Dave Letele is perhaps best known as former professional boxer ‘The Brown Buttabean’, but his story is so much bigger than that.

For the last decade, he’s worked tirelessly to create opportunities for people and leading by example.

He’s a man making a huge difference in Kiwi communities and we’re so thrilled to share his story.

Guy Montgomery is one of New Zealand’s best and most popular comedians who has been a fixture on Kiwi screens for over a decade. He’s been on our TV screens, while simultaneously selling out standup shows across Australia and New Zealand. In his spare time, he also created NZ’s most popular podcast called The Worst Idea of All Time – which has had over 10 million downloads.

Dr Inia Raumati is a man who loves life in the extremes. By night he works as an emergency doctor at Auckland City Hospital, and this year, he plans on being the first person in the world to run a self-supported, multistage ultra marathon (that’s over 250 km per race) on every continent, in a single year.

Raelene Castle is the CEO of Sport New Zealand, and one of the most accomplished and experienced administrators in sport in the country. After a successful business career, she spent six years as CEO of Netball NZ, before becoming the first female CEO of an NRL team, when she led the Bulldogs for six years. After that she smashed another glass wall, becoming Rugby Australia’s first female CEO in 2018, before returning to New Zealand to address the challenges facing sport here.

Tim Brown is a former professional footballer who played 112 times for the Wellington Phoenix and earned 30 All Whites caps. He retired from professional football at age 31 to pursue a master’s degree in management and around the same time he was forming an idea for a woollen, environmentally friendly, sustainable shoe. Four years later he was the co-founder of his shoe company – Allbirds.

Dallas Tamaira is the lead singer of Fat Freddy’s Drop, one of New Zealand’s most popular bands of all time. His voice is unmistakable as the focal point of the seven-piece super group, but this year, for the first time in two decades, Dallas has released a solo EP, called Levels. It was a real privilege to get to share some time with him and unpack the best bits from his incredible life in music.

Thomas Nabbs is the founder of The Waterboy – a Hamilton based not-for-profit organisation that uses sport and education to help disadvantaged youths. He’s also a low key legend! He’s just at the start of his journey and his vision is to create stronger people and communities, but that’s only part of his story.

Lani Daniels is a world champion boxer who is aiming to be the first Kiwi woman in history to hold two world titles in two different weight classes. But her ascent to the top of the world hasn’t been without adversity. Lani Daniels is authentically Lani. She’s a gentle soul with an infectious laugh, who just happens to also be one of the best fighters in the world.

Sir Ashley Bloomfield was New Zealand’s Director-General of Health during the Covid-19 pandemic and during this time became one of the most recognisable faces in the country. He is brilliant company and an exceptionally articulate communicator with a warm and empathetic style, sharing his learned insights on leadership and resilience.

Billy Stairmand is New Zealand’s first-ever Olympic surfer who has competed professionally around the globe for 20 years and won the national title a record eight times. Billy is a ray of light, an optimistic, fun-loving guy who has worked incredibly hard and sacrificed so much to reach the top in his sport. You’ll love his outlook and approach to life.

Dame Jools Topp and Dame Lynda Topp have captivated audiences in NZ and overseas for more than 40 years as the Topp Twins. This was a special episode, and we felt honoured to share so much time with the Untouchable Girls. Their enthusiasm for life, for fun, and for standing up for what is right make them exceptional company, Kiwi icons, and brilliant storytellers.

Abbas Nazari has one of the most epic stories we’ve told. When the Taliban were at the height of their power in 2001, Abbas Nazari’s parents were faced with a choice: stay and face persecution in their homeland of Afghanistan or seek security for their young children elsewhere. They chose to leave, and what happened next formed the storyline for his best-selling book After The Tampa.

Sir Wayne Smith is one of the most respected and accomplished figures in New Zealand rugby history. There’s a reason Wayne is known as The Professor, he is one of world rugby’s greatest thinkers, and this was a fascinating insight into how his brain works. It was a real honour getting to share so much of his time, quite simply, an absolute legend of the game.

Hayley Holt is one of NZ’s highest profile broadcasters and has been a fixture on New Zealand screens for over 20 years. She has an eclectic skillset, and her life has been packed with challenges. But through all the ups and downs Hayley has kept a fun, infectious energy – and this one was a blast. She’s lived such an incredibly full and varied life – and there’s so much to learn at each chapter.

Jemarl Paerata was the inspiration for starting our Lowkey Legends series. He is as a motivational mentor and the founder of Te Kaiarahi, where he inspires people to reach their full potential based on Te Ao Māori principals and connecting back to nature. Jemarl is at the start of his journey helping and building community, but his story is one that needs to be heard.

Steve Price is one of the most personable sporting celebrities to grace New Zealand shores. His impact extends far beyond the four years he spent with the New Zealand Warriors. He has a humble yet compelling nature coupled with intelligence and experience making him one of the best role models and leaders in sport and an articulate and expressive guest.

Chris Wood is one of New Zealand’s best football players of all time, with over 200 English Premier League appearances and more than 50 goals. He is also the current All Whites captain and all-time leading goal scorer. This was his first long-form podcast and was such an insightful look behind the scenes of what it takes to get to the top in club football.

Hamish Pinkham is best known as the co-founder and director of Rhythm and Vines - New Zealand's premier live music festival. In 2003 Hamish and his two flatmates at the University of Otago decided to host a party for their friends in a Gisborne vineyard. The story of what’s happened since then is quite remarkable going from a 1,800 gathering of mates to a sold out 30,000 revellers at its peak.

Russell Packer is a former rugby league player who played for the Warriors, Tigers, Dragons and Kiwis across a 13-year professional career in the NRL. Russell’s footy career was divided by one major incident. In 2013 he was sentenced to two years in prison for assaulting a man outside a pub in Sydney. It’s a definitive part of Russell’s story, and the impressive man he is today is reflective of the lessons he learned about himself through his darkest days.

Sarai Bareman is one of the most powerful, and influential women in world sport. She has been FIFA’s chief women’s football officer since 2016, when the role was first created. This one was special – and after making it to the end – you'll be able to see why Sarai holds the position she does. She’s sharp, articulate, empathetic – and perhaps most importantly, authentic.