Russell Packer has lived one of the wildest arcs in rugby league - from a teenage prop playing men’s footy in Levin, to 100+ NRL games, prison, the threat of deportation, an MBA from one of the world’s top business schools, and a completely different life after footy.

Russell opens up about the parts of his story most people don’t see - the demons, the damage, the work, and the daily battle to be better for his partner Lara and their kids.

We talk:

•⁠ ⁠Discovering Wim Hof, ice baths and chasing healthy extremes

•⁠ ⁠Growing up in Foxton, playing men’s league at 14 and life lessons from Levin Lions

•⁠ ⁠The Sydney assault: what actually happened, the court case and media narrative

•⁠ ⁠A year in jail, isolation, anger, acceptance and the moment his daughter broke him

•⁠ ⁠Rebuilding his life and career after prison

•⁠ ⁠Nearly being deported from Australia and what that meant for his family

•⁠ ⁠Studying business, getting into AGSM and graduating with an MBA

•⁠ ⁠Moving into business: subdivisions, fencing and learning by failing

•⁠ ⁠Curiosity, reading, and a lifelong thirst for knowledge

•⁠ ⁠Raising an autistic son and becoming more empathetic and less judgmental

This episode is brought to you by the TAB. Got a hunch? Download the new app today and get your bet on.

Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers.

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In this episode of Hambassadors brought to you by Stark, Che lifts the lid on his surprise wedding - a secret ceremony disguised as a casual party. Some guests arrived late, one turned up straight from the golf course, and others missed the memo entirely. No suits. No first dance. Just speeches, chinos, and a whole lot of love.

Elsewhere, Steve confesses to flooding a Queenstown hotel room with a poorly timed bath, we break down insights from a $36k leadership course, and uncover Steve’s true introverted nature.

There’s also fashion tips from the Barkers wardrobe upgrade and a voice note from Sharyn Casey that sparked a deeper chat about discipline and identity.

Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers and this episode is brought to you by the TAB. Got a hunch? Download the new app today and get your bet on.

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Geoff Ross built one of New Zealand’s most iconic global brands - 42Below Vodka - then walked away at the top. Today, he’s leading a different kind of revolution: carbon-positive farming.

From selling vodka to the world, to Trilogy Skincare, Ecoya, Moa, and pioneering sustainable agriculture at Lake Hawea Station, Geoff’s career spans some of New Zealand’s most successful and forward-thinking ventures. In this conversation, he opens up on:

• The backlash from Country Calendar’s most-watched and how he handled it
• Building brands like 42Below, Trilogy and more
• The mission to make NZ farming climate positive
• His partnership with wife Justine and their family journey

Whether you're interested in entrepreneurship, branding, sustainability or just great storytelling - this episode delivers.

Watch through to the end for reflections on leadership, vision, and why Geoff believes New Zealand’s best days are still ahead.

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We started 2025 with a list of big goals… and quickly realised most of them were useless.

In this episode, we break down why traditional goal-setting failed us, what happened when we focused on just two things, and how clarity, resilience, and self-awareness changed everything.

We also talk about:

– The importance of risk profiles & ambition

– What “being in the arena” really looks like

– Growth vs. parenting, balance, and burnout

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.

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Three years since our first episode, Ryan Fox returns to the podcast - and a lot has changed over that period.

Fox has been on an incredible run, but it didn’t all come easy - and behind the scenes there were serious challenges for his family.

The perspective that came from loss, and the fine line between professional success and personal struggle, he shares what it really takes to compete on the PGA Tour, the process of rebuilding after injury, and how becoming a father has changed the way he sees the game and himself.

The episode also explores the mindset work that helped Fox stay grounded through chaos, his growing friendship with Rory McIlroy, and the remarkable rise of his own event, Chasing The Fox. Across two hours, he opens up about the lessons, the pressure, and the people who helped him through it all - including his father, Grant Fox, whose reflections bring the conversation full circle.

This is an honest, personal look at one of New Zealand’s most successful athletes - a conversation about golf, resilience and what really matters when the cameras are off.

This episode is brought to you by the TAB. Got a hunch? Download the new app today and get your bet on.

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Six years, hundreds of conversations, and one dodgy Six years, hundreds of conversations, and one dodgy Blue Yeti Microphone later - we’re celebrating Between Two Beers’ 6th birthday with a special Hambassadors episode!

Steve and Che look back on the journey from a garage in Glenview to a full-time gig - revisiting the moments that shaped the show, from Eric Murray’s “BDE” to Ryan Fox’s office golf, tears with Jason Gunn, and the episode that changed how they saw storytelling forever.

They also chat about the realities of building a podcast from scratch, near-quit moments, first sponsors, crying on mic, and the people who’ve stuck around since day one.

If you’ve ever wondered how Between Two Beers came to be - this one’s for you.

