Sam Baxter & Sarah Direen. Two besties (& mums) from Aotearoa, New Zealand - an unfiltered podcast with hot takes, real talk and laughs about our lives, our friendship and pop culture. Join us for your weekly catch up with the gals!
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Sam Baxter & Sarah Direen. Two besties (& mums) from Aotearoa, New Zealand - an unfiltered podcast with hot takes, real talk and laughs about our lives, our friendship and pop culture. Join us for your weekly catch up with the gals!
Spread the word Besties xoxo
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We’re sliding straight into the silly season on this week’s episode of Bestie Boos — and things get wild. Sam kicks things off with an update after a car accident and a heartbreaking situation with her baby birds (RIP little ones 💔). Meanwhile, Sarah’s celebrating a birthday at home, but her empathy levels? Questionable.
We dive into this week’s pop culture chaos — from MTV cancelling Ridiculousness after 46 seasons, Prince Andrew losing his royal title, and the US “brain rot summer” of 2025, to Halloween costumes and the Christmas countdown.
Then Sarah finally spills more tea from her Australia trip — including falling asleep at a concert and getting checked by who?! and poor Michael (her husband) getting body-shamed on a theme park ride. Sam confesses a minor work fail that has both besties in stitches.
We also debate supermarket vs salon shampoos (Sarah swears she’s found the secret to great hair), share what we’re vibing this week — from Lily Allen’s new album and Netflix’s Nobody Wants This to Geek Girl — and get ready for Cup Day, Savage, and Shapeshifter next week.
It’s chaotic, honest, hilarious, and the perfect way to kick off November. Grab your gin and tune in, besties — the countdown to Christmas starts now! 🎁🍸
Sam Baxter & Sarah Direen. Two besties (& mums) from Aotearoa, New Zealand - an unfiltered podcast with hot takes, real talk and laughs about our lives, our friendship and pop culture. Join us for your weekly catch up with the gals!
Spread the word Besties xoxo
Sarah has returned from her Australia trip (yes, she went to Fridayz Live 🎶 and yes, she has thoughts), so we’re catching up on everything we missed. We chat about your reactions to our Colours episode, do a full pop culture catch-up (Lily Allen & David Harbour, Stranger Things, The Golden Globes’ new podcast category, and Bridgerton being split in half—rude).Sam shares a very real emotional breakdown at WINZ while Sarah was away, and we tell a slightly chaotic story involving our mate’s bottle shop doing… let’s just say special deliveries.Then we get into our spiritual side: superstitions, Ouija boards, and whether we actually believe in any of it. Sam talks about getting the voice box in Luna’s teddy (with Samuel’s voice) fixed—beautiful and emotional—and how much that means to their little whānau.We wrap with what’s coming up next: Halloween, gardening chaos. This episode is us giving each other a bit of shit the way we do. It’s funny, warm, and a lil heart-squeezy.
This week on Bestie Boos, Sam and Sarah are joined by Abby Button from www.abbybutton.co.nz — a certified colour and body analysis stylist helping people find confidence through clothes.
Abby shares her journey from winning a Westfield styling competition to travelling the country as a young stylist, and how she built her dream business. The girls chat about how colour analysis works - there are 16 categories!!! (Sam is a Soft Autumn and Sarah’s a Cool Summer), who can really wear black, if blondes suit yellow, why redheads can wear orange, and how embracing colour can totally transform your confidence.
It’s a feel-good, fashion-filled episode about loving your body, owning your palette, and showing up as your brightest self. Thank you so much to Abby for joining us, you won’t wanna miss this episode! ✨
Listen now on Spotify, YouTube & Apple Podcasts.
🎨 https://www.abbybutton.co.nz
It’s been a week, besties! 💕 Sarah’s nailed her big golf event at work and debuted a dramatic new hair transformation, while Sam’s survived a full-on week at work. We catch up on all things pop culture - Taylor Swift breaking records (again), the shocking news about Diane Keaton, confusion over Dolly Parton’s “death,” rumours that Ariana Grande is single, Kylie Jenner’s “King Kylie” comeback, and Zayn and Louis from One Direction’s new Netflix series.
