Beyond the Surface

Before becoming one of the Wellington Phoenix's most loved players, Corban lost his dad as a teenager, packed up his life, and headed to Ireland chasing a football dream with no guarantees it'd work out. There were days in Dublin where he'd barely speak to anyone. Meanwhile, his family back home were trying to navigate life without the man who'd always held things together. We get into all of that...

600km in 11 days… yeah, nah bro. Emma Upton joins the pod after running from Auckland to Wellington for Movember, which is about as casual as it sounds. Before that, she also knocked out a half marathon every day for 30 days straight! An absolute weapon and I'm sure you'll enjoy this conversation.   Emma opens up about losing her uncle to a battle with mental health and why that's pushed her to sh...

Sami recently swam (yes swam) the Cook Straight, clocking an impressive 9hrs 46 mins for 28.8 km. That's nearly 10 hours of treading water with no wetsuit, what a weapon. Sami unpacks why this swim was so important for him, raising funds for Parkinson's Disease and the challenges he had to overcome along the way (including swimming the last hour in complete darkness). We also yarn about Sami's sho...

James Fuller is the Co-Founder and CEO of Hnry, one of New Zealand's fastest growing fintech companies (nearly a billion dollar business), now processing income for hundreds of thousands of sole traders across Aotearoa and beyond. In this conversation, James shares the real story behind building Hnry, from spotting the opportunity early with his wife, to navigating the uncertainty, pressure and se...

This episode features Xara Jetly, one of New Zealand's most exciting cricketers from the Blaze and an absolute weapon on and off the field (you'll see why when you watch this episode). We cover her latest championship win with the Blaze, being steered toward elite sport at a young age, and the pivotal family meeting at 13 after her netball coach told her she would never be a Silver Fern. Xara open...

In this episode, Pasilio Tosi opens up about the parts of his journey that rarely get talked about. Growing up in Levin, taking the harder road through Southland and Bay of Plenty, changing positions later than most after gaining a few kegs during lockdown, and learning to put ego aside to keep moving forward. Pasi shares what surprised him most about the All Blacks environment, the standards that...

First ep of the year! Zion Perry lives a pretty unique double life. He studied Ecology, works in conservation, and in his spare time is also a national champion Muay Thai fighter and the latest King in the Ring champion.  KITR is the most prestigious combat sport event in New Zealand, with previous champs being Israel Adesanya and Carlos Ulberg. In this episode, we talk about what it actually feel...

At 18, Harry became a dad. By his mid-twenties, he was running a growing marketing agency, working with big clients and living what looked like success from the outside. But in 2024, his business was hit hard, losing over $300,000 in a matter of months. It forced him to rethink everything he thought he knew about business, success, and happiness. Now, Harry is rebuilding from the ground up with In...

At 20, Lizi became pregnant while studying, went on the benefit, finished her degree, and launched an award-winning agency by 27 and cleared her debt, all while being a young Mum. But life changed again when her eldest daughter (12) suddenly lost her memory every few days, in a bizarre condition that they are still seeking answers for. Lizi shares some business lessons, what resilience really look...

Melodownz has been on my guest hitlist since starting the show. From tagging in Tāmaki to collaborating with Denzel Curry and Israel Adesanya, and launching a hot sauce brand, running Kava Corner interviewing some of NZ's biggest names, Melowdownz has never been one to  stay in his lane.  In this episode, we unpack his journey from growing up in Avondale by his solo Mum, the impact of losing close...

Jase Te Patu has lived many lives. World-class athlete, international performer, TEDx speaker, and founder of one of Aotearoa's most impactful mental health programmes for youth, Hauora Aotearoa. But his story starts in Whanganui, raised by his Nan and Koro, having never met his mum and losing his dad to absence. In this conversation, Jase opens up about the belief he carried for years, that he wa...

The first "honourable" guest on the pod, Barbara Edmonds wears many hats, former Cabinet Minister, specialist tax lawyer, and mother of eight. In this episode, she shares her path into politics, from living in poverty to what she's learned along the way, and the often unseen realities of life in Parliament. We unpack what it was like working alongside Jacinda Ardern, how she balances family and pu...

