Stretton Unfiltered

Before the justice system ever entered her life, Gail Maney had already survived more than most people face in a lifetime. Domestic violence, poverty, sexual abuse, addiction, and a childhood that never gave her a fair shot. Then in 1997, police charged her with a murder she had absolutely nothing to do with, built on fabricated testimony, witness coercion, and a justice system that failed her at every turn. She was convi...

For more than 20 years, Annah Stretton has known Mary Haddock-Staniland not as a political talking point, but simply as a friend.

In this deeply personal and timely conversation, Mary shares her journey as one of New Zealand’s most prominent transgender advocates, media personalities, and diversity leaders, reflecting on identity, belonging, respect, and the emotional impact of seeing transgender lives debated publicly once ag...

She grew up in Te Awamutu, lost a business partner, started over more than once, fought counterfeiters all the way to China's Supreme Court, and built one of New Zealand's most recognised natural lipstick brands sold across Australia, China, the US and beyond.

In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, Annah sits down with Karen Murrell, the founder behind the iconic Karen Murrell lipstick brand, for a conversation that is as hone...

We have re-recorded this episode in celebration of the Annah Stretton brand turning thirty-four. Thirty-four years of building the Annah Stretton clothing brand is worth celebrating. But behind the brand sits a woman who has never been able to stop at just one idea.

In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, Annah sits down with her daughter Sami to take an honest look at the ventures that have run alongside the clothing company over ...

At 23, he lost a million dollars.

By 24, he was mowing lawns.

What followed was a rebuild from the ground up,  from liquidation talks, bank meetings that changed everything, and a decision to keep going when most people would have stopped.

In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, we sit down with Matt Stark, property developer behind some of Hamilton’s most recognisable spaces, including Riverbank Lane and MADE in Hamil...

In Episode 19 of Stretton Unfiltered, we take you inside 12 years of working within women’s prisons and the reality of what it takes to break the cycle of crime. This is the story behind RAW, Reclaim Another Woman. A model built not from theory, but from working alongside some of the most complex, high-risk women in New Zealand.

Women, many had normalised criminal lifestyles and outcomes Since 2014, RAW has challeng...

This is not an easy listen… but it’s an important one. In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, Annah sits down with Missy Wepper to unpack a life shaped by trauma, survival, addiction, and ultimately, accountability. From early childhood abuse and life in state care… to years inside the prison system… to navigating life on the outside after decades institutionalised, Missy shares her story with a level of...

In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, Annah sits down with New Zealand Silver Fox Modelling Agency owner Rebecca Swaney for a conversation that goes far beyond modelling.

From buying a business on instinct to building a nationally recognised agency representing women 30+ and beyond, Rebecca shares the reality of backing yourself, learning on the fly, and creating space in an industry that historically overlooked mature women...

What does it take to create a business that people will go out of their way for, and keep coming back to? In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, Annah sits down with Haley Bicknell, owner of Punnet, a rural café in Tamahere that has quietly become one of the Waikato’s most enduring and consistently busy destinations. Not because it follows the rules, but because it breaks them. From its beginnings on a strawberry f...

What does it really look like to love someone through chaos… and still find your way back to yourself? In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, we sit down with Nikki, her story will stay with you long after the conversation ends.

From a stable upbringing to a life shaped by low self-worth, abusive relationships, and years of fear, Nikki bravely shares what it was like to live inside a world that felt impossible to escape...

Some of the women who fall the hardest…are the ones holding everything together. From the outside, it can look like capability. Success. Control. But underneath, it can be pressure. Responsibility. And decisions made quietly, just to get through.

In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, Nadene shares the story behind what happens when that pressure builds over time… and eventually gives way. Not all at once. Not d...

Some days in retail are about beautiful clothes.
But at Annah Stretton, it has always been about something much more. In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, Annah and Sami sit down with Angela Gilmour, who spent 17 years in their flagship Christchurch store, to take you inside the Annah Stretton retail experience. This is a brand built on the belief that clothing should be designed not just for a woman’s shape, but f...

What does it take to build something special? To dream up a space that's part cupcake haven, part fashion sanctuary, all heart, and actually pull it off?

In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, we sit down with Millie Rose founder, dreamer, doer, and the unstoppable force behind Millie Rose Boutique in Timaru. From emailing her way into her very first supplier relationship, to baking through the night and helping hundreds of women f...

International Women’s Day got us thinking.

About women. About impact. About purpose.

And about why Life Changing Clothes has always meant so much more than fashion.In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, we unpack a simple idea that has shaped so much of what we do
Give to Gain.Not financial gain.
Not applause.
Not recognition.But the kind of gain that comes from showing up for other women. From ba...

This week on Stretton Unfiltered, Sami and Annah dive into the story behind Sisterhood Social, a new platform designed to help women over 40 build meaningful friendships and connections.

Fresh off the back of their very first Sisterhood Social event, they reflect on what happened when nearly 40 women walked into a room full of strangers and left feeling connected, inspired, and part of something bigger. From courageous solo arrivals...

In this timely and honest conversation, Annah and Sami unpack the realities of catering for curvy women in fashion. From the early days of their dedicated “GARB” label to today’s fully integrated size range, they reflect on what inclusion truly means and how their approach has evolved.

Sparked by recent industry conversations around size ranges and commercial pressures, this episode explores the economic realities ...

Annah and Sami reconnect with makeup creative Phoenix to trace a 20-year journey from neighbouring Newmarket shops to Fashion Week runways and the Birds of a Feather concept stores that fused beauty, fashion, coffee, and connection. They unpack why experiential retail still wins, the realities of staffing, and the power of store traditions and ladies nights. A masterclass in partnership, purpose, and perseverance.

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How do you tackle the conversations no one wants to have? In this candid chat, Annah and Sami unpack the messy, human, and surprisingly empowering side of difficult conversations. From leadership moments to smelly summer scenarios, family dynamics to customer service meltdowns, they share their go to tools for turning tough talks into positive outcomes.

This episode explores:

• Why avoiding hard conversations only makes matters ...