Between Two Beers Podcast

Susan Hassall arrived at Hamilton Boys' High School in 1979 as a 22-year-old English teacher. She stayed for 46 years. In 1999, she became the first woman in New Zealand to be appointed headmaster of a boys' state school — a role she held for exactly 25 years.

In this conversation, Susan shares what she's learned about love, leadership, loss, and what it takes to raise good men. We talk about her mantra — "you can pretend to care, but you can't pretend to show up" — the Greek concept of aretē that became the school's cornerstone, why she believes vulnerability is the most important quality in a leader, and what people get wrong about teenage boys.

Susan also opens up about working through breast cancer without missing a day, losing her deputy Graeme Robinson to a heart attack in her office, the death of her husband James, and why the years immediately after school are the most critical for young men.

Whether you're a parent, a teacher, a coach, or just someone trying to figure out what matters most — this one's for you.

⚠️ This episode contains a discussion about suicide. If you or someone you know needs support, please reach out: Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 (available 24/7) Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or free text HELP to 4357 Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) Youthline: 0800 376 633 or free text 234

Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers. Check out their range at barkersonline.co.nz

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In this special episode of Accidental Business Owners, we welcome our first-ever guest to the show: actor, radio host, and entrepreneur Mike Minogue!

Two years ago, after appearing on the Between Two Beers podcast, Mike pitched us an idea that seemed too good to refuse: creating a corporate speaking bureau featuring our podcast guests. We launched B2B Speakers, and it was an immediate hit.

But today, we are announcing a "conscious uncoupling". In this honest conversation, we pull back the curtain on what happens when a side hustle grows faster than your capacity to manage it. We discuss why we are stepping away, how Mike is taking the reins, and the rebranding of the business to Frank Speakers.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Origin Story: How a late-night drive led Mike to pitch the B2B Speakers concept.
• The "Too Good" Problem: Why the rapid success of the business actually became its biggest stressor.
• Burnout & Capacity: Balancing a startup with radio shows, podcasts, and new babies.
• The Breakup: How to navigate a business exit without ruining a friendship.
• Frank Speakers: The future of the agency under the Frank Management umbrella.
• The Power of "Turning Up": Mike’s philosophy on consistency and why building trust takes 3–5 years.

Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers.

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Tim Brown is best known as the co-founder of Allbirds - the New Zealand-born footwear brand that became a global phenomenon.

But before Silicon Valley, before the IPO, and before building one of the world’s most recognisable sustainable fashion brands, Tim was an All White, representing New Zealand on the world stage.

At just 31 years old, still in his prime, he made a decision that shocked many: he walked away from professional football.

In this episode, we explore the mindset behind that choice - and how the lessons from elite sport shaped the foundations of Allbirds.

We talk about:

• Missing his moment at the World Cup
• Identity, ego, and high-performance environments
• Knowing when to leave the party early
• The pressure of building a global brand
• What success really feels like on the other side
• 
  

This is a conversation about ambition, discipline, perspective, and taking the long view — from the pitch to the boardroom.

Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers.

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In this episode of Hambassadors, we take you behind the scenes of a chaotic fortnight.

Steve confesses to messing up the opening line of the Halberg Awards and embarking on the world's longest, most stressful ad-lib in front of a live audience.

Seamus (a former goalkeeper) breaks down the "Phoenix Nightmare" - THAT viral own goal by Josh Oluwayemi - and explains why he wanted the ground to swallow him up just watching it.

Plus, we cover Steve’s obsession with his 94% sleep score, a $42 taxi ride that ruined the night, meeting Chris Wood’s dad, and the massive reaction to our episode with Dr. Lucy Hone.

Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers.

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Brad Thorn is one of the most unique champions New Zealand sport has ever produced.

A dual-code legend, Brad achieved what almost no one has - winning NRL premierships, World Cups, Super Rugby titles, and earning the right to wear the All Blacks jersey at the highest level.

But behind the trophies is an obsession with discipline, standards, and doing the work that others won’t. In this conversation, Brad reflects on the mindset that shaped his career - the moments that hardened him, the sacrifices required to chase the black jersey, and why he believes “champions do extra.”

