Bruce Penny’s Listening to Families

At Māia, we’re proud to back bold ideas that make life better for families, like Bruce Penny’s Listening to Families initiative. We’ve funded this grassroots project from the beginning because we believe in Bruce’s vision.

After retiring as a civil engineer, Bruce saw too many parents struggling to navigate the health system. So, with help from his 14-year-old grandson, he built a website packed with short, honest videos answering real questions about autism, anxiety, eating disorders and more.

Now, those videos are available as podcasts, introed by our ambassador Jason Gunn and accessible on Spotify, Apple Music and the website.

The idea began after Bruce spoke to 42 Canterbury school counsellors and discovered that many students were facing serious challenges but not qualifying for health services, leaving families overwhelmed. Listening to Families aims to equip parents with answers and guidance while navigating these challenges.

Bruce’s work is helping families feel heard, informed, and supported and that’s something we’re proud to back.