Between Two Beers Podcast

On this episode of Between Two Beers we talk to Guyon Espiner.  Guyon is one of New Zealand’s most highly respected journalists and has worked in print, radio and television for more than 20 years, as a reporter, political editor and anchor.  He has reported on trade from China, on war from Afghanistan, on politics from Washington, and on climate change from Antarctica.  He currently works at Radio New Zealand as an investigative journalist and has just released his new book THE DRINKING GAME – which looks at how big business, the media and politicians shape the way we drink.  In this episode we talk about Guyon’s friendship and rivalry with Duncan Garner, what life is really like in the parliamentary press gallery, why he crossed the floor from TVNZ to TV3, the art of interviewing politicians, his best Winston Peters drinking story – and their most memorable interview and his new book and why he turned away from the booze.  This was a cracking ep. Guyon is sharp, worldly and insightful and his experiences and stories from two decades in New Zealand journalism would rival anyone in the country. You’ll love this one.  Listen on iheart or wherevers you get your podcasts from, or watch the video 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 Between Two Beers.com. And While you’re there signup to our new weekly newsletter which has behind the scenes recaps of each episode.                  Show notes | Episode 118 | Guyon Espiner 1:30: The Drinking Game and being “sober curious” 6:14: Cricket and Paddy Gower 10:13: Guyon Espiner v Duncan Garner 14:08: Life in the parliamentary press gallery 20:03: Is anything genuinely off the record? 22:16: Crossing the floor from TVNZ to TV3 24:15: Winston Peters 34:01: The art of interviewing politicians 41:25: Morning Report and Radio New Zealand 45:47: Stepping back into investigative journalism 53:15: The decision to stop drinking 1:00:20: Having the ugly conversation with your mates 1:06:30: The Te Reo journey 1:10:10: Running as a mental health pillarSee 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 Guy Williams.  Guy is one of New Zealand’s best-known comedians who has worked on many of New Zealand’s biggest TV shows.  He was a co-host on Jono and Ben, a radio DJ at The Edge, featured on shows like Come Dine With Me, The Extra Factor and Taskmaster and for the last four years has been working on his critically acclaimed show New Zealand Today.  In this one we talk about bad names for podcasts, why he was the worst ever contestant on Taskmaster, what its really like to be the gag-man at serious sport press conferences, his complicated relationship with Sonny Bill Williams, interviewing the Mongrol Mob, Patrick and Roy, why New Zealand Today has been so popular and much, much more.  Guy is a tornado of energy, noise and good chat. This was really fun, so many entertaining stories mixed with moments of real introspection. You’ll love this one. 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 Dame Lisa Carrington.  Lisa is New Zealand’s most successful Olympian of all time with five Olympic gold medals in the sprint Kayak, one bronze and 12 World Championship titles.  For over a decade, Lisa has been the best in the world at her sport and after listening to this conversation it will become clear why.  We go deep inside the mind of a champion, and talk about her relationship with self-doubt and high performance, why she hasn’t missed training in 13 years, and how she deals with race-day pressure. We also hear about her passport slip-ups, gym playlists, superstitions, the power of journalling, and all the best and most entertaining stories from a life on the road.  Seamus and I were mesmerized by this chat in places. It's so rare you get such an extended period of time to probe away at the inner workings of the very best in the world, and Lisa’s discipline, thought process, and ability to articulate how she succeeds was really, really cool. Show notes | Episode 116 | Dame Lisa Carrington 2:05: Halberg Awards, table seating, and wardrobe malfunctions 6:40: A loose circle: gym playlists, red sunglasses, claiming the master bedroom 12:38: Lisa and her passport 18:50: Consistency 20:52: The early years in Whakatane 29:13: “…she uses kayaking to be a better person…” 33:08: Lisa’s attitude to training 40:30: Inside the mind of a champion: Tokyo 2021 47:08: Dealing with self-doubt 52:23: Winning the gold medal to become New Zealand’s most decorated Olympian 55:31: Lisa on coaching and building on your foundations 1:01:42: The power of journaling 1:04:24: Covid chat 1:08:44: What’s next? 1:10:19: Being in the hurt locker 1:14:11: A night out after the gold medal in London 1:18:55: Fame (here and abroad) 1:22:22: Recognising accolades 1:26:06: Last words from Steve, Seamus and LisaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Between Two Beers we’re rewinding the clock back to September of 2021 when we sat down with Paddy Gower.   Paddy is one of New Zealand’s most senior journalists with over 22 years in all forms of journalism. He’s been newshub’s political editor, an award-winning investigative journalist in  print and broadcasting – has covered warzones and major world events, has hosted leaders debates and is a documentary maker raising issues of national signficance.    But despite all this, by his own admission – he's most well known for saying ‘This is the fuckin news” and smoking weed on TV.   