Unfiltered with Dave Letele

Eugene Bareman is the head coach of City Kickboxing — one of the world’s most respected combat sports gyms, producing UFC champions and elite fighters on the global stage. Israel Adesanya. Dan Hooker. Kai Kara-France. Carlos Ulberg. Navajo Stirling… and many more. In this episode, Dave sits down with Eugene to talk about building City Kickboxing from the ground up, the culture behind its success,...

Dr Timoti Te Moke’s story is one of the most remarkable we’ve ever shared on Unfiltered. Growing up surrounded by violence, abuse and poverty, Timoti became involved in gangs, spent time in prison, and was told his future had already been written. Against all odds, he turned his life around, became a paramedic, and went on to qualify as a doctor at 56 years old. In this episode, Dave sits down wit...

For decades, Lolo Heimuli has been one of the most respected figures in New Zealand combat sports — training more than 100 national champions and 10 world champions, including names like Ray Sefo, Mark Hunt, Shane Cameron, and future coaching great Eugene Bareman. In this episode, Dave sits down with Lolo to talk about his journey from Tonga to New Zealand, building Balmoral Lee Gar Gym from a chu...

It’s tough out there right now. So Dave sat down with Mike Bennetts — Ex-CEO of Z Energy and one of New Zealand’s most experienced business leaders — to ask the questions every business owner is thinking about. From leading one of New Zealand’s largest companies through economic uncertainty, to coaching leaders and founders today, Mike shares practical advice on navigating tough times, looking aft...

To celebrate 50 episodes of Unfiltered, we’ve pulled together some of our favourite moments from the journey so far. A huge thank you to every guest who has trusted us with their story, and to everyone who has watched, listened, shared, and supported the podcast along the way. If you’ve enjoyed the first 50 episodes and want to help us keep these conversations going, you can now support the show h...

Surviving Sexual Abuse, Now Fighting for Reform This week, Dave sits down with Sam Troth from ‘Road To Healing Aotearoa’ for one of the most powerful conversations we’ve had about survival, healing, and turning pain into purpose. After experiencing sexual abuse as a child, Sam opens up about the spiral that followed — violence, addiction, prison, and years of carrying pain in silence. But instead...

This week, Dave sits down with Anthony Tina from Lifewise — for a powerful kōrero about rebuilding his life after homelessness, and finding meaning again. Anthony opens up about going from hitting rock bottom, addiction and prison to finding community, connection and purpose — and why empathy matters more than judgement, when it comes to homelessness in Aotearoa. Leading up to Lifewise’s Big Sleep...

This week, Dave sits down with Jenny-May — former Silver Fern, broadcaster, and one of Aotearoa’s most respected voices — for a powerful kōrero about legacy, identity, and the balance between ambition and family. From growing up in Piopio and knowing at just 10 years old she would become a Silver Fern, to breakfast television, motherhood, and raising her own whānau — Jenny-May opens up about the p...

This week, Dave sits down with Ladi6 — artist, storyteller, and one of Aotearoa’s most respected voices in music — for a raw kōrero about the life behind the music. From growing up in Christchurch with social worker parents who gave everything to their community, to navigating trauma, anxiety, and learning how to separate her own identity from the stories she inherited, Ladi opens up about the wor...

This week, Dave sits down with Ezra Hirawani — co-founder of Nau Mai Rā — for a powerful kōrero about business, purpose, and building something that actually helps people. After telling his nan he was starting a power company, she shared that she would sometimes sit cold and alone, afraid to turn the heater on because she couldn’t afford the power bill. That moment changed everything. Ezra turned...

This week, Dave sits down with Chris Hipkins for a straight kōrero about what people are dealing with right now — the cost of living, rising fuel prices, the genocide in Gaza and the war on Iran, and how it’s impacting Kiwis here at home. From growing up in Lower Hutt to finding his way into politics, Chris also shares the perspective behind how he sees these issues — and why understanding the roo...

This week, Dave sits down with Tammy Davis — actor, radio host, and storyteller — for a raw kōrero about the life behind the public image. This is a side of Tammy you haven’t seen before. From growing up in a small town to struggling to find his place after moving to Auckland, he opens up about getting caught up in drugs, alcohol, and violence — and how close he came to a path he might not have co...

