Between Two Beers Podcast

On this episode of Between Two Beers we talk to Carlos Spencer.  Carlos is widely regarded as one of the best rugby players of his generation. He played 44 times for the All Blacks, 89 for Auckland, 99 for the Blues where he won two Super Rugby championships, then enjoyed professional stints playing and coaching in England, South Africa and Japan.  in this episode we talk about what it’s like parenting a potential sports star, his viral trick-shot videos from lockdown, how he caught the eye of Graham Henry, his first impressions of Jonah, the freak injury that cost him a World Cup, how he keeps the rig in such good nick, the strain of being a rugby globetrotter, *that* try against the Crusaders in Christchurch, toffee pops, reno rescues and what's next.  Carlos was one of rugby’s genuine superstars, but in person is such a humble, down to earth Kiwi bloke. He’s lived one hell of a life, with so many incredible stories to tell. This was a really fun one.  Show notes | Episode 101 | Carlos Spencer 2:00 90 minutes late after a Carlos Reno Rescue 3:22 HAMbassador chat 5:39 Peyton Spencer: history repeating? 9:13 Parenting a potential sports star 15:28 Viral sensations during lockdown 18:25 Playing club rugby and the Brisbane 10s in your 40s 23:35 Fight for Life and the boxing career 26:50 Back to Horowhenua and catching the eye of Graham Henry 33.34 From a small town to the big smoke: the shift to Auckland 38:40 At the forefront of professional rugby 43:23 Arrogance or confidence? 46:00 Missing the 1999 Rugby World Cup 49:21 Impressions of Jonah and reflections on rugby in Auckland in the 90s 55:40 Carlos and the media 57:12 The ballsiest play in New Zealand sport 1:02:02 Carlos’ relationship with Canterbury and Andrew Mehrtens 1:04:45 South African sojourn 1:10:40 Coaching in another language 1:12:17 The strain of being a rugby globetrotter 1:14:49 Carlos’ Reno Rescue and future projects 1:20:29 Toffeepops and last words from Steven, Seamus and CarlosSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Between Two Beers Seamus and Steve are toasting a double celebration.  It’s both our third birthday and our 100th episode, so we figured it was a good time to reflect on our podcasting journey, talk about some of the best, worst and cringiest moments along the way and play a few of our favourite clips. Bringing up the ton is something we’re both extremely proud of and we wanted this episode to give a bit of insight behind the scenes of the podcasting process.  We also wanted to say a huge thank you to you. For following us on this ride, listening, supporting and giving such great feedback.  And a special thank you to our loyal Patreons. Some who have been there since the very beginning. You helped us keep the lights on in the difficult early days – and we appreciate you. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mikey Havoc was one of the biggest stars in New Zealand entertainment for nearly two decades across music, radio and television. He started out as a singer in the rock band Push Push – a band named Group of the Year at the 1992 New Zealand Music Awards following their smash hit Trippin’ – before going on to pump up the volume as a dance DJ and the long-standing voice of alternative radio station bFM, where he made some of the most creative radio of the era. Mikey is also a familiar face on TV, with his former show Havoc which led to the infamous Havoc and Newsboy Sell Out Tour, where the dynamic duo of Mikey and Jeremy Wells took the country by storm and upset the whole of Gore. The juggernaut continued with another two Sell Out Tours and a series of shows including Havoc’s Luxury Suites and Conference Facilities and a remake of the Kiwi classic Top Town. His life, career and story is remarkable – and in two hours we only just scratched the surface. But there’s some real nuggets of gold in here, some top stories from the glory days and some raw moments of reflection. Show notes | Episode 99 | Mikey Havoc 2:02 Shaggy Sheepdog: Ol’ Havo takes us behind the scenes of The Masked Singer 12.10 Back to the start: four kids start a band called Push Push 16:38 Trippin’ and the rise to fame 22:10 Push Push push pause 26:14 Havoc hones his creative skills on bFM 35:38 Linking up with Jeremy Wells and the start of the TV journey 45:00 Faces of delight, or if you’re in the islands, Kumface 49:23 Gore 1:00:40 Life at the height of popularity and reflections on the TV career 1:11:21 Working with Jeremy Wells 1:17:10 Using his platform to speak to real issues 1:23:47 Havoc’s thoughts on his late father and his takes on fatherhood 1:37:18 What’s next for Mikey? 