Between Two Beers Podcast

Hayley Sproull is one of New Zealand’s top entertainers and definitely one of the busiest! She is co-host on ZM's hugely popular Fletch, Vaughan and Hayley Breakfast Show. She has been co-host of The Great Kiwi Bake Off and more recently the host of comedic current affairs show Have You Been Paying Attention? She plays the lead role in the kiwi sitcom Golden Boy which premiered in 2019. A graduate of Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School, her original passion was for theatre and comedy which lead her to create a number of successful comedy works, including 'Miss Fletcher Sings the Blues', 'Tighty Whiteys', 'Milky Bits', and 'Vanilla Miraka', earning her an array of praise and accolades. She has been a writer on many series including Jono and Ben, 7 Days and Funny Girls, with a weekly segment Hayley Bailey featuring on the Jono and Ben show. Funny, smart, musical and driven, we were blown away by how good she is at so many different things! Show notes | Episode 87 | Hayley Sproull 1.41: Busy, busy, busy! The busiest woman in the industry 5.28: Breakfast radio: Pulling the fingers at Jono and Ben every morning 10.36: A closed circle of friends…except for Sam Sproull: Hayley’s Comet and Talk Teddies 20.38: Fletch, Vaughan and Hayley 27.38: Hayley’s Version 35.15: A look into the early making of Hayley Sproull 38.51: Creative projects: Miss Fletcher Sings the Blues, You Make Me Feel like a Natural Woman, Tighty Whiteys, and Milky Bits 44.37: An intensely personal creation: Vanilla Miraka 54.34: Writing for Jono and Ben and Hayley Bailey 59.30: A brief look into the world of Hayley Sproull’s DMs 1.04.59: Moving into prime time: co-hosting The Great Kiwi Bake Off, hosting Have You Been Paying Attention? and acting in Golden Boy 1.10.23: Have You Been Paying Attention? It’s more than just hold and lean 1.19.52: Marching chat 1.29.54: Coaching in Oman 1.33.35: Bits and pieces: dating Greg Grover from Nova, System of a Lounge, and being a goth girl at high school 1.38.43: Using her platform to push topics: having PCOS and a Simon Bridges joke on 7 Days that took a turn 1.41.53: Last words from Steven, Seamus and HayleySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grant Fox is one of the best to have ever worn the All Blacks no10 jersey and is still regarded as one of the finest goal-kickers of all time. He scored 645 points across 46 tests, and played nearly 200 games for Auckland in domestic rugby. He’s been involved in New Zealand rugby for over 40 years as a player, coach, and for the last 10 years as an All Blacks selector. Since retiring from playing in 1993 he’s also been a business owner, a broadcaster, and a dad to Ryan Fox – New Zealand’s top golfer – and daughter Kendall. In the episode Grant shares some really important messages about being present for your kids, as well as an organisation he supports for young men without dads – Big Buddies. He enjoyed a 40-year friendship with the late Sir Martin Crowe and opens up on their relationship, as well as thoughts on Sir John Kirwan, touring in the 80s and 90s, the inaugural Rugby World Cup. Show notes | Episode 86 | Grant Fox 1.49: Then and now: an All Blacks squad naming in 1984 v 2022 4.14: Six steps back, two steps to the side and Auckland bring the Ranfurly Shield to Taupo in 1992 6.23: On being Ryan Fox’s dad 11.49: The competitive nature between father and son (interrupted by a phone call from Sir John Kirwan) 18.00: Grant Fox the caddy 21.26: A short fuse, a lack of patience, and aversion to technology 28.10: Some thoughts on parenthood 35.53: A 40-year friendship with Sir Martin Crowe that started at Auckland Grammar School 47.09: Grant Fox: This is Your Life 50.16: A Va’aiga Tuigamala interlude 52.30: Personal and professional friendships: a Sir John Kirwan case study 1.00.00: All Blacks tours in the 80s and 90s 1.03.10: The 1987 Rugby World Cup 1.09.37: The try that wasn’t against Ireland 1.13.45: Hard work and goal kicking 1.16.47: A special relationship with The British and Irish Lions 1.21.16: “Coaching wasn’t for me” 1.26.09: The role of an All Blacks selector 1.38.11: Life outside of rugby 1.40.33: Last words from Steven, Seamus and Grant  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jono Pryor and Ben Boyce otherwise known as Jono and Ben are one of the most recognisable duos in New Zealand entertainment. After starting out as stars in their own right they came together as Jono and Ben a juggernaut of Kiwi comedy that was one of TVs top rating shows for seven years. The show helped launch the career of many of New Zealand's top comedic acts and their skits and pranks became legendary and live on to this day. From Ben starting out on Pulp Sport and Jono on being professionally tortured on “do stuff to Jono Friday's” they are now the hosts of the breakfast show on The Hits and their broadcast journey has