Between Two Beers Podcast

Stan Walker’s story is one of survival, transformation, and purpose.In this conversation, Stan opens up about the abuse and trauma of his childhood, the complicated relationship with his parents, and how those experiences shaped the man he is today. He reflects on the highs of fame after winning Australian Idol, the dark side of the music industry, and the battles he’s faced with public perception and health - including the life-changing surgery to remove his stomach after a genetic cancer diagnosis.Stan also shares his journey of reclaiming his Māori identity, the cultural fire that projects like Mt. Zion and Aotearoa lit inside him, and why his purpose now is about building legacy, healing, and serving his community.What you’ll learn in this episode:Stan’s experience growing up in an abusive householdHow trauma and family shaped his outlook on lifeThe truth behind public rumours and industry pressuresHis stomach cancer journey and living without a stomachReclaiming identity through te ao Māori and indigenous connectionWhy he values legacy, purpose, and family over fameThis episode is brought to you by the TAB. Got a hunch? Download the new app today and get your bet on. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we’re asking the BIG question:👉 Is it time to rebrand Between Two Beers?What started as two mates in a garage drinking beers has grown into a full-time business — podcasts, speaking, storytelling, partnerships. But now we’re wondering:Is the beer in our name holding us back?Are sponsors avoiding us because of it?Would a new name unlock new opportunities — or kill everything we’ve built?We also dive into:Sponsors vs strategic partnersThe chaos of cashflowHow to avoid the “too hard basket” trap in businessAnd yes, we’re genuinely asking… are we really going to do this?This episode was brought to you by Xero. Supercharge your business with the help of Xero accounting software. With more ways to pay, clearer cash flow, and powerful insights all in one place, you can say ‘so long’ to endless admin and hello to business control like never before. Try Xero free for 30 days, terms apply. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Al Brown is one of New Zealand’s most beloved chefs — but behind the TV fame (Hunger for the Wild, Masterchef), award-winning restaurants (Logan Brown, Depot, Federal Deli, Best Ugly Bagels), and his role as a Kiwi food icon lies a story of adoption, perfectionism, reinvention and resilience.In this wide-ranging conversation, Al opens up about:Walking away from fine dining and Logan BrownBuilding Depot into one of NZ’s most iconic restaurantsHis drive for perfectionism — and the toll it’s takenFriendship, family, and what happiness looks like at 60Why fritters, pies and bagels matter in our Kiwi food storyThis episode is funny, raw and deeply human — a look inside the life of a man who helped redefine New Zealand’s food culture. Enjoy!This episode is brought to you by the TAB. Got a hunch? Download the new app today and get your bet on. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Hambassadors, we cover it all: parenting chaos, podcasting lessons, new beers, and one unforgettable message from Laura McGoldrick.Laura shares the powerful reminder that “one day you’ll put your child down for the very last time” - a truth about time, parenting guilt, and family that hit us both hard.But it’s not all serious…- Bon accidentally smashes Billy in the face during a parents vs kids football match.- Seamus bombs with the worst MC joke at prizegiving.- We reveal our very own Ambassador Hazy IPA (cheers, Good George).- And we share the biggest interviewing lessons from 6 years of Between Two Beers.Plus, movie rankings (Moana vs Predator?!), an epic Betterman event, and a sneak peek at our next guest — Al Brown.Hambassadors proudly brought to you by Stark. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve Gurney is one of the greatest multisport athletes New Zealand has ever produced - but this podcast is about so much more than racing.In this episode, Steve takes us far beyond the finish line.We explore:Why winning 9 Coast to Coast titles didn’t bring him peaceThe childhood trauma that lit his fireHow a near-death illness nearly ended everythingHis struggles with depression and identityDeep work on mental rewiring through NLPNavigating masculinity, aging and purpose after sportStories from Dancing With the Stars, full-body waxing and being naked on Breakfast TVAnd what keeps him emotionally moved at the Coast to Coast finish line to this dayThis is a masterclass in introspection, reinvention, and the quiet pursuit of peace - from someone who has truly lived multiple lives.This episode is brought to you by the TAB. Got a hunch? Download the new app today and get your bet on. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What’s really happening with Che & Di?In this Accidental Business Owners sit-down, we unpack “the incident,” the viral clip that hit over 250k views versus where we’re at 10 weeks down the track.Steve sets the scene, then Di breaks down why tough coaching landed, and Che explains the shift - speaking up, reducing cognitive load, and learning to say “no” without guilt.We get into perception vs reality, the clip economy, unseen aftercare calls, cultural layers, and how values, relationships, and work collide. If you’re a founder, creator, or manager navigating candour, boundaries, and public scrutiny, this one’s gold.This episode was brought to you by Xero. Supercharge your business with the help of Xero accounting software. With more ways to pay, clearer cash flow, and powerful insights all in one place, you can say ‘so long’ to endless admin and hello to business control like never before. Try Xero free for 30 days, terms apply. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Olympic BMX star Sarah Walker has lived through it all: the glory of an Olympic silver medal, the pain of breaking 18 bones, and the terrifying reality of a serious brain injury that changed her personality.In this episode of Between Two Beers, Sarah reveals:The mindset shift that turned fear into bravery.How she rebuilt her confidence after devastating injuries.What it really takes to compete at the Olympics when one mistake can end your career.The influence of legendary sports psychologist David Galbraith and the lessons she carried beyond sport.This is not just a story about BMX. It’s about resilience, mental strength, and how to keep believing when the world tells you to stop.📌 Chapters & Key Moments Inside:Overcoming brain injury and the fear of never riding again.The Olympic final that changed her life forever.Breaking 18 bones and finding courage through pain.Mindset techniques that anyone can use to perform under pressure.This episode is brought to you by the TAB. Got a hunch? Download the new app today and get your bet on. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After his first appearance on Between Two Beers, broadcaster Mark Stafford never expected what would happen next. Listeners reached out to share how his raw honesty about mental health struggles gave them strength - and in some cases, even helped save lives.In this special follow-up, Staffy joins us again to reflect on those messages, the impact his story has had, and what he’s learned about the power of speaking openly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gilbert Enoka - the All Blacks’ long-time mental skills coach - shares the untold stories behind New Zealand rugby’s culture, resilience, and leadership.Across 23 years and 304 tests and 2 World Cup victories, Gilbert worked with coaches and players like Sir Graham Henry, Sir Steve Hansen, Ian Foster, and legends including Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, and Tana Umaga.In this episode, he opens up about:Building the All Blacks’ culture of standardsThe crisis of identity that nearly killed the hakaLessons from failure at the 2007 Rugby World CupWhy pressure is not the enemy, but a lifestyle“Gilbertisms” like Take the Sausage, Wishbone–Backbone–Funnybone, and Winge up, not downWorking with Chelsea FC, England Cricket, and The NSW BluesWhether you’re a rugby fan, coach, or leader, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom.This episode is brought to you by the TAB. Got a hunch? Download the new app today and get your bet on. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve has returned from Block 1 of the Icehouse Owner Manager Program with fresh clarity - and as promised, he’s letting us in on the secrets he’s discovered: growth, overwhelm, and the little decisions that change everything.In this episode:Why courageous conversations beat procrastination (eat the ugliest frog first)Culture > strategy (and how the Reflections team built culture remotely)Staying close to partners and your team (what appreciation actually looks like)Building a Hamilton studio so epic guests come to us - and we get our time backA very honest moment about “knowing your numbers” (assets, liabilities, equity)If you’re juggling family, cash flow, travel, and leadership - you’re not alone. This series documents the real learnings as they happen.This episode was brought to you by Xero. Supercharge your business with the help of Xero accounting software. With more ways to pay, clearer cash flow, and powerful insights all in one place, you can say ‘so long’ to endless admin and hello to business control like never before. Try Xero free for 30 days, terms apply. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Award-winning investigative journalist Jared Savage has spent 15+ years on New Zealand’s crime frontlines - covering everything from the rise of meth and Mexican cartels, to patched gangs, political scandals, and the country’s biggest criminal trials.In this episode we go deep on Savage’s reporting - the brutal realities of the meth trade, how gangs built multi-million dollar drug empires, and the international pipelines flooding New Zealand with narcotics. Savage also lifts the lid on the hidden connections between politics, money, and organised crime.If you’ve ever wondered how gangs really operate in NZ, what role overseas cartels play, or what it takes to expose corruption at the highest levels - this conversation is essential listening.This episode is brought to you by the TAB. Got a hunch? Download the new app today and get your bet on. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simon Barnett’s episode is on track to be our biggest ever – but it almost didn’t come out. Simon was worried it was too self-indulgent. Since it aired though, the feedback has been incredible – for us, and for him.In this Hambassadors episode we talk about what’s happened since the release, the messages we’ve had, and how it’s landed. We also cover:Our five favourite songs of all timeSeamus’ weight loss journeyWhich guest would survive The Hunger GamesAnd so much more! Subscribe and follow Between Two Beers for more weekly content.Hambassadors proudly brought to you by Stark.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction4:36 Why Simon Barnett Almost Pulled The Episode31:33 Seamus’ Weight Loss43:33 Best Listener Questions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marc Ellis has lived a life worthy of a dozen chapters. From Scarfie hijinks at Otago University to becoming an All Black and Kiwi league international, he carved out a career across rugby and league with Otago, North Harbour, the Blues, Highlanders, Warriors and Kiwis.Off the field, Marc co-founded Charlie’s Juice, eventually selling it to Asahi for $129 million, and became one of New Zealand’s biggest TV personalities on SportsCafe, Game of Two Halves and beyond – often alongside his infamous partner-in-crime, Matthew Ridge.In this wide-ranging conversation, Marc reflects on:The wild tours and “Susie” at the 1995 Rugby World CupSportsCafe chaos and his dynamic with RidgeyThe rise and sale of Charlie’sLife after fame, media stunts and what he’s up to nowHis views on success, fatherhood and living out of the spotlightA true Kiwi icon – this is Marc Ellis like you’ve never heard him before.This episode is brought to you by the TAB. Got a hunch? Download the new app today and get your bet on. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve been putting this off for months… but in this episode of Accidental Business Owner, Di finally forces us to sit down and build the scoreboard we’ve been avoiding.What does that mean? It’s the unfiltered look at the numbers that really drive our business —-sales, downloads, social media, guest performance, coffees, proposals, even studio bookings. The levers that show if we’re actually growing… or just making noise.It’s uncomfortable. It’s funny. It’s honest. And it’s exactly what we needed.If you’ve ever avoided looking at your numbers or felt nervous about measuring success, this conversation will hit home.What you’ll hear in this episode:Why a P&L only tells half the storyThe dashboard that shows the truth in real timeWhat we should have been tracking all alongHow small levers (like coffees, content, and guests) change everythingDi holding us accountableThis episode was brought to you by Xero. Supercharge your business with the help of Xero accounting software. With more ways to pay, clearer cash flow, and powerful insights all in one place, you can say ‘so long’ to endless admin and hello to business control like never before. Try Xero free for 30 days, terms apply. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this deeply personal episode, Simon Barnett opens up about the love story he shared with his late wife Jodi, her courageous battle with brain cancer, and the life-changing lessons her loss has taught him.Simon talks about the early days of their relationship, the moment they received the devastating diagnosis, the realities of living with grief, and how his faith, family, and friends have helped him through.This is a conversation about love, loss, and resilience — and a tribute to Jodi’s enduring legacy.This episode is brought to you by the TAB. Got a hunch? Download the new app today and get your bet on.Timestamps:0:00 Why Simon Barnett is so private4:30 On grief and losing his wife Jodi9:00 Going to counselling10:30 Talking to God12:30 Family life, kids & parents remarrying18:00 Funny story: competitiveness & missing flights20:00 Being a terrible handyman (clip)23:00 Becoming “Chiefy” to his grandkids30:30 Early career & Telethon story (clip)33:20 What Now TV show days38:20 Why he stayed in Christchurch (offers abroad & Auckland)49:00 The Tom Cruise story: humiliation to meeting him55:30 Dancing With the Stars1:04:00 Being a caregiver (clip)1:10:00 The month after Jodi’s passing1:18:00 Finding faith at age 301:21:00 Return to More FM & leaving Newstalk ZB1:29:40 Raising daughters1:35:02 Masculinity after raising four children1:40:33 The key to happiness Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Hambassadors from Between Two Beers, Seamus and Steve catch up on life, events, and a whole lot more – with a special guest appearance from Jay Reeve.From hanging out with All Blacks coach Ian Foster, to sharing our five favourite books, we cover it all. Jay opens up about a potential ADHD diagnosis, we dive into shocking men’s health statistics, and Seamus shares his own mental health journey. Plus, there’s our Between Two Bets segment, listener questions, and a preview of next week’s Simon Barnett episode.Hambassadors proudly brought to you by Stark.Timestamps00:00 Catching Up04:45 MC’ing & Hanging with Ian Foster07:30 Our 5 Favourite Books14:00 Jay Reeve Joins the Show & Potential ADHD Diagnosis23:00 Shocking Men’s Health Statistics29:00 Seamus’ Mental Health34:00 Between Two Bets36:00 Listener Questions39:00 Simon Barnett PreviewIf you enjoy Between Two Beers, you’ll love this mix of laughs, honesty, and great conversation with Jay Reeve. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Viv Conway and Jo Cummins are the fearless founders of Girls Get Off.Join us for one of the most honest, hilarious, and insightful episodes of Between Two Beers yet.We unpack the challenges of building a sex-positive brand in New Zealand, why vibrators are still taboo, the orgasm gap, men’s egos in the bedroom, porn vs reality, and how a billboard prank led to 6,000 people visiting a fake dating website.This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in sex, relationships, startups - or just a damn good story.This episode is brought to you by the TAB. Got a hunch? Download the new app today and get your bet on.🎧 Listen in for:The wild origin story of Girls Get OffHow NZ banks & insurers reacted to vibratorsTackling the orgasm gap head-onWhy men fear sex toys (and shouldn’t)Funny tales from product developmentBillboard wars, prank strippers, and more Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Accidental Business Owners, we reflect on the realities of running a growing business - the kind you don’t see on Instagram.From building a new podcast studio, navigating cashflow, and rethinking our business priorities… to a cancelled flight that derailed an entire strategy day – we unpack what happens when the pressure quietly builds up behind the scenes.Steve opens up about an unexpected emotional moment during a key advisory meeting - and what it revealed about time, energy, and how running a “dream” business can still weigh heavily.We talk:Growth vs. sustainabilityWhy building your own studio doesn’t guarantee more freedomThe weight of juggling business, family, and griefWhat we’re focusing on next (and what we’re not)This episode was brought to you by Xero. Supercharge your business with the help of Xero accounting software. With more ways to pay, clearer cash flow, and powerful insights all in one place, you can say ‘so long’ to endless admin and hello to business control like never before. Try Xero free for 30 days, terms apply. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jeremy Wells has one of the most fascinating careers in New Zealand media - and in this episode, we cover it all.From Eating Media Lunch to Seven Sharp, Havoc to the ACC, Jerry reflects on the wild ride that’s taken him from alternative TV icon to mainstream household name.We talk broadcasting pillars, radio antics, the price of opportunity, family, fame, and what the future holds. There’s laughter, nostalgia, and a few surprising confessions (including one about Wanganui Collegiate), Jerry was a huge influence on us growing up, and this one meant a lot.This episode is brought to you by the TAB. Got a hunch? Download the new app today and get your bet on. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Hambassadors, we unpack a pretty intense couple of weeks - from advisory calls and missed flights to tears, burnout, and some much-needed honesty.Steve shares what led to a moment of reflection that caught even him off guard, and we talk about what it’s like to keep the podcast and business going when life feels full-on.Also in the mix:Our Christchurch trip and emotional breakfastMCing the Four Square conferenceOff-mic gold from Jay Reeve’s episodeA sex dream that sparked an unexpected group chatThe closest we’ve come to packing it all inThanks for being along for the ride.Hambassadors proudly brought to you by Stark.Watch or listen to Hambassadors wherever you get podcasts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.