Sam shares her menty b over dealing with government agencies, plus a sweet story about a family friend and an unexpected day trip with the local gang. Sarah opens up about the Gen Z divide at work - apparently, they’re not into partying like we were 😅
We wrap with our usual chaos: what we’re vibing (Victoria Beckham on Netflix, gardening, hair and beauty), what we’re not vibing (when people comment “congratulations again” on posts 🙄), and Sam’s best boss story - featuring a throwback prank on Black Cap legend, Stephen Fleming 🏏
Funny, real, and unfiltered - your weekly catch-up with the girls you wish were your besties. 💖
Sam Baxter & Sarah Direen. Two besties (& mums) from Aotearoa, New Zealand - an unfiltered podcast with hot takes, real talk and laughs about our lives, our friendship and pop culture. Join us for your weekly catch up with the gals!
Spread the word Besties xoxo
✨WATCH ON YOUTUBE ✨ It’s a HUGE week for the Bestie Boos 💅
✨ Taylor Swift has dropped her brand new 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl — plus a surprise movie that was only in cinemas for two days! We saw it opening morning (of course) and are giving you all our thoughts: fave tracks, hidden meanings, Easter eggs, and chaotic Swiftie theories 👀
Meanwhile, Sam started her new job (and technically new business!) the same day as Taylor’s release. Talk about timing!
In this week’s pop culture roundup, we’re spilling tea on:
💄 The Chemist Warehouse Oasis influencer event that Sarah didn’t get invited to (and the massive goodie bags everyone got 👀)
🎤 Nicki Minaj vs Cardi B – the drama continues
💔 Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban split after 19 years (?!?)
⛳️ Ryder Cup chaos – a thrown cup, apologies, and golf beef
🏈 Bad Bunny confirmed for the Super Bowl halftime show
Plus, Sarah’s uncovered a wild new hobby her husband and his workmates do at lunch… and it involves money 👀
And in What We’re Vibing: we’re obsessed with the new Bondi Sands Sunny Collection SPF 50+ range – finally, sunscreen that hydrates and protects! ☀️
Subscribe for weekly pop culture, chaos, and girl talk with your faves, Sam & Sarah – The Bestie Boos 💕
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It’s Episode 30 and we’re bringing the laughs, the drama, and everything in between! ✨WATCH ON YOUTUBE✨
We kick off with our highlights and lowlights of the week before diving into a packed pop culture roundup:
• Jimmy Kimmel’s quick TV return and Trump’s free speech threats.
• Taylor Swift drops new music this week (and scares off the competition 👀) plus her upcoming appearance on Jimmy Fallon (October 7, NZ time).
• Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco tie the knot.
• Tyson Fury’s daughter turns 16… and gets a proposal (yikes!).
• Our thoughts on the powerful NZ film Tinā on Netflix.
Then we get personal:
• Baby names — why did Sam’s cousin take forever to name their baby, when both of us had ours picked well before birth?
• What we’re vibing — Sam is obsessed with TikTok toupee transformations (seriously, it’s life-changing) and gardening, while Sarah shares her latest TikTok loves.
• “Unfortunately I Love” game — roasting each other’s guilty pleasures (McDonald’s, overreacting, and more 😂).
• How long is too long to hold a grudge? We unpack the story of someone holding on for 35 years.
• That’s So Random — the most random competitions we’ve ever won, from Spice Girls lip-sync chaos to animal impersonations (yes, Sarah gives us a live demo).
It’s chaotic, funny, and a little bit heartfelt — basically everything you want in a catch-up with your besties.
👉 Don’t forget to follow/subscribe for more weekly laughs, pop culture hot takes, and real-life stories.
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✨WATCH ON YOUTUBE ✨ This week on Bestie Boos, things get downright unexpected. Sam shares the terrifying story of her 11 year old niece Avalyn, who was hit by a truck on her way to school just one week ago. From the frantic phone call to the hospital updates, we’re giving you the real behind-the-scenes family moments (including the most awkward emoji ever sent in a crisis).
We lighten things up with our pop culture roundup:
• Robert Irwin shines on Dancing With The Stars USA 🦘✨
• Taylor Swift’s The Showgirl Album is heading to theatres 🎬
• Jimmy Kimmel’s controversy (and getting yanked off air) 🎤
• The Summer I Turned Pretty finale breakdown 🌞
• NZ’s Laneway Festival lineup revealed (and why we’re jealous Chappell Roan isn’t headlining Electric Ave 🎶)
Plus, we dive into:
• The shocking cost of Sarah’s $75 doctor PHONE consult 💸
• Friends making wild life pivots (bottle store, hazelnut farm & pottery dreams) 🌰🍶
• An incredible supermarket reunion—when someone thought their bestie was dead 👀
• The mystery of Sarah’s lost friend and her sperm donor sister she’s never met 🤯
This episode is packed with it all, listen up besties, you won’t want to miss this one ✨
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✨WATCH ON YOUTUBE ✨ This week we’re diving into everything from the latest pop culture bombshells to a raw, emotional moment that had us both in tears - three-year-old Luna's birthday card from heaven. We kick off with sport — the Warriors’ tough NRL finals exit, the Black Ferns’ win over South Africa, and the frustrating lack of media coverage they’re getting.
