Melie Kerr joins us fresh off being named White Ferns captain across all formats and scoring a T20 century on captaincy debut - the first woman ever to do so.

But this episode goes well beyond cricket.

Growing up in one of New Zealand's most celebrated cricket families, Melie was the kid who made her dad commentate 7am net sessions as if she was playing in a World Cup final. She went on to become the youngest ever White Fern, break records, and win that World Cup. From the outside, she had everything - her dream job and an amazing family. But behind it, she was fighting something nobody could see.

Melie opens up about the panic attacks, the sleepless nights, the thoughts that scared her, and the moment she realised she needed help. She talks about the family intervention that changed everything, how Maddie Green became her lifeline, and what it felt like to sit in a hospital room reading from her journal while everyone in the room cried.

She also talks about turning that pain into purpose - creating Treading Water, her video series built on the belief that one story might save one life.

This is one of the most honest, important conversations we've had in six years.

Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by the legends at Barkers Clothing!

If you or someone you know needs support, help is available.

In New Zealand, you can call or text 1737 anytime to speak with a trained counsellor. If you are in immediate danger, please call 111.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Che and Di sit down for a one-on-one to go through the 2026 goals - but this is the episode they couldn't record until now.

A new baby. A house. A marriage. The past few months have changed everything for Che, and in this episode he and Di work through what that actually means for his personal and professional life heading into the year ahead.

They cover the weight goal (and the moment Che realised Doc had been quietly protecting his diet during pregnancy), why Di wants him to cross "investment property" off his goals list and replace it with something else entirely, how routine works both for and against you, and the one question that closes the episode out: are you proud of where you are?

An honest, and genuinely funny conversation. This is ABO at its best.

Topics covered:

• Life with a newborn and the work-life juggle
• Being a present father AND a provider
• The weight goal, the why behind it, and Di's simple framework for making it stick
• Investment property vs. investment plan - Di challenges one of NZ's most default financial goals
• Know your numbers: in business, at home, and in investments
• Reflecting on the infamous episode from last year - and what was really going on behind the scenes

👕 Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by the legends at Barkers Clothing.

0:00 — Intro & what this episode covers

0:45 — Che's new baby - how it's actually going

5:57 — Di's take: stepping up to the plate

14:30 — The weight goal: 130kg → 120kg and why

15:33 — Doc was quietly protecting his diet during pregnancy

27:06 — What Che actually wants

30:19 — What the past few months have really meant

31:27 — Wrapping up

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Liam Messam is one of the most beloved figures in New Zealand rugby. Two-time Super Rugby champion, All Black, World Cup winner, and a 20-year servant of the Chiefs. But behind the jersey is a story most people have never heard.

Adopted at six weeks old into a Rotorua family that went on to foster close to a thousand children, Liam opens up about identity, belonging, and the household that gave him everything he is today.

In this episode we get into the conversation with Gordon Titchens at 16 that changed the trajectory of his career, being cut from the 2011 World Cup squad and walking through Auckland Airport alone into a media scrum, what Chiefs Mana actually means and where it came from, why Gilbert Enoka personally called him to be part of the 2023 World Cup Human Library alongside Dan Carter, Richie McCaw and Keven Mealamu, leading the haka for the All Blacks after being voluntold by Keven Mealamu, getting a yellow card as a water boy at the World Cup, and completing an Ironman at 108kg with almost no marathon training.

Plus lessons from Richie McCaw, Sonny Bill Williams and Dave Rennie, why he signed his last Waikato contract for $1, and how losing his mum to dementia shaped the brain health supplement brand he's building today.

Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by the legends at Barkers Clothing.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Having our former headmaster Susan Hassall on the podcast sent us deep down memory lane.

We go deep on NZ tuck shop nostalgia - the Juicies, the pies, the Cookie Time ritual - school discos, balls, prefects, wagging on a scooter, and what made Hamilton Boys' High so special.

We also reflect on the response to the Susan Hassall episode, the 300,000 views on the trailer alone, the floods of comments from people whose lives she touched, and her line that stopped people in their tracks: why boys need love most when they're at their most unlovable.

Plus we preview two massive upcoming guests - Melie Kerr, newly appointed White Ferns captain, who came in on game day and left us speechless. And Liam Messam - the most capped Chief of all time - whose story of leadership, culture and identity is one of the best conversations we've ever had.

Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers, and massive shout out to the legends at Stark for supporting this show.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Susan Hassall arrived at Hamilton Boys' High School in 1979 as a 22-year-old English teacher. She stayed for 46 years. In 1999, she became the first woman in New Zealand to be appointed headmaster of a boys' state school — a role she held for exactly 25 years.

In this conversation, Susan shares what she's learned about love, leadership, loss, and what it takes to raise good men. We talk about her mantra — "you can pretend to care, but you can't pretend to show up" — the Greek concept of aretē that became the school's cornerstone, why she believes vulnerability is the most important quality in a leader, and what people get wrong about teenage boys.

Susan also opens up about working through breast cancer without missing a day, losing her deputy Graeme Robinson to a heart attack in her office, the death of her husband James, and why the years immediately after school are the most critical for young men.