We talk about walking away from millions to start again, the lessons he learned from the toughest environments in sport, and what it really takes to become a master of your craft. An unforgettable episode with one of the greats.

Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers.

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We’re kicking off 2026 with a big change! Di walks into the studio with a completely shaved head, addressing the "elephant in the room" immediately.

But this episode isn't just about the new look - it’s about looking forward. Di introduces the "10,000 Days" framework: the idea that at mid-life, we have roughly 10,000 days left to live. The question isn't just what your net worth will be when you're 80, but whether you had a "sh*t ton of fun" getting there.

We also get into a heated debate about "parenting scorecards" (do you really need data to know if you’re a present dad?).

In this episode, we cover:

• The Big Reveal: Why Di shaved her head and the "interesting assumptions" people make.
• The 10,000 Days Rule: A framework for reverse-engineering your life from age 80.
• The "Shit Ton of Fun" Metric: Why financial freedom means nothing if you're miserable achieving it.

Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers!

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This episode includes discussion of grief, loss, and mental health, which some listeners may find distressing.

Dr Lucy Hone is one of the world’s leading voices on grief, resilience, and how humans survive life’s hardest moments.

In this episode, Lucy shares the tools and insights she’s developed through her work in resilience psychology - and through personal tragedy, after losing her 12-year-old daughter Abby in a sudden accident.

We talk about why grief isn’t just about death, but about any unwanted change we’re forced to endure, why so many of us struggle with “grief literacy,” and how opening up honest conversations about loss can help people breathe again.

This episode is brought to you by TAB. Download the TAB app or visit http://tab.co.nz to get your bet on. R18. Bet responsibly.

Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers.

If you or someone you know needs support, help is available. In New Zealand, you can call or text 1737 anytime to speak with a trained counsellor. If you are in immediate danger, please call 111.

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In this episode of Hambassadors, things get way too honest. Steve finally confesses to his most embarrassing "new dad" moment involving a big night out and a change table, while Seamus opens up about separation anxiety.

Plus, we break down the absolute scenes from the Horgan Cup golf tournament, where Seamus managed to get New Zealand legends like Mark Ellis, Matthew Ridge, Patty Gower, and Ryan Fox to record personal roasting intros for the players.

We also go behind the scenes of the powerful Cameron George interview, discuss why Seamus ruined his sensory deprivation float tank experience, and tease this week's incredibly emotional episode with Dr. Lucy Hone.

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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This week on Between Two Beers, we sit down with Cameron George, the CEO of the New Zealand Warriors.

Cameron is one of the most influential figures in modern New Zealand sport - and in this conversation, he opens up like never before about the journey that shaped him, and the brutal years that nearly broke the club.

We dive deep into the Warriors’ extraordinary 1,038-day COVID exile, the personal toll it took on players, staff and families, and how that period ultimately forged the culture and resilience we see in the club today.

Cameron reflects on leadership under pressure, the people who carried the organisation through its darkest stretch, and what it takes to build belief inside an NRL club representing an entire country.

We also explore his upbringing in rural Australia, his unlikely path through horse racing and governance, his relationship with owner Mark Robinson, and why “people first” has always been at the centre of everything he does.

This episode is brought to you by TAB. Download the TAB app or visit Racing & Sports Betting Online in New Zealand | TAB to get your bet on. R18. Bet responsibly.

Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers.

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Te Radar is one of New Zealand’s most distinctive storytellers, but his career never followed a plan.

From anarchic comedy and improvisation to the runaway success of Off The Radar, this conversation explores how curiosity, chance, and saying “yes” shaped a life in television, documentary-making, and storytelling.

In this episode of Between Two Beers, Te Radar reflects on growing up curious, the moments that felt like a dream come true, why everyone has an interesting story, and what he believes truly separates New Zealand from the rest of the world.

It’s a thoughtful, funny, and a truly Kiwi conversation about serendipity, people, and not realising how lucky we are until we stop and look around.

This episode is brought to you by TAB. Download the TAB app or visit tab.co.nz to get your bet on. R18. Bet responsibly.

Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers.

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