Then it’s a pop culture rollercoaster:
👑 Prince Harry’s quick meet-up with King Charles
🎤 Mariah Carey’s Video Vanguard Award + new album buzz
🎶 Hilary Duff’s music comeback
💘 Jennifer Aniston’s rumored romance with a hypnotist
💍 Liam Hemsworth’s engagement news
From there, things get deeply personal as we open up about a powerful birthday moment that left us reflecting on grief, love, and the reality of carrying on after loss. It’s one of our most honest conversations yet.
We also share what we’re vibing right now — from concert season hype (hello Electric Ave!), skincare obsessions, and a game-changing fake tan, to what we’re watching on Netflix. Plus, a few exciting things we’ve got coming up ourselves.
💌 Funny, emotional, and totally unfiltered — this is Bestie Boos at its realest.
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The Bestie Boos are back — slightly hungover, running on four hours of sleep, and recording the morning after Sam’s big 35th “Brat” birthday party (yes, inspired by Charli XCX). It’s Father’s Day, the vibes are chaotic, and we’re here to recap all the wild moments: the dancing, the pranks, our outfits, and just how much fun we had.
Then we dive into a juicy pop culture update:
• Our reaction to the newly announced Electric Avenue Festival lineup 2025 — why the headliner acts left us a little disappointed, but what we’re still excited for.
• The unexpected Sydney Sweeney and Scooter Braun rumors — are we into it? Spoiler: no.
• A quick take on Scribe’s new album and Swag 2 hype.
We also keep it real with some life updates and hilarious parenting stories:
• Sam’s GP spills the tea on the surge of patients asking for GLP-1 weight loss injections like Mounjaro — $600 a pop and a three-month commitment?!
• Sarah gets unsolicited (and painful) “baking tips” from a teacher who doesn’t get the chaos of being a full-time working mum.
• Sam shares a laugh-out-loud awkward moment at kids’ swimming lessons when Luna spotted something unexpected in the changing room.
• We reflect on how kids can be so blunt about grief, including a tough but honest conversation between our two little ones about Luna’s dad.
• Plus, the heart-warming surprise behind a stuffed star toy that feels like a special sign from Samuel 💫.
This episode is a mix of hangover chaos, raw parenting moments, and pop culture hot takes — pure Bestie Boo energy. Funny, emotional, messy, and real.
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We can’t believe it – Bestie Boos is officially six months old! 🎉 In this episode, we celebrate how far we’ve come (without any big media backing!) and crack up over the silly things that make us, us – like how often we say “gal,” pet names for our partners (yes, Sarah calls her husband Big D 😅), and whether “garage carpet” actually makes you rich.
We dive into a juicy pop culture roundup:
✨ Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement buzz (thanks to his dad’s big mouth)
✨ Sabrina Carpenter’s new album and wild lyrics in Tears
✨ The return of Electric Ave 2026
✨ The Women’s Rugby World Cup trophy mystery
On the personal side, Sam chats about staying up too late each night, Sarah swears collagen is the secret to her better sleep, and we plan for Sam’s big birthday bash with some Charli XCX BRAT energy! (outfits, chaos, hangovers incoming 🍾). Things get real as we talk about Father’s Day in NZ and how tricky it can be.
And stick around for the big reveal… Sam’s birthday surprise is out of the bag, and let’s just say it involves Lorde 🙌
It's the perfect mix of friendship, pop culture, and the messy ups and downs of life. – everything you love about Bestie Boos.
Thanks for being part of our first six months, we couldn’t do it without you 💕
WATCH on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rSLBhuhTds0
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In this episode of Bestie Boos, we’re back with laughs, tears, and a whole lot of pop culture! Samantha shares the behind-the-scenes of her first-ever MC gig — stepping up in front of more than 100 people to fill in for none other than Kiwi news legend Mike McRoberts. We’ve even got live audio from the event plus Sarah’s unfiltered feedback on how it all went.
