probably put as
much importance on the significance of the support that
Wildwood gave me during those years, particularly having the
opportunity to go out to the hospital and share with another
physio to realize that that wasn't my pathway.
And I think now coming back, yeah, it's definitely awesome to

(21:24):
see that full circle moment, butalso to embrace myself in a
couple of muddy workplace because I've never had that
experience before. And I think if I, yeah, reflect
on it compared to my previous jobs, there's just a different
level of comfort, a different level of understanding without

(21:46):
having to, yeah, feel shame or guilt for the passions that you
have outside of Mahi. And I think it's been, that's
probably been my highlight, having been here now is, yeah,
realizing that the importance ison us as individuals, not so
much, yes, the cop was important.
And yes, our title here are important.
But if we are feeling 100% in ourselves, then we aren't doing

(22:10):
justice to the title that we're trying to inspire.
And that's been yet again, a different or a change in mindset
compared to, I guess your traditional work where you've
got your constant needs that you're having to meet.
And you know, it's ongoing. It's not necessarily about you,
it's about the bigger picture. So it's definitely being yeah
and awesome change of mind mindset in that.

(22:34):
Sense yeah and and it's important what you just said
right there is because when you're in the moment, you don't
realize it. So you know when you're 12,
you're 13, you didn't realize itand Liana for you when you were
you know when you pre cadet and you're they called this is it
you don't realize it and this isor we all don't realize what we
what we have until we lose it until we get back into it, which

(22:57):
is really, really powerful. And Leanna, I'm going to go back
to you because I think what's important for us to talk about
is we live in a we live in a fraction of.
Well, if we think about what youdo with your money and the
organization that Wyota and Puhora stand for, we're not at a
an interesting moment in New Zealand history where there's

(23:21):
there are lots and lots of people that are pro picking up
the language and doing that and doing justice to the totality.
Then conversely, there's also a lot of backlash.
And the other way, how do you navigate that, not in terms of
your work, but as you as a proudwhere you see these clashes

(23:42):
happening, which. Yeah, which yeah, I just don't
know how you how you navigate that in your your world space as
well. Yeah.
I think for me it's about seeingobviously working in a cop up of
multi spaces. It's about seeing the the good
that we can bring to the table, the opportunities, the support

(24:05):
that we can bring to the world. And I think me personally, I do
a little bit of research here. I asked the questions to my 1
though, because I'm also, I'm, if I'm being completely honest
here as well, I also truly don'tunderstand what's going on there
as well. And so it's up to me as an
individual to go and find those answers and seek that clarity

(24:30):
that I'm looking for because I don't want to be making
decisions or comments or anything on that if I'm not
truly understanding what's goingon in the world.
So for me, it's like a lot of research and I'm in the
generation where TikTok is huge.And so I get a lot of my facts
from TikTok. And it's these, for example,
there's one Wakini who is a multi lawyer and she provides

(24:53):
this beautiful information, but she puts it in a way that kind
of captures our younger generation to understand what's
truly going on. And I still consider myself very
young at the right page of 23. So I do tend to understand and
follow her for cuddle around what's going on.

(25:13):
And I think it's about standing up and just being proud of who
we are proud of being mildly. And I found that example for my
father, for my toy, especially my Idamatuda.
A huge reason as to why I stay put in this copper mildly spaces
is because I want them to grow up to see that being Mahdi is a

(25:34):
it's a superpower. We should be proud of our
identity, any ethnicity. We should be proud of who we are
no matter what. And I think you're right.
We are in a space in Altito at the moment that some may be
feeling different ways and everything like that.
But if we just stand on strong on who we are and as Mahdi as

(25:56):
any ethnicity, like I said, juststand strong on who you are,
then I don't see any issues coming around me because I'm
just going to block them out. You know, if I stand strong on
who I am and show others why I am proud to be Maori, hopefully
that can be set example for onesto go.
Actually, it's not a bad thing because you have such a persona

(26:17):
around a lot of ethnicities, butI'll touch on Maori and specific
that we get put into these tick boxes or put into these boxes,
you know, especially from school, it's if you're really
good at sports or if you're goodat trades.
But like there's so much more tous than what was spoken on.
And I think being in these cup of multi spaces has brought in

(26:41):
my thinking on that as well, because I was a very, I'd say
privileged multi growing up in school and everything like that.
But I did see a lot of my peers suffer from those negative
personas about them. And yeah, I think being in these
spaces, I really enjoy providingthat support and positivity and

(27:06):
just uplifting the amount of versus talking down on the world
views that go on at the moment. Yeah.
And that's so it's so important because what you just said there
was really powerful you we spokeabout Maori, but actually it's
not about Maori. It's about different
ethnicities. You know, we're very lucky.

