This is the first of our Holiday Highlight episodes!Join us as we revisit some of our interviews from the past six months, and thank you again for supporting our big leap of faith with Smile and Pod this year!This week we feature highlights from Jason Gunn, Jen Young of Intentional Generations, Tom Sainsbury and Verity Johnson.We thank them again for making time for us, and sharing their personal journey with us here at Smile and Pod. We'll have more highlight episodes out over the holidays,...

In this week's episode we feature rural broadcaster, Craig Wiggins.Best known to the rural community as 'Wiggy', Craig's life has taken many different paths since his childhood in Raetihi.Growing up on a farm with steep and rugged topography, Craig learned early about the importance of horses and developed a passion for working with them. Through many chance opportunities in life he has developed a respected broadcast and MC career and regularly reports for rural media such as Farmers Weekly,...

This week's episode features Cheryl Spain, Executive Director of The Gift Trust.Cheryl became an avid supporter of the environment and social justice after growing up in a large family in Wainuomata.The bombing of the Rainbow Warrior when she was a teenager proved the catalyst to lead her towards helping worth causes, in a career that would lead her around the world.Now days Cheryl works for The Gift Trust, helping people who wish to donate to charities and causes to choose the most effective...

On this week's episode we talk to Ollie Langridge, who made history earlier this year when he became the longest sitting protester on Parliament's lawn in Wellington, New Zealand.Ollie describes himself as 'a normal every day Dad' who was concerned with what his children would face in future if nothing was done about climate change today.He sat on the lawn at Parliament for 100 days urging the Government to declare a climate change emergency, and though he started out on his own, he was soon...

Smile and Pod goes a little international this week when we meet North Carolina born, Preston Hegel.Preston and his work at 'The Exchange Christchurch -XCHC' is helping artists reach their creative best, by supporting them with a work space and platforms to promote their products, and their craft.Preston's journey to end up in Christchurch bizarrely stemmed from a Facebook quiz, but he soon found the city's need for a new identity drawing him in and he now calls it his home.He's passionate...

On this week's episode we are honoured to sit down with former broadcaster and Mayor of Christchurch, Sir Bob Parker.Sir Bob will be known to many through his career on television and radio - he was responsible for gaining the rights to 'This Is Your Life' in New Zealand - but of course his most important role would come as Mayor of Christchurch.His work during and after the devastating earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 would be crucial for the city moving forward in what would become the 'new...

This week we feature Jen Young, Mindfulness Educator and founder of Intentional Generations.Jen has gone through some big life lessons, starting at just age 8 when she lost her older brother to cancer.After graduating from Otago University Jen starting having some big challenges with anxiety and mental health, and made some huge decisions to put her own wellness first and walk away from the corporate world.What followed would be an amazing journey of self discovery and helping others through...

We are celebrating our 18th episode of Smile and Pod by releasing our interview with one of New Zealand's brightest business stars.Brianne West is the founder and CEO of Ethique, the world's first zero waste beauty brand. She started Ethique by literally making shampoo and conditioner bars in her kitchen in Christchurch, and has since been named one of the 100 top global thinkers by the US Foreign Policy Magazine.Brianne was also named 2019 New Zealand Young Entrepreneur of the Year. With...

In our 17th episode we feature Christine Langdon, Chief of Good and founder of The Good Registry.The Good Registry is an organisation created to help people give simply, sustainably and kindly by allowing people to give a donation as a gift.Christine's journey takes us from Wellington to New York and back again, and we learn of her career as a journalist (including a run in with a riot in the Bronx) and also how she walked away from two 'dream jobs' with no plan ahead of her to open up more...

This week's episode features Kiwi actor, writer, and producer, Mike Minogue. You may know Mike best as Officer Minogue from the hit movie, What We Do In The Shadows, TV2's Wellington Paranormal, or from his hit web series, The Watercooler Show.But Mike's journey into the world of television and film has actually come at a later part in his life. He's had an interesting journey of self discovery, starting out as a paperboy in his home town of Levin. He was also a door to door salesman and even...

In this episode we talk to New Zealand sports commentary legend, Grant Nisbett.Known affectionately as 'Nisbo', Grant has called over 300 rugby test matches and has also been the voice of some of New Zealand sports most memorable, and also toughest, moments.Appointed to the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2018 for his services to sport broadcasting, Grant talks to us about his journey from calling games secretly into a tape recorder at Athletic Park, and also about how he kept his cool in the...

In our 14th episode we talk to author and social change activist, Jo Bailey.Jo is a respected author and storyteller. She is the founder of 'Uniting Canterbury Women', a group formed following the horrific Mosque shootings in Christchurch in March to help women from all cultures to unite and share their journey and stories. Jo is also a cancer survivor, a solo mother and also had to face what no mother should when after beating breast cancer, her six year old son suffered from a...

