Between Two Beers Podcast

Emma Twigg is one of New Zealand's greatest rowers and won Olympic gold in Tokyo and Olympic silver in Paris. This is Emma's second appearance on Between Two Beers and life has changed a lot since we recorded with her at her Cambridge home back in 2020. In this episode we talk about her emotional Olympic triumphs, her health scare leading into Paris, motherhood, athlete well-being, elite sport and what her future holds. This was a really fun chat – with one of New Zealand's greatest Olympians. Seamus and I have felt both personally invested and proud of Emma's career since we connected four years ago – and it was so cool to sit with her, celebrate with her, chat through all the highs and lows and share a bunch of laughs. In short, Emma is such a legend. We're also proud to have Emma on the books of B2B Speakers, so if you'd like her to share her story  at your function or event, flick us a message by going to B2Bspeakers.co.nz This episode is brought to you by TAB, download the new app today and get your bet on! Listen on iHeart Radio or wherever you get your podcasts from or watch the video on YouTube. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The hosts dive into their outrageous hangovers from the '12 Pubs of Christmas' and the chaotic fun that ensued. Steve hilariously recounts a golf outing with Eric Murray that went sideways. Seamus surprises with a lively acapella performance at Paddy Gower's event. They reflect on unforgettable moments with notable guests like Shaun Quincey and Sam Whitelock while sharing humorous family stories. Amidst the laughter, they touch on balancing life, reading struggles, and upcoming plans that keep the conversation entertaining.

Samuel Whitelock, New Zealand's most capped rugby player, shares his remarkable journey from the rugby field to life after sports. He discusses leadership insights drawn from his time with the All Blacks and Crusaders, revealing lessons in authenticity and inclusivity. Samuel fondly recalls humorous moments, such as searching for Harry Potter wands on tour and his special bromance with Kieran Read. He dives into the emotional toll of injuries and the bittersweet transition from professional rugby to a quieter life on the farm, brimming with nostalgia and reflection.

Di Foster, a business coach, guides Seamus and Steve through a unique couples therapy session focused on their podcast business. They delve into end-of-year goal setting while navigating personal dynamics and learning to separate business challenges from emotions. The conversation also touches on balancing productivity with creativity and the importance of communication and respect in their professional partnership. With humor, they brainstorm innovative ideas and strategies for audience growth, making the therapy session both insightful and entertaining.

In this engaging talk, Shaun Quincey shares his incredible journey as the only person to have solo rowed across the Tasman Sea. He recounts thrilling tales of battling self-doubt, rowing into whales, and flipping his boat, all while highlighting the emotional and physical challenges he faced. Shaun also discusses his entrepreneurial success, founding Genoapay and the recent achievements with Simfuni. His humor, authenticity, and wisdom shine through as he reflects on resilience and the lessons learned from both the ocean and the business world.

This conversation dives into the rollercoaster of personal and professional highs and lows, celebrating their podcast's rise to the top while grappling with loss. Humor surfaces through awkward gift exchanges and the hilarity of live show mishaps. They reflect on the chaos of event experiences and the emotional aftermath of live performances. The hosts also share their love for football, lighthearted betting banter, and the joy of community engagement, all while looking forward to exciting upcoming events and preserving family stories.

Zion Armstrong, the former President of Adidas North America, shares his incredible journey from a troubled West Auckland teen to a corporate leader managing 12,500 staff. He discusses his transformative teenage years, athletic career, and meteoric rise in the footwear industry. Zion reflects on balancing corporate life with family, his decision to leave the high-pressure world of Adidas, and embark on a new path as CEO of a children's wear company. His story is a powerful reminder of resilience, mentorship, and the importance of prioritizing family.

Paula George – or Georgie as she’s commonly known – has a story that will blow you away. She has lived the most remarkable life – with the most inspiring mindset – and she’s our favourite type of guest, a humble legend. Georgie is a very private person – and her story, till now, has largely gone untold. Her life started on the back foot in Wales. Georgie wasn’t just the only person of colour in her village, but also her family. She was abandoned by her mother, forced into foster care and experienced a childhood filled of prejudice and hurt. But she found safety in sport, where she became a star. She played netball and rugby for Wales, then switched to England and became the first black captain of the England Red Roses. She was one of the first professional women’s rugby players and eventually went to six World Cups in two sports. She then became the digital content creator for the All Blacks, married a Kiwi and became a Kiwi, had twins, and a cancer diagnosis. Five years ago she was given four to six months, with survival chances at 25% - but Georgie’s still here. And now, she’s doing incredible work with the Tania Dalton Foundation where she helps Kiwi kids build their own resilience and happiness. And most recently she’s become a part owner of The Northern Kahu: the first all-women owned franchise in New Zealand. Georgie doesn’t seek the limelight, she had a taste of fame during her rugby days and hated it. It took a lot for her to share her full story with us and we’re so grateful she did – it’s a story that will help, inspire and entertain. This episode is brought to you by TAB, download the new app today and get your bet on! We're also stoked to tell you about the business we've built. If you'd like to get one of our epic guests in to MC or Speak at your function or event, flick us a message by going to B2Bspeakers.co.nz. Listen on iHeart Radio or wherever you get your podcasts from or watch the video on YouTube. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve and Seamus share exciting insights from their blockbuster interview with Matthew Ridge. They tease special guests for their upcoming live show and reflect on meaningful listener feedback. Emphasizing mental health awareness, they discuss community connection events and heartfelt reflections on Parkinson's disease. The duo brings playful sports banter while celebrating a milestone for listeners to win prizes. They also highlight the All Whites football match and hint at an inspiring upcoming story of resilience in sports.

As some of you will know – this year we created a second podcast channel called Business in Between. It’s a channel that documents our journey as business owners – and where we also host long-form interviews with NZ’s most interesting business leaders. And we’re sharing one of our favourite interviews on the Business in Between channel – with you here on Between Two Beers. It’s the story of how a Kiwi entrepreneur turned an idea for a fitness goal setting app into a global business with customers in over 150 countries and revenue exceeding $80 million a year. His name is Adam Al-Agez and his app is called The Conqueror. Adam started his fitness goal setting app in 2012 after 10 years of being an entrepreneur with limited success. The idea was relatively simple…instead of ‘just’ going for a run, walk, a ride or swim, you’re working towards a virtual fitness goal, immersed in community and with a tangible race medal delivered on completion. But after six years and hundreds of thousands of dollars, the app was floundering. All the signs were pointing to giving up all together and he even started getting his CV together and applying for jobs. Then in a bizarre series of events, in 2019 he ended up hiring a marketing wiz who lived in Romania, to run the digital marketing. Raul the Romanian immediately started growing sales and from an annual revenue of under $100k they grew to $2m in the first year. The next year they did $40m and $75m in the following two, having secured licensing agreements with the Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Star Wars and Harry Potter The business has now expanded globally with around 70 staff in 6 countries with customers in over 150 countries. Adam’s story – and the growth of his company – is insane and the story will blow your mind - and it’s the first time it’s been told. Come for the storytelling and stay for Adam’s brilliant business lessons at the end. This is an ep not to be missed. If you enjoy this pod – please go and follow and subscribe to our Business in Between channel, where there are plenty more like this. This episode is brought to you by TAB, download the new app today and get your bet on! Listen on iHeart Radio or wherever you get your podcasts from or watch the video on YouTube. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.