(27:28):
We live in a country that is crazy multicultural.
And I had this conversation the other day with someone at my my
and we keep using the word bicultural quite a lot.
But actually that's incorrect because it's not bicultural.
We are multicultural society. And I think the minute we
embrace it to actually multicultural, it then takes
like all the stereotypes, you know, with the your multi

(27:51):
Pacific, Norway and Fijian, whatever, you know, Indian,
Asian, Chinese, because I think at the moment we, we try and fit
people into one of those two boxes.
You're right there. You're right there in a pocket
hoe box or the multi box. That's it.
Because about culture, right? That's it.
There's no other. The world doesn't live in those
spaces there. And I think it's really great

(28:11):
that you've mentioned that. Hey, it's OK.
It's not OK. It's really powerful for you to
embrace your ethnicity, whateverthat ethnicity is, but it's also
OK for you to learn about other ethnicities and also to look at
other world views as well. Because you know, the danger
that we have and all of us have,this danger is we get so
ingrained with our ethnic rightsinverted commas that we forget

(28:32):
the other viewpoint because the other persons viewpoint is just
as valid to listen to, but we don't accept it.
And I think what's happening right now is we are, we are
invalidating someone's viewpointand not accepting it as their
world view. So we don't educate each other.
And you know, it's not, it's notabout being right or wrong, It's
about the education process, as you said before, which is the

(28:53):
world that you work, live and work.
And so I love the way, the way you, you, you frame that as it's
not just about being loud, it's about all of this.
It is. But for you, it's about being
loud. Yeah, yeah.
Beautiful, beautiful. So anything, anything to add to
that? Because I ask you, because
you're also navigating this, this real interesting transition
for you, as as you, how do I saythis as you come from, as you

(29:18):
live in Zenina, which is very, very pocky here, but also super
ethnically diverse. We can get the universal target
to where you are now. Yeah, it's definitely been an
interesting space to navigate. And I think that's something I
reflect on, again, particularly in that Dunedin space, just
around, you know, the different ethnicities that we encountered,
particularly with the influx of international students that come

(29:42):
through. And I was always willing to
learn about different ethnicities, about different
cultures and what importance they hold to different values.
And that was always, I think, a strength that I have going
through my university journey. But yeah, as you touch on,
there's always backlash. There's always people that don't
necessarily agree with those values.

(30:05):
And even if I reflect on my timeand my previous job, you know,
different conversations about the treaty bill and stuff like
that, and you're very, I guess, particular with the types of
people you would talk to about those issues that were
confronting you. And I think that's probably the
other side of the story where because you're Mahdi, it's

(30:26):
almost assumed that you should know everything about what's
going on about the issues and you should have a strong point
or a vocal point in terms of where you sit on those issues.
And yes, sometimes it's just actually taking that step back
and going, well, I don't have all the facts.
I don't. Just because I am Mardi doesn't
mean that I have all the answersto these issues that we face,

(30:49):
but also the strengths and that and our culture and our
biculturalism. Yes, there's strengths, yes,
there's weaknesses, but that's the same with any ethnicity.
And I think it's just, yeah, being able to, yes, be strong in
your culture. But I think also with me coming
from a blended background with mum being Pacquiao, also being
proud of that, being proud of that heritage and knowing that

(31:11):
side of the family too. Because I think probably the
stand that I've always had has been to I guess reflect more on
my Maori side one, because I've been probably 1 of the only in
my family to reflect on that. But also I think too, because it
has always been, yeah, they always have been misrepresented,

(31:36):
yeah, misrepresented and statistics etcetera, etcetera.
And so yeah, changing that narrative by going, yes, I'm
strong and my moulded in, but it's also, yeah, now going well
actually I have that backyard side to me and I need to
represent that from a strength approach too.
Yeah. And I think this is one thing

(31:58):
that I've learned in my time is that we as humans really get
into trouble when we look into weaknesses and we go into any
any conversation or any situation where we glean into
weakness. And I just said, Tana, when you
lean into strengths, whatever that strength is, it changes the
whole way you look at things. So, for example, you know, we

(32:18):
are you lean, you lean into the strength that Fano and are
really important to you and it'sreally helping you something
like God, that's a weakness, butyou could actually ask my
strength and I'm going to own that.
And you know, Tony, what that's the strength of having Park
Helens as well. And that's that's the strength
where someone might go. Oh, you're you're with bias, but
actually some but it's who you are.
It's part of your part of your DNA.

