Good questions. Great guests. Few beers... Steve and Seamus like asking good questions. And they love good answers. After over 20 years of friendship, they bought a microphone and started a podcast, allowing them to sit with, and learn from, the most interesting people they can access.
From Kiwi legend Marc Ellis, to media personalities Jeremy Wells and Paddy Gower, Rugby coach extraordinaire Wayne Smith, sexologist Morgan Penn, and Olympian Dame Lisa Carrington... Between Two Beers has produced countless hours of incredible stories, career highs, lows and moments of raw vulnerability. And it’s only the beginning.
Acast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Good questions. Great guests. Few beers... Steve and Seamus like asking good questions. And they love good answers. After over 20 years of friendship, they bought a microphone and started a podcast, allowing them to sit with, and learn from, the most interesting people they can access.
From Kiwi legend Marc Ellis, to media personalities Jeremy Wells and Paddy Gower, Rugby coach extraordinaire Wayne Smith, sexologist Morgan Penn, and Olympian Dame Lisa Carrington... Between Two Beers has produced countless hours of incredible stories, career highs, lows and moments of raw vulnerability. And it’s only the beginning.
Acast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this deeply personal episode, Simon Barnett opens up about the love story he shared with his late wife Jodi, her courageous battle with brain cancer, and the life-changing lessons her loss has taught him.
Simon talks about the early days of their relationship, the moment they received the devastating diagnosis, the realities of living with grief, and how his faith, family, and friends have helped him through.
This is a conversation about love, loss, and resilience — and a tribute to Jodi’s enduring legacy.
This episode is brought to you by the TAB. Got a hunch? Download the new app today and get your bet on.
Timestamps:
0:00 Why Simon Barnett is so private
4:30 On grief and losing his wife Jodi
9:00 Going to counselling
10:30 Talking to God
12:30 Family life, kids & parents remarrying
18:00 Funny story: competitiveness & missing flights
20:00 Being a terrible handyman (clip)
23:00 Becoming “Chiefy” to his grandkids
30:30 Early career & Telethon story (clip)
33:20 What Now TV show days
38:20 Why he stayed in Christchurch (offers abroad & Auckland)
49:00 The Tom Cruise story: humiliation to meeting him
55:30 Dancing With the Stars
1:04:00 Being a caregiver (clip)
1:10:00 The month after Jodi’s passing
1:18:00 Finding faith at age 30
1:21:00 Return to More FM & leaving Newstalk ZB
1:29:40 Raising daughters
1:35:02 Masculinity after raising four children
1:40:33 The key to happiness
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In this episode of Hambassadors from Between Two Beers, Seamus and Steve catch up on life, events, and a whole lot more – with a special guest appearance from Jay Reeve.
From hanging out with All Blacks coach Ian Foster, to sharing our five favourite books, we cover it all. Jay opens up about a potential ADHD diagnosis, we dive into shocking men’s health statistics, and Seamus shares his own mental health journey. Plus, there’s our Between Two Bets segment, listener questions, and a preview of next week’s Simon Barnett episode.
Hambassadors proudly brought to you by Stark.
Timestamps
00:00 Catching Up
04:45 MC’ing & Hanging with Ian Foster
07:30 Our 5 Favourite Books
14:00 Jay Reeve Joins the Show & Potential ADHD Diagnosis
23:00 Shocking Men’s Health Statistics
29:00 Seamus’ Mental Health
34:00 Between Two Bets
36:00 Listener Questions
39:00 Simon Barnett Preview
If you enjoy Between Two Beers, you’ll love this mix of laughs, honesty, and great conversation with Jay Reeve.
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Viv Conway and Jo Cummins are the fearless founders of Girls Get Off.
Join us for one of the most honest, hilarious, and insightful episodes of Between Two Beers yet.
We unpack the challenges of building a sex-positive brand in New Zealand, why vibrators are still taboo, the orgasm gap, men’s egos in the bedroom, porn vs reality, and how a billboard prank led to 6,000 people visiting a fake dating website.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in sex, relationships, startups - or just a damn good story.
