Awesomeness with Cam Calkoen

Airline pilot, Everest mountaineer, adventurer and extreme marathon competitor Mike Allsop is an ordinary family man proving that anybody can accomplish extraordinary things.

Mike Allsop grew up in a single parent home in Auckland. Life wasn't always easy. But Mike never wavered in his dream of becoming an airline pilot with Air New Zealand. He single-mindedly pursued this goal, breaking it down into smaller parts then focusing on each step in turn. He began by obtaining a pilot's licence and a job with a small commuter airline. Things took a dramatic turn when a flight to deliver a Twin Otter aircraft from the USA to New Zealand led to a crash landing into the sea hundreds of kilometres off the coast of Hawaii in the dark of night. The US Coast Guard colonel who eventually rescued Mike and his crew commented that nobody else had ever survived a crash landing into that part of the ocean!

As well as becoming an Air New Zealand captain, Mike harboured another ambition. One day, he wanted to stand upon the roof of the world and summit Everest. True to form, he broke the goal down and gained the necessary skills and experience by testing himself on difficult and potentially hazardous climbs across 6 different continents. Many were usually only tackled by vastly more experienced climbers. However Mike Allsop is living proof that his philosophy of 'if you believe you can, you will'.

He has reached every goal in spectacular fashion, including becoming an international airline pilot with Air New Zealand and ascending Everest in an unguided expedition.

Craig has more than 25 years of Financial Market experience in New Zealand and the United States, encompassing business building, restructuring and running a number of market-leading financial businesses, including Merrill Lunch, Deutsche Bank & RBS... Today Craig utilizes his business skills, networks & passion for relationships as the CEO of Kea NZ whose purpose is to reach and motivate expatriate Kiwis and 'friends of New Zealand' to increase their contribution to New Zealand – thereby turning NZ's World Class Kiwi's into a strategic national asset. He holds a numbers of NZ Board & Advisory Board positions (the IceHouse, Well Foundation (Chair) & Bachcare) & works as an Executive in Residence with University of Auckland staff and students, offering his practical perspective and mentoring students. Craig owns a number of Auckland's best-known commercial buildings, including The Department Store and Takapuna Beach Café.

*Recorded September 2019

Well respected by many Business Owners, CEO's and NZ's High Performance Managers, Coaches and Athletes, Dave works closely with individuals and Teams to perfect their Mental Aptitude to achieve results.

A passion for sports and personally competing at an elite level in his own sports pursuits;  Rowing, Rugby, Highland Games, NZ Strongman Competitor where he set new records, Dave knows the mental challenges that lay ahead and what it takes not only physically but mentally to stay at the top of your game time and time again.

Dave is passionate when it comes to seeing his clients achieve. This has led to incredible achievements for both coach and client and has seen Dave become highly sought after, not only with one on one coaching, team coaching but also seminars and guest speaking.

*Recorded September 2019

Hello awesome people of the world and welcome to awesomeness!!!! Where I have the privilege of spending time with inspirational people from New Zealand and around the world who DREAM BIG and achieve more!!!!

In this episode we have Cecilia Robinson. An award winning business woman who founded Au Pair Link and My Food Bag - one of the most talked about and fastest growing companies in New Zealand. 

A serial entrepreneur and innovator, Cecilia is now the founder and Co-CEO of Tend Health.

In this episode we speak about the awesomeness of: Finding a way to say yes rather than a reason to say no. Keep innovating to extend the growth curve. That with too much celebration of success...adversity can became shameful, and that's a problem. Failure and adversity...that's where the gold can come from.

We also did speak about becoming the founder of my food bag and building a thriving business in JUST 6 months.

If there's a problem, there's also an opportunity to resolve it, that's entrepreneurship, that's Cecilia.

Enjoy the awesomeness!

 "when there's choice, choose adventure". 

William Pike is an inspirational kiwi who is on one hell of a journey - from losing his leg in a volcanic eruption, to starting a nationwide youth development programme, to mountaineering in Antarctica, William has an unfair advantage when it comes to talking about the necessity of stepping outside of your comfort zone to overcome challenge, change and achieve extraordinary things.

Fraser Grut runs a global movement called 10,000 Dreams, where every single day for 10,000 days (27.3972 years!) he's filming a different person answering the question - "What's your dream?". He started on December 8th 2016 (age 22) and will finish on April 25th 2044 (age 50). 

He's captured the dreams of 4 Prime Ministers (Jacinda Ardern, Sir John Key, Sir Bill English, Dame Jenny Shipley), more than 300 celebrities (including Dame Jane Goodall, Chris Hadfield, Mark Cuban, Jessica Alba, Elle Macpherson, Ricky Gervais, Ronan Keating, All Blacks, Caroline Wozniacki, The Wiggles, Nick Offerman, Eddie Izzard, George Lopez, Simon Pegg and more), kids, elderly, people of every race/religion, blind people, deaf people, people with cerebral palsy, refugees, aborigines, homeless people, billionaires, Olympians, Oscar winners and an astronaut. 

Fraser wants to inspire people to pursue their dreams and be full of hope, which is why he's chosen to spend his life capturing the dreams of the world. He believes that everyone has the right to dream. Fraser is wanting to build a culture around dreams and the importance of pursuing them, no matter who you are.

His dream is to help the entire world dream.

Cam Talks with 'Selfie Reflective' podcast host Lucy O'Connor.