Whether you're a parent, a teacher, a coach, or just someone trying to figure out what matters most — this one's for you.

⚠️ This episode contains a discussion about suicide. If you or someone you know needs support, please reach out: Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 (available 24/7) Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or free text HELP to 4357 Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) Youthline: 0800 376 633 or free text 234

Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers. Check out their range at barkersonline.co.nz

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode of Accidental Business Owners, we welcome our first-ever guest to the show: actor, radio host, and entrepreneur Mike Minogue!

Two years ago, after appearing on the Between Two Beers podcast, Mike pitched us an idea that seemed too good to refuse: creating a corporate speaking bureau featuring our podcast guests. We launched B2B Speakers, and it was an immediate hit.

But today, we are announcing a "conscious uncoupling". In this honest conversation, we pull back the curtain on what happens when a side hustle grows faster than your capacity to manage it. We discuss why we are stepping away, how Mike is taking the reins, and the rebranding of the business to Frank Speakers.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Origin Story: How a late-night drive led Mike to pitch the B2B Speakers concept.
• The "Too Good" Problem: Why the rapid success of the business actually became its biggest stressor.
• Burnout & Capacity: Balancing a startup with radio shows, podcasts, and new babies.
• The Breakup: How to navigate a business exit without ruining a friendship.
• Frank Speakers: The future of the agency under the Frank Management umbrella.
• The Power of "Turning Up": Mike’s philosophy on consistency and why building trust takes 3–5 years.

Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Brown is best known as the co-founder of Allbirds - the New Zealand-born footwear brand that became a global phenomenon.

But before Silicon Valley, before the IPO, and before building one of the world’s most recognisable sustainable fashion brands, Tim was an All White, representing New Zealand on the world stage.

At just 31 years old, still in his prime, he made a decision that shocked many: he walked away from professional football.

In this episode, we explore the mindset behind that choice - and how the lessons from elite sport shaped the foundations of Allbirds.

We talk about:

• Missing his moment at the World Cup
• Identity, ego, and high-performance environments
• Knowing when to leave the party early
• The pressure of building a global brand
• What success really feels like on the other side
• 
  

This is a conversation about ambition, discipline, perspective, and taking the long view — from the pitch to the boardroom.

Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Hambassadors, we take you behind the scenes of a chaotic fortnight.

Steve confesses to messing up the opening line of the Halberg Awards and embarking on the world's longest, most stressful ad-lib in front of a live audience.

Seamus (a former goalkeeper) breaks down the "Phoenix Nightmare" - THAT viral own goal by Josh Oluwayemi - and explains why he wanted the ground to swallow him up just watching it.

Plus, we cover Steve’s obsession with his 94% sleep score, a $42 taxi ride that ruined the night, meeting Chris Wood’s dad, and the massive reaction to our episode with Dr. Lucy Hone.

Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brad Thorn is one of the most unique champions New Zealand sport has ever produced.

A dual-code legend, Brad achieved what almost no one has - winning NRL premierships, World Cups, Super Rugby titles, and earning the right to wear the All Blacks jersey at the highest level.

But behind the trophies is an obsession with discipline, standards, and doing the work that others won’t. In this conversation, Brad reflects on the mindset that shaped his career - the moments that hardened him, the sacrifices required to chase the black jersey, and why he believes “champions do extra.”

We talk about walking away from millions to start again, the lessons he learned from the toughest environments in sport, and what it really takes to become a master of your craft. An unforgettable episode with one of the greats.

Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re kicking off 2026 with a big change! Di walks into the studio with a completely shaved head, addressing the "elephant in the room" immediately.

But this episode isn't just about the new look - it’s about looking forward. Di introduces the "10,000 Days" framework: the idea that at mid-life, we have roughly 10,000 days left to live. The question isn't just what your net worth will be when you're 80, but whether you had a "sh*t ton of fun" getting there.

We also get into a heated debate about "parenting scorecards" (do you really need data to know if you’re a present dad?).

In this episode, we cover:

• The Big Reveal: Why Di shaved her head and the "interesting assumptions" people make.
• The 10,000 Days Rule: A framework for reverse-engineering your life from age 80.
• The "Shit Ton of Fun" Metric: Why financial freedom means nothing if you're miserable achieving it.

Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode includes discussion of grief, loss, and mental health, which some listeners may find distressing.

Dr Lucy Hone is one of the world’s leading voices on grief, resilience, and how humans survive life’s hardest moments.

In this episode, Lucy shares the tools and insights she’s developed through her work in resilience psychology - and through personal tragedy, after losing her 12-year-old daughter Abby in a sudden accident.

We talk about why grief isn’t just about death, but about any unwanted change we’re forced to endure, why so many of us struggle with “grief literacy,” and how opening up honest conversations about loss can help people breathe again.

This episode is brought to you by TAB. Download the TAB app or visit http://tab.co.nz to get your bet on. R18. Bet responsibly.

Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers.

If you or someone you know needs support, help is available. In New Zealand, you can call or text 1737 anytime to speak with a trained counsellor. If you are in immediate danger, please call 111.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.