Cameron Jones is a New Zealand actor. If you’re an old fan of Shortland Street, you may remember him from that. He cut his teeth as Dallas Jones the ambulance driver in Shorties ten years ago. He was also in the Hobbit movies, a Christmas movie with Dolly Parton and has a brand new movie called Home Kills which has been showing as part of the NZFF. I didn’t know much about Cam prior to this conversation. But I learned so much- what his dad thought about his career choice as an actor and the fina...
Aug 20, 2023•1 hr 38 min
In June 2023 Sam Harvey from Christchurch came painfully close to breaking the world record for ultra distance running, after running pretty much non-stop for more than four days. Sam ran for 101 hours and covered 677km at an event in Queensland. His heart and mind are so unbreakable that he was FORCED by organizers to pull out of the race after he fell over and collapsed on the course. Sam is a fascinating guy with an unbreakable mindset so this episode is so much more than a podcast about runn...
Aug 13, 2023•1 hr 47 min
Arch Jelley is one of New Zealand’s greatest running coaches. He coached the great John Walker through his entire career and all the highlights that entailed including an Olympic gold medal in 1976 and 3 Commonwealth Games medals, over 100 sub 4 minute miles and the first man to run a mile in under 3.50. But this podcast has very little to do with running. I met Arch last year when he was 99 when we recorded a podcast and we have remained in touch since then. On the week of this podcast being re...
Aug 06, 2023•1 hr 5 min
Fun fact: Ryan Hall and I raced each other in 2011 at the Boston marathon (only, he had no idea we were racing). I finished in 5528th place with a time of 3 hours 20 minutes. Ryan finished in 4th place with a time of just under 2 hours and 5 minutes, around 2 minutes per kilometer quicker than me! That day he set a record that still stands now as the fastest marathon ever run by an American. On this episode, we trace the highs and lows of his illustrious running career, from that epic run in Bos...
Aug 02, 2023•1 hr 12 min
Last week we hit a massive podcast milestone- the one millionth download. To celebrate, we have taken a departure from the usual weekly podcast. On this episode, Jay-Jay Feeney takes over and asks me the questions- all centered around the podcast journey so far. Some of them are her questions but most of them come from you guys on social media. Some nerdy podcast stats here - 1 million downloads puts us firmly in the top 1% of all podcasts worldwide which is insane. And we reached this milestone...
Jul 30, 2023•55 min
Maia Wilson first made the silver ferns in 2016 when she was still 19 and has been there shooting goals, and lots of them ever since. But she is so much more than an awesome netballer- sports wise, she made the NZ women's basketball team when she was just 16. In this conversation we chat about a whole range of stuff like body image, self-worth, and the societal pressures faced by professional athletes. Also coping with the death of her nana and dad in quick succession. Then getting through the l...
Jul 23, 2023•1 hr 18 min
Hannah Wilkinson or “Wilky” as she is known by her team mates is one of the star players of the New Zealand Footballs Ferns, a team she has played in since she was a teenager. 13 years ago. She has played over 100 games, been to three Olympics, played in 3 (soon to be 4) FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments and that’s just the tip of her football iceberg. I would like to think this episode is a good glimpse into the mind of one of New Zealand’s greatest footballers of all time. And hopefully you’l...
Jul 16, 2023•1 hr 16 min
Mils Muliaina would dispute this, but he is one of the Greatest All Blacks of all time. He was only the second All Black to play 100 tests (less than a month after Richie became the first). He was part of the team that won the 2011 Rugby world cup against France in that nail biting final. He was also part of the team that lost the world cup 4 years earlier after being beaten by France. But Mils is so much more than a former All Black and accordingly, rugby only makes up a small part of this epic...
Jul 09, 2023•1 hr 32 min
*BONUS EPISODE: VERY MUCH ONE FOR THE RUNNING NERDS* James Constantine is a keen runner (he’s bloody quick, too) and he is also part of the huge team putting on this year’s Sydney marathon, presented by Asics, on Sunday September 17. It is a very special event this year- it is a “candidate race” in hunt to join New York, London, Berlin, Boston, Tokyo and Chicago as a World Marathon Major. To earn major status, they have a checklist of 104 requirements, one of the key requirements being the numbe...
Jul 06, 2023•28 min
Marcus Daniell is New Zealand's fifth greatest tennis player of all time (According to a random website I found with a google search). Questionable website rankings aside he is a phenomenal tennis player, especially in doubles. He won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. And has beaten Novak Djokovic! He is so much more than a good tennis player though. Off the court, he is the founder of an epic charity called HIA (High Impact Athletes) which we discuss in this podcast. He also shares his rema...
