On Episode 27 of Stand Up Again with Sophie and Nick Rado, we talk with Kiwi ultra-runner Sophie Woods, who just completed the gruelling 2,000km Via Alpina across eight countries in under 28 days, setting a new fastest known time and becoming the fastest person to complete the route.

Behind that extraordinary achievement is a deeply personal journey. Sophie opens up about unsuccessful IVF, grieving her dream of becoming a mum, and learning to accept a life different from the one she had imagined. After falling out of love with running and feeling let down by her body, taking on an enormous new challenge helped Sophie rediscover what her body was capable of and find joy again.

Sophie shares what ultra-running has taught her about life’s inevitable highs and lows, doing the hard thing, and knowing that a bad hour doesn’t mean a bad day.

If you’re in a funk, ready to set a new goal or simply need some inspiration to get moving again, this episode is for you.

This is a Frank Podcast.

Images & Film by Zoe Salt:

@zoe_salt_photography

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Welcome back to Stand Up Again with Sophie and Nick Rado. On Episode 26, we talk with sex and relationship therapist Jo Robertson about sex, relationships, parenting and keeping our kids safe in an increasingly complicated online world.

Jo shares practical advice for tackling the “tricky chats” many parents struggle with, from pornography and consent to online safety and healthy relationships. She explains why keeping communication open with our children matters more than getting every conversation perfect.

Jo also takes us inside her new TVNZ+ documentary What Happened to Sex?, which explores the rise of rough and potentially harmful sexual behaviours among young people, the influence of pornography, and what parents can do to help create a healthier culture around sex, respect and relationships.

This is a Frank Podcast.

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When life pushed Ben Logan to breaking point, he discovered that the same skills needed to survive in the mountains could help him survive almost anything.

Former professional triathlete and Logan Performance founder Ben Logan joins Sophie and Nick to share a remarkable story of resilience, leadership and finding purpose through adversity.

After a childhood impacted by domestic violence, Ben found an escape in endurance sport, eventually becoming a professional triathlete. Today, he takes individuals and teams deep into the mountains around Wānaka, where helicopters, survival challenges, freezing conditions, remote backcountry and cold-water immersion become a training ground for resilience, leadership and performing under pressure.

Ben also shares the moment he had to stand up again. Within weeks, he faced a marriage separation, his mother’s declining health and the devastating loss of his brother. Faced with leading a major wilderness expedition just days later, Ben turned to the very tools he teaches others: vulnerability, preparation, teamwork and a clear sense of purpose.

It’s a powerful conversation about discovering what we’re capable of when life puts everything we’ve learned to the test.

This is a Frank Podcast.

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After the birth of her first child, Jacqlin Richards experienced severe postnatal depression and spent three months in hospital. Today, she’s a parenting expert and international number-one bestselling author.

Jacqlin joins Sophie and Nick for a funny, candid conversation about what happened in between, from confronting her own childhood experiences and becoming a self-confessed “shouty mum”, to learning how to break old patterns and parent differently.

She shares practical tools for those moments when parenting goes spectacularly off-script, including the art of repair, her Rewind Tool and the memorable reminder: “If you’re hysterical, it’s historical.”

Above all, Jacqlin explains why good parenting isn’t about being perfect. It’s about what you do after you get it wrong.

This is a Frank Podcast.

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What does it take to survive 34 years at The Rock?

Roger Farrelly joins Sophie and Nick on Stand Up Again podcast to talk 4:30am alarms, radio disasters, Dancing with the Stars, staying relevant and somehow still enjoying the job after more than three decades.

Roger Farrelly has spent 34 years at The Rock and 32 of them doing breakfast radio, which is either an incredible career achievement or a spectacular commitment to not sleeping in.

Roger joins Sophie and Nick to look back at a career that began with midnight shifts at 17 and grew alongside The Rock. He talks about learning from bad ratings, reinventing the show, surviving endless 4:30am alarms and the “Harbour Bridge anxiety” that can still kick in on the drive to work.