This episode is brought to you by the TAB. Got a hunch? Download the new app today and get your bet on.
🎧 Listen in for:
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In this episode of Accidental Business Owners, we reflect on the realities of running a growing business - the kind you don’t see on Instagram.
From building a new podcast studio, navigating cashflow, and rethinking our business priorities… to a cancelled flight that derailed an entire strategy day – we unpack what happens when the pressure quietly builds up behind the scenes.
Steve opens up about an unexpected emotional moment during a key advisory meeting - and what it revealed about time, energy, and how running a “dream” business can still weigh heavily.
We talk:
This episode was brought to you by Xero. Supercharge your business with the help of Xero accounting software. With more ways to pay, clearer cash flow, and powerful insights all in one place, you can say ‘so long’ to endless admin and hello to business control like never before. Try Xero free for 30 days, terms apply.
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Jeremy Wells has one of the most fascinating careers in New Zealand media - and in this episode, we cover it all.
From Eating Media Lunch to Seven Sharp, Havoc to the ACC, Jerry reflects on the wild ride that’s taken him from alternative TV icon to mainstream household name.
We talk broadcasting pillars, radio antics, the price of opportunity, family, fame, and what the future holds. There’s laughter, nostalgia, and a few surprising confessions (including one about Wanganui Collegiate), Jerry was a huge influence on us growing up, and this one meant a lot.
This episode is brought to you by the TAB. Got a hunch? Download the new app today and get your bet on.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of Hambassadors, we unpack a pretty intense couple of weeks - from advisory calls and missed flights to tears, burnout, and some much-needed honesty.
Steve shares what led to a moment of reflection that caught even him off guard, and we talk about what it’s like to keep the podcast and business going when life feels full-on.
Also in the mix:
Thanks for being along for the ride.
Hambassadors proudly brought to you by Stark.
Watch or listen to Hambassadors wherever you get podcasts!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dr Timoti Te Moke's story is one of the most powerful we've ever shared.
He was raised in violence, survived years in boys' homes and prisons, and spent his youth deep in gang life. At one point, he was known as “the Jake the Muss of South Auckland.” But Timoti didn’t just escape the cycle—he transformed his life.
Today, he holds a PhD, lectures on Māori health, and is helping break the very system that once trapped him.
In this episode, we trace Timoti’s life from his early years of trauma and crime to the moment everything started to change—step by step. He speaks openly about addiction, gang culture, his time in prison, surviving a wrongful manslaughter accusation, and how he found healing, purpose, and redemption later in life.
This is not just a story of survival—it's a masterclass in transformation.
This episode is brought to you by the TAB. Got a hunch? Download the new app today and get your bet on.
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In this listener-fueled Q&A episode, Seamus and Steve are joined by Di to tackle the biggest questions around business growth, personal development, coaching breakthroughs, and how to define success when the rules keep changing.
You'll hear about the real-time coaching moment that changed everything, why Steve cried in a café (again), and the difference between a mentor and a coach that everyone should understand.
What you’ll learn:
The surprising power of safe-but-tough coaching
Mentorship vs coaching: what you need and when
How to align personal and business growth
The evolution of success metrics (from vibes → revenue → profit)
Why emotional moments are part of building something real
Whether you're growing a podcast, scaling a business, or just figuring it out week by week — this one’s packed with insight, humour, and honesty.
This episode was brought to you by Xero. Supercharge your business with the help of Xero accounting software. With more ways to pay, clearer cash flow, and powerful insights all in one place, you can say ‘so long’ to endless admin and hello to business control like never before. Try Xero free for 30 days, terms apply.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
He’s been a member of the NZSAS – New Zealand’s elite special forces unit - and is now an America’s Cup-winning grinder with Emirates Team New Zealand.
In this episode we talk about what it takes to pass SAS selection, his insane physical feats (including breaking NZ’s 500m indoor rowing record), how he emailed his way into Team New Zealand, what it’s like grinding in the cyclor cockpit, the pressures of running the team’s comms systems, and how he balances it all with being a father of three.