1:45:49 Last words from Steven, Seamus and MikeySee 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 Petra Bagust. Petra was one of the biggest stars of New Zealand television for 18 years. She burst onto the scene as a 22-year-old co-host of cult classic Ice TV, and walked away as host of NZ’s biggest gig on Breakfast, aged 40.  Since then she’s started her own popular podcast called Grey Areas, and is a media chaplain.  In this episode we talk about her rapid rise to fame in the late 90s,  why she had such a difficult time hosting Christmas in the Park with John Hawkesby, why ICE TV was so successful, reflections on ‘Petra the Virgin’, her shows that bombed – and why they didn’t work, Seamus reveals his 20-year old crush on Petra, we talk about the current media landscape and much, much more.  Petra is such a smooth communicator. She seamlessly switches from a witty gag to a heartfelt piece of wisdom, and it will quickly become apparent why she was the most in-demand host on TV in New Zealand for so long. We laughed a lot in this one, Petra is five-star company and this was a blast.  Show notes | Episode 98 | Petra Bagust 2:25: A taste of stardom: fan hugs with Petra 4:41: Podcast chat 12:44: Grey hair: a metaphor for freedom 18:03: Seamus owns his crush on Petra 24:26: Reflecting on 20 years on kiwi TV screens 27:42: ICETV and climbing the ladder 36:31: Being a 22-year-old in the spotlight 41:45: On-air chemistry 43:51: Petra the Christian Virgin 51:54: Travelling the world as a newly married couple 57:58: Sing Like a Superstar 1:00:39: Public recognition over the years 1:04:26: Juggling family life and work 1:09:30: Dealing with negative feedback 1:16:32: Leaving Breakfast, going on sabbatical, and Tearfund 1:22:59: Petra’s Te Reo Maori journey 1:29:27: Media chaplaincy and thoughts on the current media landscape 1:32:33: Last words from Steven, Seamus and PetraSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we’re winding the clock back two years to when we sat down with Matt Heath in November 2020. Matt was one of the first ‘big names’ that gave us his time when we were finding our feet in the podcast game, and we loved this one. Matt is an actor, producer, sports commentator, columnist, musician and radio host and can be heard hosting the Radio Hauraki breakfast radio show alongside Jeremy Wells, as well as commentating sport and smut with the Alternative Commentary Collective.  We talk about Matt’s humiliating experience at Laura McGoldrick’s wedding, his reflections on playing Danny Parker in Back of the Y Masterpiece Television, how his ‘fake’ band Deja Voodoo got a record contract, the time he made Jaquie Brown cry, the realities of working on breakfast radio and much more. Show notes | Matt Heath 1.49 Matt politely declines a beer after four hours broadcasting and a big weekend in Taupo 2.48 The time Seamus met Matt at Laura McGoldrick’s wedding and Matt got bullied into performing Deja Voodoo “Beers” at the reception 5.21 The time Steve joined the Matt and Jerry Show to talk the Kipchoge Challenge and got an insight into the realities of commercial radio 10.03 Balls of Steel UK and the time Matt and his mates slagged off their director unaware their mics were turned on 13.47 Back of the Y Masterpiece Television: beginnings, police complaints, show synopsis 20.06 Could the show exist in 2020? A recap of some of the more significant stunts and the end of the show 27.26 Our favourite band. Your favourite band: Deja Voodoo 30.03 Reflecting on Back of the Y and Deja Voodoo 36.58 The jump to radio via and mainstream television, and the journey from bFM to Radio Hauraki 46.40 “Changing lives”: Linking up with Jeremy Wells and creating The Matt & Jerry Show 49.10 Is there a line for Matt Heath? 51.29 Writing opinion columns for the NZ Herald   53.38 Vinewood Animation and winning awards with Fire in Cardboard City 56.17 Baz Heath: The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree 57.49 Making Jaquie Brown cry, wide ranging sports chat, and last words from Matt, Steven and SeamusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kendra Cocksedge is the most capped Black Fern of all time and their record point scorer who recently announced her retirement from rugby after a stellar career. In 2019 she became the first female player to win the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Trophy for New Zealand rugby player of the year. She was also recognised by World Rugby as the International Women’s Player of the Year in 2015 and was named as part of the World Rugby Team of the Decade for the 2010s. Growing up playing with boys in