(32:39):
So it's a really beautiful way of looking at it.
Leanna, one thing that you just briefly touched on, I didn't go
into the depth is your joyful sport.
What is your sport of choice? Oh gosh, I think now I've got a
few actually. So basketball has been a real

(33:03):
high for me as alongside indoor netball and netball.
So I think basketball, my love of ours was seen from my sister.
She was, I would never say this to her, but she's a really good
basketballer. And so she went to her school
team high school. They won nationals in her first

(33:27):
year during that in Palms NI think ever since then I'm like,
that's a school that I want to pursue as well.
I want to be just like my sister.
A very typical younger sibling thing to say about the older
siblings. And then indoor netball I think
has been probably, it probably would be sitting at one,
probably my favorite. I was able to represent New

(33:48):
Zealand very lucky enough to represent New Zealand at the age
of 13 to go to Perth of Indo Netball and then in year 10, I
think maybe year 9 in high school, I was fortunate enough
to represent New Zealand again there and we headed to South
Africa for the tournaments. I think that's where netball's
probably sits at my #1 because it's taken me places that I

(34:11):
never would have imagined to go.It would never necessarily be on
my bucket list. However, I'm so, so grateful
that I got to go round and see those countries and then netball
is another high for me and I just love it.
Live and breathe it. I'll watch it on TV.
Real similar to Tani. I know he's really into his
sports as well and watching it. We quite often after the weekend

(34:34):
there's been a big sporting event and then we start talking
to each other about the sports and our own opinions.
But yeah, I think it's where my steam or my sporting passion
scheme from is from my sister tobe able to represent and go and
see places. But also, I love watching it on
TV. Sport is huge to me, yeah.

(34:55):
Yeah, thank you for sharing thatthere.
And there's a reason why I askedthat question there because
we're speaking about the love ofsports.
But I'd love for you to share some of the the learnings you've
had from sport because yes, you've had these amazing
opportunities, but they don't come easy.
And So what are some of the the learnings you've had by by your
high level sport, but also whereyou want them with your sport?
Yeah, there has been quite a fewlearnings actually for me.

(35:16):
And I think it's a lot of mentalgrowth.
We can't expect to be freshly going into a team and starting
straight away and having that glory moment.
So I think, yeah, it's mental strength has been a huge growth
for me. If I reflect back to yeah, oh,
not you 13, sorry. When I was 13 years old and

(35:38):
having the ability to represent the country I live in, to me
that was just like, yeah, well, it was such a cool moment, you
know, like it didn't really necessarily mean anything at the
age of 13. However, reflecting back now,
it's a huge moment. It's a huge moment for my my
parents. We're so proud along my wider
one. I'm also so proud.
But to me it's that was just a cool opportunity to get on a

(36:01):
plane and go and play something I love.
So I think there's also been a moment recently, maybe like the
last three or four years. I think I recently left high
school and then I joined a netball team, a club netball
team and I think there was just some things I just didn't
necessarily agree with within the team.
And I think it's about upholdingmy own values, knowing my worth

(36:23):
as well. And so I decided to leave that
team. I think it was 3 weeks out
before semi finals, which isn't ideal and it's not how my
parents brought me up to be either.
They'll let you stick this out. However, when it comes to
feeling a certain way and havingthose, you know, those initial
doubts on yourself and those mental health issues, briefly

(36:46):
touching on that, it is better for you to step away.
And I think that's a huge learning curve for me is don't
put yourself in a situation thatyou feel you may not, not not
succeed. Because I'm not saying that
failure is something that I'm scared of because I was talking
to the other day and she's like,failure isn't starting and she's

(37:07):
so right. But it's more so the fact of
putting myself in situations where I'm not at my full
potential. And that's not necessarily
physically, but it's also with my cleaning up or my mental
well-being as well. So I think that would be a huge
stepping stone for me is truly sitting and thinking, is this

(37:28):
sporting space where I want to be right now?
Am I truly in it for the right reasons?
Will I truly handle what's goingto be put back on me?
So yeah, it's a mental game for me and I think I'm so much
better now, like I've joined a new club and really enjoying
what I do there. And I think it just also stems

(37:49):
from the ones that you have in front of you and the ones you
have alongside you, they can help uplift you and put their
ignite their passion back in you.
You know, because I think a lot of us, we have initial self
doubt. It's human nature.
We're always going to self doubtat least something in our lives
and we need to be surrounded by ones that are going to help us

(38:09):
realise our potential is still there and uplift each other,
which is what I hope to be as a team player as well in my
sporting codes. To be that person that can look,
you've just thrown the ball away.
It doesn't matter. It's a sport game at the end of
the day. You just have to keep pushing
through. So if I can be that person to
help others push through their their issues and worries and
needs, then I feel like I'm succeeding because that's kind

(38:32):
of what I wish I had in that scenario that I talked on a few
odd years ago. Yeah.
Yeah. And you know, I'm going to
distill it onto a couple of things that you mentioned is
sport is sport is, is a great learning journey.
And you know, you learn a lot. And like Tom said, if you're not
failing, you're not, you know, you're not doing anything right.

