Between Two Beers Podcast

Melodie is a Kiwi trailblazer, with a CV as good as any that have come across the BTB desk. She’s won two rugby World Cups with the Black Ferns, worked at parliament as a journalist, was the first female rugby commentator in the world, perfected her craft across 15 years at SKY before becoming a communications executive – and she is now TVNZ’s General Manager, Sport and Events. She also has an MBA from Auckland uni, two sons and is married to one of New Zealand’s best golf pros.  In this episode we talk about her most viral moments behind the microphone, young Mel the beauty queen who started scraps, how Murray Deaker helped kick start her career, the first time she met Ruby Tui, the current state of women’s sport coverage in NZ, the Black Ferns and so much more.  Mel was an incredible guest. She’s risen to the top of every field she’s entered – and done it with true authenticity. She’s the real –deal – you’ll love this one.  Show notes | Episode 113 | Melodie Robinson 1:52: The Black Clash 5:54: Could Mel make it on the Alternative Commentary Collective? 10:21: Reflecting on an impressive CV via an incredibly supportive mum and dad 16:00: Melodie on losing your parents (and Celebrity Treasure Island) 21:51: Cutting her teeth in the parliament press gallery 27:38: A beauty queen who started scraps on the footy field 31:32: Mel the scarfie: University and rugby in Otago 34:48: The early days of the Black Ferns 41:31: How a university research project set a career in motion 43:49: A phone call to Murray Deaker leads to an opportunity with Sky TV 49:44: Starting out at Sky TV 52:20: Behind the mic from a woman’s perspective 56:25: A Steve Walsh interlude 57:38: William and Kate’s wedding night 1:03:11: Women on screen: Laura McGoldrick, Rikki Swannell and Ruby Tui 1:09:11: The importance of appearance on TV 1:11:03: Losing two greats: Willie Lose and Va’aiga Tuigamala 1:17:05 The current state of women’s sports coverage and the Black Ferns win 1:24:37: Life as TVNZ General Manager Sports and Events 1:30:22: Steve’s wounding golf chat 1:32:04: Last words from Steve, Seamus and MelodieSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Between Two Beers we talk to Mike Minogue.   Mike is a talented man. He’s a creator, writer, producer and actor, a star of the Big Show on Radio Hauraki, and a member of The Alternative Commentary Collective.  You also might have seen him in What We Do in The Shadows, or as the lead character Officer Minogue in the spinoff TV show Wellington Paranormal -  and he’s recently produced the critically acclaimed film Coming Home in the Dark.  In this episode we talk about his late start in the arts, his emergency circumcision, his relationship with alcohol, the loss of his father, what it’s like working with Jermaine Clement, Taika Waititi, Leigh Hart and Jason Hoyte, the most pivotal moment in his career and all the best stories in between.  Mike is someone Seamus and I find hilarious. His persona, and comedic timing in his drive show with Jase and Keyzie is pitch perfect, but this ep reveals the depth of character behind the gags. We talk about some areas of his journey that he hasn’t aired before, and the thoughtfulness of his answers and the vulnerability he showed was inspiring. He’s a very impressive man, I think you’ll enjoy this one.  Also there’s one section where you might notice a few jumpy edits, for legal reasons we edited out the name of the show, but wanted to keep the important discussion around it. I think it still works.        This episode was brought to you from the Export Beer garden studio. Enjoy.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Henry was one of New Zealand’s last great broadcasting celebrities. He was a radio broadcaster through the 1980s, but it wasn’t until 2004 that he became a household name. His seven-year tenure on Breakfast saw ratings soar and he boasted the type of star power at his peak that just doesn’t exist in broadcasting anymore. But alongside the fame were a number of on-air controversies that followed his career. Paul’s rise to fame and fortune is even more incredible when you chart his journey from abstract poverty in Bristol being raised by his single mother. Not to mention brushes with danger as a foreign correspondent that included being detained in Iraq, shot at in Cambodia, nearly lynched in the slums of Calcutta, threatened by the French navy at Mururoa and shelled in Bosnia. But it all makes for a rich tapestry of life that we were lucky enough to hear about. Paul doesn’t normally do this sort of thing, so we’re feeling very lucky. Show notes | Episode 111 | Paul Henry 1:52: Between Two Beers (with The Henry Gin) 7:40: Landing Paul Henry on the podcast: a story via Sudan and Osama bin Laden 17:37: “A rich tapestry of life” 21:05: Sodomy in Malaysia and being detained in Iraq 35:27: Life as a foreign correspondent 42:10: Jesus Boots and growing up in poverty 47:55: Lessons from mum and dad 55:59: The journey to becoming the biggest broadcaster in New Zealand 1:02:28: Reflections on breakfast television 1:08:09: Pushing the boundaries: the controversies of Paul Henry 1:17:18: Commercial whaling with Guy Williams 1:19:27: Life after broadcasting 1:22:43: Palm Springs, nudism and perineum sunning 1:26:42: What next for Paul Henry? 