From Cleaning Cars at 13 to Building a Business at 18 – Max Tebbs' Unfiltered Story. At just 18 years old, Max Tebbs has already built one of Wellington's leading car detailing businesses. But behind the five-star reviews and growing team is a teenager who started with nothing more than a sponge, a goal, and a relentless drive to prove what's possible. In this episode, Max opens up about the early...

From fixing phones and running a clothing brand at school, to losing everything and moving to Wellington with nothing, Mungo opens up about the tough moments that shaped him. We talk about his four years managing musician Rhys Rich, becoming a dad at 19, and how he built a removals business from the ground up. Now based in Australia, Mungo reflects on what he's learned along the way, about work, p...

If you only listen to one episode of the podcast, let it be this one. Corin is the first repeat guest to ever feature on Beyond the Surface, from episode #9 – episode #64! In this raw and honest, conversation, Corin Braddick takes us deep into the chaos of his recent trip to Thailand, where he was personally selected by UFC fighter Dan Hooker to compete in a viral underground fight show. Think 4-o...

Rowan Simpson is one of the most influential figures in New Zealand's startup scene, employee #3 at Trade Me and early shareholder, and an investor in Xero, Vend, and Timely. Some might call him New Zealand's very own Warren Buffett?! Rowan opens up about his journey from startup employee to multi-multi millionaire, how success changed (and didn't change) his life, and why he believes more Kiwis n...

Richard Corney is the founder of Flight Coffee and a globally respected figure in the specialty coffee world. In this episode, we unpack Richard's journey from joining the Navy straight out of high school, to opening his first café by the age of 20, to building one of Aotearoa's most beloved coffee brands 'Flight Coffee'. He shares candid reflections on the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, his...

Rangimarie "Marnie" Dougall-Mita is a professional basketball player for the Wellington Saints, content creator, and someone who's been on a powerful journey of self-discovery. Honestly, could have yarned to Marnie for a couple more hours – it's almost like he runs his own podcast (check it out, Yarns with Marns). In this episode, we unpack the defining moments that have shaped him — from a devast...

DK is a public speaking coach whose TEDx talk "The Public Speaking Lesson You Never Had" has now surpassed over 1 million views. But behind the viral success is a much deeper story. In this episode, DK opens up about growing up in Wales with a hearing impairment, and how that shaped his view of communication. We explore his philosophy on public speaking, what most people get wrong about it, and ho...

Re-released episode of one of the craziest stories ever shared on the show.  In 2009, after experiencing a mental breakdown following a relationship breakup, Rob found himself in a dark place, seeking an escape from his pain. He called the police, hoping for a violent end, but instead found himself shot through the chest and living to tell the tale.  Now Rob is on a journey to teach others how to...

Tait Burge, co-founder of Swimsuit Coffee, built one of Wellington's most recognisable café brands before turning 30. Frustrated by feeling stuck while his friends graduated from university, he threw himself into coffee, starting with a school course that sparked a lifelong passion. In this episode, Tait shares how he went from making coffee to running a multi-location business, the challenges of...

We dive into MC Crafty's journey from local gigs to commanding the main stage at Rhythm & Vines, and what it's really like touring New Zealand and Australia alongside some of the biggest names in the DnB scene. Crafty shares the highs, the hard lessons, and the wild moments that come with life on the road. Honestly, such a legend this man is! We also get into the story behind Department of Arts, t...

Bret McKenzie is one of New Zealand's most celebrated creatives — a musician, comedian, actor, and Oscar-winning songwriter. Best known as one half of the iconic Flight of the Conchords, Bret takes us behind the scenes of their rise from Wellington bars to HBO stardom and global fame. Super surreal having Bret on the pod, I've been a massive FOTC fan since I was a young fella! We dive into the cre...

Joe Slater co-founded Six Barrel Soda, turning a small idea into one of New Zealand's most recognisable beverage brands. In this episode, we dive into the journey of building Six Barrel Soda from the ground up, the challenges of scaling a niche business, and how Joe handled a competitor blatantly copying their brand. We also talk about the process of selling Six Barrel Soda, the lessons Joe learne...

In this episode, we dive deep into Omers remarkable story, starting with how he moved to New Zealand alone as a teenager from Turkey, built a thriving business, and then faced a shocking deportation that sparked national media attention.  We unpack the fight to bring him back, the intervention from Winston Peters, and what it was like to have his future decided by a government ruling. Omer opens u...