We also hear about his time managing MIQ during Covid, a wild story about “Goose Eggs”, and his new project - “The Forge” - an intense personal development course that sounds like Outward Bound on steroids.
This was a quietly extraordinary chat. Marius isn’t someone who loves the spotlight, but the more we heard, the more impressed we were - and it sounds like everyone who’s worked with him feels the same.
This episode is brought to you by the TAB. Got a hunch? Download the new app today and get your bet on.
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In this episode of Hambassadors, we reveal the stories that didn’t make the final cut of our chat with Jay Reeve - and why.
We also dive into some spicy listener questions, including:
– The biggest lies we’ve told on the podcast
– Guests we’ve disagreed with
– Our most cringeworthy podcast moments
– And… a surprising discussion on female pleasure
Watch or listen to Hambassadors wherever you get podcasts!
Hambassadors proudly brought to you by Stark.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dame Noeline Taurua is one of New Zealand’s most successful and respected coaches — and one of the most compelling minds in high performance sport.
In this raw and revealing episode, Noeline opens up about her journey from a childhood shaped by violence, to leading the Silver Ferns to World Cup glory just eight months after taking the job. We talk about the pressures of elite coaching, the spiritual wisdom she receives from a monk advisor, and how she juggled motherhood with one of the toughest jobs in sport.
We also dive into her Māori identity, her unconventional coaching methods, the heartbreak of missing out on the Ferns job the first time, and how she built a culture that brought a team back from rock bottom.
It’s honest, wise, emotional and powerful — a masterclass in resilience and leadership.
This episode is brought to you by the TAB. Got a hunch? Download the new app today and get your bet on.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this 1:1 episode, Steve sits down with Di Foster for a raw, honest conversation about the busy trap so many business owners fall into — and how to escape it.
They unpack:
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, stretched too thin, or unsure when it all stops — this one’s for you.
This episode was brought to you by Xero. Supercharge your business with the help of Xero accounting software. With more ways to pay, clearer cash flow, and powerful insights all in one place, you can say ‘so long’ to endless admin and hello to business control like never before. Try Xero free for 30 days, terms apply.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jay Reeve opens up about the behind-the-scenes magic of Jay & Dunc, the wild ride of building Pals into one of NZ’s most beloved drinks brands, and the personal battles that shaped him — including IVF, fatherhood, and what real male friendship looks like in 2025.
This episode is brought to you by the TAB. Got a hunch? Download the new app today and get your bet on.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on Hambassadors, we react to an unexpected Leigh Hart clip where he rates our show(!), sparking a trip down memory lane to their 2020 lockdown episode - complete with tales of divorce, DIY TV, and late-night chaos.
We also dive into:
- The Golden Era of New Zealand television – has anything topped SportsCafe, Back of the Y, or Eating Media Lunch?
- The top “icks” giving women the ick in 2025 (spoiler: some of them are brutal)
- Plus the usual mix of hot takes, deep dives, and behind the scenes podcast moments
Watch or listen wherever you get podcasts!
Hambassadors proudly brought to you by Stark.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, we sit down with one of New Zealand’s most quietly influential tech investors and founders: Rowan Simpson.
As employee #3 at TradeMe and an early investor in Xero, Rowan helped build two of NZ’s biggest startup success stories.
But his story goes far deeper than money. He shares how he went from near-bankruptcy to the $750M TradeMe exit, his role in backing Kiwi founders, his philosophies on parenting, time, failure, AI—and why ‘business is like a rollercoaster’ metaphor is bullshit.
🧠 Topics include:
– The TradeMe origin story (and the nightmare before the sale)
– Why “fail fast” is bad advice
– Lessons from Xero, Vend, and a year of world travel
– How to pitch to investors (and how not to)
– Saying no, picking your 3 things, and building a life of purpose
– Sport, family, AI, and the future of New Zealand tech
📍 Watch, listen, and subscribe on YouTube, Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
This episode is brought to you by the TAB. Got a hunch? Download the new app today and get your bet on.
