Small Town Journey

This week we draw season two to a close and sit down for a wrap conversation. We reflect on the interviews and episodes this season and discuss what's in store for the future! If you want to contact us, suggest a guest or get on the show, send us an email! smalltownjourneypodcast@gmail.com https://open.spotify.com/show/1OCXURk69f7bZXHI7lGTT0?si=cda603fcf893454f https://podcasts.apple.com/us/po...

Arthur Uden is a familiar sight on sporting sidelines all over Te Awamutu and its surrounds. Camera in hand, his Waipa-wide goal is always simple - “…to capture the moment”. This week, Arthur bravely opens up about his ongoing battle with cancer. After two years of intense back pain, he was diagnosed in 2023 - just after he and his wife Judy celebrated her five-year cancer free milestone. Despite...

Waihi born and raised Fletcher Morgan has been having the time of his life. From growing up “kicking the ball around” with mates and loving watching Dan Carter, to helping the Southland Stags win the Ranfurly Shield for the first time in 14 years just eight days ago, his life-long love of rugby has already taken him on a thrilling journey. And, with just four caps for Southland under his belt, it’...

Twice a week, every week, it’s lights, camera, action for Paterangi farm manager Andrew Macky – and thousands seeking a glimpse of New Zealand farm life are there watching him. Nearly five years after starting it, his YouTube channel - The Once A Day Farmer - has 34,000 subscribers. Each of his videos, or vlogs, about daily life on the farm gets about 13,000 views. With a proud 150-year family his...

Mick Henderson is Te Awamutu Golf Club’s sole disability golfer among its roughly 400 members. Diagnosed with a hereditary blood circulation problem in his 40s - shortly after running his sixth marathon - both his legs were amputated below the knee in an 18-month timeframe when he was in his sixties. In every challenge though, Mick says, there are two choices. “…you either lie down, or you stand u...

It’s ‘all okay’ in Brigitte Nathansen’s world. While most sports people aspire to reach new heights, Nathansen - a Cambridge-based freediver - has been hard at work seeking to plumb new depths. Barely a month after first making a splash in the world of free diving in 2023, Brigitte took part in her first competition - placing second in the recreation grade. Now, two years on and training twice a w...

In the world of whakairo – the traditional Māori art of carving in wood, stone or bone – Aotearoa has a hidden taonga, or treasure. As a tohunga whakairo, an accredited teacher of carving whose work is acknowledged by Toi Iho – the registered and globally recognised trademark of quality and authenticity of Maori art and artists – Rangi Wills is well versed in telling stories through his gifting. T...

At just 16, Christchurch’s William Stedman was the youngest member of the New Zealand Para athletics team to compete at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Backing that debut appearance up with strong performances in Tokyo in 2020 and Paris last year, William has now won two silver and three bronze medals across several different running disciplines and the long jump. This week, we chat to him about ho...

“Hilarious, ridiculous, outrageous…” And that’s just our chat with Cambridge legend Matt Hicks for this week’s Small Town Journey episode. Filmmaker, quiz master, DJ and wedding celebrant, the latest feather to Matt’s cap is as a writer, producer and actor in The Tavern movie. Five years in the making, it has been playing to largely sold out audiences at Tivoli Cinema for the past two months. On t...

Next year’s FIFA World Cup is being billed as a ‘tournament of firsts’. When 48 teams play 104 matches in front of an estimated 6.5 million spectators across three host countries - the United States, Mexico, and Canada - among them will be our All Whites, making just their third cup appearance. More than 40 years ago in 1982, when the side made its World Cup debut, Wyton Rufer was there. Oceania’s...

An up and coming musician, Jake Nelson is one to watch. On this episode - hot on the heels of his latest single Running After Everything dropping last week - we catch up to chat about Jake’s love of music, where his song writing inspiration comes from, the art of playing both in a band and solo and - more than anything - how much he simply enjoys the journey of creativity. If you want to contact u...

Paul Adams was one of the original stars of New Zealand rallying. First introduced to motorsport in the mid-1960s, he was behind the wheel of a variety of cars throughout his career – including a BMW 2002 Ti, a Mk 1 Ford Cortina, a Ford Escort RS1600 and 1800, a Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HSR, and a Toyota Corolla and Starlet. He and co-driver Don Fenwick won the 1970 Silver Fern Rally in the South Is...