mirrored their life arc with their content maturing as they have. There is no ego with these guys despite their success, they are genuine, warm, funny and quick witted, but there's great depth to them and they touch on very serious, important themes – like asking for help – and being there for your mates in tough times. Show notes | Episode 85 | Jono and Ben 1.50: Not the traditional three-way but a comfortable four-way including sponsors product and beard envy 2.55: Talkability promotions: Jono's Sky City marathon 6.58: Influences on the come up: Marc and Matthew, Sports Café, Eating Media Lunch 12.56: Old men reminisce about stuff: video stores and the VHS, taping songs off the radio 15.45: “Show us your crack”: New Zealand's most famous radio jingle courtesy of Ben 18.57: Pulp Sport: a YouTube show that made it to Sky Sport 23.52: The pilot skit that went very wrong for Ben 29.50: Do stuff to Jono: experiences in commercial radio 37.57 Jono gets a start in TV on C4 40.47: The making of Jono and Ben 47.28: Moving from late-night Friday TV to prime time 49.30: The cast of characters on and off screen 52.37 A review of some of the best skits: the most destructive prank ever, Jono at Blues training, House covered in Post it notes 1.01.00: Using your platform to speak about important issues 1.06.08: The evolution of Jono and Ben and the stresses of working together 1.13.29: The end of Jono and Ben 1.16.56: A brief history of radio: from The Rock, to The Edge, to The Hits 1.17.40: Creating content: the rise of viral videos, TikTok 1.20.09 A Guy Williams skit gets awkward and their appearance on the Graham Norton Show 1.24.05 Trying to stand out while interviewing celebrities: Jared Leto, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Dwayne Johnson 1.30.54: Breakfast on The Hits and what the future holds 1.34.36: Last words from Steven, Seamus and Jono and BenSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we're rewinding the clock one year to June 2021, when we sat down with All Whites legend Ryan Nelsen.  I remember this as a breakthrough episode for us. It was our 50th podcast, our biggest guest and we were both really anxious about getting it right.   And Ryan couldn't have been a better guest. Across nearly two hours he shared all the best bits of his life and career – and we're really proud of how it turned out.  We talk about all the best stories from his seven years at Blackburn, his frustrations with the All Whites in 2010, what it was like playing with Tugay, Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, Harry Kane - and against Henry and Bergkamp, Ronaldinho and Neymar - the time he hit on Chelsea Clinton at Stanford and so, so many other cracking yarns from an incredible career.    Nelsen is a natural leader and this episode provides a pretty revealing picutre of why he was made captain of nearly every team he has played for. Show notes:2.20: Thursday night in Washington DC with Ryan, laying the blueprint for Steven at US College, and impressions of Seamus on the Olympic tour in 2012 8.26: Reflections on two Olympic Games: playing Brazil, Egypt and Mo Salah, the run-in with Dakota Lucas, and the cheeseburger challenge between Roland Jeffery and Seamus 19.00: We go back to Christchurch and the cricket career that could have been had it not been for a dodgy knee 23.38: The US experience: Stanford, MVP, All American, 'pulling the moves' on Chelsea Clinton, Tiger Woods in the medical centre, going #4 in the MLS draft, DC United, failures and lessons learnt 31.37: Heading to the UK: From “you're not good enough” at Charlton Athletic and being on trial at Blackburn Rovers to the FA Cup semi-final within six months 38.42: Attracting the interest of Manchester United: What does that really look like? 41.23: Some of the characters at Blackburn Rovers: Tugay and his ciggies 45.44: A Cole Tinkler and Raj Naidu interlude 46.55: Back to Blackburn Rovers characters: Chris Samba defender turned striker, Mark Hughes at training, and Robbie Fowler sneaking in 51.54: Chris Wood and his incredible achievements in the English Premier League 54.37: The Burnley and Blackburn Rovers rivalry: pitch invasions, police, tribalism and hooligans 57.00: Ryan finds out he was named by fans in Blackburn Rovers' greatest ever XI, the Venky's chicken ad and fighting El Hadji Diouf in the dressing room 1.01.48: Losing 1-7 to Manchester United: going after Sam Allardyce at halftime, and Dimitar Berbatov scoring five in the process 1.04.23: Toughest opponents: marking Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp in their prime 1.06.33: A sad end after seven years at Blackburn Rovers and the eventual move to Tottenham with Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and a young Harry Kane 1.13.49: "I don't want to be here": QPR and Ryan's eventual retirement and transition into management 1.18.16: Leaving everything on