Tall Poppy Talk

"Vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness" - Megg Alexander, Actress & Creative.

Megg, a rising New Zealand actress, shares her journey in the acting industry, discussing the realities of her profession, the challenges of accent training, and her personal growth. Get ready for a fun-filled, motivating, and (exclusive) first-ever podcast interview.

Megg reflects on the misconceptions surrounding acting, the importance of preparation, and the impact of tall poppy syndrome on self-perception. Emphasizing the significance of a supportive environment and the hard work that goes into her craft, ultimately celebrating her achievements and newfound confidence. We dive into negative experiences with online harassment and the resilience needed to navigate fame, particularly as a young woman in the industry. We also reflect on the unique aspects of being a New Zealand actor and the hard work that underpins success in the entertainment world.

Take home message: Lukewarm is no good, be fierce and bold in your pursuits.

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

#actress #actor #shortlandstreet #creative #act #music #podcast #iheartradio #confidence #mentalperformance #tallpoppytalk #mentalhealthmatters #quote #newzealand #art

"I was just born for music" - Cyril Riley.

Re-release from one year ago, as Cyril Riley's "Stumblin' In" was transforming his life. Flash forward, and what Cyril has accomplished in this past year is motivating, exciting, and indicative to his character. Thank you Cyril.

Take home message: Enjoy the pursuit and have faith in yourself, your time will come if you stick at it.

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

#cyril #riley #cyrilriley #remix #edm #music #podcast #iheartradio #confidence #mentalperformance #tallpoppytalk #mentalhealthmatters #quote

"Do not apologize for your Ambition" - Angelique Richardson, leading UK Sports Lawyer.

Ange joins TPT for a super relevant discussion around athlete identity. We talk about her journey in sports law, the complexities of representing athletes, and the importance of reputation management.

We discuss the misconceptions surrounding high-profile athletes, the significance of understanding athlete rights, and the necessity of long-term planning for athletes' careers beyond sports. Ange shares insights on the challenges athletes face in navigating contracts and the importance of having qualified legal advice. Our convo highlights the human side of athletes and the pressures they endure, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to their careers.

Lets explore the multifaceted world of sports law, athlete welfare, and personal branding.

Ange shares her insights on balancing client needs with her own identity, the phenomenon of tall poppy syndrome in male-dominated industries, and the emotional rollercoaster that athletes experience during fight night.

Take home message: There is a massive need for athletes to protect their value early in their careers.

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

#sports #law #lawyer #podcast #iheartradio #confidence #mentalperformance #tallpoppytalk #mentalhealthmatters #quote

After some time away, I am BACK with a purpose and passion. Remembering WHY I wanted to start the Tall Poppy Talk podcast in the first place, and how this has evolved in the past 2.5 years, has been a beautiful exercise... so, Kia ora & welcome back to my weekly podcast episodes!!

THANK YOU!!

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

"Say yes to opportunities that scare you" - David Pangilinan, Senior Manager of Market & Cultural Intelligence at Paramount, aka @DavidIsHereNow.

David Pangilinan, blesses the podcast in this episode to share insights on cultural intelligence, the importance of personality in the workplace, and how his Filipino-American background influences his storytelling. Our conversation highlights the significance of understanding diverse cultural backgrounds and the role they play in shaping narratives (and consumer behaviour!).

David discusses the evolving nature of cultural trends and their impact on marketing strategies, emphasizing the need for brands to authentically engage with their audiences. In this engaging kōrero, we explore the themes of authenticity in content creation, the balance between passion and trends, and the importance of recognizing burnout.

Of course we discuss the concept of Tall Poppy Syndrome, the significance of surrounding oneself with the right people, and the power of intentional living and gratitude. David shares his personal experiences with saying yes to opportunities and how it has led to unexpected successes, emphasizing that life is not a competition but a journey of personal growth.

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

#culture #paramount #business #influencer #marketing #podcast #iheartradio #celebrate #confidence #learning #newzealand #aotearoa #mentalperformance #tallpoppytalk #mentalhealthmatters #quote #intelligence #trends

"Just because you have the ability to do something, that doesn't mean it's going to happen. Because sometimes you have the capacity and sometimes you don't. We're not robots, we're humans with emotions and things happen" - Hannah Heideveld.

In this episode of Tall Poppy Talk, elite athlete Hannah Heideveld discuss the critical intersection of mental health and performance in elite sports, particularly focusing on rowing. We explore Hannah's personal experiences with low energy availability, the importance of mental well-being for athletes, and the physiological and psychological factors that contribute to performance.

We delve into the challenges of overtraining, the significance of nutrition, and the necessity of taking breaks for mental health. Hannah shares her journey, insights from her capstone project on mental health in female endurance athletes, and the impact of these factors on her training and performance. Hannah shares her experiences as a rower, discussing the emotional highs and lows of competing at the Olympic Trials, the importance of camaraderie, and the technical challenges of rowing in pairs.

