Unfiltered with Dave Letele

This week, Dave sits down with Anthony Tina from Lifewise — for a powerful kōrero about rebuilding his life after homelessness, and finding meaning again.

Anthony opens up about going from hitting rock bottom, addiction and prison to finding community, connection and purpose — and why empathy matters more than judgement, when it comes to homelessness in Aotearoa.

Leading up to Lifewise’s Big Sleep Out on 25th June, we want to help raise awareness for people experiencing homelessness — so if you want to support the cause, head over to www.bigsleepout.org.nz and get involved.
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This week, Dave sits down with Jenny-May — former Silver Fern, broadcaster, and one of Aotearoa’s most respected voices — for a powerful kōrero about legacy, identity, and the balance between ambition and family.

From growing up in Piopio and knowing at just 10 years old she would become a Silver Fern, to breakfast television, motherhood, and raising her own whānau — Jenny-May opens up about the pressure of chasing big goals while still being present for the people who matter most.
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This week, Dave sits down with Ladi6 — artist, storyteller, and one of Aotearoa’s most respected voices in music — for a raw kōrero about the life behind the music.

From growing up in Christchurch with social worker parents who gave everything to their community, to navigating trauma, anxiety, and learning how to separate her own identity from the stories she inherited, Ladi opens up about the work of healing and figuring out who you really are.

She shares how music became both her outlet and her purpose, and how journaling, self-reflection, and building strong boundaries helped her survive the chaos that can come with success. A powerful conversation about healing, family, and finding yourself beyond the noise.
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This week, Dave sits down with Ezra Hirawani — co-founder of Nau Mai Rā — for a powerful kōrero about business, purpose, and building something that actually helps people.

After telling his nan he was starting a power company, she shared that she would sometimes sit cold and alone, afraid to turn the heater on because she couldn’t afford the power bill. That moment changed everything.

Ezra turned that into Nau Mai Rā — a Māori-owned power company built to fight power poverty, keep whānau warm, and make sure families never have to choose between food and power. A real conversation about entrepreneurship, responsibility, and using success to create change.

Massive shoutout to Ezra for coming onto the podcast: https://www.naumaira.nz/
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This week, Dave sits down with Chris Hipkins for a straight kōrero about what people are dealing with right now — the cost of living, rising fuel prices, the genocide in Gaza and the war on Iran, and how it’s impacting Kiwis here at home.

From growing up in Lower Hutt to finding his way into politics, Chris also shares the perspective behind how he sees these issues — and why understanding the root causes matters.
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