the pitch with the All Whites at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the pressures of club v country 1.25.27: Behind the scenes of the World Cup in South Africa: battles with NZ Football, the drain of the World Cup and the challenges after the tournament 1.38.05: Toronto FC and the end of the coaching journey 1.41.42: Moving off the pitch and on the line with .rugby and .basketball 1.44.54: Terrible haircuts at the Confederations Cup in 1999 and never being able to drink tequila again after a big night with Kris Bouckenhooge, RN Wines, and player representation 1.48.55: Last words: The Bob Smith Memorial Trophy, and rescuing Ryan's boots from the rubbish bin at the Olympic GamesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Blair Tuke is one of New Zealand's most successful and best sportsmen. He's won an Olympic gold medal and two silvers, two America's Cup titles, six 49er World Championships and with teammate Peter Burling, was named NZ sports team of the year in 2017.  In this episode we talk about his dubious hole-in-one on a par four in Arrowtown, why Tana Umaga, Christian Cullen and Dom Harvey stayed at his house when he was 10, the brutal realities of the round-the-world Ocean race - working four hours on four hours off for 23 days - how and why he won 28 regattas in a row in the 49er with Pete, the best stories from the Olympics, the journey to the top of Team NZ, his marital status, and so much more.  This was a really cool one. We'd never met Blair before this, but he came bouncing into the studios with the most upbeat, positive, fun attitude, and really gave us everything with his thoughtful answers and willingness to share. It was one of those chats where the time just flew by.  A huge thanks to everyone supporting the show on Patreon, if you want to chip in for the cost of a cup of coffee a month, head to BetweenTwoBeers.com  Show notes | Episode 84 | Blair Tuke 1.45: The Bermuda Triangle, quicksand, and spontaneous human combustion 4.40: When Christian Cullen, Tana Umaga, and Dom Harvey turned up for the Christmas Holidays 9.03: A hole in one on a par four in Arrowtown 12.54: The Ocean Race – a deep dive into sailing's greatest round-the-world challenge 30.51: Establishing the Live Ocean Foundation 36.15: The open ocean and the risks involved: the loss of John Fisher in the Southern Ocean 41.20: Life on board: paying respects to King Neptune 45.02: The dramatic finish of The Ocean Race in 2018 50.28: Seamus' series of curious questions on The Ocean Race 56.33: Falling in love with the ocean on a trip to Fiji and moving through the sailing ranks 1.00.49: Linking up with Peter Burling and the first Olympic Games experience in London 1.09.24: The remarkable run between London 2012 and Rio de Janeiro 2016 1.17.26: Carrying the flag and winning Gold at Rio 1.21.05: Silver at Tokyo 1.26.49: The America's Cup: memories of past campaigns and getting the call-up 1.30.57: Winning in Bermuda and defending in New Zealand 1.37.31: The popularity of the America's Cup 1.44.06 The ins and outs of Sail GP 1.50.11 What the future holds for Blair Tuke 1.54.31 Last words from Steven, Seamus and BlairSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Susan Devoy is one of New Zealand's greatest-ever sportswomen and was the world's top-ranked squash player from 1983 until 1992, winning eight British Open women's titles and four World Opens. In retirement, she was knighted aged 34, the youngest Kiwi to achieve the honour since Sir Edmund Hilary. Then after gaining 20 years of experience in a number of roles, Devoy served as New Zealand race relations commissioner from 2013-2018. In this episode we talk about dropping out of school for squash, the bumpy path to No1 in the world, the realities of having four kids under five, why she retired early, her embarrassing encounter with Bill Clinton, fundraising $500,000 in 1988 with a 2500 mile walk, the death-threats and abuse she suffered in the race relations role and why she'd never do it again, her issues with High-Performance Sport NZ and much, much more. This one was an epic. Devoy has packed so much into her life and was incredibly open about all the highs and lows along the way. She also has a lot to still give, and in the second half you'll hear the passion is still there to make change. We loved this chat, and know you will to.Show notes | Episode 83 | Dame Susan Devoy 1.52 Dame Susie D 8.55 Squash battles between Susan and husband John 13.59 The Devoy and Oakley families give willingly to the B2B research team 18.49 A mum of four boys: Julian, Alex, Josh, and Jamie 29.54 Running 3km before and after training at age 10 35.15 Creating an elite athlete: the youngest sibling from a small town 38.15 Leaving school at 17 to pursue a professional squash career 47.49 The realities of being an overseas athlete in the 1980s 50.45 Winning the first British Open at age 