There’s also oversharing his family life for radio content, the importance of great teammates, and saying yes to Dancing with the Stars, despite describing it as the most nerve-racking thing he’s ever done.

Funny, candid and refreshingly self-deprecating, Roger shares what he’s learned about longevity, resilience.

This is a Frank Podcast.

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Trigger warning: This episode contains discussions of childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence, and suicide.

Dean Clarkson’s story is an extraordinary example of turning adversity into purpose.

After experiencing sexual abuse as a child, Dean later spent two decades as a victim of domestic violence within his marriage. At his lowest point, he attempted to take his own life. But what followed is a remarkable story of rebuilding, healing and ultimately using his experiences to help others.

Today, Dean is the founder of Wana, Aotearoa New Zealand’s first refuge specifically for male victims of family violence and their children, creating the kind of support he once desperately needed himself.

Dean talks with Sophie and Nick about breaking cycles, redefining what it means to “man up,” and finding purpose after trauma. He also shares the life he has built today, including his loving, healthy relationship with wife Jenny-May Clarkson, and what it has taught him about love, safety and connection.

A powerful story of turning adversity into service and what it truly means to Stand Up Again.

This is a Frank Podcast.

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Executive leader, keynote speaker and Lifeline ambassador Mary Haddock-Staniland shares her extraordinary story of resilience, identity and belonging.

Growing up in Matamata, Mary faced bullying and the challenge of understanding who she was at a time when conversations around gender identity were far less visible. She shares her journey to becoming her authentic self, the people who quietly helped her along the way, reconnecting with her Māori heritage, and learning that she was always enough.

Mary also shares how Lifeline supported her through some of her darkest moments and why she is now so passionate about giving back.

From an unexpected first date with her husband, to commanding stages around the world, Mary’s story is ultimately about standing in your truth, demanding respect and creating spaces where everyone feels they belong.

A candid, funny and deeply moving conversation about resilience, authenticity and learning to stand up again.

This is a Frank Podcast.

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Clinical nutritionist, mother of four and founder of Odi Nutrition, Gina Urlich joins Stand Up Again for an honest and powerful conversation about health, resilience, stress and the lessons that can come from facing our own mortality.

Gina shares the deeply personal story of her diagnosis, undergoing gruelling treatment and major surgery, and the moment she realised that being healthy and doing “all the right things” did not make her immune to illness. She opens up about the impact of stress on the nervous system, learning to slow down, balancing Western and holistic approaches to health, and finding her way back to everyday life.

She also shares a message every parent needs to hear, we are all doing the best we can with what we know.

A moving conversation about hope, health and giving yourself permission to rest.

This is a Frank Podcast.

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What does it really take to succeed at the highest level of sport, and what happens when your greatest opponent is your own mind?

Former professional footballer Paul Ifill joins Stand Up Again for a candid conversation about the pressures of elite sport, the mindset behind high performance, and the challenges that followed life on and off the pitch.

Paul opens up about overcoming a gambling addiction, navigating career-ending injury, battling self-doubt and learning to rebuild his identity beyond football.

With honesty, humour and hard-earned wisdom, Paul shares the lessons that transformed his life, from mastering his inner critic to embracing vulnerability.

This powerful episode explores resilience, mental wellbeing and the courage to confront the habits that hold us back, reminding us that our greatest victories often happen long after the final whistle.

This is a Frank Podcast.

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Born with cerebral palsy and told his greatest challenges would be walking and talking, Cam Calkoen has gone on to inspire audiences around the world as an internationally renowned motivational speaker.

In this inspiring episode of Stand Up Again, Cam shares what it was like growing up with cerebral palsy, navigating the challenges of school life, and the mindset that helped him turn adversity into opportunity.

He reflects on the unwavering support of his parents, the resilience that shaped his biggest life transitions, and why your environment can influence your future.

Cam also reveals how embracing challenge led him to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, proving that possibility often begins with perspective.

This is a Frank Podcast.

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