1:33:00: Interviews and the three-question method 1:36:08: Last words from Steve, Seamus and PaulSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we’re rewinding the clock back to September 2021 when we sat down with Eugene Bareman.    Eugene is New Zealand’s MMA mastermind.    He’s a fighter - a multiple NZ champion in kickboxing, Jui Jitsu and MMA, A business owner - his Auckland gym City Kickboxing is widely regarded as one of the best MMA gyms in the world and a coach who has produced a group of fighters that have soared to the top of the UFC world. Eugene was named UFC coach of the years in 2019 and 2020 and has trained two UFC champions.   In this episode we talk about why he dropped out of school in fifth form, and the work ethic that saw him rebound to get an A bursary and go to law school, why he stopped fighting, and when he might start again, what really happens in the UFC locker rooms before a big fightnight, the first time he ever met Israel Adesanya and how he sees him differently to the rest of the world -  and the best pranks seen at his City Kickboxing gym.   This was a really deep, insightful chat, and it’s so easy to see why and how Eugene has won the respect of so many around the world. His thirst to improve, worth ethic, humbleness, honesty and wisdom, makes this episode a cracker – even if you’re not an MMA fan.   Listen here on iheart or wherever you get your podcasts from and check your podcast app for show notes. A huge thanks to those donating to the cause on Patreon, if you want to support the show go to www.betweentwobeers.com.  This episode was brought to you from the Export Beer Garden studio.  Show notes | Eugene Bareman | Re-Release 2:00: Back at Massey High School: rugby, study, and the turning point of his life 12:51: Family fundamentals: Provide for your children, back yourself, learn from your mistakes 16:20: Law school and falling in love with fighting 22:20: Eugene Bareman: the fighter 26:20: On mental toughness 30:45: The ambition to get to 50 fights 34:40: Has this journey gone better than imagined? 37:33: Getting into the UFC 42:20: Israel Adesanya 51:34: Behind the scenes of a UFC fight night: locker room and between rounds 1:03:41: Reacting to losses in combat sports 1:10:21: City Kickboxing: Changing lives 1:17:39: The weight of responsibility 1:21:19: Hard work, pranks and banter 1:25:52: The role of the trainer in combat sports 1:31:05: Getting recognised overseas 1.33.01: Last words from Steven, Seamus and EugeneSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Between Two Beers we talk to Luke Kemeys. Luke is a chartered accountant, a business advisor, and the driving force behind one of New Zealand’s most engaged Facebook Groups, Boys Get Paid.  BGP is New Zealand’s biggest punters club and while this episode does have some interesting chat about the horses, it also transcends racing, as Luke shares his experienced wisdom in building communities and business strategies that will work in the modern age.  In this episode Luke tells us how his Facebook Group which started with five people turned into a 21,000+ monster, how he helped turn his NextAdvisory accounting firm into a million-dollar business in five years, the power of Linkedin, relationship building and storytelling, the time he narrowly missed out on a $1million dollar collect at the races, all BGP’s most audacious bets and much much more.  Luke’s thirst to grow, improve and learn is inspiring. He’s a super sharp guy, doing big things in the community, with a million tales to tell. You’ll love this one.  Listen on iheart or wherever you get your podcasts from, and check your podcast app for show notes. You can watch the video of this one on Youtube. A huge thanks to those supporting the show on Patreon for the cost of a cup of coffee a month, to get involved head to BetweenTwoBeers.com.               This episode was brought to you from the Export Beer garden studio. Enjoy.  