Everybody’s Trying To Find Their Way Home is an independent podcast series created by acclaimed songwriter Jen Cloher (Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa, Ngāpuhi), documenting the experiences of Māori and First Nations artists who are writing and performing in their languages. The first season (2023) was nominated for Best New Podcast and Best Arts and Culture Podcast at the Australian Podcast Awards, and featured in the Wheeler Centre’s Spring Fling program with a special live episode.
In season two, Jen travels to Kakadu with Shellie Morris to learn about the enduring legacy of the Borroloola Songwomen; visits Whirimako Black in Ruatoki to find out why her groundbreaking debut album Hinepukohurangi (Shrouded in the Mist) was shelved for five years; takes a ride in Byllie-jean’s truck to hear the stories behind her Taite Prize-winning debut, heads to Denny’s 24 hour diner in South Auckland for a feed with Jordyn with a Why; and celebrates the joys of Naarm based waiata group Takatāpui Tuesdays with campaigner and organiser Te Raukura O’Connell Rapira.

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Transcript

[00:00:00] Jen Cloher: I’m Jen Cloher. I was born on Wurundjeri Land in Naarm Melbourne, Australia. I’d always known I was Māori on my mother’s side, but that was all I knew. I didn’t grow up with my language or culture, but in 2019, I toured Aotearoa New Zealand for the first time, and the experience changed my life. It made me want to know more about who I am and where I come from.

[00:00:33] Jen Cloher: Since then, I released my fifth album, ‘Ko Au Te Awa Ko Te Awa Ko Au’. And the first season of this podcast.

[00:00:45] Jen Cloher: Being so open about my journey was scary, but also life affirming. I started to meet people that felt like family. Then at the end of 2024, I played a couple of farewell shows in Naarm, [00:01:00] packed up my life and moved home to  Aotearoa or to learn Te reo Māori.

[00:01:10] Jen Cloher: For the first time ever, I have no idea where I’m going or what the outcome is. What I do know is that these conversations with Māori and First Nations artists, who are writing and performing in their languages, have inspired me to keep going.

[00:01:25] Shellie Morris: Was it terrifying? Yes. Was it difficult? Yes, and I just kept trying, and the way for me to learn to eventually speak those languages was through song.

[00:01:37] Jen Cloher: To find my voice.

[00:01:39] Whirimako Black: Who I am as a Tūhoe wahine, and as a Māori wahine, and as a Māori parent - who am I?

[00:01:48] Jen Cloher: To be myself.

[00:01:49] Byllie Jean: Don’t waste your whakapapa by being something that you aren’t. Just be Māori, and it’s right, whatever it looks like.

[00:01:57] Jen Cloher: To show up.

[00:01:58] Jordyn With A Why: A lot of people really struggle [00:02:00] to talk politics, but everything is political. Everything is personal, you know? Every decision that they make from that beehive is, directly going to impact my son.

[00:02:11] Jen Cloher: Heal the past.

[00:02:12] Byllie Jean: I have this soul wound, this mamae, this deep hurt about not being able to articulate myself in the way that I know that my Ancestors would’ve been able to just three generations ago.

[00:02:24] Jen Cloher: And to never be ashamed of where I’ve come from.

[00:02:27] Anahera: Oh yeah. Here come the Māori’s from Australia.

[00:02:32] Jen Cloher: Nau mai, haere mai e te whānau. Welcome to season two of ‘Everybody’s Trying To Find Their Way Home’. You can find it wherever you find your podcasts, or head to everybodys trying podcast dot com.