Jul 02, 2023•1 hr 22 min
Shorty Clark from New Plymouth is officially the worlds best triathlete in the 70-74 category. He became a world champion in Abu Dhabi late in 2022 at the age of 71. 9 months later, in this podcast, he still gets emotional talking about that moment. It’s a sport he only took up in his late 40s and back then he couldn’t even swim so its been a long journey- a 26 year apprenticeship he jokes. I thought Shorty's story would be a good one to share for a few reasons. The main one being what YOU and I...
Jun 28, 2023•59 min
Duncan is one of New Zealand's most recognizable broadcasters. He spent 17 years in parliament as TV3s political reporter as well as hosting the AM show for several years and a bunch of other TV and radio shows. He is now doing a daily podcast called “Editor in chief.” In this conversation we talk about his journey of overcoming life's obstacles, from the sudden end of his time at Today FM to navigating a divorce, the pandemic and even a wrongful arrest- something he has never talked about publi...
Jun 25, 2023•1 hr 47 min
Mea's life today as a mum of 5 in her early 30s looks very different to how it did just a few years ago. Through her 20s she was stuck in marriage as a victim of relentless and brutal domestic abuse with unimaginable violence and cruelty. Mea bravely opens up about her past and how she managed to survive and rebuild her life. By sharing her story, she hopes to empower others to find their own strength and use their voice to make a difference. I absolutely adore Mea and I know you guys will too. ...
Jun 18, 2023•1 hr 37 min
DEAN BARKER: Dean Barker is a name that is synonymous with yachting in NZ. Especially the Americas cup. When you think of that event his name is up there with Coutts and Butterworth back in the day and now Burling and Tuke. Unfortunately, he is probably remembered most for being the Team NZ skipper when we were on the receiving end of one of the greatest comebacks in sporting history- remember that? San Francisco 2013. Team NZ was up 8-1 then we ended up losing to Jimmy Spitalls Oracle boat by 9...
Jun 11, 2023•1 hr 25 min
Sarah Gearhart is a New York based sportswriter and now author. You name the organization; she has probably written for it! USA Today, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, ESPN, Runner's World, Vice Sports… In April 2023 she published her first book: “We Share the Sun: The Incredible Journey of Kenya's Legendary Running Coach Patrick Sang and the Fastest Runners on Earth.” https://www.booktopia.com.au/we-share-the-sun-sarah-gearhart/book/9781639363551.html I met Sarah in Boston during the 2023 m...
Jun 07, 2023•1 hr 4 min
Jay-Jay Feeney is the undisputed queen of music radio in New Zealand. She started the radio station The Edge and grew it into the massive brand that it remains to this day. She currently hosts one of New Zealand’s most listened to afternoon shows on the station, More FM. She is the author of two books and has won too many NZ radio awards to count!. This is a strange episode...jeust because of the intensely personal nature of it. I can’t imagine I will ever record a podcast that is as raw, emotiv...
Jun 04, 2023•1 hr 20 min
Kelsey Waghorn was a Whakaari White Island tour guide in December 2019 when it erupted. This is a powerful and raw conversation with Kelsey. And it is a tough listen in parts, made slightly easier thanks to Kelsey's ability to find the humor and light in the darkest situations. We talk about Kelsey and her life before, during and after the eruption, the resilience and courage it takes to navigate life after such a harrowing experience. Through her journey of healing, both physically and mentally...
May 28, 2023•1 hr 35 min
Simon Cochrane: A week before this podcast conversation took place, Simon Cochrane travelled from his home in Hamilton NZ to take part in the "Ultraman" event in Noosa as a relative unknown in this event. After 3 days of intense and brutal racing he not only won the event, he also SMASHED the world record. The Ultraman event is a crazy few days of racing. It was created in 1983 by some mad bastards who, I'm assuming, decided the Ironman distance was too easy LOL. This is what an Ultraman weekend...
May 24, 2023•56 min
Hadyn Jones is an ultramarathon runner (that’s one of the caps he wears). He is also a well-known current affairs TV host. You may recognize the face or voice from Fair Go, Seven Sharp, the good sorts segment at the end of the news on Sunday night (a really cool feature he has done for years). He is also a dad and a husband. All roles that he juggles successfully. His secret includes getting his long runs done when the kids are in bed! We discussed his running journey, his career including his e...
May 21, 2023•1 hr 11 min
If you say you don't know who Leigh Hart is, I'd probably raise an eye brow. He has been part of the New Zealand comedy and TV landscape for two decades now. He is also the face of Hellers sausages, the creator of Wakachangi beer and, more recently, the insanely good Snackachangi chips THE best Salt n Vinegar chips in the world). BUT whether you know him or not, I think you’ll be a fan of Leigh after this. It’s a fascinating insight into the mind of a creative genius. We get real deep and talk a...