(38:52):
So you have to fail to go. You have to fail for you to
learn, which goes back right to what we said discomfort, failing
is failing is not comfortable. And when you know, when you know
you're going to be in a situation where you are going to
fail, it's very easy for us to go.
And I'm not going to do it there.
But you know, it's but what, what I think what you're trying
to say there is it wasn't about the failure.
It was about the mismatch of values and principles.

(39:12):
And I think, you know, I think this, this, this is beyond just
sports as well. It's also in life as well.
When you are working with peopleor in a situation where your
principles don't align, it's OK for you to cut your losses.
And I think sometimes we're afraid, we're afraid to do that.
They will be, you know, there's the what is it called?
The there's a, there's a psychological term for it where

(39:33):
you go, I've done so much and it's I've done so much that the
follows there. I'll kind of come to my brain
is, is all over the place. But I know there's a philosophy
that they talk about where you've done so much where you
think that you're going to give up if you don't anymore.
But like you said, it's about hate back values and principles
don't match. It's not what I've done.
It's about me standing strong with who I am, which is, which

(39:54):
is pretty cool. And also it's it's the beauty of
this is because we're recording this podcast in mental health
Awareness Week, which is beautiful.
And you're touched on and you'retouched on how you know that
affects your mental health and well-being.
So here's a question for you both.
How do you both look after your mental health?
Because mental health is a spectrum.
We all have it. You know, I think, I think

(40:14):
there's a misconception that youhave to be sick to have mental
health, but that's not that we all have mental health.
And then there's obviously it's sicknesses which are different,
which are, which are a whole different.
But I'd love to know how you both look after your mental
health and well-being. Well, yeah, for me it's touching
on what I see at the start as well.
It's been stranded by my wild. Now I, I do think there's times

(40:39):
where I'm not in touch with my own mental health and I think
it's so common at the moment andI find myself sitting and
thinking like, how do I navigatethis space?
And I think the best thing for me to do is I'm really, I'm a
really open person. I'll happily talk.
It may take me a little bit to talk, but I happily will open up
and talk to others. So I think for me it's talking

(41:02):
to my mum, my dad, my sister andmy partner.
Those are probably the four thatI really can find.
And when I am feeling a certain way, they can pick up on when
I'm not feeling myself as well. And they know how to wrap around
me and support me in those ways.And I think the other thing for
me would be my sports is anotheroutlet.

(41:22):
And I don't know, I just feel like my brain shuts off what I'm
thinking with the so-called outside world and I really just
focusing on what I'm doing in mysporting codes.
So definitely would recommend sports or some physical
activity, even if you're just going for a walk around the
block, just getting out and being one with nature or being

(41:44):
one with yourself as a way that I kind of help navigate that
space, but also not being afraidto ask for help, which is what I
said at the start. I'm someone that never puts my
hand up and whatnot, but lately if I'm feeling a certain way,
I'll go and talk to someone thatknows their stuff and can help

(42:05):
guide me on the right track. Or they could just be telling
me, you know, maybe you just need some more sleep, you need
to eat better. All those type of things I don't
think of at 23 because I think my body is like immune to
everything. I can eat what I want, do what I
want and never feel it. So I think, yeah.
Also, nutrition plays a huge part in the heading out or

(42:26):
whether I like it or not becauseI'm a huge foodie, huge foodie.
I will eat take those any day I can.
And but that's not necessarily the right thing to do for your
mental health. But those are probably the main
things is spending time with my well known and finding the right
people you can open up to who are the ones that you feel safe
with and then also going and getting that body moving.

(42:47):
Awesome. Billy, thank you.
Shannon, before I come to the toilet, I'm going to ask you a
question about at the start during our your first
conversation, you say you don't like asking for help or you
didn't like asking for help and I like you asked for help.
We did the shift come for you. They're going asking for help is

(43:10):
OK. Yeah, I can't exactly pinpoint a
moment that I felt that shift. And I'm going to even say like
as cliches sounds, it did come within my time at my order.
It's, I think it stemmed from feeling as though I have the

(43:31):
right to ask or like I have the what's the word?
I'm allowed to ask questions andthings like that.
It's such a safe space created in this study that I have had
people kind of uplift me and allow me to I have a voice.
That's what I'm trying to say here is I have a voice here in
this study. And I think that has helped me

(43:52):
recognize that if I've got a voice here in a small Co Papa,
not necessarily small, but smallpeople wise in the tuddy, I can
have a voice on the outside. So I think asking questions has
stemmed from that confidence that I have built in the
workforce to stand on my own 2 feet, have used that voice that
I have, and not be afraid to challenge people in the most