20 and her public profile at the peak of her powers 55.51 Dame Susan and the Rosebowl Trophy 58.15 Staying at the top of the game and the fear of failure 1.04.10 The reasons behind deciding to retire at the peak of her powers 1.14.00 The walk for muscular dystrophy in 1988 that raised $500,000 1.19.55 Becoming the Race Relations Commissioner 1.28.33 The worst parts of the job and learnings from five years in the role 1.34.11 Racism in New Zealand 1.38.53 Would Susan do the role again knowing what she knows now? 1.40.47 Thoughts on high performance sport in New Zealand 1.47.28 A few celebrity interactions: Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela, Sir Edmund Hilary 1.52.06 Last words from Steven, Seamus and SusanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dom was one of New Zealand's most popular breakfast radio hosts from 2001 to 2021. He's won the Sir Paul Holmes Award for NZ Broadcaster of the Year, written three best-selling books and has turned his passion for running into a new podcast called 'Runners Only With Dom Harvey'.  In this episode we talk about why he walked away from the Edge after 20 years to focus on his mental health, and what that really means, what his future looks like and what his ambitions are with his podcast, the complexities of working and living with his ex-wife JJ, his difficult IVF journey, the best and worst parts of working on the Edge and his Tom Cruise prank that had a sour twist.  JJ described Dom as a sensitive soul, who used his radio persona to mask that sensitivity. And we got the real Dom here. There were some emotional patches in this ep where Dom opened up on the struggles of his IVF journey, and we're grateful he was comfortable enough to share. Dom is great company and a brilliant broadcasting talent – this was a super entertaining chat.  Show notes | Episode 82 | Dom Harvey 1.41 Dom gets flustered meeting his heroes 2.58 The art of the podcast and learning the craft 7.23 Running five marathons in five days for Ka'iulani Forbes 11.17 Self-sabotage and imposter syndrome 16.15 Basing himself on Howard Stern, and remembering Two Strangers and a Wedding 21.37 Back to the start of the radio journey in Palmerston North and a weird interlude about Kids Songs 27.39 The making of Jay-Jay and Dom 30.51 The complexities of working and living with your wife 35.01 Breakfast radio interviews and on-air pranks 43.09 “Doing a Meg”: Building new on-air relationships post Jay-Jay 45.32 Audiences and listener numbers 50.30 Leaving radio after 30 years 57.17 The tumour that led to the fertility issues 1.03.10 Making peace with not having children 1.09.16 How is life out of radio? 1.11.20 Running chat: sub-three hour marathons and revisiting the Kipchoge Challenge 1.16.00 What the future holds? 1.18.02 Last words from Steven, Seamus and DomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode we're re-winding the clock nearly two years to September 23, 2020, when we sat down with Alternative Commentary Collective boss Mike Lane.  Lane was Between Two Beers' first big ‘get'. Up untill then, we'd been a relatively niche football podcast, but this chat inspired us to broaden our outlook. Lane is a world-class storyteller and this was one of our most memorable episodes. In it we talk about the worst things the ACC have said on air, what it was like managing Matt Heath, Jeremy Wells, Leigh Hart and Jason Hoyte, what really happened when the ICC booted Lane's commentary team from the Cricket World Cup, battling and beating cancer, men's mental health and the future of sports broadcasting in New Zealand. Show notes: 2.04 How Seamus and Steve know Mike 3.43 Carol from Waldronville complains about an Alternative Commentary Collective story during the Lions tour 11.02 What's the worst thing ever said during an ACC broadcast? 17.00 When the ACC had their media accreditation removed by the ICC during the cricket world cup 27.35 A few tales from the ACC 46.48 Creating a lexicon of terms, players nicknames, dealing with public recognition and the horrendous stories punters share 56.30 Back to St Paul's with Dan Vettori and Jeremy Wells 1.07.07 The Beige Brigade 1.25.08 Working in Abu Dhabi: Formula 1, the FIFA Club World Cup, and Snoop Dogg (with a great interlude about Paul the Saffa and FIFA HQ) 1.44.45 Mike Lane's one in million cancer battle 1.55.06 No Talk Day and men's mental health 2.02.50 What is the future for the ACC and for broadcasting in general? 2.10.25 Radio Hauraki: Managing Jeremy Wells and Matt Heath v Leigh Hart and Jason Hoyte 2.13.32 Sue Lane 2.16.55 Last bits and pieces: Are the WAGs friends with each other? Media influences growing up? Champagne Rugby, and do you trim your downstairs? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Richardson was a test batsman, who has gone on to become one of New Zealand's most sought-after broadcasters.  