The Bolton Inc Effect

I sit down with Steffi August and trace how a childhood in East Germany, immigration to New Zealand, and devastating loss shape her fierce belief that life can happen for us. We talk mindset, grief, presence, and her Flip It approach, then finish with a bold plan to build wellbeing-focused truck stops that back the people who keep Aotearoa moving.
• growing up under strict control in East Germany and sensing early that something is wrong 
• escape attempts, Stasi pressure, and the cost carried by family 
• reframing identity shocks by flipping “accident” into “miracle” 
• arriving in New Zealand with little English and using failure as fuel to pass IELTS 
• finding a path into speaking through volunteering, clubs, and Toastmasters 
• leaving an unsafe marriage and rebuilding from zero through practical work and community trust 
• meeting Fred, learning the discipline of the present moment, and facing sudden tragedy 
• living with grief while using Flip It, nature, and meaning-making to keep going 
• why red becomes her signal to be seen and help others 
• designing a truck stop wellbeing hub for NZ truck drivers and inviting collaboration 
Email me. Or get hold of Steffi: [email protected]

www.steffiaugust.com

Did something in this episode spark a thought, change your perspective, or hit close to home? I'd love to hear your story. The most interesting responses might be featured in an upcoming episode. Your voice matters to this community.

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We sit down with Brad Hook to trace the lived experiences that shaped his work on resilience, fulfilment, and human capacity, from surfing in Durban to rebuilding life through travel, writing, and entrepreneurship. We challenge the idea that more goals and more tech will save us, then land on values, belonging, and simple tools that bring us back to being human. 
• surfing as a practice for presence, play, and identity 
• travel as a catalyst for reinvention, including leaving South Africa after a turning point 
• getting sick in Nepal and using forced stillness to create space for writing 
• creative risk and reader trust through fiction, storytelling, and craft 
• learning to code and building early digital platforms, including hard lessons with investors 
• entering self-development through neuroscience, workplace culture, and sustainable performance 
• Flame as a framework to burn bright without burning out 
• AI as an exocortex, attention collapse, and why multitasking drains performance 
• loneliness, stress, poor sleep, and what people are actually asking for 
• the brain as a prediction engine, stress hormones, and restoring coherence through breath 
• practical tools: coherent breathing, gratitude, journalling, nature, and meditation as needed 
• Start With Values: meaning before productivity, fulfilment as a skill, and values-based goals.

https://bradleyhook.com/

https://flame.live/

Share it. Talk about it better yet take action because at the end of the day it's not about waiting for permission it's about showing up doing the work and making something that matters. 

Did something in this episode spark a thought, change your perspective, or hit close to home? I'd love to hear your story. The most interesting responses might be featured in an upcoming episode. Your voice matters to this community.

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We sit down with AJ to unpack what sits underneath identity, roles, and labels, and why unlearning division can make us feel more present and more free. We explore HKL, vibration, meditation, forgiveness, and service as real-world practices for living with humility, kindness, and love. 

www.hkl.org

• AJ’s path through community building in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia 
• Why identity can be useful while still not being “who we are” 
• The stage and costume metaphor for roles like parent, partner, worker 
• Lotus-like detachment: being in the world without being owned by it 
• Vibration, emotion, and why sound and humming can shift our state 
• Meditation as a repeatable tool for aligning with peace 
• HKL as a movement beyond religion, borders, and group identity 
• Why suffering feels more visible now and why action matters 
• Grief, pain, forgiveness, and the practice of living in the present 
• Sikh as “student” or “seeker”, and service as a way of life 
• Equality, shared food, and community as daily spiritual practice 
• Teaching children silence, service, and humility as a foundation for wellbeing 

Please sign up and experience those practices for a week, for two weeks, and feel the change, feel the peace, feel the transformation. 

If you enjoyed this podcast, please like it, share it, leave a review on Spotify, on Apple Podcasts, or just give me a thumbs up or get in touch with me. 

Did something in this episode spark a thought, change your perspective, or hit close to home? I'd love to hear your story. The most interesting responses might be featured in an upcoming episode. Your voice matters to this community.

Support the show

www.boltoninc.co.nz

We celebrate the moment Louis becomes a New Zealand citizen and unpack what a new passport really changes in identity, freedom, and future plans. We also trace Bridget’s AI cohort journey and ask how we use fast-moving technology without losing the human connection that makes life and business worth building. 