Show notes | Episode 110 | Luke Kemeys 1:39: An away game for Luke in the Export Beer Garden Studio 3:49: A business meeting over a couple of Fiji Gold’s in August 2017 8:26: Boys Get Paid: the beginning of the punters club journey 20:20: BGP and the power of community 28:15: Behind the scenes of building an app 34:20: BGP grandpa 37:19: Becoming more recognisable 39:46: Misconceptions of BGP and the race industry 46:13: The financial realities of BGP 51:39: Next Advisory: changing the accounting game 58:19: Using social media to connect with Rob Fyfe 1:03:31: Talking bets 1:16:34: Luke and his gambling habits 1:26:20: Luke on men’s health 1:28:40: Last words from Steve, Seamus and LukeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 'best of entertainment 2022' compilation, we pick out a bunch of our favourite snippets from our favourite episodes with non-sporting guests across the year. Included are Jack Tame, Jason Hoyte, Hayley Sproull, Chris Parker, PJ Harding, Mikey Havoc, Dom Harvey, Brodie Kane, Mitch James, Petra Bagust, Lucy Blakiston and Jono and Ben. Show notes | Episode 109 | Best of Entertainment 0:28: Best of 2022 Entertainment 2:22: Jack Tame on the art of interviewing Winston Peters 7:09: Jason Hoyte on the absurdity of working with Leigh Hart and THAT scene with Nadia Lim 12:26: Lucy Blakiston on the Instagram growth from 1 million to 3 million followers 16:38: Jono and Ben open up on suicide 20:42: Hayley Sproull on the content of her DMs 26:15: Chris Parker’s goldfish story and auditioning for David Bain 33:05: The story behind the Gore gag with Mikey Havoc 41:58: Petra Bagust on being New Zealand’s most famous virgin 49:52: Mitch James’ early career as a busker 57:24: Brodie Kane on the transition from broadcast to podcast 1:07:30: The difficult act of working with your partner with Dom Harvey 1:14:22: PJ takes us on a tour of Seamus’ DMsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this 'Best of sport 2022' compilation, we pick out a bunch of our favourite snippets from our favourite sport episodes across the year. Included are Dion Nash, Kendra Cocksedge, Ryan Fox, Shane Cameron, Ric Salizzo, Brad Smeele, Eliza McCartney, Ross Taylor, Daniel Kereopa, Lance Cairns, Grant Fox and Ruth Croft. Show notes | Episode 108 | Best of Sport 0:29: Best of 2022 Sport, welcome to Between Two Beers 2:24: Dion Nash shares the real story of the weed scandal in South Africa from 1995 15:43: Ryan Fox shares his best Tiger Woods stories 27:53: Kendra Cocksedge reveals the origin of her eye-raising nickname 31:32: Shane Cameron takes us inside the fight of the century with David Tua 42:10: Ric Salizzo reveals the happy chaos of Sports Café 53:24: Former professional wakeboarder Brad Smeele shares the details of the tragic day when he suffered a horror injury attempting one of the hardest tricks in the world and ended with him waking up as a quadriplegic 1:02:13: At 19, Kiwi pole vaulter Eliza McCartney won Kiwi hearts and a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics. She takes us back to that special day 1:13:23: Ross Taylor gets candid about the Black Caps captaincy saga that cast a shadow over his career 1:20:39: Surfer Daniel Kereopa had the world at his feet, until it all fell apart 1:32:44: Lance Cairns talks about his son, Christopher 1:44:27: Grant Fox opens up on his friendship with the late, great Sir Martin Crowe 1:54:47: Trail-running world champion Ruth Croft shares her journey through meditationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Between Two Beers we talk to Butch Miller.  Butch is best known for being one-half of the WWE Hall of Fame tag-team, the Bushwhackers.  Butch is 78-years old and lives a fairly simple life in Wellington these days. But he’s still firing on all cylinders – and some of the yarns shared across this one were quite breathtaking.  Like how he started wrestling with team-mate Luke in 1966, and trained for 10 years with Hulk Hogan and Macho Man Randy Savage in a Californian gym, his behind-the-scenes stories of fighting Andre the Giant and traveling with him on the road in New Zealand, fighting in front of 96,000 people at Wembley, fighting Dwayne the Rock Johnson’s grandad, the origins of the Bushwhacker walk, negotiating with Vince McMahon, transitioning from the Sheepherders to the BabyFace Bushwackers, and so much more.  The BushWhackers were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015, to honour their 35-year journey through professional wrestling, the trials and tribulations along the way and their elevation to the top of the wrestling world. And Butch has recently released a book, Blood Sweat and Cheers which captures the journey with some unbelievable stories. Would make a great xmas prezzy for a few dads out there.  Butch is a hard case and a legend. But with a soft, caring, sensitive underbelly. And this one even got a bit emotional at the end when he was talking about how proud he was of his journey. And we were right there with him. Hopefully you enjoy this as much as we did. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Between Two Beers we talk to Ruth Croft.  Ruth is New Zealand’s trail running queen. In 2021 she made headlines winning the 102km Tarawera Ultra outright – the top man or woman – and then finished second at Western States in her first attempt at running 100 miles. She returned this year, to win the race (referred to as one of the toughest races on the planet) conquering the 161km race in blistering California heat in 17 hours.  