(44:14):
respectful way. Challenge people and ask for
clarity. How can I put that into my
personal life? And now I'm confident enough to
ask for help and ask questions. And it does stem from having
that safe space around you and having that confidence built up
around you also. Yeah, and why ask the question

(44:34):
is because you know, it's it's. I don't know if you've seen my
LinkedIn post, but I always put a post yesterday about it's OK
to ask for help. And it's easy for us to say that
there. But if the environment that
you're in doesn't allow you to ask for help, or if when you ask
for help, you're seen as whatever negative language you
want to use, it doesn't actuallywork.
And as you see, the key phrase you keep, you've kept using a

(44:56):
lot of that, which is really powerful is around the people
that are there to support you. So, you know, it's OK to ask for
help, but you've got to make sure that you're asking for help
from the right people in the right context, in the right
space where you feel safe. Yeah, wonderful.
Thank you. Anthony, how do you look after
your mental health? And I thought this is really big
for you. Yeah, I think something that
I've reflected on in the last probably year has been how I

(45:19):
truly look after my mental health, having gone through some
struggles at the beginning of this year and getting to a point
where I'm now on medication. And I think to start with, there
was a huge feeling of guilt or shame to be at that point where
I had to ask for help and there was no real alternative.
But reflecting on it, particularly with it being

(45:40):
hereditary with my dad and my Nana both having similar
struggles, that makes me realizethat it's actually a huge
opportunity to pick up on it quite early to yet see what
happens in that space and how I can look after myself.
I think another reflection that I've had has been like, I love,

(46:02):
similar to Boo, I love being around my fauna and that's
really important to me. But also I think at times,
probably during my university journey, I used people as a way
to not reflect on how I was feeling as an individual, and
that wasn't fair in some of those instances.

(46:22):
So, yeah, again, on that reflection, it's been real
important for me to sit with myself even for a moment each
day just to see how I'm really feeling and just opening up to
my mum and dad. And I think that also comes from
being the oldest in my immediatefamily.
It's always felt like I have to know where I'm going, I have to
know what I'm doing, and I have to be stronger myself.

(46:45):
Yeah. And, and so reflecting on that
has been a real, yeah, interesting challenge.
But again, I think an opportunity for me to really
fine tune what it is that I put into looking after my mental
health. And again, I think similar to
that sport, being physically active is such a huge influence

(47:07):
to me. And yeah, that start of the
year, because I was so busy, I kind of let that slip.
And I think it's not until yeah,it's not until you take that
step back and actually go, I am missing something that you
realize or you see how that moment has come to that point.
Whereas, yeah, in the moment youjust go, oh, it's Monday that

(47:28):
I'm not going to the gym or I'm not going to a training or
whatever it is to keep physically active.
But actually, yeah, long term there's implications of not
being involved in that space. So yeah, I think in terms of
things that I can control, the biggest thing for me is being
around people that support me. But also, yeah, being physically

(47:49):
active is a massive 1 for me to just look after my own mental
well-being. But also, I think part of the
challenge and something that I'mstill working through has been
having some sense of direction. I've always been somebody who
has to have a goal or has to have a direction in mind.
And that's not to say that it has to be five years or 10 years

(48:10):
down the track, but it's just having some sense of this is
what I'm doing and This is why it feels good in this point in
time. I'm not someone who can just
sitting here going, I don't knowwhat's next.
And again, that's a good learning for me to have to go.
I need that sense of direction or a sense of accountability for

(48:31):
what I'm wanting to do and what I'm wanting to achieve.
Beautiful, some some great cheers there.
And my, my challenge for you there is for you to allow
yourself permission also to be OK with not knowing.
Because sometimes, sometimes, sometimes we, we prescribe our
lives so much that we missed opportunities that because we're

(48:51):
living on a prescription pathway, we missed opportunities
that actually come, which you which you don't see because
you're living in this, you know,a bit, a bit like, you know,
Tony, if we think about your growth into this role here, it
wasn't there was no prescriptionfor this year.
It just happened. And you know, sometimes life,
life throws these, these things that you, you don't expect.
So my challenge for you is for your welding as well.

(49:13):
It's OK to not know it's OK because everything changes.
But that's just me just being a coach right now, but I'm not
being a coach right now. Let's go.
So thank you both. Thank you both for showing that
there because I think it's it's important for us to think about
how mental health well-being looks very different for
different people. You know, there's no right or
wrong way of doing it. There's just, you've got to find

(49:33):
what's comfortable for you, but also you've got to acknowledge
the fact that not every day is agood day.
And that's A and you know, I, when I, when I was working in
schools, people would say to me they were stressed and anxious
because they weren't happy. And I was like, you know, you
don't have to be happy everyday.There's there's no rule in the
world that says you have to be happy everyday.
It's OK to be sad. And that doesn't mean you're
stressed, anxious. It just makes you sad.

