Unfiltered with Dave Letele

This week, Dave sits down with entertainer, freestyle rapper and autism advocate Tihei Harawera for a kōrero about identity, resilience, family and finding your own path.
Growing up as the son of Hōne Harawira and grandson of Titewhai Harawira came with plenty of expectation. But as a teenager, Tihei made a decision to go his own way, turning to freestyle rap and eventually building a life around his extraordinary memory, creativity and ability to turn almost anything into a rhyme.
Tihei opens up about growing up autistic, feeling different, learning to forgive, the people who believed in him, and why he refuses to let other people define who he should be. He also puts his talent on full display with two incredible freestyles during the episode.
Today, Tihei is still dreaming big, studying towards becoming a filmmaker and continuing to use his story to encourage others to embrace who they are.
Please help us keep Unfiltered going: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/unfilteredwithdave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
This podcast is produced by the team at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Fanaticals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Let us know what you thought of the conversation in the comments!

This week, Dave sits down with former Kiwi international and two-time NRL premiership winner Paul Whatuira for a kōrero about the incredible highs of professional sport, the struggles that followed, and rebuilding his life from the ground up.
Paul won premierships with both the Penrith Panthers and Wests Tigers and represented New Zealand, but behind those achievements were challenges that eventually forced him to step away from the game and completely rethink what life looked like after football.
He opens up about his mental health journey, the people who stood by him, and the work it took to rebuild his confidence and reconnect with his whānau.
Today, through 'Internal Strength', Paul uses those experiences to help rangatahi, athletes and communities build confidence, wellbeing and stronger futures.
Please help us keep Unfiltered going: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/unfilteredwithdave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
This podcast is produced by the team at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Fanaticals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Let us know what you thought of the conversation in the comments!

This week, Dave sits down with Bhaskar Sharma, better known online as @whoisbuskey for a kōrero about growing up in Māngere, finding his place, and turning a love of making people laugh into a career in content.
Bhaskar moved to New Zealand from India as a kid and grew up surrounded by Māori and Pasifika culture. After being bullied at school, he found confidence through martial arts and humour, before eventually dropping out of university to pursue acting and later building his own following online.
It’s a kōrero about identity, backing yourself, dealing with hate online, and how family, especially becoming a dad, changed the way he looks at success and what really matters.
Please help us keep Unfiltered going: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/unfilteredwithdave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
This podcast is produced by the team at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Fanaticals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Let us know what you thought of the conversation in the comments!

This week, Dave sits down with Shelwin Khan for a kōrero about addiction, recovery, and what it takes to completely rebuild your life.
Shelwin first started experimenting with drugs at just 13 and spent more than a decade caught in addiction, overdoses, psych wards and alcoholism. Today, he’s seven years sober and works in peer support, using his own lived experience to help people facing the same struggles he once did.
It’s a powerful kōrero about doing the work, finding connection, and turning some of the hardest parts of your life into a reason to help others.
Please help us keep Unfiltered going: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/unfilteredwithdave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
This podcast is produced by the team at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Fanaticals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Let us know what you thought of the conversation in the comments!

This week, Dave sits down with Dr Karina McHardy, author of 'All In' for a kōrero about the reality of parenthood — the things we carry, the things nobody sees, and what happens when life starts to feel too heavy.
Karina’s own journey has taken her from elite gymnastics and classical ballet to medicine and public health. But after her son was diagnosed with autism, she found herself on the other side of the health system — fighting for the support he needed while trying to hold everything else together.
She opens up about the isolation, exhaustion and invisible load of being a parent, the moment her GP told her there was “absolutely no way” she could be okay, and why this story goes far beyond autism. It’s a kōrero for anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed, unseen, or like they simply have to keep going.
Please help us keep Unfiltered going: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/unfilteredwithdave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
This podcast is produced by the team at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Fanaticals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Let us know what you thought of the conversation in the comments!