In this episode we find out why that is, what I experienced when I went to a Hamilton pub with Paddy after midnight, how All Black Conrad Smith helped him prepare for the leaders debate, the time he left his passport behind when travelling with the prime minister in Iraq, the breakdown that led to him quitting as Newshub Political editor, the horror interview he’ll never forget and a whole lot  more.   Paddy is a deep thinker and was a joy to share company with. He’s authentic, vulnerable, honest and entertaining. This was one of our most memorable earlier episodes, and wanted to share with our new audience.   It should be noted that this was also recorded a few months before Paddy turned away from booze. So keep that in mind when you hear a few references to alcohol.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 Marc Ellis.  Marc has done enough in his life to have an episode dedicated to each chapter.  He played rugby for Otago, North Harbour, Blues, Highlanders and All Blacks and League for the Warriors and Kiwis, founded Charlie’s juice company – which after 10 years he sold to Asahi for $129 million, and was one of New Zealand’s top television stars for over a decade.  In this episode we talk about what it was like to walk away with $18 million after selling Charlie’s - and why he decided to keep working, the best stories from university in Dunedin and touring with the All Blacks, why he thinks he was poisoned before the 1995 Rugby World Cup final, the time he was nearly killed by a bowling machine, the glory days with Ridgey, his favourite moments from Sports Café, what he’s doing now and much much more.  Marc was our dream guest – and he delivered. Seamus and I grew up watching his unpredictable brand of hijinx and gags on TV, and his infectiously positive and fun personality rubbed off on us both. But behind the laughs and wild stories is an incredibly driven, successful, thoughtful guy and we had so much fun working through his full story. You'll love this one.  Show notes | Episode 115 | Marc Ellis Show notes | Episode 115 | Marc Ellis 2:14: A pinch yourself moment and a local speak easy 4:21: That time Marc nearly killed himself alone with a bowling machine 7:15: The Human Cannonball, the boat, and the Round Lake Taupo cycle 15:15: The last ten years of Marc Ellis 16:57: Macca at high school 19:43: The King of Otago University 22:49: Scarfie hijinks 25:01: Otago rugby and All Blacks tours 30:01: “Suzie” at the 1995 Rugby World Cup 33:38: Setting up Charlies 39:34: The decision to sell Charlies 46:12: The Warriors, Jonah, and JK 52:34: Sports Café 1:03:59: Matthew Ridge and Marc Ellis 1:11:21: Working on More FM after becoming a multi-millionaire 1:15:32: The Rangitoto stunt 1:19:13: Media Blanco and life now 1:21:35: Fame and anonymity 1:22:49: Advice from a father to a son 1:29:40: Last words from Steve, Seamus and MarcSee 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 Dave Wood.  Dave is a human performance specialist who works with some of the world’s most elite athletes to make them better at their job.   He is currently Israel Adesanya’s breathing and mindset coach, and in a recent interview Adesanya said Wood ‘opened his eyes’ to the power of breathwork.   Wood is now one of the most in-demand integrated health specialists in Australasia and has worked with Blair Tuke, Ella Williams, Kai Kara France – and one of Germany’s top footballers -  but the story of how he got to the top might be as remarkable as his quick rise.  We talk about his debilitating hip injury, the failed attempts at rehab through traditional sources - and hitting rock bottom. Then The drive, desire and success of figuring a solution out on his own – and how he started teaching it to others - while working as an intensive care paramedic.   Dave doesn’t normally do these types of interviews – and we feel grateful he gave us so much. We delved deep into his back story – and he was incredibly open about some of the most challenging moments in his life. He teaches stress mitigation, and being ‘calm under pressure’ and some of his ‘real world’ examples of what he’s been through – and travel stories - will blow you away.  This was a cracker ep and it’s easy to see why Dave has risen to the top of his field. He’s relatable, he's real, he’s whip-smart and has lived one hell of a life. You’ll love this one.  Listen on iheart or wherevers you get your podcasts from, and check you 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 Between Two Beers.com.                 This episode was brought to you from the Export Beer garden studio. Enjoy.  Show notes | Episode 114 | Dave Wood 1:38: The stress (or not) of the Auckland floods 3:43: The sausage story 8:14: The makings of Dave Wood 13:11: “I don’t want to go on a holiday, I want to challenge myself” 15:17: Left at sea in Bali 19:04: A culmination of experiences 21:11: Living in a lighthouse on the Andaman Islands 31:09: Seven days with a camel 36:23: Travel hardships in Venezuela 44:21: Reinventing himself as an Intensive Care Paramedic 49:57: Dealing with chronic pain: The creation of integrated training 57:12: Overcoming obstacles 59:33: From start up to working with Israel Adesanya 1:05:14: From athletes to corporates 1:10:17: A German football interlude 1:11:35: The importance of breathing 1:20:15: Wim Hof and cold showers 1:25:11: Can you read people’s stress levels? 1:29:27: The five pillars of health 1:34:27: The importance of the natural environment 1:37:38: Manifestation 1:40:07: Last words from Steve, Seamus and DaveSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.