May 14, 2023•1 hr 49 min
Just 4 days before recording this podcast, Jono Ridler had SMASHED the New Zealand open water swim distance record when he swam 99 kilometers (previous record was 80km) His 33 hour non-stop swim without a wetsuit started on a fine Tuesday morning and finished on a very story Wednesday night. I really hope you guys like this chat. Jono is not a big name guest…he’s just a regular guy who has done something incredible and inspiring. Actually, to give you an idea of just how regular he is, after fin...
May 10, 2023•1 hr 1 min
Campbell Johnstone made a name for himself in NZ rugby circles as an All Black and Canterbury Crusaders rugby star in the early 2000's, He made a name for himself internationally in early 2023 when he became the first ever openly gay all black. This is his story. This is as they say in rugby, a podcast of two halves- the first half zooms in on his sexuality and the second half looks back on his rugby career which included three super rugby titles. We chat about his decision to do the interview o...
May 07, 2023•1 hr 14 min
William "Billy" Evans. It was an absolute honor and a privilege to spend an hour with Billy Evans in Boston, just 2 days after the 2023 Boston marathon (which he ran with his two sons). Ten years ago, Billy ran the Boston marathon, then shortly after finishing, he and his entire Boston police force had to get to work to try and find out who was responsible for the two bombs that went off near the finish line of the marathon. If you have seen the Netflix documentary series, “American Manhunt: The...
Apr 30, 2023•1 hr 4 min
SUZY CATO. I think for the most part Suzy is a New Zealander who needs no introduction. Chances are if you are in your 20s or 30s now, she was a big part of your childhood (she is the undisputed queen of children’s TV in Aotearoa). In this episode, I had the pleasure of diving deep into her life and career. We explored her beginnings in radio, her transition to TV, and how she met her husband, Steve. We also discussed Susie's experiences dealing with the heartbreak of losing a baby and being let...
Apr 23, 2023•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 69
Mike Rudling is the founder and CEO of Radix Nutrition who are the sponsors of this podcast. The short podcast snippet comes from our full conversation. Mike Rudling is a man with a mission to make you and I healthier through what we eat. I wouldn’t be surprised if, ten years from now, Radix Nutrition is a household name in New Zealand and many other countries so it’s an honor to introduce you to the very big brains behind it while they are still in a self-described start-up phase. Hosted on Aca...
Apr 20, 2023•5 min
Mike Rudling is the founder and CEO of Radix Nutrition (who are the sponsors of this podcast). The team at Radix Nutrition asked if I would consider having Mike on as a guest and I didn’t hesitate to say yes. We discuss the origins of this company which he started in the Bay of Islands 10 years ago when he was 23. We dive into Mike's childhood in England and his experiences with dyslexia and boarding school. We also explore his transition from competitive swimming to cyclist and the mental healt...
Apr 16, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 68
This "Bite size" episode comes from my full conversation with Mitch James. The purpose of these is that you may give it a listen, decide you want to hear more, then go back and check out the full episode. I'd be curious to know if this ever works or not LOL. It just seemed like a smart idea in my head. This episode with Mitch was incredibly special to me. Mitch was the very first guest on this podcast when it launched a year ago. Since then, a lot has changed for both of us so I wanted to get hi...
Apr 13, 2023•8 min
This is Mitch James. Episode two. This episode is incredibly special to me. Mitch was the very first guest on this podcast when it launched a year ago. Since then, a lot has changed for both of us so I wanted to get him back for a catch up episode. Some of you may have heard that very first episode. I’m guessing most of you guys haven’t heard it. But either way, This IS NOT a recap episode. We cover completely new stuff. Including a track-by-track deconstruction of Mitch’s recent album, Patience...
Apr 09, 2023•1 hr 33 min•Season 1Ep. 67
Rich Farrell!! I suspect you have not heard the name before. Rich isn’t famous, but he is one of the physically strongest men in New Zealand. Using his stage name “the madness” he goes to competitions and lifts boulders and logs, flips big tractor tyre's, those sorts of things. He went through a lot of ups and downs before finding himself and then finding this sport that gave him focus and purpose. He has never told his full story publicly before, so I thank him for the opportunity. He only want...
Apr 06, 2023•47 min•Season 1Ep. 66
Sir Ashley Bloomfield was the director general of health when Covid-19 came to New Zealand early in 2020. He became one of the most recognizable faces and names in New Zealand for his daily 1pm briefings with the PM which because essential viewing. We sat down for this podcast conversation on the 3rd anniversary of New Zealand’s initial Covid lockdown. He turned up to my place on a bike (not one with a battery either, full old school bike) wearing a correctly fixed helmet, of course. We chat abo...
Apr 02, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 65