Then it’s time for our pop culture roundup:
• The success of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025
• Millie Bobby Brown and her husband adopting a baby
• The first look at The Devil Wears Prada 2
• VMA 2025 nominations and what we’re predicting
• Apple TV’s upcoming K-Pop series
• Why K-Pop Demon Hunters just made history on the Billboard charts
On the personal side, Sam opens up about a vulnerable moment at her mum’s birthday dinner. After a tough week solo-parenting while Luna was sick, one sassy waitress was the straw that broke the camel’s back — leading to tears, grief, and an honest chat about navigating life after losing Sam. Sarah shares her own struggles with motherhood right now (her son simply won’t stop talking!), and together we balance the tears with plenty of laughs.
We wrap up with what we’re vibing — including Emily in Paris binges, a new Netflix recommendation from Sarah, and dreams of better weather and healthier days ahead.
Join us for an episode that’s raw, real, funny, and full of heart — the ultimate mix of friendship, pop culture, and the ups and downs of life.
🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube and everywhere else
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Watch & Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtu.be/OwkvtH1Safg
This week on Bestie Boos, Sam and Sarah are back with another round of highlights, lowlights, and plenty of chaos. From long (and we mean loooong) rugby prizegivings to kick-ons where 20-year-olds are suddenly asking for “mama cuddles,” nothing is off the table.
We dive into pop culture’s juiciest stories:
❤️🔥 Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl album buzz, plus her sweet New Heights podcast moment with Travis Kelce.
🚗 The Wiggles CEO drama—unfair dismissal or fair play?
🚨 Brooklyn and Nicola Beckham’s eyebrow-raising vow renewal (and the missing Beckhams).
🎒 Charlie Sheen’s brand-new documentary and his seven years of sobriety.
Plus, Sam spills all on her 35th birthday bash plans (hello Brat Party chaos) and the sneaky tricks we’ve pulled at parties before. We also ask: what’s the next prank we should unleash?
And in true Bestie Boos style, we round things out with the “That’s So Random” segment, featuring sisterly food myths, one-eyed contact lenses, and the shocking truth that Sam has still never had a grey hair.
It’s messy, funny, and a little unhinged—just how we like it.
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Watch & subscribe on YouTube: https://youtu.be/e2aacvyGKUo
This week on Bestie Boos, Sarah is fresh from her husband Michael’s nail-biting rugby final – a heartbreaking loss in the 81st minute that still led to a big night out, wild Uber dramas, and some serious clubroom laughs. Sam was there to witness it all… and somehow got roped into a challenge she didn’t see coming... and can't get out of.
We dive into a pop culture roundup featuring Rod Stewart’s eerie AI tributes, Kelly Clarkson’s grace under fire, the rise of new K-pop group Cordis, and exciting Freaky Friday 2 news. Then it’s onto the important stuff: why are mandarins suddenly tasting weird? Plus, what we’ve been streaming – from My Oxford Year to Wednesday season 2, Happy Gilmore 2, and a true-crime binge that spirals into a hilarious Bermuda Triangle debate.
Somewhere in between, we celebrate an absolute super-mum spotted at a kids’ trampoline park managing four kids like a pro. Expect laughs, gossip, random tangents, and a little chaos – exactly how Bestie Boos does it best.
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Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@bestieboosshow?si=cpD5w0nlpQg9lLVY
This week on Bestie Boos, Sam catches Sarah up on a spicy weekend full of unexpected moments — from a very heated league final to an awkward restaurant kerfuffle that ended in tears (not ours, don’t worry 😅).
We deep dive into the biggest pop culture stories lighting up the group chats — Ozzy Osbourne’s epic funeral (seriously, it was giving royal energy), unexpected celeb couple rumours (Pamela Anderson & Liam Neeson?!), and the K-pop Demon Hunters movie that has the kids fully obsessed.
Plus, we talk about solo parenting and the wild art of trying to go to the toilet alone when you have a toddler — Sam shares a hilarious live audio moment that every parent will relate to.
🎉 We also celebrate a huge podcast milestone! And decide on our next challenge...
We also reminisce on the times we got to go through the Koru Lounge with our previous jobs - bliss!
Turn it up BBs your best gals are back with a banger of an ep ✨
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WATCH on Youtube: https://youtube.com/@bestieboosshow?si=1l0WUMdn8he9qsKL
Happy International Friendship Day, besties! To celebrate, we’re bringing you a very special bonus episode featuring the one and only Lana Cochrane-Searle! @lanasearle
Not only is Lana our mate, she’s a radio host, MC, two-time Celebrity Treasure Island contestant, aspiring DJ, and proud mum/wife/bestie 💅
In this ep:
✨ How we all met and became friends
🏝️ Behind the scenes of Celebrity Treasure Island
🏉 Lana’s rugby career (and latest injuries)
💍 Sam’s wedding, the Eras Tour, and what Lana did next
😵💫 Tom Cruise, the Daily Mail, and a few wild twists
It’s honest, it’s unhinged, and it’s exactly what Friendship Day is all about: big laughs, big love, and big hearted chaos.
🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts
📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube
In the spirit of Friendship day, spread the love - follow up, rate us and share to a friend
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Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vq9SyKWcr4g
We recorded this one a little dusty after a big night out… so buckle up, besties – it’s a little loose and it’s a little unfiltered.
In this ep:
✨ A skin journey update thanks to the gals at Caci Riccarton
🏉 Sam’s rugby recap – we chat all things finals footy
📱The celeb contacts in our phones battle it out (zombie apocalypse edition)
🧼 Baby shower brawls and window washing drama
👀 A few RIPs, wrestling nostalgia, and Harry’s new toy
We also unpack being cringe in 2025 and look forward to International Friendship Day.
It’s giving chaos. It’s giving wholesome. It’s giving Big Bestie Energy.
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Watch on YouTube NOW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8jubB08XMM
We’re back, Besties! Great news for you…the chaos did not take a break. This week: pharmacy meltdowns, a front-page car crash, and yep, our thoughts on that Coldplay concert - no doubt there will be a few conscious uncouplings from this?!
Sam’s got a few cuzzies to catch us up on… maybe you can keep track, but Sarah never can. Meanwhile, the “kids” have gone full Disney Disc dealer thanks to Woolworths, who are celebrating 70 Years of Disneyland Resort in California. And, we’ve also switched out our usual finisher for something a little more manageable - because, life.
🎧 Press play, Bestie. We missed you x
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WATCH NOW ON YouTube @BestieBoosShow
Sam takes the plunge—literally—after losing last week’s go-kart race, and let’s just say the mid-winter dip hit hard!
We unpack everything from the latest in the Diddy trial and Idaho case, to another Mel B wedding. Plus, we introduce a new phenomenon: Coinkydink/synchronicities—those weird little life coincidences you can’t explain.
Also this week: Sarah’s husband starts a “round table” with the boys, we call out the rise of Peri-Boomers (yes, that’s millennial tech fails), and share two of the wildest stories we’ve heard in the past week… involving a stolen prescription pad and a Tinder date turned blood pact.
And just when you thought we were wrapping up on a high, Sarah ends the ep with another bloody poem—and an unexpected meltdown.
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WATCH ON YOUTUBE NOW @bestieboosshow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOLbAOwJhqc
Sam & Sarah slam the accelerator on life this week! 💨 After a low-key Friday-arvo drink with Sarah’s workmates, the besties suit up for a full-noise go-kart showdown—multiple laps, no mercy. One of them clocks the fastest time; the slower driver must take an icy mid-winter pool plunge on next week’s episode (tune in to learn who’s doomed).
Off the track, the duo downshift into pop-culture quick hits: Trump’s live-mic F-bomb, Anna Wintour exiting Vogue, Katy Perry & Orlando breakup, Bezos’s ultra-lavish wedding, Lorde’s Virgin-era Glasto set, and Lewis Capaldi’s emotional comeback. They also unpack Ozempic landing in NZ, “hot-friend problems,” oddball “health-kick” compliments, and a buzzy new dining app that matches you with five strangers on a Wednesday night. Tune in, it’s a good time.
👉 Follow Bestie Boos, drop a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review - love your work xo
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This week on Bestie Boos, we’re diving deep — from the spiritual to the seriously unhinged. Sam opens up about the powerful signs she’s been receiving from Samuel, including one wild car moment that’ll give you chills.
In pop culture, we’re side-eyeing Bieber’s latest spiral, celebrating the Crusaders’ 15th Super Rugby win, unpacking the Karen Read trial, and sending love to Rufus the Wimbledon hawk (yes, really).
Then it’s chaos as we set our midwinter plunge challenge — and it’s on. Go-karts. Pride. Speed. One of us thinks she’s the next F1 star and the other is ready to crash her dreams.
Plus: Sarah’s got a spicy open home story (think: shower + sex = yikes) and Sam’s league coach tale takes a truly bizarre bite. Oh — and there’s top-tier therapist wisdom to carry you through your week.
It’s raw, ridiculous, real. Just how you like it.
Tune in,
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dPIPUuUyYQ
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