(49:55):
And I think, I think the winnersof emotions is really important
because an emotion doesn't mean something is wrong or something
is good. It's just an emotion.
Yeah. So that's that's that's what I'd
loved about what you both said and how you embrace those
emotions there. Leon, we're going to come back
to you because this is all aboutyou.
And you know, as you, I'm going to come back to your mind

(50:17):
because you now work in a very different space.
But the puhoro and when I say different space because now it's
targeted to was a pretty awesomeprogram.
I use it, but it wasn't because I know the cool things they do.
What does that feel like for you, for you and context of you
know, someone who didn't get theone English credit to not
someone's in the space of STEM, which is very different.

(50:41):
Yeah, I think initially I'm really proud of myself, which is
something that I don't necessarily talk on heaps
because I think we're very humble people, right?
We don't voice those successes out loud.
But I do reflect back and I do think that that was a sign that
that was a a moment in my time that was meant to happen.

(51:02):
Being one English cricket short is nothing like I know that's
nothing and I know that I could have got that done and got my
teaching degree and being a teacher right now, but that
wasn't the path that was meant for me in my opinion.
I think I was meant to, I was meant to have that one English
credit short so that I did fall into where I am today.
And I think like I said, I oftentalk on my junior to my students

(51:26):
because I want them to know thatit's not necessarily that ABC or
like 123 pathway that so many people talk on.
And that's actually what I do enjoy about your guys podcast.
I listen to a few and you get people in that don't necessarily
have that straight line pathway direction.
And I think being in that STEM space is a shock to me.

(51:50):
I think it's actually a huge shock to me that I have landed
in the space I am today. But I think I wouldn't be in
this space if it wasn't for the opportunities that were put in
front of me. And it's about taking on those
opportunities. I think that's probably one
thing I want to highlight. There is take an opportunity
that is put in front of you because you don't know where

(52:11):
it's going to lead you. And you don't want to be
thinking in 10 years time, what if I took that opportunity 10
years ago, where would I be now?You want to take those
opportunities because opportunities don't come up very
often at all. And if you were fortunate enough
to have one put in front of you,you have to take it with two
hands and you have to go in there with the mindset of I'm
going to make this work. And that's how I am feeling

(52:34):
currently at the in the purple STEM space.
It's a copper that I've just recently learnt of at the start
of this year. And I've had really amazing
climber here and there help me navigate that space.
But STEM is not necessarily where my passion lied.
So how do I end up in this role here?
And it came from an opportunity that was put in front of me and

(52:56):
I took it. And I've loved my time being
there. And that is showing those STEAM
careers to the tovy of Tarnaki. It has only been one term, so it
feels like it's probably been about 5:00 or so minutes that
I've been in the schools. Because of that one term,
though, I felt my own confidencewithin myself.
I've found my love for that I didn't necessarily know I knew I

(53:20):
had. And it's not necessarily saying
that I'm amazing at all the samesubjects.
It's little bits by bits. I didn't realize that had
stimulate. I didn't realize that had
stimulate. And that all comes down to my
planning with the with my sessions in the schools that I'm
also learning and I'm on a learning journey with these
students in this puhol mahi justlike they are.

(53:41):
So I think, yeah, the one thing that I would highlight there is
take that opportunity because you don't know where you're
going to land. And I've landed in a STEM space,
which I never would have imagined in 1000 years that I
would land in a STEM space. But I'm so grateful for the
opportunity because it's helpingme grow as an individual, but
also helping more importantly, the time we have Taranaki
recognize spaces that we're definitely under represented in

(54:05):
as Maori. And again, again, the thread of
growth, having the discomfort because STEM, STEM is not a
comfort, comfortable sound. But you, as I said before,
you're growing and you're learning and it's a journey, a
journey path. And what I love about any
anything with education is you're always learning.
You know, when you teach, you learn and when you learn, you
teach. So it's really, really, really

(54:26):
beautiful. Tane, over to you for any
questions that you'd like to askLeona.
I think something I'd be curiousto ask, no more of the spaces
touching on your coaching that you do.
And Girls high. I think, you know, we've talked
about the importance of sport and what that sprung to your
life. But I guess, yeah, how have you
transitioned that into that coaching space and what drew you

(54:50):
to becoming a coach? Very good question, honey.
I completely forgot about that side of me to be honest.
So I'm glad that we have those conversations in the study.
I think for me, I kind of fell into the coaching role and
that's through my best friend's mum.
So Vanessa, she is an amazing netball coach.
She was my netball coach actually in primary school and

