Tall Poppy Talk

“I have struggled really, really badly at times, and I'm not someone to say you can't get upset. But in my scenario I have to have two sides two myself - I have to have the internal side I have at home where I might cry once in a while at something thats happened or something someone's said to me, but on the outside you have to remain strong in certain roles and in certain aspects” - Alex Stewart, founder and CEO of WombatNET Limited.

Recently turning 18 years old, Alex is already a certified innovator and entrepreneuer with a string of awards + accomplishments bolstering him. Named the 2021 Wellingtonian of the Year Youth and understandably so, at just 14 years old he founded the rural broadband solutions provider WombatNET, and after juggling school + business for a while he made the decision to leave school in order to fully focus his energy + time into the company. We discuss during this interview the many obstacles and challenges along his path, primarily not being taken seriously in the industry or being allowed to legally stand as director of his business due to age. Alex unpacks the experiences of navigating customer engagement, aquriring investors, building relationships + networking as a teenager with adults, and learning to deal with mental health struggles while sitting in the CEO seat.

What a pleasure this conversation was! Love to welcome this week’s guest to Tall Poppy Talk, listen to the full interview on Spotify, iHeart Radio, or Apple Podcasts.

#reels #entrepreneur #wellington #newzealand #aotearoa #tech #innovative #innovate #youngleaders #business #internet #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #tallpoppy

“Anything worth doing, you put your life at risk to a certain degree... ultimately I think, I will be successful and I'm driven by that ” - Deadria Farmer-Paellmann. With a long list of victories under her belt, Deadria is credited with popularizing the slavery reparations movement through her groundbreaking research exposing corporate complicity in slavery. Her work linked blue-chip corporations to the slave trade which led to payments of $20 million USD to the African American community. Deadria is a human rights advocacy lawyer, the founder and executive director of the Restitution Study Group, a writer, scholar and researcher. This week we have a slightly different episode that serves as an educational opportunity to gain insight and become informed of Deadria's work in slave trade reparations. Dominating our conversation is the Restitution Study Group's active lawsuit taking place against the Smithsonian, fighting to prevent the transfer of the Benin Bronzes from Washington DC to Nigeria. Deadria has experienced significant pushback, threats, barriers, and interference from large entities in her pursuit of reparations justice and we discuss how she continues to relentlessly move forward regardless. Very grateful to share Deadria's story as well as the Benin Bronzes journey.

Listen to the full interview on spotify, iHeart Radio, or Apple Podcasts.

Trigger warning, that there are subjects discussed within this interview regarding the slave trade, a Wall Street ancient burial ground, and how/why the Benin Bronzes are created which could be upsetting. Fast forward to 30' in if necessary.

#activism #rights #lawyer #history #reparations #restitution #restitutionstudygroup #america #mentalhealth #podcast #humanrights #newyork #beninbronzes #smithsonian #law #civilrights #government #slavetrade #tallpoppy #content #justice

“You've got the choice of the word - choose or have; you know, choose to go to work or have to go to work” - Marg Foster. Netball legend, coach, mentor, advocate, businesswoman, director, & ambassador. Within the sporting realm she has dominated - representing NZ in Netball, touch rugby, and athletics; she's been named Māori sportsperson twice; coached internationally and continued to work with the Silver Ferns as a specialist coach. Receiving the Insignia of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to sport in 2009. A mentor and founder of Inspiring Me Now; the director and founder of Motivationz; an ambassador for the Breast Cancer Foundation; a Mum, Wife, and friend to many. During this interview we discuss her many roles, her experiences with Tall Poppy growing up, and the skills shes developed to stay on top of her game while keeping an enthusatic passion for what she does. Love what you do, do what you love. Very grateful to welcome this week’s guest to Tall Poppy Talk, listen to the full interview on spotify, iHeart Radio, or Apple Podcasts.

#newzealand #netball #maori #māori #reels #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealth #podcast #sport #healthandwellness #youth #fitness #highperformance #breastcancerfoundation #coach #coaching #aotearoa #tallpoppy #content

“The healthier and the stronger I become, the more comfortable I am talking about those experiences. Because people recognize themselves in you” - Jacqui Mackley, Isagenix Executive. Jacqui's journey to embrace health and wellness began with a simple decision to priortize her health, over the past five years this lifestyle has evolved and now shes dedicated to sharing the wealth. She emphasizes how a strong foundation of mental & physical health is fundamental in order to be your best self to therefore help others. During this interview we delve into how someone can strengthen their foundation in a physical + mental; and most importantly, she authentically discusses how she deals with negative energy externally and internally. Awesome to welcome this week’s guest to Tall Poppy Talk, listen to the full interview on spotify, iHeart Radio, or Apple Podcasts.

