Episode 14 – Grace Lemalu: Faith, Hope & Healing

This episode holds space for Grace to share her raw, life-changing story. Please remember—if you’re feeling vulnerable right now, your mental health comes first. You can always return when you’re ready. Grace’s journey is one of heartbreak, faith, and hope—a reminder that healing is possible.

Episode 13: Parenting with Purpose ft. Vidy (@33with3under3)

Parenting doesn’t come with a manual, but it does come with lessons. In this episode, I sit down with my cousin Vidy; early childhood educator and mum of three… to talanoa about the real struggles of parenting, breaking generational cycles, and finding those small but powerful ways to connect with our kids.

This kōrero is a reminder that there’s no such thing as a perfect parent; only purpose, growth, and love.

Episode 12: Rewriting My Parenting Playbook

Parenting has been one of my most humbling journeys. In this episode, I get real about how my parenting started out looking a lot like the way I was raised and the honest reflections that helped me see where I could grow and do better.

It’s a story of mistakes, learning curves, and the grace we give ourselves as parents. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re “getting it right,” this kōrero is a reminder that we can always rewrite our playbook and create a new way forward

EP 11 – Catch-up, Culture & Navigating a Low Season

A real and raw catch-up after a couple of weeks in a low season — resting deeply, processing grief, and reflecting on what’s been fuelling my mood. I share how stepping out of my comfort zone at a community rugby fono opened rich conversations about culture and identity, and how I’m finding my own path to reconnect with culture so it flows through me to my children.

Episode 10: Depression is real, so let’s be real

In this honest and heartfelt talanoa, we drop the mask and talk openly about depression… the kind that creeps in quietly, the kind that makes everyday life feel heavy, and the kind so many of us carry without ever saying a word.

This episode isn’t here to fix you. It’s here to remind you that you’re not alone, that feeling low doesn’t make you weak, and that it’s okay to not be okay.

Let’s talk about it. Let’s feel through it. Let’s be real about what it means to be human.

Episode 9: Your Path, Your Power
This episode dives into the weight of family expectations and the silent struggles around mental health in Pasifika communities. Court opens up about breaking free from the pressure to follow someone else’s dream, the guilt that comes with choosing your own path, and how speaking up for your mental health is an act of courage. If you're ready to challenge old cycles and choose your own way forward, this talanoa is for you.

Episode 8: Feel It to Heal It – Emotions
In this solo talanoa, Court opens up about emotional regulation — what it is, why it matters, and how learning to feel our feelings helps us show up stronger for ourselves and those we love. From bottling emotions to breaking cycles, this one’s for anyone ready to heal from the inside out.

Court unpacks the inner critic, that voice shaped by silence, shame, and survival. This solo talanoa invites you to soften your self-talk and embrace compassion over criticism.
If you've ever felt like your own worst critic, this one's for you. You're not alone & you can change the way you speak to yourself.

🧡 TW: Gentle discussion of emotional challenges.

I sat down with my sister Logan in Talanoa Lounge Episode 5 for a raw and honest talanoa about people pleasing. We opened up about saying “yes” when we didn’t want to, over-apologising for things that weren’t our fault, and stretching ourselves thin just to be liked, accepted, or avoid conflict.

This one’s close to the heart. In Episode 5, I talk about what it means to set boundaries when we were never taught how. If you’ve ever felt guilty for choosing yourself, or found it hard to say no, this talanoa is for you.

In episode 4, I get real about how mental health doesn’t look the same for all of us. From the heavy days to complex conditions, I share why support needs to go deeper than just “positive vibes only.” This talanoa is for anyone who’s ever felt unseen. You’re not too much. You matter.

There are things we carry that we’ve never had the words or permission to speak about. In this episode, I open up about fat shaming, childhood gaps, feeling lost, and the journey to reclaim my mental health. This is about unlearning shame and finding space to heal.

In Episode 2 of The Talanoa Lounge, we dive into the silent struggle of imposter syndrome — especially for Pasifika navigating spaces we’ve often been told we don’t belong. Real talk, lived experience, and reminders that you are enough.

The Talanoa Lounge was born to create safe, open spaces for Pasifika mental health conversations. Here, we hold space for real stories, vulnerability, and healing. Listen to Episode 1 of The Talanoa Lounge.