When I Grow Up

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...

In Episode 14 of  When I Grow Up , Sienna and her dad, Ben, sit down with Entertainment Reporter Kate Rodger for an in-depth chat about her fascinating career. With years of experience under her belt, Kate has traveled the globe, interviewing some of the world’s biggest stars, including Tom Cruise, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Taylor Swift, Margot Robbie, Will Ferrell, and countless others. Getting...

In Episode 13 of  When I Grow Up , Sienna and her dad, Ben, chat with two stars of New Zealand’s White Ferns cricket team, Maddy Green and Izzy Gaze. Just weeks ago, the duo helped secure a historic victory, bringing home the T20 World Cup trophy – the first-ever win for New Zealand in T20 cricket, for either women or men. And yes, they brought the trophy into the studio! Episode Highlights Overco...

In Episode 12 of  When I Grow Up , Sienna and her dad, Ben, sit down with pop sensation Benee—the New Zealand-born artist whose music has taken the world by storm! Sienna, a huge fan, dives deep into Benee’s journey, from her early days to her rapid rise to fame. Episode Highlights: Blowing Up Big Time: Benee shares what it felt like to see her music go viral, with millions of fans and even celebr...

In this episode of When I Grow Up, Sienna interviews rising star Amie Donald, best known for her role as the demonic doll M3gan in the global box-office sensation of the same name and as Maya Monkey in Netflix’s popular series Sweet Tooth.  Sienna, who dreams of becoming a child actor like Amie, dives into Amie’s experiences, challenges, and advice for young aspiring actors. Episode Highlights Inc...

In this episode, Sienna dreams of becoming a star netballer like Silver Fern Goal Shooter Grace Nweke.  Grace joins Sienna and Ben to share her inspiring journey, which began with her family's immigration to New Zealand and finding the sport of netball which has evolved into a remarkable sports career. Episode highlights include: Grace's insights on handling the immense pressure of joining the Sil...

In this episode, Sienna dreams of becoming a cake maker like Jordan Rondell, who is also known as The Caker. Jordan joins Sienna and Ben to share the story of how her love for baking was sparked during her time with her grandparents and the journey she took to turn her passion into a thriving cake business. Episode highlights include: Why it doesn't matter whether you're formally educated or self-...

In this episode, Sienna aspires to be a radio and TV broadcaster and social media star like Bree Tomasel.  Joining Sienna and Ben, Bree discusses her journey to becoming a beloved media personality and shares her personal story for the first time in her new book, “UnApologetically Me”  Key episode highlights include:  Bree’s experience growing up questioning her sexuality in conservative country Q...

In this episode, Sienna dreams of becoming a world-renowned science educator like "Nano Girl," Michelle Dickinson.  Joining Sienna and Ben, Michelle shares her journey into the world of science, despite not being a fan of science during her school days!  Episode highlights include:  How Michelle created her Nano Girl persona to overcome her huge fear of public speaking.  Michelle’s efforts to brea...

We've got a bonus episode for When I Grow Up Fans! The Hits very own PJ has a brand-new podcast - Slow It Down. The podcast is designed to be a moment of me time for busy lives and a weekly dose of wholesome to inspire a grounded existence. If you like it, follow the show on iHeartRadio or wherever you listen to podcasts. About the show: Life is fast. Information is overwhelming. We seem busier an...

In this episode, Sienna wants to grow up to become like New Zealand’s greatest Olympian, Dame Lisa Carrington.   Joining Sienna and Ben, Dame Lisa talks about her journey from discovering a love for kayaking as a child to winning an impressive 8 Olympic gold medals. Key highlights of the episode include: The dedication and hard work it takes to train and succeed as an athlete. Dame Lisa feels resi...

Kaylee Bell joins Sienna and Ben to talk about her journey from a small town in New Zealand to becoming an international country music artist. Key highlights of the episode include: Kaylee’s determination to chase her dream, from dealing with rejection and putting in the hard work and even moving to a new country in pursuit of success. Embracing your individuality: Kaylee shares how it’s fine to l...

In this episode, Sienna wants to grow up to become a fashion designer like the iconic Karen Walker.  Joining Sienna and Ben, Karen Walker talks about her journey from starting her fashion brand in New Zealand to taking it global. Highlights of the episode include: Karen’s advice on following your dreams and starting a business, as she remembers how she launched her brand with just $100. Insights f...

Lucy Lawless joins Sienna and Ben to share her incredible journey from becoming a household name as Xena: Warrior Princess to achieving a hugely successful career in numerous TV and film roles. In this episode, they discuss: Success from anywhere: How growing up in a small country like New Zealand doesn’t limit your potential, and what it’s like to break into the global entertainment industry and...

Eliza McCartney, an Olympic bronze medallist in pole vaulting, joins Sienna and Ben to share her incredible journey through the highs and lows of a career in athletics. In this episode, they explore: Discovering your passion: How experimenting with various activities at a young age can lead you to unexpected talents and passions. Overcoming adversity: Eliza's experiences of battling back from inju...

This week Jazz Thornton, a renowned mental health advocate and TikTok sensation, joins Sienna and Ben to share her inspiring journey and offer valuable advice to young people facing challenges in today's world. In this episode, they delve into: Jazz's mental health journey: Her personal experiences, how she found hope, and the steps you can take when you're feeling down. The impact of social media...

*FIRST EPISODE RELEASED AUGUST 30TH* Sienna Boyce is 13 years old and constantly tells her Dad, Ben Boyce, what she wants to be when she grows up – an actor, scientist, rugby player, singer, chef or politician.  Each episode of ‘When I Grow Up’ aims to showcase inspirational females from around Aotearoa and shine a light on them, what it takes to do their job and learn about their story of how the...