Also the guys are hosting the BetterMan's Quiz and Some Other Shizz 2025 at Eden Park on Friday November the 28th.

What is Quiz and Some Other Shizz, you ask? And who are BetterMan?

Quiz and Some Other Shizz, according to BetterMan, is "Like a regular quiz but on steroids. Not literally, of course." No, think stag do levels of fun with a bunch of games and a bit of banter and competition.

We'll run the quiz and have a yarn at some stage and help raise some funds for charity.

Now, who are BetterMan?

Founded in July 2023, BetterMan is the brainchild of former athletes' Ged Robinson (rugby for the Crusaders, Highlanders, Hurricanes, Rebels), Todd Astle (cricket for Canterbury, Black Caps) and Todd’s brother Ryan Astle (football for the under-7 Hokowhitu Zodiacs).

They take the best bits of team sport, combine it with positive psychology principles and run events and talks to help Kiwi guys become better versions of themselves.

So, wrangle your mates, hit up your workplaces (this is a great option for an end of year Christmas party) and grab yourself a ticket.

Note, the event is open to men and women.

The event is being brought together with the help of Loffty (https://www.loffty.com/), who are an online mental health assessment platform.

For more details and tickets head here:

https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2025/betterman-presents-quiz-some-other-shizz-2025/auckland/kingsland

Hambassadors is brought to you by Stark

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An absolute honour to spend an hour with the great Bill Bailey

In this wide-ranging conversation, Bill opens up about friendship, grief, family, creativity, and what really matters after a lifetime on stage. It’s honest, warm, and full of the humour and curiosity that make him one of the world’s most loved comedians.

This episode is brought to you by the TAB. Got a hunch? Download the new app today and get your bet on.

In this episode we cover:

• His friendship with the late Sean Lock and the lessons he left behind

• His relationship with his 93-year-old father and the wisdom passed down through generations

• What success and happiness look like today

• A lifetime of creativity, music and curiosity

• Why walking, conversation and nature are essential for mental well-being

Bill also talks about his upcoming NZ tour.

Tour Dates:

Monday, November 3rd, 2025 – Opera House, Oamaru

Tuesday, November 4th, 2025 – Wolfbrook Arena, Christchurch

Thursday, November 6th, 2025 – Trafalgar Centre, Nelson

Saturday, November 8th, 2025 – Toitoi Events Centre, Hawke’s Bay

Tuesday, November 11th, 2025 – Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington

Friday, November 14th, 2025 – The Civic, Auckland

Monday, November 17th, 2025 – Regent on Broadway, Palmerston North

Wednesday, November 19th, 2025 – TSB Stadium, New Plymouth

Friday, November 21st, 2025 – Sir Howard Morrison Theatre, Rotorua

Sunday, November 23rd, 2025 – Globox Arena, Hamilton

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In this episode of Accidental Business Owners, Che and Di sit down for an honest, vulnerable chat about weight loss, self-discipline, and self-acceptance - and how those themes spill into every part of life and business.

From the pressure of public goals to the quiet guilt of slipping habits, this is a conversation about more than just food or fitness. It’s about control, compassion, and finding balance when life feels full.

Che opens up about how his weight loss journey has evolved - from external targets to internal growth - while Di reflects on learning to listen to her body, slow down, and let go of perfection.

Whether you’ve struggled with body image, burnout, or balance, this one will hit close to home.

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.

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Sam Spratt is one of New Zealand’s most successful and fearless jockeys.

In this episode, Sam opens up about the brutal reality of life in the saddle — the crashes, the comebacks, and the constant risk that comes with chasing victory. She talks about her remarkable two-decade career at the top of NZ racing, the brain injury that nearly ended it all, and the mental fight to return to the sport she loves.

We also dive into her journey as a new mum at 40, the weird fitness required to be a jockey, how prize money actually works, and what it’s really like competing against your friends every weekend.

It’s an honest, raw, and inspiring look at resilience, motherhood, and the wild world of New Zealand racing — from one of its true trailblazers.

This episode is brought to you by the TAB. Got a hunch? Download the new app today and get your bet on.

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In this episode of Hambassadors, Che and Steven take you behind the scenes of Between Two Beers – but things don’t quite go to plan.

We take you behind the scenes of a full-blown geography controversy when Che proudly welcomes a crowd in Ōtorohanga to “Waikato”. The silence that followed said it all.

Along the way, the guys talk through:

• Bruce Holloway’s emotional recognition at the WaiBOP Football Awards
• The “King Country incident” and what they learned from it
• Five favourite Rules for the Modern Gentleman, inspired by GQ
• Honest feedback, awkward moments, and lessons from leadership
• Buying houses, book clubs, bets and behind-the-scenes chaos

Hambassadors is the Between Two Beers spin-off that gives you the real stories behind the mics – candid, funny, and occasionally uncomfortable.

Hambassadors proudly brought to you by Stark.

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