• the eight-year pathway to New Zealand citizenship and why it feels surreal 
• why “Plan A only” builds resilience and follow-through 
• what the citizenship ceremony includes and what the passport unlocks 
• Bridget’s AI cohort experience and why marketers belong in AI 
• using AI tools to speed up work without getting lost in rabbit holes 
• avoiding the AI subscription creep and tracking free trials properly 
• real-world AI use cases in kiwifruit forecasting and manufacturing knowledge systems 
• building friendly AI interfaces that reduce search time and stress 
• staying “pure human” and protecting intuition, relationships, and community 
• rethinking school, tertiary education, and debt for the next generation 
• funding travel, stability, and decision-making in a shifting economy 

Leave comments, share it, and if it really does speak to you, please get hold of us and let us know what you think of the podcast. 

Did something in this episode spark a thought, change your perspective, or hit close to home? I'd love to hear your story. The most interesting responses might be featured in an upcoming episode. Your voice matters to this community.

Support the show

www.boltoninc.co.nz

I sit down with Freddie Bennett to talk about what happens when the “indestructible” version of you takes a hit and you’re forced to rebuild from the inside out. The conversation moves from grief and late ADHD diagnosis to the real-world systems Kiwi families need for clear, credible child neurodevelopment support. 

https://baypaediatrics.com/

https://www.instagram.com/thefreddiebennett/

• a torn bicep as a wake-up call about fragility and identity 
• growing up in chaos and chasing “normal” through status and stability 
• masking, burnout and the pressure-cooker effect of hiding traits 
• ADHD being suggested during breakdowns and the cost of late diagnosis 
• grief after a sudden death and the spiral into rock bottom 
• the “strong enough why” behind lasting health and behaviour change 
• building Bay Pediatrics in Tauranga, New Zealand after years of waiting and confusion as parents 
• how we split clinical care and business leadership in a family-run clinic 
• why we push back on unqualified “ADHD coach” advice 
• Illuminate as a two-part ADHD assessment with objective digital screening 
• why ADHD diagnoses seem to be rising and the genetics plus lifestyle view 
• sleep as a major factor that can mimic ADHD symptoms 
• screen time as a possible regulation tool for neurodivergent kids 
• ambition, burnout risk and reframing neurodiversity beyond clichés 
• what’s next: Epic Families Live and the 300 km Amazon challenge 

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Did something in this episode spark a thought, change your perspective, or hit close to home? I'd love to hear your story. The most interesting responses might be featured in an upcoming episode. Your voice matters to this community.

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www.boltoninc.co.nz

I sit down with photographer and creative director Rachel Hadfield (https://www.rachelhadfield.com) and talk honestly about what it takes to build a long-term creative career while staying true to your life outside the work. 

Together we dig into film vs digital, access in action sports, and why community and relationships beat hype every time.
• early creative spark and being supported without being pushed
• why separate niches and accounts can protect clarity and joy
• film photography as a slower practice that trains your eye for light
• how weddings and sports work arrived through saying yes early
• turning ideas into action through learning, access and genuine relationships
• riding bikes, risk, and building life around what matters
• the pressure and logistics behind a Red Bull shoot
• Depth of Field (https://depthoffield.co.nz) and creating a supportive network for women in outdoor media
• the unseen reality behind Instagram highlights and late-night edits
• online presence, shrinking budgets, and choosing what to focus on next

Share it. Talk about it, better yet, take action.

Did something in this episode spark a thought, change your perspective, or hit close to home? I'd love to hear your story. The most interesting responses might be featured in an upcoming episode. Your voice matters to this community.

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www.boltoninc.co.nz

Sitting in traffic and feeling like nothing ever changes is a special kind of slow burn, so we went looking for someone who’s doing the opposite: getting his hands dirty and thinking long-term. Our guest Michael Carter is an architectural designer in Tauranga, a native bush restorer on weekends, and a 2026 candidate for The Opportunities Party. The thread that ties it all together is simple: build systems that make good choices easier, whether that’s in a forest, a city, or Parliament.

We start with something unexpectedly revealing: why festivals like Tomorrowland feel like stepping into a more positive world, and what that says about human behaviour and community. Then Michael takes us down his track into a largely unseen piece of native forest, where he’s trapped hundreds of pests and is aiming for predator-free in ten years. We talk biophilic design, mental health, and why regular time in nature can reset your week far better than another scroll on your phone.