Taranaki from the age of four, Kendra turned away from a promising cricket career when she was called up by the Black Ferns in 2007 and learned valuable lessons from nine years sitting on the bench. Eventually, she rose to the very top of the game leading the haka in Christchurch in front of her proud parents and enjoying a fairytale end to her domestic rugby career. But Kendra is not done yet, with one more World Cup assignment ahead of her. This episode was in paid partnership with Rexona NZ, with Kendra charting her experiences in overcoming barriers along her journey in association with Rexona NZ's #NotDoneYet campaign. Show notes | Episode 97 | Kendra Cocksedge 2:27: NotDoneYet 8:59: A few tales from Kendra: school days, prank wars, axes and bike ramps 17:08: Leading the haka 23:11: Celine Dion 25:52: A fairytale finish to a Canterbury career 31:16: Back to barefoot rugby in Okato 41:34: The cricket career that could have been 45:58: Entering the Black Ferns environment at age 19 51:01: Mental health 54:17: Playing in Club footy 55:44: Nine years as a back up Black Fern 58:20: Taking a break from rugby 59:36: The changing perceptions of women’s rugby 1:07:07: Winning the World Rugby Player of the Year in 2015… 1:10:34 …and then backing it up with the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Trophy in 2018 1:19:47: The effect of Covid-19 on Kendra 1:21:35: If you can see it you can be it 1:24:18: The physical toll of 30 years in rugby 1:27:48: Nicknames 1:31:22: Last words from Steven, Seamus and KendraSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daniel Kereopa is a special person. You’ll hear it straight away. His messaging is subtle, captivating and deep. He’s disarming with his humour and self-depreciation, but behind it is real authenticity and humility. And he’s got an incredible story to tell. Daniel was one of New Zealand’s best surfers across the late 90s and early 2000s and travelled the world competing against the best. But in 2008 his world came crashing down. Across two years he lost all his sponsors, his marriage fell apart, he lost connection with his kids and came about as close to death as possible after a freak accident. In the midst of a deep depression, and a burnt heart, Daniel fell out of love with surfing, but used the structure and discipline of karate to help piece his life back together. After becoming a black belt, he returned to the water in 2015 to be crowned The Ultimate Waterman – beating nine of the world’s best water-athletes across five different ocean disciplines. Now Daniel’s life is all about helping. Teaching kids to surf, to love, and be safe, in the ocean and become better people – through his DK surf school. But he’s also under-utilised. He’s keen to do more public speaking, mentoring and ‘helping’. Show notes | Episode 96 | Daniel Kereopa 2:04 No Wikipedia page, memories of 90s and 00s DK 5:10 The ability to read people 8:39 From farm to ocean: Building a picture of DK the surfer 18:31 Becoming a professional surfer 29:03 Losing it all 36:21 Coming back from the dead and leading with aroha 50:42 The Ultimate Waterman win 1:01:49 DK Surf School: Teaching people how to connect with the water 1:06:31 DK on asking for help, helping others, parenthood, and Raglan 1:13:48 What does the future hold? 1:17:09 Living in the real world 1:20:52 Gratitude and last words from Steven, Seamus and DKSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brad Smeele was a world champion wakeboarder at the top of his game. His life was an endless summer of travel, competing, modelling, building and meeting women when a catastrophic accident changed his life and left him a quadriplegic in 2014. Brad talks about the astonishingly raw and honest book about his journey – Owning It – The Ride That Changed My Life. The mental and physical challenges of losing mobility, the realities of life without the use of limbs, his sex-life, what it looks like now and why he included so much of it in the book, the darkest thoughts he had – and how he overcame them, and his incredible path to happiness, fulfilment and being present. And how he got there. This is a chat that really left us speechless. Brad suffered just about the worst possible thing that could happen to a young man in the prime of his life – and has found a way to turn it into a positive. It certainly put our own struggles into perspective and we both left the episode feeling incredibly inspired. Show notes | Episode 95 | Brad Smeele 2:03 A busy week for Brad Smeele: the book launch, media appearances, and going head-to-head with Ross Taylor 5:00 Sex (and other reflections on the book) 