The Boggcast NZ

Michael Woud is a professional footballer, Auckland FC goalkeeper and All Whites representative who has gone from chasing his football dreams as a young Kiwi to winning the A-League Championship and representing New Zealand at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In this podcast, we talked about:

• Growing up in Auckland and discovering his love for football at school

• How his dad inspired his football journey, and navigating the grief of losing him as a teenager

• Signing with English club Sunderland and experiencing the football culture over there

• His mindset as a goalkeeper, and adapting to different teams and playing styles

• The story behind signing with Auckland FC

• Making history by winning the A-League Championship in Auckland FC's second season

• The incredible moment he received the call-up to represent New Zealand at the FIFA World Cup

• Handling criticism, pressure and the expectations that come with professional sport

• His ambitions for the future, and what he still hopes to achieve in football

This episode was full of gold! From the highs of professional football to the personal challenges that have shaped him, Michael shares some incredible stories and insights from his journey so far.

Available now on all podcasting platforms and YouTube! 🎙️⚽

Brooke Thompson is a Kiwi electrician, content creator, and the woman behind Sparky Girl NZ. From challenging stereotypes in the trades to advocating for young apprentices and sharing her story online, Brooke is passionate about making a difference, inspiring others, and bringing a bit of positivity wherever she goes.

In this podcast, we talked about:

• What it's really like being a woman working in the trades industry

• What inspired Brooke to become a sparky and how her journey began

• Her personal journey with mental health, overcoming some tough seasons, and what helped her through

• The power of optimism and why she makes a conscious effort to approach life with positivity

• Her involvement with political parties, including The Opportunities Party (TOP) and the Greens, and her advocacy for policies supporting apprentices across New Zealand

• Growing up down south and what makes home so special to her

• Her passion for nature, conservation, and her work with the Department of Conservation (DOC)

• How she started Sparky Girl NZ on social media and the journey that followed

This episode is absolute gold! Brooke brings plenty of laughs, honesty, and some genuinely inspiring perspectives to the conversation.

Available now on all podcasting platforms, as well as YouTube! 🎙️

Manaaki Hoepo is a Kiwi content creator, entertainer, and social media personality who has built a loyal following through his hilarious videos, infectious personality, and unapologetically authentic approach to life. Proud of his Māori roots and never afraid to have a laugh, Manaaki has become a familiar face across social media, and more recently, on The Traitors Australia.

In this podcast, we talked about:

• Growing up in rural New Zealand and the culture shock of moving to bigger cities

• His time at Otago University, including some hilarious stories about student life and the party culture

• Why he decided to make the move to Australia, and what he missed most about home

• His connection to his Māori culture and why representing his heritage is so important to him

• His approach to content creation, navigating social media, and staying true to himself

• Getting to know the other side of Manaaki when the cameras are off

• His friendship with bestie Lexie

• How he handles online criticism and the challenges that come with having a public profile

• Why he's passionate about sharing his story and experiences with others

• His recent experience on The Traitors Australia and what it was like playing as a Faithful

• And, of course, settling the important debate of where to find the best pies in New Zealand!

Manaaki is an absolute character, and this conversation was full of laughs, great stories, and some genuine gold along the way. Such a fun episode, and one you won't want to miss!

Available now on all major podcast platforms and YouTube!

Pia Bacino is a New Zealand-based photographer who has built an impressive brand through her world-class work, specialising in everything from weddings to a wide range of creative shoots. But there's much more to Pia than photography! She's also a pilot, entrepreneur, and four-time national Taekwondo champion.

In this podcast, we talked about:

• How she got into the wedding photography industry and developed her own unique style

• The importance of building relationships with her clients, and how she decides which events to photograph

• Her reaction to some of her photos going viral

• Her experiences working with Vanity Fair and Vogue

• The art of capturing a great photograph

• Her battle with a rare illness, and how she managed to bounce back

• Her experiences competing in Taekwondo

• And plenty of laughs along the way!

This podcast was so much fun, and Pia has some absolute gold to share from her journey. Make sure you check out this episode, available now on all major podcast platforms and YouTube!

Samantha Richards is a primary school teacher, content creator and former contestant on The Traitors NZ, who has built an online community by sharing an honest, funny and inspiring look into life inside the classroom.

