Beyond The Hustle Aotearoa

Prefer to watch this on Youtube? Go here: https://youtu.be/4Wi7x1eFe88

In this episode of Beyond the Hustle, I sit down with Mark Hedge – business owner, tradie, fit dad, and the driving force behind Ōtautahi Interior Liners. Mark and I have gotten to know each other over the years at Joe’s, and it’s been inspiring to watch his quiet determination shape not just his business, but also the lives of the people around him.

We dive into ...

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/o4iuMyHlaQc

In this episode of Beyond the Hustle, I sit down with Lucy Worley - one of our talented kaimahi at Hustle Group, dancer, mental health advocate, and fierce boxer who has packed a lifetime of challenges and resilience into just 21 years.

Lucy shares her journey growing up in Halswell, the impact of her parents’ separation, and how her early experiences in the dance world sparked struggles...

If you'd like to watch this episose on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4B8LLX8GP2s

In this episode of Beyond the Hustle, I sit down with Ethan Collins - chef, fitness enthusiast, and one of our most valued kaimahi at Hustle Group. Ethan and I go way back to our primary school days at Te Whānau Tahi, and it's been incredible to watch his journey unfold over the years.

We dive deep into Ethan's story - from losing hi...

You can also watch this episode on YouTube here

In this episode of Beyond the Hustle, I sit down with Te Awhiroa Kuka Sweet - a complex character with a rich backstory who describes himself perfectly. Te Awhiroa is a pāpā, former DJ and bouncer, Shakespeare enthusiast, competitive gamer, mental health advocate, and someone deeply passionate about weaving te reo Māori and tikanga into everything he does.

From growing up in N...

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In this episode of Beyond the Hustle, I sit down with Dan Vann - founder of Evolution Performance, world champion indoor cricketer, and one of Canterbury's most respected coaches who's helping athletes and business people unlock their potential under pressure.

We dive into Dan's early days growing up on a potato farm in Southbridge (alongside future All Black Dan Carter), hi...

You can also watch this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/yoi-cz8Z10k

In this episode of Beyond the Hustle, I sit down with Todd Mason - Director and Head Coach of Kings Swim School, long-time friend of our Hustle whānau, and one of Aotearoa’s most respected swim coaches.

We dive into Todd’s early days growing up in Tawa, his unlikely detour into plumbing, and how a freak injury reignited his passion for swimming. Todd shares...

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In this episode of Beyond the Hustle, I sit down with a genuinely inspiring man, Morgan Batrum – someone I connected with after hearing about an incredible kaupapa he's taking on this September.

Morgan is running 617 kilometres in just seven days – that’s 100k a day for six days, and a final 17k on day seven – all to raise awareness and money for suicide prevention through I Am Hope. Why 617k...

🎙️ Beyond the Hustle | Sharne Pollard 

Kia ora! In this episode I sit down with my bro Sharne Pollard, a pāpā, partner, and one of the most loyal kaimahi at Hustle Group. Over the past 10 years, I’ve watched him grow from an awesome chef into a courageous leader and a better man.

In this kōrero, Sharne opens up about his upbringing - from bouncing between homes, facing violence, and watching addiction up close, to becoming a role mo...

From global travels as a tamaiti to leadership in hapū, taiao, and te ao Māori, Mananui Ramsden shares the legacy, pressure, and purpose of being a good ancestor.

In this deeply honest and reflective kōrero, I sit down with my bro, Mananui Ramsden. A pāpā, hapū leader, taiao consultant, and founder of Te Whare Rākau Limited. We unpack his upbringing across continents, the trauma and strength within his own whakapapa, and his pursuit...

From Perth-born Māori kid navigating identity, to business owner preparing workplaces for the next generation... this kōrero is deep, personal, and powerful.

In this episode, I sit down with Janelle Riki. She's a māmā, an educator, a business owner, and proud wahine Māori. 

She share with me her inspiring story about growing up in Aotearoa as a Māori girl in a world not built for her success and despite all o...

If you'd rather watch on YouTube, click here: https://youtu.be/Fwe_dm4nAhw 

In this powerful episode, I sat down with Joseph McClutchie - dancer, influencer, intentional tāne and living proof that real change is possible.

Joseph shares his story growing up in Kawerau, how he used dance as a tool to overcome trauma, and what it means to build a life (and a legacy) you’re proud of.

We get deep into:

The...

If you want to watch this episode on YouTube, go here: https://youtu.be/L3XOjF5N-W0

In this episode, I sit down with Di Foster - founder of Di Foster Coaching, business coach to accidental entrepreneurs, and someone who’s beaten cancer not once, but twice.

Di is one of the most grounded, inspiring humans I know. In our kōrero, she opens up about:

Being diagnosed with terminal cancer at 38 and how she chose to ...

You can watch this episode on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/iImG9R2rv3E

In this episode of Beyond the Hustle, I sit down with my amazing wife sits Jess for a deep and vulnerable kōrero about what it truly means to protect our tamariki in today’s world. From our pōtiki (youngest) surprise need for glasses to the everyday pressures of parenting in the digital age. We talk about our fears, our instincts, and the deliberate choice...

Rather watch this episode on YouTube? Go here: https://youtu.be/VCtr9FdDicE

In this deeply personal and raw episode of Beyond The Hustle, I sit down with longtime friend and community leader Val Tauamiti. We kōrero about his journey through the not-for-profit world, the toll that leadership can take when you carry it all alone, and the major health scare that forced him to stop and reflect.

Val opens up about his exper...

🎙️ Beyond The Hustle with Carl Davidson: The Loneliness Epidemic & The Power of Social Connection

In this insightful episode of Beyond the Hustle, I sit down with Carl Davidson -  founder of Truwind (formerly Research First), social scientist, and all-round sharp thinker - to explore a crisis that many of us never talk about: loneliness.

💬 Why are more people feeling isolated than ever before, especially you...

You can watch this on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/YylH01Uz9ww

In this episode of Beyond the Hustle, I sit down with Dr. Phil Borell – educator, researcher, rugby league advocate, and proud tāne Māori.

We unpack his journey growing up in Ōtautahi, navigating identity as a young Māori boy, being kicked out of high school, and the mentors who helped shape his future. Now a respected academic, Phil shares his groundbreaking research o...

What does it mean to be a good tāne? How do we define true health and well-being beyond just physical fitness? In this episode, I sit down with Aaron Hāpuku to talk about hauora, identity, mental resilience, and the power of Te Ao Māori in shaping strong, grounded men.

Key kaupapa:
 ✅ Beyond the gym—how relationships reflect your true hauora
 ✅ Mau rākau & taiaha as tools for building strength—inside & out
 ✅ The...

Did you know that you can watch this in video here: 

Are you making decisions without even realising it? 🤯

In this episode of Beyond the Hustle, I explore unconscious bias - how it works, how it influences our daily lives, and why it’s shaping the world around us (whether we realise it or not). From the 11 million unconscious decisions your brain makes every second to the hidden biases baked into our systems, we get into i...

In this episode of Beyond the Hustle, I’m joined by my beautiful wife, Jess, for a deep kōrero about something we’ve been discussing all week - doing hard things.

We unpack why stepping outside your comfort zone is the key to personal growth, happiness, and resilience. We talk about:

🔥 How fear and failure hold us back (and why they shouldn’t)
💡 The power of micro-bravery, those small, everyday moments that ...