#reels #healthandwellness #australia #newzealand #aotearoa #isagenix #isabody #isabody2022 #fitness #health #health #wellness #wellbeing #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #tallpoppy

“Tall Poppy Syndrome. Like keeping you humble, and it holds you back” - James Warrender, Artist and entrepreneur. His creative portfolio features work such as large paintings, to pattern-making, to his recent collaborative theatrical fashion show - Newlife. Based out of Wellington NZ, James is surrounded by like-minded people pursuing their passions. He anticipated and experienced doubts both internally & externally about striving for his dreams in the art world. During this interview he authentically shares with us all about his motivators, his struggles, and state of mind. What a pleasure this conversation was! Love to welcome this week’s guest to Tall Poppy Talk, listen to the full interview on Spotify, iHeart Radio, or Apple Podcasts.

#reels #art #wellington #newzealand #aotearoa #fashion #newlife #show #sector #artist #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #tallpoppy

"If I inspire our own people, to reconnect to our world and our culture... thats what its all about." - Tūranga Morgan-Edmonds. Where to begin? Tūranga is a skilled musician playing bass with Alien Weaponry - a three-piece Te Reo Māori metal band who this year have toured Europe + North America, they've opened for Guns N' Roses in NZ, and continued to soar in the industry. Tūranga has an enthusiastic personatlity with a calm, knowledgable nature and has subsequently exceled on social media platforms as a cultural content creator. He is an artist with his own site full of designs too. This was truly such an insightful & motivating conversation! Such an honor to welcome this week’s guest to Tall Poppy Talk, listen to the full interview on Spotify, iHeart Radio, or Apple Podcasts.

#alienweaponry #reels #musician #music #design #art #gunsn'roses #educational #culture #mentalhealth #tereo #māori #maori #podcast

"Its not your worry that is the problem; its your worry about the worry" - Rod Corban; high-performance sports psychologist. As a certified expert in the field, Rod navigates our conversation on mental health with basic explanations of what on earth our brain is up to when we feel + give judgement. We discuss the impact of social media and our own self-titled sense of identity, before delving into strategies for tackling the ever-growing pressure both internally & externally felt. Rod has spent decades working with elite athletes and sheds insight into their minds pre, post & during their careers. He is an elqouent, intelligent legend who shared his practical & theoretical knowledge on the mental health continmum in high-performance + everday life for all (not just sports people). An absolute pleasure to welcome this week's guest to Tall Poppy Talk, listen to the full interview on Spotify, iHeart Radio, or Apple Podcasts. #highperformance #sports #olympics #Paralympics #rowing #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #reels #podcast #tallpoppy

"We all know its a pretty tough sport, so when someone does something and hits a good routine, yeah I'm happy for them but I still want to beat them " - Dylan Schmidt World Champion & Olympic Bronze Medalist. There are many strings to his bow beyond Trampolining - as an Olympic ambassador, Celebrity Treasure Island Castaway, HIA athlete, Hunter, Student, and role model to many. This was a wicked interview that taught me a lot about developing a high-performance mindset in all areas of life. An absolute pleasure to welcome this week's guest to Tall Poppy Talk, listen to the full interview on Spotify, iHeart Radio, or Apple Podcasts. #trampolining #newzealand #highperformance #nzteam #gymnastics #olympics #worldchampion #celebritytreasureisland

"You [feel proud], like wow, the things that i've done have allowed me to get this medal" - Nikita Howarth, HNZM.

Nikita has represented New Zealand in both swimming and cycling. At 13 years old, Nikita became the youngest ever Paralympian NZ has sent to the games in 2012. She earned NZ a gold & bronze medal in Rio 2016, before being appointed into the NZ Order of Merit in the 2017 New Years Honours for her services to swimming. Nikita is a daughter, sister, and friend to many. Sharing her very personal story as well as her thoughts + feelings on tall poppy syndrome and its harmful impact. An absolute pleasure to welcome this week's guest to Tall Poppy Talk, listen to the full interview on Spotify, iHeart Radio, or Apple Podcasts.

"I had never come across a barrier like that, being told you couldn't play a sport because you were a girl."

Jade Coates is a rugby player representing Fijiana Drua, currently playing in Japan at Phoenix club, and has played in France & New Zealand. Growing up Jade was met with challenges as she tried to play the sport she loved - no women's teams. As an advocate for Women's Rugby Jade joined forces with fellow athletes and pioneered her high school's first women's team. She has gone on to coach and play - all with a huge smile on her face, and embraced every opportunity. Stepping up to the top-tier level, Jade has plenty to share about her journey and the brilliant team mates she's had the opportunity to play alongside. Jade talks honestly about her first experience learning what Tall Poppy Syndrome was and her thoughts on it. An absolute pleasure to welcome our FIRST GUEST to Tall Poppy Talk. Ngā mihi nui.