When I Grow Up

In this episode, Sienna tells her dad Ben she wants to grow up and be like actor and director Rachel House. Rachel has done it all - from iconic Kiwi films like Whale Rider ,  Boy , and  Hunt for the Wilderpeople , to Thor: Ragnarok in the Marvel universe. She voiced Gramma Tala in  Moana , brought characters to life in Pixar’s  Soul  and  Coco , and most recent...

In this episode, Sienna tells her dad Ben she wants to grow up and be like Sonia Gray - someone who’s not only had an incredible media career but also uses her platform to make a difference. Sonia has been one of New Zealand’s most recognisable faces for decades - from acting and presenting to calling the numbers on the weekly Lotto draw. More recently, she’s become a powerful vo...

In this episode, Sienna tells her dad Ben she wants to grow up and work in the media… just like Toni Street. Toni’s story goes way beyond just TV and radio. She grew up on a dairy farm in Taranaki, loved sport, and loved talking (a lot!) and turned that into becoming one of New Zealand’s most loved broadcasters. Sienna and Ben chat with Toni about: Growing up on a farm...

WOW. It finally happened. For two seasons, Sienna’s dream podcast guest has been global superstar Rita Ora - and in this episode, Rita doesn’t just join the podcast… she surprises Sienna in the studio! After seeing Ben get a Rita Ora tattoo for his daughter go viral on social media, Rita reached out and said she had to do the podcast - leading to an emotional and unforgettable f...

In this special bonus episode, Sienna and her dad Ben headed to Wellington (by plane - not flying creature) for the  Avatar: Fire & Ash  premiere. They sat down with legendary director James Cameron to chat about borrowing his Avatar pool, how  Avatar  first came to him in a dream, whether he’d change anything about  Titanic  if he made it today, and where B...

In this episode, Sienna tells her dad Ben she wants to grow up and start her own beauty brand — just like Rowena Bird from Lush. Rowena’s journey started with literally mixing products by hand and somehow grew into helping build one of the biggest and most loved ethical beauty brands in the world. Sienna and Ben chat with Rowena about: What she was like as a kid and how she got into be...

In this episode, Sienna tells her Dad Ben she wants to grow up and be a leader like Dame Jacinda Ardern. From growing up in a small town in Morrinsville, to becoming New Zealand’s youngest Prime Minister, leading the country through major news events, and balancing life as a mum while running the nation, Dame Jacinda Ardern has achieved a lot. During it all, Jacinda has always aimed to show...

In this episode, Sienna tells her Dad Ben she wants to grow up and be an actor - just like The White Lotus star Morgana O’Reilly! From growing up in a creative household surrounded by dance studios, to making her TV debut at age eight, Morgana has built an impressive career across New Zealand, and around the world. From hilarious comedies like Mean Mums, to the iconic Neighbours, t...

In this episode, Sienna tells her Dad Ben she wants to grow up and be a chef with bestselling cookbooks - just like Chelsea Winter! Chelsea’s life changed completely when she took a chance on MasterChef New Zealand. Winning the show launched her into a career writing bestselling cookbooks and inspiring Kiwis in the kitchen. In this conversation, Sienna and Ben cover: Growing up on a farm and...

In this episode, Sienna tells her Dad Ben she wants to grow up and help people - just like mental health advocates Genevieve Mora and Jazz Thornton from Voices of Hope. From overcoming their own personal struggles to building a global movement, Genevieve and Jazz have used their experiences to inspire and support young people everywhere. In this conversation, Sienna and Ben cover: Overcoming perso...

In this episode, Sienna tells her Dad Ben she wants to be an athlete - just like Silver Fern and dual-sport star Maia Wilson. From teenage prodigy representing New Zealand in both basketball and netball by the age of 18, Maia has become one of the country’s most inspiring athletes - admired not just for her talent, but for her honesty, resilience, and leadership.  This conversation cove...

In this episode, Sienna tells her Dad Ben she wants to be a reality TV star - just like Below Deck star Aesha Scott. From Tauranga to screens all over the world, Aesha has become one of New Zealand’s biggest reality TV exports, known for her signature humour, energy, and Kiwi charm on the Bravo’s global hit Below Deck. With over a million Instagram followers, appearances...