This week, Dave sits down with Dean Clarkson — founder of Wana, New Zealand’s first men’s refuge for domestic violence — for a raw kōrero about his life, and surviving domestic violence as a man. Although Dean grew up in a loving family, he lived through sexual abuse from both male & female family friends during his adolescence. As an adult, his 20-year marriage turned violent, leaving him fee...

This week, Dave sits down with Irie Love — global artist and storyteller — for one of the most powerful and wide-ranging kōrero on Unfiltered. From growing up in Hawai‘i, to navigating the highs and lows of the music industry — Irie opens up about trauma, identity, and finding her way back to herself. She speaks on surviving some of her darkest moments, including battles with mental health, and ho...

This week, Dave sits down with Tyndale (Tee) Fiso — AKA The Sound of Tee — radio host and MC, for a raw kōrero about growing up around violence, addiction, and chaos in South Auckland. From hiding in his room as a kid, to almost going down the same path himself — Tee opens up about the moments that nearly broke him.  He shares how he hit rock bottom — stuck in addiction, waking up and getting hig...

This week, Dave sits down with Roimata Smail — Māori lawyer and author — to unpack Te Tiriti o Waitangi in simple, real terms. From what we’re taught in school, to what actually happened — she breaks down the foundations of Aotearoa, the loss of Māori land, and why it still impacts us today. They also dive into the current state of the country, the backlash we’re seeing, and why education — not di...

This week, Dave sits down with former Tall Black and broadcaster Brendon Pongia for a powerful kōrero about identity, resilience, and purpose. From growing up in Greymouth without knowing his father, to representing New Zealand and later helping raise millions for Cure Kids — Brendon shares the moments that shaped him.  He also opens up about reconnecting with his Māori roots, the loss of his bro...

This week, Dave sits down with Te Kahukura Boynton — AKA Māori Millionaire — for an incredibly raw kōrero about rock bottom, financial freedom, and rebuilding your life. Te Kahukura opens up about battling depression and addiction, feeling like she was never good enough, and the moment she decided to give life one last shot. From starting with nothing to building Māori Millionaire — now a book, po...

This week, Dave sits down with Aaron Hendry — youth worker and the force behind Kick Back — who has spent years standing alongside young people experiencing homelessness in Aotearoa. From running Front Door on K Road to supporting rangatahi with nowhere safe to go, Aaron has seen firsthand how easily young people fall through the cracks of our system. With the government now pushing these cruel "M...

This week, Dave sits down with Leighton Clarke — better known as Uncletics — for a raw and honest kōrero about owning who you are. From growing up in the King Country and navigating school with tourettes, to building a powerful online community without toning himself down for anyone — Leighton shares what it’s taken to fully back himself. They talk about stigma, being accused of faking it, online...

In this week’s episode, Dave sits down with Mike McRoberts — one of New Zealand’s most respected journalists — for a powerful and deeply reflective kōrero. From reporting in war zones and natural disasters around the world, to battling imposter syndrome and navigating identity, Mike opens up about what it really takes to stand in the middle of chaos and keep showing up. They dive into trauma, bala...

In this week’s episode, Dave sits down with Konrad — former Tall Black — for one of the wildest and most confronting stories ever told on Unfiltered. From elite basketball, to a life that includes Federal US prisons, addiction, and moments that feel straight out of a movie. This kōrero goes deep into identity, following the wrong crowd, losing your way, and what it really looks like to rebuild you...

SEASON 2 IS HERE 🔥 Kicking off with the man who started it all, Manu Vatuvei, was our very first Unfiltered guest — the episode that helped launch this whole podcast. One year on... Manu returns to reflect on 2025, his NRL career and the moments that defined him at the Warriors, and what it means to him to be giving back now. A full-circle kōrero about legacy, brotherhood, and life after footy. E...

This week, Dave sits down with Loretta Hogg — elite performance coach — for a powerful kōrero on sport, discipline, and building a body that lasts. From getting lost after school to working with top athletes and learning under All Blacks coaches, Loretta opens up about injuries, burnout, women’s health, and why strength training is essential — especially as we get older. An honest, practical conve...

This week, Dave sits down with Julia — a proud Pasifika woman who built a global tech career in her mid-20s across Sydney, UK & USA at firms like HP, before coming home to help her community navigate A.I and adapt the changing world with Fibre Fale. Julia breaks down the confronting research that 60% of Auckland’s Pasifika workforce is at risk of being replaced by automation and technology — a...