Growing Kiwis with Claire Williamson

Brit Stembridge is the founder of Tomtit Farm, a certified organic market garden and flower farm in Matangi, Waikato. After years in academic research, Brit walked away from a PhD path to start growing food on a flat paddock, building Tomtit Farm into a thriving community supported agriculture business through nothing but seeds, soil and showing up. This episode covers the courage to swap a safe a...

Annmarie Hughes is an equine dentist and the founder of Aspin and Co, a New Zealand owned luxury equestrian apparel brand she launched while on maternity leave. Originally from North Wales, Annmarie built a career in equine dentistry in the Waikato before spotting a gap in the market between cheap throwaway riding gear and expensive European imports. This episode covers the courage to launch a bus...

In this episode of the Growing Kiwis Podcast, we sit down with Rose Kennedy, founder of Rose's Dining Table, to talk about creativity, authenticity, motherhood, and building a business that reflects your values. Rose shares the journey behind creating a brand that has become known for bringing people together around the table, creating meaningful experiences, and celebrating genuine connection. We...

Content Warning: In this episode, Abby shares a deeply personal experience involving her fathers suicide and loss. The conversation is approached with sensitivity and compassion, but we wanted to make listeners aware in case this topic feels difficult or triggering. EPISODE SUMMARY Abby Van Schreven spent 14 years building the fashion label Maaike before closing it and starting again, this time he...

Episode summary Duncan Leask is one of those people who just got stuck in and built something brilliant. In a little over five years he has grown Optiplumb into one of the Waikato's standout trades businesses, and in this episode he shares exactly how, and why none of it means much without the life around it. We talk about the obsession with numbers that underpins everything he does, the grit that...

In this episode of Growing Kiwis, we sit down with Angela March, founder of Brainchild, an award-winning PR and reputation agency helping businesses across New Zealand build trust, tell meaningful stories, and connect with the audiences that matter most. Angela shares her journey from a gap year in the UK to building a successful business in the Waikato, while balancing motherhood, leadership, and...

In this episode of the Growing Kiwis , Claire chats with Ben Woodgates, communications professional, community builder, and founder of Hello Hamilton. Ben shares his journey from growing up in Northland to building one of Hamilton’s most positive local communities, along with the experiences that shaped his passion for communication, connection and creating impact. Together, they explore community...

There's something really special about rural New Zealand. The people, the land, the way communities show up for each other. In this episode, we sit down with Fran Bailey for one of those conversations that just leaves you feeling good. We talk about what makes rural communities so unique - the table, the food, the belonging, and the kind of resilience you only really find in farming life. Fran gre...

In this episode of Growing Kiwis, we sit down with David Remmerswaal, digital marketer, founder of Dimple Digital, and one of Cambridge’s most community-driven business owners for a raw and energising conversation about what it really looks like to build a business and a life on your own terms. David shares his journey from growing up in Rotorua through his parents’ business going into liquidation...

In this episode of The Growing Kiwis , we sit down with Andrew Miller, a leadership coach, dad of four, and all-round good human for an honest and insightful conversation about life, leadership, and showing up as yourself. Andrew shares his journey growing up as the youngest of five and how those early experiences shaped the way he connects with people today. We dive into what real leadership look...

In this episode of Growing Kiwis, Claire sits down with Jason Tiller for a raw, honest, and energising conversation about what it really takes to grow through change. From hospitality kitchens and rural sales calls to building his own consultancy and co-founding a global wellness platform, Jason’s journey is anything but linear. They unpack the power of relationships in business, the reality behin...

In this episode of Growing Kiwis, we sit down with Gemma Slack for a grounded and honest conversation about burnout, identity shifts, and coming back to yourself. Gemma is a breathwork facilitator, leadership coach, and mum, and she shares her journey from high-performance startup life into a more embodied, intentional way of living. Shaped by motherhood, nervous system awareness, and deep persona...

In this episode of Growing Kiwis, we sit down with Cam Woods, owner of two Waikato-based Strength Nation locations, community builder, and all-round good human, to unpack how he went from cleaning floors as a teenager to owning two thriving businesses by 24. We dive into the power of saying yes, backing yourself before you feel ready, and why building genuine community is the real secret to busine...

In this episode of Growing Kiwis , we sit down with business owner and powerhouse leader Chantelle Good to explore a journey of resilience, growth, and self-discovery. From growing up on a rural farm deep in the King Country to building a successful virtual assistant and bookkeeping business, Chantelle shares how early independence, problem-solving, and a passion for learning shaped her life and c...

In this episode of Growing Kiwis, Olympic gold medalist and business owner Shaun Kirkham takes us inside one of the most powerful comeback stories in New Zealand sport. From a fiery, ambitious kid in Hamilton to standing on the Olympic podium in Tokyo, Shaun’s journey is packed with grit, growth, and game-changing mindset shifts. This isn’t just about winning gold, it’s about what it takes to rebu...

In this episode of the Growing Kiwis Podcast, we chat with Ruth Gilmour, founder and Creative Director of Gilmour Studios, about living and working intentionally. Ruth shares her journey from teaching photography to running a thriving studio in Hamilton, NZ, and how she aligns her business with her family values. We explore how she balances work, family, and wellbeing, the evolution of her studio...

In this episode of Growing Kiwis, we sit down with Sam Ashton, a former police officer who has reinvented himself as a successful property developer. Sam shares his journey from niche side hustles to finding his true passion in property. He opens up about the challenges of his first big development, the lessons learned from managing multiple moving parts, and the importance of surrounding himself...

In this episode of Growing Kiwis, we sit down with Hannah Porter, , founder of Bear & Moo, to talk about how a maternity leave side hustle turned into a thriving e-commerce business. What began as a simple idea at home has grown over the past seven years into a well-known baby and parenting brand, with a growing team, a warehouse, and a retail store. Hannah shares the real story behind buildin...

In this episode of Growing Kiwis, we chat with Dom Vettise, one of NZ sport’s hidden gems, supporting many of our leading athletes behind the scenes. He’s lead sport psychologist for the NZOC, NZ Football, NZ Rugby and more, and occupied some of sport’s leading psych roles at a relatively young age which has brought tons of excitement, challenge and opportunity. He’s also a devoted Dad and champio...