In this episode, we sit down with the effervescent Ellesse Andrews, one of Aotearoa’s most accomplished and inspiring cyclists.

Ellesse was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2025 for her services to cycling and has most recently stood on the world’s biggest stage, winning two gold medals and one silver at the Paris Olympic Games. Her journey also includes gold medals at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships and the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, cementing her place as a world-class athlete.

But this kōrero goes far beyond medals.

We talk openly about Ellesse’s journey through elite sport the highs, pressure, burnout, and the awareness that comes with performing at the top of your game. A clear thread runs through this conversation: community, connection, and resilience. Ellesse shares how leading herself first has been critical to her success, how creativity plays a role in balance, and why mindset matters just as much as physical performance.

This is such a powerful kōrero and one we can’t wait for you to listen to!

In this kōrero, we sit down with the legendary Greg Smith.

A proud husband and Dad, Greg is also a former Fijian International rugby player, a coach in Japan, and an Athletes' Life Advisor at High-Performance Sport NZ. He now uses his experience to coach the next generation while also being a Secondary School Teacher.

A diehard Fraser Tech man, Greg shares his journey of resilience, the foundations he’s built through education and wellbeing, and how he leads by listening, understanding, and taking deliberate, sustainable action. We dive into his playing and coaching days, his parenting insights, and the habits that keep him thriving on and off the field.

Today we kōrero with Melodie Robinson!

She’s a proud wife and mum, a two-time Women’s Rugby World Cup-winning Black Fern, an accomplished journalist, and the first-ever female rugby commentator in Aotearoa! Today, she’s also leading the way as General Manager of Sports Events and Partnerships at TVNZ.

We kōrero about things women's rugby and her transition from modelling to getting on the pitch herself, women in business and leadership, the lessons, the learnings and the power of presence. Being yourself and not letting somebody's opinion stop you from achieving what you set out to do!!  

It didn't stop there, we also kōrero health, menopause, life struggles, purposeful feedback, messages for our children, and she makes a bold prediction for the Women's Rugby World Cup! 

Such a lovely and uplifting kōrero, we hope you enjoy! 

All of our interviews are available to watch via our website too!

A real, down-to-earth soul – Jenny-May Clarkson joins us for a powerful and personal kōrero.

From the mighty King Country (Piopio to be exact), Jenny-May is a proud mother, wife, sister, former Silver Fern, policewoman, and now a well-known broadcaster with over 20 years in the industry. Whether she's bringing sunshine to our mornings on Breakfast TV or commanding the mic as a commentator – she brings her whole heart.

In this episode, we kōrero about making a plan to keep smashing your goals – even when life throws curveballs. We talk about building resilience in your children, navigating perimenopause and tuning into your body, career highs from Jenny-May’s time on the netball court, handling criticism with grace, and the power of being present in a fast-paced world.

This kōrero is full of epic memories, honest reflections, and practical insights, we hope you enjoy!

All of our interviews are available to watch via our website too!

Introducing Di Foster!!!

Di is a powerhouse wāhine whose story can’t be contained in just one podcast - but we’ve tried! A wife, mother, business coach, and dynamic speaker, she brings raw honesty, heart, and humour to everything she does.

Di has journeyed with cancer and opens up about navigating this, the ebbs and flows of perimenopause, and the real conversations we all need to have around self-talk, identity, and wellbeing. From choosing your hard to kicking the pressure of ‘purpose’ to the curb, this kōrero is filled with sharp insights and empowering reminders to take ownership of your life, no matter what comes your way.

A passionate, perspective-shifting conversation you won’t want to miss.

All of our interviews are available to watch via our website too!

 

Honey Hireme-Smiler is a wife, mum, and proud Nan-Nan — and so much more.

Many know Honey as a legend in the oval ball game, having proudly represented Aotearoa as a Black Fern, Kiwi Fern, and Black Ferns Sevens player. She now brings her incredible sporting knowledge to our screens as a respected commentator and TV presenter.

Beyond the field, Honey wears many hats! She’s an author, ambassador for the TimeOut charity, a Kaiāwhina at Hospice Waikato, and a board member at New Zealand Rugby League.

In this powerful kōrero, Honey reflects on her upbringing in Putāruru, aka Paradise, the role of Te Whare Tapa Whā and how each pou supports our wellbeing, and what truly drives high-performing teams from her experiences. She also shares her inspiring journey of reconnecting with her reo Māori through Te Tohu Paetahi at the University of Waikato.

We also delve into the complexities of navigating grief — the unpredictability, the hard conversations, and the deep compassion she brings to supporting whānau in her role at Hospice Waikato.

A beautiful, powerful and world-class kōrero from a world-class wāhine.

All of our interviews are available to watch via our website too!

Today, we share our kōrero with the amazing Astra Patmore! Astra is a mum, wife, and entrepreneur, and among many other hats she wears, she is also the General Manager of Community Link Trust! 

We kōrero about the incredibly impactful mahi they do at Community Link Trust, how you can get involved, and the special ‘From the Streets’ event they run annually! 

We also kōrero about navigating the fine line of burnout and ways to get through. Grief and giving grace and empathy to those going through it, the importance of support networks and checking in on your people. 

An amazing kōrero and one we are so grateful to share!

Astra and the Community Link Trust are always keen for people and businesses to get involved and support their kaupapa where they can! If you or your business want to get involved and support the mahi of Community Link Trust, you can sign up as ChangeDrivers and help steer the future of our young people:

https://www.communitylinktrust.nz/changedriver  

They have a massive goal to achieve towards becoming sustainable for the rangatahi they support, and need ChangeDrivers now more than ever! If you think this is something you or your organisation can do, get involved!

Today, we kōrero with Gareth Duncan—a man with many stories to share!

With nearly 40 years in education, Gareth has dedicated his career to inspiring tamariki and fostering a love for learning. Beyond the classroom, he has played a significant role in rugby across Waikato and Aotearoa, managing teams such as the New Zealand Secondary Schools, Black Ferns, and Chiefs Manawa.

In this kōrero, we explore his wealth of knowledge in education and the impact we have on children—both as parents and teachers. Having been part of many high-performing environments, Gareth shares insights on relational trust, team culture, and leading with a people-first, human-centric approach.

A power message from this kōrero that is woven throughout is the importance of knowing you can learn, unlearn, and re-learn no matter where you are on your journey! 

All of our interviews are available to watch via our website too!

Mary Haddock-Staniland, a vibrant and powerhouse wāhine!

Mary is a Global DEIB advocate, Aotearoa’s first C-Suite-level Chief People and Inclusion Officer, and an Ambassador for Lifeline, just to name a few!

This kōrero is truly incredible.
We kōrero about being a trans-women in Aotearoa, the difference between equality and equity, leaders showing up for their people, her mahi with Lifeline, being a hyper-curious human, ways to foster connection, why she doesn't work with assholes- AND SO MUCH MORE!

A cup-filling kōrero and one we hope you enjoy!

Today, we kōrero with Sam Dakin—New Zealand Olympian, Cyclist, and Co-Founder of Slow Coffee Roasters. 

We explore his upbringing and the value of quality time with loved ones, his life as an athlete the supportive environment he’s built, and his entrepreneurial journey, including the lessons and learnings from launching Slow Coffee Roasters. 

As a passionate advocate for mental health, Sam opens up about his personal experience with OCD, how he navigates life with it, and his tips for supporting others through tough times.

All of our interviews are available to watch via our website too!