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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brent Impey has shaped two of New Zealand’s most powerful industries - rugby and media.

From negotiating a $777 million MediaWorks deal to steering NZ Rugby through the Silver Lake saga, Brent’s career has been defined by high-stakes leadership, big personalities, and even bigger decisions.

In this wide-ranging conversation, he opens up about:

• How he saved NZ Rugby from financial collapse during Covid
• The inside story behind the Silver Lake deal
• Climbing from a small-town lawyer to CEO of MediaWorks
• The challenges of modern media, and why TV is a “sunset industry”
• What makes a great CEO and Chairman
• His battle with cancer, views on retirement, and what still drives him today

Brent’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and ruthless honesty — a masterclass in leadership from the man who’s been at the centre of NZ’s most controversial boardrooms.

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 Accidental Business Owners, Steve shares his experience from the Icehouse Owner Manager Programme — what he learned about leadership, the brutal honesty of 360 feedback, and how it’s changing the way he runs Between Two Beers.

Di and Steve unpack courage, confidence, and what it means to grow a creative business sustainably — without burning out or losing the magic.

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.

This week we’re re-sharing one of our favourite episodes ever, with Hayley Holt.

Hayley has lived an incredible life – and there’s so much to learn at each chapter. One of NZ’s highest profile broadcasters is on the podcast this week! We find out what young Hayley was like, the path from dancer to snowboarder, her difficult relationship with booze, her TV career and her challenging road to motherhood. …

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

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.

Go behind the scenes of the Stan Walker episode and inside the madness of a typical Hambassadors recording.

This week, Steve and Che share:

- What happened after Stan Walker’s interview (when he started singing in the studio!)

- A night at the rugby packed with familiar faces (Taika, Foxy, Sharyn Casey, Brodie Kane & more)

- Bree Tomasel’s wisdom on making decisions and starting messy

- A few new “Hambassadors” life hacks and off-camera laughs

If you love the Between Two Beers deep dives, you’ll love this honest, chaotic, and funny peek behind the curtain.

Hambassadors proudly brought to you by Stark.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 household
• How trauma and family shaped his outlook on life
• The truth behind public rumours and industry pressures
• His stomach cancer journey and living without a stomach
• Reclaiming identity through te ao Māori and indigenous connection
• Why he values legacy, purpose, and family over fame

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.

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 partners
• The chaos of cashflow
• How to avoid the “too hard basket” trap in business

And 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 Brown
• Building Depot into one of NZ’s most iconic restaurants
• His drive for perfectionism — and the toll it’s taken
• Friendship, family, and what happiness looks like at 60
• Why fritters, pies and bagels matter in our Kiwi food story

This 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.