In this episode we talk about the mentality of navigating a 100 mile challenge, where the 'race really only starts after 100km', her journey through meditation to multi-day silent retreats - and why she has started doing them in the dark, why she walked away from running after college in the US, moving to Taiwan by herself when she knew no one and couldn’t speak their language, the most exotic locations she’s run in, coming back to NZ, media exposure and so much more.  This ep will blow your mind. Ruth might be the mentally strongest athlete we’ve talked to. She’s won 10 of the last 12 races she’s competed in, against the best ultra-athletes in the world. And after listening to this, you’ll understand why. Such a thoughtful, disciplined, inspiring Kiwi legend. You’re gonna love this.  Listen on iheart or wherever you get your podcasts from, and check your podcast app for show notes. A huge thanks to those supporting the show on Patreon for the cost of a cup of coffee a month, to get involved head to Between Two Beers.com.              This episode was brought to you from the Export Beer garden studio. Enjoy.  Show notes | Episode 106 | Ruth Croft 2:00: “Easing” back into running in Taiwan with a casual 20km run 5:50: Short runs: “Oh, no that’s a different curry story!” 8:47: Jumping off Brunner Bridge as an initiation 11:16: Meditation and silent retreats 16:28: Darkness retreats! 20:45: Mastering the mind 24:52: Ruth’s West Coast competitiveness 27:54: The origin story: Growing up on the West Coast 31:07: The US college experience 39:11: Walking away from running and the importance of Taiwan 43:17: The journey to professional running and the nuances of distance running 50:04: “The race starts at 100km”: The Western States 100 mile race 57:35: The support crew at a trail race 1:02:32: Coaches: Jono Wyatt and Eddie Gray 1:05:48: The support of a good partner (with a dinosaur suit) 1:08:55: Having fun in a 100 mile race 1:10:16: Thoughts on winning the Tarawera Ultra 1:12:35: Life as a professional runner 1:17:42: The lure of the Olympics? 1:19:38: Some of the exotic running locations on the circuit 1:23:10: Coming home to New Zealand and thoughts on the running community 1:28:03: Last words from Steven, Seamus and Ruth  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Between Two Beers we talk to Marcus Daniell.  Marcus is one of New Zealand’s best tennis players. He’s an Olympic bronze medallist, who's won 5 ATP titles, made quarterfinal appearances at both Wimbledon and the Australian Open and has won over $1 million in prizemoney across his career.  This episode is kind of split into two parts. The first half tells the story of Marcus, the incredible man-child who cut his path to the top of the tennis world and all the trials and tribulations along the way. And the second half focuses on the incredible work he’s been doing off the court.  In January 2021, Marcus pledged to give at least 10% of his annual winnings to effective organisations for the rest of his life. Since then he’s recruited 130 athletes across 35 sports and 30 countries to follow his lead.  Last year he won the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award, formerly won by Nelson Mandela, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic as an acknowledgment of the incredible work he’s been doing in the charity space. Marcus is an exceptionally sharp operator. This chat goes into some super insightful areas and every answer is thoughtful and considered. He’s got a huge future off the court when he decides to hang up the raquet. You’ll enjoy this one.  Listen on iheart or wherevers you get your podcasts from, and check you podcast app for show notes. A huge thanks to those supporting the show on patreon for the cost of a cup of coffee a month, to get involved head to Between Two Beers.com.             This episode was brought to you from the Export Beer garden studio. Enjoy.  Show notes: 2:02: Marcus Daniell a two-day Hambassador, the Harvard of the South Pacific, and a humble wife brag 7:54: A Wikipedia check in and golf chat 12:19: Worshipping at the Chapel of Bullshit 22:56: Rubbing shoulders with the biggest names in tennis 27:06: Beating senior men at the age of 10 30:03: Super high-achieving siblings 32:31: Full engagement 36:05: Football v tennis 40:14: Moving to Slovakia at 17 45:22: Turning pro and moving into doubles 54:56: Life on the tennis tour 57:47: Bronze at the Tokyo Olympic Games 1:06:28: Effective Alturism and High Impact Athletes (HIA) 1:11:37: The growth of HIA 1:19:12 Winning the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award 1:21:28: Choosing the right charities 1:26:26: Cultivating the belief system 1:30:49: Balancing a pro tennis career and managing a charity 1:32:11: Considerations for retirement and post tennis career options 1:37:52: Last words from Steven, Seamus and MarcusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.