"Now is not forever'

I first came across the awesomeness of Lucy O'Connor while on set for an add for Toyota New Zealand. I was there in my role as an ambassador for Toyota New Zealand and Lucy the talent and man she was awesome.

Since then I've had the privilege of calling Lucy a friend while see her be a stunt women, a voice over artist, establish Monday Hustle.

Lucy works as a contract writer/brand consultant for new businesses and events. She runs two independent projects: a vintage clothing buy / sell group, and a podcast called 'Selfie-Reflective', which unpacks her experience of running a personal brand and hosts guests who cast a critical eye across social media. In 2020, Lucy is learning to surf and detaching herself from the idea that productivity equals worth.

In this episode we speak about: Taking bold moves, making yourself open to the opportunity, becoming a social influencer world you step into, how we choose to respond to what is happening around us, why are we using social media and what's your bigger purpose.

Lucy doesn't just challenge the status quo, she takes the risks to experiment, to grow, to evolve and in doing so shares her experiencers to delight and inspire others.

Lucy inspires one to accept that it's ok to experiment, to take risks and do what's different because indeed now is not forever.

Please check out the selfie reflective on your favourite podcast platform, a perspective shifting podcast that explores ideas, unpacks experiences, and critically reflects on the status-update quo.

Everyday we get to decide what we hear, what we be, and what we do…

*available as podcast through 'awesomeness with Cam Calkoen' on iTunes and Spotify

Raw and Real video footage available at https://www.nbr.co.nz/category/raw-and-real

In this episode Cam talks with musical artist, Baritone and Sol3 Mio member Moses Mackay.

"Have passion but stay Curious"

I first came across the awesomeness of Moses Mackay when I was acting as an M.C for the North Harbour Club. Their annual AIMES Awards celebrate young people from the North Harbour region of New Zealand who pursue and achieve excellence. Moses was a recipient of an award that night and Sol3 Mio were already a global sensation.

Packing more into his early years than many manage in a lifetime, Moses Mackay is a humble phenomenon. A promising sportsman who represented the Rosmini College 1st XV, and also North Harbour in Rugby, Athletics and Lawn Bowls, his dreams of wearing the Silver Fern were eventually cut short by injury. Sport's loss was the music world's gain, as Moses focussed his attention there, developing his impressive baritone, while studying and building on the foundations of a very music minded family. Working his way through the NZ Youth Choir, his acceptance into the NZ Opera Chorus in 2009 didn't give him the most auspicious debut. "My first opera was Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro in which I had the very prominent role of moving a chair... reluctantly with the help of David, a fellow chorus member." 

Moses is part of Sole Mio, NZ's opera phenomenon whose debut album spent an incredible 16 weeks at #1 and 8x Platinum status, with their second album x3 times platinum. Finding venues big enough to contain a constantly growing audience, and their completely natural, infectiously upbeat presence gets harder with each concert - 2015 saw them playing to over 40,000 Kiwis with every single show a surefire, fun- filled, sellout. They have been awarded the Pacific Music Album Tui Award twice and Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards Album Of The Year, Best Group and Highest selling NZ album, three years running.

In this episode we speak about: Giving back to make a positive difference in the world and to another. Giving things ago to find your awesomeness... your strong place in the world. Following curiosity to work out what you love doing . Communication... real authentic communication and why that's SOOO... important. Miracles . The power of a dream. The power of creating and... embracing opportunity.

Moses came into this interview in the middle of a huge schedule after a night of recording and helping another. Yet, he turned up with so much energy, so many gems

In fact when I created a series of highlights for this interview there was... nothing else left.

This ones full of gold so dream big, achieve more and enjoy the awesomeness!

*available as podcast through 'awesomeness with Cam Calkoen' on iTunes and Spotify

Raw and Real video footage available at https://www.nbr.co.nz/category/raw-and-real

Cam talks with Social Entrepreneur, Founder of Eat My Lunch Lisa King.

"Having a social purpose is no longer an emerging trend, it's becoming a requirement for every business. I believe that social enterprise will soon become part of the norm and mainstream economy" - Lisa King

I first came across the awesomeness of Lisa King through Eat my Lunch, I then had the privilege of meeting her in person at the North Harbour Club Business Hall of Fame awards in 2018. Lisa King is the founder of Eat My Lunch, one of NZ's most successful for-profit social enterprises on a mission to ensure no child goes to school hungry.

Lisa believes that business cannot just be about profits anymore and that business can (and should) bring about social change.

Using an innovative model, Eat My Lunch has shown you can do well and do good at the same time. Lisa took a leap of faith to go from corporate life to dreaming big and achieving more through the creation of Eat My Lunch.

Her commitment to change and sharing of her journey has inspired many to take their leap both through supporting the vision and believing in their own dreams. Eat my lunch is something we can see, we can eat, we can feel the benefit of so as you listen to this awesomeness keep your ideas near and dream big!

There's no wonder as to why Lisa has won so many awards and in demand as a speaker, quite simply she's genuine and makes awesome things happen for her team, young people, their families and communities around New Zealand. Lisa has merged her passion, skills, and insight to live for a purpose beyond herself.

What would it be like if you merged your passion, skills and insight? And then like Lisa shared the vision with others, to form a team, to make a contribution to this world. This world and our role within it is limitless when we see the bigger picture. So don't be scared of your expectations, be inspired by your purpose and do it.

*available as podcast through 'awesomeness with Cam Calkoen' on iTunes and Spotify

Raw and Real video footage available at https://www.nbr.co.nz/category/raw-and-real