This week on When I Grow Up, Sienna tells her dad Ben she wants to be a singer-songwriter - just like Riiki Reid. In 2025, Riiki has been all over the radio, streaming charts, and has just dropped her first full-length EP Drench but Sienna and Ben uncover more about the story behind one of Aotearoa’s most exciting new artists. From growing up in Wellington with a love of dance and performing...

In this episode of When I Grow Up, Sienna and her Dad Ben chat with one of New Zealand’s most fearless exports - Hollywood stuntwoman, actor, and director Zoë Bell. From growing up on Waiheke Island to the bright lights of LA, Zoë’s story is just like a movie. She’s doubled for some of the biggest stars and pulled off jaw-dropping stunts in Kill Bill, Thor, Catwoma...

In this episode of When I Grow Up , Sienna sits down with her Dad Ben and health superstar Dr Libby—because Sienna wants to be just like her! Teens, take note: if you’ve ever wondered how to eat, sleep, and handle stress without losing your mind, this episode is packed with advice just for you.  Dr Libby is all about helping people, especially teens, understand their bodies—...

Today’s episode is a little different and super exciting.  We’re teaming up with ANZ to talk about something really important: financial confidence and KiwiSaver.  But here’s the twist — we’re not the ones asking the questions this time!  The amazing Hayley Sproull is stepping in to interview us about how we think about money, the future, and what we&rs...

In this episode of When I Grow Up , Sienna and her Dad Ben sit down with media powerhouse Lucy Blakiston—someone Sienna says she wants to be like! They find out how a small-town Kiwi built a global platform that millions of people—and some seriously famous fans—turn to every day. Lucy co-founded  Sh*t You Should Care About (SYSCA) while at university with a si...

In this episode of When I Grow Up , Sienna and her Dad Ben sit down with singer-songwriter Frankie Venter to hear the story of a young artist who knew from the very start that music was her calling - and went all in to make it happen. At just 18, Frankie is already a phenomenon, with millions of streams, social media views, and thousands of fans hanging on every note and post - and Sienn...

In this episode of When I Grow Up , Sienna dreams of one day playing professional rugby, representing the Black Ferns, and winning World Cups and gold medals - just like Stacey Waaka. Together with her Dad Ben, she sits down with Stacey to hear the story of one of New Zealand’s most inspiring athletes. From growing up with a huge whānau in the Bay of Plenty to performing on th...

In this episode of When I Grow Up , Sienna and her Dad Ben sit down (over Zoom) with Emma Watkins - formerly the Yellow Wiggle, now Emma Memma - as Sienna dreams of following in her footsteps as a children’s entertainer. From dancing around the house as a kid to performing for millions of children worldwide, Emma’s journey is full of perseverance, passion, and fun. Toget...

In the first episode of Season 2, Sienna and her Dad Ben, sit down with one of New Zealand’s greatest athletes, Dame Valerie Adams - someone she hopes to be like! With Olympic gold medals, World Championship titles, and a career that has inspired a nation, Dame Valerie’s story is nothing short of legendary. What makes this conversation so special is Valerie’s honesty about the ch...

Like most teenagers, Sienna Boyce is still figuring out what she wants to be -  an actor, scientist, rugby player, singer, chef… maybe even a TikTok star. So, she’s teamed up with her Dad, Ben Boyce, to chat with incredible women from New Zealand and around the world who’ve built inspiring careers. Each episode dives into their journeys - from humble beginnings to big achie...

Warning:  Due to Urzila's job of making adults laugh, this episode may not be appropriate for younger ears as our episodes usually are. If you have a tween it should be fine, but any younger and you may want to listen through on your own first In Episode 17 of When I Grow Up , Sienna and her Dad, Ben, sit down with the hilarious Urzila Carlson to chat about her incredible journey in comedy. F...

In Episode 16 of  When I Grow Up , Sienna and her dad, Ben, chat with Kiwi musician Paige about her incredible journey and the celebrity fans she's won over. Paige proves that you can make it from anywhere—her music, created and shared from New Zealand, has caught the attention of stars like Billie Eilish, the Jonas Brothers, Lizzo, and even Lewis Hamilton. Billie Eilish Following Her:...

In Episode 15 of  When I Grow Up , Sienna and her dad, Ben, sit down with the inspirational Jess Quinn. At just nine years old, Jess faced a life-altering diagnosis of aggressive cancer that led to the amputation of her leg. Despite the challenges, Jess has used her journey to motivate others and normalise being different. Facing Life-Changing News:  Jess opens up about the moment her world change...