Te Raukura O’Connell Rapira (Te Ātiawa, Ngāruahine, Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Whakaue) has been described by their peers as one of the most strategic minds of their generation. For the past 14 years, they’ve been behind some of the biggest community-led campaigns in Aotearoa. They’re currently the CEO of 350.org in so-called Australia, a global community organisation committed to a world free of fossil fuels.

Unlike other people Jen has spoken to on this podcast, Te Raukura isn’t a songwriter. They became friends through a waiata group in Naarm (Melbourne) fondly known as Takatāpui Tuesdays. In this episode, Te Raukura speaks to the complexities of being Māori and working on Aboriginal land – and how singing their cultural songs with other queer and trans Māori has brought them joy and connection.

Find out more about Te Raukura O’Connell Rapira:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Te_Raukura_O%27Connell_Rapira

Jordyn with a Why (Tainui Āwhiro) grew up in South Auckland immersed in her Samoan culture. It wasn’t until high school, when her Dad suggested she take Te reo Māori instead of French, that a door opened into her cultural identity. Now her days are spent teaching full immersion Te reo Māori while raising her sons with Māori as their first language.

Her debut album Hibiscus Moon, Love & Justice is written in rua reo (both Māori and English), and blends R&B, neo-soul, and pop to speak to the experience of being an urban Māori. In this episode, Jordyn takes Jen for a feed at Denny’s – a South Auckland mainstay – and shares how Te Reo Māori has changed the direction of her life and music.

Find out more about Jordyn with a Why:

https://www.instagram.com/jordynwitha_why/?hl=en

When Byllie-jean (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga, Ngāti Pahauwera) released her debut EP Filter at the beginning of 2024, she was largely unknown. A year on and she’s become one of the most lauded songwriters in Aotearoa, recently picking up a Taite Music Prize (2025) for Best Debut Album.

Byllie-jean spent her childhood riding horseback beside the Inangahua River in the north-west of the South Island. The influence of the ngahere (bush) and her capacity to listen deeply brings to mind the work of the great Hirini Melbourne. In this episode, Jen takes a ride in Byllie-jean’s truck, ‘Haumie’, and learns about the wāhine Māori who have shaped her life and songwriting.

Find out more about Byllie-jean:

https://www.instagram.com/byllie_jean/?hl=en

Whirimako Black (Ngāti Tuhoe, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Ranginui, Te Whakatōhea, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui) is Aotearoa’s undisputed soul diva, and one of the greatest living performers of waiata Māori. While her work has broken new ground for Māori music, her career has never been easy.

When Whirimako released her debut album Hinepukohurangi (Shrouded in the Mist) in 2001, there were very few albums (let alone jazz albums) written and performed in Te Reo Māori. In this episode, Jen visits Whirimako at her home in Ruatoki to find out why she shelved the album for five years … and how learning about her whakapapa gave her the strength to finally set it free.

Find out more about Whirimako Black:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg81FN-pZ24158Wz-4DhaLg

Dr. Shellie Morris (Wardaman, Yanyuwa) is a legend in the Northern Territory. Affectionately known as the ‘Mother of Music’, she’s spent the past 25 years writing songs with more than 70 remote bush communities.In that time, Shellie’s learned to sing in 17 different languages – many of which are considered ‘sleeping’ or close to extinction, including her own Yanyuwa tongue.

In this episode, Jen and Shellie head to Kakadu to visit Shellie’s sister Mandy Muir. On the way, Jen learns about Shellie’s emotional homecoming after being adopted at birth; the healing influence of her Elders, the Borroloola Songwomen, and the next generation of strong, cultural women who are keeping their languages alive through song.

Find out more about Shellie Morris:

https://www.shelliemorris.com/

Listen to the full album Waralungku by Arrkula Yinbayarra:

https://arrkulayinbayarra.bandcamp.com/album/waralungku

Since releasing their fifth album, Ko Au Te Awa, Ko Te Awa Ko Au, and the first season of this podcast, Jen Cloher not only found their way home, they packed up their life and moved there. They’ve enrolled in a year long Te Reo Māori rumaki (immersive) language course at Te Wānanga o Raukawa in Ōtaki, Aotearoa, NZ.

“Rumaki means to immerse or drown”, Jen explains, “and for a beginner like me, drowning in the Māori language definitely sums up the experience.”

In this episode, Jen speaks with Anahera Neho-Cooper from Te Reo Maioha – a Māori language class based in Melbourne that utilises the well-loved Te Ataarangi method of learning. Jen also stops by Tauranga Moana to get some survival tips from their friend Ani Bennett, who has just completed a year long immersion.

For more on this podcast and for the best transcripts head to https://everybodystryingpodcast.com/

Find out more about Jen Cloher:https://www.jencloher.com/jen

Show notes:

‘Being Human’ performed by Te Hononga o Ngā Iwi and Jen Cloher band at the Northcote Town Hall 2023. Recorded by Dave Manton for Double J.

‘Toku Reo Toku Ohooho’ performed by Waiata Takatāpui written by Te Tāwhiro Maxwell & Okeroa Huriwaka.

‘Whakatupuranga Rua Mano’ performed by students at Te Wananga o Raukawa written by Tipi Wehipeihana.

Taonga puoro composed and performed by Pānia Elmsly.

With thanks to Te Wānanga o Raukawa, Te Reo Maioha and Waiata Takatāpui.

Credits:

Executive Producer/Host: Jen Cloher

Producer/Engineer: Jon Tjhia

Story Editor: Beź Zewdie

Cover Artwork: Huriana Kopeke-Te Aho

Layout and Design: Sebastian White

Web Design: Aron Lebani

Animation: Charlie Budd

With thanks to: Three Triple R 102.7FM and Creative Australia.

Welcome to the second season of Everybody's Trying To Find Their Way Home. A podcast where Jen Cloher speaks with Māori and First Nations songwriters who are writing and performing in their languages.

Learn more at https://everybodystryingpodcast.com/

Credits:

Executive Producer/Host: Jen Cloher

Producer/Engineer: Jon Tjhia

Story Editor: Beź Zewdie

Cover Artwork: Huriana Kopeke-Te Aho

Layout and Design: Sebastian White

Web Design: Aron Lebani

Animation: Charlie Budd

With thanks to: Triple R 102.7FM and Creative Australia.

Breanne Peters (Kai Tahu, Ngāti Ruanui, Te Atiawa) was born in Naarm (Melbourne) and didn’t know anything about her Māori heritage until a trip home to Aotearoa a few years ago that changed the course of her life. Now, the 18 year old artist is on a mission to heal intergenerational trauma so that future generations can have access to their language and culture. She is a passionate advocate for rangatahi Māori (young people) and has found community and support for her journey with the Naarm based kapa haka T’HONI. Breanne shares how singing vocals on Mana Takatāpui helped her to put words to what she had been feeling and how Te Ao Māori (the Māori worldview) has deepened her respect for First Nations people and culture in Australia.

See tour dates and listen to Jen’s new album: https://bio.site/jencloher 

Credits:

Executive Producer/Host: Jen Cloher

Producer/Engineer: Mike Williams

Story Editor: Karla Arnall

Cover Artwork: Huriana Kopeke -Te Aho

Layout and Design: Sebastian White

Web Design: Aron Lebani

With thanks to: Triple R 102.7FM, Australia Council for the Arts