Episode 13 features one of New Zealand's most loved radio and television hosts, Brodie Kane.Brodie grew up in North Canterbury in Waikuku Beach, before a chance encounter at Rangiora High School saw her discover the army. Hear about her remarkable journey from boot camp to the jungles of Brunei, and how she made her way into the world of journalism on both radio and television covering some of New Zealand's darkest days. And also find out how her time on Fair Go measures up in her career...

This week we are thrilled to release our 12th episode which features an entrepreneur from Central Otago.David Diehl formed the travel agency Boys Trip with two of his childhood friends from Alexandra back in 2006, and what started out as a small conquest has gone from strength to strength to become one of New Zealand's biggest event travel planners.During those years David forged a successful career in television, moving around the country, working as a director and camera operator on some of...

Our latest episode features a woman who has been known to many New Zealanders since she first appeared on Nightline on TV3.Claire Robbie had found her passion in broadcasting, but her personal life soon saw her moving to Hollywood. Despite living a life that appeared glamorous on the outside, partaking in lavish parties and mixing with some of the biggest names in the entertainment business, Claire soon realised she was absolutely miserable.She found herself again after discovering yoga and...

We are celebrating our tenth episode with a very special guest!Smile and Pod is a podcast made to encourage and inspire listeners to follow their dreams, by focusing on stories of people who are successful in their field of choice.This week we are thrilled to feature Kiwi actress, Antonia Prebble.Those who fell in love with Outrageous Fortune will remember her best as rebellious teen Loretta West and more recently as Rita West in the Outrageous Fortune prequel, Westside. Her story covers her...

Smile and Pod is a podcast made to encourage and inspire listeners to follow their dreams, by focusing on stories of people who are successful in their field of choice.This week we are thrilled to release our ninth episode which features the tenacious Anna Willcox. You may know Anna from the most recent series of Dancing With The Stars or her recent work on The Crowd Goes Wild.But after breaking her back in a freak accident, this former Olympic skier has faced many challenges in her...

This week we are thrilled to release our eighth episode which features an amazing public speaker, activist and educator. Richie Hardcore is a former Muay Thai Champion, but now days has turned his focus to help activate change in our culture around social issues such as domestic and sexual violence, mental health, substance abuse and masculinity. He holds no punches when it comes to talking about the major issues, and is on a mission to help change the way our culture deals with social...

Our seventh episode features 2019 Young New Zealander of the Year, Kendall Flutey.Kendall is the co-founder and CEO of Banqer, which is an interactive financial education platform which helps teach young students about concepts such as debt, saving, taxation, investment and insurance.However her journey has not been as straight forward as you would imagine. After gaining a Bachelor of Commerce and being placed in what appeared to be a dream career pathway, Kendall soon realised that was not...

Our sixth episode features one of New Zealand's most loved comedians.Featuring the phenomenally talented Tom Sainsbury (Comedian and Snapchat Dude), we found out more about the man behind the face swap filter.You may be familiar with Tom's popular Facebook and Instagram pages, and recent appearances on TV documentary Funny As, and Have You Been Paying Attention?Join us as we find out more about Tom's journey into the spotlight, his personal battle with his own desire to perform and his award...

This week we are thrilled to release our fifth episode which features one of New Zealand's most famous trendsetters - and you may not even know that he is! Brooke Howard-Smith is probably best known for his role as host on former TV3 investigative show, Target. But he was also one of the worlds leading rollerbladers, responsible for inventing many common moves and tricks and also was involved in the inception of the X Games along with skating legend, Tony Hawk. Now days Brooke is using his...

This week we are thrilled to release our fourth episode which features one of New Zealand's most loved television personalities. You may best know Alasdair Kincaid as Frank Flash, the flamboyant rockstar of children's television in the 80s. But also as What Now's Answer Guy in later years. Al's journey also covers his many talents in broadcasting, as a gifted sound engineer and also writer and director. Including of New Zealand's longest running mini series, Serial Stuff. Al also went through...

Smile and Pod is a podcast made to encourage and inspire listeners to follow their dreams, by focusing on stories of people who are successful in their field of choice.This week we are thrilled to release our third episode which features the intriguing journey of writer and television presenter, Verity Johnson.You may remember Verity from her time on the Paul Henry show, or read her columns in the New Zealand Herald or your local paper. She is also a regular social commentator on New Zealand...

Smile and Pod is a podcast made to encourage and inspire listeners to follow their dreams, by focusing on stories of people who are successful in their field of choice.This week we are thrilled to release our second episode which features the remarkable story of Neuroscience Educator, Nathan Wallis. Parents and teachers around Australasia may be familiar with his incredible work with early brain development and education - but you've never heard him like this before! Even if you aren't aware...

Welcome to the very first episode of Smile and Pod!A podcast made to inspire and encourage listeners by talking to people who have been successful in their field of choice.We are honoured to launch with New Zealand entertainment legend, Jason Gunn. Loved by generations of Kiwis, Jason talks about his career, his personal challenges and his next major career project.He also doesn't hold back in this interview so prepare to be enlightened and inspired!