Two Fat 'Fine

A massive ngā mihi to the Riccarton Sunday Markets for sponsoring this episode of Two Fat 'Fine. Listen in to find out what Alex and MahMah love about Ōtautahi's iconic sunday markets. Is it sweet food? Is it savoury? Or is it a good session with the tarot card reader?

We also dive into travel plans and the differences between a more local international journey to the beautiful islands that surround Aotearoa versus a 30hr + journey all the way to Europe... With kids in tow! Enjoy!

In part two of our kōrero with Dante Fyfe from Moana Mortgages, we dive deeper into the world of finance with practical tips to build generational wealth and confidence. Dante, Alex, and MahMah talk budgeting, smart saving, and how to make your money work for you. 💰 It’s real talk, good laughs, and a reminder that financial wellbeing starts with knowledge and community.

This kōrero was too good for just one episode — so we’re bringing it to you in two parts!

We’re thrilled to welcome the incredible Dante Fyfe, a proud member of the Moana Vā community and financial educator with Moana Mortgages.

In this first half, Dante joins Alex and MahMah to unpack how our communities can break the cycle of poor financial advice and start making empowered, informed money moves. 💰

You don’t want to miss this conversation, it’s all about building financial confidence, strengthening our collective future, and learning how to make our money work for us.

In this episode, we sit down with Jessee James personal trainer, sailor, and passionate wellbeing advocate, as she takes us through her journey of strength, self-discovery, and love.

Jessee opens up about her early years, being teased for her abs and short hair, and how she turned those experiences into fuel for self-acceptance and empowerment. She shares the story behind her business Embrace Tinana, her holistic approach to fitness, and the creation of Wellness Wero, a 10-week pilot programme designed to uplift others on their hauora journey.

With warmth and honesty, Jessee talks about the importance of caring for yourself before caring for others, and tells a beautiful love story of friendship that blossomed into marriage, two “gaybies” growing together through life’s adventures.

We ran out of time, but Jessee left us all with a reminder: wellbeing starts with mindset, connection, and courage.

This week on Two Fat ’Fine, we’re joined by MahMah’s bestie, flatmate, and wifey-for-lifey — Tayla Taylor! 💕
Tayla wears many hats: she’s a fierce advocate for young people through her mahi with VOYCE - Whakarongo Mai, and the powerhouse behind Curve Collective, creating spaces that celebrate body positivity and fat liberation.

Together, MahMah and Alex dive into friendship, love, mahi, and the chaos of adulting, from living together to building community and dreaming big for their people. Expect laughs, heart, and a reminder that when sisterhood meets purpose, magic happens.

This week we’re joined by Alex McDonnell-Faimalo – wife to our Alex and now a proud mum of two with the arrival of baby Akira. We chat about the joys and challenges of becoming a mum of two, the shift in family life, and the beauty of being embraced by Pasifika mamas as a palagi woman. A wholesome kōrero full of love, laughter, and real talk about motherhood, support, and community.

This week we talanoa with Fesny Situe (he/him) a proud fa‘atama and the youngest founding member of Moana Vā. Fesny opens up about navigating his transition, the support of the collective, and the opportunities that have shaped his journey so far. With honesty and heart, he shares what it means to grow alongside Moana Vā and to advocate for MVPFAFF+ communities with courage and pride.

This week, Selina joins the chaos! After a whirlwind of fun together, we recap the Fugawi Fashion Show where MahMah hit the runway, share our laughs (and feels) from the community night of Black F*ggot, and hear Selina’s take on Moana Mālie, our wellbeing programme. Plus, we chat all things Moana Vā events, Two Fat ’Fine’s journey so far, and the moments that keep us going.

This week, Alex and MahMah sit down with the incredible Nina Oberg Humphries — artist, curator, cultural leader, and co-founder of Fibre Gallery and Tagata Moana Trust. Nina shares her journey as a Pacific creative in Ōtautahi, the kaupapa behind her mahi, and the importance of creating culturally safe spaces for our communities. A kōrero full of heart, history, and a touch of sass — don't miss it!

MahMah and Alex get real about adulting chaos: gas leaks, car troubles, and runaway pets. Alex shares plans for baby number two and how she bought a house, with tips on mortgages They also discuss student loans, scholarships, and KiwiSaver. It’s messy, honest, and classic TFF.