Hannah details the concept of low energy availability in athletes, the impact of social media on body image, and the necessity of resilience in high-performance sports. The discussion also touches on imposter syndrome, highlighting how even successful athletes can struggle with feelings of inadequacy.

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

#rower #athlete #lowenergy #womenssport #sport #podcast #iheartradio #2025 #celebrate #confidence #learning #newzealand #aotearoa #mentalperformance #tallpoppytalk #mentalhealthmatters #quote #fyp #dutch #endurance #women

"If you think about it mathematically, if I celebrate your success and you celebrate someone else's success and somebody else celebrates my success, we all get celebrated and we don't have to boast anymore. So we can actually takethe boasting, bragging, all of that stuff off the table." - Glenda Mitchell, author & motivational coach.

In this kōrero, motivational coach Glenda Mitchell shares her insights on living with intention and passion. She discusses her book 'Kicking Out the Bucket List' and emphasizes the importance of taking action rather than just dreaming.

Glenda explores the concepts of passion, discipline, and the challenges of tall poppy syndrome, offering practical advice for reconnecting with one's passion and navigating life's disruptions. Our conversation highlights the significance of celebrating others' successes and finding supportive communities to foster personal growth.

My favourite part? When we talk about disrupting life in order to make changes, either you can make the disruption or life will give it to you.

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

#coach #author #success #thought #leadership #podcast #iheartradio #2025 #celebrate #confidence #learning #newzealand #aotearoa #mentalperformance #tallpoppytalk #mentalhealthmatters #quote #fyp #australia #passion #intention

"Be okay with failing. Don't dwell on the failures. So when you fail, just have a little cry and then, you know, half an hour later, get back up and try again or try something new because if you do dwell you're not only going to waste time but you're probably not going to be resilient enough to keep going if the little things are getting you down" - Georgia Patten, Founder & CEO of Bored.George & ZM Podcaster.

Join me for an inspiring chat with Georgia Patten, the founder and CEO of Bored.George, a luxury sunglasses brand all about celebrating self-expression and originality. We dive into Georgia’s entrepreneurial journey, unpacking the highs and challenges of blending personal identity with business and tackling the impact of tall poppy syndrome.

Georgia shares her thoughts on how a bit of naivety can be an entrepreneur’s secret weapon, the evolution of her personal brand, and her leap into podcasting with Board to Boss as part of the ZM podcast network on iHeart Radio. We also explore the emotional rollercoaster of running a business, the power of a supportive team, and the joy of connecting through storytelling.

Georgia also reflects on her podcasting experience—nailing interviews, learning from her first season, and the importance of relatable business stories. Plus, she shares her take on high performance and the personal connection music brings to both life and business. This conversation is packed with heartfelt advice and inspiration for entrepreneurs and their cheer squads alike!

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

#business #entrepreneur #success #leadership #brand #sunglasses #luxury #designer #podcast #zm #iheartradio #2025 #celebrate #confidence #learning #newzealand #aotearoa #mentalperformance #tallpoppytalk #mentalhealthmatters #quote #fyp #2025

"You have to put yourself first, not because you matter more but because you're not doing anyone justice when you show up at 60%"

Kicking off Season FIVE of Tall Poppy Talk. Join me for a solo-episode, where I reflect on 2024 with a mindset of recognizing all the good things & deciding what habits are best left behind. Spoiler, it's time for me to SLOW DOWN so I can be more intentional, impactful, & overall just enjoy the process more.

Happy 2025, thank you for listening!! Please reach out via Instagram, email, or whatever platform you prefer to share your thoughts/feelings on the episode!

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

#podcast #2025 #celebrate #confidence #learning #newzealand #aotearoa #mentalperformance #tallpoppytalk #mentalhealthmatters #quote #fyp #2025

"My answer is always Yes" - Rachel Lancaster, Mural Artist + Content Creator.

Rachel is a self-taught artist from Canada, who joins Tall Poppy Talk today to share her journey from a casual painter to a full-time mural artist. She discusses the misconceptions people have about her work, her unique process of creating murals, and the evolution of her art style over the years. We delves into her experiences with social media, the challenges of maintaining an online presence, and how her viral content has impacted her career.

During our kōrero we also explore themes of imposter syndrome and the importance of embracing one's artistic style. Rachel shares her experiences with self-doubt and how she navigates the challenges of being a public figure in the art world. Overall we hope to highlight the value of creativity, resilience, and the excitement of future possibilities in Rachel's artistic career.

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

#artist #mural #muralist #canada #selftaught #art #skill #impostersyndrome #rachellancaster #newzealand #aotearoa #podcast #mentalperformance #tallpoppytalk #mentalhealthmatters #quote #fyp