Reel Tails with Sweens

This episode I catch up with Ben Tapuai. Ben is someone I met through rugby when we played together for the Barbarians back in 2015. Ben has a very impressive professional rugby CV, representing the Queensland Reds and Western Force in Super Rugby, Bath and Harlequins in the UK Premiership and also represented Australia when he was a member of the Wallabies from 2011-2013. During that time he won...

This episode I was lucky enough to sit down with New Zealand and World cricket icon Brendon McCullum. Brendon represented the Black Caps from 2002-2016 playing 101 Tests, 260 ODI's and 71 T20 internationals. He was also the first Kiwi to score a triple Test century when on the 18th of February 2014 he played an innings that stopped the nation. During this podcast we get a "Reel" look into the life...

In this episode I catch up with Tim Seifert. Tim is an International cricket player who currently specialises in the short forms of the game. He is a Blackcap who has represented the team in both ODI and T20 cricket as a wicketkeeper batsman. It has been T20 cricket where he has really made a name for himself for his aggressive batting style at the top of the order, and is currently the New Zealan...

This episode I sit down with New Zealand track cyclist Jessie Hodges. Jessie is going to be competing at the 2021 Olympic games in Tokyo. When most people think of Olympic athletes they assume a lifetime of dedication to their chosen sport, with Jessie this definitely isn't the case. She only developed a passion and drive for the sport of cycling when she suffered a serious knee injury in her last...

This episode I sit down with Matt Watson to discuss all things fishing and so much more. Matt has become a household name both here in New Zealand and abroad for his energetic presence on our media screens hosting Ultimate Fishing TV. This episode is full of amazing content and some Tails that us fishermen often dream about. From 17 hour swordfish battles, to our involvement in “Pack the Park” and...

In this episode I sit down around the fire over a few Good George beers with my long time Instagram pen pal Aaron Styles. Aaron is the founder and director of Just Another Fisherman, a fishing lifestyle clothing brand based here in New Zealand. In this podcast we cover some great topics including the four year journey to catch a marlin on his boat Critter Collector, how the brand originally starte...

This episode I sit down with Ross and Max Christensen who are the father son duo behind FC Boats and Fish City. During this podcast we cover some great topics such as, the birth of FC Boats, working in the industry you have a reel passion for, dealing with a global recession. We also discuss the balance of working together as a father and son team, Ross shares some Tails of game fishing from trail...

This episode I sat down with Graeme "Bonze" Fleet of Bonze lures in his factory which is based in the home of marlin fishing in New Zealand, The Bay of Islands. Bonze is not only a great lure maker but also an outstanding game fishing skipper. He was the first New Zealander to receive the Billfish Foundation award for both Top Tagging captain and Top Release captain for Blue Marlin in the Atlantic...

This episode I chat with former All Black Troy Flavell, Troy has a very charismatic nature and tells a great Tail. We cover a vast array of topics such as, what it was like to star in the new hit TV show "Match Fit", Taking on Willie Mason in a charity boxing event, the early days of professional rugby and his passion for fishing. We also share how special the New Zealand Maoris team culture is fo...

This episode I sit down with the three founders of Good George Brewing. Good George is a brewing company based in Hamilton and is one of the fastest growing in the country. We discuss some great topics and the guys share some great insight into how they have grown and made the brand so successful. From how it all began, the importance they place on the quality of people, messy staff do's at Huka L...

This episode I catch up with Joe Edlington or as most will know him J E Wilds. Joe is a professional hunting guide and is also a hunting and fishing video content creator. His artistry to capture and share his adventures is unmatched and he has a real gift in sharing the journey, making you feel like you are there with him. We cover Joe's Tail in great depth and he shares some awesome yarns. From...

This episode I chat with the world’s most skillful number 10. We cover the highs and lows of professional rugby in New Zealand and the pathway Fletcher took to get there. From playing for Nelson College 1st XV as a year 10 but then making the move south to Christchurch Boys’ High, meeting with Tony Brown and making the decision to head to Dunedin for a chance at a professional career, All Black de...

I give some insight into my personal memories of the famous Log O’ Wood. The great Waikato victory over Auckland in 1993 which ended the longest ever reign of 61 games spanning eight years, winning it for the first time, unsuccessful challenges, captaining the side to victory, losing it, the pressures of being the holders, the joy it brings a region and its fans, sharing it with family and everyth...

Brad shares with us the challenges and setbacks he has endured in his professional rugby career and how they have shaped him into becoming an All Black. He talks about how missing out on the Otago squad effectively helped him get a Super Rugby contract with the Chiefs, being told he was too small to be pro, how the basketball great Spud Webb inspired him, dealing with the horrific injury of breaki...

I catch up with some of the awesome crew at Raglan Roast Coffee. We discuss how a couple of like minded dudes turned a hole in the wall coffee store into a cult like figure with 12 locations spread across New Zealand. This podcast is with two of the company directors Tony and Bobo but we also have a couple of special guest’s drop in. As well as talking coffee and business the lads share some of th...

Ben shares what it's like to leave home at the age of 16 to race motocross professionally in Europe, how good his Championship winning bikes really were, training with the GOAT Ricky Carmichael, his passion for coaching his two boys, winning the MX2 World Title, being part of the greatest battle for the AMA Motocross title of all time and so much more.

Chelsea shares some of her amazing experiences. From being the first female to represent the Waikato Under 13-yo boys’ side, hosting Taylor Swift album release parties with her best friends and how important those friendships have been to keep her life balanced. She also shares her emotional “Tail” of being called into the Black Ferns and walking onto Twickenham in front of 80,000 people, how supp...

Teresa shares what it's like being a female working in the male dominated sport of rugby, her involvement in Ranfurly Shield victories, balancing work and study while being a Black Fern, her view on the state of womens rugby here in New Zealand and so much more.

Adam shares with us what it’s like to be a plant based athlete, how a spinal infection nearly ended his career leaving him bedridden for six weeks, winning the Rugby World Cup, using rugby as a tool to travel and experience the world, rebuilding himself in Bail and so much more.

Anton opens up about the importance he places on his Mental Health and wellbeing, being a caddie for Damian McKenzie at the NZ Golf Open, the emotion of his All Blacks debut and we share our views on two of the worlds best coaches Wayne Smith and Warren Gatland. All this and much more.

Ben shares with us what it was like to be New Zealand's first Red Bull athlete, Kayaking the Huka falls and the Nile River, going to the GoPro summits with some of the worlds best extreme athletes, how his fishing show Built to fish was born and much more.

Sam Cane opens up about how his Mum's Deer Velvet capsules saved his career, catching Marlin with Matt Watson, playing professionally in New Zealand vs Overseas, All Blacks Captaincy speeches and much more.

Join the journey on how I will connect with good people and help share their tails.