He's one of New Zealand's best cricket commentators who's also been a host of the Crowd Goes Wild, Radio Sport breakfast, the Block, the AM Show and The Project.  In this episode we talk about dealing with fame, arguing with Jacinda Ardern on live TV, his grumpy man persona on the Crowd Goes Wild, the full story of *that* viral video where Stephen Fleming 'abuses' him, his slowest-loser running races after tests, his over-the-top celebration after taking his first, and only, test wicket, the realities of working on Breakfast TV, if he believes everything he says and much, much more.    This was a lot of fun and we had a ton of laughs across this one. Mark is such a complex, interesting, entertaining character and I hope we were able to showcase some of the ‘real' Mark Richardson here.  Show notes | Episode 81 | Mark Richardson 1.28 Is Mark Richardson a podcast guy? 2.30 The time he and Grant Elliott nearly got beaten up on a golf course in Queenstown 8.20 The slowest man races 13.19 The Crowd Goes Wild 23.37 THAT interview with Stephen Fleming 31.02 Charting the broadcast journey: From CGW to The Block 39.11 The AM Show 49.51 Breakfast broadcasting and the work / life balance 53.56 “The best seat in the house”: watching Duncan Garner at work 55.51 Dealing with fame 58.32 What happened to the bowling? 1.02.22 The transformation into an opening test bat with help from Lance Cairns 1.11.28 Taking the wicket of Yousuf Youhana at 552/7 1.16.04 The cramp in India 1.21.28 Catching Shane Warne for 99 at the MCG 1.28.48 The mental strain of being Mark Richardson the international cricketer 1.31.57 Mark Richardson the cricket commentator 1.39.55 Facing express pace 1.46.22 Scoring a hundred at Lords 1.50.24 Emotion 1.52.06 Last words from Steven, Seamus and MarkSee 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 Chris Cairns.  Chris is one of the best cricketers NZ has produced. A powerful, big-hitting batter who could bowl as well as he could bat. For 15-years, Chris was an ever-present in living rooms across New Zealand smashing sixes and taking wickets on TV – a sporting hero.  But on the 19th of May, 2014 it was revealed Chris was under investigation for match-fixing allegations, and his life has never been the same. In 2015 he was acquitted of charges of perjury and perverting the course of justice after an eight-week trial in London's High Court and in his words “dug a hole in Australia, disappeared from the spotlight and got on with life”.  Then in August of last year he suffered a heart attack. He underwent four open-heart surgeries and had a spinal stroke, which left him wheelchair-bound and paralysed in his legs. Then in February he revealed he had been diagnosed with bowel cancer.  it's been a hell of a ride.  In this episode we talk about why his brush with death has changed his perspective on life, and why he's now open to talking about his trial, and things he wouldn't have in the past, how he mentally coped with two months of hell in London, how it felt to have former teammates testifying against him, If he regretted suing Lalit Modhi, the realities of living with paralysis, what it was like growing up with Lance and what the future looks like.  This convo covered some pretty heavy areas, and a word of warning, there are a few graphic, raw descriptions of his health battle early in the ep. Chris' life has been a real rollercoaster, and we're grateful he felt comfortable and open enough to share so much of it in great detail.  Show notes | Episode 80 | Chris Cairns 2.06: A day in life of Chris Cairns 5.41: How the cochlear implant changed communication with Lance Cairns 11.43: Aortic dissection and spinal stroke 18.22: Waking up to the reality of being paralysed and reflecting on life after the injury 25.41: Bowel cancer 33.25: Mental resilience, choice, and purpose 35.41: Looking ahead: getting back into work 36.58: Looking back: Cairns Fudge 40.20: London High Court in 2015, the mental toll of a two-month trial 43.57: Waiting for the verdict and the experience of sitting in the dock 50.33: Reflecting on the role of former teammates and the trial 53.25: The end of the commentary career 57.09: His friendship with Dion Nash (and Pilates) 59.42: Telling the story with detail: A book on the horizon? 1.00.53: Going back to the tweet from Lalit Modi 1.04.22: The transition from “son of” to New Zealand international 1.11.39: When did you realise you would be an international cricketer? 1.14.12: A man child? 1.16.03: Behind the scenes of the Young Guns 1.18.33: A look into the future and is Isabel Cairns a future tennis star? 1.23.25: A dad with a forgotten cricket career: T20 beige kits and a bowl-off with the West Indies 1.26.28: Cricket Max and Beach Cricket 1.30.27: Medical professionals 1.32.36: Rehab and explaining things in layman's terms 1.34.55: Last words from Steven, Seamus and Chris  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.