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In this special Accidental Business Owners episode, we mark our first year of going full-time on Between Two Beers - and one year if working with Di.
We tackle:
- The frenetic pace of building your own business (📅 slave to Google Calendar)
- Why everything takes longer than expected—and how to build in buffer
- The power of saying “no” to protect your time, energy, and brand
- Unlocking growth: the difference between working in your business vs on it
- Practical mindset: “Do what’s in front of you”… and outwork your own expectations
💡 Featuring a Xero listener question asking, “What’s the one piece of advice you wish you’d had before starting your own business?” Tune in for relatable, real-talk, and actionable takeaways from the past 12 months.
This episode was brought to you by Xero. Supercharge your business with the help of Xero accounting software. With more ways to pay, clearer cash flow, and powerful insights all in one place, you can say ‘so long’ to endless admin and hello to business control like never before. Try Xero free for 30 days, terms apply.
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Robyn Malcolm is a national treasure.
From Outrageous Fortune to After the Party, this is Robyn like you’ve never seen her.
She talks going sober, acting alongside Antony Starr, solo parenting through stardom, the power of older women on screen, her sons’ hilarious texts, and why she’s not holding back on the current Government.
This episode is brought to you by the TAB. Got a hunch? Download the new app today and get your bet on.
Enjoy.
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In this episode of Hambassadors we go behind the scenes of our recent podcast with Ian Foster, unpacking the making of the blockbuster interview — what went into it, what surprised us, and why it might be our best work yet.
We share a few unseen moments, voice messages from listeners, and wildly mixed YouTube feedback — from teary-eyed praise to brutal radio-sport-style takedowns.
There's insight into our into our creative process, from guest prep to managing “fluffy vs gritty” lines of questioning.
Plus: Auckland City's 10–0 Club World Cup loss, a chaotic Sex.Life unboxing segment, a 4-year-old’s hilarious voice note, and teasers for upcoming bangers like Robyn Malcolm and a mystery SAS legend.
Hambassadors proudly brought to you by Stark.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ian Foster is speaking up.
In his first full interview since stepping down as All Blacks head coach, Foster sits down to share the raw, unfiltered story of one of the most dramatic periods in New Zealand rugby history.
He opens up about the media pile-on, the near-sacking after the Ireland series, the pressure-cooker Ellis Park test that saved his job, and the growing tension with NZ Rugby as Scott Robertson circled in the wings.
Foster also reveals the emotional toll behind the scenes - from the conversation with Dane Coles that reduced him to tears, to the loyalty shown by Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Aaron Smith and other senior All Blacks when everything was falling apart.
This is the definitive account of Ian Foster’s All Blacks journey - told his way.
This episode is brought to you by the TAB. Got a hunch? Download the new app today and get your bet on.
Enjoy
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What does it really feel like to run your own business?
In this special listener Q&A episode of Accidental Business Owners, Steve, Seamus, and business coach Di Foster answer your questions.
We talk about the moment we left our 9-to-5s, what it means to truly “back yourself,” how to avoid getting wiped out by tax, and why many small business owners are unknowingly sabotaging their goals. There are laughs, tears, raw truths, and incredibly practical takeaways.
We also dive deep into emotional burnout, when to hire (and how) and the surprising things business ownership reveals about you.
🔔 Whether you're a founder, freelancer, or just dreaming of taking the leap - this is for you.
IN THIS EPISODE:
✔️ How to leave your job and know when you're ready
✔️ Why conflicting goals stop your progress
✔️ Di’s “freedom fund” strategy for peace of mind
✔️ The most common tax traps (and how to avoid them)
✔️ The #1 mistake people make when hiring
✔️ Personal growth and emotional burnout in business
✔️ What real impact looks like (and feels like)
This episode was brought to you with the help of Xero. Supercharge your business with the help of Xero accounting software. With more ways to pay, control of your cash flow and powerful insights all in one place, you can say ‘so long’ to endless admin and hello to business control like never before.
Accidental Business Owners is sponsored by Icehouse.
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