11:42 Painting a picture of pre-accident Brad Smeele 21:59 A pause for breakdown on naming conventions for wakeboard tricks 24:29 A preamble to the accident: opening up, shitting yourself, and having real conversations with your mates 31:40 The accident 40:16 The initial recovery post-accident 53:12 Steve loops back to sex chat 55:36 Finding inspiration from tragedy: transitioning back to life in New Zealand 1:13:33 Helping other people deal with their shit 1:17:46 Owning It: the process of writing, editing, and launching the book (and Steve triples down on sex chat!) 1:22:30 Looking back at the accident 1:26:05 Last words from Steven, Seamus and BradSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan Hooker has been a professional fighter for the last 13 years, forging a path to becoming one of the best UFC lightweight fighters in the world through kickboxing, Muay Thai, and mixed martial arts. Dan gives us an insight into the realities of fighting for a living including reflections on dealing with head trauma, and all of his back catalogue in fight sports from featherweight all the way through to a heavyweight bout with an opponent who weighed over 130kg! He also takes us behind the scenes of the UFC machine all the way from signing his first contract in 2014 at UFC Auckland all the way to the PPV cards and his upcoming fight at UFC 281, press conferences with Conor McGregor, and training with Israel Adesanya. Dan is unique in the New Zealand sporting landscape. An athlete at the top of his field that calls it as he sees it. His thoughtful, introspective answers to some big questions revealed an incredibly likeable, warm guy. Show notes | Episode 94 | Dan Hooker 1:34: An appreciation for Export Gold! 2:23: Comparing a day at The Wiggles to a UFC PPV 7:11: Dan Hooker’s podcast history and some social media gold 10:50: Tricks of the trade as a doorman in downtown Auckland 15:52: Frenemies and training with Israel Adesanya 22:03: Taking a leg kick from Dan Hooker 24:37: Pre-combat sports Dan Hooker and the influence of The Ultimate Fighter 32:14: Dan Hooker v the 130kg heavyweight 37:42: Getting the call up to the UFC in 2014 44:39: The Edson Barboza fight 52:25: The aftermath of a big fight: Dustin Poirier and Paul Felder 57:48: Reflections on the management of a mixed martial arts career 1:04:34: Is the UFC a viable career for future athletes? 1:08:35: Backstage at the UFC 1:17:25: The importance of Eugene Bareman 1:21:47: The psychology of the weigh-in and the dynamic change with Conor McGregor on the card? 1:25:24: Cutting weight (and missing weight) 1:29:04: Head trauma, CTE, and combat sports 1:36:30: Fighting, family, public profile, and upcoming fights 1:41:10: Last words from Steven, Seamus and DanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk to Ross Taylor about the response he’s had to his new book ‘Black and White’, the joy of dominating schoolboy cricket with a teenage Jesse Ryder, the hidden agendas which led to him being ousted as Black Caps captain, becoming an overnight millionaire in the IPL auction, the best memories of the late Sir Martin Crowe, deep convos with Kane Williamson, what life after cricket looks like and much, much more. Show notes | Episode 93 | Ross Taylor 1:51: Is Ross Taylor a HAMbassador? 4:06: The journey after launching the new book Black and White 10:23: The process of writing the book and pulling out transcripts after eight years  13:25: The fallout after the first five days 14:54: Will Ross Taylor still pay for half of Seamus’ wedding?  17:20: What’s The Time Mr. Wolf? 19:58: Opportunity costs and getting used to life at home 26:41: The change in Ross Taylor from the start of his career to the end 27:57: Rising through the ranks at Central Districts and growing up with Jesse Ryder  36:48: Early sponsorships, why Ross could never play rugby, and being available for domestic cricket 43:06: The mechanics of an IPL auction 48:45: The captaincy saga 56:11: Similarities to the Ian Foster All Blacks coaching situation  1:00:19: Does time heal old wounds? 1:06:55: Racism, culture, and identity 1:16:48: Ross Taylor on the late Sir Martin Crowe 1:23:46: The relationship with NZ Cricket 1:26:12: Ian Smith, Andy Haden, and Leanne McGoldrick 1:30:28: A conversation between Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson 1:33:23: The long, bumpy road to retirement  1:44:08: What’s next for Ross Taylor? 1:46:25: Some quick yarns the boom box in the Long Room at Lords, Peter Andre’s Mysterious Girl, and a near miss in St Kitts  1.54.03: Last words from Steven, Seamus and RossSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.