This week on Small Town Journey, we chat with Te Awamutu’s Chris Gibbes. Gibbes, a former Waikato Rugby player and coach - also well known for his roles with Wellington and the Hurricanes - discusses how he first discovered rugby in his playing days, his love of coaching and - most importantly - the joy he gets from quality time with his family. He also talks us through his various roles overseas...

Allysia Kraakman is the Waikato regional co-ordinator for 24-7YouthWork. This month, she marks 10 years with the organisation. In this episode of Small Town Journey - during a chat in her home gym - Allysia summarises her journey from a Chronic Fatigue Syndrome diagnosis to becoming an ultramarathon runner, talks about gaining her diploma in counseling and reflects on her time as an author. If you...

Clint Randell is one third of The Edge Breakfast trio Clint, Meg and Dan. Alongside co-hosts Meg Mansell and Dan Webby, Clint braves 4am starts for some on-air fun with listeners every weekday morning on one of Auckland’s most popular radio shows. A husband, father and committed family man, this week we are honoured as Clint - also a television host - discusses the magic of radio, his time competi...

Michael Jeans is a Cambridge photographer with 60 years of industry experience. Likely to have snapped more than one million pics in that time, this week we sit down with Michael to talk about changes he has seen throughout those decades, how camera gear just keeps developing and ask him to describe the magic that is getting the ever-elusive perfect shot. You can send us an email: smalltownjourney...

In this first episode of season two of Small Town Journey, we talk to Tyree Tautogia - one third of New Zealand hip hop trio Smashproof and a highly successful solo artist in his own right. Best known for their song Brother, the group’s track spent 11 consecutive weeks at number one in 2009. Tyree tells us about his start in music, the role his faith now plays in his life and where the inspiration...

We couldn't resist getting a little political this week. We express our opinions on several matters (wrongly or rightly) - free speech really does matter right? Plus Ben gives some details and examples of ways to get your long term finances in order. Jay gives an incredible example (from his own life) of what not to do! You can send us an email: smalltownjourneypodcast@gmail.com Or if you go t...

The thick of winter in New Zealand can be a rough place. Last week we got caught out and completely forgot about the podcast! But nothing like a good yarn to align ourselves and set ourselves up to finish up the winter strong! You can send us an email: smalltownjourneypodcast@gmail.com Or if you go to https://www.anchor.fm/smalltownjourney you can leave us a voice message and you might get on the...

Just a quick solo episode covering some of the reasons to incorporate intermittent fasting into your weekly routine. There are countless benefits for health and wellness including, natural repair mechanisms, increased fat loss, cognitive improvements, energy increase and improved metabolism. And some natural ways to lower cortisol levels thanks to BePure wellness. You can send us an email: smallto...

Just a super casual chat about finances and fermented foods. You can send us an email: smalltownjourneypodcast@gmail.com Or if you go to https://www.anchor.fm/smalltownjourney you can leave us a voice message and you might get on the show! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/smalltownjourney https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/small-town-journey/id1685330857 Music by Samuel James: https://ww...

More and more people are becoming curious about the "UFO Phenomena". We are genuinely curious and are both quite into conspiracy theories! Haha! Ben also has a bit of rant about electricity, energy and nuclear power. You can send us an email: smalltownjourneypodcast@gmail.com Or if you go to https://www.anchor.fm/smalltownjourney you can leave us a voice message and you might get on the...

On this episode of Small Town Journey, Jay and I catch up about some current events. I give Jay the daily quiz from stuff and sneak in some food ideas for increasing magnesium and general minerals in you diet. You can send us an email: smalltownjourneypodcast@gmail.com Or if you go to https://www.anchor.fm/smalltownjourney you can leave us a voice message and you might get on the show! https://pod...

Jay has a cool experience to share relating to the recent announcement around a new All Black from little old Cambridge! Ben as you may have worked out, is all into fermentation and gives some details about the next beer he wants to brew. The German style "Berliner Weisse". This a pale, cloudy, sour beer, low in alcohol and is refreshingly tart. Traditionally fermented with Lactobacillus...

This is the most transparent conversation we've had yet. I'd love to keep the conversation about interesting news, technology or development, but the reality is sometimes we'll rant about Christianity sometimes! Jay and I both were raised in the Christian Church. We're both a little worn out on the system, but try to process our experiences in a constructive way. ou can send us an...