In this podcast we talked about:

• Her passion for teaching, and what first drew her into the profession

• The biggest lessons she has learnt throughout her teaching career, and why she can see herself doing it for a long time

• The joy of being a big sister to her brother Nick, and what he has taught her about life

• What we can all learn about embracing our differences and celebrating what makes people unique

• Experiencing burnout, how she worked her way through that season, and the importance of finding balance

• How her social media and TikTok following exploded during COVID, and why her content has inspired others to pursue teaching

• The realities of sharing your life and career online

• Her recent experience competing on The Traitors NZ, and what it was like being such a formidable Faithful inside the castle

A really fun and wholesome conversation about teaching, purpose, family, burnout, social media and learning to embrace what makes each of us different.

Ido Drent is an actor, father, property developer and entrepreneur whose journey has taken him from success on screen to discovering that some of the most meaningful things in life are often the simplest.

In this podcast we talked about:

• His experiences in the acting industry and the realities that come with working in that world

• Reaching a stage in his life where he felt like he had nothing, and how that experience completely reshaped his perspective on what is truly important

• The joys, challenges and lessons he has learnt since becoming a father

• His passion for property development and giving back to the community through Elaman Property

• The beauty of living a simple life

• Why fame and success will never truly satisfy you

• What he has learnt about building a healthy and positive work culture

This episode is absolute gold — an honest and refreshing conversation about success, family, purpose and what really matters in life.

Available now on all podcasting platforms, as well as YouTube.

Aaron Fleming is a New Zealand endurance athlete, IRONMAN competitor, conservationist, and recent contestant on The Traitors NZ. His story is one of resilience, adventure and refusing to let setbacks define what is possible.

In this podcast we talked about:

• His journey into Ironman, including the incredible highs and lows along the way
• Recovering from a spontaneous pneumothorax as a teenager, and how being told by a doctor, “You’ll never be able to physically exert yourself ever again,” became fuel for what came next
• The incredible experience of being an Olympic Torch Bearer for the 2008 Beijing Olympics
• His passion for nature and the work he does with the Department of Conservation here in New Zealand
• His recent experience competing on The Traitors NZ as a Faithful
• His mindset and approach to training, overcoming challenges, and life in general

Robyn Woods is a paramedic and a Pilates instructor and co-owner with REFORM Fitness Takapuna/Birkenhead.

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In this podcast we talked about:

• The journey of moving from South Africa to New Zealand

• The ins and outs of life working as a paramedic

• How important empathy is when working with patients 

• How she got into Pilates and what the hype is all about

• Going from Pilates instructor to business owner 

• Being upfront as a coach to get the best out of your clients

• Her future business dreams

Tune in to this episode wherever you get your podcasts. We’re on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeartRadio.

Jacob Bindon is a Kiwi clothing designer and the founder of Shaggy, an independent New Zealand clothing brand built around bold design, creativity, and doing things a little differently. What started as Jacob pursuing his passion for graphic design has grown into a recognisable brand, a physical store, and a business he now runs alongside his wife, Anna.

In this podcast, we talked about:

• His journey in starting the Shaggy brand

• How Shaggy has evolved over time

• The highs and lows of running a business, and how he got through the moments where he wanted to give it all up

• Starting a physical store and his vision for where it could go moving forward

• His journey with graphic design

• The feeling of seeing complete strangers wearing his products in public

• The team effort of running the business alongside his wife, Anna

• What he wishes he knew when he first started out

This episode is absolute gold, especially for anyone interested in creativity, clothing, entrepreneurship, or what it actually takes to build something from the ground up.

Available now on all podcasting platforms, as well as YouTube.

Vince “Vinnie” Lia is a former professional footballer who played more than 200 A-League games across spells with Melbourne Victory, Wellington Phoenix, and Adelaide United. He also represented Australia at age-group level, playing at two FIFA U-20 World Cups under head coach Ange Postecoglou.

In this podcast, we talked about:

• What inspired Vinnie to get into football, and how his parents sacrificed their time to get him to training

• The feeling of signing his first professional contract

• Taking the risk to move to Wellington when the Phoenix were a brand-new club

• His love for playing for the Nix, and the various ups and downs of his time with the club

• The difficult period when the Phoenix were being sold, and the uncertainty that brought to the playing group

• His season-ending knee injury, and how he rehabilitated both physically and mentally to get back on the pitch after such a major setback

• Ending his career in Adelaide

• Playing at two FIFA U-20 World Cups

• Even who he still keeps in touch with from his playing days

Vinnie is an absolute champion, and this podcast was a lot of fun to record. Tune in to this episode wherever you get your podcasts. We’re on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeartRadio.