Beyond the Surface

Apr 01 2025 60 ep. 66 mins
Beyond the Surface Podcast artwork

Beyond the Surface is a long-form podcast hosted by Noa Woolloff, featuring some of New Zealand's biggest names. From Paddy Gower, TJ Perenara, Amelia Kerr, Brooke Roberts to Guy Williams, Noa discusses the tools, strategies and stories that have shaped their lives. The goal: to stamp out tall poppy syndrome and create a platform for more conversations about mental health.

  Society & Culture
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#59: Tait Burge – Co-Founder of Swimsuit Coffee, How He Opened Four Cafe's Before 30, Creating Community

Apr 01 2025 63 mins  
Tait Burge, co-founder of Swimsuit Coffee, built one of Wellington’s most recognisable café brands before turning 30. Frustrated by feeling stuck while his friends graduated from university, he threw himself into coffee, starting with a school course that sparked a lifelong passion. In this episode, Tait shares how he went from making coffee to running a multi-location

#58: Jules "MC Crafty" – The Voice of NZ Drum and Bass, Playing Main Stage at RnV and Tour Secrets

Mar 25 2025 77 mins  
We dive into MC Crafty’s journey from local gigs to commanding the main stage at Rhythm & Vines, and what it’s really like touring New Zealand and Australia alongside some of the biggest names in the DnB scene. Crafty shares the highs, the hard lessons, and the wild moments that come with life on the road. Honestly, such a legend this man is! We also get into the story behind D

#57: Bret McKenzie - The Untold Story of Flight of the Conchords, Winning an Oscar, Life After Fame

Mar 20 2025 79 mins  
Bret McKenzie is one of New Zealand’s most celebrated creatives — a musician, comedian, actor, and Oscar-winning songwriter. Best known as one half of the iconic Flight of the Conchords, Bret takes us behind the scenes of their rise from Wellington bars to HBO stardom and global fame. Super surreal having Bret on the pod, I've been a massive FOTC fan since I was a young fella!

#56: Joe Slater – The Secrets to Six Barrel Soda's Success, How To Find Your Niche and Business Hacks

Mar 12 2025 58 mins  
Joe Slater co-founded Six Barrel Soda, turning a small idea into one of New Zealand’s most recognisable beverage brands. In this episode, we dive into the journey of building Six Barrel Soda from the ground up, the challenges of scaling a niche business, and how Joe handled a competitor blatantly copying their brand. We also talk about the process of selling Six Barrel Soda,

#55: Omer Hazer – How He Retired His Mum Before 30, Getting Deported and Lessons for Entrepreneurs

Mar 04 2025 79 mins  
In this episode, we dive deep into Omers remarkable story, starting with how he moved to New Zealand alone as a teenager from Turkey, built a thriving business, and then faced a shocking deportation that sparked national media attention. We unpack the fight to bring him back, the intervention from Winston Peters, and what it was like to have his future decided by a government ruli

#54: Malindi MacLean – Outward Bound's First Female CEO and The Reasons Why Social Media Is Harmful

Feb 25 2025 65 mins  
Malindi MacLean is Outward Bound's first female CEO and her journey is anything but conventional. From racing as a professional cyclist sport and representing to New Zealand, to "bluffing" her way into the corporate world without a degree, she’s navigated challenges with grit and resilience. In this episode, we dive into her journey through business and leadership, including bec

#53: Jacob Mataiti – How Muay Thai & Outward Bound Built an Entrepreneur

Feb 18 2025 83 mins  
Jacob Mataiti is the founder of Self-Made, a barbershop that has become a staple in Wellington’s community. But his journey to success is anything but ordinary. In this episode, we dive into his transformation from fighter to entrepreneur, the mindset that drives him, and the defining moments that shaped his path. We share our Outward Bound experiences and how the ‘solo’ chan

#52: Anna Guenther – Co-Founder of PledgeMe, How to Get Strangers to Fund Your Dream

Feb 11 2025 53 mins  
Anna Guenther is the Founder of PledgeMe, New Zealand’s first equity crowdfunding platform, which has pledged over $75 million for Kiwi businesses and projects. What started as a master’s thesis turned into a mission to change the way people fund what they care about. Anna’s journey is one of resilience, from moving to New Zealand after losing her mum, navigating burnout, and

#51: Dan Bradley – The CEO Who Puts Mental Health First, Entrepreneurship and 75 Hard

Feb 04 2025 59 mins  
Dan Bradley is the Founder and Director of BPM, a project management company with offices throughout New Zealand that Dan started after blood sweat and tears. Now, Dan's revolutionising mental health and wellbeing for his staff and the construction sector in general. Dan lives by the 75 Hard Challenge, practicing it 365 days per year. An awesome kiwi success story and somebody who

#50: Ollie Puddick – Pro Firefighter Turned Coffee Entrepreneur, Founder of Innerbloom

Jan 28 2025 65 mins  
Sat down with Ollie, former professional firefighter turned entrepreneur, taking on a $14b industry with his canned coffee 'Innerbloom'. Such an interesting chat about Ollie's life, life as a firefighter and surf athlete and the reality of bootstrapping a beverage company! Honestly, his coffee Innerbloom is top notch. We ripped into a can at about 7pm for this episode! Make sure yo