From there we get into the policies and the politics, without the usual theatre. Michael explains Citizens’ Income and Land Value Tax, how they might work together, and why shifting incentives could help with poverty, cost of living pressure, housing affordability, and entrepreneurship in New Zealand. We also dig into Tauranga’s rapid growth: infrastructure, public transport, intensification, mixed-use neighbourhoods, and the mindset change required to get cars off the road. Finally, we explore Citizens’ Assemblies as a practical tool for tackling hard issues with evidence, education, and consensus, plus how becoming a dad sharpens the motivation behind all of it.

If you care about urban design, environmental restoration, pragmatic politics, and a future-focused Tauranga, this conversation will give you plenty to argue with and plenty to take seriously. 

https://www.opportunity.org.nz/candidate-michael-carter

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Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed on this podcast are solely those of the individual author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Bolton Inc. 

Did something in this episode spark a thought, change your perspective, or hit close to home? I'd love to hear your story. The most interesting responses might be featured in an upcoming episode. Your voice matters to this community.

Support the show

www.boltoninc.co.nz

We sit down with Tauranga muralist Millie Pidwell https://muralsbymillie.com/ to unpack how she turns blank walls into bright, nature inspired stories and how that work becomes a real business. 

We get honest about pricing, process, mistakes, and the support it takes to keep creating when you’ve got deadlines, weather and real life in the mix.

 
• Portrait parties as a fun way to build community and creativity 
• What “muralist” means and how it differs from graffiti 
• The shift from corporate work to full-time mural painting after becoming a mum 
• Building consistency by booking ahead and managing multiple projects at once 
• The mural workflow from wall photos and measurements to site visit and design brief 
• Collaborative design revisions and keeping creative control through a clear brief 
• Pricing per square metre and the factors that change a quote 
• Setting boundaries with clients and knowing when to walk away  
• Balancing word of mouth with Instagram to stay top of mind 
• Using VR and tech to scale designs faster and paint in daylight 

Share it. Talk about it, better yet, take action. Because at the end of the day, it’s not about waiting for permission. It’s about showing up, doing the work, and making something that matters. Thanks for being here. Now go build, create, and keep pushing forward. 

Did something in this episode spark a thought, change your perspective, or hit close to home? I'd love to hear your story. The most interesting responses might be featured in an upcoming episode. Your voice matters to this community.

Support the show

www.boltoninc.co.nz

We are back to talk about what it means to be a man in 2026, and why brotherhood can be the difference between drifting through life and showing up with real power. We get honest about how our marriage started to splinter, what changed after Louis' men’s vitality weekend with bros.nz community, and what it takes to see each other again.

• Grounding our conversation in Easter 2026 world events and the pressure of rising fuel costs in New Zealand
• Why male friendship and brotherhood matter after immigration and years of isolation
• What the men’s vitality experience looks like and why fire becomes a conduit for truth
• The difference between healthy masculinity and the harmful pull of the manosphere
• How permission seeking erodes attraction and trust in a long relationship
• Why “Louis 2.0” feels like a reclaimed spark and steadier direction
• Reading our 2008 vows and asking what commitment means now
• Redefining success as relational wealth and being a good husband and father
• Breaking old survival patterns from dark immigration years and building a bigger toolbox.

So if something has sparked an idea, made you rethink the rules, or reminded you that you're not alone on this journey. Don't keep it to yourself. Share it. Talk about it. Believe it. Take action.

Did something in this episode spark a thought, change your perspective, or hit close to home? I'd love to hear your story. The most interesting responses might be featured in an upcoming episode. Your voice matters to this community.

Support the show

www.boltoninc.co.nz

We start with a grounding breath and use it to test how attention changes when we face headlines, algorithms, and comparison. From there things get heated and we debate media then vs now, set honest phone boundaries as parents, and share small habits that protect calm.

• guided breath to shift state
• calm vs headlines whiplash
• media overload then and now
• algorithms and arousal cycles
• teens, phones, and boundaries
• role modelling and open talks
• boredom as a useful skill
• simple daily habits that work
• couple dynamics around screens
• choosing centre over constant noise

Share it, talk about it, believe it, take action

Did something in this episode spark a thought, change your perspective, or hit close to home? I'd love to hear your story. The most interesting responses might be featured in an upcoming episode. Your voice matters to this community.

Support the show

www.boltoninc.co.nz