(55:14):
her best, her daughter Paris Mason, who's now a Silver Fern
and with the Pulse. So she's my best friend.
And so we grew up playing netball together in primary
school. And then I was approached by
Vanessa during where was I, I think I was in my second year at
my order. And she's like, can you come and

(55:34):
manage with me? I have no idea what a manager
does because I've never seen that role because I just go to
the table, I eat on a tournamentand I go back to my room.
You know, I don't actually know what goes on behind the scenes.
And so I was like, sure, why not?
You know, I just thought it's anopportunity, take it.
So I took it and I was very humbled in that space because

(55:55):
it's so not what I expected it to be.
It's not just you cook, you provide games for the kids and
you leave. It's so much more than that.
And I think the reason I took itis because I wanted to give back
to the school that gave me something.
And so give me back to the Plymouth Girls High School, but
more importantly, giving back toVanessa.

(56:16):
She's like another mum to me. I shouldn't do anything for me.
So with her reaching out, I would feel so much guilt and
rudeness by saying no. So I was like, you know what,
let's do it. And it has helped me grow as a
person and it is putting myself in this uncomfortable
situations. Again, like you said, for Jason,
it's putting yourself in that situation to help you grow as an

(56:39):
individual and not necessarily at the start of the season.
They kind of just looked at me because I'm real.
I think I'm real similar age to them and I think they look at me
and go, well, what do you know? What do you know?
What can you give us? It's not that that even voice
that because I'm very respectfulgirls, but I can sense that

(57:01):
they're thinking, what can you actually bring to the table
here? So I think I made it my mission
to ensure that I did bring something valuable to them and
that is through doing some research and looking at ticked
up reels again of different netball drills and things like
that. And giving back to Vanessa
giving back to the school, but also giving back to the students

(57:22):
and showing them that giving back to those who give to us as
a privilege in itself and havingthat ability to do so.
And I do you think why would have for allowing me to have
that chance to give back to the school because not every job is
what is the word is really flexible at you leaving at 4:00

(57:44):
because you've got to get to a training by 4:30.
And yeah, I think it's grown me as an individual.
It's allowed me to realize the struggles that some of the
students face. Well, not students, sorry, the
players face. And how can I help them in those
scenarios because they all bringtheir own baggage to a every

(58:04):
individual brings their own issues and needs and baggage
when we go away. And it's how can I help ease
that and help navigate those spaces that I can be that person
they can come and talk to on tournaments.
I don't necessarily see myself being a coach by myself ever.
But hey, you never say never. But yeah, I am quite happy just

(58:24):
sitting in the background and doing what I can and learning
from learning from others. Yeah.
Yeah, what a great question thisbecause what it does, it shows
again you, you know, we, we haveso many hats and sometimes you
forget about the hats that are the most important to us.
You know, we, we identify without, without job or a title.

(58:45):
But you know, it's, it's probably hearing about the
coaching side and but also the fact that you just say yes to
opportunities. You know, it's, it's quite, it's
quite funny. It leads back to what I just
said before. When you have a prescribed life,
you don't see the opportunities and you have this opportunity
that came forward and what's theworst that could happen?
Yeah. Self doubt, real impost syndrome

(59:07):
is real. And you know, as you said
before, you do what you need to do too, because there's two ways
to look at self dodge. You can always wallow and put in
self dodge impostor or you can, you can arm yourself and go OK,
whether it's watching Tic Tac reels or reading a book or
whatever. You then build the confidence
totally, but shortly. So I love that they were so, so,
so beautiful. Leanna, we've been speaking for
almost an hour. Are there any, any parts of your

(59:29):
life that we have we have not touched on that you'd like to
share on the podcast? Probably actually one thing
very, very briefly would be there was a moment in my time
that I lost someone that was really, really close to me and
that was my Nana. And I think it's important to
touch on grief a little bit there, especially that we're in

(59:52):
mental health week as well. I don't want to take up too much
time. However, grief is something that
comes and. Goes and it's all good.
It's. All good.
Oh, thank you. Grief is something that feeling
that comes and goes and we can'tcontrol it.
And I think it's something that kind of resonates with mental
health like as well because it can cause a lot of mental health

(01:00:14):
issues in itself. And I think for me, losing my
Nana, my best friend at the time, she kind of, it kind of
made me realise I need to find apurpose in my life and I need
to, I need to do something that would make her proud.
And my other funnel that have passed, but specifically my Nana
being my best friend, how could I make her proud of me as she

(01:00:38):
watches over me from the stars? So I think that kind of leads
into that corridor that I speak on about taking those
opportunities. She's always in the back of my
head when I do take on opportunities or I am thinking
in the future. And that is not necessarily just
to make her proud, but it's alsoto be that little pushing that

(01:00:59):
pushing, that stepping stone forme to find who I truly AM and
where my passions lie. Yeah, it's probably the only
thing I'd be keen to touch on. No, thank you.
Thank you for bringing that in because it's really interesting
you bring that. I in my coaching world, I'm
working with somebody who who wants to start a coaching
practice and she wants to becomea brief coach and she's, she's

(01:01:22):
she's she's very hesitant about that.
And what I reflected back and asa reflection for both for all of
us here is every single one of us not allowed is going to
experience grief. Everyone, you know, with A and
it it could be the loss of someone that you love.
It could be a breakup. It could be a phone breaking it.
Whatever, whatever causes the grip, it is going to happen,

(01:01:43):
right. And it's important that you
bring it up, especially, you know, I think this week as well.
Grief is part of life. You know, we speak about change,
but also grief. We all going to experience that
there love that you bring that in because it's real.
It is real. Grief is something that's real.
And a lot of times we don't talkabout it, you know, push it
aside because people think that you've been weak or when you

(01:02:05):
experience grief, it's baby. People feel obliged to ask you
how you know what they can do for you.
But that's not it's not about that there.
You know, as you said right now for you, for your grief is you
losing your best friend in your Nana, but what grief has done to
you is allow you to look at you're both from a different
lens of opportunities. So I, I really want to

(01:02:26):
acknowledge you for bringing that up there because it's
something that is real. Thank you.
Yeah, it's real. And, you know, grief and there's
no, there's no, in my, my opinion, there's no scale.
And how big a small grief is, you know, each person's genuine
grief is very, very different. As you said before, it comes and

(01:02:47):
goes. You know, today you could be the
most if you could feel 10 out of10.
And then you wake up tomorrow morning, if you want out of 10
because of grief. And that's OK.
And so it's really beautiful foryou to bring that up there.
And this is a great segue to ourfinal question.
So our podcast is called Bastards of Knowledge.

(01:03:07):
In every episode, we ask our guest to share a piece of
knowledge to put into our basket, our Kitty.
So Leanna, you've shed quite a lot of a lot today, but is there
anyone specific piece of knowledge or weirdo that you
like to control kit in a basket?Oh, this is a tough one, I

(01:03:29):
think. Yeah, it's what we've all three
of us have actually touched on is that feeling of being
uncomfortable. Take that feeling and put it
into a passion. And I think that also leads into
the taking those opportunities that come in front of us because
you're so right, that uncomfortable feeling can stop a

(01:03:50):
lot of people from pursuing something that they may be
amazing at or opportunity that they may thrive in.
So I think just know that they're uncomfortable feeling is
temporary, it goes away. It goes away once you've put
yourself in those scenarios, in those situations.
So you take that opportunity andthat feeling of being

(01:04:12):
uncomfortable is normal and it goes away.
So don't stress about it in the moment like I did myself.
There's no need to stress over those little moments because
they go away. They absolutely do.
Yeah, I love it. I love it embraced
uncomfortableness and take thoseopportunities.
We all have that and and I'm guessing all three of us
wouldn't be where we are today if we didn't lean to them

(01:04:34):
comfortableness and take an opportunity.
Awesome. Tony, any last words from you?
No, it's just awesome to have animpression.
Podcast. Yeah, exactly.
Sorry. Yeah.
Thanks, guys. I feel so isolated, but that's
cool. Leon, thank you so much for
jumping on. You know, it's taken us a while

(01:04:55):
to get here, but, you know, justbefore there's a rhyme, there's
a reason. There's a timing for everything
in it. This is the perfect time for
this, for this story to be shared with the world.
So I'd like technology and thankyou for jumping on for our
guests. Sorry for listens out there.
Hopefully you have found this podcast not just interesting,
but also informative and maybe also relatable to where you are
in your world and whatever spacethat looks like.

(01:05:18):
So next time, don't forget to keep smiling.
Don't forget to put something into your basket of knowledge.
And the most important thing, like Liliana said today is don't
forget to take any opportunity that comes forward.
So next time, talk your day. Bye everybody, Peace.
Thank you for listening to Bastards of.

(01:05:38):
Knowledge. Yeah.
We hope that you found somethinguseful to put into your bastard
knowledge. And as we said before, remember
to put something little into your bastards of knowledge every
week. And as always, feel free to
like, comment and share this podcast.
Thanks, everybody. Bye.

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How One Missing Credit Led to a STEM Career | Liahna Smith on Non-Linear Paths, Mental Health & Taking Uncomfortable Opportunities

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.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}How One Missing Credit Led to a STEM Career | Liahna Smith on Non-Linear Paths, Mental Health & Taking Uncomfortable Opportunities